I've made the swich to Wordpress!!! Go to www.diaryofagoatherdess.wordpress.com to keep following me!

One Month Later...

Well. One month isn't really that bad, is it? Okay, it is. I have been more busy than ever, and block 5 is supposed to be easy! But my new job at TSC has been keeping me hopping. This week, I work more than 30 hours. That isn't typical and will not become a habit, but the money is nice! The whole point of this post is let you know that I started another post called Nike's Adventures over on WordPress, and I am probably going to switch this one over to there as well. I am able to upload pictures from my iPad to the WordPress blog, whereas here, I cannot. And let's face it-- pictures are worth waaayy more than a thousand words!! School is going well so far. A/B, but high Bs, and if I can, I am dang sure going to try to boost my GPA since this is sort of a freebie block. Pathology is far and away my most favorite class. We are also in Genomics, which is a walk in the park thanks to the illustrious and infamous Dr. Rao Ayyagari. Immunology isn't bad-- at least it is interesting-- but it is kind of confusing and has way too many c3a/c3b/IL-12/TNF/IFN-g/etc. Lots of random letters and numbers. And finally, Bacteriology. It is an interesting topic, I guess, but it's a bit hard to maintain consciousness in class. I have Nike with me!! I am so happy. We have a herding clinic June 9th, and a Rally trial the last weekend of June. We are taking classes over at Ann Gafke's and I couldn't be happier. Nothing was wrong with the sports center, per se, but it just wasn't a good fit. Ann's is a lot cheaper, too, and I have a building membership AND unlimited classes. We even joined in on drill team practices-- not sure if we'll get to do any shows, but it is a blast! Nike is gaining confidence by the buckets. I love TSC and am learning a lot. I so enjoy working with people and talking with customers. There are a few things I am unsure of, but I think I am catching on pretty quickly. And that has to be all for now. I need to get through at least my Path notes tonight. I was supposed to clean, but I only got some dishes washed, my freezer organized (because that was important) and some laundry swapped around. Ciao!

A Post of Nothing (Actually, this is called procrastination)

Well, it's finals week of IP4. By Friday, I'll technically be a VM2!! Except I still have one block to go before summer. I should be studying but I've allowed myself ten minutes to chill. So I should be cleaning, but... Big news: I got a job at Tractor Supply Co. We'll see how it goes. I am excited to have some spending money-- top on my list is a new pair of boots. Apparently I walk funny? and the outer heel of my current pair is about a half inch shorter than the inside heel. They hurt my feet so it's time for a new pair. After that, I want to get Sadie into some herding lessons. I am looking forward to this! IP5 is supposed to be fabulous. I planted a HUGE garden! Just kidding. It is in the flower bed in front of my house, so it is probably ten feet by three feet? Maybe bigger than that. In it, I planted: Lavender Chives Oregano Parsley Cilantro Basil Strawberries Sugar snap peas Spinach Lettuce Cantaloupe Zucchini Yellow pear tomatoes Celebrity tomatoes Bonnie bell peppers Purple Beauty peppers And Russian giant sunflowers, three other smaller ones, gloriosa daisies, and African daises. Obviously I have to trellis a lot of these guys to get them to fit. I hope I get at least some yummies!! I am trying to be better about cleaning. So far so good, but I start organization projects and things go downhill fast. Also, I have a terrible time keeping up with laundry. I am on week 5 of Couch to 5k for the second time. I decided to re-run this week because I wasn't happy with my preformance last week. I am so tired right now, so I might just take a power nap. The weather has been crummy and it has rained for what seems like days, but the sun is bright and shiny and the windows are open and a breeze is playin through the house. So nice!!

Too little, too late

So... January 22nd, 2012... that was the last time I posted.

Sorry to all those who've mentioned my lack of attentiveness.

Who would have thought-- vet school is hard work! Actually, vet school hasn't been that unbearable. I still have time to go home, goof off, watch 7 episodes of How I Met Your Mother in a row, train dogs, and do school. As long as I avoid housework, I've got plenty of time.

So, highlights-- I finished IP3, the "hell block." I broke my A-B streak that I've been maintaining since 4th grade. Oh well. It's very liberating. C=DVM.

I took my (well, my brother's) FANTABULOUS Border Collie, Janie, to our first rally trial since 2006. Walked in the ring, scored a 95+/100 and took second place!!!!! This dog is truly amazing. We didn't score as well on the second day, because Janie was over-zealous for two stations and we had to repeat them. We scored 93/100. If we hadn't repeated those two stations, we would have had a 99/100. She was so happy to be back. We've got more trials lined up this summer. I'm planning to get as many titles as financially possible this year.

PS-- if you don't know what rally is, look it up. It is a great dog sport that anyone and any dog can do.

I went to the SAVMA symposium in Indiana. The symposium was fun, but the best parts were the Shedd Aquarium, where we got to see belugas and Altantic dolphins. And I got snotted on by a baby beluga. Legit.

I also went to the Indianapolis Zoo, where I got to see a walrus and and seals. I got a picture of me standing next to the seals. Dr. Seals, get it?

