Trips: St. Lucia (Day 1)

Wednesday, January 26

I wasn't excited about a 6:20 AM flight from Atlanta.  Especially after a week's worth of ICU kicked my butt.  Though I was waking up at 5 AM for seven days while on ICU, I actually woke up earlier on the morning of my flight at 3:30 AM in order to catch my flight.  But it wasn't that bad.  No traffic going to the airport.  No one in the airport.  I caught a relatively empty flight to Miami and I was asleep for most of it.  And Miami was no different.  I landed and made my way to AA297 to catch my 10:55 AM flight to Saint Lucia.  I ate breakfast at Au Bon Pain; I'm a sucker for their cheese danishes.  On my flight to Saint Lucia I had an entire row to myself.  My one and only complaint was the loud old guy behind me who seemed more obnoxious even for someone who was likely to be loud and old anyway.  Everyone on the plane oohed and aahed once we landed.  Blue skies were aplenty.  We deplaned out on the runway itself; always a good sign.  It made the half hour line at customs pass real quickly.   

Within thirty seconds of making it outside to ground transportation, a taxi-cab driver took my bag, asked where I was going, and said, "Okay then, I will take you."  I negotiated the cab fare, and we were off.  My taxi driver was a very pleasant guy.  We passed by a small fishing town of Laborie.  Later on, we passed a small village where a young schoolgirl started chasing us down.  "Her father's also a cab driver," he said.  "We're great friends."  We were heading west on the Southern Road, a  windy and rough road that connects the main airport at Vieux Fort and Soufriere.  It was a half hour drive.  I was happy about my decision not to rent a car.  Difficult driving conditions for sure.  Then add the little detail that drivers were on the left side of the road. 

My taxi driver told me that it was "starting to warm up again."  Christmas time is the coldest, reaching a "low" of 50 to 60 degrees.  It was 86 degrees when I landed.  I told him about the blizzard in the states, including the most recent one in the northeast.  My taxi driver told me about the hurricane that hit Saint Lucia hard in November 2010.  "We hadn't had a hurricane in thirty years."  Turns out, it left its mark, with several landslides causing temporary obstructions to traffic.  A later taxi driver would show a part of the road from Soufriere to Canaries, where a landslide wiped out a house, killing six family members within it.  

I oohed and ahhed as we passed the beautiful Twin Pitons: Gros and Petit Pitons.  Soon, we passed through the town of Soufriere.  It is a simple town pitched north of the Pitons.  Buildings were no taller than two stories high.  Not particularly crowded.  Natives and tourists were out and about.  We moved through the town and back up another windy road, where we finally found my hotel.  Again, this was when I was thankful, again, that I wasn't driving.  My taxi driver, after consulting with a few passersby that we were at the right hotel, starting up a fifteen-degree steep slope, for about five-hundred feet, all the way to my hotel.  I was amazed by how he maneuvered his rickety red van.  He took my bags out and walked me to the reception desk.  He rang the reception bell.  I had arrived to the Mago Estate Hotel.  

"We were expecting you," the receptionist Cara told me.  "Your rum punch is awaiting you at the bar."  I was quite happy.  It was about 4:30 PM.  "I also have upgraded your room.  But I will show you both rooms, in case you don't want to change."  I told her, "I'm sure I'll be fine with the upgrade."  She insisted on showing me the rooms.  She showed me the first room, near the entrance.  A single hotel room.  I was struck by the large open window overlooking the forest.  Then she led me to the Brutus room.  I saw a nicely made bed facing an even larger open hole in the wall.  I looked outside and not only could I see Soufriere, but I could see the Pitons in the background overlooking the harbor.  I walked into my bathroom, which I noticed was open to the outdoors.  I was perfectly content.  It was a welcome change from 41 CCU in the hospital.  Not surprised, I told her I was happy with the upgrade.  A pleasant man named Toby took my bags to the room.  Cara walked me over towards the pool.  She neglected to mention en route the lovely pool with poolside chairs facing towards the Pitons, Soufriere, and harbor.  She also wasn't kidding because a guy named Jason had a rum punch cocktail waiting for me.  "Welcome, Jeff."  Welcome to Saint Lucia!

I enjoyed my rum punch but it was overshadowed by the amazing scenery.  The hotel was built onto the side of a cliff.  I walked through the Treehouse (it is what it sounds like), the Jungle Room, and finally into the Dining Room.  I found myself talking to Jason for a bit.  Jason is a huge futbol fan.  Born on the island of Martinique (an hour or so north by ferry), he says he travels all over the islands to play futbol.  He's a forward.  He pulls for Arsenal.  (He laughed when later that night I busted out a Chelsea jersey.)  For the next two hours, I explored the grounds.  I found myself running up and down random outdoor stairways, checking out random viewpoints, including open access rooftops.  I found one rooftop with an unobstructed view of the Pitons and Soufriere.  It was here that I simply laid down for an hour.  It was completely unproductive.  And lovely.  

