First Shifts

The beginning of July marks a special event in the genesis of the doctor: spanking new interns work their first shifts as actual physicians.

As one of those interns, it's terrifying. And exhilarating. And exhausting. Once a lowly medical student, you've gone into the chrysalis of fourth year and emerged on the other side a butterfly who doesn't really know how to fly. Fragile. Awkward.

But very very pretty. (Just kidding.)

Some things I saw in my first two shifts as an emergency medicine intern:

• thrown from horse, landed on head
• psychotic patient becoming violent with family members (chief complaint was decreased urination)
• vaginal bleeding x 1.5 months
• abdominal pain in 18 year old female
• drunk, demented old man fell down stairs, cut open forehead
• neck laceration from broken beer bottle
• firework exploded into eye - globe rupture
• drug rash
• accidental finger amputation
• blurry vision x 1 week
• generalized itching with a "rash" that was invisible to my eyes
• out of percocet (x2)
• facial abscess
• urosepsis
• dog bite

Could there be a better field than this??? (I will give you a hint. The answer is no.) OK, so it takes me a ridiculously long time to sew up a small lac (I had to put in some deeps, though). And to write a basic prescription. And to dictate anything. I'll get better with time. And those crazy, funny, heart-warming, smelly, sweet, fantastic patients will still be there.

DT: David Tennant's first acting job

Oh, this is so eighties that it almost hurts to watch. Appears to be an anti-smoking teen sort of thing. A small part, but at least it was a speaking role. :-)

DW: why you should watch Doctor Who -- a brief introduction

Doctor Who is a cult phenomenon here in the US. If you've heard of it at all, it's likely in relation to crazy convention-going sci-fi fanatics who flinch at the sun and smell of elderberries. And yet it's one of the most popular television programs in Britain, where watching it is as much a part of pop culture as something like "Lost" or "The West Wing" is here and it is considered a show for the whole family to enjoy together.

The years and years and years of history can be intimidating to the new viewer -- it started in 1965 and has been going strong ever since. Even in the 15 year hiatus without new TV episodes, the story lived on in books and audio dramas (audio dramas! Radio plays! I love Britain!) and a TV movie. But don't despair -- the 2005 revival was conceived to be accessible to new audiences and it seems likely that the new season beginning in April 2010 under the new direction of showrunner Steven Moffat will be similarly kind to newbies.

So without further ado, a brief introduction to the Doctor.

Medicine: Dr. James Barry

Had to write a paper for my medical history class; this is the result. Interesting to speculate about, to say the least:

The Curious Story of Dr. James Barry
(Who May or May Not Have Been England’s First Female Physician)

In 1809, a young man named James Barry enrolled at the University of Edinburgh as a medical student. He graduated in 1812 and went on to a distinguished yet controversial career as a military surgeon and Inspector-General of Hospitals in the British army. On July 25, 1865, the lifelong bachelor Dr. Barry died, alone and penniless, of dysentery in a rented room. In August, 1865, the servant who had dressed his corpse for burial reported to Army agents and to Barry’s physician, Dr. William McKinnon, that the body she had dressed was a “perfect female.” And thereby hangs a tale.

DW: everywhere and anywhere

New trailer up!

"All of time and space. Everywhere and anywhere. Every star that ever was. Where do you want to start?"

This is why I watch Doctor Who.



(On the off chance that you actually watched it, the effects look a bit dodgy because this was actually shown in 3D in British theaters.)

gleeeeeeeeee!: new preview

So excited!!

Shopping: Chocolat Blu

So excited, darlings!!!

After months and months of looking at Rue La La and finding things I liked that were always either a) sold out or b) not available in my preferred size and/or color or c) way too frakking expensive, I finally managed to make a purchase!



I adore them. I hope they fit. Bring on summer!!!