Sometimes personal life gets a little too loud for me to concentrate on school. This has been one of those weeks. My sixteen year-old daughter is struggling with TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder), and we spent all night in the ER one night in order to find this out. So I missed my political science test the next day, along with all of my classes for the day. I thought I was getting everything caught up (including my study blog), but then on Saturday, I had a car accident, and I spent the day in the ER myself. I'm OK, just bruised pretty badly. The lady in the car that I hit (yep) broke her arm and I think she may have had surgery. I feel really terrible, everyone assures me it was an accident, but I feel like the idiot who can't drive.
My hubby took me to the Toyota dealership and bought a new Prius, and it is RED! I LOVE my new car. So in the middle of all this life, I'm trying to manage to learn something and make some decent grades. I had to make up my political science test today, and I think it went fine. Hopefully I'll find out tomorrow on that.
So now I'm updating the study blog, trying to catch up on some reading, and I'm about to study the vocabulary that I'm being quizzed on tomorrow. Maybe life will go back to being a little more on autopilot so I can concentrate on school. Just a few more weeks til spring semester is over! I went to advising on Monday, so I'm pretty sure about what my schedule for summer and fall semesters will be. I'm planning to take Physics 1 and Biology of Aging. We'll see how that works out. Then in fall, it's Biosystematics and Ecology. Things are starting to look like I'll be a senior soon! WOW! I've got to work on coming up with a senior project proposal. I so don't know what to do. Ideas?
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Best intentions...
Yeah, so it's March. I have LOTS of updates. So the first day of class, I decided that taking Chem II was a bad idea. I'm sure my professor is a lovely person, but he told me that (1) I had to have my book in class, and (2) I could not have any electronic device during class. Well, my book is ON my iPad, and I told him that. His answer? That's your problem. No iPad, must have the book. So I chose door number 3. I'm outta here. I'm not going to buy the book AGAIN. I have no regrets. If I find the time later I'll retake the class, otherwise, I'm just going to deal with the C. Oh but wait, there's more! The next class after Chem II is Orgo II. The professor did.not.show.up. This is not good. My Orgo I professor was a great dude, and I was looking forward to having him again for II. Apparently he's not coming back, and there was some kind of drama. We got a replacement professor, and he is lovely. However, the head of the chemistry department is facilitating the labs. He's one of my favorite professors, but he is NOT an organic chemistry instructor. After my third panic attack, I dropped that one too. So that leaves cell biology, genetics, and American government. Now that we have passed the midterms, I am perfectly happy to only have these three classes. They are no walk in the park, and I've had a few hiccups in the testing department. I have resolved to buckle down and be a little more responsible in the second half of the semester.
Currently, I'm studying for a government test that is coming up on Wednesday. It shouldn't be too bad, I enjoy the class, and I'm working on catching up on all the reading. And boy, is there a lot of it! We are doing a fruit fly experiment in genetics lab, and that has actually been pretty fun. Our mutant flies have brown eyes, and we are determining what kind of inheritance leads to the mutant brown eyes. Our first cross is finished, and we should be done with the second in about a week. It has been fascinating learning how to roofie flies so we can examine them under the microscope without them flying away. We also introduced some glowing plasmids to some E. coli in a petri dish, and saw them glow after a couple of days. The smell!
Cell bio is kind of kicking my butt. I do well in labs, but the tests are intense. I'm sure I'm going to pass both classes, but I'm not sure how good my grades will be. I'm always in knots about it right up to the end. Anyway, I'm blogging instead of studying, see my ADD? I'm going to get back to government. *Yawn*
Currently, I'm studying for a government test that is coming up on Wednesday. It shouldn't be too bad, I enjoy the class, and I'm working on catching up on all the reading. And boy, is there a lot of it! We are doing a fruit fly experiment in genetics lab, and that has actually been pretty fun. Our mutant flies have brown eyes, and we are determining what kind of inheritance leads to the mutant brown eyes. Our first cross is finished, and we should be done with the second in about a week. It has been fascinating learning how to roofie flies so we can examine them under the microscope without them flying away. We also introduced some glowing plasmids to some E. coli in a petri dish, and saw them glow after a couple of days. The smell!
