It seems that time and opportunity as always moving against me and this blog! It seesm but a brief moment since last I logged on, but I have been reminded again of the illusion of time and the great reality of life. Please forgive me for my tardiness.
I thought that I would share some memories of summer from many past years, and give you a sense of how my long days away from my school books would be kept. Summer was always a magical time - magical and ever lasting to the youthful spirit!
Lake Tahoe would generally see the thaw sometime in May, though it has been know to happen in June too. Spring, I believe, is the shortest season in the mountains, mostly because it is winter for so long and the chill of snow lingers upon the ground much longer than at lower elevations. Spring in Tahoe was likened to a time-lapse video, though, in truth, the flowers actually blossomed just as quickly. We would have snow and frost laying about the branches of the trees, and then, in 2 or 3 days, the snow would melt and the first, brave leaf buds would begin to unfurl. The daffodils would stupidly believe that if the sun was shining overhead, the hour for springing out of the ground was at hand! The long, green spear-like leafs would come charging out of the ground, all eager for sunlight - only to fall prey to the next frost, which usually came ten days afterwards. Summer, then, is usually delayed by 3 weeks, because of the foolishness of flowers.
Mid-to-late June, things really started to happen. Trees would garb themselves in leaves at an alarming rate, and all the perennials would come to petal at blistering speeds, knowing that the days of summer were short lived in Tahoe, and they had better make the best of it. The grass would change practically before your eyes, green flooding over the brown in nearly no time. Mowing and weeding would become a weekly, if not daily, chore. Water fights and spinkler chasing were the games of the hour, and on special days, we would even go to the beach .... ah, the beach! What a memory! Tahoe is one of the purest, cleanest, fresh water lakes in the world. We did not have seaweed or pond scum or algae or any other filth, but rather enjoyed nature at its finest - clean and powerful. Just a little ways out, the rim of the lake would suddenly veer down and you would be swimming in 15-25 feet of water. Sure, the water was a staggering 52 degrees, but once you became numb, that didn't matter. :-) It was worth it just to jump headfirst into the water, just so that you could adapt that much faster. When you came in to the beach to dry off, the sand was so warm and cozy, and the speed at which one became dry was unbelieveable.
Most years we would attend the Fireworks on the Lake show that came with the 4th of July. It was spectacular, as they were sponsored by the Casinos that lined the Lake on the Nevada side. You can see the 2009 highlights can be seen with the link. Let me know what you think!?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNM1vo0z1Ss
Mostly I remember warm nights, the smell of freshly cut grass, and the promise of many hours given to the pursuit of manhood. Ah, but that youth should be wasted on the young, for I would go back today and relive those moments - if only I had the energy!
Until my next time and opportuniy collide!
Jinxedy
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
The story of a tree, a chiropractor and a bad neck.
Yet another memory of old that sheds some light on how I got this way. :-)
We had all just finished up our final semester exams and were enjoying the wonderful, adventuresome days that 12 year old boys generally find once out of school. On the day in memory here, my sister -L- and I were once again "primal hunters in pursuit of prey," tracking various large-game animals, and finding unusual ways to "kill" them. The vicious animal that I was currently tracking was a large bear, gifted with the power of invisibility and tenacity. However, after many hours of "pushing" this man-killer through the forest, I had finally managed to chase him up a tree. I remember feeling elated - that I, the supreme master of the forest, had cornered and treed his first bear. I was NOT going to let this one get away. I settled easily into the role of "bear killer." Armed with naught else but my Elm-tempered rifle, I slew the beast way up in the tree, taking a wonderfully excellent shot and striking him right betwixt the eyes! Haha, dreamt I, my first bear!
Because of my imagination, I entertained the idea that a birds nest, high up the tree, was the bear's body, and wouldn't I be brave indeed to bring back the carcass of my first bear! So, as the indestructible bear killer began to climb the tree, my faithful follower, -L- documented all my movements with "be careful, Jinxedy, it really high!" I waved affectionately, for I was overly confident, and, sure enough, I was not careful. As I climbed, the branches of the Tamarack became sickly and dry. Years ago, it had been struck by lightening, and was now in its final death throes. Many of the branches were brittle and long dead, some smaller ones snapping as I leveraged them for support. When I was about 20 feet off the ground, and only five or six feet from the nest, I tried jumping off a branch in order to reach the next higher branch above me ... I remember nothing else.
