Lincoln's First Baby Photos

Click here to view this photo book larger

Create your own custom photo books at Shutterfly.com.

Here is a link to the Shutterfly photo album we created for our Italy Honeymoon trip last spring.

Click here to view this photo book larger

The new way to make a photo album: photo books by Shutterfly.

Hemingway House

We went to Key West, FL this week in search of a venue to get married. We looked at many places, including three hotel resorts, the Audabon House, Truman's Little Whitehouse, the Lighthouse, and the Hemingway House. After weighing the benefits and downsides to all, we are almost certain we are going with the Hemingway House.

This is the front view of the home. It is a historic building that Ernest Hemingway lived. His office is off the back of the building, in a separate loft. In that office is the desk he worked at that we would sign our marriage license after the wedding.

This is to the left of the photo above. Here is where the wedding ceremony would occur. The nice part is that we would not need much as far as decorations because of all the plants already present. There is plenty of seating for all of our guests.











This is a view from where the reception would be. We would likely have a tent as it rains almost every day here in Florida, although short lived. I am standing where the band would play from this picture. The dance floor would be over the mulched area. To the right of this is where the pool area is as seen in the next photograph.

Here is the pool area. This is where the cocktail hour would be. There would be high-top tables in the lawn.















The Hemingway House is a neat place with a lot of history. Also, across the street is a botique motel/bed and breakfast that is very affordable for hour guests. It also has a top floor suite with a full kitchen that we would likely have a brunch the day after the wedding.

 This is Kermitt's Key Lime Pie Shoppe. Delicious. They also have a chocolate dipped key lime pie on a stick. Equally delicious.

 This is all of us on a small island where there is a delicious restaurant. Val's parents took us out for our birthday's (My 29, her 30).

Val and I at the Southernmost Point bouy, which is 90 miles to Cuba.

Dr. Suess

Val and I at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fl. We had season passes and they expire in a few weeks so we decided to go one last time. It was not crowded at all, considering most have started school back up at this point. So, we did not have to wait in line and actually rode all the coasters in the front seats. It really made a huge difference sitting in front compared to the back of the coaster. It is a lot of fun, but I am not sure if we will get season passes again. We may try Disney at some point since I have never been there either.

Gator

The one that was finally harvested. 7'10"

Gators

Mike and Brandon have been gator hunting all week. No luck, though. I went with them last night and we saw a bunch of them. Basically you go out on the boat and drive up and down the river shining a flashlight around until you see their eyes glow. Then, if you can get close enough, you either spear them with what looks like a long pole and a knife at one end, or you use your fishing reel equipped-bow and arrow. Or, you can hang nasty rotton chicken from trees. The bait is wrapped around a wooden peg tied to a long string that is connected at the other end to an empty bottle with reflectors. When the gator takes the bait, you later come by to find the bottle floating around because the wooden peg is stuck in the gators digestive tract. Unfortunately I had to leave early because these shinanigans take place between 8pm and 6am. Here is one they caught about 30 minutes after I left. It was small so they let it go unharmed, back into the wild to grow old and become a nice pair of boots.

Mike holding the gator.

Bikes

Around Christmas 2010 we bought new bikes in hopes to get some exercise in and have some fun doing it. I got a Trek 6000 and Val got a Trek 3700. We rode quite a bit and rode on the Alafia River trails once or twice a month. They have pretty intense (for Florida) mountain biking. A couple of months ago our bikes were stolen from our apartment complex. They were locked on a bike rack within our secure garage about 100 ft from our security guard and on camera. The guy who stole them got caught and is getting multiple counts of felony secondary to this. There were seven bikes total stolen from our building alone. We went to go buy new bikes! I ended up getting the Trek Fuel EX8 and Val got the Trek 6000. These were pretty decent upgrades from our prior bikes. After dropping some dough on these, the police called and stated they found our bikes at a local pawn shop. Pawn shops are required to document the serial number of the bikes, which I reported to the police as stolen. When the police ran a search on the "pawn shop database," our bikes showed up on the list! So, this past week, we have had 4 bikes sitting in our apartment (we are not trusting the "secure" garage anymore). Already sold my old one and someone is interested in Val's. Our new bikes are awesome!!!

