The pre-Thanksgiving stress feast is over, and I am enjoying it to the max by doing my neglected laundry and drinking a Bailey's/Godiva hot chocolate after a delicious meal of pasta left-overs. Yesterday was probably the worst, since I started my day at 4:45, again at 5, and finally at 5:15. I crammed biochemistry (metabolism, rocks....everyone should memorize the TCA cycle, glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, glycogenesis, glycolysis, Beta oxidation, cholesterol synthesis, the pentose monophosphate shunt, and oh yeah...membrane signaling in about two weeks, with no sleep, and histology, genetics, and nutrition too!) and took my biochemistry test at 8. The exam went well, so I guess the last minute cramming on three hours of sleep paid off. Quick quote from my roomate Kirk..."you fell asleep in histology.....so THAT'S when you sleep!"

After that wonderful start to they day, I rode my bike home (man is it getting cold, and boy do I need some WD-40!) in an attempt to wear down the pot of Starbucks Breakfast Blend coursing through my veins. Kirk was home (does he EVER go to work before noon?), so we finished off the pumpkin pecan rum cake and read the Star Tribune. I took a nap, then headed BACK to school with my bass in tow. I played an interesting concert in the Fairview University Hospital coffee shop/lobby with the Academic Health Center Orchestra. Margaret, the bass player I had practiced with, was in the hospital (again), but a new guy was there. Between my only having 2 weeks rehearsal, him missing the last two weeks rehearsal, and the general chaos of the concert, it was not my most stellar concert. You can listen here if you would like. http://arahn.dsl.visi.com/HSO/
I recommend the one bright spot, the orignial composition Legend. The composer conducted it, and it is a stellar piece.
Well, tomorrow I am going to hit the road back to ND as soon as I can get through histology (they are doing the liver, which I know fairly well due to my pathetic high school life). I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, safe traveling, and good fun!

My good friend and companion Patchas Popcorn Beckman passed away today. She gave us 16 years of kitty love, and going home will never be the same. Even though I haven't been home much the past 4 years, coming home to her was always a highlight.

Patchas Beckman

Family friends and confidant

Cat

1988-2004

I have been busy this week studying histology. Right now I am listening to Piano Man by Billy Joel on iTunes and avoiding the mountain of studying I have left before I get to bed tonight. WHO APPROVED A SATURDAY TEST!!!! Jenny is in town, but I will only get to see her for a few hours. I guess she gets to hang out with Virginia, which will probably be a lot more fun than watching me fail a histo test (what did I mean by probably, definately more fun!)

Kirk and Jon are both present tonight. This hardly ever happen anymore. I had not seen Kirk since Monday night when he woke me up. I see Jon in the morning, but he usually isn't a conversational genius at 7:30am.

Well, back to the histo-torture. Wish me luck!