One week left!!

In 233 hours I will be DONE!! Large animal clinics will be only a distant memory!!

All in all, it's been a good final month and in a way, I'm surprised that the 3 rotations went by so quickly.

Photo of the day... <3
(borrowed from my favorite nerd who was one of those beach bums yesterday :))

Phew...

Well, it's done. Five hours in front of a flickering computer screen and 360 questions later, boards are only a distant memory. :) Even if I end up having to take them again in April, it'll be a pain, but not too horrible. I will survive. :)
In other news...RVP has been fun and relaxing. I'm enjoying my two weeks left of "sleeping in" before medicine starts!

Oh dear...

Looks like I should have perhaps been a bit better about studying for boards :) Hehehehehe (delirious laughter). Oh well. In ten years, what will I REALLY remember? That I didn't pass boards the first time around, or that I had the BEST few months that I've ever had? Yes, option two, thank you very much. Alright, maybe I WILL remember that I didn't pass, but it won't really matter, now will it? Maybe I'll surprise myself, but honestly, whatever happens will be fine. I feel like I SHOULD be stressed out for Monday's "quiz" :), but I'm not. Crazy maybe...or just feeling a little more settled about life perhaps :) (but I had to put this picture in here anyway, since I look ridiculous in it :)).

In other news...Thanksgiving was wonderful!! Pictures posted on the Flickr page :)

Smile of the Day :)

There's just something about the pure joy of being a dog....

Wow...

I can't believe that it's been a month already...time certainly does fly when you're...on surgery?! It has been an exhausting month, but all in all, I'm glad that it happened. It was entirely representative of my vet school experience: thought I hated a great deal of it, but at the end of the day, it was worth it.
I'd write something more meaningful, but it's 3:30 am on Friday, I'm tired, and I have discharge notes and surgery reports to finish, along with finishing up things for this overnight shift.
Have a great weekend everyone!

I HAD to post this picture :) hehe Here's a better one!

Le Sigh... :)

Wonderful weekend. Still smiling. :)

And the "90 days of hell" are starting to look a bit more like the "90 days of busy, but otherwise great." Amazing how that happens.

Anyway, time for bed...but will write more soon. This lovely picture is borrowed, but I had to post it...Rio is afterall, one of the two most beautiful Bengals in the entire world. :) (we think that he should be the poster child for this page)

7 days until rotations begin!

First October Weekend

Life is good. :)

I've always loved the first real day of fall...you look around and just when you think that you know what life looks like, all of the colors have changed into something even more brilliant than before.

Plus, mini pupkins are the best.

A New Year

It's funny how you can wake up one morning and just feel different. As Amanda and I were getting ready for school this morning, I said to her "Today, I think that I like vet school again." That may seem like an odd thing to say, but it was honestly such a foreign feeling, that I had to note it. It was three years ago today that we were at our White Coat Ceremony...a matriculation that introduced us to what would become home, hell and everything in between. I think back to the person that I was three years ago, and while the number sounds small, I know that it could have been a lifetime. I am different. Not worse, not better, just different. Perhaps a bit further down the path of individuation. But what I know for sure is if it weren't for this experience, I wouldn't be who I am today. And especially right now, at this moment, I am looking back and appreciating every frustrating, horrible, heartbreaking, exhilarating, enlightening, passionate, inspiring and triumphant minute of the past three years. They are times that I in the end, am proud to have been a part of.

Daffodils

Poem 'O The Day :)

Photo brought to you by Trek Earth!








I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed - and gazed - but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

-William Wordsworth

I spoke too soon...

Sunday
12:00 am: received page from vet school
12:03 am: called vet school to learn that indeed, a colic had arrived
12:20 am: arrived at vet school sans contact lenses and any form of makeup; wearing blue scrub top, pink bottoms and pink fleece; look like a scary cream puff covered in pink frosting
1:00 am: begin surgery
3:20 am: end surgery
4:30 am: horse is recovered; go home
5:00 am: crawl into bed but have the most difficult time falling asleep
5:20 am: finally fall asleep
12:15 pm: wake up and begin the most unproductively slothy day...