I rang the dinner bell since I was starving.  The tomato and fish soup was orgasmic.  I asked the waitress what the fish was in the soup and she replied, "I don't know, but it's the fresh catches of today."  I was pleased with that response.  The entree was a sweet and sour pork served with rice, tomatoes, and carrots.  It was good.  But the soup dominated the meal.  Well, that and the view.  During the meal, a cat approached and nestled up on a perch by my table.  He looked at my food and then looked at the view.  He fell asleep towards the view. 

I retreated to my room.  I showered.  And it was a new experience: it's weird showering but still feeling the night breeze.  But I was content.  Relaxed and fed, I sifted through all the brochures and magazines in the room (as I always do) and started garnering ideas for my trip.  But before I knew it, I was ready to call it a night.  I hopped into bed and untied the mosquito nets.  I heard jazz from the streets of Soufriere.  I heard the tree frogs chirping and leaves rustling.  I passed out instantly.

Trips: Introduction to St. Lucia

Everyone should visit St. Lucia at one point.  

I was talking to my taxi driver/tour guide yesterday en route to the northern part of the island when he mentioned a sister that was living in New York.  "She wanted to escape to the states to work hard and become a lawyer."  I asked him what he did in his free time.  "I like to chill.  Go to the beach.  I'll never leave here."  It's an incredible island, with amazing views, beaches, volcanoes, and rain forests.  It combines the dynamic biodiversity of Puerto Rico with the shear beauty of Santorini.  And it's only 27 x 14 miles in dimension.  Why did I come here?  To chill and, perhaps, go to the beach.  The moment that captured the lifestyle here I'll have to describe to you since I was too slow to capture it on film.  We were driving up a windy part of the Western Road leading from Soufriere to Castries.  We were stuck behind a construction-sized pick-up truck.  On the back trailer was a large bed of dirt or soil.  On top of this large mound was a worker asleep on his back, soaking in the sun.  "Wouldn't you be afraid of falling off the back and onto the road?" I asked my guide, laughing.  "Nah," he responded, "he'll be fine.  He's just chilling."  

First Week of ICU

As of 7 PM tonight, I am off service for the 41 CCU.  I'm exhausted.  Intense week.  That was why no blog entries for a week.  And why this one is so short.  I'll be back online once I've recovered. 

Trips: Charleston (Day 3)

Monday, January 17 

I was useless today.  

I've spent the majority of the day enjoying this ridiculous hotel.  For those of you unaware of the website sniqueaway.com, definitely check it out.  Each week, this website has several luxury hotels here or throughout the world at a discounted rate.  That's how I first built this trip in the first place.  The hotel I'm in is called The Restoration on King.  It's advertised as a luxury hotel.  It's more like a luxury apartment.  I checked in last night.  I was told about the car valet, the wine and cheese at 5 PM, and the milk and cookies later in the night.  Then I was accompanied to my room, Room 304.  The first thing I noticed was the doorbell outside my door.  I walked in and noticed a long hallway.  I was shown to my immediate right, up three steps, towards a bedroom with a king-sized bed, flat screen TV, and amenities, including an iHome docking station.  He showed me the large bathroom and, apparently, the intricate instructions to use the shower in case I needed hot water to go "above one-hundred degrees."  Next we walked down the long hallway where he showed me the full kitchen, the many complimentary drinks, coffee maker, toaster, microwave, often, and island counter.  He showed me the living room that contained a second large flat screen TV, Blu-Ray player, and another iHome docking station.  The large windows overlooked King Street.  He left and I explored some more.  Tall, tall ceilings.  Free internet.  Cozy and comfortable couches and chairs.  Washer and dryer!  What?  I took a shower and the shower pressure was perfect.  I didn't exceed one-hundred degrees Fahrenheit.  I noticed the two flush pressures on the toilet; I didn't realize I could choose flushes!  The bed was very comfortable.  I woke up refreshed.  The shower in the morning was once again excellent.  I opened the front door to peak outside and noticed a picnic basket with a danish, bagel, orange juice, and a copy of USA Today.  I wondered how I would toast the bagel.  Then I remembered the fully-loaded kitchen.  This "hotel room" is probably about 1000 square feet.  On King Street.  In downtown Charleston.  I'd love to stay here again.  That's for sure.  

Husk **** - I met Joel, Christy, and Alison for lunch at Husk.  Despite how we highly regard FIG and Cypress, this may be the consensus favorite.  Granted, brunch/lunch is a different experience than dinner, but I immediately felt very relaxed and comfortable at hunch.  I loved the inside decor; it actually seemed most in line with a brunch/lunch setting since it had such a light but lively feel.  We powered through our orders since Joel and Christy had a flight to catch.  The only dish I wasn't sold on was the fried pickles.  The oysters were out of this world.  The clam and sausage dish was also delicious.  The buffyaki chicken wings are appropriately named, incredibly tasty, and unlike any other chicken wings I've had (and I've eaten my share of wings in Buffalo, NY).  I went with the catfish BLT; I don't think I've had a variant BLT that didn't involve an egg.  The catfish was so light and so fresh, a contrast to the massive appearance of the sandwich bookended by Texas toast, and a pleasure to devour.  I had the benne beignets for dessert.  They were good.  Once I reminded myself that no beignets will ever compare to Cafe du Monde, I found that these are still good beignets.  This  restaurant suits my personality.  I was excited for Husk and I found myself (and the others too) pleasantly surprised and impressed.   

