The letter arrived today. I passed the third and final test.
The three year journey is over. Now I can finally relax. Which means that Silvio, the feline alarm clock, will start making a racket very early tomorrow morning. Damn him.
Showing posts with label tests. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tests. Show all posts
Friday, June 05, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
They Say It's Your Birthday
It's my birthday too, yeah.
Really. And I am spending it just like the last six days - eight to twelve hours of heavy studying for the oral boards. But since it is my birthday, and Friday and all that...
This has been the view from my lap most of the week (with notes, book, tea, nice view, and of course Zima the cat). It may look like she's sitting on a stereo receiver, but it is really an electronic cat warming device that happens to play music.
OK, back to my cave. I fly to Louisville tomorrow afternoon. The test is Sunday. See you in June.
Really. And I am spending it just like the last six days - eight to twelve hours of heavy studying for the oral boards. But since it is my birthday, and Friday and all that...
This has been the view from my lap most of the week (with notes, book, tea, nice view, and of course Zima the cat). It may look like she's sitting on a stereo receiver, but it is really an electronic cat warming device that happens to play music.
OK, back to my cave. I fly to Louisville tomorrow afternoon. The test is Sunday. See you in June.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Hiatus
Coming out of hibernation just long enough to say "I'm not internetting this week." Test is in seven days. I'm at home this week cramming. So you won't see me out and about until June. Will catch up then.
Back to my cave...
Back to my cave...
Monday, May 18, 2009
Weirdness on Steroids
My dreams continue to grow more and more vividly bizarre as the studying intensifies and the exam approaches. I can hardly guess what craziness my brain will manufacture next. Imaginative and disturbing, all at the same time. And really, really off-the-charts weird.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Five More Weeks
I finally got the official invitation for my third and (hopefully) final board exam -- May 31. Five more weeks. Let the countdown begin. It's crunch time.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Deferential Equations
I have been reading an online discussion group for people who are preparing for the radiological physics board exams, and happened upon a post complaining about the physics educational requirements. Imagine that? They actually want you to have a physics background before they will certify you as a physicist. The nerve! Anyway, this person said that she is good in the clinic but doesn't think she would be able to pass a Quantum Physics or Deferential (sic) Equations class. Of course I could not resist the urge to mock this (for those who were not forced to take advanced math, the subject is Differential Equations). Instead of doing it on the public discussion group (because I am not a complete ass), I send PDM a snarky email quoting this comment. I knew he would be sure to appreciate the humor of it all. And indeed, he did. This is what he sent back:
"Well, wasn't that the most well-mannered 2nd order inhomogenous equation? Always saying 'no, sir' and 'yes, please'. So agreeable when I required it to have constant coefficients. And not the slightest peep of complaint when I changed the initial conditions of the problem."
"Oh, you're so right. Most inhomogeneous equations nowadays are so disrespectful, requiring you to use the Method of Frobenius--or even numerical integration, for Heaven's sake! But that equation was so courteous--it even offered to transform itself into an integral equation and solve itself using Green's function techniques. Talk about good upbringing!"
"No doubt, no doubt. I've never known an equation so willing to go out of its way on my behalf. Manners will show."
"Well, wasn't that the most well-mannered 2nd order inhomogenous equation? Always saying 'no, sir' and 'yes, please'. So agreeable when I required it to have constant coefficients. And not the slightest peep of complaint when I changed the initial conditions of the problem."
"Oh, you're so right. Most inhomogeneous equations nowadays are so disrespectful, requiring you to use the Method of Frobenius--or even numerical integration, for Heaven's sake! But that equation was so courteous--it even offered to transform itself into an integral equation and solve itself using Green's function techniques. Talk about good upbringing!"
"No doubt, no doubt. I've never known an equation so willing to go out of its way on my behalf. Manners will show."
Monday, March 23, 2009
Guilt Trips
Things I feel guilty about, in no particular order:
- not studying nearly enough for my board exam coming up 5/31 - 6/2. I get home from work feeling so mentally fried that I don't even want to look at a book, much less open it and study. But the test is coming whether I have the mental energy to prep for it or not, and I have tons and tons of material to get through and be able to explain to an examiner (it is an oral exam). This guilt is strongly coupled with stress and dread.
- I feel some self-pressure to work more overtime to get projects done because I get interrupted with clinical duties all day and never get very far, although I am already putting in excess hours at work and doing more of this would exacerbate the "not studying enough" guilt described above. This is a no win situation, unless I can manufacture thirty hours from a twenty four hour day. But if I did, I would want that six hours for more sleep.
