Boring to Bold . . .

We have an accent wall! We've talked about it for a while, but just now got around to actually doing it. Several months ago (more like a year really), I painted the back of the book case across from this wall the same color red, but didn't paint anything else at the time. I was waiting on the right inspiration (and Anthony's aproval) to paint an accent wall. Since I'm headed back to med school and clinics Monday, I feel this need to get everything done this week, so it's been a week of projects. This week we had the carpet and furniture steam cleaned, pest control out, planted the trees in the backyard, and painted this wall! Wow! I call that a successful week :).
Our plan for the backyard is going to be really great. I haven't taken a picture yet of what we've done to this point, but we planted (and re-planted after Gabby and Porter decided to taste and play tug-of-war with) Leyland Cypress trees along the back fence. These are apparently really hardy, drought resistant, and fast growing plants - which is perfect for our back yard and also means that we won't have to look out at our neighbor all of the time. Hopefully later this year we will build a deck/pergola and hang a swing out there. We love to be outside, but our patio is really small and there isn't a place for chairs or anything like that out back. We're also planning to put in a stone pathway from the gate to the pergola - part of the reason for this is because we will actually need a path, but perhaps the more important reason is becasue the dogs have worn out the grass there anyway. I'll post pics of that project as it goes and as we get a bit further along. I do like projects around the house, but think that they're going to dwindle at least for third year, then perhaps we will have other projects in store for my fourth year! The other project that I did this week was make a wine cork cork board - well, mostly, it's about 2/3 done - but it's kind of fun collecting corks from wine that we've had and enjoyed with friends and champagne that we've celebrated with over the past few years. I'll take a picture of that some time. Yeah for home renovations and time to do them...

Pacific Northwest Vacation

*Click any of the photos to go to our album on Kodak Gallery - more pictures are there, but these are a few of my favorites*

We take time when we can get it, and these nice simultaneous breaks from the medical world of UMC are quickly coming to an end. We have had a great time in Seattle and Portland. In Seattle - we stayed in the Pan Pacific Hotel which was excellent. The people there were really nice, and it was a pretty trendy place. When I was there alone, I stayed in the Hilton Homewood Suites - which i also recommend (free internet, breakfast, and a 'welcome home' dinner snack each evening). Seattle was a really interesting place -we loved Pike Place Market - the home of the flying fish! (Litterally if you want a fish, they will throw it - either to you if you're game enough to try - or to eachother to wrap up for you). It's a rather 'granola'/ ' bohemian' place - with lots of arts and crafts and BEAUTIFUL tulips and boquets of flowers that you would pay 3x for if purchased in Jackson. There were prople on the street playing music all the time, with cases open for dollars and change. There were dogs, and people and strollers all over the place - how wonderful. Not to mention the smells of fresh fruits and vegetables, and oven fresh pasteries.
We visited the Seattle library - that apparently has 10,000 self cleaning windows (outside only unfortunately - but hey - it's better than my manual cleaning windows. :) We also drove by the hospital, because we are nerds, and checked out some of the extremely high priced neighborhoods. We also went to the aquarium, which was a lot of fun! I love the sea otters - the lady gave them their 'toys' while we were there and they were adorable. The toys were dog "kong" toys stuffed with crab claws and legs that they had to play with to dig out, so it's like a toy and a snack - can't get much better than that!
We took the train down to Portland - which was a lot of fun - and CHEAP! it was a great way to travel and I would recommend it - it's quite a scenic tour and they don't charge you for a 2nd bag the way some airlines do - and when you're packing for 2.5 wks yes you do need 2 bags! (American actually charges you for EVERY checked bag - I recommend Southwest whenever possible 2 free bags!). In Portland we got a very good Travelocity deal and stayed in the Heathman Hotel downtown. It was lovely - very very small, but remodeled, rooms and very beautiful! Right in the middle of everything. In Portland, the publich transportation is excellent -there is a 'free' trolley that runs downtown and to some of the shopping districts. Also -there is no sales tax in Oregon - so if something costs $5 - you actaully only pay $5! Amazing ! Also they are required to pump your gas for you - no tips, they just have to do it! I'm thinking gosh this is nice - rainy weather and you don't ever have to get out to pump gas! sweet! In Portland we had a wonderful dinner with a friend and his fiance that I met throught APSA - he's finishing his PhD, and is going to eventually be a neurosurgeon! (I'm impressed with the stamina and ability to sign up for another 7 year program!) He's a great guy though and their house was adorable ! They have two cats, a dog, birds, and chickens - fresh eggs daily - not to mention fertilizer for their garden! very very cute. We visited the hospital (of course), and checked out the apparently famous Powells Bookstore - ended up spending quite a bit of time in there too! We visited Mt. Hood - which is the only place in the contiguous US where skiiing is possible year round - but we didn't take the right clothes - so no skiing for us. We visited a few vineyards -and the wine actaully made it back safely and all in one peice on the plane. We also visited this great place called "Multnomah Falls" that was absolutely breathtaking!
That was our last trip before Anthony begins his Endocrinology fellowship and I start M3 year! We feel very thankful and blessed to be able to take trips like this and spend time together.

