...nah not really. But that's what I'm calling my two-day two-city school interview trek from NY to Philly to Cleveland and back next week. The interviews are both for dosimetry programs (1-year certificate programs); the Philly one is an interview for the program's waitlist (what is that?!) and the Cleveland one is at the all-joking-aside renowned Cleveland Clinic... which, according to jrcert.org (the organization that accredits these kinds of programs), only accepts -three- students, which doesn't sound right, but if that's true then, man, what are my chances?
And, forgot to mention, these are the best responses I've gotten back so far. Didn't get into any of the physics programs, kind of as expected, and as far as the dosimetry programs go: two I have yet to hear back from, one rejection, one it-doesn't-look-good waitlist, one I ended up needing more classes for and thus may not even be considered an applicant to (laaaame), one backup with a really late deadline (September, because the program starts in January), one backup that sounds a little sketchy (hard to explain), and the two interviews mentioned above.
So! Where the heck does that leave me? I'll tell ya where... coming home from work each day checking the mailbox/kitchen counter in hopes I'll find some school-y thing addressed to yours truly. Waiting for something in the mail... sucks. If I had the right book with me, I'd scan a strip or two from that one Calvin & Hobbes story arc where Calvin is waiting for his official Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs cereal beanie (with motorized propeller) in the mail and I'd post it here.
(...scratch that... found 'em!)
There are worse problems to have, obviously, but man, this is hard. This is my future I'm waiting to hear about. ...and one doesn't have to read between the lines too much to realize that my chances are dwindling. I just want to know. No, scratch that, I just want to get -in- some place, for crying out loud. The one I'm really waiting on/haven't heard anything yet from, probably because the deadline was only last week, is a program at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo. I honestly, seriously do not care where this "last chance" program is; I don't want another waitlist or interview, I want a fucking YES. ...ahem. So, that's where I'm at. I could know very, very soon. ...argh!
And thus, the question is inevitably there: what if I really don't get in anywhere? :/ Well, again, two backup plans, which would mean, among other things, bothering those professors of mine for more letters of recommendation... oy. Short of that, I don't know. I honestly don't. At this point I'm thinking I would bother and hound any and all admissions committees to find out why I wasn't admitted and, I guess, work that way. Thoughts: more classes? Ick, more money/yet another loan, but I'd consider it if I really thought it would help. Internship? Well, one program I didn't end up applying to required a 40-hour shadowing experience, so I guess I could do that, apply there (U. of Wisconsin) and use that as a resume-booster on applications to other schools. A job more applicable to dosimetry/medical physics than, oh I don't know, an office/data position at a KARAOKE COMPANY? Hehehe. All kidding aside though, this is where I am stumped. Lab tech gig? They seem to be so few and far between. I mean I'd have a lot of time (kind of) to find a new job like that but, mm. Also, may need to buy a car if I really want to find work that's... applicable. Something in a hospital? ...what would that even be?! I have a B.S. in physics, some (physics) lab experience while in college but nothing clinically. So, in the terrible event I really don't get in anywhere, I've got some thinking and planning to do. ...-again-, dammit. I went through "this" last year, the planning, etc., and I would really really rather be -done- with it and in a school for the fall and able to enjoy my summer knowing it's my last in Nyack. ...and there's another question: would I stay here in NY, if no acceptance letters came in? Maybe. Maybe not. I just don't know. Haven't given it too much thought. :/
The thing is: this job just seems to, at this point in my life anyway, make -sense- for me. Physics/science background, not requiring a Ph.D. or even an M.S., working with computers, minimal patient contact... something unique, something that helps people... it just really seems to fit, and be worthwhile. For those that don't care to browse through the archives of the ol' blog (er, or maybe I never really described it), a dosimetrist is part of the radiation oncology "team" comprising themselves, medical physicists, radiation therapists and oncologists. As a dosimetrist I would be designing treatment plans for patients who opted for radiation therapy treatment for their cancers/tumors.
So: here's hoping. Hopefully Roswell (crosses everything possible). In the meantime I'm reading everything the Cleveland Clinic sent me, mostly pamphlets on the equipment they use, hoping it will make a difference next week... trying to think of appropriate questions to ask... booking flights, trains, buses, and hotels (yes, all)... yup...
In more positive "news," I have been seeing someone, Emma. Among other things, she and I seem to be on a quest to sample food from all the Polish restaurants in Brooklyn and, what can I say, it has been a delicious journey thus far.
The music side of things has been somewhat infrequent but definitely fun of late. I have been playing with International Generation, a local reggae band, and man, I feel like I fit right in (musically). I play mostly organ, some clavinet, and I just love it. They play some of the obligatory Marley covers but primarily play originals, most (if not all) of which I am a real fan of.
And, Emma's roommate Isabella is a great jazz singer, a student at the New School, and has asked me to play with her occasionally. We've only played one gig so far, just the two of us, but there appear to be more on the horizon (possibly with some fellow New School chums on bass and drums, apparently, which I really am looking forward to). She has a voice that is reminiscent of Billie Holiday, no joke. Among other things, playing with her has renewed my interest for the classic Bill Evans cut Waltz for Debby. Who knew this tune had lyrics, let alone Swedish ones?!
And even Rob's Chicken and the Mint 400 has been busy! (..."busy.") We have successfully recorded our first song, in the Mac program GarageBand, all on my iBook, in the most low-budget manner you could imagine. We're talking, built-in-computer-mic style. The song is "Dr. Bieselin," a ten-minute(!) epic tale about a doctor who wasn't really a doctor who turned out to maybe be Jesus who really just wanted to scam an unsuspecting town and run off with their money. ...yeah. The lyrics/storyline are the brainchild of the esteemed Rob Bieselin with music by, and I'll use the phrase twice in one blog entry, yours truly.
I have also discovered some very interesting music at work. The company makes really all its money off of the karaoke and instrumental accompaniment CD lines, but back in the day it used to be a jazz label called Inner City, and we are currently re-releasing a bunch of albums under that name. At the suggestion of my boss I checked out "Future Talk," recorded in 1979 by Urszula Dudziak, a Polish (jazz) singer who just, completely does her own thing. She doesn't use words, just, "vocables," sounds, noises, etc. I know, sounds kinda weird... maybe it's more the overall music I'm attracted to, as it is some of the coolest jazz fusion I've heard. A tad Chick Corea/Return to Forever-esque, but also Mahavishnu Orchestra-y as Urszula's husband Michal Urbaniak, a violinst, is also featured on the disc. Some really cool stuff. The bass line on the track "Shenkansen" absolutely floors me.
Oh, also: I successfully resurrected my Nintendo and now have a functioning NES and Power Pad in my room. Jealous? Yeah you are. Who's gonna be in shape -now-?! This kid, with my strict World Class Track Meet training regime. ("...but Phil, don't you have a treadmill in your apartment as well?" "Yes, yes I do. But it doesn't have a video screen with sweet 8-bit graphics now, does it?" "No, I suppose it wouldn't." "Amen.")
