the joys of being a flunkie

I could've used one of these today. As it was, I had to make do with a not-very-clean trash can.

Today I had a rather delightful [italics used to denote sarcasm] experience at the lab. I had to prepare a fecal  smear. This involves, in the event that the cognitively disabled (who used to be known as mentally retqarded but are no longer termed as such thanks to rosa and her law) are now reading my blog, donning major protective gear, using a small tongue-depressor-like stick to spead a sample of human feces from a jar onto a glass slide, then finally topping the slide with another glass slide.

Doing this would not have been so bad had it actually mattered, but another slide had already been prepared from the same sample by one of the professionals.  I was merely doing it for the experience.

It did make it better that I got the diagnosis right on the first try. It was giardia lamblia. I have no clue who the lucky victim might be.

I tosssed my cookies during the procedure. I can't wait until I'm a for-real pathologist and can make an underling prepare fecal sample slides for me.

"Deliverance" relationships, family reunions, and everything that goes along with it

Jared's sister has unusual beverage preferences.(not actually jared;s sister, though she looks similar; I can't post her for privacy reasons; she was actually  drinking her sea water out of a pail before someone got to her and stopped her)

I don't think it's an actual "Deliverance" relationship; I think they're only related by marriage. At least I THINK such is the case.

I just took a Lunesta and am waiting around for it to kick in. I didn't sleep much this morning and stayed active all day, so I should  be able to sleep before the wee hours of the morning.  my supervisor said not to worry about getting there especially early. i can modify my schedule and work later, as the lab operates 24 hours, although for insurance purposes among other things, interns aren't allowed there after 6:00 p,m.  I suppose the people who run the place think they're less likely to run into Bill Clinton Monica Lewinsky cigar and blue dress situations in broad daylight when the place is so crowded one couldn't find a space private enough to take advantage of an intern even if one was so inclined.

Today was fun.  I skipped out on the zoo portion of the festivities, and only barely participated in the park activities, but I went to the beach with the large group, and then went to Uncle Jerry and Aunt /Ilianna's house for a dinner of deep pit beef, rice, beans, and whatever else was there. As meat goes, I like deep pit beef OK, but I don't eat protein in huge quantities because I've had my first kidney stone, and I don't want to do anything to make another one anytime soon.  I've also been told calcium supplements contribute to kidney stone production. I suppose I'll have to keep drinking milk. It's weird, I don't know how the body can tell the difference, but it can. It uses calcium appropriately when it comes in the food you eat and drink, but if it's in pill form, it goes to the bloodstream and helps the kidneys make stones.  I can tolerate chocolate milk, so I suppose that will become my new favorite beverage.

The crazy lady replied OK when I told her to please leave me alone. I hope she means it. I still don't know what it was about, but as long as it's over, most things are well if they end well.

I'll spend tomorrow night at my aunt's and uncle's house near the lab, If I sleep decently Tomorrow night, I'll drive home Wednesday.Otherwise, I'll need to wait until Thursday. My friend from high school will arrive here on Thursday. We're going to do a few aquatic things, as she doesn't attend college near the ocean and wants to take advantage of the access.

After this week, I still have two more weeks to kill, and only about ten more hours to put in at the lab. that gives me high-quality practice time.  If I were more industrious, I'd look for a way to earn a bit of money, but I don't want to work. I'm an industrious student but , overall, a rather lazy human being.  one can only go so far against one's natural instincts.