Pathology, Pluckers, Peter Pan, and Pharmaceutics

Nice! They all start with P! I guess I kinda cheated on the pharmaceutics one, since we usually call it ceutics, but whatever. So last week I took my worst test, not supposed to be the hardest, but the questions sucked so bad that it ended up being so. The average for the multiple choice is a 64! Gotta love those kind of tests. Obviously it isn't that everyone blew off studying, the test was poor! But they haven't graded the short answer part, so the average may go up. Doubtful, last year's average was a 69 after both. A lot of the P2s were excited, because it'll show the professors that it wasn't that they didn't study hard enough. Anyways, so I literally felt like I had been mentally raped after that test. I was very depressed and came home to find solace in an amber bottle. Marie comforted me and then I went to bed. No more studying, my mind was gone. Turns out everyone felt that way and a streak of depression ran through the school. Thanks for starting the week off right Patho! Jerk.

So the next day, after class, I decided to take a break from school. 5 tests in 7 days is pretty shitty, I needed a break and I really wanted to hang out with the wife. Not to mention the fact that it was SOOO nice outside. Perfect weather! So we went to play putt-putt at Peter Pan's on Barton Springs. It is an Austiny thing to do, and it's BYOB! So we stopped and got a 24 of Natty and a four pack of plastic chardonnay wine bottles, no glass allowed. We putted, I won't say who won, me, and we drank and we were merry! So after that we headed to Town Lake to walk around and enjoy the fine ass weather. It was gorgeous. Hungry from all the days excitement we went to Pluckers. The food there is pretty tasty and they had a drink special on Tuesdays, 34 oz Ziegenbach or Lonestar for $4! Needless to say I had two. Well Marie had a couple sips of hers, and then I finished it.

Marie is using her hand as reference.

After the beers we went home and attempted to watch the Wedding Singer. Instead we went to bed half way through. A very nice night to say the least, and much needed for both of us.

The next night was back to studying and then Thursday I took my last of the tests, very easy. I was so excited that it was over! I went home and had dinner with Marie, a couple beers, and we went to be early! I love getting to sleep! Friday I helped out at the PharmD candidate interviews. It's so much fun getting to answer their questions and trying to make them feel less nervous about their situation. This time a girl came running up to me, panicked and out of breath, and asked if I knew where the interviews were. I told her to calm down, she was definitely overwhelmed and about to cry, and asked when her interview was. "430" I checked my phone, 433. Yikes! So I told her not to worry I am sure they had a back up plan for this kind of stuff. She started panicking again, and pulled out a rescue inhaler. She was giving herself an asthma attack from freaking out. I got her to the fifth floor and the coordinator said it was no problem, she just got switched times with someone else. So I think that calmed her down. I think letting your interviewer know you were so dedicated to getting to your interview that you almost died would be a good thing. Hopefully she brings up the asthma attack during the interview. After that, I went with the wife to an APhA fundraiser/social were we I sang some karaoke. There was a pretty good amount of people who sang once they heard how bad I was and didn't want me to sing anymore. It was a lot of fun, I did Rollout by my boy Ludacris, and some Asians did a good version of the Backstreets Boys. Turned out to be another fun and not study filled night. I think I am gonna have to jump back on the study train soon, as in tonight. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted!

I am off to work! It was another crazy, but actually fun filled, week in the PharmD life. May the force be with you dear readers!

4 tests and V-day

Ahhhhhhhhhh. Valentine's the day of love, chocolates, and heart break. I am not going to lie, Valentine's is not my favorite holiday, and this may stem from the fact that up until I was 17, I never had a true Valentine of my own. But now I have no excuse, and I am starting to warm up to it, if slowly. I am gonna go ahead and put this out there, I have the best Valentine and wife ever. So there! We celebrated early, as fore mentioned, because one of my professors is sadistic and decided we should have our first exam on the day of love. So it was looking like it would be a horrible V-day fo sho. However, I got done with my test after only an hour and was home with the wife. We decided to go out and have a V-day dinner even though it was 830. We went to the grandest of all places, Cheddar's! It was actually really good. This is only our second time dinning at the location, but the food has been nearly exceptional both times. For the price it is totally worth it, and the location of the restaurant brings out the high class people too. For instance, as we were walking in to the establishment, a car drove into the parking lot with the phrase "Mr. Hit Dat" painted on the side. I wanted to ask if I could go to a pic with the vehicle, but of course Marie thought it would be a bad idea. So anyways, we are waiting for a table, and in walks a very classy looking gentleman. Marie and I both turn and look at each other. As soon as he walks off, we both say, "That was Mr. Hit Dat!" It was quite amusing. So in case my sarcasm got a little confusing in the paragraph above, I shall summarize. Cheddar's has good food: True. The demographics of the customers are high class: False. Mr. Hit Dat was a gentleman: Mega False. I hope that cleared some things up, cause even I get confused sometimes with my humor.

