information overload...

2nd Week of PA School. May 23-29, 2011. This week has been crazyness!! 


I-nteresting lecture in "Intro to the PA Professions" by Professor Metcalf; it was all about his experiences as a PA and physician/PA team!
N-ot enough brain space.. i dont think i have enough
F-inally when I have gotten the muscles of the back down, we get the muscles of the lower limb.. fail
O-vertime in the Mavs game caused be to REAL tired tuesday morning.. if they would have lost I would have been mad.. mad and tired are not a good combination. Im so excited they beat OKC and are moving onto the NBA Finals!! I love the mavs :) 
R-ecieved White Coat-- embroidered with "Katie Cole, PA-S' and "LMU-DCOM" :) :) see pic below :)
M-astering the feet muscles is something I do not have at the moment-- there are SO MANY MUSCLES in the feet!
A-bsolutly nothing.. there was so much fog wednesday morning, you could literally see nothing past the hill... see pic below :)
T-riangle..Femoral Triangle! growing to love this thing--hahahaha!
I-nfarction.. i would have had a myocardial infarction if my professor had called me out today. there were 8 students he randomly called out to interview/give a report of a 'fake patient' aka, himself in front of the WHOLE class! the students who were called on did great and after seeing them 'perform', i will be confident next time.
O-ne last anatomy lecture on thursday to finish all the material for our test next thursday!!
N-erves, nerves, nerves.. WHY ARE THEY SO HARD TO LEARN??? 


O-opportunity to finally practice clinical skills on our classmates! Professor Hobbs taught us how to do a head, neck, ears, mouth, and nose exam! 
V-aluable experience.. getting to practice these exams on each other is not only fun but valuable to learn professionalism and how to not look clueless with out instruments. 
E-ars.. watchout for wax in ears.. its gross and will cover up the tympanic membrane so you cant see it! 
R-idiculous amount of cops/sheriffs on either side of the tunnel on friday night!! LITERALLY there were probably 30-40 of them.
L-iscense, registration, drunk driving.. apparently all the cops were conducting a road block! picture below was not taken by myself. it was adopted from my classmate, Jenna Dixon. Thanks Jenna!!
O-nly resident in my apartment this weekend. my roomies left me :( they each went to visit their family! wish I could visit mine. 
A-bsolutely nothing fun happened on Saturday.. slept in late, did laundry, went grocery shopping and watched alot of TV while having a long date with Dr. Gray. Kelcye and I planned on going to Knoxville, but I was too tired. 
D-oors were locked-- on sunday after a nice morning at church with Paige Goforth and a study session at school, Kelly, Alex, Ryan, and I tried to go eat at some local BBQ place but it was closed. Next we tried Webbs country kitchen but it was closed too! We finally landed at J. Miltons.. like a Golden Corral but worse, if thats even possible- wait, yes it is-- its called J. Miltons. 


With his sarcastic interest in my blog, Alexander E. Jones, one of my classmates/friends, will be a guest blogger soon! Not sure what the content will be, but it's probably gonna be legit/awesome. 

first week is over

May 17-20, 2011
the first week of PA school is over! It was an exciting and busy one. I am definitely going to have to get used to the lack of sleep and go into hyperstudy mode!


F-inally got on a normal sleep schedule. This whole 8-5 stuff makes me tired and feel like a 'real' adult. 
I-ntense amount of material being taught!! I have to study several hours every night to make sure i dont get behind
R-eceived my equipment on Wednesday: stethoscope, otoscope, opthalmoscope, and sphygmomanometer!! see pics below!! 
S-econd year students threw a picnic for us 1st years at the Inn pool. It was nice to get some advice from those who have experienced what we are going through
T-ons of new friends were made in the first week!!! 


W-oohoo!! got to sleep in on Friday until 8:15!! That was a whole extra hour and I was loving it
E-veryday, i have seen city/school people mowing everyday since I have been here. we have decided there is so much to mow, by the time they are done with the whole thing, its time to start at the beginning again. esp with all the rain that we have been having!
E-njoyed a nice run/walk at the local park on wednesday afternoon. the men who were mowing the park, were so nice- each one of them waved at me as I ran or walked by! haha :)
K-atie--i figured I would be the only one, but I have met 1 or 2 others in my class. 


I-nfused with formaldehyde are my scrubs!! I have to take them off as soon as I get home or else I will smell like it for the rest of the day. 
S-pent doubledigit hours in the cadaver lab ALREADY and its just the first week.. 


O-KC aint got nothing the MAVS!!! GO MAVERICKS!! the games come on so late here, which means I go to bed late, cause a true fan wont fall asleep until its over :) 
V-isited Crosspointe Christian Church on Sunday with my roommate Alisha!! 
E-zperanza-- Mexican restaurant we went today for lunch with the pastor and others from the Crosspointe- it was fun to chat with some people from the middlesboro/harrogate area
R-ain rain go away, come again some other day.. just as I was walking out my apartment door to go get some groceries, it started raining. Half of the time I have been living here it has rained... 

orientation is over!