Then, over Spring Break, Stacy took me, Amanda, and Bree to the Smoky Mountains. That was truly a life experience. I haven't seen true mountains, just the Ozarks, so I was amazed. We hiked and saw two young black bears. The next day, we went horseback riding-- that was my first time back in the saddle since the accident, so I was of course a little nervous but ended up having a great time. My horse, Tim, was a "good ol' mountain pony," as per the guide. Tim was, in fact, not a pony, but a huge draft cross. After the trail ride, we chowed down on some amazing giant cupcakes. Good times.

I've decided to become a runner. I am finishing up week three of Couch to 5k. I am severely disgusted with myself about my lack of fitness. I was confident I could run a mile-- not so. I am walk/running three miles every other day. I am shooting for a 5k in June.

Back at the ranch, we are smack in the middle of kidding season. So many babies abound! This year, our name theme is country song titles. Teri is going more contemporary, while I am sticking with classic country songs. So far I think we are keeping most/all of the does.

If you aren't a fan already, please "like" our farm page at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Eriphos-Farm/110900439012266.

If you aren't my friend, feel free to add me ;-)

Until next time, hopefully sooner than 3 months, stay safe and happy Spring!

Weekend Woes

It's Sunday night and the weekend is over and all I really want to know is why Mondays are necessary. I believe I would be much more productive if every weekend was a three day weekend. That leaves one day for relaxing or having "me" time, one day for life things, and one day for studying.

Instead, I get Friday afternoons for me time, Saturdays for life things and studying, and Sunday for studying.

And then things happen, like water heaters stop working and friends have awesome Visible Horse hoedowns, and my weekend turns into Friday-Saturday-Sunday "me" time, and Sunday night cram-cram-cram.

This weekend was worse: by the time Thursday afternoon rolled around, I was more or less dead and couldn't bear the thought of studying ANYMORE. So I rented the The Help, bought a pizza, and kicked back. Honor and Gonzo ate half of said pizza.

Friday was a very laid-back "me" time. I cleaned a little. I groomed the dogs. I discoved Netflix. OMG. My life will never be the same. I feel as though I was mis-using the internet my whole life.

On Saturday, I was up bright and early for another palpation lab at the dairy. I seriously love cows. They rock. I got to ultrasound one and I wasn't very good at it.

Sometimes I almost choke up when I am doing something I love and realize that this will be my career. Someone is going to PAY me to do something I enjoy doing, and I will be considered the expert. This isn't some summer job that I like, this is my LIFE. Eeee!

I did some laundry a bit of shopping and then it was time (we're still on Saturday) for an Evelyn-Stacy-Melissa-Bree-Amanda-Tora get-together!! We all brought a dish (I brought Mexican Chicken) and Amanda brought her Visible Horse and it was one of the funniest nights I've had in a long, long time. I got home after midnight and crashed into bed.

This morning, I got up and was determined to fix my hot water heater. I am not a plumber. I don't have time to deal with it, either, so that is a little inconvienent but that is there are showers at school.

I started studying about noon and now it is almost 8 and I am no where near ready for the quiz tomorrow. Oy vey. I need another day!!!

Food for thought

You know the worst part about being sick? Being someone who LOVES food.

I can't SMELL the food. I can't TASTE the food. I can hadly even SWALLOW the food. And yet life must go on, I still have to study, and I am still hungry. Very annoying. I made hamburgers yesterday using my super-duper fabulous-yummy hamburger recipe and I can't taste them at all. Hot tea and Southern Comfort is all it is for me.

My first large animal anatomy exam is tomorrow and I am tired of studying for it. I should really look over the lecture material some more, but I don't want to. Bleh. I will, soon.

I finally have my house allllll clean! I'm super happy about it. I really did not realize how stressful a messy house is. If you know me in person, you will know that I am domestically disabled. I have lived in clutter my whole life. But once I finally have everything unpacked and put away... woah. I don't have to worry about losing something, or making time to find something. It's fab. So. Clean your house.

The best thing about vet school so far (well, after The Awesome People) is all the superb symposiums. I'm going to the SAVMA (Student American Vet Med Association) symposium in March. The Food Animal symposium in April. The MVMA (MO vet med) symposium the end of the month. The AABP (bovine practitioners) symposium in Montreal. I'm sure the VBMA (vet med business assoc.) and the AASRP (small ruminant practitioners) have symposiums sometime. Lucky for me, most of them have free registration! So I'm just responsible for gas and hotel and networking, networking, networking. I want a fabulous job when I graduate so I can pay off all these darn loans.

My notecard FB page is finally up: Check it out! Like it! Share with your friends!

And my random thought for the day: I could really be more productive if the internet did not exist. However, then there would be no Google and I have no idea how I would pass vet school. So it should stay. But really... who knew there could be so many amazing distractions? Facebook, of course, takes a chunk of time. But then someone introduced me to Pandora... internet radio? That I control? Yes please! And then an evil person (not really, I love her to death) introduced me to Pinterest. Gah.

