Today was a much better day than yesterday. After an ECG and a blood draw this morning, there was nothing else scheduled. We had the day to ourselves, and it was much better than running back and forth to the lab. I got some reading done, wrote my column for The Newsletter, watched some TV, and just finished watching the debates. Adding to the freedom of the day was the fact that dinner consisted of chicken tenders and french fries. You all know that I usually don't ask for any more in a meal than that, so I was happy.
Thursday, September 30, 2004
Wednesday, September 29, 2004
My Life as a Lab Rat - Day 2
Today was one of the two most invasive days of the study, the final day being the other. Basically, they had to establish baseline data today, which meant like 5 ECGs during the day, and about 8 blood draws. The amount of blood taken is a vial about the size of a pen cap, but taking one every few hours adds up to a lot of sticking. I have no love of needles, but no great fear of them. It's more annoying than anything else. But, after today we only give a blood sample once a day.
Otherwise, things here aren't too bad. The food is at East Quad level or higher, so I won't starve. But, we only get so much and have no other sources of food, so hopefully I can lose a few pounds without the temptation of snacking. The staff brought back movie rentals we had requested, so I'm going to watch Eternal Sunshine on the Spotless Mind, Jersey Girl, and The Punisher because I didn't have to pay for them. I'm still plugging away at The 9-11 Commission Report, and I started outlining the next issue of FreshMan this afternoon.
Other than that, I've still got 13 days to find the cheese at the other end of the maze.
Otherwise, things here aren't too bad. The food is at East Quad level or higher, so I won't starve. But, we only get so much and have no other sources of food, so hopefully I can lose a few pounds without the temptation of snacking. The staff brought back movie rentals we had requested, so I'm going to watch Eternal Sunshine on the Spotless Mind, Jersey Girl, and The Punisher because I didn't have to pay for them. I'm still plugging away at The 9-11 Commission Report, and I started outlining the next issue of FreshMan this afternoon.
Other than that, I've still got 13 days to find the cheese at the other end of the maze.
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
My Life as a Lab Rat - Day 1
I checked into the Jasper Clinic for my study in K-Zoo today. I guess that makes it sound like some sort of Betty Ford detox... it's not. After collecting a sample from me, I got some lunch - just a turkey sandwich, fruit cup, and cookies, but it did the job. I spent the afternoon getting situated, and as you can tell I made sure that wireless access worked. Haven't really talked with the other lab rats much... it seems like most of them have done one of these before and I'm the youngest one here.
So far nothing unexpected or unusual that makes me want to run screaming. Really, it's like a combination of summer camp and the first few days in the dorm. We've got uniforms (scrubs), a community bathroom, and institutionalized food that is nothing special, but for the most part OK. The apple pie with dinner was actually really good... though not quite as good as East Quad's apple crisp.
I think I brought enough to keep me busy. So far all I've done today is use my computer. I brought half a dozen books with me, my Gameboy and a few games, and they have TVs with cable, VCRs and DVD players. They have a small video library, and it sounds like they can rent movies for us if we ask.
So, it seems like it won't be too much to go through in order to make $2500. We'll just have to see if I feel the same way on day 7.
So far nothing unexpected or unusual that makes me want to run screaming. Really, it's like a combination of summer camp and the first few days in the dorm. We've got uniforms (scrubs), a community bathroom, and institutionalized food that is nothing special, but for the most part OK. The apple pie with dinner was actually really good... though not quite as good as East Quad's apple crisp.
I think I brought enough to keep me busy. So far all I've done today is use my computer. I brought half a dozen books with me, my Gameboy and a few games, and they have TVs with cable, VCRs and DVD players. They have a small video library, and it sounds like they can rent movies for us if we ask.
So, it seems like it won't be too much to go through in order to make $2500. We'll just have to see if I feel the same way on day 7.
Requested Short Story
This was a short story I wrote for The Newsletter this summer. I tried to send it to Malis over IM, but it wouldn't work. So, he suggested I post it here. For those who have not read it in The Newsletter, I hope you enjoy.
~ Brad
“Thinkin’ and Drinkin’”
Neil Beckman stared absentmindedly into his beer, vaguely hearing the conversations around him. Seated net to him at their table was his friend Rob, immersing those around him in one of his stories from their undergraduate glory days.
“So then we hear the cops coming into the house, and me and Neil jump under the bed of this chick we barely even know, trying to hide from ‘em. Just then, the chick stumbles in with her boyfriend, and they start going at it on the bed above us, not realizing we’re there! You remember that, Neil?” Rob said as he nudged him with his elbow.
