Here in Washington, we use voting by mail or voting my dropbox. I choose to mail my ballot because I love mail.
Showing posts with label About Me. Show all posts
Showing posts with label About Me. Show all posts
Thursday, July 23, 2020
Saturday, July 6, 2019
Mystery Puzzle SPOILER #1
Warning! This post contains spoilers to a mystery puzzle.
For the past several weeks my wife and I have been working on several different mystery puzzles during the evening when our daughters are asleep. Often these have a short story to set the scene. We then solved the puzzle, where the final puzzle image is NOT the image on the box. Finally, we use the clues in the puzzle to solve the crime/mystery/murder from the short story.
We've had a lot of fun reading the stories and finding the clues hidden in the puzzle. I wanted to share some of these fun final solutions on this blog.
The puzzle that I'm going to reveal is titled "Garfield Seek and find jigsaw puzzle - Camp Out." It's made for ages 6 and up and contains 96 pieces. Published by Great American Puzzle Factory. After completing this puzzle, the added challenge of locating 5 bats and 3 flashlights that are hiding in this picture.
The completed image.
The 5 bats in 3 flashlights.
Thanks for reading,
Dr. Alex
Monday, April 29, 2019
Washington state’s 2019 CDC Childhood Immunization Champion!
This is the start of National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW)! The CDC uses this time to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases and to celebrate the achievements of immunization programs and their partners in promoting healthy communities.
A few days ago I was notified that I am Washington state’s 2019 CDC Childhood Immunization Champion!
The CDC Childhood Immunization Champion Award is an annual award given jointly by the Association of Immunization Managersexternal icon (AIM) and CDC to recognize individuals who make a significant contribution toward improving public health through their work in childhood immunization.
Each year, up to one CDC Childhood Immunization Champion from each of the 50 states, 8 U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States, and the District of Columbia is honored.
Thank you to Pacific Medical Centers and all the great team members, teamwork, and support from our Bothell, Washington Clinic that contributed to this year's success.
Thank you to Snohomish Health District for being an active team and providing guidance to help keep our patients safer and healthier.
Thank you, also, to great media partners like Q13 FOX, Marni Hughes, and Tatevik Aprikyan who never seem to get tired of having me in the studio and modeling a different #bowtie.
Thanks for reading,
Dr. Alex
Saturday, February 10, 2018
If only I had...
Weekly Challenge for Feb 11th 2018 with the topic of “If only I had…”
by Dr. Alex
“I’m getting the band back together!” was my usual rally cry for the for the past month.
“Yes, yes, I know” was Seth’s usual reply.
Reviewing this week’s progress with Seth, “We have Alice set on maracas. Justin likes his high hat. Rachel on xylophone. Now, if only I had a kazoo player.”
“Seth! Really!? I didn’t know you knew how to play this whole time!”
Three weeks later, we were booked for a Thursday evening performance at the Tropicana.
Clearly, this had been some sort of a scheduling error, or a perhaps cruel joke by the departing events manager.
Follow my posts at MedicineManOfSeattle.BlogSpot.Com.
This has been a Stinky Pants Productions with original music by Dr. Alex
by Dr. Alex
“I’m getting the band back together!” was my usual rally cry for the for the past month.
“Yes, yes, I know” was Seth’s usual reply.
Reviewing this week’s progress with Seth, “We have Alice set on maracas. Justin likes his high hat. Rachel on xylophone. Now, if only I had a kazoo player.”
“Seth! Really!? I didn’t know you knew how to play this whole time!”
Three weeks later, we were booked for a Thursday evening performance at the Tropicana.
Clearly, this had been some sort of a scheduling error, or a perhaps cruel joke by the departing events manager.
Follow my posts at MedicineManOfSeattle.BlogSpot.Com.
This has been a Stinky Pants Productions with original music by Dr. Alex
Thanks for reading and listening!
Dr. Alex
Dr. Alex
Friday, February 2, 2018
Why not?
This week's submission for The 100 Word Stories Podcast:
Around the bend came the first set of headlights I’d seen since starting this late night hours journey.
The unknown Packard slowed beside me. Yelling out, he called: “Hey, Buddy, need a lift?”
My socks - no dryer than a used kitchen sponge and the blisters about to pop before completing my walk ahead. “Sure,” I said, “why not?”
Then did I notice poking my right hip a bulge in the map holder. “What’s this?” I asked.