And then there are my favorite forums. I love forums. They are informative, stupid, dramatic, helpful and just plain awesome. Horse City, The Goat Spot, MyLamb, Student Doctor... now Hoegger Farmyard and Backyardherds. So much nonsense to sort, so little time. But seriously. Everytime I log in to one of them, I learn something. What I like most about them is that the information there is real-life, from real people. I am learning a ton from books and clinicians. Obviously they are professionals (or written by them) but there is something to be said about actual life-or-death, this-is-my-livelihood experience. I have to be careful about what I post, of course, since I don't want to be sued for malpractice or practicing without a license (that would suck), but I do enjoy offering some help.

I don't want to give up my forums, so I am trying to justify them. So far my plan is to allow myself one hour each day for searching around on all the forums. Some days I don't even touch that link. Some days I spend way too much time on them. But I'm learning!

And then, because I am on a health-diet kick (just like every January) I was introduced to Livestrong.com to log my calories, and Fitocracy to log my exercise. So. Much. Internet.

So I'm off to drag myself away from the iPad and do some book studying. After I check my school email. And my personal email. And facebook. And my Backyardherds post. And then Facebook again.

Sick day, long weekend edition

I should be studying, as always. But it is a long weekend, so I could even be cleaning or doing something constructive. Or working on cards (more on that in a minute). I could even load up the dogs and go hiking.

But I am sick, and thus, am allowing myself a sick day. It includes snuggling under the covers with the dogs and drinking lots of hot tea.

Hopefully I will be all better by tomorrow and Zach and Becca can come over. We'll see.

So it's been a month since I last posted. Semester One ended well with three B's and one A. Now we are on a block schedule, so we've got six more weeks of large animal anatomy, GI phys, microanatomy, nutrition, and developmental anatomy. Actually, large animal and developmental continue to next block. So far, so good-- I've gotten an A on one quiz and a B on one test. Our first LA anatomy test is Tuesday. Eep.

Christmas break was fun and much appreciated. I slept and slept and slept and honestly didn't get much done. Oh well. I made all my Christmas gifts-- I gave my mom a woven sunflower rug, Zach and Dad got knitted sock hats made from a WWII pattern given out by the Red Cross, and Teri got a blingy necklace for showing next summer. I got a scarf from Bec, iTunes card and a funny plaque from Zach (the plaque says "My windows aren't dirty-- that's my dog's nose art!" So true for the front window. Honor is a master artist), and a Bucket Head from Mom and Dad. It's a top for a 5 gallon bucket that turns the bucket into a shopvac!!! Awesome. They also got me some gardening tools and an omelet skillet so I can omelet to my heart's content. Christmas at the Seals' netted me all sorts of household goodies and some new clothes.

I've almost got the duplex unpacked and organized. Only took me five months, which is probably a record I wil never break.

I needed some type of income-producer, so I've started making and selling photo notecards with photos of our animals. I'm working on a Facebook page for them, but it's not quite done yet. You can hop over if you want, but I'm not taking orders until I officially publish the page. Please disregard the captions on the photos albums-- the prices are incorrect nd the collections are being rearranged. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reflections-of-Eriphos-Farm/217720578309348. Hopefully I'll be ready in a few days.

We've had our first lamb born at home-- a very Doper-looking Dorper cross ewe named Lucille. She's out of Dorothy and Amos. Her big sister, Stella, should be due any day. Baby goats won't arrive until March or April. Boo.

That concludes this episode of the random ramblings. When I come up with something interesting to post, I'll be back!

Helloooo Friday!!!

You are so close, yet so far away. Gah. It's only Wednesday.

Not much of an update, but I am procrastinating. I don't WANT to study (or cram, at this point) for my micro practical. Or my anatomy exams.

I just finished physiology. PRAISE JESUS.

I have no idea if I got a B or a C in that class. I had a 79.93 going into the final. I needed a 96/120 to get a B. I didn't check my score.

Now it's just a written Micro exam, a practical Micro exam, a written Anatomy exam, and a practical Anatomy exam.

So a little tip for anyone planning to take part in a professional program-- don't let grades rule your life. Have a life outside of school. Have fun. Watch that television show. Read a fiction novel. Take your dogs to the park every day.

My extracurriculars are varied and numerous because I get bored easily and am easily distracted... probably didn't know that ;-)

I usually have a book I read for a chapter or two before I fall asleep. That is my constant, every day "fun" or "me" time.

I also take dog training classes with at least one of my dogs at all times, so that means I have class one or two nights a week. SO much fun and definitely gets my mind off school.

I tend to have some crafty project going all the time.

If I don't go home on a particular weekend, I make sure to plan time to take the dogs to one of the two (insert shameless advertisement here-->) FANTASTIC MO State Parks nearby-- Rock Bridge Memorial or Finger Lakes. Both preserve and interpret the best of Missouri's natural landscapes and cultural landmarks and provide recreation for all ;-p. Seriously, they are fabulous parks and I enjoy taking a few hours on Sunday afternoons to get out and play.

And above all, I find time to go HOME. Home home. Bourbon home. I was pretty scared coming into vet school because it was a rare, rare weekend when I didn't go home during undergrad. I decided to try coming home every third weekend at first. In reality, I was going home every other weekend, and then there was a stretch where I was home EVERY weekend!! The noble Jeepie just doesn't get good gas mileage (its ONLY fault!) and finances and time just couldn't support that habit. Turns out, sometimes it's six weeks before I get to go home! It drives me crazy, but I'm okay with it. I know that I will get to go home eventually.

