The 15th Floor Overlooking Fenway

After several people independently mentioned I should start a blog (and within days of each other), I figured it was time. Plus, Nike+ has lots of cool stuff you can add to your blog. Talk about work will have to be very general, but I think I can manage.

Given my profession and high likelihood of either standing for the vast majority of the day and or walking several miles each day, I almost ALWAYS wear practical shoes. Most of the time I wear Dankso's especially since the extra height is usually required for my pants not to need hemming. I have entirely too many pairs including several crushed velvet styles. Dansko's don't work with skirts or dresses (really, and if you think they do -- they don't), and occasionally I like something fancier. Unfortunately fancier = high heals.

All in all I don't wear heals very often. Today I was in clinic all day and was supposed to have a meeting to discuss fellowship (it got rescheduled). I have a bunch of pants that I've bought recently that need to be hemmed. (And many of my non-hemmed pants aren't so comfortable -- hoping the running fixes that.) I decided that if I wore high-healed boots I had a pair of pants that I could wear without hemming them.

What is is about high heals? Why do I feel more powerful in them -- okay, the outfit together was great and the run this morning made me feel all the better, but still?

As I clicked around all day on the hardwood floor in the office I felt all the better -- like I could do just about anything. You don't get that feeling wearing cute flats.

My favorite part was when I was walking through the hospital at one point past this elderly gentleman (who had to be at least 70) and he said "Oh, isn't that a great sound!"
I think it means he loves a woman in sexy high heals.

But once we saw the last person in clinic I both my attending and I immediately took our shoes off!

But gentlemen -- what is it about high heals?

In the mail today:

University of Illinois

Student Loans and Collections
Chicago, IL 60612

Janurary 7, 2008
Kristen Raven
xxx xxxxxxxxx Ave
Boston, MA xxxx

RE: University of Illinois Loan XXX-XXX-XXXX

Dear Kristen Raven:

This letter confirms that your student loan is now paid-in-full.

Thank you for fulfilling you responsibility to repay your student loan.

Sincerely,
Student Loan and Collections
Enclosure

Enclosed was the original promisary note for $383.00 that I signed on on 3/18/04. I have no idea what this random loan was, but given that I'm still $200,000 in debt.......
I guess one down is better than nothing.

And yes, they did spell my name wrong twice.

ETA: Ben tells me that we paid this as a lump sum quite a while ago....guess we don't get to celebrate.

This is the first vacation that I don't have travel plans. Instead I get to sleep in my own bed every night and don't have to answer anyone.

Here's my list from the beginning of the week:
1. Run. It's still cold, so it will almost certainly be inside
2. Knit. I'm about to finish the first pair of socks that I haven't frogged. I'm trying to figure out what my next big project is going to be. And I still owe Ben a new hat.
3. Sleep.
4. Put away my laundry (which is maybe 2 weeks old)
5. See the Red Sox World Series Trophies (pictures forthcoming)
6. Clean up all the ABSITE studying.
7. Enjoy the view.
8. Pickin' Tuesdays on Tuesday
9. North End dinner on Tuesday to celebrate our 11-year non-anniversary.
10. Catch up on Days of Our Lives. I've already watched 3 episodes tonight.
11. Overdue hair cut on Thursday.
12. Pedicure
13. Rock Band
14. Have the oil changed

I'm going to go get started on #3.

Instead of scanning my package in Boston once a day, I was thinking maybe they could deliver it.

It's still not as bad as the time UPS sent my books to Washington State while we were living in Illinois.

Here's what I have planned for the week:
1. Run. I finished January with 52 miles, and long ago completed my goal of 30 miles (which I changed to 50). More running this week still to come.