- I can't remember exactly when I last cooked something, although I vaguely recall not getting it ready until well after 9pm on an evening when we were both tired and hungry. PDM is doing far more than his share of the cooking, and when he doesn't cook we go out or order in. He's probably ahead on kitchen cleanup. We're about even on laundry, and neither of us is doing much of anything else around the house (and it shows). We haven't done anything to the yard either.
- there are a few other items that are private.
I know things will get better after my test, and this is just something to get through, but it doesn't make me feel any less guilty.
- not studying nearly enough for my board exam coming up 5/31 - 6/2. I get home from work feeling so mentally fried that I don't even want to look at a book, much less open it and study. But the test is coming whether I have the mental energy to prep for it or not, and I have tons and tons of material to get through and be able to explain to an examiner (it is an oral exam). This guilt is strongly coupled with stress and dread.
- I feel some self-pressure to work more overtime to get projects done because I get interrupted with clinical duties all day and never get very far, although I am already putting in excess hours at work and doing more of this would exacerbate the "not studying enough" guilt described above. This is a no win situation, unless I can manufacture thirty hours from a twenty four hour day. But if I did, I would want that six hours for more sleep.
- I can't remember exactly when I last cooked something, although I vaguely recall not getting it ready until well after 9pm on an evening when we were both tired and hungry. PDM is doing far more than his share of the cooking, and when he doesn't cook we go out or order in. He's probably ahead on kitchen cleanup. We're about even on laundry, and neither of us is doing much of anything else around the house (and it shows). We haven't done anything to the yard either.
- there are a few other items that are private.
I know things will get better after my test, and this is just something to get through, but it doesn't make me feel any less guilty.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
A Public Service Announcement
PDM graded another batch of physics tests today. He has a suggestion for you. (These students are tomorrow's aspiring engineers.) Don't drive over any bridges designed and built after 2008. Yes, it was that bad, and has been all semester. And the one before that. And the one before that. And the one before that...
Thursday, September 25, 2008
An update to the last update, plus an unrelated update.
I got home last night and was finally able to see Silvio. He was a bit standoffish with me. Other than that and his peeing tiny amounts very frequently, he seemed normal to me. Normal enough to be getting into everything and bugging the other cats. He warmed up to me overnight and decided to be snuggly once it got cold.
The other big update is that I PASSED PART 2 OF THE BOARD EXAM!! You know... the one I spent all summer studying for. Just got the letter today. One more test to go -- an oral exam given in the spring of next year.
We've got a lot of other stuff going on. Trying to get ready for a party we're hosting on Saturday, and lots more to do on that front. I had some catching up to do at work as well. I'll get around to your blogs again soon, I promise. But it might be Sunday before it happens. Gotta run - we're off to Trader Joe's to stock up on party stuff.
10:10pm An update to these updates: OUT OF GAS!!! Drove around all over and passed about eight gas stations. No one has any gas to sell. I have less than 1/4 tank now, and will of necessity be taking the shuttle in to work tomorrow, which I can catch a few miles from home. Since I have no idea when I will be able to find gas again, I will be driving as little as possible. They say the shortage is panic driven. Well, I totally understand getting panicked when you cannot find any gasoline ANYWHERE. I have never in my life encountered this situation, even after Katrina, when gas was available, just merely expensive. Damn! I'll try again tomorrow morning (maybe some of them get an overnight delivery), but if I can't find any, then I am pretty much grounded until the situation changes. I didn't get gas before my trip because it was so expensive. I figured by the time I got back, it would be nearly back to normal. Looks like my strategy was flawed.
The other big update is that I PASSED PART 2 OF THE BOARD EXAM!! You know... the one I spent all summer studying for. Just got the letter today. One more test to go -- an oral exam given in the spring of next year.
We've got a lot of other stuff going on. Trying to get ready for a party we're hosting on Saturday, and lots more to do on that front. I had some catching up to do at work as well. I'll get around to your blogs again soon, I promise. But it might be Sunday before it happens. Gotta run - we're off to Trader Joe's to stock up on party stuff.