“Oh, that pistol it’s just in case I run into trouble.”
I wonder what sort of trouble we were now looking to find.
Thanks for reading and listening (11:20)!
Dr. Alex
Around the bend came the first set of headlights I’d seen since starting this late night hours journey.
The unknown Packard slowed beside me. Yelling out, he called: “Hey, Buddy, need a lift?”
My socks - no dryer than a used kitchen sponge and the blisters about to pop before completing my walk ahead. “Sure,” I said, “why not?”
Then did I notice poking my right hip a bulge in the map holder. “What’s this?” I asked.
“Oh, that pistol it’s just in case I run into trouble.”
I wonder what sort of trouble we were now looking to find.
Thanks for reading and listening (11:20)!
Dr. Alex
Saturday, January 27, 2018
Pick Two for a 100-word Story
After having so much fun last week, I decided to continue the madness and write a second 100-word story. Interestingly, this week's topic is a pick two from the following: Corner, Tiger, Tie, Please, Encountered, Obsolete, Winter, Webcam.
Jeremy spent the last week preparing himself for battle – tweaking his blank stare after heading advice from his webcam chat room buddies.
He knew he was ready. Then he heard it: “Let’s play Family Feud!”
First to the podium and ready to face off against an exquisite brunette named Sally,
little did Jeremy know that she had also prepared. Her with her leopard print slip under her pencil skirt.
Jeremy, however, was not to be undone, for he had chosen well: his tiger-striped bow tie that showed proudly.
With a flick of his wrist. Buzzer! “Answer?”
“Banana split!” Ding!
#MakeEveryDayABowTieDay
Thanks for reading and listening (3:30)!
Dr. Alex
Jeremy spent the last week preparing himself for battle – tweaking his blank stare after heading advice from his webcam chat room buddies.
He knew he was ready. Then he heard it: “Let’s play Family Feud!”
First to the podium and ready to face off against an exquisite brunette named Sally,
little did Jeremy know that she had also prepared. Her with her leopard print slip under her pencil skirt.
Jeremy, however, was not to be undone, for he had chosen well: his tiger-striped bow tie that showed proudly.
With a flick of his wrist. Buzzer! “Answer?”
“Banana split!” Ding!
#MakeEveryDayABowTieDay
Thanks for reading and listening (3:30)!
Dr. Alex
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Smartypants
I've been a long time listener to The 100 Word Stories Podcast and this week I decided to write my first story!
The topic of this weeks’ story: “Smartypants”
By Dr. Alex
My three year old and I have an agreement of reading two books per night before bed, and this has never been broken.
After this evening’s tantrum over wanting to eat from the trapezoid plate, I was sure she had chosen her “crabby pants” PJs. No, they were this week’s usual Peppa Pig outfit.
An hour later, we finished “The Five Little Firemen,” without so much as a whisper. She scanned her bookshelf and chuckled while reaching for her second book: “Richard Scarry’s Best Storybook Ever - 82 Wonderful Stories.”
Clearly, she had chosen her “smarty pants” to sleep in.
Hear me start my story around minute 2:30: https://oneadayuntilthedayidie.com/?p=33531
Thanks for reading!
The topic of this weeks’ story: “Smartypants”
By Dr. Alex
My three year old and I have an agreement of reading two books per night before bed, and this has never been broken.
After this evening’s tantrum over wanting to eat from the trapezoid plate, I was sure she had chosen her “crabby pants” PJs. No, they were this week’s usual Peppa Pig outfit.
An hour later, we finished “The Five Little Firemen,” without so much as a whisper. She scanned her bookshelf and chuckled while reaching for her second book: “Richard Scarry’s Best Storybook Ever - 82 Wonderful Stories.”
Clearly, she had chosen her “smarty pants” to sleep in.
Hear me start my story around minute 2:30: https://oneadayuntilthedayidie.com/?p=33531
Thanks for reading!
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
RETURNED!
Yes it's true, the Medicine Man and his Wife have both returned to the Seattle area.
Alex has started a new position as an outpatient based pediatrician at Pacific Medical Centers (PacMed) at their Canyon Park, Bothell clinic.
He's also already written an article about surviving seasonal allergies in Seattle and appeared on Q13 FOX for a quick TV spot!
Alex has started a new position as an outpatient based pediatrician at Pacific Medical Centers (PacMed) at their Canyon Park, Bothell clinic.
