Grades are out from my last semester of Pre-clinical education. I ended up failing a class. So know on top of everything else I have going on I have to study for a remediation exam in the pediatrics course. For those of you who may not know an average semester of medical school requires you to take about 34 credits worth of material. I feel pretty dumb for failing, but it should be one of the easier courses to remediate. Thank the lord I don't have to remediate Pharm all though I know very little pharmacology.
My board exam preparation isn't going that great either. Im currently studying for the COMLEX then I will have take the USMLE next year. Im averaging only about 60% on comebank, and about 40% on Uworld. Im starting to get extremely nervous for the upcoming board exam on June 26th. If your considering medical school I would recommend starting out your first year and buy a question bank. I would recommend selecting topics that your currently studying and use the question bank to help you study for your courses. That way you can accomplish the task of studying for classes, and also studying for boards. Then in second year when your ready to start your dedicated board studying you have a HUGE headstart. If I could do it again thats how I would choose to tackle medical school. I would purchase both Uworld (and combank for DOS), for two years and start out form day one doing like 10 questions a day in addition to your regular studying.
Im going to be starting my clinical rotations in July and I really feel like I don't know what I'm doing. I just finished my second year and Advanced critical life support. I fell the only thing I can do proficient is CPR and I have not even done it before on a person.
For a little background information I attend Nova Southeastern University for Doctor of Osteopathic medicine. If you are not sure what an osteopathic doctor is here is a link that you can read up on to understand what exactly its about. Osteopathic Medicine 101. I also completed my biology degree at Nova in 2013. I am in the class of 2019. I am currently 31 years of age, I'm a late bloomer. I am passionate about medicine and I am 100% pro vaccine and pro prevention of disease instead of treating disease. More info to come. I am currently in the works of creating a hiking video from a hike I went on in 2013 with my girlfriend in the white river national forrest should be completed in a few weeks. I am so busy I can only afford a few minutes of video work a week. please be patient with me. Studying pediatrics the second time is really annoying and cutting into my board prep like crazy.
Monday, May 15, 2017
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
UPDATE:
I have not posted in a while but, Im going to start writing again to help relieve stress from medical school. I am in the process of constructing several youtube videos from hikes that I've taken over the past few years. One of the videos is the video from the hike I went on with my sister in 2013 that I started this blog with. Four years to late is better than never.
Lets just say I've been struggling with allot this past year. Between medical school and taking care of my mother I really don't have much spare time. I decided to make time for this. Going forward this will be a hiking blog and also a medical school advice channel. Board prep information and anything relevant to that nature. In the mean time Ive posted my first video to you tube. Its uploading now. Its called Mike, Oliver, and Bryce Hike the SMkoies. Check it out, let me know what you think heres the link to the video. Its my first youtube video ever. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eGdUx9kmuI
Also, last year I lost my best friend Mike Ryan to drugs. He will be missed terrible. He is seen below in foreground. Keep a look out more to come soon.
-Ciao
I have not posted in a while but, Im going to start writing again to help relieve stress from medical school. I am in the process of constructing several youtube videos from hikes that I've taken over the past few years. One of the videos is the video from the hike I went on with my sister in 2013 that I started this blog with. Four years to late is better than never.
Lets just say I've been struggling with allot this past year. Between medical school and taking care of my mother I really don't have much spare time. I decided to make time for this. Going forward this will be a hiking blog and also a medical school advice channel. Board prep information and anything relevant to that nature. In the mean time Ive posted my first video to you tube. Its uploading now. Its called Mike, Oliver, and Bryce Hike the SMkoies. Check it out, let me know what you think heres the link to the video. Its my first youtube video ever. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eGdUx9kmuI
Also, last year I lost my best friend Mike Ryan to drugs. He will be missed terrible. He is seen below in foreground. Keep a look out more to come soon.
