Heather Martin Reporting News

So I finished another week. 3 weeks down! and I really like it so far. I "officially" took over all clinical duties today. I was supervised for a bit this morning to make sure I understood all the paperwork that needs to get filled out for different stuff. It took me about 5 hrs to do rounds today. My feet kill and I want to sleep but my mom will be here in 30 minutes so that's not possible. She's here until Monday morning so I'm sure we'll do some fun stuff. February is almost here so I'll have to start looking at apartments real soon. Other than that, my board application was accepted so I can sit for boards this July. Need to really hit the studying. I don't want to have to repeat. My supervisor passed first time and said she gave up having a life for a year to study so she didn't have to take it over. Almost home! Gotta go pick up Mom.

RABIES, RACCOON - USA (NEW YORK)

A ProMED-mail post http://www.promedmail.org ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases http://www.isid.org

Date: 20 Jan 2009 Source: DNA info [edited] http://www.dnainfo.com/20100120/central-park/rabid-raccoons-continue-invade-central-park-eight-more-found-two-weeks#ixzz0dBgcfdWC

Rabid raccoons have been increasingly infesting Central Park, with 8 of the mad animals found there in the past 2 weeks, according to the Department of Health. The 8 cases, along with 12 reported in 2009, are a dramatic increase over years past, when only a single rabid raccoon was reported from 2003 to 2008. Most of the rabid raccoons were found in the northern portions of Central Park from 79th Street to 110th Street, the Health Dept said.

The Health Dept has posted fliers in the park and nearby subway stations and plans to vaccinate raccoons in and around Central Park, Morningside Park, and Riverside Park in an attempt to slow the spread of the disease. [This is probably oral rabies bait.- Mod.TG] Park workers have increased surveillance for sick animals. Visitors are encouraged to be on the lookout for strange animal behavior and to call 311 if they notice animals that may be infected.

Dog owners should keep their pets on leashes and away from raccoons and other wild animals, the Health Dept said. The city hasn't had a human infection of rabies since 1953, according to the Health Dept.

[byline: Mariel Clark]

-- communicated by: HealthMap Alerts via ProMED-mail promed@promedmail.org

[Rabies is caused by the rabies virus, of the family Rhabdoviridae and genus Lyssavirus. The bullet-shaped RNA virus has 3 major components: surface glycoprotein (G protein), outer envelope protein (M or matrix protein), and nucleocapsid. Rabies virus is transmitted by bite or saliva of an infected mammal. Any mammal can carry and potentially transmit the virus, but carnivorous species and bats are the usual agents of transmission.

None of these reports identifies the stain, although it is probably the raccoon rabies strain in these cases. Five antigenic variants of rabies strains are recognized in the United States. The single raccoon strain is the predominant strain.

There is an oral rabies vaccine for raccoons, and this is likely what the article is referring to.

Central park is located in New York City. Central Park's 843 acres [341 hectares (ha)] include 136 acres [55 ha] of woodlands, 250 acres [101 ha] of lawns, and 150 acres [61 ha] of water in 7 water bodies. The park's 6mile [10 kilometre] perimeter extends from Central Park West to Fifth Avenue and 59th Street to 110th Street. It is the 1st public park built in America. Central Park was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1965 and a New York City Landmark in 1974. The Manhattan schist outcrops in the Park are about 450 million years old.

Central Park contains 58 miles [93 km] of pedestrian paths, 4.5 miles [7.2 km] of bridle paths, 6.5 miles [10.5 km] of park drives, and 7 miles [11 km] of benches (nearly 9000). There are 21 playgrounds. More than 500 000 trees, shrubs, and vines were planted during the building of the park. Today, there are more than 26 000 trees, including 1700 American elms. Over 275 species of migratory birds have been sighted in Central Park, a major stopping point on the Atlantic flyway. More than 25 million visitors visit Central Park each year. In 1980, a public-private partnership between the City of New York and the Central Park Conservancy was formed to restore, manage, and preserve Central Park. In 1998, the Conservancy and the City of New York signed a historic agreement, affirming the Conservancy's authority to manage, maintain, and operate Central Park. In 2006, the agreement was renewed for a further 8 years.

With a park this size, and this many visitors and activities, it is easy to see why this many rabid raccoons would warrant concern.

but I'm so frickin' tired! The first two weeks have basically been reading SOPs and doing different training before I can actually do anything. I did get to go on rounds this past week and observe and help out some and I thought it was fun. There's lots I'll have to remember, all the paperwork stuff and how to write things all GLP but I think I'll figure it out quick. I also have some surgeries I'll get to do soon which I'm a little nervous about. I haven't cut in a while but that should come back to me too. I'm just not used to the schedule of getting up early and being at work for so long and getting home and feeling like i have to go right to bed or I'll be so dead the next day. I don't have a set plan yet because things can change on a daily basis. Luckily my supervisor, who was in my shoes when she first came to the company almost 5 years ago, is telling me not to work more than I have to because people will expect it, like they did/do with her now, but I feel like I have enough to do that I should stay longer to do it, and they are paying me a lot.