Valentine's this year was definitely a very good one. It could have gone south, but my loving and adoring wife made it perfect. Thank you so very much Marie, you are amazing! Oh and if you wanna see her take on the day click here. It's a few posts down, though I wold recommend reading all of her's. They are awesome!

Okay, so I have already mentioned the first part of the four test week. We started on Valentine's day, had one every day until Friday, and then we have one on Monday (in two days that I have barely studied for) and our last one on Thursday (which should be easy). Needless to say, the stress was on. Luckily, and I cannot speak for everyone, three of the tests weren't too difficult. The Biochemistry one could have been worse, but it could have been better also. Only having 25 questions seems nice, but then you only miss 5 and you're down to a B. The Tuesday one was nice and easy, and I feel for the most part we all scored in the A and B range. The ******** (I omitted the name to cover my ass.) exam was easy, seeing as it was only over four one hour lectures I would hope so, but there was a question without a right answer. Super annoying. And even though half the class, literally, was lined up across the front of the room, asking him the same question, he didn't make an announcement saying he had made a mistake and to choose a certain choice or anything and it'd be thrown out. He said "As per instructions, choose the best choice out of the answers provided." Well when there is no correct answer, does that mean to choose nothing? The class was a bit frustrated, and for once it was a valid frustration. Professors are humans, they are going to make mistakes, it is no one's fault and no one should get mad at them for it. However, when you make a mistake and won't admit it, that is when the fault does fall upon you, and it hurts all those involved. Well that is enough on that topic. Last night we had a not so bad one, and then me and my boyz went to Quatros and had a beer or two. It was nice and relaxing after a hard week. I wish Marie could have made it out, but she was feeling bad, so I just had a couple beers, and then ran/drove home to her as fast as legally possible.

All in all, this week could have been better, could have been worse. And for those pre-pharm people interested in UT. Six tests in 2 weeks, three times in the semester, happens every P1 spring semester, so prepare yourself now. However, if we aren't able to handle the stress, we wouldn't make good pharmacists, so it's best to have it in a controlled environment, surrounded by friends and loved ones, then to throw us to the wolves with no preparation.

Holy Crap! Crazy thunder just happened. I have to go to work now, and I don't wanna get caught in the rain. I hope everyone had a great week and as always it's been another crazy one in the PharmD life. Peace.

Go time

I have been fairly lazy the past few weeks about school work. I have been studying but I have also been taking a lot of nights off. The death march is about to begin. I have four tests next week and two the week after. However, I am still not too worried. I don't know if it is the professors or the material, but it doesn't seem too difficult. I have been having slight panic attacks when I am away from my notes and I think about all the tests coming up, but then when I actually sit down with the material I don't feel too nervous about it. Hopefully this doesn't turn around and rape me. So the good news is that I have been able to spend some quality time with the wife. Probably the last bit of quality time that I will get with her until the summer.

Other than the tests coming up, pharmacy school has been pretty laid back. I did crank out a whole bunch of papers at the beginning of the semester, one of which was due last week, and I think this has made me a little more relaxed. I finished them way early and didn't have to pull an all nighter on Wednesday to finish it. I was planning on listening to all of my lectures again online, but I got too behind the first couple of weeks,(Mario Party) and I am unable to catch up. Hopefully that doesn't bite me in the ass either. I plan on being more studious and watching all the lectures as soon as this round of tests is over, but then again we make lots of good plans in pharmacy school that don't always work out.

