The final weeks of my undergraduate career are winding down. This is my last week of classes, then a week of finals, followed by "senior week" and graduation on the 18th. It has gone so quickly! I am certainly feeling nostalgic and melancholy these days.
A bust of excitement came this evening when I got an email that said I could register for my vet school courses! I will be taking:
Anatomy
Physiology
Immunology
Histology
Biochemistry
LA Husbandry
Professional Foundations
Ethology
And have the choice of two electives: Animal Domestication and Developmental Embryology.
I am a little on the fence about developmental embryology, since I really don't like development (probably my least favorite subject that I have had to learn about). I will definitely be taking Domestication though, since it is pass/fail and seems pretty interesting!
While it will be a lot (as I well recognize) I cannot help but be excited. I get to learn about these subjects as they specifically relate to veterinary medicine. All those questions I constantly pestered all my professors with at G-burg (especially in my human A&P class) will hopefully begin to be answered! I also pleasantly discovered that vet school only has one hour long labs, rather than the four hour labs that I am used to. That should be a nice change!
Back to studying ;-)
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Up to Things
What have I been up to lately?
Well, besides celebrating ( I'M GOING TO VET SCHOOL IN CASE YOU MISSED IT) I have been doing normal things, including studying for three exams (vert zoo on Thursday, A&P on Friday (past) and Microbio tomorrow), keeping up with the house and animals, farm sitting for my neighbor, leading meetings for my Spring break trip to TN, organizing pre-vet things, searching for vet school scholarships, working, and spending what little time is left with my sun and stars.
We celebrated V-day on Friday by having dinner together. I made sirloin and flank steak from the farm, organic mac and cheese (Annie's... try it!!), and steamed broccoli, then topped it off with homemade banana nut bread. We ended the night by dipping chocolate covered strawberries; something we have done every year since we first started dating. J had just worked a double, so he was pretty much exhausted and went to bed at 6:30, so I finished off my night by studying the properties and metabolism of microbial beings in front of the fireplace.
We have had a ton of snow (for MD) over the past few weeks, accumulating to a grand total of about 2.5 feet. There was some ice thrown in there too, which has really made things a mess. While we had lost power for four days amidst the storms, we got lucky in that we didn't lose anything in the fridge/freezer, and were able to provide at least some heat via the large wood stove in the basement. I took showers at school in my friend's apartments prior to classes, and J took them down at my grandparent's house (they have a small generator). All in all it was nowhere near as bad as it could have been.
I am still waiting to hear from Wisconsin (not that I am going to go there, I just kinda want to know). I am still kind of torn between VA-MD and Mizzou, but I have been leaning toward VMR. The proximity to home is a huge thing for me, and by all accounts the programs are really awesome. While I really loved Mizzou's program and the environment/sense of community, I don't know that my overall happiness level there would be as high. At least if I go to VMR there is the possibility of visits from family and friends, and my support network is only 5 hours away. If I feel the need to go home for an emergency or just really need to see J, I can drive it in a night, or an early morning. I don't think either one is a bad choice; in fact they are both extremely GREAT choices which is the problem! It ended up being only a $10000 difference between the two (which seems like a lot but when compared to the total $150k really isn't THAT much). There are perks and downfalls to both, and I know that with the way I am I will get as much experience as I can no matter where I go. I just need to make a decision, and fairly quickly, so that I can start applying for the few scholarship programs that I found. But like I said, I am heavily leaning toward VMR, so that is probably where I will end up.
Alright, back to microbial metabolism..
~Melissa
Well, besides celebrating ( I'M GOING TO VET SCHOOL IN CASE YOU MISSED IT) I have been doing normal things, including studying for three exams (vert zoo on Thursday, A&P on Friday (past) and Microbio tomorrow), keeping up with the house and animals, farm sitting for my neighbor, leading meetings for my Spring break trip to TN, organizing pre-vet things, searching for vet school scholarships, working, and spending what little time is left with my sun and stars.
We celebrated V-day on Friday by having dinner together. I made sirloin and flank steak from the farm, organic mac and cheese (Annie's... try it!!), and steamed broccoli, then topped it off with homemade banana nut bread. We ended the night by dipping chocolate covered strawberries; something we have done every year since we first started dating. J had just worked a double, so he was pretty much exhausted and went to bed at 6:30, so I finished off my night by studying the properties and metabolism of microbial beings in front of the fireplace.
