IT'S OVER!!!

I would just like to put it out there that

I'M DONE WITH VET SCHOOL!!!

BOO- YA!


Ahh some good feelings to be had there ...

now ...

time to finish studying for boards :0(

So I'll be living in a world of studying and stress for the next week. Bah.

Can I just sleep in my car?

So as few know I am currently in Oregon for an elective course to further my education in sports medicine. As a favor to me before I left the program coordinator sent out an email to the entire college of vet med trying to see if anyone had a place for me to crash for the week. I only had one replay which was fine ... I thought.

Here was my initial message from my would be temporary roommate:

>>> Hey,
>>>
>>> I have a comfy couch you could sleep on, I have 4 cats, dog and a
>>> rabbit. I am taking the same class too. Just an option if you need it.
>>>
>>> -Julie*

(Names have been changed to protect those guilty of hoarding)

The whole 4 cat thing should have been a tip off...

So I have just recently arrived in my new pad ... and I'm blown away ... I should have turned away as soon as I say the orange VW Bus (which ordinarily I would have thought quite nifty but not under the circumstances).

The place is ridiculous. I have attached a link to photos that I have taken just before going to "bed" Highlights of the photos? The double take on the mantel FULL of cats; holy shit ... things that cannot be appreciated is the porch with the couch that would be impossible to sit on because there is not only so much crap piled on it but also in front of it that you would be able to get to it if you wanted to; and the bathroom that is literally falling off of the back of the house. (just hope I don't go tumbling down the steep hill that is the bathroom floor and end up hurting myself.

So now (due to muscle spasms from a very long car ride) I have taken a muscle relaxer. I am not sure if it is the drugs or my current situation, (or maybe a bit of both) but I may start crying.

If it weren't so cold my rental car would be looking mighty fine right now.





Check it out.

The question is: can I survive 5 days of this? I'm thinking no ...

(apparently the link is tempramental):
share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=1AZOGzdy0YsWFX

The down-hill slope.

So for all the time I've slacked on posting blogs I appologise. (Not that they're usually that good of reading material). Anyway I'm sending out a sigh of relief. I'm over halfway done with my clinical rotations now and thank goodness. I also registered for my board exams today (SCARY!!!)

So as I continue to have no life of my own I'll continue to revel in the fun that I get to read about on everyone elses blogs.

I think the most exciting things in my world are my new computer.
(another mac) let's say
(Dog + Dog)* Dog fight / Dog tail = Booze on the laptop.

A very angry time ...

And on the subject of animals happening #2, the passing of Kojak (my bird).
A not so fun end to my weekend.

So I'll leave on that wah wah note.

I MISS YOU FRIENDS!!

I need some insulin and a wheelbarrow

The decision of the birthday dinner:

Encore: Dessert and Wine bar

= 1 cheese and fruit course
+ 3 dessert courses
* (all with a wine pairing)

This was a fantastic idea at the beginning; and still very delicious but oh man ...

Everyone felt like they had a case of the betes. (Diabetes for the not med oriented crew).

Holy crap

but YUM

Photo Fun ...

Answer the questions below by taking each answer and typing it into Photobucket (www.photobucket.com). Take any picture from the first page of results and post. (click on the picture and copy the HTML code) Don't explain, it's funnier that way.

Age on your next birthday:



name:



favorite place:



fav object:



fav food:



fav animal:



fav color:



town born in:



town now:



pet name:



and


zodiac:



nickname:



person you miss:



last name:



bad habit:



first job:



grandma's name:



current job:



fav. drink:



what you're currently looking forward to:

Anyone want to come visit?? ... I can pull you around in the dead cart?

Hey, it's only been about a month ... see I'm not doing so terrible. I figured I give some clinic updates.

FOOD ANIMAL MEDICINE AND SUGERY : Rotation #1

Food animal was my first rotation in pretending to be a doctor. The late fall early winter as it were is not a very busy time for production animals and thus I and my fellow students were pretty bored most days. At this time I will reference a photograph:



Photo One: The guys have the brilliant plan to practice roping ... a highly sought after skill in veterinary medicine ... okay not really but a good way to kill time.



Photo Two: This is just not challenging enough ... let's make our calf (the lovely red trash can) a moving target. BRING OUT THE DEAD CART!!