Yesterday was the start of interviews for PharmD candidates! I volunteered to be there from 1-230 and ended up staying until 5. It was a lot of fun helping out the wee little babies! I can barely remember my interview, it was a blur of nervousness and regret, so it was fun watching them and wondering what I looked like to the students who were there for me. I had a good time sharing my experiences with them and giving them advice, even though they haven't even been accepted yet. I think the scariest thing about my interview and then acceptance, was all the not knowing. Of course as humans we are scared of the unknown and this was my entire future on the line. So I tried to tell them as much as I could and illuminate the darkness a little bit. Plus I want them to get accepted and remember me, and I will forget them and then that'll make me the most popular boy in school!!!!!! UMMMM... or not. That was a joke I swear!

On Tuesday Marie and I went to The Melting Pot and fondued the night away. It was an early Valentine's, because my first test of the semester is on V-day, thanks professor McGinity. It was amazing as always and I know Marie had an excellent time. Then the next night we went to a place called Painting With a Twist and we split a canvas and each painted a half of it. It actually turned out quite well, plus we got to drink some wine and hang out with Marie's friend and her boyfriend, who teaches there. Oh and get this, our art teachers last name was Hogan! That's the second Hogan we have encountered since moving here. The person who lived here before us was last name Hogan. It confused the Time Warner people pretty bad. Small world I guess.

Please ignore the stupid look on my face. We painted half and half, I think it came out really good!

I started this in the morning and am just now finishing it up. I therefore had a chance to go to work and become dumbfounded by the stupidity of people. In interest of saving time I will only bring up one instance, but it is something that happens often and is 100% preventable. A lady walks up to the pick-up counter. I say, "Hello, how may I help you?" Dumb lady, "Ummm.... yes... I am picking up my prescription." People say this all the time, not "I am picking up for..." or "My name is so and so and I am picking up." They tell me they're picking up their script, obviously, and then wait. For me to guess, or learn telepathy, I don't know what is passing through their minds. I cannot read minds! I see over a hundred people a day. Tell me your damn name!!!! Shit! So I sat there, because it pisses me off and I wanted to make her feel stupid, and she never offered her name. After about 45 seconds of my staring daggers at her, I finally asked her name. She didn't even sound embarrassed or was like "Oh, duh, you need my name." Nope, just gave me her name and continued to stare at the sign log. If I wouldn't have given in and asked I bet we'd still be there now. My trying to kill her with my mind, and her with nothing on her mind. Please tell the tech or pharmacist your name when you pick up scripts. Common sense eludes most people. Okay, that's all the biotching I'll do today.

I hope your week has been as fun filled as mine, I am sure next weekend I will be nice and depressed again, as pharmacy school wants me to be, but until then I am going to enjoy my time studying and hopefully get some shit done! 

New semester

Okay, so  have decided to start blogging again for the new semester. I was considering ending the relationship, because I didn't want to have the same stuff over and over. That would be boring. So I have decided to be less of a little bitch this semester. The blog will be more about my PhramD life, and less about how hard pharmacy school is, y'all have probably figured out that it is hard and don't need constant reminders from me.

So, to start off the new semester, we have been going relatively slow so far. All of the class seem not too difficult, and I have only been working on papers outside of class, no studying yet....... I think it is gonna sneak up on me and kick my ass! I know I need to get back on the study train and start my rotating study schedule, but it is so hard when there aren't four tests breathing down your neck. And Mario Party 2 is sooooooo fun! Marie and I downloaded it for the Wii and have played many a game.She is usually the champion, but the last two times I have beaten her! It's insane how crappy the graphics are, but back in the day we though N64 was the best in graphics and design. Now playing a game is like watching a movie. I cannot even imagine what will be next, but Tron comes to mind.

Fear not my lovely readers, I have been working on two amazing assignments for Intro to patient care though. One on Assisted living facilities and we have to cram a lot of information into 400 words, which is a lot harder than it sounds. And one is my own death. I will post that when I finish it to give you a taste of what I feel my funeral would be like. Heck, you may even learn a little something about the way my warped mind works.

I have finally started studying, I missed the classical piano music, but not the material. Oh well, at least I am starting slightly ahead of the game. We will see how it pans out. I will keep up the weekly tradition of writing about my week for y'all. And hopefully everyone will enjoy it.

As always, may the force be with you, and have a great weekend!

PS Sophie says hi from my lap. She can be such a baby sometimes! Oh and my wife made a great post about our wedding, you should check it out, there are some good pictures!Marie's blog. Look on the right side of the screen for the navigation menu and click on the wedding part 1 and 2 posts.

