Dissapointment

It's been a while since my last post. But I really need to vent a bit, as I am hitting a tough patch of road. First, Microbiology lecture and lab are not going as well as I'd like for them to be. Not that the material isn't interesting, and I've got an "A" going so far, but the test Wednesday seems to be coming too soon for my level of understanding. My instructors aren't very engaged in what they teach, and things are not clear to me when I review my notes. So, I am not very confident about the Wedesday test, and that doesn't feel very good.

I've also run into snags in my attempt to enroll for winter quarter and, as is typical of a large bureaucracy, getting answers and action isn't easy. But to compound matters, I learned today that many of those like me who were accepted into this program a couple years ago or more, are all of a sudden showing renewed interest in finishing the prerequisites. The economy is pushing more people into school (as evidenced by my university's record enrollment for fall term) and as such they are filling the nursing cohorts (classes) out further than I had previously thought. It was a selling point for me that I could finish up my prerequisites and then get into nursing school in about 6 months. Looks like that may be in excess of 12 months now, and may be longer when I'm ready. That pushes all of my personal goals out further and further. And the calendar is not my friend.

Why can't all of this be easier! Quitting sounds very appealing on a day like today......

Cheers (or not!)
Ima

What We Take For Granted

I'm back! In school, that is, and have just completed my first exam. Microbiology is the science of all things small - all things (seemingly) insignificant when viewed through the eyes of a homo sapien living in this society of "bigger, faster." There are more microbes by volume/weight on this planet, than the volume of all other living things. Think about that for a minute.

Right now I'm watching the miracle happening in Chile, as those brave miners are being pulled one at a time, from depths and conditions we can't even think of. All of the people on earth working together, pooling resources and brain power to help one person at a time, survive and come back to their families.

Both of these, in a different way, make me feel very individually insignificant. But I marvel and the complexity - and simplicity -of of our beautiful world.

Glad to be back to the story of my journey.
Cheers!

Ima

Like a Girl Needs One....

An excuse to go shopping for clothes, that is.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it's time for "Back to School" Sales on everything from shoes to sportswear to Suburbans! Or so it seems. But working in a major retail establishment does give me a first hand look at the new fall fashions. Yummy wools...leather....cuddly coats.

So, the signs beckon. And let the shopping begin! (With my employee discount.)
Cheers!

Ima

Countdown to Fall Quarter

I can't believe that my summer break is rapidly coming to an end. It won't be long and I'll be buying textbooks and hittin' them hard. Just one class this coming quarter...Microbiology and a Lab. But that's enough, as I have new responsibilities at work and can use an easier first quarter to get back into the swing of things. And, to prep for the course, I bought a Chemistry for Dummies book. (OK, no wise cracks!) Since my program doesn't require chemistry (lucky me) I won't have that foundation when I take my next few classes - all of which will be a lot easier if I have some basic understanding of both organic and inorganic chemistry. Fun, huh. Kind of like watching paint dry.

But I've also been reading a lot for enjoyment over the summer, including the first two books by Stieg Larsson, of the "Dragon Tattoo" fame. Between that, doing my canning, and getting the house ready for a couple of late summer houseguests, I'm really enjoying this break!

Hope you are enjoying your summer!
Cheers!
Ima

Traditions

One month into a summer vacation from school. It's funny how time flies; seems like just yesterday that I was cracking the books. Well, September will be here before I know it, and the Microbiology textbook awaits!

Today is my birthday. Now, at this age I look upon a birthday a little differently than I did 30 or 40 years ago. But it still is one of the traditions of life that mark our year, and hold us to those memories of days past. Like a family reunion picnic. I attended one just this past Sunday, and it was so much fun. But now my first cousins not only have children but grandchildren that tag along, and you need a scorecard to keep track of who is who. Just when you think you might have it figured out, next year comes along and that little boy you chatted with has grown 12 inches in height, and his voice has dropped an octave! Earlier this month, we celebrated another tradition. The Fourth of July brings fireworks, corn on the cob, cold beer and catching up with friends and their backyard mosquitoes.

