For lack of a witty title

So, I was going to blog about my week later, but I just had an experience and I had to blog about it right now.  So, here I go.

I'm at Waterstreet (who's surprised? No one? Good.) Anyway, I was sitting outside enjoying the sunshine while studying for the praxis (that really awful test I have to take in 8 days), and this woman leans over and asks me what the current colloquial term for 'cool' was.  (she didn't use those terms, but that's what she meant).  She and I brainstormed and didn't come up with anything more appropriate than 'cool'.  So cool could still be cool - who knows.  Anyway, not the point.  The point is, that we had a wonderful conversation following that. I asked her if she was an author - she said yes, she's currently writing a book about her life after she found and adopted a chicken - that's right the mostly flightless bird that most people eat for dinner on Sunday - she has one as a pet.  Her (the chicken) name is Liberty, her name (the lady) is Lisa.  So, Lisa and I got on this euphorically tangential conversation.  Tangent after tangent.  Eventually we found ourselves talking about my life and what I'm doing with it - speech pathology, moving away yadda yadda yadda. 

Anyway, she also has had some experience with speech therapy as well (incidentally at the Unified Clinics).  (she speaks with a harsh, breathy tone and I was going to ask her - but she beat me to the punch).  She was recounting the time after her vocal folds were burnt in a fire.  From what she said it was very traumatic, she almost died, thought her face was going to be riddled with scars etc.  Anyway, once again not the point.  She then recounted the time when walking into the clinic and overhearing a gentleman saying some nonsense phrase over and over again (recurrent utterance).  

So here I am with this ethical dilemma - it is quite possible that I know / have interacted with this individual during my experiences in the aphasia group, and she brought him up and I can't say - "Oh yeah, that's Harry Potter (or whomever)"  So instead I talked about what I "thought" he had (knowing full well, based on her repetition of the recurrent utterance, who she was referring to).  This was, obviously, aphasia.  She had thought he was presenting with symptoms characteristic of a right sided stroke (again she didn't say that but she did say inappropriate social skills, difficulty regulating appropriate emotions etc). 

So, I got to explain to her that this gentleman is not displaying a difficulty with social aspects of communication or emotions, he is experiencing difficulty with language in and of itself.  So, he is still there, but now he is trapped inside his head without a reliable way to express himself.   

The tangents continued and we began talking about stuttering, and my experiences and what I hope to do with my professional life.  And that was great fun.  We had this deep philosophical discussion about the way we view the world and our perceptions of society and society's perceptions of people who are different.  

Anyway, I'm not sure this blog turned out the way I was imagining it would.  I can't already tell it's not mind blowing.  I think I used a lot of speech path jargon - sorry.  If you don't know what a word / phrase / whole paragraph means just leave a comment and I'll explain it in real-person language.  In fact after looking back on it - I think the post it a lot like our conversation - sporadic.  

Anyway the conversation ended when she looked at her watch and realized that we had been talking for an hour and she had to go help her aunt out.    Fun times in the life of Bryan.

In other news, my housing for Seattle just fell through, so I have to find a new place to stay or else stay in a hostel.  The hostel would be fun - I'm looking at one that is right across the street from Pike's Market - SO EXCITED about that.  I wonder if the hostel has a kitchen - I'd love to get some fresh crab legs and fresh vegetables and gorge myself on deliciousness, we'll see.  Other than that - there is not much exciting happening in my life.  Two guys in scrubs just walked in - kind of odd - there's not a hospital near here, I don't think anyway.  hmmm.  I guess that's about as exciting as it gets around here - displaced medical personnel.  Simply astounding.  Ok - i'm going to stop typing now.  I think the "Iced Coffee With a Bang" I just had (four or five shots of espresso in 6oz of coffee  ... mmmm caffeine) has just caught up with me.   I'm feeling ... jittery.  Do I drink too much coffee?  Blasphemy.  No such thing as too much coffee.  Ok, I'm really done now.