He's also already written an article about surviving seasonal allergies in Seattle and appeared on Q13 FOX for a quick TV spot!
Monday, January 21, 2013
Never Shall the TWAIN Meet
Heidi was able to use Image Capture after just a click of the button and scan in COLOR and at 600 dpi!!!! Her documents looked great! I, on the other hand, was first limited to B&W and at 300 dpi by using the Neat software package (so far really the best way to keep receipts organized for tax and accounting/business purposes.)
Attempt 1: I received a "Failed to load TWAIN data sources" message and was instructed to re-install the program. Stupid "technology without an important name" sitting between me and my impressive, but not imperative, dream of being able to scan in old high school awards and news paper clippings:
But which program should I tackle first to correct this fatal error?
Surly my Nitro Pro 8 was not the cause as with all it's wonders, I am able to: 1. open pdf files, 2. combine different pdf documents into one lager pdf, and 3. even save just the pages I wanted within a larger pdf file.
So it must have been my Neat scanner/software.... however everything else with scanning and detecting receipts, documents and contacts from business cards worked perfectly (but only in B&W and at lower then optimal scan quality.)
Through tireless searching I found the solution! Don't uninstall or re-install anything. Instead, delete the folders that had "Neat" from "C:\WINDOWS\TWAIN_32" and leave your "C:\WINDOWS\TWAIN_64" files alone.
Attempt 2: SOLVED! Take that Mr. Samuel L Clemens!
Scans in color and at 600 dpi look great with Nitro Pro 8 and I'm able to save files as I choose, with OCR for better searching.
Thanks for reading,
Dr. Alex
Friday, December 28, 2012
An Open Letter to the US Army Corps of Engineers. RE: Gateway Pacific Terminal at Cherry Point
The US Army Corps of Engineers held an open, public, hearing on December 13th, 2012, in conjunction with the Department of Ecology and with representatives from Whatcom County in regards to the Gateway Pacific Terminal at Cherry Point and how an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Scoping Process could look going forward.
As a Board Member for Washington Physicians' for Social Responsibility, I gave a 2 minute professional testimony asking to expand the EIS scope to include impacts of personal and public health. To see my speech jump to 2:47:45.
Here is the text of my speech:
Hello, I’m Alex Hamling, a pediatrician in the Seattle area and a Board Member of Washington Physician’s For Social Responsibility.
I’m here to ask for an increase in scope of the Health Impact Assessment regarding the coal export from the Cherry Point terminal in Whatcom County.
The coal export terminal would degrade community health by increasing pulmonary, cardiac, cancer, and safety risks because of the diesel particulate matter, coal dust, and noise exposure. U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has shown that coal dust exposures at high levels and for prolonged periods of time in coal miners has been linked to increased cases of bronchitis, emphysema, and black lung disease.
The increased train traffic, and the amount of coal being transported will negatively impact local homes and business with the coal dust deposits. The areas affected are vast: locally they include the Downtown Seattle waterfront, Hiram Chittenden Locks, and Golden Gardens.
There is also a risk for localized pollution to air, surface water, groundwater, and soil in communities ranging from Wyoming to China where coal extraction, transportation, and combustion take place. Under-represented communities including the Nooksack River valley would be affected with increased exposure to coal dust from trains.
The coal trains have a negative health impact on people and also on the local ecosystems in Whatcom County. There will be increased stresses on endemic herring in Bellingham Bay, which are an at risk keystone species in the Salish Sea food web. There is risk of contaminating the composition of topsoil within 0.62 miles of Cherry Point terminal, caused by upwards of ~20% coal by weight. Local water sources could be adversely affected by the potential of introducing invasive species when barges empty ballast water at Cherry Point.
I worry that these facts conflict with the values of the community and further that we all have a civic responsibility to the communities of which we are an intricate part.
There is real harm related to the impacts on the local environment and economy, community health, and social equity that should not be overlooked.
Thank you,
Alex Hamling
Thanks for reading,
Dr. Alex
As a Board Member for Washington Physicians' for Social Responsibility, I gave a 2 minute professional testimony asking to expand the EIS scope to include impacts of personal and public health. To see my speech jump to 2:47:45.
Here is the text of my speech:
Hello, I’m Alex Hamling, a pediatrician in the Seattle area and a Board Member of Washington Physician’s For Social Responsibility.
