A bit of heaviness for you to marinate on...

I came upon the scene above while tramping through the woods up on Signal Mountain this afternoon... Depending on what caught your attention first, you were likely either enthralled initially by the natural beauty of the scene, or repulsed by the background of decay. I felt both of these emotions, in that order, followed by a serene moment of Zen.

I thought this photograph was such a great juxtapositional representation of the tragically beautiful (beautifully tragic?) conundrum that we face each morning upon awakening; this insane roller-coaster ride that we're all on; this collection of moments of happiness and remorse; of love and rage; of ecstasy and despair...

This thing called "Life"

The New Place

So... after battling the record-breaking summer heat, a slowly worsening hull leak, and the foul smelling yet much-deserved results of having to leave Monte aboard the boat alone during a 14 hour workday, I've decided to find an apartment. The sailboat has started taking on more and more water, and the last thing I'm going to want to do after a 36 hour trauma call is shop-vac my bedroom and pass out on soggy sheets. I thought maybe I could trailer her and do a quick fiberglass fix, but can't locate any obvious damage. I think the bumpy ride north may be to blame, but don't have the time or cash to search out and repair it right now. While I am frustrated with the boat leak causing me to opt out only two months into my pirate adventure, it sure is nice having a cool, dry spot to call home.

My place is located in an old 19th century bread factory, about two miles from the hospital. From here, I can walk or bike to all the downtown attractions (aquarium, bars, dog park, farmers market). I've also been able to retrieve my knives from storage and get back into cooking a little bit. One has only so much creative culinary freedom whilst preparing meals on a camp-stove. Monte is definitely enjoying the space and cool cement on his belly, and I've attached a video of his favorite pastime in the new place...

Anesthesiology is going well thus far... I'm brushing up on my intubation skills and line placements... plus I'm usually done by early afternoon and can entertain the pooch.

I want to say thanks to the fam for helping out with everything, I'm glad I'll have a roof for you guys now when you come visit. If anyone reading this has extra furniture, kitchen stuff, or similar items you'd like to get rid of, shoot me an email and let's talk turkey... Right now I've got an air mattress and a pool table and may need a few other things to round out the ol' Ay Pee Tee...

Cheers from Chat-town

On the Avoidance of Drowning

Looks simple enough, right?

The first month of my intern year is halfway done, and it's been awesome. We've had conferences and skills labs; worked a couple shifts in the ED and figured out the computer system. Even so, I've had a good bit of time for poker, climbing, and most recently, cutting my teeth on some whitewater...

Now, you guys know that whitewater in MS is nearly non-existent... If I remember correctly, the Okatoma has that one hard right turn where you might go ass-over-ears in a canoe if you've had a few too many cold ones, but otherwise it's pretty chill. And the Mississippi River Scouting Incident, (although hella scary and likely the closest to death I've been thus far) likewise did not have rapids or falls to maneuver through. Here in Chattanooga, it seems everyone I meet has some boating experience... Bryan Vance, one of my fellow interns, is a 15 year veteran, having paddled some of the sickest water in the U.S. and New Zealand. We were sharing stories over cold PBRs the other day when he mentioned plans for a trip to the Ocoee, and I jumped on board full steam. Although I'd never set foot in a whitewater boat, had never been in real whitewater, and knew nothing about the C-to-C roll technique (of paramount importance to avoid drowning), I figured he'd be the guy to learn from. Now Vance is a playboater, meaning he stays on one feature or hole for awhile, surfing and doing tricks. This is in contrast to river runners or creekers because you can spend the whole day in one location and not worry about getting from point A to point B. After a quick crash-course in rolling technique, he paddled off towards the rapids, leaving me to practice in the slower moving eddy.

Now the thing about these tiny whitewater kayaks is, you're crammed in so tight that you almost feel you're trapped. So flipping upside down underwater and attempting (unsuccessfully) to right yourself can be a bit...unsettling. I quickly realized just how easily I could dislodge my lanky ass from that boat after a couple unsuccessful rolls. Once I was confident in my ability to escape, my worries disappeared and I started hitting the whitewater right alongside Vance. After paddling a bit I would infallibly get flipped over, flounder around attempting to roll, and bail out of the boat, swimming like hell in the hopes of making it to the bank before being washed down the next set of rapids... (which happened to be named Broken Nose). We played for several hours on some of the rapids and whirlpools, and I eventually succeeded in righting myself a couple times. I bummed one of Vance's boats, and plan to practice rolling in the calm water here at the pier until I'm confident in my ability to avoid both drowning and bailing out. This could be the beginning of some really good times... and no, that's not me... yet.

