Danielle ghoseted me......
:)

Wanna play?

Here's the rules:

(1) Now it's your turn to "ghost" two other bloggers.

(2) Stop by their blogs and leave a comment on their latest post saying, "You've Just Been Ghosted -- Come Over And Grab A Puking Pumpkin!"

(3) Copy and paste the puking pumpkin somewhere on your blog (either in a post or on your sidebar, perhaps) so that everyone can see that you have been "ghosted" and will not "ghost" you again. This will also let you know who you can "ghost."

(4) Link to this post (or a post of your own) for directions, grab the puking pumpkin and go "ghost" 2 bloggers on your sidebar (preferably, somewhere you haven't commented in a while or a blog you've never commented before or new to the blogosphere) and share some linky love!

Class updates

Well, I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to my classes. Here's an update on how things are going.

Speech (MW 2:00-3:15):
I really feel like I am learning a lot about how to be an effective speaker. I just gave a speech Wednesday to persuade my audience that healthier foods should be served in school lunches. I was able to give the entire speech without looking at my notes. I knew the topic well enough, that I was able to talk about it freely. My next speech is November 7th. It has to be a speech in tribute. I decided to do something a little bit more fun than I am sure some of my classmates will choose. My speech (which is not written yet), is about Mr. Roger's (from PBS). I watched his show daily as a child and really enjoyed it. So, hopefully it will turn out to be fun for both me and my classmates.

Writing and Technology (MW 5:30-6:45):
We are currently reading Radical Evolution. I really like it. It is about the futures of technology. It focuses on three possible scenarios. The scenarios are called, Heaven, Hell and Prevail. We have been discussing these theories in class. I am also working on two papers. The first is just a short paper about a scenario (mine is the future of transportation in 2055). The second is a large paper (more than half our grade). It is an analytical report about the changes in safety features in cars. The first draft of the larger paper is due Nov. 7th.

Intro to Art (internet class):
Well, things are good with this class. The biggest reason is because I have given up watching the lectures. Our tests are online, so I can look things up in the book and google. I share a book with my friend Chris, so last test, I did over 1/2 my test just with google and then the rest with the book. I also went on a Nelson Aikens Art Museum tour with our teacher and a couple of the kids from the class. It was okay. It was interesting to see the art, but I didn't really learn anything that I didn't already know. Our teacher seemed a little nervous.

Society and Community Service (weekend class, last weekend Nov 5-6th):
I have 28.5 out of 30 hours of my internship done currently. I have been doing it with Westport Cooperative Services. I have been involved in multiple aspects of their program (foodshare, board meeting, meals-on-wheels, senior companion training). I have really enjoyed my time there. I am taking some pictures me in the meals-on-wheels portion for my report. I will post some when I am done taking all of them. I have been working and worrying about the paper for this class. It is due on Nov 6th. I think I have around 3/4 done now. Much work and revision left!

Patient Physician Society (T 5-7)
I have finished the Medical Decision part of the course. I really learned a lot about reading and interpreting studies. I think it was a great class. This week, we start the Public Health series of the course. Hopefully it will be interesting.

Clinic (M 8:30-1:30)
Going well. Learning lots and hopefully teaching my JP some too. She is doing a great job and will soon be ready to start seeing patients alone. Have had quite a few sweet patients recently that let me teach about them to my JP. Last Monday, I even had two other students come in to hear my patient's wheezes because they were so prominent. :) Flu shot session has begun too. We got a lecture on how to "sell" the shot on Monday. (Note: all of the patients we sell to need it. It seems our patient population is against because they think it will make them sick. ) On my next patient I tried the technique and Allison and I got him to agree. When I went to get the supplies from the nurse, she couldn't believe I had convinced him. She said they had talked about it for awhile and he never agreed. :)

Update: Grandpa was transfered to the regular unit on Saturday afternoon. He had his first real meal today and seemed to be quite excited about it when I talked to him on the phone. "I have been doing great ever since you came to see me last, baby girl," he says. :) He put the phone down briefly to talk to his nurse and I heard him say to her that his doctor was on the phone. His wife, Carol Sue, corrected him by saying it was his granddaughter who is a med student. :) haha.

Not sure how long this will work, but you should try it.

Go to www.google.com

Type in failure in the search bar

Hit- I amFeeling Lucky


Laugh :)

A close family friend, Kathy Arant, lost her long battle with cancer today. We met her when I was in the second grade. I was friends with their daughter, Megan, and our parents became close friends. Though Megan and I did not stay close friends through our schooling, our parents did. Please keep her husband, Mark, and her kids, Jeff and Megan, in your thoughts. One thing I always remembered about Kathy was her festive socks, so the socks above reminded me of her and they always will. :)

Weird skin

I went to the doctor today for a weird skin rash that I have been having. He called it Pityriasis Rosea due to its "Christmas Tree"-like rash. The bad news is it is a virus, so nothing to give me to make it go away. I had never heard about this and it is reasonably common, so thought I would share some info. From e-medicine:

Background: Pityriasis rosea (PR) is an acute and characteristic exanthem that has been described for more than 2 centuries. Initially, a primary plaque, called a herald patch, is seen. The herald patch is followed by a distinctive, generalized rash 1-2 weeks later. The rash lasts approximately 2-6 weeks.

Pathophysiology: The primary plaque is seen on the skin in 50-90% of cases a week or more before the onset of the eruption of smaller lesions. This secondary eruption occurs 2-21 days later in crops following the lines of cleavage of the skin. On the back, this eruption produces a "Christmas tree" pattern.

Frequency:

• In the US: The overall prevalence of PR has been calculated to be 0.13% in men and 0.14% in women. The prevalence reported at dermatologic centers has been between 0.3 and 3%.

• Internationally: An increase in the prevalence of PR has been reported in Uganda. No change in the prevalence of PR has been reported in Sweden.

Mortality/Morbidity: PR is a self-limited benign illness.

Sex: PR is reported to occur equally in the two sexes or slightly more often in females. The ratio of men to women varies from 2:0.55.

Age: PR is most common in children and young adults. Prevalence of PR rises during childhood and is most common in persons aged 15-40 years. PR is rare in infants and in the elderly; however, it has been reported in infants as young as 3 months.

I write today requesting prayers. My grandpa was admitted yesterday in the hospital and has taken a turn for the worse. Please pray for him, my family, and his caregivers.

Update: Grandpa is still in the ICU, but seems to be doing better. He was extubated today and his infection seems to be getting under control. Slowly, but surely. Thanks for all the prayers up to now and thanks for the future prayers.
10/11/05 8:37pm

Update: I went to spend some time with my grandpa yesterday. They are trying to wean him off all the sedative meds and pain meds, so he can be awake and sleep naturally. We carried on a good conversation for at least 2 hours, but I am not sure if he will remember it. He said yesterday that he hadn't remembered anyone being there and didn't know he had been staying overnight there. :) So, things are getting better. He is still in the ICU, but I hope within a day or two he will be transferred to a regular unit.
10/15/05 10:11am

An interesting site that shows you the sex offenders that live near you (address, name and sometimes a picture and what they did).

Calling for ideas

I need some help. I have a paper coming up about a technology and its effects and have no clue what to write it on.

I was planning on writing on video games and obesity, but there is not enough information out there.

It must be a topic with lots of research. The paper has to be 12-15 pages.


Please leave suggestions in the comment section.

Update: Thanks for the suggestions. Your ideas all sounded wonderful, but I am not sure if there would be enough information about them. I think I have decided to write about safety in cars and how far we have come and its impact. There seems to be a lot of information out there about it.

BTW-Can't credit this idea to me....thanks Brian!