After graduating with a B.S. in microbiology in 2006, I dreamt of attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa. I applied and was ready to go when they notified me that I had been declined admissions because my institution had sent the wrong person's transcripts to them not once, but twice. It took me a long time to move on, but I had to; I got a job, I got an apartment, I started a life.
The way things are right now, I am not guaranteed a job. (Not that I ever was.) It looks more and more certain that I will be laid off shortly, which is why the EMT-Basic program is a good thing. It allows me a chance to learn a new skill that I can use in the event that I lose my job.
The master plan since, oh, 2008, was to get to Hawaii. I am currently still on the east coast, and am exploring the possibility and realities of living there when I return in the fall. A big part of that plan was to work as an EMT until I find something that pays better, and go back to school.
Well, today whilst I was perusing the UH website, I stumbled across the tuition rate. I probably should have checked that out earlier and all, but I didnt. Now it feels as if I have been kicked in the kidneys. I can literally feel my dreams slipping out of my fingers. I am really, truly bummed out. The cost is out of my range, unless I marry someone with deep pockets who wants to send me to school. It would be easier to just give up, and I am feeling like that might be the option I go with. I am already living with a lot of regret--- what's one more?
My finances are a shambles already, though theyre not nearly as bad as some people's. Im grateful for everything and everyone I have in my life; I just wonder if its enough for me to be happy with?
Friday, July 23, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
EMT Stuff
I get that when youre learning to be an EMT, and when youre a working EMT too, that youre gonna have to actually touch people. Really, I get that. I am not opposed to that.
HOWEVER
I AM opposed to people touching ME.
Class on Saturday was horrendous. If I never have to be splinted again ever it will be too soon. It really wasnt necessary to have someone prod me in the bum to try to find the bone in my ass. It was really less than pleasant and a hell of a lot more than just "awkward."
Saturday was a less than enjoyable day, and thus I am extremely grateful to be back to my real job in the chemistry lab. No one manhandles me here. Sheesh...
HOWEVER
I AM opposed to people touching ME.
Class on Saturday was horrendous. If I never have to be splinted again ever it will be too soon. It really wasnt necessary to have someone prod me in the bum to try to find the bone in my ass. It was really less than pleasant and a hell of a lot more than just "awkward."
Saturday was a less than enjoyable day, and thus I am extremely grateful to be back to my real job in the chemistry lab. No one manhandles me here. Sheesh...
Friday, July 16, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
Further Proof...
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Honolulu, Take II
Well, I had a seriously lovely surprise yesterday morning. Fortuitous. Serendipitous.
For the last couple of months, under the gun of possibly being laid off, I have been researching options. I am currently enrolled in an EMT-B program. Since I'm fairly certain that I'm going to be laid off, I needed a way to get a job in a crappy market; since Massachusetts is in the midst of a hugescandal involving paramedics/emts falsifying re-certifications, chances are good that I will be able to land one pretty fast.
I've been kicking around the idea of moving to Hawaii for some time, now. I'm quite serious about it, actually, which is a change for me. Arranging a cross-country move is hard enough, and the move is trans-Pacific. So I figured that returning would be a good idea to get a feel for the place outside of the scope of vacation.
That brings us to yesterday.
One of the few friends (seriously, like, 3) who lives in Honolulu sent me a message asking when I was coming back. I responded that I'd return when I knew what my vacation allotment would be. Out of boredom while standardizing the Karl Fischer autotitrator, I checked out flights at Orbitz.
I found a roundtrip flight from Logan to Honolulu for $587.
So, hot damn! I bought it, and am returning to check out apartments, employment, and education situations when I go there. (I almost typed 'home.' I should have left it that way!)
It's destiny!
For the last couple of months, under the gun of possibly being laid off, I have been researching options. I am currently enrolled in an EMT-B program. Since I'm fairly certain that I'm going to be laid off, I needed a way to get a job in a crappy market; since Massachusetts is in the midst of a hugescandal involving paramedics/emts falsifying re-certifications, chances are good that I will be able to land one pretty fast.
I've been kicking around the idea of moving to Hawaii for some time, now. I'm quite serious about it, actually, which is a change for me. Arranging a cross-country move is hard enough, and the move is trans-Pacific. So I figured that returning would be a good idea to get a feel for the place outside of the scope of vacation.
That brings us to yesterday.
One of the few friends (seriously, like, 3) who lives in Honolulu sent me a message asking when I was coming back. I responded that I'd return when I knew what my vacation allotment would be. Out of boredom while standardizing the Karl Fischer autotitrator, I checked out flights at Orbitz.
I found a roundtrip flight from Logan to Honolulu for $587.
So, hot damn! I bought it, and am returning to check out apartments, employment, and education situations when I go there. (I almost typed 'home.' I should have left it that way!)
It's destiny!
Monday, June 28, 2010
Rawing
So, for the last two weeks, I've been attempting to live the raw food lifestyle. It's been quite the adjustment, but so far so good.
