Effin' Sweet

Welcome to Your Life, There's No Turning Back...

Friday, February 24, 2006

Smackdown!

Whatcha Gonna Do, Neurology? Whatcha Gonna Do...When These 24-Inch Pythons and Tom's Non-Stop Studying... RUN WILD ON YOU!

With renewed vigor, I once again took the dreaded Neuro 1 test, and 105 minutes later, I strode out... vindicated. It was a rough time, digging deep, and making my final decision to succeed at Medical School. Even though it was scary, I'm grateful I had the wakeup call. Now, with three tests left this year, I'll have my work cut out for me at NYCOM.

Thanks for all the words of support, guys.

Whatcha Gonna Do, Brother?

Friday, February 17, 2006

A Failure I Needed to Suffer

Good thing it wasn't my best...

Worrying about your academic status over a course of days starts to make you rethink your priorities. And worrying has been my tradition since November. I would walk out of a test I didn't feel secure about, start cursing my procrastinations and half-assitude. I would tell myself, "If I just pass this test, things are going to change. I can't keep doing this to myself." But what would happen? I would pass. And nothing would change. I'd go on school break, then return after vacation and sort of sleep walk through the first week or so... always planning to "start cracking down this weekend," or "Okay, Monday I get serious..." And then what would eventually happen would be I would rush through studying in the last two weeks before the exam... and fervently hope I get a passing grade. Pass/Fail sure is a seductive policy... especially for someone who has a bad tendency to procrastinate.

I've gone through these sorts of gut-checks before. I failed bad at Columbia. I wasn't in a proper mental outlook to start competing with highly-motivated ivy league science students. Of course, this was after 23 years of really never having to work too hard to get the grades I wanted. And while I was lucky to be good at school, it was also a weakness... because if you've spent your entire life casually getting what you wanted, actual hard effort is difficult to summon when you need it. This is probably why I never took my art to the next level, because I lacked the fire to do it.

So when I was reeling from my disappointments at Columbia, I surprised myself and tried again, and succeeded. True, I needed a friendlier setting - St. John's... but I did it. I re-took my General Chemistry's over the summer, and completed two courses each in Biology and Organic Chemistry. I then sat for the MCAT and earned a respectable (if not terribly competitive) score of 25. It was enough to get into NYCOM, and here I am. It was satisfying because I knew I had to summon more grit to get it done than I had ever done so before. I approached my studies at NYCOM with likewise zeal, and took the first exam... and passed easily. This, I fear was the beginning of my relapse into lassitude.

I can recall with crystal clarity riding up the escalator at the Source Mall. It was around 11AM on a Wednesday, and I had just completed my first medical school test with little difficulty. I thought to myself, "Hey, that wasn't so bad. What was I so worried about?" And already, subconsciously, I was planning time and effort-cutting study strategies for the next system exam. That next exam, as well as the one after that (right before Christmas) did not leave me with such a satisfied feeling. I passed them both, barely. But I never learned my lesson.

Until now.

I had to stumble because I needed to be reminded that this is not an endeavor that can be completed casually. This education not only will allow me to pass school tests, it will aid me in my ability to treat patients. If I don't learn now... when will I learn? After I, God forbid, hurt someone? Or worse?

So now, I have a chance to redeem myself, this Wednesday is the retest, and I am determined to pass. Afterwards, I'll need to catch up with my classmates in studying for the next exam, falling on the Monday before St. Patrick's Day. And on St. Patrick's Day, I will be able to hoist a drink with satisfaction... because I know I did my very best...

...and kicked Neurological Ass.

So, if you don't hear from me for a while, you'll know why. And in March, the first round's on me.

Feedback Question of the Day:
"Have you ever rebounded from a failure, more determined than ever?

"Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves up again."

(Yeah, I know... kinda cheesy, but it certainly applies.)

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Just Stewin' in My Own Juices...

(Artists's depiction of my brain on Monday)

Well, I've certainly screwed up worst tests than that one before. And I'm still alive to tell about them. Oh, don't mind me, I'm just trying to render myself into a more passive emotional state, regarding the FUBAR Neuro test I just took on Monday.

What to say, really? I studied hard... all the wrong stuff. I gave it the ol' college try, but then remembered that I wasn't in college anymore. Blech. But here's the really annoying part:

I don't know if I passed or not. 48 hours have come and gone since I staggered out of the that testing area, and I have no idea what to do next. Here's a little backstory, to flesh out my predicament...

