Conan and anticipation

This morning I sent out letters to all of the medical schools that I am waiting to hear from, along with the schools I am on a pre-interview hold. The letter is pretty much the same letter to each school, I just switched the names, and scoured the websites to find one or 2 "unique" tidbits about each school to which I was writing. Hopefully one (or more) of these schools will the sincerity of my last ditch effort to score an interview.

I had these letters in the mailbox to go out, and when Ian came home from class today, he pulled them all out of the mailbox thinking it was the mail for the day. He said he looked through them all and was pretty shocked at the amount of mail from med schools I got today, thinking it was a pretty big weekend. And then he realized that my name was in the return address and the schools name was in the "To:" section of the envelope. Thankfully, he put them back in the mailbox, and the mailman took them away. (Presumably to their destination). The mailman didn't deliver any news to me today, which is kind of good considering I would feel pretty dumb mailing off the letter on the day I got rejected from the school.

Tomorrow, President Bush gives his State of the Union address. While I will be somewhat interested in what he has to say about Healthcare Reform, I am more excited for Late Night with Conan O'Brien's State of the Show address (at least that's what it should be). This would probably be the best annual event Conan puts on. I say best annual event, because the best Conan ever was the episode where he had U2 on and devoted the entire show to them. That might have been the most amazing 60 minutes of television. Conan and U2. Ah-mazing. That is where the background of my computer comes from, which I posted a few posts ago. Long story short, watch Conan tomorrow night, it will be funny.

In related Conan news, he was invited to Finland after his endorsement of Tarja Halonen (who coincidentally won the election) I expect them to come back with some hilarious sketches in Finland, especially considering the resemblance he bears to the president.

Alright, enough Conan, and enough typing.

I should be hearing from WVU this week. If I get rejected or waitlisted, I will probably be upset and not post right away. If I get accepted I will probably be too excited and too busy on the phone and doing whatever else that I won't post right away. That being said, if I don't post for a few more days, that doesn't mean anything good or bad happened with WVU, so don't read into it. The anticipation is killing me. I digress. (I added that because my sister gets really upset when I say "I digress" because I apparently do that too much)

still waiting,
-wait

Drexel and Meds at Crossover

I've had a pretty long about 30 hours now. For awhile, I've known that Darci (who lives in California) had an interview at Drexel in Philadelphia today. And for the past about week, Erin had been bugging me to drive up to DC on Monday afternoon, so that I could accompany her to go to Philly to visit Darci. I was mixed on it for a few days because that would have meant 1.5 hours driving to DC, then about 3 more to Philly, and then of course I had to get back.

At 1130 yesterday morning, I decided to go for it. So I high tailed it out of Richmond so that I could make it to DC by 1, so that we could pick up Darci at the airport in Philly. We also stopped in Baltimore to pick up Nimmi (she works at Hopkins). Darci knew that those 2 were coming, but had no idea about me. So we're driving up to the airport (and considering who all was involved, we were late) and Nimmi is on the phone with her saying she is getting out of the car to meet her. When in reality, it was me getting out of the car to Darci's shock because she didn't think I would be stupid enough to make the drive. I decided to do it mainly to see Darci, but also to get a little bit of a break from Richmond. I've been feeling pretty low about all this crap lately, and I thought an afternoon of meeting up with Georgetown friends might be the ticket.

We eventually make our way over to Drexel at around 430 and I had the idea that since we were there, to go into the admissions office and ask about our (Nimmi and my) applications. The lady there was really nice and stopped what she was doing, looked us up in the computer, and told us (nothing I didn't know --hold-- but in this process it's always nice to ask questions you already know so you aren't surprised and react badly (or goodly... is that a word?))

After that, we met up with Shireen and went to a restaurant in this cool place close to Drexel called Manayunk. I think it's kind of like M Street, without the attitude. There, the 5 of us talked about our year last year and who's doing what, how there was some definite Physio-incest, among other things. We stopped by Shireen's place, and then hit the road back towards Baltimore/DC/Richmond. So essentially I took a tour of the Mid-Atlantic Coast yesterday, being in 4 major cities, 4 states, and probably something like 7 or 8 area codes, all in about a 12 hour period.

