Goodbye Facebook!

That's right. Brace yourself.


I did the unthinkable. I quit Facebook.


In a moment of pure clarity, I deleted myself off that toxic site. And you know what? It was actually really easy! I had this fear that it would be this difficult thing and that I wouldn't be able to do it, and that somehow, I'd get a bunch of "ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO DO THIS?" messages...but I didn't. It was super easy and refreshing. But before I go into the how, first, here's some background information. Ever since I signed onto Facebook 3 years ago (right when I started residency, thinking it would be a good networking tool - it wasn't), I have been asking myself why the hell I continue to be on it. Not that there's anything wrong with Facebook, or the people who are on it, but it's just SO. Not. Me.


I mean, for starters, I just didn't know how to use it. This new "timeline" thing made my head explode. If you clicked on someone's page, you were slapped in the face with a big blown up version of their profile pic and somehow, I could never make myself look at the rest of their page. I mean, I sucked at Facebook and how to set your privacy settings, and how to make some people your family, and others your friends, and how to get other people off your newsfeed? Nope. I had no clue. Still don't. So my news feed would always show people I didn't know well (why the heck am I friends with this person again? Wait, WHO is this person again?), and I would still miss the important updates about my friends and family. So what was the point? As far as I was concerned, there really wasn't any. Not to mention I'm one of those people who really keeps in touch with the people I want to keep in touch with. Via email. And phone. And texts. And in person. I know it sounds horrible, but knowing what Joe (my mother's second cousin twice removed) had for breakfast just .... isn't something I want to know.....like ever.


Plus, I never updated my site. I had the same profile picture for 3 years. I wasn't a very exciting Facebook friend. In fact, I was downright crappy. And despite all this, it consumed so much of my time. How was this possible? How was I wasting so much time perusing something I loathed? It's like high school. Don't you think Facebook is like high school? I mean, most posts are just people trying to out-brag each other isn't it?


"Eating dinner at A+ restaurant with X, Y, Z. We are so besties!" -- That's a "ha ha loser, you weren't invited" if I've ever read one.


"I lost 20 pounds in 2 weeks!" --- is a, "ha ha fatso, I'm more motivated than you" in my opinion.


"I have the best family ever!" --- is just another way to brag about something that you should be treasuring and holding close to your heart. And if you have the time to tell people how great your family is, you may not be spending enough time with your family.


And the list goes on an on. I mean, I found myself being more interested in the posts about the types of people on Facebook than Facebook itself. There are a couple of articles out there (if only I could find them) about the "annoying facebook friends". Oh yes, I just found one.


Click on THIS link from GQ for a good giggle. Have you read it? I personally like the person who likes all the Facebook Quizzes, the Inspirational quote guy, the lady who publishes every detail of her life ("I have a headache today") and my all time favorite: The person for whom, it could in fact get better. I had at least one of each of them on my newsfeed at all times. And knowing what they were up to day in and day out, did NOT make me a better person.


In case you're wondering, I did consider de-friending 200 people and only adding my closest 20 or 30 contacts but I don't think that could work because:


a) people would find out and hate me and it would be all high school again.
b) I am not technologically advanced enough to do that.
c) the people I'm closest to are the ones who DON'T update facebook every day, so again....what's the point?
d) I just wanted to get off it.


Like a rotting bandaid on a healed wound. I didn't want to replace it with a new one. I just wanted to take it off , and leave it off. Once and for all. And you know what? It felt fan-bloody-tastic. All I did was go to the search engine box on Facebook (thank you, user-friendly browser), type in "delete facebook" and followed the directions and within 2 clicks of a mouse, I was obsolete! Or as obsolete as you can be on those things anyway. I even convinced my SUPER Facebook-addicted sister-in-law to cut it cold turkey and I'm impressed that she did! And so far, neither of us miss it and I think we're both way better for it.


