New Beginnings

I hope you all have had an enjoyable Christmas and are ready for the blessings of a New Year. I have had a reasonably enjoyable holiday season as well. Of course as you grow older, your gifts aren't as exciting as the one pictured here from when I was three (and yes I realize that I'm the proud new owner of a Knight Rider big wheel and that I was quite the tomboy back in the day-complete with freshly-painted red fingernails). Instead, our gifts dwindle to small pieces of intricately decorated green paper and we realize that the holidays are more about spending time with the ones we love. Goodness, I think I've been spending too much time in the Hallmark aisle of the local discount store.
So in addition to spending times with loved ones, I suppose this time of year is about reflecting back on the previous year and planning for the year to come. Without writing you one of those "yearly Beaver Cleaver family" type letters I suppose you could say my year was not what I expected. In one word I suppose you could describe it as a year of realization. Yet, I suppose (I think I'm beginning to sound repetitive) it is those periods of realization in our life that cause us to honsetly reflect on who we are and what we have become and that shape our ultimate resolutions. So here are my resolutions for next year:
1. I resolve to not be perfect and to realize that everyone else is not perfect.
Being in a professional environment for many hours out of ones' week leads one to falsely believe that one must strive for ultimate perfection and that anything less than perfection is unacceptable. I'm a human, you're a human, and we all make mistakes. I'm not condoning mistake-making; I'm just saying that people make mistakes and it's important that we remember that.
2.I resolve to not equate joy or being a good Christian to a constant state of happiness.
I think the most important lesson I learned this year is the above statement. Being a Christian doesn't mean life all of a sudden becomes a constant environment of sunshine and daisies. While sunshine and daisies are wonderful, God created us with a full spectrum of emotions that can and will be experienced sometime in our life. It's ok to express your emotions, even the "bad" ones like pain, grief, frustration, and anger. Of course there are healthy ways to express all of these emotions, but it is ok to express them. My Jesus was table-throwing angry, gut-wrenching sad, and jumping-up-and-down joyful at times kind of Jesus. It's ok to not be sunshine and daisies all the time.
3.I resolve to trust God.
It's a strange thing that how when you're in a valley so dark that the nights are filled with the skeletons in your closet dancing around your head instead of fluffy white sheep jumping over fences, that God feels closer than ever. Because at those points in your life, He's all you've got. You've exhausted all your attempts to "solve life's problems" and all you can do is let your Savior wrap his loving arms around you...and He will. God is faithful. It's ok to trust Him.
4. I resolve to accept that families are dysfunctional.... and to love them anyway.
We all pretend we come from perfect families, but we don't. At least I don't. Dysfunctional families began with Adam and Eve. Why should the present time be any different? But we still have to love those whom God has deemed our "family members" though at times that love is "tough" and at times that love is "blind" and at times that love is "enduring." I think one of the greatest challenges in life is learning how to love those we love most. And so it should be with our church family as well. I find it amusing sometimes when people search for the "perfect church." Church families have been "dysfunctional" from the beginning as well. Love them anyway.
5. I resolve to..I'm sure there's more to add to this list...

So I debated whether or not to publish this entry since I'm sure my blogging abilities have grown rusty from disuse, but I suppose (I really should find another phrase) someone might glean some tiny bit of wisdom, hope, encouragement, moment of reflection, etc... from my ramblings. If not, then I hope you have at least enjoyed the amusing picture.

Have a Blessed and Happy New Years!

Save the Date

(I attribute this post to an unexpected consumption of large quantities of caffeine and the subsequent side effects)



You never know where life might lead you.On this particular day it lead M4 Suzanne and myself to the Detroit airport via prop plane (thank you again Delta)as a slight detour on our way to Kansas City for the annual AAFP conference.Transitioning from second year to third year is just as dramatic as the transition from college to first year.Once again I have to apply the daily mantra of "I know nothing" and realize that my goal as a third year student is to "know nothing" and be constantly reminded that "I know nothing." Despite this overwhelming reaization, it's nice to be out of the classroom and pretending that I'm actually making a difference in my patients' lives when in fact, all I am doing is waking them at obscene hours of the morning to poke and prod them and interrogate them as several other people have throughout the course of their hospital stay.

And speaking of the AAFP (that's the family medicine association), I'm again toying with the idea of family medicine instead of infectious disease. Choosing a specialty is going to be as easy as choosing what to order at a restaurant; I'm terribly indecisive. Current pics are fam. med residencies in Ohio, Indiana, Massachusetts (did I even spell that correctly?), Oklahoma, and Texas but who knows. Maybe I'll just take a year off and go work for the NIH in Peru while I try to make my decision.

As for the title of this post? Thank your doctor. Just kidding. Save the dates of September 15-17th for Central CoC's annual medical missions seminar here in Johnson City, TN. If I can manage to divert my call schedule to attend, surely you can all fly, drive, or bike your way here to hear about some amazing ways God is working in this world, whether it be in the ICU at Vanderbilt (cool story) or a small clinic in Guatemala. Email me for more info.

Anyways, it's 1:00 and I round at 6:30 so you do the math. It's time for some sleep. Remember September 15-17, 2006. Be there.

Farewell

Dear Blog Readers,

There's a time and a place for everything under the sun. Almost two years ago I started this blog as a means to keep a small thread of connection to that part of my existence that had absolutely nothing to do with medicine. We've seen my struggles as I tried to get used to the routine of such demanding careers, my joyful moments, and my late-night stream-of-consciousness ramblings. However, all good things must come to an end, my blog being one of them, so I've decided that the time has come to say farewell to the blogging world.

When considering this decision, I thought about all the reasons I should continue it but couldn't come up with any of significance. I thought that maybe I could glorify God by showing random people who read my blog what an amazing life changing experience it is to follow Christ, but I realized that's not the purpose of my blog.
To all of you who might be reading this who aren't Christians,
I urge you to open up your mind for a few days, discard the ideas of institutionalized religion as meaning "follower of Christ," read through the Bible (or at least the first 5 books of the New Testament) and tell me what you think. You might just find the same amazing guy that I did, Jesus.
I thought it would be a good way to keep up with my thoughts and experiences in med school, but personal journaling with pen and paper is a superior method. It's difficult to write all your thoughts and feelings, knowing that you are posting to the entire world.
And I've already discovered many times over, that blogging is a terrible way to maintain a friendship. Nothin beats face-to-face contact although phone calls and AIM are reasonable substitutions.

