A Changing of the Guards

Or, more appropriately a changing of instructors. When my clinical instructor and MGH West told me that she had been called for grand jury duty, I just knew that with my luck she would be chosen. Sure enough on Oct 10th she was picked for a 3 month term that mandated her to review cases in Cambridge, Lowell and Natick 3-4 days a week to determine, along with 22 others, if enough evidence existed to go to trial.

That was almost 2 weeks ago, and things have been gradually settling out at work. The plan is to transition me over to Aaron, a staff therapist who has been with MGH for over 5 years and has worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings. The problem with that right now is that Aaron has a full caseload and it will take a few weeks to transition some of his patients over to other therapists and/or to me, and to get my patients on his schedule. I've had to delegate a few of my favorite patients to Angela (my former CI) as she can see them once a week on Fridays when she is not at jury duty. This was done to free up my schedule to begin to take on new patients with Aaron. I've already moved to Aaron's schedule, which is MW 7-6:30, TFr 7-4:30 and Thursdays off. I've only had that schedule for a week, but it'll be interesting to see if I have the stamina for the longer days. Good thing I'm an endurance athlete, huh?

I guess the best part of this situation is that I get to work with a senior therapist who specializes in Spine in the interim. She has 30+ years experience and watching her work is amazing. She has different teaching approach that is more hands on that I am used to, but her intent is to give me words of wisdom for approaches, techniques and rationales that took her 5 or more years to develop and allow me to build from that.

We'll see how this all turns out.... 5 weeks down, 47 to go!

The Holy Rollers

Catholic girl and priest
Originally uploaded by jessriggs.

Matt and I participated in a costume bowl-a-thon to benefit Cancer Support and Education groups. We needed a theme, so I came up with The Holy Rollers, a team that consisted of a priest, a nun, and 3 catholic school girls. We actually won for best costume and were awarded prizes.

My team consisted of Matt and three friends from school: Nicole, Tracie and Moriah. We had a blast, and helped raise money for a good cause!

Knee Deep into Week 3

I am almost through my 3rd week at my internship, which even now that I am seeing it typed doesn't seem possible. I guess it's because my first 2 weeks were spend mainly in orientation, and I don't know if that time has really prepared me for the internship like they had hoped. I'm someone who would have been better off spending the past 2 weeks getting used to my physical therapy clinic and not shared my thoughts on what the word culture means or what the MGH culture entails. A few things were definitely worth the time spend, especially observing a clinical specialist do a functionally based examination. Having someone with 25 years experience talk through her thought process while performing an exam was probably invaluable, although it definitely scared me to realize how far I was from her level.

I am also still trying to adjust to working full time. I have to admit that I don't like some of the life changes that have already occurred. I am struggling to find time to see Matt as we now appear to have opposite work schedules and I have spent more time in a car daily than on a bike. I guess with every big life change you have to reprioritize and figure out how to fit in all the important things.

I guess the good news is that I believe I have figured out how to get into work without buying a car. One of the PT aides lives down the street from me and has a very similar schedule. Between her and my roommate, I should be all set. Of course I have a couple of backups as well, because I wouldn't be me if I didn't always have a plan for most situations.

Geishas of 350 Allston

Geishas of 350 Allston
Originally uploaded by jessriggs.

I was thankfully not that only girl that dressed up. Check out my fellow geishas... they definitely had the fancier fans, which were a blessing on such an abnormally hot September evening. Most of the guests ended up on the porch as the apartment was unbearable - especially in full costume!

A Ninja and his Geisha

A Ninja and his Geisha
Originally uploaded by jessriggs.

Matt and Rob decided to have another theme party this past weekend. As usually, Matt and I went above the normal party-goer. I figure if you are going to dress up, you might as well make it worth the effort. The funny thing is that this really did not take me that much time. I feel some of the other girls spent more time picking out their non-ninja attire.

I have no idea what the theme will be for the next one, but I guarantee that Matt and I will go all out again!

Offically a Triathlete!

CCTri 2007 - bike
Originally uploaded by jessriggs.

So, I completed my first triathlon a couple of weeks ago. There were 584 participants at the Cranberry Country Tri this year, and my results are below. Anna did not end up doing the race with me as planned because she had to get stitches in her big toe the night before after stepping on a piece of sharp metal.

My mom and I had to leave at 5:30am in order to make it down there in time to register and set up my stuff for the transitions. I ended up having some time to relax before the start of the race, which allowed me time to survey the entire scene and check out some of the course.