We have had a ton of snow (for MD) over the past few weeks, accumulating to a grand total of about 2.5 feet. There was some ice thrown in there too, which has really made things a mess. While we had lost power for four days amidst the storms, we got lucky in that we didn't lose anything in the fridge/freezer, and were able to provide at least some heat via the large wood stove in the basement. I took showers at school in my friend's apartments prior to classes, and J took them down at my grandparent's house (they have a small generator). All in all it was nowhere near as bad as it could have been.
I am still waiting to hear from Wisconsin (not that I am going to go there, I just kinda want to know). I am still kind of torn between VA-MD and Mizzou, but I have been leaning toward VMR. The proximity to home is a huge thing for me, and by all accounts the programs are really awesome. While I really loved Mizzou's program and the environment/sense of community, I don't know that my overall happiness level there would be as high. At least if I go to VMR there is the possibility of visits from family and friends, and my support network is only 5 hours away. If I feel the need to go home for an emergency or just really need to see J, I can drive it in a night, or an early morning. I don't think either one is a bad choice; in fact they are both extremely GREAT choices which is the problem! It ended up being only a $10000 difference between the two (which seems like a lot but when compared to the total $150k really isn't THAT much). There are perks and downfalls to both, and I know that with the way I am I will get as much experience as I can no matter where I go. I just need to make a decision, and fairly quickly, so that I can start applying for the few scholarship programs that I found. But like I said, I am heavily leaning toward VMR, so that is probably where I will end up.
Alright, back to microbial metabolism..
~Melissa
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Acceptance #2
I got into VMRCVM! The tricksters told us they would email tomorrow at 5 pm and sent out emails at noon today! I can't believe it!!
Now I have some choices to make... Ah!
Now I have some choices to make... Ah!
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Reblog
I am linking this because it is very well-written and well done. It is one vet student's response to one of the issues in vet med .
http://hoovesandheartbeats.tumblr.com/post/75384527646/the-crisis-in-pet-health-care
http://hoovesandheartbeats.tumblr.com/post/75384527646/the-crisis-in-pet-health-care
Friday, February 7, 2014
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Mailed
Missouri mailed decision letters today. Should get here in the next few days!
I have my first big neurobio quiz tomorrow, a huge micro quiz on Monday, and my first vert zoo exam on Thursday (I have to identify and name latin names of 27 different ethanol-soaked fish). Hopefully I will get some good news to boost my confidence!
I decided the other day to sell my old horse showing clothes (beautiful, blingy and barely used) from when I was 13/14 and showed a friend's gelding. It was fun, but not something I think I will ever get into again. So far I think I have interested parties for all my slinkies and show pants, so I am hoping to make a little money... enough to buy a new used saddle. A little consignment shop up the road has three synthetic saddles, all for around $100. One of them has never even been on a horse! My old leather saddle, while great, doesn't seem to fit my horse too well since she actually filled out and I also have neglected it some... the mice have done a good job on chewing it up, and I got too lazy to replace a strap with leather and tied it on with baling twine. All of these that I checked out at the consignment store look pretty nice, and I get a few day trial period to make sure it fits alright. Definitely the cheapest prices I have ever seen on saddles, even non-namebrand ones.
I'm cuddling with my kitties at the moment while studying for micro (or trying to). They are such cuddly little buggers that it makes not petting them rather hard!
~Melissa
I have my first big neurobio quiz tomorrow, a huge micro quiz on Monday, and my first vert zoo exam on Thursday (I have to identify and name latin names of 27 different ethanol-soaked fish). Hopefully I will get some good news to boost my confidence!
I decided the other day to sell my old horse showing clothes (beautiful, blingy and barely used) from when I was 13/14 and showed a friend's gelding. It was fun, but not something I think I will ever get into again. So far I think I have interested parties for all my slinkies and show pants, so I am hoping to make a little money... enough to buy a new used saddle. A little consignment shop up the road has three synthetic saddles, all for around $100. One of them has never even been on a horse! My old leather saddle, while great, doesn't seem to fit my horse too well since she actually filled out and I also have neglected it some... the mice have done a good job on chewing it up, and I got too lazy to replace a strap with leather and tied it on with baling twine. All of these that I checked out at the consignment store look pretty nice, and I get a few day trial period to make sure it fits alright. Definitely the cheapest prices I have ever seen on saddles, even non-namebrand ones.