I really had no goals for the afternoon.  I drove Alison home and said Goodbye to her,  Walter, and Maybelle.  I came back and watched TV.   

Andolini's Pizza * - I had my heart set on Jestine's Kitchen for some soul food.  But sadly it was closed.  I didn't feel like venturing far and this place was across the street.  I had read that this was one of the best spots in Charleston for pizza.  Now, there was a reason I went to NYC in December specifically for pizza, bagels, and pastrami: because NYC is one of the best places in the world to get  these items.  I love NYC pizza.  But I also love Chicago pizza.  Outside of these places, I tend to find non-gourmet pizza very disappointing.  So my conclusion?  Next time I'm in Charleston, I'll be sticking with low-country cuisine and fine dining.  The pizza was bland.  Oh so bland.  And I ordered the special, which is essentially a supreme pizza.  A pizza loaded with toppings, that's tasteless?  Is that even possible?  It's disturbing.  In fact, I was more entertained by the ICU book I was reading than the pizza.

I'm back at my hotel.  Blog is updated.  No more goals tonight.  And that's fine by me.

Trips: Charleston (Day 2)

Sunday, January 16

Joel had to turn off my alarm several times, as I was completely unconscious in the morning.  But motivated for breakfast at Hominy Grill, I got my act together and drove us towards our next culinary stop.  We arrived at 9:03 AM, three minutes after opening.  The place was packed and we had to wait.  We killed the time by debating what was the difference between y'all and all y'all.

Hominy Grill **** - A small, quaint establishment but clearly very popular.  Many locals and many tourists.  I was eager to get in there.  Both Adam Richman and Anthony Bourdain have been here to have The Big Nasty: a large chicken biscuit lathered in cheese and sausage gravy.  This was my goal.  If I had to narrow this Charleston trip to one goal, this was it.  But I had other goals too.  The she crab I found much better and meatier than at Hyman's.  (This was the third soup I had in Charleston and was happy to continue the trend.)  The double-cut bacon was doubly delicious.  The sausage was good.  The service was prompt.  The atmosphere reminded me very much of The Loveless Cafe in Nashville (my favorite breakfast place in the U.S.); it felt like you were having a Sunday breakfast at someone's home and you felt welcome and warm there.  Then came The Big Nasty.  It's big.  It's nasty.  I lifted up the chicken biscuit, and on the plate was  silhouette of the biscuit in a puddle of gravy.  The biscuit never touched the plate again.  Oh.  My.  Goodness.  If this sandwich is renamed, it needs to have a religious adjective like "holy" or "immaculate."  I don't know even remember what everyone else got.  I was happy.  And so were the other five.  

Nothing could contrast The Big Nasty more than a return trip to the Battery and south of Broad.  Walter showed us around and it was picture perfect out (for winter): pushing sixty degrees Fahrenheit on the water.  Alison took us for a quick stop for lunch and benne wafers.  Benne is gullah for sesame seeds.  Benne wafers are these quarter-sized pastry chips of heavenly, buttery, and sweet goodness.  I haven't even left Charleston and I already miss them.

Normally, I'd say a boat ride in the January would be a bad idea.  But the next stop was Fort Sumter and it was well worth it.  I enjoyed learning the history and seeing it in person.  Plus, the views of the Charleston skyline (and the bridge which dwarfs it) amidst a blue sky was beautiful.  Sure, it was cold and my lips were chapped.  A small price to pay.  Though I will say Christy was so cold that, in Alison's words from her blog, she changed into a Union soldier (she bought a Union hat).  Alison let me borrow her digital camera and I split off and went camera happy at the fort.  

On the boat ride back, we divided responsibilities: Alison and I brainstormed restaurants, Christy looked assessed the menus, I tried to see if reservations were available, and Joel napped.  When we landed, we hopped back in the car.  We ate more benne wafers.  I dropped Alison off.  I dropped Joel & Christy off.  I checked into my ridiculous hotel (more on that later).  I met Joel & Alison at their hotel.  We walked to dinner. 

Cypress **** - Yes, I'm realizing the number of **** I'm giving to these Charleston places, but we shot for the best and certainly the investment yielded impressive returns.  It was an old building with a modern interior, an impressive wine wall, and a great balcony overlooking a glass-roofed kitchen.  When we arrived, I couldn't tell if Joel was uninterested, tired, or both.  That radically changed as dinner progressed.  Another wonderfully pleasant and informed waitress.  The waitress had me sold on the potato & leek soup and typically I've always disliked potato-based soups: this one was spot on  in every aspect.  Christy and Joel ordered the charcuterie and house cured meat: all fantastic, though the three beast stood out.  Though we were all tired and not quite hungry, each bite did seem to bring more and more excitement.  The red peas were delicious.  I went with the lamb duo: the preparation with collard greens melted away.  The fried chicken was darn good fried chicken.  Joel was not even hungry; he happily devoured the wasabi tuna.  The portions were much larger than anticipated (in the most pleasantly good way), leaving little room for dinner.  But the small amount of lemon cheesecake I could fit in my system simply told my brain, You should just go to bed now.  Now I don't have the refined tastes of Joel & Christy.  Joel rarely uses the word "impressive" and he used it.  Christy bought a cookbook; she's a chef. 

