Rural Rounds

I'm just about ready to put a bullet in my Jeep after the recent headaches it's putting me through. First the whole brake system needed replacement, then a belt pulley all but broke, and in the last few days I am hearing a new noise under the hood. I'll be very frustrated if I have to pay for much more here lately to repair my Jeep. Last Wednesday I had a special opportunity to visit someone. Classmate Janette McVey, currently on pediatrics, informed me that Edward, the African refuge child I cared for during my inpatient month, had a well child visit on November 14th. She told me he and his family would really like me to stop in and pay a visit. After clearing it with my chief resident last week while on inpatient, I was able to drive over to Green Meadows post-call and surprise Edward by walking into his exam room. Edward greeted me by walking! He is completely without need of a walker or cane now, and easily sauntered to me and hugged me as I knelt to grab him in a big e...

Recently I've run into some serious problems with my brakes on my Jeep, that forced me into taking it to a garage last Saturday to be inspected. I was expecting a minor problem; my friend Adam had helped me look at it and thought the problem was only a leaky rear wheel cylinder, letting air into the brake lines and lowering the braking pressure. When I got an estimate from the mechanic it was around $350, and consisted of replacing both rear wheel cylinders, both rear wheel brakes, and new wheel drums. After talking with my father and then calling Adam again I decided to get a second opinion and new estimate. In between patient visits I called around a few recommended mechanics and found a second one I felt comfortable going to. After taking my Jeep to them yesterday, though, they found that all breaks needed to be replaced, and the front rotors and rear cylinders, but the drums could be spared. It would actually cost me almost $500 to repair. Since Saturday I have had to rely on t...