I definetely had a lot of fun, and it was a good "mental health day" for me.

On a completely different note, the situation about the medicines at Crossover was clarified to me yesterday. Crossover has actually 2 ways of getting medicine. The first way is that they have actually purchased medicine and the second is a donation through a pharmacuetical company. It is the latter that has been withdrawn (the shelves are empty in the pharmacy). So it is not like Crossover is not giving out medicine, the supply is just very limited. There are now very strict guidelines on income requirements in order to get medicine even from the batch that CrossOver has purchased, and that is probably due in part to the fact that once the charts are straightened out, they will get the medicine back from the pharmacuetical company. I just thought I would clarify.

No other news on med schools. Hopefully my showing up at Drexel puts a good word in for me and they can slide me in somewhere. That would be sweet. So wish me luck.

(And no, WVU has not mailed me anything yet. I am not sure what to think)

still waiting,
-wait

U2 and Wedding Crashers

Just got back from bowling (well about an hour ago). I kicked some tail (haha yeah right). Just thought I'd throw some thoughts up on the wall.

1. Remember a couple posts ago I said I have been listening to Better than Ezra nonstop? Well the band has changed. It is now U2. Thursday night I actually watched their DVD of "Rattle and Hum" and then Ian and I went to Chipotle, and we listened to U2 the whole way there (and back, believe it or not). I listened to them last night on my near 2 hour drive to nowhere. And guess what, I am listening to them right now (with headphones... not sure the roommates would be to keen on me blasting it at 245AM.) Top 2 songs right now - "Where the Streets Have No Name" and "Stuck in a Moment" the latter of which kinda describes (ok a lot) how I am feeling. I have included the lyrics to this song at the end. Oh, also check out the background on my computer... what a combination (this show was amazing, btw):


2. Along with listening to U2, I have watched Wedding Crashers twice this week, and cannot get enough of it. Whether it is lines like "Erroneous! Erroneous!! Erroneous on both accounts" or "Good question, I like where you're head's at and the answer is actually 2" or "Well the proper girl just eye fucked the shit out of me" or "Rule 76, no excuses, play like a champion" or " 'We lost a lot of good men out there' 'While you were playing with the Yankees?' 'Well yeah to trades... I just don't want to talk about it' " or "Crabcakes and football, that's what Maryland does" and that's about all that sticks out right now. I feel like this is a movie that only gets funnier each time you watch it. So if you haven't seen in, do that. Now.

3. Cecelia was correct in the reference to Uncle Jesse from Full House. Kudos to her. I am not sure who is the bigger nerd: I came up with the question, but Cecelia actually got it in a very short period of time. Speaking of Full House, over the summer I watched some reruns of America's Funniest Home Videos with none other than Bob Saget, and I swear he is either drunk or high (maybe both?) If you haven't watched an old episode in awhile, I suggest going back and doing that.

I have given you a lot to watch. I guess this would be because I am sick of watching my mailbox for mail from WVU. I sat impatiently today waiting for the mailman (ask Ian and Sara) while we were playing scrabble... which I won. I guess that Master's degree is good for something. I did lose in minigolf this afternoon though by 1 shot. I honestly thought I had an extra shot to spare, so I wanted to make sure I at least tied so I went way conservative with the ball not landing in the hole, but very close.

