1) If you are getting cerebral hemorrhage or edema, and feel like your head is going to explode, lying down won't help
2) Don't shake your baby
Yep, I'm glad I came to my 8 am class today....
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Alarm? What alarm?
It snowed yesterday and last night, which made me glad that I had already decided (for academic reasons) to skip choir in Denver. No need to drive down there in bad weather anyway.
So as I got ready for bed (early, around 8:45 - no shame in that, though, right?), I opted to get up a little early in the morning to allow for a longer commute.
This morning, my first alarm went off at 6:00 am. I ignored it and went back to sleep.
[Note: I used to get up to a single alarm in the morning, just an alarm on my cell phone that goes off for about 45 seconds then shuts itself off. After I unintentionally slept through that completely a couple times, I started using a second alarm, which is my clock radio. My radio goes off at a loud volume and will stay on for 2 hours unless I shut it off.]
My second alarm went off at 6:10 am.
I have recently gotten into the unfortunate habit of snoozing for a short while as my 2nd alarm continues to go off. This morning, I was so annoyed by the loud volume of the radio, I pulled a pillow over my head and went back to sleep.
I woke up again at 6:40 am, with my second alarm still going off (still really loud).
And realized I REALLY had to get up this time.
I do believe I set a new record for amount of morning preparation I can accomplish in 30 minutes: get out of bed, feed the cats, wash hands, go to the bathroom, brush teeth, take a shower, put in contacts, get dressed, brush hair, check email, make breakfast, eat breakfast, put out garbage and recycling, pack backpack, and pack a lunch.
And I would have actually gotten to school a little earlier than usual, had it not been for (a) the snowplow on the freeway, and (b) the loooooong train that cut in front of me just as I was trying to get to my classroom building on the opposite side of the tracks.
Overall, I feel it was a rather nonproductive day, and I was not harmed by sleeping in and having a rushed morning. Turns out all of my academic motivation went right out the window with the end of the last of my 4 exams. But at least I can have that self-satisfied feeling of knowing I didn't skip any classes even though I REALLY wanted to...
So as I got ready for bed (early, around 8:45 - no shame in that, though, right?), I opted to get up a little early in the morning to allow for a longer commute.
This morning, my first alarm went off at 6:00 am. I ignored it and went back to sleep.
[Note: I used to get up to a single alarm in the morning, just an alarm on my cell phone that goes off for about 45 seconds then shuts itself off. After I unintentionally slept through that completely a couple times, I started using a second alarm, which is my clock radio. My radio goes off at a loud volume and will stay on for 2 hours unless I shut it off.]
My second alarm went off at 6:10 am.
I have recently gotten into the unfortunate habit of snoozing for a short while as my 2nd alarm continues to go off. This morning, I was so annoyed by the loud volume of the radio, I pulled a pillow over my head and went back to sleep.
I woke up again at 6:40 am, with my second alarm still going off (still really loud).
And realized I REALLY had to get up this time.
I do believe I set a new record for amount of morning preparation I can accomplish in 30 minutes: get out of bed, feed the cats, wash hands, go to the bathroom, brush teeth, take a shower, put in contacts, get dressed, brush hair, check email, make breakfast, eat breakfast, put out garbage and recycling, pack backpack, and pack a lunch.
And I would have actually gotten to school a little earlier than usual, had it not been for (a) the snowplow on the freeway, and (b) the loooooong train that cut in front of me just as I was trying to get to my classroom building on the opposite side of the tracks.
Overall, I feel it was a rather nonproductive day, and I was not harmed by sleeping in and having a rushed morning. Turns out all of my academic motivation went right out the window with the end of the last of my 4 exams. But at least I can have that self-satisfied feeling of knowing I didn't skip any classes even though I REALLY wanted to...
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Finals in February
That's the way one of my classmates described this week for the sophomore vet students: "Finals in February."
And I certainly can't claim that's inaccurate. After all, we had 4 exams scheduled this week, and we have 4 finals scheduled during finals week in May. Plus this week we had 3 homework assignments and two extensive online exams due within the next 2 weeks that we are supposed to be working on.
I'm mostly glad I just survived. It's been a stressful last 10 days or so, what with studying and panicking and all, but I finished my fourth and last exam (online) about 10 minutes ago.