2. Knit. Finished one pair of socks, started a second and started a new sweater........ I still owe Ben a new hat.
3. sleep. More of that to come.
4. Put away my laundry
5. See the Red Sox World Series Trophies
6. Clean up all the ABSITE studying. I've even now cleaned up the bigger mess I made re-organizing stuff.
7. Enjoy the view. Hmmm, haven't been sitting at my desk or by the window much.....though I am doing that right now.
8. Pickin' Tuesdays. Despite a large crowd we had some place to sit. Could have heard the band better elsewhere but the company was pretty good.
9. North End dinner on Tuesday to celebrate our 11-year non-anniversary. Even the left-overs have been eaten.
10. Catch up on Days of Our Lives. As I predicted John is alive, though once again brain washed by Stefano.
11. Overdue hair cut on Thursday. Not so sure how I my hair cut now costs me $75, though.....
12. Pedicure. I even got a manicure too.
13. Rock Band
14. Have the oil changed

So I guess tomorrow is put away the laundry day...... And I think I'll ask Ben to get the oil changed next weekend when I'm on call. More running (inside).

I haven't run since Sunday. The earliest I've been home all week is 6:30p which isn't bad until you consider that I go to bed at 9p because I get up before 5a. So in 2.5 hours I need to make/find and eat dinner, see my husband, usually do some reading for the next day, RELAX, and gather my things/clothes for the next day. I'm not sure if I'm making excuses, but it's not a lot of time. Unless I come home early tomorrow, I'm unlikely to run three times this week despite not being on call on Saturday. I should get two in, however.

This new rotation I'm on is quite busy. I've been operating this week which is always good. More thyroidectomies tomorrow.

I kind of though Heuy Lewis was black.

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME (first pet, current car): Travis Saturn

2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME (fave ice cream flavor, favorite type of shoe): Strawberry Dansko.

3. YOUR NATIVE AMERICAN NAME (favorite color, favorite animal): Purple Lab

4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name, city where you were born): Ellen Hinsdale.

5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 of your first name): Rav Kr

6. SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink): Red Diet Pepsi

7. NASCAR NAME (the first names of your grandfathers): Stanley James

8. STRIPPER NAME (the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy): Vanilla Bean Peanut Butter Cup

9. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME (your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter): Chernich Chicago

10. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower): Summer Daisy

11. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now): Banana Shorts

12. HIPPIE NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree): Bagel Pine

13. NEW LJ ID: (One word from your street name, a nickname of a family member): Brookline Brookie

And one of my favorite two nieces as cute as ever this weekend:

A "consider yourself tagged if you read this" from one of the many blogs I frequent:

10 years ago: I spent the last summer without my not yet husband, living on a very quiet East Campus 2nd West. Oddly, I lived in his room. I worked full time, started working out for the first time in my life, and studied for the MCAT.

9 years ago: I started seriously applying to medical school, perfecting a personal statement that was all too personal, but who wouldn't ride the cancer survivor story if she could?

8 years ago: We graduated from college and had professional movers move us out of our dorm so it could be renovated into some strange, very Asian dorm for the summer. Later that summer spent 9 hours & $1500 in the Elizabeth, NJ IKEA buying an apartment's worth of furniture for the first "home" Ben and I would start.

7 years ago: I quit my job to move to Illinois for medical school. Ben & I packed everything we owned into a 16' Uhaul truck and attached our 8 year-old Saturn to a car transporter in tow. We spent 4 days driving half-way across the country. (Really only a 3rd.)

6 years ago: In the span of 4 weeks we bought our first new car on a whim, got married, bought our first house, and went on a honeymoon. It was also my last summer off.

5 years ago: I spent 4 weeks studying full time for the first of the United States Medical Licensing Exams. While studying I celebrated the birth of my first niece. After an overnight in Chicago, took the exam which was certainly the hardest of the 3. Several days later took a quick vacation to Vegas & the Hoover Dam. In the meantime, my family postponed my grandfather's funeral so I could return from vacation.

