In searching for a viable career, I've found that most of the application deadlines for the Fall of 2007 have already lapsed. What's that? Yes, it is highly annoying and somewhat upsetting. Hmm? No, I don't have $42,000 that I can use to buy a degree from Pepperdine. Yes, I suppose you're correct: community college does seem like the only realistic option.

P.S. Taco Bell has not returned my calls.

I tried to post last night, but my internet connection was not so much a connection as it was a disconnection. I wouldn't have said much anyway.

Today I have been discussing among myself the different careers I might try and pursue. Just down the street, Taco Bell is hiring, so that's near the top of the list; though I could probably only last all of about an hour before getting tired of plopping slop into tortillas, rolling them up, and sliding them down a counter. On the other hand, I'm pretty sure that I'm qualified to do it.

I'll let you know how my interview goes.

I knew it was bad news as soon as I saw the envelope: it was far too thin. Many of you know that I applied to a psychology program at a university in Michigan. I was not accepted for admission. Apparently, they were "regretful", or full of regrets, about it. Somehow I doubt the veracity of their words. I'll thank you in advance for your apologetic comments.

You're right, that was a bit sardonic. Perhaps it was even a little acerbic. (Incidentally, these were words that I learned so that I would get a high GRE score and gain admission to the school of my choice; at least I attained the former). I'm allowed to be a little cranky, aren't I?

Today I saw an orthopedic surgeon to find out the results of my recent MRI. He said that my shoulder is fine. Interesting development.

I was under the impression that significant loss of ability and increase of pain was the opposite of fine. He suggested I have another surgeon take a look at my test results. He also diagnosed me with an impingement (when a tendon rubs against a rough patch of bone) and prescribed 6 weeks of physical therapy.

It is interesting to note that 7 years ago, a doctor prescribed me with an impingement and prescribed 6 weeks of physical therapy, saying that my pain would go away and my abilities would return (in a few months), unless I had a torn rotator cuff (in which case I would need surgery). Huh.

Oddly, the pain didn't go away, the abilities didn't return, and the most recent MRI showed that there was no tear in the rotator cuff.

Medicine is voodoo.

I did a little more research into the SLAP tear (what was being tested for today), otherwise known as a frayed or torn labrum (tendon deep in the shoulder). How's this for a quote (found in Slate Magazine, a subsidiary of NPR).

The leading minds in baseball medicine are flummoxed by the labrum. Doctors can't agree on how to detect a tear, don't know the best way to fix one, and aren't sure why, almost without fail, a torn labrum will destroy a pitcher's career... if pitchers with torn labrums were horses, they'd be destroyed. Of the 36 major-league hurlers diagnosed with labrum tears in the last five years, only (one) has returned to his previous level.

Darn it.