Running adventures

Earlier this week I went running on campus. It was a perfectly gorgeous afternoon. And when I was done I felt incredibly good. I haven't felt that good after working out in a long time. I don't know if it was the perfect day or the great run or both. Gotta love those endorphins.

Then this morning I went running around the neighborhood. Just chillen listening to my music when I realize something's following me. I look behind me and there's this little pomeranian/cocker spaniel of a dog running after me and barking her little head off. And then the little bitch sinks her teeth into my heel. A couple inches higher and she would have gotten my Achilles.

Mental note: keep vigilant when running by that particular property.

Myron, my darling

This is Myron Aquino McWilliams (he's part Filipino). He is a Blue Star flower of the species Amsonia illustris. He is quite lovely, is he not? My dear Myron is past his flowering season, but I think he still looks good. He is doing fine as of now, but I fear for his safety come winter. Until the bitter cold arrives Myron and I shall enjoy our days of heat and humidity in the summer sun. Perhaps we shall indulge in an Otter Pop or two.

Well that's a horse of a different color

For the past few weeks I've been volunteering at an equestrian center that has a therapeutic riding program. On the first day I came I thought all I would have to do would be to stand next to a kid while she's on the horse and make sure she doesn't fall off. Well I do that, but I've also learned how to catch and tack up a horse and basically how to be around horses. These animals are enormous and quite intimidating at first. But working with them has really given me a new respect for these beautiful creatures. Of course, most of the time I am working with ponies, but it is still a really cool thing. They are so big and strong, and yet are so gentle. And they all have different personalities. Yes, this is definitely something I never thought I would do. Yeah, never thought I would be under a pony picking the dirt out of her hooves. Another check on the list of East Coast Adventures.

Big Al's Heart

In Gross Anatomy this summer I've had to dissect a cadaver. This was one of the reasons I didn't want to go to medical school. I didn't think I could do cadaver work. So when I found out I would have to do it for physical therapy I was a little freaked. I had worked in a hospital helping out with wound care and must admit I almost fainted twice because of things that I saw. So I wouldn't have been suprised if I had fainted the first day of lab. But these past few weeks haven't been all that bad. So I've been up to my elbows in fluid, fascia, and viscera. I am still constantly fascinated with the human body. And I haven't fainted once.

We named our cadaver Big Al. He must be about 5'9", but he is a very skinny thing. Anyhow, we took his heart out the other day. It was incredible. Here I was holding this man's heart in my hands. This heart used to be the thing that kept him alive. It would beat day in and day out. It beat fast when he was ten years old riding his bike as fast as he could. It felt like it skipped a beat when he saw the love of his life. It hurt whenever he was very sad. And then one day it stopped. And now I had it.

What an honor to hold someone's heart in your hands. :)

Summer Storm

There is a thunderstorm going on right now. Definitely didn't have these in California. Washington had the rain, but not the thunder and lightning that I am seeing right now. It is really quite beautiful. Think I'll write a poem about it.

Sheets of rain on my window
Hear the thunder growl
Flashes intermittently
The sky it seems to scowl

Safe inside my bedroom
Where it's dry and warm
From here I gaze in awe
At a beautiful summer storm

A bad dream

I was outside on this gorgeous sunny day in a huge grassy field. And all these people were around me throwing baseballs, playing catch. And I didn't have my glove.

I was so sad.

I need to find someone to play catch with over here. I miss my ARCmanians.

Newark Smells

So I go work out at the gym. Man comes over with big BO cloud and decides to run on the treadmill next to me. Gag. I decide to stick it out for a few more minutes before I leave.

Leave the gym and there is a pungent raw sewage smell permeating the air. It's quite undeveloped country-ish and it seems to be everywhere. Gag once again.

Working in gross anatomy lab and after exposing the abdominal muscles, Big Al (the cadaver who is already smelly with formaldehyde) emits a putrid smell that is noted by the rest of the class. Gag yet again.

I never thought one day could smell so horrible. The East Coast continues to amaze me.

finally

holy shmakolies, do i feel nice right now. And it's all thanks to this little lady pictured to the left. Totally needed this two days ago, but it's all good. Might just head to bed early tonight. Mexican food in Delaware is... well let me put it this way... beef tamale=mexican chef boyardee in a tortilla. Not so fantastic. I miss SoCal. At least the good Mexican food. And the margarita I had. weak. But I had enough to get me to a good place. :)

David out.

Anatomy, ponies, and the Smiths

Two and a half weeks of studying culminated today during my first exam of graduate school. I was so tired of studying earlier this week, but pressed on and now I am done. Wanted to go for beers afterward, but had to do volunteer work at a riding center instead. Most uncool. Watched Mr. & Mrs. Smith though. Okay I guess. The important thing is that I am done with that horrible test and now I don't want to talk about it or even think about it. It's the weekend and I am doing whatever the hell I want. I refuse to look at anatomy for the next 48 hours. Starting........ now!

wrong way

Don't you hate it when you go to the public library only to discover that it is closed on Thursdays and then when you head out to go to Borders instead you realize you're going the wrong direction on a one way street and the light just turned green for the cars that are about to plow into you so you have to use your kickass backing skills to get you out of the mess you've put yourself in?

I hate it when that happens.

Eight hours and counting until my first anatomy exam of graduate school.

What am I doing here?

A blog... who on earth is over going to read this? The only reason I am blogging is because one of my bestest friends backed me into a corner and told me if I didn't do it I'd be dead meat. So here I am alive and kicking. The first of many blogs I am sure.

Current status:
Location: Maryland. Basically Delaware.
Studying for anatomy exam which will commence in approximately 32 hours.
Recently chopped hair yet again and contemplating growing it out.
Right weight, wrong size ass.
Desperately missing my West Coast.

So now I could go into some spiel about life and love and happiness and the meanings of all these things and get all philosophical. But I'm a little dumbed down right now with all the memorizing I've been trying to do. I'm sure something cool will happen this weekend that I can write about, but for now I'll just let this little tidbit be the one that got it all started.

David out! :)