Day 121 - Deja Vu Anatomy

Last week, we took our Anatomy I final exam which included the subject of muscle tissue, what it is, what kinds there are, and how muscles actually work. We had learned about sarcomeres, calcium's role, and what actins and myocins are.
In our first class of Anatomy II this evening, guess what? We reviewed muscle tissue, what it is, what kinds there are, and how muscles actually work, including sarcomeres, calcium's role, and what actins and myocins are.
Weird. Deja vu.
Last week, I ended up getting a 95% on the final exam, but wasn't really sure what all of the muscle stuff meant. Frankly, by the time we went over that last week, my brain had totally checked out. After tonight's review, I think I get it.
Yay!
As for the J-O-B, today was a strange day. Since the company had lost a contract back at the end of September, things have been rather slow. Well, today, TPTB executed multiple lay-offs. I was not one of the parties affected. I really want to add "unfortunately" to the end of that because in many ways, working 40 hours a week while doing this massage school program is hugely time consuming, physically and emotionally draining, and I never have time (or make the time) to clean the house.
But - I guess I have to help pay bills and make my contribution to society, so off to work I go.
Well, I mean, tomorrow, I will go to work. Tonight, I'm heading to bed.

Day 67 - Artistic License

Artists are a different breed of people. I have many artist friends, and in some ways, consider myself an artist. And yes, we're - uh - different.

But what does that have to do with massage?
During tonight's class, we learned about the muscle's in the back. Oh sure, you can look at a picture of "Big Red" - the anatomical man with all his muscles. Or you can do our our teacher did - draw the muscles on a volunteer classmate. Using China Markers (which are so cool - almost as cool as Sharpies), our artistic teacher drew the boney landmarks (spine, spine of scapula, etc) in black and then drew where the attaching muscles "flow" on our classmate's back. It's kinda cool when you see it in that perspective. It will definitely help me remember it!
Then, we had to practice more massage, putting into practice what we learned about the flow of muscles. It's pretty rough, ya know. Going to class, getting massages.
Really rough.
Really.