So last night we went and saw Rebirth- a big brass band from New Orleans. I haven't seen them since I was there- and WOW it made me homesick.
But I have to say- I'm sure the band kept thinking "wow, we are not in new orleans". These guys are a fixture down there. Everyone knows and loves them. Then they come here and get a bunch of white people, all sitting down- haha. They kept saying "come on people, MOVE!"
Heh. Eventually people got into it and were dancing. But so fun.

I don't know how people can listen to this music and NOT 1: instantly feel happy and 2: shake that ass!

Gotta love those horns!!

::DOWNLOAD SOUND::

Ok, I just got a spam TEXT MESSAGE?!

That's a little frightening. Because I can't tell who it's from (just comes up as one of those 5 digit codes).
But it was some text message telling me to go to some dating website.

I do NOT like this. How the fuck did they get my cell phone number? Who are they? I don't like that I can't respond/block them.

This is not cool. Spam email is one thing. But spam texts??!!

Has anyone else had this happen??

But first-
I just finished taking my general surgery boards. Fingers crossed that I passed- because it's not something I'd like to do again.

So now I am catching up with email- got this from the American College of Surgeons the other day.
Now, when I don't have my facts straight, I try to stay out of a conversation- or at least admit that I may well be talking out of my ass. Apparently our president does not do the same thing?

This is distressing, if you ask me...

Statement from the American College of Surgeons Regarding Recent Comments from President Obama

CHICAGO--The American College of Surgeons is deeply disturbed over the uninformed public comments President Obama continues to make about the high-quality care provided by surgeons in the United States. When the President makes statements that are incorrect or not based in fact, we think he does a disservice to the American people at a time when they want clear, understandable facts about health care reform. We want to set the record straight.

Yesterday during a town hall meeting, President Obama got his facts completely wrong. He stated that a surgeon gets paid $50,000 for a leg amputation when, in fact, Medicare pays a surgeon between $740 and $1,140 for a leg amputation. This payment also includes the evaluation of the patient on the day of the operation plus patient follow-up care that is provided for 90 days after the operation. Private insurers pay some variation of the Medicare reimbursement for this service.
Three weeks ago, the President suggested that a surgeon's decision to remove a child's tonsils is based on the desire to make a lot of money. That remark was ill-informed and dangerous, and we were dismayed by this characterization of the work surgeons do. Surgeons make decisions about recommending operations based on what's right for the patient.
We agree with the President that the best thing for patients with diabetes is to manage the disease proactively to avoid the bad consequences that can occur, including blindness, stroke, and amputation. But as is the case for a person who has been treated for cancer and still needs to have a tumor removed, or a person who is in a terrible car crash and needs access to a trauma surgeon, there are times when even a perfectly managed diabetic patient needs a surgeon. The President's remarks are truly alarming and run the risk of damaging the all-important trust between surgeons and their patients.

We assume that the President made these mistakes unintentionally, but we would urge him to have his facts correct before making another inflammatory and incorrect statement about surgeons and surgical care.

I was just going to write that I have a second date tonight and am totally psyched.

But realized that I left out the other bit- that I had a FIRST date this weekend, which was great. :)

Wheee.

He's super adorable. Both in looks, and actions.
After he dropped me off, he texted me that he had a great time and hoped I did too- and that I looked gorgeous.
Aww, he got big points for that.
But he was embarrassed that I was more dressed up than he was- but he was in those ultra-preppy 'nantucket red' shorts.

And I have to say- I am a sucker for a preppy boy.

so anyway.
Yay.

So, I'm in NYC for the week. I'm taking a microsurgery course at Columbia. And they are putting me up at a seminary- 47 blocks away. WTF? So I have to commute to this course and take the subway. Huh? I mean really! This is NEW YORK. There must be another place to stay closer than 47 blocks away. That isn't a seminary, too. A seminary is like the last place I should stay- I feel like I should burst into flames when I walk through the door! ;)

But, whatever, it's fine. And the room has a little mini-kitchen. So today I on my way home I bought a box of granola bars to have for breakfast. And I ate a bag of popcorn on my way home. And threw the bag in my trash can.

Which in retrospect, was a stupid idea. But I figured if there's a kitchen, there's meant to be food. But I should have known.

Yesterday, I saw a big roach scurry under the bed. Awesome. But, having lived with cat-sized roaches in New Orleans, I didn't care too much.

But the reason I am awake now is because I was just AWAKENED FROM A DEAD SLEEP by the sound of a MOUSE in my popcorn bag. Awesome.
May have to bring this to someone's attention. Too bad the 'office' is only open from 10-2, and I am gone from 8-5.

Oh well. Otherwise NY is good. Have had the chance to see some friends, and make some others, and on top of it all it's Restaurant Week, so I've been eating way too much.

But, I kind of can't wait to go home on Sat, because I have my date that night. :) He's been super adorably cute. Calling just enough to make me feel important, and not enough to make me feel smothered.
So I want to hurry up and have this date and get to know him better... because I feel like it's not right to be all excited about someone I barely know.

And who knows, maybe if this works out I can cancel my match.com, which seems to be hitting an all time low. I seriously can't believe some of the people on there. Especially when they email me about how much we have in common. I'm like "really? fat bald divorced high school dropout guy with no job in a football jersey? You think we have a lot in common?" But then the other day I actually, for the first time in months, saw someone that might be interesting... so I sent him a message. No reply. After a week, I wrote back "wow, I don't even get a hello? Well, good luck to you." To which he sent back an apology... Said he was sorry to be rude but he thinks it's best not to answer. That while he respects doctors, "Being a doctor is a massive time commitment and for that reason I didn't feel it was a good fit. I am sure many would be estatic [sic] to be involved with someone that would so greatly assist on the financial side of life in addition to the general relationship. For me, time is more important."

Dumbass. The 'financial side' comment is super obnoxious, if you ask me. I also noticed that the only place I didn't match his criteria was "body type". I have listed myself as "average"- he only wants "slender" or "athletic and toned." Again, oh really dude? You're not that hot. You posted 12 pictures that prove that fact. I wrote b/c he was witty and seemed to like the same things as me. Guess not. He also wrote "reguardless" and "defensce". We're clearly not meant to be.

So, I couldn't let it go and sent him back a message that said that I agree- I don't respond to people I'm not interested in. But that usually those people aren't cute doctors. But that if he is willing to write off a whole profession without knowing more [my hours as a hand surgeon will not be a problem]- then maybe we're not a good match. Then for good measure I tacked on "and I have to ask- are you really that hot that merely "average" girls need not apply?"

Somehow i'm not expecting a response to that one.

And just now I got "Your smile light up my screen.. If think.. We can be friends let me know.. I am DOMINIC. If want please sent me mail.. Thanks." DOMINIC, you are 46 but don't seem to have mastered fundamental reading/writing, so I think I'll pass.

God I'm a bitch. Ugh.

Last comment-
Jim/James- you guys ok? :(

later peeps. Now I will try to fall back asleep and hope the mouse doesn't wake me up going through the garbage I moved out to the hallway.