We dropped by Tommy Condon's Irish Pub to see Walter play.  Though half unconscious and half dead, I ordered an alcoholic beverage to defeat the last remnants of consciousness.  I drew two conclusions from the Irish pub: the mandolin is a sweet instrument and Walter played the shit out of it. 

I made it back to my hotel.  I watched Transformers.  I fell asleep. 

Trips: Charleston (Day 1)

Saturday, January 15

For a moment I didn't think Charleston was going to happen.  Earlier in the week, I had been trapped due to the Atlanta ice storm.  Two nights prior to the trip, I witnessed three car accidents in the first five minutes of driving on Thursday night and, much to my chagrin, I had to abort my plans to see The Walkman at the Variety.  But I made the drive on Saturday morning.  Early.  I had arrived in Charleston 10 AM Saturday morning.  But where to deposit my car?  Surely, I needed a good landmark.  I parked at a garage at King & Queen Streets.  Done. 

Hyman's ** - I think it's a tourist trap.  But I was starving, Hominy Grill was on the agenda for Sunday morning, and well, it was right there.  Plus, several of my co-workers had recommended the place, so I wanted to check it out.  Okay, the place was a bit disorganized.  The first person who greeted me didn't say "Hello" but said "5-0-2."  Somehow the code led me to my seat.  But at least from that moment on, the hospitality started to show.  The she crab was delicious and made me realize I was glad to be on the coast again.  (When I think of Atlanta, soup or seafood doesn't come to mind.)  The shrimp po'boy was generous (I counted 26 pieces of shrimp) and delicious, though plain.  It was missing something ... then I added their brand of cajun mayo.  I knew I had made the right decision coming to Charleston for a quick culinary escape. 

I needed to go walk off the shrimp.  I picturesque stroll took me to the Waterfront, down to the Battery, through the neighborhood south of Broad, and even a quick tour through the Nathaniel Russell House (this is worth the visit just to see the architectural impressive self-supportive spiral staircase).  A relaxing walk through a picturesque and beautiful city.  And it's the dead of winter.   

I met up with Joel and Christy and made a trip to visit Walter, Alison, & Maybelle.  In other words: good company.  Nothing like good conversation, catching up, a long walk (I was particularly jealous of little Maybelle in her red wagon; I need one of those) to work up an appetite.  I was excited for dinner.  Plus, having watched Maybelle splash herself full of yogurt in the purest act of joy while eating, I was eager to attack my next meal.  

FIG (Food Is Good) **** - Four stars for the title alone.  Though a high-quality restaurant, it was a very relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.  I was impressed by our waitress who was incredibly knowledgeable.  She enthusiastically countered every question from my culinary mentors, my brother and sister-in-law.  What's not to like?  The lobster bisque was near perfect.  But the others were delectable as well.  I can still taste the beef tartare, oysters, ricotta gnocchi with lamb, and sunchokes.  Joel noted the non-descript description of the fish stew, a suggestion of seasonality and the impromptu nature of its preparation, which seemed exciting; the menu does in fact change daily.  I wasn't disappointed: I wanted to cheer and squeal with each new delicious seafood item I fished out of the pot, though, honestly, I could have been happy with the broth alone.  I had never tasted the triggerfish.  That was excellent and I did prefer it to the tilefish and steak.  But honestly, I would've been content with any dish.  Was it the food?  Was it the company?  It has been a while where I've had a dinner where there was so much genuine excitement in every aspect of the dinner: the service, variety, sharing, each and every dish, and the conversation that accompanied it all.  But that's why my rating system is so oddly vague.  What it boils down to is that, even two days later, it was a memorable night.  As simple as that.  And I don't think it's a coincidence either.  FIG is the real deal.  

Needless to say, it was at least a two-hour dinner affair.  I was capable of walking home and passing out.  And that's exactly what happened. 

How To: Brace for Atlanta's Next Blizzard

This How To is courtesy of our most recent winter blizzard, January 9-14, 2011.

As a physician, the best advice I can give people is to make prevention the first priority: eat healthy, exercise, and see your doctor regularly.  But sometimes bad things happen and when it happens, we respond and we treat.  

We just experienced the worst blizzard in Atlanta, arguably ever, over this past week.  Management of the Atlanta government and the Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) not only failed to prevent, but also in the face of near disaster conditions, failed to treat.  What's worse is that they failed to acknowledge that they were and still are underprepared.  What was this great plan for the storm we all kept hearing about?  Since the Atlanta government doesn't want to "waste" funding on commodities such as road plows and salt, here is a list of back-up plans that the Atlanta government and DOT should employ next time a blizzard hits Atlanta: 

Make blizzards illegal.  

