illegitimate child falls into well

Any chimp can play human for a day
Use his opposable thumbs to iron his uniform
And run for office on election day
Fancy himself a real decision-maker
-It's a Hit, Rilo Kiley

We spent the weekend in Vancouver for Thanksgiving. I was thankful to be home. I was also thankful to be able to go to Courtney's mom's house and enjoy a lovely dinner on saturday. All I had to do was stir some gravy. It was sweet.

As mentioned previously, Courtney is going to Mayne Island for the next two weeks, so I had to ride my motorcycle back to Duncan today in the rain. I almost didn't make it.

But that story starts in Toronto where I thought I had left my cell phone charger when I was there a couple of weeks ago. I had asked a friend from class (Rachel) who was there on elective, to go to my other friends house to pick it up for me, which she did. She got it back to Vancouver, but forgot to leave it for me there, and ended up bringing it to Nanaimo, where her parents live, as she was there visiting for Thanksgiving. So all I had to do was stop on my way to Duncan and pick it up. How convenient. Except when I showed up to get it.....
1. It was not my phone charger
2. When I returned to the motorcycle, my headlight had stopped working.

So I sat around in the parking lot of a strip mall trying to figure out how to get the light to work again. Then I tried to figure out where I was going to sleep for the night. I didn't have Rachel's phone number, but coincidentally, she is staying at my parent's house in Castlegar for the next two weeks. Thankfully, my parents still have an answering machine that plays the message aloud as it is recorded, so I was able to get a hold of Rachel and ask if I could stay at her parent's house. Anyhow, as I pulled the bike around to make my way back there, the headlight comes back to life.

So here I am in Duncan again.

But what I was going to write about is the election tomorrow.

I'm thankful for being able to vote. I think I've figured out a way to do this in Duncan, despite the Duncanites trying their hardest to prevent me from casting a ballot. So if you've forgotten- it's election day tomorrow! Get excited!

yes, my ears hang low. yes, they wobble to and fro.

I don't care, if forever never comes

Cause I'm holding out for that teenage feeling

-Neko Case, That Teenage Feeling

It's Saturday, and I'm in at the clinic in Fraser Lake to get my internet fix. I'm staying at my preceptor's house, which has dial-up, but it's not working currently, so here I am.

My trip up here was fun, but not necessarily what you would call smooth.

Highlights

1. Visiting the McDougalls in Vernon and my housemates in Vancouver.
2. Seeing Courtney in Port Mcneill and attending the pig roast.
3. The ferry ride from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert (of course).

Lowlights

1. Dad getting a flat tire in Lillooet and subsequent repair jobs.
2. Getting caught in the rain in totally inadequate rainpants on my way to Port Mcneill. Never been so cold in my life.
3. Showing up at the ferry to Prince Rupert and being told I did not have a license plate and could therefore not board the ferry (we sorted it out).

Anyways, we made it here safe and sound and I went into work the next morning. I'm working in a great facility that combines and ER, medical clinic and ambulance station. There are 4 doctors working here and they are all young and enthusiastic. They also all have kids, and horses and at least a couple large dogs. Takes a bit of getting used to, but I'm slowly getting into the rhythm of life here and really enjoying it. My preceptor is very relaxed. She pretty much works full-time, has 4 young children, rides horses pretty much every day and never really seems to get stressed. I'll let you know when I discover the magic that keeps her going.

I've only spent 4 days at work but I've already done quite a bit. Everyone is happy to spend time teaching and I am doing many things for the 1st time. It's rare to just get someone in for a prescription refill or paperwork and the patient population is quite varied. Getting alot of practice doing various procedures and have already seen one delivery and spent a day in the OR. Hopefully I can keep this going and I will be able to just go ahead and skip 3rd year.

There is alot of duality in doing a placement like this. One one hand, I am starting to do more things on my own and have to exude a certain amount of maturity and confidence in order to help the patients get over my baby face. When not at work, however, I'm pretty much back in highschool - staying at someone's house, constantly being driven places, and fed meals for free.

I'll let you know if I end up older or not at the end of it.

I actually can't remember the name of this lake. It's on the road from Cache Creek to Lillooet I think. That's my Dad.

Courtney on the beach. Port Mcneill. It didn't show up well, but there is a rainbow.