Sunday, September 23, 2007

Autopsy Video

If you want to see an Autopsy video, you can find one on the rtcorner.net web site: http://www.rtcorner.net/autopsy.htm (Yes, it's graphic. What would you expect from an Autopsy video?)

I was actually shocked by how quickly an Autopsy can be done.

www.rtcorner.net has a bunch of other interesting videos, that I will eventually get around to watching: http://www.rtcorner.net/rt_videos.htm

Saturday, September 22, 2007

My favorite book

I've been trying to learn some Anatomy and Physiology on my own and haven't been making much progress. I finally found an Anatomy and Physiology book that I absolutely love to read. If the book wasn't so informative and educational, I could actually consider it a 'fun read'. Some of the material is pretty involved and requires a bit of study to sink into my fuzzy little brain.

The book is the fifth edition of Cardiopulmonary Anatomy & Physiology: Essentials for Respiratory Care by Terry Des jardins and it's my new best friend. That book is targeted at Respiratory Therapy students and makes Anatomy and Physiology really interesting. If you're interested in Respiratory Therapy, that's definitely a book that needs to be on your bookshelf.

Am I semi-retired?

I just realized that over the last 20 months I haven't had a full time job, or wanted one. When I was a full time student, I could use that as an excuse for not having a full time job. Now, because I'll be out of school until September 2008, the only excuse for not having a full time job is the fact that I don't actually want or need one.

After I've become a Respiratory Therapist, will I all of a sudden need or want a full time job?

The fact that I'm only working part time (about 3 days a week) comes up in conversation occasionally. When that fact comes up, it's often greeted with a great deal of sympathy and or pity. The assumption is that I'm down on my luck and actually should be working full time.

This week the knowledge that I was only working part time was greeted with, "Well at least you have a job." I was a little bit perturbed by the way that phrase came across. He could just as easily have said, "Well at least you're not on welfare.", or "Well at least you're not a crack head.".

If I just tell people that I'm semi retired, maybe they won't feel so sorry for me. Maybe I won't find myself constantly feeling the need to justify that I'm 'only working part time'.

Am I semi-retired? Is there a minimum age requirement for semi-retirement? If I actually get a full time job, can I still claim to be semi-retired?