Things I've learned this week

This past week has been a world-wind of science meetings. First I was in Chicago at the American Physician Scientists Association (APSA) - MD/DO/PhD meeting with some established physician scientists with whom we were allowed to meet and network. This is a great meeting, not so much really to present my research (b/c these folks liked immunology much more than physiology - which was really good for Jeanann, but made for a rather lonely poster hour for me), but more to meet future colleagues and mentors, and/or program directors.
Then I came to Seattle for the American Academy of Neurology meeting, and have had a great time and learned a lot - a lot of neurology, a lot about residency programs, and fellowship programs, the pharmacology of Lyrica, methodology of white matter density post stroke, prolonged window of use for TPA, and a lot of really great neurology stuff. Experimental Biology meeting in New Orleans last week was alright, but a lot of basic science, but not much that I was really interested in, but this meeting really 'melts my butter' - and makes me excited to be getting a little closer to where I want to be. Other than science I've learned some other generalizations as well:
1. People are dishonest - even the people that you know should know better. So at this meeting, there are signs posted everywhere that say - "NO PHOTOGRAPHY" - yet there are grown people who whip out their litte silent cameras or phones in front of posters and take pictures, or even of EVERY single slide during the presentations. The problems with this are multiple - not least among which is that much of this data being presented is not yet published, and these people who are taking the photographs might have bigger, faster, better funded labs - and could easily steal an idea and run with it before the original presenter can get it published - this is bad!
2. There are scientists from great (however, northeast) universities who have the audacity
3. It doesn't really rain any more in Seattle than it does in Atlanta - who knew?
4. The Seattle Library has 10,000 windows.
5. Pikes Fresh Market is a wonderful place - you can get a whole bunch of Tulips for $10. It's so beautiful and amazing. However, there are a lot of um... bohemian people down there too. Lots of street musicians, who actually are really good. lots of people who are selling their arts and crafts.
6. American Academy of Neurology Runs that "start" at 6:30 am don't really 'start' at 6:30, that's just when they let you start picking up your bib numbers.
7. I'm going to try to cut my hair tomorrow at an Aveda salon (teaching aka cheap but really good salon) and I'm terrified of cutting my hair. It's time, but I'm always afraid that once i cut it, i'll not ever grow it out again - now - i'm not really cutting it above my shoulders, but maybe some chin length layers or something. I guess we'll see. I'll think of posting a pic if I like it- if not I'll wear a ponytail for the next 12 weeks :).
That's all from the last night alone in Seattle! Anthony flies in tomorrow night - yeah :).

Running for Research

I'm heading to Seattle for the American Academy of Neurology meeting soon and am running in a 5k there. If you're so moved, please consider making a contribution to raise money for research.
Thanks
http://www.active.com/donate/aan09runwalk/kimgannon

My all-star Husband

So even though Anthony has access to blog on this site, he's often too busy (or maybe it's just too cheesy for him), so it usually gets left up to me. On the up-side of this - I get to take a minute to brag on him - which is good because he wouldn't do it himself.

