Tuesday, November 30, 2004

My Sweety Pie

Every once and a while something comes along and inspiration strikes. When I saw Jennifer for the first time it was like that. Jennifer is the best thing that has happened to me in such a long time, I forget how long really. She is the best of two worlds, China and America. Now, she is the best part of my life.


Friday, November 26, 2004

Campy Compact Cranks

Here it is, finally, the Campy compact cranks that I have been waiting for. The price is something hard to swallow however.

Right now the only place that I know of to get this beauty is at Total Cycling in Ireland. The guys there are totally cool and will handle any order quickly and professionally. My brother John and myself have been dealing with them for the past 5 years or so and have purchased several frames, groups sets, wheels, you name it without any problems at all. I like to patronize the local shops too just in case you are wondering.

The compact crank is a gearing for the rational!

Aileen Santos, my old friend

I got a call from an old friend who is going to be applying to the nurse anesthesia program this fall. Wish her luck and good study habits.

Sunday, November 21, 2004

Book list for Spring Semester - USC Nurse Anesthesia Program

503 Advanced Pharmacology of Anesthesia Practice
Required Books:
Barash, P.G., Cullen, B.F., & Stoelting, R. K. (2000). Clinical Anesthesia 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott.

Evers, A.S. & Maze M. (2004). Anesthetic Pharmacology: Physiologic Principles and Clinical Practice. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Miller, R. (2005) Anesthesia 6th ed. New York: Churchill-Livingstone.

Supplemental Books:
Hardman, J.G. & Limbird, L.E. (2001). Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological basis of therapeutics. 10th ed. New York: McGraw Hill.

Nagelhout, J.J., & Zalaniczny, K.L. (2005). Nurse Anesthesia 3rd. ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders.

Stoelting, R.K. (1999). Pharmacology and physiology in anesthetic practice 3rd ed. New York: Lippincott-Raven.

Waugaman, W.R., Foster, S.k & Rigor, B. (1999). Principles and practice of nurse anesthesia. 3rd ed. Stamford, CT: Appleton & Lange.

504 Pathophysiology of Anesthesia Practice
Required Books:
Barash, P.G., Cullen, B.F., & Stoelting, R. K. (2000). Clinical Anesthesia 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott.

Miller, R. (2005) Anesthesia 6th ed. New York: Churchill-Livingstone.

Stoelting, R.K., & Dierdorf, S.F. (2000). Anesthesia and co-existing disease 4th ed. New York, NY: Churchill-Livingstone.

West, J.B (2003). Pulmonary Pathophysiology - The Essentials 6th ed. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

West, J.B. (2005). Respiratory Physiology - The Essentials 7th ed. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Supplemental:
Berne, R.M. & Levy, M.N. (2001). Cardiovascular physiology 8th ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby.

Daffner, R. (1999). Clinical radiology - The Essentials. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Koeppen, B.M., & Stanton, B.A. (2001). Renal physiology 3rd ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby.

Nagelhout, J.J., & Zalaniczny, K.L. (2005). Nurse Anesthesia 3rd. ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders.

505 Clinical Residency in Nurse Anesthesia I
Required Books:
Barash, P.G., Cullen, B.F., & Stoelting, R. K. (2000). Clinical Anesthesia 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott.

Evers, A.S. & Maze M. (2004). Anesthetic Pharmacology: Physiologic Principles and Clinical Practice. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Miller, R. (2005) Anesthesia 6th ed. New York: Churchill - Livingstone.

Supplemental Books:
Wildsmith, J.A., Armitage, E.N., & McClure J.H. (2003). Principles and Practice of Regional Anesthesia. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Churchill-Livingstone.

Stoelting, R.K., & Dierdorf, S.F. (2000). Anesthesia and co-existing disease 4th ed. New York, NY: Churchill-Livingstone.

Morgan, G.E. & Mikhail, M.S. (2001). Clinical anesthesiology 3rd ed. Norwalk, CT: Appleton & Lange.

Nagelhout, J.J., & Zalaniczny, K.L. (2005). Nurse Anesthesia 3rd. ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders.

Dubin, D. (2000). Rapid Interpretation of EKG's 6th ed. Tampa, FL: Cover.

Highly recommended
Dorsch, J.A. & Dorsch, S.E. (1999). Understanding anesthesia equipment 4th ed. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Friday, November 19, 2004

Another day in the OR

After spending the day at LAC/USC hospital in the ortho OR room, I came home to this cartoon sitting in my email box. Sometimes its just fate.



Tuesday, November 16, 2004

What makes 100 percent?