So there you have it. Don't worry. As many of you know I still appreciate random visits (even when I have the flu), phone calls, and emails (in that order) so you won't be forced to lose total contact with your dear friend who likes to spell her first name with one "L" and still hasn't decided on the correct pronunciation of her last name. Maybe every now and then, I might even decide to post something useful. Just don't expect the regular weekly postings. Likewise, don't expect me to keep up with your blogging entries, so forgive me if I miss out on some important event of your life. It's been a fun two years and I look forward to keeping in touch with you (just not through blogging)!!!

“What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.” -T.S. Eliot

Thank Your Doctor

While most of you spent the day enjoying another warm summer, urban Asian landscape, the endless post-it notes encircling your cubicle walls, or perhaps the local town fireworks, myself and my colleagues sat inside the air-conditioned walls of Stanton-Gerber Hall. Yes, third year has officially started. Some might wonder why a person would spend thousands of dollars and years of their lives in pursuit of this career of medicine. We each have our different reasons:

Some do it for the money and power which in my humble opinion is the worst business venture one could pursue. If your desire is to become a wealthy, powerful person, earn your MBA, invest in the stock market, start your own business, but don't pursue a career in medicine.

Some do it because they want to help people. Yet that shouldn't be the only reason. One can help people in any career field from firefighting to football. It's all depends on how one's talents are used.

For others, medicine provides that special opportunity to touch people's lives in a way not possible in any other career. There's something special about being able to provide hope and assistance to a person when facing their moment of greatest suffering.

I'm sure the next few weeks will be filled with a "deer-in-the-headlights" look, much like the one I had my first week of medical school. I'm sure the phrases "good night's sleep," "rest and relaxation," and "know-it-all" will become non-existent in my vocabulary and words like "not on call," "caffeine," and "lunch provided" will be the most welcomed words to my ears. It should be an interesting year as I learn what it exactly means to be a student doctor.

And as far as the title of this post goes? Thank your doctor. For all those long hours and years of study, they deserve it.

Latin Americitis

9 days: just enough time to get to know a place and its people and to miss them when you have to leave.
I think every time I leave Central America, I leave a larger piece of my heart behind. The past 9 days were an unexpected blessing of finally seeing a part of a dream realized as I attended to my very first patient as an aspiring physician, my attending being a room away for those emergency consults due to frequent lapses in medical knowledge. It was a blessing to affirm that the past 2 years tucked away in the dungeon of Stanton Gerber Hall were not spent in vain and that facts such as Sturge-Weber syndrome is characterized by a port-wine stain, a left supraclavicular lymph node is indicative of metastasis of gastric cancer, and exopthalmos is one of the three characteristics of Grave's Disease are all important and relevant. Yet, even though I have already assimilated an incredible amount of information, this week taught me I still have even more to learn and the next two years will not be trivial.
It was a wonderful opportunity to be able to spend over a week with some amazing brothers and sisters in Christ, both from Nicaragua and the United States. I think one of the strongest evidences for Christianity is the transformation of lives, the life of a California gang member transformed to that of a strong Christian servant of his Christian family, the life of a shy angry girl now filled with joy and enthusiam at the thought of serving God's precious children. That's what I love about my Christian family-we come from such a diverse background and collection of talents yet God finds a way to use each and every one of us. Whether we can teach, heal, sew, preach, or simply smile and let someone know they are loved, we each have our role in supporting our Christian family in their strengths and in their weaknesses.
Serving abroad isn't about the pictures you take or the souveneirs you purchased. It isn't about the exotic places you visited or the foods you sampled. It's about the people. It's about remembering what those two wooden beams symbolize and reminding yourself of why you've dedicated your life to serving the man who hung from them. It's about getting in touch with that part of your soul which is obscured by the materialism and frantic lifestyle led in the United States.
Instead of the per usual quote, I leave you with a few special moments from the past week:



Benny Baker from Mision para Cristo told me I'd never forget them because I saw my first patient in Nicaragua. He's right. How many people have a picture of the first patient they ever saw?



With this view, who needs a rental cabin in the Smokies?



What else can I say? Simply precious.

A Repost of Sorts

Reflections from the Mission Field: Guatemala 2005

There are those special people in your life whose friendship endures throughout the years, even though the calls grow few and the letters less numerous. With these people you can pick up with right where you left off, as if no time had passed, and you wonder why you lost contact with them in the first place. While in Guatemala, I became reacquainted with such a friend. His name is Jesus.
At one point or another in our life we met Jesus for the first time. We were awed by the mercy and love he showed us. We wanted to give our lives totally to him and his cause and tell the entire world about what he has done for us. Yet, as the years pass we lose our desire to share the “good news” because we’ve forgotten exactly what the “good news” is that we wanted to share. Our relationship with our Savior gets replaced by our doctrines, rituals, traditions, and cultural beliefs. Sometimes the very things we do in his name, our service and projects, become the face of Christ instead of Christ himself. We serve but we forget exactly who it is for which we are serving. In my many years of living for my Savior, my image of him had dimmed to a poor reflection like that in a cloudy mirror. Little did I know that three weeks in Guatemala would be spent not only being reacquainted with my dear brothers and sisters in Christ there, but with my Savior as well.
Once in Honduras on a mission trip, as part of our nightly devotional we were asked to share where we saw Jesus that day. I saw Jesus at work everyday in Guatemala as he reminded me of what a wonderful Savior he is to me:

I saw Jesus touched with compassion when two men led their lame friend in to be seen by Jesus and how He lovingly told him to get up and walk. (Luke 5:18,20,24)

I saw Him reach out to the man who was drowning in his alcoholism and submerse him in something to drink that would never leave him thirsty. (John 4:14)



Even though we could do nothing but pray for her, I saw Jesus gently take the disfigured hand of an elderly Quiche woman broken from the hardships of life. I saw him heal her hand, replace sight to her cataract-blinded eyes, and give strength to her weary body. (Luke 13:12)

I saw Jesus gently explain to the lady with terminal liver cancer that though her life here on earth was about to end, that He had a much better one prepared for her in the life to come. (John 14:1-2)



I saw Jesus take up the burdens of those heavy laden with the struggles of life and walk beside them on the way. (Matthew 11:28-30)

I saw Jesus sitting on a mountain top looking at all the wonderful things His Father had made on this Earth and preaching the good news to all who would listen. (Matthew 5:1-2)

I saw Jesus walk to the forgotten corners of the world, to the villages of Quiché, and I saw him have compassion on those “precious and pure” people, sheep who were looking for their Shepherd. (Mark 6:34)

I may have had to say goodbye to some dearly-missed friends in Guatemala, but I came home with my best friend, Jesus.