I was told I should be starting my day by 8am so I can get everything done but the bus I've mostly been taking drops me 1/2 mile down the street at 7:50 so that gets me on campus at 8 but then there's the walk to my office and all so more like 8:10-8:15. That might end up being okay but I'm not sure yet. Otherwise the bus before that gets me there at 7:05 and then I have more time to chill before starting at 8. Problem is I have to get up at 5:30 for the earlier bus and 6:30, way more reasonable for me, for the later bus. Now that I'll be taking over more clinical responsibilities in the next few weeks and I'll be slower in the beginning I might have to get used to the 5:30 wake up.

Then there's figuring out lunch. They have a pretty good cafeteria and I love their salad bar and it isn't too expensive but unfortunately I can't eat or drink in my office so that means if I get food from the cafeteria, it's easiest to just eat it in there but I'm used to sitting at my desk and eating and doing other stuff. In the cafeteria, my techs are eating lunch too and they're the only ones I know so I eat with them but I'm not sure if they'll want their boss eating with them everyday. And what to do about no diet coke, or any other fluids, in my office. Dehydration. It's not the most convenient thing to leave my office to go to my locker to get a drink, and that's only if I have a drink in there. Having a sip once in a while from a water fountain won't cut it.

Next thing to figure out is getting home. There's a 4:20 bus home that takes about 40 min. w/ traffic (20 min. w/out) but that's generally too early for me to leave. If I leave between 5 and 6 it's rush hour craziness even getting into NYC so it can take 90 min. If I take the 6:20 I can get into my apt. by 7:10. If I wait until 7 then it's a 20 min. ride home. But getting home after 7 makes me so tired and then what to do when I get home. I don't think I can get up any earlier to work out before work so when I get home is the time to do it.

I've been getting home to quick throw clothes around and get dressed for yoga and speed walk to the studio in time for class but class is either 7:30 some days or 8:00 the other days and it's 90 min. so gets me home close to 10 some days. Then I haven't eaten since lunch and it's late and I need to shower too because I'm so soaked. Plus I just rushed from one thing to the next and now it's time for bed and there's no real relaxing. I'm not sure how long I can keep that up. And if I get home a little earlier, if that's ever possible, and I don't have to rush to yoga because I have some more time, I don't end up going to yoga because I'm so hungry and tired that I eat something and it's too close to going to yoga after eating and I sit on the couch and don't want to move.

I just want my GTL (gym, tan, laundry) in the form of WYS (work, yoga, sleep) but I'm not sure how to get it. And then there's the studying for boards dilemma. I'm supposed to be doing that everyday but it's not as easy as I thought reading on the bus. In the morning it's not so bad but the way home can be very jerky in traffic and I get sick to my stomach if I read, plus it's so dark that the little over head light doesn't help much. And it's not real studying anyway because you can't really take notes and all but there's no other time for it right now in my day, unless I did no working out.

By Friday night I was so tired I didn't think I could make it past 6pm. I ended up calling it a night early, though I did get to eat at the Ethiopian place I wanted to eat at, and the Bear walked me home and then when back out w/ his friend. I woke up at 7:50 this morning, I wish I could sleep later, but even though I was up I was too tired to do anything. Then we walked around w/ Jesse since he's visiting and went to the Natural History Museum but I was so tired and cranky that I didn't even look at anything while we were there. I just went from one bench to the next sitting down and looking for service to check the SU game score on my droidy. I couldn't even find the energy to go out tonight either so the Bear is out w/ his friends that are visiting. Just me and Beaky at home w/ my Lean Cuisine for dinner and catching up on TV online.

I'm not complaining, yet, besides I've had raging PMS for over a week now, so actually I'm doing quite well, all things considered. I just want to figure out the best way to do my new life and get the biggest bang for my limited amount of time.