4 years ago: I stopped ignoring the fact that I was meant to be a surgery and declared a "major". In an effort to get my name known I spent 8 weeks in Boston on "away" rotations. It was the longest I spent without my husband in the preceding 6 years or since. I sublet my first apartment and lived with strangers. That fall we cheered on the Red Sox as they won the 2004 World Series, their first in 86 years. I passed up the opportunity to actually see the Red Sox win game 4 in St. Louis because I was studying for the second step of the USMLE. And no one pointed out that it might be the game in which the Red Sox won the World Series.

3 years ago: We took the best vacation of our young lives: a two-week cruise from San Juan to San Diego via the Panama Canal. We arrived in San Diego less than 24 hours before I graduated from medical school in Illinois. Weeks later we sold our house and again packed everything we owned into a 16' Uhaul truck, put our 2 year-old Saturn on the car transporter in tow, and drove back to Boston. After unpacking the Uhaul in Boston, but before spending a single night in our new apartment, we drove it to the IKEA in New Haven, CT to buy a new apartment's worth of furniture. It was the last time we would move ourselves.

2 years ago: I finished general surgery internship. I should say it was the hardest year of my life, but I'm not sure it was. We refused to move out of our apartment for a window renovation project until our new apartment building was finished. We then spent $10k to move less than a mile, and have this fabulous view to show for it.

1 year ago: I started 3rd year of general surgery residency with the hardest rotation of the year - vascular nights. Five nights a week I tried kept 25 people from dying. Sometimes I was successful, and then there was the morning I coded two people simultaneously. After the rotation I took the 3rd and final step of the United States Medical Licensing Exams having studied part time for a week. Sadly the two-day, 600-question exam actually felt like a vacation.

Now, consider yourself tagged.

Across the street a Panera is being completed. Today we scoped out the plans visible through the window of the corner storefront in our building and couldn't believe it's going to be a Chipotle! Seriously?

We've been trying not to eat out EVERY night, but this is going to make it much harder.

When I graduated medical school I held an official position as "grad hourly" from which I was not fired. So my UIUC account did not get expunged on the regular schedule as it should have since I graduated. Therefore, I still have a UIUC email address, and I still get email addressed to "everbody@uiuc.edu". They are generally amusing, though never meant to be. Here's today's message from the Chancellor:

Dear Students,

Many of you may be aware of an event known as Rush. It is my objective to
warn you of the potential downsides of Greek organizations. I advise you to
not succumb to the aggressive recruitment tactics used by these
organizations. It has been my concern over the years, that the Greek culture
of alcoholism and lack of respect for the community degrades campus life.
These organizations present themselves as prestigious, yet are
discriminatory, serve to perpetuate social inequality, especially with
respect to the opposite gender, and promote a lack of diversity. Many
students have expressed concerns with regards to safety on campus,
particularly due to Greek culture and behavior. It is my hope that a
student's experience on campus strengthens one's individuality, but the Greek
system emphasizes the group above all, without cause or reason. This is
detrimental to the purpose of universities.

I hope that you will consider wisely.

GDI Chancellor Richard Herman

Ouch. Still, I don't think anyone at UIUC has drank themselves to death.

EDIT: The following was sent a couple hours later.....

Dear members of the campus community:

You may have received an email titled: Regarding Greek life on campus.
This message was a hoax and was NOT sent by Chancellor Richard Herman and
was NOT authorized by the campus administration.

Robin Kaler
Associate Chancellor for Public Affairs

I'm on my way back to bed after waking up at 6:20 on my day off. I've eaten breakfast and started to catch up on the blog'osphere. And I learned this about myself:

You Should Be a Politician

Confident, assertive, and dedicated - you know what you want in life and how to get it. Stubborn and opinionated, you can stand your ground... even if it's unpopular. And while you have strong views, you never overwhelm people with your opinions. A true charmer, you subtly influence people into seeing things your way. You do best when you: - Work according to your own rules - Can change the world with what you do You would also be a good lawyer or talk show host.

I think it's pretty correct, actually.

