NBEO--- the thorn in my side

Ok so NBEO stands for National Boards of Examiners in Optometry. Their mission is: "Advancing the Assessment of Competence."... which in plain language, making me study 4 hours a day for 3 months...

So I have Part 1 (Applied Basic Sciences) of my National Boards March 20th and March 21st... Right now Boards is practically ruining my life...

I have been studying NON STOP for boards since January 1st of this year. As the  month comes to an end and March is quickly approaching, I have mixed emotions. It is literally an emotional rollercoaster. Some days I'm feeling great and motivated and ready to knock it out the park and then other days I want to crawl under the blanket and come out in May.

Oh speaking of May that is the other crazy thing, although I take boards in March we don't receive our scores back until MAY!! That is such a long time to wait in anticipation... sigh.

It's 500 questions spread out over 2 days; one of the crazy things is those 500 questions are not broken into categories, but they are ALL random, in no particular order.

So what does it cover...basically everything I have learned in Optometry school up until this point and then some...

So here goes:

-Ocular Disease
-Systemic Disease
- Ocular Anatomy
-Systemic Anatomy
-Ocular Pharmacology
-Systemic Pharmacology
-Physical Optics
-Geometrical Optics
-Ophthalmic Optics
-Low Vision
-Contact Lens
- Binocular Vision
-Vision Perception


Crazy...huhn? So basically I have become a hermit that has forgotten how to enjoy life. Study, study, study. Oh and did I mention there are actually 3 parts to boards...but first things first and also Part 1 is supposedly by far the hardest If it wasn't for my BF, I would probably be screaming, running naked in the streets somewhere (gone crazy), but luckily he keeps me somewhat sane. lol.

Ok back studying... Until Next Time...

No Shopping Campaign... Update

::hangs head in shame:: Hey guys!! So at the beginning of this month, I radically declared, "A No Shopping, August campaign." Everyone around me knew... lol. So tell me why on Friday night... I broke this promise and bought a handbag... ::gasp::

I know I know... I still can't believe it myself. So let me tell you how I got there. I went to Buffalo Wild Wings with a friend and she suggested we go to the mall because she wanted a new rug/comforter. I said sure. She already knew I was doing my no shopping campaign, and promised to not let me buy anything.

So we were shopping and I found this perfect winter coat... I tried on the small, it was a little too snug, then I tried on the large, of course there was no Medium. This makes me really sad, I even went to two subsequent stores looking for the coat. But why is that important? Especially since I didn't buy it.. But trying on that coat, opening the door of possibility that I could actually  buy something.

So when we went to look at handbags, I was sure I wouldn't find anything, because I am extra picky. In fact, I've been looking for a handbag for the longest.

So why did I cave... 4 simple letters... S-A-L-E. Yes a sale. smh. I found a Creme Steve Madden Satchel with a huge flower applique on the front. ::stone heart melts::

I debated for at least 15 minutes, it was so bad, that my friend even agreed to buy it for me and then I would just pay her back in September. lol. (she's a great friend). I decided to cut the nonsense and just buy it. I got it over 50% off it's original price. YES!

So..what did I learn?
If you are giving something up, ie shopping don't go to the store?
Once you concede to one thing, it is so much easier to accept something else.

So where does this leave me? Am I still doing my no shopping in August... maybe... it was a good run though. lol.

Until Next Time...

No Shopping Campaign

Hello Happy August!!! So sometime in late July, I decided that I was going to spend the month of August, NOT shopping. So I'm not a shopaholic or anything, but I pick up little things here and there and overtime it adds up. I have been working a lot this summer and whenever I get off work, I somehow seem to go to the store. It's never a big shopping spree, but I've decided no more shopping.

So for the month of August, I will not buy any clothing, shoes, accessories, or random things for my apartment. It's only Day 3 and I'm already thinking I want to go pick up a candle or something. So since it's written on my blog, that means it's official. NO shopping!! (I hope I make it)


Until Next Time...

St. Louis Vs. Atlanta

So for all my non- tweeters, I've decided to extend the quick discussion to my blog about my comparisons of St. Louis and Atlanta. Even though I gripe about St. Louis at least once a day, there are some things that I have come to appreciate, not necessarily love, but for the most part, Atlanta is just "different".. So these were my "tongue-in-cheek" comparisons... (sidenote: I can't believe I actually used tongue in cheek because that phrase weirds me out). Anyways, here goes:

 St.Louis: 12 inches of snow. i'm pretty sure I have class in the morning, the snow plows will be out at 4 am.