-Ciao
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Smokey mountain hike #4
Well, we made it!!!! Im only doing a quick post. We are at a Hampton inn about 30 min drive from trail head. The staff are so nice and lovely a great free breakfast to be had. The conditions are wet wet wet. Very rainy. We have rain gear and are prepared for it physically if you can handle the pressure mentally well be ok. We will have to get a little wet though it seems. I hope Tina is as up for this task as she thinks she is. Her optimism is encouraging but, well see how she does once the pain in conjunction with the rain starts. I will have to create several posts about the hike post hike because there are no internet stations on the mountain. Im tired but, excited to hit the trail its been far to long. Rain or no rain I am ready. More to come when we return from the mountain.
On a side note The dates will be wrong of the posts from here on out. I will have to update all the data on the wrong date due to lack of internet service. Ill do my best to make it less confusing.
On a side note The dates will be wrong of the posts from here on out. I will have to update all the data on the wrong date due to lack of internet service. Ill do my best to make it less confusing.
Friday, May 3, 2013
Smokey Mountains blog #3
Song for this entry is Morning in the Mountains by Walking Jim
The final day of reckoning has past. The exam today went well. I feel very strong about it. As soos as i left my house and felt the sunshine on my cheeks I felt ready. The day was filled with the feel of fall and, the freedom of the hills on the green tunnel awaits. Im still getting all the logistics worked out here. It seems my friend Mike Ryan might be able to make it on the trip. That would make it three of us in total if Tina can come as well.
Mike in the Everglades on a 20 mile backcountry canoe trip, my goofy red self, and Tina my sister. A good mix of people seeking adventure. In my book the more the merrier because it can lessen the load of the others in the party because the burden can be divided by greater numbers. In my experience with my sister she will most likely develop an elaborate reason as to why she can't go a job interview for a non existent job, or a driver license test, or whatever on the fly excuse she can conjure up but im hoping otherwise. I think its a great experience for all of us though and it will be her loss weather she realizes it or not. I know my sister needs a much awaited break and, some time to ponder on her developing thoughts. As well as my overworked and underappreciated friend Mike. He probably needs it the most out of all of us. Above all though I really wish more than anything I could share these trips with my brother but, thats for a whole other story perhaps one told at a later date. Nothing strengthens the bond between brothers like good old fashioned blood, sweat, tears, and of course PAIN. This will never happen as he repeated on several occasions he wants nothing to do with me, my sister, and of course our parents. It is one of the only great let downs of my life that my brother has chosen a path of isolation, alienation, and in my opinion it is the biggest let down in my life. I know it will become equally regrettable in his life as well. I wish nothing but happiness for him though but, I fear in the path he has chosen that may be unattainable.
On a side note last night I was able to attend an Edward Sharp concert at Sunfest. Sunfest is an annual music festival in WPB its sure to please. I should of been studying but, sometimes we all make mistakes. I know that doing things like this are the reasons for earning B's instead of A's but, I am a mere mortal with a desire for simple self indulgent pleasures. I think the exam tomorrow will be ok if it was an issue I would of not gone to the show. I met up with an old friend and fling of mine. We proceeded to enter an eighteen year old scotch induced coma before staggering and sauntering down to the stage. She works downtown and her office provided an exceptional venue for the tasty consumption. This event did create a less than favorable condition for returning to Davie Fl. I did take all assertions to maintain a state of compliance within the parameters of law. After the concert we went to Roxys and proceeded to conquer a mountain of chicken nachos. Which were exceptionally drunkenly satisfying.
Overall, the show was great I really enjoy the music they play. The song in the blog before this was by them. Click the link to hear if you so please. I have many a fond memories playing in the field that is being trampled by all the people in attendance of the concert. Once upon a time ago a large building stood here and, it was demolished. My Dad and I watched it go down. It was so loud and, dust flew everywhere. We were lucky enough to have a sanctuary from the encroaching dust storm of wood, concrete, and, metal. My Dad was a prominent old school lawyer with a office located in the antediluvian antiqued Citizens building. So, we were fortunate enough to duck inside the buildings lobby and didn't get consumed by the toxic cloud that others were not so fortunate to escape this fate. The dust was composed of atomized tiny particles of the once standing building. My Dad being the outstanding gentleman that he is ushered as many people in as he could into the lobby to free them of the lung annihilating fate. He is one of the best men I know followed by his father Col. Parrish my Grandfather (RIP 04).This was the first building I witnessed go down. The second was also exciting but, a reminder of painful memories of the past.
