Episode I: The Phantom Menace

Last night was night #1 of the Star Wars movie marathon. I will review and give my thoughts on each movie after I watch them. So, with Episode I here's what I have to say: It's a fun movie that could've been really really good. I do have some issues with it though. 1) Jar Jar Binks really is dumb...I understand comic relief, but seriously George, what were you thinking? 2) Jake Lloyd is awful in this movie....awful...I know the director is to blame, but the kid cannot act worth a darn....awful. 3) The story itself feels very small for the epicness that is Star Wars. A trade dispute on a small backwater planet. I understand that it was just a set-up for the rest of the series, but it still feels small for Star Wars. Now here's what I like about it 1) it's fun and enjoyable to watch, 2) the pod race is cool, and 3) The ending fights are really awesome. In fact, this movie has one of the best climatic fights of all the movies. The lightsaber fight between Qui-Gon Jin (?), Obi-wan, and Darth Maul is fantastic. Watching Gungans get shot isn't too bad either? I'm just playing....

Anyway, a good movie and a start.

PS - I can move today, some soreness, but I can move...and was able to tie my tie.

Sore muscles and a Movie Marathon

Yesterday, my buddy J2 dragged me out to lift some weights. This was fine with me, because I could use the exercise and whatnot, but keep in mind it's been over a year since I really lifted weights. I was expecting some sorness this morning, but overall I faired decently....with one exception. My triceps!! They are super-tight and hurt to move much. This is a problem. I can't bend my arms in...especially my right. The left is actually ok, achey, but I can move it. My right is crazy. A 90 degree angle at the elbow is extremely painful. I was unable to use my right hand to button up my shirt past the fourth button. I couldn't tie my tie. I had to eat my cereal with my left, drink my OJ...it's been and will be rough. I'm looking forward to this loosing up.

Alright, I am planning a movie marathon over the next several days...6 days in fact. I am going to watch the Star Wars movies in succession. Starting tonight with Episode I. Don't worry, I'm borrowing Episode III on DVD from J2 (it's a chinese copy, but hey, who cares). If anyone is in the area and interested in joining me on any one of the next 6 nights, let me know. It'll be fun...I promise.

Does anyone have some Bengay...or Advil....or anything??

Tennis and a Move

On Wednesday, I went to "work out"/lift with J2. However, the weight room at the apartment complex was out of order and we didn't want to drive to Butler, so he suggested tennis. I said sure, let's hit that little yellow thing around. It is important to know the last time I had played tennis: 5th/6th grade athletic church camp. So, yep, we are talking like 13 years, since my last attempt at tennis....in other words, I was a little out of practice. We went out and just smacked the ball back and forth, nothing formal, for awhile and worked up a nice sweat (it was near 90 degrees). Then we decided to play for real....I mean keep score with that whole love, duece, advantage stuff. He won the first game, I won the second, and then he swept from there on out. He ended up 6-1. We only had the energy to play 1 set. It was really fun, and I think I could be passable at tennis (especially if I dropped some pounds and increased speed), since it's just hand-eye coordination. After tennis, we went in and his fiance cooked us dinner (hamburger and mashed taters). It was really fun, and I think a rematch is in the future.

In other news, I get to spend this Saturday/weekend helping my brother and sister-in-law move into their new place here in Indy. I don't know if I mentioned it, but my brother got a job at a UMC close to me and my sis-in-law has a job teaching special ed in the Carmel school district. They are going to be about 3 minutes away (5 if you take your time). That means less weekends by myself, and a drastic increase in video gaming....exactly what I need, right?

Ain't life grand....1 more week of General Medicine, then off to something different....yeah!!!

Life without AC....how did they do it?

Well, apparently sometime yesterday the AC at my house went out. It was cool when I left for work, but was hot when I got back. Now occasionally my cousin will let it get warm (he likes it that way...for some reason), but I just turn down the thermostat. So I turned it down, but it never ever cooled down. I just kinda figured I wasn't doing something right, so I pretty much ignored it. I sleep with a fan on in my room anyway (again since my cousin has it warmer than my personal preference...especially at night). So I just turned up my fan and slept away. But it was extremely warm when I got up, and the temp on the thermostat climbed and never cooled. I moved the fan into my TV room and just toughed it out. My cousin got in made a comment about it, I explained what I saw, then he called my uncle. He came over, saw the freon level was low and the condensers(?) were all frozen. So, in other words, we have no AC. After the NASCAR race, I came over to my Uncle's house and the joys of AC.