Atlanta: 2 inches of snow...there is no milk, bread, or water in the grocery store, everything is closed early if it opened at all, and the news is being sensational about the storm ahead.

Lambert Airport: Get there about 20 minutes before your flight takes off, walk straight to gate, and be sure to step over any "tumbleweeds" that may be blowing through...
Harstfield Jackson Airport: "Crap I think I'm going to miss my flight, I've been in this security line for 45 minutes."

St. Louis: Let's go out to Bar X... and continue to go to the same Bar every single weekend.
Atlanta: Let's go out to Club X, the next weekend you have to make sure you don't go to the same club, actually you are going wherever someone cool is hosting, or you can get in before a certain time.

St. Louis: Person 1: "Wow you just bought a new gray Toyota Corolla... that's nice." Person 2: ::Immediately runs out and buys the same EXACT gray Toyota Corolla as his friend::
Atlanta: "Wow you just got a new BMW 335i...that's nice." Person 2: ::Immediately runs out and buys a BMW 745 and a Maybach just to top his friend::

St. Louis: It's "rush hour" traffic in the morning and the cars are driving at 45 mph in the left lane even though there are no cars in front of them or blocking their way... Applies to 170, 70, and 270.
Atlanta: It's "rush hour" traffic in the morning and cars are switching lanes every 5 seconds,thinking they are going to somehow get faster to their destination, but there is gridlock for miles.. Applies to 285,75, and 85.

So yup... Until Next Time...

Clay Yourself

So when I was watching TV earlier, they had a contest that you could enter called "Clay Yourself." Well as you know, I love customizable things, so I decided to do it. I don't think she looks anything like me, but I tried. What do you think?

If you want to Clay Yourself, go here.

Until Next Time...

Double Rainbow- What Does this Mean?

So week one is down and I'm feeling like I've been in school for about a month now...eek. I was in my Ophthalmic Optics class and my professor showed us the double rainbow video. Apparently it has been one of those youtube hit videos, but watching it early in the morning was hilarious... But then I watched it again, and I just couldn't stop laughing. Of course this optometry related, don't get me started on the visual spectrum and my Visual Perception textbook has a huge rainbow on the front. Well basically the video is funny you have to watch it...it's below:


Until Next Time...

Coke Bottle Glasses...

So one morning last semester, my Clinical Optometry professor showed us this video.. I meant to post it a while ago, but clearly I have slacking on posts..good thing I remembered. For some reason, I was dying laughing in class, but after watching it again, it was still pretty funny... so enjoy! Oh and Blogger introduced this new template designer thingy, so I am going to try it out because I have been wanting to change the design of my blog for some time now (change is good). Geesh I have a lot to catch up on, I need to rededicate myself to blogger. I'll be better next week...lol.


Until Next Time..

Ewww...Why are people so gross?

So I have a really big lab exam tomorrow and while I was in lab one of my classmates showed me the e-mail on his phone about a sexual misconduct incident that happened on campus today. It is rather disturbing, but honestly I couldn't stop laughing...mostly because of the detail that the e-mail went into... oh and it is crazy that this happened at 3:05 pm, in the MIDDLE of the afternoon... here is the e-mail.

Sexual Misconduct Investigation

On Tuesday April 27, 2010 at 5:00 pm the University of MO-St. Louis Police Department received a call for a sexual misconduct 1st Degree. The incident occurred at approximately 3:05 pm at the public computers located on the first floor of the Millennium Student Center. The victim reported that the suspect sat in a chair directly behind her, and as she was using the computer she felt something touch the lower portion of her back. The victim indicated that when she turned to see what he was doing she noticed that the suspect was breathing heavily had his penis out through his unzipped pants and was rubbing it on her back. When she turned around, the suspect immediately ran from the area and up the escalator. The victim also immediately got up and left the area. The victim called her roommate before calling the police.

Until Next Time...

