another mid-week update

I know 2 pretty decent restaurants now in Temple. One is Italian and it's simply called Joe's. Very casual, but good italian food. The other is called Nami's and it's a Japanese restaurant. Nice thing about being here is I have yet to buy a meal for myself. I guess I rarely do that in Dallas too. Here though, the pharmaceutical company, the attending doc, or my friends have graciously treated me. I'm thankful. I've lost a few pounds though despite the fact that I eat. I guess I just don't eat much when i eat. Of all the place to lose weight though, my wrist shouldn't be one. But still I managed to do that and have taken out one more link on my watch. I guess if i don't exercise and I don't eat much, I'll lose both fat and muscle... which explains my weight loss. I've started taking vitamins thinking maybe I'm not getting enough of some, but I'm sure I am. As I see patients, I'm actually very surprised at how many morbidly obese people there are. I've read about problems with obesity, but I didn't realize how serious the problem is until now.

my brother came to visit me. he was on a business trip to Killeen, so he stayed with me. it was nice to have family in town. i so often wonder what i'm doing here in temple by myself. i don't know where God is leading me, but i hope that i'm obeying. i do hope that i can be closer to family and friends soon. i didn't realize until this week, just how much of a culture shock it was for me to move here. there's so many movies about a country boy/girl moving to a big city and experiencing the grand complexity of city life. But I think a movie that chronicles the city girl moving to a small town and the paralyzing culture shock would be amusing too. it's hard to describe, but i feel more scared here in the small city at times than i ever did in Dallas. it's so dark here at night time. It'll be better i think once the summer time is here and the days are longer. maybe than i might venture out in the evenings and even go to the gym. (Ha! my lame excuse for not exercising) there is a certain beauty to small town living though. i just wish my family were with me at least.

God is so gracious

So I got to do my first consult today. It was a pretty straight forward one thankfully and the patient was also very nice. I just feel an incredible cloud of grace around me as I make this transition into the world of health care and cardiology. I know that for many of my fellow classmates, it was a bit of a shock on their first day of work. But for me, although it too was a shock as well that I'm no longer a student, I have so much support around me to help me along and encourage me. The attending physician also is very funny along with being a wonderful teacher. So it helps when I'm feeling a bit sad about being away from home. I can at least laugh and not cry. One small step at a time.

I do miss home though. I really miss my parents.

a funny and a saddy

I bought a lamp at Target yesterday for my apartment. I was being lazy and didn't want to have to get out of bed to turn off the light. Well, this lamp looked like a candle, so I thought it was provide a nice ambiance as well. So I was excited to open the box and set it up. My first disappointment came when I realized that you had to lift up the glass cover, turn over the fake candle to turn the light on and off. I might as well get out of bed and turn off my ceiling light for all that work. Then once I turned it on, it barely lit up the room. I think my night light that plugs in to the electric socket provided more light than this lamp. I definitely wouldn't be able to read with it. So, I returned the lamp today and decided that the little bit of exercise I get to turn the light on and off isn't so bad afterall. Maybe I'll run into a little lamp someday that will suit my taste and laziness. So the moral of the story: don't by the candle lamp from Target. The price is reduced but I wouldn't take it even if it was free. Bad design, poor function.

Now for the saddy...I'm really missing home. I really didn't think it would be so hard emotionally. The people here are so nice. But I still miss home. I feel like getting in my car and driving home for the night. But I know that is quite silly. It's only Monday. I wonder how I'm going to make it through the rest of the week.

adjusting pretty well

so a lot can happen in one week. here's some things i've been thinking about...

1) on small town living...there's a beauty about being in a small town that i never really quite saw before. the people are so beautiful inside. i've been a little sad at how hardened i've become over the years, but the smiles and conversations i've had here even with strangers are softening me up a bit. the docs and fellows i work with are so welcoming and warm, i just can't get over it. yes, this city will never be dallas, but dallas will never be Temple either. i'm loving the simplicity of this small town living. one mall, one movie theatre, one target. i only wish there was one fitness center with a indoor swimming pool.

2) my job...at this point, it's the best job anyone fresh out of PA school can have. the docs are very gentle with me. i'm getting sort of an abridged form of a fellows education as i attend all of their conferences with much less hours of work. i didn't even have to go through residency. what more can i ask for. but i'm very much aware of my limited background in medicine and so are they. So in the midst of their very busy schedules, they are teaching this little baby to crawl first and then with time, hopefully i'll stand and walk on my own. this week, i've been on the consult service and will be for the rest of the month. so we see patients that get admitted to the hospital and has any special cardiac issues that need to be addressed.

but the docs and fellows are not only concerned about my professional career, but my personal happiness as well. so they make sure i eat and play. i'm joining their volleyball nights and i hope to play golf with them too.

i do miss watching the mavericks and the food network. maybe i'll break down and get a tv, but for now heroes is enough i guess. my mom keeps me posted on how the mavericks are doing, so i'm sort of okay there.

so the lent devotions have been really good. as i "walk" the days of Jesus prior to his death on the cross, i'm deeply moved by the suffering he endured for us. and i'm realizing how alone he was in his sufferings too as even the closest of his disciples fled at his darkest hours. each prayer thus far has begun..."Lord have mercy upon me." As I see his sufferings, I also see how i'm so proned to ignore them and forget about them and flee from him as well. So yes, my prayer is also "Lord have mercy upon me."
Here's today's excerpt if you'd like to check it out.

http://ibclent.com/wordpress/?p=24

Happy Valentine's Day! Remembering the One who first said to us "Be mine."

from Feb 6- Temple News

Well in case you are wondering, I thought I'd send an email to let you
know how my first few days in Temple have been. It's kind of exactly
what I thought it would be.

The people that I've met at work have been so nice. Although much of
my job description is a moving target right now, they have put me in a
crash training course in cardiology for the next 3 months. I get to
see things from almost every angle as I shadow fellows, staff, and
nurses. I'm already discovering everyone's quirkiness and it's real
fun to see people work together with all their unique gifts. It's
strange to be paid to learn, but I think at some point down the line
I'm suppose to help them, too. :) Some folks have been so nice, I
wonder how people can be so nice. Oh, and the patients are kind too. I
haven't met a mean one yet. :)

So works been very interesting.

As for my life outside, I get up and spend some time in devotions. I
don't remember the last time I did that really. I decided to follow
lent this year, so for now I'll follow the devotions from Irving Bible
Church Lent Series. Then I make breakfast and lunch and head off to
work just 7 miles away. After work, I sometimes go to the range and
hit some golf balls, and watch a few episodes of Heroes, eat dinner,
read a bit, and sleep. It's definitely a bit lonely without any close
friends or family nearby, but maybe this is my chance to really make
God my best friend. I look forward to going home this weekend though.
I miss my parents dearly. I didn't realize how close I've gotten close
to them this past year.

There's been some disappointments about Temple, but the people at work
have really made my move worthwhile so far. It's only been a few days
though, and I can't say I haven't dreamed about being in other places
than Temple. :) I think if I've made life better for a few people
here, I'll be happy that I moved here even for a little while. And
even if I haven't, I think this will do wonders for my relationship
with God.

That's all. Hope you enjoyed the Super Bowl (wasn't that the best game
ever!) and Super Tuesday. And Happy Ash Wednesday and Happy New Year!