Trek 6000

My old bike

Trek 3700

Val's old bike

Trek 6000

Val's new bike

Trek Fuel EX8

My new bike

Engagement

Here is the evidence. We are planning April or May 2013 when I am on research and therefore will have more time off. At this point we are planning to have it in Key West. We are going down for vacation in September to look at some places. I will keep you all updated.

2011 Mustang GT

My new car. I bought it in January and absolutely love it. It is ridiculously fast. 412HP fast. It has the same performance as a new BMW M3 but less than half the cost. Plus, it is pretty luxury inside. All leather and I especially like the hands free radio, satellite, bluetooth telephone and iPod.

Long time no blogging

Well everyone, it has been a LOOONG time since I have updated this. But, better late than never. I am now in my third year of residency and have a little more time now than last year so here goes.

Here are two photos from my balcony tonight. I thought I would share a touch of Florida sunsets with all the folks back home. If you are jealous, you should visit. I have not had enough visitors (so far Kristen my first year, and my parents last year).

I am awaiting other visitors, please feel free to come by. We have a spare room and all are always welcome, preferably when I am not on call.

I will be trying to update this much more often this year with things we are doing, work, and getting ready for the wedding.

Keep in touch everyone!

Healthcare Reform Improves Education

The title of this is by my confusion of Nancy Pelosi's acceptance speech of her Grammy, Oscar, and Pine Wood Derby Blue Ribbon. She had a little slip in there where she mentioned education will improve with the passing of healthcare reform. If anyone has any insight, please let me know.

Healthcare will change. I am not sure how or when, but it will. All of what I heard prior to the past year was people wanted healthcare reform. I agreed. I wanted Tort Reform, I wanted people to take responsibility for their own health, self investment in health, and less corruption within the health system (including Medicare/Medicaid). I always thought that if people had the choice to buy a $100 per month cell phone bill not only for themselves, but for their children, they could handle the same payment for basic healthcare coverage. But I also have had strong belief that we all have the choice to not purchase healthcare insurance.

So, what happend. I am not going to tell you what is in the bill. If you want to know, read it or read the summaries. I will tell you what is not in it. Tort reform is not in the bill. Probably, likely, because the bill was written by lawyers. These same lawyers who profit from law suits made against MD's, Hospitals, and Insurance Companies. I find this interesting because in medicine, when we write scientific articles to be published in journals, they go through a very rigorous review process. The process includes, but is not limited to, reducing biases and conflicts of interest. Also, we know that great papers can still be written by people with these biases and conflicts of interest, so we have policy that we must disclose any of these on the paper itself. Why does the government not have these checks and balances and disclosures. I would love to see on the cover of the bill: "Disclosure: This manuscript contains information by policy makers that may have conflicts of interst. All authors are lawyers. All authors are wealthy. No authors plan to abide by the policies within this document." In all honesty, the list of biases and conflicts of interest are too long to list in a blog (it would take a 2,000 page bill that noone would read).

Things that annoy me:

1. The fact the Dems state there are 50 million uninsured. Here is the skinny:

It is broken down into two categories: Those who choose not to be insured, and those who do not.

1. Voluntarily Uninsured - ~45%

-Very large percentage (21%) have an income >$75,000

-about 1/2 of the uninsured b/t 18 and 64 fall into this group

-40% of this group is young and healthy, and feel the investment in healthcare insurance is unjustified (this last part is my opinion, but the percentage is true)

2. Involuntarily Uninsured - ~55%

-1/3 are highschool drop outs

-1/3 are immigrants

-remaining 1/3 are made of different groups

-26% of those uninsured have access to public healthcare but do not make use

-So, after reading the statistics, let's break down the numbers. We'll say 50 Billion uninsured (for ease of math). That means about 27 Billion are those who do not have insurance in the not by choice group. Seven Billion of these have access but do not use it. Therefore, 20 Billion people are uninsured because they have no money or access to healthcare. Of these, many are illegally residing in the United States, and others decided high school was not worth the effort (because it is so hard?).