It didn't start out so well because I couldn't fall asleep so when it was 3am and I knew the alarm was going off at 5am I was scared for that yucky in my head, eyes, intestines and body feeling of barely any sleep. Alarm went off at 5am, I felt yucky, got up anyway, put my workout clothes on and went down to the gym on the 1st floor. The concierge had forgotten to open it at 5, so I asked him and he opened it. I ran 3 miles in there, mostly alone, though one guy came in for a quick probably 2 miles. Then I did 100+ jump ropes and headed back upstairs to get ready. Did the shower thing, did the makeup, hair and clothes, felt too nauseous for breakfast and then had a little time to get online. Left for the bus at about 7:05, Beaky and the Bear walked me to Port Authority. On the way the guy handing out the free newspapers tried to give me one but I said no and he said 'C'mon, Jeter's getting married, read it. If your husband wasn't here you'd read it.' He was hilarious! My 'husband' kissed me goodbye for my first day of work and my dog got a little nervous at seeing me go.

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I went to Sweet Emily's for dinner last night with the Bear. The food was definitely good, though the portions were small but the service was subpar. I'll have to go back to try the tilapia since it wasn't available last night, or I'll just get the salmon again.

Sweet Emily's

I'm excited because Tara and her sister got in. It'll be my first race w/ Tara in a long time and my first race w/ her in NYC and my first race w/ her since I moved to NYC. So I'm happy for all that but not so happy that I have to run a half marathon in 2 months. I've barely been running for a long time now and it just sucks to get back into it when you're so out of shape and fatter than ever. There's Central Park not too far and 3 treadmills 5 floors below me for free! open 5am-11pm and here I sit and how can I forget the very convenient location of Bikram yoga 2 blocks away and I already have a 30 day pass for it and have yet to go. That's okay. Work starts on Monday and I'll have all the time in the world to work out, NOT! Shame on me

The plan was first to hit up Port Authority. I wanted to get tickets for my bus to work and figure out where in the terminal the bus left from. Port Authority is huge! I think it'll take me just as long to get around Port Authority as it will be to walk there. Anyway I got some tickets, it's $5 one way and went to the gates where the bus leaves from. Hope it works out on Monday.

Then it was on to cheapo shopping to see if I could find some more fat clothes that hopefully won't fit soon so I don't want to spend lots of money on them. So we made the trek to TJ Maxx and Filene's Basement. Unfortunately I wasn't impressed w/ the selection. I got a sweater and shirt but I really need pants. I guess I'll have to keep looking.

Then it was further downtown to Botanica, a bar where the Bear's friend was celebrating his birthday. We wanted to find something to eat on the way and we ran into Pret a Manger. Diana had mentioned it was good, expensive sandwiches so we decided to try it. All the sandwiches are pre-made and waiting for you to choose one, though all over the place it says they are fresh and don't come from a commissary. It's kinda like Au Bon Pain but worse. At least at ABP you can pick what you want and have it made and there are several bread choices. The bread at Pret a Manger was just sandwich bread. I'll have to go to Cosi. I saw Cosi today!

After some food we pressed on and finally made it to our destination, though it was about 10:30. Had a few drinks at Botantica and hung out w/ the Bear's friend and the Bear's friend's friends. Plenty of interesting people and good music. The Bear's smooth move of the night was buying a $7 and only having $6.98. It just so happened that the bar's credit card machine was down and was only taking cash. So our first drinks we could cover w/ tip but then we wanted another and the Bear told me he had enough. Turns out he was 2 cents short and no tip. The bartender was not happy about that and gave the Bear some attitude. After he told me the story I found some change in my wallet so he brought a dime back to the 'nicer' bartender and told him the story and to make sure the 'mean' bartender got the dime.

We left about midnight and took the metro back home. We walked to the train and took I think the N to 49th and 7th Ave. We then went and had pizza at Famiglia. They had a ricotta one like the Boston Commom, or is it State House?, at Whole Foods in Boston. It was pretty good! Now we're home and the Bear is sleeping on the couch as I write this.

Pictures from our night

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We're randomly just sitting here after hours of the Food Network. The Bear's friend came over to hang out, another first, we've never been able to have friends over, and after I got done watching the SU game (yay! SU won) the channel got turned to the Food Network. After his friend left we're sitting here at like midnight and I'm full of candy so need to switch to salty and say Let's get White Castle. I've never had it before and we were talking about it recently. It's not that far from our house, well to me nothing is that far from our house, so I sent the Bear (it's not far from our house for someone else to go, haha Bear) and he took Beaky with him. On the way, Beaky got the attention of some dudes that are apparently in the band South Jordan and had been in the studio for the past 48 hrs. and are from Bloomington, IN. So the Bear got the dudes to get our burgers while he waited outside with Beaky. Thanks South Jordan dudes!! Unfortunately I thought White Castle was disgusting but the Bear thought it was awesome. More like dog food.

Again I got up late today while the Bear was up and working for the old place, Mikrodots. Well I was up and then fell back to sleep, and was up and fell back to sleep. Cleo slept out in the living room in her crate and then busted in the bedroom this morning looking for breakfast and jumped up on the bed and fell asleep. Then I woke up and did computer stuff until I got kicked off the network and then had silly dreams.