At my uncle's house was my other cousin (currently living in Texas) and her two kids (my 2nd cousins?). Anyway, Natalie is 4 year old girl who loves to be the center of attention. Jacob is a newborn (several months?) who is a nice chubby little kid. If I was a girl, I would say Ooooh, Aaaaah....and talk really stupid, but I'm not so I just grin and talk relatively normal. Those are two extremely spoiled kids...then again, I'm awfully spoiled myself...so live it up.

Well, I've gotta get some laundry done and will sleep with a fan tonight.

Ready for a change....and a book review

Tomorrow marks the halfway point for this rotation month. I have been at the same site doing the same stuff for the past 6 weeks though and am truly ready for a change of pace. I have several complaints about these two rotations (which will be aired at the full completion). Anyway, I was tired of it at 4 weeks and am thoroughly tired of it now. Other rotations may not be much better, but at least they will be different. Oh well, two more weeks and then on to something new (Oncology at St. Francis).

On another note, let me give you a book review: I had recently finished Angels & Demons by Dan Brown (the Da Vinci Code guy)....and by recently I mean like a month ago. Anyway, here's the gist. The book is really good. It picks up fast and never really stops until the end. The chapters are relatively short and he tells another excellent story. It pokes a little at the Roman Catholic Church, but does not offend (but I am not Roman Catholic). In fact, I rather liked the comments about faith, science, and religion. The final several chapters get a bit frantic and could've gone without, but all in all another excellent read. If you find yourself extremely frustrated with the premise of the Da Vinci Code, then I would still recommend this one. Good stuff!!! Dan Brown proves to be a talented author.

Well, my day has finally wrapped up (started at 6:15 with my alarm, 7:15 at the Hospital, and now I leave at quarter til 5)....I'm tired of it.

Return of a Chinaman

Over the past year a good friend of mine had been located in China doing some kinda teaching thing. Anyway, he has since returned a couple of weeks ago. I had not yet talked to him, but decided yesterday was the day. So, I called him up, used a funny voice and had him quick confused for a couple of minutes. I let him in on the joke and we opted to go and play frisbee. After about a good 1 hour of frisbee, we headed to get some grub at Arby's. We ate and ended spending almost 2 hours in arby's. It was really good to catch up. I suspect that further happenings of this nature will occur. Also, he is my lifting buddy, so I may actually find my way into a gym/weight room sometime this summer.

On another note, I find the show 30 days to be very intriguing. It is by the SuperSize me guy (morgan something). In this show, he places someone in an unfamiliar atmosphere for 30 days. The things are pretty neat. I've watched 3 episodes now (minimum wage, christian with muslims, and christian with homosexuals) and really find it provocating. It really makes you think. I was getting a bit angry at parts last night though.

That's all. I should probably get back to work.

Crazy Gamage

My brother's wife has been out of town for a week and I decided to go down and keep my brother company this weekend. I wasn't really sure what we would do, but I just felt it to be my brotherly obligation to keep him from going stir crazy. Much to my shock, he suggested we play video games. Now I realize that this really isn't one of my favorite activities, but since I was his guest, I would abide his wishes. So we played a video game. 1 became 2 became 3 became 13. Yep, we ended up playing 13 different video games. Of course, the cream of the crop was Star Wars Battlefront (II comes out in November....yippee!). We racked up quite the serious body count. 13 games: SW Battlefront, Medal of Honor: Rising Sun, Brothers in Arms, 007: Nightfire, Time Splitters Future Perfect, Gladius, Burnout 3, Secret Weapons over Normandy, Fight Night Rd 2, Star Wars Legos, Red Faction, Hunters Wayward (?), and Killzone (I still want this game).

The best: SW Battlefront and Killzone
Fun: Star Wars Legos, Time Splitters and Burnout 3
the worst: Gladius (turn-based RPG's are NOT my cup of tea)

There you have it, my very abnormal weekend of video gaming.

PS - I'm currently at Methodist Hospital because it was advised I stop in and check on "my patients". It's the 4th and I' m at my rotation site...what a load.

2 down, 8 to go

Another rotation has come to an end. However, my next rotation is exactly the same as the rotation that just ended. How is this you may ask? Well, we have to have 2 months of general medicine, and I am doing mine back-to-back. This means that for the next 4 weeks, I will stay at Methodist Hospital and continue to do exactly what I've been doing the past 4 weeks. I'll be honest, I don't really enjoy this rotation all that much. It's really not much fun. The days go by quickly, but I don't have fun. I know work/school isn't supposed to be fun, but I prefer it when it is.

Oh well, the brother is done talking with the wifey, so it's back to killing something.