Cell bio is kind of kicking my butt. I do well in labs, but the tests are intense. I'm sure I'm going to pass both classes, but I'm not sure how good my grades will be. I'm always in knots about it right up to the end. Anyway, I'm blogging instead of studying, see my ADD? I'm going to get back to government. *Yawn*
Friday, January 6, 2012
Happy New Year!
Welcome, 2012! I think that was the fastest Christmas vacation I have ever experienced. I was thinking that having a month off between semesters would be a really long time, and I would get a lot of things accomplished on the home front. Well, that didn't work out as well as planned. I am still gimpy, so I spent the whole month with my foot in the air ordering everyone else around. That, however, was quite successful, and I have a nice clean closet and bedroom as a result. I went to the doctor yesterday, and he said I am allowed to bear weight on the left foot now. So I shouldn't have as much trouble getting around as I was having when I had to keep off. I still have the crutches, but they are mainly for balance rather than weight bearing. I can actually walk alright without them, but I keep them around in case I decide to face-plant.
I have been stalking all of my classes on CougarNet and CougarView to see if any of my instructors have posted their syllabus. For some reason, there are two areas that they can post their stuff. I don't understand why they maintain the two areas, but it seems the instructors are pretty much convinced that the one they use is the best. I personally prefer CougarView because it is more interactive than the static file-hosting feel of CougarNet. However, no one asks me what I think. I did find the American Government (POLS 1101) syllabus, and I printed it out for Monday's class. The instructor also posted the readings that are supposed to be completed before class, so I've started reading those. I have to admit that I am pretty dumb when it comes to politics. I hope I learn a lot in this class, and I really hope it's an atmosphere that encourages learning rather than belittling those who aren't as savvy. I am very conservative politically -- well I think I am -- but sometimes I get confused because I am not sure that the information I get is really trustworthy. It boils down to the fact that I am pro-life, and I overlook a lot of political stupidity to vote that conviction. (This is a blog I wrote about feminism and what I think about it if you're interested -- http://thestapleszoo.blogspot.com/2008/09/i-am-feminist.html)
I am a little (well, very) nervous about this next semester. I may have overextended myself a bit. I probably should have stuck with Orgo 2 with lab, Genetics with lab, Cell bio with lab, and political science. But I made that C in Chem 2 last summer, and it has been irritating me. CSU will replace the C if I re-take it and make a better grade, and I still have the digital book on rental for another semester, so I thought it would be a good time to add it on. I also added an honors organic gardening class. I figured that would be therapeutic since my course load is so crazy. I really hope I didn't overextend myself. I can always drop Chem 2 if necessary, but I am really hoping to knock that out and do better this time. That will restore my lovely unspotted 4.0.
I hope I'm not sounding like a snotty pre-med obsessing about course loads and grades and what-not. I tend to obsess about things -- usually unnecessarily. My friends always fuss that I whine about tests and grades and then it all works out. But I think sometimes it works out BECAUSE I obsess about it.
So while the month off from school was really nice, this last week has been REALLY boring, and I'm ready to get back to obsessing and studying and seeing all my school buddies. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with myself when I graduate. I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and New Year, and I will see y'all real soon! Ciao!
