Cookie Monster

With all my healthy habits I have a overwhelming weakness for cookies. In most instances when a box, pack or jar is open I tend to cham away until there is just the crumbs left...

Who doesnt remember my all time favorite Sesame Street character Cookie Monster, he is propably my best resemblance.

I went to the store this evening to buy something, since my fridge and cabinets echo from emptyness these days. Before I knew it I was standing at the register with a liter of skim milk and a pack of cookies.
I even made an attempt to get the healthier ones...

Since this famine situation in my little bachelor flat here in Reykjavík I eat approximately 3 meals at the hospital to keep nourished.




cookie monster

Another Milestone...

I feel so lucky to be experiencing so many new things during this long medical education. Today I shocked a man´s heart with 100 Volts of electricity. I note that he was not dead, just had an irregular heart beat that was being shocked into its normal rate.

It was quite amazing, I had actually been looking forward to doing this, what a nerd :)

It like many other things that seem almost impossible become so natural once you have done it once. Ok maybe not natural but you realize that its not that big of a deal, its just another process or a procedure. I admit that this one is of high responsibility but just keeping your calm and cool all things fall into place. I also have a great insructor at this time...



then to top of the day a nice game of b-ball with the boyz...

r.mar

Got to love America

i just received a phone call from my dad, he was located in the mall shopping for me. In my quick thinking I thought they have everything in america...

Of course they didnt have indoor football shoes in Virginia Beach.... ahahha hahhhah

So nothing else to do but get on the world wide web and order so the loyal postmen will have time to deliver before my grandma packs her bags for iceland...



so these guys are going to be traveling across america ...

Its amazing this internet shopping, its completly addictive. Its impossible just to buy one thing, as soon as you stuff one thing into the virtual shopping cart they come up with 3 other things that you could possibly need... its crazy..

r.mar

Surprisingly good Monday

Monday is one of those days that dont earn much popularity with most people. I will not go so far as to say that I hate mondays but sometimes it can be a little tireing. Luckily my schedule is usually interesting enough that im always looking forward to the week ahead.

This monday I was not expecting anything great, especially after tumbling head over heels in my bed last nite trying to get some sleep. I belive i finally got some rest at around 3 o´clock, that is after reading, eating, bathroom, laundry folding and etc...
So of course I was quite tired in the morning, but no good reason not to get off my ass and get to the hospital on time.

So today turned out to be good, its a lot more comfortable going back to a department that you already know and most people have seen your face. This is my second week in cardiology and still learning a lot and great to be able to follow up on patients that I have admitted and for feedback information from them.

Also im going to play inddoor football tonite which im looking forward too. I often forget how much I miss playing. Just to imagine that my life evolved around a football for about 16 years and then I just quit one day.... WTF

I was even so motivated I studied a bit when I came home from the hospital... that is not a first but one of a few times....

footballer
róbert mar



plus i got a pair of these on the way from USA, grandma is comming home from my dad´s
Im pretty sure if I was a girl I would be a harcore shoe collector

End of a working weekend

Im definetly a little bit tired from this weekend, but nothing compared to last weekend which included 2 nites of heavy drinking. This one was a walk in the park compared to that.

So what is ahead ?

My second week of Cardiology starts tomorrow morning, which im greatly looking forward to. The specialist on my team has earned top marks until now. I will be learning a great deal more in the comming week. This one will be a short one cause friday is a day off.

Which is pretty good timing since I will be attending a confernce of Otitis Media on thursday, which I think is just a sophisticated way of having a party with some educational purposes. I guess this is what life has in store for me the rest of my career, not bad ::::)

My frequent trips to the gym have been great, boosting my energy level through the roof. I had been in a mild slump or I just wanted to sleep all day in this darkness that is pouring over iceland in these early winter months.

Then next weekend is another working one, this time at the hospital in Keflavík. The bonus with this that I will be spending most of my off time at my mother´s place hanging out with the family. Which is one of the great benefits of studying here in Iceland...

róbert mar

Sleeping in late...

It was so nice to be able to sleep in late this morning or actually this day. I was not up until 13:30, just in time to have some breakfast and on to the gym.

So fresh to workout shower and then head off to work. Only problem with that is my long golden locks of hair freezing immediatly after I walked outside. Luckily that was a short trip to the car and then from the car to work.

I have been dreaming crazy dreams the past week, dont know what the situation is. I usually dream or that is remember my dreams every now and then. But this past week has been crazy, even waking up in the middle of the nite.

Funny thing is that my dad called me in the morning early, about seven to be exact. Just to say hello, then he asks me if I never dream and I said yeah. Then I just had to call it since it was way to early just for a chat. Right before I fall back asleep I realize that I was having a bad dream that he saved me from...


dreamer,
róbert mar

Easy Friday Nite

Wow, its a real weekend and im not going out for once... !!!!