Just as a fire starts with a single spark. The desire to hike the trail does as well. It started for me as a day hike on the Rainbow falls Mt. Leconte trail with my parents who only wanted a little taste of the extremely strenuous adventurous trail that was severely underestimated by me. My parents battled as long as they could and reluctantly admitted they could go no further when the trail came close to the edge of about a 100 foot drop off. The trail was only about 7 inches wide at this point. I could understand the hesitant feeling they had. I was enthralled with passion and wanted to keep climbing. At this point its been over a year and half since I was athletic. The feeling of my pounding heart was invigorating and, reminded of what it felt like to be a competitive epee fencer (stories of this time will come later). The mountain air swelled my lungs with the expansion of my diaphram. I was addicted. My parents could see my passion for the ascent so they immediately said they would meet me on the downward side of the mountain in the evening so I could summit and, climb down the opposite side. I was reluctant to leave them to climb back down the mile and a half alone. Both my parents have fading health in their old age. My dad has chronic diabetes type 2 and is non compliant with a healthy lifestyle My mother is on the liver transplant and is improving everyday from a server hospitalization after a massive GI bleed about two years ago. Sge required 15 units of blood and a bag of platelets She, is strong at this point and may get taken off the list. An extremely rare fate. Usually the only way off the list without a new liver is death. We are all very proud of her recovery.
2 weeks in hospital at Sebring Florida suffering allot but spirits are high
4 weeks in post transfer to Tampa General and getting on the transfer list. Few days out of the ICU and walking. Starting to recover.
Birthday celebration in Tampa 1 day post discharge very frail and weak. Total time in hospital was 1 month and a half. At two different hospitals.
1 year after discharge only one hospitalization for an encephalopathic attack. No visits since and hiking the Smokeys and getting stronger everyday. Way to go MOM!!!!
Photos are in chronological order to see the great progress she has made.
It seems the first hickup of the trip has occurred. After my last trip in the everglades. It seems I didnt air out the tent after a torrential downpour. I just opened the bag to check on the tent and, the smell of mold was so strong it toppled me back. Worse part is i opened it my house!!!! I mayt have to purchase a tent tor this trip now for needed comfort during sleep time.
The final day of reckoning has past. The exam today went well. I feel very strong about it. As soos as i left my house and felt the sunshine on my cheeks I felt ready. The day was filled with the feel of fall and, the freedom of the hills on the green tunnel awaits. Im still getting all the logistics worked out here. It seems my friend Mike Ryan might be able to make it on the trip. That would make it three of us in total if Tina can come as well.
On a side note last night I was able to attend an Edward Sharp concert at Sunfest. Sunfest is an annual music festival in WPB its sure to please. I should of been studying but, sometimes we all make mistakes. I know that doing things like this are the reasons for earning B's instead of A's but, I am a mere mortal with a desire for simple self indulgent pleasures. I think the exam tomorrow will be ok if it was an issue I would of not gone to the show. I met up with an old friend and fling of mine. We proceeded to enter an eighteen year old scotch induced coma before staggering and sauntering down to the stage. She works downtown and her office provided an exceptional venue for the tasty consumption. This event did create a less than favorable condition for returning to Davie Fl. I did take all assertions to maintain a state of compliance within the parameters of law. After the concert we went to Roxys and proceeded to conquer a mountain of chicken nachos. Which were exceptionally drunkenly satisfying.
