October 3

Last Day at the Allan Blair Cancer Centre. I found my way there by bus today because my ride had the day off. It worked out pretty nicely. I showed up with nothing really that I needed to get done, so I thought I would go back to the simulators and watch some masks get made. Then there was a problem with the scanner so I ended up going back to the treatment unit.
I decided to have an early day and to leave at noon. I had looked up where the Saskatchewan science centre was and decided I could walk there to see an IMAX film and find things to do. So off I went on my adventure. Two hours after walking down Albert and Broad street and down Wascana drive, snapping some pictures I showed up to the Science Centre.It was pretty much empty except for the people working there. I had an hour until the movie "Wired to Win" started.
I went to the Zest restaurant attached to the building and had fish and chips. Doesn't sound very impressive but it was fancy. I went to the theatre after and didn't know really where to go. An attendant told me I could go right in, nobody there to rip tickets.
I could have saved 8 bucks and just walked in if I knew what I was doing.
No fancy light show or monsters hanging from the ceiling and only one other person in the theatre.
The show was about these two guys in Le tour de France and their battles with the grueling race. Review touted it to be much more motivating and inspirational than it actually was. Plus it was only 45 min, I was hoping for more than that. In any case it was good to watch.
On the way back home here I stopped by the Regina Boating Club and saw a bit of what was going on. A lot of flash backs to Canada Games, I miss that competition and camaraderie at the boat house.
I had to wander all the way around the lake along the bike path because the house was on the other side. I must say it's a very beautiful park and is very use able. I like it more than assiniboine park because it 's not just a bunch of empty green spaces but actually a long path with stuff a long the way.
I think a 5 hour excursion in perfect weather in the afternoon was a great way to end my stay here.
Look forward to seeing you all soon
Theo

Oct 1

I've been getting along well with everybody here. During my trip I have been spending a fair amount of time contemplating what it is I will be doing when I graduate. Work here or there or neither? Out of all the collective wisdom of my elders the consensus is to get experience somewhere different. To travel. To have adventures.
That leaves me to figure out whether to hang out in Winnipeg for a bit then travel or go straight to a place like Edmonton then try going to the UK for a year? Saudi Arabi? (There are pretty high paying jobs there that a lot of therapist go to then come back) Switzerland?
In any case I don't need to be making a decision right now. I'll know more and will be better suited to making a decision in November.
Hope everyone is doing well, and I'll be glad to come home at the end of the week.

Till Next Time
Theo

September 29

The first day. I wasn't particularly excited or anxious. I'm missing home after being away for over a week now. Things are going well though. I've got rides to the Cancer Center from old classmates and other employees. Today I spent most of my time at the CT simulators and nursing station. Regina's center is much smaller than Winnipeg and Edmonton. Usually they have 3 machines but one broke and is getting replaced so there are only 2 and they are really busy.
After coming home I got a good dose of video games playing Star Wars, Spider Man and Halo 3. That is enough to make your eyes go wonky for a while. I think I'm going to head off to bed soon. I'll be on the simulators again tomorrow watching how they set-up patients. One good thing about Regina is that the people are really friendly, good to eat lunch with and the cafeteria is cheap.

September 27

I had a nice morning of pancakes and bacon, packed and went to the airport. I bought a magazine for the plane and later took off at 1:30 to Regina. It was a pretty steady flight and I had a row to myself on the wing.
When in Regina I was driven to my dwelling for the week.
They are great here and I am enjoying it.

September 26

The last day. I spent more time at a treatment unit this morning. It was one of their newest machines, they had installed a cool mural on the back wall. Just after 11 though I got a jolt and remembered i was supposed to meet my old Pediatric Oncologist. I phoned his office and he took me for lunch at some swank caffe that kept giving him things on the house because a latte was already made and their Cinnamon gellato was melting. We talked a fair amount about rowing and traveling. He rowed a bit in Vancouver and he knows Darren Barber, which I think is pretty cool. He also got to meet a lot of other National rowers in Vancouver.
We also talked about how good it is to travel and gain the experience from going to different places. It is great to put on a resume and to come home with the knowledge of how to adapt to another workplace. He told me to keep in touch and drop him a line if I end up back in Edmonton.
I went out later that afternoon with some of the intermediate students to a new earls bar, had a couple drinks and said bye.

September 25

On this day I was scheduled to go to treatment planning and the mould room. I enjoyed learning about the computer system they use here in Edmonton it's one were thinking of getting in Winnipeg for our department. The mould room was cool to be around as well. It was a slow day so I didn't get to see much happening but there were a few cool things like a CNC macine to cut out styrofoam to make a shielding block.
I also got to talk to a manager who said that if I was interested about working in Edmonton later that I should send her an e-mail and/or send in a resume.
At the days end after dinner I ventured to the Body Worlds exhibit. I thought it was very interesting. The exhibit I don't think lived up to the hype at least for me. I think since I have a pretty good understanding of anatomy and look at CT Scans regularly it wasn't as astonishing. For more of the general public the learning experience I think would be huge, or if you're about to write an anatomy exam. My favourite part was the 2 people sitting ontop of a rearing horse. You got to compare all the muscles and some organs. A horses lungs are huuuge.

September 23

So on Tuesday was a bit of a same old day. I regularly take breaks and lunch in the student break room, so I've been getting along with them. Sometimes it seems like I haven't left the school in Winnipeg. I only got partially sidetracked/lost walking through campus for my ride home.
In the evening I didn't have much to do but eat and watch Tivo.
TIVO which I may add is awesome, it's almost like a video game. You can rewind, fast forward, record TV it's very cool. I watched house which was as good as always.

September 24
Today I had fun. I was posted in the simulators which was cool to contrast to what we do in Winnipeg because they use the same machines but use different techniques.
At lunch there was a workplace safety and health thing going on. I got a free goody bag and heard Spencer talk. Spencer was an average flooring guy that ended up getting caught in a flash fire covering 90% of his body with 3rd and 4th degree burns. He has been scarred for life but has turned a negative into a positive using his story to teach people about workplace safety.
I kept thinking of the Manitoba slogan, SAFE.
Stop
Asses the Risk
Find a safer way
Everyday
This was the gist of his talk.
After School I went to eat at Hudsons in the West Edmonton Mall and to see Batman at IMAX which was larger than life. They had huge sound with a huge screen and started it with a laser show of sorts to dazzle us just as they started.

Till Next Time (Body Worlds tomorrow)
Theo