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Showing posts from April, 2013

Summer Plans!

I've got a big announcement to make!

My Masters program requires us to do an 8-week internship over the summer, as I've mentioned previously. After much stressing and panicking, not all of which has subsided yet, I've booked my tickets to be in Durban, South Africa this summer!

I'm going to be working with a non-profit organization called MatCH (Maternal, Adolescent, and Child Health) doing monitoring and evaluation of some of their projects. If anyone's been to Durban or lives there or knows someone that's been there and has any advice about anything travel-related, PLEASE email me or comment. Let's be real, I could use all the help I can get.

A Picture Worth A Thousand Words

A monumental event in my life took place last Tuesday.

Andrew McMahon

Most of you that have been around a while know about my obsession with all things Andrew and Jack's Mannequin and Something Corporate. These were the first songs I really truly fell in love with, and they've continued to change me in different ways as I've grown up. Last Tuesday, I made an impromptu 2.5-hour trip to Charlotte, NC. I was exhausted from driving and class all day, and until about two hours before, hadn't even been sure I was going to go. I missed the openers, but as soon as I walked into the theater, the energy and the sound of the songs I love made it so so obvious that there was nowhere else I'd rather have been. AND THEN I MET HIM, HOLY CRAPPPP. It was one of those real short 2-minute meetings, but after 9 years of listening to his music, 6 concerts, a set list, and an embarrassing amount of merchandise, it was perfect. It's strange to have a picture mean so much, because it was only moments. I shook the whole drive home, but I can honestly say, it's been a long time since I've been so happy about something.

Boston

I think we can all agree that it has been a shit week.
I can't stop reading articles about the various things that have been going on (though...I also have an essay due in 6 hours, so that's probably contributing), but most of all, Boston. This is the only time something like this has happened since the 2006 Mumbai subway bombings where I had to worry about a safety of beloved family or friends, and it's a horrifying feeling. I am a heavy empathizer, so even when my own aren't directly involved, I tend to get emotional, but being reminded firsthand of what that's like...is scary. I hope you or anyone you know in the Boston area is safe after the blasts and the shooters last night and stays safe for anything to come.

I think it's easy to get disenchanted when something like this occurs. Oh great, another opportunity to racially profile, people are awful, etc. But my EMT instructor was telling us about friends she has in EMS up there, and how incredibly well Mass General and Boston EMS handled the situation. All operating rooms were cleared immediately of non-urgent procedures to accomodate patients from the blasts, and thanks to the stellar response, none of the 300 or so injured people are expected to die (even though there were a number of amputations, severe burns, force injuries, etc.). Runners were crossing the finish line only to keep running to the hospital to donate blood. In fact, enough blood was donated in one day to meet demand. I think that's pretty amazing, and I always hope I would do something as honorable as that in a similar situation. Most people are pretty awesome. Comedian Patton Oswalt put it really well,
"You watch the videos of the carnage and there are people running TOWARDS the destruction to help out...So when you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety misogyny, hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think, "The good outnumber you, and we always will." 

Ride Along

This weekend I got to go on my first clinical ride along for my EMT class, and let me tell you, cooler things there never were. Without violating HIPAA, I want to tell you a little bit about them! First off, let me explain what a ride-along is. Basically, we get to do a 12-hour shift where we go on all the ambulance calls that that department gets and we're allowed to do as much as we've learned in class, which is a good deal by now! I went on three calls (it was a little slow because it was Sunday).
Things I learned:
  • Firefighters cook damn well. Cheesy eggs, biscuits, bacon and hashbrowns for breakfast and the best steak ever, fries and green beans for dinner. My stomach really likes this job.
  • Sometimes people are dumb. We had an "I forgot to eat or drink water for two days." Okaayyy.
  • That checklist you learn in class is just so they can cover everything you should know. And people will look at you weird if you ask why we aren't doing the rest of the medical exam once the chief complaint has been identified.
  • When they're telling you in class that you better document your shit well and quickly, they're not kidding. I could barely remember details for the first call after the second. No way could anyone remember in two years in court. 
  • Fugliest uniform ever. Sorry. And I have bruises from those steel-toed boots. 
Overall, it was awesome! I got to do a bunch of vitals and a couple glucometer readings. I think I was nervous for nothing. I'm really excited for my next one in a couple weeks! It's a Friday night shift, so there's sure to be interesting things.

Tuesday Tunes!

This post is brought to you by accidental, guilty binging on old episodes of Laguna Beach. I would like to apologize to the peers who have had the misfortune of hearing about this rewatch. And also, hello, high school nostalgia.


1. "Come Clean" - Hilary Duff
2. "Screaming Infidelities" - Dashboard Confessional
3. "Soul Meets Body" - Death Cab For Cutie
4. "Here In Your Arms" - Hellogoodbye
5. "Such Great Heights" - The Postal Service
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