“Huh?” Neil replied, as if awoken from a trance.
“You remember that party sophomore year when we hid under that chick’s bed?”
“Oh yeah… great idea, dumbass.”
“Hey, shut up, you weren’t even paying attention.”
“Yeah, sorry. I was thinking ‘bout something,” Neil responded.
“Well less thinkin’, more drinkin’,” Rob replied, more like an order than a suggestion.
Neil couldn’t think of a reason to challenge Rob on it, so he chugged down a good third of the beer in his glass. As he set the glass back down on its coaster, his eyes met those of a girl seated a few tables away. Her eyes were a very pale blue, almost stormy grey, yet bright and piercing at the same time. She had that kind of cuteness about her that Neil always fell for, and she seemed to be equally distracted from her party as Neil was from his…
…when the sudden chirp of his cell phone made Neil jump as he realized he had been staring at the girl. He quickly regained his composure as he dug the phone out of his pocket, knowing that since most of his friends were seated at the table around him only one person could be calling him. He held the phone out in front of him, confirming that “Jen” flashed on the display screen before answering the call, her third of the evening.
“Hello? What… yeah, I’m at the bar… hold on, WHAT? I can barely hear you,” Neil all but screamed into the phone as he held a finger in his other ear in an attempt to drown out the ambient noise around him. “I’m gonna have to call you back in just a minute, OK? No, just let me get outside so I can hear you. Alright, bye for a sec,” Neil said in a frustrated tone apparent to those seated around him.
“Trouble with the little lady?” Rob poked at Neil, hoping to rile him a bit.
“Yeah, Idunno. We were arguing about something when I left to come here, so I don’t know,” Neil answered, not sure if he was even fooling himself. “I gotta go call her back,” Neil sighed as he made his way towards the bar’s back exit. Unconsciously, Neil directed his attention to the table where the cute girl had been sitting, only to find it empty.
“Poor bastard,” Rob offered to no one in particular as he took down the rest of his drink.
Neil tugged on the other sleeve of his coat as he stepped outside into the parking lot, angling himself towards the building in an attempt to put his back to the wind. He wasn’t sure which he was steeling himself against more, the wind or the voice on the other end of the line as he dialed Jen’s number. “Hey. Yes, I’m still at the bar, it’s only 11:30. I don’t know, probably about another hour or so. Well the bar closes at 2, so definitely before then. Yeah, I know we’ve got that thing tomorrow, don’t worry. No, I won’t forget to pick it up on my way home, that’s why they’re open 24-7. OK, I’ll be home in a bit. Love you too,” Neil said with a faint sound of defeat in his voice.
“Excuse me,” a voice said from behind Neil, catching him a bit off guard. It was the unknown girl from across the bar, and Neil was the only other person outside. “Um, hi. Do you know anything about cars?” she asked, looking a little sheepish both because of her request and because she had been eavesdropping on his conversation with Jen. “I think I need a jump-start.”
Neil stared at her, slightly dumfounded, before he remembered to answer her question. “Oh, yeah. Yeah, I think I’ve got some cables in my car. Let me go pull it around next to yours,” Neil replied. He realized he was still holding onto his cell phone, and with a wry, private smile, turned it off as he put in back in his pocket and fished for his keys.
~ Brad
“Thinkin’ and Drinkin’”
Neil Beckman stared absentmindedly into his beer, vaguely hearing the conversations around him. Seated net to him at their table was his friend Rob, immersing those around him in one of his stories from their undergraduate glory days.
“So then we hear the cops coming into the house, and me and Neil jump under the bed of this chick we barely even know, trying to hide from ‘em. Just then, the chick stumbles in with her boyfriend, and they start going at it on the bed above us, not realizing we’re there! You remember that, Neil?” Rob said as he nudged him with his elbow.
“Huh?” Neil replied, as if awoken from a trance.
“You remember that party sophomore year when we hid under that chick’s bed?”
“Oh yeah… great idea, dumbass.”
“Hey, shut up, you weren’t even paying attention.”
“Yeah, sorry. I was thinking ‘bout something,” Neil responded.
“Well less thinkin’, more drinkin’,” Rob replied, more like an order than a suggestion.
Neil couldn’t think of a reason to challenge Rob on it, so he chugged down a good third of the beer in his glass. As he set the glass back down on its coaster, his eyes met those of a girl seated a few tables away. Her eyes were a very pale blue, almost stormy grey, yet bright and piercing at the same time. She had that kind of cuteness about her that Neil always fell for, and she seemed to be equally distracted from her party as Neil was from his…
…when the sudden chirp of his cell phone made Neil jump as he realized he had been staring at the girl. He quickly regained his composure as he dug the phone out of his pocket, knowing that since most of his friends were seated at the table around him only one person could be calling him. He held the phone out in front of him, confirming that “Jen” flashed on the display screen before answering the call, her third of the evening.