I'm cuddling with my kitties at the moment while studying for micro (or trying to). They are such cuddly little buggers that it makes not petting them rather hard!
~Melissa
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Blogger on the iPad
Jared got me the iPad air for Christmas, and what do you know, it has a blogger app! Should be a little easier for me to post on the go (and now super easy to post pictures!!).
One of my best friends got engaged over break and I got asked to be her bridesmaid today (I am super excited!).
The first week of classes has been going well. A bit hectic. Microbiology seems like it will be really interesting and also highly relevant to vet med/health sciences. Neurobiology will be fun just because my teacher is so enthusiastic about it and can make anything sound fun and exciting. Today we dissected a sheep brain and did anatomical comparisons to a human brain (a real one!). Proved all the reasons why sheep aren't smart!!
Vertebrate zoology is going to be rather boring I fear... It is a graduation requirement and focuses (rather than on anatomy)on evolution of species. I do like all the dead specimens though, and I am sure I will get at least something out of it. We get to do a bunch of field trips to find critters in the field and identify them, so that should also break it up a bit.
And human anatomy and physiology is fun as always. I am taking the second half of the course and still find it just as exciting and interesting as last semester. It is easy to make it comparative and to teach myself the animal versions at the same time.
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Back to the Grind
5 weeks of break have flown by... while I spent much of it working, I also had the opportunity to visit with three of my dear friends (or have them visit with me), fly across the country to interview at Missouri, drive from MO to CO and spend some time with my parent set out there, then fly back home and drive down to VMRCVM with my other parent set for an interview yesterday. I returned today, and am back to school at 8 am tomorrow!
My interviews went... well, they went! Missouri felt a little rough; I wasn't expecting them to test my knowledge on a few things, nor ask me some of the ethical questions that they did, but I hope I muddled through it all right. They were very kind, and it was quite conversational. If I hadn't been so darned nervous it would probably have gone a bit better. However, I loved the environment of Missouri, as it reminded me deeply of the school I go to for undergrad, where professors are professors but also friends and colleagues. Everyone was friendly beyond belief, the program and facilities were impressive, and I was sold on the whole concept of how they do things. It was an honor to interview there, and they made me feel like THEY were honored I was there, which was pretty cool (certainly doesn't hurt the ego ;-) ). I should hear back from them the week of the 27th (since officially the dean is out of town until the 28th and he has to confirm everything).
Virginia-Maryland was different. There was little in the way of welcome when we got there, though we did have a nice dinner where we were able to chat with a current vet student and a professor. The professor didn't even know the first year at the table, despite the fact that he had just had him for class the past semester. I can't say much about the interview process except for that it was behavioral and both everything and nothing like I expected. I felt good about it when I left, since I was able to relax a little while into it and revel in the silliness of the whole thing, the novelty of the experience and the fun of the way it was presented. I have no idea how they can determine anything about me from any of the things that I had to do, nor what they would determine about me from them, but I hope that it was all good! The tour was enlightening, and they have done some renovations since I was there in March, which made things look a little nicer. Getting to talk to some current third and fourth years in food medicine and equine helped ease my mind about the tracking program and opportunities available, and made me feel like I could be successful and enjoy my time there were I admitted. I should know from them by February 14th.
I still haven't heard a peep from Wisconsin, but they are (I think) going to notify in mid-February.
So by this time next month I should know whether or not I am going to vet school, where I am going if so, and what my loan will look like! The experiences I had going to the schools were invaluable though, and I really was grateful for the interviews that I got and the opportunity to shine. Just looking at the numbers, it was amazing to make it into the top 200 of 900 (for MO) or top 300 in 900 (for VMR).
Still, I was a little intrigued by the collection of students; certainly they are going for diversity. Some of the students had little vet experience, some had changed careers abruptly and decided that they wanted to switch to vet med, some had thousands upon thousands of hours of vet experience, were certified vet techs or had spent years in a hospital. Others had done pivotal research with prestigious labs, or seemed to have done everything short of curing cancer. And yet I still met a few students who just "thought" that vet med might be a good career for them, since they "liked animals" and such. It was interesting to meet so many others with a similar goal, and to hear the differing paths they had taken to get to this point in the process. It certainly proved there is no one "right" way to get into vet school (or at least get an interview). I am sure that this diversity boils down in the end to a class of vet students with differences across the board that strengthen each other and the profession. It was nice to see.
