Monday, October 26, 2009

Midwifery Potluck...and all that vag...

We had our annual faculty hosted midwifery potluck this evening. Admittedly, miwives love potlucking - we'll do it for most any reason. Actually, we don't need a reason - seeing each other is reason enough.

But, today we did have a reason. Each year this potluck is for first years to pass on wisdom (in the form of study guides and black book pages) to the GEPN students. For 2nd years to honor the faculty. And, most importantly, for the 2nd years to perform an original pice or two.

So, we filled the tables with delicious food...



Ate our fill





And then - the good times rolled!!!












We're leavin' for integration.... (sentimental)


and

All.....That....VAAAAG!!! - this one is spunky!



Feathers and fishnets look great on midwives, don't you think?










"Traction on the cord, don't wanna involute
Don't need retained placenta, or to get a lawsuit
Gush of blood, I see a lengthening cord
Now you can head on up, to the post-partum ward
apgars are nine and nine, uterus is mid-line...

And all.... That....VAG!















And finally, we said goodbye to our wonderful Meredith (who is leaving us in December for a private pactice)...

It was a good night for all.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Bee Keeping

Until today, everything I knew about beekeeping was from the book "The Secret Life of Bees". I highly recommend it - great read. Haven't seen the movie yet, but I hear it's good as well.

At any rate, having learned from this book that when one raises or tends to bees, the most important factor to the bee keepers safety is to enter without fear and to "be one" with the bees. Same for interaction with any living thing, if you ask me. But, perhaps more difficult when standing in the middle of a potential swarm of small creatures with mighty stingers.

Here's the colony we were tending today:
A friend of Clo's (my roommate) has recently started taking bee keeping classes and has two bee boxes set up in her back yard


We stopped by her house after the fun run today and she asked us if we wanted to fee the bees. As I have always wanted to don a beekeepers suit and learn how it's done, I jumped at this chance. They allowed me to wear the full suit, since it was my first try and Clo put on the make-shift suit.

Boy, did I feel official!

look at me, I'm a beekeeper!


What a pair of beekeepers we are!

The first step when approaching a hive, is to use smoke to make the bees go inside. Seems like it would be more logical for them to come OUT with smoke, but apparently during forests fires, bees retreat INto their homes. Interesting.

I grabbed the smoke can ...

and gave a few puffs towards the bee box as Clo removed the lid:

Then we used a funnel to pour the sugar water into the side of the box where the bees feed.

Unfortunately, some of the little guys are not too intelligent and had drowned in their dinner. I lovingly scooped them out, while reminding the other bees (in a loving voice, of course) that they should beware not to suffer the same fate).


After we poured their home-made nectar, some of my new little friends lapped up small drops that had fallen on the wood. Aren't they cute?


It was a fun experience. Maybe in the spring I can help collect the honey!

Pumpkin Run

Today I let my roommate, Clo, talk me into joining her on a 5Km fun run. It was the 16th annual Haddam-Killingworth (Connecticut) Pumpkin Run. I admit that I was slightly grumpy at the thought of running 3.1 miles - particularly when I woke with a nagging head ache this morning. Last night I hoped yesterdays rain would continue into today solely to prevent me from running.

Boy was I wrong!

It was a perfect, cool (but not cold) fall day. The leaves were cheering us on...as was Clo. She ran with me, despite my slow pace and encouraged me all the way. I ran the whole way - never stopping to walk and ended up making pretty good time (34 minutes 17 seconds). It was delightful!

I think I'll do more 5Ks! What a great way to get exercise, stay in shape and be outdoors!

Here we are before the race started. I was not technically a participant, hence I have a shirt (gift from Clo) but no number.


And the finish line is in sight.....


HOORAY!!!! We made it. I'm feeling strong!
A perfect fall day for a perfectly fun run!

It's been a long time

It's now been just about a year since I posted anything on this blog. Spring semester was really intense for me and I was gone most of the summer. Doubtful anyone is even checking my blog anymore after such a long time, but just in case....

I'm going to start blogging again. I'm going to start with NOW and then slowly play catch-up for all the adventures I've missed.