I recently heard a song that really struck me. The tune was the first thing that really hooked me, but as I listened to the words it dug at me more and more. I suppose in that form it is good art, because that is the core of art. Normally not a huge Puscifer fan, I will grant them this victory over me.

"Nature, nurture, heaven and home
Sum of all and by them driven
To conquer every mountain shown
But have never crossed the river
Braved the forest braved the stone
Braved the icy winds and fire
Braved and beat them on my own
Yet I'm helpless by the river

Angel, angel what have I done?
I've faced the quakes the wind, the fire
I've conquered country, crown, and throne
Why can't I cross this river?

Pay no mind to the battles you've won
It'll take a lot more than rage and muscle
Open your heart and hands my son
Or you'll never make it over the river
It'll take a lot more that words and guns
A whole lot more than riches and muscle
The hands of the many must join as one
And together we'll cross the river"

In particular the opening lines, Nature, Nurture, Heaven and Home. Sum of all, and by them driven.

I can apply these words to myself because I think in some ways I have felt that I have always treaded water. Even as I have moved ever forward through life, towards my goal to be a doctor, a man, a friend, a husband and a father I have always had trouble crossing the river. Facing oneself and coming to terms with the weakest part of oneself is often a river we fail to cross. Puscifer front man Maynard James Keegan has often flirted with religious themes. And while that might not have been his intention in this song, I certainly took it that way. Because while I may not be able to cross that river, I certainly believe that hand in hand with my creator it is something I fill be able to face.

Pretty awesome song. Worth a listen.

Humbling River

Stay healthy.

Winter is here.

Our first real snow of the year was yesterday, and it is still blowing around today. In all honesty it was somewhat refreshing. Please, don't be mistaken. Snow sucks. And seeing all of this white stuff was enough to make me seriously consider south Texas. But the change of seasons can be nice. And in an effort not to break the 11th commandment I am trying to look on the bright side. This cold will only make the summer seem that much nicer. So there is that.

I have finished up Dermatology today. It was a great month long rotation. Gave me some serious procedure time. Resections, freezes, etc. I am much more comfortable with these things than I had been before the rotation. And since this is bread and butter kind of stuff, I am pumped to have that learning behind me as I move forward towards Monticello. Now on to Urology. I will be working with one of the local Uro's here in Peoria. I am pumped about the possibility of learning how to perform vasectomies. That skill would be something I could carry forward to provide a local service to my patient's in Monticello, as well as make some extra money. And they don't take that long at all! I am pretty sure I would have to attend a certification conference to actually get cleared for it, but learning the procedure is the first step. Should be a good time. Two weeks of Uro and then off to another 2 weeks of Ortho. Those two weeks will hopefully help me shore up my injection procedures. All very exciting!

More fun to come, and only one more FMS block to go.

Stay Healthy!

2012 has arrived.

The Holidays are over. 2012 is here. It has been a whirlwind of a few weeks. I went from FMS, to Vacation, from an empty house to a full house, and then back to an empty house again. An old year is gone, and a new year has come.

Mandi and I rang in the new year at my friend Matt's place in Bloomington. It was nice to see some of the MSHS gents again. It had been a while. I gave my beautiful wife the appropriate new-years smooch and called it good to go. We slept in today, rested on the couch, watched the Bears win (BEAR DOWN!) and are going to have some Lasagna for dinner. If the rest of the year follows in the fashion of today, it should be good.

Oh, and also. Its MY year. Booyah. For those of you who don't know Mandi and I have devised a system for deciding the age old Husband/Wife quandry of "who gets the last bite of dessert?". Like many couples, we often split a dessert. But when a treat is split, there comes a point where there is always a last bite to be had. In an effort to avoid nasty competition over this bite, or bitterness over someone getting it more often, Mandi and I decided that the fairest way to do it was to alternate years. She was born on an odd numbered year, myself on an even numbered year. As such on the odd numbered years SHE will get the last bite. And on the even numbered years I will get the last bite. Well suckers, its 2012. And that makes it my year! WHOO HOO!

2012 offers the promise of much more than last bites. 2012 is a big year. A huge year really. This is the year that I finish residency. This is the year I become board certified. This is the year where I realize a dream that is 20 years in the making. I start medical practice in Monticello in June. This is the year in which my oldest, and most favorite RP group is to be given new life. This is the year Mandi and I's marriage turns 5 years old. This is a year of new beginnings. For the first time since High School I will live within 50 minutes of all of my close High School Friends. For the first time in my life I will be in a place of financial stability and true independence. For the very first time in my life I will have no "next step" professionally looming at me around the corner.

And that is only that which I am aware of. Life has a habit of throwing curve balls, fast balls, and knuckle balls. Life as the QB rarely connects with the receiver you called the play for. Life can sometimes check you right up against the glass. It should be interesting to see what else comes at Mandi and I. Needless to say, updates will be forthcoming as events unfold.

Stay Healthy!