My interviews went... well, they went! Missouri felt a little rough; I wasn't expecting them to test my knowledge on a few things, nor ask me some of the ethical questions that they did, but I hope I muddled through it all right. They were very kind, and it was quite conversational. If I hadn't been so darned nervous it would probably have gone a bit better. However, I loved the environment of Missouri, as it reminded me deeply of the school I go to for undergrad, where professors are professors but also friends and colleagues. Everyone was friendly beyond belief, the program and facilities were impressive, and I was sold on the whole concept of how they do things. It was an honor to interview there, and they made me feel like THEY were honored I was there, which was pretty cool (certainly doesn't hurt the ego ;-) ). I should hear back from them the week of the 27th (since officially the dean is out of town until the 28th and he has to confirm everything).
Virginia-Maryland was different. There was little in the way of welcome when we got there, though we did have a nice dinner where we were able to chat with a current vet student and a professor. The professor didn't even know the first year at the table, despite the fact that he had just had him for class the past semester. I can't say much about the interview process except for that it was behavioral and both everything and nothing like I expected. I felt good about it when I left, since I was able to relax a little while into it and revel in the silliness of the whole thing, the novelty of the experience and the fun of the way it was presented. I have no idea how they can determine anything about me from any of the things that I had to do, nor what they would determine about me from them, but I hope that it was all good! The tour was enlightening, and they have done some renovations since I was there in March, which made things look a little nicer. Getting to talk to some current third and fourth years in food medicine and equine helped ease my mind about the tracking program and opportunities available, and made me feel like I could be successful and enjoy my time there were I admitted. I should know from them by February 14th.
I still haven't heard a peep from Wisconsin, but they are (I think) going to notify in mid-February.
So by this time next month I should know whether or not I am going to vet school, where I am going if so, and what my loan will look like! The experiences I had going to the schools were invaluable though, and I really was grateful for the interviews that I got and the opportunity to shine. Just looking at the numbers, it was amazing to make it into the top 200 of 900 (for MO) or top 300 in 900 (for VMR).
Still, I was a little intrigued by the collection of students; certainly they are going for diversity. Some of the students had little vet experience, some had changed careers abruptly and decided that they wanted to switch to vet med, some had thousands upon thousands of hours of vet experience, were certified vet techs or had spent years in a hospital. Others had done pivotal research with prestigious labs, or seemed to have done everything short of curing cancer. And yet I still met a few students who just "thought" that vet med might be a good career for them, since they "liked animals" and such. It was interesting to meet so many others with a similar goal, and to hear the differing paths they had taken to get to this point in the process. It certainly proved there is no one "right" way to get into vet school (or at least get an interview). I am sure that this diversity boils down in the end to a class of vet students with differences across the board that strengthen each other and the profession. It was nice to see.
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Life Update
Things have been CRAZY over here, and I didn't even realize how long it had been since I had posted. I guess, rather than write an extensively long post, it may be easier for me to make a list! So here goes:
1.) Finished the semester with two B+'s, an A and an A- (kicked butt in biochem!!), which, while not a great GPA booster, is a semester I am proud of.
2.) I got an interview at VMRCVM!!
3.) I have been fostering an orphan lamb from the farm (named Sir Lambchop) and have had a quick intro to bottle feeding and lamb care! Having a hard time with the little fellow; he isn't the brightest bulb in the box (thus why momma kicked him off) and I have been struggling to get him on solid food and to drink out of anything but the bottle.
4.) Amidst some new baby animals at the farm, we have two calves! The very first calf did not do so well (born Xmas Eve) and died on Friday (we think from hypothermia) after a very cold night and an aggressive cow who wouldn't bring her in or let us bring her in. My boss gave me the opportunity to necropsy/dissect her (yes, I know, a little weird) in order to become more familiar with cow anatomy, as well as to see differences from normal relating to cause of death. It was sad, since she was a beautiful little heifer. But overall, it was really neat to be able to do, and I was glad of the opportunity.