“Hello? What… yeah, I’m at the bar… hold on, WHAT? I can barely hear you,” Neil all but screamed into the phone as he held a finger in his other ear in an attempt to drown out the ambient noise around him. “I’m gonna have to call you back in just a minute, OK? No, just let me get outside so I can hear you. Alright, bye for a sec,” Neil said in a frustrated tone apparent to those seated around him.
“Trouble with the little lady?” Rob poked at Neil, hoping to rile him a bit.
“Yeah, Idunno. We were arguing about something when I left to come here, so I don’t know,” Neil answered, not sure if he was even fooling himself. “I gotta go call her back,” Neil sighed as he made his way towards the bar’s back exit. Unconsciously, Neil directed his attention to the table where the cute girl had been sitting, only to find it empty.
“Poor bastard,” Rob offered to no one in particular as he took down the rest of his drink.
Neil tugged on the other sleeve of his coat as he stepped outside into the parking lot, angling himself towards the building in an attempt to put his back to the wind. He wasn’t sure which he was steeling himself against more, the wind or the voice on the other end of the line as he dialed Jen’s number. “Hey. Yes, I’m still at the bar, it’s only 11:30. I don’t know, probably about another hour or so. Well the bar closes at 2, so definitely before then. Yeah, I know we’ve got that thing tomorrow, don’t worry. No, I won’t forget to pick it up on my way home, that’s why they’re open 24-7. OK, I’ll be home in a bit. Love you too,” Neil said with a faint sound of defeat in his voice.
“Excuse me,” a voice said from behind Neil, catching him a bit off guard. It was the unknown girl from across the bar, and Neil was the only other person outside. “Um, hi. Do you know anything about cars?” she asked, looking a little sheepish both because of her request and because she had been eavesdropping on his conversation with Jen. “I think I need a jump-start.”
Neil stared at her, slightly dumfounded, before he remembered to answer her question. “Oh, yeah. Yeah, I think I’ve got some cables in my car. Let me go pull it around next to yours,” Neil replied. He realized he was still holding onto his cell phone, and with a wry, private smile, turned it off as he put in back in his pocket and fished for his keys.
Man I love Star Wars
This post is a few days old since I got my new Star Wars trilogy DVDs on Friday. I watched the bonus disc Friday, A New Hope on Saturday, Empire Strikes Back on Sunday, and Return of the Jedi yesterday. I don't think I had watched the original movies in years, since all the attention has been on the prequels since 1999. I like the prequels, I like the story they're telling, but it's a very different type of story. But I grew up on the originals, wearing out my Betamax player, pirating them off of TV, and then finally owning the THX versions in the early '90s. There was a period of time that my brother watched one every day after school for months.
I can't imagine what it's like to be one of those people who's never seen Star Wars. I could almost, maybe, barely understand someone who hadn't seen Episodes I and II (freak), but the original trilogy is part of our cultural heritage. May the Force be with us.
I can't imagine what it's like to be one of those people who's never seen Star Wars. I could almost, maybe, barely understand someone who hadn't seen Episodes I and II (freak), but the original trilogy is part of our cultural heritage. May the Force be with us.
Saturday, September 25, 2004
Hail to the Victors!
Final Score -
Michigan: 30
Iowa: 17
Iowa fell apart in the 4th quarter, and we played like a Michigan team is supposed to. After losing to Iowa the last two years, vengeance is ours. I was glad to see Tate repeatedly sacked and eventually scared off the field. With all the talk about the 3 Michigan receivers, I think Avant has not been given the credit he deserves. Edwards does make some good catches, but he also makes some huge mistakes. I can't quote his record, but at least in my memory Jason Avant seems to be much more reliable because he's not trying to be flashy like Edwards.
Either way, Go Blue!
Michigan: 30
Iowa: 17
Iowa fell apart in the 4th quarter, and we played like a Michigan team is supposed to. After losing to Iowa the last two years, vengeance is ours. I was glad to see Tate repeatedly sacked and eventually scared off the field. With all the talk about the 3 Michigan receivers, I think Avant has not been given the credit he deserves. Edwards does make some good catches, but he also makes some huge mistakes. I can't quote his record, but at least in my memory Jason Avant seems to be much more reliable because he's not trying to be flashy like Edwards.
Either way, Go Blue!
