I <3 Thunderstorms

We had a pretty good thunderstorm a while ago. It knocked the power out. I really love thunderstorms (when I can watch them from inside). They just make things feel exciting but cozy at the same time if that makes any sense.

Finished my exams today. I feel pretty good about them, except for a few questions. Like this one, out of left field: In 175 words, describe the physiological processes that must occur for the pancreatic acinar and and ductal cells to synthesize and secrete digestive enzymes. Your answer should include a discussion of the biochemical pathways that take place within each type of cell, and the chemical and physical triggers that start these processes.

But at least they are done. I get really stressed out at exam time, and it's very difficult for me to eat. Normally, I would just not eat, but we all know how fuzzy and floaty we get without food. And that is not something I need when taking an exam in vet school, when everything is like ten times harder. So I got a bagel and cream cheese from the bagel shop across from my apartment each morning. It took me about an hour to eat each time, because I was just not hungry, but I wanted carbohydrate for my brain function. Your brain is actually an obligate user of glucose, which comes from carbohydrates. Other tissues in the body can use fat for energy, but your brain absolutely needs glucose. It can't function properly without it. Which is why the fuzzies come along after going a long time without food. Just in case you all wanted to learn something. :)

But my stomach is still doing cartwheels. I didn't eat anything but the bagel yesterday, and it looks like I'll be going that route again tonight. Not that I mind. I just wish it wouldn't hurt so much. I actually tried having a little cream of broccoli Soup at Hand, but only ate about a 1/4, and got horrible stomach pains. So I am just going to forget about it.

Also, I was worried I was going to see a higher number on the scale this morning, since when I got on last night it said 129.5lbs!!! I don't know why I weighed so much, but it might have been from the tummy torture trouble. I don't know. Anyway, this morning I woke up and weighed myself, and I was still 126lbs. I have been in a holding pattern at 126 for a little over a week now. So annoying. Hopefully this weekend I can change that, since I will be all by myself. I just need to make sure I don't accept any invites from my friends to come over for dinner or anything like that.

Tomorrow Becca and I are doing a fast together. My roomies will be gone, and my new block of classes doesn't start up until Monday, so I don't have to worry about keeping my brain sharp. I am planning a distraction of going to Borders for a few hours, and then having a Grey's Anatomy marathon before the new season starts tomorrow night. I am so excited!! I love that show. Except the more I learn about medicine, even though the medicine I learn about is veterinary, the more I realize how many mistakes the show has. Like the other day, I was watching an old episode on Lifetime, and there was a girl who was a hermaphrodite, but didn't know it, and came in to the hospital because she thought she had a mass in her groin. Well, it ended up being a testicle that hadn't descended, but even after looking at the histopathology slide, George couldn't tell it was a testicle and Addison had to tell him. There is no way you could mistake a testicle under microscope for anything other than a testicle. There is nothing else in the body that looks like one. Not in animals, not in humans. Lol.

Also, I want to thank Becca for being my ana texting buddy! It is really helpful! We can't always be around a computer, but most of us have our cell phones on us at all times, so texting is the perfect way to cheer each other on and be there for support.

Love you, Skinnies!

~Sottile