I was in the Athena group, which was women who weighted over 150 lbs. We were in the last heat, so it was easy to find my bike out of the water (not many left at that point). I got a little lost on the swim, and had to stop twice to make sure I was on course. My goggles fogged up and I could not see at all on the loop back as the sun was rising and I only saw white blurs.

I felt great on the bike where I started passing people and gaining speed. I thought the run was pretty slow, but apparently I was 346 out of 584 for that portion... I guess everyone else was slower! For the bike I was 423/584, and on the swim I was 528/584. That still allowed me to place 424 overall in just over 3 hours.

424 639 JESSICA RIGGS SOMERVILLE MA 3:03:40 9/16 ATHENA 528 34:34 3:53 423 1:22:54 2:34 346 59:46

All in all I am please with how my first tri went. I think I definitely need to improve my swim and transitions! Not sure when I'll be doing another one, but hopefully it'll be soon.

Day 1 & 2

I realize that I haven't posted since finding out my Waltham placement (still a sore subject) and it makes it seem like nothing has happened since early August. This is not the case. Since that time, I have completed an Olympic distance triathlon (my first ever!), changed roommates, had a lovely visit from my friend Sara and her boyfriend Kamyar, attended a wedding in Upstate NY with Matt, and got some very interesting news from my friend Dasha. Yes, her and Zsolt are finally expecting :)

I plan to write about all of these things. I am just a little exhausted from 2 full days of HR orientation, and plan to bike home soon. I decided to keep an evening shift at the computer lab to earn an extra $60/ week. Perhaps that will pay for the car it looks like I need to purchase. it's funny that I was so reluctant to sell my car 2 years ago when I decided to go back to school and now I can't imagine having to deal with owning one again. I plan to fight this and explore every other option... let's see how that turns out, huh?

Bad luck?

So, I got two letters on Friday: (1) a typed letter from MGH stating that I would be joining the WACC Outpatient team on Sept 4th and it gave me details concerning orientation and my salary, and (2) an email introduction letter giving me my clinical instructors name and hours. The main difference between these two letters was the outpatient clinic where I was to work. The first stated it was the WACC, or Wang Ambulatory Care Center, which is at the main hospital and where I really wanted to go. The 2nd said: "As you know, you have been selected to go to our Waltham clinic." Well, not only did I NOT know that, I had just received contradictory information. I called the coordinator of clinical education at MGH and she confirmed what I feared: that I was actually chosen to go to a site that is not accessible via public transportation, that has a smaller number of clinical specialists (1 vs 5+), and that doesn't have a large neuro population. The woman I talked to was sorry that I had received incorrect information and was surprised that I had been chosen for Waltham when I don't have a car.

This changes my plans for the year slightly, as I will not be able to get a dog, and will have to borrow Matt's car. We need to work out an arrangement where I will probably pay the bulk of his car insurance, gas and some maintenance to have the use of his car during the week. I guess I will be helping him out with financial concerns right now, which is good. And I just mapped the route and should be able to ride into work at least a few times a week. It's about 9 miles, and with my new road bike, it should take me less than 45 minutes. I just hope there is a shower there or some way for me to cool down before my shift. My hours are as follows...

MWF 7-3:30, TTh 10:30-7pm. The MWF shift is too early to take the commuter rail, which would be a 2 mile walk to work anyways, and I won't be able to bike in the winter. I guess I will figure it all out.

I thought I was going to be able to stay in Boston, continue commuting on my bike, and have a regular schedule. Apparently that was not in the cards for me... is ti bad luck? or perhaps a blessing in disguise? I guess I will have to wait to figure that out.

I get a raise...

So even though I have yet to start nor do I know the clinic where I'll be working, they have seen it fit to raise the hourly wages of the interns by an extra $0.90/hr. This means I'll have an extra $36/ week... perhaps enough to pay for a puppy! I'm already looking at dogs online, although I need to know exactly where I'm working (downtown or Waltham), my hours and my roommate's availability. Within the next year, however, I would love to have my own dog :)

Bride and Groom at Sunset

Bride and Groom at Sunset
Originally uploaded by jessriggs.

Heather and Alex had everyone meet them at the Vermont Brewfest to enjoy some microbrews and to take pictures with the newly weds. We took a bunch of group photos at the large Adirondak chair, but Stephanie also snapped off a couple shots of them alone at sunset. They are so perfect together, and I wish them the best!