Yes, it's the traditions of our lives that keep us anchored to all that is wonderful about our present and our past. (And, no dieting today...I'm eating cake!)

Till next time,
Cheers!
Ima

First Year Wrap-up

I did it. I enrolled for college and completed my first three courses most successfully. A "C" followed by an "A", and - while I have to wait for a day or so to make it official - an "A" to end the year. No trauma, but lots of work and more than a few stress tears. But more than that I proved to myself that a woman in her 50's is still as vibrant and smart as she was twenty years earlier. And you are too, if you are reading this blog.

There is a lovely quote from Isak Dinesen (she of the Out of Africa fame)that goes, "Women, when they are old enough to have done with the business of being women, and can let loose their their strength, may be the most powerful creatures in the world." And, while we may never really are "done" with the fun of being a girl, we know what she means. We get to a place in life where we are rock solid, don't beat around the bush, love fully and move on when things aren't right. When men reach that point in life when they are a bit insecure about leaving the "corporate nest," we are just getting good. It's by no means a criticism of our male partners, but I think that women have a lifetime of experiences where we are forced to juggle priorities and wear many hats. We cannot and are not given the luxury of having an easy path. Unlike men, who are often getting a little shaky as they approach their sixties or retirement age, many women feel more optimistic, independent, and more powerful. I know I do, and going back to college helped me feel that way. Powerful and energized.

So, I have a summer "off" from the text books and "on" with the novels and biographies. I also look forward to having lunch with friends and catch up with my extended family. But I'll check in all the same as I'm sure it will be an adventure. For now....

Cheers!
Ima

It's Summer

Well, my first year of school (this time) is about over. Finals are here next week, and I feel very confident about my grades. I'm debating about taking a course online over the summer, but the thought of three months with nothing but one job looks pretty good right about now. But I will do something mentally stimulating over the summer no matter what, as I don't want all of this information to go totally dormant! But as I look back, I feel very proud of what I've accomplished and am even more certain that not only can I do this, but I can do it with distinction.

Here's to us "over 40's"...life sure aint over!
Cheers!
Ima

People Come, People Go

Today I learned that yet another of my great co-workers is leaving our place of employ. But I'm so very happy for her, as she is a talented young woman just getting her family and her career started; she's making a good move, but I will miss seeing her every day. She has been a source of encouragement for me as I make my way through college, and I have been (what I hope she'd agree) a source of mentorship for her. Fortunate for me she is a friend and we'll stay in touch. But this all made me recognize once again how our lives are full of "comings and goings" and that people move in and out of our immediate contact on a regular basis.

Fortunately for me, I have a number of people who have stuck in there with me for the long haul, and hope to count this young woman among that group. Good luck A.E.!!

Cheers!
Ima

Three Weeks and Counting

I took a midterm exam yesterday in Anatomy and Physiology. My teacher is amazing, but this is still just so much to learn! Her exams are fair but tough. You have to know your stuff, which is fine. When you do well you know you've accomplished something great. So...I wait for the grade. But it takes so much out of me mentally and physically to do this. I came home at 5 PM and crashed. Slept for two hours...up for two...back to bed from 9PM until 7 this morning. The body was really exhausted. So, it's out for a walk and some other mental exercise besides A&P! Forgot to say that I also was so engrossed in study for this one exam that I forgot I had a Psych test to take yesterday also. Fortunate for me - with twenty-five years as an HR professional in my "former life", a test in social psychology is pretty easy to pass...with or without study. Oh the joys of having experience to fall back on! There are benefits to being older, huh!

So, just three weeks left in the term (and they will be grueling, given the material we have to learn) I am looking so very forward to a summer break. While I still have to work, 35 hours of work commitment seems like a piece of cake compared to this last 9 months. I'm hoping to carve out a week or ten day break to head out West. I miss those Rocky Mountains and my friends. But for now....back to the books!

I'm ever so grateful for my study partners, friends and family who read my blog and my Facebook site, and who are there to help me stay motivated and keep my chin up when it gets rough. We all need our social support network. I love you all!