10:10pm An update to these updates: OUT OF GAS!!! Drove around all over and passed about eight gas stations. No one has any gas to sell. I have less than 1/4 tank now, and will of necessity be taking the shuttle in to work tomorrow, which I can catch a few miles from home. Since I have no idea when I will be able to find gas again, I will be driving as little as possible. They say the shortage is panic driven. Well, I totally understand getting panicked when you cannot find any gasoline ANYWHERE. I have never in my life encountered this situation, even after Katrina, when gas was available, just merely expensive. Damn! I'll try again tomorrow morning (maybe some of them get an overnight delivery), but if I can't find any, then I am pretty much grounded until the situation changes. I didn't get gas before my trip because it was so expensive. I figured by the time I got back, it would be nearly back to normal. Looks like my strategy was flawed.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Finally, it's over.
And now I get my life back.
It was nice having a glass of wine with my lunch. Nice to go enjoy a party tonight, guilt-free. Nice to be able to write this post without feeling like I should be studying, or sleeping. Whew! I can't wait to be totally useless tomorrow - I can sit around the house and waste time all day if I want to. Maybe I will... maybe I won't. But great to have a real choice.
The test went OK, I guess. Not terribly bad, nor terrifically good. I will find out in about four weeks whether or not I did good enough to pass. I am trying hard not to agonize about it and second guess myself to death. I will just say that some questions were ambiguous and that made it tough to make a decision about how to answer.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
The Home Stretch
The test is looming in the very near future - Saturday morning, bright and early. The long, hot, miserable summer of study is almost over and I am spending the home stretch at home. I've taken a few days off work for last minute studying.
The plan is to study hard today and tomorrow, and then try to relax on Friday. So far, so good. I covered a lot of ground today and am taking practice tests tonight. It will be hard not to cross over into full on freakout mode by Friday, but I have all that herbal tea to help me. Ha ha. I'm looking forward to things getting back to normal. You know... when I can pound some drinks other than herbal tea.
The plan is to study hard today and tomorrow, and then try to relax on Friday. So far, so good. I covered a lot of ground today and am taking practice tests tonight. It will be hard not to cross over into full on freakout mode by Friday, but I have all that herbal tea to help me. Ha ha. I'm looking forward to things getting back to normal. You know... when I can pound some drinks other than herbal tea.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Thirteen Days
...until I get my life back. The board exam is looming large - Saturday, August 23, 8:00 am (not usually my finest hour).
I've got cabin fever (in August - how sucky is that?), I'm stir crazy, I can't seem to function some days, and there are still nearly two weeks to go in this state. All I do is work, sleep, eat, and study. Well, and watch a little TV from 9-11 some nights. But damn, how boring and restrictive is that? Add to that a huge reduction in alcohol intake and you have a recipe for unhappy.
Aside from radiological physics, I've learned a few other things from this experience. Did you know that Tension Tamer tea can have some unfortunate gastric side effects if you drink 5-6 cups of it in one evening? Consider yourself warned. I suspect that it shares an ingredient or two with "dieters tea". Did you know that learning lots of stuff in one area can make you stupid in others? Well, some days I cannot put together a rational sentence, so there ya go. Did you know that if you stare at a book, your cats will be irresistably drawn to lay on it? OK, I already knew that, but they have confirmed it time and again. If you can learn physics from osmosis, my cats are pretty damned smart.
The only good thing about this weekend was the it was cool and dry enough for me to do my studying on the porch for a change. We turned the A/C off on Friday night and haven't had it on since. It would have been a great weekend for... ah, I won't go there. Lets just say the weather was gorgeous for late summer and I was grateful to be able to hang out on the porch for my miserable marathon study sessions.
I've got cabin fever (in August - how sucky is that?), I'm stir crazy, I can't seem to function some days, and there are still nearly two weeks to go in this state. All I do is work, sleep, eat, and study. Well, and watch a little TV from 9-11 some nights. But damn, how boring and restrictive is that? Add to that a huge reduction in alcohol intake and you have a recipe for unhappy.
Aside from radiological physics, I've learned a few other things from this experience. Did you know that Tension Tamer tea can have some unfortunate gastric side effects if you drink 5-6 cups of it in one evening? Consider yourself warned. I suspect that it shares an ingredient or two with "dieters tea". Did you know that learning lots of stuff in one area can make you stupid in others? Well, some days I cannot put together a rational sentence, so there ya go. Did you know that if you stare at a book, your cats will be irresistably drawn to lay on it? OK, I already knew that, but they have confirmed it time and again. If you can learn physics from osmosis, my cats are pretty damned smart.
The only good thing about this weekend was the it was cool and dry enough for me to do my studying on the porch for a change. We turned the A/C off on Friday night and haven't had it on since. It would have been a great weekend for... ah, I won't go there. Lets just say the weather was gorgeous for late summer and I was grateful to be able to hang out on the porch for my miserable marathon study sessions.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Meltdown
It was inevitable.