Well. This post was sort of (okay, really) random and you can probably tell I am tired and want to just be done with this week. So I'm off to study and perhaps have lunch (at 9:38).

Well now.

So my last post was from six days into vet school, and I am just now posting, six days from the end of the first semester.

Vet school takes a lot of time.

I should be in bed right now... I am. What I mean to say is that I should be asleep. I have a Phsyiology exam tomorrow (today, actually, since it is now 12 AM) at 7:20 AM. But I am not tired, yet.

This semester has been, without a doubt, the most fun school time I have ever had. I love it here. I hate Columbia, more or less, but I absolutely love vet school. Sure, there are times when I am really tired and stressed and really wonder WHY I thought this was a good idea, but I can't bring myself to even remotely dislike school. It's fab.

At this point in my life, I have one A and three B's in my classes and I am thrilled. Although I love school, it is hard, and I am struggling a bit to keep my grades at B's or higher. Ah well. C=DVM, remember??

On the home front: I'm not sure. I don't get to go home a lot, but I try to keep up with the news. The Goatherdess Mother gets stressed, I'm sure, when I'm not there (I'm just so darn NECESSARY!) so we are cutting back little by little. We've yet again re-worked our goat goals, so as to create a herd that is just all but self-sufficient. We have a few great big does and are planning to go from there. We are done buying does, any replacements will be off the farm.

I miss being home SO MUCH. I read my The Boer Goat or Countryside and let me tell you, it makes me homesick. It's hard to be a good Goatherdess when I am stuck in a duplex on a snippet of land in the middle of the "suburbs."

But, this is an means to an end. I just have three and a half more years and I will be well on my way to purchasing my little bit o' heaven in The Middle of Nowhere, MO.

As far as my life now: I get up at 5:30 or 6:00 or 6:30 or 7:00 or whenever I can drag myself from bed. If I am up early, I workout or run a bit. If I am not, I take a world-record-challenging shower, feed/medicate the dogs, grab my books, and I'm out the door. I study for a bit before class, have class/lab, come home, walk dogs, head back to school, meet Stacy, study, rush home, fall into bed.

Notice there is NO TIME for cleaning. Or laundry. Or dishes. Stuff just piles up and up and up and up and up and up and up and it is just frightening. I usually try to do dishes as I go, or at very least rinse them very well. Friday nights are my "clean EVERYTHING and do mountains of laundry" nights. Sometimes I get to go home on the weekends, more often I don't. Sad sad.

Well, a wave of sleepiness just came crashing over me. I have my Phys test tomorrow, anatomy lab for awhile, then I can come back to the duplevision and nap for awhil before cleaning. Then it's finals week and then CHRISTMAS BREAK!!!!!!

Wahoo!

Adios, drive safe, and check back more often-- I'm going to try, try, try to post more often.

Lovin' the Life!

So let me begin by saying:

I LOVE VET SCHOOL.

I realize this is day 6, and I'm sure that in another six days, I will be shouting the exact opposite (as the first anatomy exam approaches).

But for now, I can't help but be excited. THIS is what I've wanted to do since I can remember. THIS is why I spent a boring three years in undergrad, keeping my nose to the grindstone and doing everything in my power to make the grades.

I like studying, although I tend to fall asleep at my duplex. So I come back to campus in the evenings, set up shop in the anatomy lab, and go to town. So far, I understand everything we talk about in lecture, so that is a relief. I just need to review it, and understand what each professor is asking us to remember.

The biggest difference I see in vet school and undergrad is this: In undergrad, you learn the material for the exam, because a.) grades are a huge deal in undergrad, and b.) because 95% of the classes you take in undergrad are NOT what you will be doing for the rest of your life.

In vet school, you are learning this for LIFE. For your career. You MUST know this material. Which is not as stressful as it sounds-- in fact, it's quite exciting and motivating. I WANT to learn this stuff, so I do.

I'm trying desperately to make good, good grades in vet school, but as any 3rd or 4th year will say "C = DVM is the most important equation in vet school." Clearly, I do not want C's. However, I have to remind myself that it is more important to understand the clinical relevance of a topic than it is to memorize minute details in order to get an A.

Today I got SO excited because I realized that this is one of the last steps. I AM going to be a vet. I just have to show up, shut up, and fake it 'til I make it. I wouldn't be here if lots of people didn't think I could make it.

In four years, I will be a DVM.

For any pre-vet followers out there: Tip for Microanatomy lab. TAKE IBUPROFEN, TYLENOL, ASPIRIN, NAPROXEN, SOMETHING BEFORE LAB. My head hurts for hours after lab.

And on a less happy note: Honor spilled water all in my lovely, dear laptop. It is dead. I am not sure if I can resurrect it. Probably not. I am, at this point, praying that I can retrieve my photos and Word documents from it.

Well, back to learning origins and insertions of the muscles of the thoracic limb. They get confusing after a bit.

Study Break!!!

Well, I should be studying, but there is only so much my brain can take.

Also, I will let you in on a secret:

This is not hard.

Yet.