I woke up back at home in my room, lying on my bed. My head and back hurt and I vaguely remember having a bandage on my forehead. My vision was fuzzy and I couldn't remember how I had come home. Shortly, my dad came into the room and asked me how I was feeling. I remember crying and saying that my back hurt. So, we went to see my Uncle Joe, the chiropractor.
I was bent at the hip, leaning towards my right side at a 30 degree angle. It took the rest of the summer to re-align my back and spinal column, and I popped with dramatic fashion every time I got out of bed in the morning. So, even to this day, I am plagued with a bad neck and pressure headaches. I can still turn my head and POP! every morning, and I am sure that my back will eventually catch up with me and turn weak too. For now, I am happy to be upright and walking.
So, now you know why I crack and pop so much!
Until the next round of memories or dreams, I remain,
Jinxedy
We had all just finished up our final semester exams and were enjoying the wonderful, adventuresome days that 12 year old boys generally find once out of school. On the day in memory here, my sister -L- and I were once again "primal hunters in pursuit of prey," tracking various large-game animals, and finding unusual ways to "kill" them. The vicious animal that I was currently tracking was a large bear, gifted with the power of invisibility and tenacity. However, after many hours of "pushing" this man-killer through the forest, I had finally managed to chase him up a tree. I remember feeling elated - that I, the supreme master of the forest, had cornered and treed his first bear. I was NOT going to let this one get away. I settled easily into the role of "bear killer." Armed with naught else but my Elm-tempered rifle, I slew the beast way up in the tree, taking a wonderfully excellent shot and striking him right betwixt the eyes! Haha, dreamt I, my first bear!
Because of my imagination, I entertained the idea that a birds nest, high up the tree, was the bear's body, and wouldn't I be brave indeed to bring back the carcass of my first bear! So, as the indestructible bear killer began to climb the tree, my faithful follower, -L- documented all my movements with "be careful, Jinxedy, it really high!" I waved affectionately, for I was overly confident, and, sure enough, I was not careful. As I climbed, the branches of the Tamarack became sickly and dry. Years ago, it had been struck by lightening, and was now in its final death throes. Many of the branches were brittle and long dead, some smaller ones snapping as I leveraged them for support. When I was about 20 feet off the ground, and only five or six feet from the nest, I tried jumping off a branch in order to reach the next higher branch above me ... I remember nothing else.
I woke up back at home in my room, lying on my bed. My head and back hurt and I vaguely remember having a bandage on my forehead. My vision was fuzzy and I couldn't remember how I had come home. Shortly, my dad came into the room and asked me how I was feeling. I remember crying and saying that my back hurt. So, we went to see my Uncle Joe, the chiropractor.
I was bent at the hip, leaning towards my right side at a 30 degree angle. It took the rest of the summer to re-align my back and spinal column, and I popped with dramatic fashion every time I got out of bed in the morning. So, even to this day, I am plagued with a bad neck and pressure headaches. I can still turn my head and POP! every morning, and I am sure that my back will eventually catch up with me and turn weak too. For now, I am happy to be upright and walking.
So, now you know why I crack and pop so much!
Until the next round of memories or dreams, I remain,
Jinxedy
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Current affairs and some answers
Well, I am sad to say that I have been too long away from my humble writing desk. I apologize profusely and will attempt to placate the sores of "expectation scorned" with some new and current ramblings.
I have been asked how it is I came into the field of pharmacy. I will attempt to answer this and some others with this current post. (related questions will be given in parenthesis!)
I graduated, as previously stated, in 1998 from OLVS. I went immediately into the local community college in my home town, and started working on my AS degree (somehow knowing that science was my interest!:-). Since I hadn't "declared" my major when I enrolled (not really knowing how I'd like the spend the better part of my working life), I had no real focus for my efforts, knowing that I should conquer all the foundations classes for my AS degree. I found very early on that I had a knack for math! I was a little shocked, as I wasn't too stellar in the subject while in high school, but I was doing everything right, and making it to the top of the class all the way through Trig. Once I made it to Calculus I and II, I was actually tutoring students in my own class!!
