The Gum Tree for 2005 August

(1) Mon Aug 15 18:11:36 MST work, work, work:

Life has changed somewhat since I have moved up here to West Plains. Here is a sample schedule:

7:00 A.M.--Dress in scrubs and scrub my hands and arms

7:30--Prep a patient for some type of surgery and start surgery (dress eyes with betadine and surgical drapes).

8:00-12:00-- watch eyes and faces get cut up, cauterized, implants placed, sutured, and dressed.

12:00-1:00-- help paperwork and dictation

1:00-2:00-- lunch

2:00-6:00-- work in the office, scribing for the doctor during eye examinations.

6:00-8:00--Go to the gym or on a run

8:00-9:30--Dinner, Read, and Relax

9:30-10:30--Call Louise and talk before going to sleep.

Anyways, That is an idea of the kind of thing that I do. I don't have any TV so I have a good time reading. Right now I am finishing Theodore Roosevelt's Autobiography. I really enjoy it. I am also reading bits and peices of Ray Kurzweil's "The Age of Spiritual Machines" about computer technology and the future of medicine/communications dealing with computers--not a bad book.

I was also asked to speak in church--even though this was my first Sunday. And then the Elder's Quorum President asked me to give the lesson next Sunday. The lesson is on how to effectively parent children--as if I would have any idea. Also, I was asked to come to Mutual this Wednesday to see the Bishop. I guess that I won't have to worry too much about not getting a calling. I will also probably be assigned to four families for home teaching. Of course, I don't mind the work, but this is a ward that was in need of a serious blood transfusion.

Louise is doing well. She is also reading quite a bit (Hemmingway mostly) and progressing quite nicely. I only wish that I could go with her on her rafting trip early in September, or her camping/rock climbing trip late Septermber, or that big celebration in October. . .

Mon Aug 22 12:40:31 MST Seminary and Surgeries:

Last week I went to church on Wednesday to see the Bishop. He wasn't there, but I was caught by the stake seminary coordinator sis Hull. She asked me to teach home study seminary each Wednesdays because the other teacher just got a job and needed to travel on that day. I will also probably get a calling in the Young Men's (mutual is right after seminary). All of this fun is happening before they even have my records. I guess they trust me.

I also spent this morning with Bro. Hull-- who is an ENT (ear-nose-throat). I saw a neck dissection in order to remove a tumor of a middle aged gentleman. It was neat to see--I never realized that blood vessles were so durable (especially those really big ones). Dr. Jones was next door working on a toddler who had a pop-bottle rocket in the eye. The lens ruptured and the fragments were forced back on the retina. I guess that is a little lesson for parents--don't let kids aim firecrackers at each other; especially if they are 2 or 3 years old!

Last night the Joneses invited me to dinner. I helped put the horses in (they have about 30) and I mostly talked with the mother while helping out were I could. She is of Italian descent, and it was nice to get to know the family.

I am still missing Louise though, but every day is a day closer to us being together, as well as another day of progress and growth.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.