I understand we are in the first week, but I know most of this material like the back of my hand. Thank you, Rao, the insanely difficult Cell Bio/Genetics professor.

Also, most of our professors are lecturing over material that is very, very similar, so the lectures overlap. That makes studying easier.

Wednesdays will typically be my *short* days, unless I have Physiology lab. I get out at noon, otherwise.

Big news:

I got an iPad. It rocks.

Now. I do not condone the purchase of a $500-$800 (or more!) device. However, if you are in college/university/grad school/professional school/etc, here are my thoughts.

I took notes on my IBM laptop for two days. I could not draw the pictures or diagrams that the professor was putting on the power points. I could keep up with the lecture, however, and found that typing is far superior to hand-written notes.

My laptop is 4 years old and LOUD. I love my laptop more than just about any material item I own, except for my Dan Post cowboy boots. And perhaps my Jeep.

Anyway. The screen already had to be replaced on my laptop, and I suspect the cause was toting it about. I do not want to go through that again, and due to then elderly-ness of my computer, I would rather not haul it around.

So due to the bulk, loudness, delicate nature, and lack of drawing capabilities, I started searching for a tablet-like device. I looked at many Google/Android/Windows machines, as well as the iPad. I talked with people who used both.

And I ultimately settled on the iPad. The other devices are less expensive, for sure, but I doubt I would have been as happy. It is not perfect, but it does everything I need it to do, and much, much more (haha!)

Here is how I use mine:

I use my computer to download my professor's power points to my desktop. Then I upload them to Box.net. From my iPad, I download the PPTs to Noterize, a free app from the app store.

Then in Noterize, I make them BEAUTIFUL. Lots of highlighting, coloring, underlining, handwritten notes, and typed notes.


There is a way to download the PPTs directly to Noterize, but my internet connection doesn't seem to like it. I can make it all work faster with the above technique.

So. I will get my money's worth of use from this device, although I cringe every time I think of the price. Additionally, although I know that the iPad will most likely be obsolete at this point, I could use it once I get to clinics and after I graduate. I can store photos and information about cases in it, and use it to review treatment plans and histories with my clients.

So it was an investment. I know that the more I use it, the more I will like about it.

And now I am off to the anatomy lab. I've already been there once today, but I forgot to give Tippy her shot first. Good thing I only live 12 minutes away. I was still mad at myself.

So think of me, as I learn the markings of the thoracic limb of the dog and cat. Woot woot.

Livin' the Dream

Well, so much for writing everyday.

Onward to better things.

If you are just now reading this, please start at the beginning (oldest post) for a complete-ish record of my journey from February until now.

I just finished my first day of vet school. I'm slightly confused, not because of the curriculum, but because of the schedule. I'm sure it's no different than undergrad, it'll just take me this first week to get it figured out.

So here's a recap of my day:

Alarm went off at 6:00 am. My first thought was "Why the heck did I set my alarm for 6?!?!?"

I shoved a pillow over my head.

And then I remembered:

TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF VET SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So out of bed I lept, slammed the alarm clock, and began the day.

Put on coffee (I hate coffee).

Walk the dogs.

Shower.

Dress.

Gather computer.

Sit and wait for 7:00 to arrive.

Check lunch.

Check supplies.

Re-pack lunch.

Leave at 6:50.

I arrived at school just after 7:00 am, and most of my classmates had already arrived.

I found a seat, plugged in my computer, and waited for my Veterinary Cellular Biology class to begin at 8:00. It was pretty basic for the first day.

9:00 am rolled around, and Physiology began. Pretty basic.

10 am: two hour break. I ate lunch and chatted with my new buds.

Noon, and it's time for Microanatomy. Two hour lecture/lab, and we're done.

Back at home, I walked the dogs, went over my notes, checked my lectures for tomorrow, and watched Hannah Montana: The Movie.

I had cheesy vegetables for dinner.

And that's it. Bo-ring so far. I'm sure it's going to get much, much, much, much, much, much worse.

But such is life, and hey, this was MY dream, right?

Until next time...

Well, I'm not hungry!

Well, today is the last Friday before IT BEGINS.

I think that may translate into "the last care-free Friday."

Boo.

I did not go to the pre-orientation get-together because I felt crummy all day, crummy enough to feel the need to stay near a waste receptacle or toilet.

I never actually got sick, though.

I DID get a lot done. Between naps and while on ibuprofen highs, I made food! Mini foods. Besides my mini llama pizzas, I made mini chicken pot pies (to DIE for), mini meatloaves, and corn muffins. When I get some cash, I'm going to make lasagna, tacos, shepherd's pie, and spinach quiche. I'm so excited! I'll be able to grab a couple of little meals, an apple or banana, and call it lunch!

I just realized that I never introduced Tippy. Oh, Tippy. Tippy is my 12 year old Border Collie that I got when I was 8. She is the dog who introduced me to the wonderful world of dog sports. I only attained a CD title with her, but that's my fault not hers. She's absolutely fantastic. Here's a cute pic of her at age 9:

She had several bouts of pancreatitis a few years back, and was diagnosed with diabetes in May. We've got her all regulated; she gets 10 units of insulin twice a day.