I have been stalking all of my classes on CougarNet and CougarView to see if any of my instructors have posted their syllabus. For some reason, there are two areas that they can post their stuff. I don't understand why they maintain the two areas, but it seems the instructors are pretty much convinced that the one they use is the best. I personally prefer CougarView because it is more interactive than the static file-hosting feel of CougarNet. However, no one asks me what I think. I did find the American Government (POLS 1101) syllabus, and I printed it out for Monday's class. The instructor also posted the readings that are supposed to be completed before class, so I've started reading those. I have to admit that I am pretty dumb when it comes to politics. I hope I learn a lot in this class, and I really hope it's an atmosphere that encourages learning rather than belittling those who aren't as savvy. I am very conservative politically -- well I think I am -- but sometimes I get confused because I am not sure that the information I get is really trustworthy. It boils down to the fact that I am pro-life, and I overlook a lot of political stupidity to vote that conviction. (This is a blog I wrote about feminism and what I think about it if you're interested -- http://thestapleszoo.blogspot.com/2008/09/i-am-feminist.html)
I am a little (well, very) nervous about this next semester. I may have overextended myself a bit. I probably should have stuck with Orgo 2 with lab, Genetics with lab, Cell bio with lab, and political science. But I made that C in Chem 2 last summer, and it has been irritating me. CSU will replace the C if I re-take it and make a better grade, and I still have the digital book on rental for another semester, so I thought it would be a good time to add it on. I also added an honors organic gardening class. I figured that would be therapeutic since my course load is so crazy. I really hope I didn't overextend myself. I can always drop Chem 2 if necessary, but I am really hoping to knock that out and do better this time. That will restore my lovely unspotted 4.0.
I hope I'm not sounding like a snotty pre-med obsessing about course loads and grades and what-not. I tend to obsess about things -- usually unnecessarily. My friends always fuss that I whine about tests and grades and then it all works out. But I think sometimes it works out BECAUSE I obsess about it.
So while the month off from school was really nice, this last week has been REALLY boring, and I'm ready to get back to obsessing and studying and seeing all my school buddies. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with myself when I graduate. I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and New Year, and I will see y'all real soon! Ciao!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Aaaand I'm OK
Finals week is a nice distant memory. I'm going to assume that I didn't completely toast either of the two finals that I had to take, because I managed to pull off a 4.0 for fall semester. I was totally happy with that result! I was really sweating the orgo final, and I think the instructor took into account that I did work really hard even though most of my test scores weren't great. I am eternally grateful for such an awesome teacher.
On the Monday after my last final, I had surgery on my left foot. I can't put any weight on the foot until further notice, and I'm starting to get a little nervous about that because classes start back on 1/9. I'm hoping when I go back in to the doctor to get my stitches out that he puts me in some kind of walking cast. I have classes back to back on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8am to noon, and the last three are in three different buildings that are a little further away than I think I can walk in 10 minutes. I guess I'll beg my professors to forgive me if I don't make it on time for the first few weeks. I did contact the disabled services director at CSU, and she replied that since my "disability" will not last more than six months, they don't have to help me at all according to the ADA. It's nice to know that CSU will only accommodate you as far as the ADA forces them. Boo. I've pretty much learned that any help in place for disabled people is more geared towards those on wheels than those on crutches. The handicapped stall in bathrooms is ALWAYS the last one, and the thought of traversing a slippery tile floor on crutches for any more distance than is absolutely necessary is quite unnerving. Not to mention that walking on crutches wears me completely out. But I guess it's exercise, right? I really don't think I want to wheel around in my wheelchair on campus, but I am not sure I can crutch it for such long distances either. I'm just hoping I'm getting around better by then.
So my schedule next semester is NUTS. I'm retaking Chem 2 to replace the C I made the first time I took it. That's on MWF at 8am. At 9am is orgo 2, thankfully in the same room. Then at 10am, I have to be in Howard Hall for cellular biology, and then it's back to Jordan for genetics at 11. On Mondays I also have orgo 2 lab at 1, and then political science at 4:30 on Monday and Wednesday. Lab for genetics is on Wednesday at 1:30, and lab for cellular bio is Thursday at 9:30am. I don't have any classes on Tuesday, but I have to come on campus anyway for either AMSA or Tri-Beta. I'm a little worried about taking such a heavy load, and I'm prepared to unload chem 2 if it gets too heavy.