Real Classes finally start. May 16-17, 2011

O-ver, orientation that is. i had my first real class today (5/17)

R-ex Hobbs is the Director of the program and he moved to TN from McKinney! small world

I-m not used to waking up early--had to be at class on monday morning at 7:15!!!

E-ventually hope to have lots of PA tshirts like the one below!

N-ot moving at all-- the line to get our IDs made took forever!! we sat in line for about 30 minutes

T-alktalkandmoretalk.. there was so much talking going on monday

A-LOT of new friends :)

T-ime for lunch yet?? there was so much sitting, I was so ready to just go eat something- plus my stomach was growling

I-nformation OVERLOAD!!!! so much to get aquainted with the first day of orientation

O-minous clouds covered the mountains/hills on tuesday afternoon

N-ew COMPUTER!!!! included in program costs is a Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet! its amazing

I-nstant food: will/has been my favorite way to 'cook' while i have been in TN
S-avvy is something im not when using Windows 7. I gotta break my mac habits!

O-ne note-- my new favorite way to take notes!

V-ery quick pace, anatomy went on tuesday.. it was my first class in PA school :)

E-xcited to get my equipment: stethoscope, otoscope, othalmoscope, ect...

R-eady to embark on this first semester in PA school!

From now on, I will post weekly with updates of things I am learning and doing in school :) I hope yall enjoy sharing in my exciting journey of becoming a PA! Now for some orientation pics...

it all starts tomorrow...

The final days leading up to the 1st day of PA school. May 13-15, 2011


I-m gonna miss my sisters presence.. she left may 13
T-oured Kelcye's apartment- it was cute and her bed is amazing: king sized tempurpedic :) 


A-ttended a 'nonmandatory' informal picnic to meet some other PA students! it was super fun!
L-oved chatting with my new friends Courtney and Erika with Kelcye till the wee hours in the morning :)
L-aaaateeee.. is when the time i woke up on Sunday because of our girls chat the night before


S-eriously?!?!?!? Kelcye and I got lost trying to find a target from the airport! 
T-icket--i almost got one at the airport for parking in a no parking zone!! yikes!
A-ssignment.. already have my first reading assignment as a PA student. good thing its only 3 relatively small chapters
R-etreat retreat!! kelcye and i were going out an entrance at target.. oops!! 
T-each me how to dougie- the girls and i are determined to make a PA parody video, possible to teach me how to dougie- lol
S-moking?? are you smoking?? There was a group of high school students smoking outside the prom that was happening on campus on saturday. see the picture below of the pic i got from the 'driveby' we did


T-alked with some new PA neighbor friends today -- 2 who actually played basketball for Alabama!
O-ne more night of freedom--orientation starts tomorrow
M-et one of my roommate Alisha from Alabama- she is super sweet and gorgeous!
O-hmygoshmetoo!! Alisha and I have found a silly connection: we love the show 'sister wives'
R-idiculous, kinda- we had a mandatory picnic today in the cafeteria to meet others and have a talk from the PA program staff. we had a dress code to start out habits of professionalism! 
R- eally-who is that? saw lots of new faces I didnt recognize at the 'picnic'
O-ff a bridge--thats where I want to throw my phone right about now. no service, EVER, and its not picking up my finger tapping.. UGH!!
W-ow!! we have a new favorite show: mob wives.. its scares me sometimes. haha 

finally able to relax, ahh!

Goodmorning Harrogate. May 12, 2011


F-irst time to wake up in the apartment.. it was different
I-nside the Middlesboro Mall, we found a belk, sears, jcpenny, claires, movie theatre, hibbets, and a cookie shop- i think i will be able to survive now :) 
N-uhhh uhhh!!! only cost Claire and I $5 totaly to see the new Madea movie.. I will be seeing alot of movies there in the future
N-ever going to take for granted curtains- the sun works better than any alarm, ive determined
A-nnoying to get used to new channel numbers.. i cant find anything
L-ist of channels should help- I typed out a nice sheet with them all on there so I can watch something other than the crazy tvguide channel
L-ate lunch at Hardee's- which I thought was kinda like a Carls Jr, but it isnt
Y-ou have to turn the straightener ON before it works. I tried 4 different plugs, thinking the straightener didnt work until I realized I didnt have it turned on :)


A-m I really living in TN now, still kinda blows my mind
B-unches of rain today- claire and i had sit extra long in Hardees until it lightened up so we were drenched while going to the car
L-oud voices woke me up this morning-- people were IN my apartment...
E-xcuse me, but why am i watching my door be unlocked and someone about to see me sleeping??


T-aking out the 'trash' was the excuse the janitors told me as they opened my door to find me sleeping
O-n the tips of fingers is not where superglue is meant to be.. its super hard to get off (pun INTENDED)


R-emedy for super glue on tips of fingers- soak fingers in fingernail polish remover, then use sharp end of scissors as a scraper :) LOL
E-njoyed a quiet night in the apartment watching Julie and Julia for her last night in TN
L-ocated a new coffee house with a really cute outside sitting area: Shades of Brown 
A-te dinner at a REALLY nice Dairy Queen that had its sanitation score posted for all the see
X-erox... its the only word i can think of that starts with an 'x'.. dont judge ;)

driving is boring!!