Well I just realized that it's 3AM... so I should go to sleep.

still waiting,
-wait



Here are the lyrics to Stuck in a Moment... sweet song!
Stuck in a moment

I’m not afraid of anything in this world
There’s nothing you can throw at me that I haven’t already heard
I’m just trying to find a decent melody
A song that I can sing in my own company

You’ve got to get yourself together
You’ve got stuck in a moment
And now you can’t get out of it
Don’t say that later will be better
Now you’re stuck in a moment
And you can’t get out of it

I will not forsake the colours that you bring
The nights you filled with fireworks, they left you with nothing
I am still enchanted by the light you brought to me
I listen through your ears, through your eyes I can see

And you are such a fool
To worry like you do
I know it’s tough
And you can never get enough
Of what you don’t really need now, my, oh my

You’ve got to get yourself together
You’ve got stuck in a moment
And you can’t get out of it
Oh love, look at you now
You’ve got yourself stuck in a moment
And you can’t get out of it

I was unconscious, half asleep
The water is warm till you discover how deep
I wasn’t jumping, for me it was a fall
It’s a long way down to nothing at all

You’ve got to get yourself together
You’ve got stuck in a moment
And you can’t get out of it
Don’t say that later will be better
Now you’re stuck in a moment
And you can’t get out of it

And if the night runs over
And if the day won’t last
And if our way should falter
Along the stony pass
It’s just a moment
This time will pass

Blonde moment

Here's a blonde moment for your entertainment:

Empathy

I forgot to add this earlier.

I emailed the dean at GW simply to say thank you for letting me know about my decision and being in contact with me throughout the process. She responded this afternoon saying that it was her pleasure and to "Just hang in there". Made me feel a little better.

For the first time, I feel like someone in an admissions office is empathizing with a distressed applicant. So that makes me feel a little better.


I just did a google search on empathy since I want to add more pictures, and came across the picture on the left. Which brings me to the random trivia question. Who remembers the sitcom where the empathy belly was actually worn? And by who? First person to answer correctly gets... I don't know. Pride?







Alright, I just wanted to post that bit I got from the dean today for you all to enjoy.

still waiting,
-wait

Conan and Paris

As many of you know, for me when Conan comes on that means it's bedtime. Now that I am waking up around 7, this is proving to be a bit harder of a bedtime; however I would like mention that I am still a HUGE fan of Conan O'Brien and it is my hope that one day, I will be on his show since there are many of you out there who believe I bear a resemblance to him. This may be wishful thinking, however he has had other look-a-likes on the show before. The only thing I really need is red hair, and since I was actually born with red hair, maybe one day I will go back.
The impetus for this blog, however is the discovery of a page on CNN.com (found through Mike Lee's im profile) and how Conan and the president of Finland looks alike. CNN.com

For some reason I thought this was pretty funny, as are his numerous jokes about the Finnish election on the show. I probably laugh too much at Conan. I also thought it would be worthwhile to post on something lighthearted while being able to learn something about a foreign country, and how the election can be influenced by a late night comedy host, who bears the resemblance to me.

One of my favorite Conan jokes is: "Paris Hilton's movie, 'House of Wax' made over 12 million dollars on its opening weekend. Which makes it Paris Hilton's second biggest opening."

(Really, I can't believe I have a picture of Paris Hilton in this)


Ian and I went on a bike ride this afternoon and he scared the crap out of me. We ride this area called West Creek which is a 3 mile road which is an out and back kind of thing. I kinda headed out front, and I didn't see him on the turnaround or at all on the way back. So despite my chest killing I went strong back to the car and started pulling out and he came around the corner. I felt better. As for right now, my chest is really tight and phlegmy. Yummy.

Let's be honest, this post is really me procrastinating on letters I need to write for medical schools. So I should probably get to that. Enough rambling for tonight.

still waiting
-wait

Insult to Injury

Yesterday, I made my 20 minute drive home from work with my windows down and radio blaring some Better Than Ezra. I have been listening to Better Than Ezra a bunch lately, and yesterday, I needed to have this cathartic drive home after another grueling day of scanning at the OB/GYN office.

I realized at one point yesterday that it was Friday the 13th, and a coworker pointed out that there was gonna be a full moon last night too. I am not superstituous so I really didn't think too much about this; when I think back to yesterday's events, if I hadn't gotten out of bed it would have been a much better day.