I have however, accomplished LAUNDRY. This is a very important thing to do, and it had to be done. I also watched 75% of Spy Game on video. So all was not lost.

Tomorrow Beth, Amanda and I are heading to Eugene for an errandy-fun day and to see my parents! Yay!

More soon.

That incompetent immune system...

I got sick AGAIN!! I know, it's probably been a while since I've actually had a cold (killer quarter maybe?), but it seems like just yesterday :) Anyway, everyone hates getting sick of course, but I especially DESPISE it because it usually goes straight to my good-for-basically-nothing lungs and causes the old asthma to act up, making ME good-for-basically-nothing. Argh. Feeling better though...it was a QUICK virus (knock on wood).

Survived week 1 in the hospital (anesthesia rotation), now only 13 left!!! wooo!! :)
It went well...anesthetized: 2 alpacas, 2 rabbits, 1 horse, 3 dogs and 2 goats!
Am on call this weekend (so colicky horses...stay healthy for a few days, ok?!)

Trying to work on my senior paper, but am of course blogging instead :) The paper is actually going well though...or at least the IDEAS are going well! Other than that, not much new. Going to a movie with Amanda, Autum and Katy soon...so hopefully I won't get called in!

Pictures posted from Erin's wedding, which was last weekend! :)

Beth and I microscoping...

B and I are in Clinical Services A, which is basically like a day-long class on clinical pathology, bacteriology and virology. Thrilling as that sounds :), it's actually been a great review for boards (which are in November/December) and pretty relaxed. We had our class discussion out on the lawn in front of the school today! It's just going to be a bit of a change when clinics actually start :(
Other than being back in Corvallis, nothing else new really...just enjoying life for the moment :)

The better picture :)

This one definitely IS much better! I wish that I could get my hair and makeup done professionally EVERY day!! :) Anyway, this is one from the "formals" collection :) Doesn't she look WONDERFUL?? :)

Here comes the bride...

It's officially the Shelby-Eric Wedding Weekend!!! Yay!

The horror...

I cannot, I repeat CANNOT handle spiders. I don't care how girly and pathetic that may sound, it is simply a fact of life and I will not be made to feel stupid about it. Yesterday I had TWO experiences (traumas) involving spiders. The first occured while I was watering the yard. I went to fill up the watering can to water the fuschias on the porch and realized that there was a spider web attached to the can. No problem. I knock down said spider and web and start to fill up the can. Then I look up and see ANOTHER identical spider attached to its own web right above my head. Knock that one down. And give it a sharp spray for good measure. Just as I am feeling a little creeped out that twin spiders have invaded my watering can, I look up to see the MOTHER OF ALL SPIDERS (at least the mother of the twins) who is, I swear to God, the size of a silver dollar (not counting the legs!!). As with all scary things, what did I do? I froze, certain that if I moved, MOAS would jump off of the fence and attack me. I slowly backed away and promptly called my mom to inform her that the plants would just have to starve. I could not go outside again. Well, that plan wasn't exactly going to work, so I improvised. Could NOT touch the contaminated watering can, so I watered the fushias with an Aquafina bottle. The second trauma occured while Shelby was visiting last night. We were about to settle in for a cozy movie night, when there's ANOTHER spider (although this was not MOAS) on the wall directly behind the bed. After several attempts (by Shelby-the-bravest-girl-I-know) to destroy the horrific beast, it escaped to under a book. And you can bet your booty there was no way we were going to lift up that book. So we settled for squishing on the side of the bed farthest away from the book to watch the movie. (This was after poor Shelby had the unfortunate luck of landing in a pile of nasties left by Nikki under the sheets the night before). I don't know if she'll ever come back here. Sigh. So that is it. I am still trying to figure out the most strategic plan for watering the plants today. I'd appreciate any suggestions.

