T-minus 6 days

Life is crazy as I prepare to defend my PhD next Thursday. I can't barely keep up with things. Plus, I attended a marathon 92-hour birth earlier this week (I was only there for 25 of those hours). And I've got another mama due tomorrow too. How did all this stuff end up happening at the same time?

Cool thing this week was picking up my cap and gown. When you become a Dr, they give you very fancy robes.

Honda Odyssey ad

Merck is evil

Merck, makers of the infamous Vioxx, as well as a suite of pediatric and adult vaccines, has not only been marketing drugs they knew were dangerous, they've also been covering up death in drug trials and hiring prominent physicians to sign their name on research that Merck was doing in-house (to make it look legit, so it could prove the safety of their drugs). JAMA has been so kind as to allow free access to these two important articles. You can read about ghostwriting here and death cover-ups here.

Sadly, I am not surprised. I would bet all the drug companies are into this practice. It makes me sick though.

For vaccines, Merck makes Varicella, MMR, one of the HepBs, one of the Hibs (which was recently recalled for other problems), the Hib/HepB combo, one of the HepAs, and one of the Pneumococcals. Wonder much foulplay was involved in the studies proving the "safety" of these vaccines...

Sweet rides and happy days

Picked up the new minivan last night. It is soooooo nice. I'm in love! It feels so big and luxurious compared to our past vehicles. And now today it is GORGEOUS outside, and I got my final comments back from my professor on my dissertation, and he LIKES it! This are looking good today. I think this afternoon we're gonna go out for a joy ride.

Big Blue

We bought a new car today. :) Got a good deal too...over $1000 under invoice. We get it on Wednesday or Thursday. I can't wait!

Can you find Barack in this picture?

Barack, I think I love you

I'm only a week late in sharing this news...but hey, I've been busy lately.

I saw Barack Obama. In person. Not from the nosebleed section at a rally, no. On the street. Shaking hands (he didn't get to mine though). Standing in front of the pizza restaurant (American Dream) I was trying to get into to. I was close enough to see his skim blemishes. Ten feet maybe? He's kinda like a drug...makes you want to do stupid shit for him. I wanted to run up and throw my arms and legs around him in a great big hug, but I was pretty sure my kids would miss me while I spent the night in jail. I can't believe how electrifying I feel in his presence. It is pretty freaky. For the first time, I feel like I understand the power behind some of the major political movements of the past...such as for JFK and RFK. And I think I am beginning to understand how devasting it would be to lose some as strong as say...MLK. I feel it in my heart that Obama will be our next President, but I also can't shake the feeling he will face more than a few assassination attempts. Thankfully, he travels with an army of secret service types. I saw far more of them than I did of him on the street that day. I'd show you my hastily-snapped cell phone pic, but it is a blurry mob of suits, coats, and the backs of people's heads.

Simon's Cat 'Let Me In!'

More fun with Simon's cat

Simon's Cat 'Cat Man Do'

Simon has obviously been spying on my cat Terri

Bicycle Awareness Test

This is just too funny. And it has a point.

May 1st, 2008

Okay, just kidding in that last post.

I will be defending on Thursday, May 1st. It is official now. I've submitted the paperwork to set things rolling. From 10 am till 1 pm on May 1st, I'll be sweating buckets. Hopefully by 2 pm, I'll have successfully defended my dissertation. Whew.

April 24, 2008

I will be defending my dissertation on Thursday, April 24, 2008. Time TBA.

I can't freakin' believe this is going to happen. I will then have 15 days to complete all my revisions and turn everything in to the Graduate School.

Then, on Sunday, June 15, I will become Dr. Olsen. hehehehe

She was meant to be a midwife

SageFemme is definitely in the right profession. Kudos to her for handling a 13 MINUTE shoulder dystocia of a nearly 13 lb baby girl. At home. With no broken bones. And full resuscitation. Oh. My. God.

Baby girl is doing well.

SafeFemme is also an amazing photographer of the births she attends, and has created this gorgeous montage of some of her homebirths. Beware - not for office viewing.

Reality

As if it weren't obvious, I'm taking a break from blogging for a bit. Life is just too much right now. School and life are taking over. I hope to rejoin the blogging world soon. I'm still around and reading, just saving myself the pressure of feeling I need to make posts.

A great response to ACOG's stupidity

This is an awesome, honest, and accurate response to ACOG's statement on homebirths.

I couldn't have said it better. And I agree whole-heartedly with her point that ACOG's statement was defensive, insulting, and paternalistic.