Anthony was named as one of the M3 Resident All-Stars. This award is given to the resident/or residents who display the characteristics that doctors and students should strive for; meaning that he is an awesome teacher, exciting lecturer, displays outstanding bedside manner, and is fun to be around at 3 in the morning on call. This makes him the "best doctor ever"!!! I'm so proud of him - I knew he was a great doctor, but I'm glad that his hard work does not go unnoticed by others.

Anthony's had an exciting week! He also just ran his first 5K (3.1miles) at the "Run from the SUN" - run to benefit and raise awareness of Melanoma, and other skin related cancers. This run was in downtown Jackson and many of the medicine (and med peds as the case may be) residents participated. Their shirts were really cute - they said "Dyspneic Docs" on the front and "Running Hard and Breathing Harder" on the back. I thought that this was particularly funny!! The last stretch was really brutal - they had to run around the coliseum and then back up High Street! Most people bring their kids to the races, so we decide that we should too... so we took Gabby! She was a very good little girl and a big hit with the kids. I'm so proud of Anthony - he did great!! :)

One down... One to go!

A long time coming.... I finally finished my Ph.D. in Physiology. My defense was in 2 parts (because one of my committee members forgot that he was on my committee, and was out of town); so I gave seminar on Wednesday of last week and then answered questions for my committee on Friday afternoon. The seminar was the part that i was more worried about - the committee meeting wasn't bad - the professors on my committee are nice and I know them all pretty well. Not to mention that I took them food (Yummy Lenny's sandiches, cookies and chips) :) which makes everything a little better.
My mentor then took our whole lab plus Anthony (and her daughter too) out to celebrate at Shapley's. When she finished grad school, her mentor took her out to celebrate and she passed along the tradition. If I ever have a grad student I'll take the lab out to celebrate their Ph.D. completion as well.
I really enjoyed my time in the lab, but I'm looking forward to going back to med school in June. I start my rotations on Family Medicine, then Surgery, OB/GYN, Peds, then Med/Neuro. I'm still pretty sure that I want to do Neurology in the long run, so it's ok that it's last- I'll have an idea of how the hospital works by then hopefully. But before I start M3 - I've got a whirl-wind of trips and meetings. I leave late Sat Apr 18 driving to New Orleans for Experimental Biology 2009 (after a friend's wedding, but I wouldnt' miss it - even though everyone else is partying on the Amtrak on Friday afternoon), return to Jackson on Apr 22. Then leave on the 23 for an APSA meeting in Chicago, then leave Chicago on the 26th for Seattle and the American Academy of Neurology Meeting. Then Anthony is going to meet me in Seattle on May 2- and we're going to tour the upper Northwest, specifically, Seattle and Portland for a week. And we'll return to Jackson May 9 :).
Then... about 3 weeks left to 1) finish the yearbook 2) finish up in the lab and 3) try to remember medicine and what a patient is! :)

Seaside 1/2 marathon

Who knew that freezing temps were possible in Seaside, FL in MARCH!?! Well... I'm here to tell you that they indeed are! Anthony & I drove down to FL Friday afternoon after he got out of clinic and made it to the Candlewood Suites in Miramar somewhat after midnight. (BTW we HIGHLY recommend this hotel - they are nice, clean, cheap and have a little kitchenette too - w/ a full refridgerator; and they have free wireless internet!). We enjoyed a day at the beach and picked up my race packet on Saturday, then enjoyed a little shopping at the outlet malls. I got a suit to defend my dissertation (in less than 4 wks) and Anthony racked up on socks and ties!
The race was on Sunday morning, and Anthony was a really good sport and agreed to get up and come with me early- he even sat in a coffeeshop in Seaside to study while I ran. When we got there it was probably about 34*F - BRRRR, but it felt kinda good once I got going. The race was great - an out and back along 30A - lots of pretty houses to look at; the only down side was that the wind was against me for the 1st 1/2, but that also meant that it was with me on the way back. I was really shooting for 2 hours this race, and nearly made it. My official chip time was 2:01:29:93. I'm not terribly dissapointed as this is a nice record for me, the downside is that i won't have much time to run I don't think next year - bummer. Anyway- if you're remotely interested in running a 1/2 marathon, this is a GREAT one - here's the link: Seaside 1/2 Marathon. Thanks for cheering me on!! :)
Next race = Legal Beagle (5K) for the Young Lawyers association - March 14.

