Today in my teenage angst, my dad went in for surgery.
Now is the time to share with you, once again, that I watch a lot of TV. In my life, I've watched a lot of doctor/hospital shows. It started with ER - a classic and favorite until Carter and Lucy were stabbed and I was sent into a fear spiral for a full year. Then a few later I started in on House. What a captivating cast and dysfunctional place of employment. But that show follows a very clear formula that I got tired of. In the midst of House, I started watching Grey's Anatomy. This continues to be my favorite and something I never tire of. The characters are interesting and well developed - as are their relationships with each other. The story line is solid and always leaves you wanting more. It's also very light - in comparison to ER which was very dark and dank and continually depressing. Though it takes place in Seattle - one of the rainiest cities in America - the producers have created the set to have a lot of windows and the patient rooms to be well lit. I've seen almost every episode of Grey's at least twice.
Beyond its intelligence in creative story-telling, it has also informed me very broadly in the area of surgery. I know things about cardio-thoracic surgery, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, general surgery, emergent surgery and others. Because of this knowledge, seemingly every time I enter a hospital, I expect something like what happens on a Grey's episode to occur.
Today in my teenage angst, as I wait for news of my father's surgery, I'm assuring myself that this is a simple general surgery that Miranda Bailey performs probably over ten times a day. The other reality is, however, that I have seen a lot of simple surgery's go terribly wrong.
And so my angst cannot be stilled. I can, however, be assured that no intern is performing this surgery, nor have I been informed that any interns will be present in the operating room. So I can rest assured that the attending's know what they're doing because they wear the navy scrubs and have been through absolutely everything.
Here's a pic from after the surgery. He wrote me a note. Cute.
Today in my teenage angst I rebelled against outerwear. In other words, I didn't wear a coat to school. It was a poor decision.
In the later years of my first undergrad degree, I looked down upon freshmen who didn't wear coats in the dead of winter as they were likely using it to show their daring independence. Today, as I left my classes for the day and was met by driving rain/nearing hail, I became one those people regarded by onlookers as ridiculous and sad.
I think I'm ready for my release party. Just kidding, I'm not having a party. Well I am but it's a personal thing. One might call it a party for one. I re-watched Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince last night and have a hard time dealing with how brilliant the world is that J.K. Rowling has created. Furthermore, she captures her readers on a deep enough level that by the end of the series, they understand that world as though it was their own. What a feat. I'm jealous of her creativity and literary genius. I'm choosing to engage, however, rather than resent her for it.
I hope you get to see the movie sometime this weekend! P.S. If you're not an HP fan, get on board now. I command you.
What a let down. The last day of my blog project and this is the question? No one has time to try and figure out the answer to this question or even AN answer to this question. So I'm not going to.
Instead I direct you to this video. If you're not a cat person, you probably won't think its funny but I almost peed. So here you go. This is the last post of my project and will be returning to Today in my teenage angst oriented posts as quickly as possible.
In the past month . . . yeesh. I'm a student so let's hope I can find something.
In my political science study I have learned that feminism is not the aim of elevating women above men but rather doing away with the western ideology of dominance. I have also learned within this class that Google image should not be used in academia.
In my anthropological study I have learned that there is a way to question the social and cultural actions of people groups without a condemning critique. I have also learned that as a first year student at Mun, my academic pursuit does not generally matter . . . (this is not actually true but it is the general message sent from my Prof who has clearly been in the academic realm too long. She's a little jaded.)
In my economic study I have learned that understanding my economic context influences every step of my consumerist life. I have also learned that this field is not only fascinating, but exciting.
In my folklore study I have learned that folklore is not a valid field. In my general opinion, it is incomplete anthropological study. I wish I was kidding about this, but I'm not. Folk-literature, maybe. Folklore alone? Not so much. I really do wish my feelings were different.
So there you go. That's my learning. For other learnings not mentioned here, reference the next most recent post.
This is a picture of me and my roommate last year around this time. We had to get our grad pictures done for the plaque that may or may not now be hanging up in Briercrest's academic hallway. That makes it sound like they only have one. I'm just referring to the academic administration hallway. This is also where they hang all the grad plaques.
I feel like I've had to re-learn a lot since this picture. I spent last year being taught the importance of community. I was blessed with an amazing group of people who seemed to make it their aim to teach me (once again) how to love and be loved. Then I left it all. I left it all when I graduated and re-learned it over the summer. Then I left it all again and have had to re-learn it here. I've now been here for two and a half months and only now am I coming to appreciate where I have been placed this year (and probably a few more).
It took me a long time to find my niche. I sank into survival mode pretty quickly upon my arrival. Searching out new places. Discovering what exactly was and wasn't necessary for my survival until I could go back home at Christmas. With that settling into survival mode came and enjoyment of the life I had built. I guess that's what our lives are - an enjoyment of (or lack of enjoyment of) our survival modes. It seems drastic to call them this, but that's what we're all aiming to do - survive.
Recently I've discovered a community that is literally saving me. They gather on Sunday mornings and several nights throughout the week. I have entered into these gatherings and they have made it their mission to teach me the same things the people last year were teaching me. I am feeling blessed as the hand of God continues to guide me through what sometimes feels like a barren desert that happens to be on a coast line. They are filling my heart almost every day with love and encouragement and something to look forward to as they make me a part of their lives and ensure that I am provided for.
Thank God.
This is me only a few days ago. I got new glasses and wanted to show them off. Check out Zenni Optical for more information.
Today in my teenage angst, my dad went in for surgery. 
