The 16 Hour Flu?

Weird. My fever broke this morning and has been normal all day. Still suffering some flu-like symptoms, but the fever is gone. What's the all about?

Guess I shouldn't ask, hunh? I might get an answer I don't like!

Good not to be feeling like crap so soon, though.

Once Again

Sick. Fever hanging around 102. Just started today.

School starts up on Wednesday (1/4), and have EMT-IV clinicals all day Sunday (1/8). Hope I'm better by both days. This sucks.

At the Movies

Seen a few flicks lately, some good, some bad. I'm sure I'll forget many, but here's some comments on the last couple weeks' viewing, now that I have some time. I know, I know, they're not new movies, but gimme a break - I've been a little busy lately!

The Ring Two. Apparently, the Japanese know horror. This was almost as scary as the first (which was, by the way, one of the scariest movies I'd seen in a long time), but the plot wasn't as good. Still, very scary and worth seeing if you're into that sort of thing.

The Grudge. What is it about these Japanese directors and their movies? Another great Japanese horror flick turned American, only this time it was directed by the same Japanese director as the original, using the same crew, and same locations. This time, however, it's done in English with American actors (including Buffy's Sarah Michelle Gellar). It was surprisingly scary; almost on par with the Ring movies. I went into it expecting very little, though, and so maybe my perception was skewed by the fact that it was better than I thought it would be. Still, a good fright-fest.

Amityville Horror. This remake tanked. Stinko. Lame. Not worth the hour and a half, let alone any money you might have to fork out. Skip this one.

XXX: State of the Union. A really horrible, horrible sequel (?) to the first. Skip this one, unless you want to just make fun of the plot and the physics-defying action sequences (like leaping from a 180mph bullet train onto a rope ladder hanging from a helicopter - gimme a break).

The Incredibles. I loved this movie, and went out and bought it. You should watch it if you haven't. In fact, if you have, go watch it again.

Hitch. Will Smith, romantic comedy. I know, sounds a little boring, but it also stars Kevin James of The King of Queens television fame. Funny guy, funny movie. I enjoyed it, despite my initial resistance.

The Mindhunters. A suspense/thriller starring Val Kilmer and Christian Slater. Don't let the star power fool you though; both of them star in about 15% of the movie, and then it's LL Cool J and some television actors (including Cold Case's Kathryn Morris). In the end, a reasonably entertaining flick, but nothing to get too excited about. Rent it if you've got free movies coming, but don't spend much money on it.

Okay, so I'm sure I'm forgetting some, but it's kinda late and I'm kinda braindead. More later, if I think of any worth mentioning.

Calories - who needs 'em?

Those of you that have followed this blog for the last few years, probably remember my big Summer 2004 get-in-shape session, in preparation for fire training in the Fall. After dropping 43 pounds in about six months, I was in the best shape I'd been in for years.

Sad to say, however, the nursing program just isn't as physically demanding as firefighting, so I've put back about 15 of those pounds I worked so hard to lose. So, as of yesterday, I'm back on the "stay in shape" wagon, and am no longer supersizing my McDonald's meals. :)

Seriously, though, I'm determined to get back to fighting trim of about 280 lbs in time to climb Mt. Hood next Spring with some of the firefighters from a nearby station. That gives me about three or four months to drop around 15-20 lbs - an attainable goal, I believe. I'm also considering doing the Scott Firefighter Stair Climb in March (Bank of America Tower in Seattle - 69 flights, 1,311 steps, 788 verticle feet) to raise money for leukemia/lymphoma research. Some of you may know that I lost my dad to leukemia, so not only is it a good chance to test my endurance, but it's for a good cause to boot.

Anyway, I'm posting this for all the world to see, so I'm more committed to losing the weight. Those late-night fish tacos are going to have to go by the wayside, I guess, and be replaced by soy shakes and tofu stir-fry. Yum.

It's Just a Shirt

I had to take a computerized assessment test yesterday for the nursing program. It didn't count toward my grade in any way, and I had to pay $80 in fees to take it, but the nursing department wants to know if they like it, and if it works. So we all have to pay and take the test, even though it didn't count. (That's another rant all together).

Anyway, the Director of Nursing was proctoring the test. She's a nice lady, but apparently quite proud of her alma mater.

I have this gray t-shirt I bought at a second-hand store months ago. See, at 6' 6", 280 lbs, I have to buy what fits when I can. So I picked up this gray shirt that says, in dark green, "Michigan State University" on the front.

So I'm wearing it to the test yesterday, when the DoN see it. She stops dead in her tracks, points, and says: "What are you wearing!?"

I have no clue where she's going with this. "Uhm..." I look down at my shirt, my jeans, my leather jacket.

"That shirt," she says, pointing. "Why are you wearing that shirt?"

"Uhm... because it was two bucks?" I reply hesitantly.

"But why are you wearing it?"

"Er... because it fits?" I'm starting to stress a little now. You know, she's the Director of Nursing. My teacher's boss's boss's boss's boss's [ad infinatum] boss.

"I went to the University of Michigan," she says, closing on me, still pointing. "And you should not be wearing that shirt!"

Hoo-boy. Out of all the colleges in all the United States that she could have gone to, and all the second-hand t-shirts I could have bought, and all the days and places I could have worn the shirt, this had to happen?

"Er, okay. I won't wear it around you ever," I offer.

"You shouldn't wear it at all ever," she says.

"Maybe you could get me a 2 XL tall t-shirt from the University of Michigan," I suggest, "and I'll trade you. I could wear that one, and you can burn this one in effigy."

She says nothing, but I finally get a smile out of her.

I offered to cross out the "State University" part and write in "University of" with a Sharpie, but she scoffed.

Oh well. I guess if I'm going to offend the DoN, I may as well do it now, while I can still change careers.

Still and all, it's a nice shirt. But maybe I'll wear it under my scrubs from now on.

No really, I'm still alive...

Holy cow, I'm a terrible blogger lately, hunh? And now, when I'm on my way out the door, I decide to post? What's that all about?!

Been busy - finished third term of the LPN program (probably got a 4.0, yay!) and have to do some recerts as a firefighter (and I'm in worse shape than a year ago - bleh), plus I'll be doing IV training through December/January, in addition to the last LPN term starting in January. But all in all, I'm doing well, outside of feeling a little stress/pressure. But that's normal, I think.

No writing/gaming going on. Was going to do some more work for Hogshead, but summer passed, and then it was too late to get any writing done. Maybe next summer, I dunno.

More later - hopefully - when I'm not headed out. Just wanted everyone to know I was still around. :)