I've really enjoyed having a month off. I meant to keep up with orgo over the break so that I would be ahead, but so far I've been on complete brain break. I had the surgery on Dec 12, and I've been pretty much recovering from that and being useless. This week we're in Saint Augustine for our yearly family vacation. I love coming down here, there's lots to do and the weather is just fabulous. But I've been pretty much useless here too because I can't get around as well.
The osteopathic medical school in Dothan received their pre-accreditation a couple of weeks ago. They plan to break ground next month and be finished in time for the first class in fall 2013. It's looking like I'll be in the class of 2014 at this point. *fingers crossed* I'm just keeping an eye on everything going on down there. It's very exciting!
I guess that is everything for now. I'll try to be better about keeping up here. Ciao!
On the Monday after my last final, I had surgery on my left foot. I can't put any weight on the foot until further notice, and I'm starting to get a little nervous about that because classes start back on 1/9. I'm hoping when I go back in to the doctor to get my stitches out that he puts me in some kind of walking cast. I have classes back to back on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8am to noon, and the last three are in three different buildings that are a little further away than I think I can walk in 10 minutes. I guess I'll beg my professors to forgive me if I don't make it on time for the first few weeks. I did contact the disabled services director at CSU, and she replied that since my "disability" will not last more than six months, they don't have to help me at all according to the ADA. It's nice to know that CSU will only accommodate you as far as the ADA forces them. Boo. I've pretty much learned that any help in place for disabled people is more geared towards those on wheels than those on crutches. The handicapped stall in bathrooms is ALWAYS the last one, and the thought of traversing a slippery tile floor on crutches for any more distance than is absolutely necessary is quite unnerving. Not to mention that walking on crutches wears me completely out. But I guess it's exercise, right? I really don't think I want to wheel around in my wheelchair on campus, but I am not sure I can crutch it for such long distances either. I'm just hoping I'm getting around better by then.
So my schedule next semester is NUTS. I'm retaking Chem 2 to replace the C I made the first time I took it. That's on MWF at 8am. At 9am is orgo 2, thankfully in the same room. Then at 10am, I have to be in Howard Hall for cellular biology, and then it's back to Jordan for genetics at 11. On Mondays I also have orgo 2 lab at 1, and then political science at 4:30 on Monday and Wednesday. Lab for genetics is on Wednesday at 1:30, and lab for cellular bio is Thursday at 9:30am. I don't have any classes on Tuesday, but I have to come on campus anyway for either AMSA or Tri-Beta. I'm a little worried about taking such a heavy load, and I'm prepared to unload chem 2 if it gets too heavy.
I've really enjoyed having a month off. I meant to keep up with orgo over the break so that I would be ahead, but so far I've been on complete brain break. I had the surgery on Dec 12, and I've been pretty much recovering from that and being useless. This week we're in Saint Augustine for our yearly family vacation. I love coming down here, there's lots to do and the weather is just fabulous. But I've been pretty much useless here too because I can't get around as well.
The osteopathic medical school in Dothan received their pre-accreditation a couple of weeks ago. They plan to break ground next month and be finished in time for the first class in fall 2013. It's looking like I'll be in the class of 2014 at this point. *fingers crossed* I'm just keeping an eye on everything going on down there. It's very exciting!
I guess that is everything for now. I'll try to be better about keeping up here. Ciao!
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Finals week
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That is all. See you next week.
That is all. See you next week.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Winding Down
So I'm counting on one hand how many class days in each subject I have left before the semester is over. I have an exam in Orgo on Monday, and I haven't studied as much as I'd like. So I'm spending today in the books. Well, actually, I'm doing everything BUT studying -- including writing a blog post. The hubby and kids were supposed to leave the house before 9am for a pancake breakfast, and they are still here. I can't study very well when hubby is watching Netflix and the kids are playing the piano. I'm waiting for blissful silence so I can immerse myself in studying. In silence. Yeah, we'll see what happens if it ever gets quiet in here.
I have really enjoyed this semester, but all I can think about is it being OVER and having a month off. Of course, I'm planning to stay in the books over the break so I can start Orgo 2 a little ahead. We'll see what happens with that too. Somehow I see myself in pajamas all day after waking at noon, playing video games all day and reading trash. That's probably more closely aligned with reality. But I continue to kid myself.
