Island Med Student

Tomorrow is officially Halloween (October 31st), but a lot of kiddies seem to be celebrating it today. Halloween has always been one of my most favorite holidays. I love dressing up in costumes, and and some of my most favorite memories are of trick-or-treating as a child. My mom being the coolest mom, we pretty much always had homemade costumes instead of store bought ones. I went as wonderful things like Strawberry Shortcake, a princess, Laura Ingalls Wilder (who by the way shares my birthday), She-Ra (Princess of Power), and a cheerleader. All costumes made by my very awesome and creative mother. Since I have three sisters, and no brothers, we were frequently dressed in similar matching costumes.

In other news, I’m loving the feeling of fall right now. The gorgeous leaves in wonderful and vibrant colors. The smell of the crisp air.

I’m still on a hiatus from rotations, and hope to be starting an elective on Monday. I’ve knocked out three residency interviews so far, and still have a bunch more to go.

Today I went grocery shopping and then came home and took the doggies on a nice long run. We went down Myrtle Avenue and over the Brooklyn Bridge into Chinatown. Halfway back my iPod died, and my knee started to act up so I had to walk most of the way home. But a good time was had by all, and I rocked a 12-mile run.

I’m about to make some dinner, reply to some emails, and then likely call it a night. I doubt I’ll be going out tomorrow night for Halloween since I’m short on money and still recovering from the flu. It will be the first time I haven’t dressed up and gone out for Halloween in a long time. I guess I’m getting old.

But I still dress up in costumes on days other than Halloween, so I think it all evens out.

Three of the above photos are from last year’s Halloween during my surgery rotation. Great photos from our winning entry in the hospital pumpkin carving/decorating contest. Man, I miss those days!

Brooklyn Bridge Photo by Carlos Seo

My obsession with documenting trash, baby strollers, and doll parts on city streets continues…

I took this first photo in Bushwick a few days ago.

These photos were taken several weeks ago in Bushwick.

And finally, this photo that I took in Baltimore over a year ago.

Where do all these doll parts come from? I guess I’ll never know.

“Yo Brooklyn, Fuhgeddaboudit” Photo Series

Photo was taken yesterday during a walk in Bmore. Speaking of walks, I went for a very long one with the doggies the other day. I ended up in a pretty ghetto area of Bmore. I heard a lot of interesting remarks and conversations as I walked around, but this one takes the cake.

Girl: “My name is Susie and I like to f*** butt.” (Rapped)
Guy: “Yo b*tch, shut the f*** up!”
Girl: “F*** you!”
Guy (to Me): Yo baby, where’s yoooo boyfriend at?

Love it!

“Baltimore – The Greatest City in America” photo series

This weekend, I headed down to Baltimore for the first time in over 4 months to attend Micah’s father’s 60th birthday celebration. I had a great time during the party and also enjoyed seeing people that I hadn’t seen in forever. It was strange at first being in Baltimore, but I’m starting to remember what I love about this city.

Before I left Brooklyn, I took some pics of trash that I saw on the streets. When I got to Baltimore, I did the same. I think I have a trash obsession. Something about photographing the different types of trash and different places you find trash in different cities is very fascinating to me. I found another dead balloon, for example, similar to the one I found in Brooklyn. I guess it makes sense that when a balloon flies away, it eventually has to come back down to earth. I always wonder how far the balloon travelled before coming back down.

In Baltimore, I walked down the same street that I had photographed over 5 months ago, and I think I found some of the exact same pieces of trash! But now, the trash has leaves surrounding it. Very interesting to me. Maybe not to everyone else!

Anyway, I want to continue documenting trash in various cities, and I eventually want to put together some type of photo collection or video. Stay tuned for more trash!

Click Here To View the Updated Baltimore Photo Collection

Click Here To View the Updated Brooklyn Photo Collection

Today’s pic was taken at a MICA gallery. It’s a sweet ball of hoses.

In other news, my Internet saga continues, and hence I apologize for not posting in many days and for all the unreturned emails.

I think I have found a place to live in Brooklyn, though. I might be moving in a few days. More news to follow…

“Baltimore – The Greatest City in America” photo series

Seen in an alley nearby my apartment. This is how I feel right now. I wonder what the story is behind this stroller…

“Baltimore – The Greatest City in America” photo series

Believe. Yet another slogan that is pasted all over the city of Baltimore. You can see it on trash cans, park benches, bus stops, and just about anywhere else you can imagine. I’ve even seen bumper stickers that say “Blieve, Hon” playing on the infamous Baltimorean accent and regional affectionate slang.

I think the word, “Believe,” has now actually taken on more than what it originally meant, but here is an explanation that I found in the New York Times:

Believe. One word, printed in black and white, as if things were that clear. It began as a high-concept public relations campaign, begun by the mayor, Martin O’Malley, to tackle Baltimore’s most infamous problem, drug crime. For years, the city had been at or near the top of the list of per-capita misery statistics: most murders, most addicts, most high school dropouts, most cases of H.I.V. and syphilis.

Believe was a way to address those ills, not through programs, but through commercials, banners and bumper stickers. Few cities had ever tried anything so abstract.

This photo isn’t the best one, but I never seem to have my camera on me when I see a good example. I promise to find some better ones in the future!

“Baltimore – The Greatest City in America” photo series

Today’s Baltimore pic is a sign hanging on the jail on Eager Street, just a few blocks from our apartment. Apparently, someone was shot in the head in a liquor store just a few blocks away from us last night. Unfortunately, I guess the sign wasn’t effective in that case.

Anyway, I promise to start posting more frequently as soon as my Internet works properly!

“Baltimore – The Greatest City in America” photo series

I live right above Penn Station, a large train station that is serviced by the Marc, and Amtrak. I took this photo a few nights ago.

Note the sculpture in front of the station. Wikipedia says this on the controversy surrounding it:

In 2004, the City of Baltimore, through its public arts program, commissioned noted sculptor Jonathan Borofsky to create a sculpture as the centerpiece of a re-designed plaza in front of Penn Station. His work, a 51-foot (15.5 m)-tall aluminum statue entitled “Male/Female”, has generated considerable controversy ever since. Its defenders cite the contemporary imagery and artistic expression as complementing an urban landscape, while opponents criticize what they decry as a clash with Penn Station’s Beaux-Arts architecture, detracting from its classic lines.

I can’t decide if I agree or not. It does seem strangely out of place. But sometimes, unique juxtapositions can be nice. What do you think?

“Baltimore – The Greatest City in America” photo series

I took this photo while walking down to the harbor on the 4th. I just thought it was a coolio pic.

“Baltimore – The Greatest City in America” photo series