5.) I'm heading to go visit a good friend for New Year's Eve, and then leaving for my interview at Missouri on the 10th. I will be driving to Colorado with my dad and stepmother, and then will return home on the 15th, only to head to VMRCVM on the 17th for my interview that is on the 18th! Then I start school again on the 20th. It will be a crazy few weeks! In between I will be working at the farm ($$$) as per usual. I would have loved to shadow over break, but it has just been a little too hectic.
Wish me luck!!! I have been talking to current students, practicing questions, and getting reaaaally nervous. My mother bought me a suit for Christmas, and it is charcoal with big black lapels, black buttons and a black shirt. It is really classy looking! I have to learn how to walk in my pumps though... :P
I will try to upload some pictures of Lampchop and some other things to colorize my blog (cause who just wants to read large blocks of text??)
Melissa
1.) Finished the semester with two B+'s, an A and an A- (kicked butt in biochem!!), which, while not a great GPA booster, is a semester I am proud of.
2.) I got an interview at VMRCVM!!
3.) I have been fostering an orphan lamb from the farm (named Sir Lambchop) and have had a quick intro to bottle feeding and lamb care! Having a hard time with the little fellow; he isn't the brightest bulb in the box (thus why momma kicked him off) and I have been struggling to get him on solid food and to drink out of anything but the bottle.
4.) Amidst some new baby animals at the farm, we have two calves! The very first calf did not do so well (born Xmas Eve) and died on Friday (we think from hypothermia) after a very cold night and an aggressive cow who wouldn't bring her in or let us bring her in. My boss gave me the opportunity to necropsy/dissect her (yes, I know, a little weird) in order to become more familiar with cow anatomy, as well as to see differences from normal relating to cause of death. It was sad, since she was a beautiful little heifer. But overall, it was really neat to be able to do, and I was glad of the opportunity.
5.) I'm heading to go visit a good friend for New Year's Eve, and then leaving for my interview at Missouri on the 10th. I will be driving to Colorado with my dad and stepmother, and then will return home on the 15th, only to head to VMRCVM on the 17th for my interview that is on the 18th! Then I start school again on the 20th. It will be a crazy few weeks! In between I will be working at the farm ($$$) as per usual. I would have loved to shadow over break, but it has just been a little too hectic.
Wish me luck!!! I have been talking to current students, practicing questions, and getting reaaaally nervous. My mother bought me a suit for Christmas, and it is charcoal with big black lapels, black buttons and a black shirt. It is really classy looking! I have to learn how to walk in my pumps though... :P
I will try to upload some pictures of Lampchop and some other things to colorize my blog (cause who just wants to read large blocks of text??)
Melissa
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Winding Up and Winding Down
Well the semester is almost over; only three papers and three exams stand between me and Winter break. I have been finishing my cartilage and bone staining of the chick embryos, and have collected most of my data. I have been having some issues with the embryos taking much longer than predicted to dehydrate and rehydrate so I have been a little bit crazy with my schedule. I even slept over at the Science Center last night, and will be going in every day even though I am technically on break. Yay, Science!! But it has been a really neat process to learn how to do this, as well as to learn how to work with embryos. I freaking love science. It is the coolest thing to learn how and why certain solutions can turn cartilage and bone a certain color, can turn muscles and organs translucent, can make skin brittle.
I need to buckle down and do really well this final cycle; I am on the border of an A in all three of my science classes. This will probably end up being my worst semester grade-wise of college, but definitely the one in which I have learned the most, and I think that is the more important thing.
I submitted my supplement for Wisconsin today, which means that I really have nothing to do except wait. I won't find out about VMRCVM until the end of December, and may not even hear from Wisconsin until March! It will be what it will be...
~Melissa
I need to buckle down and do really well this final cycle; I am on the border of an A in all three of my science classes. This will probably end up being my worst semester grade-wise of college, but definitely the one in which I have learned the most, and I think that is the more important thing.
I submitted my supplement for Wisconsin today, which means that I really have nothing to do except wait. I won't find out about VMRCVM until the end of December, and may not even hear from Wisconsin until March! It will be what it will be...
