Everybody Poops:

Oh yes.

Yes yes yes yes.

I have introduced the best topic ever in the history of blogdom.

Most (both) of you know that I have worked in a pharmacy for...over 14 years now. Wow!

One topic that seems to come up on a daily basis is "bowel movements"--and it really runs the gamut from lack thereof to over-production and everything in between.

You probably think I'm joking.
Look at this face.
I am not joking.

Yes, I know, just like the book says: Everybody Poops! I am a rational adult, but goodness gracious! And if you're judging me for saying it--you're probably one of the people coming in and telling me ALL about it.

"Hello, how may I help you?"
"Yes, it's been 12-hours since my last bowel movement..."
"This is the conversation I have been waiting for!"

BUT (ha ha, no pun intended) --you have no idea how many seemingly civilized people have come up to me over the years needing to talk about their shit.

Everybody wants to talk about it. In graphic detail they want to talk about it.

They want to tell me the last time they “went”…their husband “went”...their mother “went” or their child “went”…

They want to know where the Colon Cleanser is.

They want to know where the Imodium is.

They want to know where the suppositories are.

Color. Size. Heft. I've heard it all. I guess if you know my name, that means you feel comfortable enough to tell me ALL ABOUT IT. Give me a minute and I could probably Dr. Seuss it for you...

So it was green,

Or it was red--

It was bigger than your head?

I thought about it tonight, after another person came in absolutely obsessed with the fact they hadn't "gone" in some length of time.

What were they going to do? Fiber products were taking too long. Milk of Magnesium? Miralax?

I didn't know working in the pharmacy was equivalent to being a Gastoenterologist.

Have some decency--I am a young lady, after all. At least use your inside voice when telling me about the awful smell now wafting from your nether regions.

Give me a moment to run and hide behind the pharmacist.

I'll gladly SHOW you where *random name here* is, but don't tell me about specifics. I really don't wanna know. No, really. I do NOT want to have a 15-minute conversation about it. I promise. I swear. I'm good.

Would you? Could you? Promise please!
Would you? Could you? Promise me?

~~J

2 Scheduled Study Sessions and...

a partridge in a pear tree!

So I have finished one class (Art) and now I can really focus on the remaining two. Really? I keep telling myself "What does not destroy me, makes me stronger" (Nietzsche, not Kanye West) but sometimes I have to wonder.

Last night I took a "soul break" and attended the 85th Performance of Handel's Messiah at Calvary Episcopal Church downtown. This was my 3rd or 4th time attending and it was just as beautiful and spectacular as ever!

Afterward I got to drive "up" Poplar Ave and see my old "stomping ground"...I definitely miss Midtown. It just feels right! I wanted to eat at Fino's (closed, of course) and then go to Bookstar (almost closed) for coffee..who could forget grocery shopping at Schnucks on Union?

If I talk about Studio on the Square, I might cry *sniff*...BUT I did have to stop at Poplar & Highland for gas (or I wouldn't have made it back home)...

& the point of all of this is? I don't know.

Tomorrow I have a study session for Film (again) BEFORE work and then I have a study session Wednesday night for Bio II AFTER work (and my Film final)...WOO!

I am gonna miss my Bio Girls...and my Film Crew!

Lord, help me!

~~J

Biological Species Concept:

Why are you reading this? I know it wasn't the title that made you click on through--or maybe it was & you felt sorry for me. Moths to a flame, I'll never really know.

So I am thinking about 35312532 things I could be doing instead of doing what I need to do.

(That's a LOT of do do doing--can anyone else hear The Police right now?)

Perhaps I should be studying for my Last Bio II Exam (not including the final), which is scheduled to begin about 10 hours from now...tickticktick

HEY! My Biology Clock is literally ticking (not to be confused with my Biological Clock)

Tonight we watched THE PLAYER (1992) in Film class and I really liked it. I would say RENT IT asap! Besides, who knew Tim Robbins not only starred in the film, but he also makes a cameo! (Ladies, Susan Sarandon knows how to pick 'em!) I digress...

I also got my paper back (the one I stressed about for a couple weeks and changed films 1-week before the due date)...Good Times! Watch me tap dance around NOT studying for aforementioned Biology Exam.