I’m here to ask for an increase in scope of the Health Impact Assessment regarding the coal export from the Cherry Point terminal in Whatcom County.
The coal export terminal would degrade community health by increasing pulmonary, cardiac, cancer, and safety risks because of the diesel particulate matter, coal dust, and noise exposure. U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has shown that coal dust exposures at high levels and for prolonged periods of time in coal miners has been linked to increased cases of bronchitis, emphysema, and black lung disease.
The increased train traffic, and the amount of coal being transported will negatively impact local homes and business with the coal dust deposits. The areas affected are vast: locally they include the Downtown Seattle waterfront, Hiram Chittenden Locks, and Golden Gardens.
There is also a risk for localized pollution to air, surface water, groundwater, and soil in communities ranging from Wyoming to China where coal extraction, transportation, and combustion take place. Under-represented communities including the Nooksack River valley would be affected with increased exposure to coal dust from trains.
The coal trains have a negative health impact on people and also on the local ecosystems in Whatcom County. There will be increased stresses on endemic herring in Bellingham Bay, which are an at risk keystone species in the Salish Sea food web. There is risk of contaminating the composition of topsoil within 0.62 miles of Cherry Point terminal, caused by upwards of ~20% coal by weight. Local water sources could be adversely affected by the potential of introducing invasive species when barges empty ballast water at Cherry Point.
I worry that these facts conflict with the values of the community and further that we all have a civic responsibility to the communities of which we are an intricate part.
There is real harm related to the impacts on the local environment and economy, community health, and social equity that should not be overlooked.
Thank you,
Alex Hamling
Thanks for reading,
Dr. Alex
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Crafternoon Project: April 2012
Canning: Where it all started! WE ARE...
When Thinking of Your Choices for Your 2012 Charitable Contribution:
Think about funding for local cancer research through
If you are interested in donating or you wish to volunteer on our committee
please contact Greg Smith at pogster1@yahoo.com for more information.
Dr. Alex
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Gardening - The Fruits (Veggies) of Life
The day Heidi and I were first introduced to our P-Patch garden in the Roosevelt P-Patch!
Inherited rainbow chard plants!
Inherited beets (see Jason's Journal)...
I can't say that Heidi or I have a fondness for beets... yet. :-)
Heidi and I set off to work and meticulously laid our plans for different seeds that we would order and plant within which month and which month we are expecting to harvest them:
Preplanning how the two gardens are going to be layed out.
Sunset's Western Garden Book (large book, and often seen at used book stores).
Books that we consulted in order to make our decisions:
The Maritime Northwest Garden Guide - Seattle Tilth'sSunset's Western Garden Book (large book, and often seen at used book stores).
What we ended up with for both the Roosevelt P-Patch and the 12th Ave NE home garden:
All our seeds came from The Cooks Garden catalog.
(Tomato starts are still yet to be purchased, most likely from Seattle Tilth plant sale.
Follow along with our actual planting and harvesting schedule (Google Doc)!
What I've made so far:
Beets from the P-patch boiled and then added to the mixture +
Beet greens diced up and sauteed +
Chard from the P-patch sauteed +
Small peppers +
Butternut squash, cubed +
Chirzo =
Classes we've taken so far:
Class 1 - “How to get Started – Garden Planning”
Now is the time to begin preparing your garden for a bountiful spring, summer and beyond. Experienced gardeners know that careful planning now will bring big yields later. This class is geared towards the beginning gardener and will show you how to decide the best crops to grow, select the appropriate seed and design your plot for optimum benefit. You will also learn how to rotate your crops and things you can do now to prepare your soil for planting in the next few weeks. This class will be held indoors.
Location: Bradner Gardens Park, Tuesday April 3, 2012 6:00 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Some of our snap pea seedlings are starting to come up in early April!
Thanks for reading,
Dr. Alex
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Geocaching
A new and recent hobby of mine has been Geocaching! Basically it boils down to hunting for Tupperware or ammo cans in the woods and signing a log book. Sometimes there are trinkets left behind. AND sometimes there are Travelbugs and collectibles left for cachers.