Under the Umbrella

Under the Umbrella
Originally uploaded by jessriggs.

This is a picture of Michelle and I at Heather and Alex's wedding a couple of weeks ago. After months of planning and getting everything in order, the weather decided to not fit into the plan of a lovely outdoor wedding. The bride in groom took it in stride, however, and still walked down the "aisle" to the tree house where they exchanged their vows while we hundled under umbrellas down below.

I'll admit that I did not actually hear much of what was said between the two of them, except I did hear Heather replace "I promise to stand by you through the trouble we may have" with "we WILL have." A nice touch that got a laugh out of those in attendance. The wedding was followed by a pig roast and dancing at the St. John's Club.

It was a great weekend, as I was able to go for a long bike ride with my friend Josh on Saturday AM and then head to the Vermont Brewer's Fest with the wedding party in the evening. I realize being up there again how much I really love the people and the atmosphere in general. Perhaps I'll end up in VT by the end of 2008... who knows?

First Brick Workout

I did my first brick workout today. It wasn't planned but I was feeling great and felt like pushing myself, so after my 30 mile bike ride with Katie, I ran 3.5 miles. I was tired, but I felt like my legs were underneath me and I could continue to push through the fatigue. Of course, I did not swim beforehand and didn't run the 6+ miles I am going to need to pull off on August 26th, but I think this is a good place to be 5-6 weeks out. I am planning on biking 40-50 miles this weekend up in Burlington, VT with a good friend and avid rider. The couple I lived with for 10 weeks is getting married on Friday afternoon at a public park right on Lake Champlain, and I figured I might as well bring my bike and log some good scenic miles on Saturday!

I think I am even starting to think like a triathlete now, scary!

It's A Small World After All

So, last night was Matt's DJ night at Rivergods. A new wave/ post punk night at a very chill venue in Cambridge conveniently located a few blocks from his apartment. He spun from 8-9, 10-11, and 12-12:30. I made it till just after midnight when I had to head out. A good group of my friends came out to enjoy some drinks along with the tunes and I think it was a pretty successful night.

Matt also had a good group of friends come out for it, most importantly his friend Rachel who has just moved from Albany to Boston (a transition he knows well). She arrived with the guy she is currently dating who, as chance may have it, is my ex's good friend from high school. Not Brian, but my ex from 4 years ago Mike. I tried to fight of the ghosts of ex past, but this guy kept offering up unsolicited information about Mike's business, his new girlfriend, and how they've moved in together. I tried to redirect conversation and insert some tidbits about how I am also doing well: dating a wonderful guy, about to finish graduate school, working at an amazing hospital, training for a triathlon, etc. He then started to pump me for information about Matt and I in order to report back to Mike. Yuck.

I am really glad that Mike is doing well, and has finally moved out of his parents' house. I know that I have moved on and have finally reached a place in my life where I feel truly happy, but the conversation last night through me back into a time when I was being rejected and struggling to find self-worth. Luckily I phoned Sara before walking home and going to bed, because I woke up fully refreshed and feeling quite confident that breaking things off with Mike and the rest of the decisions I've made in the last 4 years have led me down an amazing path. One that I am still excited to see where it goes!

Walden Pond Swim Route

Walden Pond Swim Route
Originally uploaded by jessriggs.

We went out to Walden on Saturday and I finally swam the entire length! Here is an estimate of my route. I obviously need to work on swimming straight. The pink is the way I went out and the orange back. Notice the improvement in aiming for the correct part of the shore. I think it's much easier on the route back because there are a ton of people camped out on the beach and you have a larger visual target.

It's ~1/2 mile across, so I actually swam over a mile total (counting my detours) with one break inbetween. I felt great and even managed to run for 30 minutes after the swim. I feel much more prepared for the swim portion of the race, although now I need to focus on the run and the bike!

A Funny Side Note

Apparently the suit jacket was a wasted purchase, as the interview for MGH was the one where I had to find a different outfit when my suit was locked in the building. Perhaps my resourcefulness won them over... it certainly wasn't the stylish black button down shirt I wore.

My Year Long Placement

We received notification of our internship placements today at 4pm. I ended up getting my first choice, which is Mass General Hospital Outpatient. I'm not sure yet whether I will be in the ambulatory care center attached to the hospital or at a satellite clinic in Waltham. I think I remember the director telling me that she wouldn't send me to Waltham because I don't have a car, and I would love it if I get to be in the hospital. I am very excited about this news, although I am also nervous for a few reasons:

1. I know that this will be the most challenging of any of my placements... Vermont tends to be a laid back place, and The General (I should start using the lingo) is anything but.
2. I think I may be placed with another Jessica R in my class and she is quite competitive. Great, they will definitely be comparing us now, not that I think I wouldn't match up if we were to be compared. I just don't think that is the point of our internship year.
   