Species are groups of actually or potentially interbreeding organisms that are reproductively isolated from such groups.

Before you know it, I'll be promising to wake up early and study BEFORE class...Oy!

~~J

like Kim Zmeskal on floor:

WaaaaaHooooooo!!!

*insert a couple whip backs here*


(be prepared for the 2nd tumbling pass!)


I just got home from my Bio II Lab Practical which means NO MORE LAB! The "my college career" portion of any type of Biological Laboratory is over! AND as if that wasn't enough...how can it get better??...

Something happened to our dissected specimens...maybe they weren't sealed or frozen properly, but the smell got worse. If our professor can't handle it (Super Dr. o' Mammalian Biology and such) ya know it had to be BAD.

Praise all that is Holy, no Felix or Smiley to look at...all of that anatomy was NOT ON THE EXAM! (I could've done it--but still, ROCK ON!) So I guess I won't share the link I found to the Virtual Cat Dissection. Aren't YOU lucky?

THREE exams down and....FOUR left to go!

~~J

Day One:

(or day three on the Advent Calendar--yummo!)

So aside from "not working" yesterday and spending quality family time (putting out the appropriate seasonal decorations) I did a little bit of studying for one of my two exams tonight.

7 Little PHOTOG snippets to memorize:
(or facts to impress your friends with)

1) Photography literally means "Light Writing"
2) Edwin Land developed the first Polaroid instant camera
3) forerunner of the modern camera? the camera obscura
4) Alfred Stieglitz is the Father of Modern Photography (he was also married to artist Georgia O'Keeffe and took hundreds of portraits of her)
5) Margaret Bourke-White created the "Photo Essay"
6) Sociologist Lewis Hine photographed children working in coal mines in the early 1900s. His pictures helped to bring about Child Labor Laws.
7) In 1932, the Eastman Kodak Company started making color film

So the next chapter is calling my name (of course). Now I will also spend time looking over material for my Bio Lab Practical tomorrow morning (especially tonight after Art).

I've already made plans to spend a couple hours "group" studying for my last Bio II Exam (on Thursday, this is before our Final next week) after we take the Practical tomorrow.

Is it all making sense to you? Remember, I had to make a chart and or write everything down so I wouldn't forget something. But I still have that feeling of forgetting something.

~~J

p.s. I almost forgot to say: LSU LSU LSU!!!!

The Beat Goes On...

*insert a super cheesy duet by Sonny & Cher here*

So it's Tuesday and I already feel as if I've run out of time...on Tuesday.

Art last night was pretty interesting and eye-opening. We added another chapter under our belt (Africa, Oceania, and the Americas). I didn't realize the Pyramid of the Sun built in Teotihuacan (South America) is actually wider than anything in Egypt. It blows my mind when seeing the expert but functional art which is soooooooooo old.

In Bio II this morning we actually looked at specimens of Cartilaginous and Bony Fishes along with many members of the Rodentia family. It was a far cry from our last Lab (don't get me started)!

Fun Facts from Lab:
*If a shark swims up on you...hold absolutely still!
*if you must, and only if you must KNOCK it in the nose as hard as possible

*Rodents encompass the largest single group of mammals and their teeth NEVER stop growing!
*members of Rodentia include: Rats, Mice, Squirrels, Beavers
*Rabbits are NOT Rodents, they have extra pair of incisors

Don't ask me about that paper due tomorrow, that's what the hours from 9pm to midnight are for tonight...FINISHING IT!

~~J

Many Blessings to Felix, Smiley, & Wally:

I went into my Bio II Lab today, not exactly sure what to expect. About 2 minutes into class, Dr. Jennings had on gloves and was pulling out a cat for dissection. Fabulous. It’s the smell more than anything that really bothers me about this part of Biology. At least they don’t use formaldehyde for preservation anymore.

Cats & Rats, oh my!

Call me a hippie, but I found time to thank the animal(s) for allowing me to view their body for the purpose of science. (I secretly named our class cat Felix and our group rat Smiley) I can understand the purpose for animal research, but I still don't understand the whole "dissection" in basic biology classes.

