Week One, over and done...

Okay, you've gotten through your first week of Medical Terminology. Luckily for all of us not one person had their eyes bug out and no one threw up in class. Good sign if you ask me. I think this term is going to be exciting because of all the good attitudes I encountered!

Remember that we do not have class next week (July 3 and 4 - something about some holiday I think...). Use the time to study all the material we went over this week. You are starting your education in a new language and you've just learned the ABC's. Look over the rules for building and for defining medical terms. Repeat the prefixes and the suffixes over and over if you have to. Don't forget the inside front and back covers. There's good info there. If you have any problem with pronunciation, or anything else with these terms, call me. I'm here for you, that's what Karl pays me the big bucks for. LOL!

When we meet again, we will test over this material. Also, your homework will be due. The lecture will be over "Body Structure" - terms about structures, cavities, directions, actions, etc of the body.

Let me know if you need me,
val.

Medical Terminology!

School starts back up next week and boy am I excited! I love the start of a new term. There's the anticipation of meeting new people and of reacquainting with previous students; the smell of new books and unsharpened pencils; and learning new things. What? Valerie, the teacher, learns new things each term? Well, heck ya! Okay, I already know that the word "cholelithiasis" means "the abnormal condition of having gall stones", big deal. But I'm sure that I'll learn a new recipe for spaghetti sauce from someone. Or maybe someone will share the answers to yesterdays crossword puzzle. Perhaps someone will teach me biometrics or how to read palms. Whatever. We all have some knowledge that needs to be shared. I hope that I'm privileged enough to be allowed to pick the brains of my students. I'm looking forward to it!

For my new students, come prepared to learn. Have an open mind. Get ready to have fun. For the returnees, welcome back! I've missed you! All of you should bring your textbook, paper and pencil/pen for note taking. Note cards are not required for this class.

If anyone has any questions/comments for me before school, please call me or leave a message for me at the school. They will make sure I get it. Otherwise, I will see you Tuesday in Lima or Wednesday in Leipsic.

All a'flutter,
val.

I shaved my legs for this?

The above song title is one of my favorites. It's a country song (duh, I can't imagine Lil' Kim belting out this one)and like all the best country songs it sums up the the whole problem in just a few well selected words. The song tells the story of a woman getting prepared for a date. There is much excitement and nervousness. What do I wear? Should I wear flats or heels? Does this make me look fat? Much has been arranged, preplanned, and agonized over. As any girl knows, it takes time and much effort to be sufficiently readied for something this important - perhaps even life changing. Anyway, after going through all of the exhausting rituals of this potentially future altering event, the lady of the song finds that her potential lover was nothing but a dud. Here she was all nervous over something she thought she might not have any control over, and it turns out that it really was no big deal.Is that it? And I shaved my legs for this? Ha!

I can almost guarantee that is what our graduates are going to be thinking tomorrow after State Boards. They have given blood, sweat and tears for the last almost two years (or more). Most of them have bald spots from tearing out their hair, all of them have bloodshot eyes. I know of at least one that has started smoking. Heck, I've even had phone calls asking me how much Tylenol and Pepto can one human consume at one time and not die.The proficiency exams have given them pimples and frizzy hair.They have worked hard, very hard for their date with the State Medical Board tomorrow. It's gonna be cool listening to them after the last session as they exit the building. "Is that all it is?" "I got all freaked for that?" "Our proficiency exams were way tougher than that". "Val, you lied about the Tylenol and Pepto!".

And in the background I hear a country crooner crooning "...and I shaved my legs for this?"

Keeping my books open and sending all my future peers good Mojo....
val.