And, yeah, although I tend to flip out about this sort of thing, I have to admit that I did ok on the 3 online exams: A's on BoD, Imaging, and Surgery. I know I at least passed Therio although I'm skeptical about the possibility that I got an A. I was most worried about the surgery exam, seeing as that class is only 8 weeks long so this week's exam comprised 50% of our final grade.
Speaking of surgery class, I am ready for it to be OVER already. It's not that it's not a good class, or an organized class, or a well-run class, or an interesting class. It pretty much IS all of those things.
But it also adds four hours of lecture and recitation to my already plenty busy week. As I was thinking the other day about how tired and stressed I feel, it occurred to me that, thanks to surgery class, I am currently taking 30(!) credits, whereas after spring break (when surgery ends), I will be down to a mere 26 credits.
As far as quality-of-life is concerned, the end of surgery class will mean that I am only getting up for 8 am class on Mon/Thurs, not till 9 on Tues/Wed, and not till 10 on Fri. I did pretty well during the first couple weeks of the semester, but during the last week or two I've been finding it nearly impossible to find the motivation to get up early enough (5:15 am) to hit the treadmill before class. So I am excited to soon get more sleep and more exercise.
Overall, though, this was the "big" week, and it's now behind me. We have a couple exams next week, but those seem entirely doable after this week's marathon. The first exams of the semester are always the worst because you don't know what to expect - new classes, new types of questions, new professors, etc.
So with 3 weeks left till spring break, I am pleased to announce: the end is in sight!
And I certainly can't claim that's inaccurate. After all, we had 4 exams scheduled this week, and we have 4 finals scheduled during finals week in May. Plus this week we had 3 homework assignments and two extensive online exams due within the next 2 weeks that we are supposed to be working on.
I'm mostly glad I just survived. It's been a stressful last 10 days or so, what with studying and panicking and all, but I finished my fourth and last exam (online) about 10 minutes ago.
And, yeah, although I tend to flip out about this sort of thing, I have to admit that I did ok on the 3 online exams: A's on BoD, Imaging, and Surgery. I know I at least passed Therio although I'm skeptical about the possibility that I got an A. I was most worried about the surgery exam, seeing as that class is only 8 weeks long so this week's exam comprised 50% of our final grade.
Speaking of surgery class, I am ready for it to be OVER already. It's not that it's not a good class, or an organized class, or a well-run class, or an interesting class. It pretty much IS all of those things.
But it also adds four hours of lecture and recitation to my already plenty busy week. As I was thinking the other day about how tired and stressed I feel, it occurred to me that, thanks to surgery class, I am currently taking 30(!) credits, whereas after spring break (when surgery ends), I will be down to a mere 26 credits.
As far as quality-of-life is concerned, the end of surgery class will mean that I am only getting up for 8 am class on Mon/Thurs, not till 9 on Tues/Wed, and not till 10 on Fri. I did pretty well during the first couple weeks of the semester, but during the last week or two I've been finding it nearly impossible to find the motivation to get up early enough (5:15 am) to hit the treadmill before class. So I am excited to soon get more sleep and more exercise.
Overall, though, this was the "big" week, and it's now behind me. We have a couple exams next week, but those seem entirely doable after this week's marathon. The first exams of the semester are always the worst because you don't know what to expect - new classes, new types of questions, new professors, etc.
So with 3 weeks left till spring break, I am pleased to announce: the end is in sight!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Don't worry, I'm staying busy
(which is why I haven't blogged for over a week)
Yes, it appears that this semester is busier with both academic and extracurricular responsibilities than at least my last semester or two.
In addition to 7 or so tests in the next 2 weeks (whoop-de-doo), I have been keeping busy during my post-class "time to study" hours. And I'm generally not spending that time studying, or hanging out with CLH even though he is done with his musical.
Examples:
Last Monday: pre-vet tour from 4-6 pm (they actually participated/asked questions this time!) then met CLH for fast food dinner, then I went home and he went to choir practice
Last Tuesday: stayed at school to study for a couple hours, then AAFP/behavior club dinner meeting on alternatives to declawing, then straight to handbells (actually did get to see CLH, as he was asked last-minute to direct bells)
Last Wednesday: I came home, but CLH went to Greeley for a presentation/lecture thing. Then shortly before he got home, I headed down to Longmont for my initial visit for my first ever pet hospice case!
Last Thursday: Met CLH in Denver for a quick dinner, then off to choir practice
Last Friday: Actually saw CLH!