I’d prefer an alternative to dissection, but it wasn’t an option today. And we won’t have to do this again…only take a practical lab exam in which identifying and labeling parts is required.

Vegetarian? Yeah, I'm thinking more and more about it.

Bless you Marlon W. Morgan, but the headline to your article today about the Grizzlies winning (way to go!!!!) conjures up imagines...I can't discuss here.

Griz jump on weary Sonics early

Ladies (in case all the NBA trading leaves your collective heads spinning--it does mine), Wally Szczerbiak plays for the Sonics now. You understand, right? I'm sure his wife does!

No more class until after Thanksgiving. No more class until after Thanksgiving! This means I have to continue on with the dreadful Film analytical review paper.

As if I have a problem stating my opinion?


~~J

"Things are gonna change so fast..."

or

the day I walked into my Bio II lecture classroom only to find a brand new PERMANENT professor.

For those paying attention at home, we only have FIVE more classes (3 lab, 2 lecture) before Finals. And Yesterday I walked in to discover a new professor to "take us home," so to speak.

Our original professor had to have surgery and now we are in semi-flux. I have complete confidence in the department, everything will be okay.

So we've jumped over invertebrates and find ourselves completely immersed in phylum Chordata (aka the vertebrates aka more familiar territory).

Our new professor is also a Ph.D and apparently was a zookeeper at one point, so this should be fun. Honestly! I even learned a couple new and exciting animal facts!

My brain is a sponge--mostly filled with names and dates and faces along with the ability to recall scenes from various films and obscure 70s song lyrics.

Now I have to clear a section for "animal trivia."

Watch out potential Trivial Pursuit opponents!

~~J

(stating the obvious)

It's difficult to catch up when you've gotten behind.

So I've returned from the Island of Misfit Sick (or toys, right? name THAT seasonal flick!). I feel very close to "normal" and it seems as if it's been ages since I last updated my blog.

Let me catch you up:

Saturday: I worked
Sunday: I worked on school work (I even decided upon and watched a film for my final paper for film class: Pan's Labyrinth)
Monday: went to Nashville, saw a show
Tuesday: came back home, went to work

Tonight in Film we watched Wild Strawberries (Ingmar Bergman) and discussed "classic Hollywood cinema" and various film theories. Thank goodness for the Film Theory discuss because now I'll be able to think about Pan's Labyrinth more effectively.

I disagree with about 97% of the population who has actually seen the movie. Yeah, I'm odd.

Biology Update: Placoza =Trichoplax, Porifera = Sponges, Ctenophora = comb jellies (invertebrates, baby!)

Art Update: I am writing about Renoir's The Picture Book for my second Gallery visit paper. It's available for viewing locally at The Dixon (as I've mentioned a million times in this blog).

Finals are in less than a month!

~~J

p.s. Did I mention the dream in which Oprah was my boss? Yeah. I'll save it for a rainy day.

The Perfect Storm:

actually, it's more like "The Perfect Sick"

(this post is unofficially brought to you by my new best friend, Kleenex)

This is Day 3 of full-blown nasty sickness, and it's the worse by far. Head Congestion + Chest Congestion = Sore Throat. I am around just this sort of thing nearly every single day because of where I work. And the first few years I worked in a pharmacy, I caught everything. Over the last few years though, it seemed as if I was immune to it all.

Not so fast! I forgot to factor in the immune system run ragged since May (when I started back to school) and the crazy schedule I have undertaken.

Maybe that's why Mr. "Congestion" was able to crawl into my head and attack before I knew what hit me?!?!?

I attended class last night—we screened CRASH (which I had seen before, such a good film), but today—sorry. No Bio II lecture for me.

Speaking of CRASH, I think it's time to nap! I've been drinking hot tea (peppermint) ever since finally deciding to get out of bed. It's time to go back.

~~J

The Door on the Left or on the Right?

November? Is it really November? Wow! So time flies when you spend all of your waking in hours in two places—school & work or work & school.

*throws confetti*

But seriously, I’ve been a bit of a procrastinator lately. Instead of watching the film I am going to be doing my “very big” Film paper (Il Postino) on, I’ve been watching a couple episodes of The Office EVERY single night this week.