Overall, the show was great I really enjoy the music they play. The song in the blog before this was by them. Click the link to hear if you so please. I have many a fond memories playing in the field that is being trampled by all the people in attendance of the concert. Once upon a time ago a large building stood here and, it was demolished. My Dad and I watched it go down. It was so loud and, dust flew everywhere. We were lucky enough to have a sanctuary from the encroaching dust storm of wood, concrete, and, metal. My Dad was a prominent old school lawyer with a office located in the antediluvian antiqued Citizens building. So, we were fortunate enough to duck inside the buildings lobby and didn't get consumed by the toxic cloud that others were not so fortunate to escape this fate. The dust was composed of atomized tiny particles of the once standing building. My Dad being the outstanding gentleman that he is ushered as many people in as he could into the lobby to free them of the lung annihilating fate. He is one of the best men I know followed by his father Col. Parrish my Grandfather (RIP 04).This was the first building I witnessed go down. The second was also exciting but, a reminder of painful memories of the past.
Just as a fire starts with a single spark. The desire to hike the trail does as well. It started for me as a day hike on the Rainbow falls Mt. Leconte trail with my parents who only wanted a little taste of the extremely strenuous adventurous trail that was severely underestimated by me. My parents battled as long as they could and reluctantly admitted they could go no further when the trail came close to the edge of about a 100 foot drop off. The trail was only about 7 inches wide at this point. I could understand the hesitant feeling they had. I was enthralled with passion and wanted to keep climbing. At this point its been over a year and half since I was athletic. The feeling of my pounding heart was invigorating and, reminded of what it felt like to be a competitive epee fencer (stories of this time will come later). The mountain air swelled my lungs with the expansion of my diaphram. I was addicted. My parents could see my passion for the ascent so they immediately said they would meet me on the downward side of the mountain in the evening so I could summit and, climb down the opposite side. I was reluctant to leave them to climb back down the mile and a half alone. Both my parents have fading health in their old age. My dad has chronic diabetes type 2 and is non compliant with a healthy lifestyle My mother is on the liver transplant and is improving everyday from a server hospitalization after a massive GI bleed about two years ago. Sge required 15 units of blood and a bag of platelets She, is strong at this point and may get taken off the list. An extremely rare fate. Usually the only way off the list without a new liver is death. We are all very proud of her recovery.
Photos are in chronological order to see the great progress she has made.
It seems the first hickup of the trip has occurred. After my last trip in the everglades. It seems I didnt air out the tent after a torrential downpour. I just opened the bag to check on the tent and, the smell of mold was so strong it toppled me back. Worse part is i opened it my house!!!! I mayt have to purchase a tent tor this trip now for needed comfort during sleep time.
This was a spring break trip. My dear friend Danny came down from New York and we did a quick one nighter in the park. There was a group of giggly girls camping next to us. By the end of the night all of them were huddled in the stinky mens room for the sake of staying dry. I assume the ladies room was equally as full. The park was very crowded I imagine from Spring break. All of their tents were not properly set up and they were all leaking. Which is quite understandable given the conditions. We could see them all dash to rest room one by one till they were all inside ducked away form the ludicrously loud thunder after electrifying bolts of lightning thrown from the hands of Zeus himself. Our tent stayed dry despite being set up on a depression and we ended up having a delightful water bed to sleep on as a result. I was surprised it didn't leak. At one point I had to take a leak so I went to the bathroom where there was about 20 giggly 18 year old girls. I quitly and quickly meandered through them to get to the urinal. I was a little shy around all the girls in restroom. I finished my business and walked the 50 yards back to the tent. The lightning was so fierce it light up the whole sky. I shuddered and jumped at the crash of the thunder as I walked to the tent. All in all, it was a great experience. I now just have to deal with the ramifications of not taking proper care of my equipment.
The weather should be good with low temps dropping into the 50s and high 40s. There is a chance of sporadic showers but, we will be prepared for the weather if it turns to the south. Should be leaving in about five hours for the drive. I am extremely excited for this to come and, I fear it will be one of the longest drives of my life.
-Bryce Parrish
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Smoky mountain Hike #2
Please do enjoy the song Home by Edward Sharp while enjoying today's entry.