Week 17

I am officially a P1.5!!! Celebrations occurred the night of my last final, not too late though because I was so damn worn out from the last two weeks of hell. But I made it through and that is all that matters. Now I am working full time and trying to spend as much time with Marie as possible, I owe her for the last three months of nothing but studying. I am hoping next semester will be more manageable, due to the fact that I have done this before and maybe I have some understanding of what I need to do to be a successful pharmacy student. For those out there who are thinking about joining our ranks of sleep deprived PharmD candidates, it feels great to have accomplished so much so far. One feels depressed, down-trodden, and disheartened while attending classes and going through 5 finals a week and sleeping two hours a night, but when you finish, words cannot describe the excitement and joy you feel. When I walked out of that last exam, I had this pressure inside my chest, this rush of happiness, that felt like I need to scream with joy at having finished. I almost shouted out, "Suck it Pharmacy school!" However, I am too polite for that.

Since the semester is over, and this blog is about the PharmD life, I am going to take a break on posting until the week before the Spring Semester starts. I plan on removing myself as far as possible from the PharmD life during this much needed break. I do plan on writing the papers we have due for Introduction to Patient Care over the break, but other than that, NADA!

I hope you all have an awesome break. I will see you next semester!

As a treat I decided to compile a list of what all you gain, besides a PharmD certificate, when you graduate pharmacy school.

• Gray hair
• bald spots
• weight gain or loss
• heart burn
• anxiety
• insomnia
• ulcers

May the force be with you! Goodbye to another week in the PharmD life!

Week 16

As you can see I gave up on the week numbers being in different languages, got old. I am now reporting to you as an almost P1.5! I have taken three finals and only have two more to go! Very exciting, I am not gonna lie though, this week has been very stressful, but as Marie says, I wasn't forced to go to pharmacy school so no point in biotching about it.

Comprehensive pharmacy phinals (as us cool kids call it) kind of suck. Okay, they suck pretty bad, I am not gonna lie, but they are doable, especially in some classes where they let you know what you need to focus on. Of course these last two tests I have no such luck, so I am going through hundreds of slides worth of material trying to pull out the gems from the crap. I don't know where that analogy came from, but I am gonna roll with it.

This week has also been killer to my sleep schedule, staying up until 3 or 4 and then getting up at 6 is no bueno. I am going to sleep for a day after this semester is over! Which is in only 3 days!!!! Passing this semester (hopefully) is going to be the best thing ever. I cannot wait to get my life back. I miss hanging out with Marie, that's for sure. So all you pre-pharmacy kidz, get your family and friend time in now, cause it pretty much goes bye-bye when you step into the realm of a PharmD candidate. And be prepared to stay up late and get up early! It's not uncommon to pull multiple all nighters in a row. Caffeine pills will be your best friend!

Okay, back to studying now, sorry the PharmD life hasn't been very interesting lately, but when all you literally do is eat, sleep (HAHA), and study, not much can happen.

I'll leave with some advice from a P2, "In pharmacy you have to learn to adapt, or else you're not gonna make it. If that means sitting in the same spot for a day studying or sleeping only two or three hours at a time, then you just do it. Carry a toothbrush on you and get it done." -Frank Da Tank

Week fifteen

Wow, there is not too much to say about a week like last week. It was a totally mind rape, I felt dirty and in need of a shower after Friday. Five tests in one week are never fun, but when the last one is for Physical and Chemical Principles of Drugs, you just want to die at the end of it. I don't know why they decided to put all our last exams the week before finals. I guess there really isn't a choice and I am glad to have made it through. All I have been doing for the past week is studying and it's hard to make myself get back on it for the five comprehensive finals we have. I am going to celebrate so hard when it's over. I plan on throwing up at some point that night. We'll see how it goes. I am going to have to cut this post short cause I spent the whole day watching Harry Potter and hanging out with the wife. We needed a break and it is our SIX YEAR anniversary of being together. Six years ago we were crazy high school kids and I forced her to go out with me. We then went to Sonic Drive-In, don't judge, and I was in so much disbelief that this sexy awesome girl would date the fat me, that I ignored her and acted funny. But the next day we started the dating game and now here we are! I am so glad that this first hellish semester is almost done, and I can't wait for three and a half years from now! I am not going to post for next week until Wednesday following finals. No distractions, I am sure Marie will make sure that doesn't happen, and I am going to crank these finals out and then jump for joy! After a nap of course. I hope that all is well in everyone else's world, and that all those still in school have a great set of finals. May the force be with you.