Ann Cooper: Food= Health, Part 2

As I continue the series on school lunch and it's importance on the epidemiology of Disease and the future of our country, Ann Cooper is name that must be mentioned. I saw her speak on TedTalk Tuesdays and it was even more fact filled and riveting than Jamie Oliver. If I tried to summarize and present her ideas I am sure that I will be unable to do her justice. She is definitely a trailblazer for the type of reform that needs to take place in school across America. Below are some quick facts about Ann Cooper and below that will be the video... A must see!!

Why you should listen to her:

Ann Cooper has a frontline view of the daily battle to keep kids healthy -- and of the enemy, the processed-foods industries that, it sometimes seems, want to wrap every single thing that children eat in a fried coating and then a plastic bag. As the director of nutrition services for the Berkeley (California) Unified School District, she's an outspoken activist for serving fresh, sustainable food to kids. Her lively website, LunchLessons.org, rounds up recipes, links, and resources for food activism.
Cooper's influential program in Berkeley involves kids in every stage of the food they eat, from growing to disposing of it. And along the way, eating some delicious cafeteria lunches.
She's the author of several books, including Bitter Harvest, an examination of the food chain, and her latest, Lunch Lessons: Changing the Way We Feed Our Children.


















Until Next Time...

Obama Chia Pet and Quick Update

So if this isn't funny I don't know what is...I didn't even know Chia Pet's were still being sold..Hilarious! I busted out laughing when I saw this, my favorite part is they call it the "Great American Series." They even have a ridiculous video/advertisement to accompany the product. Maybe it is/was an April Fool's Joke...either way it is still funny and I wonder how many people will actually buy it. Here is the video:



So hopefully everyone laughed as hard as me...I just wanted to do a quick update. Right now I am on my spring break..it has been GREAT! Honestly the week has really flown by! I can't believe it is Friday. I have really been able to catch up on my sleep which has been nice. The weather outside has been marvelous, even reaching and exceeding 80 degrees (doing a happy dance). Unlike STL, flowers and trees are really starting to blossom; it just looks beautiful outside. One of my professors, gave us some work to do (notes to review) and what not..definitely don't feel like doing it..Let's just be honest, I probably won't do it until Sunday when I get to "Misery/Missouri." There have been a lot of changes in my life, but we will see what all becomes of it... (not jumping to any conclusions, like the Jump to Conclusions mat on Office Space)

Until Next Time...

Video Game Outrage

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/03/30/japan.video.game.rape/index.html
This makes me sick to my stomach... Women are constantly being objectified around the world, and it is ridiculous that the object of a game is to find and rape women. Utterly and completely disgusting... Everyday it seems as though things in the world are getting more and more ridiculous... I'm at a loss for words..

Until Next Time...

Only 3%..

So as I have griped about at an earlier time, only 3% of Optometrists are black. Let me say it again...3%...so there are a little over 35,000 current optometrist (people with O.D.s), so there are ~1,000 "Black-American" optometrists in the U.S...ok that is sad on so many levels...Sometimes I don't think people realize how little 1,000 people really is, spread that out over 50 states...Anyways... So the AOA (American Optometric Association) sends frequent e-mails, just to update AOA/AOSA members on the current state of optometry and what is going on...I opened today's message with the subject line of "A Special Message from AOA President on the Passage of National Health Care Legislation" with some hesitancy. After reading the first sentence, I just started to shake my head slowly... Why is the first line so biased? Ugh..So it reads:

Dear Colleague:
Regardless of how we may feel personally about the massive health care overhaul bill
Congress approved and the President just signed into law, we can be very proud of the
AOA's role in fighting and winning key battles to expand access to optometric care.

 I can see the good intentions of the e-mail, but that is not how you start off an email sent on behalf of the AOA President. I just don't get it..What the heck? He didn't even write out President's Obama's name..."these people" refuse to say his name, it is as though if they say his name they are acknowledging he is president or something.The rest of the email addresses "key issues" in optometry that are actually COVERED under the new health care bill...and how there are benefits to Optometrists...

::deep sigh:: Well I just had to share that quickly...I am in this cold library..they seemed to have turned off the heat because it warmed up for a few days last week,. now it ~36 degrees and raining..and no heat is on. GA-REAT!! Well I'm going to go back to studying/cramming/stressing for this test. Until Next Time...

Sorry...Bernice Jenkins...

So I am not sure why I haven't heard this before I guess it was before my time... but while I was looking through The Snob's site, I heard it.. hilarious!...This is how ridiculous it sounds when people try and apologize when they do outlandish things.