As my husband just announced: I regret to inform you that winter is here.

I'm trying to be happy that it was 65 over the weekend, and that I got to enjoy it with two great runs and night out on the town. But it's hard not to be upset it's so cold. I suppose it will be Thanksgiving next week, and it should be cold.

I wasn't so sure I was going to find clothes for the morning, but "feels like 13" is too cold for scrubs.

A few things for which I am thankful:

1. My day off this week is Thanksgiving
2. My parents still being able to come visit for Thanksgiving
4. My husband being home for Thanksgiving
3. A great 6 1/2 mile run:

4. Spending several days with my entire family at once the week before Christmas

Happy Thanksgiving!

I have to write my vascular surgery fellowship personal statement which has me looking at old documents for inspiration. Here's a selection from my secondary application to the Rush Medical College, circa 1999. (I actually really liked Rush and almost went there if they hadn't been so freakin expensive. I also really liked Rush's General Surgery Residency, and I think they were my first choice Chicago program, however, we were trying to come back to Boston.)

Who let me write this B.S., and what the heck does it mean? My husband says clearly he never read it, because he wouldn't have let me submit this crap.

State one major problem you encountered during your academic career and explain how you dealt with it.

Physical chemistry is a notoriously hard course at most institutions. When enrolling in the class I expected a challenge, but could not have predicted the serious difficulties I would face. The problem sets required thought, but, like the lecture material, made sense to me. However, the exams posed questions that I could neither answer, nor seemed familiar. For the first time at MIT I feared I would fail both the exam and the class. I arranged a meeting with the professor to discuss my exams and problem sets. From our conversation, I was able to understand that her exam questions required thinking on a much larger scale. Not only did she want me to go beyond understanding and applying the material, she hoped I would be able to articulate my knowledge in a purely analytical manner.

Briefly describe the personal characteristics that make you effective in working with people and outline your skills, interest, aptitude and temperament in relation to your suitability for a career in medicine.

Thus far, my intelligence has allowed me to learn, retain, and integrate a vast amount of scientific data through study, experimentation, and experience, and I am certain it will continue to serve me through my medical studies and practice. My years at MIT have also fostered my scientific interest and have allowed me to master the scientific mode of inquiry and to attain good manipulative skills. Very often I have found myself the leader of groups due to my favorable personality and broadmindedness. This is reflected in my wide breadth of interests, my desire for a wide range of experiences, my habit of forming value judgments independently, my ability to establish close friendships, an open-mindedness to non-conforming ideas, and the capacity of putting issues in their proper perspective. Likewise, I embody a warmth and empathy that allows me to reflect a positive response to the needs, suffering, and fears of others in a manner that can provide both reassurance and respect.

What do you feel is your greatest academic strength? Explain.

I consider my ability to marshal my intellectual resources to meet challenges an especially valuable asset. My gift for creativity is reflected in my self-confidence and by my ability to define problems, to think originally, to question scientific dogmas, and to demonstrate intellectual courage. Inherent in self-education is the necessity to hone one’s critical faculties. This permits my clear thinking and independent formulation of judgments. My self-education also includes an ability to assimilate and sustain a large knowledge base, as well as the ability to define and solve problems by interpreting data, reasoning critically, and applying learned information.

What do you feel is your greatest non-academic strength? Explain.

I possess the capability of enduring the rigorous physical and emotional demands of years of study and training. I am also able to maintain the self-discipline that is required during a prolonged preparatory period. Medical school and specialty training require a disposition capable of expending an enormous amount of energy. MIT has prepared me for such training, and these innate characteristics are reflected in my record of academic success while simultaneously being employed and involved in a variety of extracurricular activities.

What do you feel is your greatest academic weakness? Explain.

For the most part, pressure causes me to work more efficiently and produce better results. One of the reasons for my academic success is that I continually strive for excellence. However at other times, my desire for perfection leads to frustration when I simply cannot finish a problem set or lost sleep in order to polish a paper. My greatest academic weakness is from time to time failing to remember that I am not perfect and allowing these small hurdles to become much larger obstacles.