Week tizennegy

That's Hungarian! Alright, this blog is going to have to be short. Last week was awesome! Only two days of class and then Thanksgiving! I hope everyone was able to eat until they vomited. The most American holiday of them all, stuffing your face and drinking beer! Well, it's keeping us in business, I believe that cholesterol medicine is the number one prescribed drug. So this last week we only had one test, and it was on Tuesday so it made the time off start a little later, of course. Anatomy is probably one of the trickiest subjects, not because the material is hard, but because the questions are worded so wonky that it throws you off. Oh and this time he put a question that said "Inhibition of a parasympathtic nerve would least disrupt... Urination, defecation, erection, ejaculation, or your honeymoon." The answer was ejaculation, but it really depends upon what you do for your honeymoon,not to mention lesbian couples. So a girl asked him whether it was a trick question and he said, "I would sure hate to be your husband." Classic. Anyways, I thought that was a gimmie question also, luckily I figured he probably wouldn't give us an easy question so I chose the correct answer. Anyways, I just thought you should see some of the questions we deal with.

Thanksgiving was a mess, we had to eat two dinners and I felt like dying after the first. I didn't even eat a plateful, but it's all such heavy food. It just sits like a rock in your stomach and no amount of peristalsis is moving that sucker. Another awesome thing about pharmacy school, you can't stop thinking about it. I felt guilty Wednesday and Thursday, because I didn't study. I can't even enjoy the little time I do have off. Oh well, three weeks of tests and then I am officially a P1.5! Then it's only three and a half more years until I become a real person! No more tests, no more studying, actually enjoyment of life! I cannot wait! But I am getting way ahead of myself thinking about that.

Anyways, I gotta get started on studying for the five tests next week. I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving and are ready for finals to be done and Christmas to arrive! And speaking of Christmas, we already put up our tree! I have to say, it looks good. Marie finally talked me in to getting a real one and it looks loads better than the Charlie Brown tree we had before.

Marie is the mastermind behind decorating. Please ignore the thermostat.

If you want to hear more about Christmas and other holiday stuff, my wife's blog is going to get very festive soon! Here is the link. I hope no one got pepper sprayed yesterday, Black Friday, and I'll talk to ya'll again next week! Signing out after another crazy week in the PharmD life!

Week tredecim

Another week closer to getting my life back! Too bad these next couple of weeks are going to blow harder than Monica Lewensky! We have a test before Thanksgiving, four tests the week after, and then we start finals. Two weeks of don't sleep, don't eat, don't blog, just study! Five comprehensive finals in a semester that felt like a years worth of coverage of material. It's going to be rough to say the least. I love pharmacy, but pharmacy school..... We don't get along so well. So once again, for those pre-pharmacy people, know what you are getting into and make sure that you are going to be able to handle the material and the course load. Also, enjoy your life now, cause you won't have too much of one once you start. That being said, pharmacy school is a great place to make friends and you have the support of everyone around you, from P3s to the deans, they would all do anything for you. I honestly have not met one upperclassmen or professor that won't talk to you about school, work, or anything in between. They will help you with stuff you don't understand, or just tell you, I know it's hard, but you'll make it through. It's very refreshing from undergrad, where you were competing with everyone around you, and most professors really didn't care.

I still cannot wait to graduate though! I want to be able to sleep, watch TV, kill zombies, eat a real dinner, go for a drive, not feel guilty every second that I am not studying, spend time with my wife, and just enjoy my life. I know it'll be worth it, and if the semesters keep going as fast as this one, it'll be here before I know it. It's nice to be able to vent on this blog though, so vent I shall. I probably should have started an anonymous blog, so I could say whatever I want, but for the most part I get it all out. If you want to read a more down and dirty blog of what retail pharmacy can be like, click here. It's not always as bad as he says it is, but there are some bad times, especially when you work in a bad area. If you have never worked retail, and you think it might be something you pursue, I would 100% suggest reading his blog, and work in a retail pharmacy as an intern or tech for a little bit too.

Just got off work and now it is time to study, so I am gonna wrap it up now. Wish me luck and I wish all of my fellow PharmD students luck for these next four crazy weeks! Like I mentioned above, I probably won't be able to do to in depth of a blog until after the semester is over. I am glad to have made it another week in the PharmD life! May the force be with you.