S1, E520, and GYC2007

S1 General Surgery Progress Note

ID: 29 y/o male s/p gen surg rotation who presented with general malaise, fatigue, and insomnia. h/o psychosocial stressors x 3 months.
S: no acute events overnight
O: VSS, PE unremarkable
A: recovering appropriately
P: bedrest, ambulation, await bowel function

(Typical inpatient surgery note that pretty much sums up my experience in my General Surgery rotation.)

Mere words cannot describe the tremendous relief I feel as I report that I have officially finished my surgery rotation! I actually finished a couple weeks ago but I decided to wait to find out if I passed my surgery shelf exam before announcing it to the world. At any rate, a big thank you to all of you who prayed for me. Without your support and the mercies of the Lord, I could not have made it through this rotation with my sanity intact. Look for a photo album soon that proves I survived this grueling rotation.

Since finishing surgery, I have begun my pediatrics rotation. So far, it has been a much better experience than surgery. Since I'm working in the outpatient clinics, I have weekends free and no call. It has given me time to catch up on my long-neglected duties (such as updating this blog) and also some time for recuperation.

Here are a few things I have been up to:

1. I bought a new desktop computer. My reliable but old Dell laptop was starting to feel its age and could barely keep up with my media-intensive applications. So I bought a Dell Dimension E520 with 2.13 GHz Core2Duo Intel processor, 2 GB RAM, 250 GB hard drive, and 20-inch widescreen Ultrasharp LCD monitor. All for around $1000 due to some heavy discounting by Dell. The computer has already been recruited for GYC brochure design and some McNulty slideshow production.


2. It is Hollywood Bowl season again and I typically organize a few trips with friends. This past week, Norman, Joelle, Al, James, Allison, Dave, and myself went to hear the Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3 and the Brahms Symphony No. 4. Jonathan Biss did an excellent job on the piano concerto. The symphony was nostalgic since Norman and I both played it in orchestra while at Southern. Norman especially seemed to enjoy the horn parts. I thought the conductor, Leonard Slatkin, was able to get the normally lackluster LA Phil to put some intensity into their playing of the Brahms symphony.


3. However, Al, Stephanie, and I also went to a Hollywood Bowl concert the week before. This was the special Tchaikovsky Fireworks with Gil Shaham playing the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto. They also played Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition choreographed with fireworks. I consider Gil Shaham one of the best violinists of his generation so I was thrilled to hear him play. He started out a bit slow and conservative but by the second and third movements, he was in full form. Click here for a photo album.


4. I also organized a hike to Forest Falls last weekend. It was nice to relax with friends and enjoy God's nature away from the oppressive heat in Loma Linda. It was also nice to have my cousin, James, staying with me this past week. Click here for some photos.


5. I also have breaking news on the GYC front. First of all, GYC 2007 registration is open and early bird registration is available. You won't want to miss this landmark GYC in Minneapolis! We have some really great seminars lined up this year. Also, GYC has officially changed its name from the General Youth Conference to Generation of Youth for Christ. Click here for more information.