Spent some time organizing again, getting paperwork figured out, making calls about things I need to get done before I start work on Monday and won't have the chance. The Bear wanted to go out and explore and I was afraid to leave Beaky because we hadn't done that yet. She seemed to adjust okay for the most part but I was still afraid to leave her alone. So we left this afternoon to find the Gap so I could get work clothes. So we left and she wasn't freaking out, just a little anxious. We found the Gap in Lincoln Center but the sale clothes were so picked through. It wasn't even worth spending much time there. So on I went to Banana and I found a pair of jeans cheap which didn't really help because I can't where them to work but they were cheap enough to get anyway, and I got a sweater. The Bear also got a sweater. I put it all on my Gap card but in 2 transactions because I wasn't w/ the Bear when I bought my stuff and on the Bear's sweater they took an additional 20% because it was the first Tuesday of the month but they didn't do it on my clothes so now I have to go back to see if they'll give me my 20% off. We also stopped at Lululemon to check out if there was any sale stuff because I didn't really bring yoga clothes, though I have yet to go. Tomorrow?! I got a sale pair of shorts, reversible, and seem pretty good so I want to see if they have another pair tomorrow if I go back to Banana.

The Bear wanted to DO something too so we ended up going to the American Folk Art Museum Branch in Lincoln Square. It wasn't very big but it's not the main museum. We'll have to check it out next time. I liked the Vestie Davis Volunteer Fire Dpt. painting because it had dalmatians in it. The gift shop there was real cool. Lots of recycled gifts, very cool!

Once we got home I made dinner again: spaghetti w/ vodka sauce and toast. We need more veggies but we didn't really buy much for green stuff. It filled our bellies and was cheap so for now that's how it goes. Then I started working on my taxes when rr/j told me Biggest Loser started again tonight. Yay! This time I didn't eat while watching because I already did AND the Bear and I went downstairs to the gym in our building to work out. I did 3 miles on the elliptical and used my new jump rope. Jumping rope is hard! I almost puked after 100 jumps. Then some dumbbells for the arms and more jump rope.

A daily dose of digital NYC

So I've been much more tired than I anticipated. Though we've been staying up late catching up on Californication, I've been sleeping in even later. The Bear gets up at a normal time but since we have more room now I don't even notice that he's gone. He takes care of Beaky and whatever else until I wake up. Yesterday we ended up going to see Diana, baby Luke and Anton. It was nice to just hang out at their place doing nothing but talking, snacking and watching silly TV like Idiocracy. We stayed until later in the evening and then made the trip to Stop N Shop near their place in Yonkers. I didn't want to spend too much but we had NO food in our apt. and it was still cheaper than eating out. We ended up spending $140 which was more than I wanted to but we have food and don't need to spend more money on it this week. We got home around 10pm and I made chili for dinner. I don't think I've ever cooked dinner for the Bear, not that this was a big deal, pretty simple, but I cooked it none-the-less and we were hungry by that point so it was good.

Went to bed after staying up late watching TV and the Bear got up much earlier than me. He said he walked Beaky several miles all over Central Park. I got up and organized, did laundry finally washing my puke clothes, ran the dishwasher, what a crazy invention! plus I made the Bear scrambled eggs, toast and heated up the chili for him. I'm so domestic with space and time. The Bear actually was working because his 'old' boss called and asked if he could work from home. He needs the money so I got to hear the Bear on the phone all day with clients doing computer stuff for them.

Diana called later in the day and said they had an extra ticket to the Rangers game. I said No because I didn't want to leave the Bear alone and he was on the phone so I couldn't ask him. When he was off the phone I mentioned it to him and he told me to go because he wanted to go visit a friend in Brooklyn. Okay Bear! So I went. Walked from my apt. to MSG, not a far walk, just talked on the phone and then I was there. I don't even think I've ever been to MSG. Plus little did I know but the Rangers were playing the Bruins. Geez! Who to root for? Since I'm not a huge hockey fan and would only cheer for the Bruins at the Garden because I lived there, I ended up cheering for the Rangers. It was a good game. Rangers dominated until the last 5 minutes when somehow the Bruins came out of no where and scored 2 goals to tie up the score. We thought for sure OT or maybe even a loss but somehow the Rangers pulled it out and scored again w/ very little time remaining. Then Diana dragged Anton w/ me to the subway station so I could get a metro card. Thanks! Then they dropped me home, Thanks! and I was in before 11pm. I beat the Bear home. Then we finally finished Californication. What a mess! That Hank Moody is just ridiculous. I'll keep watching but I'm not sure why.