This morning I went with a group from Veritas Church to volunteer at Medshare Atlanta. I had never heard of Medshare before. I find this interesting since their secondary distribution center is in San Leandro, CA, where I once lived.
Medshare's method is pretty cool. They collect unused supplies from local hospitals that would otherwise be thrown into landfills, in addition to accepting donations from companies and/ or individuals. The products are then sorted and boxed in set quantities so that a hospital or other facility can put in an "order" for supplies to meet their needs. A full container of sorted, labeled, and specifically requested supplies is then shipped to the recipient.
Today's project involved a donation from Kimberly-Clark, which donated about 60 pallets of sterile surgical gloves that would "expire" in September. US regulations require that the company put an expiration date on the package, and prohibit the product from being used after that date. For all practical purposes, the gloves actually don't expire, so perfectly good gloves would have been thrown away. About 20 volunteers spent nearly 3 hours reboxing 80,800 gloves so they can be sent to locations all over the world that are in need. We were told a few stories about specific cases where treatment did not occur because the hospital did not have gloves for the doctors and staff to protect themselves and others.
And then I got some more fun and sandy volleyball time in the afternoon rain with my classmates...
30 July 2011
29 July 2011
more fun!
Tuesday was my first visit to the climbing wall on campus, Thursday I went again and had 3 classmates join me there. Here's Angela descending with Elizabeth on the wall,
Elizabeth climbing again,
and Martin tying in before I belayed him.
It's pretty cool that there are staff to belay you if you don't have a climbing partner or your partner isn't cleared to belay, and also the shoes and harnesses are available free of charge.
Today I rode my bike over to the Clairmont Campus. I checked out the Student Activity & Academic Center which has indoor basketball/ volleyball courts and gym equipment, and outdoor Olympic size pool, tennis courts, basketball court, and sand volleyball court. The volleyball court is a bit hard to find, you have to wind your way past all the tennis courts (there are 8 of them) and the outdoor basketball court. I came around the corner and saw a few people taking a break at the court. One of them asked if I wanted to play, so I ended up getting in 5 tough and fun games of volleyball. Next time I'll have to bring my swimsuit so I can join them jumping in the pool afterwards!
Elizabeth climbing again,
and Martin tying in before I belayed him.
It's pretty cool that there are staff to belay you if you don't have a climbing partner or your partner isn't cleared to belay, and also the shoes and harnesses are available free of charge.
Today I rode my bike over to the Clairmont Campus. I checked out the Student Activity & Academic Center which has indoor basketball/ volleyball courts and gym equipment, and outdoor Olympic size pool, tennis courts, basketball court, and sand volleyball court. The volleyball court is a bit hard to find, you have to wind your way past all the tennis courts (there are 8 of them) and the outdoor basketball court. I came around the corner and saw a few people taking a break at the court. One of them asked if I wanted to play, so I ended up getting in 5 tough and fun games of volleyball. Next time I'll have to bring my swimsuit so I can join them jumping in the pool afterwards!
26 July 2011
grapes??
The grapes have started ripening. They're sweet and slightly chewy, though both skin and seeds are not edible. Here's this morning's take:
Here are a couple ripening on the grapevines:
The entire vine is about this thickly covered with fruit:
And here's the evening harvest:
Clearly, my tomatoes are still coming along.
Today I checked out the climbing wall in the gym on campus - pretty fun! It's small but definitely challenging enough to keep me busy for a little while. We should be playing sand volleyball again tomorrow evening, I'm looking forward to that!
Here are a couple ripening on the grapevines:
The entire vine is about this thickly covered with fruit:
And here's the evening harvest:
Clearly, my tomatoes are still coming along.
Today I checked out the climbing wall in the gym on campus - pretty fun! It's small but definitely challenging enough to keep me busy for a little while. We should be playing sand volleyball again tomorrow evening, I'm looking forward to that!
25 July 2011
take me out to the ball game...