Interestingly enough, when I was googling the words "facebook friends" to find that GQ article I quoted above, I came upon about 14 articles that explain how Facebook users are supposedely narcissistic. I don't know whether to be offended or relieved but it seems it's a phenomenon. This one article by Mail Online even goes so far as to say, "Facebook users are insecure, narcissistic and have low self esteem". Click HERE for the full read. They also elude to the fact that students who have Facebook pages score on average, 20% less than those who don't. How interesting (and disturbing) is that? And maybe that's my problem. Maybe I'm just too old for this crap. I mean, my parents never had a Facebook page and I made it in one piece....What am I teaching my 2 year old when I am constantly perusing other people's information and reading grammatically incorrect jargon?


Now, don't get me wrong, my post isn't a "let's all quit facebook together" rant (although, can I just say? That would be so awesome! Where's Oprah when you need her?)...It was just to let you know ,if you're following my book blog, that I didn't de-friend you on Facebook. I just chose, finally, after 3 years of hating that website, to kick it to the curb. Once and for all. And I honestly feel SO liberated. And I have always respected those who refrained from giving into the peer pressure of signing on to Facebook. And I guess this just means I respect myself now too. There seriously are not enough hours in the day to do all that needs to be done, and to add one more completely useless task to my day just didn't make sense. Just the other day, I tried to think of one good thing I got from Facebook....just one....and I couldn't! So that was my cue to cut the cord.


*snip*

It's cut.


*big sigh of relief*


And I am so glad I did that. Because this will mean more time to blog, more time to promote Milestones 2 (which, I'm told, is set for release sometime in June of this year) and more time working on doctor stuff and more time, most importantly, with my own little family. And that, y'all , is really "when it doesn't get any better than that".


See you on here again rather soon! I'll be updating more often now, and hosting book giveaways...not to mention a blog tour in anticipation of the Milestones 2 release. Tell all your friends. And if you wanna talk to me, just email me . It is SO much more personal that way, wouldn't you agree?


You stay Classy San Diego!

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The Wait

So I finished the manuscript for my second novel over a month ago. My publisher had given me a deadline (which, I totally appreciate now), and I worked my behind off to get the book done so I could submit it to them as promised. It took me months to write the book. But the submission process took second. I hit the send the button on my email and it was gone. And then I just sat there, half expecting a response right away. I had to remind myself that it takes TIME to read a book, let alone read it with a publisher's eye. So in the meantime, I tried to distract myself and move on with my life. I failed.

I'm still failing actually.

Let me say, first of all, how happy I am that I have a day job. Thank goodness for Pediatrics, for residency, for my daughter and husband and for worried parents! Because were it not for them, I honestly think I would seriously go completely insane. To this day, I still haven't heard back from my publisher (not an uncommon thing seeing as how they usually work on more than one novel at a time) and I gotta say....quite frankly....I'm dying over here. Picture a possum, playing dead. That's me.

Have you guys seen the movie Tangled? My nearly 2-year-old daughter is in a Disney movie phase and thankfully, she has awesome taste (seeing as how Beauty and the Beast is her favorite), because she really also loves Tangled. Thankfully for me, that movie is totally adorable and has lots of repeat value. And so there's this part in the movie, where Rapunzel runs away from her tower/home and she is at war with herself about it. She screams in joy, then stops and regrets her decision, then jumps around, then stops and considers going back and so on and so forth. Actually, let me just embed the link for you below so you can understand what exactly what I'm referring to. It's a one minute movie clip.



So see? This is me. Right now. And what I've been since January basically. On one hand, I'll think about Milestones 2 and go,

"I can't believe I'm done! I'm so proud of myself! YA!"

Then, in a more serious tone go,

"I can't believe I'm done...That was such a crappy job. What was I thinking? Oh my God."

Then, happier,

"What am I thinking? It's great! It's exactly what I wanted it to be! I can't believe I actually did it! Go me!"

Then, totally deflated, will add,

"Seriously. I can't believe I actually did it. I can't believe I sent them that manuscript. They are gonna think I'm total crap. I'm not an author."

Then, the next day,

"I can't believe I'm an author! I'm so grateful my publishers gave me the opportunity to tell my story! I hope people will like it!"

Then, the same day,

"People will so hate it. Seriously. What. Was. I . Thinking?! What's wrong with me?"

And so on and so forth.

