try:
        # reading tables of this subject
        stays = read_stays(os.path.join(args.subjects_root_path, subject_dir))
        diagnoses = read_diagnoses(
            os.path.join(args.subjects_root_path, subject_dir))
        events = read_events(os.path.join(args.subjects_root_path,
                                          subject_dir))
    except:
        sys.stderr.write(
            'Error reading from disk for subject: {}\n'.format(subject_id))
        continue

    episodic_data = assemble_episodic_data(stays, diagnoses)

    # cleaning and converting to time series
    events = map_itemids_to_variables(events, var_map)
    events = clean_events(events)
    if events.shape[0] == 0:
        # no valid events for this subject
        continue
    timeseries = convert_events_to_timeseries(events, variables=variables)

    # extracting separate episodes
    for i in range(stays.shape[0]):
        stay_id = stays.ICUSTAY_ID.iloc[i]
        intime = stays.INTIME.iloc[i]
        outtime = stays.OUTTIME.iloc[i]

        episode = get_events_for_stay(timeseries, stay_id, intime, outtime)
        if episode.shape[0] == 0:
            # no data for this episode
        sys.stdout.flush()
        stays = read_stays(os.path.join(args.subjects_root_path, subject_dir))
        diagnoses = read_diagnoses(os.path.join(args.subjects_root_path, subject_dir))
        events = read_events(os.path.join(args.subjects_root_path, subject_dir))
    except:
        sys.stdout.write('error reading from disk!\n')
        continue
    else:
        sys.stdout.write('got {0} stays, {1} diagnoses, {2} events...'.format(stays.shape[0], diagnoses.shape[0], events.shape[0]))
        sys.stdout.flush()

    episodic_data = assemble_episodic_data(stays, diagnoses)

    sys.stdout.write('cleaning and converting to time series...')
    sys.stdout.flush()
    events = map_itemids_to_variables(events, var_map)
    events = clean_events(events)
    if events.shape[0] == 0:
        sys.stdout.write('no valid events!\n')
        continue
    timeseries = convert_events_to_timeseries(events, variables=variables)
    
    sys.stdout.write('extracting separate episodes...')
    sys.stdout.flush()

    for i in range(stays.shape[0]):
        stay_id = stays.ICUSTAY_ID.iloc[i]
        sys.stdout.write(' {}'.format(stay_id))
        sys.stdout.flush()
        intime = stays.INTIME.iloc[i]
        outtime = stays.OUTTIME.iloc[i]