Two Whole Years!

Has it really been 2 years since Hurricane Ike hit? Crazy how time flies. Actually, it doesn't seem like that long ago I was writing on the 1 year anniversary of Ike.

Not too much has changed in the last year. Galveston Island is definitely coming back--there are new buildings and restaurants going up all over the place. The hospital is coming back as well--more faculty, more nursing stations, more patients. So that's good.

As for me, my life has taken a huge turn for the better since that fateful day two years ago. I remember being huddled in my bunkbed, waiting for the worst of the storm to hit, not knowing if I would have a job, a house, a car, a life the next morning. It turns out that I still had a job (albeit a little hectic for the next 8 months), but lost my home (condemned, that is), eventually got a car, and my life was, well, altered.

Despite the chaos that was my life for 8 months after Ike, I don't regret it, and I'm not sorry it happened. I look back at that time in my life with pride and sentimentality. Through those times, I met a lot of amazing people, got to work at a bunch of different hospitals, and I learned to be 1. flexible (mentally, emotionally, and physically (ie: hello inflatable mattress for 3 months)), and 2. resilient. People can make do in whatever situation they are put in. The lives of my co-residents and the lives of people in Galveston are testimony to this.

Learning to Balance

For those of you that don't know, I'm now doing research for two years while I get my Master's degree in Clinical Science. This means that so far I've spent a lot of time in my cubicle, reading articles, editing papers written by my students, and writing my own papers and abstracts. My classes start August 30. It's been alright--it's definitely an adjustment to the slower pace. But, as Dr. Riall says, I'm just going to "enjoy being bored."

So, I have decided to use this time during the next two years to better myself in all areas--mind, body, and spirit--by doing the following:

1. Working out more
2. Experimenting with cooking more
3. Traveling to visit friends and family (if I can afford it)
4. Reading for leisure
5. Studying surgical textbooks
6. Getting back into going to church regularly, now that my schedule is not so hectic

I hope I can do these things. I'm excited to see what God will bring my way during the next two years. :)

Travels--Physical and Emotional

I realized the other day that I have spent way too much money on travelling this year--yes, it's been worth it to see my friends and some cool places--but all my spending has resulted in multiple "mini-financial mental breakdowns" in the last few weeks. Yikes. So far in 2010, I have been to Colorado, Ohio (twice), New Orleans, Ireland, Arizona, and Austin. Phew!

So, while I continue to pay off some credit card debt (not entirely due to my travels--thanks in part to the US government, my Step 3 board exam, and some less-than-awesome hospital bills), I have instead decided to take an emotional and spiritual journey, rather than a geographic one.

Instead of being in an airplane, I will be in awe.
Instead of being a foreigner, I will be forgiven.
Instead of buying gas, I will receive grace.
Instead of speaking another language, I will speak the truth, honestly and lovingly.
Instead of putting on a seatbelt, I will put on the armor of God.
Instead of seeking out a new country, I will seek healing and hope.
Instead of turning a corner, I will turn to God.

Off to Ireland! :)

Hi everyone (or anyone who reads this)!

I know I haven't posted in approximately a millenium, but Casey La Turista is at it again--this time heading to Ireland! So I figured I'd better start up the blog, as appropriate as it is. I don't know how much I'll be able to update while we're there, but I'll try my best during and after.

I'm leaving this Saturday, March 20, and returning Sunday, March 28. I'm heading over with my college buddy Kerry (European traveller extraordinaire), and we're spending about 4 days in Dublin and 3 days in Killarney. We're pumped! I can't believe it's actually here.

More later--off we go! :)

Phew! Time Flies!

Holy moley, ain't that the truth? I cannot believe it's almost 2010--but I'm glad about that. Although I have to admit, 2009 has been infinitely better than 2008. So what does 2010 hold? It's a mystery! Anyway, I jump ahead.

What have I been up to in the last 2 months while I slacked off and did not update? Here's a quick rundown:

1. Two months in the SICU--I love the SICU! The nurses are amazing (see above), the patients are super sick (but most of them improve), and the teaching is fantastic. Seriously considering it for a fellowship at some point in the future.

2. Two months of Burn Surgery (currently)--it's super hot (like 95 degrees in the OR), and super sad. These patients are super sick (and a good portion of them don't improve). :( I'm just trying to get through it.