Another time, maybe? After sitting all day in the worst lecture hall we've been assigned, I joined 3 classmates to go to a Braves game. Well, we TRIED to go to the game. It was starting to rain when we left Chipotle, pouring by the time we parked the car.
Here're Mackenzie and me waiting in the pouring rain for Ryan to pick up tickets from will call.
We were trying to hide behind Ben to stay dry but it didn't really help.
We stood around inside under cover for a while, watching the lightning, listening to the thunder, and hoping they'd start uncovering the infield so the game could start. Finally, when it settled down to merely sprinkling, a crew went out and looked like they were getting things moving.
We went and sat in our soaking wet seats. Ryan and Ben were both better prepared for the rain with jackets instead of the sweatshirts Mackenzie and I had.
Unfortunately, the rain let loose again and we decided to leave when it became obvious the game wouldn't start till after 9 pm. We DO have class at 8 am tomorrow, after all.
I did come home to another care package, though. THANKS, JUDY! A Cal binder and home made brownies - what more could I ask?
The game is 3-0 (Pittsburgh) right now at the bottom of the 6th. I guess it wouldn't have been the most fun game to watch anyway. Okay, I just looked again and the bases are loaded! It could get exciting now...
Here're Mackenzie and me waiting in the pouring rain for Ryan to pick up tickets from will call.
We stood around inside under cover for a while, watching the lightning, listening to the thunder, and hoping they'd start uncovering the infield so the game could start. Finally, when it settled down to merely sprinkling, a crew went out and looked like they were getting things moving.
We went and sat in our soaking wet seats. Ryan and Ben were both better prepared for the rain with jackets instead of the sweatshirts Mackenzie and I had.
Unfortunately, the rain let loose again and we decided to leave when it became obvious the game wouldn't start till after 9 pm. We DO have class at 8 am tomorrow, after all.
I did come home to another care package, though. THANKS, JUDY! A Cal binder and home made brownies - what more could I ask?
The game is 3-0 (Pittsburgh) right now at the bottom of the 6th. I guess it wouldn't have been the most fun game to watch anyway. Okay, I just looked again and the bases are loaded! It could get exciting now...
23 July 2011
it's over!
Well, the past week (and a half) was supposed to be the toughest week of our entire 3 year program. I certainly hope it was, because 8 exams in 9 days was exhausting.
On Monday, the class was surprised with a care package from our parents with a note from our "big" - one of the second year DPT students with whom we've been paired. It contained snacks, a t-shirt, and a few random school supplies. For me, the most immediately helpful was a number 2 pencil - I'd actually forgotten mine!
I combined studying and gardening briefly:
The plastic skeleton hand was very helpful for studying both anatomy and kinesiology, but I had it out most for kinesiology. My second tomato happened to ripen during those days, so I was introduced to tomato sandwiches - they're YUMMY!
Here's a picture of my large dining table while studying anatomy... covered with drawings of the brachial plexus and branches off the axillary artery, Frank Netter's Atlas of Human Anatomy, our textbook, and my notes from class. Chocolate and water were also essential.
On Thursday, I opened my mailbox to find another care package! Yay! Thanks, Pearl!
A bunch of us celebrated the end of our exams by playing beach volleyball. We played from about 6:15 till 8:15 - good thing it's summer so the daylight lasts that long! It started to rain at the end of our last game. Perfect timing, and it felt amazing, cooling us off.
On Monday, the class was surprised with a care package from our parents with a note from our "big" - one of the second year DPT students with whom we've been paired. It contained snacks, a t-shirt, and a few random school supplies. For me, the most immediately helpful was a number 2 pencil - I'd actually forgotten mine!
I combined studying and gardening briefly:
Here's a picture of my large dining table while studying anatomy... covered with drawings of the brachial plexus and branches off the axillary artery, Frank Netter's Atlas of Human Anatomy, our textbook, and my notes from class. Chocolate and water were also essential.
On Thursday, I opened my mailbox to find another care package! Yay! Thanks, Pearl!
