The year before the end...

Well, happy new year to your folks out in cyberland. 2011 is upon us and since the world ends next year, we'd better make this the best year ever! On a personal note, my year started out pretty well so far, I was accepted to the Accelerated BSN nursing program here at Mizzou so I can final get this schooling thing over with and get a real job.

I can't wait to start bleeding people and putting leeches on the their wounds (those techniques are still medically accepted right?).

This was actually a game show back in 1634. Contestants had to poke an old person with a small knife and see how much blood they could collect. The hard part was that you could only make one small incision and only blood that squirted up like a found counted!

So, that is really the only new news I have to relate. It was a fun, those somewhat sedate, holidays for me. Since I still work the weekend overnight shifts, I worked on both Christmas and New Years eve. As per nursing tradition, we drank sparkling grape juice out of urine cups and ate pop corn out of bed pans to celebrate the turning of the clock. And yes, don't be gross, the urine cups and bed pans were only slightly used.

Today marks the start of the spring semester and I just finished eating my cereal jambalaya for breakfast before my 9 am class. I actually won't start clinicals until May, but in order to get a jump on my classes I was granted my request to take a class early so I don't have to take it in the summer.

This was suggested to me by several nurses I know who had recently completed the accelerated program as well. Seeing as it will be the only class I will take this semester I should do pretty well and being able to knock out one of the harder nursing courses will definitely ease my burden when clinicals start up.

The only tough thing about this class is that the main lecture is from 8 am to 11 am on Mondays. In order to get 75% off of my tuition I will continue to work full time this semester so this means I have to be able to stay awake through 3 hours of Pathophysiology after working 3 straight 12 hour night shifts. I'll probably drink a RedBull or 5-hour energy around 6 Monday morning before I get off of work to keep me up in class. Thankfully the Tuesday portion is only an hour long and should be more interactive (also all of the tests are on Tuesday giving me a day to get lots of sleep before having to take an exam).

OK, I should probably stop blogging so I can get ready to go. It only takes about 5 minutes to drive to campus but I need to get in a little bit earlier so I can turn in my official "acceptance letter" into the program. Yippiekayaymuthafucka!

SLTSFMM

If you want to play it like a game,
Well come on, come on, lets play,
Cause I'd rather waste my life pretending,
Than have to forget you for one whole minute

"Crush Crush (Dub Step Remix)" by Paramore

Red Ring of DEATH!

The title sounds quite ominous doesn't it? In case you are unaware, the much feared Red Ring of Death or RROD refers to a mechanical failure that the older XBox 360 machines are prone to having. This is actually the 2nd time my Xbox has "red ringed". I had it sent back to Microsoft about 3 years ago when it was still under warranty. Since the warranty had expired I had a friend (who is more well versed in electronics and computers) do this fix/hack that only cost 8 cents! So far it has worked and the XBox seems to be ok. So thanks to some dudes more nerdy that I, I saved over $200 (which I would have gladly paid for another Xbox).

To anyone playing an XBox 360, that is the face of Medusa!

However, the timing of my Xbox's temporary demise was actually quite fortuitous. My Xbox decided to crash a few weeks before finals. You could say I was starting to "mail-in" my final's preparations. I had flipped the switch onto cruise control and was relatively self-assured about my grades. I was cruising with about a 94% in my Nutrition class so an A was pretty secure and I was hovering right around 80% in Pharmacology and I was very happy with the prospect of getting a B in that class.

***SIDE NOTE: To my friends out there who are pharmacists...much love and props. I will no longer make fun of you for counting out pills. That class was an ass kicker and I know we only had to learn a fraction of what you need to know!***

Well, as finals approached I was given two very unsettling bits of news:

1) My Nutrition professor actually used a plus/minus grading scale
2) My Pharmacology final was 60% comprehensive and 40% new material that we didn't really have time to go over in lecture.

So, you may be wondering how I took this news?

1) Granted, the plus/minus grading scale WAS on the syllabus so I should have realized this sooner (but lets forget about that fact) - So, my "A" was a bit in jeopardy. I needed to make sure I kept at least a 93% in the class to keep an A. This was troubling since I had been completely concentrating and stressing about Pharm and practically neglected Nutrition class. What sucked even more is that the class had a very low overall point total so there would be very little room for error. A few points could mean the difference between an A, A- or B+.

Thankfully, I did squeeze by and got my A by 4 points...that's what I call maximum results with minimal effort. The American Way!

