The Grass Isn't Always Greener...

I got this idea from OldMDGirl, who writes a blog entitled The Long Road to Medical School. She made a list entitled "Career Preferences du Jour," which intrigued me because every time I go on vacation, my mind starts wandering about what I could do with my life if I weren't an anesthesiologist.

Her "Career Preferences du Jour":
#1 - Bench to Bedside Research in Field of Choice
#2 - Psychiatrist
#3 - Neurologist...
#25 - Pediatric Orthopedist...
#10,000 - Housewife
#999,999,999 - Stick needle in own eyeball
#1,000,000,000 - Ob/Gyn

I laughed out loud at that last one because I couldn't agree more. I am certainly not cut out for that medical specialty! (And though OldMDGirl came away from her anesthesia rotation too with, unfortunately, a very negative impression of the field, and she considers people around my age "really REALLY OLD" :(, we do agree on at least one other thing: one of my favorite books.)

If I had to pick another field within medicine it would probably be neonatology, to combine my love of infants with issues of critical care. But if I weren't currently in medicine, or had never chosen to pursue it, or were to drop it now and change, what would I do? Setting aside for a moment the fact that I have few if any other marketable skills? :)

Fantasy "Career Preferences" du Jour (somewhat tongue-in-cheek), after OldMDGirl

#1 - Chocolate taster - hee-hee!

#2 - Tour guide in Florence or Paris

#3 - Bookstore-café owner

#5 - Museum curator

#7 - Oboist - but I think I wouldn't in a million years have the talent or skill required
#8- Teacher

#9 - Ballet teacher

#10 - Housewife

#11 - Parish educational coordinator

#12 - Art Therapist

#20 - Lab tech

#25 - Food critic
#30 - Caterer...but I think the stress and organization that's part of preparing food for other people might take away my love of food
#50 - Wedding coordinator...but I dread making phone calls and would't love dealing with demanding family members
#999,999,999 - Do something self-injurious

#1,000,000,000 - Ob/Gyn

Hmm...I think I'm gonna have to stick to anesthesia for the time being...so I guess it's back to the O.R. on Monday!

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Addendum:

Did I do anything new during this break?

Answer: Why, yes, as a matter of fact.

-New sight: saw Lake Winnipesaukee from the top of the old Abenaki Fire Tower near Wolfeboro

-New movie: finally saw Almodóvar's film Volver starring Penelope Cruz and loved it so much I watched it again the following morning and added it to my "favorite movies" list

-New dish: made flan for the first time (food scenes in movies and books do that - I either have to try and make what I see, or eat it, or both...)

-New oboe piece: started working on a little Gavotte by Bach. My endurance has really suffered in these last few weeks of spotty practicing. I am paying for it now! Nothing like a little Baroque Boot-camp for us truants...