Here's a short list of some of the Travelbugs that I have found:
Kevin's Subie
Gear Aid Geocoin REI3
Scushy
Hobo Joe
And here's a list of Travelbugs that I own:
Eddy's Hot Rod
Wilma's Hot Rod
Seven Summit Geocoin
GC&P Club August 2011 - Checkmate Geocoin
RHG and the Peacock
One of the caches I found in August of 2011: Broose is Loose had a great description and recommendations for all cachers:
As you search for this cache, a few Broose reminders:
1. Fireworks are illegal
2. Don't talk to strangers
3. Check the front door like 3, or 4, or even 5 times to make sure it's locked before you leave
4. Bring a clipboard for any notes you may need to take along the way
5. If its not right, "Just Start Over"
6. When you are done with each and every cache, wash your hands....twice!
* A bonus tip to any husband that Broose would want to pass along: If you forget something in the car and your wife says "It's okay, I'll go back and get it" Don't let her get it, go yourself...she really doesn't want to.
Heidi and I paddle caching from the Waterfront Activities Center on the 4th of July, 2011.
Geocaching on Jetty Island on my 30th Birthday! July 26, 2011.
My first real geocaching experience - Cincinnati, OH, October 2008
Thanks for reading,
Dr. Alex
Thursday, January 20, 2011
A Year in Review - 2010
With a similar recap of my grand adventures from the year 2009 in picture form,
February 2010
March 2010
Snuggie Bar Crawl!!! for World Concern and donations for Haiti.
Great Urban Race in Washington, DC with my sister, Crystal! We place in the top 10% of the 500 teams competing this year!
Dr. Alex
I'm proud to present:
"How I Spent My 2010!"
I have spent over 1 & 1/2 years living in Seattle, since moving from Norwood, OH and I still find myself getting into new adventures and getting out of mischief. January 2010
Every good year starts off with the Resolution Run 5K here in Seattle!
For 2010, I wasn't feeling up for the actual run that morning, and for 2011, I'll be at work. :-(
However, I still believe that if you're the first runner and you don't jump in the the water, then you afflictively lost the race.
I did however eat their chili:
Seattle, while not the oldest city in Washington, still does have some interesting cemeteries, and Meetup.com is always good for a last minute random walk/urban hiking group:
Arthur Denny was the leader of the founders of Seattle.
"Things I've Cooked" exploded with the first recipe I made from my New Orleans cookbook: Crayfish Gumbo with Allison.
Sara and I met and had several off and on months, filled with cooking, dancing, fishing (trying to), camping, etc. until ultimately deciding to part ways for good.
"You'll see!" One day we'll get that fishing down!
I saw the tallest light house in Seattle!
While the lighthouse wasn't terribly impressive, the walk along beach was lovely!
Taking a break from work, both Anita and I beat Bruder, the Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Seattle Children's Hospital, at bowling during residents' appreciation day!
March 2010
Snuggie Bar Crawl!!! for World Concern and donations for Haiti.
My first and so far, only trip to the Arboretum where I also met my friend Chae whom as been a great friend and a wonderful resource for bouncing relationship ideas off of:
April 2010
Trip to Portland, at the Chinese Garden:
Also, storm trooper at the Top Pot 5K (again a race I avoided, after pigging out on donuts pre-race! Sorry Laura!)
May 2010
After an all day race, Laura, Johna, Crystal, Io, and I decided to climb rocks and admire the Potomac River.
I rounded off the month by volunteering with UW's Digital Media Team for the Seattle Works Day and uploaded tons of photos and conducted interviews at several of the day sites:
June 2010
Who runs a race with a brief case?
WE DO!
It's not all fun and games, as we not forget about helping out in Haiti:
July 2010
I really thought there was going to be fireworks at the Firecracker 5K, midnight race! Sorry to disappoint you, Laura (again) and Michael... :-(
August 2010
I found Northern Exposure! Cle Elem, WA conference:
Learned how to can for the first time too!
I'm also a super volunteer at Rebuilding Together Seattle and President of the Young Professional Society:
September 2010
Trip up through Deception Pass after a horse show:
Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett loves our pediatric hospitalist group so much that we were all invited to the "Doctors Prom!" Thanks for being such great arm candy, Anita!
October 2010
Even Midnight likes to get dressed up too!
"Man being blown away by the wind" and "The US Debt."
November 2010
SPAIN!!!!!
Also the month of Movember and cookie baking!
December 2010
Looking good at the Fred Hutch Gala:
Thanks for helping me put up and decorate my tree Sweetheart!
And lastly, "Have suspenders, will build gingerbread houses."
I hope that next year will be just as great!
Thanks for reading,
Dr. Alex
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