Weekend: Saw CLH! Slept in! Was productive with studying! Watched some movies! Played some cards! Exercised!
Tomorrow: Tour at 4 pm, then meeting my hospice partner at 5:15 to drive down for another visit in Longmont
Tuesday: Will see CLH after school/for dinner, then I go to handbells
Wednesday: CLH may go to a cooking class, +/- Ash Wednesday service for one or both of us. I need to bake a pie to bring to school on...
Thursday: Meeting in Denver again for quick dinner then choir practice
Friday: Possibly another tour of the VTH at 4 pm, we'll see about that one.
So you can see why I'm counting down the remaining weeks (four) until spring break. And why I haven't been blogging much lately! Will attempt to remedy that soon, especially once some of the horrible upcoming exams are over....
Yes, it appears that this semester is busier with both academic and extracurricular responsibilities than at least my last semester or two.
In addition to 7 or so tests in the next 2 weeks (whoop-de-doo), I have been keeping busy during my post-class "time to study" hours. And I'm generally not spending that time studying, or hanging out with CLH even though he is done with his musical.
Examples:
Last Monday: pre-vet tour from 4-6 pm (they actually participated/asked questions this time!) then met CLH for fast food dinner, then I went home and he went to choir practice
Last Tuesday: stayed at school to study for a couple hours, then AAFP/behavior club dinner meeting on alternatives to declawing, then straight to handbells (actually did get to see CLH, as he was asked last-minute to direct bells)
Last Wednesday: I came home, but CLH went to Greeley for a presentation/lecture thing. Then shortly before he got home, I headed down to Longmont for my initial visit for my first ever pet hospice case!
Last Thursday: Met CLH in Denver for a quick dinner, then off to choir practice
Last Friday: Actually saw CLH!
Weekend: Saw CLH! Slept in! Was productive with studying! Watched some movies! Played some cards! Exercised!
Tomorrow: Tour at 4 pm, then meeting my hospice partner at 5:15 to drive down for another visit in Longmont
Tuesday: Will see CLH after school/for dinner, then I go to handbells
Wednesday: CLH may go to a cooking class, +/- Ash Wednesday service for one or both of us. I need to bake a pie to bring to school on...
Thursday: Meeting in Denver again for quick dinner then choir practice
Friday: Possibly another tour of the VTH at 4 pm, we'll see about that one.
So you can see why I'm counting down the remaining weeks (four) until spring break. And why I haven't been blogging much lately! Will attempt to remedy that soon, especially once some of the horrible upcoming exams are over....
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Friday's highlights: Ego, pizza, and semen collection, oh my! (Rated R)
Warning: The following post has been rated R for explicit sexual content. Read at your own risk.
Let's look at each of these 'highlights' with a little more detail:
EGO
Yesterday morning, we experienced the last of three hours of lecture by a certain professor we'll just call Dr. Surgeon.
Dr. Surgeon was tasked with lecturing to us about gastrointestinal surgery, specifically gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV or 'bloat'), small intestinal surgery, and peritonitis.
We had had no previous contact in the curriculum with Dr. Surgeon.
Suffice it to say, Dr. Surgeon is the guy who gives a bad name to the non-stereotypical 80% of surgeons who are actually very nice, personable, humble individuals.
Dr. Surgeon embodies the famed arrogance, egotism, and condescension of many people's images of "surgeon." He is more concerned with making the class laugh than by teaching us actual material that is really important to our future careers. He confuses the laughter of a minority of the class at his antics and wisecracks with an ability to effectively and efficiently teach.
We are all glad that Dr. Surgeon is now gone until clinics.
PIZZA
At the beginning of the semester, our Clinical Sciences class commenced with a series of lectures about methods of clinical reasoning and how to develop good reasoning skills. One of the lecturers was an exotics clinician from the VTH - a nice guy and effective teacher (unlike Dr. Surgeon).
In apparently every vet school class, there is a "back row." The back row is the group of students (usually mostly males) who sit in the back row of every class and are notoriously mostly from a farming or ranch background. They aren't interested in small animals or exotic anything, and they never speak up or ask or answer questions.
Dr. Exotics claims that when he was in vet school, he was a "back rower" himself. So he knows the deal. He thus challenged our back row to participate in his lecture, daring them to speak up with the promised reward of a pizza party for the class if they did.
