It's a good day for a walk

When the news of George Carlin's death got to me, I knew that of all the wonderful things that medical science can do, laughter's healing properties still tops the list. At least in terms of therapy and relief. In my mind I took out an old saying of mine and dusted it off, placing it on the shelf before me. "The saddest day is the day a comedian dies." Most people as a general rule are not afraid to speak their minds, but very few people can carry a thought to the masses, and speak what most are thinking like a comedian.

July was a sad month. Ida was like Christmas morning to me. Her loss has definately pricked something deep within my thick skin. Even so, all of this sorrow over loosing a cat that was not ever mine has taught me of my own capacity for love. She was great at smoothing out my rough edges, and with her passing, she smoothed out the biggest one of all. This was at the beginning of the month, on July 8th. Percy, my roomates' dog was put to sleep. Age had caught up with him. For his last week, he was no longer the dog that he once was, save for his sweet gentleness that combined with his white fur made me think of him as a great big goofy cotton-ball. But towards the end he had lost his goofiness, his ability to eat, a lot of weight, and all sense of direction. "Bye, bye Percy" July 29, 2008.

Well with all eyes opened lately, I'm soaking in as much as I can. Work has me worn out, the tasks I do at clinical have me humbled, friends have me doubting associations, while other relationships are budding. Roaches seem to be a phobia of the past. I'm doing things that are fun, or at least trying to deviate from monotony whenever I can. Movies and books are on my wish list along with clothes and debt paying. Well, that's it, lifes momentum is ever going. I going with it!

Today I have taken my last comp of the summer semester. I'm sure I passed, and I'm just glad that it's over. I still have one more week of clinicals and then a well deserved summer break for two weeks. I'll catch up on cleaning, reading, exercise, and work a few extra hours hoping for a larger paycheck. I need new clothes. I'll have a solitary outing. I will take a walk.

Today was very productive if not a little tiring, and the fatigue has more to do with the heat and hunger than being worn out. Yes a very good day today. Which brings me to my quandary. My chores are all done and now I can go outside and play, but what do I do? The only thing on my mind is seeing Indiana Jones.

It's premier night tonight and that's the only drawback to hopping on a bus or calling a friend to see the movie tonight. Then again I could just relax with the rest of my free time and do an Indiana Jones Trilogy marathon complete with a few Young Indy Chronicles, hrm. Tomorrow I could catch it after orientation, or wait until Saturday and see it before work. Sunday and Monday are possibilities due to the holiday weekend.

I wish all of life's major decisions could be this fun!

Boy, has it been awhile! Lets see, there was a break from school after finals. My grades were not up to par with my intelligence, but definately up to par with my end of semester laziness. During my break I noticed that my hours at Pizza Hut were knocked down from 19.5-20 per week to 13 hours. As if I didn't stress enough. Well, what can I say, commence the job search once more. I'm looking into elderly care again. Something that I'd volunteer to do, has to be a paying gig. I hope that there is a compatible schedule out there for me. Only one way to find out.

The summer session has picked up, er, should I say hit the ground like a pancake. Yesterday was orientation where I was supposed to purchase my clinical sign-off packet, x-ray routine booklet, and get my clinical assignment for the semester. First stop was to the bookstore, the cubbord was bare of the materials that were needed. Then orientation took place, and I did get the new clinical assignment. NOT what I was expecting. I hoped for a busier and frankly very challenging site. I was eager for something meatier and found myself sleepless with a gung-ho fervor the night before. See, I had started my clinicals at the VA hospital but only one day a week. Then I was assigned to a laid back, small hospital on the Northeast side of the city. After that, being last semester, I was assigned to a neighborhood clinic. Though educational, it was a bit too cushy for me. I wanted to get my hands dirty, I wanted to get into "the suck". I hoped for University or BAMC(local army hospital). Very reputable for giving x-ray students a good education in just about everything that one might come up against in this profession. Where am I now? Another clinic. No doubt I will learn something, but my gung-ho just got slapped with a sedative.

Yesterday I find out from my instructor that there is a hold on the new site. Myself and the other student will need an orientation and those are only done on Mondays. He's looking into it, but until then we are to show up on campus everyday until we can get a green-light. So we are here to do nothing for 7 hours at the designated time and the instructor has not showed, the door to the office with the sign-in sheet is locked, and now without proof of attendance I'm thinking that this semester if off on a "great" start. Per the new attendance policy, we are only allowed on absence and then after that we are dropped from the program, finis, gone, and don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord or Lady split ya on the way out. It all makes me want to sink my teeth into something. I should have breakfast.

I'm optimistic that things will work out. No really, I am.

I've been able to hold off on soda and unnatural sources of caffeine for awhile now. Tonight I figured it would be okay to splurge and toss back a couple(3) of Dr. Peppers. It was NOT okay. I'm experiencing a crash with dizziness, headache, sweating, and an upset stomach.

Water, I really need water. Oye!

Woke up late today because of poor sleep last night. Ugh, it happens. With a balls to the wall bus driver, I got to campus with just enough time to rush into class only 3 minutes late, I beat the instructor by a minute. Only to discover, much to my chagrin, that there was a midterm scheduled for today that completely slipped my mind and calender. I maintained calm and scoured my textbook, as I'd brought the wrong notebook by accident. I focused on what might stump me and shut the book to await whatever those six stapled pages had in store. Then, by luck, determination, absorbed knowledge, or all the above, I passed with a low 'A'.

Yes, sometimes good days don't always start off well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHXBL6bzAR4

Corporal cuddling, never has a better phrase been used.

I'm on a break between am and afternoon sessions. I feel good about the quiz. A 'B' is good, an 'A' would be preferred, and a 100 would be awesome. Still, I can't shake the uneasy feeling that I completely failed the quiz. There was one question, 23, that I drew a mental blank on once I got to it. I even changed my answer a couple of times and just before handing it in decided to follow my gut. I just checked my notes and found that the answer I chose was the correct one, and once again my instincts have bailed me out. Go me!

After the break, there's a rad tech club meeting, and then back to the second half of class for grades and lecture. Still need to print out the power points. Then home to work on computer assignments and head into work. I'm feeling a little better today and hope that tonight goes well. By going well, I hope that I don't cough up a foot during my shift.

Oh, yeah, before I forget I need to call my clinical instructor about the on campus evaluation. Must verify the date and time.



EDIT::
Work went well, it was a good steady night.  I feel 110% better after my shower. My quiz grade was a 98, sweet! I did my taxes instead of homework, but I still have two more days. However given that I only just got around to doing my taxes, I don't think that these two days to get the WEB course assignment done will suffice. Discipline, got to have it. I also did not get around to calling my instructor about where I need to be tomorrow, I must do so first thing in the morning.

Off to bed...

It's a beautiful day outside just like the past week of nice weather I have been house locked, sick with strep throat and acute bronchitis. But with the windows and doors open to let the sun, breeze, and nature sounds in, I'm content with my cabin fever. I'm sitting in my favorite chair with the foot stool in front of me, blanket on my lap, when my roomate's cat walks under and curls up on my feet. I'm reminded of my late pekingnese, Cinnamon. I have studying to do for a Monday morning test, but right now, I'm just enjoying the moment.

I wish I could get up and put the pot on for tea without disturbing the napping cat.