I find it interesting that I have no desire what-so-ever to go on long afternoon runs when I am fully able to do so. Now that the weather is perfect (just beginning to have mild morning frosts, cool if not chilly evenings and cloudless sunny days with nice breezes= perfect) I am DYING to go for a run... but the most I can manage is a somewhat painful, though thankfully crutchless (only due to my insubordination of any and all medical advice regarding those medieval torture devices) hobble down the hill to classes and back up innumerable stairs to my room.
This blows. I wake up, I do work, I go to class, I do labs/work/research, I pick plant specimens, I go to practice (where I watch, give advice and silently yearn to put my rugby boots back on), I go to work, I come home, do more homework, and then ice my knee and go to sleep. I'm always on it, and I tried to run the other day only to wake up this morning feeling like I was 3-days post injury again. I'd rather have a concussion, missing teeth, a broken nose AND a sprained back than a fucked up knee. And, oh, did I mention my MRI is not until October 4th thanks to the wonders of insufficient medical insurance.
On the bright side, my research on the neurofibrillary pathology and other neuritic dystrophies involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's is coming along quite nicely. All of the recent stuff is showing a marked trend towards linking clinical symptoms with the microtubule associated protein TAU, rather than the traditional correlation involving beta-amyloid plaques. It mostly supports what my original goal was; prove that the old theory is wrrroooonnng. Now I need to find assays on a related disease model in animals.
On an unrelated note, my TB PPD skin test came back positive. I cursed, the nurse laughed, I cursed again, and then I scheduled a chest x-ray for the same day as my MRI. I will be exposed to magnets (well, one BIG magnet), and some ionizing radiation all in the same day. Maybe THEN I can convince someone to give me some Vicodin too, because no, this does not tickle, and motrin sucks.
.....c'est la vie!
25 September 2007
16 September 2007
Worst. Timing. EVER.
SO...there I was, must have been maybe at the 22 meter line on the pitch. Second half of the first game of the tournament, gusting winds, no sun, sideways rain... it was gorgeous rugby weather. I'm taking the ball into contact, I stiff-arm to my right, turn my body to the right to avoid a tackle, plant my left foot- a girl comes in to make a tackle and the last thing I saw was her shoulder hitting my left knee, and then CRACK SNAP SNAP SNAP, and I'm on the turf screaming bloody murder.
Never been in so much pain in my life. Literally. So, the one thing above all that pisses me off, probably more than my commission being in (a little bit of) danger, is that this is my Fall seasion of my Senior year. MY SENIOR YEAR. This is my year! I took credits off of my schedule for this year, so I can be a great rugby player on the best team in the Northeast...I know they can do it without me, of course we can- but I want to play so badly.
What the fuck, man. I'm a safe player. I get stepped on, and I get a sore back, and I get kicked, headbutted, but so does everyone else. And we recover. This is my knee. I walk on it and whatnot. It's far more integral to my playing than a hand or a measley back muscle.
I have an outline to write. :(
Never been in so much pain in my life. Literally. So, the one thing above all that pisses me off, probably more than my commission being in (a little bit of) danger, is that this is my Fall seasion of my Senior year. MY SENIOR YEAR. This is my year! I took credits off of my schedule for this year, so I can be a great rugby player on the best team in the Northeast...I know they can do it without me, of course we can- but I want to play so badly.
What the fuck, man. I'm a safe player. I get stepped on, and I get a sore back, and I get kicked, headbutted, but so does everyone else. And we recover. This is my knee. I walk on it and whatnot. It's far more integral to my playing than a hand or a measley back muscle.
I have an outline to write. :(
10 September 2007
How does this show up 2 days after the Rugby game??
My lower back is sprained. Sprained. As in, I laid down (laid, lied, was lying....whatever) on my stomach last night and asked a friend to help me relax the muscles which were bunched so tightly at the time that I was starting to have a hard time of moving. So he put some pressure on my lower back, and at the time, it felt great. Things were coming un-locked, great.