Well, the back row came through, and so did Dr. Exotics. Somewhat unbelievable, he provided pizza and soda for the entire 135-person class yesterday. Nom nom!
SEMEN
Our last class on Fridays is theriogenology. Consider that by 2 pm on Fridays, I have already sat in class for 30 hours that week, have been at school by 8 am four times, have suffered through multiple nights with less than ideal quantities of sleep, and am ready for the weekend. Hence, you can understand how attempting to have a serious and thoughtful discussion about reproduction may not go so well.
Thus far this semester, we've been mostly talking about male reproduction.
Yesterday's topic was ejaculation.
Up to this point, we've generally used the tasteful term "collect" to refer to the process of forcibly obtaining semen from an intact male animal. Example: "Sometimes it is necessary to 'collect' a male several times in a single day in order to get a good sample." Rather, we've spent our time defining terms like "rusty load," a phrase that is both charming and descriptive. (I will not define it here unless you really want to know.)
But we could no longer avoid getting down to the nitty-gritty (no pun intended) details of ejaculation.
After a brief and basically uninteresting explanation of the basic events that occur when an animal ejaculates, the lecture devolved into a discussion of techniques for semen collection.
In the world of veterinary medicine, especially food animal and equine medicine (but even for purebred dogs and cats), artificial insemination is becoming an increasingly central part of animal reproduction. So the idea of efficiently and competently obtaining semen from an animal is unfortunately not a moot topic.
There are a lot of different ways to go about doing this. The four we discussed were:
-- manual massage (exactly what it sounds like)
-- artificial vagina (simulates temperature and pressure that that particular species 'likes' in order to induce erection and ejaculation)
-- chemical stimulation (basically shooting them up with drugs that tend to cause ejaculation)
-- and everybody's favorite, the electro-ejaculator
Maybe you're thinking, Manual massage doesn't sound so bad. I can see where even desperate people would consider an artificial vagina. Chemical stimulation? Not totally great. But electro-ejaculation? Run the other way, quick!
I can't blame you. The basic concept is that you insert a large probe into the rectum of the poor male who produces such coveted semen. Said probe has electrodes on its surface that, when positioned internally over the male reproductive organs (accessory sex glands, etc.), deliver an electric current that stimulate and induce contraction of the reproductive tract, resulting in ejaculation.
Horses apparently don't like it. Go figure.
After explaining the technique, our very smart but socially inept therio professor made a brief mention of how one of our ethics instructors really hates electro-ejaculators and thinks they cause undue pain to the animal. We then had a collective awkward moment following Dr. Therio's statement that, "I don't know how or why Dr. Ethics thinks this is painful. I wouldn't know."
Like, TMI. Can we leave now??
Let's look at each of these 'highlights' with a little more detail:
EGO
Yesterday morning, we experienced the last of three hours of lecture by a certain professor we'll just call Dr. Surgeon.
Dr. Surgeon was tasked with lecturing to us about gastrointestinal surgery, specifically gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV or 'bloat'), small intestinal surgery, and peritonitis.
We had had no previous contact in the curriculum with Dr. Surgeon.
Suffice it to say, Dr. Surgeon is the guy who gives a bad name to the non-stereotypical 80% of surgeons who are actually very nice, personable, humble individuals.
Dr. Surgeon embodies the famed arrogance, egotism, and condescension of many people's images of "surgeon." He is more concerned with making the class laugh than by teaching us actual material that is really important to our future careers. He confuses the laughter of a minority of the class at his antics and wisecracks with an ability to effectively and efficiently teach.
We are all glad that Dr. Surgeon is now gone until clinics.
PIZZA
At the beginning of the semester, our Clinical Sciences class commenced with a series of lectures about methods of clinical reasoning and how to develop good reasoning skills. One of the lecturers was an exotics clinician from the VTH - a nice guy and effective teacher (unlike Dr. Surgeon).
In apparently every vet school class, there is a "back row." The back row is the group of students (usually mostly males) who sit in the back row of every class and are notoriously mostly from a farming or ranch background. They aren't interested in small animals or exotic anything, and they never speak up or ask or answer questions.
Dr. Exotics claims that when he was in vet school, he was a "back rower" himself. So he knows the deal. He thus challenged our back row to participate in his lecture, daring them to speak up with the promised reward of a pizza party for the class if they did.
Well, the back row came through, and so did Dr. Exotics. Somewhat unbelievable, he provided pizza and soda for the entire 135-person class yesterday. Nom nom!