Side note ... most all of you are not familiar with the "Dead Cart" as it is so lovingly called at the hospital. Vocab time:

The Dead Cart (n.) 1) a slang term used around the UMC-CVM VMTH which refers to a medium sized rolling wagon with yellow grating. This device serves a primary function of hauling dead things around the hospital most commonly animals such as goats, sheep, and large dogs which are two large or heavy to carry from the hospital to the incinerator or necropsy freezer but not so large they require the use of the forklift. 2) A hauling cart available at your local garden store

Back to roping ... ladies ...



Photo Three: Autumn takes to the learning process



Photo Four: Score one for Autumn!



Photo Five: Score one for me too!!!

BOO YA!

Yeah, I basically rock.

To follow: Rotation #2 ... Pathology
(The anticipation must be killing you!)
~~k, if you didn't get that pun then it goes to show you how big a dork I really am ~~

So is this when they start calling us Doctor? Oh nope, it's when we start faking it.

A bit more out of order back-tracking:

WHITE COAT CEREMONY

So the short of it is:

Lots of family,
Realizing how shitty some friends can be,
Making my dad's evening,
Walking across a stage,
So I can walk across a parking lot,
So I can hopefully walk across another stage,
This time = white coats
2009= the most gosh-aweful colored robes in creation

Oh, and really good chocolate cake

The Pics: share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=1AZOGzdy0YsWFG



That beautiful color you see on that stage is called Maize ....ooooo a corn-like shade of brown ... gorgeous .... or ..... not

Wow ... October ... Really?

I know ... I suck. I've managed to become a relative non-posting blogger ...

Let's give this a try,


Starting in November:

The first weekend was my friend Aaron's wedding. Good times to be had in Springfield along with way too much alcohol consumption. A few photos:



And just a little public service announcement: No guns allowed behind the bar at the reception ... check

share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=1AZOGzdy0YsWEx

Some hoppin grass hoppers

Just for giggles:

These are some hoppers of grass having a time on my patio furniture. It was really quite impressive actually. Our lady of the afternoon only had one back leg and was still able to hop with glory. Oh how the circle of life finds its way .... glorious.





PS There is a bit of humpin going on in this insect world. MM CHIK AH CHIK-A-MMM

Puppy Party

More back-tracking.

Sept 22 was Costello's Birthday. 3yrs old and still the best Pu ever. (21 in dog years). We had a small grill out. Hotdogs and the like with all the fixins. Brownies for the people and one fine cake for the canine party goers.



The yummy cake: Liver with peanut butter "icing"



Me and my special birthday boy.

Babies all around. (Catch up)

A bit of blog catching up.

My friend Liz from undergrad is full on prego and due in Nov. My friend K and I threw her a shower back in Sept to celebrate the occasion. This was complete with a full spread of food and yummy chocolate fountain. There were of course NO baby games.

(I do not believe in melting candy bars in diapers and smelling them, eating baby food and guessing the substance, or embarrassing a mother to be by measuring string)

One "game" was played but it was not of the listed variety. The shower had a "princess" theme and as guests arrived were pinned an identity to their back. Throughout the shower each person was to ask others yes or no questions to determine what "princess" they were. The end.

All in all I deamed the event a big success.



There was also a bit of "dress-up" to be had. Tiaras required.

Pictures.

I'm a slacker.

So I've been called out on my slacking in the world of blog. This will be short but sweet but there are plenty of pics to keep you occupied.

The news is that I went to the Club National Championships last weekend. (for triathlons that is). For those not totally hip to the info I've started competing and training for these events this year. My first race was the KC Women's Tri that I did with my frieds MG and CLJ. That was a good time. The second go around was the National Championships. This year they were held in STL (handy that) at the Innsbrook Resort. I rocked it out that day, kickin ass with a 2nd place finish in my age group. WOOT!! Here are some fun pics, enjoy!

(A good number of these are also of the other girls I went with that weekend).

It's just like riding a bike! And I need everyones help!

Well actually it's not "like" riding a bike ... it is riding a bike.

Being a crazy person I signed up for a 150 mile bike ride but for a really good cause. I'm participating in the MS 150. For those not familiar with Multiple Sclerosis it is a very serious depilitating and eventually fatal disease that effects people of all ages. People are most commonly diagnosed in their 20s-50s.

