Switching reading modes

Currently I'm reading hard boiled crime fiction.  It's amazing how poorly I'm doing it.

I skim quickly down the page.  Looking for keywords.  Trying to grasp the concept and move on to the next paragraph as soon as possible.  As always, I'm sensing potential test questions and significant phrases...

Oh wait I'm still in med school.  In a book like "The Big Sleep," by Raymond Chandler, the plot itself is quite thin and few events actually occur.  The value of these books is in the details, NOT, as I am accustomed to, the main point.  Every sentence drips with descriptive phrases and unconventional comparisons: not very conducive to fast reading, but strongly effective at making me realize that I need to SLOW DOWN and enjoy it.  Here are some passages that I spent minutes digesting.

"This is a small gun, kid.  I'll give it you through the navel and it will take three months to get you well enough to walk.  But you'll get well.  So you can walk the nice new gas chamber up in Quentin."

"The girl stopped rigid and screamed.  A beautiful thin tearing scream that rocked me like a left hook."

"Mars flicked the Luger out and pointed it at my chest. 'Open the door.'  I didn't move.  The muzzle of the Luger looked like the mouth of the Second Street tunnel.  But I didn't move.  Not being bullet proof is an idea I had had to get used to."

Unique baby names

Upcoming parents listen up.  This kitschy effort to be more creative by taking a perfectly okay name and contorting it with extra letters and strange substitutes?  It condemns your poor child to a lifetime of respelling his name, explaining its origins, and assuring people that no, my parents were not illiterate.

Extra annoying: these bizarre spellings change the pronunciation.  Kahtherryn is, in the end, still Catherine.  Why change the spelling in the first place?

Jargon that needs to go

The continued proliferation of flatbread is a source of concern and mystery for me.  Has regular bread gotten too puffy for everyone?  Also: touching bread before handing it to me does not make it "artisan."

"Just Sayin"  These two little words are innocuous enough on their own; together, they are poison.  On the outside these words look harmless until you take a closer look and see the danger of using them.  The way this phrase is used is in the form of a pulled punch.  It jars the listener between offended and placated states, while ultimately leaving it up to him to decide on the final interpretation. Those who use this phrase need to realize how cowardly it appears.
"I'm going to say something offensive, but by adding these two words, I won't have to take responsibility for it."

Breakthrough OMM

I applied muscle energy to my own wrist and it works fantastically! 

I've suffered from creaking, stiff wrists for years.  I've tried everything from massage to cortisone shots to surgery without significant benefit.  Last night, while bored at a social gathering, I used the techniques I had learned in school on supinating and pronating my wrists.

I couldn't believe it when immediately the tension seemed to release!  I was so excited for many reasons.  Of course I knew there was a way to apply OMM to the wrists.  I had planned to schedule an appointment with the faculty to help me.  But that takes months to get in for a 30 min appointment.  The problems I have are due to many years of repeated stress; they couldn't be solved in a session.  So I was doubly happy because here is something that I can do myself, daily, whenever I feel like it.  Moreover, it's great to experience the benefits of what I am learning, firsthand.  It really refreshes my faith in the system and encourages me to pursue the art further.

Journey to D.O.-hood: 1/8 of a doctor

Thanks to my wonderful classmate for documenting everything we learned this semester.  It surprises even me to look at all we've done:
Journey to D.O.-hood: 1/8 of a doctor

Semester 1 complete

At a going away party for two of the professors, there was an open mic for those who would like to say goodbyes.  As faculty went up and made their speeches, one of my classmates surprised us all by stepping forward.

She had barely made it to the podium when she started crying!  In between sobs, we heard her story: one of the leaving professors had been her first proctor during practicals.  The other was a fantastic lecturer.

But the real reason for the sudden emotional release? Today marked the end of the first semester of medical school, as well as the release of grades.  Emotions are hot right now.  It's understandable right?  We've been pushing for so long, grinding away dutifully, all for a number.  We've been pacing ourselves like a marathon runner, but with a constant fear: is our speed is fast enough?  Today, we found out if it was.

That barrier we push at has been suddenly and abruptly removed.  At this moment, there's a slight hesitation to relax, worried that I might get too accustomed, too comfortable.  We've spent these months developing methods and habits that work for the lifestyle of a medical student.  And we all know, good habits are easier to destroy than to build.

I'm going to do my best to relax this break and establish a clear divide between my school persona and my......other half? I don't have a name for it, and I'm not sure if I even have one.  But I do know that this break is as good a time as any to make one.

SP Encounter

I know what you're thinking, but no: I didn't travel back in time.

This week, we had our doctoring final in the form of a Standardized Patient (SP) Encounter. Our task was to perform a full physical exam on a stranger in 15 min. I had rehearsed the moves through the entire semester and felt ready.

However, through the week, rumors were spread about how difficult the test was. Especially, students were not able to finish the exam on time. I couldn't imagine the case as I practiced with my roommate each day, achieving average times of 10 minutes.  That the testing situation would take 50% more time?  Inconceivable.

Regardless, tensions grew as more and more people reported magnificent crash-and-burn attempts.  Unexpectedly, my rehearsals grew worse as we tried to incorporate the new suggestions.  The changes felt arbitrary, unnatural.  The night before the big day, I ran my worst exam ever, forgetting to report numerous steps.

The stage was set for uncertainty.  As is ritual on exam days, that morning I had an extra large breakfast (eggs, oatmeal, yogurt, toast, strawberries, blueberries, banana, pineapple).  In the waiting room, I watched my classmates scramble through rehearsals with last-minute intensity.   I closed my eyes and emptied my mind, trying to purge all predictions but the one I intended.

The exam started slowly.  I had trouble building up momentum.  There were no more reassuring nods from the patient, no safety net of notes on the computer behind me, no familiar normal findings.  Forced to tell this patient that yes, she was abnormal.  I was going so slowly!  She wouldn't take off her socks when I asked....I needed to check the feet! Would it be ok if I didn't check?  But she said no!  Come on, move on, must keep going, I wasn't going to get any help.  Wait, I think I'm on the wrong side of the table.  But I'm not sure....quick, think back to the practice at home.  Didn't JG have to lie at the foot of the bed? Yeah....I'm on the wrong side!

2 minute warning came and I'm still working.  I ignore it and continue on.  This is when I shine, when the pressure is on.  I can hold composure.  That's what I tell myself is my redeeming quality.  Time to test if it's true.

At this point, I'm expecting the final call to come at any moment.  The moment the final report left my mouth, the loudspeaker blared the end of the session. I took exactly 14:59 minutes.

Perfection couldn't come any sweeter.