SEMEN
Our last class on Fridays is theriogenology. Consider that by 2 pm on Fridays, I have already sat in class for 30 hours that week, have been at school by 8 am four times, have suffered through multiple nights with less than ideal quantities of sleep, and am ready for the weekend. Hence, you can understand how attempting to have a serious and thoughtful discussion about reproduction may not go so well.
Thus far this semester, we've been mostly talking about male reproduction.
Yesterday's topic was ejaculation.
Up to this point, we've generally used the tasteful term "collect" to refer to the process of forcibly obtaining semen from an intact male animal. Example: "Sometimes it is necessary to 'collect' a male several times in a single day in order to get a good sample." Rather, we've spent our time defining terms like "rusty load," a phrase that is both charming and descriptive. (I will not define it here unless you really want to know.)
But we could no longer avoid getting down to the nitty-gritty (no pun intended) details of ejaculation.
After a brief and basically uninteresting explanation of the basic events that occur when an animal ejaculates, the lecture devolved into a discussion of techniques for semen collection.
In the world of veterinary medicine, especially food animal and equine medicine (but even for purebred dogs and cats), artificial insemination is becoming an increasingly central part of animal reproduction. So the idea of efficiently and competently obtaining semen from an animal is unfortunately not a moot topic.
There are a lot of different ways to go about doing this. The four we discussed were:
-- manual massage (exactly what it sounds like)
-- artificial vagina (simulates temperature and pressure that that particular species 'likes' in order to induce erection and ejaculation)
-- chemical stimulation (basically shooting them up with drugs that tend to cause ejaculation)
-- and everybody's favorite, the electro-ejaculator
Maybe you're thinking, Manual massage doesn't sound so bad. I can see where even desperate people would consider an artificial vagina. Chemical stimulation? Not totally great. But electro-ejaculation? Run the other way, quick!
I can't blame you. The basic concept is that you insert a large probe into the rectum of the poor male who produces such coveted semen. Said probe has electrodes on its surface that, when positioned internally over the male reproductive organs (accessory sex glands, etc.), deliver an electric current that stimulate and induce contraction of the reproductive tract, resulting in ejaculation.
Horses apparently don't like it. Go figure.
After explaining the technique, our very smart but socially inept therio professor made a brief mention of how one of our ethics instructors really hates electro-ejaculators and thinks they cause undue pain to the animal. We then had a collective awkward moment following Dr. Therio's statement that, "I don't know how or why Dr. Ethics thinks this is painful. I wouldn't know."
Like, TMI. Can we leave now??
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
I see sick people... they're everywhere...
When a few people in my class get sick, most of us get sick.
It's part of the nature of our schedules - we generally spend 5-7 hours, 5 days a week, sitting together in the same lecture hall.
Last year, we shared close quarters in the cubes and the labs.
We have a communal computer lab, communal study areas, communal locker areas, and a communal lunch room.
We also pay a lot of money for vet school (well, most of us do). So we don't take kindly to having to miss class for something like illness.
So when one obviously ill person continues to attend class and threatens the sometimes tenuous immune systems of the rest of us, we are frustrated.
This week's main culprit was a person of whom I've never been a particular big fan. I can normally ignore her seemingly self-centered behavior.
But on Monday morning, she arrived to school with this horrible, hacking cough. A cough that is often not covered by a hand, arm, or Kleenex. A cough that is so loud that it regularly drowns out the voice of the lecturer. A cough that seems to seriously bother everybody except the cougher herself.
So Monday was pretty horrible. I was certain I would break with a hack and a runny nose by yesterday morning, or at least today. Fortunately, my immune system seems to be stronger than I thought (knock on wood).
Tuesday was excellent, because all of our Tuesday classes are labs and recitations, and the cougher is not in my lab or recitation groups.
Today was somewhat irritating again. The cougher was in attendance, with a somewhat reduced yet still aggravating and distracting cough. As an added bonus, I encountered a new cougher in my noontime business class, who coughed all hour like the vet school cougher did on Monday.
So I have something to say to all of you coughers out there:
Chug some Robitussin. I will buy you some.
Get some cough drops. I have extras.
Better yet, just stay home until you feel (and sound) better and can refrain from hacking like a 1930s tuberculosis patient every 5 minutes.
Do whatever you need to do. Just stop spewing your contagion into our communal classroom air.