I have known a few people over the years that have this horrible disease and for those that have to suffer through it's effects on a daily basis there is as of yet no relief in sight. THERE IS NO CURE!

So I figure what's my sore bum from riding a bike all day compared to a life of living day to day not knowing what new symptom will show up or if that day is my last. To this I hope anyone that can will be willing to put a little pain in their pocketbooks for this cause. Every little bit will help and it is all much appreciated. I have a pretty ambitious goal for this years ride so I need A LOT of support.

To make donations my website is: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/goto/awelch

Please forward this on to everyone you know; friends, fams, repost it in your blog. The only way to reach my goals of not only donations but spreading the word on this disease and how it effects us all is with your help. THANKS ALL!

For more information on Multiple Sclerosis:
www.NationalMSSociety.org

Underwear Purgatory

So for all those not aware I've taken on the challenge of the Triathalon with Ms. G-love. Today was not my first biking day but it was my first day back on a bike. The previous bike workouts on my schedule were completed on spinning bikes at the gym due to the fact that I don't own a bike yet.

I found that one of our local bike shops rents bikes and the rest is history. An hour and a half and one sunburn later I had a much better experience than my last adventure on a bike. For those not hip to that fateful day it ended ... well actually started with one major crash and burn a lot less skin significant bleeding and ended with 3 months of physical therapy.

As for today my ride started out really pathetic. There was not what I would call a fear more like intense nervousness. It was a toss up between that 4 year old that just got their training wheels off and the 85 year old at the wheel of their 87 Caddy riding the brake like there's no tomorrow. Once my triathalon buddie, Crystal, and I were off the road, out of traffic and onto the MKT trail things got a little better. I managed to start boosting my bike confidence .... some much needed bike confidence. I was cruzing by the time we were heading back the shop to return the rental bikes. Not too bad but the next go around I've made the mental note to wear regular underwear. Boy-shorts tend to shift when you're peddling on that bike for miles. I experience what I have now dubbed underwear purgatory. It's not quite in; it's not quite out; but it's definately not comfortable. Bad bad news. Ahhh, all in a days ride. :0)



It's never to late, to start riding again.

A Temporary Bought of Bell's Pausy

So I haven't been to a dentist in 6 years ... big deal
:0|

Okay, so bigger deal than I would have wanted. But being a college student with no dental insurance doesn't really lend itself to getting a cleaning every 6 months.

Let's back this up about 3 weeks. ....

Imagine if you will, you are on a long drive and you haven't had to brush your teeth in a while. You have over the course of the day accumulated a nice bio-film on your teeth and it's bugging the crap out of you/grossing you out a bit. With no facility or utensils for the task of cleaning your choppers your resort to scrapping them with your fingernail for time being until you can give them a proper scrub. (Are you grossed out yet?)

So in the process of cleaning my pearly whites with my nails of fingers I encountered a sensitive ridge like area on one of my teeth. This was quite concerning and I immediately scheduled myself an appointment with a DDS.

This ended up being a little slab fracture of my enamel up by my gum line ... it happens, a lot of people have this. There was not decay and I was ordered to use sensitive toothpaste from now on .... so, good news here ... bad news is I have cavities. I have always had bad teeth so this was not surprising. Of course worse news is the dentist that I saw wanted to charge me an arm and a leg to fix them. No way says I!

So Today:

I went for my second opinion/fix job appointment with a reputable gentleman with reasonable prices today. 3 cavities are in need of fixing. There was unfortunately not enough time in the appointment for all to be resolved but we did get the head honcho. Of course I had to go to work immediately after my appointment with half of my face still ragingly numb and exhibiting an immense lack of motion.

I have conveniently included my radiograph for you viewing pleasure: (You can see I've already had to have a big of work done :0( )

The lovely circle on the bottom outlines the one we annihilated today. The topmost circle has the other two in it's grasps, they are directly across from each other.




One down, Two to go!

Erin go what the hell?

There's nothing like waking up to a nice Irish morning ... blizzard????





I was just getting excited about spring time, the improving weather, everything beginning to turn green. And what should be more green than St. Patrick's Day? But the Top 'O Dis Mornin' shows a fine white holiday indeed. Let me tell you how fun it is to walk the dogs in that kind of weather. I had to break out the scarves and mittens that I had so carefully tucked away for the improving weather ... or shoved in a box in my closet with wanton actually but that's not the point.