Yes. It's good times here in the Armin-Hodges household. My poor husband has heard the majority of my rants, but in all honestly, pretty much anyone who has come in contact with me these last few weeks has heard some grumblings. And they've all played the supportive, loving role very well. So thanks to all.

I gotta be honest with you, the wait is killing me. I really think it's harder the second time around. The first time, I just sent out my manuscript and heard a bunch of rejections and moved on with my life. Then one day, I got my first 'yes' and before I knew it, I was giving my input on book covers, doing blog tours, book signings, launches and other amazingly exciting stuff. It all happened so fast. It was awesome.

With this novel, I feel more pressure. I feel like eyes are on me, and I don't know why, but I feel a lot of negativity. I feel a lot more skepticism. I honestly don't know why. I feel like those who read Milestones 1 were intrigued by it and are going to decide whether they really LIKED it based on the second book. Please note I'm not sharing this with you for any purpose other than to just share...ok?

I've also wondered if JK Rowling felt this way with all her subsequent novels. NOT THAT I'M COMPARING MYSELF TO HER. Nuh uh. No way, not ever. Just in a 'she's my writer role model' sort of way...just out of curiosity. I do wonder how she felt after she'd sent her manuscript to the publishers. How many times would they get edited? Would she have major plot flaws? What did her family members think of her books? How would she handle the negativity (if there even was any?). I had read in one interview that she almost had a nervous breakdown after writing the fourth novel because she noticed a major plot hole. I wonder if she knows how much better that makes me feel. Even someone like her has anxiety every now and then.

And so, to make myself feel better, I googled "JK Rowling writing tips" and here's what I came up with. My comments are in italics.

1- To write is to choose isolation and there will be adversity along the way, sometimes from the people closest to you. Omigosh, that is SO true. I think those who are closest to you may be least forgiving of all. That makes me feel so much better already.

2- Writing doesn’t always get easier. In fact, it can be more difficult for successful writers. Not that I'm successful or anything, but also very true. Definitely getting harder with the second novel.

3- Sometimes you have to get your writing done in spare moments here and there. Wait, what? Was she a resident too? Wow this woman is truly great.

4-What you write becomes who you are…so make sure you love what you write. I do. I really do. See? Feeling better already!

So that's what I've been up to.

*pause*

Seriously you guys. What was I thinking writing this book?! I totally just invited the world to crap on me. Sigh. Okay. I'm going to go YouTube the interview she did with Oprah and see if I can distract myself for a few more minutes....

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! Stay classy San Diego!

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The Worst Age To Get Cancer

This blog is going to be a little deep...and little sad. But it's a topic I've been writing about in my head for the last three years. But first, a small announcement. Today marks a small milestone for me. I'm done with the Pediatric wards portion of my residency. While I still have a small two week stretch of night float left (that's the night shift at the hospital), I'm essentially done with the hospital ward, the sicks kids and the cancer patients. You cannot begin to imagine how bittersweet this feels. Part of me wants to run around and do cartwheels while the other part feels so sad that I'll be just another "clinic doc" starting July. I even went so far as to thank all of my attendings for three years of teaching prompting all of them to give me super awkward smiles and hesitations.

Of course, it's me, so I had to leave with a bang. This last month was nuts. I mean, beyond nuts. There's a rule in medicine I've come to learn quite well: NEVER say HATE. Like ever. Don't say, "I hate constipation" because the minute you do, the ER will be full of constipated kids and you'll find yourself elbow deep in nastiness. Don't say, "I hate headaches" because not only will you run an entire ward of teenagers with uncontrollable migraines but soon, you'll have one too and you'll be asking people over and over if they have (and I quote) "pee in their urine". Yah. I've done that twice now. Both times, I meant to ask if they had blood in their urine (not pee, obviously. Duh.). The first time, the reaction I got was one of pure confusion. The second time, I realized what I'd said after the entire room burst out laughing at my expense. Good times, good times.

