Halloween is so cute!

Today is the first year that I was finally able to hand out Halloween candy during my adult life. Sure, I've distributed candy before, but it was during my teenage years when I would have preferred to do something other than opening my parents' door to hear "Trick or Treat". (Yes, teenagers are moody :)

This year, however, I was excited to pass out candy to all of the cute little kiddies in our cute little neighborhood that visited our cute little house (very cute). I forgot how entertaining (and bad, but in a cute way) children can be since I don't see them very often in my line of work. Here are my top ten highlights from handing out candy this year in no particular order:

1) The 7 year old who proceeded to bang on our glass front door like he was the police. His sister then yelled "Dang, you ain't the po po", I almost died laughing.

2) CJ, the child who robbed me of ten pieces of candy while I was trying to give treats to his baby sister

3) The cutest 3 year-old princess that I gave the choice to select whatever candy she wanted. . . . five minutes later she was still deciding, so I told her to take six of whatever she liked :)

4) The toddlers in all of their bumble bee outfits! I think the bumble bee, princess, and tiger outfits were my fav this year!

5) Being attacked by 15 kids all at once trying to grab candy from me. . . they almost took me out!

6) Watching Charmed (my cat) run and hide each time someone new came to the door.

7) Watching my kitten Hallie show that she has no fear since she welcomed most of our goblin visitors.

8) The 15 year old Pimp who came and took my candy like I worked for him! I want my candy back!

9) Running out of candy after only passing out candy for 90 minutes due to the lack of property distribution on my part to ghosts, pimps, and goblins.

10) My loving hubby running out to get more candy :)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

RE: Clarification:Yes, you're pregnant and you can work!!!!!

Well, LOL, I've received a few emails from my post, so let me clarify :)

A commenter by the name of 'Weezie' made an excellent point and excellent points IMO deserve kuddos. In case you did not read her comment, it is as follows:

"agree with your point that you should not falsify a " bed rest" or " do not work" prescription..... HOWEVER, I also don't think that a woman should be looked down upon because she CHOOSES not to work during her pregnancy. Life is about choices and if she has the life-style that can afford for her to stay at home during and after her pregnancy (more power to her). Pregnancy is not a Illness or a disability but if a woman makes a choice not to work than its her right to do so..... without any negative judgment from other ( In my humble opinion it seems like we judge women who want to stay at home to harshly)."

I think she brings up the important point in the fact that if you DECIDE to take an extended maternity leave there is ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with that. If a woman wants to take six months off postpartum (after delivery) that is 100% fine! If a male wants to take paternity leave, again, rock on! However, I would again be appalled if I were approached as a physician to falsify their request by turning it into a medical need.

I feel that the same applies for pregnancy. It's not that I don't care about this particular patent's pain, BUT it is not preventing her from working. She MEDICALLY can work, though she has the right to SOCIALLY take off from work if she decides to do so, I don't think that I should be cursed out when I give her alternatives or suggest that I could write a modified activity request to her employer stating that she could perform a position allowing her to sit more. She simply didn't want to work, which is fine, but don't look for me to create a medical reason not to do so because YOU CAN WORK.

And I am sorry, but if your coping mechanism is cursing out your physician because they don't provide you with a work excuse, seriously. . . . you need anger management, I will gladly write a script for that. Actually, I probably made her more upset by not getting upset (or at least showing that I was heated, because that's what she wanted. Thank goodness for my clinic colleagues who could document that I was very respectful to my rude patient during our encounter).

The only other point I'll address is a comment saying I was being judgemental. . . Yeah, I agree I was. . . however, the title of the blog is "The Loud Mouth Resident". I basically vent at times the emotions I have to keep inside in order to be professional at work. . . likewise, every post I write will not be rosey. The majority of my posts are lighthearted, but some aren't and that's kinda just the way life goes. Also, if you read the post, it is directed at my encounter with that ONE patient and does not mean that I feel women are lazy and wish to be barefoot and pregnant at home.

And actually, I do grant quite a few work excuses for compassionate reasons. For instance, the expecting mother who has a miscarriage and has a surgical procedure performed at 8am could in theory return to work the next day. However, I ask the patient if they would like 2-3 days off work to have time to process their loss emotionally. Or if a patient is discharged from the hospital on a Wed, I'll give them off until that Monday depending what the hospitalization was for. . . .

Basically, Good point Weezie. Women should not be held to different standards than their male counterparts! Equal pay for equal work, burn those bras, rah rah rah!

Yes, you're pregnant and you can work!!!!!

