Selleck Syndrome

Today I ventured to grab a bite from the refrigerator and was stopped by a disturbing odor drifting out from the deeper confines of my treasure trove of food. This hobgoblin was not subtle about its presence anymore, and it assault on my senses was strong, bordering on violent. A culling of items ensued, and when the offender was finally located it was with great vigour that unleashed its pent up energies at me. My eager canine companion Lily was enlivened by the smell, while in the same moment I was focusing all my energies on not expelling my meager stomach contents. Thankfully the smell did diminish following the disposal of the profane tuna salad.

While driving to the gym today I chanced upon a news segment on a local radio station that was reporting a strange malady of a lady in England. Since birth she has had abnormal growth of the tissue in her lower extremities. The correct term for the condition is Proteus Syndrome; but it was mentioned that this particular variant of it may be called Sellars Syndrome, after Mandy Sellars who is the afflicted individual in this case. While not poking fun at the woman's unfortunate circumstance, I wondered if another condition could be brought into existence.
It could be called Selleck's Syndrome, and I'm sure men would be much more excited to find they had this rather adonic pathology.

Summer and other novelties

It could just be me, but there is something about smelling things in the air on a summery day that is, euphoric. I'll be the first to say that the traditional bouquets associated with summers chillier siblings are indeed enjoyable, but while standing at my new favorite burrito wagon, a smell greeted me that was as unexpected as it was pleasing. Maybe it was the long winter couped up smelling the creative olfactory experiences my two dogs could put together, but today's moment was one worth noting. So if you're in the mood for amazing Mexican food and friendly service, then try Los Gorditos, bring cash, and have a few minutes to wait in the line that is likely strung out in front of it.

While enjoying the above mentioned delicious burrito, I came across a bit of news that was not surprising at all, but disturbing none the less. President Obama is looking to reinstate the weapons ban that President Clinton signed in to effect back in 1994. While deer hunting with a Bushmaster can rightly be called unnecessary, the spirit, nay, the reason for our second amendment is to provide the citizenry with a method of defense against a congress turned tyrant. It wasn't established by our founding fathers only to ensure our ability to hunt, or even defend against each other, but rather to defend against the very body sworn to uphold the laws of our land. I found it interesting that it was the one reason to own a firearm that President Obama forgot to include in his list.

...the rights of sportsmen and hunters and homeowners that want to keep their families safe -- to lawfully bear arms,...
-President Barack Obama

Interesting.

If they had shoes...

I'll try to keep the melodrama for my private conversations, but I needed to share something so those of you who talk to me on a regular basis can remind me of this next time I'm bitching and moaning about some patient related aspect of my work. No matter how awful the shift of a given health care worker is, with only a few exceptions, one thing needs to be kept in mind by all of us who have the good fortune to work with sick people & their families in the way we do. When our time that day is done, we go home; the patients stay for another round. If they are lucky they'll even get a team that isn't understaffed, pissed off, tired, hungry, in a hurry and self entitled. Oh yeah, and as a rule we are getting paid to be there, and they are paying. Well someone is...
That all being said, I'd love to educate people on what it means to work as part of the team to further the efficiency with which we deliver their care. Despite common public misconception a hospital runs with as much good luck and ingenuity as it does with regimented & controlled care. It would probably terrify people to know the minutia that goes in to ensuring that they are survive the day.
All in all we're lucky to work in the field we do; and we would do well to remember it while we sip our cappuccino's and bitch to one another.