Colton's Party on Saturday was fun. We had a bigger group of relatives than I expected, and it made for a really fun day. I also had the chance to share of a little of my 'front line' experience with a cousin starting med school this year at the UW. Of course Colton got way more cash than any child should have, but what do you give a boy with everything (except that Xbox 360 we are making them save up for).
After everyone left, it was time to pack up for the trip back. Becky, Julie and the boys headed back early the next morning. I flew back in the afternoon to arrive in time to prepare for new rotation starting at 8am Monday morning. It ended up that the boys were a handful and the women decided to pull an all nighter anyway, but I did sleep better in my bed than I would have in the back of the van.
My flight was fine. I purchased a book called Hostile Takeover I heard about on NPR that is taking me further left and more in the middle than ever before. The book makes some well documented points that being fiscally conservative today is as much anti-Republican (i.e. anti-Big Business) as anti-Democrat. It highlighted three disappointments:
1) Bush has betrayed the Reagan Republicans and squandered his legacy
2) Bush has given in to Big Business more than anyone in recent memory, at great cost to Americans freedom, privacy, financial and military security
3) What the heck happened to the Contract With America?
Anyway, I certainly don't trust the Demos more. Giving in to the NEA, labor and big, centralized government is no better. Time to get off the soapbox...
I met an incredibly interesting Doc on the flight back. He was an Air Force fighter pilot for 23 years, got his MBA, started Med School and 48, then went on to get Boarded in IM and EM! He's 68 and working 24x7 (8 days off in the last year!) as the only physician in a rural 16 bed hospital. The nearest Doc is 120 miles away! He's done a ton of interesting procedures and is making a bundle. Not only does he have incredible energy for a 68 yo, he said that if he knew his hands would still be so good, he would have gone into surgery.
So now I have a couple more specialty ideas to add to the mix. I don't think that I've ever been this unfocused in my interests. Ah well, I've still got a year to figure it out.
I arrived to some very happy dogs and a very green pool. I had also learned that my brother and sister had finally married their significant others. My brother was in town picking up his stuff, so he and Miho stopped by to make dinner and hang out with me. Dan and I stayed up until 1am playing Xbox together and talking. It was fun, but left me feeling a little unprepared for my OMM rotation in the morning.