The Rundown

Well. It most certainly has been a whirlwind month. The quick and dirty (well, not so dirty):
- Had one week off after finals; spent it packing/organizing my excessive amount of STUFF and geocaching with Ryan, Amanda's boyfriend (she and Beth were having fun on RVP)
- Spent three fantastic weeks in Portland at OHSU; stayed with Robin and got to know the Raleigh Hill's neighborhood very well :)
- Fell in love with Whole Foods, New Seasons, Powells, Mio Gelato, Two Lips Pizza, the french toast at the Cameo Cafe, and the mashed potatoes at Manzana
- Had a wonderful week up in Pullman, much to my surprise! Great to see Jesyka and everyone at WSU and I was actually a little sad to leave (what a difference a few months and a sunnier outlook on life can make!)

Now I'm back in Eugene/Corvallis for three weeks! Shelby and Eric are getting married in 10 days!!! I can hardly believe that my best friend, the girl that I met the first week of high school, is getting married. Time certainly is a strange thing.

Speaking of time, it is official Plant-Watering and Dead-Heading hour!

The Princess...

Dang...who's beautiful cat is that anyway?!? :) It is so incredibly wonderful to be home in Eugene right now!! And although I miss my mom and Simon, I am LOVING the time alone. More soon.

Coming to you from Pullman, Land of the Lentil

Alright, I know! It's been a LONG time since I've written! I am so sorry...and I REALLY will try to be a bit better about blogging!
With that - I must say that I am rushing out of school (yes, I'm back at WSU, relishing in the joys of small animal clinics :) actually, it's been pretty fun...and only 2 days left before I can drive back to lovely Oregon)
And so, I WILL write an update soon (I'll be house/puppy/kitty/plant-sitting all of next week with nothing to do but blog)!

Word of the Day:
indelible \in-DEL-uh-buhl\, adjective:
1. That cannot be removed, erased, or washed away.
2. Making marks that cannot easily be removed or erased.
3. Incapable of being forgotten; memorable.

Shouldn't I be in the library...?

I know this sounds completely pathetic....but I honestly had the urge to pack up my backpack this morning and head to the library. Geez. I need to get a life.
This weekend was WONDERFUL, although I am still getting used to the exam-less life. I find myself checking my watch continuously, thinking that I'd better get some studying done before the end of the day. It's a habit, I guess. Perhaps I should just keep this going until boards are over - then it won't be quite as difficult to study. Do I like to study?! I don't know...part of me thinks that I've done it for such a long time, it's just become a comfort blanket. Like I said before - pathetic. :)
Anywho - back to the weekend: sat out in the SUNSHINE, spent a lot of time with my family, saw Shelby and her crazy kitties and had lunch at our favorite Shelby/Jaime date spot, went on a 7-mile walk around Dorena Lake yesterday (see inserted photo - I just figured out how to do that!!) and then came back to Corvallis last night (Amanda made her world-famous burritos!). And best of all, NO worrying about exams!!
Today is a nice little errandy day. And maybe a nap. Yeah, I think a nap is definitely in order.

Woohoo!!!

I'M DONE!!! The last final of my LIFE is OVER!! :) It still seems a bit surreal - and it's not completely over until the grades come out , but STILL :) And also, I really didn't like that last template - so I'm giving this green one a try. I'm on a bright green kick right now! :) More soon!!

YUCK

Final number ONE finished. Only four to go. On the one hand, that makes me feel very BLAH, while on the other hand, I feel very YAY about finishing so soon!!

Anyway, Surgery was YUCK - but hey, what's new? :) The suture pattern was one that I didn't know - so I completely made it up...and I half-guessed on a bunch of the questions. Oh well. I'm not that sad about it (providing that I passed the class...you never know with me...) :)

In fact, I think that a good reward for the difficult morning would be a delicious tofu burrito. Mmmm....my favorite.... :) And then, off to (you guessed it!) the LIBRARY! Woohoo!

Word O' The Day:
exigent \EK-suh-juhnt\, adjective:
1. Requiring immediate aid or action; pressing; critical.
2. Requiring much effort or expense; demanding; exacting.

And for the word-nerd in all of us...straight from Dictionary.com:
Q. What does "floccinaucinihilipilification" mean?
A. It means "the estimation of something as worthless."
But it is usually used only as an example of a very long word, sometimes held to be the longest. The Oxford English Dictionary labels it "humorous" and gives the following citations for it:
I loved him for nothing so much as his floccinaucinihilipilification of money. --William Shenstone, Letters
They must be taken with an air of contempt, a floccinaucinihilipilification of all that can gratify the outward man. --Sir Walter Scott, Journal

5 Finals To Go...

T minus 120 hours and I'll be done with this crazy year!