The mistake I made this month was saying that I don't like (I didn't even use the word hate), cardiac problems. I don't like treating extensive heart disease because no matter how big or small the problem, there is always the chance that this hospitalization will be their last. And I really hate that feeling. Thankfully, in kids, "codes" are a rare entity. Cardiac codes are an even rarer entity. Oh but I had two this month. So I really went out with a bang. Despite our best efforts to prevent the inevitable, hearts failed, and we were/are all a bit devastated. I was hoping to end the wards on a high note, but just like my emotions, it was bittersweet. Some kids went home, others did not.

On the topic of this particular blog, this past month also reminded me of one of the lessons I learned in residency. I've come to realize the worst age during which a child can get cancer. Can you guess?

Well, it isn't the baby age. Although rare, when babies get cancer, the lifestyle becomes such a quick habit that they don't know any different..or any better. The hospital becomes a familiar environment and they think all babies go through what they go through. They kick and scream when poked and treated, but forget five short minutes later and coo and smile and grab for your monkey-badge. It's not easy, but it's doable.

Toddlers aren't bad either. They are tough because they don't 'get it'. You can't explain why you're doing what you're doing. They think you're mean, horrible and often times, their parents are stuck between supporting the doctors and supporting the child and the situation becomes pretty sticky and awkward. Toddlers don't understand what's happening. They don't get why people seem to always come at them with needles and bad tasting 'medicine' and why we wake them up all the time and don't let them move or do anything fun. But they are easily distracted. They don't forget immediately, but they forgive. And eventually, when they are cured, they DO forget. And that's the best blessing of all. Their long term memory hasn't started building yet. So you do what you have to do, knowing well that they will still have a childhood, still have a life and still likely be happy someday.

Teenagers aren't easy either, but they've matured. They have seen enough movies, lived enough of life to completely reject their diagnosis --- then eventually embrace it, and find the strength to fight and beat it. Most teenagers with cancer have the BEST outlook on life. Most set their minds to beating their disease and they just....well, they just do. They set little goals, like going to the prom, and then achieve those goals. They cry when their hair falls out, but the next day, they accessorize with funky hats and wigs and smile proudly at everyone. They WANT to go to school. They WANT to be normal. They set goals and they have dreams and they realize that cancer isn't necessarily the end for them. So they put up with it, and move on. They grow up very fast.

So that leaves us with one age range. That is the age of the 'pre-teens'. If you ask my opinion, it's the worst age ever to get cancer. Specifically the 11-12 year old kids. These kids are just old enough to be scared to death of what they have. They know just enough about death to not understand it. They are just smart enough to understand only the really scary parts of what is happening. They've watched just enough movies, to not want that for themselves. They aren't mature enough to rise above their situation. The only thing they are mature enough to do , is be scared of the future. The kids I've seen who have cancer in that age range, have made themselves and their parents crazy. They reject their diagnosis. THey don't understand why it's happened to them. They want nothing to do with it. They throw up, they cry, they don't eat, they don't move, they go home...and then they never want to come back. Not understanding fully that the alternative to no treatment is the very thing they are afraid of. They don't understand death...they are only sure of one thing: they are scared of it. And that fear consumes them. And paralyzes them. And they get depressed. And moody. And withdrawn. And spiral further and further down while everyone around them reaches out to rescue them...but their paralysis prevents them from being rescued.

I'm not sure if this is true, or just my own personal bias, but I feel like that age range has the worst mortality. And it's just because the level of maturity is a curse. They are mature enough to know they aren't normal, know something really bad has happened to them, know the possible outcomes...but not mature enough to rise above it, find the strength to beat it, or eventually embrace it. For pre-teens with cancer there is only one emotion: fear. Which is why, whenever I hear about a pre-teen with a bad diagnosis, I sigh a deeper sigh. No matter how you word something, they only thing they hear is "death, dead, and die". Even if you say, "you have a 95%chance of beating this thing!", they don't hear you. It's tough. And sadly, it's toughest on the parents. So if you ask me, the worst age to get cancer is eleven or twelve years of age. It inspires me to write a book for them. A book about cancer...but with a happy ending. And light. And perhaps real? I don't know.

