LIVEALITTLE

I volunteered to fulfill my Mental Health Clinical requirement at Long Bay Jail's Hospital facility in the hopes of a "more interesting" experience. When it came time to choose one of four wards, Brian and I chose the ward which treated the most acute psychiatric patients -- the infamous "D Ward". Our time on the ward has been pretty slow. Staff have been nervous about students socializing amongst the patients but I was able to squeeze in two games of chess yesterday. Some of these patients have very high cognitive abilities. Or maybe they just have had enough time to figure out all the chess strategies.
My life was threatened today by a new patient who apparently was picked up from a car chase two days ago. He screamed "Let me out. I won't touch anyone. But I'll kill you!" Another patient prompted my RN when I saw him writing on this cell wall from the overhead cell camera. We quickly walked to the patient's cell and realized he was writing on the wall with his blood. He bit into his arm to draw blood and eventually wrote: "I want a shower. Thank you." He's had a history of drug induced psychosis and suicide attempts. Just last night, he schredded his blanket into slices, tied them together and made a noose.
Mental Health Nursing has otherwise been quite sedate and uneventful. Sadly, it seems like these patients are treated like animals. I've wondered if maybe they are driven to further madness from the mind-numbingly boring days which gets exacerbated with the 101 side effects of antipsychotic drugs...

More info on Long Bay Correctional Centre:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Bay_Correctional_Centre

I realized this morning I've been tired more often than usual. I suspected maybe it was my uni workload; but confirmed today it's my lack of exercise.
The last time I officially worked out was in June 2005 right before I left my job. Brian has noted our increased intake of junk foods and potato chips of chicken flavor (Yeah, I said 'chicken'. Crazy right?).
Wall climbing brought out the true horror of my flaccidness. Any use of arm strength sent shockwaves of resistance through my 'can't even do one push-up' arms. I am sure I will have problems picking up a pen tomorrow for class. Maybe the Mental Health teacher will be able to relate a disease to my arm twitching behavior...
Pics at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/livealittle/sets/72057594081927519/

I wonder how my second uni life would be if I had a more fulfilling first uni life. I went to my first toga party today and it was fabulous! Never did I think I would walk around with a sheet over underwear! Thanks for convincing me to go, Brian! Everyone else in class thought it was a hare-brained idea. We showed them! :)
Pics at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/livealittle/sets/72057594079554749/

Mardi Gras in Sydney was not as grand as I expected and definitely not as elaborate and big as the NYC Village Halloween Parade, but it did evoke a sense of euphoria. In a world where alternative life styles are typically shunned, these people were happy and free to strut their stuff. People flew from all over the world to be part of the parade and to live an uninhibited day. I hope they take home their happiness and spread it to their neighbors and communittee to make our world a better place to live...