More Randomness

Sorry. A month spent in absolute assimilation of every scrap of medical trivia known to mankind leads to a post-exam rush of imaginative thinking.

1.Facebook: Yes, I have fallen victim to the evils of digital communication. I imagine one day, our children will look back and ask, "Mommy, you mean you actually met up and talked to your friends WITHOUT using a computer?" Face-to-face contact. Soon to be a sought-after relic. Another thing about Facebook: why does it seem that everyone has to put a bottle in their picture? Does having your photograph with Mr.Jack Daniels or his cousin Bud automatically raise your status in society or your level of sophistication?
Yet another thing: Why do people feel obliged to post every aspect of their life on Facebook? Do I really care what your favorite movies are and do I really want to see 67 pictures of last year's spring break and your pet dog Rufus? Isn't it supposed to be a means to keep in touch with people so that you know how to contact them when you actually want to find out those things in person over a cup of Puerto Rican coffee and a Krispy Kreme chocolate sprinkle donut (organic of course ;-))?

2.Medical terms. Of course I couldn't blog without relating my post to medicine. I have come to learn that physicians are so intelligent that they quickly become bored with using ordinary terms to describe a situation. Instead, they invent new terminology, most of it an attempt to revive the dead Latin language. Example:
A 48yo wm and his spouse were traveling on the interstate. Being somewhat convoluted in nature, they were unaware when they reached the bifurcation of the interstate and soon found themselves in an MVA with the vehicle in a left decubitus position.
Translation: Jim and Jane were traveling on the interstate. Being somewhat curvy in nature [the interstate], they were unaware when they reached the point where the interstate split and soon found themselves in an MVA with the vehicle on its left side.
or
Doctor, I seem to have an erythematous, verrucous mass on my buccal mucosa. It's pruritic and I've also noticed the concomitant symptom of nocturnal epistaxis.
Translation: Doc I have this red warty thing on the side of my mouth. It itches and I've also noticed that my nose seems to bleed at night when I have this.

3.Short Term Mission Trips: Why does it seem that everyone who spends a week in a foreign country suddenly becomes an expert in foreign policy and the culture of that country? Please, if you travel abroad, refrain from making hasty generalizations about the people of that nations. You wouldn't desire people from other nations calling all Americans "fat, lazy, complaining, couch potatoes" would you? Then please don't say 50% of Hondurans live in tiny wooden shacks with dirt floors and compare the workmanship to something your grandchild might build for fun on a camping trip. Also, please don't say "We are so blessed here in the US," as if God's blessing doesn't extend to those in developing nations just because it's not in a monetary form. Doesn't the Bible actually say "woe to the rich" and "blessed are the poor?" Some of the "richest" people I've ever met owned practically nothing and some of the "poorest" people I've ever met seemingly had all their material wants fulfilled.

4.Marital Status: Why does it seem that the defining characteristic of someone in the 20-30 age bracket is their marital status? And why do people hastily assume that just because you haven't moved up the ranks to the mini-van/cradle roll bracket, like all your peers from high school, that you are eagerly awaiting rescue from your status of "singleness?" And why must people assume that just because you're single and female means that anyone who is single and male is sure to be an instantaneous and perfect match for you?

5.Being Female and Being a Medical Student: If I am asked one more time after telling someone I'm in medical school "So are you going to be a doctor or a nurse?" I'm going to start a national campaign for women's rights and join the feminist movement. I'm absolutely sure that this question would not be asked of me were I of the male gender. Yes, there are many wonderful female nurses in this world; however, I am not one of them nor are 50% of my classmates. I have not spent the past two years of my life pouring over the TCA cycle and memorizing Dr.Musich's insane list of transcription factors to be called a nurse. What's my usual answer to this question? A sweet smile and the reply, "I'm going to be a doctor."

You Can Call Me "M" and Other Randomness

(the "D" comes in two years).

I still can't believe I'm halfway through my medical education. When I awoke this morning, I almost felt guilty for not studying. No memorizing the innumerable side effects of phenytoin, no constructing crazy acronyms or diagrams to remember which viruses have + RNA and which ones have - RNA, and no late night rendevous with Mr.Netter or Dr.Brown's notes.
I'm free.
No longer is my life quantified and organized by when the next pharmacology exam is or whether or not I know every minute detail about the pathology of alcoholism.

In less than a month, I'll change to being just another beeper-wearing, stethoscope-toting neophyte, lost somewhere in the halls of JCMC. Sometimes I still can't fathom the thought that I'm in medical school. That shy, little girl from Smyrna is going to be a doctor? Nah... You must be talking about the wrong person.

So it's good to be back in Smyrna for a few weeks. Good to pretend to be just a normal, average member of society, whatever that means. Good to not have to use the excuse of "I have to study" to miss social engagements and to engage in mindless activities like going to the movies without having the nagging thought of twenty more pages of notes to review before the next day. It's nice to have a change of pace from the frenzied life of a medical student to that of a student on summer break.

I have to say, every time I travel from Johnson City to Smyrna, I'm entertained by people's personal expression in the form of bumper stickers. My latest favorites are:

"My other car is a pair of boots"

"I love my wife"

"God is not a Republican....nor a Democrat"

Be careful of what you wish for. When I was a child, I told my parents that I really wanted a pony. I told my grandmother that she should give up some of her land to build a school so I could ride my (then) nonexistent pony to the (then) nonexistent school. It's strange how those seemingly important yet trite wishes have a way of coming true. My wish for a pony was fulfilled when I was fourteen, and now my wish for a school has been fulfilled. Unfortunately, my pony is now at the pony retirement home, and I'm too old to go to school.