I was hoping this would be a fine day for running about the District looking for leprecans and pots of gold. Unfortunately; aside from the dinamic Missouri weather system, I'm on call this weekend and am not able to partake in the full amplitute of the fine traditions of my people. So order Pionta Guinness, le do thoil for me and beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh!


So I will continue to leave you with a few sayings in hopes that as you get ar meisce on your beor uaine, you have one for me too. And if I see you around Tabhair póg dom, táim Éireannach!! Because let's face it, it's been a long time since this lass saw some action. Happy Lá Fhéile Pádraig! Erin Go Bragh!

It's a Leiopleurodon, Charlie, a magical Leiopleurodon!

This is for you Ms. Gants!!!

Oh! When you're down and looking for some cheering up then just head right up to the candy mountain cave. When you get inside you'll find yourself a cheery land such a happy and joy-filled and perky merry land. They've got lollipops and gummy drops and candy things. Oh so many things that will brighten up your day. It's impossible to wear a frown in Candy Town! It's a mecca of love and candy canes!

They've got jelly beans and coconuts with little hats, candy rats, chocolate bats, it's a wonderland of sweets! Ride the candy train to town and hear the candy band! Candy bells! It's a treat as they march across the land.

Cherry ribbons stream across the sky into the ground. Turn around, it astounds! It's a dancing candy tree! In the Candy Cave the imagination runs so free! So now Charlie please will you go into the cave?



http://filmcow.com/charlie
theunicorn.htm

Please enjoy your tour, but mind your step and the radioactive equid.

So pre-illness days of recent I was fulfilling my duties as a student ambassador for the college of vet med. We've been doing tours etc for the 100 out of state interviews that came in over the last three days (obviously I missed day three doing to my rapid onset disease state). So beyond that fine experience I had two days of non-stop walking and talking.

My first tour mishap came when I was in our food/production animal area. The path of our tour is rarely interupted and I had been informed that it practically never would be since it never had been so when "Mr. I've given the most tours of anyone" told me he had never run into a problem. So it was a nice change to come to a dead end half way through since they had to seal off part of the hospital due to a loose Bull .... hmmm "Let's go to the equine clinic and come back to food animal later shall we?"

My tribulations did not end here. On another tour, thankfully not the same one with the Bull incident, we had come to the point of the tour of the equine clinic where we visit our treadmill. This fine contraption is mostly used for research but is also utilized in the diagnosis of equine lameness. It also happens to be at the very back of the equine portion of the hospital. Our tours are restricted on the areas we can go, especially in equine (contamination can be a real bitch), so when you reach the treadmill the only thing to do is turn around an go back the way you came. But WAIT!! What is this??? While my group was checking out the treadmill of lameness the clinitians were bringing a horse back from radiation therapy. Good thing for us proximity is a problem. It's not usually a good idea to expose your tour group to radioactive animals, as everyone with this animal was clothed in their haz-mat esk suits. Needless to say my tour group was stuck at the end of a long hallway with nothing to do but stare at eachother for about 10 minutes. Awesome.



Does anyone have any questions while we wait??? No??? Damn.

Allergies ROCK!!

So most people attribute allergies to having stuffy sinus problems. How lucky those people are that they can take fantastic medications such as phenylephrine or pseudoephedrine to give them the glory of breathing again.

I on the other hand, am blessed with the reverse situation. I only recieve sinus problems due to non-allergy associated causes and am allergic to the fine decongestants that would give me a smidge of relief.

(Can you tell this is a fabulous venting post? LUCKY YOU GUYS!)

So as the infection has spread from my sinuses to my left ear, which is now excedingly painful to the touch, I get to continue on with my missery. My only outpost on this journey of discomfort is the lovely substance refered to as mentol. AHHHH menthol, my only sollus, I can almost breath when I slather it all over my face so I look like a wet fish.



Yup, this about says it all.

New Years Shindig

So after all my traveling over this fine holiday break I decided I didn't want to do anymore driving for New Years. Result? A happenin gettogether at my house. Here's the resulting photo spectacular from last night. Enjoy! Hope everyone is having a fantastic new yar of their own.




Enjoy the spread, and the photos.

okay -- more link problems ... this is the link:
share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=1AZOGzdy0YsXuQ
woot