The first and probably worst final is tomorrow: surgery!!! Aaaaa!!! But after that, hopefully it will be smooth sailing (except of course for that little wave of the Medicine final on Wednesday).

Anyway, the week was fine (other than a slight melt-down Wednesday afternoon and a cockroach under my bed Friday morning) and I'm actually feeling fairly nonchalant about the whole 5 exam thing. Ah well, so we don't all get A's? Who cares?!? :)

So as for the cockroach problem, I woke up EARLY Friday morning to Maia frantically playing with something on the ground under my bed. She emerged with something in her mouth that she dropped on the floor and what was it?! A freaking HUGE cockroach. I called my mom crying. Seriously. That freaked me out. It would be one thing if I lived in some tropical country where cockroaches were expected, but the fact that we are infested in Corvallis, Oregon - somehow makes it worse. Gross. So we are moving!!!! Yay!! And our new house (hopefully) is in a really nice neighborhood with a pool and rec center AND right next to a great park. So I'm very excited!

In other news, Amanda and I went to see Batman Begins this weekend. I've been a Christian Bale fan since Empire of the Sun, but this movie (despite its occasional cheesy lines) made me like him all the more. :) :) :)

Back to studying I go...more soon!

Word of the Day:
gravitas \GRAV-uh-tahs\, noun:
High seriousness (as in a person's bearing or in the treatment of a subject).

The Addendum

Feeling much better. Perhaps it's the fact that Amanda and I can talk as loud as we want up here on the 6th floor (with no one to bother) or perhaps is just the good 'ole Tincture of Time :)

Anywho - although my attempts at studying have been rather futile, I was at least able to dredge up from the depths of my memory, the fact that a CBC and an IgG titer are the two most important laboratory values to assess in a 24-hour foal. Yep, that's right. I'm not forgetting ALL of it ;)

Ok. I really am going to try to study. Really. Hope everyone had a great weekend!


Now THAT'S what I call style. My cheer-up photo sent from Eden, my cousin - of her youngest Jake :)


P.S. Amanda has just handed me a book entitled You Are Extraordinary, with a chapter called "Dirty-Gray Man?" What the....?

P.S.S. I almost forgot to report that last night while we were out at AJ's, A & I drank Pink Foo Foo's. I kid you not. I mean, c'mon - I HAD to try it, if for no other reason than that AWESOME name. :)

The Bitter Blog

Nikki says: "vet school is for the dogs!"


Alright, I realize that I should be very appreciative for being here - but there are some days when I just HATE vet school. OSU's regular graduation is today, and while I am very happy for all of the fresh-faced, high-on-life graduates, there is a part of me that feels like this bitter, cynical person, grumbling as I walk in the door of the library while the hoards of gowned, soon-to-be graduates gather outside to take photgraphs with their families and friends. I know, I too will have my chance to walk down that aisle again, but I find it extremely sad that this time, instead of feeling sentimental and teary-eyed, I'll be grabbing that diploma and running for the nearest exit. Alright, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, and maybe it's just that I'm having a difficult time feeling motivated to finish this final year of what have become the not-so-brilliant years of vet school, or maybe it's just that I'm tired of studying things that I have no desire to learn, or maybe it's simply good old fashioned envy. Yes, I am extremely jealous of the me that existed 3 years ago. The Jaime that found joy in just about everything. I'm not saying that life was perfect by any means, but at the end of the day, I felt like it was. I felt so optimistic about the possibilities out there, and now, while I look forward to life after vet school, I have a difficult time looking back and remembering the good parts of it. We've all talked about how for such a long time, all we ever wanted was to be here and now, all we want, is just to be gone.