It's funny how one can grow attached to a piece of land. It was never my land to begin with yet I was always allowed free reign to traverse its fields, as long as I didn't step on the new crop of corn or frighten the cows. It was my personal retreat, whether it be to run to grandma's house to receive comfort from a troubled day at school or time spent by the pond watching the reflection of the clouds on the water's surface. And now? All those memories are just memories. The fields with cattle and corn are a flattened plot of dusty earth. In place of corn stalks are steel beams bearing the mark of the structures of higher education for the next generation. And the lady who I told to give up her land so that I could ride my pony to school is no longer here to see the school for which she gave her land. But I suppose that's life. Change is inevitable but it's never easy to change. I think Alan Jackson aptly sums up my current sentiments:

"If my dear old dog never got old

If the family farm never got sold

Another bad joke never got told

That'd be alright"

So thanks for all your prayers, thoughts, support, blog readings, etc...It's been a crazy journey the past few years and I'm sure it will be another crazy two years to come. Vamos a ver!

Hip Hip Hooray!!!!

There was a girl who took a test and Step 1 was it's name (o)
S-T-E-P 1!
S-T-E-P 1!
S-T-E-P 1!
She took it and now she is done!!

(that's to the tune of "Bingo" in case you couldn't guess)

Yes...it's official...call me "M3" and never show me a Step 1 book again. More lucid thoughts to come once I recover from the mental fog of a day's worth of clicking bubbles on a computer screen....I'm so glad it's finally summer...

Late Night Thought

(this is what happens when stress causes sleep to be of highesty commodity and insomnia to dwell in abundance)

Enjoy...savor....reflect...

"It should not be necessary here to site statistics to show how many Brazilians (and Latin Americans in general) are "living corpses," "shadows" of human beings, hopeless men, women, and children victimized by an endless "invisible war" in which their remnants of life devoured by tuberculosis, schistosomiasis, infant diarrhea...by the myriad diseases of poverty (most of which in the terminology of the oppressors are called "tropical diseases")...[Many] fear that in facing the needs and suffering of the world we may simply adopt an emotional protest in favor of palliating the manifestations and symptoms of poverty and injustice without going on to analyze the causes of the latter, to denounce a regime which encompasses this injustice and engenders this poverty."

At the risk of plagarism, I'll leave it to you guys to decide from where this quote was derived. No Googling, Yahoo, etc....that's cheating :o).

Books that Changed My Life

It's crazy how a few letters on a page grouped into a meaningful order of words can have such an impact on a person's life. Here's a few that have changed mine (in chronological order):

1. The Bible
A gimme. Hands down the best action-packed, romance, supernatural, who-dunnit, love story I've ever read. I don't think Christ or the message of Christ is what turns people off of Christianity. I think it's those who call themselves Christians but never actually learn about Christ or what he represents to humanity who disuade people from Christianity.
2. Mrs.Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. Gotta love senior high AP English.
3. The Chance to Say Goodbye by Janice Cross Kerlee
The events and my connection to the events more so than the book. Still a nice read.
4. Jesus MD by Dr. David Stevens
A great reminder to me of why I'm studying my tail off this month.
5. Christ the Sum of All Spiritual Things by Watchman Nee
Definitely a life-changer that made me realize God isn't Santa Claus and prayer is not a submission form for my every whim and want.
6. Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire
Every leader of short term (or long term) missions should read it. 'Nough said.
7.and the latest...Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot
Why did I not read this before? If I ever doubted about going into missions, all doubts have been erased.

So if you're not drowning in Step 1 notes, check out some of these. Even if you are, they're still a good excuse to take a study break :o).

"Throughout all our personality we are God's, and since God has made our whole selves, there is great joy is realizing who is our Creator. This realization is to permeate every area and level of life. In appreciation of beauty, mountains, music, poetry, knowledge, people, science...God is there, to reflect the joy of His presence in the believer who will realize God's purposes in all things" -Pete Fleming Through Gates of Splendor

Let the Fun Begin

School's out which for most people means relaxing in the warm Southern sun, hanging out by the pool, and catching up with old friends. In the past this has been my summer as well as random trips to foreign countries, excursions to the Wild West, or informing the umpteenth Grand Ole Opry customer that Opryland no longer exists, even if they did come all the way from California to see it.
However, this summer is going to be different. No, I'm not about to embark upon some crazy adventure to another continent or endeavor to save the world one popsicle stick at a time. As of today, I'm moving to Quillen College of Medicine's Medical Library for a month. Yes, you heard me. I'm packing up my belongings and setting out for the bowels of academia's dwellings. So don't expect any fancy postcards. In fact, you can address any cards, calls, or visits to" some random study room on the basement floor, QCOM Medical Library, Mountain Home, TN." If you do so, don't expect profound thoughts for a reply. It will probably be in the form of a paragraph of random medical details such as:

Trisomy 13 is a cause of holoprosencephaly, patent ductus arteriosus is characterized by a "machine gun-like" sound, a mass in the abdomen of an infant with elevated VMA levels is probably a neuroblastoma, etc.....

Don't worry about feeling sorry for me. I'm a medical student. Step 1 is just another crazy rite of passage we have to endure in order to earn our degree. Besides, we're all nerds at heart and what better way to satisfy that nerdiness than spending a month studying? :o)

Time to go pack....

Everything I Ever Needed to Know...

...I learned in medical school...almost...

When I handed in my sheet of 125 ridiculously large darkened circles in the form of the last shelf exam I'd ever have to take for basic sciences, Dr.Brown pointed me to the imported Danish Kringles he'd brought for the class and handed me a small packet of useful information, "Earl's Pearls for the Boards" as an aid to studying for the Step 1 exam. As a tribute to Dr.Brown and his phenomenal pathology course, I thought I'd share some of my own pearls I've learned along the way the past two years of medical school:

1.No matter if you move one hour or twelve, a move to a new city might as well be a move to the moon. There's nothing easy about it.

2.Medical school has been the most challenging thing I've ever done in my life. It's also been the most rewarding.

3. Days in class without days outside make Michele a very cranky person. I have to come to realize that I have an annual quota of outdoor time that has to be met in incremental periods of time.

4.T.V., except House and LOST, rots your brain. Read a book instead.

5. Everyone thinks that the perfect ice-breaker for an aspiring physician is asking "What kind of doctor do you want to be?" My answer at the moment: I haven't a clue. I've ruled out GI surgery, urology, and anesthesiology. The latest flavors of the month are family or pediatric infectious disease. Who knows? Ask me in two years (but remember you'll have to call me Dr.Gourley).