Use the power of the legislative process to abolish winter storms.  Game, set, match. 

Order a mandatory 30-day evacuation.  

Meterologists certainly were on the money during the storm, proving more reliable than government at times.  In the event of a future storm, meteorologists can help inform the government of changing weather conditions and, if necessary, orchestrate a mass city evacuation lasting 30 days, which should be adequate time for the entire city to melt back to normalcy.

Convince the masses that the storm isn't happening.

Media is a powerful tool.  In the way we tell lies to protect people, this could be an option to quell everyone's fears: by telling them they're crazy and it's not really happening.

Distribute ice skates. 

Even amidst our best efforts, the roads were still worthy of NHL play.  With driving forbidden, taxis absent, public transportation shut down, the airport closed, and walking ill-advised, a city-wide distribution of ice skates is a suitable Plan B.  

Distribute flame-throwers.  

Though this would be ideal in the hands of the populace, resources can be saved by keeping flame-throwers in the hands of military personnel and having the military divide, conquer, and burn through the streets of Atlanta.  

Distribute shovels (and pain medication).  

Never forget that manual labor is still a powerful and useful tool. 

Invite Native Americans to perform the Sun Dance. 

Since Atlanta's highly-researched preparation plan involved waiting for the sun to arrive, future efforts should be made to coerce the sun into more active duty.  Native Americans can help perform and even teach their religious Sun Dance, which we can employ in winter disaster scenarios.  The Sun Dance may be best utilized during nighttime, a time of day when the sun is peculiarly absent. 

Negotiate with Mother Nature.  

If the Sun Dance fails, then peace negotiations with Mother Nature should be the next logical step.  It's a fine balance between standing firm and avoiding provocation.  A win would be to negotiate blizzards for the summertime, when heat and sun are bountiful.

Hire Manny Pacquiao to fight the blizzard.  

As a proud Filipino, I have no doubt that Manny Pacquiao can tackle the ice storm.  With his fists of fury, he can pulverize the entire blizzard and its manifestations if not by knockout then by unanimous decision, making the storm question its abilities by the end of it all, all while maintaining a natural lower weight class than his opponent.  He can then celebrate by being the headliner at a concert at the Georgia Dome. 

Detonate a sand bomb over Atlanta. 

Let's say Atlanta does invest in salt in the future; it'll be a futile effort with only ten snow plows in the entire city.  Using the advanced capabilities of our armed forces, detonating a sand bomb several miles above Midtown Atlanta could equally distribute sand all the way to 285 and the Perimeter all the while generating a temporary ball of heat to help thaw most roadways. 

 

Hire Bill Belichick & Tom Brady to run the Georgia DOT.

With Bill Belichick at the helm, he will devise a full-proof game plan that will take away a winter storm's biggest strengths while exploiting its major weaknesses.  He will create match-up difficulties and mask his defensive looks to keep the storm honest.  Though they have a young and inexperienced secondary, they bend but don't break.  Belichick & Brady should be able to tame the storm in sixty minutes, only rarely needing extra time.  And if all else fails, Brady's good looks can melt Atlanta in a heartbeat.

Food: Nava

Nava *** - A delicious, upscale version of Agave.  Upscale but not intimidating.  I went with a large party, for my friend David's birthday in fact, and it was a great setting for it.  In fact, it was friendlier and cozier than the typical Buckhead restaurant.  Now I haven't been let down by any of the restaurants in the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group.  Nava didn't disappoint.  It was nearly impossible to hone in on one dish to order since every item on the menu looked delicious.  Service was friendly and prompt.  Our waiter was particularly enthused when we asked for his favorite wines or dishes.  I enjoyed the mango salsa.  I enjoyed the Skirt Steak Mojo i.e. the Argentinian Chimichurri.  It was an enormous portion.  Not the best steak I've had; part of the problem was it was a tad overcooked for the medium I ordered.  But I had no problem wolfing most of it down.  The orders varied from person to person, and everyone was content.  But what mattered was that the setting was conducive for a fun birthday evening.  I'm hoping to try lunch there in the near future.  I really am a big fan of the Buckhead Life Group.

My New Favorite Call Room

Boy, my feet were cold!  But that's quite all right, as I just hopped out of a nice long warm shower.  I plugged the tub so I could let my feet soak, almost therapeutically, in the warm water.  I like the idea of showering and being as clean as possible before hopping into bed.  And by the way, this bed appears to be a very comfortable king-sized bed.   And just for me!  Look, six pillows!  SIX!  Count'em!  I can't wait to splay out uselessly among them.  I bet if someone were to come into the room in the morning, they wouldn't find my body buried beneath the massive heaps of fluffy comfort.  I'll definitely sleep quite soundly.  And I'd sleep until eleven in the morning if I didn't have to go back into the hospital in the morning.  Though I did have to answer a few pages here and there, it was easy to get back to relaxing; with the Packers-Eagles game on the TV, talking to some friends on the phone, and having my feet propped up on that really nice and soft ottoman, I was close to falling asleep.  That is, until room service brought in the items I had requested: French onion soup, chicken wings, a margherita pizza, a Coke, water, and freshly-squeezed orange juice.  Dinner was certainly delicious!  Didn't come close to finishing it, but it was hard to resist so many great items on the menu!  I still have that one dictation to do.  I'll get to it later.  First, let me turn the thermostat up to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.  There we go!  Now, let's take a look outside: Yup, it's snowing now.  It's pretty, actually.  I'll go sit back at the desk though.  I like this desk because I can just relax with my laptop but also look out the window, watch the falling snow in the foreground while my hospital stands out in the background.  I love how this room isn't in the hospital!  I love this call room.  All call rooms should be like this!  Always!

