Welcome to the Jungle

My professor was proceeding to explain the obligatory relationship leaf cutter ants have to fungus when some very loud rustling followed by the sounds of a dropped computer and a very panicked student started happening across LSA 191.

This rustling was followed a moment later with a very loud and panicked "What the FRENCH?!" (I might have edited that slightly. I've gotta keep things PG here.)

Mr. French then proceeded to jump up, freak out and start trying to get something off of him. People around him, completely clueless as to what was happening, started running away and screaming as well. (Ah, mob mentality.)

Then the girl sitting next to Mr. French, ran up to him, grabbed whatever was on him and ran out the door.

All of this happened in about 20 seconds.

"Um, what was that?" my very alarmed and puzzled professor asked.

"It was a snake," a bunch of girls said.

"No it was definitely a bird," one guy yelled out.

"Actually I think it was a rat," another girl stated.

With that, the tattooed 5'11 Mr. French replied, in a very emotional tone, "It was some kind of animal!"

Then the guy sitting behind Mr. French said, "Dude, I think it was a sugar glider."

Sure enough, my professor pulled up a google pic of a sugar glider on the projection screen and Mr. French confirmed his attacker's identity.

Well ASU, that's definitely a new one.

Elements Combined

It would be impossible for me to make a list of everything I learned and saw during my ten 12-hour emergency department shifts. But, I've been attempting to mentally review my time there now that I have officially completed my 120 hours. So, here are some lessons learned and things remembered.

1. Do NOT under any circumstance make the nurses mad/annoyed. Or remind them they are hungry.
2. If you walk around purposefully, people will think you have a purpose.
3. Drunk people are exponentially more dumb in a hospital.
4. Drunk patients are the worst.
5. Never step on the chest saw cord.
6. Doctors are people.
7. Pitbulls may be dangerous, but they make for some very anatomically educational injuries.
8. In most cases of broken bottles v. frat boy faces, frat boy faces lose.
9. Dumb people should not carry 38's.
10. Those same dumb people should not smoke weed while attempting to handle 38's that "aren't theirs."
11. Patients are people.
12. Teach your children how to dial 911.
13. If you have made the decision to drink all day, make the decision NOT to continue drinking on a poorly gated third story balcony.
14. Its unrealistic to wear Converse shoes while riding a motorcycle and expect to escape an accident with all of your toes.
15. When a trauma surgeon tells you it's time for surgery, it's time for surgery.
16. Sometimes broken necklaces can look like bullets in an X-ray.
17. The ED is a cold place. Wear layers.
18. 97 years old is too old to be jumping on a couch.
19. Neurosurgeons stand out. They just do.
    
20. Scrubs are not flattering.
21. Sometimes the Emergency Department is exactly like ER.
22. Most of the time the Emergency Department is nothing like ER.
23. Defibrillators really do make that Hollywood "charging" sound AND people really do say "clear!"
24. Anesthesiologists have it MADE.
25. XXL wheel chairs are not easy to maneuver.
26. Sometimes miracles do happen.
27. Putting on sterile gloves is SO much harder than they make it look on Grey's.
28. Po-go sticks are good precursors to broken noses.
29. Elmer's glue + gauze = an effective way to remove cactus spines.
    
30. The human body has some very "interesting" smells.
    
31. Chaplains can bring more comfort than doctors and pain meds.
32. 12 hours is a long time.
    

My 61 Second Break

All the colors
Of the rainbow
Hidden 'neath my skin

Hearts have colors
Don't we all know
Red runs through our veins

Feel the fire burning up
Inspire me with blood
Of blue and green

I have hope
Inside is not a heart
But a kaleidoscope.

One Year Old!

Well, this month my blog turns one year old! I still remember the night Shannon and I made it a little over a year ago..*sigh.* (And by "Shannon and I," I really just mean Shannon. I had absolutely NO clue what was going on. Thanks again friend!)

I waited to publish my first post until after I had bought my plane ticket to Ireland. I thought a blog would be a fantastic way to keep everyone I cared about at home up to date with my travels and happenings overseas. And it was! It seems so strange that this time a year ago I was preparing to leave home for 5 months. Time sure flies!!

Even though I am not traveling the world currently, I still really enjoy having this space to share fun, albeit often random, things about my life.

So, for those of you who do, thanks for reading. :-)

(Stay tuned for another birthday post! Tomorrow my cute little brother turns 18!!!)