I decided to check my email around 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon for the first time all day, and low and behold there was a response from the dean of admissions at GW (I emailed her earlier in the week). She informed me that I was being put on the alternate list (waitlist) and reassured me that the committee has been conservative this year in offering acceptances. Crushed probably only starts to come close to how I felt after reading that email. I attempted to hold back the tears; my eyes watered nonetheless. Luckily I was next to a window (we're on the 3rd floor) so I could just stare out that window as I regained my composure. The second 4:30 hit, I was out of there sooner than you can imagine and hopped in my car and spent the next 20 minutes flying down 95, windows open, and music blasting (it was about 65 yesterday, so it's not like I was freezing my tail off.)

I walked into my house, looked at the mail (luckily no rejection letters), and promptly climbed into bed and turned on A Few Good Men. Some time later, Ian came home and all I could tell him was to check his email, as I had emailed him earlier in the day with some choice words that when I think about, should remember that work can monitor my emails. Water over the dam. So he checked his email and realized why I was in bed at 630 on a Friday night.

We eventually headed to dinner, and on the way home stopped at Kroger and picked up a case of New Castle and a bottle of wine (each). We rented "Kicking and Screaming" along with "The Longest Yard" (sidenote: don't go to a rental place at 9 oclock on a Friday night, which I already actually knew, but was in no mood to think about that). And this morning, there are 2 empty wine bottles, 6 empty beer bottles and a bottle of Advil that is about to be emptied.

Another sidenote: After last night, I really should seek this idea a couple of us had this summer which is a breathalyzer for your phone. (at one point I realized I had called 13 people, and thought that 13 is a really unlucky number so I called more people).

Ian and I then made it to Denny's this morning (yes, actual morning), and as we were driving up, our mailman had just dropped off the mail, and in today's mail I got the official notification of my alternate status. This of course, after dreaming last night that I was actually accepted, and the dean had written on the letter "Hope you liked my joke [smily face]" So insult to injury.

I guess the waiting game really starts now. (Also, I am feeling too lazy to do the picture thing right now. It'll come in due time)

still freaking waiting,
-wait

P.S. This may sound rash, but please please please refrain from the "At least you got on the waitlist so that is a good thing" comments. I was on 1 waitlist 2 years ago, and 4 waitlists last year. I really don't need to hear how "good" waitlists are because in my experience, waitlist = rejection. Thank you.

Maryland/Duke

Well I wish I could refer to the college basketball game that was played tonight between 2 ACC powerhouses, although I should be somewhat wary of using the term "powerhouse" in reference to Maryland tonight as they seemed to be hardly a speedbump in the way of Duke's season. As I told Ian, I love to hate Coach K, but I can't help but respect him. I look at awe what he can do with a team, and I can only think that by this time next year, the year after and the year after we will all be hating on Paulus like we hate on J.J. this year. Ugh. I feel the ACC always houses such good teams and a lot of times get less respect than is due, due to the fact that once conference play starts all the teams really start beating up on each other. I mean I feel it is real hard to believe that BC is still winless in their inaugural season in the conference... I digress.

Well, Conan is about to come on, meaning I am up way too late. So I am out of here.

still waiting
-wait

Georgetown

From the title (and possibly the picture) you can probably guess something happened with Georgetown. I came home today to find a nice little letter from Georgetown School of Medicine saying that my application has been personal consideration, yet the committee is unable to offer me a place in their class.

In getting my numerous rejections over the past years, I have grown pretty accustomed to getting them. "oh, another rejection" and usually it doesn't bother me too much. (Save EVMS this year, and possibly VCU.... and nevermind on BU -- see the earlier entry where I decided that 4 oclock was an ok time to start drinking following receipt of that rejection... I digress).

However, I feel something more from Georgetown. All things considered, I spent a year there last year, and the least they could do is give me further consideration, ie: an interview. They interview over 1000 people a year, so can't they let a few more slide in (ie: Darci, Droker etc.)

Oh man.... I know this is a crapshoot - that much I have learned over the last few years. And I know it is always a rollercoaster ride, so even though I am low today, tomorrow can be a different day.

still waiting
-wait

Med School info.

