So we are heading to socialized medicine (actually socialized everything) in this country. We all know that Canada is one of those nations who already have socialized medicine. One of the key arguments against a system like theirs is the discontent among their citizens of their medical system. Many will cross the border to come in the U.S. to get key procedures done and pay out of pocket.
Well it gets better as a Canadian Premier went to Mt Sinai (in the U.S.) to get his heart procedure instead of utilizing his 'free' health care up north. Why? Because he values his health! Here is the link ... http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5h0QC7bditrEb3wYz_6_b-gsGGDxA
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
reflection
So it is getting close to the end of my deployment and I thought that I would give some reflection. I could complain about being in the middle of a third (is there a forth) world country being underutilized as I am separated from family and friends. I asseverate that there has more good than bad and that there is a proverbial ‘silver lining’ to my six months in the desert.
For one thing, I am in the best shape of my life. I have done my best to give Liz that prison body that she deserves. I have actually shed a few pounds despite engaging in gluttony. All the while I have increased the amount of weight I can lift. I have been pounding out sit-ups, pull-ups, dips and push-ups daily. I run most days of the week. This coming from someone who is accustomed to running 30 miles a year, not 30 miles a week. As an apogee of my running I have entered into the Rock ‘n’ Roll marathon in San Diego this June.
Even though I have not been challenged professionally, I have had time to read. I have read three textbooks and numerous articles to keep up with my specialty. Usually, these reading assignments sit on my desk for months. Despite the medicine here in my BAS being rather remedial, it is appreciated by the Marines.
I have been fortunate to have the chapel be next door to our BAS. I have been further blessed to have had our chaplain be a Catholic priest. It is uncanny that my faith has been able to grow in a country that is intolerant to other religions.
I was ecstatic when I found that the chaplain brought a couple of guitars with him for the chapel. One of the guitars was rarely claimed and thus I was able to keep it hostage at the BAS. His religious assistant plays guitar and was able to teach me some new material. I will let you be the judge when I get back as to whether I got any better.
I have always been proud to serve my country. However, most of the time I have served, it has been in a clinic/hospital taking care of military and their dependants. I definitely serve a purpose back home, but here it is a different kind of medicine taking care of those fighting for our country and way of life. One may question why we are here and what exactly our mission is at this point. However, the soldiers here are fulfilling the mission that has been directed to them by our government and they do so with honor and with purpose. Having now been deployed in a combat environment I can hold my head a bit higher knowing that I was supporting the Marine on the ground.
Speaking of Marines, I am so happy that I got attached to a Marine squadron instead of an augment to an Army unit. Not to piss any Army lovers off, but they are sometimes really backwards. The Marines are just more professional from top to bottom. I can further appreciate the Marines now since earning my FMF (fleet Marine force) device. I will be able to wear this device, as well as a few ribbons from this deployment to add some ‘bling bling’ to my uniform.
I have been able to meet many different people from many walks of life. They not only come from the U.S., but from many countries abroad. I have been able to taste different foods, hear a variety of languages and be exposed to other cultures. Some people can get on your nerves after 6 months of close interaction, but for the most part everyone was civil. There will be a few who I have felt a stronger bond and will look forward to keeping in contact in the future.
Lastly, despite being separated from my family, I have never felt more aware of just how important they are to me. I truly appreciate my family and my love has only grown. I think our bonds will only be strengthened by this experience. I am really proud that my wife and kids have done such a great job in my absence. (actually it kind of pisses me off since I do not feel as irreplaceable now :)
So there are some of the positives from this deployment. That being said, I am really looking for some old food favorites, any alcoholic beverage, a comfortable bed and the warmth and love of my family and friends when I close this chapter in my life.
Peace
Chief and HM1 posing in front of Camp Viking.
For one thing, I am in the best shape of my life. I have done my best to give Liz that prison body that she deserves. I have actually shed a few pounds despite engaging in gluttony. All the while I have increased the amount of weight I can lift. I have been pounding out sit-ups, pull-ups, dips and push-ups daily. I run most days of the week. This coming from someone who is accustomed to running 30 miles a year, not 30 miles a week. As an apogee of my running I have entered into the Rock ‘n’ Roll marathon in San Diego this June.