-Despite this, the Dems sold to us that 50 Billion do not have health insurance without breaking it down. And now, we have more socialized healthcare because (in my opinion) people break the law (illegals), are lazy (high school drop outs and those who decide not to work and be a productive member of society), are making great money but are too cheap to spend it on their health, or are young and healthy and have a God complex and feel they will never get ill.

2. The fact the Dems think if they take the "Rich" man's money and give it to the "Poor" is going to make everyone equal.

3. Bullying Chicago-style politics that now run Washington. The majority of people feel one way, but Obama and his posse bribe, bully, and destroy those against their agenda and then cram it down our throats.

4. Thinking illegal immigrants have constitutional rights in the United States. (By the way, they already have access to free education and healthcare).

5. Obama and Co. jumping from one "emergency" to another. It is like a game of leapfrog from one lilly pad to another. What is next? I would guess the legalization of all immigrants and opening our borders to unlimited immigration. Whatever it may be, it will be ridiculous, against common sense and reason, and will undoubtedly pass because Obama is King.

6. This may be the most annoying to me. The fact that there is no reason in the White House. There is no valid thought process. No educated conversation. No reason or common sense whatsoever. These people running our country are supposed to represent us, not rule us. They are supposed to do as we say as a collective.

7. Global Warming and everything that is Green (which sucks because this used to be my favorite color).

8. A few people in government thinking they know what is best for me.

9. Involuntary charity - Government taking our tax dollars (mostly from the rich) and giving it to charitable organizations. If we want to donate money or time, we will. You do not have to force us to donate to organizations we do not morally support or agree with.

Christmas/New Year

Hello everyone/anyone that reads this blog. Christmas and New Year's Eve are at their ends. I finished Cardio Thoracic Surgery this week and start the surgical intensive care unit rotation Monday. I hear it is a good learning month. Only bad thing is I have to wear a dreaded tie the entire month.

Christmas was good. I was on call Christmas Eve but got a few hours of sleep, enough to get me through the day without being tired. Val's sister, Faye, was in town from Minneapolis. It was nice seeing her again. They attempted/accomplished watching all of the Harry Potter movies. I did not take part in the marathon. I spent Christmas Day at Val's parents' house in St. Pete just outside of Tampa. As far as gifts, I got a Blue-Ray player, some wine and beer glasses, pajamas, a jacket, and some other small things. The Blue-Ray player is pretty nice because it connects to the internet and I can play "Watch It Now" videos that are a part of my Netflix plan. Before, we would have to watch them on my computer. There are quite a few movies on the watch it now so that is a definite plus. Val got an iPhone so she is excited and plays with it all day long. All-in-all, it was a good relaxing day.

Then I worked a few days between the holidays but fortunately have had off the New Year block. It has been nice sleeping in over the past two days. Tomorrow I am going to go down south a bit and visit my friends Mike and Angie because they just had a baby boy, Cameron.

Other than that, just living it one day at a time down here. I am getting excited about spring fishing that is coming up in a couple of months. I got a new reel (so now I have to get a new rod to go with it, of course) at Cabela's when I was in St. Louis. So, if anyone ever wants to visit I have a spare rig ready to go.

Well, I am off to eat some homemade pizza and read a little bit. Take care everyone and Happy 2010.

Back From Vacation

So, I just got back from vacation this week and started my next rotation, Cardiothoracic Surgery. Vacation was nice but just oh so short. I drove home because I wanted to get some hunting in. Above is a couple of pictures of our cabin. The top one is of the wood burning stove and the bottom one is when we laid the stone foundation around the bottom. Well, to get to the story about hunting and the reason there are no pictures of a deer, is that I suck at hunting and missed the deer I shot at. End of story.

It was nice seeing all of my friends and family. I stayed with my parents the whole time and we all had dinner at my grandparents for "Thanksgiving." I wish I had time to hang out with everyone longer.

Well, needless to say, it had to come to an end and I had to drive home. On the drive to and from St. Louis, I read a couple of "Books on Tape."

