I'm pretty excited right now. I have all my christmas presents planned out. My mom, dad, brothers, girlfriend, and all my great friends at flock hall. I have something planned for all of them. I can't wait to get things finished up and put in little boxes with wrapping paper and bows. I think I may be the most holly jolly atheist around.

So, I spent the last week performing labs in my kitchen. I put off doing 13 labs for my physiology course online until just this last week. I got them all done though. Stressful as it was, there were some fun ones.

Here are a few of the more exciting ones.

DNA isolation using household chemicals.

-chop liver
-mix clothing detergent, baking soda, salt and water.
-mix with liver for 4 minutes
-filter through coffee filter
-throw away filter and keep liquid
-layer 95% rubbing alcohol on top of the liquid

then you get dna where the alcohol meets the liquid.










Another really nifty lab was done with nothing but red cabbage, lemon juice and ammonia.

-chop red cabbage
-boil 2 cups red cabbage in 1 cup water
-collect the liquid... it is deep purple.
-when you add lemon juice it turns bright pink
-when you ad ammonia it turns green








These were the fun labs out of the lot. The rest were not very fun at all.

I'm glad I didn't get into dental hygiene school on the first go around.

That statement may sound odd to those of you who have heard me bitch about not getting in, but let me explain.

Because I didn't get in this year I had to get a job. I'm loving full time employment even if I don't like being at work.

Because I'm no longer in school I had to move out from the basement apartment at my parents house. I am loving the freedom of having my own place.

Because I didn't get in this year I will be around Laramie at least until next December. I get to see all of my friends and hang out with them for a while longer--that means you flock hall.

Also, since I wont be leaving laramie just yet I don't have to try and deal with a long distance relationship.

So you see it's really not that bad, silver lining and all that jazz.

Well thats all for now, I just thought I really ought to post something to get back in the habit. Now I'm going to go fashion some black vatican fan gear for flynn and linus.

I took a small break.

So, as you may have noticed I've been away from most of the normal internet haunts lately. I have barely been checking email! But now I'm back, and I have a few bits of news to put down on electronic media.

First off, I have a new girlfriend. Her name is Erin and she's the best girlfriend ever.

I have been crafting things...many things. I have made a necklace and many hats. I should get some pictures of those up.

In disappointing news, I did not get in to dental hygiene school this time around. Well, I think I'll just have to keep trying.

Holy crap I just saw a commercial that said to tell your kids that you want them to wait to have sex until they get married. Oh my god.

Well thats it for now, I will be posting some pics of the hats I've been making.

Screw this noise! I went to bed at ten to get a full nights sleep, and I wake up at twelve thirty and can't fall back asleep. Gorammit!

Tomorrow my hair will be blue. I will post some pictures of it!

Now that I've got that out of the way I can move on to more serious business.

While enjoying a lovely evening at Flock hall, we hit briefly upon the topic of hats. Truth be told I have never had much luck with warm weather hats, baseball caps, bucket hats, fedoras, driving caps...I never could find one I felt particularly cool in. On the other hand, I have had nothing but luck with winter hats. Beanies, stocking caps, and especially my own home made hats, all sit upon my head with that warm fuzzy love feeling. Long story short; I am fascinated with the idea of hats.

So to that effect I am giving my patients some Doktor's Orders!

I want each of you to send me links to a picture of your favorite kind of hat! It doesn't matter if you've ever had one, or if you think it would look good on you, I just want to see what hat you find the most interesting. If you don't do as your Doktor prescribes I'm afraid I can't guarantee your health and well being. So, sorry.

Happy hat hunting folks!

I'm not ever sure what to do with my hair. Every couple of months my hair gets longer, and then the urge to shave it all off comes. The last time I did that, I said to myself that I would like to grow it out long again, but now I'm not so sure, for now it feels like I can't do anything with it to make it look alright. So, I thought I'd put it out to all of you fine folks for another opinion pole. Here are a few pics to give you an idea of what I look like with no, short, med and long hair.

On the right, between the divine squid and the ever lovely Becky and Max, you can see an excellent example of me without hair.
















This is me with short, bleached hair.















Here I am with med black hair.
















and heres me with long hair, kinda undercut in the back.

On the recommendation of several Flock members I have begun listening to a book at work called the Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman. I am really enjoying it and am looking forward to the movie that is being made based on this novel.

