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.)