Happy holidays!

It has been another year, and I want to send a short greeting to share a few highlights of my year. Each year, I like to do it with a theme. This year, the writer’s guild strike is a big news story in Los Angeles. As most TV dramas are in re-runs, producers have embraced the no-writers-necessary game show with its impromptu responses. In lieu of the current game-shows craze, I’m electing to share my year in review by gameshow-style.

1. The Price is Right: In February, I found an apartment where the price was right. So, I took it. The move was only about 3-4 miles away, but I had a lot of help. I really enjoy the new place. I have great neighbors and a small plot to garden. I never thought I had a green thumb, but I think my family genes move me to garden.

2. Who wants to be a Millionaire? Everyone knows I love to ski. I didn’t think I’d be able to get any time in for skiing this past year, but I did. In which state, did I ski for the first time this year?
A) Colorado
B) Wyoming
C) California
D) Utah

Answer: C. California. I never thought that snow could last in warm southern California, but it does in the Big Bear area near San Bernardino. In February, four of us rented some skis and tore it up on the rails, box tops, and massive jumps of a local ski resort. This getaway trip was truly worth a million bucks.

3. The Amazing Race: In May, I made a business trip to Philadelphia with about 10 colleagues. We had a great time in the meetings, but even better, we had a great time touring the city and its unique history. On the way home, we had a road-block in Las Vegas where we had to spend the night. The next day, I got home in time to welcome my sisters Michelle and Marianne to a SoCal vacation.

4. Survivor: Competition amongst my family was peaking in late June this past summer. For the first time in more than 2 years, all my siblings and their families gathered to my parents’ home. This was truly a survivor experience as 24 people crowded in one house at one time can always stir up “a few differences of opinion.” We had fun feats of strength including board and card games. Our pride was on the line during the reward challenge which paired my brother Dave, my pregnant sister Camille, and myself in a golf match. I won’t specifically mention who won, but common sense says my poor handicap still prevails against a pregnant woman swinging clubs and a brother who hadn’t played in a year. In the elimination vote, I lost and returned to work first.

5. 1 vs 100: I am excited to have three new nephews. Which of the following is not a name of one of my new nephews? A) Jett, B) Dane, C) Issac, or D) Ronald McDonald.

6. Are you smarter than a 5th grader: Which college has my deepest sports devotion?
Hint #1: I thoroughly enjoyed cheering them on with my friends Landon and Shadley in a game at the Rose Bowl versus UCLA.
Hint #2: I had a ticket to their game versus San Diego State, where I had hoped to see the Petersen’s, the Burnham’s, and the Rasmussen’s. Unfortunately, it was postponed due the fires this year, and I was scheduled at the hospital the day it was rescheduled.
Hint #3: I wanted to attend their bowl game in Las Vegas thanks to my sister Camille’s generosity.
Answer: BYU! (Go Cougars!)

7. Jeopardy! With the dismal fall of my New York Mets in September, I needed to rebound by playing a daily double in some unconventional sports. I attended my two events of unconventional sports for the first time this year:
A) Wrestling and Skateboarding,
B) Surfing and Volleyball,
C) Golf and Wrestling, or
D) Volleyball and Soccer.

Answer: C. Golf and Wrestling. My friend Morgan’s company got us box seats at the Staples Center to see the WWE Smackdown with an appearance by Stone-Cold Steve Austin. We all know its fake, but they make it fun. Morgan and I also went this month to see Tiger Woods beat some excellent golfers in the Target Invitational in Thousand Oaks, California. These sports may be polar opposites, but they were both very entertaining.

8. Deal or No Deal: I’m still working hard in my residency training in Internal Medicine. Recently, I was offered the chief resident position for the 2009-2010 academic year. I felt honored to have the confidence of the residency directors, but I asked to have some time to consider the offer. After discussion with my family and a few friends, I made the deal. It will give me an opportunity to give back to a great residency program, which has given me many fulfilling opportunities.

9. Wheel of Fortune: Location where I’ll celebrate Christmas this year:
“AT _HE HOSP_T_L”
Yes, as surely as people are sick, many of us physicians must work Christmas day. I am trying to spread a little cheer amongst the patients. Although I will celebrate Christmas day at the hospital, I have found time to reflect on the meaning of the holiday. I am grateful for the gift of God in sending his Son to redeem mankind.

I hope that you are well, and I want to wish you the happiest of holiday seasons!


P.S. The Bachelor: (Does it require any further clarification? This saga is the story of my life and has been renewed going into the new year.)