My neurology system curriculum is broken into three separate exams, given roughly one month apart. In my previous systems (blood and skin), I've only had one exam each. Neuro is a big system, obviously. Previously, if a student failed the system exam, he or she was given the opportunity to take the retest, usually a week later. If, in the event that the student failed the retest, they then had a final chance to retake the test during the summer, after a brief review period. But that can only happen once. Otherwise you would be "academically dismissed."

Unfortunately, since Neuro is broken into three portions, if a student fails an exam and then fails the retest, there would not be enough time during the summer for a review. Sort of a "2 Strikes - You're Out" policy. This is a scary thing.

Thus, I'm quite acutely interested in whether or not I have to take a retest in a week. Because it'll be my last chance. And since we're off Monday, I assume the test would be Tuesday... and time is ticking. I don't know whether to continue studying the new stuff (which'll be tested on March 12th) or start reviewing the old stuff. Plus, I'm kinda banking on having the retest on Tuesday, because I want to start studying the new stuff. Every day that it is potentially prolonged, is one less day to study the new stuff.

This sucks. It really, really does.

But of course, if I passed, then I have nothing to worry about. The bottom line is, I just want to know. I'll keep you guys posted...

Tom's crystal ball is a little cloudy...

Anyway... what's up with the rest of the world? Vice President Cheney shot a guy. That's great. And to touch upon the ever-entertaining political jousting between Mikey and Chris, I agree with both of you somewhat. Yes, this is an embarrassing scenario for the Republicans, and no doubt, they're going to get ridiculed for it, just as Democrats took flak over Monica Lewinski. But there really isn't much of a political intrigue here... the Vice President was out with friends and had an accident. It isn't like he was hunting humans for sport. (Although if the comments I've read on the internet are any indication, there are a whole lot of people that think that, anyway!) I'm sure gun-control people, and animal-rights people will probably grind their axes a little more over this one, but that's about all. Rich white guy accidentally shoots other rich white guy doesn't give much partisan heft, y'know? Maybe if they caught the Vice President clubbing illegal Mexican day laborers from the back of a moving pickup truck... that would be a whole lot juicier. But Dick Cheney stopped doing that months ago... everyone knows that...

A little closer to home... 52 days and counting (at this writing) since a certain NFO's last post. Since I haven't heard from the guy since New Year's... I can only assume that he's quite busy with some heavy-undercover black ops stuff. That... or he's really not that into blogging anymore. One or the other, I'm sure.

In the spirit of equality, though, my good buddy, Louie, has quite clearly left his mark 108 days ago... and most likely for good. But the cool thing about his last blog entry is, that it really is rather timeless. Especially if you're reading it at 4AM. No matter what day it is... or what mood you're in... his last post will apply to you. And most definitely at 4AM. Like the Beatles, Superman, and Great Pyramid of Giza... it will stand the test of time...

Crabby and sarcastic is no way to blog... so I'll sign off, now. Take care of your bad selves!

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Please Standby...

...please stand by... this blog is experiencing technical difficulties...

Usually by now, I've updated this dang thing. But, of course, when my blog updates become increasingly scattered and infrequent, there can only be one reason - I'm on drugs again. Well, that's not exactly true, because the second most likely answer is true: I have another test coming up. So make like Dionne Warwick and "say a little prayer for me," because I'll need all the help I can get (this is sounding awfully repetitive... but what can I say? It's worked so far! We're 3-for-3, here, guys. Let's extend the streak to 4!)

On the afternoon of February 14th, you can probably look forward to some new updates on both Effin' Sweet and Wedded Blitz. Hopefully I'll finally be able to do my run-down on current events... politics, religion, ethics... all sorts of things I was told not to talk about while in bartenders' school. And in Wedded Blitz, look forward to two, count 'em "2" articles, which will discuss Wedding Party Profiles 2: Andrea and Jim, and a little spotlight on the one-and-only Brother - Father James C. Williams, who just recently confirmed that he will be handling the priestly duties for the upcoming August Matrimon-athon.

So yes, in my lame, boring, Weight-Watching point-counting lifestyle... I'm looking forward to sitting down and blogging next week. Zip-a-dee-doo-dah!

And now, for no reason, here's a picture of me in my "Baron Bubblewrap" costume I wore for J&J's Halloween Party a couple of months ago (and yes, this is what I looked like mere hours before proposing to Ally! It really sets a romantic mood, don't you think?)

I will hypnotize you with my oh-so poppable bubbles! Muhahahah!

Seeya Tuesday!

Feedback Question of the Day:
"...and don't you think I look good in this hat?"