3. Halloween stuffs--ok, so my roommate and I ordered Halloween costumes, and we didn't even wear them on the actual day...whatever. We did have a pumpkin carving party though, which was a hit!

4. Christmas time is coming up! My roommate and I went to the Festival of Lights at Moody Gardens, which was pretty good. Although we went on opening night and like 25% of the lights were out--we want our money back! All $5.95 of it.

5. Texas Renaissance Festival--my first time experiencing the madness. Of course I joined in the madness by wearing an "authentic" Renaissance outfit, worn by thousands of people before me, but it was totally worth it. :)

That's pretty much it. It seems that we have avoided any further hurricanes this year--hip hip hooray! Let's go for another 99! :)

1 Year Anniversary!

Wow! I can't believe it's been one year since Hurricane Ike hit, and my adventures as a hurricane refugee began.

I still remember trying to sleep during the worst part of the storm (in the early early morning of Saturday, September 13, 2008). I want to emphasize "trying," because really, it's hard to sleep when you don't know if you'll have a home, or a job, or a life the next day. At that point, I didn't even know where to start to pick up the pieces of my life.

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But I am so unbelievably grateful for many things during the last year:

1. I am so grateful that, unlike many of my colleagues, I did not lose everything in the storm.

2. I am so grateful for the flexiblity that we were able to have in moving around the state of Texas to still get our training (even though it was stressful at the time--moving every month, being homeless, learning a new hospital system every month).

3. I am so grateful for the people that took me in during the last year and let me be a nomad, sleeping on their couch, their floor, and in their extra bedrooms (the Feighner family, Lisa, and Spogmai). It saved me so much time and money and stress to be able to have a place to lay my head during this time.

4. I am so grateful for the thoughts and prayers and gifts from everyone around the state of Texas, the country, and even the world. It is so nice to have such support!

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I still can't believe the way this blog has affected people, including myself. Just last week I met yet another woman at work that had read my blog when she evacuated, and she was so excited to meet me. Seriously? I'm just a normal person who was put in a situation and tried to make the best of it.

Although I have thought about the possibility of another storm. If there was another hurricane, would I volunteer to be an E1 and stay at the hospital? I think I would. Although my perspective would be very different the second time around.

Anyway, I finally feel like my life is coming together. I have a car, a home (albeit rented), and a job that I'm finally happy with. Sigh. Life is better. :)

O-H-I-O is where it's at

So, I'm officially on vacation now, and I have to say...I'm a little bored. My vacation started Friday at noon, at which time I hopped on a plane to Minneapolis, and met my dad for a weekend of fun in my favorite city in the entire world. Even though the Twins lost, I did hit up the Mall of America and ate a Dome Dog, so it was worth it.

My plans for the remainder of my vacation include:

1. Sleeping
2. Studying (I start my surgical ICU rotation when I get back, which I'm really excited about)
3. Working on my research project (A retrospective study involving "The Effects of IntraOperative Pressors on PostOperative Surgical Wound Infections in Elective Colorectal Surgeries"--fascinating, I know)
4. Working out (Turbo Jam, here I come)
5. Eating all my favorite foods (thus #4)

As far as I know, we haven't had any hurricane scares this year, but then again, right now I have neither TV, internet, gas, or a dishwasher, so I don't really know much of anything that's going on in the outside world. Apparently I'm Amish. But I do know that I'm obsessed with Miley Cyrus' new song, "Party in the USA," and the Chipotle application for iPhone.

Oh, and that picture above is of our house in Galveston, right before we moved in.

Life in Prison

Have I ever mentioned how much I love prisoners? Well, the prisoner patients, that is. Here's why:

1. They are so grateful! Unfortunately, they have had all their rights taken away in the prison system, so any attention they get, any little speck of kindness, a word of compassion, is invaluble to them. It's such a breath of fresh air compared to the free world.

2. They love hospital food! They get really excited about the food in the hospital, and even request "double portions" sometimes. Compare this to the free world patients, who will have their friends and family bring them Whataburger because they can't stand even the smell of the hospital food. It all depends on your perspective, I guess.

3. Violence is a reality to them, and it must be discussed. I hate hate hate sending my patient who have had big surgical procedures back to their unit. Unfortunately, the chances that they could get attacked or beat up at their unit, or picked on because they are tired and slow-moving during their recovery from surgery, are pretty high. Because of this, I've had some TDC patients beg me not to send them back to their unit, because they won't be able to defend themselves if need be. This is so different from my life (thankfully), but it's a reality for them, and that's scary. I will gladly send them to an infirmary for as long as they need to recover.