The author of this story has been graciously been put up in a hotel, along with several other co-workers, in anticipation of a blizzard through Metro Atlanta.  A grand and well-appreciated gesture.

How To: Fix Your Falling Pants in a Hospital

This quick How To comes courtesy of a patient who left against medical advice yesterday.  

Despite attempts on the part of myself, the nursing staff, psychiatric team, and public safety to convince my patient to stay against his better judgment, he insisted on leaving, and given he understood the risks of leaving, we allowed him to do so.  However, before he did, there was another problem at hand.

     "Sir," I said to him, a paranoid schizophrenic, "Your pants are falling down."  

     He smiled, pulling the front waistband forward, realizing he had several inches of give.  "No worries," he said with a devious smile.  "I'll fix it.  Hand me a medium latex glove."  

     The psychiatrist to my right rolled his eyes.  The two public safety officers did the same.

     The patient reached for a medium latex glove from one of the boxes mounted on the wall of his room.  I stood there, with a pen and a form for him to sign out Against Medical Advice.

     "Do you mind signing this?" I said.  

     He ignored me.   He held the latex glove to his waist.  He studied the glove meticulously.  Then, suddenly, he had a moment of Eureka!  He stuck the thumb of the glove through the first belt buckle to the left of his fly.  Next, he threaded the pinky finger of the glove through the first belt buckle to the right of his fly.  He stretched both, pulling his pants taut.  Then, he started to knot the two fingers.  He threw a second knot for good measure.  He jumped up and down.  His pants stayed in place. 

     "There," he said.  "Pants are fixed."

     He snatched the form from me, as well as the pen.  He signed the forms and the patient was promptly escorted out of the hospital.  

     "Impressive," I said to the psychiatrist back at the nurse's station.  "Didn't see that one coming."  

     "The craziest people have the craziest ideas," he responded.   

Food: Ormsby's

Orsmby's **** - This is a prime example of how my rating scale isn't like Zagat.  Met up with the guys.  You walk in and it took only about five minutes to realize that this may be a joint with the most attractive staff in Atlanta (Flip Burger also comes to mind).  Then you notice the other things: the downstairs with the bars, pool tables, table hockey, dart boards, and count'em three bocce ball courts!  My friend Jordan and I were consumed in a 30 minute game of darts, including a game of cricket that we learned on the spot.  (Thanks Wikipedia!)  Great social atmosphere, reminds me of a lot of hang out spots during my college and medical school days in Boston.  As for the food?  Well, my New England clam chowder was clearly not New England clam chowder.  But the inordinate amount of bacon helped counteract it's overall bland taste and soupiness.  The fish and chips were delicious though!  The fish were potato-sized and they put four on my dish!  A light but dense meal.  The beer list was impressive (though I didn't order any), but my friend Ed's beer needed to be served in two separate glasses.  Not too shabby.  The price?  Very fair.  Would I come back just for the food?  Probably.  But when you factor in the coolness of the place, the atmosphere, and all the games?  Yeah, I'll definitely be back. 

Within a Six Foot Radius

I'm currently in my office at the hospital.  A long day.  Not a bad day, but a long day with 21 patients.  As I sit, legs stretched out onto an adjacent couch, killing time before heading out to dinner, I note the the following items within a six-foot radius: two desktop computers, a desk phone, a printer, my pager, two cell phones (one personal and one for work), many random sheets of paper, Scotch tape in a dispenser, two ketchup packets (Hunt's, if you're curious), a used napkin, two used paper cups, a small table on which are many more unused but folded napkins, a stapler, an envelope from the Tax Division at the City of Atlanta, $0.31 in change (one quarter, one nickel, and one penny), a Bazaar magazine, an original ChapStick (red), a half pretzel, an old patient list, more Scotch tape in a dispenser, a half used bottle of Kirkland Spring Water, a 2008 Sanford guide, a purse, and crackers.  I sure wish Father William of Ockham were here to apply his incredibly logical razor ...

Photo: Multitasking (2010)

When I turned on the bathroom lights at the hospital, this is what I found.

