I just wanted to say that after 3 weeks I am still alive and kicking here in Maine.  I am settling into a routine and studying harder than I have before. (maybe not harder, but I am reading the chapters before class as opposed to the night before the test).  My classmates are all pleasantly unique and I have enjoyed getting to know them.  So not much to report except that I am excited and look forward to the opportunities that await me.  Many people have asked me what a nurse anesthetist does, so in order to help answer that question I have posted a few videos from youtube.  Enjoy.  (Remember to pause my playlist or you won't be able to hear the audio from youtube.)

Well, I have been getting some flak from certain people about not keeping my blog up to date.  For your information, I wrote a long, somewhat emotional post about 9/11 and my thoughts on that.  Unfortunately it failed to post and I lost the draft.  Feeling that I wouldn't be able to replicate the eloquent and moving post adequately, I didn't rewrite it.  I will say that even though it has been 7 years since 9/11, my thoughts still go to those whose lives were forever altered by the events of that day.  In the subsequent years we have had many natural disasters that devastated many parts of the world.  Although those natural disasters have caused widespread suffering and loss, my faith in humanity has been strengthened.  In these difficult times we have seen people rise up and search out opportunities to help.  People from all walks of life united in one purpose, working together to achieve a common goal.  It's unfortunate that sometimes it takes a disaster to bring us together, but it's comforting to know that love for your fellowman still exists. 

I can feel it.  Deep inside me, creeping, continuously nagging, but not overwhelming.  I try to ignore it by occupying my time with other things but to no avail.  There is no escape....the first day of school is fast approaching.  I am feeling the anxiety of starting a new program at a new school, in a new city and state, unsure of what the future holds.  I ask myself what will I wear? Who will I sit by at lunch?  What if no one likes me?  Now I know this may seem trivial, especially for a grown married 28 year old man with three kids, but seriously does this bag make me look fat?  

Anyway, its true I am starting my Masters in Nurse Anesthesia program tomorrow and I am a little anxious, though not for the reasons mentioned above.  I am excited because this is the last leg of what we set out to do back in 2004 and we are grateful that things are going according to plan.  I now have 27 months of school here in Maine (hence the name "The Maine Man", get it, its a play on words, oh nevermind).  I'm going to try to use this blog as my anesthesia journal siting all the exciting things that transpire in the life of a student registered nurse anesthetist.  I know you can hardly wait.  Game on.