One of the two finals down and I think I bombed it :(. I had a 90 going into it and i think I just lost my A. I feel so dejected and bummed out. Test was very tricky. A multiple choice test to rival the MCAT. I need to snap out of this funk and push up the last mountain of an exam on Friday then I can climb a real peak instead of metaphorical mountains. Only one more test to go until im away and enjoying true freedom and, what am I doing now?? Not studying. Have I become so wrapped up in my own thoughts I cant distract myself from them with the necessary obligations I have. I cant even focus on the things that matter most. The exam today is a demonstration of that transgression on myself and my future.Sometimes I just feel like beaker form the Muppets.
Well enough of that lets talk about the trip. My proposed route is 80 miles in length. It will be a real rough route. Its gonna have two escape routes that will cut the mileage down and, cut out the mighty Clingmans dome. At the tallest peak on the AT Clingmans tops out at just under 7,000 ft or so but, it feels much higher when your climbing it. I have climbed it once its a rough one. When I did climb it my dear friend Mike Ryan and I each ate an entire jar of peanut butter on the ascent. I tried to get him to accompany me on this trip but, he knew better. Last year Mike and I traveled here and saw three baby bears and a moma bear relaxing at the shelter just before Clingmans Dome. I think it was double spring gap shelter. They were freely frolicking in a small field of yellow flowers swatting at bugs in the air clumsily. A large buck also retreated to the forest their fast once it realized the dangers of the bear and the curious hikers. I wish I had a picture to share but, it only exists in our minds as a memory. We did meet some nice young hikers and shared a bottle of moonshine together the eve before I was hoping to save it for the duration of the trio but, I there was no way I would hold out on a fellow hikers. The next light they left hours before we did but they waited at the shelter with the bear because they didn't want to put pressure on their territories. So, we did get to experience the bears together. They were just section hikers like us and they were a very pleasant group from north GA. They didn't acquire shelter permits so they kept signing in the log books NO permit Ga crew. A hiker befor was kind enough to gather wood for it dry in the shelter for whoever came behind. I don't I would have got my socks dry if it wasn't for it. That weekend it rained ravenously throughout the duration of the trip. Ill never forget the washed out mudslide of a trail.
Here is the route im gonna attempt The main route is proposed in red and the two escape routes are green and blue. I need to hit at least 14 miles a day or so to keep pace with my time limit. If I start to take more time ill have to divert to a easier and less high path. The blue line connecting the red trail is not a stream or river its the escape route. The image below can help understand the total scale of the hike in reference to the Smokeys. The total area of the Smokeys are 800 square miles. What really amazes me is how the spread of shopping malls, starbucks, and gas stations has encroached on the Natioanl Park all the way to its door step. More tourists come to this park then any-other but, very few really understand it and have sweated on the rocks. If I can finish the purposed hike ill get to hike on three different long distance trails. The famous 2,000 mile Appalachian Train, 500 mile Mountain to Sea Trail, and 300 mile Benton Macceky Trail. I may try to hike all three at one point or another. For no other reason other than the fact that they exist. I cant think of any better reason than that in all honesty. Why do anything anyway other than the fact that you can. Its good to experience as much as you possibly can to better yourself. Experience provides insight.
I just spoke to my sister and it looks like she may tag along with me on this trip. This should be a good chance to bond with her and, a good character building opportunity for both of us. Not to mention its safer to go into the woods with a friends. This way if anything bad happens it happens to both you and, no one lives to speak of the tale.
The map below has a break down of the mileage per day I would like to attempt for this trip. I would say as usual i am overshooting my personal abilities as I am quite an amazingly amatuer like hiker. Our camps will be located at each mile marker. We are gonna try to avoid the AT shelters for a more peaceful hike with less other people. My tent is quite large and heavy for backpacking but, the extra room will serve us very well.
I also, made a quick gear list for this trip. For anyone who is interested. You can find it here.