3. And this one is silly... there is no more pretending or fantasizing about the different places I might end up and how each one would present different challenges. I now know where I'll be and that kind of takes the guessing out of things for the moment. I still don't know where I'll be after this year, so perhaps I can just start fantasizing about that early :)
   

Face Scan

Face Scan
Originally uploaded by jessriggs.

I participated in an MIT face scan study yesterday. The whole process, which consisted of me sitting still for 2 minutes inside a metal dome filled with cameras as they took 900+ pictures of my face, took all of 15 minutes to sign in, set up, and get all the photo's taken. For that they gave me $30 and some of the images, thus the spooky picture of me in a hairnet looking like a statue. I wish I could have posted the 3-D image... it was in a strange format and would not save to a standard .jpg format.

I guess they are using the data to develop software to age images, and various other reasons. They don't exactly seem to have all the uses for this data hammered out yet, but it definitely seems interesting and totally worth $30 for my time :)

Memorial Day BBQ

Memorial Day BBQ
Originally uploaded by jessriggs.

Matt and I went to a BBQ in Cambridge on Memorial Day at his friend Irene's place in Cambridge. There was a grill and people were instructed to bring food. Someone decided to bring stuff to make Smore's and I came up with the brilliant idea of melting my chocolate using a spatula and tin foil prior to placing it inbetween the graham crackers with the toasted marshmellow. I did this because the marshmellow never seems to stay hot enough to melt the chocolate. I figured I would just preheat the chocolate, easy solution!

Well, the chocolate definitely metled and here I am attempting to eat my Smore's without losing too much of the marshmellow and chocolate oozing out the sides. Matt is laughing at me, but I still consider the venture a success!

Cape Cod Crew

Cape Cod Crew
Originally uploaded by jessriggs.

A month ago, a bunch of us headed down to the Cape for some R & R before I started classes and the summer officially begun. We were down at Matt's parents' house the weekend before Memorial Day weekend, which was rainy and cold the entire time. Still we managed to entertain ourselves and have a great time.

Here we all are eating breakfast the first morning. Michelle and I, seated at the head of the table here, made waffles and eggs each morning since we tended to be awake a good hour or two before anyone else. See, it pays to bring a morning person on trips like this!

Matt and Rob look quite pleased about their waffles :)

My Last Interview

So, I was trying hard not to have any interviews on my birthday but when the opportunity came up to get both of my Mass General Hospital (MGH) interviews done in one day (on my birthday), I decided to just get the last interviews over with. I had a group interview Tuesday at Newton Wellesley that consisted on 6 of them grilling the 5 of us on various topics mainly related to spine manipulation.... grueling! This was followed by a more casual one on one interview at Youville on Wednesday, saving 2 interviews (one with the department directors, and one with 2 clinical specialists) at MGH for Thursday.
Well, after the Youville interview, I decided to leave my nice pants and blazer (my interview outfit that I will have to take a picture of and post for Sara) at school in my locker, since I had to bike in early Thursday morning to work in the computer lab. My plan was to bike in, change, work for 2 hours, and then take the Partners Shuttle over to MGH for my 9:30am interview.

I biked in yesterday morning, with my portfolio and various other school items, to find that the entire Naval Yard was without power and even though the security guard had keys, he would not allow me to go upstairs to get my suit with the lights out (liability or some crap like that). I waited an hour for NStar to figure out the power issue, and then decided to bike home (25 minute ride), change into the best pair of pants and shirt I could find, and then take the subway to MGH.

I made it to my interview on time, and the new outfit was acceptable, but I still told them my story to explain my slightly more casual attire and because it was so unbelievable. The interview seemed to go really well, and now I have a tough decision to make. I need to submit a ranked list by next Friday, and I think it now looks something like this:

1. Mass General Hospital
2. Spaulding
3. Brigham and Women's
4. Youville
5. Newton Wellesley
6. Shaughnessey Kaplan

Although I am debating on rearranging the top 3. I plan to discuss it with some faculty members who's opinion I value, and hopefully I will have a concrete list that I feel good about. And then I should find out my placement in July. I'll keep you posted.