I learned soon that science and medicine were the fields in which I had interest, and so proceeded to learn more and more about what kinds of medicine or science I would like to pursue. It is interesting to note that during all this time, I was working as a "drug clerk" at the local retail store, stocking all the items that were not considered "grocery." I met and talked with several pharmacist, and I realized that I wanted what they had: a veritable mountain of knowledge, seemingly about everything. Thus, after about 6 quarters of school, I decided that I would get my AS in Pre-Pharmacy. The interesting part is, the more classes I took in the field, the more I learned to become passionate about it. Then, I took Organic Chem ... wow, that was a tough class. I had never had chemistry before, and I admit that the teacher was horrendous, but I managed a C and decided I'd try it for a few more semesters. After 4 quarters of Organic I and II, I found the magic to chemistry: wait about a semester, and all the knowledge you meant to learn would come to light in the semester you were currently taking! Never once did I understand the chemical properties of a certain LAW until the next class, and by then the current subject matter was so far beyond me that I simply struggled through, mastering the fine art of cramming! This property of chemistry stayed with me until I entered the professional school at The University of Kansas School of Pharmacy in the year of grace, 2002.
I can't begin to outline all the changes that I went through while in Lawrence, KS. I became a college basketball fan (GO JAYHAWKS!!), learned how to drink shots and bongfaces, even learned what the difference was between a Russian Kamikaze and a German Kamikaze. Essentially, pharmacy school was the biggest, most satisfying 4 years of my life. I took every chemistry class under the sun ... mechanical, physical, pharmaceutical, medicinal bio-, biochemistry and even nuclear chemistry. My teachers were excellent and my peers in the class were funny.
But, I suppose, that in answer to the question "Why did you become a pharmacist?" the answer would have to come from the logic I employed at the threshold of undergraduate enrollment. I knew that I liked Math and chemistry. I also knew that I wanted to get married, which meant that I needed a job to support one. I knew that teaching, which admirable in all attributes, would never be able to supply the type of life that I wanted to give my family. So, what kinds of majors employ both math and chemistry? You guess it, pharmacy.
I know that this is a long post, but the question required some reflection into the past, so I hope that you were able to bear with me.
Cordially yours,
Jinxedy
I have been asked how it is I came into the field of pharmacy. I will attempt to answer this and some others with this current post. (related questions will be given in parenthesis!)
I graduated, as previously stated, in 1998 from OLVS. I went immediately into the local community college in my home town, and started working on my AS degree (somehow knowing that science was my interest!:-). Since I hadn't "declared" my major when I enrolled (not really knowing how I'd like the spend the better part of my working life), I had no real focus for my efforts, knowing that I should conquer all the foundations classes for my AS degree. I found very early on that I had a knack for math! I was a little shocked, as I wasn't too stellar in the subject while in high school, but I was doing everything right, and making it to the top of the class all the way through Trig. Once I made it to Calculus I and II, I was actually tutoring students in my own class!!
I learned soon that science and medicine were the fields in which I had interest, and so proceeded to learn more and more about what kinds of medicine or science I would like to pursue. It is interesting to note that during all this time, I was working as a "drug clerk" at the local retail store, stocking all the items that were not considered "grocery." I met and talked with several pharmacist, and I realized that I wanted what they had: a veritable mountain of knowledge, seemingly about everything. Thus, after about 6 quarters of school, I decided that I would get my AS in Pre-Pharmacy. The interesting part is, the more classes I took in the field, the more I learned to become passionate about it. Then, I took Organic Chem ... wow, that was a tough class. I had never had chemistry before, and I admit that the teacher was horrendous, but I managed a C and decided I'd try it for a few more semesters. After 4 quarters of Organic I and II, I found the magic to chemistry: wait about a semester, and all the knowledge you meant to learn would come to light in the semester you were currently taking! Never once did I understand the chemical properties of a certain LAW until the next class, and by then the current subject matter was so far beyond me that I simply struggled through, mastering the fine art of cramming! This property of chemistry stayed with me until I entered the professional school at The University of Kansas School of Pharmacy in the year of grace, 2002.