1. Common Sense - Glenn Beck

-This was a great book. It was short and to the point. It did not speak about how bad democrats are, or how bad republicans are. It basically spoke about the lack of common sense that goes into many of the decision that are made, both in and out of politics. It is a book inspired by the Thomas Payne book. I have yet to read that one but hope to someday.

2. Christmas Sweater - Glenn Beck

-This is a book written based around a true story/true events in Glenn Beck's life. The moral of the story is that we are the only person who can decide if we are happy or not. Not our past, present or future events, but our attitudes. It basically states that everyone has terrible things happen to them at some point in their lives, but only we can make the decision to wake up happy.

3. The Shack - William P. Young

-Awesome book. A Christian book. I don't want to give details because it is worth

reading and I hope you do. It really makes you think.

Anyway, I have to go read. I haven't had time this week but have a couple of hours tonight.

Happy Holidays

First Visitors

Well,

I had a weekend off and my cousin, Kristin, and Yosh came in to town to run a half-marathon. I was going to run this, but I started out too quick and got shin splints. For some reason I tried running six miles my second week. I accomplished the six miles, but thereafter I could not even run 1/2 mile due to pain. They still ran the half. Unfortunately, it was a short weekend and we didn't get to do too much, but it was nice having visitors. Here is some pictures of us in Hyde Park by the Christmas tree.

Trauma

So, I am 3/4 finished with my trauma rotation. It is an interesting experience to say the least. Most of what we do is deal with social work issues because almost everyone who comes into the trauma bay is either homeless, drunk, or both. I have learned that the fastest way to get into an accident is to be intoxicated. Whether you are riding a bike, riding a motorcycle, driving a car, or just crossing a major highway on foot, being intoxicated seems to be the common denominator.

But, this has truly been an eye-opening experience. If you have a weak stomach, I suggest skipping this paragraph. People come in shot and we have to put tubes in their lungs while they are awake. These tubes are about the diameter of a nickel. Other people come in brain dead from an accident and have their brain hanging out of their skull. But, since it is a teaching hospital, we treat the patient as if they were going to make it. Just because they are brain dead, does not mean their heart isn't working and they aren't breathing on their own. So if they are, we go through the motions of trying to save their life to learn. So, one night, I was doing chest compressions on a patient as their brain was coming out of their nose. I almost vomited. I know this is a necessary part of a general surgeon's training. I am just glad it's not part of mine.

Unfortunately, being the bottom guy on the totem pole I do not get to do much of the cool stuff. I get to drain abscesses, admit patients and discharge patients. I wish I got more experience running traumas and learning about head and neck trauma but I try to just learn this on my own. Oh well.

I am just getting a little frustrated being a non-general surgery resident on general surgery rotations. We don't get treating differently, so I am not complaining about that. I am frustrated that I am learning about things that have nothing to do with Head and Neck Surgery. But, like I said, I try to read a bit every day or so to get ahead.

Otherwise things are going well. I got to go to the operating room and do 3 surgeries last Friday. 1. Lipoma resection: this is a benign lesion that was on someone's neck and I got to do the removal of it. 2. Benign tumor resection: this was on someone's chest and I got to help remove this. 3. Umbilical hernia repair: I didn't get to do much of the actual repair, but I got to open the skin with the scalpel and close the wound after it was fixed. None of these three cases have anything to do with my specialty, but at least I got some experience with the knife and suturing. The attending was very good about letting me do the operations and teaching me how to use the instruments.

All in all, this is an okay rotation that I wish I had more duties but am still trying to make the most of it.

Skyway Pier Fishing

Went fishing last week. We went off Rattlesnake Key off the South Skyway Pier. We couldn't decide if we wanted to take the Hobie Mirage Outback Kayak out to the Skyway and fish for some Spanish Mackerel or hit the flats and try the Trout. I got out there a bit before Mike so I decided to catch some bait. I was having no luck until about 30 minutes before he got there. I first tried using a Cast Net. Needless to say, this is not the best thing to do from a kayak. I fell in. Luckily I decided to take my phone and put it in the dry box just prior. So, all is safe and I climbed back in. At this point, bait was coming into the grass flats as the tide came in. So, I started using my Tsunami Fluorocarbon Sabiki Rig. This was slower, yet safer from a kayak. I caught a decent amount of bait, including greenbacks and lady fish. At that point, Mike finally showed up. It was about an hour before dark and we started catching some fish. We mainly used MirrOLure. We also used some of the bait I had caught. We did well and caught over 5 trout each. Unfortunately only a few were keepers. Those few tasted good.

