ANGER, with extra ERRRRRRRRRRRR!

I just needed to vent at the ridiculousness that is health insurance.

Lately as some of you know, I have been going to get allergy shots. I began the treatment in December, with an initial visit to the Allergy/Asthma specialist that included an allergy test, a breathing test, and a visit with the physician. Our health insurance payed for all of these things.

Then, the following week, I had a visit with the doctor, during which I receive my first set of two injections and was monitored by the nurses to make sure I had no adverse reaction to the shots. The insurance payed for that.

Every week there after I have been going into the doctor's office to receive two injections, which as you may have guessed, the insurance pays for, in full.

Guess what they don't pay for.....the bottle of allergens that they are injecting me with...WTF???

Wish Me Luck

I take my licensure test in two hours. I am way less prepared that I had hoped to be. I am going to fail (that might be the nerves talking...but it might not be.) Don't be too hard on me when I have to take this bugger again.

I think I'm going to go puke now.

Update: Well, the test questions weren't as complex as the practice tests that I was taking. That HOPEFULLY bodes well for me.

I have an attitude problem

School this semester is really wearing on my nerves...the teachers and their habits in particular. Today one of my teachers was twenty minutes late for an appointment that he made me come to a half hour before school normally starts. I held my tongue, but just barely. One of these days, my smart mouth is going to get me in big trouble. It is a good thing that I go on clinicals next week.

Diets and College Don't Mix

Here are some of the reasons lossing weight in college sucks:

1. Constant offers of free food to entice you into going to events you otherwise wouldn't
2. Poverty that makes it really hard to refuse anything free
3. Horrible unhealthyness of aforementioned free food
4. Stress related eating
5. Vending mechine lunches
6. Cafeteria lunches
7. Beer=social life
8. Studying all night=eating all night

Whip It, & Whip It Good!

I was doing a little bit of self reflecting today, i.e. not paying attention in class, when I realized that I have no stress relief mechanisms in place for myself. Instead, I tend to hold on to stress with a white-knuckled grasp that can only be loosened with a crowbar (and the removal or passing of the stress causer).

Realized is probably the wrong choice of words however, as this is not, nor should it be, a new thought about myself. I have made myself fairly ill in the pass simply from being under a good amount stress (yeah jr. year of high school!). Of course, you maybe wondering why you all care. Here's why; life is starting to work its stressful magic on me and I would like to deal with it before illness sets in. That's where you come in. I need everyone to comment with their own stress relieving methods and activities. Maybe it I do ALL of them at once, I can manage to let go of the worries and pressure.

Thank you for your forthcoming assistance!

Burning Question

"Is it really that hard to carry around a penis?"
Our dear friend Megan, about her job

This could turn into more of a rant than a review

Last night I was home alone so I thought that I would rent a movie that none of my movie night companions would be to upset about missing, so I picked out Shut Up and Sing, a documentary that followed the Dixie Chicks after their lead singer, Natalie Maines, made a comment about the President during a performance on the eve of the United States' war with Iraq. Not only was I pleased with my choice, was pleasantly surprised at what a heart-warming tale the movie turned out to be.

It follows the woman and their families on the tumultuous voyage that their lives take after Maines' comment. While watching I was struck by several things, the first being how deeply their fans, as well as television political personalities took her remark. I have never agreed with people "punishing" artists for their personal opinions. I always have thought that what a person thinks or does in their personal life has little effect on the end product that I am consuming so why bother worrying about it. For an extreme example, take Michael Jackson, probably a child molester, doesn't mean that I like the song "The Way You Make Me Feel" any less. So, even though I remember the hubbub about her statement, since I neither listen to country music radio nor watch conservative political talk shows, I didn't realize and was surprised by the fervor of it all.

The second thing that struck me was how brave they all were. The Dixie Chicks, particularly Maines, faced a public thrashing that you and I could never imagine. They had every opportunity to give in, tuck their metaphorical tails between their legs, and give in...but they didn't. They stuck by their opinion and their right to express it even after death threats, one of which was so serious that the FBI was involved.

Finally, I taken with the strength and love of the band members relationships. The movie shows how well they supported each other through the controversy as well as personal problems (like difficult pregnancies) that the woman had during the filming. I think that, above all else made this movie a joy to watch.

Oh, and one more! I didn't realize the Dixie Chicks had so much rock'n music...I think I will by their lastest CD! Anyway, I give this one a thumbs up and recommend it to anyone who was mildly entertained the description, I was more enthralled than I expected to be. Also, I'm proud of myself for holding back several rants* that the movie caused me to explode with on the phone to Joe last night. I realize that I let that tiny bit of one slip through in the beginning...you know about the fans and Michael Jackson...but you can only expect so much from me...



*In case you are wondering here is a short list of the things this movie made me rant about: 1.My views on patriotism 2. The way that the media treats opinionated women as opposed to men and 3. The Christian Right

after this weekend my brain and my social skills will be needing a break

I wish I was up in Minnesota for Coleen and Phil's graduation with Joe. Instead I have studying scheduled ALL WEEKEND. Apparently, I have some how managed to become the hub of my class' finals studying activities this weekend. I am not kidding either, people are coming over here after our lab proficiency thing tomorrow at 11, Saturday at 2, and Sunday at 2. The small ray of sunshine in the gloomy cloud of studying that has looms over my weekend is that I am sure that everyone's attention span will be short and the sessions won't last until the wee hours of the morning. With final scheduled for Wednesday as well as Monday I have a feeling that this overcast will maintain its position until Tuesday evening. If everyone really comes over, this will be honestly the most I have ever studied for anything. But then...two weeks of freedom from that PTA class room. Sunshine, butterflies, unicorns, and rainbows, hurray!!!

FAFSA

So, I went back over my FAFSA, the form that all schools as well as the government use to determine what kind of aid you will get, and realized that the amount they calculate that Joe and I are expected to contribute to my education is 1/4 of our income. Does anyone have an extra quarter of their income just lying around burning a whole in their pocket? Anyone? That's ridiculous.