What do you feel is your greatest non-academic weakness? Explain.

Over the last few years, I have become so wrapped up in my studies and research that I have occasionally lost touch with current events. I have tried to gain some insight into daily affairs by watching the television news, but I know this passive experience is by far the least informative. Whenever I can, I skim a section or two from the newspaper in order to further orient myself or listen to public radio for differing views on present topics.

Who do you feel will be most likely to provide your emotional support while in medical school? Give relationship and reason for choosing the individual.

My parents have always been strong sources of encouragement and support. Even while I have lived a great distance from home during college, their cards, letters, and phone calls have kept them present in my daily life and never let me forget their unified belief in my goals. My relationship with my parents has blossomed over the last few years as I have moved closer to adulthood. I know I will have their full support as I enter this new stage in life.

List your hobbies in order of importance to you.

cross-stitching, cooking, bicycling/exercising, reading

What other career possibilities did you consider and why did you reject them?

The only other field I seriously considered was chemistry. I have enjoyed the challenges of synthetic organic chemistry for two years, but my work lacked a direct link to the people I was helping. While I can think about the people who will benefit from the new drugs that may arise from my research, my goal has always been the more personal science of practicing medicine

Briefly describe your experiences in working with people, the general responsibilities of each, and how long you held the position. If you have had limited experiences in working with people in the health field, be sure to list any life experience, both paid or voluntary, including high school, college, or community service.

Kennel Aide, Boughton Square Animal Clinic [7/93 - 4/94] Responsible for general care of in- and out-patient; interaction with clients when handling animals and while waiting for doctors.
Receptionist, Boughton Square Animal Clinic [4/94-5/96, 6/97-8/97] Responsible for all front office work: answering phone calls; managing appointments and payments; interacting with clients and animals throughout appointments; explanation of general medical procedures and medications; dealing with other clinics via phone/fax
Administrative Assistant, MIT EE & CS Undergrad Office [8/96-5/97] Clerical work and tours of the department for prospective new students and their families
Desk Staffer, MIT East Campus Alumni Houses [8/97-present] Customer service representative to the 400 residents and associated visitors

What plans do you have following graduation from medical school?

After spending one and a half years in pharmaceutical research, I am certain that I want daily patient contact as a clinician. However, I am still interested in the continuous challenges that research provides through the cycle of questioning, investigation, and discovery, and I may look to divide my time between the clinic and the lab. I plan to settle in the Chicago area and work at a local hospital rather than in a private practice.

Do you have plans to practice in a medically under-served area?

Serving in such an area is an option I neither have plans for nor have rejected. With a better understanding of the problems and benefits facing those practicing in medically under-served areas, I may decide that this is indeed my calling.

If you were forced to choose a medical specialty today, what area of medicine would you choose? Why?

Today I would choose to specialize in oncology. Surviving cancer as a child and experiencing my father’s cancer ordeal provides me with a unique perspective on the treatment and care of cancer patients. I believe I have an understanding of the lasting affects of the disease that forces me to focus most of my attention on the patient in order to provide the best care possible.

I could survive for 54 seconds chained to a bunk bed with a velociraptor

Created by Bunk Beds.net

I'm hoping my husband will write his own blog post, but in the mean time I borrowed this photo he sent me from the Mall on 1/20/09. I think the sun rising in the horizon is my favorite part.

Yeah, exciting vacation.....

1. What color is your toothbrush?
Blue

2. Name one person who made you smile today:
Brooke

3. What were you doing at 8 am this morning:
Running -- I was on mile 1 of 11.

4. What were you doing 45 minutes ago?
Surfing ebay.

5. What is your favorite candy bar?
Reese's

6. Have you ever done karaoke?
Nope, and the world is a better place for it.

7. What is the last thing you said aloud?
And what other tennis players can you name?

8. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Strawberry

9. What was the last thing you had to drink?
Milk.

10. Do you like your wallet?
Sort of. It's too big, but all my stuff fits.

11. What was the last thing you ate?
Chocolate cake.

12. Have you bought any new clothing items this week?
Yep. Dress, sweater, and suit coat (the latter will be returned), plus some shorts.

