February 2012
10 posts
Work Quotes
Nurse/Doctor/Whoever: April, have you seen Dr. Ashley. I looked for her and can't find her.
April (Intern colleague): Look harder, she's really little
Not football-related
Worked 8.5 hours and then I
Did laundry
Washed dishes
Got my total number of pending faculty evaluations down from 240 to 185
Cleaned out my email inbox
Productivity tip: the moment you walk in the door, instead of sitting down for a few minutes set a timer (the iPhone has one!) for 15 minutes. Spend that 15 minutes cleaning/organizing. You’ll get more done than you think, and the...
1 tag
June 3rd
Old Sandwich Road Race - 13.1 miles.
Goals:
3 days week running/2 days cross training until then
Train injury-free
Time goal: TBD. For now, training paces based on 2:30, but would like to knock some time off that.
If all goes well, be ready to train for a fall marathon shortly after this (likely Hartford or Philly, sadly I don’t think Chicago is happening this year)
My Saturday evening so far: Trader Joe’s appetizers for dinner, thorough email cleanout, ordering household supplies from Amazon. I know, I know - too much excitement to handle!
1 tag
Exercise motivation protip
In my closet there’s a box of new running/workout items- a few shirts, a few pairs of fancy socks, some pretty headbands. When workout motivation is running low, I go to the box and pick out something new to run in. It’s often what I need to get myself out the door.
Tried Zumba for the first time tonight. Except for the fact that due to running, my hips don’t really move that way, it was a lot of fun and a pretty good sweat!
Anonymous asked: How is your patient doing?
To register for Chicago this year or not? Thoughts?
January 2012
16 posts
I remember when I last slept. 34 hours straight awake and counting.
Wunder Unders. Long sleeve T. Couch. Ben & Jerry’s. A thrilling Saturday night after a tough, tough week.
Transplant aborted when the surgeons opened and there was an unexpected finding.
HE’S IN THE OR FOR HIS TRANSPLANT RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!
Work has been rough this week. Thoughts of it invade my precious spare time. When I get home late, I fall asleep obsessing about whether I told the person caring for my patients overnight that ONE little tidbit. The panel of patients my intern and I are carrying are, without a doubt, the sickest patients in one of the biggest, busiest intensive care units in the Northeast. We have one...
What to do tomorrow?
Need suggestions! Have a day off and not much on my plate (well, I’m ignoring it all). How should I spend my day?
Saturday night
Quick dinner with friends followed by the laptop in bed (usually against the rules), Crest Whitestrips, and an early turn-in. 30 hours straight tomorrow. Send love and (perhaps more importantly) caffeine!
In which I get really whiny
I have been sick since January 2nd. The first day, it was an AWFUL sore throat. For the next couple days, runny nose, cough, feeling poorly. It was so bad that my medical ICU attending sent me home on Friday. After calling in my prescription for steroids. Most of that has improved, but I am left with a sore throat and sore mouth like I have never had before. I have literally eaten one meal a...
Entertain me!
It’s Sunday. I’ve been home since Friday at 4 PM and given how tired and snotty I still am, I’m not going anywhere today. So, entertain me! Or ask me anything!
Once this sore throat from hell is gone
I will never again take for granted my ability to swallow. Going on day 5. On the not-so-bad side, I saw 1_9 on the scale this morning. I haven’t seen that middle number in a year and a half!
I walked into work yesterday morning feeling like a darned good doctor. I’d had two good catches in the last two days - one appendicitis that other people wanted to call a stomach virus, and another sight-threatening side effect of a medication. My sixth sense whispered to me and told me that a patient was sick as shit yesterday, and she was, and I did everything I could to save her life...
If your New Year's resolution involves athletic...
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2011 Recap
I feel like I’m obligated to write this, but I also want to. I’m going to do it bullet-style, and no links (unless I get bored at work tomorrow - highly unlikely).
Life: 2nd and 3rd year resident. Lost my shit in Jan-Feb. Not surprising given the hours required of me. I can’t tell you how many times I thought, “I am fundamentally NOT ok right now” in those two...
I don’t care what you say. Yoga pants and a tech t-shirt are TOTALLY appropriate NYE party attire.
December 2011
15 posts
I have told two guys that I’m not interested in them romantically in the last 30 hours. Not fun, but I did it the grown-up way - straightforward and honest. Still, I much prefer the days when I can say I saved two lives in 30 hours.
My sister just presented me with my Christmas present. A half-zip longsleeve. This would be the third one she’s given me in the last 5 years. I’ve never worn any of them. The color of it is a color I’d never wear and that is not flattering on me. Oh, and the kicker - it was a joint present from her and her boyfriend. I’m so glad now that I ran all over town trying to...
Anonymous asked: Hi I'm Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color? Something I feel like everyone should know is elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup. What are your four main food groups? I just found out that my father is on the naughty list. Please tell me you're on the Nice list! I can't take anymore bad news like that. Some of my...