2) Since the final was comprehensive, our pharmacology professor was kind enough to send us a study guide. Her suggestion was simple: "You only need know the study guide...oh, and know the new matieral...oh yeah, and just know all of the case studies".

It was a strange cosmic phenomenon, but after she said that I'm pretty sure the entire class (roughly 50 students) at that same exact moment had the same sarcastic thought "oh I'm glad that's ONLY what we need to know for the final".

The study guide ONLY had 150 items. There were ONLY 13 new chapters. There were ONLY 14 case studies. GOOD TIMES!

It had taken me about 3 tests to figure out how the professor liked to give exams, and while I wish I could have come to those revelations sooner, they came just in time for the final. I had been calculating over and over approximately what I needed to score on the final to ensure my B, but this proved to be difficult as we weren't going to hit the point total she had originally laid out in the syllabus. It was hard to say exactly how many points I would need and this was terribly frightening.

I felt so-so after leaving the final. I was among the first to finish so this scared me a little bit too. "Oh well", I thought, if I didn't know the answer the first go around, going back to change anything could be worse.

I spent the next few nights nervous and I didn't want to check my grade. I actually waited until that Friday to check my score (the final had been on a Tuesday) and by the grace of god I had scored high enough to snag an 82%! My only lament is that Pharmacology was also on a plus/minus scale thus I got a B-.

***SIDENOTE: I think its pretty sweet that you can pretty much get up to date grades online as the semester progresses. So many things are different than when I went to undergrad the first time***

So for now everything is right with the Universe. I got the grades I needed...and my Xbox is FIXED!!!

SLTSFFM

So many possible ways to,
Get me where I want to be,
Just get a little creative,
And you can put 'em on me.

"It's yours" by Rhea

Turkey Day already?

Man, I've been really lax about writing. I suppose its been a mixture of apathy, laziness and some bouts of activity that I should be doing (ex. studying). But, since my sleep schedule is completely messed up right now I thought I'd take a second to blog. I worked four 12 hour shifts over the past 4 nights so I ended up sleeping 12 hours during the day Monday.

I actually had to reset my password since it had been long enough between blog posts for me to forget whatever my old password was. On that note, I usually try and keep the number of my passwords to a minimum because I have a pretty crappy memory. Don't ask me to remember any phone numbers because the only one I can remember is my own. Should I ever be stranded somewhere without my phone and need to get a hold of anyone I'd be pretty screwed.

I overheard some Christmas songs the other night and was just astounded how quickly time is flying. Each day doesn't seem to go too fast but damn, I can't believe we only have 5 weeks left in 2010!

Hmm, what else is new. My mom and grandma are actually visiting me this week. In a sad turn of events my Grandma had to move back to Missouri because of her advancing dementia. Dang, I don't know if its because I'm getting older, or maybe since I've been working with a lot of elderly at the hospital, but I really think losing your mental capacity is so much worse than failing physical health. I guess it could be argued that losing physical abilities while being completely aware of whats happening would suck as well. Dang, when I think about it, I suppose either would suck equally. OK, whoever reads this has my full permission (and request) to end my life should I ever become physically or mentally incapacitated.

Ahahaha, well damn, that's kind of a downer conversation to have with someone huh?

Ok, on to some better conversation topics. My semester is winding down with finals coming in 3 weeks. I have the nursing school applications back in and should hear by the first of next year. We'll see where my studies take me next.

Socially I've come to a near complete stand still. I suppose this shouldn't be a complete surprise since I'm an old man in a college town. I've been invited to a few parties here and there, but politely refuse (on the secret grounds that I would feel really, really old at these parties). I would still go out to dance clubs since I feel that my age would be better camouflaged in these settings.

The only thing that I do on a somewhat regular basis is to go to a weekly Trivia night here at a local bar. I do have fun and its a good excuse to get out of the house and go somewhere other than the library.

I do have the week off from classes due to the holiday break and its going to be spent with the family and actually a lot of moving around. We're getting my grandma's room ready at my aunt's house so there is some furniture to be moved. After that it should just be eating and watching sports...good times!

Ok, its 6 am and I hear my mother stirring downstairs. She wanted to get a big jump on the day so I suppose that's my signal to take a nap. =)

Interesting tidbit about the song lyrics for today's post. Its actually an English version cover of a Korean song by Taeyang. Yes, because of my cousins I do have K-Pop tendencies. HERE is the version of the real song (which sounds good too) but I have no idea what he's saying. I'm pretty sure the guy who made the cover just wrote his own lyrics, but I could be wrong and it could be a translation. Either way I do like the beat.