He left, and I could not get off the floor. Could. Not. Excruciating pain each time I tried- everything was locked up. I LITERALLY had to roll over onto my back (very painful) and use a squirming motion with my arms to reach the door, where I popped my head into the hallway, supine as I was, and waited until someone came out of their room to help me. Allow yourself to picture my head on the floor in the hallway, turning from left to right, praying fervently that someone needed to use the bathroom or throw something in the trash... and like 5 of the India Company kids came to my rescue. They were awesome.
Two vicodins and three muscle relaxers later, I was out like a light, but still unable to move. As luck would have it, I can walk this morning. Slowly, painfully, and crooked- but I got to class. Now if you'll please excuse me while I go get this fixed by some people who know what they're doing.
Resin ducts are a waste storage system in the Conifers which allows them to live longer.
He left, and I could not get off the floor. Could. Not. Excruciating pain each time I tried- everything was locked up. I LITERALLY had to roll over onto my back (very painful) and use a squirming motion with my arms to reach the door, where I popped my head into the hallway, supine as I was, and waited until someone came out of their room to help me. Allow yourself to picture my head on the floor in the hallway, turning from left to right, praying fervently that someone needed to use the bathroom or throw something in the trash... and like 5 of the India Company kids came to my rescue. They were awesome.
Two vicodins and three muscle relaxers later, I was out like a light, but still unable to move. As luck would have it, I can walk this morning. Slowly, painfully, and crooked- but I got to class. Now if you'll please excuse me while I go get this fixed by some people who know what they're doing.
Resin ducts are a waste storage system in the Conifers which allows them to live longer.
09 September 2007
Finally, evidence that 30 grand a year is paying off.
Something monumental happened for me today.
For the first time in years, I had concrete, incontrovertible evidence that I have, indeed, gotten smarter. Not that I've learned something- learning and becoming 'smarter' or 'more intelligent' are two different things (in my opinion.) Learning is the acquisition of knowledge; you can get that from books, nearly anyone can do it. To foster growth of one's intellect, on the other hand, takes time, focus, and experience. So what happened? Well, no one inparticular, I'll tell you.
I looked a friend in the eye, and, knowing full and well I would be able to assist them, told them to come to me if they needed help in Chemistry.
!!!! I know, right?! Let me explain. I took basic high school chemistry twice. I got a C, and the second time a B. I repeated it not only for grade replacement but because I did not understand the material to my satisfaction. AP Chemistry was the ONLY course in High School that I got a D in, and the only AP test I did not earn credits from taking.
I took basic Chemistry 101/102 last year as a junior, and got a D then a B. I re-took the first half and earned an A. In short, it has taken me 8 semesters and close to seven years to finally, FINALLY, be so comfortable with Chemistry that I am SURE I can tutor/teach someone else who is struggling.
To me, that's progress. And I am so happy!
Now maybe someday I can conquer my three remaining subject holdouts: History, Geography, and Physics. (ew.)
In other news my left hand is not broken, but I do not appear to have a ring-finger knuckle (it is popped back and in somehow) and I have limited motion- it's moving oddly. Hm...appears to be healing this way. Ah, well, I only really need it to reach the "s-d-x" letters on the keyboard. I shall compensate.
Hydrangea paniculata, the "Pee-gee" Hydrangea, is native to Japan and China but is widely cultivated in the Northeast. It can be identified by it's slightly conical bloom heads of 4-merous white flowers, and the fact that it's leaf arrangement changes from "opposite" to "whorled" as you reach the branch tops!
For the first time in years, I had concrete, incontrovertible evidence that I have, indeed, gotten smarter. Not that I've learned something- learning and becoming 'smarter' or 'more intelligent' are two different things (in my opinion.) Learning is the acquisition of knowledge; you can get that from books, nearly anyone can do it. To foster growth of one's intellect, on the other hand, takes time, focus, and experience. So what happened? Well, no one inparticular, I'll tell you.
I looked a friend in the eye, and, knowing full and well I would be able to assist them, told them to come to me if they needed help in Chemistry.
!!!! I know, right?! Let me explain. I took basic high school chemistry twice. I got a C, and the second time a B. I repeated it not only for grade replacement but because I did not understand the material to my satisfaction. AP Chemistry was the ONLY course in High School that I got a D in, and the only AP test I did not earn credits from taking.