A bunch of us celebrated the end of our exams by playing beach volleyball. We played from about 6:15 till 8:15 - good thing it's summer so the daylight lasts that long! It started to rain at the end of our last game. Perfect timing, and it felt amazing, cooling us off.
16 July 2011
studying... like crazy!
8 exams in 9 days. REALLY!! 3 are done now, I've still got 5 to go. I studied all morning and afternoon. I was going to go to an orientation at Chastain Horse Park. They do hippotherapy (therapy with horses) there, and have a volunteer orientation once a month. I guess now I'm hoping to go to the August orientation.
For a study break, I went to a friend's birthday party. I hadn't seen him in 4 or 5 years, so it was fun to say hi and meet a couple new people.
Now I'm back home, and will be getting back to studying.
But first - the garden update! I ate my first homegrown tomato yesterday, it was delicious. The second one is now starting to turn red. It looks like a bird is eating them, so I need to figure out some kind of screen to keep them away.
It's really not quite as red as it looks here yet.
Lettuce is still growing.
The rosebushes have roses.
And I saw the bunny again on Thursday morning. It was so humid and warm outside compared to the house that the lens fogged up as soon as I turned on the camera... this photo is greatly enhanced by Photoshop!
Okay, NOW I'm really going back to studying.
For a study break, I went to a friend's birthday party. I hadn't seen him in 4 or 5 years, so it was fun to say hi and meet a couple new people.
Now I'm back home, and will be getting back to studying.
But first - the garden update! I ate my first homegrown tomato yesterday, it was delicious. The second one is now starting to turn red. It looks like a bird is eating them, so I need to figure out some kind of screen to keep them away.
It's really not quite as red as it looks here yet.
Lettuce is still growing.
The rosebushes have roses.
Okay, NOW I'm really going back to studying.
10 July 2011
miscellaneous
D and I found a good sushi joint - we decided to go out and have a very late celebration of both our birthdays. Thanks to a livingsocial.com deal, we got off cheap!
This morning I went for a last minute bike ride with a friend I met at church. Cathy and I had a nice ride along part of the Freedom Trail, ending with a view of downtown before we turned back and headed home. It was a great ride except the humidity makes the air feel like glue.
I got home to find the first of my tomatoes is starting to turn red!!
I've got zucchini blossoms and buds galore, but not a single zucchini growing yet... oh well.
Here's another random fungus picture - this one was growing along the sidewalk where I walk to school, it's since been smashed up either by people or hard rain.
And this is a close-up of the purple-leafed plant by the gateway to the Emory campus - I just think it's pretty...
This morning I went for a last minute bike ride with a friend I met at church. Cathy and I had a nice ride along part of the Freedom Trail, ending with a view of downtown before we turned back and headed home. It was a great ride except the humidity makes the air feel like glue.
I got home to find the first of my tomatoes is starting to turn red!!
I've got zucchini blossoms and buds galore, but not a single zucchini growing yet... oh well.
Here's another random fungus picture - this one was growing along the sidewalk where I walk to school, it's since been smashed up either by people or hard rain.
And this is a close-up of the purple-leafed plant by the gateway to the Emory campus - I just think it's pretty...
08 July 2011
walking to school
I walk to school because I live less than a mile away. It's mostly uphill, although not steep at all. I think there might be 150 feet total elevation gain. If the weather were nice, it would actually be quite pleasant.
The first half mile is actually walking to the campus. The street on which I live is usually pretty shady when I'm on my way. Green is the predominant color with lawns, ivy, trees, shrubs, and then some pretty landscaping at the intersection where I turn.
On the left is a small park.
The next street's less shady. I really feel it on the way home in the afternoon! Then I get to a roundabout ("traffic circle?") with a formal entrance to the Emory campus.
It's a pretty walk for the rest of the way on campus. First I walk along a brick sidewalk with space for 4 benches on the side. Only one space has a bench, it's kind of cool and funky.
On the other side of the street is Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church. It reflects the Methodist origins of the University.