Halloween

My sister has been encouraging me to add something to this blog. She tells me that she checks it more often than I do. So in order to appease her...

Perhaps, I can recap a bit of halloween. I moved into a new neighborhood this year, and it's always difficult planning for how many kids (and their parents) will be soliciting candy from you. Based on previous years and adding a little for safety, I bought 3 bags of candy.

My first visitor was my 3-year-old neighbor, Gabriel. He came about a week before halloween to practice. He did very well with a bit of coaching that first night. Halloween came, and he didn't disappoint; he rolled up as Thomas the train, and asked boldly for a treat. I then got several other Gabriel-type kids streaming to my door for candy, candy, candy!

As the night rolled on, I gave candy to a few tricksters, and many treaters. However, I regret that the candy was gone by 8pm. Luckily, there was a break in the flow of kids, and I closed the door, turned out the light. I apologize to all the kids who came by after 8pm; I've learned my lesson and will need more candy next year.

Here's a Halloween poem that I liked by Teresa J. Shuck (unknown to the author):
'Twas the Night of Halloween

Twas the night of Halloween and all through the streets,
children were smiling about all of the yummy treats.
The pumpkins were carved and lit up with great care,
in hopes to give each passerby a great scare.

The grown ups were nestled all snug on the couch,
waiting to fill each child's little pouch.
And Pa watching football and I by the door,
waiting for screams of more, more, more.

When out in the yard their rose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the door I flew like a flash,
I did it so fast I got whip lash.

The moon on the kids and their costumes galore,
shined bright on the street of ghosts, goblins and more.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but a devil, a witch and a princess with real tears.

As I bent down to ask what was causing her to cry,
I saw an empty bag and I didn't know why.
So I emptied my bowl and loaded her bag just right,
and proclaimed HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL AND TO ALL A FRIGHTFUL NIGHT!


In lieu of halloween, I'm going to recommend a website that can magically transform anyone into a Simpson character. I believe many people know about the website, but in case you have not.....try the following links to see how this author looks...simpsonized.

http://simpsonizeme.com/ecard.php?lang=en_us&code=wcbdoabewhaiodsukfcbwfoxxegoolwb

and

http://simpsonizeme.com/ecard.php?lang=en_us&code=mbxxbigvnpgnojeuhaosaiuumkbqrqca

Which do you like better? Send me an email and tell me at mikejolley@hotmail.com. Don't forget to forward the link to your simpsonized picture.

Birthday #30

30! I've recently turned thirty, and now that I've pulled out all my gray hairs and taped them on the mirror as a reminder of my limited youth, I'm coping well.

I was on-call in the medical ICU when midnight struck. I was in the middle of the 2nd of 4 procedures, and admitting 5 new critically ill patients. I confess that I had help from my stellar intern, Chris, and my enthusiastic 4th medical student, Ilan. They mainly helped with cross-cover issues and admitted 2 patients. Strong work from our team.
Overall, it was a busy night. After signing out to the on-coming team, I left the hospital feeling fatigued, but knowing it was my 30th birthday. I was determined not to let this event pass without celebration.

Together with some other friends, we had planned a fun day, starting with a pool party at Erin's. The weather outside was warm, and the water was brisk, but the cool shiver was just what I needed to stay awake. We hung out at pool side sipping lime smoothies. So as evening approached, we all got ready for dinner. We went to Burger Continental on Lake Ave in Pasadena. I have been there before on Monday nights when they have a burger special for $2, and free karoke, but this was not Monday. Dinner was good, but on the weekends, they have a greek band and a belly dancer. It was rather funny. My friends jeered and they announced that it was my birthday, and that's when I got encouraged to stand up and do my own belly dance with her. It was fun, and thankfully short (about 15-30 seconds), but my friends managed to get a few pictures...(how embarrassing)....I guess I'll publish them here, although I fear my dancing will scare the small kids.



For all those who feel inclined to read on after such shocking photos, we went back to my friend Tamar's house after dinner. We ate cake and ice cream, they insisted on singing, and then we sat on despair rollercoaster of BYU football as this year's team managed to lose to Tulsa.
I confess that I had difficulty staying awake towards the end of the party. It's the usual fatigue that settles in after 41 straight hours of wakefulness. Predictably, I slept very well that night, and as a token of good fortune, the following day was my day off from work.

Michael Jolley

What's up? It's my blog, and I'm going to try and do this. I'll do the regular posting of some pictures, telling about activities of daily life, and linking you to fun websites. In addition, I hope to add in a fun perspective with some creative writing.

Next time: Topic #1.

Later,

Mike