Phew. I guess I just needed to vent. Why I chose to vent on my blog, for all to read, is a good question. I should probably have put up the disclaimer, that these thoughts 1) are nothing new and 2) will most likely dissipate by tomorrow and I'll be excited about everything again (alright, maybe not completely excited, but it'll be better at least). :) I know that life can't always be the frosting - you've gotta have the inside of the cake too, and even that slightly burnt part at the bottom. I by no means am trying to say that I have anything to complain about. I am extremely blessed - in all aspects of my life, and one day, I know that I will look back and value my time here. I guess that sometimes we all just get a bit tired.

I'll write more soon. When I'm feeling a bit more chipper (good word, huh? :))

The LAST midterm of my life...

...was taken yesterday!!! How excited are we?! VERY excited. Now only 5 finals to go and I'll finally be able to say goodbye to the horrible world of stressful exams (oh except for those pesky boards...but we're just not going to talk about that right now). Keep in mind, this all hinges on me actually PASSING all of my exams :)

Actually nothing much to report (surprise surprise)...the weather was beautiful today, so my little skin cells tried to soak up all the Vitamin D that they could - (alright science nerds, I realize that the skin cells are actually MAKING the vitamin D, verus ABSORBING it from the sun, but it IS the UV rays that stimulate its sythesis). Yeah. I guess I'M the nerd.

This weekend: MUST study, Simon's birthday dinner on Saturday, visit with Shelby and Eric and the kitties, spend some quality time with my lovely roomie (Beth is out of town again!) and well, study some more :)

Andrew - I promise to do the booktag thing this weekend! :)

Word of the Day:
durance \DUR-uhn(t)s; DYUR-\, noun:
1. Imprisonment; confinement or restraint by or as if by force (usually used in the phrase "durance vile").
2. [Archaic] Endurance.

Monday....ugh

So the previous template was hurting my eyes...you know that I LOVE pink, but I liked the simplicity of this page :) Plus, it's always good to branch out a little, right?

I am DRAGGING today...not sure why. Maybe the weather or slight lack of sleep this weekend. Whatever the cause, I wish that I could just go home and take a nice LONG nap. But instead, A and I are in the library yet again, enjoying the lovely effect that finals weeks seems to have on the students here (can you say GROUCHY?!). Some guy behind me just shushed another table for talking quietly. Geez people. Get a study room!

I believe that I am officially a coffee addict: all of the baristas at Dutch Brothers all of a sudden know what I drink - even the ones that have helped me only once or twice. Hmm...verrry interesting.

On her way to Detroit yesterday for a meeting, my mom got stuck in the Cleveland airport for hours. The thunderstorms were prohibiting all air traffic and they had to send everyone on a BUS to Detroit. Can you think of ANYTHING better than going to Detroit on a bus?! I sure can't.

Only 18 DAYS left until I'm a senior!! Woohoo!!

Sautrday trip to the Oregon zoo: our new bear-friend!! (I'm holding his hand ;))


Word of the Day:
countenance \KOWN-tuh-nuhn(t)s\, noun:
1. Appearance or expression of the face; look; aspect.
2. The face; the features.
3. An approving or encouraging look or expression.
4. Favor, good will, support; encouragement.
5. [Obsolete] Bearing; demeanor.
transitive verb:
1. To approve; to support; to encourage.
2. To tolerate or allow.

The Library

Now, for those of you that knew me back at Willamette, you probably remember that I spent a good 70% of my out-of-class time in the library. Before you go thinking that I was the ULTIMATE nerd, it should be noted that the motivation for my choice of study spaces was influenced by (surprise surprise) a guy (can't exactly remember WHO, but I'm pretty sure that's why I was there :)) and the fact that hanging out at the library was second best to say, hanging out at the Ram (minus the beer of course); it was a very serious social venue. So, after a 3-year hiatus from the libraries, I have found myself, yet again, back at a desk, on the "quiet floor". This time, the motivation was more survival related ("If I don't find a good place to study, I'm going to fail out of vet school - and in the last quarter of classes no less"), although I admit, it may have had something to do with a certain someone saying that he studies here too. :) Anyway, I LOVE this library - perhaps more than Willamette's! For one thing, it's HUGE; my computer gets excellent wireless reception; it's quiet and I usually get a good amount of studying done and when you're lucky enough to score one of the padded chairs, it's actually fairly comfortable. Yes, my life has reached the pinnacle of excitement.
Other news...Greg came to visit this weekend (he was coaching for a swim meet in Albany), which was fun - it's always good to see non-vet school friends. :) (not that I don't LOVE my friends here; they are afterall, the reason that I've survived this long!). We went to Cold Stone last night and had dessert BEFORE dinner. :) That's definitely the way to go.
And now, I'm off - at least for a bit. This blogging thing is getting to be rather addictive!