I have actually been looking greatly forward to waking up on a saturday and not be hung over from hell. Seems tomorrow is going to be the day after all. I just got off my shift at the nursing home, was called this morning and offer this shift ontop of tomorrow nite and the next one.

The cash is going to come in handy, the flipside to all this is what I would be doing if I was not working. That is since I live downtown Reykjavík I can basically feel the vibe if there is something going on and frankly that is always the vibe in this city. So there I would be systematically killing my oh so needed brain cells, spending all my money doing so, having a blast....

Just how ironic that is, I guess im never going to grow to old for that.. hhahahh

Another reality check tonite is that there is a month till x mas, life is just flying... Then another year, then a big exam, then surgery practice and more huge exams... and then I will hopefully be getting my first job as an assistant doctor this summer. WOW, not a bad year that is ahead. But best is to take it just one day at a time and enjoying it to the fullest and learning as much as possible while at it.

Dont want to end up as some incompetent doctor somewhere....


róbert mar

MySpace

MySpace seems to be a whole nother dimension. I have found myself on a couple of occasions just surfing away on the internet clicking one window to the next until im just completely lost and the sun is down.

The creators of this have made this incredible friend promoting service for all to pick a character and play. Some even find the cover behind the computer to really let themselves go...

I on the other hand had this idea today that once some time is available im going to create a character and play in this virtual fantasy. I will be completely unknown to all with no connections to begin with and just wait and see what bites the hook. Im really looking forward to this little experiment. I have not woked out the details but it will finally be great to put out this character who is going to be uninhibited in all ways, what you see is what you get...

At this moment im thinking of a wannabe songwriter who doesnt know where to begin, but in a risk all fashion he will use all his so called sex appeal to make his dream come true. I will let the friends network pile up slowly but surely and maybe one day I will just give up the stethoscope for an electric guitar and a solo career .... hahahhahahah


myworld
róbert mar




p.s. its quite possible that the recent success of the Borat movie is what is sparking this idea. I hope around x mas I will have time to kick start this adventure...

Cardiology

This department has a taken a turn for the better. Before starting I had big expectations and was really looking forward to these two weeks, but after the headless run around on monday I didnt know what to expect. The patients were too many and all over the place.

Today a new cardiologist shows up and is going to lead the team for the next 2 weeks. Straight from america, where the program is all about organization, and ready to work with us. I was learning from the first second he started to speak.

So now im looking forward to this time again...


I had a rather dissapointing afternoon, initially I had planned to take an extra shift at the nursing home. Since I terribly need money and especially since its getting close to x mas a month which inevitably is always more expensive than the others. Im usually very organized and have a real good idea of where im going to be and doing for the next weeks. For some reason I decide to take a second look at my work plan for the hospital in Keflavík, only to find out that I am supposed to work at two places at the same time.

Ontop of that I usually have to skip some part of the program at the hospital which concerns the departments and other lectures. That can be rather upsetting since we are only 19 on the Internal Medicine program, its often obvious when there are no shows and of course I misss other important educational stuff too.

So when I arrive in Keflavík Hospital after clearing the other shift, everyone seemes surprised to see me. I start wondering what is so interesting and then of course it comes to light that the shift had been changed at some point and I was not on.... Thanks !!!!

I was a little glad to be able to go back home but not the 50km back for nothing... I made a good day out of it and stopped by my mom´s place. Sure enough she was able to make it much better by pulling out a frozen cheesecake all the way from the Cheescake Factory in Boston. For those of you that have not heard or tried this lustful restaurant I recommend putting it on the "to do list"

r.mar

Snow keeps comming down...

The winter is really here in Iceland, not a big surprise since someone back in the day decided to call this island Iceland but there is actually another story behind that all together. It seems that icelanders have not had a hard winter is some time and everyone was caught by surprise last saturday nite. It was quite the downfall, about 20cm in 4 hours...

So yesterday I decided to go out with a shovel and broom and go search for my car. I had a pretty good idea where it was, but started by checking the license plate before digging it out. There just happens to be 3 cars that have the same shape and even one of the same color.

It was a little fun playing in the snow, now im starting to think if I should try to get someone to bring home my snowboard from Hungary.... I have to ask nicely if that is going to happen..

snow boy
róbert mar

Point well made

I received a couple of honest comments about the last blogg published and I decided to remove it immediately. Sometimes you forget that its not only your friends that might read your posts and I decided not to keep such a sensitive matter out in the open.

I would like to thank the ones who were brave enough to speak out and it goes to show that I appreciate and listen to the people who might be affected by my writings.