Game on...

So... the next chapter has officially started: The degrees have been conferred, the Champagne has been popped, and the moving trucks have been loaded... This blog update is coming to you directly from my new home on the Tennessee river. After a whirlwind of fourth year electives, months of travel, obligatory graduation ceremonies, celebratory shindigs, and family reunion-cum-fishing tournaments, I find myself here on the sailboat, newly (and officially, so as not to piss off Poseidon) dubbed Miss Lizzie. Tomorrow begins my year as an Emergency Medicine intern here at Erlanger, and I'm looking forward to getting to work. I'll be pretty steady until November, when I've scheduled a week off in order to support a certain young lady in her ambitions of pounding Manhattan's asphalt jungle...

Lizzo, MD - NYC marathon - 11/7/10... you want to be there.

Thanks to my folks for being awesome and helping move my ass up here... I know the boat trailer was a pain but I can't describe how happy I am to have this rig back in the water... and looking good by the way. After a long winter on cinder blocks, one helluva wash, a new coat of paint, and a new name, my home on the water has some of the local salty dogs envious... I plan to live aboard for awhile, as an exercise in both frugality and minimalism... After the past few months living and camping out west, then traveling through India, I actually feel a bit spoiled floating here on the river with my mini fridge full of Coors and my AC blasting... I have a backyard full of bass, a driveway that leads out to the river, and some really cool fellow pirates as neighbors...

As the dust settles from the craziness of the past year, and I begin the next phase of training here in Chattanooga, I have a feeling that things will work out just fine... The department here is young and dynamic, a new wilderness medicine guy is starting up a fellowship here this year, and the town seems to have a ton of outdoor opportunities... I'm disappointed that Elizabeth and I couldn't stay in the same zip code, but ecstatic that we are in the same time zone... My lady and my mutt are only a short (and beautiful) motorcycle ride away...

Thanks to everyone who helped out over the past several months... I especially want to thank EJH for enriching this whole experience with your love, my awesome family for the support and for all the help with the move, Matt Fitzsimmons and family for the delicious grub, and Stephanie Jane for your organizational acumen and tireless work in putting the graduation party together... You guys are incredible and I truly appreciate each and every one of you.

Namaste... now pass the Guinness

What a ride!

After our monthlong journey through northern India, 17 nights in a tent, and a serious deficit in my normally carnivorous diet, it feels pretty awesome to be sitting here in Columbus digesting a Christy's cheeseburger and sippin' a Fat Tire. I'm glad to be home and excited about the graduation festivities. I look forward to hanging out with the fam, getting ready for the move, and planning the next step. I'll be moving up to Chattanooga, TN and helping Elizabeth as she heads to Lexington, KY. Gonna be a hella-busy few weeks...

India was incredible: Loud, vibrant, dirty, beautiful... I already miss the crazy traffic and the constant in-your-face-ness of Delhi. We began our month in the capital city, touring the bazaars and sampling the food... checking out the Bha'i Lotus temple and the Taj Mahal, before meeting the crew and heading north to Himachal Pradesh. The next several weeks were filled with amazingly beautiful mountain views, incredibly friendly people, and a ton of GERD patients. We then spent another 3 days back in Delhi, exploring, eating, and enjoying the posh amenities of our hotel.

From Delhi we took a train north to Chandighar, then SUVs up to Dharamsala, home to the Dalai Lama and the exiled Tibetan government... From D'sala we journeyed northwest to Saho, backtracked to Holi, then headed southeast to Bir, Bharot, and Manali... These rural areas were filled with smiling, hard-working farmers whose beautifully terraced land was a verdant explosion of wheat, cauliflower, and apple orchards. We saw and treated 300-500 patients a day and saw pathology ranging from cholelithiasis and GERD to CREST syndrome and Bitot spots... Besides local villagers, we also visited and treated patients in several Buddhist monasteries. We were able to tour the monasteries, speak at length to the monks about there lives and experiences, and listen in on the pujas, or prayer ceremonies.

