I promised an epic entry, and here it is. Finally.
First of all, Med Student Research Day was sooo boring. The presentations were long, the keynote speaker was dry, and the poster session was hot and stuffy and crowded. Plus, all I could think about was leaving the next morning. Suffice it to say, I didn't win.
Now, then, the main event. Friday night I gave Todd his final clue and, though he's too smart for his own good and had figured it out more or less, I think he was pretty excited. We got Popeye's chicken at the slowest "fast food" place ever and went to bed early. Which was delightful, since neither of us slept terribly well and Ashley called at 2:45 am (twice) to see if Todd wanted to hang out. We got up at 4:15 and headed to the airport in the dark. Mobile's airport was quiet (it was early, after all), and it was all pretty simple. We were in the security line before they opened for business (but only by a few minutes). After some coffee (thank god) we got on the plane and thought we might go to sleep. But, seeing as we were sitting next to the tiny kitchen area, we were wrong. Landed in Atlanta with no issue and made it to our departure gate just fine. Got on the plane, and left just about 15 minutes late. Sat next to the kitchen again. "That guy" was sitting behind us. He basically had a new hair cut and was drinking a Heineken. A hour or so later, they tell us we've got storms in NYC and that we're going into a holding pattern over Virginia. Well, a bit later, we're running low on fuel. Gotta land in Richmond to refuel. Oooh boy. We sat on the tarmac in VA for a while. Read the free magazine. Did the crossword. "That guy" kept talking to his friends on the phone and saying "I don't want to say I'm better than them, but it was whack." Literally, the same sentence repeatedly to all of his friends. I say "all", because he can't possibly have more than 5. Anyway, finally, we took off again and headed for LaGuardia, where we landed with little issue. Except for the fact that they couln't drive the plane to the gate. Enter the tow truck, and we get to the gate. Except the jetway won't fit our plane, so we have to deplane through the emergency stairs at the back. Which is awesome in a way, since those of us at the back get to get out before the special folks in first class. So then we got our luggage, waited half an hour on our transport, then headed for the hotel.
Checked in at the Sheraton and got our stuff up to the room. It ain't no Bellagio, but it cost just as much and it did have a nice bed. We went out to the street fair randomly going on out front, and bought stome stuff. Namely, food. Pizza first, then marshmallows on a stick! Super fun. Also, pashminas that don't go to sleep in the washing machine.
After a tiny brief nap, it was time for the show. Yes that's right, I got to see A Chorus Line on Broadway, starring Mario Lopez (AC Slater!), just before it closes, from the 5th (or so) row. It was amazing (even Todd enjoyed it, I think). I laughed so hard...and I teared up a little bit during "What I Did For Love" (which, considering it's setup of "What would you do if you couldn't dance anymore?" sometimes hits me pretty hard). Then we magically got corner table in Times Square on a Saturday night (at Charley O's, not to be confused with O'Charley's) and had a long island each. And then back to the hotel and to be.
Sunday was the main event (ie, the game). We got up at a decent hour and did a bit of touristy stuff before heading to the Bronx. St. Patrick's cathedral (just the outside), Radio City Music Hall, and Rockefeller Center, if memory serves. Todd bought me a present in the Metropolitain Museum of Art store at Rockefeller Center and I do think it's pretty despite his insistences to the contrary. Then we got on the subway (after some confusion because our preferred entry point was unexpectedly closed) and headed to the Bronx. Got there just before the national anthem kicked up. Interestingly, the gender-ambiguous boys on the train were stting in our section and kept getting in our way by standing at the front trying in vain to get a ball from the outfielders.
The game was great, as it was up and down but we won in the end. "That guy #2" was sitting behind us at first, but his heckling was so awesome he had to move up to the front row (which, by the way, is where we were sitting). It was all clean, but fabulously annoying. Garrett Anderson (not to be confused with the guy from High School, who most assuredly is not a black professional baseball player) was decidedly unamused, and kept shooting TG2 dirty stares (espcially after he caught a fly ball). I don't know enough about baseball to really comment on the game other than to say it was fun and we won. So yay.
After the game we milled around a bit, then got on the train and headed back to the hotel. We went back to St. Patrick's and walked around 5th Avenue, but I can't remember what else we did.. We did go to Mickey Mantle's that night for a drink and really just to see it. Sat next to creepy large drunk Canadian man.
Monday was absolutely a whirlwind of tourist activity. Grand Central Station, NY Public Library, Empire State Building, Macy's, Madison Square Garden, Battery Park (Lady Liberty, Ellis Island), Natural History Museum, Central Park. Todd was not up for the Natural History Museum but I was adament because I knew he would like it. And I believe that, despite our having to sprint through it, he did. Everyone loves dinosaurs, after all. And the signs kept saying that one of the raptor species was not extinct, so we were all excited to find one, but then it turned out that it was really just a giant bird that is a descendent who's still kicking around. Boo.