She is completely blind now. She has good days and bad moments, but nothing too serious yet. Many articles I've read state that after diagnosis, you have two months to one year. We're well past the two month mark.

Honor is straight up BLOSSOMING here. I brought him along because a.) he fights with our other male Great Pyrenees, Little John, and b.) I wanted a big barking dog.

Well, he barks. I can usually get him to stop. But heaven forbid someone come over. I pretty much have to sit on his head.

And when I decided to bring him, he was a pretty mellow fellow. He must like it here better than our old home.

Imagine, for a moment, a 115 pound dog leaping around an apartment. On the couch!! Off the couch!! Under the table!! Grab the tablecloth!! Let it go quick because she's after me with a pillow!! Run!!! Leap!! Jump!!

Great Pyrenees have two outlooks on most activities. Either it is below them, or they do it with great gusto. Daily apartment calisthenics are NOT below Honor.

So we spend a lot of our days running around the field across from the duplex.

Well, I've convinced myself to make a grilled cheese, let's see if I can eat it. Then I'm going to turn in because I need to clean and pack for Sunday! I'm meeting Mom to trade the dogs for a carload of *stuff* tomorrow evening.

More of the boring life...

I'm positive that I will MISS this when school gets in full swing.

But I am BORED.

B-O-R-E-D

I took a three hour nap this afternoon, and was still tired. I watched 5 episodes of the Odd Couple. I sort of cleaned. I researched a billion things on the internet. I bemoaned the fact that my printer is out of ink.

But here's a brief synopsis of what's been going on since yesterday morning.

Last night, Melodie came to visit.

I got my hair chopped off. That's right, all my pretty curls on the floor of the hair salon. It's just shorter than chin length when it's dry and curly. I love it.

Melodie and I went to visit with her friend Lindsey, who walked us all around downtown. I got a whirlwind idea of where the hot hangouts are.

Melodie left this morning.

I sat around all day. Bought a swimsuit that is neither attractive nor comfortable. Apparently waiting until the middle of August to purchase a swimsuit is a bad idea.

Then I got hungry and made mini deep-dish pizzas. This is my grand plan:

Make lots of meals, but make them in muffin tins. Then I can freeze the left overs in easily-grabbable and tote-able portions.

So I made the sauce from tomato paste (working on my own recipe!) and made the crust.

Topped it with several types of cheeses, and finished up with llama sausage.

I <3 llama sausage. It's good, try it.

And now I am ready for bed, I think. Tomorrow I plan to CLEAN the WHOLE house, go to this dinner thing for a couple of hours, and be back here by 8 to give Tippy her shot.

Then I am taking the dogs to Mom on Saturday, and Sunday...

I'm going to be a vet student.

Sttttreeetccchhhh. Yaaaawwwwwwwnnnn. Repeat

So this post is going to be lusciously BORING simply because I have nothing to talk about. I'm trying to get in the habit of remembering to blog, so I'm going to try to write everyday for the next few days. So forgive me!

I've gotten to the point where I am tired. Not the good kind of tired; it's that sort of tired you get from being lazy. I've got to figure out something to do. I did unpack my bathroom stuff. It's a start.

I'm still on the cast iron kick. Today I fried some bacon, then some eggs.

HOLY MOLY. The eggs rocked. And they didn't stick to my nifty Griswold skillet, either. Definitely a keeper. Going to use it for EVERYTHING.

I finished the whole first season of Simon and Simon. Sad. Every once in a while I stumble upon these TV shows that I fall absolutely in love with. They just don't make them like they used to.

The worst part is, these companies get permission to release the first season of an older (pre-90's) TV show, and then Tora purchases it, fairly enjoys it, and begins searching for season two. What's that? Release season two???

Never.

So then I am stuck being sad, until the next lovely show comes along.

Today's agenda includes:
Going to Walmart to get green beans for Tippy
Finding stamps somewhere
Mailing in some vet school paper work.
Clean the house and unpack at least one box.

Guess I'd better get started.

My newest favorite thing.

I'm going to quit the vet school idea.

No, really!

Actually I'm kidding.

BUT... I have found something to take up my time, and it's right up my alley.

My mom's good friend gave me two old, crusty, rusty, flaky, icky, grungy cast iron skillets. In short, they were pretty gross.

No biggy, you just use them, right?

WRONG.

Anyone who knows me knows that I love SHINY things. And OLD things that look PERFECTLY NEW.

So I found out about this little technique...

Put the skillets in the oven, set the self-cleaning to go, and leave it.

Oh, open all the windows. Turn on some fans. Have a fire extinguisher, just in case... and don't really leave.

In a couple of hours (more or less), turn off the oven and let it cool.

Open the oven door and voila!!! A rusty, ashy, terrible-looking skillet!!! It's like magic!

Then, with piping -hot water, and a good plastic scrubby, and a COOL skillet, scrubby all that ash away!

Now you have a grey skillet- but not for long! It's rusting as we speak!

You can take a bit of vinegar and wipe any stubborn rust away, but that bronzy color is fine.

Now, with olive oil, bacon grease, Crisco, whatever, wipe that baby down.

Then wipe it all off.

Bake at 500 or so for an hour or so, with the pan facing upside down.

Let 'er cool.