I figured I would include another funny video...Rickey Smiley always makes me laugh...hope you laugh too!



Until Next Time...

Classes this Semester Spr 2010

It is usually an awkward question when people have asked me what classes I am taking this semester...I always take a deep breath and end up rambling off a whole bunch of stuff. I always forget one and it seems like the person ends up regretting even asking. As I have complained about previously, this semester is ridiculous. I go from 8 to 5 everyday except for Friday. So here is my schedule and I hope that people kind of just stop asking.

1. Anatomy and Physiology of Disease II
2. Ocular Anatomy
3. Ocular Optics
4. Physical Optics and Photometry
5. Clinical Optometry I
6. Case Based Discovery

So I literally just had an epiphany. All of my classes have labs. Every SINGLE one!!! So in undergrad when I would complain about going to my one lab once a week from 2:30-5:30, whether it was Bio,Chem, Orgo, Physics...whatever. Now imagine having a lab for every class. Le sigh.. So I at first didn't number the classes, but I started my new organization system (Unfortunately, I get a new one every week) in which I just # each class so when I make my study schedule it is easier to just write the number, next to things to do...It's a hassle to keep writing the name of the classes out. Initially I tried to abbreviate them, but the class names share similar words.  I just wanted to make a quick post before I start all of these practice problems for Ocular Optics. Until Next Time...

Reason #173 why the Midwest gets a big THUMBS DOWN

Ok seriously look at this map...Currently the coldest part of the United States is the midwest...wth! I don't know why I had this misconception that it would be warmer in STL than NYC.... Gosh if I could go back to Spring 2009 (Opt school decision time)..However, I will say that the excessive cold I experienced for no reason last semester has increased my tolerance a bit more. Why would anyone in their right mind move to these obscure and cold states? Clearly I wasn't in my right mind, it's crazy how much a scholarship can sway your judgment...

This break I really felt at home for so many reasons, one of them being that everyone (in the South) is greatly affected by cold weather. I cannot count how many times someone has said "I can't wait til spring/summer" or "no I don't want to go out it's too cold." Finally I don't feel like such a big ol' complainer... I am going to soak in every non-Midwestern day until my flight back. :( Now I can start looking forward to the SUMMER (no classes, no midwest, and warm weather)! Until Next Time..

Getting Your Eye Tattooed

So I came across this on one my friends tweets (twitter updates)...and I thought it was extremely ridiculous, so I just had to post it. Basically two inmates got their eyes tattooed. As a current optometry student, I felt a sense of obligation to post this craziness. lol. Boo on MSNBC, for not once using the correct term of "sclera" (the white part of your eye)...


Until Next Time...

My Coffee Maker and Me

 So my coffee maker has been the single best purchase that I have made this ENTIRE semester. Now that it is finals time...(4 down, 2 to more go)...it has been working several times a day. So this post is dedicated to my A-M-A-Z-I-N-G, black, chic Chefmate (that I got on sale from Target) coffeemaker, that has never let me down, always picks me up in the morning before classes or for some late night studying....

So clearly all this studying has made me lose my mind, but seriously my coffeemaker is great. I just brewed some coffee....Ok back to Neuro Studying..but before I go here are some coffee quotes..


"Suave molecules of Mocha stir up your blood, without causing excess heat; the organ of thought receives from it a feeling of sympathy; work becomes easier and you will sit down without distress to your principal repast which will restore your body and afford you a calm, delicious night.  ~Prince Tallyrand"
This coffee falls into your stomach, and straightway there is a general commotion.  Ideas begin to move like the battalions of the Grand Army of the battlefield, and the battle takes place.  Things remembered arrive at full gallop, ensuing to the wind.  The light cavalry of comparisons deliver a magnificent deploying charge, the artillery of logic hurry up with their train and ammunition, the shafts of with start up like sharpshooters.  Similes arise, the paper is covered with ink; for the struggle commences and is concluded with torrents of black water, just as a battle with powder.  ~Honore de Balzac, "The Pleasures and Pains of Coffee"

Until Next Time...