Word of the Day:
unfledged \uhn-FLEJD\, adjective:
1. Lacking the feathers necessary for flight.
2. Not fully developed; immature.

New Pictures!

The Outdoorsy Girl

Maia in her pre-pounce pose

5 Minutes Until Theriogenology Class...

With only 5 minutes to write, the pressure is ON!

I actually have nothing very interesting to report - other than the fact that Amanda and I went to the library last night (not so interesting); Beth highlighted her hair for the first time (virgin hair!) - super cute; this morning instead of DBG making my coffee - his ROOMMATE did. And he made it before I could ask...I don't know whether to be flattered or mortified.

Ahh - better pay attention now....more later

Later....
Well class was SUPER fun. The highlight would probably be Dr. Estill announcing that I had come to school with my pink pajamas on (hey! scrubs come in pastels now too!). Anyway, we have our last surgery today and luckily Casper is being saved!! He's going to an adoption agency and will hopefully find a good home.

In other news...well, there is no other news - at least right now - but I'm SURE something exciting will happen. :)

Word of the day:
tumid \TOO-mid; TYOO-\, adjective:
1. Swollen, enlarged, or distended; as, "a tumid leg."
2. Bulging; protuberant.
3. Swelling in sound or sense; pompous; inflated; bombastic

I'm still alive!!

Pictures posted on the Picture Page!

It actually wasn't that bad :)

P.S. 23 DAYS!! (and only 362 until graduation!)

Coming to you from Magruder 102...

Good Morning everyone! And what a lovely morning it is! (Ok - it's only 8:45, so I suppose that's the coffee talking...which of course was made by the best barista ever :) there's just something that makes the morning all the better when your coffee is made for you BEFORE you even pull up to the window)
So now I'm in class...getting ready for large animal medicine to begin! Yay! How excited are we today? Anyway, the countdown has begun for the end of the quarter: 24 DAYS!!
Today is therio lab day, my personal favorite. And not only do I get to wear those awesome green coveralls all afternoon AND palpate mares until my arm feels like it'll fall off, but I get to participate in the stallion collection. Can you feel the excitement? I'll write more this evening (if I survive that is).

The horrible blogger...

If there were an award for worst blogger ever, it would probably go to me. All I can say is, the insanity that was WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital for me was probably best left un-blogged. We'll just leave it at that.

BUT I am back in lovely Oregon now (who knew that I would ever love Corvallis this much?!) and although Killer Quarter really is KILLER :) I am SO happy to be here. Lesson #16,452: will NEVER live in Pullman, Washington.

And so, it is my goal to get back onto the blogging circuit (for the 4 people who actually read this - and one of them is Beth, who lives with me anyway, and already knows everything! :))

As a full update seems like it might take a bit too long - here's my weekend update :)
1. I may have actually passed the medicine test that I took on Friday! Results pending.
2. Beth and I sat in the sun on Friday in the park 3 blocks away from our house...and wow, what a coincidence, guess who we ran into there?!? :) Anyway, that was fun. Beth kept trying to convince me to leave my number...which I finally did yesterday...on a note (!!) yes, I realize that this is totally HIGHSCHOOL, but I did it anyway.
3. Went shopping with my mom yesterday and she bought me clothes!! Retail therapy is the best.
4. Lamented the fact that I'm the only single person among my group of close friends here and watched "Never Been Kissed" which made me feel better.
6. Missed Beth and Amanda
8. Consolidated my loans
7. Thought about Shelby - who is a quarter of a century old today!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
8. Thought about studying, but then figured that blogging would be MUCH more fun.

And so - I'm off. I should ATTEMPT to get something productive done... :)