I can't begin to outline all the changes that I went through while in Lawrence, KS. I became a college basketball fan (GO JAYHAWKS!!), learned how to drink shots and bongfaces, even learned what the difference was between a Russian Kamikaze and a German Kamikaze. Essentially, pharmacy school was the biggest, most satisfying 4 years of my life. I took every chemistry class under the sun ... mechanical, physical, pharmaceutical, medicinal bio-, biochemistry and even nuclear chemistry. My teachers were excellent and my peers in the class were funny.
But, I suppose, that in answer to the question "Why did you become a pharmacist?" the answer would have to come from the logic I employed at the threshold of undergraduate enrollment. I knew that I liked Math and chemistry. I also knew that I wanted to get married, which meant that I needed a job to support one. I knew that teaching, which admirable in all attributes, would never be able to supply the type of life that I wanted to give my family. So, what kinds of majors employ both math and chemistry? You guess it, pharmacy.
I know that this is a long post, but the question required some reflection into the past, so I hope that you were able to bear with me.
Cordially yours,
Jinxedy
Sunday, July 5, 2009
A word about Independence day and why it's a good day!
Well, yesterday was the 4th of July, the birthday of this country. 239 years ago, our founders decided that Life, Liberty and Pursuit of happiness were the real freedoms of this world, and so proclaimed them to the world.
As Americans, we live the hopeful life of probable wealth. Only here, in this nation of dreams, can a nobody excel and become a somebody. We have this opportunity afforded us simply by being a citizen, and living according to the doctrines and rules of those first great American men, men who dreamt of complete personal freedom and the means to support oneself entirely.
As we celebrate this weekend, we should remember all those brave men and women who have labored before us to give us the lifestyle we have now, and we should strive to give our children the best we can for their futures too.
God bless America! God shed His grace on thee!
Jinxedy
PS - did anyone else notice that our President was out-of-the-country on it's birthday? I did ... and I have to ask ... who planned that trip?
As Americans, we live the hopeful life of probable wealth. Only here, in this nation of dreams, can a nobody excel and become a somebody. We have this opportunity afforded us simply by being a citizen, and living according to the doctrines and rules of those first great American men, men who dreamt of complete personal freedom and the means to support oneself entirely.
As we celebrate this weekend, we should remember all those brave men and women who have labored before us to give us the lifestyle we have now, and we should strive to give our children the best we can for their futures too.
God bless America! God shed His grace on thee!
Jinxedy
PS - did anyone else notice that our President was out-of-the-country on it's birthday? I did ... and I have to ask ... who planned that trip?
Friday, July 3, 2009
How I got this way ...
I always thought that growing up in a large family was unique and different, mostly because we had the biggest family for miles! When the fifth oldest, Doodle, was born in '86, life was fun and there was no end of trouble that we could get into as a family. Doodle and I became childhood friends almost immediately after she was born. I was hoping and hoping for a younger brother when my mom was expecting Doodle, that I was nearly shattered when I found out I had ANOTHER sister. But, of course, once I met her at the hospital, I forgave her for not being a boy and immediately vowed that I was going to have as much fun with her as I would have had if she had been a brother.
My mom decied to homeschool us when I was in third grade. This was because the public school system in California was miserable (even then). I barely knew my multiplication tables and couldn't phoenetically sound out new words! My mother was not impressed. When the Parent-Teacher meeting came around, my mom asked "How is my son doing this year?" A reasonale question, since it appeared that I was not doing well at all. My teacher said "Oh, he is right where he needs to be, progressing every day!" As you can imagine, this did not sit well with my mom - my mom doesn't do vague. Mom wanted to know what my GPA was ... the teacher showed her a report card that contained plus signs (+) and equal (=) signs but no letter grades. Evidentally, letters were even too tough for the teacher. What this translated to was that I had areas of good skills (the "+" signs) and areas that needed improvment (the "=" signs). Within a week, I was out of public school and enrolled in homeschool.
I have to stress that homeschooling is not as sheltering as some people think. We all played with the school orchestra and I was on the PE field too. I played Little League baseball and competed in various school competitions. While I didn't have the peer pressure of the "normal" public school student, I had other perks - like one-on-one tutoring and I was able to get all my homework done while in school, and I never had to worry about missing a day because I was sick. :-) We also graduated about a month before everyone else did, which was very awesome. All in all, when I graduated I felt ready to continue my education with confidence and hard work. When I enrolled in the local community college, I found that I was generally more advanced than my public school conterparts.