There are 133 of us, and 1 of you. Get with the program!
It's part of the nature of our schedules - we generally spend 5-7 hours, 5 days a week, sitting together in the same lecture hall.
Last year, we shared close quarters in the cubes and the labs.
We have a communal computer lab, communal study areas, communal locker areas, and a communal lunch room.
We also pay a lot of money for vet school (well, most of us do). So we don't take kindly to having to miss class for something like illness.
So when one obviously ill person continues to attend class and threatens the sometimes tenuous immune systems of the rest of us, we are frustrated.
This week's main culprit was a person of whom I've never been a particular big fan. I can normally ignore her seemingly self-centered behavior.
But on Monday morning, she arrived to school with this horrible, hacking cough. A cough that is often not covered by a hand, arm, or Kleenex. A cough that is so loud that it regularly drowns out the voice of the lecturer. A cough that seems to seriously bother everybody except the cougher herself.
So Monday was pretty horrible. I was certain I would break with a hack and a runny nose by yesterday morning, or at least today. Fortunately, my immune system seems to be stronger than I thought (knock on wood).
Tuesday was excellent, because all of our Tuesday classes are labs and recitations, and the cougher is not in my lab or recitation groups.
Today was somewhat irritating again. The cougher was in attendance, with a somewhat reduced yet still aggravating and distracting cough. As an added bonus, I encountered a new cougher in my noontime business class, who coughed all hour like the vet school cougher did on Monday.
So I have something to say to all of you coughers out there:
Chug some Robitussin. I will buy you some.
Get some cough drops. I have extras.
Better yet, just stay home until you feel (and sound) better and can refrain from hacking like a 1930s tuberculosis patient every 5 minutes.
Do whatever you need to do. Just stop spewing your contagion into our communal classroom air.
There are 133 of us, and 1 of you. Get with the program!
Excuses, excuses
From time to time, we have a scheduling mishap within the vet school.
There was last semester's pharmacology final, which didn't get scheduled correctly so we didn't have a classroom reserved.
There are conflicts between club meetings, free lunches, and other extracurricular events.
Occasionally, we have our classes switched or make up a missed hour on a different day due to our professors' busy schedules.
Today, we all arrived at 8 am for Surgery class. So did our Surgery professor (who happened to be the director of the VTH, who should definitely set a good example and arrive on time).
We took our usual 10 minute break after that class and came back at 9 am for Clin Sci.
Ten minutes later, we were still without an instructor.
Today's professor has taught us on occasion previously in the curriculum, but we haven't had him yet this semester. He is somewhat renowned for being scatterbrained.
Fortunately, he also works a lot with students on research and other projects, so several members of our class tried to get a hold of him.
Soon, one of my classmates headed up the front of the room and announced that we would have the next 45 minutes free because there was a scheduling conflict and Dr. So-and-So would not be able to make it. We would have our second hour of Clin Sci as scheduled at 10 am, led by the course coordinator who was scheduled to lecture at 1 pm anyway.
The reason for Dr. So-and-So's absence?
He is in Italy.
(How do you mix that up???)
There was last semester's pharmacology final, which didn't get scheduled correctly so we didn't have a classroom reserved.
There are conflicts between club meetings, free lunches, and other extracurricular events.
Occasionally, we have our classes switched or make up a missed hour on a different day due to our professors' busy schedules.
Today, we all arrived at 8 am for Surgery class. So did our Surgery professor (who happened to be the director of the VTH, who should definitely set a good example and arrive on time).
We took our usual 10 minute break after that class and came back at 9 am for Clin Sci.
Ten minutes later, we were still without an instructor.
Today's professor has taught us on occasion previously in the curriculum, but we haven't had him yet this semester. He is somewhat renowned for being scatterbrained.
Fortunately, he also works a lot with students on research and other projects, so several members of our class tried to get a hold of him.
Soon, one of my classmates headed up the front of the room and announced that we would have the next 45 minutes free because there was a scheduling conflict and Dr. So-and-So would not be able to make it. We would have our second hour of Clin Sci as scheduled at 10 am, led by the course coordinator who was scheduled to lecture at 1 pm anyway.
The reason for Dr. So-and-So's absence?
He is in Italy.
(How do you mix that up???)
That's what she said
I'm progressively finding it more and more difficult to make it through a single hour of Theriogenology class without making a "That's what she said" joke.
