Home

One of my favorite albums right now is Daughtry! Okay, don't judge me. I know it's American Idol--but those of you that have been reading my blog for awhile know that I love the Idols and have almost all their albums. Well, I don't have Katharine McPhees and I don't think I'm going to be buying it. But I do have everyone else who has been on Idol and have made albums. Anyway, Daughtry has been getting a lot of play on my CD player and iPod. Not as much as Josh Tuner (yes, I've kept mostly to my favorite genre of country), but a good amount of play.

Anyway, I came back to Charleston (YIPEE) a few days ago, but I'm leaving again before the weekend. My medical school buddies and I are making the trek down to Houston, Texas to take the clinical skills exam!! It's the live part of the examination. I came home for my father's birthday party and also to visit my nephews and nieces. I hate having to leave after less then a week, but so goes life!! I won't even get to visit all my friends--our schedules I'm sure will collide.

Anyway, back to Daughtry's song "Home". Great tune!! I played it as I was crossing thru the East River Tunnel. I usually play John Denver's tune, which reminds me of our awesome Mountaineers and my alma mater West Virginia University. However, the CD was not in my player--it was bumped for Daughtry, Kellie Pickler, Taylor Hicks, Josh Turner, Rascal Flatts and The Fray. Yes, I know quite an eclectic and weird combination of music.

I remember all the years when my family would go on vacations, coming thru those tunnels and feeling such a sense of home as my brother, sister and I saw the "Wild, Wonderful, West Virginia" welcome sign. My brother being the little freak that he was, would always stretch backwards, placing his hand against the back window and scream, "I'm the last one home"!!!

It feels so good to be back. And I've gotten some rest and relaxation. Just so sad that it's so short. I'm making another cross country trek with my fellow med school friends in a few days.

You Can't Judge A Book By It's Cover

I have a tendency to do things like this. It's such a bad habit and one that I should really work on. I tend to sum up a person by their mannerisms and their appearance.

The other day at a service shop (I like to have my car maintained every few months--that sounds like my car is a chick huh, using the word maintained), there were a few other people waiting while their cars got serviced. Among the people waiting was a guy wearing some sort of coverall/jumpsuit thing and another guy dressed to the nines, including a Frank Sinatra looking hat. The guy in the hat struck up a conversation (at the time I assumed out of boredom). I kept my face down in a book because I didn't want to talk to anyone.

The two began a conversation about politics. They talked about the presidential campaign. They talked about certain issues which haven't been dealt with and which should be on the forefront of every politician's agenda. They talked about the war, the right side and the wrong side. Both talked sometimes heatedly about their points of view.

The thing that surprised me the most and it shouldn't have was the rougher looking guy was eloquent and well spoken. He almost sounded like a politician himself. Whenever he would quote something, he would reference it to either some news channel or a magazine.

I've really gotta stop judging a book by it's cover. This is how some great novels escape me.

Borrow What?

Does anyone else think this is weird?

The other day at the gym, one of the guys that works out the same time I do asked if he could borrow my work-out gloves. Let me set the stage first. I was using one of the machines and wearing these gloves. He walks up to me and then says, "I'm going to lift with some free weights, can I borrow your gloves"?

I had no idea what to say. First of all, buddy can you not see that I'm using them. I may be using machines instead of free weights, but who does that? Seriously, who would walk up to a semi-stranger while they are wearing something and say, "Can I use that now"?

I made up some stupid excuse, so dumb I can't even remember. I think he may have caught on to the absurdity of his question because as soon as the excuse rolled off my tongue and he saw the expression on my face, he goes, "Oh, okay" and walked away.

I'm not a selfish person. I've loaned my undergrad roommates shirts, ties, belts and even scarves before. My best friend has even used my tennis shoes. On occasion my girlfriends have used my toothbrush. All throughout first year of medical school, since my roommate and I had separate laboratory times and shared a locker, we basically used the same lab coat. But why would you ask someone to borrow their workout gloves while they are wearing them?

Seriously, any answers?

Stop-Bump!!!

The other day while I was driving home from the gym, there was quite a bit of traffic. I got to the gym early and so left earlier than I usually do. There was six o'clock jam. The cars around me stopped suddenly (we were going about 45 miles an hour) and when I did, a car from behind thumped me. I didn't really feel so much of a bump, as a tap. I looked in my rear-view mirror and saw some smoke, so I pulled over.

I looked at my bumper, there was nothing, not even a scratch. Yay Land Rover!! The car who "tapped" me, the front end was pushed in and the car was leaking all kinds of fluids. When the driver got out, I asked if she was okay. Thankfully she was. I would hate for anyone to be hurt. She apologized for bumping into me, said that she couldn't break in time, that she had just gotten off a twelve hour shift. Very nice lady.

