Sick!

I just put that little video in because it makes me smile.

So I haven't been able to post because I've been really busy.... and sick. Anyway, this last week I was able to pass my first 4 skills. The first two were medical hand wash and isolation gear. We had to check off on these in front of a classmate who had demoed it a few days before.

Hand washing is weirdly more difficult than it should be. There are actually people who have failed this skill. It involves washing with your hands, elbows, clothing, nose, and everything in the right positions, not touching ANYTHING, soaping and rinsing several times, and more. I passed it, but was a little nervous.

Isolation gear was difficult for me because I'm so big, and the isolation gear we were given was made for tiny little nursing student girls. So, the paper gown part of it basically came apart at the seams if I moved wrong in it, but I still passed. The picture above is pretty much exactly what I had to put on (except the girl in the picture is not Justin sized).

The next was Asepsis, one big demo of two skills on video. An instructor demoed putting together a sterile field and putting on sterile gloves in front of the class, then we had to practice and individually record ourselves demonstrating it. I don't recognize myself on camera. I recorded, then went back to watch myself and all I can think when I see myself on tape are things like 'who is that guy?' and 'they picked a weird looking actor to play me'. I passed those too, and got it all turned in over a week early so that was a relief, and has made this week much easier. I had my first 'prelim' today, and got a 92. Prelim is just a fancy word for exam, or test.

I'm proud of myself, because I've had some sort of stupid cold / sinus infection throughout it all and have felt pretty bad. My symptoms are fading... so I'm in the convalescence phase of my illness (that's a fun word that was on my prelim). Poor Susan's been sick too, and she's had to work, so I think everyone should take a moment of silence in honor of Susan.... Okay thank you.

This week we're learning about vital signs, and I wanted to get a little head start. So today, I went and watched a video about taking temperatures with different types of thermometers, on various types of patients, and in different parts of the body. By 'in' I mean IN. I know I'm going into nursing, and I know I've got to see, touch, and do things I normally wouldn't want to do... but the last thing I ever expected to see on an educational video at school was various types of thermometers inserted into an elderly man's anus... with closeups. (shudders).

plus

plus

equals

Anyway that's what I've been up to. Oh, we got new glasses, here's a picture:

Coffee Coffee Coffee!!!

One week of school down. The first week started off easy, the first day mostly consisted of those 'getting to know each other games'... you know where you partner up with someone, learn some things about them, then tell the class about the person you met. We also had to choose an adjective starting with the first letter of our first names... then go around trying to name everyone off with their first names and adjectives... of course I got called on first and I'm terrible with names. My whole life I've hated this game because my only options were things like jovial, jiggly, jubilant, or if you aren't picky about the adjective, jumping. I chose Jerk Justin, I know it's not quite an adjective but I thought it was funny and so did everyone else.

After the first day lecture started. And all of the out of class reading and studying that goes along with that. I love lectures, especially when it's something that I find interesting so it was good. The only thing was, I didn't finish reading / studying until somewhere between 9:30 and 11pm every night so that kind of sucks. Skills start next week, in combination with lecture so the difficulty level / time consumption is going to ramp up substantially. We'll be learning 3 skills that we have to practice, and video tape / demonstrate on our own time. It's gonna be fun :)

I did find that getting up early, in combination with long days has unlocked a need for caffeine in me. Susan got me one of those Keurig coffee makers, and I am in love with it. Now I just have to find out which kind of coffee I like the most (there are so many to choose from).

iPod

I went in today for my meeting with my adviser, which was fine. He just took all the paper work for my physical and everything, and talked to me about bicycles. He also said 'You better hurry to the computer lab so you can get your iPod.'



Now, there have been rumblings about a possible 'ipod', but I didn't really think they were true. I thought if it were true, it's probably just an iPod Shuffle with lectures on it or something. But I was wrong, I ran down to the lab, just as they were about to leave and was given a brand new 8GB iPod Touch! Neat! It's got a bunch of my text books on it, a medical dictionary / encyclopedia, a pill book, and a BUNCH more loaded on it. So not only is it a free, new toy, it's saving me a bunch on some of the books that I was going to have to buy! Anyway, that's all for now. I've got a meeting with my 'success coordinator' on Friday, then classes begin Monday at 8am. I feel like I'm speeding toward a brick wall, it's coming so fast, but I'm excited.

iPod Touch

Nursing orientation

I think I'm going to try to blog about nursing school as I work my way through it. We will have to see though. The way everyone is talking, I won't have time to pee, much less write a blog.