Interviewing: Commence

So I bought my tickets for my "Out West Extravaganza" today - just now in fact.  The cost of the ticket from Chicago to San Francisco jumped $50 from yesterday to today, but the ticket from Seattle to Chicago dropped $70 - imagine that.  And I was able to save about $100 by flying out of Chicago rather than Detroit (even with the cost of gas to Michigan City, IN and the commuter rail into the city).  Anyway - I have dates!  I fly to San Francisco on June 17, then on the 20th (or so) I'll take the train to Sacramento, spend with weekend with my brother and sister-in-law, then on the 23rd fly to Seattle, and then fly back to Chicago on the 26th.  It should be a grand adventure.  A mad dash across the west coast.  Can't wait.

In other blog worthy news, I was at O'Duffy's last night with Scott, and a couple interesting things happened.  (1) I saw my old band director from high school (Mr. Jordan).  That was odd.  He's doing well, teaching in Portage (I think) and will finish his masters in organ performance this summer.  and then (2) when Scott and I were bidding adieu, we saw this guy ride by on a bicycle that was literally 6 feet tall.  The bike was taller than I am.  And he was riding down the street - looking just a little bit ridiculous, if I say so myself.  But what was absolutely hilarious was watching a guy on a regular sized bike ride past him.  The mere mortal was dwarfed by the monstrosity riding along side him.  That made my night.  What made it even more queer was that the bicycle entered the street from my friend Theresa's driveway (or at least I think it was her drive) T - do you know anyone with a 6 feet tall bike?

Anyway, I should get back to studying for the praxis.  4736 'Cool Points' for anyone who can guess where I am!

ME: A look at my life subsequent to the completion of grad school

All I have to say is: ahh.  Life is good, no great, now that grad school is done.  And what's more I have made great use of my time since being done with school.  I was able to hang out with another guy who stutters.  That was lots of fun.  We were able to swap stories, frustrating moments, pet peeves, and we got to eat sushi.  delicious.  I LOVE sushi.  Anyway, a lot more happened and I don't feel like blogging about right now, so on to the next thing.  I was able to hang out with Justin this weekend.  A fun time was had by all.   Finally, I spent the day at Cedar Point yesterday.  SO MUCH FUN!  I loved Cedar Point.  I got to go with a couple speech path friends (Meghan and Colleen) and then Colleen's friend Vunner.  Lots of going fast, and twisting and turning, and up and down, and dodging vomit plastering the walkways, and waiting in line.  lots and lots of fun.  However, somethings have not changed - here I sit at waterstreet (SURPRISE!) and I'm simply elated because I'm done with my thesis. 

Anyway, sorry for the lack of paragraph structure in this blog ... i'm feeling unorganized.  

Speaking of unorganized I almost forgot the life-update that was the purpose for this blog.  I've moved from working on my thesis to working on a couple things: (1) a giant, miserable, grotesque test I've got to take on June 14, (2) job hunting, and (3) figuring if/when I'm moving out of Kalamazoo.  Lots of stuff to figure out. Lots of thinking to do.

And there was MUCH rejoicing

Guess what ... you guessed it ... I'M DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  All I've got to do is print the first page again - the computer lab doesn't have the font that I need.  Then I have to hand it in and then I'm done.  So, life is good.

In more good news, my thesis advisor and I were talking and he encouraged me to continue on in academia and pursue a PhD.  He also said that it is rare to find a student with the skill / talent and temperament necessary to do well in a PhD program, and he and the rest of my committee think that I would thrive in a doctorate program.  Crazy.  So, I'm certainly glad that I am taking a break from school to work, but I will continue my thoughts of pursuing a PhD.  wow. that's weird.

One thing I need to consider before pursuing this advanced degree is the manner in which I will manage my speech during lectures.  I need to talk with other professors that stutter to see what they do / what has helped them etc.

Anyway.  Other than that nothing much is new around here.  I"M DONE!!!!

Cappuccino and Labradoodles

So I'm dog sitting / house sitting this weekend.  Hamish - my professors' labradoodle.  He's a good dog.  Likes to lick feet.  He is, as my professors' daughter calls him, a 'special needs' dog.  He has seizures.  They aren't sure why, but he gets phenobarbital twice a day.  I think he had just come out of a seizure when I got here today (around 10:45 am).  His rug was wet (sometimes he looses bladder control), he was restless (pacing back and forth - he does that afterwards), and he was leery of going down the stairs (also, he does that afterwards too).  So, we sat on the floor, I petted him and read a book and he chewed on a chew toy.  30 minutes later he was just fine.