Cheers!
Ima

Do They Still Push B-17?

Driving to work this morning, I had a 70's Soft Pop station on my Sirius. Great for memories and "mellowing" into the day. Stopped at a local restaurant for Eggs Benedict (my occasional Sunday breakfast) and thought of my Mom in heaven. She was the best. Happy Mom's Day!

Anyway, Olivia Newton John came on and did that song that goes "Please mister, please...don't play B-17, it was our song, it was his song but it's over........" Made me think. Do they still have juke boxes in burger joints and bars, and if so, do they still push buttons?

I know. This post has nothing to do with my school, or about my changing life in general, but what the heck. Just sayin'.....

Cheers!
Ima

24 Hours of No Fun

The last 24 hours have not been fun. Not at all. In fact, it was a 24 hour period of high emotion, one I do not want to repeat very often. To put it bluntly, while I studied my ass off for the lab practical exam yesterday I did not do well on it, and I knew it when I left school. My mind just went blank when I got into the room, and no amount of panic would (of course) bring the bits of knowledge to the forefront, for me to regurgitate (figuratively, of course) onto the test. I turned in my exam, walked to my car and began to cry. I cried all the way home. One hour of self-pity time. "Why am I doing this?!?" I said to myself. Is it worth the sleepless nights, the flashcards carried everywhere with me, studying terminology and pictures of body parts so foreign that they seem like some obscure language? And who really needs to know the names of all those veins anyway.

Then I got a taste of reality. I pulled into the parking lot of my neighborhood grocery store, to buy a few things. The ever-so-stylish large framed dark glasses in place to hide the puffy eyes, I spotted a woman who was struggling to get into the store due to some version of cerebral palsy. She was working her butt off just to buy groceries. All of a sudden, my "tragedy" didn't look so bad.

If getting a "C" (which is what I finally learned I achieved on the test) is the biggest of life's hurdles I face, I'm one lucky chick. Here's to keeping a positive outlook....the course isn't over yet!

Cheers!
Ima

Where Does The Time Go?

Well, it's been two weeks since I last checked in with you, my blog pals. I received a change of duties at my job - a promotion of sorts, which is fun but added a layer of stress on me that I didn't need. But all is good there and it is fun to learn new things. Seems like that's what I'm all about these days...learning new things. Sometimes I feel like my head will pop!

On the school front, we've moved into what should be the most interesting of the three A&P classes: the major organ systems of the body. It is rewarding to be able to put together components from prior quarters, and understand how they serve a larger functioning body system. As I sit in class, the "light bulb" clicks on inside my head, and I really start to get this stuff! I have enough points on my last two exams to still be in the hunt for an "A", though a "B" will make me very happy. There's just so much to memorize. I have decided to give it a rest over the summer, and won't take any classes. I'll need some decompress time by then, and I hope to visit friends out West that I haven't seen in a very long time.

So, with a new job and a tough class, I've been gone a while...I'll try not to let it become a habit!
Cheers!
Ima

On and on.....

OK, today was pretty close to perfect in the weather category. High around 70...no rain, wispy clouds, slight hint of a breeze. Nice day for the top to come down on the Sebring, so I did. Also decided to ease my way to school with some great 70's music, found on Sirius "The Bridge." Next thing you know, Steven Bishop's great song "On And On" began to play. You know - the one about "Lonesome Sam", and "that down in Jamaica they've got lots of pretty women"? So great to ease down the road to that song, singing away! Listen to it again sometime, for an instant fix..it'll take you back forty years and ease any cares you have for the moment.

It ends with my mantra for school and life in general these days, I guess:

"On and on... I just keep on trying...And I smile when I feel like dying... On and on, on and on, on and on On and on, on and on, on and on On and on, on and on, on and on......"

Keep smilin'!
Cheers!
Ima

Do They Feel Their Heartstrings Nowadays?

