Dissection

We've reached the point in Bio lab where we've started to dissect animals, if you consider crayfish and earthworms animals. Although I was a total tomboy as a kid - building tree houses, throwing apples at people's houses, ringing doorbells and hiding - I've always been girlie enough to be squimish around bugs and worms and other nasty species. I actually had to drop out of girl scouts at the age of 8 after running into a dead garden snake. That did it for me, no more scouting.

Touching the earthworm in lab tonight proved to be impossible. I let my lab-partner handle the earthworm while I dissected the crayfish. I am a Swede after all, and Swedes eat these bastards every August during "kraftskiva", with shots of akvavit, snaps and lots of drunken singing. But tonight in lab, I was facing the crayfish sober......


The nasty crayfish and the nasty earth worm. My lab partner took care of the earthworm.

Cat scratch

Kompis the cat tested positive for Bartonella (aka "cat scratch disease"). Bartonella is a group of bacteria that goes into the cat's red blood cells and cause inflammatory reactions in various tissues, most commonly in the respiratory system, skin, ocular tissues, and gastro-intestinal tissues. Luckily, Kompis has no symptoms at all so he might just be a carrier. Nevertheless, we have been instructed to give him antibiotics - azithromycin - once a day for 21 days. That should take care of business.

Humans can catch Bartonella diseases from being scratched or bitten by an infected cat. Good thing our Kompis is a true sweetie. Except for when we try to squirt azithromycin into his mouth. Kompis scratched for his life and Sean and I bled and bled. We kept our bloody hands lathered with antibiotic soap under hot water while singing 'row-row-row your boat' three times. That should take care of business.

Still sleepy

This morning I managed to get a seat on the C train during rush-hour. It takes some serious skills to do that. I fell asleep, of course, within a few stops. I woke up at 86th street with my head resting on a stranger's shoulder. That feels pretty weird, let me tell you. But why would this woman let me sleep on her shoulder...? Why not move away like everyone else does when someone gets too close?

I kind of forgot about this little incident as I sat in my Bio recitation class later on in the day, when suddenly, a woman in the seat in front of me took a dive - nose first, arms by her side, face smashed against the floor. She had fallen asleep in her chair and as a result she had slid off it. It was great.

The whole class turned around when they heard the 'thump' but I had seen it as it happened.
"Oh my God are you ok?!?" the teacher exclaimed, though she remained fixed to the blackboard.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," the student said, still on the ground, "I'm just really, really tired, so sorry..." and she climbed back into her seat.
"Do you need water??" the teacher asked, trying to help.
"No, no, I'm sorry, I fell asleep, I'm sorry."

The student looked really embarrassed and the class didn't know what to do so the teacher just continued lecturing and everyone went back to taking notes. I wanted to laugh sooooooo bad. But instead, I tapped the sleepy student on her shoulder and offered her a tic tac. She took it.

Lbs

I passed my annual physical exam with a healthy grade. But it didn't start out too well when the doctor entered the room and said whooooah when he looked at the EKG print out. What? What? What? "Nothing, your heart rate is just really slow."

My heart rate was 50 beats per minute and my blood pressure was 100/70. This means I'm barely alive. I hardly have a pulse. A slow heart rate is fine if you're a cyclist or a runner, but I'm neither. What's going on? No wonder I fall asleep every time I sit down, chin-to-chest style, my heart is on vacation. I sleep on the subway, I sleep in my bio class, I sleep everywhere. One time I fell asleep standing up.

What's even worse than not having a pulse is that I've gained weight since last year. I'm not supposed to be able to gain weight. "Well, you're not 20 years old anymore." What tha' f-ck?? That shit doesn't apply to me. It should not apply to me. ooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh...

Mad old

Since going back to Bio-class a few weeks ago, I've been completely devoid of any writing capabilities or random community observations. I just can't believe I'm at Hunter again. I wish I could keep it a secret - I'm really not still in school - but it's hard when constant studying has become such a big part of life. I always make sure I tell my 20-year old classmates the following:

1) I'm a post bacc student
2) I have had a real job
3) I have a job now (although it doesn't feel that real)
4) I'm old
5) I'm only taking this class because I have to
6) I graduated from college in 1998

This usually kills any potential friendships.