Anonymous asked: I was shocked when I saw you say that the Tumblr Fairy never visited you! I know I sent you a message! I wouldn't miss you. I wonder how many of my other messages Tumblr ate? Anyway, Dr. Ashley, you are awesome. It is plain to see that you are devoted and loyal. You are actively trying to make the world a better place. You have a kind and giving heart, and you bring light to my day. I know...
Anonymous asked: Hi there friend ! I hope you're having a wonderful holiday season. I can't believe Christmas is only 8 days away. I'm wishing you a wonderful Christmas & a great New years. Here's to 2012 being a wonderful year!
Done!
In one day, I went from having no clue what to get Mom, Dad, and my sister’s live-in boyfriend to having it ALL ordered and (hopefully) delivered TO MY PARENTS’ HOUSE where I can wrap it all on the 23rd.
I got these for my Mom - frozen croissants that a friend swears taste like the ones she had in Paris.
I wanted these for my Dad, but they were out in his size/color, so I ordered...
Working all weekend
I’m working all weekend, starting today at 3 pm and spent yesterday, my day off, doing productive stuff, so I felt a little cheated. So I woke up and spent the morning in bed with my kindle and my computer. Helps take the edge off!
MY PROGRAM JUST ELIMINATED THE MOST HELLISH 12 HOUR SHIFT. THE ONE I WORKED LAST YEAR, AND THEN THEY DECIDED IT WAS “TOO HARD” A SHIFT FOR SECONDS YEARS, so they made it a THIRD year shift and I (well, my entire class) got to work it for another six months.
And now, it’s eliminated as of January 4th. 2 more to go.
Heck yes, it’s gonna be a Merry Christmas!
I just made a delicious, easy clean-up meal
Grilled cheese and tomato soup. Grilled cheese made on my well-seasoned cast iron skillet - cheese in between bread, pre-heat on burner and put a little butter down for good measure. Result - perfectly done grilled cheese sandwich in 5 minutes. How to clean up? Let cast iron cool, wipe with paper towel. (No, seriously, that’s all you have to do). Another layer of seasoning!
The bad news: my medical ICU attending for January is a pervert who likes staring at the female residents’ asses.
The good news: my medical ICU attending for January is much nicer to female residents with nice asses.
Guess I better hit the treadmill! (kidding, kind of)
Really?
My high school boyfriend just attempted to add me on LinkedIn. I already declined his attempt to facebook friend me months ago.
Just, no.
TMI Post - female in nature
I had to deal with the scrub distribution people today as 3 pairs of mine seem to have disappeared in the hospital laundry, which reminded me of an event from June.
I made plans to meet a friend for dinner before work at 7 one night. I had my period, but didn’t pay it much mind. I left dinner and thought I should make a bathroom stop but figured it could wait the 5 blocks to the hospital....
November 2011
13 posts
Spectate or volunteer?
Spectate the Boston Marathon, or be a medical volunteer? If volunteer - at the finish, in the medical tent, or on the course?
I have the unlucky predicament of being OFF on Thanksgiving, but being on backup call for my program. If someone gets sick or calls out, I have to be there within an hour. This means that I can’t go home, but I won’t be busy. Kiss of death, let me tell you.
Also, my parents had planned to visit Sunday. I suggested (two weeks ago) that they think about taking the train because of...
2 tags
Ugh!
I took care of a woman today who REFUSED to leave the emergency department because she felt fine, but tonight she MIGHT have the same pain she’s been having for MONTHS. “Where’s the pain?” I ask. “EVERYWHERE!” she responds, her response punctuated by a glare that dared me to ask any clarifying question. I explain that the emergency department is not generally...
All week, all I had on the schedule today was a run. But I’m exhausted. I’ve worked two weeks straight without a day off. When I woke up this morning at 7:45, I was wide awake and clearly rested but still…tired, for lack of a better word. Although I would love to just “get up and go” I just don’t have it in me today. My body has made its statement -...
Ugh
Just…ugh.
Cried today for the first time in…2 days? But cried while sober for the first time in at least a month (totes a new record for me, FYI).
What is wrong with me?
Yesterday: energy level great. After work went out for drinks with applicants. Had 3 glasses of sangria - more than I’ve had at one time since before I started training for the marathon. Can you say lightweight? Came home and cried because I think I’m going to be alone forever.
Today: felt gross all day. Tired.
Conclusion: definitely going to be challenging to go to applicant...
Destroyed my tempo run today
Still unclear on what my running goals are for next year, but that doesn’t seem to stop me from getting out there!
Thoughts I have:
A couple halfs - definitely happening
Chicago again?
Enter NYCM lottery with Chicago as backup?
Run NYCM for charity - not just ANY charity, but a charity whose founder I support and whose mission I identify with (Hole in the Wall Gang Camp)
Forget...
With the amount of carbs I just housed, I should be running the NYC Marathon on Sunday. Alas, I am not. I will be working a 12 hour shift many miles away that day.