6.Just as we aren't perfect on the outside, we aren't perfect on the inside nor do we stay the same. Life is about learning how to deal with our imperfections and changes and the imperfections and changes of others.

7. How great is our God!!! People wonder how I can be a doctor and be a Christian. How can I not be? From the 6,000 foot peaks of the Smokies to the tiny ridges on my tiny fingertips, are the inscriptions of God's fingerprints. In every biochemical equation, in every anatomical system, in every neurological pathway is evidence of our Creator's handiwork. His design and creativity astound me. If mountains and fingertips had been left up to me to create, we'd have shaded triangles and fingerprint-less stick fingers.

8.Every person is of value. No engineer has ever designed a pump that rivals the efficacy or reliability of our heart nor fabricated a material as strong as our bones. There has never been a computer created that can process the amount of information that our brain does every second. Every day our body defies statistical improbability to create hundreds of thousands of hemoglobin molecules than comprise that which we know as blood. We are an incredible an amazing creation. I think if we could wake up each morning and remember this and remember that everyone else around us is just as amazing, it'd make the world a better place.

9.Diet and exercise have a profound effect on health. Spiritual and emotional well-being have an effect on physical well-being. Likewise, physical well-being has an effect on spiritual and emotional well-being. Most physicians only treat symptoms, not the well-being of a person.

10. Don't press so hard against a closed door that you fail to see the five open ones around you.

11. Sometimes we do so much that we forget to be. We go and do and do some more and never remember the purpose behind our doing. It's important to take a few moments every day to stop and reflect on our purpose for being here.

12."communication is health...communication is happiness" as is quoted from Virginia Woolf's Mrs.Dalloway. Open communication with our friends and family and especially with God is one of the most difficult and one of the most important things we can do. Start and end each day with raw, honest prayer. Trust me, days are better, not necessarily easier, when this is done.

So there you have it...twelve important lessons I've learned over the past two short years. Many have been learned in "Jonah" moments of my life, but I'm thankful for each one of them. Per usual, I leave you with a quote:

"A problem is a chance for you to do your best." -Duke Ellington

For Those Who Doubted...

..in my intellectual capability to recover from an arduous weekend of not studying on Mt.Sterling...guess what??

A is for: Alendrolate, Acyclovir, Albendazole, and the grade on Michele's pharmacology test this morning.

1 down...3 to go...

(if this positive correlation between mountain air and exam grades holds, I could stand to make a fortune...or someone else may have already capitalized on my idea such as the one about "llama rentals for all your backpacking needs")

Why Buy Postcards?

When you can make your own?

A Very Productive Weekend of Studying

Somehow I don't think "river crossing" has ever come up in any of my medical school training. I'll have to suggest an addendum to the curriculum for next year.

(thanks J-cuff for the pic. I'll upload mine soon :o))

Happy Earth Day!

The Great Law of the Iroquois Confederacy has a quote that states, "In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generatons."

Yes, I took that quote off the label of my favorite household product brand. In a society more technologically-advanced than those previous, we often fail to consider the effect that that technology will have on those after. Unfortunately, our advances may have a detrimental effect not only on the future, the environment, but ourselves as well. Have you ever stopped to consider how what you buy, what you eat, or what is in your house is affecting your health, the health of the earth, or the health of someone living in substandard conditions in another country?
I must confess that I hadn't either until about a year ago. It was when I was taking biochemistry that I began to realize exactly how much of an impact what we put into our bodies has on our health and well being. It wasn't until I began conversing with some of my more environmentally and social justice oriented classmates that I began to realize how a few pennies or dollars saved may be promoting a few more pennies or dollars being taken from those who are in far greater need than myself.
In light of this and the fact that it is Earth Day, I leave you with a few easy, med. student budget friendly tips to help make this world a better place:

1. Throw the whole "the lowest price is the best deal" concept out the window. I'm waiting. Did you do it? Good for you. Yes, you may save a few pennies here and there by shopping at certain businesses, but did you realize your meager savings is helping to promote decreased benefits for workers, substandard wages, CAFOs, social injustice, etc...?? A nice return for saving a few pennies, huh?

2. Read the labels. I know you all learned how to read, I hope. You'd be amazed at the amount and variety of chemicals that surround us everyday and even more amazed at what we allow ourselves to ingest. Think all of those chemicals are 100% safe? Think again. Most of them haven't been fully studied to discover the exact effect that prolonged exposure has on human health. And besides, with long names like "monopotassium phosphate, piperonyl butoxide, and dimethly benzyl ammonium saccharinate" it can't be good for you. People have survived for centuries without being surrounded by a plethora of synthetics. Why can't we now?

3.Buy organic. Every summer the Johnson City Downtown Clinic treats numerous migrant workers with severe health problems. The number one contributing factor? Pesticides. A few weeks ago we had a series of Toxicology lectures listing the types of pesticides and their toxic effects. I realize that we aren't exposed to the same levels as the migrant workers but it still makes you wonder if all those small doses aren't accumulating and having an effect.
Pesticide toxicity aside, organic farming is environmentally friendly and promotes sustainable living. It provides quality of life to the workers and the land. Too expensive? Buy bulk and raw ingredients. It's a lot more fun and versatile as well. Example: it's much easier to make quesadillas from tortillas, mushrooms, olives, peppers, cheese, etc..than to take that expensive organic burrito and try to turn it into a quesadilla. Besides, cooking is a great way to express your creativity and impress your friends.

4.Buy range-fed meat and dairy products. I'm sure you were wondering what the aforementioned acronym CAFO represents. Concentrated Animal Farming Operation. Basically its a glorifed slaughter house where an animal, such as a cow or chicken, spends its entire life in a small enclosed space waiting to become your dinner. Not only is it a breeding ground for disease, many of these animals are fed feed mixtures laced with some of our most potent antibiotics (and they tell you that antibiotic resistance comes from physicians prescribing too much amoxicillin for Jimmy's cold) in order to produce healthier, larger animals. Can't afford range-fed? Go soy. I know, you hear the words "tofu" and shudder. It tastes just like chicken...or cheese...or beef or whatever else. I have a great recipe for tofu-spinach lasagne if anyone wants to take that first leap.