The site for the movie is filled with Flash and one such piece that I had to try out was the Daemon selector. My first attempt at a Daemon landed me a tiger, but I am more interested in what Daemon my friends would find for me. So here is a fun little quiz where you can mess with what Daemon I get. Have at!

http://www.goldencompassmovie.com/?211623

Crafting update

I worked on the prototype model of the Beaniretta last night. I had some trouble putting it together this first time, but that helped me to identify the best method of constructing the damn thing. Overall I'm satisfied with the way it came out. There are however a few things I need to consult with HSBP over. Mostly minor details like the size of the little doodads that stick off the top, and whether or not to put corded seams in certain spots.

Here for your viewing pleasure.....The Beaniretta prototype.

Loads of fun

I haven't been crafting lately, partly because of my injury, well, mostly because of my injury. It's taken me a little while to get back in the swing of things, but I've gotta say I'm on top of things now.

I'm sure each and every one of us has something that can give them a joy and self satisfaction stronger than any other joy they know. Sadly I'm sure many people haven't found their great joy, or maybe have been somehow turned away from it. That might be one of the worst things that can happen to a person. In fact it's one of the things I wish upon my enemies. "May you never find your true joy, but instead find many interesting and itchy diseases"
Crafting is my true joy. Any kind of crafting, making a puzzle out of a block of wood, bending metal into a necklace, fixing the lock mechanism of a knife, I love all of it. Even better is when I have the chance to create things from my own head. Better, perhaps even best of all, is when I have the commission to do something and must figure out a way to do it. I relish the feeling of thousands of thoughts birthing and sliding through my mind, mixing and evolving, shaping towards the end I need. It feels like home, if that makes any sense. It feels like a place where I'm secure, where things are right.

You probably didn't care to hear any of that, but I'm kinda high off the crafting I've been doing this evening, so whatever.

Recently I commissioned myself to come up with ideas for some Flock wear. As it will inevitably get colder soon enough, I thought winter hats might be a great start. Not only have I been coming up with ideas for hats based on catholic regalia, I've also come up with some cute designs as well. Here are a few samples.



First is the nifty little "bat hat"
The "skull cap"
Now for the centerpiece of todays previews the beaniretta

I'm not sure if I should have a fold up brim, to double up the ear area, or not.

I present my first concept sketches for a bit of black vatican gear. Let me know what you think.

Is there a name for the feeling you get when you've stressed yourself out over something, then you find out its not really that bad? Oh right...relief. I've been feeling that a lot lately. Just today I was stressing pretty hard over getting 18 hours of shadowing in before the Aug 15 deadline for my dental hygiene application. When looking over the application though, I realize that it says 8 hours are required, not 18. Since I already have at least 4hrs with one hygienist and maybe 8 with another. Also, I haven't heard back from the program director yet, but the form says 8 hours total. It is unclear whether that means 8 hours for each hygienist or just 8 between the two.
I also stressed over finishing my nutrition course with an A. I had not turned in several assignments or done the last exam, so I was rushing to get them done. turns out that while I calculated out my score as a 92, the lady running the course forgot to mention that the lowest test score is dropped and my actual grade was a 97.--relief
I've been causing myself further stress over my little finger, I was beginning to worry that I would never regain feeling in it. But, once again I was stressing for nothing, the tingly sensation I get when touching the tip of my pinky is a constant reminder that, in this case and any other, I should take the advice of good old Dougy Adams...

Don't Panic

new job

As of last week I am an employee of Startek. So far the job seems fine. The pay is much better than what I could expect anywhere else, and the work is--for the most part--remarkably easy. The only challenge is that there is no way for me to really get better at the job except to work for a long time to see all the different things I'll have to do, because they can't really teach you everything right off the bat. I like to learn everything I can about problems that might present themselves right off the bat, and having to wait until I run into a problem really bugs me.

well here they are

I told you I would put up some pics of the new glasses, and so here are.

Not sure If I'm cool enough for them or whatever.

A little while ago I bought some glasses online. You might remember me talking about it, if you don't well scroll down you nonce. Right now I can't show you how they look, because I was stupid and let the batteries run out on my camera. I'll be sure to get a pic up as soon as I can. In the meantime let me tell you, they are not what I was expecting. They are actually larger than the websites measurements and they don't look like I thought they would. That said, I can't really decide if they're bad or not, they're just not what I expected. I may send them back, or I may keep them, since the prescription is right. I don't know if I'm brave enough to wear them in front of strangers before my friends get a chance to see me in them. They look to me like glasses that a person has to "pull off". Like some people can pull of wearing white after labor day, but most can't. I fear by wearing them I might look like I'm trying to make a statement about myself, like those emo kids in their standard issue thick framed square glasses. Oh well, I guess I'll try them out for a while, just for kicks.