Ah, well. At least vet school hasn't beaten ALL of the immaturity out of me.
(At least not yet.)
Ah, well. At least vet school hasn't beaten ALL of the immaturity out of me.
(At least not yet.)
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
School, Week 3
I'm glad it's the third week of the semester, with only 5 more to go before spring break and the commencement of my much more sleep- and sanity-friendly schedule.
Week 1 was pretty good, sleep-wise. Week 2 got a little rough, as I started to feel the impact of 7 hours or less of sleep several nights. I also got up at 6 am on Saturday and spent the day at a handbell workshop in Colorado Springs, which was fun but didn't help my sleep/productivity.
This week, I let myself skip running and "sleep in" till 6:15 on Monday. Today was the best: my 9 am anesthesia recitation was held over at the VTH and was divided into two sections of the class for each rotation, so being in the second half of the alphabet, I got the time off and I have my recitation next Tuesday instead. That meant I could sleep in till 7 am and still go running.
Classes are going ok. I'm discovering which I like and which I don't.
Business Law has been pretty tedious. It is really annoying to have to hike (think speed-walking) halfway across campus in less than 10 minutes, and back again. We spent all of last week talking about the structure of the U.S. government ("a long flashback to middle school civics," as one of my vet school classmates put it). At least the class is organized, starts on time, and is well-run, which is more than I can say for several of my previous business classes!
Shelter medicine has been both interesting and a bit dull. We've talked about some intriguing topics, but we always run out of time for discussion and several of the lectures have had some unnecessary repetition. We are supposed to find out the details of our big semester project later this week, and they've opened up an online discussion board, which will hopefully get people involved.
Problem-based learning was pretty awesome last week (we've only had 1 real class so far). I like my group, and we seemed to work well together -- even the one group member that I don't particularly like for one-on-one conversation was pleasant when included as a group of 6. We are working up a case of a middle-aged poodle that presents for episodes of weakness and confusion. Last week we took a history from the "owner" (our group's facilitator), made a problem list, thought up differentials, and "ordered" some lab tests and got the results.
Surgery has had its ups and downs. Ups: Today we got to practice suture patterns using real suture, real surgical instruments, and carpet pads with fake incisions in them! Turns out suturing is harder than it looks (ok, I knew that). I watched some instructional videos last night in preparation for this morning's hands-on practice, and thought I was doing pretty well today until the director of the VTH (also a board-certified surgeon) came by and told me I was tying slip knots instead of square knots... whoops. Downs: Trying to learn about suture patterns in a lecture format for two hours (prior to today's lab) was really ineffective and a waste of time. It's not something you can really explain in words, without images and hands-on experience, particularly to students who have never sutured anything before. Learning about the characteristics of different kinds of suture material was also really boring.
Anesthesia has also had ups and downs. Both of our recitations have been pretty dull, but the lectures have been okay. We just finished learning about all the components of anesthetic machines, and our recitation this week and next week involves hands-on experience identifying machine parts, hooking up breathing circuits, testing pressure and looking for leaks, etc. We have a one-on-one oral/practical exam on this material, held later in the semester with individual anesthesia faculty. Mine is unfortunately not until the end of March, and will be with the assistant dean of the vet school (also a board-certified anesthesiologist) -- a bit intimidating.
Clinical Sciences I is a good class. It's cool to learn about medical problems with a comprehensive perspective, and to get to apply that material to case-based exams and homeworks. It is a really intensive class, so I'm trying hard not to get behind. We have a huge variety of lecturers during the half-semester on various subjects, so if you don't like somebody, it's never too long until someone else is lecturing.
Diagnostic Imaging has not been fantastic. I have trouble learning from this particular instructor, and it is always hard to learn to interpret radiographs when you can't see them well on the projector and they don't print well in your notes. I've dusted off my Imaginoscope and am bringing it to class every Monday and Wednesday.
Theriogenology... oh, theriogenology. Looks like theriogenology is to this semester as toxicology was to last semester. We have had the same instructor for all of our lectures and labs, except for one lecture by a different professor who happened to be much clearer, more coherent, and organized! The good news is that I'm in exactly the same boat as everybody else: confused about therio and absolutely unsure what I'm supposed to be learning and how I'm supposed to learn it. The bad news is that we aren't covering particular complicated material, and it should be easy to teach. I need to look for some reference books and learn this stuff on my own.