5. Try natural household products. I highly recommend the brand "Seventh Generation." Their laundry detergent not only smells great, but it is also petroleum-free. Maybe if we all switched to non-petroleum based laundry detergent, we could drive the oil sheiks out of business. Maybe not.

6.Speaking of oil, has anyone not noticed the extremely high price of gasoline? I have a simple solution to save money: ride your bicycle. Not only is it fun and a great means of exercise, it's good for the environment. Walking is another great option.

7.Spread the word. We cannot act unless we know how to act. Spend a few minutes educating yourself about how you can have a positive impact on your environment, your health, and the lives around you. Check out the following sites to get started:

www.seventhgeneration.com
www.organicconsumers.org
www.appsusdev.org

It may cost a few pennies more, but it could save a few years of life for you or the future generation. Happy Earth Day!!!

A Wealth of Talents

"He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant." I Cor. 3:6

One of the biggest blessings of this year has been the opportunity to attend the Tolans' missions chats every other Sunday afternoon. Today was no exception as I was captivated by the words and heart of World Hope's executive director.

When I was younger, I used to think that a minister was that guy who stood up in front of all those people every morning and tried to make them fall asleep in thirty minutes or less. I could never do that. #1 I wasn't a guy and #2 I was terribly shy as a child and the thought of speaking in public was daunting to say the least. As I grew older, I realized that ministers weren't the only ones who were called to share Christ with others, we all were. So what could I do? I could be a missionary. Of course all missionaries have to be trained in the vocations of preaching, teaching, or medicine. Right? So when I decided to go spend 2 months in Honduras a few years ago, I really thought myself to be crazy for having accepted such an offer. I didn't have much training in any of those fields. Fortunately, God in all his omniscience already knew that to be a missionary, one didn't have to ascribe to one of the three former titles.

The title of this blog is part of the title of my Senior Honors Project for undergrad. It was 110 pages. Don't worry. I won't make you read all of it. I already made my professors suffer through it once. I'm not even sure how it became that long. To make a long story short, I went to Honduras not really knowing in what capacity I would or could serve. I was just a pre-med college student with some training in music performance and able to speak a smidgen of Spanish. As the weeks progressed, I found God opening my eyes to those roles he had already prepared for me. You see, God already has given us many talents, and with those talents we are able to serve others and share the love of Christ (check out 1 Peter 4:10). For me my small training in music led me to help some of the students learn new songs in English. My smidgen of Spanish turned into a broken conversation with a lady as I recounted a recent Bible study lesson about Proverbs 31 and how she was worth something to God, even if her husband had just left her for another woman. Those days spent coloring in coloring books as a child and playing games came in handy when living with a 4 and 5 yr old and their exhausted and lonely mother.

And Mrs.Lyons recounted similar stories tonight. Of a girl who had a degree in art who wanted to serve God abroad but didn't fit into one of the three aforementioned categories. What is she doing now? Helping make materials and propaganda to educate women and communities about the rampant sex trafficking that happens all around the world. God's used and continues to use people from all different backgrounds with all types of talents, architects, musicians, seamstresses, hair cutters, businessman, enigineers, electricians, health care workers, etc..., to spread his word around the world to the masses of his suffering and dying precious creations.

So as the verse written above states, we are all ministers and competent to spread the wonderful message of the new covenant. Just imagine: if time, money, and situation weren't an issue, where would you go for God? He'll take you there. Through prayer, faith, and obedience there are no limits as to what God can do through you.

What We Don't Know...

...can hurt others.

Last night I had the opportunity to view the documentary Invisible Children. If you've never seen if before, you owe it to yourself and others to do so. You can also visit the website www.invisiblechildren.com to find out more information about this atrocity.

I find it somewhat ironic (with no disrespect to those valiant soldiers abroad) that we fight a "War on Terrorism" on the grounds that one country presumably possessed weapons of mass destruction when there is already a war going on using a weapon of mass destruction: fear. A fear that drives children from their families every night to sleep in crowded bus stations miles away. We pursue "terrorists" when there are terrorists out there putting weapons in the hands of precious children and making them fight or die. We know all about insurgents but nothing about the LRA.

Are our priorities right? Is it just that US citizens live in "blissful ignorance" of the desparity of humanity and the incredibly sickening violations of human rights in other parts of the world?

Where's Your "Go?"

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." -Matthew 28:19-20

In case you didn't know, it was missions that brought me into medicine instead of into a career stuck in a laboratory pipetting microbial DNA and smelling agar for the rest of my life. It was missions that made me realize how much of a need abroad there is for physical healing and how such a medium can be a powerful adjunct to spiritual healing as well. And if it is God's will, medicine will lead me back to the mission field.

God has a funny way of getting us back on track sometimes. Recently, my Bible study partner was feeling a bit rebellious and not wanting to complete her lessons one morning. She decided instead to turn on the TV for a few minutes. When she flipped on the TV who was on TV but none other than the author of the study we've been doing? Likewise, I was in that same mood, and the other day who was that day's Bible study about? Abraham. The father of all nations. The one who garners the title of "most verses" in the "faith hall of fame" Hebrews 11. I had been balking at the thought of having to one day leave my family behind and move to a strange land. Yet God told Abraham, "Get thee out of thy country" and he went, leaving behind family, friends, his country, and setting off on a journey, destination unknown. He stepped out in faith, and God rewarded him. Yes, God has a funny way of setting us back on the right path.