I started to blog about this a few days ago when the incident actually happened, however, I really had to cool off just a bit before writing something I would regret. Even as I type this, it is requiring a great deal of restraint not to make demeaning statements regarding my lazy so and so of a patient.

I know, gasp. How can a physician refer to her patient as lazy or a lazy so and so? It is truly the internal struggle I deal with on a daily basis when I am confronted by the patient who asks for . . . . . . . an excuse from work for the duration of their pregnancy.

My response is a simple one. NO YOU CAN WORK.
"But I hurt. I'm tired. My job requires me to stand on my feet, blah blah blah". Bah humbug, cry me a river, seriously. Why does the request for an extended leave of absence bother me, when the patient is only 20 weeks pregnant (aka 5 months)?

It bothers me because if I were to become pregnant right now, I would have to work 80 hours a week (if it's a good week and I'm not violating my work hours), take call for 30 hours, and work until my estimated date of confinement (aka due date) unless experiencing a pregnancy complication. HEALTHY UNCOMPLICATED PREGNANCIES= YOUR %%%%% CAN WORK!

Don't get mad at me, cry, and try to say I'm a bad doctor because I won't committ falsification/ fraud/ mentidas/ lies/ etc and write you an excuse from work when you are perfectly healthy and able to complete your work in some form or fashion.

In my previous residency program, I worked with two pregnant residents who busted their tales day in and day out, operating, standing on their feet, long hours, etc until the day their delivery date. I have another friend in a residency program who was pregnant, again working until EDC. Their is a pregnant resident in my program right now, who again, comes to work each and everyday. . . . are you getting my point?

Pregnancy is NOT a disability! Is it tough? Sure it is, but then again, who told you to get pregnant? Condoms, birth control (IUDs, NuvaRings, pills, etc) all could have kept you from feeling the round ligament pain or the occasional contractions that you believe qualifies you for disability. And if your pregnancy was desired, well now you can experience the joy of pregnancy along with the reward at the end of a long 10 months (yes I said 10, pregnancy is not 9 months). A NORMAL pregnancy is NOT a medical condition, not an illness, not something deadly.

So no! I won't give you off work. Go ahead, tell my chief I'm mean. I'm still not giving you a work excuse. . . oh wait? Are you cursing at me, well let me let you go, afterall, I don't want you to be late for WORK!

Guest Columnist: "The Blueprint III Review"

By MJG

Back in 2001, Shawn Carter, a.k.a. Jay-Z, drastically altered the landscape of the rap game with his magnum opus The Blueprint. In that album, The Jiggaman called upon a team expert beatmakers, including then up-and-comers Just Blaze and Kanye West, to construct a sonic backdrop of vintage soul influenced melodies fused with traditional East Coast boom bap to effortlessly weave tales of street hustler lifestyle, straight up i’m-better-than-you-and-we-both-know-it braggadocio, and even some thought-provoking introspection sprinkled here and there. The album not only signaled a major stylistic shift in hip-hop production towards a more soul-centric approach from the keyboard-driven, syncopated rhythms popularized by Timbaland and the Neptunes in the late 90s, but it also served as the impetus to motivate many of his fellow peers (i.e. Nas) to go back to the drawing board and step their lyrical game up. Fast forward eight years and the hip-hop status quo is once again unsafe as the venerable emcee looks to pioneer a new age in hip-hop with his newest release, The Blueprint 3. But at almost 40 years old (a social security eligible senior citizen in the hip-hop world) and seemingly years removed from his alleged creative peak, does he still have what it takes to lead the charge?

Lyrically, the subject matter hasn’t changed much in eight years, which, for the most part, isn’t a bad thing. Jay-Z’s favorite subject is still, well, Jay-Z. Tracks such as “Reminder,” “Thank You,” “So Ambitous,” and “Hate” reminds listeners how much better Jay is than all of the naysayers, haters and critics out there. “Off That,” “On To The Next One,” “Already Home” and “What We Talkin’ About” not only inform the listener that Jay is a trendsetter, but that he’s, well, better than all of the naysayers, haters and critics out there! While listening to the same subject matter over and over can be frustrating at times, it’s a testament to his skill as a lyricist that he is able to keep things relatively interesting throughout the album. One of his strongest lyrical performances came in the aforementioned “Already Home.” In this song, he unleashes some serious venom on everbody, from rappers: Don’t they know that they boring?/Don’t they know that I yawn?/Only time they exciting is when they mentioning Shawn/Seen Single White Female when she dyed her hair blonde?/Sometimes I look at these rappers/The movie remind me of them to the critics: And as for the critics, tell me I don't get it/Everybody can tell you how to do it, they never did it. He does manage to spice things up a bit in other tracks: “Venus vs. Mars” shows that he can still stitch together metaphors and raunchy double entendres better than just about anybody else in the game, while “A Star is Born” and “Empire State of Mind” show that he can (sorta) take the focus off him for a moment and pay homage to hip-hop heavyweights of yesteryear and his hometown respectively. Musically, however, is when the album gets very intriguing:

The opening track entitled “What We Talkin’ About” relies on an epic fusion of techno-inspired synths, lush orchestration and some unexpected, but welcomed assistance from Luke Steele of the Australian-based group Empire of the Sun. It’s a risky combination, especially for the opening track of a hardcore hip-hop album. But the risk pays huge dividends as Jay sounds right at home in the unique soundscape. The blaring horns and heart thumping percussion heard in the street single “D.O.A. (Death of Autotune),” produced by the criminally underutilized No ID, provide the perfect backdrop for Jay-Z to ruffle a few feathers as he bombastically lambast his peers for hopping on the auto-tune bandwagon. The second single from the album, “Run This Town,” proves to be a solid follow-up track as its frantic, rolling drums and the militia-style foot drill cadences heard throughout the song provide a nice change of pace. I’d be remiss if I failed to mention that the song also features the latest example of Jay-Z getting murdered on his own track, this time, courtesy of Kanye West. “Empire State on Mind,” which is far and away the best song on the album in this reviewer’s humble opinion, will undoubtedly have even the most hardened New York hater pumping their fist and nodding their head to Alicia Keys’ trademark piano chords and surprisingly organic, soulful bellows. Krucial Keys provides an ideal compliment for Jay-Z as he breezily delivers an authentic, heartfelt ode to the city that helped raise him.

Things aren’t all positive, however. Calling the Young Jeezy featured “As Real As It Gets” disappointing would be a huge understatement, especially considering the stellar track record the duo has whenever they collaborate together. Everything from the bland Inkredibles track to Jigga and Jeezy’s lazy raps seem to lack the energy necessary to make this a memorable collabo. The same can be said for the customary Neptunes contribution to the album, “So Ambitious.” While Jay-Z, Chad and Pharrell’s chemistry is still undeniable, the track is too formulaic to stand out from other ones by the trio. Elsewhere, the irritating clatter, banging of pots and pans sound concocted in the Swizz Beatz produced “On To The Next One” prove headache-inducing enough to immediately warrant pressing the Next button. The irony of Jay confidently boasting Welcome to the future in the first bar of the Timbaland assisted “Off That” is glaring as the beat sounds like one Justin Timberlake probably (and wisely) rejected three years ago during the Future Sex/Love Sound recording sessions. Additionally, adding current pop-music sensation Drake to simply do the hook on the song seems like a wasted opportunity. “Hate,” arguably the worst song on the album, has little going for it other than Kanye West’s hilarious depiction of a laser sound. While the album’s closer, “Young Forever” certainly earns brownie points for daring to sample Alphaville’s 80’s hit “Forever Young” on a major hip-hop album release, it unfortunately fails to hit the mark.

Whether this album mirrors the success of The Blueprint in moving hip-hop in a different direction will be left for future debate and analysis. Listeners in the present simply want to know whether or not this album is a dope listen. Wide-eyed Jay-Z stans will undoubtedly proclaim he dropped an instant classic filled with witty wordplay and game-changing melodies that will once again change the rap game as we know it. While Jay detractors will call him a washed up, near 40 has-been rapping about the same subject matter and desperately trying anything to remain relevant. The truth, I suspect, lies somewhere in the middle. While he certainly hasn’t strayed far from his lyrical comfort zone of talking about money, haters and women, nobody can make the status quo interesting quite like Jay. Musically, the album produces both head nodding and head scratching results. The unevenness of the album, especially its second half, ultimately results in a solid listen, but short of classic status.

3.5 out of 5

Kayne West and the VMAs. . . stop the conspiracy theories!

Okay, if you didn't get to see Kanye's rude (yet you have to admit humorous disruption of Taylor Swift's VMA acceptance award, then watch below. When it originally aired, I wa sleeping post call. However, the facebook status' of 100s of users began commenting on Kanye.

"Taylor is too good for Kanye West and MTV"
"First Serena, now Kanye"
"I'm boycotting Kanye".

Seeing these comments, I decided to use google and find out what the deal was. . .

Anyhow, there are many people who claim this whole "Beyonce had one of the greatest video's of all time" bit was staged. Here is why I think it wasn't.