I decided a long time ago that I was not going to keep up a blogg which listed my daily events from waking up, having breakfast and going to sleep. I wanted to have real life matters but as that also follows a fine line I intend on being more careful in the future.

róbert mar

Haematology

Another week starting tomorrow and another department. This week I will spending in the Haematology department. Im hoping for an interesting week. Not to sound too crazy but some of the blood diseases and cancers I find really interesting.
I made change in my schedule to be able to this dept since in the 14 weeks in Internal Medicine I dont have time to go to all departments.

Who would have imagined that all that histological and clinical biochemistry was going to come in so handy but that is what is going to make this week so much fun. So for those young doctors out there or med students just hang in there. There seems to be a purpose for all the sour moments we have to endure in the long medical education.

Here in Iceland there is much attention paid to the clinical aspects but in my case it feels so good to actually know the disease down to the biochemistry. It must be stated that the details and specificity of my med school is so much greater than possibly 10 years ago. It seems we know so much more and the technology and research just keep getting better.

This post might not be so interesting for the common reader so I decided to throw in a pic and a sign to what is to come. My plan for growing old is playing golf with friends, fishing, driving a big luxury car and drinking whiskey.

And all this while wearing a hat, here is my preview

Skype

For anyone who might not know what this means should go immediatly to skype.com and check it out...

and for all my friends around the world put me in your contact list and start talking for FREE

its quite a good deal

my user name is rmarjohannsson



call me

World Class

Yes, believe it or not this is the name of my gym here in Iceland and propably the best one I have ever trained at. I have nothing to show for it because all you need is a retinal scan to get in the place, which is really cool.

I thought at first that this was a real snobby way to show off, but now realzing that how many people go through that place in one day its quite appropriate. Considering that none of the staff have to pay attention to this fool proof scan..

Its amazing what a good effect some real exercise has on me, cause now its starting to get dark here in Iceland. And of course the temperature is dropping. This has usually been the hardest thing I have to deal with living in here. But after a good work out I just leave that place full of energy. Even likely to come home and cook a healthy meal, clean my place and even do a little reading before going to bed... Just so good in all places

I have recoverd from this strange stomach pain I was suffering from on tuesday. Had a really good day at the hospital today. At the end of me and a colleague made a trip down to the laboratory, which I call almost everyday to get results. There we were taken with open arms and learned a great deal of tricks and new knowledge about how to get about with ordering tests and adding to them when neccissary.

Even the head doctor and biochemists offered us some research possibilities if we were interested. Hence a great end to a good day.

After that I attended a meeting held by the Icelandic Medical Students Association where we had a healthy discussion about the upcomming summer and the job placement program.

A real healthy day all around. Now I just have to prepare a short presentation about Arthritis which I have to present tomorrow.

healthy
róbert mar


p.s. proud to see that the count on this blogg is approaching 10,000 which either means I have lots of friends that have nothing to do or that my writings actually reach a level of interest that is good enough to keep people comming back. Either option is a good one and I will do my best to keep things up and even improve. One thing that has been lacking lately is the pictorials, that is easily explained by my little Sony Cyber shot that recently died on me after years of great service. So of course a new one is at the top of the x-mas list...

Apple Is Back

Finally my cute little MacBook is back in my hand, it had been greatly missed on its journey back to USA. Only to be spotted by the customs again on its way back. So basically all this hassle was not worth the trip...

I ended up paying the customs tax anyway along with being without a computer for a month. Just my luck these days.

It seems that my luck has been a little short lately. I would even go so far as to consider myself a rather lucky person overall or not that lucky. But this past week has been rather dissapointing...

1. I get a nice fat speeding ticket on tuesday night which is going to cost me
2. My computer was spotted by the customs for the second time around
3. I spent one day at Infectious diseases Clinic only to end up with a serious stomach ache last nite
4. I was fined for not paying my tuition on time, even though im not even at the University this semester
5. One of my guitar strings busted last week...
6. The exhaust system on my little station wagon is starting to make a seriously disgusting loud noise

that is all I can remember for now but seems to be quite enought to underline a string of bad luck, what do you think ???


unlucky
róbert mar

Busy Week

This week has gone extermely fast but has been deadly... I have been on the gerontology clinic all week, except for monday which I skipped :)

Ontop of this I have been taking 3 evening shifts here at the hospital, the third one which im serving now. Its gonna be a good nite ones I get off tonite..

But I will make sure to hurry slowly back to my little bachelor pad in Reykjavík. I was pulled over for speeding the other nite. So I awaite a hefty fine for my driving. Which I personally feel was some serious bullshit.

I was crusing home on a tuesday night, not a car on the road and im really ready to jump into my bed. But im driving at my usual speed aroudn 100-110 km/h, the speed limit is of course 90. I get pulled over for going 100 which does not sound so bad, but it just happens to be a 70 zone... pretty much fucked

And to top it all of the cop was a real dick ...

Im usually a pretty cool and calm guy, but was rather pissed even when I got home...


speedster
róbert mar