My professor's husband (ok, for clarification, she is my professor, he is a professor in the department, but has never been my professor), anyway back to my story.  He likes to have espresso in the morning.  I can completely understand that.  I would have espresso to if I (a) had the proper equipment to make it (b) got up in the morning in time to make it.  So, seems how it was here, and I was feeling like an afternoon pick-me-up, I made myself a cappuccino.  (for those of you who don't know, cappuccino is espresso with steamed milk) except I just realized that I didn't steam the milk, I only whipped it.  Eh, so I had mild temperature espresso, versus steaming hot espresso - next time.  

ANYWAY, sorry about the tangential conversation.  The cappuccino, it was (is) delicious.  It could be a little warmer (refer back to the fact that I didn't steam the milk).  On a second note, I have officially drank milk (well, not just plain milk) but nevertheless, cow's milk in something.  That is the first time I've had milk in ... I don't remember how long.  (for those of you who don't know, I don't particularly care for milk; thus, I never buy it and rarely ever drink it ... but I do by soy / rice milk - it's actually quite good you should try it.  I've got rice milk now, especially good with Cheerios).

In other news, I have submitted my thesis, in it's entirety, to my thesis committee.  Effectively, I am DONE writing.  DONE?!?  Yes, after my defense next Wednesday and then made the forthcoming edits from my committee, and then get all the paperwork and other "requirements" done, I will have finished all the requirements for my masters degree. It is an exciting time to  be Bryan.

Without further adieu, I think I'm going to go reward myself with reading a chapter in my book.  I will talk to you later. 

This, That and the Other

So ... I have some news.  I have turned in a rough draft of my thesis to my advisor.  39 pages of text, 11 figures, 1 table, for a grand total of 51 pages.  This is not including all the paperwork that must go in with it, so I'm nearly done!  SO close.

In employment news, I have decided that I hate contract companies.  They lure you in with the promise of lots of support, competitive pay, a great track record ... and then you still have to jump through all sorts of hoops in order to get them to begin looking for a job.  They apply pressure (what about early intervention, have you ever thought about early intervention ...NO, I said I wanted a pediatric medical placement.  If you can't find me that job then just tell me so and don't string me along, yes I realize that it will be difficult for a first year grad to find that type of job, but I am willing to wait for a great job than just taking the first okay job that comes along.  I don't want to do what everyone else is doing just because it's easy.  I know the 'best' place to work as a first year is in the schools ... but what they don't seem to understand is that I don't want to work in schools).  Also, they have poor communication within themselves - on multiple occasions I have been contacted by two people from the same staffing company.  I mean seriously.  Get your act together.  GAAAAAAAA.  I want a job simply so I can say to these people - sorry I already found a job.  rant rant rant grumble grumble grumble.  I suppose I should not complain about having to turn down jobs.  I am lucky to have the opportunity to do so (especially in this economy).  So, considering all of this, I am excited for a job I found by myself - a private practice in Seattle ... some barriers exist, though.  1) the job is part time, and will increase to full time if warranted (I asked when she would know and she has not replied yet) 2) whether the job and I are a match.  I think it will be, but we'll see. 3) whether they pay enough to support living in Seattle.  

Working through life ... my, how much fun it is.

Something's Brewing

Incidentally Something's Brewing is the name of a coffeeshop here in Kalamazoo ... I'm not there. right now I'm at Waterstreet (OOH! something new and different for me).  Anyway, so in my week of hard-core job searching I now have a private practice in Seattle and a hospital in San Francisco that want to interview me.  So I'm hoping to get one more interview in each city and then make a mad dash of the northwest coast sometime in early June.  Here is the plan: fly out to San Fran (stay with my friend Joel ... hopefully), interview, take a train to Sacremento see Ben and Crystal, then fly to Seattle (stay with friends of friends ... hopefully), interview, fly back home, and then get job offers in both places and pick the one that pays the most.  I don't know that it will work that smoothly.  I agreed to play at a wedding on June 14 - and that is really cramping my style, because ideally I'd like to push my 'mad-dash-of-the-west-coast' back a week, but then I'd be gone over that wedding weekend.  grrrrr.

Anyway, enough break ... "Back to the thesis grindstone, slave," the evil task master screams, his face purple from the surge of angry blood into his capillaries.