After we finally got back to the hotel, we went down to Little Italy for dinner. This was quite possibly the best meal ever, and though it was kind of expensive it was absolutely worth it. A good bottle of wine, ricotta stuffed eggplant for appetizer. I had the proscuto and mushroom-topped cheese tortellini. Todd had something with shrimp in it. I can't remember...mine was better anyway. We cleaned our plates, and orderd a cannoli for dessert, which we also ate. BUT THEN they brought out another dessert (some kind of fried dough thing, sort of like a crispier version of a beignet) which they apparently give to every table. Who knew?
We were so full that it's a miracle we made it back to the hotel without vomiting on the subway. And I really almost tossed my cookies that night, but I'm glad I didn't because it would be a crying shame to lose that kind of dinner. Really.
Tuesday morning we did something in the morning, I think, but I don't really remember what it was. Then it was off to the airport. The bellman apparently called me "The Mrs." which I found amusing. Flight left on time, with much less excitement. The plane was full of people going to Huntsville, it was weird. Then a thrilling 3.5 hour layover in Atlanta before another (mostly empty) flight to Mobile. The flight attendant called us lovebirds and I'm not sure why except maybe that we did sleep on each other some. When we got to Mobile we thought our luggage was lost but it turns out that it beat us here during our uber long layover. After arrival there was a relatively quick trip to Wal-Mart to stock my fridge, then it was time to go home and go to bed because....
I started Med School at 8 am the next day. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday were were Orientation and they were really rather boring. Be professional. Don't get behind. Work hard. It's going to be tough. You'll probably go crazy. Give us all your money. You know, the usual.
This week we started school. I worry that maybe I should be studying more than I am, but thus far everything we've done has been a review. Literally, with the exception of a few details here and there, none of the material has been new. Which is kind of scary, but is keeping me from going insane. Some people are flipping out already, but I'm still feeling alright. Of course, this may change after the first test block or whatever.
Anatomy lab was much easier to walk into this time. We have a great body, which is pretty fresh and thus everything still looks like it should. He's a big guy so all the structures are large. I'm not totally lost, and I have a good team who started out by asking me for direction, so I seem to have taken on the managerial role, which is fine with me. Let the other kids have their turn to make cuts and (perhaps more importantly) to scrape fat. Anyway, I think we're going to be a good group. And I think I'm going to lke this Med School thing, as much as one can like school, that is.
And that, friends, is my epic entry. The end.
Now, then, the main event. Friday night I gave Todd his final clue and, though he's too smart for his own good and had figured it out more or less, I think he was pretty excited. We got Popeye's chicken at the slowest "fast food" place ever and went to bed early. Which was delightful, since neither of us slept terribly well and Ashley called at 2:45 am (twice) to see if Todd wanted to hang out. We got up at 4:15 and headed to the airport in the dark. Mobile's airport was quiet (it was early, after all), and it was all pretty simple. We were in the security line before they opened for business (but only by a few minutes). After some coffee (thank god) we got on the plane and thought we might go to sleep. But, seeing as we were sitting next to the tiny kitchen area, we were wrong. Landed in Atlanta with no issue and made it to our departure gate just fine. Got on the plane, and left just about 15 minutes late. Sat next to the kitchen again. "That guy" was sitting behind us. He basically had a new hair cut and was drinking a Heineken. A hour or so later, they tell us we've got storms in NYC and that we're going into a holding pattern over Virginia. Well, a bit later, we're running low on fuel. Gotta land in Richmond to refuel. Oooh boy. We sat on the tarmac in VA for a while. Read the free magazine. Did the crossword. "That guy" kept talking to his friends on the phone and saying "I don't want to say I'm better than them, but it was whack." Literally, the same sentence repeatedly to all of his friends. I say "all", because he can't possibly have more than 5. Anyway, finally, we took off again and headed for LaGuardia, where we landed with little issue. Except for the fact that they couln't drive the plane to the gate. Enter the tow truck, and we get to the gate. Except the jetway won't fit our plane, so we have to deplane through the emergency stairs at the back. Which is awesome in a way, since those of us at the back get to get out before the special folks in first class. So then we got our luggage, waited half an hour on our transport, then headed for the hotel.
Checked in at the Sheraton and got our stuff up to the room. It ain't no Bellagio, but it cost just as much and it did have a nice bed. We went out to the street fair randomly going on out front, and bought stome stuff. Namely, food. Pizza first, then marshmallows on a stick! Super fun. Also, pashminas that don't go to sleep in the washing machine.