Here at the USC school of Medicine in the program of nurse anesthesia we are giving 100 percent effort to do well. If we don't work really hard at our studies its Aloha time, adios amegos. In other words, no matter what language you are speaking its - see you later dude! No kidding, this program is hard and not for the faint hearted.
Thick skin and lots of effort are required just to stay even. So, its with a great deal of pleasure that I introduce today the formula for success, the mantra, courtesy of Amanda Heidbreder, for what is necessary for a one hundred percent effort!


Amanda says:

What Makes 100%? What does it mean to give MORE than 100%? Did you ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? We have all been to those meetings where someone wants you to give over 100%. How about achieving 103%? What makes up 100% in life (or school, my comment)?

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these questions:

If:A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

Then: H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K equals 8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98% and
K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E equals 11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

But,A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E is 1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%
And,B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T equals 2+21+12+12+19+8+9+20 = 103%
AND, look how far ass kissing will take you.
A-S-S-K-I-S-S-I-N-G amazing 1+19+19+11+9+19+19+9+14+7 = 118%

So, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that
While Hard work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, it's the Bullshit and Ass kissing that will put you over the top.

Thank you Amanda I needed that, you never know what will help!

Friday, November 12, 2004

Peterson Guilty of Murder; Yasser Arafat Frustrates Even in Death

REDWOOD CITY, California (CNN) -- Jurors found Scott Peterson guilty Friday of first-degree murder in the death of his pregnant wife and second-degree murder in the death of their unborn son.



The verdict leaves Peterson facing a possible sentence of death or life in prison without parole. A penalty phase of the trial is set to begin November 22.
Tension was high in the courtroom before the verdict was announced, said CNN's Rusty Dornin, who was in the room at the time.
See entire story.

Yasser Arafat Frustrates Even in Death
Commentary for FOX Fan Central by Jennifer Griffin, FOX News Channel Jerusalem Correspondent

FNC
Jennifer Griffin
In a sense, Yasser Arafat's final act was an act of defiance; for a while it, appeared as if he would refuse to die. Refusing choices given to him became an Arafat hallmark - whether it was offers that could have led to a state in the West Bank and Gaza, as he did at Camp David in the summer of 2000, or refusing to disarm those who were carrying out suicide attacks and terrorism against Israel. He appeared to say one thing, but always did another. See the whole story.

Wednesday, November 10, 2004

Democrats New Seal

The election is over and we can get back to thinking about real life now, paying the bills, working overtime, taking care of our families. Where ever your political leanings may go, just remember that there will always be another race, another victory or defeat and always something to look forward to.

God bless our troops and bring them home safe.

This is the unofficial Democratic Seal. I did not come up with this one. A little contribution from "I'm a true Red" Melissa Rey. Thanks Melissa, I needed that!




Well you have to admit, its funny don't you think. Have you listened to the Tavis Smiley show lately on NPR. They feature his radio program on KPCC here in Los Angeles in the evenings which I listen to on the drive home from school. He is a real riot. I quite enjoy his sense of balance and fair play. Mr. Smiley has an agenda but don't we all. For what its worth, I wish him and the rest of the Democratic Party "Good Luck!"

Like Zell Miller, the Democratic senator from Georgia, "I did not leave the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party left me."

Sunday, November 07, 2004

Who has got the best reason for not studying?

Karen Embry, the tri-athlete extraordinaire, started a post, asking who has the best reason for not studying this weekend. She claims her daughter playing a trumpet kept her against the wall all weekend. A likely story.




As for me, I have just been sitting around getting fatter and fatter, reading this and that, writing a paper or two, putting together a power point presentation for Journal Club and so on, mostly sitting on my growing butt. That is the reason I have to get out and ride my bike, watch a stupid movie or two, make some phone calls to people I have not talked to in months. That is the reason that I am not paying too much attention to school this weekend. Basically I am tired.

The bicycle ride with the Velo Monrovia bicycle club this morning was really sweet. Actually I have not lost too much strength in the last month sitting on my study room chair. I do have to get an exercise bicycle for the house. I have rollers but the plan is to get a 1upUSA trainer. I'll let you know how it goes.



If I get too tired of studying anesthesia I can always go back to UCLA and work again with my pal Betty Lee. Let me see, studying vs. going backwards, is that an option? I loved working at UCLA and have so many wonderful memories and friends from that institution but going forward is the only option. Today is another day and the road goes ever onward - but Bilbo said it best:

Roads go ever on,
Over rock and under tree,
By caves where never sun has shone,
By streams that never find the sea;

Over snow by winter sown,
And through the merry flowers of June,
Over grass and over stone,
And under mountains in the moon.

Roads go ever ever on
Under cloud and under star,
Yet feet that wandering have gone
Turn at last to home afar.
Eyes that fire and sword have seen
And horror in the halls of stone
Look at last on meadows green
And trees and hills they long have known.

Biblo Baggins