Now I will tell you this: I never, ever “got” the absolute hysteria surrounding this show…until now. Thank you Netflix and the “watch now” feature. I can stream episodes instead of having to wait for them to ship to my house.

I finished Season 1 and now find myself halfway through Season 2. (and I totally have a crush on Jim--okay!)

Lets see--study for Bio II Lab exam? Watch film for Film? Get ready to teach Baroque Art period to class? Chose work of art to write about? OR...WATCH THE OFFICE? Feel my pain? Very, very tough choices...

And I might want to work out the details for my upcoming overnight trip to Nashville (where not only do I get to see one of my favorite singer-songwriters but I get to see one of my favorite buildings too!)


~~J

It's close to midnight and...

Today: The Bio II exam was taken...Finally!

The plants are done...but honestly, I love our little green friends (who doesn't like oxygen). It's just time to move on to something else now....invertebrates, anyone?

Last night in Art we went over 3 chapters...I have a new respect for anything "etched" because that's a hardcore process. Also, who knew that Tempera paint was (originally) made from egg yolks? I didn't. Oil, Acrylic...Gesso. Wow. Not only are artists talented, they are even more creative for finding ways to get there "idea" onto paper (wood, plaster, etc.)!

Another Reason I love October:

22/23) Spooky music! We all love Music...a lot of people even use it to express and define themselves. Yesterday at work, THRILLER (by Michael Jackson) came on the radio and we were all singing along and doing pseudo-moves from the video.

No matter what you think of MJ the person, MJ the singer and dancer cira 1983 was really onto something with this video (directed by John Landis). I don't know anyone who hasn't seen it. Of course, it is perfectly appropriate this time of year! I know it scared the bejeezus out of me when I was 5!

I'm trying to come up with a list of songs that are very "October-centric":

01) Thriller by Michael Jackson
02) Witchy Woman by the Eagles
03) The Monster Mash by Bobby Pickett
04) Somebody's Watching Me by Rockwell
05) Nightmare on My Street by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
06) Ghostbusters by Ray Parker Jr.
07) Don't Fear the Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult
08) Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon
09) I Put a Spell On You by CCR (there are a lot of versions)
10) Halloween Theme by John Carpenter (I know, no words--it's from the movie)

Be sure to tell me what I've missed!

~~J

Nevermore, Dr. John Carter:

Another Friday, so ends another week.

Guess what happened on the Bio II exam? NOTHING! It's been postponed until Tuesday. More time to study the Desperate Lives of Plants. I can NOT wait to move away from this subject. Animals, please.

We are halfway through the semester. I can hardly believe it. I was looking through the Schedule of Classes for Spring and it looks like one I need is not available then. What is a girl to do? Another short Summer class before officially starting at the University of Memphis?

And I am officially jealous (again) of all the real journalists working at the Commercial Appeal. They are in the midst of Hollywood and Noah Wyle (aka Dr. Carter from ER).

Let it be known to the world: I stopped watching ER when Dr. Carter left the show. So goes Noah Wyle, so goes Janet!

Another Reason I love October:

19) Nevermore. Edgar Allan Poe & October have always gone together in my mind. His Gothic imagery and general ability to cause one's pulse to quicken--simply by reading any of his work--is perfection.

We actually studied him in Southern Literature at UT-Knoxville, even though he is not traditionally thought to be a "Southern" writer. He was born in Boston, but due to tragic circumstance (death of his parents) was brought to live in Virginia. He is both the "father" of modern detective and crime fiction (my HS English teacher would be proud of me for pulling that one out).

My favorite tales:
The Tell-Tale Heart, The Cask of Amontillado,
The Masque of the Red Death, The Pit and the Pendulum

My favorite poems:
The Bells, The Raven and Annabel Lee

~~J

Mother Nature says, "Hello"

Questions that will probably NOT be on our Bio II Exam today (simply because I know the answer):

Which of the following is NOT an advantage to plants living on land?
A. There is greater availability of light for photosynthesis.
B. Carbon dioxide can diffuse more readily in air.
C. Oxygen can diffuse more readily in air.
-----> D. The plant is more likely to become desiccated.