The Himalayan Health Exchange crew was great, our schedule was impeccably organized, the food was delicious, and our campsites were never wanting for firewood. Each afternoon we explored the surrounding hills before returning for case discussions and libations around the fire. We usually camped for a week or so at a time, broken up by 1-2 night stints in guest houses and hostels.

I thoroughly enjoyed the month, and am already brainstorming how to work another HHE trip into residency... Despite India's struggles with corruption and poverty, it is an incredibly diverse, culturally rich country, and the people are among the happiest and friendliest I've met... After another few beers and several ribeyes, I'll be ready to return.

El fin... Almost

As my time here in New Mexico draws to a close, I find myself experiencing the familiar mixture of sadness and excitement... I've had a blast, shared some amazing experiences, and developed friendships that I am sure will last for the rest of my life. Sharing the experiences of rock climbing in Socorro, slaying the gnar in Taos, and riding the rollercoaster of match day has solidified us as a team in many ways... I'm a bit saddened to be leaving this exceptional group of people. However, as the time draws near for the final exam and my journey back East, I am also excited about the next adventure...

The final exam for the wilderness medicine course will be conducted this Friday on Sandia peak... We will work as mountain rescue teams: locating, stabilizing, packaging, treating, and extricating injured patients from the hill... Beats the hell out of a Scantron. Afterwards, we will part ways, off to wrap up the last few months of medical school and prepare for our fast approaching internships...

I will be hitting the road at the ass crack of dawn Saturday in order to spend a bit of time with the fam before jumping on a plane for India. Elizabeth and I will be in Himachal Pradesh for the next month, treating the exiled Tibetan Buddhist monks in Dharamsala before heading out into the Himalayan foothills to set up clinics in the rural villages. After being on the road since around Christmas, I am excited to see my lady, my dog, and my family... You guys are incredible and I love you all... that reminds me:

Happy Birthday Roo!

New Mexico, way better than Old Mexico...

Que onda?

So... after ending my stint in Telluride with a string of powder days, having to reroute after Lizard Head pass was closed by an avalanche, and a quick jaunt out to L.A. for the damn Step 2 CS, I've finally settled into my home for the month of March. Albuquerque and the University of New Mexico, will be base camp for a month-long wilderness medicine course. We will learn search and rescue techniques, camp in some of the most beautiful areas on the planet, and work as the medical teams for the Bataan Memorial Death March Marathon. We will hone our improvisational medicine skills, learn to survive in the bush, and walk the razor's edge of our physical limits... Kinda like summer camp if Silky was in charge... Hoo-ah!

It's gonna be a blast... In only four days we've already learned a ton of improv and evac techniques, experienced hypothermia firsthand, and gotten to ski/bike/rockclimb/hike like crazy... This weekend we will spend learning survival techniques and land nav at Cabezon, a volcanic rock formation some 70 miles into the desert. Then, we'll head north to Taos to study avalanche science and high altitude illness while living in self-dug snowcaves. I've heard the snow is great right now, so I'm definitely planning to put the new sticks to work.

After a day off, its back to work in Socorro with the Abq mountain rescue team teaching us some high-angle rope rescue techniques for use on more gnarly terrain. We'll get to hoist up from Blackhawks courtesy of the NM National Guard, then head south to set up for the Bataan Marathon. Take all these ridiculously fun lessons, roll them around with some awesome desert hiking/mtn biking/rock climbing, then sprinkle it with some of that steep and deep Taos powder and you have one helluva good time... Man I love 4th year electives!

Now 'scuse me, I gotta study...

Coming home... Kinda

For the past couple weeks this has been my walk to work... Not bad eh?

Thanks to Peter Hackett I've had a place to crash, a ski pass, and the opportunity to see some great high altitude pathology. Dr. Hackett is one of the pioneers in the area of high altitude medicine, and has experienced the effects firsthand on several occasions, most notably during his ascent of Everest. Elizabeth and I worked with the Institute for Altitude Medicine while living out here a few years ago, and I figured this would be a great pitstop on my ride from Denver down to Albuquerque.