Yesterday - home sick with migraine (a rare event, me taking a sick day).
Today - worked in spite of dull headache. New equipment training session sprung on me. Was miserable.
Bailed out as soon as I could, and went home to crash. High winds and a power outage woke me up abruptly. A thunderstorm soon followed. The power outage is widespread. I'm irritated because it is hot in the house, and dark. I had planned to have some down time this evening, but sitting around in a hot, dark house is not what I had in mind.
So now I'm at the pub (but not drinking - I cut way back because of studying). Had a hot meal and a club soda and feel marginally better. There is air conditioning, computer access, good eats, trivia and TVs, and a few of our friends are here. But I just sit here huddled over my laptop, not feeling very social. PDM keeps trying to make me feel better, and I keep disappointing him by being non-responsive. I'm stressed and crabby and tired. There is a huge weight on my shoulders and this is not going to change until after my test. I just want to be left alone. (And fed. I like it when he cooks me a nice dinner.) It doesn't help that we keep getting new stuff at work - a major software upgrade next week, plus lots of new hardware. I have to learn all that stuff during the day, then go home and study all of the test material. Some days it is too much.
And if I haven't driven all of my readers away with my pity party post, I promise to post about something other than my stupid test next time.
Yesterday - home sick with migraine (a rare event, me taking a sick day).
Today - worked in spite of dull headache. New equipment training session sprung on me. Was miserable.
Bailed out as soon as I could, and went home to crash. High winds and a power outage woke me up abruptly. A thunderstorm soon followed. The power outage is widespread. I'm irritated because it is hot in the house, and dark. I had planned to have some down time this evening, but sitting around in a hot, dark house is not what I had in mind.
So now I'm at the pub (but not drinking - I cut way back because of studying). Had a hot meal and a club soda and feel marginally better. There is air conditioning, computer access, good eats, trivia and TVs, and a few of our friends are here. But I just sit here huddled over my laptop, not feeling very social. PDM keeps trying to make me feel better, and I keep disappointing him by being non-responsive. I'm stressed and crabby and tired. There is a huge weight on my shoulders and this is not going to change until after my test. I just want to be left alone. (And fed. I like it when he cooks me a nice dinner.) It doesn't help that we keep getting new stuff at work - a major software upgrade next week, plus lots of new hardware. I have to learn all that stuff during the day, then go home and study all of the test material. Some days it is too much.
And if I haven't driven all of my readers away with my pity party post, I promise to post about something other than my stupid test next time.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Four more weeks, err, make that five
Counting down to my board exam. Second of three. I've got cabin fever, but I feel guilty if I am not studying, working, eating or sleeping. Argh!! As usual, the cats are always willing to offer feline assistance, whether you want it or not.
OK, break's over. Back to work!
UPDATED 7/22 because I am stupid and cannot count. It was five weeks from last weekend. Duh.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
How to Ruin Your Summer
How? Have a board exam scheduled for late August, the only time of year that the test is offered so you do not have a choice. I'll be taking the second test of three. I passed Part 1 - General and Clinical Physics in 2006. A few of you were around to remember this. This next test is a written (well, computerized) exam covering radiation therapy physics.
Have I mentioned that I hate studying? No? Well, I do. Suffice it to say that there are hundreds of things I'd rather be doing on summer days and nights. But the test is right around the corner and I am out of excuses, so it is time to buckle down.
If all goes well, I will get to take the third and final (oral) exam around this time next year.
Have I mentioned that I hate studying? No? Well, I do. Suffice it to say that there are hundreds of things I'd rather be doing on summer days and nights. But the test is right around the corner and I am out of excuses, so it is time to buckle down.
If all goes well, I will get to take the third and final (oral) exam around this time next year.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
How rusty is your 8th grade science?
Why are there so many things out there comparing adult knowledge to that of an 8th grader? What's up with that? Is there something special about the 8th grade that I don't know about (possibly because I am not smarter than an eighth grader)?
I couldn't resist giving this one a whirl:
Dang. A- is OK I guess, but with two masters degrees and many years of postgraduate education in physics, I shouldn't have missed any of these. In my defense, the two I missed had nothing to do with physics.
I couldn't resist giving this one a whirl:
Dang. A- is OK I guess, but with two masters degrees and many years of postgraduate education in physics, I shouldn't have missed any of these. In my defense, the two I missed had nothing to do with physics.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