GEAR LIST
Well, the eve of the trip is upon up me and I cant wait to finish up classes tomorrow and get the event in Hialeah over. I'm doing a volunteering even teaching youngsters about science. Well be making lava lamps out of food coloring, Alka Seltzer, water, and oil. I can post the instructions here its kinda neat if you have kids.
Instructions for BLOBS IN A BOTTLE
Lets get this shit show on the road. Its gonna be about a 12 hour car ride to the ranger station where we will fill out all the needed paperwork and acquire a permit for our stay and hike.Im hoping to begin Saturday and hike at least 8-10 miles. That would be just great. The first days always the hardest and, the first morning is even harder still.
I need to start studying foe this final I have tomorrow or i'm gonna ruin two classes with As.
-Bryce Parrish
One of the two finals down and I think I bombed it :(. I had a 90 going into it and i think I just lost my A. I feel so dejected and bummed out. Test was very tricky. A multiple choice test to rival the MCAT. I need to snap out of this funk and push up the last mountain of an exam on Friday then I can climb a real peak instead of metaphorical mountains. Only one more test to go until im away and enjoying true freedom and, what am I doing now?? Not studying. Have I become so wrapped up in my own thoughts I cant distract myself from them with the necessary obligations I have. I cant even focus on the things that matter most. The exam today is a demonstration of that transgression on myself and my future.Sometimes I just feel like beaker form the Muppets.
Well enough of that lets talk about the trip. My proposed route is 80 miles in length. It will be a real rough route. Its gonna have two escape routes that will cut the mileage down and, cut out the mighty Clingmans dome. At the tallest peak on the AT Clingmans tops out at just under 7,000 ft or so but, it feels much higher when your climbing it. I have climbed it once its a rough one. When I did climb it my dear friend Mike Ryan and I each ate an entire jar of peanut butter on the ascent. I tried to get him to accompany me on this trip but, he knew better. Last year Mike and I traveled here and saw three baby bears and a moma bear relaxing at the shelter just before Clingmans Dome. I think it was double spring gap shelter. They were freely frolicking in a small field of yellow flowers swatting at bugs in the air clumsily. A large buck also retreated to the forest their fast once it realized the dangers of the bear and the curious hikers. I wish I had a picture to share but, it only exists in our minds as a memory. We did meet some nice young hikers and shared a bottle of moonshine together the eve before I was hoping to save it for the duration of the trio but, I there was no way I would hold out on a fellow hikers. The next light they left hours before we did but they waited at the shelter with the bear because they didn't want to put pressure on their territories. So, we did get to experience the bears together. They were just section hikers like us and they were a very pleasant group from north GA. They didn't acquire shelter permits so they kept signing in the log books NO permit Ga crew. A hiker befor was kind enough to gather wood for it dry in the shelter for whoever came behind. I don't I would have got my socks dry if it wasn't for it. That weekend it rained ravenously throughout the duration of the trip. Ill never forget the washed out mudslide of a trail.
Here is the route im gonna attempt The main route is proposed in red and the two escape routes are green and blue. I need to hit at least 14 miles a day or so to keep pace with my time limit. If I start to take more time ill have to divert to a easier and less high path. The blue line connecting the red trail is not a stream or river its the escape route. The image below can help understand the total scale of the hike in reference to the Smokeys. The total area of the Smokeys are 800 square miles. What really amazes me is how the spread of shopping malls, starbucks, and gas stations has encroached on the Natioanl Park all the way to its door step. More tourists come to this park then any-other but, very few really understand it and have sweated on the rocks. If I can finish the purposed hike ill get to hike on three different long distance trails. The famous 2,000 mile Appalachian Train, 500 mile Mountain to Sea Trail, and 300 mile Benton Macceky Trail. I may try to hike all three at one point or another. For no other reason other than the fact that they exist. I cant think of any better reason than that in all honesty. Why do anything anyway other than the fact that you can. Its good to experience as much as you possibly can to better yourself. Experience provides insight.
I just spoke to my sister and it looks like she may tag along with me on this trip. This should be a good chance to bond with her and, a good character building opportunity for both of us. Not to mention its safer to go into the woods with a friends. This way if anything bad happens it happens to both you and, no one lives to speak of the tale.