Which of these may occur in both angiosperms and gymnosperms?
A. Seeds develop within a cone.
B. Seeds develop within a flower.
C. Seeds are surrounded by a fruit at maturity.
-----> D. Pollen is carried by the wind for pollination.
E. Pollen is carried by animal pollinators.

So goes life. But if I have another Bio-Exam-Meltdown© I could permanently lose my mind!

In other news, guess which film we screened in Film class last night? The one I didn't want to watch, but ended up appreciating anyway: Seven Samurai (1954). It was 3.28 hours (we even ran 15+ minutes late) of a black & white, subtitled Japanese film that I will probably never watch again. But, at least I can say that I have seen it.

More Reasons Why I love October:

17 + 18) Dark & Stormy Nights/Blustery Days. Last night was a grand example of the perfect dark & stormy night. I half expected Janet Weiss and Brad Majors to knock on the door while we were watching our movie! When we got out of class (after 10pm) lightning flashes were cutting up the sky and making everything very spooky.

Now reverse to our Blustery Day. When working in a Pharmacy with a Drive-Thru the Wind can make for a spectacular challenge. If you ever visit one under these circumstances, remember to use the little metal bar provided when slipping in prescriptions, cash, or checks.

We can NOT be responsible for Mother Nature stealing aforementioned items!

I watched leaves swirl and dance along most of the day (no money or prescriptions!)--and I'm pretty sure Piglet even went sailing by.

~~J

Sunday is for Books & Movies:

How can I be in the middle of watching two movies?

I don't know either, but technically I'm not anymore because I finished them both tonight. The first one I started one night this past week (Veronica Guerin, 2003) and then other I began last night (Evening, 2007).

Now the first is a story based on facts--specifically the death of a journalist in 1996, murdered by the Irish drug dealers she was investigating. A clever "line" from the film: I never thought they would shoot the messenger.

The second was originally a book--both the book and screenplay were written by author, Susan Minot. It's an emotional journey from the deathbed of a woman remembering a weekend which changed her life more than 50 years earlier. It got horrible reviews, but I liked it! We are mysterious creatures, aren't we?

I can consider either one for my next (and final) paper in Film.

Another Reason I love October:

14) The Bookstore. Okay, I know you can visit the bookstore anytime--this isn't a seasonal phenomenon. But, this girl can stay in a bookstore for HOURS...seriously, HOURS! So far this month alone I have racked up plenty of time amongst the books--specifically drinking coffee and STUDYING (today it was Bio II--Plants). It just feels right, to be surrounded by so many pages and topics while putting more knowledge into your brain. Besides, you never know what lovely book you'll pick up in the discounted section!

I've finished all the extra credit for this section, now I have 3 more nights to study for the exam (Thursday).

The fun never stops.

~~J

Eat Your Fruits & Vegetables:

So guess what's happening in less than a week?

My NEXT Bio II exam! Plants! The desperate life of Plants! Thursday, Thursday, Thursday! (lest I not mention the fact we still haven't gotten our first exam back--and we took it 16 days ago)

I learned some more "new" plant-y type things to share:

1) There is boy corn and there is girl corn (the corn plant has either male parts or female parts, NOT both so it is considered "imperfect")

&

2) When you are eating broccoli, the floret is biologically considered a fruit and the stalk is biologically considered a vegetable--so you are eating both your fruit & vegetable for the day at the SAME time!

Another Reason I love October:

12) New Television. I know I'm cheating a bit because most Fall shows premiered LAST month. But since I am either AT work or IN class until 9-10pm throughout the week there are a limited amount of shows I can actually follow (without TiVo).

One such show is BLOOD TIES on Lifetime and Season 2 starts TONIGHT! I simply adore it and I've decided NOT to be ashamed to admit it! (behold the beauty of Henry and Vicki)

~~J

Bring on the Hefeweizen!

Bio Lab, how I love thee! let me count the ways:

Heartwood & Sapwood
Monocots & Dicots
Chlorophyll & Stroma

Yes, Yes, Yes! On the places I'll go with all this intense knowledge of plants!

Although it's all somewhat, kinda, sorta interesting--if you think about it. I guess. At least it has to be until the next exam, then I will become the super student of something else. Right?