Till next time!

SLTSFMM

I guess its too late,
I'm dancing this dance alone,
This chapter's done,
The story goes on

"Wedding Dress (Cover)" by JReyes

Foooooore!

So I've been trying lately to make a concerted effort to work on my golf swing. When the weather has been good, like this week fantasticness, I try to make it out to the driving range at least a couple times. I figure, its good to get outside and not be so pale, and I assume there are worse ways to spend $8.

I would say my swing is getting a little better, bit by bit. My younger cousin here has sectionals golf tournament this weekend, and she should advance to the state tournament. Her older sister has been giving me some tips as well - she was a state qualifier during high school as well. But, I'm a long ways away from being a serviceable golfer. My putting and short game still needs a LOT of work.

However, I'm getting more and more comfortable driving the ball (you know, the big hit at the start). I've been hitting 200 yards, and if I can correct this little slice I should be OK off the tee.

Hmm, what else is new....oh yeah, not much. My brother did make the move back to the Pacific Northwest this week. I did have a dream that I also moved to Seattle after working for a few years here in Missouri to get some experience. I would actually relish that move. As much as I would love to move back out to California, I think a change of pace would be nice. I've always liked Seattle and wouldn't mind the rain for a few years anyways (though I do want to get an automatic car since I hate driving manual in the rain).

I ran into a couple funny things on the interwebs this past week that I thought I'd share. You've probably seen the first ad somewhere but I thought it was a hilarious look at how blatant the gender roles used to be. I'm not saying that the gender roles are completely gone (I don't think they ever will be), but at least they aren't as in-your-face as it used to be.

I just hope the husband didn't beat her too badly for ruining the hamburger helper. I also like the fact that there are two bottles on the table, as if he'd let that barefooted skank have one of his Schlitz cold ones.

I am also still working on learning how to cook better. I do find myself enjoying cooking, and sometimes wish I had other people to cook for. Whenever I cook I end up eating the same leftovers for 3 or 4 days in a row, and that gets old. I'm actually about to bake some more of my honey soy tilapia for my weekend work dinners. I've been trying to up my spice tolerance as well, I'm happy to report that my upper limit has moved from 2 (on a 1 to 10 scale) to a 3!

I saw this next picture as I was searching on medical websites for info in my pharmacology class. I just thought it was funny that the picture they had for E.D. (erectile dysfunction) was a really buff dude. I guess the poor chap is compensating for something.

I suppose its a good juxtaposition to have the chunky diabetes guy right above the buff impotent man. So ladies, your choices are obvious: 1) Fat guy who likes sweets or 2) Muscular guy with a limp dick. Your move!

Oh well, that's all from my neck of the woods. Tonight is gonna be a busy night of studying, baking and laundry...oh what a charmed life I lead. As they would say on Jersey Shore...SBL! Oh last thing, speaking of Jersey Shore, I've thankfully never watched an episode, but saw this awesomeness on College Humor. Its Jersey Shore made like an 90's 8 bit video game RPG - you old Nintendo fans will love it. I thought it was great.


SLTSFMM

I can promise you
You'll stay as beautiful
With dark hair
And soft skin
Forever...Forever

"Possum Kingdom" by The Toadies

Headache of suckiness...

Well, I think I'm officially suffering from a migraine headache. Usually I'm fairly lucky in the sense that I only get headaches after a long and stupid night of drinking. In this case, I'm thinking its a mix of a really jacked up sleeping cycle and stress over my first pharmacology test.

You might be thinking, so Mr. Reset Button, how did you do on the test? I think this can be best summized by this simple graphic...

Boom-sha-lock-rock-boom

Unfortunately I mean that as the a verb "to bomb" as opposed to the adjective "da bomb". There were quite a few drugs, methods of actions, adverse effects, blah, blah, blah to remember and learn and I'm quite sure I didn't do very well on the test (atleast as well as I had hoped). I think I've tempered my expectations a bit when it comes to this class and would be happy with a "B" grade. Considering there is a requirement that you have to have at least a 70% average on all 4 tests, this indicates to me that this has become a "weedout" class.

Oh well, at least I now know how the professor likes to make her tests and hopefully I'll be better prepared for the next slew of exams. I just need to get into a little better routine on how I want to study the material.

I am happy that it is autumn again. I absolutely love fall weather. There's just something awesome about a clear, sunny fall afternoon and evening. It was a fantastic 70 degrees today with a slight breeze. It will soon be time to break out the light coats and scarves. Sweet!

