Did You Know?

Did you know that it’s not good to put alcohol on cuts, abrasions and open wounds? It causes the blood to coagulate and anaerobic bacterial infection. When the blood coagulates the white blood cells can’t get to the wound site as well. The anaerobic forms flourish because the white blood cells can’t get there fast enough and all the oxygen is removed from the wound site. Alcohol is good for surface disinfectant because it can kill gram negative bacteria by disrupting its cell wall. A better disinfectant for cuts and stuff is hydrogen peroxide because it is an oxidizing agent and can kill those anaerobic forms of bacteria by forming super oxide radicals that the bacteria can’t break down. The problem with peroxide, however, is that it does have mutagenic properties if used too much.

Can we tell that I had a microbiology test this morning?

I’m really enjoying this last semester so far. I’ve had two micro tests, two lab tests, two presentations, and a service learning project already. I purposely put all the presentations and projects early in the semester so that I can focus on wedding and traveling as the semester gets closer to graduation. I have 75 days til graduation and 152 days til the wedding. I’m very excited about both.

I’m still waiting on replies from the three remaining medical schools in Pennsylvania. An in the meantime I’ve taken up tutoring high school biology. I have three students who are all in the same sophomore biology class. They’re all bright and the material really isn’t all that difficult; I just think that the teacher is probably using too much scientific jargon and doesn’t translate well for non-science people. I started with one student and got the other two by recommendation. I enjoy teaching and if I don’t get into medschool this first year, I’m thinking about substitute teaching or teaching part time while I reapply.

In the world of wedding planning, things are going very well. I’ve purchased KB’s wedding band and mine should finished this week. We did these early because I won’t be in Charlotte after graduation and the jeweler we’re working with is only here in town. They have beautiful stuff and I highly recommend them if you want to have something designed. KB and I are going to Knoxville this weekend to talk with Dan, who will be officiating, and going over a survey we took back in October (we haven’t had any time to go back earlier than this to see the results). We’re also planning on going over to Connie’s Bridal, where I got my dress, to pick out tux styles. We looked at styles and colors this past Saturday, but Connie’s is better priced than where we were looking.

For spring break, we’re heading to Oklahoma to visit family and for me to have my bridal pictures taken. I’m looking forward to visiting with soon to be family. I met them all at C’s wedding but it was a rather hectic weekend and I didn’t have much time to actually talk to them.

So I guess life is going smoothly at the moment, for me anyway. KB has two things left to do: a post on the webboard and a paper. He’s working on the paper right now and I’m hoping that he’ll have it finished before we head off to Knoxville on Friday.

Author: KB French

Formerly many things, including theology student, mime, jr. high Latin teacher, and Army logistics officer. Currently in the National Guard, and employed as a civilian... somewhere View all posts by KB French