Hannah Makes Regional Time

I didn't get a picture but wanted to share that Hannah made a regional time (also called an "A" time) in swimming tonight. She swam a 500 yard Freestyle - that's 20 laps front crawl - in 7 minutes and 38 seconds. The regional cut off is 8:30 so she beat it by almost a minute. She is 9 and swimming 10 & under events, so this is really good. She is excited and ready to hit the pool for day 2 of the holiday invitational tomorrow.

Something You Don't See Every Day

So, this is a picture of the brain I dissected on Wednesday in my last Anatomy and Physiology lab. In case you are wondering, it's from a sheep. It's oddly shapped because they come in a big vacuum seal bag of 50 and I guess that's a lot of Cerebral crowding. I know because I had to reach my hand into said bag to retrieve my pick of speciman. I decided to take a picture because it occured to me that this might be the last time I get the chance to dissect a brain. I mean how often does it come up - really? This might be the most edgy thing I do this year.
This is the eyeball I dissected next. Also from a sheep but from a different bag so I can't claim it was the same sheep. Not too bad after the first squirt.






The lab was interesting but I do have to say that the timing could have been better. I was on a clear liquid diet that day. All I could eat was jello. So, I cut open the eye to examine the retina and the vitreous humor came out in a big glob. Looks just like - you guessed it - Jello.

Got an "A" for the lab but I'm not sure I will ever eat Jello again.

Treading Water

If you are reading this blog and wondering why I haven't returned your call or email, please forgive me. This is a busy time of year.

Thursday was the Fall book fair at the girl's elementary school. This is my second year chairing this event. To put this in perspective, we sold approximately $5,500 in Scholastic merchandise in a 12 hour period. The event is terrific for fundraising and for providing the school with much needed books. But, organizing an event of this size with volunteers of varying abilities is always a challenge. The planning takes about six weeks, the event is one and a half days of intense work and then there's the financials and delivery follow up for orders. Anyway, the event went well but was all consuming for a few days.

But, I was already feeling tired. Tired because last week I had two major tests and a paper due. Have another one Monday. My last day of school will be December 10th, so we are down to the wire and my profs are squeezing what they can into the last class sessions. But atleast I got a break this weekend right?

Wrong. Hannah had a swim meet this weekend. Saturday and Sunday 6:30 a.m. -1p.m was spent hunched on bleachers, trying to get some reading in. Then, had to do some Thanksgiving shopping, I have 20 people coming for Thanksgiving Thursday. Oh, and my father-in-law arrives tommorow - while I'm at school taking my Chemistry exam. Lucky he's an easy house guest.

Hannah's throat started hurting today. No fever. I told her to give it 24 hours and if it still hurt I'd take her to the doctor on Tuesday - after our dentist appt- and during the time I usually do bible study but won't this week because we have a guest- and am cleaning house for Thursday.

In February, I'll be bored and look back on this week with fond memories of being so productive.

Atleast, that's what I tell myself.

Holiday Confusion

The window decor is Thanksgiving, the tune is Oh Christmas Tree, the words are "On Mothers Day". I guess at 5 it all blends together! :)

More Halloween Pics

Madi and her girlfriends trick or treating.
"Enchanted Tree" pumpkin.
"Cat Face" pumpkin
"Black Cat" pumpkin

"Classic" pumpkin. Hey, I had other things to do that night!