It's been great being back, a few things have changed but many familiar faces remain. I fell straight back into the powder-hound mode, while also helping out in the clinic. So far I've been able to see and help treat some orthopedic injuries, several AMS patients, and a HAPE patient who sauntered into the clinic with O2 sats in the low sixties.

My folks couldn't handle me hogging all this mountainous beauty, and drove out here last week during their time off... We had a blast hiking, cross-country skiing, and barhopping around town. You guys are awesome; I love the spontaneity and I'm glad you made it out... the love of the mountains must be genetic.

As my time here grows to a close, the feelings are bittersweet... I love this town; the work, the people, the pow... at the same time I'm stoked about the wilderness medicine elective in New Mexico. We will be camping in snow caves in Taos, hiking the Grand Gulch in southern Utah, and learning how to provide medical care in some of the most extreme circumstances imaginable... It should be an awesome primer for the Himalayan Health trip in April, and should provide some good tales...

all for now

Lambo out

Los Angeles- A 3 day bender.

Welcome to Hollywood

After a busy month in the Denver Health ED, a last-minute change of plans to leave Denver and head to Telluride, and a helacious day of airport bar-hopping thanks to some lovely Real Estate agents from New Hampshire, I arrived in L.A. to "relax" and see the guys play the Viper Room.

My friend Jared Hooper, a sommelier originally from Brooklyn who crashed with Liz and I for a bit in Telluride, is currently living in Hollywood. So of course we had to get together and rage a bit. We began innocuously enough, strolling down to the beach to say hello to the Pacific before grabbing a happy hour brew. What followed was an all out onslaught on our livers which began with a tasting at Whole Foods (incredible, making groceries, gettin' buzzed)... and led to a pub crawl over to the Dresden. Now the Dresden holds a special place in my heart, and is actually what my friends an I called our favorite place in Oxford back in college. It was made famous by "Swingers" and I was lovin' every minute. We sipped Manhattans, listened to some jazz, and checked out all the "beautiful babies" before heading to In-N-Out for late night.

The following day, we strolled down Hollywood Blvd, people-watching and sipping Chimay before grabbing Jared's girlfriend Erica, and heading to check out some art museums. After this artwork, Jared and I headed to Jumbo's for some more "au naturel" artwork. I will say that, in my opinion, the appeal of both the go-go girls and the Richard Serra artwork lies in the curves... Zing!

Because of Jared's position as a professional wine enthusiast, we decided the Stars of Santa Barbara tasting should be on the agenda for the following afternoon. Relying on my bartending experience and Jared's connections, I was able to attend the Trade Show version of the tasting, which was held at the disgustingly lavish Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills. I had to grin as we tossed the Subaru keys to the valet, then stepped between a Bentley and a Ferrari to gain entry to the booze... The day was incredible, and we had the opportunity to taste a mind-boggling array of grapes from all over Santa Barbara...

Now, the inciting event that led to this trip was the Viper Room gig... Which, of course, rocked. Jared and I rode over to Sunset a bit early to pre-game with the fellas before the show. We spent the night jammin' with a shit-eating grin plastered across my face and a cold PBR plastered to my palm... I wish you'd been there.

Damn, good times.

Damn good times.

Damn. Good. Times...

Laissez les Bon Temps Rouler!

After a month in the snow I was looking forward to heading down to Nawlin's for a little warmth, humidity, and oysters...

My interview with the LSU Emergency Medicine Department just happened to fall on the day following the NFC Championship victory over the Vikings... and the whole town was going batshit crazy by the time I touched down at Louis Armstrong. With traffic on Canal at a standstill, and drunken revelers all around, I opted to grab my duffel and join in the melee. Walking to my hotel with a Big Ass Beer, I couldn't stop grinning. I love this town.

Elizabeth had driven down to meet up for a few days before heading to Oz, and after dropping off my gear we promptly bellied up to a nearby bar and ordered a couple dozen oysters on the half and a couple Abitas.

If I had a buck for every time we heard "Who dat!?" this trip I could forego residency and buy an island somewhere. It felt like Mardi Gras and the excitement kept us jazzed until well into the morning... At 3am an entire marching band jammed down the alleyway as we watched from the balcony of the St. Ann. With a 7am interview day staring me in the face, I finally forced a few hours of sleep...