 

Food: Yakitori Jinbei

Yakitori Jinbei **** - I've had a craving for ramen ever since I ate at Ippudo in Manhattan a few weeks ago.  It didn't take too much online research to find that the ramen scene isn't exactly bustling in Atlanta.  However, one name came up consistently in reviews and on blogs and it was this place.  I went for lunch today.  It specializes in yakitori.  Sadly, it's only served for dinner.  But I had one thing in mind: tonkotsu (pork) ramen.  It was the must-have dish for lunch on these reviews and blogs.  Delicious!  The temperature, consistency of the soup, the noodles, the pork (Oh, the pork was yummy!), and seaweed: excellent.  Plus salad and rice for $10?  A win all-around.  Better than Ippudo?  Well ... I wish there was an egg in there.  I wish there was a little more pork (Oh, the pork was yummy!).  Plus, the ambiance: Ippudo is right near Union Square and my brother, sister-in-law, and I waited two hours (it was worth it) to even get seated; Yakitori Jinbei is in a strip mall in Smyrna.  That being said, and without even having had the yakitori, this place gets **** from me based on the ramen alone.  I'll be back, several times probably, before winter's end. 

Food: Artisan Bakery

Artisan Bakery *** - I was willing to drive the half hour to Roswell to satisfy my beignet craving.  And holy cow, these were mutant beignets with generous mounds of powdered sugar.  Once you accept that it's not Cafe du Monde, you realize it's pretty good.  The fresh fruit wasn't as fresh as other fresh fruit I've had.  Very quaint and relaxing atmosphere.  Free Wi-Fi.  Staff makes you feel at home.  A nice balcony for good weather.  A nice little break from Atlanta.  Open at 7 AM but closed on Sundays and Mondays.  Doh! 

Music: 01/04/11

The Apples in Stereo's Travellers in Time and Space **** - Sunnier and happier than ever, but with a 70s twist.  "Hey Elevator" is as catchy as they come.  Best Coast's Crazy For You ** - Summer album with a garage-type feel.  Beach House's Teen Dream ** - Dreamy pop, but didn't blow me away like I thought it would.  Ke$sha's Cannibal *** - This is a spring-break album.  Fun dance pop ("C U Next Tuesday") but with attitude ("Cannibal").  Kylie Minogue's Aphrodite *** - So many great songs.  Kylie's got Pop covered.  Wavve's King of the Beach * - Tried to listen (twice) but they lost me.  Wolf Parade's Expo 86 **** - This album rocks.  Does it best Mount Zoomer?  Not quite, but damn good anyway.

Gizmos Are My Shoes

Women have tons of shoes.  I've finally made my peace with that.  Over the years, I've seen these shoe collections, through direct observation or indirectly via questions of "Which pair goes better with this outfit?"  When I was younger, I'd call out friends of mine and then press further, asking what I thought were simple questions.  Why?  What's the point?  I never received an adequate answer.  For the longest time I was frustrated.  There had to be a reason! 

Until I realized that I had a similar obsession.  What did I buy?  It started with Nintendo.  Then Sega Genesis.  Then Sega CD.  I never owned Neo Geo (but I wished I did back then).  Nintendo 64.  Playstation: 1, 2, and 3.  Nintendo Wii.  I don't own X Box (but I wish I did).  And all the different games that go with each!  I've owned many different TVs, which currently includes two flat-screens over 32 inches.  I own a DVD player, VHS player, and HDTV.  I've owned many laptops.  I have a Mac desktop, PC laptop, Netbook, and a newly-upgraded iPhone 4.  I'm curious about the Kindle, Nook, and iPad.  I've debated about a second PS3.  I have sweet speakers for my Mac desktop.  I have 2.1 surround sound for my 40" inch TV screen.  But that's to hold me over when down the road I get a bigger TV.  Which would then would justify at least 5.1 surround sound.  How did I come to own all these things?  Well, I did some online shopping.  Some window shopping too.  I'd ask my buddies where they got their stuff.  Did I pay more than I should have?  In some instances, I did.  But I had to have it!  But I've found great deals too!  Oh, despite the iPhone, did I mention, I also have an iPod and an iTouch?  Now that I think of it, I have portable speakers (3 kinds) to which these MP3 players can attach.  I even have old, small but functioning speakers in my bathroom.  Earlier in 2010, my friend David wanted to buy a new 40-plus inch flat screen TV.  We spent about two hours at Best Buy.  I didn't mind.  It was fun.  Girls, if you were with us?  Well, now you know what it's like when you take us shoe shopping.  

Guys love gadgets and gizmos.  Why?  What's the point?  Ladies, I have absolutely no idea.  But if you don't ask, I won't ask.  I understand now.

Books: Better

Atul Gawande's Better *** - He says he didn't start writing until he became a doctor.  Thank God he started writing!  Amidst all the patient subjectives and medical objectives, he weaves tremendous stories and even controversial topics that we in the medical field can only hope to articulate.  It's a very thoughtful book on the power of medicine (to heal and to destroy) and the frailty of humanity and being a human being (as a patient and as a physician).  It's also a concise book broken into three parts, focusing on diligence, doing the patient right, and ingenuity.  He analyzes Medicine with a capital M and looks into the logistics of how, why, and when we succeed (and fail).  He's surprisingly objective for the majority of the book, acting more like an expert witness than anything else.  His ability to integrate historical information, patient and personal stories, and their contemporary context into a thrilling nonfiction read is all the more impressive.  His message is this: patients and doctors are human and where there's imperfection, there's room for improvement.  Stay true to yourself, do others right, and remain open minded.  And this message doesn't apply only to those in the medical field. 

