Another gem from the OOPS file...

I imagine it doesn't instill an overwhelming sense of confidence when your local fire station actually catches fire! But that is exactly what happened this week in Tokyo.

Interestingly enough, when I was doing my paramedic preceptorship with the Philadelphia Fire Department, a very similar thing happened. We were called to respond to a neighboring fire house for an automatic fire alarm. Just like in Tokyo, the firemen were cooking and were called out for an emergency and failed to turn off the stove- although unlike the incident in Japan, there was no actual fire just a smoky kitchen.

Birthdays and Such...

Hey, good to see you. I haven't been 'round these parts in a bit. The old blog muse snuck out in the middle of the night a couple of weeks ago and hasn't so much as called me.

Since last we left our hero in the middle of a booze review, he had a ..ahem, birthday. I can start to see the top of this hill now. My daughter Kaitlyn prepared a wonderful dinner to help celebrate her dad's inching toward "antique" status. The older I get the more sentimental I suppose, because it was a real joy to spend my birthday with the whole family. As far as kids go you could do a lot worse than my smart-arsed little tribe! Everyone made my birthday a very cool day.

Speaking of family and birthdays, John is about to have a birthday Wednesday and I am looking forward to going out to celebrate with him. I promise not to repeat the dreaded "Backstreet Boys Karaoke Incident" that occurred the last time we went out in Brooklyn- he may never enter Brooklyn again without a disguise on!

Kathy is doing well and everything with the pregnancy is just fine, April is rapidly approaching. At some point we will have to give some thoughts to a name! (How many apostrophes are there in Dae'qwon ?)

From the "Even a blind squirrel gets a nut sometimes" file, I got the results of the shelf exams I took last month and I honored my Internal Medicine exam and comfortably passed Psychiatry! Contrary to what my wife believes, I am not a complete idiot!

Meanwhile I am waiting to begin the much dreaded surgery rotation on Feb 2nd. during which, sleep and I will become once again, estranged.

And finally, thanks to watching Jack's Big Music Show (you know, for Rileigh!) I have been going around all day singing this:



It's catchy, no?

2009's First Post...And It's a Booze Review!

Apologies to readers of this blog (both of you) for my lack of inane ramblings of late, the holidays- they are a busy time. I considered writing one of those hackneyed year-end posts where I reflect on the events of the past year and offer some maudlin observations and all of that, but I just couldn't bring myself to it. Suffice it to say to say to say that 2008 was an interesting year and I am very much looking forward to this year.

The astute among you will have noticed that it has been a long time since I have done a booze review. To that end, I offer you this:

Bulleit Bourbon




You can read the Wikipeadia entry on Bulleit Bourbon here.

At $37.99* for the 1L bottle pictured above this is not exactly a cheap drink, but at least in this case you seem to get what you pay for. Up until medical school I had always been a scotch drinker- almost to the exclusion of other libations. One of my pathology professors and I got to drinking talking one night and he recommended a couple of bourbons that he insisted I try. If anyone is interested they were Labrot and Grahm's Woodford Reserve and Basil Haden's. Being the quintessential lush alcoholic epicure, I was compelled to take his advice; and needless to say I was pleasantly surprised. Yes Virginia, there are also good bourbons. So, for the last couple years I have expanded my potable horizons to include both scotches and bourbons. I have tried many "good" bourbons and this one ranks right near the top.

I have a bit of a peculiar bottle fetish- no, not THAT kind of fetish!- I appreciate bottle designs. I am a big fan of Blanton's bottle for example, with it's pewter horse adorned cork and its multifaceted shoulders. Bulleit's bottle is both more simple and elegant at the same time. On the website it describes it as an old fashioned medicine flask design. I don't know from medicine flasks, I know it just looks cool.

But the real artwork is evident once the cork is removed. It is much smoother than most bourbons I have tried. It lacks that certain "Je nais se plawch!"- from the French, meaning "tasting like paint thinner". It does not assault the palate like a horny 16 year old boy with a willing prom date, rather, it takes its time and slowly seduces your taste buds into submission. It starts off with a strong honey flavor; and as it dances around your tongue making promises of eternal respect and of a call in the morning, the hint of vanilla comes creeping in teasing you and warming the mouth just so. It finishes rather dry (owing to its high Rye content) and not unlike scotch it has an oaky( but thankfully mild) after-taste that still retains some of its corny-sweetness. Quite delicious!

I give Bulleit Bourbon an unprecedented 9.0 out of 10 Livers!


* Purchased in New York at a mom-and-pop liquor store, so your mileage may vary.

Requiem Diablo

I never considered myself a 'cat person'. I always fancied myself more of a dog type. Dogs after all, were loyal and friendly could be trained to do a great many things. I grew up with dogs, There was a German Shepard at my side from as long as I could remember until I left home. Ever present companions, watchful protectors, and eager playmates, dogs are wonderful Yes sir, I was a dog man!

Cats, on the other hand, are aloof and distant. Cold, calculating creatures that have a need for human companionship that goes only as far as purveyors of their next meal-truly predators at heart; unloving and not capable of the same kind of interspecies bonds that canines make so easily. This is what I used to think anyway, until we got Diablo.

"He's the runt of the litter", my wife said as we looked over the group of kittens. "Yes, that's exactly why we should get him!" I replied, a perpetual fan of the underdog. A few minutes later we were escorting a tiny orange ball of tail-sucking fur back to our home, and into our hearts.