The following day, the "Who dats" kept coming, as each of the faculty members and residents we met during the course of the interviews had been up partying at least as late as I had. The day went well, and we were treated to an incredible lunch at Le Pavillon. I got the down-low on the program from Rusty Peeples, a Columbus, MS native and UMC graduate, who's a 3rd year resident. The place has made a dramatic comeback since the storm, and the training here would be pretty amazing...

Following the tour and a quick nap at the hotel, Elizabeth and I started happy hour up right with a bottle of bubbly while planning the night's hedonistic gustatory adventure. This town knows good food, good tunes, and how to throw a party. After a couple stops in the quarter for munchies, we ended up at K-Paul's for dinner. Paul Prudhomme, owner and chef, opened in 1979 and it has drawn quite a following. Delicious gumbo, succulent oysters, hearty fried rabbit, and savory turtle soup... this place is incredible.

After dinner, we wandered around the quarter for awhile before heading back to the hotel to dream of chicory coffee and fresh beignets. Nothing like a trip to the Big Easy to warm the bones, fill the belly, and punish the liver...

Oh, and I almost forgot...

WHO DAT!?

Randomness, Korean Food, and one Helluva Show

First off, let me say... Hooray, Howard is Dead! All further updates to this site will be conveyed on my shiny new MacBook... Howard will be burned, tied to a cinder block, and thrown into the sea.

Ok, so here's the story of how Korean food led me to purchase tickets to Los Angeles...

Last Friday I was cruising down 6th Avenue, ravenous, when I caught a blue neon sign that proclaimed "Seoul Food!" Being a fan of both Korean food and the occasional well-placed pun, (not to mention a Southerner) this shiny electronic proclamation struck several chords with me, and I wheeled in for a bite. Between slurps of a bowl of incredible chicken curry soup, I engaged in a little friendly banter with the waitress. She was a watercolor painter who had been living in Denver for a year now. Being the only patron, we continued to chat awhile and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that she had moved up from Mississippi. Not only that, but she had lived for a time in Brookhaven... I was amused that the catchy neon sign outside had initiated the meeting of two wandering Mississippians, and I thought it might be cool to catch her next exhibit, so we traded info.

As I finished off my lunch and prepared to leave, she mentioned that some of her friends from back east were coming through playing a gig at the Walnut. I had the next morning off and am always ready for some live tunes, so I asked who the band was... "Come On Go With Us", she replied. Northwest Alabama/Northeast Mississippi's very own southern-folk-rock outfit... Chris Hurt (the bassist) dated SJH for a bit, and the guys crashed with Liz and I after a gig at George St. Tavern in Jacktown. The last show I'd seen was the 4th of July throwdown at the Lock and Dam in Columbus. I called Chris to get the lowdown on the venue, the roadtrip, and their post-show couch surfing plans... Now if that's not some beautiful randomness I just don't know what is.

The show that night was incredible. Besides a couple weeks around Christmas and Thanksgiving, the guys have been touring since the last show I saw and they looked phenomenal.

Lina, an aspiring Emergency Physician from Atlanta whom I had crossed paths with earlier on the interview trail, happened to be in Denver for the weekend and came out to see the guys. Highly impressed by the show, she even offered to house the guys for the night in her room at the downtown Marriott. You can imagine the security guards faces as six dudes trailed in at 2am toting sleeping bags and blow up mattresses... Ridiculousness.

If you haven't heard these cats, do yourself a favor and jump on http://www.myspace.com/comeongowithus. You won't be disappointed.

Oh, and about those tickets to LA?

Come On Go With Us, the Viper Room, February 3rd.

You can bet your ass I'll be there with bells on...

Oklahoma City, OK - Happy 2010!

Balloons, Confetti, Happiness...

After weeks of anticipation, a 9 hour drive, and a ridiculous number of security checks, we were amply rewarded by one hell of a show. The Flaming Lips New Year's Eve Freakout was an amalgamation of trippy tunes, trippier light shows, tons of confetti, and balloons, lots of balloons...

Wayne Coyne and the Flaming Lips have been pushing the acid rock/alt rock envelope since 1983, when he allegedly stole several instruments from a local OK City church and convinced his brother to start a band.

The piece de resistance began as the last seconds of 2009 ticked away... confetti flooded the arena, balloons covered the crowd, and Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon was played in its entirety...

Big smiles, Very Big Smiles...