Spring term is in full swing, and I'm taking a Psychology class as well as Anatomy & Physiology - III. This final part of A&P is all about the major body systems, and we start off with the blood and circulatory system. Yesterday our lab was all about that magnificent pumping machine: The Heart! What was so cool is that I got to dissect a heart (no - not a human heart) and really examine its valves, chambers and the muscularity of its walls. But what I found really cool is that there truly are "heartstrings." You've all heard the expression that some person or some lovely song "pulled at my heartstrings?" I never knew that there were fibers that attach to the valves in your heart that pull them open/closed. They are quite important (to say the least) and are easily examined.

But after lab I thought about the idea of heartstrings, in terms of my first college experience in 1973. That's when I first met and fell in love with the boy who would eventually be my husband many years later. I remember walking hand in hand through the campus, and cuddling in the student union, etc. Springtime on the college campus was full of young couples in love - their "heartstrings tugging away." But on today's campus (at least this one) everyone is in a rush, walking with heads down and fingers flying on their cell phone, texting instead of talking. Or with iPod snugly inserted into their ears, zoning out anyone else around them. I wonder if the entire scheme of falling in love, and those sweet and innocent courtship rituals of yesterday have gone by the wayside.

Do heartstrings still tug in 2010?
Cheers!
Ima

How Fast Are We Developing

As you all know, I'm studying Anatomy and Physiology in preparation for a second career in nursing. Throughout the coursework, I have come upon bits of information that the text states "...was just discovered in 2006..." or other facts that I believed to be true, which are now known to be false. On an impartial level none of this is a real shock, but on some emotional level it can be disturbing to realize that things making up your/my foundational years and underpinning are no longer relevant. But to spend more than a fleeting moment saying to myself "You've gotta be kidding! That's not the way it works anymore?" is pretty useless. In fact, one of the cool things about going back to college is the fact that I do get the "latest and greatest" even if that won't be the latest and greatest for long.

The link below has been making its way around the internet, and it really points out well the shocking statistics about our changing world, and says it much better than can I. Hang on, because it moves by rapidly!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL9Wu2kWwSY

Cheers!
Ima

To Honor The Men In My Life

I just received the nicest email from the young man who was my lab instructor last quarter, congratulating me on my final course grade. It got me thinking of the various men who have made such an impact on my life, some of whom are still very much with me. Women are great at keeping the "girls" in their lives close, but we don't necessarily do so for those of the opposite sex. So, here goes....

Thank you to my dad, who is up in heaven and now really knows that I'll always be "Daddy's Little Girl." He was my first and very biggest fan. Next on the list is another "always been there for me" supporter: my brother Rick. There is no one in the world I love more, and I know he feels the same about me. I also am thankful for my ex-husband (no shock, please) who for over twenty years was my biggest support, and constantly believed in me early in my career when I did not. Marriages are hard, and it takes two to make one; I didn't do all I could, in retrospect. Fortunately time heals and gives us a mature perspective. Thank you to my ex-brother-in-law for caring for me even through the divorce, and who is now and has always been a friend. I hope and trust that this will never change. Thanks also go out to my bosses who have without exception been supportive and encouraging of me and my career. Finally, my three "boys" Tank, Easton, and Buddy (the dogs), who love me so unconditionally as only they can.

But my heart and all the love in it goes to my husband. He is kind, a great conversationalist, handsome, loving, ethical, smart, funny, and in his quiet way he supports my goals and props me up when I hit the bottom. He is a treasure. I am honored to be his partner.

I hope this prompts you ladies to thank the men in your life, too!
Cheers!
Ima

It Doesn't Cost a Red Cent

A tip of my hat to Dr. Philip Crosby. About thirty years ago he wrote a book that was a fixture in everyone's business library. It's titled Quality is Free. No truer statement about business has ever been made, and made so simply. Tonight I thought about the topic of quality, and how it is demonstrated (or not) in every facet of our lives.