I had orientation the last two days, which consisted of a bunch of really nice people (current students and instructors) repeating the phrase, 'I'm not trying to overwhelm you or anything' over and over right before saying something terrifyingly overwhelming. They went over everything to expect, told us to kiss our families goodbye for two years, fed us a ton of cookies, and said things that made me feel like hyperventilating.

What? You want an example? Well my books this semester alone will cost somewhere around $900. Yeah... that's what I said too. Some of the current students told me that we were getting it easy. Apparently SPC got a huge grant that's taking care of a large chunk of other stuff that I would have to be buying as well otherwise.

Another panic inducing thing was my schedule. On paper it shows me in class basically from 8am to 3pm Monday thru Thursday. I thought that was a lot (I've been a part time student for a few years), until they told us that lab is open until 7pm Monday thru Thursdays, and Fridays from 9am til 2pm, and we are expected to be there when the lab is open. The students also told us that if we weren't, that our chances of success were nonexistent. We were also told that trying to work while in nursing school practically kills all chance of making it through. Thank goodness my wife and our family are so supportive.

As part of orientation we had to break up into groups and make a 'how to' video. My group got tying a shoe, and it was fun. As it turns out, the uber realistic peeing catheter practice penises are really popular props... they make great telephones, 'packages' to be wrapped, additions to a baby being diapered, and more... My fellow students have odd senses of humor, which makes me happy.

Anyway, all in all I had a great time, met some really cool people who I'm apparently going to be spending most of my time with for the next two years, and learned a lot about what to expect. I'm REALLY nervous, but excited too. This next couple years is going to be crazy, difficult, fun, enlightening, and apparently uber realistic peeing catheter practice penis filled.
I'm going to try to write about it as I go along. Maybe some incoherent rambling, maybe some fleshed out insights... no, probably just incoherent ramblings. We'll have to see.

Made a new site

I made a new site, and I'm kinda proud of it... even though I just used weebly and clicked and dragged it together. It promotes my Points 2 Shop account, and tells people how to get free Nintendo points / Wii Points. It's at:
Http://freenintendopoints.weebly.com

I just wanted to show it off :P

I got a prize!

So I got my first prize that I ordered with my points from Points 2 Shop today! It's a memory card for my phone. Anyway I needed to use my blog to host the image so I thought I'd post something with it so you'd know why I took a picture of a memory card. (It's proof!) Again, if you want to try this site out please click my banner below.



Here's a video of me opening my prize!

News

Nothing much going on here, just on the home stretch before the fall semester starts, which means nursing school starts. I'm so excited! It's just hard because we still have to pay for half of my scrubs and for me to get a physical sometime in the next week or so.

Susan's new job has made her so happy, which makes me happy. We are kind of on opposite schedules, so for 3 to 4 days a week I don't get to see much of her at all which makes me a little sad, but when school starts I'll be too busy to worry about it.

I've also been playing around on this new website called Points 2 shop. You fill out surveys and play games and stuff to earn points that you can spend on Amazon.com. There are some similar websites that are fishy, but I assure you this one is legit. I've already made over $38 worth of points and spent them on some random things. Anyway if you want to check it out please use my link.



Thanks!

Blackberry

My contract on my phone went out about a month ago, and I got to upgrade. I got a Blackberry Pearl 8130, and I have to say it's pretty amazing. I never thought I'd really care to use the internet on a phone, but if I'm say, waiting in the car before work starts, or for Susan to go do something, it's so cool to be able to read the news on my phone. I get all of my email on my phone, so if I'm expecting one I don't have to find a computer to get it. It's also got GPS, so I can use Google Maps to find easy directions, and it makes a great music player. I use Pandora Mobile, and I love it. I never understood what people were talking about when they called it their 'Crackberry', but now I fully understand.

Ahhhhh... weekend!

Wow, I slept entirely too long last night. It was great! I dreamt about parasitic worms, that Susan's bed was outside in a garden, and that I could float like a feather. All in all, I think that was a good start to a weekend. Happy Saturday!

Wow...

Let's start by watching a short video.