I took basic Chemistry 101/102 last year as a junior, and got a D then a B. I re-took the first half and earned an A. In short, it has taken me 8 semesters and close to seven years to finally, FINALLY, be so comfortable with Chemistry that I am SURE I can tutor/teach someone else who is struggling.
To me, that's progress. And I am so happy!
Now maybe someday I can conquer my three remaining subject holdouts: History, Geography, and Physics. (ew.)
In other news my left hand is not broken, but I do not appear to have a ring-finger knuckle (it is popped back and in somehow) and I have limited motion- it's moving oddly. Hm...appears to be healing this way. Ah, well, I only really need it to reach the "s-d-x" letters on the keyboard. I shall compensate.
Hydrangea paniculata, the "Pee-gee" Hydrangea, is native to Japan and China but is widely cultivated in the Northeast. It can be identified by it's slightly conical bloom heads of 4-merous white flowers, and the fact that it's leaf arrangement changes from "opposite" to "whorled" as you reach the branch tops!
08 September 2007
yeaaaaaahhhhhhsssssss I love this game!
Rugby game was sweet. Scored my first try. Must run more. Left hand possibly broken so typing only with right, we beat Vermont Law like...I dont know how many we scored it was in the area of 50-70 points- to zero. Very nice, can't wait for season, shower time now. :)
07 September 2007
A few things.
Okay, so, justification for the existence of this blog/journal/streamofconsciousnessdumpingspot:
And yes, I do have to justify this thing because at a school such as mine any sort of online expression other than drunken pictures on Facebook is generally looked down upon. But hey, I do have drunken pictures on Facebook, 'n' that's just me stickin' it to the man.
Right, back to what I was saying. I've had livejournals, xangas, and even a myspace I posted on. I simply never kept up with any of them once Norwich started. Too much to do, not enough time to think about anything other than what was directly in front of me...and if I did, I sure as hell didn't have time to write it down.
Well I'm about 8 months away from "real life" descending upon me like the fury of God, so all things considered, I believe it wise to create an outlet for my exploits/thoughts again. And to actively think about things other than how useless parade practice is and what uniform I need to wash and when my next briefing is due. Things like life. And Sudan. And the entire concept behind nursing homes, seeing as how I work at one and my discontent with the healthcare system is evolving from a removed disinterest to an indignant "WTF?"
So, here it is. My online thing where sometimes I write stuff, and occasionally use vague and unimpressive vocabulary words. And no, I won't be doing any math (...eli.) But I will be discussing numerous disease processes, cool chemistry facts and a thing here or there about trees.
The Eastern White Pine, Pinus strobus, is the only member of it's genus that has furrowed bark rathern than platy-scaly bark.
And yes, I do have to justify this thing because at a school such as mine any sort of online expression other than drunken pictures on Facebook is generally looked down upon. But hey, I do have drunken pictures on Facebook, 'n' that's just me stickin' it to the man.
Right, back to what I was saying. I've had livejournals, xangas, and even a myspace I posted on. I simply never kept up with any of them once Norwich started. Too much to do, not enough time to think about anything other than what was directly in front of me...and if I did, I sure as hell didn't have time to write it down.
Well I'm about 8 months away from "real life" descending upon me like the fury of God, so all things considered, I believe it wise to create an outlet for my exploits/thoughts again. And to actively think about things other than how useless parade practice is and what uniform I need to wash and when my next briefing is due. Things like life. And Sudan. And the entire concept behind nursing homes, seeing as how I work at one and my discontent with the healthcare system is evolving from a removed disinterest to an indignant "WTF?"
So, here it is. My online thing where sometimes I write stuff, and occasionally use vague and unimpressive vocabulary words. And no, I won't be doing any math (...eli.) But I will be discussing numerous disease processes, cool chemistry facts and a thing here or there about trees.
The Eastern White Pine, Pinus strobus, is the only member of it's genus that has furrowed bark rathern than platy-scaly bark.
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