I was enjoying my meal break, eating a lovely salmon nicoise salad at the Cafe Bistro, located in the store where I work. My server was a man who has taken care of me there at the restaurant since the store opened, and is a true joy to be around. He takes the time to know the little details about his customers and their preferences. He pays attention. He watches and anticipates customer needs. Whether you are in his section or not, his eyes are moving around the room looking for opportunities to make the customer happy. His shoes are polished; his uniform is pressed. He views "service" not in a negative sense...not as "servitude"...but as something he does with pride.

Nothing in that demonstration of service excellence costs him or the company a dime. It's all free. Yet what a difference it makes when a service provider does not take the time to do these things. I appreciate the fact that I work with high quality people who do this kind of work with pride. And, if you haven't read the book...do so. It's timeless.

Cheers!
Ima

We Can't Get There Alone

Well, I got an "A". Absolutely worked by posterior off to get it, but did so just the same. That makes up for the "C" I got in the first section, and puts me right where I need to be to keep at least a 3.0 for all of my prerequisite classes. I'm full of emotion today. Coming off a lousy cold, so maybe my nerves are a bit frayed from that, too. But mostly I am so very thankful for those supportive people around me who are making this journey so much easier than it would be otherwise. Dr. Bankston, my initial supporter and mentor. My husband who picks up the household pieces so I can do this. My boss and colleagues at work who make it so I can work a schedule that supports this effort, and who help me when I need time off. My study partners who have kept me feeling confident, and who have provided their help with learning, study, and just how to maneuver this big university. My professors, graduate instructors, and supplemental instructors who have extended themselves and who have been as happy for me as I am, when I accomplish a grade.

So it's just like in Corporate America and life in general, I guess. We simply can't get "there"...wherever and whatever "there" might be...and do it alone.

My sincere thanks to all of those who are with me now, and who have been with me as a support throughout my life. Sorry it took so long to say it.

Cheers!
Ima

How Generous My Husband Is!

WOW. Am I lucky! My husband generously offered his time to help me prepare for my Lab Practical Exam that I took yesterday. He's really motivated to help me get an A. Or could it be something else? Hmmm. Subject for the test? Male genitalia (and female, and gametogenesis.)

Must be testosterone poisoning, and that Y chromosome.
Cheers!

Ima

Drinking From A Fire Hose

People have asked me what it's like to take Anatomy and Physiology at the college level. Well, in three weeks (6 classes) we have to learn all of the senses from a macro and cellular perspective, all of the endocrine glands, hormones, target organ/tissues and cellular effects, the autonomic nervous system (including differences between parasympathetic and sympathetic systems) and innervations on target organs and structures, male and female reproductive systems, meiosis, and the cellular differences between spermatogenesis and oogenesis, and the reproductive hormones. We have to understand what cells are cholinergic, muscotinic, and nicotinic, and what that means/what difference it makes; understand the action potentials created by ligand-gated proteins and which are accomplished via G-proteins. Yadda-yadda-yadda.

Kind of like drinking water from a fire hose.

Hope some of it sticks in this ol' brainpan!!! Final exam the 16th.
Cheers!
Ima

All Work and No Play....

OK, you've heard the expression. And this "Jack" (or Jill, as the case may be) wants to be a lot of things, but DULL isn't one of them. Now with school a little bit more under control and my job in great shape, I have decided to get into a new hobby in the spring. I've been reading a lot about it, and am fascinated by the whole process. What is it? BEEKEEPING

Now, stop laughing. First, it's important to do for the benefit of our gardens, and our gardens and plant life in general. Many of the bee hives worldwide died off a few years ago (actually it's been an ongoing problem) and science is still puzzled about why. But without bees we have no vegetables, no fruit, no flowers. Some countries (China, for one) have even resorted to humans hand-pollinating fruit trees so that there is no mass shortage. Serious stuff! I just can't see myself out in our vegetable garden this spring, with a little paintbrush in hand moving pollen from blossom to blossom....but I digress. Also, I determined that it's either bees or get some laying hens, but my neighbors might like that less and they take a bunch more daily work!

