Guess we all know which section my brain is absorbing today:
And, I must add, you are very lucky I do not have a YouTube of me singing any song... seriously. Although I've been tempted at times to come up with own videos to help me (and you!), I've decided singing is better left to others.
Best Day Ever!
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
MCAT Postponed
Never registered, my finger only slightly hovering over the "REGISTRATION OPEN" link on AAMC, I needed time to sift through the options, the pros and cons of registering now.
When my sifting and digesting was done (no chymotrypsin required, although I am sure there was a great amount of proton uptake into the inter-membrane space via ubiquinone), it did not make sense to take the MCAT this year, and apply in mid to late August. While that is disappointing in many regards, it also felt oddly relieving.
Yes, I will be a year older at application - sort of. I'd have been 48 at application this year, and on June 1 of next year, I will still be 48. That said, age at matriculation, I will be - le gasp - 50. Cool part is I am beginning to really believe the word "matriculate" - it doesn't sound like a swear word, it doesn't feel like a fabrication. I can "see" (hope?) the invitation to join a class; and it propels me onward.
In making most of my major life decisions, I ask for a sanity check. What am I missing? What other aspects should I consider? How could this affect me long-term? Yesterday, I spent a good portion of time talking through how I got to where I'm at in my 8 month delay in taking the MCAT, why I think it is the right way to proceed, and my own thoughts on impact. The health science advisory group specifically tasked with helping traditional - and non traditional - premeds said I was spot on.
The 8 month delay is nothing to the medical school. My age is truly just a number as my GPA holds up against those far younger than me, and a top MCAT score solidifies my standing a person able to, wanting to, and eager to withstand the rigors of medical school education. Coupled with my strong LORs, volunteering, shadowing, and leadership, it does not feel like there is a gaping hole in my application; especially, if I retain the methodical way I've approached most of this path.
As I walked out of the office so many students begrudge what I heard was, "You're going to be a great doc! We feel you are going to be a great applicant and a stellar student." I turned, smiled (beamed, actually) and said, "Really?"
Ha! I... think so too. Just need to continue proving myself :)
Make it a great day ~ remember, BEST DAY EVER!
When my sifting and digesting was done (no chymotrypsin required, although I am sure there was a great amount of proton uptake into the inter-membrane space via ubiquinone), it did not make sense to take the MCAT this year, and apply in mid to late August. While that is disappointing in many regards, it also felt oddly relieving.
Yes, I will be a year older at application - sort of. I'd have been 48 at application this year, and on June 1 of next year, I will still be 48. That said, age at matriculation, I will be - le gasp - 50. Cool part is I am beginning to really believe the word "matriculate" - it doesn't sound like a swear word, it doesn't feel like a fabrication. I can "see" (hope?) the invitation to join a class; and it propels me onward.
In making most of my major life decisions, I ask for a sanity check. What am I missing? What other aspects should I consider? How could this affect me long-term? Yesterday, I spent a good portion of time talking through how I got to where I'm at in my 8 month delay in taking the MCAT, why I think it is the right way to proceed, and my own thoughts on impact. The health science advisory group specifically tasked with helping traditional - and non traditional - premeds said I was spot on.
The 8 month delay is nothing to the medical school. My age is truly just a number as my GPA holds up against those far younger than me, and a top MCAT score solidifies my standing a person able to, wanting to, and eager to withstand the rigors of medical school education. Coupled with my strong LORs, volunteering, shadowing, and leadership, it does not feel like there is a gaping hole in my application; especially, if I retain the methodical way I've approached most of this path.
As I walked out of the office so many students begrudge what I heard was, "You're going to be a great doc! We feel you are going to be a great applicant and a stellar student." I turned, smiled (beamed, actually) and said, "Really?"
Ha! I... think so too. Just need to continue proving myself :)
Make it a great day ~ remember, BEST DAY EVER!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Biochem Madness
In no particular order, we were informed the following:
For Exam 3 we need to be able to draw:
Glycolysis through pyruvate with each molecule, each path, each intermediate, each electron, each proton, and subsequent energy level change; understand why some steps increase in energy pay out vs. energy intake; understand what happens if the energy requirement is not met - the disease states that can occur, the ramifications given many of the disease states are caused by genetic mutations (hence why knowing the amino acids was critical to the rest of the course).
Pyruvate into Krebs following the above notes
Krebs into the electron transport chain following the above notes; including complex molecules, which pass which protons and electrons to which other complexes, which complex passes nothing, and how the conformational change happens while forming ATP...
AND gluconeogenesis (not a foul word, I promise!) along with each molecule, which pathways are reversible, how the ATP generation gets used, then regenerated in reverse and under which conditions those generations and regens would occur.
Heh. I'm thinking I'd rather draw chymotrypsin again or discuss the aspects of the enzyme mutations causing bile acid synthesis defect, or CBAS1 instead.
Good thing I bought a full book of drawing paper. It gets used often!