As the semester comes to a close, I am reflecting on everything I've learned and the really awesome things that have happened. I've met a lot of people since I started at CSU, and some of those have become some really great friends. I still see a lot of the folks that went to the Bahamas in May when we run into each other on campus. I've gotten closer with some of the AMSA folks, and apparently all the old folks flock together in Honors (PJ and Don!). I'm starting to feel kinda at home at CSU. Even the faculty is starting to grow on me, and I'm not one to get along with teachers for the most part. Apparently I can be a bit of a pain in the butt with my obsessing over grades and constant need for clarification. I think that comes with the pre-med package, I do try not to be a diva.
So as the days tick by and I spend increasing amounts of time in the Honors study lounge (with COOKIES!), I hope that I am able to be in every moment instead of wishing it away. Because it seems like people look back on college with some degree of nostalgia, so I should be enjoying it instead of dreading it. But sometimes ingesting copious amounts of coffee and junk food coupled with the stress of finals staring you down can create a negative attitude, not to mention some crazy digestive disorders. I just hope when it's over all the hard work will pay off, and I can cruise into Christmas without regret. Not too much to ask, right?
I have really enjoyed this semester, but all I can think about is it being OVER and having a month off. Of course, I'm planning to stay in the books over the break so I can start Orgo 2 a little ahead. We'll see what happens with that too. Somehow I see myself in pajamas all day after waking at noon, playing video games all day and reading trash. That's probably more closely aligned with reality. But I continue to kid myself.
As the semester comes to a close, I am reflecting on everything I've learned and the really awesome things that have happened. I've met a lot of people since I started at CSU, and some of those have become some really great friends. I still see a lot of the folks that went to the Bahamas in May when we run into each other on campus. I've gotten closer with some of the AMSA folks, and apparently all the old folks flock together in Honors (PJ and Don!). I'm starting to feel kinda at home at CSU. Even the faculty is starting to grow on me, and I'm not one to get along with teachers for the most part. Apparently I can be a bit of a pain in the butt with my obsessing over grades and constant need for clarification. I think that comes with the pre-med package, I do try not to be a diva.
So as the days tick by and I spend increasing amounts of time in the Honors study lounge (with COOKIES!), I hope that I am able to be in every moment instead of wishing it away. Because it seems like people look back on college with some degree of nostalgia, so I should be enjoying it instead of dreading it. But sometimes ingesting copious amounts of coffee and junk food coupled with the stress of finals staring you down can create a negative attitude, not to mention some crazy digestive disorders. I just hope when it's over all the hard work will pay off, and I can cruise into Christmas without regret. Not too much to ask, right?
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Loving My Life Right Now!
I'm not sure if it's just the air of gratefulness surrounding this month, but I am so incredibly happy right now. I feel like I've found a groove with school, and things just seem to be going smoothly. I'm really enjoying all of my classes, and it's only a few more weeks before winter break. I'm looking forward to having some time off! It looks like I'll be having surgery on my feet while I'm on break. I have deformed feet! Actually, I have bunions on both of my feet, I was actually born with them. My Mom had them and so did my grandmother. I hope I didn't pass it to any of my kids. Hopefully John's feet were dominant! But it's possible that I will have both feet in casts, and I won't be able to bear weight at least on the left foot for eight weeks. I'm already trying to think about navigating my spring classes in a wheelchair. But hopefully once I get this done, my feet will stop hurting! I know, let's cut something open, break it, screw some metal to it, and boom! No pain! I know recovery will be a booger, but my Mom had it done a few years ago, and she said her feet don't hurt any more. That will be so nice.