On that note, thanks to the awesome guilty pleasure of Laineygossip.com (if you haven't been there yet, you're totally missing out), I came across this website. It's a blog. The bloggers name is Ashley and she is a young, 34 year old mother who has metastatic choriocarcinoma and has been dealt a pretty horrible hand in life. Though you'd never know it by looking at her or reading her blog. It's a MUST see. We all need to be reminded , every day, to enjoy every minute of the short life we have.

So I'm leaving you with that website and with the following video entitled "A rite of passage", where Ashley shaves her head. Seriously, it's like she is even more beautiful afterwards. Her motto is to CHOOSE JOY. How amazing and inspirational is that?



We could all only dream to be so beautiful, inside and out.

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The Vow - movie review

The thing about movies like this, is that you need to decide (if you're even going to see them), whether you want to set the bar low, or high. I set mine low. Super low. And even with that, the movie left me leaving pretty indifferent...but it also left me thinking about my own life. So in that sense, it was pretty interesting.

The movie is based off a book by Nicholas Sparks. You know, he's The Notebook/Dear John guy. Which means he likes to leave you feeling pretty unsatisfied at the end. Like you're yearning for a proper conclusion. That's actually his M.O. He doesn't like to leave you with a real ending. It's always "mystical". And I don't like it. I don't go to the movies to feel unsastified. I have enough of that at the hospital. I go to watch something happy (however unrealistic it may be). But I also knew and expected that part. So that makes it a little easier, I guess. Plus, it's Nicholas Sparks, so I also knew the love part was going to be all "give me a break-ish". But, it's also Nicholas Sparks, so I knew the character development would be intriguing and that I'd be hooked into the story line from the first scene. Which I was. So it wasn't a total waste of my time. I even think there is some repeat value to the movie -- if you can stand to swallow the give-me-a-break parts.

The Vow actually left me thinking a lot. The concept itself is pretty interesting. And to a certain extent, I totally related. The story (without spoiling anything) is about Paige, a woman married to Leo, who gets in a car accident and loses her memory. Well, the last five years of it anyway. When she wakes up from an iatrogenic coma (this means: a doctor induced coma), she doesn't remember her husband, her life and is basically really confused about the person she's become. She finds out that in five years, she went from being a law student to being a freelance artist, from living in the suburbs to moving into the city, from living with her parents to living in an apartment, getting a whole new set of friends, changing her look, breaking up with her boring high school sweetheart to eventually falling in love and marrying an entrepreneur. It wasn't until after I left the movie that I realized how similar this was to my life.

My life also changed dramatically in a matter of five years. After I graduated from university, I was working in a bank, was in a relationship I didn't want to be in, living with my parents in Toronto, and most of my hobbies and friendships were....well....not what I truly wanted. It was a single decision that made my life take an amazing detour that brought me to this day. In a day, I decided to quit the bank and pursue my childhood dream of being a doctor. I left Toronto for Grenada, broke off my toxic relationship, then met this Texan who would beg me to take a walk with him on the beach. That night, when a few stray dogs would follow him around, I would laugh more than I ever had in my life. We would then spend the best two years of our lives in the Caribbean, fall in love and marrying two years later. We would move to Michigan and eventually to Texas, where I would become a Pediatrician and have the most perfect little girl (who pronounces it Tey-xas and exclaims Oh-ma-gosh! every chance she gets). Somewhere along the way, my husband would inspire me and encourage me to polish this silly book I'd written....and somehow, it would get published. I'd finally become the person I always wanted to be. I would cut off my unwanted relationships , nurture the ones I wanted to keep and make a bunch of new friends that I would cherish....

So after watching The Vow, I guess I related a lot to Paige. Supposedly, this story is based off a true story -- so I felt really sorry for this woman, who basically lost the most important five years of her life. It's amazing to see that despite being robbed of those memories, she still eventually found her way back to where she was supposed to be. What's meant to be is meant to be...She was meant to be an artist , and meant to fall in love with Leo, meant to move away from the suburbs and live the life that would make her so happy.