The map below has a break down of the mileage per day I would like to attempt for this trip. I would say as usual i am overshooting my personal abilities as I am quite an amazingly amatuer like hiker. Our camps will be located at each mile marker. We are gonna try to avoid the AT shelters for a more peaceful hike with less other people. My tent is quite large and heavy for backpacking but, the extra room will serve us very well.
I also, made a quick gear list for this trip. For anyone who is interested. You can find it here.
GEAR LIST
Well, the eve of the trip is upon up me and I cant wait to finish up classes tomorrow and get the event in Hialeah over. I'm doing a volunteering even teaching youngsters about science. Well be making lava lamps out of food coloring, Alka Seltzer, water, and oil. I can post the instructions here its kinda neat if you have kids.
Instructions for BLOBS IN A BOTTLE
Lets get this shit show on the road. Its gonna be about a 12 hour car ride to the ranger station where we will fill out all the needed paperwork and acquire a permit for our stay and hike.Im hoping to begin Saturday and hike at least 8-10 miles. That would be just great. The first days always the hardest and, the first morning is even harder still.
I need to start studying foe this final I have tomorrow or i'm gonna ruin two classes with As.
-Bryce Parrish
Monday, April 29, 2013
Smokey Mountain Hike #1
Please enjoy the blog to this song. Shiver by Cold Play go on click it.
Its been a long rugged semester. I am patiently awaiting an even more rugged time on the trail. A rugged time to batter my mind back and, to replenish my tired soul. Returning oneself to a more primal way of life for weeks on ends has a way of rejuvenating ones perspective on the things that are most important in life. The fast paced life we all have evolved and are evolving to live can be very tiring. However, tiring it may be the inexplicable inescapable rat race that appears to be forever haunting. Sometimes in order to become renewed it takes the back breaking labor of lugging a unnecessarily weighted pack through dense yellow, smokey wooded, trails up the tallest peaks in the southern Appalachian mountains. For an unknown unexplained reason the return to a simpler more difficult way of life helps you realize how great you do have it and, it can restore your faith in the things that matter most in your life. It provides a means to appreciate things that are otherwise unappreciated. It generally helps you from feeling the way this girl feels about receiving a white iphone 5 instead of the black one.
Lessons unfortunately I am embarrassed to admit that I forget all to easily. The hiking experience can be daunting and overwhelming but, the more difficult the trek the more rewarding the realization. I am overdue for such an experience.
This semester the bulk of my time has been spent working on my challenging classes but, also an original research project. It's on Gene Conservation and Evolution in Marine Sponges and, there is still a great deal of work yet to be done. I really enjoyed trying something I have no general knowledge of and, can really appreciate the amount of time it consumes.
This picture was taken at the presentation of the research.
Here I am sucking in my beer keg of a gut trying to look smart and, explain my project to the cute dark haired girl who clearly it seems is not impressed. Fishing for some form of non-verbal communication que of acceptance or perhaps a flash of the pearly whites or even a cute wink or a nod or just something anything. Its either the Sponge Bob Square pants tie or possibly my delivery. Maybe she just couldn't quite figure out what in the hell I was pointing at. Hell, I don't even know what im pointing at. I guess ill never truly know which one it was. All in all, im closing in fast to the end of the wild ride of a semester. I only have two more exams left then its off to the mountains. I should close out with only one B and im hoping it to be a B+. At least I still have my head above C level to breathe. If I can just maintain a little more I may even have a real chance at med school. If i can even make it off the mountain this weekend that is. I may just continue northward to Moordor mountain
or I mean Katahadin in Maine
. Actually, now that I think about it I feel like im on Moordor mountain right now and the only way off is through the Smokeys.