Second, once the hive is established (did you know you can buy the hives and bees by mail?!?) you add a food source (like when you put out sugar water for your hummingbirds) and the bees do their thing! Very limited maintenance required, and after a period of time you have comb and honey you can harvest. And, like anything you do yourself, you know where the food came from, and the quality of its production and packaging. You can then use the wax to make candles, great bar soap, etc. Then, after tidying up the hive, the bees stay there (hopefully) over the winter if you supply some food, and they are established for yearly production. I'm thinking that I might invite my neighbor's son to be a part of this project. His Mom is a single parent and it's good for him to have interaction with adults. This all might be a lot of work for a few days, but like home canning, it's sure worth it for the end product.

So, I'll keep you posted. But I figure that all of us need to make sure we have lives enriched by lots of things....books (not just anatomy, thank you very much), hobbies, friends and family, church, whatever. And, if you are good, I might just share my golden honey when I get into production!

Till Later...
Cheers!
Ima

Feeling the Stress

Why do I do this to myself? I am studying a part of the nervous system and am having a very hard time with it. Can't even formulate a good question. When I left class yesterday afternoon and got to work, I couldn't take my mind off of the fact that I may get to a point that I have to admit to myself that this pre-nursing program is academically more than my "seasoned" brain can handle. Especially when I read the section in my text book on aging and its effect on cognition and other brain functions. I was on the verge of tears.

But, then, morning came today and I have a much more positive outlook on the whole thing. A nice sunny day sure helped, I must add. I decided to use a tutor as I did last quarter, and to do my very best. I've got a solid "B" going for the course right now, and it certainly isn't a foregone conclusion that the grade will drop below that level by the end of the term. And, if it does, I just have to work harder when I get to A&P III. The bottom line is, that until I quit, they (whoever they are) are going to have to tell me that my grades aren't high enough to get into the nursing course and kick me out! Until they do, I'm in the game!

Things always look brighter after some time to reflect.
Cheers!
Ima

Letting Go

I'm taking a stress management class this quarter; it was a pickup class, so that I'd have enough credits to qualify for financial aid. But I must say, the tips and techniques I have learned really helped today. You see, for years I have had a heart arythmia and get bouts of tachicardia (hope that is spelled right...haven't taken cardio-systems yet.) Yes, I have meds that I'm supposed to take daily, but who remembers to do that! Anyway, I'm totally stressed out about today's lab practical, because I haven't been able to get to school for most of the last week due to snow. So I'm up at 4 AM, and at school to be at lab when the doors open at 7...do my lab work, study the models, etc., get a coffee at Starbucks and cram for three hours before the practical at noon. Whew! I'm tired typing this!

So, I'm at the lab building and a heart "event" hits. Simply stated, my heartbeat suddenly elevates and I feel faint. My body simply doesn't get enough oxygen when it beats at 180 bpm. I am forced to find a bathroom, and...don't gag...lay on the bathroom floor to get my breathing under control so my heartbeat will "break." Uggh. But I digress...the best part was that I had studied about deep breathing, and reducing stress by breathing and visualization. And voila! It all worked. Best of all, I went into the practical refreshed and relaxed.

But - lesson learned. Take your meds and lay off the dark roast coffee....
Cheers!
Ima

So What Else Has Changed?!?

I have been amazed recently by the fact that things have changed since I was in high school. OK, no laughing about how that was back when we used a horse and buggy. But seriously, since when did they vote to change the name of body parts? Why wasn't I consulted!

We have been spending the past few weeks studying the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system. We are also learning about how the body receives and processes sensory input from both outside and inside the body. Our last class was about what are called the "special senses." I was all ready to learn about "sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing." But now the sense of "touch" has been demoted to a category of "general senses", and in its place is a new "special" sense.....balance." Huh???? And, to top it off, do you remember studying the mechanisms of the ear? To refresh your memory, there is a structure inside your inner ear system that is curled up like a shell...called the Eustachian Tubes. Ring a bell? (Pun intended) But no longer. Some over-educated person (obviously not Mr. Eustachian) with way too much time on their hands decided at some point in the last 35 years to now call it the "Auditory Tube."

So what's next?? Will they change the name of our head to "Hat Holding Appendage?"
Till next time.