Home life was nice, mostly because all the friends I had lived at home with me. We are still a close knit family. I can thank my mom for my skills as a learner and my dad for the knowledge of how to get there. Growing up with so many girls, ultimately, gave me shape and structure to the life that I love and the people whom I cherish.
With regards till next note,
Jinxedy
My mom decied to homeschool us when I was in third grade. This was because the public school system in California was miserable (even then). I barely knew my multiplication tables and couldn't phoenetically sound out new words! My mother was not impressed. When the Parent-Teacher meeting came around, my mom asked "How is my son doing this year?" A reasonale question, since it appeared that I was not doing well at all. My teacher said "Oh, he is right where he needs to be, progressing every day!" As you can imagine, this did not sit well with my mom - my mom doesn't do vague. Mom wanted to know what my GPA was ... the teacher showed her a report card that contained plus signs (+) and equal (=) signs but no letter grades. Evidentally, letters were even too tough for the teacher. What this translated to was that I had areas of good skills (the "+" signs) and areas that needed improvment (the "=" signs). Within a week, I was out of public school and enrolled in homeschool.
I have to stress that homeschooling is not as sheltering as some people think. We all played with the school orchestra and I was on the PE field too. I played Little League baseball and competed in various school competitions. While I didn't have the peer pressure of the "normal" public school student, I had other perks - like one-on-one tutoring and I was able to get all my homework done while in school, and I never had to worry about missing a day because I was sick. :-) We also graduated about a month before everyone else did, which was very awesome. All in all, when I graduated I felt ready to continue my education with confidence and hard work. When I enrolled in the local community college, I found that I was generally more advanced than my public school conterparts.
Home life was nice, mostly because all the friends I had lived at home with me. We are still a close knit family. I can thank my mom for my skills as a learner and my dad for the knowledge of how to get there. Growing up with so many girls, ultimately, gave me shape and structure to the life that I love and the people whom I cherish.
With regards till next note,
Jinxedy
Thursday, July 2, 2009
The first of many stories ... this one age 6
Have I mentioned that I have a lot of sisters? Well, I do! This is one story about one of them and the trouble an older brother can cause a younger sister, even at the young age of 6.
At age six, I already had four sisters, one older and three younger. -L-, my immediately younger sister, was something of a tomboy ... (well, she still is something of a tomboy, but more feminine!) and would follow me around and do what I did, though she always tried to climb higher up the tree or jump down the more dangerous cliff, etc. Naturally, when I discovered that I could climb a tree and access the roof to the LDS building next door, she wanted to give it a try too. -L- was only 4 years old when I taught her how to climb a tree. My brotherly intuition told me that she would probably need the skill later on life anyway! While I was the "lead scout" on this tremendously "important" adventure, -L- claimed that she was only following behind me because I had started up first!
We had a fun time climbing up that tree, zig-zagging around the branches on our way up, until the moment of glory! we reached the eave of the roof and could practically walk onto the LDS roof. Oh, by practically, I mean that one kicked their foot out and leaned a great deal until the foot struck steel roof.I made it with nary a worry, and stepped onto the roof and came back to the edge to help -L- cross over. I grasped her hand, she looked into my eyes with undying trust, and, with a mighty YANK!, she too secured footing on the two-storied roof of the LDS building. Victory was ours!
We frolicked and played and ran merry races until we were called in for dinner. (My mother's great voice ringing in the air "It's time for dinner!") At this point, I remembered that we needed to get BACK on the tree and climb down to the ground, for remember, this was a two story building. At 6, I can claim that Daredevil characteristics were running rampant in my veins ... it was nothing to take a running start and jump onto the tree, grasping trunk and limb with both hands and hanging on for dear life (all with the feeling of indestructability!). My sister -L-, on the other hand, was not a Daredevil and lacked the childish stupidity required to jump from a roof to a tree in order to reach the ground. She told me thus, and so I had but one alternative left ... tell the folks at home that I had led -L- up a tree and onto the LDS roof and then promptly left her there. My dad and I had "words" (mostly OUCH! and SORRY!) but I am happy to report that -L- survived the experience - if only to follow me into more and more "adventuresome" dangers.