Boy I have really lost it two exams closing in hot and, the only thing I can think about doing is writing about how awesome it is going to be not doing anything. Ha haha and I think I can go to med school.... I wonder how long I can keep fooling myself. I really need to get away and do some backpacking its been far to long and I cant wait to feel the euphoric sound of the crunch of earth, the whisper of the wind, wrestle of the water, the brightness of the birds, the sounds of a million trusting trees triumphantly towering tickling each other, of course the sarcastically steamy sensual sound of sex,
and the sweet taste of gorp for days on end.
Bottom line is I just cant wait to get out there.
Its been a long rugged semester. I am patiently awaiting an even more rugged time on the trail. A rugged time to batter my mind back and, to replenish my tired soul. Returning oneself to a more primal way of life for weeks on ends has a way of rejuvenating ones perspective on the things that are most important in life. The fast paced life we all have evolved and are evolving to live can be very tiring. However, tiring it may be the inexplicable inescapable rat race that appears to be forever haunting. Sometimes in order to become renewed it takes the back breaking labor of lugging a unnecessarily weighted pack through dense yellow, smokey wooded, trails up the tallest peaks in the southern Appalachian mountains. For an unknown unexplained reason the return to a simpler more difficult way of life helps you realize how great you do have it and, it can restore your faith in the things that matter most in your life. It provides a means to appreciate things that are otherwise unappreciated. It generally helps you from feeling the way this girl feels about receiving a white iphone 5 instead of the black one.
Lessons unfortunately I am embarrassed to admit that I forget all to easily. The hiking experience can be daunting and overwhelming but, the more difficult the trek the more rewarding the realization. I am overdue for such an experience.
This semester the bulk of my time has been spent working on my challenging classes but, also an original research project. It's on Gene Conservation and Evolution in Marine Sponges and, there is still a great deal of work yet to be done. I really enjoyed trying something I have no general knowledge of and, can really appreciate the amount of time it consumes.
This picture was taken at the presentation of the research.
Here I am sucking in my beer keg of a gut trying to look smart and, explain my project to the cute dark haired girl who clearly it seems is not impressed. Fishing for some form of non-verbal communication que of acceptance or perhaps a flash of the pearly whites or even a cute wink or a nod or just something anything. Its either the Sponge Bob Square pants tie or possibly my delivery. Maybe she just couldn't quite figure out what in the hell I was pointing at. Hell, I don't even know what im pointing at. I guess ill never truly know which one it was. All in all, im closing in fast to the end of the wild ride of a semester. I only have two more exams left then its off to the mountains. I should close out with only one B and im hoping it to be a B+. At least I still have my head above C level to breathe. If I can just maintain a little more I may even have a real chance at med school. If i can even make it off the mountain this weekend that is. I may just continue northward to Moordor mountain
or I mean Katahadin in Maine
Boy I have really lost it two exams closing in hot and, the only thing I can think about doing is writing about how awesome it is going to be not doing anything. Ha haha and I think I can go to med school.... I wonder how long I can keep fooling myself. I really need to get away and do some backpacking its been far to long and I cant wait to feel the euphoric sound of the crunch of earth, the whisper of the wind, wrestle of the water, the brightness of the birds, the sounds of a million trusting trees triumphantly towering tickling each other, of course the sarcastically steamy sensual sound of sex,
and the sweet taste of gorp for days on end.
Bottom line is I just cant wait to get out there.
Cherokee rose
Awesome Smokey Mountain Trail Map----and Click me too.
The link should take you to an amazingly awesome free map of the smokey mountain wilderness. The same map I will be using to plan out and carefully carve the path I will follow for my Appalachian somewhat Deliverance-esque trip/ adventure. Unfortunately I only have a week and a half to get away but, I will be sure to use every drop of time I can ring out of this universe for the trip. Time which generally speaking is never enough to quench the thirst for life.
Details of my intended route soon to follow in next post. Im still working out all the logistics, gear lists, food lists, supplies list, shit list, and of course the hit list. Ive eaten enough of your time. If you made it all the way through thanks allot for reading and I hope you enjoyed it. If not then go fuck yourself and have a nice day.
-Bryce Parrish
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