And for one of the most obvious (cultural)

Reasons Why I love October:

09) Oktoberfest! Technically it ended this past weekend, but since it's still October I felt the need to talk about it (thanks for reminding me, friend). I haven't actually been to Munich at the right age to participate in the festivities, but I can tell you a lot about the German art of Beer.

Or really, I don't have the time to tell you about it--but you can find out basically everything you need to know by following my links!

My personal favorite? Hefeweizen (Wheat beer that is brewed with a higher proportion of wheat so it has a lighter color and flavor...it's actually sweet!)

Boscos on the Square (Overton Square) has Boscos Oktoberfest beer currently on tap, CHECK IT OUT!


~~J

Southern Girls Know Their Weather:

Question: What does a "good" Bio II student do after waiting more than 30 minutes for her professor to arrive?

a) Leave with the rest of the class (after signing roll) and go home to sleep because she is tired

OR

b) Leave with the rest of the class (after signing roll) continue on to Barnes & Noble to study the aforementioned subject for nearly 2 hours?

Believe it or not, I chose B! I ordered my signature October coffee drink and rewrote notes/studied the first two classes of plants. I had a great time--flipping through my textbook, lab manual, notecards & original chapter notes! They were even playing fabulous "old school" 50s-70s era music. I had to whisper along to Elvis (Suspicious Minds) as well as the Beatles (I Saw Her Standing There). I almost felt like a girl of 19 again!

After my impromptu study session, I even drove to a grocery store and took full advantage of their lovely salad bar. Both my mind and my belly are full of good stuffs. Fantastic!

Another Reason Why I love October:

04) The Weather. Our average high for the month is 74 and our average low is 49. We haven't quite gotten down to either one of those yet (respectively) it's nice to know it is ON THE WAY! Instead of sweating like a glass of ice tea on a hot day, I've found this whole afternoon more or less manageable.

~~J

p.s. I hope everybody in the city is VOTING today! (or early voted)

Xylem & Phloem, Oh My!

Never in a million years would I have thought plants would encompass so many different cycles and parts! I mean, I remember the basics from high school but this is the basics + 10. Or maybe the basics + 5 because the basics + 10 would be Botany.

After the great (first) Bio II exam of last week and my subsequent "bombing" of this exam (officially I don't know my grade yet, but I can tell you--it stinks to high heaven) I am going to have to eat, breathe and sleep PLANTS!

Even their 'sex lives' are rather complex. Yes, their SEX LIVES! They might not listen to Marvin Gaye like the rest of us, but they are quite interesting in their own right!

So you, my fair reader (both of you) get to endure my new found obsession/respect for our green little friends (not the aliens):

Four Major Changes:
1)protection of a multi cellular embryo
2)evolution of vascular tissue
3)evolution of the seed
4)evolution of the flower

=

Four Major Groups:
1)Non vascular
2)Seedless Vascular
3)Gymnosperms/Vascular Seed bearing
4)Angiosperms Vascular Seed & Flower bearing


And we'll leave it at that for tonight.

~~J

Patient Zero:

I have to tell you about one of the "labs" we did on Tuesday.

There were enough test tubes filled with a clear solution along with a pipette made for every person in the class. They were then placed randomly on our tables while we were taking a quiz (very tricky) as to not call too much attention to them.

When we finished our quiz, our professor told us that "someone" in the room has a horrible disease (one test tube was "infected") and we were to "swap" solution with at least three people in the class (via the pipettes) and record WHO we "swap" with...

are you following?

Then everyone was to put a couple drops of another solution into our individual test tube and if it turned pink--you were now infected. Then we had to use our deductive reasoning skills to figure out WHO was the original person with the "horrible disease". The professor knew the answer...

For the record, of the 20 or so people in lab, only 8 people ended up being "infected"...yes, I was one of them, but because half of the people I "swapped" with were NOT infected, it made it easier to pinpoint who introduced the "disease" into our population. We got it right. We're so smart!

VERY COOL. I think every single Biology/Chemistry/Science/Health class in high school should do this experiment. It's a perfect way to symbolize how diseases (hello, STDs) are passed along.



~~J