Here in center frame, here there's only air... and just enough space to fit

Clarity, Jimmy Eat World’s release in 1999 (before they exploded into the pop music scene) is my favorite album of all time. I remember in high school hearing this great song on the radio that went something like “you’re not bigger than this, not better, why can you learn?” and I fell in love! But what was the name? Who was the band? The mystery song made it onto a mixtape I took to college, radio static and all.

Skip forward a few tracks to junior year of college. I remember being at KWUR and popping in an old Jimmy Eat World CD. I thought, “wow, I like their new stuff, I wonder how their old stuff sounds.” The last DJ who reviewed it gave Track 2 the most stars so I cued it up. Just as it started playing I had the most awesome flashback to when I first heard it. That was when I fell in love with Jimmy Eat World, and their album Clarity became timeless to me.

And I’m not alone! Last year Jimmy decided to play Clarity in its entirety at five shows across the country to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its release. Unfortunately, the last show was last March and I realized this last June. Blast. But... yesterday I found out that they recorded that show, and it’s on sale! Since April of last year. I may be the worst die-hard fan of my favorite band ever.

Go here to hear/see/buy it!

And for your listening/dancing pleasure:

"Thanks for makin me feel like a real [idiot], doctor..."

No more explaining things that already should have been explained to semi-confrontational angry dads while leaving the ER especially when I've already stayed 30 minutes past my shift. The funny thing was that I actually was starting to question his mental competence... at least he didn't punch me. I owe another resident for digging me out of that hole. It was a deep, deep hole. (I woulda punched me.)

I met my new little hero today! He was a three year old who was wandering around an appliance store, when someone opened a refrigerator door in his face. He had a pretty deep laceration on his forehead that needed stitches. If I knew enough Spanish, I woulda said to him, "Aw, buddy I know exactly how you feel! I get accidentally whacked in the face all the time!" But no need- he looked so happy to be getting all this attention. Can you believe it- he sat through lidocaine shots AND three stitches. Those parents should give classes... the whole family helped keep him calm but had to keep switching off because they'd get lightheaded.

I love being in the Pedi ER! Things seem to come in themes. Today was head vs. hard object day. Yesterday was appendicitis day. Looking forward to swallowed foreign body day (those have fun X-Rays.) And things don't "come in three's" here, more like fives or sixes in a row... all at once. Unfortunately we also seem to be having sexual assault week. I hate that theme.

But here's something super awesome- we're giving away stuffed bunnies now in honor of the holiday! We've also been having an easter egg hunt every morning for the staff. The hunt isn't the fairest of hunts since when I have trouble finding normal things like tongue depressors, how am I supposed to find eggs? Luckily, my confusion seems to be winning me some jelly bean donations. Mmm! Just like FAT BUNNIES! ;-)

I am an Idiot

Note to self: do not walk into no-parking signs.

This morning after seeing patients at the JDC (Juvenile Detention Center) I was having trouble finding my parking lot. We have free resident parking a block away behind a building by some gas pumps and I think I starting walking towards the wrong set of pumps. After studying the street signs for a while I finally realized where I was and turned around… knocking the right side of my face into a metal sign. I do this kind of thing pretty frequently (accidents) but have never injured myself enough to seek medical attention.

After grabbing my eye, I realized there was some blood on my hands. It didn’t feel bad, I felt like I might have had a cut on my eyebrow so I ducked into a nearby Court building to find a bathroom and clean it off. Four guards inside graciously asked me if I needed help. Without thinking, I uncovered my eye and asked if I could find a bathroom or some gauze. After seeing my wound, one guy started shaking, asked me if I was ok and said that I should sit down. Another ran to find a first aid kit, and a third offered to call an ambulance. A woman said she saw me hit the sign and was worried about me.

So, I’m thinking “Good God, I think my eyebrow must be hanging off my face.” I put pressure on it with napkins and wondered if I could talk a colleague at the hospital into “borrowing” some Dermabond (superglue for your skin!) so I wouldn’t have to get stitches… or if it was possible to suture it closed myself. That’d actually rock.

Despite protests to move, I broke away to the bathroom to look at the damage. One of the women followed me in. I had a fairly large red mark on my cheek and a half-centimeter abrasion on my right eyebrow only worthy of a band-aid. More embarrassing if anything… I felt bad inflicting panic among such nice people, especially when one of the men said “What can I get you, Doc?” I also felt bad for having to tell them that the hydrocortisone cream in their first aid kit wasn’t the same thing as antibiotic ointment. Now that I think about it… could putting a steroid cream on an open wound possibly increase the likelihood of infection?

Thank you employees of the random courthouse I park behind! I’m sorry that I stole your only package of gauze and I hope you’re not traumatized. Thank you mostly for not laughing at me. Perhaps this election's result has inspired even more good will in us all! :-)