One test down!

We had our mid-term test on Thursday.  It was brutal!  The test covered more information than I could ever possibly get my mind around in such a short time.  We have covered, over the past 3 weeks, more information than most people learn in half of their career in the Army!  Every time we would hear a new topic, note that I didn't write "learn," I would think to myself, "Seriously?"  It's been nothing more than a brain-dump.  In my platoon, 1/3 of the people failed the mid-term.  I earned an 80%.  UGH!  I just keep reminding myself that it's a passing grade, and that's all that matters.

On Friday, we did a PowerPoint presentation on the topic of our choice.  All it needed to be was something that pertained to the military.  I chose "the battlefield of the future" and discussed some of the technology and medical advances that will be seen in the near future to treat soldiers who are wounded in battle.  I found a robot, the Battlefield Evacuation Assistance Robot (BEAR) who can carry up to 500 pounds, can gingerly place a soldier on a litter, and can even low-crawl while dragging an injured person.  I found a company who has created a method to remove pathogens from plasma in order to allow for blood collection in less than sterile environments.  I found data about making water-tight sutures without using needles.  It was fascinating!



BEAR lifting 500 pounds

 

BEAR placing a 250-lb mannequin on a table

I did well on the presentation but my instructor told me I didn't know my audience enough because some of my material went over his head!  Who doesn't know about DNA and RNA? 

We got out of class by 1000 on Friday, so a few of us went to lunch at Tomatillo's (the restaurant Jorge and I went to last Friday night).  It was very good, as always, and I even talked someone into trying guacamole for the first time.  She really liked it.

Afterwards, we went to the San Antonio Zoo.  Wow!  I've been to a lot of zoos in my life.  This was a very large zoo.  I was quite impressed.  The highlight was the free-flight Butterfly Garden.  I think the butterflies liked me, or it was a sign from Dad.  They kept landing on me.  I knew you'd all like the pictures:

After everything we did this past week, I was exhausted by the time I got back to my room.  Last night was simply sitting around and chilling.  I needed it.

This morning, I woke up and went for a 60 minute run.  The weather was fantastic, warm, but a nice breeze to cool things off.  It was great.  Then, while I was sitting in the lobby waiting for people to sign their leave packets (my job as the RN Platoon Leader), a woman walked by with a 7-week old puppy.  She had just bought him.  OMG!  He was so cute, and barely weighed a pound.  She had to get supplies for him, so I offered to dog-sit.  He laid in my arms and took a few puppy naps while she was gone.  SOOOOO Cute!  It really made me miss my Shadow-girl.



So, now I'm chilling in my room.  I think I might start crocheting a blanket.  I brought the supplies with me and haven't had a chance to touch it yet. 

Hope you are all doing well.