The Greek word for faith, pisteuo, is a present active participle. In other words, it's ongoing. I think one of the biggest lies Satan sells Christians is the idea that we can be merely "good examples." While living a life that models Christ is important, the last words of Christ were not, "Be good examples unto all your neighbors." He told them to "go unto all the world." When Saul became Paul, he didn't just return to his hometown and chat with his Jewish colleagues about what had just happened. He didn't just merely live a good example. He went unto all the world.
It's a "go" of stepping out of your comfort zone, of practicing that present active participle faith. It's a "go" of not knowing what the world entails but knowing that a world exists in which to "go." It's not a "go" that says "go when there are no creepy crawlies in your room at night" or "go where it's ok to eat, drink, and not suffer the consequences." Nor is it a "go where you'll always feel comfortable with those whom you associate" or a "go where your family/spouse/friend think it would be a good idea." Nevertheless, we all have a "go," a place where we must actively tell others about the incredible message of a someone so compassionate, so loving, so merciful that He would sacrifice his own well-being for the least of humanity.
And with a "go" I've learned that there is also a "wait." A preacher once told me that "though the harvest may be ripe, you can't gather it with a dull sickle." Likewise, a famous Christian women's author once stated, "Time is where He tempers and tests us so that premature births of ministries don't result in lifelong handicaps." One of the hardest things for me upon entering medical school was learning that this is a time of waiting, a time of preparation. Yet even Christ himself had to wait. Thirty years for three years of ministry. We have to trust in God's timing and realize that those times of "waiting" are preparing us to "go."
Maybe my "go" is in Guatemala, South America, or somewhere I have yet to consider. Maybe your "go" is the inner-city of Chicago, a battered women's home, or the Hispanic neighborhood in your community. Wherever it may be, remember that we are called to be more than just "good examples." Our faith is active and our message is one of priceless hope.

Small World

Apparently the preacher that was recently killed in Selmer, TN once was the youth minister at my grandparents' church and had been to their house to visit from time to time. Crazy. I guess you never know where and when life will take you nor when that road may suddenly end.
Just keep the community, wife, and kids in your prayers. I can't imagine what they must be going through right now.

"So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." -Psalm 90:12

Yay for Antivirals!!

Thanks for your thoughts and concerns!!

(A recurring theme?)


I think I'm finally "flu-free" and ready to catch up on all those "lost" study hours. The one thing about being sick is it gives you time to think....and think and think and think. So one of the things I've been thinking about is something I heard in my Psychiatry class last week: Addiction. It's something so prevalent that chances are, you or someone else in the room with you, has dealt with it or will deal with it at some point in your life. For part of a class last year, we had to attend an AA meeting. I must say it was a powerful experience watching men and women, young and old, openly talk about that which had taken over your lives. Of course, as part of the meeting the 12 Steps were presented which I have listed below for your convenience (emphasis mine):

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol-that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understand Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, and to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. We're entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understand Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

That being said, I began thinking that these twelve steps would apply perfectly to sinners, ie a type of "Sinners Anonymous," especially considering many sins evolve from or into a form of addiction (alcoholism, drugs, food, pride, self-worship/adoration, sex, control, jealousy, internet, TV, sports, work, beauty, shopping, laziness, are you feeling uncomfortable yet?) In fact, many of these steps have Biblical basis, yet many of us have never admitted our sins/addictions to others or apologized or extended forgiveness for the ill effects they may have caused.

Why is it perfectly acceptable to talk about the latest Christian rock band, mission trip, church event, yet talking about someone's sin/addiction brings on a sense of indignant rage? How dare we not praise someone for giving up a week of their life to go serve the poor in Central America, yet how dare we confront that same person about their problem with ____.

Is this Biblical?

Aren't we supposed to build each other up, but at the same time hold each other accountable so that we can continue to draw near to God? And what about that verse in James (5:16) that directly links the confession of sins to healing? Just as addiction to alcohol or other substances can have physical repercussions, so can spiritual addictions/sins.

So why is it that non-Christians can meet faithfully week after week to support each other and help overcome each others' addictions, but oftentimes belittling gossip starts flying whenever Christians try to do the same? Is it really an odd concept to bear the title of "sinner?" Isn't that what we all share in common? Is it really just not in the Christian's "job description" anymore to admit to God that which has taken control of our lives, to confess to others our specific wrongdoings, and to ask for forgiveness and to continually do so?

Just something to think about.

Waste of Money

If flu vaccines are supposed to prevent the flu, then why did the doctor tell me today that I have it?

Stocking up on Gatorade and soup and preparing to spend the next few days in bed...

Books and Shoes

I've given up. I've decided that it is mentally impossible to cram 130 drugs, mechanisms, uses, and side effects into my head before 8am Friday morning. I should have started studying earlier, but somehow 5 other tests, ACLS training, and the Olympics (how evil to put such an event during the middle of my exams) kept me from meeting my desired learning objectives.

That being said, does anyone have any reading recommendations? In the very near future, I'm actually going to have free time (does that phrase still exist?) and lots of it. Not wanting to lose such a valued skill, especially when accompanied by palm trees and ocean waves (seriously), I'd like some recommendations. I'm already taking one of Paulo Cuelho's novels and Rigoberta Menchu's autobiography with me.

On another note, if anyone is looking for new Chaco's, REI has a very appealing offer at their online outlet store. I've had mine for three years now and call them my second feet. Hands down the best pair of shoes/sandals I've ever bought and worth the investment, this statement coming from someone for whom it's impossible to find a well-fitting shoe.

Anyways, back to cramming drugs in my head...

Life Saver?

We found our patient unresponsive, in ventricular tachycardia, and suffering from a massive arterial bleed on the lower right extremity. After calling a code and starting the ABC's, we shocked him, intubated him and gave him a bolus of saline solution. Courageously, we worked for the next several minutes to stabilize our patient. Despite our efforts, we watched the monitor as he slipped into asystole, and we called it fifteen minutes later.

What happened next? We hit the "reset" button and let the next group have their turn.

I love being an almost-doctor. Coolness.

Here's to the Upcoming Holiday

Aren't they cute?


May your day be spent in quiet appreciation of those you love like these two adorable creatures.
As for me, I'll be spending the day listening to sappy music and learning how not to be such a heartbreaker.
Happy VDay!

A New Turn in the Road

Promethazine, atropine, meclizine, everywhere a "zine, zine." That's what spending a lovely day inside studying drugs will do to you.

So I've been thinking about this whole blogging thing lately, and what I've come to realize that I've deviated from my original intent for creating this blog. It was originally intended as a means as a replacement to the emails I used to send out to keep in touch while I was away learning to become a doctor. However, those who I used to write aren't really those who now read, and some wonderful meetings with old friends over the past few months made me realize that the lines of communication were never meant to be solely sustained through broadband and blogging.
In a nutshell, this blog is no longer for the purpose of learning what's going on in my life. Don't worry faithful blog readers; I'll still write when I have time about whatever may be on my mind or heart. It's in the best interest of all of us that this occur. I don't have to worry about finding time to keep you updated nor finding time to read your many blogs (that's what phones, emails, personal visits, etc are for). With that having been said, I leave you with some fond memories of the past year:



Speaking of roads...along I-40 right past Amarillo you can find numerous old Caddies buried in the dirt. Don't ask me why. Sain showed Cammie and I this roadside attraction when we stopped to visit him. Apparently there's not much else to do in Texas (just kidding Sain!). On our way out the following morning, we decided to leave our own signature on this Western Town attraction...I wonder if it's still there...