Thus began our relationship with one orange, short-haired member of the species, Felis catus domestica, or as we named him, Diablo. I always say that Diablo thinks he's a dog. He follows me around, comes when I call him, and is always more interested in what I am doing, than any typical 'feline pursuits'. He is sometimes annoying, usually mischievous, and always loveable. Diablo is the perfect companion.

At least he was, until today.

He died today.

Last night I noticed he was a bit lethargic but chalked it up to his 18 hour-a-day sleep habit. Today he began having trouble breathing and started meyowing loudly. This was unusual for him as he is typically a very silent cat. I took him to the animal hospital this afternoon, and while we were in the examination room I somehow knew this was to be his last day. He lay limp on the table staring at me with blank eyes. This was not good. Eyes that were so typically alive, curious, and ful of spunk just stared out devoid of all personality. 3 hours later he was gone. The vet said it was an acute onset of congestiver heart failure- precipitated by who knows what? None of that seems to matter right now.

I miss my little buddy.

Weekend Update

This past weekend began with taking 2 shelf exams. Shelf exams are subject specific tests that our school requires us to take at the end of every rotation. This time I took the Psychiatry and Internal Medicine Exams. Each test consisted of 100 'retired' questions from the USMLE that seem to have to been written by a team of sadists well versed in irrelevant facts, esoteric terminology, and psychological warfare. At the end of the 2 tests, I felt as if I had underwent the equivalent of metal water-boarding of a quality that would make Donny Rumsfeld proud. Hopefully I weathered the storm; I'll find out in a couple weeks.

Things took a turn for the better when a whole gaggle of us headed into Manhatan for some post-test libations, as is the custom. The evening ended at a Karaoke bar on the upper east side called Iggy's Rock and Roll. This place is more fun than a barrell of drunken monkeys. It boasts a 98' long bar, reasonably priced drinks (for Manhatan) and non-stop Karaoke-palooza! Yours truly graced the crowd with a, dare I say, rockin' rendition of Journey's power ballad, Faithfully My performance was met by quite an enthusiastic reception from the teeming masses and even prompted a "Holy shit dude, you naaaiiled it!" from friend and fellow student, Jersey Pete. (delivered at the signature 110 decibles and with that "Fuhgeddaboudit" Jersey accent) A great time was had by all!

Sunday, Kathy and I decided to take Rileigh to Manhatan to do a little Christmas time sightseeing. We met up with Jersey Pete and Grace-who was in from LA to take a couple of the afformentioned exams. We went to Rockerfeller Center and saw the Christmas tree, did some window shopping and ate lunch. When it got dark we took a walk down to Times Square and confirmed that Rileigh is not prone to Seizures- all the blinking lights and crowds were very exciting to her, at least until she passed out asleep. Below are some pictures taken in the afternoon. Sadly my camera's battery died before it got dark.




Jersy Pete and Grace:

Star of Death

This tragic story in yesterday's Washington Post.

A brief summary:

A 39 year old man who was having chest pain and shortness of breath had complete resolution of his symptoms after about 6 hours. The bad news is that the symptoms went away right along with that nagging heartbeat he had.

This man was never seen at a hospital, because a paramedic somehow convinced him he would be better served taking Pepto-Bismol for what they said was "probably reflux", instead of transporting him to a hospital for further evaluation.

6 hours later he was dead. At home.

The article states that EMS "checked his vital signs and performed an electrocardiogram, the results of which they said were normal."

There are at least a couple dozen potential diagnoses that can present with shortness of breath or chest pain or both. Some are life threatening some are not. But I do not remember the part of my paramedic training where the taking of vitals and a "normal" EKG precluded you from a trip to see the smiling face of your local emergency room physician.

The article also reports that the medical examiner will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death. I could save the county a few bucks and the medical examiner some time. Cause of death: Incompetence.

Crap I have Done...

This is bouncing all around the intertubes and makes for an easy mindless post. Perfect.


Things I’ve done are in bold.

1. Started your own blog- (duh)
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower ( I'm into cosmic voyeurism and astro-porn; wathcing a meteor take a shower... HOT!)
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (Dineyworld)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris (only connected there...a lovely airport)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (it was closed when we visited)
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France (The Mona Lisa in France?.. is that a foreign film?)
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (think they mean Philadelphia?...or in the strict sense- Africa?)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (Computer languages count!)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke (I'm currently looking to start a Back Street Boys Tribute band ) ;-)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance ( I was working in it.. but it counts)
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason (being wonderful isn't a reason??)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter (does bouncing a check that pays for the helicopter earn bonus points?)
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury (that is just mean..what did the poor jurors do to deserve being sat on?)
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby (well not me personally)
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Holiday Shopping Fun

In case you find yourself shopping at the gates of hell this holiday season, you should at least have a little fun with it: (click to enlarge)


It shouldn't take more than a few minutes to cover the entire card.

Practical Advice

Outsourcing Surgery?

While surfing around on the intratubes I came across this article from last week's New York Times.

It seems that insurance companies are taking a page out of manufacturing's playbook and attempting to outsource certain ....surgeries!

Need a knee replacement? No problem. They[insurance company] will fly you (and a companion) to India you will be operated on by "internationally accredited surgeons" this outsourcing package comes complete with meals, and is provided to you at no cost at all . Zero copay. "Free", if you will. The insurance company can foot the bill for this whole mess and still pay a fraction of the cost of the same procedure done in the United States.

Sweet tap-dancing Jesus!

While I do not think there are going to be lines forming any time soon to fly to India to get medical care (or much else for that matter), it is an interesting development in the whole health care issue.

I wonder what sweeping effect we will see if other insurers start to follow suit- this has the potential to shake up the entire industry.