Cheers!
Ima

The Death of Communication as a Skill...an Art

J.D. Salinger died today at the age of 91. By all accounts he lived the last half of his life in self-imposed exile of sorts, in a tiny town whose residents made it a point of helping him to keep his privacy. Many people say that he is the most influential American writer since Hemmingway; I won't argue that point. But it marks the death of a great writer...one gifted with the ability to craft a thought, a dream, on paper. I begin today's blog post this way because I have observed today's college students, and am saddened by their overall lack of skill in communicating their thoughts and ideas. When I was involved in a class today that taught "soft skills" and demanded a bit of participation to breathe life into the class as well as to help reinforce a point, the students sat mute with heads down, slumped in the chair. No prodding could get them to speak.

I know I'm not stating anything but the obvious when I say that the internet, PCs, IPods, SmartPhones, Cable TV, on-demand movies and entertainment, and yes...social networking and blog sites....have all succeeded in helping us grow a generation of people who simply have no use for, nor skill with, the written or spoken word. No Salingers among them, that's for sure. But I was encouraged a week or so ago when a young man who works at my company told me that he, too, has a love for writing with fountain pens, of all things!

There is hope for us yet.
Cheers!
Ima

How Time Flies

Sorry to be away so long. Between studying, work, and an occasional all-important day off, the calendar has whizzed past me! I'm sure it's that way with all of us, but I cannot help but believe that there is a conspiracy at work to keep entire weeks so full of activity that before you know it....it's next month.

I have done well so far this term. Got an "A" on my first examination, and have another test coming up in two days. We are studying this amazing system: the brain, spinal cord, cranial and peripheral nerves. Not just the physical bodies of each, but the amazing choreography that happens each time we have a thought, and transmit that thought to action - like typing this blog post. When you consider the minute biochemical processes that must take place in sequence, within milliseconds, it is truly a miracle that we "work." I may be the science experiment that charts whether these same biochemical processes work just as well (or as quickly) in a 50-something body as it does in one half the age.

I guess an "A" tells me that my synapses "synap" just fine......for now, at least.

Cheers!
Ima

And now a story that illustrates one of my new resolutions: Be happy with the things you have, not pine away and waste time on that which you don't....

CINDERELLA was now 95 years old. After a fulfilling life with the now dead prince, she happily sat upon her rocking chair, watching the world go by from her front porch, with a cat named Bob for companionship. One sunny afternoon, out of nowhere, appeared the fairy godmother. Cinderella said, 'Fairy Godmother, what are you doing here after all these years'? The fairy godmother replied, 'Cinderella, you have lived an exemplary life since I last saw you. Is there anything for which your heart still yearns?' Cinderella was taken aback, overjoyed, and after some thoughtful consideration, she uttered her first wish: 'The prince was wonderful, but not much of an investor.. I'm living hand to mouth on my disability checks, and I wish I were wealthy beyond comprehension.' Instantly her rocking chair turned into solid gold. Cinderella said, 'Ooh, thank you, Fairy Godmother'. The fairy godmother replied, 'It is the least that I can do. What do you want for your second wish?' Cinderella looked down at her frail body, and said, 'I wish I were young and full of the beauty and youth I once had.' At once, her wish became reality, and her beautiful young Body returned. Cinderella felt stirrings inside of her that had been dormant for years. And then the fairy godmother spoke once more: 'You have one more wish; what shall it be?' Cinderella looked over to the frightened cat in the corner and said, 'I wish for you to transform Bob, my old cat, into a kind and handsome young man.' Magically, Bob suddenly underwent so fundamental a change in his biological make-up that, when he stood before her, he was a man so beautiful the likes of him neither she nor the world had ever seen.The fairy godmother said, 'Congratulations, Cinderella, enjoy your new life.' With a blazing shock of bright blue electricity, the fairy godmother was gone as suddenly as she had appeared. For a few eerie moments, Bob and Cinderella looked into each other's eyes. Cinderella sat, breathless, gazing at the most beautiful, stunningly perfect man she had ever seen. Then Bob walked over to Cinderella, who sat transfixed in her rocking chair, & held her close in his young muscular arms. He leaned in close, blowing her golden hair with his warm breath as he whispered.......'Bet you're sorry you neutered me..'