Taste of UMC

I apparently have a bad habit of over committing myself, and volunteering for too many things. Anthony says that I'd probably be bored and not know what to do with myself if I didn't have so much to do. (However, from now til May I'm not volunteering for ANYTHING else). Here are some picture os the aprons that I made for the ASB volunteers for the "Taste of UMC" on Saturday night. I really enjoy doing things like this, however, time is always an issue. Our table will be serving Strawberry Salsa (thanks to the nice UMC catering folks). I've never had it, but I've heard that it's really delicious. So if you're not busy Saturday night at 7:00, come to the Medical Mall and enjoy some great food!

Taos Ski Adventure.

Click the picture to link to Kodak Gallery: Taos Ski trip

I'm a little overdue blogging this but better late than never, right? Anthony & I had the opportunity to go to Taos, NM in January in the guise of a Keystone Symposia (aka nerd science meeting for mechanotransduction - little bitty things that make cells move in response to some sort of outside stimulus) . Really though, my mentor invited me to go to this meeting in New Mexico last year, and of course I jumped on the opportunity to see more of our great country, smooze with the big dogs, and present my data (this is really exciting, and borderline cool for us research folks!). Anthony got his vacation schedule moved so he could go with me. The great thing was that the meeting was scheduled from 8-11 am and then reconveined at 5:30pm; so we had all afternoon to go and try to learn how to ski! Neither Anthony nor I had ever been skiing before, so it was quite an experience. We took lessons all but our last day there, and the last day we spent the whole day skiing. THe name of the place we went was Taos Ski Valley . It was one of the most beautiful places that i've ever seen. We flew into Albuquerque, NM then took a little bitty van 3 hours north to Taos. The hotel that we stayed in -Sagebrush Inn was equally fabulous. They have free and fantastic breakfast every morning, and they have relatively reliable wireless internet (these are the 2 main requirements for any hotel that I stay in). The people were really nice. My mentor brought her two kids, and the little boy latched onto Anthony. The girl was my buddy some; and i think my mentor was glad to have a short break, even if it was just during dinner hour.
As for the meeting, there were a lot of people interested in the pathway of the cell contraction, but not many people interested in why it mattered, or the physiology behind it; that's what we/ our lab is interested in. My talk was ok, my mentor got cut off b/c everyone wanted to see Obama's innaguration - and that would have been fine, but they cut her off in time to hear Ms. Franklin sing. which was nice too, but we were there for science afterall. just a little rude i thought.
As for skiing itself, it was a really unique experince. You look up the mountain, and think 'wow wouldn't that be fun to come down' then when you're actually at the top - you think, "OMG- the only way down this thing is to ski! What was i thinking?!" We had our share of falls, bumps, and bruises - including me falling off the ski lift (don't worry too much - only at the end b/c i crossed my skiis - i didn't fall more than a foot, but i nearly broke a tail bone I think!). We had a good trip overall. Enjoy the pics!

MS Blues 2009

This is the 2nd year I've run the MS blues 1/2 marathon. My time this year was a bit (about 30 seconds to be exact) slower than last year at 2:10. That's ok for me, about average really. In my defense it was a little hotter, and a lot muggier - last year we wore long sleeves most of the race and were comfortable! Not so much this year. The people from AZ were asking "Is it always so sticky here?" I said - well about 360 days a year! Ha! So this past year, I ran the Chicago marathon, and in 2009 I'll have run the MS blues 1/2 marathon, and I'm heading to Seaside FL at the beginning of March for the 1/2 marathon there. I'm super excited about this for several reasons; not only is it the most wonderful place on earth, but also because the course is supposed to be flat, you get a vera bradley bag as a finishing prize (beats a cotton t-shirt any day!), and the fact that it raises money for the local Charter school. My goal is to finish in 2hrs - I think that if it really is flat this will be possible - but we'll see. Then when I'm in Seattle in April-May, I'm going to run a 5K for the American Academy of Neurology - which should be interesting, me and about 100 other old men :). I bet i have a chance to win my age group at least! Other than that I'm not sure how many other races I'll have time for - given that Med school is starting back in June. YEAH! :) That's all for now!