Medical Humor

One of the best parts of summer break is being able to read non-school books. Don't get me wrong I love school, but at times I enjoy a break from textbooks for some lighter reading. Today I finished a book called "Invisible Enemies" by Jeanette Farrell. It is the story of the seven most influential infectious diseases in history, smallpox, leprosy, plague, tuberculosis, malaria, cholera, and AIDS. At the end of the book the author gives some recommendations for further reading. She is nice enough to include a short blurb about the books she recommends. I hope you will find them as amusing as I do.

The Plague: "The story of Dr. Rieux, who one day discovers a dead rat in his apartment building and within a week finds himself in the middle of a plague."


Microbe Hunters: "you will not find a more exciting account than this book. It is a classic." (Moby Dick, Dante's Inferno, and Microbe Hunters all classics)


Princes and Peasants: "The history of smallpox is thorough and entertaining." (we all know death is very entertaining)

Alone No Longer: "This autobiography reads like a novel." (did I mention this is a book about a man with leprosy?)

Mosquitoes, Malaria, and Man: "Harrison presents the fight against malaria as the exciting story that it is, complete with photographs of the main characters." (would those main characters be the mosquitoes, the malaria bug, or the men?)


Cheers!

Your Literary Junkophile.

Amendment 1: I'm not poking fun at the author, my blurb about her book would read something like this: the story of the seven infectious diseases that changed our culture.

Amendment 2: Johnny, feeling like a bore, drank some H2SO4
So his father, an MD, gave him CaCO3
Johnny's neutralized, it's true but he's full of CO2

Of Procrastination and Youth Group

The last few days, while not eventful were fun filled. I am enjoying being home with my family. But I am realizing that I'm not very good at getting things done in summer. These past few days I have had only a few things to do, and what have I done? Only the ones that I absolutely had to do! Perhaps this is a consequence of having a never ending series of deadlines at school.

On Monday I had youth group for the first time. (by "having youth group" I mean I was 50% in charge of 16 middle school and high school students for 2 hours!) I had a blast doing it. Things were a little rough, but I'm sure once the other leader and I get to know the kids, and each other better things will go much more smoothly. But some of the boys can and will be a handful for the rest of the summer.

As a youth leader I am in charge of game time (which means I have to come up with games that get out energy, but at the same time limit the possibilities of someone getting themselves or others injured or killed, ideas anyone?), and worship time (I have much more practice with this).

The hard part of leading worship is I'm not doing it on the piano; I'm playing the guitar. I'm not a horrible guitar player, but I'm not great either. But it is very hard to get a piano to the park. I spent a lot of time practicing for Monday, and now I have to turn around and start again for next week. I have a feeling my guitar skills are going to get much better this summer.

Cheers!

Your Literary Junkophile

Amendment 1: Ok, so maybe this week wasn't as uneventful as I thought

Amendment 2: Tomorrow: dance class, Friday: a friend sleeps over, and Saturday: hiking with friends. Busy rest of the week. I love summer holiday!

Updates

Ok, so before I say anything else. I know that I haven't posted in, like, forever, but I have been a little busy. I was in Europe for over two weeks. (check out my pictures on facebook). But I will post another time about that trip.

Since I have been home, I watched two of my very best friends graduate as well as a handful of people that have meant the world to me in the my 19 years. Becca, Rachel, Kirsten, Joshua, Enoch, Holly, Brianna, Kevin, Ashley and others, you all rock, I'm so excited for you, and so proud that you all made it this far (I know it was in question for a few of you, j/k). Graduation also brought up the horrible thought that next year it will be Indie (my sister). It seems like just yesterday I was graduating and next year it will be her turn.

I have also had lots of time to hang out with friends, though I have been abandoned by a few of them this summer (Christie and Mariah, I love you guys, but...) It has been really fun to spend time with Charlyn, and other people that I haven't seen in so long. I'm still missing everyone at school, but there is nothing in the world like being home.

So far my plans for summer are house sitting for a friend at church, volunteering at the Gilbert House, being 50% in charge of my church's youth group so our wonderful youth pastor (that is a tent maker) can have time off, and spending lots of time with my family and friends.

Cheers!

Your Literary Junkophile.

Amendment 1: Never ask for tap water at a restaurant in Belgium, they consider it to be VERY rude.

Amendment 2: I would be remiss if I didn't mention to all of you how much I appreciated all the phone calls, letters, and chats that you all made time for during this past school year (especially at the beginning of the year). They made the 900 miles seem like just a few, and cheered me up more times than I can say. Thanks everyone!

Amendment 3: A cool video of a popular song.