Arrival/First day in Harrogate. May 11, 2011


D-o not pull out of a parking lot and try to cross to the other side of traffic if it's dark and you dont know the area- you might drive across abunch of grass, which is not a middle turn lane at all :) I almost did this said tip
R-am the key into the lock, and THEN it will work- I had lots of trouble getting the door unlocked
I-nfinity... is the amount of time it take to drive the last 60 miles of this trip!! driving through small towns and on the sides of mountains was torturous
V-acant... claire and i are the ONLY people in this ENTIRE apartment building until Friday... kinda creepy
I-ce machine.. the apartment doesnt have one- HELLO ice traysss
N-othing missing so far.. i have unpacked everything and i seem to have forgotten anything. WINNING
G-ondlier will be my favorite Italian restaurant in Harrogate


I-75... road we were supposed to be on, but we missed the exit.. oopps!
S-pent too much money at walmart buying things to fix my room up. 


B-utterfinger cheesecake :) claire and I shared some at dinner with Kelcye, her mom, and stepdad
O-ooouuuccchhhhhh!! I walked into Subway and it WREAKED of onions- my eyes immediately starting watering and itching like crazzzzyyy- we left before I was even finished eating because it was TERRIBLE!
R-uuuudddeee!!! claire and I felt like EVERYONE was being rude and staring at us! its like we had signs on our backs that said "we are not from here, please stare, no really, please!"
I-nsane amount of trees in this town-- pretty sure we will NEVER run out of oxygen here
N-o problems unloading the car even though there were only 2 people! 
G-oooo ahead and sign here, even though all these blanks are filled out, just sign saying you agree... the check in papers were already filled out.. hmmm... i hope this doesnt backfire on me

will we EVER get there...

Goodbye Sherman, Hello Endless Driving! May 10, 2011


W-estbound traffic is invisible as you drive through parts of TN- a forest separates the two sides of the highway
I-nsane amount of unmarked cop cars in TN- i think we saw maybe 1 or 2 marked cars the whole time we were driving
L-ittlerock, AR is the only interesting thing in AR.. seriously, it is all soooooo boring!!
L-ETS GO BILLY PAUL, shouted a woman in Texarkana at a Chikfila playground at her child- you know you are near arkansas when a childs name is "Billy Paul"


W-ater was so high EVEN on our side of the highway- it was all the way up to the road- like if you went off the edge of the road you would have been swimming! 
E-njoyed riding with Claire the whole way- we jammed out!


E-ager to get to my new home :) 
V-ery crazy road names/towns in TN: christmasville, providence Rd (like road island), spain, england, mila, paris, arlington, mousetail, pillow creek
E-ating TOOO much fast food on this trip- im just ready for a simple sandwich
R-an into a cone in a construction area outside of paris! 


G-oodgrief- I saw 3 canadian liscense plates- and I thought I had a bad drive... dang!
E-xcited to get my equipment on monday :) 
T-N bridge was awesome!! see pic below :)


T-raffic issues caused me to hit a cone- dont worry, parentals (if you are reading this), it didnt leave any marks/damage on the car
H-ideout spots for cops in AR and TN are crazyness- they have like these cut out areas in the trees that separate the sides of traffic and they sit in them and hide, waiting to catch you speeding and ruin your day
E-cstatic to get out of the car after driving from 10am-9pm
R-are was it to see any Texas plates one we were out of the state: I have only seen 3 car plates and 2 diesel plates
E-xtreme mpg at some points of the trip- at certain times, i was getting almost 100mpg.. thats what im talking about honda hybrids!!!
?-*insert scooby question noise* are we EVER gonna get to nashville???? i didnt think we would

texas au revoir

Tomorrow I leave my great state. Away from family, friends, and familiar places, but I move to what God has planned out for me, going ahead to prepare a place for me. 

M-om is sick :( not a fun note for me to leave on

O-h, i cant believe im gonna be in PA schoool

V-icks puffs have helped calm me down tonight before the big moving day

I-need less stuff because i have a small car, and im not sure it will all fit.

N-ew surroundings begin TOMORROW!

G-oing to be a long 14+ hours in the car the next 2 days

I-ngrid will be blaring through the speakers my countless hours on I-40

S-o so so many shoes and nothing to pack them in

B-logger hopes to see more action from Katie in the next few months.

I-in the morning, moms making waffles as my send off breakfast

T-erry is the bomb.com... GO MAVS!!!

T-ime is ticking away tonight, which means i need to hurry up and post so i can atleast get SOME sleep

E-nding on my name.. i will have a new one in a week: PA-S :) :) 

R-eading, reading reading... there's alot of that in my future

S-omething i take for granted- dishwasher. my apartment WONT have one. :'(

W-here in the world am I going to school?? www.lmunet.edu and see below

E-verything is going to be OK, God's got it in control!

E-ven though Im away from everyone, I will blog so you all can keep up!

T-exas ranger baseball games will be miss greatly