Ah, youth ... such a tragic thing to be wasted on the young.
Yours, cordially
Jinxedy
At age six, I already had four sisters, one older and three younger. -L-, my immediately younger sister, was something of a tomboy ... (well, she still is something of a tomboy, but more feminine!) and would follow me around and do what I did, though she always tried to climb higher up the tree or jump down the more dangerous cliff, etc. Naturally, when I discovered that I could climb a tree and access the roof to the LDS building next door, she wanted to give it a try too. -L- was only 4 years old when I taught her how to climb a tree. My brotherly intuition told me that she would probably need the skill later on life anyway! While I was the "lead scout" on this tremendously "important" adventure, -L- claimed that she was only following behind me because I had started up first!
We had a fun time climbing up that tree, zig-zagging around the branches on our way up, until the moment of glory! we reached the eave of the roof and could practically walk onto the LDS roof. Oh, by practically, I mean that one kicked their foot out and leaned a great deal until the foot struck steel roof.I made it with nary a worry, and stepped onto the roof and came back to the edge to help -L- cross over. I grasped her hand, she looked into my eyes with undying trust, and, with a mighty YANK!, she too secured footing on the two-storied roof of the LDS building. Victory was ours!
We frolicked and played and ran merry races until we were called in for dinner. (My mother's great voice ringing in the air "It's time for dinner!") At this point, I remembered that we needed to get BACK on the tree and climb down to the ground, for remember, this was a two story building. At 6, I can claim that Daredevil characteristics were running rampant in my veins ... it was nothing to take a running start and jump onto the tree, grasping trunk and limb with both hands and hanging on for dear life (all with the feeling of indestructability!). My sister -L-, on the other hand, was not a Daredevil and lacked the childish stupidity required to jump from a roof to a tree in order to reach the ground. She told me thus, and so I had but one alternative left ... tell the folks at home that I had led -L- up a tree and onto the LDS roof and then promptly left her there. My dad and I had "words" (mostly OUCH! and SORRY!) but I am happy to report that -L- survived the experience - if only to follow me into more and more "adventuresome" dangers.
Ah, youth ... such a tragic thing to be wasted on the young.
Yours, cordially
Jinxedy
Introduction of a Pharm Boy
I have been around. I've seen and done a lot of strange and un-natural things. This ... this is how I want those stories remembered. Initially, though, a short and succinct history of me! =)
Born 1980 in Nevada in the mid of winter, cursed with chronic double-ear infections until May of '81, learned to walk at 9 months and proceeded to become the terror of the Mountains. (My mother said that I could run! under the dining room table until I turned 18 months!) I am the second child of 11, all the other siblings being female and driven by HORMONES!! =) I was home schooled from 3rd grade forward until I graduated in 1998, promptly enrolled in college in 2000 and obtained my PharmD in May of 2006. Joined the frantic workforce that goes along with pharmacy, and am now gamefully employed in a closed-door, compliance conscious pharmacy! Married the love and joy of my life in October of '06 and welcomed girl #1 Chloe in Feb of 2008.
Now that you have the Cliff Note's version of my life, segments and stories will eventually surface between all the major events listed above and anecdotes to life's subtle nuances!
So, with a determination to continue daily, I remain cordially yours,
Jinxedy
Born 1980 in Nevada in the mid of winter, cursed with chronic double-ear infections until May of '81, learned to walk at 9 months and proceeded to become the terror of the Mountains. (My mother said that I could run! under the dining room table until I turned 18 months!) I am the second child of 11, all the other siblings being female and driven by HORMONES!! =) I was home schooled from 3rd grade forward until I graduated in 1998, promptly enrolled in college in 2000 and obtained my PharmD in May of 2006. Joined the frantic workforce that goes along with pharmacy, and am now gamefully employed in a closed-door, compliance conscious pharmacy! Married the love and joy of my life in October of '06 and welcomed girl #1 Chloe in Feb of 2008.
Now that you have the Cliff Note's version of my life, segments and stories will eventually surface between all the major events listed above and anecdotes to life's subtle nuances!
So, with a determination to continue daily, I remain cordially yours,
Jinxedy
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