Running with Music

I have become incredibly anal. I now make my bed every morning... without fail. When I was growing up, I actually argued with my parents about the utility of spending the time to make one's bed in the morning (time is money, especially to an eleven year old). I personally believed that since I tore up the sheets so badly each night, I should be able to make my bed right before I go to bed. That way I would have it just the way I wanted prior to each night's slumber, thus establishing a strong pre-sleep habitus. Flawless logic, I know. But that didn't fly at the Swendiman household (I believe I lost 50 cents off my allowance for each infraction - Mom, correct me if I am wrong). However, the second I got to college I let freedom ring! So why do I make my bed every morning now? Med school makes you incredibly anal.

I was talking with Matt Forgues specifically about this the other day. We both have become rather meticulous about our schedules. When we are at school or studying, 110% efficiency is crucial; when it's time to break and relax, those moments need to be equally maximized. Optimizing every aspect of life is becoming ingrained. Example: Is going to lecture worth it? No, not when you can watch lecture capture at 2.4x speed and do three hours of lecture in 62.5 minutes at home (plus, transportation time and the opportunity cost is astronomical!). Post-test relaxation? Yes, lunch with Ronnie on Franklin. Either way, I am trying to get the maximum return out of each investment of time, then reap the dividends. And yes, that's anal.

But there is one thing I can't do anymore... my goal this semester was to listen to the "Gol-Jan Pathology" lectures twice through on my iPod (Dr. G is a famous Boards prep lecturer from Brooklyn, see his Wiki - not my professor btw). There are 37 lectures, each about 50 minutes long. In order to accomplish that, I would have to listen to them whilst running 2-3 times per week (plus churning out lecture after lecture on long road trips). I successfully accomplished one time through a couple weeks ago, and now I am a third through my second round. But today I was just having a bad day. The test for our last real Block, "Dermatology and the Musculoskeletal System," was incredibly tough, and I'm not sure it was my best performance. Then I had a bad question block on USMLE world later in the day. Things weren't looking up. So I decided to go for a run without Dr. Gol-Jan.

And it was glorious.

Oh, the freeeeeedom! I decided to go buckwild with a hodgepodge by setting up a special playlist. I started things off strong with "6 in the Morning" with Eminem and D12, followed up by "How Come" (track 9 off the same album). Then it went new school with "Backseat" from the New Boyz and a little "More"- Usher. As I came around the Alta Vista neighborhood, Alanis Morrisette's "You Oughta Know" boomed from my iPizzle speakers. And then I let Tupac sit and picture me rolling down Finley Forest Drive. There were a few other special songs peppered in between, but the bottom line was sanity. I ran in peace. Plus it was one of my fastest runs in a long time; I wasn't thinking at all or trying to hang on to every word to understand some frivolous concept (That's a point, that's a point!).

I just ran. With music.

Let me tell you what I didn't hear (and those who have listened to Dr. Gol-Jan, you will hopefully be able to appreciate this). I didn't hear...

• Now that's real coffee. It's not real coffee if it's not from Starbucks!
• All the other students out there? They're the ones who should be scared. They have no idea what's on the exam. No i-dea. But you do. So you shouldn't be scared. You have a leg up.
• That's a point! I just got you a point on the exam right there. It's all in my high yields guys.
• The little kids call me Papi.
• You hear that sound? That's the sound of a thousand sphincters just going "click"! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA.
• There's another point!
• Look at all these ADDers! Every time someone walks in the door, 50 heads turn to look. Those are the ADDers right there!
• Cryptococcus?? PIDGEONS!
• I just wrote a book on this so I'm kinda up on this stuff if you know what I mean.
• You know all this stuff is in my high yields guys. There's no reason be looking anywhere but at the screen. Don't look at me! You're not going to get the answer from looking at me!
• 40 year old female... what's she got? Come on, come on. What's she got?!?
• Okay, okay now what is this? Good, good. You guys are good. You're actually doing pretttttty goood. Better than my other classes, and that's the truth.
• Is this normal? No. WHY? Because this is pathology! HAHA.

No, I didn't listen to that today. Instead I heard things like:

"I walk with a limp, pistol hangin offa the hip,
I'm awkward and quick enough an sick when sparkin a fith,
Your carcus is split even the beef is partially thick,
We can't take you serious, you a comedy skit."

And you know what? I have no idea what that means, but it was very refreshing. I'm Gol-Janned out.