Even though I have not been challenged professionally, I have had time to read. I have read three textbooks and numerous articles to keep up with my specialty. Usually, these reading assignments sit on my desk for months. Despite the medicine here in my BAS being rather remedial, it is appreciated by the Marines.
I have been fortunate to have the chapel be next door to our BAS. I have been further blessed to have had our chaplain be a Catholic priest. It is uncanny that my faith has been able to grow in a country that is intolerant to other religions.
I was ecstatic when I found that the chaplain brought a couple of guitars with him for the chapel. One of the guitars was rarely claimed and thus I was able to keep it hostage at the BAS. His religious assistant plays guitar and was able to teach me some new material. I will let you be the judge when I get back as to whether I got any better.
I have always been proud to serve my country. However, most of the time I have served, it has been in a clinic/hospital taking care of military and their dependants. I definitely serve a purpose back home, but here it is a different kind of medicine taking care of those fighting for our country and way of life. One may question why we are here and what exactly our mission is at this point. However, the soldiers here are fulfilling the mission that has been directed to them by our government and they do so with honor and with purpose. Having now been deployed in a combat environment I can hold my head a bit higher knowing that I was supporting the Marine on the ground.
Speaking of Marines, I am so happy that I got attached to a Marine squadron instead of an augment to an Army unit. Not to piss any Army lovers off, but they are sometimes really backwards. The Marines are just more professional from top to bottom. I can further appreciate the Marines now since earning my FMF (fleet Marine force) device. I will be able to wear this device, as well as a few ribbons from this deployment to add some ‘bling bling’ to my uniform.
I have been able to meet many different people from many walks of life. They not only come from the U.S., but from many countries abroad. I have been able to taste different foods, hear a variety of languages and be exposed to other cultures. Some people can get on your nerves after 6 months of close interaction, but for the most part everyone was civil. There will be a few who I have felt a stronger bond and will look forward to keeping in contact in the future.
Lastly, despite being separated from my family, I have never felt more aware of just how important they are to me. I truly appreciate my family and my love has only grown. I think our bonds will only be strengthened by this experience. I am really proud that my wife and kids have done such a great job in my absence. (actually it kind of pisses me off since I do not feel as irreplaceable now :)
So there are some of the positives from this deployment. That being said, I am really looking for some old food favorites, any alcoholic beverage, a comfortable bed and the warmth and love of my family and friends when I close this chapter in my life.
Peace
Chief and HM1 posing in front of Camp Viking.
British vehicles lined up to go out to the fight.
Monday, February 15, 2010
okay
I have been a bit tardy in my blogging of late. Mainly this is due to communications being up and down. You all see the news and understand why this may be the case. Anyhow, I am very safe so don't fret.
Today we are doing post deployment health screens. All the Marines and Sailors in my unit has to do it. It takes about 30-60 minutes for each individual and each person has to see myself or my partner before it is considered complete. Talk about a headache. I guess I should not complain because the fact that we started them is a reminder that I will soon be home.
I fiished reading the State of Fear. Though it is a fiction book, it is heavily footnoted with actual articles. The author has some great comments in the back of the book that ring very true to me with our current obsession with global warming. I would recommend the read. The story is fun as well.
I also finished reading Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza. She survived the Rwanda holocaust by staying in a 4' x 2' bathroom with 7 other women for 3 months. It is a story about faith. Incredible story.
Will talk to you soon.
Today we are doing post deployment health screens. All the Marines and Sailors in my unit has to do it. It takes about 30-60 minutes for each individual and each person has to see myself or my partner before it is considered complete. Talk about a headache. I guess I should not complain because the fact that we started them is a reminder that I will soon be home.
I fiished reading the State of Fear. Though it is a fiction book, it is heavily footnoted with actual articles. The author has some great comments in the back of the book that ring very true to me with our current obsession with global warming. I would recommend the read. The story is fun as well.
I also finished reading Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza. She survived the Rwanda holocaust by staying in a 4' x 2' bathroom with 7 other women for 3 months. It is a story about faith. Incredible story.
Will talk to you soon.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
I have a picture, pinned to my wall
I have started my Spring cleaning early since I will be redeploying in the Spring. I have sent some packages home and have asked that no further packages be sent out (thanks to all who have sent packages to me over the months). I am starting to take down the numerous pictures and drawings that have been sent my way. I took a picture of my plywood wall in my hooch (tent) before I took them down.