~Melissa
Friday, November 15, 2013
Today was a bit rough. A&P exam in the morning, Biochem exam in the afternoon. I have been studying for both since last Friday but I don't feel great about either exam. I guess we will see what Monday and the grades bring... On the upside, we have a wet lab with Doc tomorrow, where the pre-vetters will be learning more about equine dentistry and veterinary work. I'm sure it will be fun! And I have work, which always cheers my soul even as it exhausts my body. Being around animals all day is a balm for my stressed out self; it reminds me why I do what I do, and even allows me the rare opportunity to apply the things I am learning in the classroom to the the things in the field and the barn.
~Melissa
~Melissa
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Crazy Week
This week has been an interesting one, only promising to get more stressful as it goes. Monday started the kick off of our research study after finally getting IUCUC approval. We recorded three dogs, and have more set up in the coming weeks. Monday also started the individual capstone research project that I am conducting, which involves shooting lufenuron (an active ingredient in flea and tick meds as well as a hugely industrial pesticide) into eggs to see the effect on embryo growth. That has been a shit show, as one could say. I was in the lab until eleven last night getting it all set up and all of my eggs injected... The biggest problem was that my drug refused to be soluble in anything! Finally got it in a 3:1 ethanol:water mix, but we will see if any of my eggs live after that...
Got home with half an hour to spare before course re-registration opened. I switched some classes around, and ended up in Vertebrate Zoology, Neuroscience, Microbiology and Anatomy and Physiology 2. Can you say hellooooo stress? Three of those have labs, while vert zoo is a combine 3 hr lecture/lab. This will be my first time taking 4 science courses in a semester (I really like to hold on to just one non-science), but I'm not too too worried.
Tonight marks the continuance of more intense studying for my two exams on Friday; Anatomy and Physiology and Biochemistry. I really need to do well on both; my grade could go either way (A-/B+) in both classes, and having a good exam score would put it on the higher end!
Anyway, out the door!
~Melissa
Got home with half an hour to spare before course re-registration opened. I switched some classes around, and ended up in Vertebrate Zoology, Neuroscience, Microbiology and Anatomy and Physiology 2. Can you say hellooooo stress? Three of those have labs, while vert zoo is a combine 3 hr lecture/lab. This will be my first time taking 4 science courses in a semester (I really like to hold on to just one non-science), but I'm not too too worried.
Tonight marks the continuance of more intense studying for my two exams on Friday; Anatomy and Physiology and Biochemistry. I really need to do well on both; my grade could go either way (A-/B+) in both classes, and having a good exam score would put it on the higher end!
Anyway, out the door!
~Melissa
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Where am I? Sitting between the two back legs, holding one at the correct angle for the vet.
No, I'm not a serial killer.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Triplets!
I got to the farm this morning just in time to watch a ewe, Pineapple, give birth to the first lamb of the season... and then two more! Who doesn't love cute baby lambs? :)
Friday, November 1, 2013
Regrets
This is one of those nights that, seeing everyone else out having fun for Halloween, I wish my life wasn't so busy and I didn't care so much about grades. Some things you can't get back, like time spent with those you love. Maybe I'm just feeling sentimental because I'm a senior, and I know that this coming Spring will see me separated from the friends whom I have made in college and who have made their way deep into my heart. But sometimes it's really hard to sit at home and work on my papers while everyone I know is at a gathering on campus, talking and laughing and enjoying themselves.
On the upside, I dressed up as a phospholipid for Halloween. I put on a hood that was polar-bear-esque in order to make the pun of having a "polar head" and covered myself in the chemical equation for a phosphatidylcholine phospholipid. Perhaps not super imaginative, but it did win me an extension on biochem assignments.
~Melissa
On the upside, I dressed up as a phospholipid for Halloween. I put on a hood that was polar-bear-esque in order to make the pun of having a "polar head" and covered myself in the chemical equation for a phosphatidylcholine phospholipid. Perhaps not super imaginative, but it did win me an extension on biochem assignments.
~Melissa
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Good Morning!
It's a beautiful day here. The sun is slanting across my backyard, highlighting the tufts of white in the squirrels' tails as they leap from tree to tree. With the window cracked I can even hear the sound of one munching on a nut, something I liken to nails on a chalkboard. My chickies are running around, fluffing their feathers and stretching their wings. I think they might weigh a pound each now. And there goes Big Red, my beautiful Americauna rooster who crows his head off from 4 AM to noon. Jasmine is sitting next to my keyboard as I type, plaintively looking at me (she either wants more breakfast or pets, probably the latter).