After a tiny brief nap, it was time for the show. Yes that's right, I got to see A Chorus Line on Broadway, starring Mario Lopez (AC Slater!), just before it closes, from the 5th (or so) row. It was amazing (even Todd enjoyed it, I think). I laughed so hard...and I teared up a little bit during "What I Did For Love" (which, considering it's setup of "What would you do if you couldn't dance anymore?" sometimes hits me pretty hard). Then we magically got corner table in Times Square on a Saturday night (at Charley O's, not to be confused with O'Charley's) and had a long island each. And then back to the hotel and to be.
Sunday was the main event (ie, the game). We got up at a decent hour and did a bit of touristy stuff before heading to the Bronx. St. Patrick's cathedral (just the outside), Radio City Music Hall, and Rockefeller Center, if memory serves. Todd bought me a present in the Metropolitain Museum of Art store at Rockefeller Center and I do think it's pretty despite his insistences to the contrary. Then we got on the subway (after some confusion because our preferred entry point was unexpectedly closed) and headed to the Bronx. Got there just before the national anthem kicked up. Interestingly, the gender-ambiguous boys on the train were stting in our section and kept getting in our way by standing at the front trying in vain to get a ball from the outfielders.
The game was great, as it was up and down but we won in the end. "That guy #2" was sitting behind us at first, but his heckling was so awesome he had to move up to the front row (which, by the way, is where we were sitting). It was all clean, but fabulously annoying. Garrett Anderson (not to be confused with the guy from High School, who most assuredly is not a black professional baseball player) was decidedly unamused, and kept shooting TG2 dirty stares (espcially after he caught a fly ball). I don't know enough about baseball to really comment on the game other than to say it was fun and we won. So yay.
After the game we milled around a bit, then got on the train and headed back to the hotel. We went back to St. Patrick's and walked around 5th Avenue, but I can't remember what else we did.. We did go to Mickey Mantle's that night for a drink and really just to see it. Sat next to creepy large drunk Canadian man.
Monday was absolutely a whirlwind of tourist activity. Grand Central Station, NY Public Library, Empire State Building, Macy's, Madison Square Garden, Battery Park (Lady Liberty, Ellis Island), Natural History Museum, Central Park. Todd was not up for the Natural History Museum but I was adament because I knew he would like it. And I believe that, despite our having to sprint through it, he did. Everyone loves dinosaurs, after all. And the signs kept saying that one of the raptor species was not extinct, so we were all excited to find one, but then it turned out that it was really just a giant bird that is a descendent who's still kicking around. Boo.
After we finally got back to the hotel, we went down to Little Italy for dinner. This was quite possibly the best meal ever, and though it was kind of expensive it was absolutely worth it. A good bottle of wine, ricotta stuffed eggplant for appetizer. I had the proscuto and mushroom-topped cheese tortellini. Todd had something with shrimp in it. I can't remember...mine was better anyway. We cleaned our plates, and orderd a cannoli for dessert, which we also ate. BUT THEN they brought out another dessert (some kind of fried dough thing, sort of like a crispier version of a beignet) which they apparently give to every table. Who knew?
We were so full that it's a miracle we made it back to the hotel without vomiting on the subway. And I really almost tossed my cookies that night, but I'm glad I didn't because it would be a crying shame to lose that kind of dinner. Really.
Tuesday morning we did something in the morning, I think, but I don't really remember what it was. Then it was off to the airport. The bellman apparently called me "The Mrs." which I found amusing. Flight left on time, with much less excitement. The plane was full of people going to Huntsville, it was weird. Then a thrilling 3.5 hour layover in Atlanta before another (mostly empty) flight to Mobile. The flight attendant called us lovebirds and I'm not sure why except maybe that we did sleep on each other some. When we got to Mobile we thought our luggage was lost but it turns out that it beat us here during our uber long layover. After arrival there was a relatively quick trip to Wal-Mart to stock my fridge, then it was time to go home and go to bed because....
I started Med School at 8 am the next day. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday were were Orientation and they were really rather boring. Be professional. Don't get behind. Work hard. It's going to be tough. You'll probably go crazy. Give us all your money. You know, the usual.
This week we started school. I worry that maybe I should be studying more than I am, but thus far everything we've done has been a review. Literally, with the exception of a few details here and there, none of the material has been new. Which is kind of scary, but is keeping me from going insane. Some people are flipping out already, but I'm still feeling alright. Of course, this may change after the first test block or whatever.
Anatomy lab was much easier to walk into this time. We have a great body, which is pretty fresh and thus everything still looks like it should. He's a big guy so all the structures are large. I'm not totally lost, and I have a good team who started out by asking me for direction, so I seem to have taken on the managerial role, which is fine with me. Let the other kids have their turn to make cuts and (perhaps more importantly) to scrape fat. Anyway, I think we're going to be a good group. And I think I'm going to lke this Med School thing, as much as one can like school, that is.
And that, friends, is my epic entry. The end.