I haven't blogged in ages, and I felt like I should check in here and update, but there's not a whole lot going on besides school, church, and kids. Thanksgiving is coming up, and I'm really excited about spending time with family and eating some turkey. I have been working with the Center for International Education a lot lately with the global ambassadors. We had a reunion last week for everyone who studied abroad, and we also had a slideshow contest. Our group (Andros Maymester Trip) won the contest! We won movie tickets and we've agreed that we're all going together! I've been doing various class visits to encourage students to get involved with Study Abroad. I loved my experience, and I enjoy telling others about how they can make it happen for them.
AMSA is the American Medical Student Association, and I've been attending meetings every other Tuesday at lunchtime. We have all kinds of different presentations -- an orthopedic surgeon who is also an osteopathic doctor lectured one week. I was really excited to hear from another DO. Last week, a representative from PCOM-GA visited. PCOM-GA is the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine -- GA Campus. They are located in Suwanee, GA. I am really excited about becoming a DO, and I know it's just the right fit for me. Osteopathic physicians treat the whole patient, and not just the presenting symptoms.
John and I went down to Dothan, AL to visit the hospital that is building the osteopathic school there in town. We also drove by the location of the school, although nothing is going on there just now. They are still in the pre-accreditation phase, and hopefully by next summer we'll see some progress on the actual building of the school. But it was really exciting to visit the area.
One last thing I'd like to mention here today: I hate pizza! I'm not talking about a good New York slice from an authentic restaurant, I'm talking about your average joe delivery pizza-in-a-box. It seems to be the main sustenance of the college student, but I must protest. Every single meeting that I attend (every Tuesday and every other Thursday) involves pizza. I'm usually really hungry and do appreciate the free-ness of the meal, so I eat it anyway. But I swear, once I graduate, I am never eating delivery pizza again. I was commenting the other day that we have lived in the boonies so long (7 years), that we haven't been able to have pizza delivered. But I also realized that I have not missed it one bit!
So that's pretty much what's going on with me right now. I'm sure there's more, but I stay caught up in the busy-ness of school, so it's hard to remember what all to update. Until next time!
I haven't blogged in ages, and I felt like I should check in here and update, but there's not a whole lot going on besides school, church, and kids. Thanksgiving is coming up, and I'm really excited about spending time with family and eating some turkey. I have been working with the Center for International Education a lot lately with the global ambassadors. We had a reunion last week for everyone who studied abroad, and we also had a slideshow contest. Our group (Andros Maymester Trip) won the contest! We won movie tickets and we've agreed that we're all going together! I've been doing various class visits to encourage students to get involved with Study Abroad. I loved my experience, and I enjoy telling others about how they can make it happen for them.
AMSA is the American Medical Student Association, and I've been attending meetings every other Tuesday at lunchtime. We have all kinds of different presentations -- an orthopedic surgeon who is also an osteopathic doctor lectured one week. I was really excited to hear from another DO. Last week, a representative from PCOM-GA visited. PCOM-GA is the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine -- GA Campus. They are located in Suwanee, GA. I am really excited about becoming a DO, and I know it's just the right fit for me. Osteopathic physicians treat the whole patient, and not just the presenting symptoms.
John and I went down to Dothan, AL to visit the hospital that is building the osteopathic school there in town. We also drove by the location of the school, although nothing is going on there just now. They are still in the pre-accreditation phase, and hopefully by next summer we'll see some progress on the actual building of the school. But it was really exciting to visit the area.
One last thing I'd like to mention here today: I hate pizza! I'm not talking about a good New York slice from an authentic restaurant, I'm talking about your average joe delivery pizza-in-a-box. It seems to be the main sustenance of the college student, but I must protest. Every single meeting that I attend (every Tuesday and every other Thursday) involves pizza. I'm usually really hungry and do appreciate the free-ness of the meal, so I eat it anyway. But I swear, once I graduate, I am never eating delivery pizza again. I was commenting the other day that we have lived in the boonies so long (7 years), that we haven't been able to have pizza delivered. But I also realized that I have not missed it one bit!
So that's pretty much what's going on with me right now. I'm sure there's more, but I stay caught up in the busy-ness of school, so it's hard to remember what all to update. Until next time!
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