Food: Yeah! Burger

Yeah! Burger **** - Much like the band The Go! Team, it's hard to resist a name when it has an exclamation point in it.  There are two locations: one in the Highlands and one in Westside, where West Egg used to be.  I think that space is blessed.  Comfortable and open setting.  A wonderfully large menu.  All good signs.  Another good sign: avocado as a topping.  I ordered the grass-fed beef on whole wheat, with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and avocado, with a side of fries.  The hamburger was delicious.  In a rare feat, I consumed a burger without ketchup (a good prognosis).  The beef seemed to be a beefier beef.  Due to the grass-feeding?  Perhaps.  Fries were delicious too.  I was one of many happy customers.  Atlanta has great burger places, but they're limited by long waits (Grindhouse or The Vortex) or even quantity (Holeman & Finch).  This is a burger joint.  

Food: La Madeleine

La Madeleine *** - It's a little while away, on Exit 5A on 400 N.  I got there and I realized this was the Sunday breakfast place I've been trying to find.  It's quaint but generous in many respects: the hours (6:30 AM all days of the week!), the patio, the inside, and the menu.  I grabbed a window seat, near a fireplace, and read my book.  I inhaled a deliciously sweet and fresh plate of French toast.  I was very comfortable.  Within an hour, I realized many people had come here for the same reasons I've just cited.  I read for two hours.  Minor negatives: a little far from Atlanta and no Wi-fi.  But I'll be back!

Food: Buckhead Pizza Company

Buckhead Pizza Company ** - Yes, it was a little bit annoying trying to find this place and deal with parking, but that's true of any place in Buckhead.  Modern in Buckhead style.  A rather generous menu, with many pizzas named after Atlanta landmarks.  Good atmosphere for conversation.  The margherita was pretty good, but not life-changing.  In all fairness, the previous two pizzas I had were at Lombardi's and John's in NYC.  Would I go back?  I would actually.  Atlanta does gourmet pizza well.  But the quest for a good slice of pizza in Atlanta continues.

Books: Breakthrough

Thea Cooper and Arthur Ainsberg's Breakthrough *** - The story about insulin's discovery is an amazing one.  The time: a world in recovery from the devastation of WWI and the Spanish Flu.  The patient: the daughter of a well-respected politician.  The protagonists: four people whose picture was never contained within one frame.  In the late 1910s, diabetes was one-hundred percent fatal and the standard of treatment at that time was starvation, or the Allen treatment.  But one night, Fred Banting, a young Canadian physician, while reading a journal article, scribbled twenty-five words on a piece of paper, and his near manic obsession to actualize those twenty-five words, led to one of the medical world's greatest breakthroughs.  Though the book was slow in the beginning, it necessarily had to be as it laid down factual groundwork on which the final half of the book was built.  My reading pace increased as the race for insulin's discovery and it's need to be discovered became more urgent.  To think, not even one-hundred years later, we're in a completely different world of diabetes care and management, one with multiple insulin types and even insulin pumps.  This  book gives me a greater appreciation of diabetes and its history.  And nowadays where encountering a non-diabetic is, unfortunately, not terribly rare, it's important for me to have that appreciation.  I was talking to my boss while reading this book.  "If you have insider tips on a company that can make oral insulin," he said, "let me know."  That's the next breakthrough.  But if Banting and Best were alive right now, they would know their unbelievable efforts were not in vein.

Food: Mary Mac's Tea Room

Mary Mac's Team Room **** - I'm upset that it took me three years to make it here!  But not a bad way to start off my first meal in 2011: southern home cooking in Atlanta.  This place was started in 1945 and it feels that way.  Pleasantly surprised by the sunny hostess in a flower dress and the lovely decor.  Incredibly pleasant and prompt service.  Really prompt.  The vegetable soup, fried chicken, fries, and fresh fruit were simply delicious and engulfed fully in twenty minutes.  When I looked around, there were smiling faces everywhere.  Well worth the wait.  My next visit will definitely be much sooner than three years from now!

1/1/11

It's 9:44 AM.  What are my first thoughts waking up?  I'm tired.  First observation, though: My internet isn't working.  But alas, good thing there are some people who don't secure their networks!  I'm realizing the wine hit me harder than it should have.  I'm listening to Teenage Fanclub's "When I Still Have Thee."  I just browsed the menu at Mary Mac's Team Room.  That's it; I'm grabbing lunch there today.  I'm renewing a 10-year old resolution ("Try to do something new every day") by eating at a new restaurant for my first meal of 2011, granted one I've been wanting to go to for three years.  I figure my day is going to be filled with college football and the NHL Winter Classic, so it's probably a good idea to get out before I quarantine myself from 1 PM on.  Other than that?  Not much of an agenda.  And that's fine with me.  It's going to be a good year!