I didn't go to Raw on a whim. It started with a rash. I have Celiac-Sprue Disorder, which is an autoimmune disease where the vili in my gut are damaged when I eat anything containing gluten (ie, anything delicious and worthwhile eating in the Standard American Diet). It is very, very painful thing for me to have to deal with, so I have avoided gluten since my diagnosis in 2004. Because of this, I am prone to other food issues-- allergies, sensitivites, etc-- and have to keep track of everything I put in my mouth in the event that I have an adverse reaction to something.
Which brings me to the rash. I was camping at Lake Champlain several weeks ago, and during my drive home, chewed half a pack of gum that contained sucralose. Sucralose is the generic name for Splenda. Sucralose was discovered during development of a new insecticide. (Who thought that would be a good idea to use as a food additive?!) I broke out in the most obscenely itchy rash from my ankles to my thighs, and from my wrists to my elbows. I had very small, bright red, raised welts everywhere I had a hair follicle.
This was the last straw for me. I had been toying with the idea of going raw, mostly because I was sick of the additives in regular food. Plus, its summer and heating up my house while cooking is awful anyway. So I bought a bunch of un-cookbooks, and a dehydrator and have been going to town.
The upside of Raw is that everything is natural. Cucumbers come out of the ground as cukes. Science doesnt add something to them to make them what they are, or how they taste. No additives? A much reduced risk of me having a reaction. So, while being Raw is very time intensive (the planning involved is much akin to a military operation) but it's been worthwhile. My rash is gone. I feel amazing. My skin looks good.
The Standard American Diet (SAD, how appropriate) is heavy on meat, processed food, and refined carbohydrates. The Raw diet is pretty much processed-food-free, meat free, and refined anything free. There is no "better living through science." At least as far as I am concerned.
Anyway, Rawing has been going well so far. Ill continue to experiment and check it out further before I fully commit to it 100%, but its helping with the skin issues.
I didn't go to Raw on a whim. It started with a rash. I have Celiac-Sprue Disorder, which is an autoimmune disease where the vili in my gut are damaged when I eat anything containing gluten (ie, anything delicious and worthwhile eating in the Standard American Diet). It is very, very painful thing for me to have to deal with, so I have avoided gluten since my diagnosis in 2004. Because of this, I am prone to other food issues-- allergies, sensitivites, etc-- and have to keep track of everything I put in my mouth in the event that I have an adverse reaction to something.
Which brings me to the rash. I was camping at Lake Champlain several weeks ago, and during my drive home, chewed half a pack of gum that contained sucralose. Sucralose is the generic name for Splenda. Sucralose was discovered during development of a new insecticide. (Who thought that would be a good idea to use as a food additive?!) I broke out in the most obscenely itchy rash from my ankles to my thighs, and from my wrists to my elbows. I had very small, bright red, raised welts everywhere I had a hair follicle.
This was the last straw for me. I had been toying with the idea of going raw, mostly because I was sick of the additives in regular food. Plus, its summer and heating up my house while cooking is awful anyway. So I bought a bunch of un-cookbooks, and a dehydrator and have been going to town.
The upside of Raw is that everything is natural. Cucumbers come out of the ground as cukes. Science doesnt add something to them to make them what they are, or how they taste. No additives? A much reduced risk of me having a reaction. So, while being Raw is very time intensive (the planning involved is much akin to a military operation) but it's been worthwhile. My rash is gone. I feel amazing. My skin looks good.
The Standard American Diet (SAD, how appropriate) is heavy on meat, processed food, and refined carbohydrates. The Raw diet is pretty much processed-food-free, meat free, and refined anything free. There is no "better living through science." At least as far as I am concerned.
Anyway, Rawing has been going well so far. Ill continue to experiment and check it out further before I fully commit to it 100%, but its helping with the skin issues.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Oof
Have a lot to update on, and not a lot of time.
Shorthand:
1. Am taking an EMT-B course in case I get laid off. Which is 80-90% likely.
2. Have been cleared to start running again by the end of June. WOOHOO!!
3. Am going whitewater rafting in July. CANNOT. WAIT.
4. Moved. Again.
5. Am movING to the West coast, hopefully by this time next year. (Decisions, decisions!)
6. Ended a very harrassing friendship. 47 emails, 12 texts, 6 phone calls, 2 facebook messages. All in ONE DAY from ONE PERSON WITHOUT RECEIVING A SINGLE RESPONSE. (Normal people dont do stuff like that. I have had my fill of crazy--- byebye, ex-friend.)
Shorthand:
1. Am taking an EMT-B course in case I get laid off. Which is 80-90% likely.
2. Have been cleared to start running again by the end of June. WOOHOO!!
3. Am going whitewater rafting in July. CANNOT. WAIT.
4. Moved. Again.
5. Am movING to the West coast, hopefully by this time next year. (Decisions, decisions!)
6. Ended a very harrassing friendship. 47 emails, 12 texts, 6 phone calls, 2 facebook messages. All in ONE DAY from ONE PERSON WITHOUT RECEIVING A SINGLE RESPONSE. (Normal people dont do stuff like that. I have had my fill of crazy--- byebye, ex-friend.)
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