So in that sense (and only in that sense), The Vow was pretty awesome. Because that concept, the concept that one decision has the potential to put you on a separate trajectory that completely changes your life...is true. You just have to go with the flow I guess, and be open to all the possibilities out there. I did. And I'm soooooo grateful for that. The 32 year old Samira would be so unhappy if I woke up one day and I was 24 again. That girl was so confused and lost. She wouldn't know a good friend if it bit her in the armpit (that's a line from Runaway Bride for those paying attention). She didn't even know what she wanted.

So for all of you still stuck in the confused part of your life...just take a leap, do something unexpected, see the world...and somewhere along the way, you'll never want to look back.

Below, the trailer for The Vow. Don't mind the cheese. Focus on the bigger concept. It's a good one.

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Quick blog post

It is way too early for anyone in their right mind to be awake, but I am. Because I start another ward month today and apparently, everyone and their sister (and brother) is sick. It's a weird thing about doctors; sick kids bring us "business" so to speak but most of us would rather not see that sight.

A few quick comments:

1- To PinkSunDrops, I can absolutely do a blog tour on your blog (no permission required!). You know I'm a big fan.

2- A quick shout out to my brother in law who is a very loyal blog reader. If there are any single, beautiful, intelligent, all-around-perfect hunting ladies out there who live in the greater Houston Area and would like to meet a most WONDERFUL guy, just let me know. But I have to screen you first. Sorry B, I can't help myself.

3- I was asked what "Stay Classy San Diego" is all about, and why I specifically always refer to San Diego. Well...there's just no way for me to explain that, so I will go ahead and refer you to the clip below. It should say it all (LB, where are you?)



So that's all for this early crack of dawnish morning. I better get myself to work before more people realize their kids are sick.

And on that note, Stay Classy San Diego (but mainly, Stay Classy).

Ps. As a side note anyone seen the movie "One Day"? What a waste of 2 hours!

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Happy New year!

Wow.

I'm sorry I've been away from the blog for so long but 2012 is shaping up to be a busy year (note to self: quit committing to new projects until you've accomplished stuff first). First of all...... Happy New Year! Did everyone make a resolutions list? I did of course, and then I watched the movie "I don't know how she does it" and realized that it was talking about me, and hence, my relationship with making lists changed a little. Though not a lot. Instead of just making them, I now make them , and attempt to tackle one thing at a time (instead of all of them at once)...which so far, has worked wonders. This last little while, I've somehow managed to get a medical license, register for my boards, do a crazy huge presentation at work , finish a giant task that's been a huge monkey on my back (see below) and start on my research, plus do a bunch of other work stuff...So it's been busy to say the least. The downside is, I'm never groomed, I'm always tired looking (32 going on 42), I am really bad at keeping in touch with my loved ones and always seem to forget birthdays recently, and I can't cook to save my life. :) But everyone has their strong suits, right?

So updates!

For starters, I should mention an update to my couch to 5k app, and I'm still totally doing and LOVING it. I'd say I'm about halfway to running a 5k. I totally recommend it as it only requires a 3 day a week commitment, it's only about 30 minutes per session and TOTALLY do-able. Now if only I could figure out how to get on pinterest (I know, I know, I'm a bandwagon jumper). But really. Couch to 5k is going much better than P90X went.

Second, I went to Canada over the holidays and had a marvelous time. Here's a problem with settling down away from your "home". Most days, I don't miss Canada and am completely content with my new life, happy with the knowledge that I never would have met my husband, had my daughter, met my new amazing work friends, gotten my training and met the best in-laws in the world, if I had stayed in Canada.... BUT, every time I visit Canada, I think I develop a mild depression and end up wondering why the heck I don't live there anymore. I mean, it's a fantastically multicultural society that has SO much to offer, and it's just SO darn safe...The only drawback really is the weather. But other than that....Canada is just fantastic. *sigh* I miss it. And I miss my family and friends. But maybe (just maybe), after all this is said and done, I'll actually be able to go more than twice in three years. Who knows.

