Day 10

REALLY Quiet today. I am getting in the grove of things. Bodies in, bodies out. Very few today. I was able to read my psychology book and catch up on the US news. I would like to say I experienced new things, but no it did not happen. I did make a new friend today and yes she has a pulse. We are going to play volleyball every Tuesday and get my ass back into shape. I just can't wait.

Day 8 &9

I didn't have a computer yesterday to type my blog so I will do a combo. I had many cases to learn from yesterday and today. The one thing I know I learned from yesterday and it was confirmed today was that if you have a child (baby) do not sleep in the same bed as them. It is too easy for them to have their airways blocked. DO NOT sleep in the same bed. It is just too tragic for the families. One thing I learned today was suicide is the most selfish thing in the world a person could do. Families will never understand. Your death does not make it easier on anyone.

Nothing more to say. I am going to take a shower and rest now.

Day 7

Today, I was able to write a commentary on my on case. I can't reveal details but it did go from an unidentified to a verification. I was then able to write a case on how it might be homicide. I liked it. I also helped take fingerprints today. I an becomimg more and more apart of the team. I answer most of the phone calls and help contact family members and funeral homes in regards to the dead. Still haven't find the other unidentified yet. I will keep looking.

Day 6

I sat in front of a computer all day. My job today was to find drugs in the files so the chemistry department could test some methods. I finished that around noon, then I had to start a new project. My job today was to help a family find their loved one. They have not heard from them since last year. So I had to look through all unidentified files looking for the person. Only the computer system was wonky and it was driving me crazy. I am still not done yet. I still checked persons in and out today. The fun part of my day was one of the pick up drivers getting a flat tire. It took him two hours to change it. That was my highlight.

I have noticed that I have gotten used to seeing the dead persons around, but the smell never goes away. Not used to that yet. Certainly don't want to do this forever. (New revelation)

Day 5

Busy, Busy, Busy day today. It was just me and boss lady again. We had 9 persons in and 3 more arrived later in the day. One of the cases was an organ donor, but the doctors did not know that, so I had to run down to the morning meeting and inform them before they started with the examination. I of course saved the day just in time. Sarcasm is my world. Anyways we had no true stinkers today so I was able to enjoy my lunch for the first time. I tried a new kind of noodle. It was spicy chicken flavor. 10 cents more than Ramen but worth every dime.

I did not see any examinations today but I took several calls that facilitated the exams. (Really running out of things to talk about , sorry)

The day was busy but they let me go early since I was truly the only one manning the phones.

Day 4

Today it was just me and Boss Lady. We had 7 persons in today. I would say slow day but I got to do a lot of responsibilities today. Things went well but nothing interesting that I can talk about. There was another stinker today. The water ones are the worst. A couple of other interns from another division were there for the stinker. They had not seen an autopsy yet. It was funny to see there faces when their first was the smelliest kind. I can't really describe a stinker, but I will try. It sticks to the back or your throat. You can't wiggle your nose enough to get the smell out. I could still smell the ones from last week on Saturday. It sticks in your nostrils no matter how many times you blow your nose. It does not go away. EVER! Today's stinker was worse than last week's. I am glad I did not have to observe this one. Nice to avoid it.

Day 3

Well today was a quiet day. Only 3 persons there today. We finally Id the floaters and got the "smellies" out of there. I was sent on an internship mission today. I got to go to Chik fil a and get everyone lunch. It was a pleasure.

Like I said it was quiet today.

Thursday (off day)

Today is an off day. I have school on Thursday so I do not have to go in. I did go in though. I had to get a bunch of paper work signed for the internship so my dean would not freak out. Boss lady was nice and helped me get through it. This "education" has been one of the hardest things I have put myself through. One might call me a sadist, but I just think of it as my way of taking the long way around.
It was quiet when I arrived today. People rarely commit violent acts during the cold weather. They like to stay in there house all snuggled up. I predict there will be more cases of possible overdoses than any thing else.

Day 2

It was much quieter today. The first thing we did today was have the morning meeting. It is where the present the cases of the day. The investigators read aloud each case about each body and the doctors and the investigators discuss the course of action that should be taken towards each case. A little neat, but I am a little nerd!

We processed 7 persons today. ( I use the word person because I don't want to offend anyone by using the word body or dead people). The person was termed "floater" yesterday had two more join it today. They were all equally smelly. Very smelly!!! They were also swollen, happens on water cases. I was inside the decomp room when two of them were being autopsied. I was able to handle it, but I don't know if this is unfortunate or fortunate, but I sneeze when I am around the decomposing bodies. The live persons in the room tend to give me unapproving looks and hint at me to leave. I finished my sneezing fit in the hallway. I did not return to the decomp room.

I got to go on a scene today. It was natural death so nothing crazy. It was interesting though. I even got to ask the family some questions. Mind you it was just phone numbers and simple information, but involvement I crave.

Day 1 Tuesday, January 16, 2007

OH MY GOD! I am tired. Just so you know, I am so not on a CSI episode, but it sure felt like it.
I spent the first 45 minutes waiting in the lobby for someone to come and pick me up. When they finally did I realized why I was a low concern. They had double digits of bodies in the morgue to process. Well what a day to start on. They say holidays are not looked forward to in the ME's office and now I know why.
Since I am only an intern I can not do much. I observed mostly. I did a little administrative work and helped roll people in and out of the "cooler". I tried to block out the smell of death as much as possible but that is impossible. There was a stinker today. Very interesting first day. I can reveal no more cause if I do I would have to kill you and being as this is on the internet well I just don't have that kind of energy.

The Eve of the first day

Well today is the day before my first day of my internship and I am nervous. This is truly the first step I have ever taken towards my real goal of my career. All the other jobs were just jobs. They never had anything to do with what I have really wanted to do for so long. Tomorrow I will start my internship with a state agency as an intern in the medical legal department.

I have no idea what to expect and I am clueless as to what they expect. I guess I should have cleared that up during the interview. I would have if I hadn't been so taken back by her first true question. We will call her boss lady. She asked "Hey do you want to see a dead body"? Well had could I resist. It was going to be my first autopsy. I was in my new suit all dressed and only one more place to go. I went to the autopsy room and saw a gun shot victim laying naked on the slab ready for the autopsy. It was amazing. I was in awe and terrified at the same time. I knew this was a test and I wondered if I would pass. I secretly hoped I would not throw up. As the autopsy progressed the man became less and less human. He was no longer recognizable as a grotesque body, but just quickly became something of a science exhibit. It was real but not so much. There were gross moments, but it could have been worse. The damage to the body was minimal so it was not that bad. I have no doubt there will be grosser things to come. (Still secretly excited about that). Anyways I start tomorrow at 9 am and I don't even know if I have the acceptable outfit. I do know I have to wear ugly shoes otherwise it wouldn't be a government job. :)
More to come!!!