Metro faux pas

So I did it. I did the thing that annoys every single Metro rider.

I was on the down escalator in the Rosslyn Metro this morning and as I stepped off the final step of the escalator, I saw it. The train had just arrived. Now I know that at 8:40, there is another train right behind this one, and usually I simply stroll to the train, knowing I will probably miss that train.

This morning was different. I was running a few minutes ahead of schedule, which actually makes this even more of a curious situation. As the train came into view on my descent on the escalator, the doors of the train just opened and I knew I wanted to get on the train. I started the half walk half run that has been done by every single Metro rider in an attempt to make a train, but my tired self would only allow me to move so fast.

I was getting closer and closer to the train and my goal was getting more and more in sight: I was going to make this train! As I approach the doors they remain open and I gently step on the train hearing the voice "Please step back the doors are closing." I did it. I made the train. Pleased with myself, I begin wondering if I have stepped enough on the train so that my messenger bag has made it on the train as well. The doors begin closing and WHAM. They close between my body and my bag.

I helplessly stand there caught between what I feel like are the jaws of life. The doors have closed about 2/3 of the way, but my bag has stopped them from closing the rest of the way. I next wonder if the train operator recognizes this, and if he hasn't, is there enough space between the wall of the tube and the train that it won't really matter. No, I didn't think about trying to reopen the doors.

Luckily the guy next to me thought about that. After a nice slam to the door, the doors reopen, and I am freed from the grip of the door. And then I hear it. The bell and the voice saying "Please step back, the doors are closing" go off for the 2nd time. And I was the cause of the 2nd time. I always laughed at those people. The one's who have caused all of the doors to the train to reopen. While laughing, I also always got a little annoyed by those people. Can't they make the train like the next one?

So for those of you who may have been on the Orange Line this morning at Rosslyn at around 8:40, I apologize for the pain I may have caused. I know that pain, and for it, I am deeply sorry.

still waiting,
-wait

Block one is done!

As can be gleaned from the previous post, I have just (ok, 4 days ago) finished the first round of exams in medical school. And preliminary reports have the first round going fairly well. The course director for Neuroscience sent out the answer key, and the following day, sent out 2 corrections, which ultimately helped me. Overall, I felt the exams were very fair, and despite all that happened the week leading up to them, I felt that I was pretty well prepared and all of that stuff.

Wednesday afternoon for all of us turned out to be pretty funny looking back on it. We had about 25 unshowered, unshaven and just crazy medical students show up to Friday's at 12PM. We were all ready to just sit back, relax and enjoy the fact that we survived block number 1. We asked our waiter if there were any drink specials. Amidst the laughter, he told us it was 12 o'clock in the afternoon. Noone drinks at this hour. Well, we did. The rest of the day involved hanging out at various people's apartments/houses.

With the first block over, GW dove right back into everything, with class at 9AM on Thursday morning. And it wasn't one of those classes you could skip... It was the one with 10 people in it, and it is more along the lines of why we are actually in medical school - interviewing. This session was a lot on the doctor-patient interactions at the beginning of the interview. So while it was cool, there were some people in our group who had the bottles of water, needed the coffee, and were just trying to stay awake.

Friday was another big day in Gross Anatomy Lab. While the first block was on the upper and lower limbs, the second block of exams is on the thorax (ie: chest) and abdomen. Therefore, we began truly diving into our cadavers. Using what is called a punch saw (I think... it's the same one they use in surgery) we cut through out cadavers ribs and sternum to expose the internal thoracic cavity. On first opening, the most obvious organ sticking out at you are the lungs. Ours had some black in them, but according to Dr. Walsh, cahhbon is cahhbon (think Bostonian accent).

And then finally this weekend, I simply took it easy. I went to dinner on Friday with a few people from med school, and then on Saturday, simply did nothing. I moved at about 0.05 mph all day and it felt absolutely amazing. I felt like the laziest person alive, and that felt pretty awesome. I then went to a classmates house that night, which was really chill and that felt really great too.

So that's about all I have for right now. I will try and be better with this whole posting thing because I know you all are waiting on pins and needles wanting to know how I am.