1) Single Ladies was NOT one of the greatest videos of all time. I repeat NOT. The song isn't even all that hot. There are 100s, probably thousands of videos better than that one. The Scientist by Cold Play, You Got Me by the Roots, pretty much any Michael Jackson Video, Hello by Lionel Richie (ok, that last one was a stretch, but you get my point). . .
2) I think Ye was DRUNK. He was holding a big ole bottle of liquid courage all during the red carpet. Liquid courage combined with the biggest ego in the world = rude comments on national TV
3) Single Ladies was NOT the best video of all time :)

Oh well, love him or hate him, Mr. West=interesting

dsadsf from The Smoking Section on Vimeo.

Horrible

Over the weekend in Mexico, a Mexican legislative candidate, his wife and two sons age 10 and 13, were found murdered in their home. The bodies of Jose Francisco Fuentes Esperon, wife and 2 sons found inside their home. It is suspected that the family was murdered by drug traffickers, however, there are currently no suspects in custody. The murder occurred in Tabasco, Mexico.

This is honestly horrible. I am not sure what is going on in Mexico. . . maybe murders by the drug cartel have been common for years and for whatever reason, the world news is now deciding to cover the stories. . . but still, I find this very heart wrenching. Think about trying to serve your country and make it a better place only to have your life snatch away from you. . . let alone your entire family. I'm not sure what the Mexican government plans to do about the recent publicized violent activities, but hopefully those who terrorize other will be bought to justice swiftly.

For more on this story, feel free to reference this story "Mexican legislative candidate, family killed" at cnn.com.

Sylvan Inn Bed & Breakfast

The Sylvan Inn Bed & Breakfast is located in Glen Arbor, MI in Sleeping Bear Dune country. Glen Arbor is approximately five and a half hours from Detroit, MI is home to some of the most magnificent and peaceful views of Lake Michigan.

The Sylvan Inn has 14 sleep quarters, some with private baths (which was a must for me). The inn is located 1 block from Lake Michigan and is in the middle of endless hiking trails, scenic routes, and of course, the Sleeping Bear Dunes. These particular group of dunes were given their name because travelers said that the layout of the dunes resembled the back of a pack of sleeping bears.

While visiting Glen Arbor, which is approximately 30-45 minute drive past Traverse City depending on traffic, there are several sites one must see during their trip.

1)Nature Trails: There are several to chose from. We selected the Empire Bluff Trail which provides breathtaking views of the shore line. This particular trail is an easy one for people of all athletic level AS LONG AS YOU STAY ON THE TRAIL. This trail is located in Empire, Michigan which is a 15 minute drive from Glen Arbor. There is also a public beach not to far from the trail where you can park and enjoy a beverage at the local tavern and then swim all day.

2) Scenic Drives: The Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive provides the best sunset that I have EVER seen! (This includes sunsets in Mexico, Spain, France, and Costa Rica). The only sunset that I have seen so far that gives this sunset a run for its money is the one at the Grand Canyon. Make sure to drive to lookout points 9,10 which provides an awesome scene over Lake Michigan. Couples should pack a picnic basket and arrive at 7:30pm to enjoy dinner over the most gorgeous scene that nature has to offer.

3)Lake Michigan: Enough said. Pick a spot, bring your grill, and have a ball.

4) Sleeping Bear Dunes: Well, its sand. Lots and LOTS of sand. Many naive climbers expect to see Lake Michigan when they reach the top of the first dune and unfortunately all you will see is more sand :). You must walk up and down several dunes prior to reaching Lake Michigan. The total distance to the Lake and back is 3.5 miles, so you probably need to be in pretty good shape to walk up and down sand for that distance. If you plan on traveling by foot all the way to the Lake, make sure to start early, pack plenty of water and get ready to SWEAT!

5) Funistrada: This is a restaurant approximately 15 minutes from Glen Arbor that offers fine dining. Your bill will be a bit pricey but the food is GREAT. It is a nice romantic dinner. If you are traveling in Glen Arbor though, I would just eat in town because face it, children aren't going to appreciate a $20 salmon.

The Sylvan in itself is nice and relaxing. Don't expect a full course breakfast though, it is mainly fruit (which is healthy and all). The only bad thing is that breakfast is served from 8-9:30 so if you aren't an early riser you could potentially sleep through breakfast. All in all, Deer Creek Bed and Breakfast is a MUCH nicer B&B, but there is a MUCH more activity in Glen Arbor. Plus as long as you get a room with a private bath, you are good to go.