Julie and I ate too much at Flat Top, then went to see the play Jabberwock at The Latin School, where my friend Nick teaches theater. He does a phenomenal job with the kids, and really challenges them with the plays he chooses.

Me: I looked on the internet today and couldn't find much about this play. It's about James Thurber, right?
Nick: Yeah, it's not very popular. Not a lot of people do this play.

Before every show, I circle the names of the three kids I predict will be the best, and the three who will disappoint me. Nobody really disappointed me last night, and the freshman who played Doc Marlowe was especially good. Kid's got a bright future.

P.S. Check out Nick's blog, BaeRatings. Because everything should be given a letter grade.

We did not have class today due to the prediction of winter nastiness. It was great to have a snow day, but I felt bad because the storm didn't pan out to be as bad as it was supposed to be. To assuage my guilt, I got ahead on some schoolwork.

We have a series of videos on CD-ROM that supplement our reading assignments. They are really nerdy, with an overly dramatic soundtrack and a mildly hypnotic narrator. But they are also pretty helpful in allowing us to visualize the procedures we will be doing.

The first time I watched them, I assumed they wouldn't show much. Then all of a sudden a penis was being washed, and the reality of my new career set in. The patients in the videos do not seem like real patients, but they almost have to be, based on the horrible procedures they have done to them. And I wonder if they got paid on a sliding scale based on how invasive/awful the procedures are. Like maybe Unconscious Tooth Brush Guy got $50, Penis Wash Guy $150, and NG Tube Guy $275. I hope Urinary Catheter Woman got paid a shit ton.

In addition to learning skills in lab, we also focus on physical assessment of patients. In a few weeks, we have our assesment test, where we have to perform a complete physical exam on another classmate. I was nervous asking Corey to be my partner, like I was asking him to prom or something. (He said yes!)

The skills lab has a few exam rooms exactly like what you would find at a doctor's office. Corey and I practiced using the otoscope and ophthalmoscope to look at each other's ears and eyes.

Me: I just looked at Corey's retina.
Amy: With the door open?
Corey: What?
Amy: Oh, retina. I was thinking rectum.

Katy and Laura get acquainted with the IV practice arm.

I was relieved to find out today that we won't be starting any IVs this semester. I know someday I'll be doing this in my sleep, but right now it seems a little intense for Week 4. We did get to draw medications from a vial using a syringe, and that was strangely exciting.

The nurse party was followed closely by a teacher party at Leadway. They still like me enough to invite me to their gatherings. I've been away from teaching for less than two months, but it seems like forever. I made some great friends at Northtown, and I miss them a lot.

Here Patrick is making time with my old lady. I wanted to punch him in the mouth, but he's too much of a dreamboat.

Kristie had a nurse party at her home in Rogers Park. She has two really awesome and entertaining children who brought out most of their toys for us to play with.

Me: What's that, Cayden?
Cayden: It's my Leapfrog. It's better than a Nintendo DS.
Kristie: Yep, that's what we tell him.

It was a bit of a disappointing turnout, but considering most of us are real live adults with families and commitments and responsibilites, it's understandable. It was fun, and I look forward to the next gathering.

Today after class, Reny showed a few of us how to navigate the tunnel system that runs beneath some of the buildings. Reny did her undergrad here and works in the College of Pharmacy, so she knows some secrets. Definitely handy on cold or rainy days, or when one wants a little adventure. There are weird rooms with radiation warnings, and even a lock-up area where people (criminal patients?) are kept. I'm glad they have an angled mirror for the long hallway so that you can make sure a deranged murderer or a pediatric manikin isn't charging at you with a knife.

I had always heard about tunnels running underneath Champaign-Urbana, but this was either a rumor, or nobody bothered to show me. Thanks, Reny.