It's nice to finally have a break to appreciate these things. This past week has been like heaven. I had an exam on Monday which concluded my six weeks of exams, and then it was like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. My workload has been light, and my birthday was on Friday. I received an invitation to watch a complicated gelding surgery, so I of course took that. It wasn't too involved; one testicle was where it should have been (just not dropped), while the other was up in the flank. I ended up holding the back leg out, while Doc performed the procedure in a way to provide a really good view for his audience. Two of the pre-vet students joined me (and many more wanted to), and got their first taste of vet med. Both are thinking of doing equine vet med, and so it was a good experience for them. They also got to meet the woman who runs the rescue that the colt is on (someone who I am quite fond of), and Doc and Ms. S. One of the girls set up an interview with Doc to start riding along on Saturdays, which I think she will very much enjoy. Doc and Ms. S. invited the club out to his barn again this year for a hands-on equine dentistry wet lab (which we will definitely take advantage of!).
Later, Jared took me out to the Cheesecake Factory and the large mall in Towson, and his parents joined us. I thoroughly enjoy their company and will be missing the family fall birthday celebration tonight with them, so being able to spend some time with them made me feel a little better about that. It was a really nice night. We hardly get a chance to go anywhere, and I had never been to the C.F. out here, and only been to Towson mall twice. I ended up buying a really pretty dress at Macy's which I found out that the register was marked down even further than I thought, ending up only being $10! Jared bought me a really nice watch of a fancy brand I had never heard of, which I protested strongly (walmart watches are more my style) but am rather fond of. Not sure how often I will wear it though; I am rather afraid of hurting it.
Last night was my brother and I's combined B-day celebration with the family. It was a rowdy and loud time as usual, with a lot of bickering going on across the table! My mother prepared a wonderful meal (of course!) and everyone pigged out. She even made two cakes so Dale and I could each have our favorites. Dale got a shopping trip to get him some new professional clothes, and my mother bought me a 60 minute massage (woohoo!) and an engraved Littman Stethoscope. It is gorgeous and the sounds it produces are incredibly clear (much better than my cheap Amazon one). I seriously hope I get in to vet school or else I will have a very awesome stethoscope and no place to use it! (Jared suggested I could always hang it on the wall as motivation LOL). My mom's small animal vet went to VMRCVM and is apparently head of the program that helps first year vet students get settled... including what they need to bring. So she gave mom advice on which one to buy and to get it engraved (to prevent stealing). I keep meeting vets that graduated from there and they are all so enthusiastic and offer to "put in a good word" or are just outpouring about the program's strengths. I would be happy anywhere, but I would love to stay a bit closer to home, and I do love the school. Here's to hope!
Today (to conclude this long post) I am headed with the club to a small exotic rescue a couple towns over (only 20 mins from campus), and then later to a haunted scream park with my friends! Should be a fun AND beautiful day :)
~Melissa
It's nice to finally have a break to appreciate these things. This past week has been like heaven. I had an exam on Monday which concluded my six weeks of exams, and then it was like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. My workload has been light, and my birthday was on Friday. I received an invitation to watch a complicated gelding surgery, so I of course took that. It wasn't too involved; one testicle was where it should have been (just not dropped), while the other was up in the flank. I ended up holding the back leg out, while Doc performed the procedure in a way to provide a really good view for his audience. Two of the pre-vet students joined me (and many more wanted to), and got their first taste of vet med. Both are thinking of doing equine vet med, and so it was a good experience for them. They also got to meet the woman who runs the rescue that the colt is on (someone who I am quite fond of), and Doc and Ms. S. One of the girls set up an interview with Doc to start riding along on Saturdays, which I think she will very much enjoy. Doc and Ms. S. invited the club out to his barn again this year for a hands-on equine dentistry wet lab (which we will definitely take advantage of!).
Later, Jared took me out to the Cheesecake Factory and the large mall in Towson, and his parents joined us. I thoroughly enjoy their company and will be missing the family fall birthday celebration tonight with them, so being able to spend some time with them made me feel a little better about that. It was a really nice night. We hardly get a chance to go anywhere, and I had never been to the C.F. out here, and only been to Towson mall twice. I ended up buying a really pretty dress at Macy's which I found out that the register was marked down even further than I thought, ending up only being $10! Jared bought me a really nice watch of a fancy brand I had never heard of, which I protested strongly (walmart watches are more my style) but am rather fond of. Not sure how often I will wear it though; I am rather afraid of hurting it.