I also took a picture of a bookmark that Anna Custodio made for me. It is a beautiful bookmark that I have definitely used, but I thought that the back of the bookmark deserved special mention and a picture so others could appreciate.
I realized that I never put anything in my blog about the Super Bowl. This is probably because I still had some resentment that my Chargers have yet again blown a great season with an early exit. Maybe it was better that they went out when they did instead of teasing me a little longer to just intensify my pain with a loss in the Super Bowl. Anyhow, the Super Bowl was shown on AFN without the commercials at 0400 (that is 4AM)! We still had about 12 people in the BAS watching (what else you going to do out here?). Since they did not show the commercials that you all were seeing, they showed commercial skits that DoD schools put together. HORRIBLE!!! Well the good news is that the Saints won. I say this because, well Indy already won a Super Bowl and more importantly one of my corpsmen is a huge Saints fan and would have been dejected for the rest of the deployment had they lost.
It has been very windy and cold here lately. No more hail which is good. I am supposed to run a half marathon on Sunday, but I am definitely a fair weather runner and if it is cold then I am a no go. I have already paid my entrance fee so I will show up to collect my shirt. That's right I will wear it even if I don’t run!
Headline of the day .... "First Lady Links Childhood Obesity to National Security in Launch of ‘Let’s Move’ Campaign". Really? Obesity and national security. I suppose that is like how the record snow falls are really caused by global warming like some are stating in the news. First rule of politics, spin current events somehow into your agenda no matter how absurd. If you keep saying it is true it is, right?
Everyone take care,
Mark
My art collection.
Handy bookmark.
Step back!
Trying to stay warm and awake for the Super Bowl.
One happy fan and more importantly one happy corpsman.
I also took a picture of a bookmark that Anna Custodio made for me. It is a beautiful bookmark that I have definitely used, but I thought that the back of the bookmark deserved special mention and a picture so others could appreciate.
I realized that I never put anything in my blog about the Super Bowl. This is probably because I still had some resentment that my Chargers have yet again blown a great season with an early exit. Maybe it was better that they went out when they did instead of teasing me a little longer to just intensify my pain with a loss in the Super Bowl. Anyhow, the Super Bowl was shown on AFN without the commercials at 0400 (that is 4AM)! We still had about 12 people in the BAS watching (what else you going to do out here?). Since they did not show the commercials that you all were seeing, they showed commercial skits that DoD schools put together. HORRIBLE!!! Well the good news is that the Saints won. I say this because, well Indy already won a Super Bowl and more importantly one of my corpsmen is a huge Saints fan and would have been dejected for the rest of the deployment had they lost.
It has been very windy and cold here lately. No more hail which is good. I am supposed to run a half marathon on Sunday, but I am definitely a fair weather runner and if it is cold then I am a no go. I have already paid my entrance fee so I will show up to collect my shirt. That's right I will wear it even if I don’t run!
Headline of the day .... "First Lady Links Childhood Obesity to National Security in Launch of ‘Let’s Move’ Campaign". Really? Obesity and national security. I suppose that is like how the record snow falls are really caused by global warming like some are stating in the news. First rule of politics, spin current events somehow into your agenda no matter how absurd. If you keep saying it is true it is, right?
Everyone take care,
Mark
My art collection.
Handy bookmark.
Step back!
Trying to stay warm and awake for the Super Bowl.
One happy fan and more importantly one happy corpsman.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
hail
Yesterday we got a lot of rain over the course of a few hours. It even hailed for about an hour. The sound of the hail hitting the tents and metal containers was intense and deafening. I included pictures below.
The problem with rain here is that the ground is not porous at all. Thus, I can expect to waddle amongst big muddle puddles for the next week. The bizarre thing is that the puddles will start to recede about a day after the rain, but only to grow to their previous size the next day. I think the ground initially absorbs it, but then the water is drawn back out when the weather permits.
Nothing exciting is going on this week. We are starting to prep for a move next month since our lease on this British base is up when our unit redeploys home. Thankfully, we have not had a lot of patients, at least nothing exciting enough to report here in my blog.
