This Ain't Yankee territory!

Greetings from North Carolina. The events of the last several weeks have been quite interesting for me. As I alluded to in my last post, I have been traveling the country for various reasons. This turned out to be a long writing session...So bear with me...they wont all be this long.

For those who aren't aware, I am involved very heavily with Family Medicine Interest Groups (FMIGs) and serve as the National FMIG Coordinator for the American Academy of Family Physicians. I was elected to this position this summer. My friend Jocquese did a long distance "it's the night before I have to give a campaign speech and I have no idea how to put my thoughts into words" coaching session. He has a way with words thanks to his law background. Anyway, in this position I oversee the Regional FMIG coordinators who are in direct contact with the FMIGs at all the medical schools in the country. I get to do some traveling for presentations at various conferences around the country. This took me to Orlando in early October. I had never been there before or to Florida for that matter. It was alright...not much going on but quite a number of tourists. No mouse sightings. The two best parts of the trip were that my grandmother and her sister were able to join me and hang out with me for a few days and that I rented a Harley for 2days. That was fun. I woke up early one morning, before the sun came up and got on the bike to head east. and east, and east...not that east is really that far in Florida, but it seems like it at 6 in the morning. Anyway, I headed east to see the sun rise at Cocoa Beach. It was pretty cool. About a 50-60 mile ride. Then I headed up to the Kennedy Space Center and thought I might check it out til I saw the entry fee was about $50 bucks...Thats ok, I just took picts at the entrance and got back on the bike to Orlando. I did see my first wild crocodile on the way back, or maybe it was an alligator...which ever one doesn't have the pointy mouth. He or she was just hanging in a swampy area about 20 feet of the side of the road. That was a great way to top off my riding adventure.

So, after Orlando I returned to CT (I'm staying with some family there) for a few days. Then it was off to Phoenix. Met up with some old friends for 2 days, then went out to San Jose, CA to see my friends Matt and Patty and their new baby boy, Silas. What a cutie he is!!! I am so excited to be his Auntie Meeka. I just wish I were closer so I could see him grow up. And get to hang with his way cool parents. I took a little side trip to San Francisco and Sonoma with my mom since she happened to be there for a conference. Have you ever been wine tasting? It was my first time...The biggest thing I learned from the trip is eat before you go and bring some snacks for the car. Not sure if I should have been driving back to SF from Sonoma or not. And I didnt even drink all the wine they gave me. I took about a sip of most and pour the rest into the discard bucket. But I did have fun.

After that trip I once again returned to CT mostly to do laundry and repack my suitcase. And off to Valhalla, NY I went for a couple of days before my next trip. So it was a weekend of pretty much non-stop drinking. I think it was 5 days in a row I consumed enough alcohol so that I felt like I should be asking myself the C.A.G.E. questionnaire. It was a fun 5 days. Now keep in mind that I was also attending and presenting at a conference in Rye, NY over this same weekend. A party in Danbury, CT on fri. Then the annual Halloween Party at my boss' house in Brewster, NY on Sat. A Sunday afternoon quarter poker game in Norwalk, CT...I can't do laundry for 2 months now. When I ran out of quarters I decided to keep the wine bottle company while watching everyone else play. This brings us to Monday...following my orientation for the NYC marathon medical team, we decided to meet some friends in Manhattan for a few beers and some pool. Tuesday rolled around and I spent a night out for the Single Girls Club (SGC), more on that in a later post.

Things brings us to my most recent soon to be string if new cities I will have been in. I headed off to Anderson, SC for a residency interview. Anderson was nice and quaint. The people were friendly. But I was glad to get back to NY.

I spent the weekend with my friend Erin (one of the original SGC members) and some of my new 1st year med student friends. Again, way too much alcohol consumed. We all worked the ING NYC Marathon Sunday morning providing medical care. That was fun. I was stationed at the finish line this year. I was at mile 20 last year, which was a bit more interesting because I was able to actually see people in the race. The finish line medical tent was set up in a way that I didnt get to see any of the finish line. Only what becomes of people after they cross the finish line.

So that brings me to North Carolina...my current place of being. I am writing from the O. Henry hotel business center computer. I am here for an interview with Moses Cone Family Medicine residency program. I just returned from a great evening out with some of the current residents and another interviewee. Very friendly people they have here in Greensboro. And a cute little city with greenery and lawns. A slight contrast from the concrete of Manhattan that I was in yesterday. I like it so far, we shall see what the interview holds for me tomorrow.

Of course no trip is complete in my world without something not quite going right. You know when you pack for a trip and you're thinking 'I know I'm forgetting something'? Well, if its a toothbrush or comb, no biggie, you drop another $2 and you're back in business...Well, I forgot my dressy shoes to go with my interview suit. All I had was my sneakers. So needless to say, my first stop after I checked in to the O. Henry was to the mall that was conveniently located across the street. I was able to get my black shoes (and 2 other pair) before heading off to dinner with the residents from the program. Life goes on, shoes or not and mine shall too...

Until next time...

Dr. T