Ah, the decisions we make in life we're sorry for later!
Hope you enjoyed the chuckle.

Cheers!
Ima

A New Year, a New Quarter

Well, my second quarter in college began this past week, and it felt a lot more in control than the start of last quarter! First of all, I now know where the buildings are located, where my parking lot is relative to them, and that I do have two A&P lectures weekly - not one. Now, for those of you who haven't been with me since the beginning, I must go back and share how Mr. Murphy danced and pranced all over me during the A&P I course that started my college experience off. You know...Mr. Murphy? The one with the Law???

I signed up for class rather late last quarter because I did not get the official word that I had been accepted into the nursing school until very late in August, 2009. At the same time I started a new job and prepared to set out on vacation. I finally got to enroll, bought my text books, and printed out my courses...A&P-I Lab, meeting on "M" (Monday) and the lecture meeting on "TH" (Thursday.) No problem. I can handle a new 40 hour job and a couple days of class. Not so fast, Sherlock!

Five weeks into the quarter, our lecture professor scheduled his first Exam, worth about 15% of the grade for the entire course. As I left lab the Monday prior, one of my lab partners said "I'll see you tomorrow!" I blinked...and corrected him. "You mean, you'll see me Thursday for our test." Oh no. He explained that the test was in fact on Tuesday. I quickly pulled out my class schedule, and pointed out that our lecture was on "TH"...so the test was on "TH", not "TU". Well, guess what? At this college, a class that meets on "TH" means "T" for Tuesday, and "H" for Thursday! I had managed to miss half of my first ten lectures!!! And, worse than that, I discovered that I had not three days to prepare for the exam, but about 15 hours.

Now, maybe it's me, but doesn't "TH" stand for Thursday in the rest of the world? What a bad way to start my class. I did poorly on tat test but I pulled up the grades before the end of the quarter, and am now comfortably positioned to get an "A" this term. After all, I'll be at all of my lectures this time!

Until later....Cheers!
Ima

Humility... and the Art of Biting One's Tongue

So, I had a new experience this morning. I have a job as the telephone operator at a large retailer, and I am part of the customer service team. The job is very easy, and affords me a lot of perks (studying while at work, etc.) I also truly enjoy talking to our customers, helping others, and handling questions. I know that I'm an important first impression, and I take that job seriously. I also know how frustrating and challenging customers (and employees) can be, from a service perspective. But after thirty years of handling serious problems, griping, complaining, and sometimes sheer stupidity, I know that 1) your attitude is everything, 2) each complaint is an isolated instance, and you cannot (or should not) allow the accumulation of handling other issues affect your emotions. You cannot wallow in negativity, because it becomes self-fulfilling, and also can give you heartburn!

Today I sat in as a participant at our first department meeting. I watched my young manager as she failed to lead, and allowed the meeting to become a gripe session with seemingly little attention to our role as service-providers. I listened for quite a while, and then made a statement about "checking our demeanor"...that it could cause us make the problems worse by worsening our relationship with the sales force...that each person - no matter how frustrating - was an opportunity to teach...(yadda yadda yadda.) I was quickly told (nicely, as I'm the department senior citizen at 54) that until I had "experience" I really didn't understand.

WOW. I wanted to fire back that thirty years of personally laying people off, handling conflicts in the court room, presenting bad news to a hostile executive committee, calling over three hundred customers to explain that our restaurant may have given them foodborne illness, etc., etc., gives me all the experience with "difficult situations" I need. But my tongue got a biting, and I decided to let my actions speak for themselves. When I have that opportunity to demonstrate what I've learned over years in the trenches I can make a much more powerful point. And if my colleagues value it - great. If not...I've done my work with excellence. And had time to study for my Anatomy test, too!!

Ahhh...youth!!

Cheers!
Ima