Do it again (Just the from the Crisco step forward... any farther back then that and you are UN-seasoning it).

Over and over and over and over and over until the pan is black and shiny and smooth like glass.

Then fry some bacon (Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE BACON).

And then USE it!! For everything! Except boiling water. But seriously, use it for everything else! Browning hamburger, baking cornbread, fighting off intruders! Cast iron is versatile!
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is all I have done today. With the exception of walking the dogs.

Cheerio.

Woahwoahwoah

So, apparently the month of July didn't exist.

Actually, it did, and it flew by so fast I hardly knew it was there.

So here's an update, from the end of June till now. In thirty seconds or less:

Iturned21June14thandtwoweekslaterIranfromatwisteritwasthescariestthingthathaseverhappenedtomethenIgotreallyhurtinafallfromahorsetwoweeksafterthatTeriwonReserveGrandChampionmeatgoatwithherhome-bredwetherGalileoandGrandChampionmeatpenwithherhome-bredrabbitsattheCrawfordCountyFairthenIfoundaduplexinColumbiaandleaseditGrandmaConnieandEdcameupforourfamily"vacation"mylastdayatthecavewasFridayandImovedintomynewhhomeyesterday.

Whew. Okay, so here is the whole, drawn out version. I'm just hitting the highlights here:

Turned 21 without fanfare or drama. In fact, I worked. Blah

Teri competed at the Meramec Community Fair and placed middle of the class all the way around with the goats. Better luck next year. The highlight of the fair was the tornado that touched down between the fairgrounds and I-44. I have never experienced mass panic and hope to never do that again. Everyone was still reeling from the deadly tornado that hit Joplin just a month earlier, so people were screaming and sobbing and running from this huge swirling monster. We never saw the whole thing; over half was hidden behind the grove of trees behind the barn. It was headed straight for the fairgrounds, towards Rodney Atkins and the midway and the livestock barns with our precious goats--the core of our herd (remember, this was show-- we take the best!) I just got a sick, sick feeling in my stomach and started running, along with Mom and Bobby, towards a ditch near the big lake. We didn't really have a choice, it was either run or get trampled. By the time we dared to look behind us, the twister had turned towards the hospital and was ascending into the clouds. No damage, no injuries, a lot of frightened people.

On the 30th of June, I went to get paid for a ranch-sitting job. The owners had just returned and had picked up their Haflinger mare from the trainers. Would I like to ride her? SURE!!!! I gleefully swung up into the saddle and off we went-- me, riding Cotton, and owner, driving her other mare.

To the trainer's credit, Cotton was definitely well-trained. I wouldn't have bet a nickel that a Haflinger could spin like this mare, and with just a lift of the reins and a tap with a heel! Amazing. Until she decided to beat Baby May back to the barn and took off in a full gallop.

Now. If you have never ridden an older (say, 14 year old) Haflinger mare at a high rate of speed, let me describe it for you:

First, Haflingers are DRAFT horses. They are powerfully built for pulling. Not for riding. It's something like riding a barge.

Their necks are like steel. Like a cylinder of steel, two foot in diameter. Try bending it to slow your barge.

Now, as I said, they are built for pulling, and their conformation reflects that. They have short pasterns and CHOPPY strides. So it's like riding a kayak in the wakes of a huge speed boat. Up down up down up down up down.

And they are stubborn. Add a loose cinch (hey, we were almost done with the ride-- I knew it was loose, but didn't bother with tightening it since we were ALMOST DONE.)

Sooooooooooooo... I still don't know if I hit the tree and was dragged off by a limb, or if I landed by the tree coincidentally, but the owner found me sprawled out on the ground, unconscious. Nothing like being knocked out to smash your ego. The saddle was dangling on the ground under Cotton, who was standing cheerfully at her hitching post.

The injuries are as follows: GIANT goose egg on head; huge purple bruise covering my upper left arm, shoulder, and part of my back; a little bruise on my right shoulder; injured ribs, and a large hematoma behind my left knee. As the days went by, everything went away except the rib pain and the black bruise that ran from halfway up my thigh to my heel. And the large cut from Cotton's shoe that graced the back of my knee.

Eventually, I went to the doctor. Apparently you are supposed to go to the doctor right after you fall off a horse?? Especially if you were knocked out. They radiographed my ribs and said that my ribs were not broken, but definitely bruised and there could be some damage to cartilage and intercostal muscle. Recovery time-- approximately 4 weeks.

Flash foward to the Crawford County Fair. Teri did much, much better here. Here second-generation home-bred wether, Galileo, took Reserve Champion market goat! If you aren't familiar with county fair livestock, winning Grand or Reserve in a market class is a big, big deal. Do it with an animal you bred and raised yourself-- pure ecstasy. She also won Grand Champion meat pen with bunnies she raised herself.

She won Grand and Reserve Champion Dairy Goat, and some awards in the Meat Goat division.

I won Grand Champion Meat Doe and Meat Buck with Lane and her son, Rory.

I also exhibited Stella, my Dorper ewe. I'm going to get back into Dorpers in a big way at some point.