I know right!? First off, how the heck did they get the tiny camera inside the caterpillar to film all that? It can't be real.... but I think it is! And Susan just told me "There could be one laying eggs in you right now!!!" WTF!? Oh and now she walked back into the room and said "When they hatch they will crawl out of your skin". MEAN! I don't know why I said "First off" because that's all I've got. Wait no... you know what? This is a prime example of why we should be terrified. You know all that creepy stuff you see in movies like Aliens? And you tell yourself "Boy howdy that was scary, but at least it's not real." I can't believe you actually say "boy howdy", but anyway... real life is even scarier! I mean, look at those "saw like teeth" that they use to eat their way out. Baaaaaaah! And that wounded caterpillar and one nice guy, isn't he?

Fun speech

Why I like the band Tool

Someone put together an awesome video examining the use of the Fibonacci sequence in the song 'Lateralus' by Tool. They set it to images from the Hubble. It's really cool, and I think everyone should give it a gander. Yes I just said gander.

Today

Today I didn't do much. I wrote an paper on Cattle Ranching, and how it has evolved since the 1800's. Now that that's done, I'm pretty much done with History. I have a good enough grade that I can opt out of the final, and I think I am going to.


We've been playing A LOT of Peggle. If you haven't play Peggle, you should, then you'll have to tear yourself away from it 10 hours later.
I'm also thoroughly enjoying my new job at a toy store. I get to do a little bit of everything, and I have fun while I'm there.

Reading habits

Reading habits
By Dana Kraus

~*~* Okay guys, you know the drill. Please copy this into your own notes or blog, remove my answers, then add your own and share, so we can get to know you better! ~*~*

1. Do you snack while you read?

I can't multitask! If I could, I probably would.

2. Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?

Again, I can't do more than one thing at a time, so reading AND writing simultaneously isn't possible.

3. How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open?

I use whatever random piece of scrap paper at hand, usually a gum wrapper or and old business card.

4. Fiction, Non-fiction, or both?

Both! I go on kicks where all I read is non-fiction, then switch back to fiction for a while, then back to non-fiction.

5. Hardcopy or audiobooks?

I read at a weird pace, and often go over lines more than once so that I can get the full meaning of them, so audiobooks bother me.

6. Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are you able to put a book down at any point?

I can stop wherever I need to, but I prefer to read to some sort of stopping point.

7. If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop to look it up right away? Write it down to look it up later?

I usually just ask Susan, but if I can I will look it up.


8. What are you currently reading?

My Texas history book, a book on cattle ranching (also for history), and a cheesy war novel called The Common Defense by Ed Ruggero. It's actually not that cheesy...

9. What is the last book you bought?

George R.R. Martin's A Game of Thrones from his Song of Fire and Ice series. I can't wait to read it.

10. Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can read more than one at a time?

I'm okay with a few books at once. Well, not like... literally at the same time, you know, the whole multitasking thing.

11. Do you like re-reading books?

Yes, but only if several years have passed, and I have forgotten most of it.

YAAAAAAY!

I've been accepted into the nursing program. Now in 2 more years I'll be a nurse. Hey, there's even an action figure.

Tiny Kites!

So we found these awesome tiny kites at Toys 'R' Us the other day. They are just 4 inches across and don't look like they should fly, but surprisingly they do, and well!
We had so much fun flying them, and they were only around $2. I recommend them to anyone looking for a fun toy. Mine looks like a WWII fighter plane and Susan's looks like a butterfly. The birds were actually swooping in like they were going to eat them, but luckily they didn't actually go through with it. Here's a picture I found of one similar to mine.

In the vein of tiny flying things, here's a funny, yet catchy song I found called "Little Wings" by Mark Gormly. I highly recommend you give it a listen.



Oh yeah, RAWK!

Happy Easter!

"Eating People" -- King Missile. iPOD game!

The IPOD/ZUNE Game! Really fun! Read my answers, then erase them and play along.
BE HONEST and DONT PLAY IT A THOUSAND TIMES TILL IT'S "RIGHT"!

1. Put your iPod or iTunes on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS
4. Tag whoever you want including me
5. Have Fun!

I'm adding videos or players for the songs if they are available. It's probably going to be a bunch of Viking Metal... I'm just saying...

1) IF SOMEONE SAYS 'ARE YOU OKAY' YOU SAY....?

"Across the Rainbow Bridge" -- Amon Amarth


2) HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?

"Bastards of a Lying Breed" -- Amon Amarth



(cough)

Great... I have a whole viking metal fest on my mp3 player now.

3) WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A GUY/GIRL?

"Mercy, Severity" -- Mudvayne



That's about right. Wait, no I mean..

4) HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?

"Eon Blue Apocalypse" -- Tool



Fantastic song, fantastic video.

5) WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?

"Inertiatic ESP" -- The Mars Volta



Mwahaha

6) WHAT'S YOUR MOTTO?

"Rain. Sun. Gone" -- Mudvayne



Awww... but I like rain.

7) WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?

"Disgustipated" -- Tool



Really? I guess there had to be some sort of pooish reference in here somewhere.

8) WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?

"Through the Hosiery" -- Crystal Castles



~Uncomfortable silence~

9) WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?

"Sober" -- Tool



I'm going to continue with the uncomfortable silence, thank you.

10) WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR FIRST KISS?

"Flatline" -- Living Sacrifice



But in a good way.. really!

11) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?

"Vacant"-- A Perfect Circle



12) WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?

"Gay / Not Gay" -- King Missile



That's kind of... (cough)

13) WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

"Thor Arise" -- Amon Amarth



I do want to be a viking!

14) WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?

"Mon Ami La Rose" -- Natacha Atlas



It's not a bad dancing song.

15) WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?

"Death in Fire" -- Amon Amarth



I've officially got the creeps. It's actually a sweet song about Ragnarok, so it kind of fits.

16) WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?

"The Package" -- A Perfect Circle



Woah... that sounds naughty! I am waiting on a few deliveries... Wait! No not like that!

17) WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?

"All the Young Dudes" -- Mott the Hoople



That's funny, what a great song!


18) WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?

"Buenas Tardes Amigo" -- Ween



Best... Song... Ever... It's about murder and revenge and... a secret... that's sort of creepy. Susan just showed me a picture of a little girl cutting the head of a Lamb Cake. I'm even more creeped out now.

19) WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?

"Detachable Penis" -- King Missile



~Shifty eyes~

20) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?

"Cry of the Blackbirds" -- Amon Amarth


That's strange.

21) WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?

"Eating People" -- King Missile



Now that's funny.

New?

I was going to say "there's nothing new" but I guess there is. I have been offered a job at a toy store pending my background check, so that'll be good. It's just part time, so I'll hopefully still be substitute teaching while working there. Working at a toy store should be lots of fun.

I'm still waiting to hear if I got into nursing school. Keeping fingers crossed.

Broken Picture Telephone!

There's a really cool game called Broken Picture Telephone. It's like the game we played as kids where one kid whispers a message and as it gets passed around the room it changes to something completely different by the time it gets back to the first kid, except with pictures!

Basically the first person types a message, the second draws it, the next person describes what they see, and on and on. The results can be hilarious!

Here are some examples that I participated in (I'm Giant Jerk, and Susan is Susanlee178):
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3

Awesome right? Everyone should play!

BIKES!

We got a small tax refund that we weren't expecting. Since we had some extra cash we decided to get bicycles! We got blue and pink beach cruisers.


Mine's the blue one. It's a fun, but terrifying experience for me to ride a bike. For one thing, they are not made for people who weigh as much as I do that aren't several thousands of dollars, so I'm just waiting for the wheels to taco or the seat to break off throwing me to the ground in a pile of broken bones. It's also scary because I haven't ridden a bike in around 11 years. As soon as I was able to drive I stopped riding and never looked back.

We've been talking about getting bikes for a while because it would be fun, good exercise, and a cheap gas-less way to get around; but we haven't had the money to get them. So far nothing has broken off under my weight, but my legs and arms feel like jell-o! We haven't even ridden that far, just up and down the street over and over, like little kids who aren't allowed to go off the block. But it's so much fun! I wish now that I had not stopped riding my bike all those years ago.

On a funny note the terms for people who weigh over 200 pounds and ride bikes are 'clydesdales' for men and 'Athenas' for women. That's kinda fun. Anyway here's some more pictures:

Me with my blue bike

Susan and her pink bike

You might want to get out of the way!

The bad thing was that the day after we got them a snowstorm came in, so we haven't been able to ride since that first day. But it's a little nicer today, so maybe we'll get out and ride some more! I can't wait!

High Fashion coming along...

That guy just wiped off his mustache.

WALRUSES! Or is it Walri...

National Geographic posted this awesome picture of walruses at rush hour. It looks dangerous, like a room full of people running around with scissors.