There's another bench-sculpture, this one's pretty odd. A funny thing D and I observed is that the little "seat" actually lifts off. We were both amazed it wasn't bolted or chained on, and agreed that most places we've lived, that piece would have been long gone.
Next I cross a bridge over Antoinette Candler creek. One day I noticed a small plaque on the left just before the bridge. I stopped and read:
I followed the sculpture down, across the creek, and up the other side. It's an interesting pathway of multiple materials, from metal to poured concrete to wood to natural rocks.
Normally I just walk across the bridge. For my architecture nerd friends, you might like to know that the building at the end of the bridge is the Michael C. Carlos Museum, designed by Michael Graves.
I'll usually walk up alongside the museum on the trellised stairway to the Quad.
Then I walk around the edge of the quad. The 6 buildings forming the corners of this rectangular space I believe are the original campus buildings, built in the early 1900s. The marble walls are a "quilt pattern" of different shades of pink and grey local marble.
After a couple more minutes, I get to the School of Medicine. This building will consume many of my waking hours for the next few years!
Behind the School of Medicine building is a fountain. Somehow, I keep hoping that stepping near it on a hot day will make me feel cooler. It hasn't worked yet.
Also behind the SOM building is WHSCAB (Woodruff Health Sciences Administration Building). This is where it all started. On interview day - we started and ended the day here. Our orientation started and ended here. AND our graduation will also be here.
The first half mile is actually walking to the campus. The street on which I live is usually pretty shady when I'm on my way. Green is the predominant color with lawns, ivy, trees, shrubs, and then some pretty landscaping at the intersection where I turn.
On the left is a small park.
The next street's less shady. I really feel it on the way home in the afternoon! Then I get to a roundabout ("traffic circle?") with a formal entrance to the Emory campus.
It's a pretty walk for the rest of the way on campus. First I walk along a brick sidewalk with space for 4 benches on the side. Only one space has a bench, it's kind of cool and funky.
On the other side of the street is Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church. It reflects the Methodist origins of the University.
There's another bench-sculpture, this one's pretty odd. A funny thing D and I observed is that the little "seat" actually lifts off. We were both amazed it wasn't bolted or chained on, and agreed that most places we've lived, that piece would have been long gone.
Next I cross a bridge over Antoinette Candler creek. One day I noticed a small plaque on the left just before the bridge. I stopped and read:
"Source Route"
BY GEORGE TRAKAS
Environmental sculpture
commissioned for the 1979
Phi Beta Kappa Symposium
on Intellect and Imagination.
I followed the sculpture down, across the creek, and up the other side. It's an interesting pathway of multiple materials, from metal to poured concrete to wood to natural rocks.
Normally I just walk across the bridge. For my architecture nerd friends, you might like to know that the building at the end of the bridge is the Michael C. Carlos Museum, designed by Michael Graves.
I'll usually walk up alongside the museum on the trellised stairway to the Quad.
Then I walk around the edge of the quad. The 6 buildings forming the corners of this rectangular space I believe are the original campus buildings, built in the early 1900s. The marble walls are a "quilt pattern" of different shades of pink and grey local marble.
After a couple more minutes, I get to the School of Medicine. This building will consume many of my waking hours for the next few years!
Behind the School of Medicine building is a fountain. Somehow, I keep hoping that stepping near it on a hot day will make me feel cooler. It hasn't worked yet.
Also behind the SOM building is WHSCAB (Woodruff Health Sciences Administration Building). This is where it all started. On interview day - we started and ended the day here. Our orientation started and ended here. AND our graduation will also be here.
05 July 2011
you lookin' at ME?
This morning was our first anatomy exam. Kinesiology was last week. Two down, two passed.
Before I left for school I was doing some last minute review of notes when I noticed that little guy on the back of the chair opposite me. If you look carefully, you can see a binder open on the table behind.
I'd never seen a praying mantis before (except in pictures, of course), so of course, I took a picture. Then I moved the chair to the door, tipped it outside, and let the bug live an outdoor life.
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