4. They are desperate to see their families. If the TDC patients are in the ICU, considered in "critical" condition, or are in the infirmary, their families can come visit them. I've also had patients beg me to keep them in an infirmary for another week or two so they can see their families again. Once again, I will gladly keep them in the infirmary for as long as they need--it doesn't make a difference to me, and it could mean the world to them.

A sidenote: Don't ever, ever, look up what they did to get in prison. It will change the way you look at them forever. Once, I was going to look up my favorite TDC patient, because I was curious to see what he had done. Well, the website was taking so long to load, so I figured it must be a sign from God to not go there--and I haven't typed in that web address since (not that the students and other residents don't look it up and tell me--but that's not by choice!). And in fact, what they did to get in prison has no bearing whatsoever on my taking care of them the best that I can. I am treating the patient, and that's all that matters to me.

Although the ones that I have found out about, I am actually surprised by how gracious and kind and, at times, well educated they are. I think this is a testimony to the prison system and it's ability to reform former-convicts. It really challenges the idea of the death penalty, in my mind.

Ok, enough philosophical mumbo-jumbo. Of to do some Turbo Jam! :)

A Few Pics...

Here are a few good ones from the last couple months:

My 100th post?

Wow, I can't believe I've written so many posts.....

In any case, I know it's been forever since I wrote last, but blame it on the fact that I have been all around the state of Texas, homeless, and now, still, internet-less. I don't have the energy to write too much about what I've been up to. But I will give a quick rundown of my latest activities, and will have to post some pictures at a later date (I'm in Ohio now, so my pics are not on this computer).

1. Disneyworld! Yes, indeed, my dad, sister, and I went to the "Happiest Place on Earth." Seriously, it is. My dad said, "do we really have to have our picture taken with every character?" To which we replied, "of course!!"

2. Minnesota Twins Spring Training. Yes, I'm a huge loser and actually went to Fort Meyers, Florida by myself and saw the Twins play. I know it's dorky, but it was so fun to be there, surrounded by people who were as equally (or moreso) excited about the Twins season as I was/am. Even got my picture taken with TC Bear.

3. Working. A lot. I just finished up two months of work at St. Joseph Medical Center in Houston, a private hospital where we rotate. It's a good place to be, not only because they gave me free housing and food, but also because you get to work with a lot of different docs who are good at teaching, and you get to do a lot of cases. I'm grateful for that experience, because I am slowly gaining some confidence and experience in the OR.

4. Weddings galore! I have (so far) been invited to 10 (yes, I really meant TEN) weddings for the 2009 calendar year. I have made 3 so far, which have been super fun. So, even though I haven't been paying any rent, all my money has been going to flying around the country and cleaning out bridal registries. It was worth it though.

5. Skydiving! Last weekend I went skydiving with my friend Lisa. Indeed, I jumped out of a plane at 15,000 feet, and lived to tell about it. It was weird; when you're free-falling at 120mph, you really don't feel like you're falling--it's mostly just a lot of air in your face. Then you (hopefully) pull the parachute and serenely float around the atmosphere before (hopefully) peacefully landing on the ground below. The only time I was nervous was when I was at the door to the plane, and I thought to myself, "what in the WORLD am I doing???" Then I realized there was only one way out of the situation, and that was down...very far down. Then he pushed me out.

6. Moving! I have rented a newly-rennovated house with one other resident, and I finally got all my possessions out of storage and into my new abode. I'm really really excited just to have an address, a real bed, a kitchen (so I can start my incessant baking), and my life back. Nevermind the cockroach I found in my bed last week.

7. Vacation! Just as I was getting settled back in Galveston, I hopped on a plane to Ohio for the week, which is where I am now. My goals for the week include eating all my favorite foods, seeing all my favorite people, and enjoying the goodness that is the state of Ohio. Ok, I'm not really sure what that last phrase meant, but it is a catch-all for all the fun stuff that exists in Columbus. I'm going to revel in it.

That's all I have right now. I'm off to dinner with a friend, then back in time to watch the newest episode of the Bachelorette. Woo hoo!

Stay tuned for some pics.

~Casey