13. The last sporting event you watched?
Currently watching Bulls vs Celtics.

14. What is your favorite flavor of popcorn?
Butter, but not too greasy.

15. Who is the last person you sent a text message too?
Ben

16. Ever go camping?
NEVER

17. Do you take vitamins daily?
No

18. Do you go to church every Sunday?
No, but wish I did.

19. Do you have a tan?
Ha. No.

20. Do you prefer Chinese food over pizza?
Hmmm, some days.

21. Do you drink your soda with a straw?
Only at a restaurant

22. What did your last text message say?
Sorry, my phone was off somehow. I love you and miss you lots. Call when you can.

23. What are you doing tomorrow?
Playing with Brooke & Ricky, eating Portillo's for lunch, getting a pedicure with mom, flying back to Boston

25. Look to your left, what do you see?
Picture of my parents with the grandkids.

26. What color is your watch?
Black

27. What do you think of when you hear Australia?
Kangaroos

29. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive thru?
Go in, but we don't have many drive thrus in the city.

30. What is your favorite number?
8

31. Who's the last person you talked to on the phone?
Ben

32. Any plans today?
The day was full: 11 mile run, park with the kids, dinner with the family

33. How many states have you lived in?
2

34. Biggest annoyance right now?
That my husband isn't here.

35. Last song listened to?
Can't remember, but I was listening to Bruce Springsteen on the plane yesterday.

36. Can you say the alphabet backwards?
Sure.

37. Do you have a maid service clean your house?
No, but need one!

38. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time?
Favorite? I wear Danskos most of the time.

39. Are you jealous of anyone?
Er...no?

40. Is anyone jealous of you?
I can't imagine why they would be.

41. Do you love anyone?
Yes

42. Do any of your friends have children?
Most of them

43. What do you usually do during the day?
Work, wish I wasn't.

44. Do you hate anyone that you know right now?
Not so much at the moment.

45. Do you use the word 'hello' daily?
'Hello' no. "Hey" a bunch.

46. What color is your car?
Cranberry (seriously)

47. Do you like cats?
No

48. Are you thinking about someone right now?
Yep, Ben.

49. Have you ever been to Six Flags?
Yes

50. How did you get your worst scar?
Ex-lap, nephrectomy

Forbes: Top 20 America's Most Overpriced Cities:

- No. 1: Los Angeles, Calif.
- No. 2: Chicago, Ill.
- No. 3: Miami, Fla.
- No. 4: New York, N.Y.
- No. 5: Providence, R.I.
- No. 6: Riverside, Calif.
- No. 7: Long Island, N.Y.
- No. 8: Cleveland, Ohio
- No. 9 (tie): Newark, N.J.
- No. 9 (tie): San Diego, Calif.
- No. 11: Philadelphia, Pa.
- No. 12: Portland, Ore.
- No. 13 (tie): Tampa, Fla.
- No. 13 (tie): Memphis, Tenn.
- No. 15: Orlando, Fla.
- No. 16: St. Louis, Mo.
- No. 17: Jacksonville, Fla.
- No. 18: San Francisco, Calif.
- No. 19 (tie): Warren, Mich.
- No. 19 (tie): Boston, Mass.

NEVER would I imagine that Boston would be tied for NINETEEN. Maybe the key is that living here is expensive, but not overpriced?

Infact:

No. 19 (tie): Boston, Mass. (tie)
Cost of Living: 45 of 50
Housing Opportunity: 37 of 50
Unemployment Rate: 13 of 50
Average Salary: 9 of 50