In May I started my first rotation out of house, with a FP osteopath near Brickell who does integrated medicine. For the entire first week and half I had to use a car lent to me by a friend/colleague at the residency since mine was being repaired (see prior post regarding my car accident). So when I first entered his medical office, I see this video playing in the waiting area, with a video of him lecturing being played on the screen. Also in the lecture was Alonzo Mourning! Just shadowing him during the first day made me realize it was going to be an interesting month. His practice is outside the realm of traditional medicine. Firstly, this doctor does something called EIS scanning and ESTECK instead of traditional testing. He also does “muscle testing” where he asks your system whether something is required or not or whether a treatment is appropriate. Many of the traditional medications he does not prescribe. For instance, instead of synthroid it’s westhroid. He prescribes homeopathic remedies. This guy also has an aquarium that looks like a scene from Finding Nemo.
Just two days in, I find out Dwayne Wade was going to show up for a consultation! And sure enough, on the third day, May 4th, I got to meet Dwayne Wade. Yes, that’s the same D-Wade of the Miami Heat. The doctor didn’t feel it was professional for me to stay during most of the consultation but I say hi and shake his hand. Guy dresses up in all pimped out basketball attire, as if he’s ready to ball anytime, anywhere. So that was the highlight of my week. Plus, I got a belated birthday present.
That weekend of the 7th was the Prerelease for the next Magic: The Gathering set New Phyrexia. I almost didn’t make it, if not for the borrowed car. Though I didn’t win anything, it’s a good thing I did because I got over $60 worth of cards in return, more than double the entrance fee. It was also Free Comic Book Day on the 7th so I went to get some free comic books at a nearby comic book shop just before heading home. The following day, I watched my Lakers get swept by the Dallas Mavericks. It was a sad day in Lakerland. So much for hoping they would make the finals again and potentially face the Miami Heat, where I could possibly cheer for the Lakers at American Airlines Arena and get booed at by the other Heat fans. Oh well, maybe next year.
Speaking of money, on Thursday I find $50 on the ground, next to the road in a residential area, while jogging back from the auto repair shop. It was the most money I have ever discovered. I mean, I’ve come across dollar bills and even $20 before but 50 dollars? That’s a quite a bit to lose. I felt bad picking it up but was I supposed to do? Leave it there? I doubt the rightful owner is coming back to claim it. It was probably there for a days.
Speaking of auto shop, my car is still not finished. Nope. It’s been over three weeks now. Turns out the airbags were incorrectly order, or according to the shop, Toyota sent the wrong airbags. Guess it’s going to just sit there until I return to Miami on the 1st. Didn’t realize how expensive airbags are. Two airbags total almost $1600!
Perhaps the biggest news of the month came last week on the May 11th. That day, I found out I was appointed chief resident for the upcoming year. Since then, I’ve already had issues to deal with and tasks to finish. As they say, be careful what I wish for haha. It’s probably for the best though, because someone else would’ve made the residency a dictatorship. And as I’ve been told, I deserved it. Guess it’s time to change my cell phone plan…
The following day on the 12th, I meet a former pro tennis player at the doctor's office. I went to watch a free prescreening of the movie Priest in 3D. Movie was good, but not Avatar or Dark Knight level, though worth a watch. It’s at least as good as the Resident Evil series, if not better. Maggie Q herself probably makes the movie worth watching once. For those who don't know who Maggie Q is, just look up the show Nikita on CW.
I started packing Friday morning in preparation to fly out later that evening. At 10 in the morning, I took a few minutes to purchase tickets for another music festival, then continued on with packing. My phone was still on the fritz (all the power would just drain overnight even while it’s plugged in) so I left that for last. I finish most of the leftover food in my fridge and head to the airport. While going through the security line, I was hoping the security officer wouldn’t notice my expired driver’s license, and they weren’t going to search my bag this time. Lo and behold, I end up going through fine. While waiting, I typed up most of this (well, whatever is before this paragraph) and got food at the airport. The server at Café Versailles started making conversation, asking me where I’m from, to which I replied, “I’m from LA originally but here temporarily for work.” She then asked, “Oh, what do you do?” “I’m a doctor, here for training,” I stated. “You must be really smart then,” she said. I end with a smile and “I guess” as I said thanks and walked away.
My flight was uneventful, except I pretty much slept through most of it since it was a late flight, though I did manage to stay awake for some of the in-flight movie Country Strong starring Gwyneth Paltrow, which was ok. At least Leighton Meester is in it. That girl actually sings quite well. So after landing, my brother picks me up and we get stuck on the 710 for over 30 minutes because they were doing construction and closed off all the lanes except one going northbound. How lame was that? I don’t get home until after 1 in the morning, which is more like 4 AM in Miami. And yesterday I didn’t sleep until almost 2 AM in the morning as well, after meeting up with some friends from UCR for dinner at a restaurant in Glendale called Don Cuco. It was catching up after a couple years. Earlier in the day I hung out with another friend, got a free autograph of actor Felix Ryan, who starred in Power Rangers and a few other shows.
I have a cameo at 1:05 and 1:44. Pretty cool I believe.
Mutts n Models from Hector Gil on Vimeo.
Some of you reading probably know who I'm talking about. If not, well, you’ll find out soon enough. All I'm going to say is, don't get mad, get even. Don't underestimate the power of the internet. 
Guess that’s what happens when you’re averaging only 5 hours of sleep a day for the past couple weeks. I end up going to the ER after just to get checked. Now I know how it feels to get a CT scan after getting one of my head yesterday. What's with that weird smell inside that machine though, unless I was still smelling the airbag powder?! Days after my accident, glad it wasn't much worse. I could've been seriously injured or dead by now. Ugh, what a mess though. Now another headache to deal with.
In such times, you know who your real friends are. So now that's two accidents in one month, and that's my 4th car accident in a decade(if you count driving into a parking gate but that's another story). Guess I’m a little accident prone, or stuff like this always happens to me around this time of year. 
For those of you who think Miami gas prices are expensive, think again. This is in LA. 
Ultra Music Festival in less than 2 days. I'm so excited and I just can't hide it. And I know I know I know...