Since I figured out the picture thing (which wasn't that hard) I decided to take a picture of the wall where I have my whole medical school listings. I realized in doing this, that I failed to mention that I am on a pre-interview hold at Drexel and Albany. Obviously I didn't lose any sleep over this, nor was it that exciting since I basically read the emails and forgot. If I had been on top of this, I would have updated each time I heard from somewhere (and let's be honest, I went through and "re-did" the process taking pictures after each change, but I thought that was overkill, so you just see where I am right now).

Hopefully you can read it, if not here is the update:
Accept/Waitlist - None
Interview - GWU and WVU
"Holding Pattern" - PSU, Maryland, Drexel and Albany
Waiting - Gtown, Jefferson, NYMC, SLU, Temple, Tufts, Tulane and Cinci
Reject - Wake, VCU, EVMS, BU, Case, AECOM

So there you have it. And see, I really am making strides towards making this a better blog. Something you can REALLY look forward to reading. Haha, yeah right.

still waiting
-wait

Back in Action

Well after my "break" in Florida, I am back in Richmond. I know I haven't updated in awhile, but let's just say that internet while in Florida was horrible, at best. I got really good at minesweeper while waiting to sign online (263 on expert setting... woooo and to think, I had never beaten the expert setting before 3 weeks ago).

Florida was nice, I got a nice reprieve from Richmond, not that there was really anything going on that I needed a reprieve from. Alas, 2 and a half weeks in the sunshine state allowed me to work on my tan -- which was noticed by a bunch of people. Well, the freckles on my face were noticed. Cause in the sun, I turn into a freckle. I made some money during the time, as I work with the children's program at the hotel that we are beach club members at. It's a pretty cush job -- I "work" for an hour and a half each night (5-6:30) and then from 6:30-7, everyone who worked hangs out and has cocktail hour, where the drinks are paid for by the hotel (Pina Colada with a topper of Rum every night). And on top of it, we get paid $35. So essentially I made $45 a night (the hotel is a little pricey on the alcohol - $8 for the Pina, $2 for the extra shot).

I also got golf clubs for christmas! You will all see me on tour in the fall. Yeah... right. So my days were pretty rough -- On the days I golfed, I got to the driving range by 10, and was there until about 1230. I then went home and made it to the beach by 130. I sat on the beach until about 4, and then went home, showered, and was at work by 430 and then dinner at 7. I then watched TV, with lots of football in the last week. So yeah.

I flew back Friday night -- the flight took off at 8, and we were on the ground in DC by 9:40. That is probably record timing for the Ft. Lauderdale-DC run. Usually it takes 2.5 hours. So that was really nice. I always find it funny that it is only in the last 10-15 minutes of the flight that strangers sitting next to each other start talking. I think it serves as a time where you seem like you are pretty nice, but you don't have the burden of holding a conversation for the entire 2 hours of the flight. Pleasentries exchanged with my neighbor, I made my way to baggage claim and got bags and was off to norther virginia, spending the night with Claudine, Olivia and Mo. I spent Saturday afternoon in a bar watching the skins game and made it to Richmond by 10 oclock Saturday night.

During the entirety of break, I received correspondence from only one medical school -- Albert Einstein College of Medicine (at Yeshiva University), which is in the Bronx. The correspondance told me that I was not going to be hanging out with the Jews in the Bronx next year (read: I was rejected). Ah well. The 2nd committee meets on Friday for my interview at WVU. Which means by next week I should probably hear something. I am trying not to think about it, but since I did not go to Richmond between the interview and Florida, lots of people here are asking how it went, and whether or not I have heard everything, so inevitably I am hearing lots and lots about it.

So that is the update on the last three weeks. Short enough... meaning I really didn't do much! I will be updating more frequently now that I am back in Richmond and have more reliable internet.

still waiting
-wait

PS. Obviously you noticed a bit of a change. I am going to try and play with this some more and maybe add pictures. We'll see how technical I can get (probably not so much) And I just read it's really not that hard to add pictures. I will start experimenting.