As an update of my life in a more professional realm.... next year, I've decided to accept a fourth year chief residency position. I am SUPER excited to do a lot of academic stuff all while starting my practice (I currently have a practice in residency, but it's only a half day a week and you can imagine how frustrated my patients get when they only get to see me one out of every 3 visits!). So it will be very nice to expand upon that. I'm very excited and thankful to my hospital and academic center for offering me this very prestigious opportunity. :)

And finally, I should talk about Milestones 2. The very reason for the delay in blogging. Well, I'm happy to report that it's finally DONE! These last few months, I've been working diligently at it, making sure to spend every last moment typing, (so I've barely even sent emails), on my book! And just a few weeks ago, I finally finished it, and then stared at the wall for a few hours, in total shock that I had actually managed to accomplish this task in residency.....And then spent the next several days scrutinizing it (and nit-picking at it to death)...until I finally gained the courage to send it to my publisher.

SO here I am!

Waiting anxiously for some feedback. Because here's the thing about writing books: you may love what you wrote one minute, and then hate it the next. And while I'll say that I'm overall very pleased with Milestones 2, I'm still in the "I wonder if it's any good" stage and am essentially dying for some feedback. Unfortunately for me, publishers actually work on more than one book at a time, so ...I'm in this awkward limbo stage.....just waiting....and waiting....And even though it's only been a few days, it feels like an absolute eternity.

Thankfully (or not), I start another ward month on Wednesday (cue the darth vader music) and then have night float in March, so I'll be so damn busy I probably won't notice anything (or anyone) for the next two months....And as far as I know (in case you were wondering), Milestones 2 (that's not the name by the way), is set to be released this spring. So once the momentum gets going, be expecting lots of promotion including:

a) A new blog look
b) A blog tour (my favorite!)
c) Book signings (my other favorite!)
d) Lots of blog posts
e) Etc, etc....

And anything else my publisher wants me to do (which I truly love doing because it may actually be the farthest thing from medicine and the most cathartic thing for me!).

So that's the update for now. More blogging to come tomorrow! I've got so much to tell you! Sorry for all the exclamation marks, I guess I'm just a little excited!

In the meantime, stay classy San Diego!

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And in 6 months I'm a real doctor...random Sunday thoughts

* It's December, which means that in June of 2012, I'll be attending yet another graduation . This time, I'll be graduating from residency. And hm. That may actually be my last graduation. In a way, that feels strange and in another, I think I'm done matriculating. If you count the 8th grade, this would be my 5th graduation. That's a lot of education. I'm 32 years old. *small tear*

* On another note, I got the new Iphone 4S. I have already spent plenty of time messing with "Siri" and her sassy answers. I do have one question though. Am I the only one who thinks "text-talking" is a ridiculous concept? So many people are saying, "You can talk into your phone and it texts it for you", like this is some crazy ingenious concept.

But like, what I want to know is...why not just call somebody? Am I missing something? If you're talking into your phone, and your friend is talking into her phone....why aren't you talking to each other? Why are you text-talking? I don't get it. Even more reason why technology only serves to de-humanize us, right?

*Speaking of Iphones though, I downloaded the "Couch to 5k" app in the spirit of doing something before the New Year for a change. For those of you unfamiliar with the app, supposedly, this thing will get me running 5k within 6 or 8 weeks. I'm already uber skeptical...but I'll keep you posted on my progress. It's like P90X all over again. Why do I do this to myself?

* I'm going to Canada. THAT'S RIGHT! Canada in like....3 weeks! It's been a while. I'm super excited. In case you can't tell. Bring on the freezing weather, the Maple Leaf spirit, the Duff's wings, the Coffee Crisp, the poutine, the Tim Horton's and Canadian Spirit! How I've missed thee!

* In the land of parenthood, I gotta say , potty training is interesting. I'm in absolutely no rush to accomplish this task but I'm just so surprised at how nobody warns you of the challenges that lie ahead. I mean, sure, potty training your kid is challenging but FINDING A BATHROOM is even more challenging. It's like every time my kid needs to pee, I can't seem to find a flipping potty. I'm almost tempted to just carry one with me wherever I go. But that's a whole other topic.

Well, must run. Quick and dirty today. I still haven't forgotten about my promised Harry Potter posts.

Stay tuned and happy soon to be January! (you all know this month is gonna zip by even quicker than the last).

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