I read another couple of books since last post. I read one called Ghost Map about the great cholera outbreak in Victorian London in 1850’s. It gave a very vivid picture of how people lived in a densely (over 2 million people) populated London at that time. It was the first time that someone actually attributed the disease to contaminated water. The prevalent theory of the day was that of miasma. Miasma was thought to be a bad humor that would settle over areas of filth and which blamed disease on poor air or putrid smells. Anyhow, the first half of the book was good, then the author started to try and parallel to a lot of modern day problems which lost my interest.
The second book was by James Patterson called Double Cross. I read this book because I had never read this popular author, but also because he sent us a huge shipment of free books in support of the military. It was a quick read (which for me is saying something, because I am as slow as it goes). It was a ‘who done it’ serial murder book. It was satisfying.
Today I am going to start State of Fear by Michael Crichton. I understand that he started this as a book to help educate about global warming, but ended up being a book about how it is all a shame. Right up my alley. It will be a very contemporary book to read since more is in the news every day about how the governing bodies for global warming had been taking suspicious studies and unqualified research and presenting it as real. Also, we are seeing record snow storms this winter in many states. I have not heard an explanation from Al Gore.
I saw in a headline that Tomlinson will not be back next year. Unfortunately, two years too late. Had we cut him loose, kept Turner and suffered the public sentiment backlash, we would probably have a Super Bowl trophy. The guy was great, but it is a business and we kept him too long. Now we have to hope that there is a quality running back in the draft that will be able to start next year.
Okay, you know that I am bored if I have rambled on for this long. Enough of me, get back to your lives already. Love you all,
Mark
Corpsmen reeling in the flag during hail storm.
Well I guess we now have ice. Probably more palatable than the water we drink.
The problem with rain here is that the ground is not porous at all. Thus, I can expect to waddle amongst big muddle puddles for the next week. The bizarre thing is that the puddles will start to recede about a day after the rain, but only to grow to their previous size the next day. I think the ground initially absorbs it, but then the water is drawn back out when the weather permits.
Nothing exciting is going on this week. We are starting to prep for a move next month since our lease on this British base is up when our unit redeploys home. Thankfully, we have not had a lot of patients, at least nothing exciting enough to report here in my blog.
I read another couple of books since last post. I read one called Ghost Map about the great cholera outbreak in Victorian London in 1850’s. It gave a very vivid picture of how people lived in a densely (over 2 million people) populated London at that time. It was the first time that someone actually attributed the disease to contaminated water. The prevalent theory of the day was that of miasma. Miasma was thought to be a bad humor that would settle over areas of filth and which blamed disease on poor air or putrid smells. Anyhow, the first half of the book was good, then the author started to try and parallel to a lot of modern day problems which lost my interest.
The second book was by James Patterson called Double Cross. I read this book because I had never read this popular author, but also because he sent us a huge shipment of free books in support of the military. It was a quick read (which for me is saying something, because I am as slow as it goes). It was a ‘who done it’ serial murder book. It was satisfying.
Today I am going to start State of Fear by Michael Crichton. I understand that he started this as a book to help educate about global warming, but ended up being a book about how it is all a shame. Right up my alley. It will be a very contemporary book to read since more is in the news every day about how the governing bodies for global warming had been taking suspicious studies and unqualified research and presenting it as real. Also, we are seeing record snow storms this winter in many states. I have not heard an explanation from Al Gore.
I saw in a headline that Tomlinson will not be back next year. Unfortunately, two years too late. Had we cut him loose, kept Turner and suffered the public sentiment backlash, we would probably have a Super Bowl trophy. The guy was great, but it is a business and we kept him too long. Now we have to hope that there is a quality running back in the draft that will be able to start next year.
Okay, you know that I am bored if I have rambled on for this long. Enough of me, get back to your lives already. Love you all,
Mark
Corpsmen reeling in the flag during hail storm.
Well I guess we now have ice. Probably more palatable than the water we drink.
Hail collection between tents.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Happy Birthday Madeline
February 4th, my daughter’s special day,
And I am unfortunately far away.
What kind of gift should I buy,
That would capture my girl’s eye.
How then the solution came to me,
My daughter’s love of poetry.
Perhaps I could write an ode to thee.
But could I, being so such an anomoly?
For this is the problem you will note,
My literary skills are quit remote.
My views are often very obtuse,
And thus I sound much like Dr. Suess.
So here I am trying to ponder,
The best message to my girl over yonder.
When it comes to me, just to say,
I love you so, happy birthday!
Madeline and I climbed Diamond Head. She is 5.