And then I went apartment shopping. I didn't have the money AT ALL but amazingly enough, right before I had the time to go look for a place, Lindenwood sent me a check for $720. So I went to look at the first place I found, and it fit the bill. Cheap, two bedroom, washer and dryer hookups, and pets allowed. Best of all, they let me bring Honor (my Great Pyrenees, if you don't know him).

My Grandmother, Connie, and her husband, Ed, came up for a week. My aunt, uncle, and cousins came back up for awhile, too. It was a lot of fun and I found some AMAZING deals to furnish my house. I'll have to add it all up, but I was able to furnish this place for less than $300, easily.

Lane, my Grand Champion Meat Doe (two years running!) died. We don't know why. Heartbreaking; she was my herd core, the base of my foundation.

And then I moved. My last day at the cave was sad, but that's okay. Life is about moving on. I rented a U-Haul trailer and loaded everything (well, almost everything) and started the two-hour trek. And now I am settling in with Tippy and Honor and Loki (the fish) and waiting on Mom and Teri to bring the rest of my things.

And that's just about all for now. I have teambuilding camp ("VET") next week, and classes start the week after that. It's happening!

Update!

Where to begin.... whew. Luckily not too much has happened since last time...

I'm done with school! Well, Lindenwood, at least. I finished up with 4 A's and 1 B and a 3.74 overall GPA. Not as good as I'd hoped but hey, I did my best, and it was good enough.

I've been out for a month and all my stuff is still in the living room. That isn't a shocker.

My room is still a mess, too. I have a psuedo-path to my bed.

I've still not found a good place to live. Just no where within a reasonable price and with a yard and allows pets... phooey.

Fair season is coming up!!!!!! I can't wait! Meramec Community is first, then Crawford Co. I'm entering a bunch of home economics items in the exhibit hall at both fairs, and my goaties at Crawford. I <3 fairs!

Oops... I'm supposed to be cleaning. I'll sign off for now, and hopefully get back here in a bit...

Gulp

Okay, here I go! I have to go sign into oral comm, watch a presentation, then head back to my dorm. I'll pack up the last little (erm... lot) bit into the car once Mom and Teri get here, and then I'm headed home.

Oh, I can't forget-- my friend Alex is giving me two rats! They were part of her animal behavior study, and the home she had lined up for them backed out. So... they're mine! Their names are Remi and Leelu. I'll post pics of them later.

I ripped the headliner of the jeep with my fridge... grrrrrrrrrr. But I have about 70% of my things packed up and ready to roll... the other 30% will *hopefully* go in the blue beast when it arrives... if not, I guess I'm picking and choosing what stays and what goes.

Tonight we have to process some baby goats and move some animals around, then....

It's time for the semi-annual yay-school's-out-all-night-movie marathon!!!!!! Teri and I stay up as long as possible to watch movies. Not at all sure what the line up will be, but we'll figure it out.

It's just about time for class to start, so I'll sign off. I hope to be out of here, rats and all, by 1:30. I heard the Cards did well again yesterday, so I'll pick up a 25 cent drink... then drive away from LU for the last time. Bittersweet.

Now is the time!

I just got excited again. Not that I haven't been excited, but I was a little sad about leaving everything I've come to love in these last three years.

I thought I'd be used to it by now... I felt the same way after high school, the same way after moving to Bourbon. Now I'm feeling it again and I know I will when it's time to leave vet school.

Growing up sucks.

The Cards game on Saturday was fun, but I realized that Dr. Welsh reached a whole new level of professor evilness when I found myself sitting, at the Cards game, with my microbiology book open on my lap and my final spread out in front of me. Yeah. That got me some strange looks. We went out to Outback for dinner after the game, and I learned that my sister doesn't understand rhetorical questions. For example, if I, glancing at the last piece of delicious warm bread, ask the rest of the table, "Does anyone want that?" most people would say, "No, go ahead!" or "Nope, all yours." Teri, on the other hand, pounces on the bread and pops it in her mouth with the gusto that would accompany a line such as "Don't mind if I do!" or "Hey, thanks for offering, I didn't even see that there!" Thus the demise of the last piece of delicious warm bread.

On Monday, I went out to eat for breakfast with my World Lit class. It was fun and I'm glad I went, but it was sort of unnecessary. Professor Cole, Vykky, Amanda, and I went out to Trailhead for lunch (noticing a trend here? Too much food!) These three people are just about my favorite people in the world... I had such a good time that I forgot to be sad until we were leaving. Sigh.

Then it was time to go to Dr. Little's. Even though I only see these people about once a week, I'm super attached to them. Luckily we were just the right balance of busy to allow us to chat and have fun, but stay busy enough that I wasn't thinking about the fact it was my last day there. Beth bought a huge delicious cake for me (ahem... more food. Tora's weight loss plan was SHOT DOWN over these few days) and we all enjoyed.

Dr. Little's son stayed with us at the clinic for awhile. What a cute kid! His favorite word is "No" and he uses it all. the. time. I'm going to try to hang out at Elm Point a couple days before I head off to MU and maybe over Thanksgiving break. I miss those people already :-(.

And I have to edit my paper for biochem, write up a cheat sheet for biostats, buy AAA batteries for my calculator, and pack up my room. Then I am done with this life and headed towards the next.