Disregarded Common Sense

Vacation

Yes, I actually get 2 whole weeks of vacation this year. They are as follows:

1. 11/30/09-12/6/09

2. 3/22/10-3/27/10 (I have to be back by Saturday night because I am on call Sunday)

What is going on with this world?

Ok, so there are many things to talk about.

1. I am finished with Neurosurgery. I had a great time with the guys. We all had very similar personalities and got along well. They treated me well, too. But, it is nice to not be on call anymore for the next few weeks. In short, I am on anesthesia right now. Basically, I walk into the OR and put the tube in the patients' airway for the case. Not a bad gig considering I have no call or weekend responsibilities.

2. I am going to San Diego this coming weekend to present a paper I wrote on Head and Neck Cancer. I am going to try to go to the Zoo. Otherwise, any ideas for what there is to do?

3. Some bone-head Orlando, FL Representative (D) made a bone-head comment yesterday. He said that the Republican Party's health care reform plan is "Don't get sick." That's it. Oh, I cannot believe I almost forgot the other bone-head comment, [if you do get sick,] "Die quickly." I know that's how I feel as a Conservative in the health care field (sarcasm, of course). I mean, seriously? What jack ass would actually say that at the US House of Representatives? Only the Democratic Party could produce someone as intelligent as Alan Grayson to enlighten all of us on how we, the majority, feel about health care.

4. A couple of friends of mine, Neil and Jenna, are getting married in November. Unfortunately I have my week of vacation the week after, so I cannot make it. That sucks.

5. My cousin Kristin and her friend Yosh are coming to Tampa for a 1/2 marathon in November. I decided since they are going to come all the way here as my first visitors, the least I can do is attempt to run this with them since this is an easier month. I started training last week. I am embarrassing. I will give you updates shortly.

6. I am thinking of getting a mountain bike or kayak when funds are sufficient. Right now, I am saving for a kitchen table. Priorities. It will probably be after Christmas when I can afford this.

Ryan

Updates

Hello all,

I am now finished with my month of general surgery and am coming to the end of my first week of neurosurgery. I miss general surgery for a few reasons: 1. I actually had a clue what I was doing, 2. The other intern and I were actually good enough to get responsibility which resulted in learning how to take care of patients (isn't that what we are supposed to be doing every rotation?), and 3. I got to do a procedures.

Some procedures I got to do was place central venous lines which is basically a big IV but in one of the major veins, place arterial lines which are used to monitor respiratory status in really sick patients, and I even got to intubate someone which is where you put a tube in their airway to hook up to a ventilator to help the patient breath.

All in all, it was a good month. Now, I am on neurosurgery. I feel retarded to say the least. Honestly, the 4th year medical students that want to go into neurosurgery know more than I do. I think that they accept we don't know much, but I still don't like feeling like such an idiot every day. Oh well, it is only one month.

Next month I am on anesthesia where I get experience managing airways. The airway is a big part of ENT especially in emergencies. We are the ones that get the glory of cutting someone's neck when they cannot breath in an emergency situation. Plus, the first week of that rotation I am going to San Diego to present a paper that I accepted for publication on head and neck cancer. It will be a nice few day vacation plus a nice way to build up my Curriculum Vitae.

Other than that, the apartment is taking shape. We have a new chair and side table. We sold our coffee table and will get one that matches. All that is really left is to get a kitchen table and chairs. No new fishing stories since I have not had any time to go. Maybe this weekend since I get a day or two off!

On a political note, I hope that all of us can stand up to the coercive bullying that is going on in the White House and the media.

Keep in touch everyone!