Think of the video below (not exactly a Honda fan but commercial is pretty great!), as the mechanism for glycolysis to pyruvate into Krebs and finally electron transport chain. Think of each widget as a molecule and each spin as a required conformational change. It'll help you understand the depth of what I need to understand (and also the similarity of the functioning parts and the repetition between them):
Best part about getting exam prep now? I thought the exam was next week and I'm still in filming for a movie. Cramming exam prep, movie making, and house chores (the dane, remember?!?) was making head a little woozy... :) Found out today, the exam is in two weeks! Whoo hoo!
Best Day Ever!
For Exam 3 we need to be able to draw:
Glycolysis through pyruvate with each molecule, each path, each intermediate, each electron, each proton, and subsequent energy level change; understand why some steps increase in energy pay out vs. energy intake; understand what happens if the energy requirement is not met - the disease states that can occur, the ramifications given many of the disease states are caused by genetic mutations (hence why knowing the amino acids was critical to the rest of the course).
Pyruvate into Krebs following the above notes
Krebs into the electron transport chain following the above notes; including complex molecules, which pass which protons and electrons to which other complexes, which complex passes nothing, and how the conformational change happens while forming ATP...
AND gluconeogenesis (not a foul word, I promise!) along with each molecule, which pathways are reversible, how the ATP generation gets used, then regenerated in reverse and under which conditions those generations and regens would occur.
Heh. I'm thinking I'd rather draw chymotrypsin again or discuss the aspects of the enzyme mutations causing bile acid synthesis defect, or CBAS1 instead.
Good thing I bought a full book of drawing paper. It gets used often!
Think of the video below (not exactly a Honda fan but commercial is pretty great!), as the mechanism for glycolysis to pyruvate into Krebs and finally electron transport chain. Think of each widget as a molecule and each spin as a required conformational change. It'll help you understand the depth of what I need to understand (and also the similarity of the functioning parts and the repetition between them):
Best part about getting exam prep now? I thought the exam was next week and I'm still in filming for a movie. Cramming exam prep, movie making, and house chores (the dane, remember?!?) was making head a little woozy... :) Found out today, the exam is in two weeks! Whoo hoo!
Best Day Ever!
Last Project
For the life of me, I cannot get motivated to finish up the last project for my current contract. And I am not sure why. It's not like I want to stay there and extend. I don't. The manager being promoted to the director role is awesome, as I've said before.
I stare at the mounds of paperwork that has to be 3-hole punched and organized and the smile at myslave son and think he'd be perfect the job :) As I move my little consulting group forward, I'm going to start employing him, on W-2, so that he can learn the business side of the world from the business side, not retail. I wish he could do Visio diagrams, and Word docs the way I need.
Then, I could study. Or watch tv. Or. Anything but what I have to get done. By tomorrow.
Erg.
I stare at the mounds of paperwork that has to be 3-hole punched and organized and the smile at my
Then, I could study. Or watch tv. Or. Anything but what I have to get done. By tomorrow.
Erg.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Greatest Morning EVER! (edited)
Woke up to dreams that involved the furkids. Bentley was asleep curled up beside me (garoooosssss) with my arm around his side, starting to pet him, it felt wet.
Had he just licked himself?
No, he was just as woozy as I was.
He rolled over on his backside, a great dane genetically enhanced trait (haha!!). I felt his big chest.
He was wet.
As I moved my hand slowly down his stomach...
It got wetter.
At that point, I was fully awake, telling him to get off the bed, whereupon I noticed...
A big, perfect circle of...
dog dripping pee
Yes, greatest morning ever! lolol
IT GOT BETTER!
With a wee bit of rain on the pavement, cars crawled. I drive a large SUVish type vehicle for which it was given a BIG engine... and I flew to school. Flying down the ramp (think Cruella De'Ville or in my case, Cruella De'Calade), I parked in my favorite area, grabbed my heaping large backpack, and ran for the elevator to carry my sorry-late-arse five floors to the parkway.
Only.
The elevators crashed. Stopped. Mid-floor. When they started again, they stopped on "a" floor and I had the choice of running four flights of stairs or running outside.
I chose outside.
I made it to class ON TIME but... heaving. Seriously, I need to work out!
BEST DAY EVER! :D
Had he just licked himself?
No, he was just as woozy as I was.
He rolled over on his backside, a great dane genetically enhanced trait (haha!!). I felt his big chest.
He was wet.
As I moved my hand slowly down his stomach...
It got wetter.
At that point, I was fully awake, telling him to get off the bed, whereupon I noticed...
A big, perfect circle of...
dog dripping pee
Yes, greatest morning ever! lolol
IT GOT BETTER!
With a wee bit of rain on the pavement, cars crawled. I drive a large SUVish type vehicle for which it was given a BIG engine... and I flew to school. Flying down the ramp (think Cruella De'Ville or in my case, Cruella De'Calade), I parked in my favorite area, grabbed my heaping large backpack, and ran for the elevator to carry my sorry-late-arse five floors to the parkway.
Only.
The elevators crashed. Stopped. Mid-floor. When they started again, they stopped on "a" floor and I had the choice of running four flights of stairs or running outside.
I chose outside.
I made it to class ON TIME but... heaving. Seriously, I need to work out!
BEST DAY EVER! :D
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