How much I love Biology

I'm trying to update much more regularly in my "big girl blog" so I can move away from the good old Ell Jay. This week at work, Kim and I were talking about how one of the only really "New Age" things she believes in is that some places just happen to create or collect more clutter than others, no matter what you do to try and stop it. Well, I kind of feel like that about my LJ, that it just collects more emotional crap than I know how to deal with. I feel like, since this space isn't really about a social network, it's a bit more open and honest, and a bit less constrained. It's not like I am hiding anything, or putting anything out there that I don't really want people to read (that would pretty much just be idiotic) but it's understood that there are a specific group of people that read my LJ and have been for years and years, and that almost kind of determines what I write about there, even in my subconscious. I don't know. Maybe I'm just talking out of my ass.

School is really going well so far this quarter. Although, it's only 2 weeks in, so I'm sure my tune will change as we really get into the nitty gritty and the work starts piling on and on and on. I have gotten into this bizarre schedule where I do not get sleepy until past 2 a.m., and I wake up at about 8. This is the rhythm I was on in High School, and the one I was on while I worked at T-Mobile. I don't know. Something about being at work still when the evening rolls around, makes it hard to unwind, for me. When I was working early mornings, I would get off work, come home, relax, take a nap, and actually have the rest of my day available. Now that I work pre-close shifts, I am back to where I started years ago, coming in after the day shift is done, cleaning up the mess, getting it ready to start the cycle over again. I know that it's a function of the classes I took and the times they were scheduled, and also of what worked best for the business flow while making sure the other employees got what they needed. I'm not upset. It just sucks to be back on this insomniac kick that I thought I got out of my system in my mid twenties.

As for class itself, I am entranced. I am totally in love with upper level Biology. Why didn't I do this sooner? What the hell was I afraid of? I sat with rapt attention today, listening to my instructor lecture about the basic chemical reactions of cellular respiration and catabolic and anabolic reactions. Much of this was review, but being able to review it and then put those building blocks together to form actual functions was pretty amazing. I went straight from that lecture to my Microbiology lab, where we talked about the spread of epidemics and did an experiment to show how easily contaminants can spread! I sent some text messages to people telling them that I'm a little embarrassed, but I think I died and went to nerd heaven. I can't wait for our Anatomy Lab tomorrow, we're doing an Erythrocyte Osmosis lab, so we get to play with blood cells, and watch them go through hemolysis and crenation!

On that note, something else cool happened today. When we left lecture this morning, our instructor reminded us that we need to be following universal precautions tomorrow, including wearing a lab coat and protective eyewear. Well, I have neither of those things. So, we went to check out the uniform place on Northwest across from the sporting goods store, in the old building I used to work in when it was the drive through coffee place in the piano store run by that super Republican prick. I found some lab coats, and didn't feel that the $35 or so I would end up paying for one would be worth it, since I want to make one for myself, anyway. I was mentioning to John while we were in there that I would rather just make my own, and the guy who was working heard me. He wandered over and told me that the owner is looking for a local source, like an individual crafter, to make scrub tops and lab coats, and that if I had time and the inclination, I should bring a sample by. This is the 3rd offer I've had this month for a local business wanting to buy something I could easily make, without me even having to sell myself. I guess the moral I learned from the last time I had this happen is that I need to get on it NOW while people still have the offer fresh in their minds. So, I guess that part of this weekend will now be spent studying for the two tests I have next week, part of this weekend will be spent cleaning my sewing room, and part of the weekend will be spent making MY VERY OWN AWESOME LAB COAT. I found a pattern at Jo-Ann for $.99, and I bought some pink skull fabric to make it into the coolest lab coat EVARZ. It is going to have a gian 70's lapel, and bright turquoise buttons, and I am going to make everyone jealous while I protect myself from bloodborne pathogens and various strains of bacteria.

I will post a pic when I get it done.

I had some more to say, especially about how it feels to work less hours this quarter and also about reconnecting with old friends and starting a Facebook and going back down memory lane, but I will have to save that for later because John needs his computer back now, and mine is still in the shop at Circuit City with no idea when it will be back.