Rx: baby, Mitte:1, stat

I read about this in the Journal de Montreal today and wanted to find an English version before commenting on it:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070528/hl_afp/swedenresearchgenetics

I don't know what to think of it (copy the article title and plug it into google, there's some pretty wild commentary out there). I in some ways support advances like this that can help people (that's why I wanted to go to med school: to help people) but where do you draw the line? Placental blood and cells will no longer be needed for the new baby but this is a child that was essentially created to save another child. How much harm will this do to designer baby in the long run? Will this child be treated as inferior? What happens if the sick child dies during the pregnancy? What sort of psychological effects will this have?

You know me and my love of widgets

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I'll go easy on the flowers... after this

My dad's tree peony (the Precious...) has opened up some more. These pics are from this morning.

Sari's tulips

Sari had a great visit to Ottawa last weekend. She came from Montreal to shop (have you ever heard that one before? - though, note to the short Montreal women out there: there is a Banana Republic petites store in the Rideau Center). We got to participate in an Eastern conference victory celebration (Go, Sens, Go!), made our apparently now traditional Sari's in town pilgramige to Oh So Good and checked out Tulip Fest (I have since been reprimanded for not taking the opportunity to openly drink tequila in Major's Hill Park). Sari, not realizing the great tourist shot opportunities, did not bring her camera. Here are the Tulip Fest highlights.

Tree Peonies - yesterday

The beauty of staying at my parents' place is the backyard (and the picnic table that is wonderful for sitting out with a cold drinking and studying - when the children next door aren't running around naked and screaming: I'm assuming someone didn't think it was bathtime?).

Here is my dad's pride and joy. It is a tree peony that he babies like you would not believe. Ironically, in all the years that he has had it and loved it and coddled it, I don't think he has ever seen it bloom (it blooms in fishing season).

Needless to say, yesterday, when the first buds started to open, it was a big event (we had to go out and count the buds - of his 2 trees, I believe the tally was 8 and 12).

Blue and mellow

Your Brain is Blue

Of all the brain types, yours is the most mellow. You tend to be in a meditative state most of the time. You don't try to think away your troubles. Your thoughts are realistic, fresh, and honest. You truly see things as how they are. You tend to spend a lot of time thinking about your friends, your surroundings, and your life.

What Color Is Your Brain?

Doc vs Jock

So, after watching really weird chick flick (the one where Reese Witherspoon's a ghost, I found myself asking "who on earth diagnoses (forget about treats) a tension pneumothorax across a room in a restaurant?" Make me start to wonder how much of a doc I still am and where the jock instincts have kicked in. Here's my analysis.

Questions tension pneumothorax diagnosis. (1 point doc).

Thinks the 10 pounds she gained are mainly muscle mass from body pump. (1 point jock).

Wants DEXA scan for quantitative evidence of above. (1 point doc).

Still knows all MUHC hospital numbers by heart (doc).

Jumps into action when pager goes off (even one on TV). (doc)

Not too keen on Grey's Anatomy because residents look tired and remind her of real life. (doc)

Gets more out of said TV show when watching at gym because treadmill keeps me in place long enough to watch it. (jock)

Trying to figure out how to exchange Airmiles for new roller blades. (jock)

Has contemplated career as professional body builder in past week (will comment more on this when get DEXA results) (jock).

Has started partly planning out days around work-outs. (jock).

Well, folks, my current tally is 5-5 doc-jock. Perhaps I am in the midst of transforming (I"m trying to think up working for some sort of cocoon analogy but I'm tired and it really isn't working).

Mmmm...

If anyones looking for things to get me from my blog: please consider this over vultures (there is, sadly enough, drool on my keyboard...).

You Are a Chocolate Mocha and Orange Cheesecake

Enthusiastic and intense, there's so much you love in the world... it's hard to do it all. You are good at getting things to mix - friends, flavors, hobbies. You're the master of fusion!

What Kind of Cheesecake Are You?

Since I"m sure this is what most people out there have always wanted to know...

You've wondered this about me: I know you have. I've wondered it myself.

You Are 55% Normal

While some of your behavior is quite normal... Other things you do are downright strange You've got a little of your freak going on But you mostly keep your weirdness to yourself

How Normal Are You?

A vulture? Really?

Okay, I've never seen myself as a vulture but I like the commentary about it...

I'm starting to reap the benefits of these blogthings (got a coconut donut out of one of my last ones... mmm...), just, please: no vultures.

Your Power Bird is a Vulture

You are always changing your life and the lives of those around you. You aren't afraid to move on from what holds you back. Energetic and powerful, you have a nearly unlimited capacity for success. You know how to "go with the flow" and take advantage of what is given to you.

What's Your Power Bird?