Also, with the turning leaves comes the ole'pigskin. And thankfully, decent football is back in Missouri. With the KC Chiefs and Mizzou Tigers still undefeated, I'm in football hog heaven. I don't expect either team to remain undefeated for the whole season but it should be an entertaining one.

Oh, in regards to a previous post I did recognize another strange (though probably not uncommon) habit I have. I'm pretty sure I've been doing this one since early childhood so I'm sure there was something I could blame in my youth to cause me to do this. What is this you ask?

Well, I have the tendency to shed clothing like a snake. No, no, I don't mean in public for your voyeuristic pleasures, I mean when I get home. I tend to ease out of my "outdoor clothes" and get into something more comfortable. Often, I leave the dirty clothes on the floor, though they are corralled relatively neatly beside the hamper.

Ohh, is that snake wearing some designer Burberry scarf? Nah, its a knock off, you can tell the pattern is a little off.

I'll end this blog entry with a question that was posed to me by a friend on the West Coast.

Ques: "Reset Button, what do you do on your free time out in the Midwest?"

Answer: Demolition Derby!!!

Ok, so I really haven't been to a demolition derby yet, but it is on my bucket list. I don't know how much more awesomely descriptive this picture could be of the Midwest.

Guy missing some teeth? Check!

Guy rocking a mullet? Check!

Guy celebrating 2nd place finish? Check!

Naming your demolition car "Grandma Toot Toot? Check!

I must admit though, I wouldn't mind playing bumper cars with out those pesky rubber bumpers and with real vehicles.

Oh well, I'd better try to get some rest. I've been feeling a bit feverish so I should probably try and get a few more zzz's tonight.

SLTSFMM

Check yes Juliet, are you with me?
Rain is falling down on the sidewalk,
I won't go until you come outside.

"Check Yes Juliet" by We the Kings

Habits, not the nun kind either

Man, its been quite some time since I've written in the ole'blog. I'm actually killing a little time between studying and trivia night so I thought I plop some thoughts down. Wait, "trivia night" you ask? Well, every Tuesday night I've been going to a trivia contest night at one of the local watering holes. Its fun, interesting and cheap ($3) and I get to try and regurgitate some useless information.

I do like the format of the trivia night, the host keeps a random slew of topics and I usually help the team pretty well (ahem...I'm probably the MVP. My back usually get tired from CARRYING THE TEAM!). =)

Actually, we do decently most nights, though I really suck at the name that tune and music lyrics section. I would have to say that the music selection would fall under the category of "White People" music. Its a rare tune that he plays that I've actually heard more than once. But, I suppose its good that its somewhat obscure considering most of the patrons also fall under that category.

There are a sizable number of folks that play each week, I'd say roughly 50 to 60 with about 8-9 teams a night. We usually finish in the top half, coming in 3rd was our best showing. I consider this good seeing as our goal was just not to finish last. There are a couple teams that always finish at the top. Its teams made up of scientists and faculty. The best team harbors a gentleman with a handlebar mustache. I would put forth evidence that its very difficult to beat handlebar mustached man in a contest of trivial wit.

Shoot, doesn't this guy look like he knows what city Napoleon captured in the autumn of 1812. FYI, the answer is Moscow. Sadly, I knew that as well.

Oh well, hopefully we do well tonight again. Back to Habits...

So I was noticing the other day that I have a really bad habit of leaving cabinets and drawers open after I use them. This applies mainly to kitchen cabinets and drawers. Whenever I get a spoon or go and grab my peanut butter I tend to leave the drawer at least partially open. I have no idea when I developed this habit, since I'm sure there was a point in my life in the past where I actually would close the drawer fully.

I went into my kitchen and I had the whole six sense thing going on with a majority of the cabinetry open. I suppose now that I have really identified the problem I should be able to correct it. Hmm, may I'm just trying to be extremely efficient and by leaving the drawers open I can make it easier access for later. Does that explanation work for you folks?

Shoot, maybe it is a six sense thing...hmm, maybe if I keep doing it Mischa Barton will show up...

No, not that Mischa Barton...

That Mischa Barton...er, well without the longhaired douchebag in the trucker hat. Unless I was the longhaired douchebag.

But, I'm not really a fan of Mischa Barton, or think she's particularly hot or anything. I just couldn't think of any other ghost type lady right now.

Ok, I'd better get going, I don't want to the to start worrying without their star player. I'm sure you all appreiciate my modest and humility (truth be told, I'm only usually good for one or two answers).