Well, I guess halftime is not enough time to run to winds for dinner. I'm back here at the beginning of the 4th, and it appears that Iowa scored a field goal and were answered by a Michigan touchdown.
According to the announcer, that was Iowa's fourth turnover, and now we've got the ball again. Lloyd, I know it's the 4th quarter, I know we're ahead, but don't get lazy now.
According to the announcer, that was Iowa's fourth turnover, and now we've got the ball again. Lloyd, I know it's the 4th quarter, I know we're ahead, but don't get lazy now.
Running Football Commentary
Way to give up a touchdown on the Hawkeye's first drive guys. Come on defense, this isn't flag football! Sack Tate, dammit!
Should it stay or should it go?
I got a haircut a few weeks ago, and I'm not really sure how keen I am on my current floppy parted hairstyle. I balked at Wilson a month ago when he suggested I buzz it in Wilsonian fashion. But in the last week or so, I've been thinking about trying something radical, and wondered if I could pull off the buzz-job. Malis did it once, Wilson does it all the time, and it seems that a lot of the male teachers I see at Holland do the same.
So, I am eliciting responses from you, the blog-viewing public. I'm not holding this to a binding vote, but just gauging if this is a horrible idea or something others might think is worth a try.
Hey, it can always grow back.
So, I am eliciting responses from you, the blog-viewing public. I'm not holding this to a binding vote, but just gauging if this is a horrible idea or something others might think is worth a try.
Hey, it can always grow back.
Friday, September 24, 2004
I Can Scare Children!
Both this week and last week, I subbed about every other day for the Holland school district. Of these days, I only subbed at the high school once. Every other day, I've been at the middle schools. I have never wanted to do middle school, so I wasn't too thrilled with this at first. But as I've gone back a few times, I think I've been getting better at it.
I can put the fear of God into these kids. I raise my voice just a bit to get their attention, and they cower. What I really don't like about subbing is that it's all the parts of teaching I don't like. Instead of getting to know the kids and see them develop intellectually and personally, I spend all my time with classroom management and paperwork. But, I think I've come to terms with that, and try to have as much fun with each new class everyday. And if I have a crappy class one day, I can take a day off to regroup before taking another assignment.
And, most importantly, I'm getting paid.
I can put the fear of God into these kids. I raise my voice just a bit to get their attention, and they cower. What I really don't like about subbing is that it's all the parts of teaching I don't like. Instead of getting to know the kids and see them develop intellectually and personally, I spend all my time with classroom management and paperwork. But, I think I've come to terms with that, and try to have as much fun with each new class everyday. And if I have a crappy class one day, I can take a day off to regroup before taking another assignment.
And, most importantly, I'm getting paid.
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
My New Toy
This is my inaugural post on blogger using my new laptop. After years of wanting one, and months of actually planning to buy one, I have succeeded. Between the combination of a sale price, 0% financing for a year, and the fact that I've actually been working in the last two weeks, I bit the bullet and did it. All of you computer geeks out there who may feel the need to critique my purchase, BACK OFF. I did not just stroll into Circuit City and buy the first thing I saw. I compared Dells, HPs, Gateways, Sony Vaios, Toshibas, and IBM thinkpads to this model before I decided. I also maintained my deep and abiding hatred of Macs and Powerbooks by not even considering them.
I am loving my new computer. I spent yesterday evening getting rid of the crappy Microsoft Works package and other assorted programs that it came with, and installed Microsoft Office 2003 and a virus program that wouldn't expire in 90 days. I spent this evening transferring files from my desktop over the network while watching BBC and ABC News. Now, I'm typing this while watching Tiny Toon Adventures. In case you're wondering, it's the one where Babs seeks out Honey, the black and white female cartoon mentor she's been searching for. As a side note, it's really interesting to see Bosco and Honey as predecessors of Yakko, Wakko, and Dot.
So now I'm going to go back and rewrite my Newsletter column since something screwy happened when I used Dave's computer to e-mail it to Mike.
I am loving my new computer. I spent yesterday evening getting rid of the crappy Microsoft Works package and other assorted programs that it came with, and installed Microsoft Office 2003 and a virus program that wouldn't expire in 90 days. I spent this evening transferring files from my desktop over the network while watching BBC and ABC News. Now, I'm typing this while watching Tiny Toon Adventures. In case you're wondering, it's the one where Babs seeks out Honey, the black and white female cartoon mentor she's been searching for. As a side note, it's really interesting to see Bosco and Honey as predecessors of Yakko, Wakko, and Dot.
So now I'm going to go back and rewrite my Newsletter column since something screwy happened when I used Dave's computer to e-mail it to Mike.
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