Booty Pop

So I stumbled across this website/product thanks to Twitter. So it's called Booty Pop Panties and it is basically to give you a "larger" ""booty"". So sad...so sad. But the website is hilarious they show lots of Before/After pictures of this chick. Let's just call her Susie or Becky..lol. But yeah they come in all kinds of colors and are $30 a pair. I just don't understand why people can't be happy with their bodies and what they have/don't have. Oh well, I guess I can't relate. lol. Here is a direct quote from the website..

"As a Celebrity wardrobe stylist, one of my biggest problems is that many of my clients do not have enough butt to make their rears look full,round or just do not have a great shape butt. Trust me, not everyone has a booty. I can not seem to find jeans that fit my clients well enough to make their butts look good, they keep complaining about their butts being flat in their jeans. Some are even contemplating getting implants....it does not make sense! When I heard about Booty Pop, I immediately bought a few pairs and brought them to my clients. When they tried them on with their jeans, shorts, slacks or dress pants, they could not believe their eyes and believe that such a cute pair of underwear could make such a miracle. You should have seen the smiles Booty Pop put on their faces, it was like magic! They instantly enhance a butt and my clients swore to never take them off. I do not usually give my tricks of the trade to the public but booty pop is too good to keep to myself. I know booty pop will make many women happy."

Jennifer Rosenblatt

Styled American Idol judge Paula Abdul

Wow...my fav line is "You should have seen the smiles Booty Pop put on their faces, it was like magic!" sigh...Sadness, but hilarious. Off to the library. Until Next Time...

Minority Healthcare Professionals

So I receive a daily Enewsletter from the AOA (American Optometric Association), on updates on news and what not... below is the actual description they provide.

AOA (American Optometric Association) First Look is intended to provide an immediate, unfiltered look at the news that affects optometrists and our patients. 

 I think that I am going to post interesting articles/blurbs that might be interesting and informative. Below is discusses the number of minority doctors...currently it is 6%, honestly when they say minority I am not sure if they are including hispanics/native americans. However there are only 4% African American Optometrists...that is so crazy to me. And it is actually getting worse, because there are only 3% blacks currently enrolled in Optometry school, so that number is going down today. 

Surgeon general calls for more minority doctors.

The AP (12/4, Stobbe) reports that US Surgeon General Regina Benjamin "called for stepped-up efforts in increasing the number of minority physicians" yesterday in one of her first speeches in her new position. Benjamin "noted that the proportion of US physicians who are minorities is only six percent -- the same proportion as a century ago. 'There's something wrong with that,' said Benjamin, speaking at a conference on health disparities at a hotel in downtown Atlanta."

        The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (12/4) notes that Benjamin told the group, "Unless the current trend is reversed, our country will see a growing ethnic and racial disconnect between those who receive care and those who provide that care." The "53-year-old graduate of the Morehouse School of Medicine" added that "the recent downward trend in minority admissions follows years of gains in these areas. ... Asked whether the need for more minority medical professionals would be a priority of her time as the nation's highest-ranking health profession, the newly appointed Benjamin told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that she has yet to announce her priorities. But she emphasized that it is an important issue." 

Oh another random narrative before I go. So I am in class currently, and maybe 20 minutes ago I was waving my hand around (for at least 4 mins) trying to ask a question and the professor literally called on everyone BUT me. When he called on another classmate he actually said "Can you answer VanB's question first"... Of course the class laughed because EVERYONE, but him (supposedly) saw my hand up. And a classmate next to mine, said to me, I guess racism does exist...Umm yeah I didn't find his comment funny AT ALL...ga-reat. Anyways...Until Next Time...

Children Out of Wedlock

So I watched this video a while ago...ESPN discusses the "growing problem" of athletes having children out of wedlock. It is somewhat interesting. The piece on Travis Henry is the most ridiculous of them all...He has 9 kids with 9 different women. Now that it is 2009, I don't understand all these kids...These men keep talking about women trapping them and what not..Use contraception!!

The worst part about this whole thing, is the "statistic" that they provide. According to this video, 71% of all African American babies are born out of wedlock, compared to 50% hispanic kids, and 23% of white kids. Although I tend to be weary of statistics, this one definitely shows the epidemic that is happening. It is sickening how the blame is always thrown back and forth between black men and women, but it is time that both parties took responsibility for what is occurring in our community. The video is 11 minutes, but try and watch the whole thing...it's ridiculous, but also sad. Until Next Time...