Sunday, January 14, 2007
HURRY!!! SWEEP!
I went curling for the first time yesterday.
I've watched it several times on TV. I must say that I was not impressed with it while sitting on my couch.
In reality, it is quite challenging as a sport.
The purpose is to get as many rocks closer to the button than your opponents as possible. Each team is made up of 4 people and each person gets to throw two rocks with each team alternating throws. Your throws are directed toward a bulls-eye (called the house) which is about 3 feet in diameter.
Did I mention that it's played on ice? And that the rocks weigh 42 lbs.? And that you haave to throw the rock down a sheet 146 feet long?
There are many nuances to curling as with any other sport- technique, strategy, communication. It really was a joy to finally learn about the sport. If I had more time, I would probably put some effort into picking it up as a hobby.
Two obstacles:
1) Not many people play it. It would be a big effort just to get the necessary 8 people to play one match.
2) There's only one place that I know of where I would be able to play. And it isn't nearby.
A couple of positives:
1) no equipment is needed- if you're playing at a curling club, they generally have the rocks and brooms that you would need.
2) the people who curl are generally very friendly and very helpful.
It was a lot of fun. I highly recommend you try it if you haven't already.
|
I've watched it several times on TV. I must say that I was not impressed with it while sitting on my couch.
In reality, it is quite challenging as a sport.
The purpose is to get as many rocks closer to the button than your opponents as possible. Each team is made up of 4 people and each person gets to throw two rocks with each team alternating throws. Your throws are directed toward a bulls-eye (called the house) which is about 3 feet in diameter.
Did I mention that it's played on ice? And that the rocks weigh 42 lbs.? And that you haave to throw the rock down a sheet 146 feet long?
There are many nuances to curling as with any other sport- technique, strategy, communication. It really was a joy to finally learn about the sport. If I had more time, I would probably put some effort into picking it up as a hobby.
Two obstacles:
1) Not many people play it. It would be a big effort just to get the necessary 8 people to play one match.
2) There's only one place that I know of where I would be able to play. And it isn't nearby.
A couple of positives:
1) no equipment is needed- if you're playing at a curling club, they generally have the rocks and brooms that you would need.
2) the people who curl are generally very friendly and very helpful.
It was a lot of fun. I highly recommend you try it if you haven't already.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
On tour
I am finally getting the interview season underway for pediatric cardiology fellowship. It's a pretty extensive set of dates so far. The cities include:
Boston, MA
Philadelphia, PA
Pittsburgh, PA
Cleveland, OH x 2
Cincinnati, OH
Detroit, MI
Ann Arbor, MI
Chicago, IL x 2
St. Louis, MO
Denver, CO
San Diego, CA
Seattle, WA
14 dates in all. Most trips are going to be "one and done"- get there the evening before the interview, get through interview and take off the evening of the interview. Thankfully, most of the hotel rooms are paid for by the programs. And in a few cases, I'll be staying with friends (BIG THANKS to Galvez, Becca and Patricia). Looking at it right now, it's too many interviews. Especially considering that through it all, I'll still be working.
In fact, I'll be using my final two weeks of vacation to do 5 of the interviews. It especially sucks because the other two weeks of vacation that I had this year were for my surgery and recovery. So, I really had no vacation this year.
Wish me luck.
|
Boston, MA
Philadelphia, PA
Pittsburgh, PA
Cleveland, OH x 2
Cincinnati, OH
Detroit, MI
Ann Arbor, MI
Chicago, IL x 2
St. Louis, MO
Denver, CO
San Diego, CA
Seattle, WA
14 dates in all. Most trips are going to be "one and done"- get there the evening before the interview, get through interview and take off the evening of the interview. Thankfully, most of the hotel rooms are paid for by the programs. And in a few cases, I'll be staying with friends (BIG THANKS to Galvez, Becca and Patricia). Looking at it right now, it's too many interviews. Especially considering that through it all, I'll still be working.
In fact, I'll be using my final two weeks of vacation to do 5 of the interviews. It especially sucks because the other two weeks of vacation that I had this year were for my surgery and recovery. So, I really had no vacation this year.
Wish me luck.