You Are a Strawberry Jelly Bean

You love yourself for who you are, critics be damned! You know you don't have to take risks to make life more interesting. It's good enough as is.

What Flavor Jelly Bean Are You?

Triple birthday!

On Friday, we had a triple birthday plus any other excuse to celebrate. Here are some pics. Check out Jim and "his precious" (microbrewery beer) and Andrea's orange scarf. I've lost count of the number of times I've had this conversation with various people while knitting this scarf.

Random person: What are you making?

Me: A scarf for my friend's birthday.

Random person: Oh... Does she actually like orange?

Do you know how tempting it's been to go "Well, no, actually, she absolutely loathes orange."

Magnolias

I'd said I'd put my dad's magnolia trees up on my blog. They were just perfectly in bloom when I got home last weekend (now there are just lots of petals all over the backyard).

You Are 66% Tortured Genius

You are smart. Brilliant in fact. And while it's a blessing, it's also a curse. Your head is filled with everything - grand ideas, insufferable worries, and a good deal of angst.

Are You a Tortured Genius?

Life coach, eh?

Your Aura is Violet

Idealistic and thoughtful, you have the mind and ideas to change the world. And you have the charisma of a great leader, even if you don't always use it! The purpose of your life: saying truths that other people dare not say Famous purples include: Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Susan B. Anthony Careers for you to try: Political Activist, Inventor, Life Coach

What Color Is Your Aura?

Adventures in epidemiology

Here it is: end of day 1 of my epidemiology for residents class. Kind of funny to in a way come full circle in my year and end up back with old med school classmates. HOwever, class looks very dynamic and useful, looks like it will really be the resource I've needed and it's really interesting to come back as a semi-outsider.

Kind of brings me back to why I"m where I am: I hate pagers. I'm convinced that I must have nearly converted into an arrythmia every time one went off (which in a class of 30 internal med residents, was often). It's also a good way to look at where I am vs where I was: I keep talking about "the passion" for medicine that I never had that I think anyone would need to make it through. It's pretty awesome to see it in my old med school friends. I also felt it gave me a good comparison of where I was in med school: overwhelmed, uninspired, struggling to keep my head above water to where I am now: total keener, loving every minute of it and feeling totally gung ho about all my projects.

I scare men in muscle shirts

So, apparently, I should not watch skating in public. CBC had a rerun of the world championships ladies short program. I was at the gym watching it with my headphones on while doing cardio. Apparently, I am a noisy skating watch/critic. Was getting funny looks from the big buff guys around me who kept moving to machines further and further away.

My baby got a bobo

It's a sad day for my baby, the Cannibalistic Corrolla. It got cannibalized by a parking garage. Parking garages are not particularly user-friendly: this one has random sharp turns, steel-lined cement pillars and narrow through-ways. I took a sharp turn into a narrow through way and got too close to a steel lined pillar. Okay, ended up wedged against the pillar and stuck. Called CAA. Waited until 4:30am for CAA only to discover that the garage was too low for their truck. The guy came downstairs with a jack, squirmed under my baby and managed to unwedge me.

Sigh... It could have been worse... Nothing hurt but my pride, the left side of my car and my wallet. Sigh, I need a good body shop.

I haven't whined about lack of coconut donuts in ages...

Mind you that's probably because the last time I did, the lady at the donut shop told me I was crazy because there had never ever ever been such a thing as a coconut donut in such an establishment. Kind of made me wonder what I'd had the day before that I'd been sure was a coconut donut and just had me questioning my sanity in general. Oye, and I used to thing the biggest danger of donuts was the fat content...

You Are a Boston Creme Donut

You have a tough exterior. No one wants to mess with you. But on the inside, you're a total pushover and completely soft. You're a traditionalist, and you don't change easily. You're likely to eat the same doughnut every morning, and pout if it's sold out.

What Donut Are You?

Who me? Exagerate?

You Are From Jupiter

You are exuberantly curious - and you love to explore newness. Enthusiastic and optimistic, you get a kick out of stimulating intellectual discussions. Foreign cultures and languages fascinate you. You love the outdoors, animals, and freedom. Chances are you tend to exaggerate, so try to keep a lid on that. If you do, you'll continue to be known for your confidence, generosity, and sense of justice.

What Planet Are You From?

Proposal accomplished!

Well, here we go. I proposed my thesis, it's been accepted. I'm taking a break tonight and then its on to more work.

Apparently, I broke some sort of attendance record for HK thesis proposals. I think I had half the first year exercise phys students in attendance. Had them doing the wave (we were waiting for one of my committee members - got some funny looks from the program director when he looked into the board room).

I've added pics of my new lace scarf. It's made from the really gorgeous hand-dyed stuff from the big goat farmer that I spent a small fortune on during my trip to Halifax last fall. Loved working with the fibers, love the feel of the scarf even more.