I wonder why people get so worked up about accidents. Thankfully there was no damage to my car, but there was quite a bit of damage to her car. When the highway patrol came, he assessed and surmised that she hit the part of my car that has the trailer attachment thing (which I realized was really strong, cause all it had on it was the white paint from her bumper). I'm really glad that there was no damage to my car since I make the trek back to West Virginia in about two weeks.

Anyway, back to why people get so worked up about accidents. My only concern about accidents are whether or not people get hurt. I always see them and people shouting and pointing and middle fingers and screaming. There is a reason that it's called an accident--it wasn't really meant to happen, circumstances just got in the way.

Okay, I know I've been absent. I've been trying to get through these last few days of studying. I'm going to pull my hair out--what's left of it. I got it shaved short so I wouldn't pull on it anymore.

Making News By Not Making News

Recently the news media said they would ban news stories on Paris Hilton. But by banning the news stories on her, she made the news again. I don't get it, she isn't news. The things that she does, the stunts that she pulls has been pulled by many other women before her.

She once said in an interview that it hurts her feelings when people who don't know her say mean things about her. It's true, most people don't know her. They've never sat across the table for dinner with her. Many have never even seen her in person. They see what the "news" broadcasts about her, most of it edited for shock value. Judgments are made based on the small clips and comments she makes for news reporters. Many times we don't hear the question asked, we just hear her reply and make our own assumptions about what she is speaking about.

A lot of times, we fail to let certain "news" stories die. I'm using the word news extremely loosely here. For example, Anna Nicole Smith. Yes, I agree it's a terrible tragedy. But the story keeps growing. Now there are new claims to paternity? As the story drags on, more people are crawling out of the woodwork to claim that they are the father of this poor child--who will never live a normal life.

When did menial acts like what a person eats for dinner, where they party, or what they bought for a loved on on Valentines day become news headlines?

Speak Only When Spoken To

I think some people speak just to be heard. Sometimes it seems they don't think before they speak.

For instance, in a press conference I was watching on CNN about a murder, one reporter asked a very obvious question. The question---"will you be looking for the rest of the body"? WTF?

At an Anna Nicole Smith press conference concerning her death, one reporter asked, "is their evidence of plastic surgery"? Um ya think? Really, I imagined this reporter to phone all his buddies and say "dude, did you hear me on television"? And yes, I admit I watched some of the Anna Nicole Smith trial. I don't know what captivated me, certainly not the judge. I guess like the rest of world, I was waiting to see what would happen next.

Another stupid question asked. Sometimes when I'm obviously the last person in line, someone will ask me, "are you waiting in line". One time I told the person who asked, "nope I'm just pushing this cart of groceries around. Now I'm just standing here with it. You can get in front of me". The man just shrugged and said, "jeez just trying to make conversation". That's not how to start conversation, start with real small talk like the weather.

Finally, at the gym when you are on a machine, someone asking "Are you using that"?

Does anyone ever get asked stupid questions?

Grown Up Bullies

Today at my gym, an overweight person came in to use the facility. This person has been there before and has used the treadmill, the stairstepper, and the weights. I applaud the person. I've seen the person after at some of the restaurants around the gym. On an off tangeant, why are there always fast food restaurants around a gym? Anyway, this person eats well (yes I frequented those restaurants, basically negating my complete work-out). While I order the cheeseburger and large fries, this person is chowing a salad and ice tea. So yes, this person is trying to lose weight, the healthy way.

Anyway, this person was beside me on the treadmill today. As soon as she stepped on the treadmill and started it up, I saw from the corner of my eyes, some of the jock itches cringe and make squeaking sounds. They also puffed their cheeks up and waddled a little. I know she saw this, she had to have. The gym is surrounded by mirrors and I was seeing their reflections in the mirror straight ahead. If it bothered her, she didn't let it show. She just smiled and kept her head up and listened to her iPod (or I think she may have been watching a video on it).

I looked at her via the mirror. She is a pretty girl. When she loses the weight, she is going to be a knock-out. I could see it in her green-blue eyes. She also had nice skin and pretty smile. I don't know why she had let herself go (or maybe she had over-indulgent parents, like that mother in Great Brittain--is that the place where that young child was like 200 pounds). Whatever the reason she was talking control of her weight.

The jock itches, kept watching her and I'm wondering, if they are so appalled by what they saw, why did they keep harping on it?

I'm a coward, because as offended as I was by their immature acts, I didn't speak up. Well, for one, if they asked me "what you going to do about it", I would probably answer, I don't know. I wish I did have the courage to say something.

It makes me wonder if this is the reason that some overweight people come to the gym, because of the comments and stares. It's sad. The whole reason gyms were started was for weight control. And some of the people who really need it, may not come because of these cro-magnum wipes.