CLH is busy with work, school, and his musical "Bye Bye Birdie" which is playing this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and for which the actor playing Conrad Birdie was just replaced yesterday... good luck! (I mean, break a leg!)
Week 1 was pretty good, sleep-wise. Week 2 got a little rough, as I started to feel the impact of 7 hours or less of sleep several nights. I also got up at 6 am on Saturday and spent the day at a handbell workshop in Colorado Springs, which was fun but didn't help my sleep/productivity.
This week, I let myself skip running and "sleep in" till 6:15 on Monday. Today was the best: my 9 am anesthesia recitation was held over at the VTH and was divided into two sections of the class for each rotation, so being in the second half of the alphabet, I got the time off and I have my recitation next Tuesday instead. That meant I could sleep in till 7 am and still go running.
Classes are going ok. I'm discovering which I like and which I don't.
Business Law has been pretty tedious. It is really annoying to have to hike (think speed-walking) halfway across campus in less than 10 minutes, and back again. We spent all of last week talking about the structure of the U.S. government ("a long flashback to middle school civics," as one of my vet school classmates put it). At least the class is organized, starts on time, and is well-run, which is more than I can say for several of my previous business classes!
Shelter medicine has been both interesting and a bit dull. We've talked about some intriguing topics, but we always run out of time for discussion and several of the lectures have had some unnecessary repetition. We are supposed to find out the details of our big semester project later this week, and they've opened up an online discussion board, which will hopefully get people involved.
Problem-based learning was pretty awesome last week (we've only had 1 real class so far). I like my group, and we seemed to work well together -- even the one group member that I don't particularly like for one-on-one conversation was pleasant when included as a group of 6. We are working up a case of a middle-aged poodle that presents for episodes of weakness and confusion. Last week we took a history from the "owner" (our group's facilitator), made a problem list, thought up differentials, and "ordered" some lab tests and got the results.
Surgery has had its ups and downs. Ups: Today we got to practice suture patterns using real suture, real surgical instruments, and carpet pads with fake incisions in them! Turns out suturing is harder than it looks (ok, I knew that). I watched some instructional videos last night in preparation for this morning's hands-on practice, and thought I was doing pretty well today until the director of the VTH (also a board-certified surgeon) came by and told me I was tying slip knots instead of square knots... whoops. Downs: Trying to learn about suture patterns in a lecture format for two hours (prior to today's lab) was really ineffective and a waste of time. It's not something you can really explain in words, without images and hands-on experience, particularly to students who have never sutured anything before. Learning about the characteristics of different kinds of suture material was also really boring.
Anesthesia has also had ups and downs. Both of our recitations have been pretty dull, but the lectures have been okay. We just finished learning about all the components of anesthetic machines, and our recitation this week and next week involves hands-on experience identifying machine parts, hooking up breathing circuits, testing pressure and looking for leaks, etc. We have a one-on-one oral/practical exam on this material, held later in the semester with individual anesthesia faculty. Mine is unfortunately not until the end of March, and will be with the assistant dean of the vet school (also a board-certified anesthesiologist) -- a bit intimidating.
Clinical Sciences I is a good class. It's cool to learn about medical problems with a comprehensive perspective, and to get to apply that material to case-based exams and homeworks. It is a really intensive class, so I'm trying hard not to get behind. We have a huge variety of lecturers during the half-semester on various subjects, so if you don't like somebody, it's never too long until someone else is lecturing.
Diagnostic Imaging has not been fantastic. I have trouble learning from this particular instructor, and it is always hard to learn to interpret radiographs when you can't see them well on the projector and they don't print well in your notes. I've dusted off my Imaginoscope and am bringing it to class every Monday and Wednesday.
Theriogenology... oh, theriogenology. Looks like theriogenology is to this semester as toxicology was to last semester. We have had the same instructor for all of our lectures and labs, except for one lecture by a different professor who happened to be much clearer, more coherent, and organized! The good news is that I'm in exactly the same boat as everybody else: confused about therio and absolutely unsure what I'm supposed to be learning and how I'm supposed to learn it. The bad news is that we aren't covering particular complicated material, and it should be easy to teach. I need to look for some reference books and learn this stuff on my own.
CLH is busy with work, school, and his musical "Bye Bye Birdie" which is playing this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and for which the actor playing Conrad Birdie was just replaced yesterday... good luck! (I mean, break a leg!)
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