What can I say? It's the Grand Canyon, representative of a memorable 3 day camping trip. If you've never been on a roadtrip you should definitely consider doing so.


I think this is one of my favorite pictures taken while abroad. I can't thank God enough for having the opportunity to experience another culture, to"feel the pulse of the persecuted church," and to be among Christians who truly know what "family" means. Just a few dollars spent on a Pinata, candy, and some string, but it resulted in a priceless look of joy on this little girl's face. I'm constantly amazed at how God can take what little we have to offer and turn it into something great.


An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure-teaching the best way of preventing disease-handwashing. While I was in Guatemala, a preacher gave a sermon about how we consider the book of Acts to be completed yet we each have our own chapter to contribute if we believe God and the wonderful message of the "Good News." I'd like to think that this class was only a tiny part of my chapter, and I look forward to see what the following pages contain.


In all my experiences abroad, I seem to find myself on a random roadtrip. This was a stop at Castillo San Felipe near Rio Dulce before the infamous Shigella incident. Don't worry, the cannon wasn't loaded.


The CSC guys (and girls); where would I be without them? No semester is complete without a visit to Knoxville or some stop nearby. An October hike to Hen Wallow Falls led to Brad and Eric and giving their impersonation of "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" while Justin did the "Smiling Hungry Bear." Good times. Good hikes.


One of the blessings of Johnson City: Mrs. Chara Watson. Not only did she make this cool scarf and hat for me for Christmas, she was kind enough to come stay with me at JCMC when they decided that Barium shakes would be a great thing for me to try while I was waiting for my IV to finish. I seriously don't know what I'd do without my Christian family.


Hanlin was this the 4th or 5th Pancake Pantry Reunion? A holdover from our life together at Governor's School way back in the day, Lauren, Hanlin, and I always make time to have breakfast at this famous sweet spot in Nashville. Unfortunately, the closest we got to seeing a country music star was this rather large guitar.


A beautiful wedding for a beautiful couple, Nancy and Manuel. They were the ones that invited me to come spend a memorable three weeks in Guatemala this past summer, and it was an honor to attend their wedding. It's rare to meet people with a passion for seeking and saving the lost and even rarer to meet a couple whose primary purpose in life is spurred by this passion. I know God will be using them in great ways in the coming years.

So there you have it. Michele Gourley 2005 in condensed annotated and illustrated form. Per usual, I leave you with another one of my favorite quotes:


"Health is based on happiness-from hugging and clowning around to finding joy in family and friends, satisfaction in work, and ecstasy in nature and the arts." -Patch Adams

Reason #57...

...why Quillen is the greatest kept secret in medical schools: all-expense paid trips to conferences in cool places like San Diego. Unfortunately, the trip started off a little rough, though I should have expected that for the following reasons:
1. It was Friday the 13th
2.I was attending a medical missions conference (see example)
3. I was flying Delta (which bears the moniker "Don't Ever Leave the Airport")

Bad weather caused us to miss our flight from Atlanta to San Diego. There was another flight leaving later, but it was overbooked. Our trusted travel guru classmate Ryan tried to use his "Medallion" status to pull some strings and called hotels.com to arrange accomadations for the night, but it was to no avail. There were no more flights out and no available rooms in Atlanta. We were going to just have to spend the night in the Atlanta airport.


Looking way too happy for preparing for a stay in our "comfy" beds

We scavenged the airport for a good place to sleep and found some non-armrest chairs in the international terminal. It actually wouldn't have been too bad except for the wonderful pre-set recording that woke us up every 20 minutes or so to remind us to keep an eye on our luggage at all times and to not accept baggage from strangers. Bleary-eyed and showerless we caught the next flight out at 8:30 and arrived in sunny San Diego around the middle of the morning.

Though we missed the first half of the conference, the rest of the day and Sunday were great. It was my first non-Christian medical missions conference, but it was still worthwhile. I learned, and find it amusingly ironic, that many of these people sacrifice months and years of their lives and money spending time learning the culture and language of the people whom they serve, tirelessly giving of their talents to help better the lives of others. On the other hand, many Christians don't learn the language and culture and throw away thousands of dollars and one week of their time to help better the lives of others and call it "sacrifice." Just something to think about but I'm not tackling such an issue here. Needless to say, it was a very informative weekend and it was nice to see that others share in the vision to provide healthcare to those who need it the most: the impoverished, the oppressed, the ones who don't have the fortune to live in this country.

Of course, no trip to San Diego is complete without a trip to the San Diego Zoo. The super-cool, soon-to-be-famous Matt (not Lee) Brown left his famous movie friends in LA to hang out with me, and we went to the zoo with my classmate Elizabeth. It was a good thing that he did come see me, or else the Zoo might be minus one panda. I really wanted to take the little brother of this guy home with me. Why can't Pandas be as numerous as dogs?


Can I take him home with me?

This is a picture of us sitting on almost an exact replica of myself. How thoughtful of the Zoo people to create such a stunning likeness of yours truly! (just kidding)

Matt and I atop a hungry hippo!


Looks like someone's lawn ornaments got loose!

Elizabeth and I explored some more of San Diego Sunday night and Monday morning before flying back to the South and our "exciting" lives as medical students. In short, the moral of the story is always take advantage of opportunities to travel to places you've never been, take time to visit old friends, don't fly on Friday the 13th, and always be prepared for the unexpected!!!

"As the traveler who has once been from home is wiser than he who has never left his own doorstep, so a knowledge of one other culture should sharpen our ability to scrutinize more steadily, to appreciate more lovingly, our own." -Margaret Mead

Leave of Absence

The administrator of this blog regrets to inform its readers that there will be no additional postings until further notice due to deviation from the blog's original intent and an upcoming series of tests and hectic travel schedule in the coming months.

Any comments, questions, or concerns may be addressed to the blog administrator via email, phone, or in person. Thank you for your time and attention.