As JTL stated, no one is probably reading this blog over the holidays, if ever again. However, I thought I would provide an update. As per, the trip home as been fraught with calamity. For those of you who don't know, my mother decided to cancel the cable, internet, and PHONE during our visit home to 'save money.' So instead of paying $44 for a land line for a month, we have collectively spent over $300 on cell phone fees...
I've been extremely busy, more than I am in Chicago ironically, so I haven't gotten a chance to spend as much time as I would have liked with friends. Here are some of the highlights of my trip that have kept me so busy:
* Family feud due to insensitive and inopportune remarks over my busy life
* Family feud due to gratuitous use of racial slurs over Christmas morning breakfast
* Grandma's knee surgery (she's fine now)
* Driving in 3 blizzards without snow tires
* Desperate attempts at getting a loan (postponed until April now, thanks Scotiadinks)
* Eating 2 apple pies by myself
* Watching House and Twilight Zone
* Working for my boss
* Testing unsuspecting friends for my research project (thanks all those who participated against their will)
* Getting involved in a trashy bar brawl in Grimsby while wearing snake skin boots (please ask me about this in person)
I hate new years but I hope your night won't be painful. I say good riddance 2008. Text me (sparingly, I have a pay as you go plan) if you want to hang out.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Med Student Syndrome
I know that when you're learning about various diseases it is easy to believe you have at least one of them. Currently, I believe I am in the throes of early onset dementia. Allow me to simultaneously procrastinate and study for my exam:
Stage 1
1. Marked forgetfulness (The stories are legendary. Who hasn't heard me tell them the same story over and over?)
2. Poor judgment
3. Changes in affect (Most of you have seen The Rage. Also I've had tons of anxiety and sadness this year as well).
Stage 2
1. Cognitive deficits become more evidence (i.e. forgetting to pay bills, which I have done this year)
2. Dysphasia i.e. circumlocution (This means describing something without actually naming it. I have word finding difficulty constantly).
3. Impoverished speech (I stop talking when I get tired. And I tire easily).
4. Paraphasias (This means making up words. Such as hermaneuticals. Which I said in class - a combination of hermaneutics and Neuticals).
5. Concrete and perseverative speech (Saying cliched expressions over and over. Not sure if I do this one.)
6. Spatial disorientation (If I turn around too quickly I have no idea where I am)
7. Difficulty making decisions (I battle with this regularly and defer to friends to run my life)
8. Delusional ideas (you probably noticed this about me the day we met)
Stage 3
1. Aphasia (means lack of speech. I'm not there yet)
2. Agnosia (Not recognizing what objects or faces are...getting close, but not quite)
3. Apraxia (Inability to carry out a skilled task- oh yeah. I'm covered in bruises and cuts from attempting to get out of bed or clothes)
4. Amnesia (Who hasn't noticed this about me?)
5. Anomia (Can't name objects. All the time)
6. Decreased comprehension (Just today, JTL disagreed that Mitsou was awesome and I swear, I didn't understand the words coming out of his mouth)
7. Agitation and emotional outbursts (I blow people's eyebrows off their faces when I get the 'mean reds'.)
8. Carphologic movements (Persistent non-purposeful hand movements. Twiddling?)
9. Urinary and fecal incontinence (Something to look forward to!)
Stage 4
1. Cessation of all higher cognitive control (this happens during lectures)
2. Death due to pneumonia or other infection (I'll be hit by a car before this happens)
Stage 1
1. Marked forgetfulness (The stories are legendary. Who hasn't heard me tell them the same story over and over?)
2. Poor judgment
3. Changes in affect (Most of you have seen The Rage. Also I've had tons of anxiety and sadness this year as well).
Stage 2
1. Cognitive deficits become more evidence (i.e. forgetting to pay bills, which I have done this year)
2. Dysphasia i.e. circumlocution (This means describing something without actually naming it. I have word finding difficulty constantly).
3. Impoverished speech (I stop talking when I get tired. And I tire easily).
4. Paraphasias (This means making up words. Such as hermaneuticals. Which I said in class - a combination of hermaneutics and Neuticals).
5. Concrete and perseverative speech (Saying cliched expressions over and over. Not sure if I do this one.)
6. Spatial disorientation (If I turn around too quickly I have no idea where I am)
7. Difficulty making decisions (I battle with this regularly and defer to friends to run my life)
8. Delusional ideas (you probably noticed this about me the day we met)
Stage 3
1. Aphasia (means lack of speech. I'm not there yet)
2. Agnosia (Not recognizing what objects or faces are...getting close, but not quite)
3. Apraxia (Inability to carry out a skilled task- oh yeah. I'm covered in bruises and cuts from attempting to get out of bed or clothes)
4. Amnesia (Who hasn't noticed this about me?)
5. Anomia (Can't name objects. All the time)
6. Decreased comprehension (Just today, JTL disagreed that Mitsou was awesome and I swear, I didn't understand the words coming out of his mouth)
7. Agitation and emotional outbursts (I blow people's eyebrows off their faces when I get the 'mean reds'.)
8. Carphologic movements (Persistent non-purposeful hand movements. Twiddling?)
9. Urinary and fecal incontinence (Something to look forward to!)
Stage 4
1. Cessation of all higher cognitive control (this happens during lectures)
2. Death due to pneumonia or other infection (I'll be hit by a car before this happens)
Friday, December 5, 2008
Christmas Break
Here is my rough schedule for my Christmas break:
December 15: Flying home, crashing at JTL's in TO.
December 16: Working all day, might have time for dinner or something at night.
December 17-18: At my mom's house
December 19: In TO, working in the day for a bit, then going to White Cowbell Oklahoma show, all are welcome
December 23: I have to come in to TO for an eye doctor appointment so if anyone wants to make the trip worthwhile, let me know.
December 20-Jan 4: At my mom's house unless I make other plans.
My grandma is having surgery on December 16 so I want to be home to help her out with cooking/cleaning etc. Let me know if you want to hang out.
December 15: Flying home, crashing at JTL's in TO.
December 16: Working all day, might have time for dinner or something at night.
December 17-18: At my mom's house
December 19: In TO, working in the day for a bit, then going to White Cowbell Oklahoma show, all are welcome
December 23: I have to come in to TO for an eye doctor appointment so if anyone wants to make the trip worthwhile, let me know.
December 20-Jan 4: At my mom's house unless I make other plans.
My grandma is having surgery on December 16 so I want to be home to help her out with cooking/cleaning etc. Let me know if you want to hang out.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
The Spirit of Christmas
I have nothing interesting to say because each day is just like the last. So here is a story sure to get you in the holiday spirit. My building is having a Christmas food drive and we're all supposed to donate a non-perishable food item. As I rummaged through my pantry trying to find the perfect thing to donate I was struck by brilliance! Two cans of Canada's finest Bravo spaghetti sauce. I'm sure you all appreciate the immense sacrifice on my part to make someone's Christmas a little bit brighter. Bless you!
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