It feels like I haven't updated for quite some time, or maybe I just feel that way because, to me, a lot has happened.

With regard to my health, or rather the health of my finger, things are going well. It is still a little chubby looking, but I have regained about 50% of the original movement, and using it is becoming increasingly easier. The feeling is dull, I'm not even sure if it's there or not. While the physical therapist says it is unlikely that I will regain more than 70% of the movement in the finger, she also mentioned a guitarist who through constantly working on it regained all of his finger movement. I will get my finger back.


Also of note, I finally got my diploma in the mail. To be honest, it's even more disappointing than I thought it would be. The paper is not as stiff or as thick as I had hoped. It is much plainer than I had imagined. Yeah, what a fucking jip.








Although it has nothing to do with my degree, I now have gainful employment. It's nothing to really brag about. The job is at StarTek. The pay seems good though, the hours were nice and flexible, and I wont feel bad quiting it to go to dental hygiene training.

I think I'll add more tomorrow, for now I am out of steam.

I have the morbid urge to poke somebody right in the eye. Not a little poke, a full on jab. Right in their the eye. I'm sure it will pass soon, but for now it's a good thing that no one is around to poke.

Old photo for reference

Mayren made the point that she couldn't advise me on glasses without knowing what I look like. Well here I am. This is an older picture but it should suffice.

I would like some feedback from my patients

I have recently found a place to purchase some very inexpensive glasses.--zennioptical.com-- I'm gonna get a new pair, but as many know I am totally indecisive.

Here's a few of my top choices, I think I'd like to go with black frames on whichever one I go with. Heres a selection of frame styles I like. Let me know what you think.

This is an inexpensive rounded pair. For the price I gotta say they're appealing.









This pair offers a simple square shape.









This pair is also squarish, but with that emo thick plastic feel to it.







Another round pair, this one actually has springs in the temples.










This is a lovely pair that boasts 180 degree swing spring hinges.












This pair caught my eyes with its interesting temple design.








This pair is almost perfectly round.










These hingeless frames I would actually go with clear, and a rounder lens style.








These frames have a unique style to them.









These ones have small round lenses and bendable ear pieces.












Well I'd love to hear what you think.

Health update

Another little health update for all of my patients.

As of Tuesday I am no longer confined to the dynamic splint. Kathryn the hand specialist was very pleased with my flexibility and said there was very little chance of accidental injury from overstretching at this point. I must still take care not to try and grip anything extremely hard, at least for another week or two.

I am however disappointed at the range of motion in my recovering finger. I can't move the tip more than 30 degrees. This is due, mainly, to scar tissue surrounding the tendon. If this does not work itself out I will have to go in for tenolysis surgery to clear up the tendon. However; Dr. Curnow cannot perform the surgery until the recommended 4 months post original repair. In that time I can only wait and do physical therapy and ultrasonic therapy. There is hope though. From last week to this week I improved the movement by 2-3 measurable degrees. Since the more movement I get the more scar tissue I can loosen up, so every degree of movement I gain could potentially lead to more movement. It is not guaranteed for someone with less than 45 degrees of movement though. So, like I said, I'll just have to wait and see if I can effectively free up the scar tissue on my own. Nothing else can be done for now.

so right now I'm typing with both hands. It is a little bit tough, because this is the first time I've done it in nearly two months. The hand is doing well, but I still can't move the end of my pinky very well. I am doing ultrasonic therapy to break down the scar tissue around the tendon, but only time will tell If I have to go in for tenolysis surgery to remove scar tissue. The splint will probably come off sometime between tomorrow and next week. meh thats all for now

Some important news for my patients--redundant from old blog

Some important news for my patients--redundant from old blog

Sometime soon The doktor's office will be moving.--edit(to here)

Recently I joined the ranks of countless Googlians and signed up for a Gmail account. Doktorsmith@gmail.com I am now in the process of switching over my blog to that account. Don't worry I will post links to the old blogs for easy clicking.
Why am I doing this you may ask. Well I just dont like having to sign in and out of stuff if I don't have to; this simplifies things.

The new blogs address is http://doksmith.blogspot.com/

In other news my finger continues to heal well. There is hardly any remnant of the incisions or the original wound aside from a small red spot and the obvious scars.

Tuesday marked four weeks since the surgery and I have begun exercises outside of the cast. In just two weeks I should be allowed out of the cast completely, unless Kathryn the hand specialist says otherwise.