More about habits when I get back...

Ding! Did you hear that? I leveled up!

Sadly, it looks like I'm only Level 2...

Man, I've really fallen off the blog'o'sphere lately. I suppose consider it a mix of laziness, apathy and general lack of anything entertaining or pertinent to say. I'm thinking things will start picking up a bit as the summer winds down since I'll be back to school at the end of August. I'll be taking two final pre-requisite courses at Mizzou and reapplying for the accelerated bachelor's of nursing program for next year.

I'll be taking a Diet and Nutrition course, which should be the lighter of the two courses as well as a Pharmocology class. I'll be taking the Pharm class with Pre-Med students so I anticipate a high degree of competitiveness and general snobbery. Honestly, I'm not even sure why we need a Pharmocology class, I mean, isn't the whole class pretty much teaching us how to count out pills? (Wink Wink Jenee!)

I'm looking forward to classes again. I've gotten in somewhat of a good groove with work. Though my body and sleeping schedule are still pretty jacked up by working the overnight shift, I definitely don't mind it. Honestly, the only thing I don't really like about working weekend nights is the looming possibility of missing weekend football games (I should join the 21st century and get a TIVO or something).

As many of you probably know (or may have forgotten already) I just recently gained another year of earthly experience...or more commonly referred to as "celebrated my birthday". I would wager that most of you feel like I do, that as we age, the celebratory milestones become further and further apart.

When you're young there are many birthdays to look forward to:

Age 1: You're peeing all over the place and trying to make cute sounds, you probably sleep a lot

Age 2: You have teeth and are probably babbling incoherently...still peeing all over the place.

Age 5: Congrats you've lasted longer than most marriages in the US! More than likely you have a pretty crappy haircut at this juncture

Age 10: You've officially survived a decade on Earth and you should be potty trained by now...sadly, some of you aren't

Age 12: The last year of childhood before you turn into a teenager, you had no real responsibilities or cares...and you wasted it. Good job.

Age 13: Your first year as a teenager...and maybe some pubes! Hormones start kicking in, some of you turn into whores

Age 16: You're probably learning how to drive and how to run stuff over (hopefully not people). Some of you are even bigger whores by now (and I mean the guys too).

Age 18: You're an adult! Well, according the government you are, but you're probably still a dumbass/whorish/irresponsible/self-centered child. But its OK, because you know everything at this point

Age 21: You can now legally do what you've been doing for a long time already...yes, I'm talking about masturbating (you sick, sick puppy). Interestingly, you are also still peeing all over the place and trying to make cute sounds and you probably sleep a lot

Age 25: You probably have a job that you hate going to by now and you still want to party, though some of you have married and/or have children and still want to party

Age 30: Well, its down hill from here...wait dammit, 30 is the new 20! Or at least that's what 30 year olds say. Ideally, you've matured past the dumbass/whorish/irresponsible/self-centered child that you were...but odds are, if you're just like me, then you haven't. Cheers!


Well, I really can't go much further than that. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on the 40's since I'm years, YEARS, away from hitting that mark. If you don't know how old I am I'll give you a little clue. I was born in the year of the Snake. Since there are a finite number of possibilities I'm sure you'll be able to figure out the date.

My birthday itself was quite tame compared to years past. I worked all weekend so going out to celebrate wasn't much of an option. My brother did come down and visit so we were able to go get some sushi before my Sunday shift. Speaking of sushi...I've really been on a huge fish eating kick for a while. Since I don't really buy "land meat" (as my brother calls it), I don't eat much of it anymore. Its not that I'm against meat or turning pescaterian (sp?), I just don't have it as much...though I am craving a burger right now.

I was quite surprised by the women from work though. When I came in Saturday night they had brought in a large amount of food and CAKE! There was even a sign up wishing me a happy 21st birthday. It's kind of a running gag that they ask nearly every single patient to guess my age. Thanks to my Asian blood I typically get labeled a 24 year old. I'll rarely get 18 and some more astute (ie. less drugged up) patients correctly guess I'm over the hill.

Well, its morning again and I'm heading out to the driving range. I've yet to play an actual round of golf but I'm slowly getting a good feel for my swing. My goal is to just be able to finish a round without completely destroying my clubs or the grounds.

Keep on truckin folks! Level up!

SLTSFMM

I can go anywhere
But you are not
The one who's led astray
I watch with half-closed eyes
While you just seem
To drift so far away

"Stone" by Sepiamusic