Madeline in China at age 7.
Madeline, you are becoming a woman, but I will always remember you as the little girl in the pictures above.
Love ya!
Dad
And I am unfortunately far away.
What kind of gift should I buy,
That would capture my girl’s eye.
How then the solution came to me,
My daughter’s love of poetry.
Perhaps I could write an ode to thee.
But could I, being so such an anomoly?
For this is the problem you will note,
My literary skills are quit remote.
My views are often very obtuse,
And thus I sound much like Dr. Suess.
So here I am trying to ponder,
The best message to my girl over yonder.
When it comes to me, just to say,
I love you so, happy birthday!
Madeline and I climbed Diamond Head. She is 5.
Madeline in China at age 7.
Madeline, you are becoming a woman, but I will always remember you as the little girl in the pictures above.
Love ya!
Dad
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
February at last
So the computers are back on and I can once again get in contact with the outside world. I am doing fine now that we are in February. I am due back probably sometime in March which would be great. Now that I am done with my FMF pin, I started to pleasure read again. I am currently reading a book called ‘Three Cups of Tea’ about a man named Greg Mortenson who goes around the most remote areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan and builds schools mostly for girls to assure they get proper education. It is a very engrossing book. If you are looking for an inspirational story, I recommend this book. My next read will be about a great cholera outbreak in Europe.
I am also watching the complete 6 seasons of the Sopranos. I just finished season 4. It is entertaining, but it is starting to get a little old. This guy back stabs that guy because he is sleeping with this woman and so that guy shoots the other guy….Sounds a lot like past turmoil of Afghanistan. I have access to Heros, Lost, Dexter and 24. Any recommendations on which I should start watching next?
One of the allergy associations wants me to write a little blurb about what Navy allergists are doing out here in Afghanistan. I think that they are mistaken that we are actually doing allergy. Hopefully they will not be too disappointed to find out I am taking care of turned ankles, dry skin and runny noses. I included below the picture of myself and my allergy colleague from Bethesda. I am sending this picture into the allergy society. He is in a different uniform because he got augmented to the Army since the Army now depends on other services to do their medical job for them. So he showed up to a battalion with over 800 soldiers and no doctor, no PA, no nurse, just 2 medical techs (less experience than corpsmen). He has since had another 500-700 soldiers come in under the buildup with no further medical support. On top of that a bunch of them are reservists which means medically they are broke. He is much busier than I. He told me the other day that his unit has 3 Army doctors who are all at a bigger base and together see about a third of the patients that he sees. Injustice if you ask me. You have to ask the Navy for docs and you do not even work your organic Army docs as hard.
Okay, that is enough for today. I am going to force myself into a run. I have a half marathon coming up here in 2 weeks and Liz just signed me up for the Rock ‘n’ Roll marathon in June.
Take care
I am also watching the complete 6 seasons of the Sopranos. I just finished season 4. It is entertaining, but it is starting to get a little old. This guy back stabs that guy because he is sleeping with this woman and so that guy shoots the other guy….Sounds a lot like past turmoil of Afghanistan. I have access to Heros, Lost, Dexter and 24. Any recommendations on which I should start watching next?
One of the allergy associations wants me to write a little blurb about what Navy allergists are doing out here in Afghanistan. I think that they are mistaken that we are actually doing allergy. Hopefully they will not be too disappointed to find out I am taking care of turned ankles, dry skin and runny noses. I included below the picture of myself and my allergy colleague from Bethesda. I am sending this picture into the allergy society. He is in a different uniform because he got augmented to the Army since the Army now depends on other services to do their medical job for them. So he showed up to a battalion with over 800 soldiers and no doctor, no PA, no nurse, just 2 medical techs (less experience than corpsmen). He has since had another 500-700 soldiers come in under the buildup with no further medical support. On top of that a bunch of them are reservists which means medically they are broke. He is much busier than I. He told me the other day that his unit has 3 Army doctors who are all at a bigger base and together see about a third of the patients that he sees. Injustice if you ask me. You have to ask the Navy for docs and you do not even work your organic Army docs as hard.
Okay, that is enough for today. I am going to force myself into a run. I have a half marathon coming up here in 2 weeks and Liz just signed me up for the Rock ‘n’ Roll marathon in June.
Take care
Tactical allergists.
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