Last night was my brother and I's combined B-day celebration with the family. It was a rowdy and loud time as usual, with a lot of bickering going on across the table! My mother prepared a wonderful meal (of course!) and everyone pigged out. She even made two cakes so Dale and I could each have our favorites. Dale got a shopping trip to get him some new professional clothes, and my mother bought me a 60 minute massage (woohoo!) and an engraved Littman Stethoscope. It is gorgeous and the sounds it produces are incredibly clear (much better than my cheap Amazon one). I seriously hope I get in to vet school or else I will have a very awesome stethoscope and no place to use it! (Jared suggested I could always hang it on the wall as motivation LOL). My mom's small animal vet went to VMRCVM and is apparently head of the program that helps first year vet students get settled... including what they need to bring. So she gave mom advice on which one to buy and to get it engraved (to prevent stealing). I keep meeting vets that graduated from there and they are all so enthusiastic and offer to "put in a good word" or are just outpouring about the program's strengths. I would be happy anywhere, but I would love to stay a bit closer to home, and I do love the school. Here's to hope!
Today (to conclude this long post) I am headed with the club to a small exotic rescue a couple towns over (only 20 mins from campus), and then later to a haunted scream park with my friends! Should be a fun AND beautiful day :)
~Melissa
Friday, October 4, 2013
The Best Thing
This semester has been great in that all of my science classes have been overlapping in really nice ways. Our second unit in Comparative Animal was on muscles, at the same time I was learning about muscle tissues in Human A &P, and just the other day we learned about the detailed bio-chemical aspects of muscles in Biochem. Even in strange things such as learning about crocodile's blood shunting abilities in CAP and then learning about BPG binding (or lack thereof) and hemoglobin affinity for bicarb in crocodile's in Biochem the very next class (both of which are important factors in croc's ability to drown their prey). It's nice because I get completely different things and details in each course, and then some overlap which certainly helps with the studying.
And then there is my Native American Studies class. I love learning about the indigenous cultures here in America. More than that, I am intrinsically drawn towards learning about the social justice issues, racism and oppression going on in the Native communities. It inspired me to sign up to lead a week-long immersion trip to the Great Smoky Mountains in the Spring where we will be doing service projects and engaging in conversation with the Snowbird Cherokee. This is a new trip this year (also called alternative break trips), and I am trying to act as a bridge between the Native professor on campus and the Center for Public Service. In the past, the trips have been viewed as a bit of exploitation and "let's go see the Indians." I'm trying to re-vamp that and make it into a respectful and mutual atmosphere where students are made truly aware of the issues facing the native people in the Americas. I'm really excited about it (in case you can't tell), but it has also been taking up a lot of time.
A lot of exams and papers and readings lately (have 5 weeks straight of exams, then a week off and start over)... my grades have not been as good as they should be, but I only have so many hours in a day to study for exams on top of everything else. I've even been neglecting writing on here because it takes time! Speaking of which... I need to go work on my bio paper and my NAS paper and my readings and that video I'm supposed to watch and studying for my exam on Tuesday and working on my biochem HW problems and oh yeah the three or four chapters in textbooks I'm supposed to have read by Monday...
At least its good practice for vet school. Which I may one day get into, and then put myself in debt for the rest of my life.
Happy Tails and Trails,
~Melissa
And then there is my Native American Studies class. I love learning about the indigenous cultures here in America. More than that, I am intrinsically drawn towards learning about the social justice issues, racism and oppression going on in the Native communities. It inspired me to sign up to lead a week-long immersion trip to the Great Smoky Mountains in the Spring where we will be doing service projects and engaging in conversation with the Snowbird Cherokee. This is a new trip this year (also called alternative break trips), and I am trying to act as a bridge between the Native professor on campus and the Center for Public Service. In the past, the trips have been viewed as a bit of exploitation and "let's go see the Indians." I'm trying to re-vamp that and make it into a respectful and mutual atmosphere where students are made truly aware of the issues facing the native people in the Americas. I'm really excited about it (in case you can't tell), but it has also been taking up a lot of time.
A lot of exams and papers and readings lately (have 5 weeks straight of exams, then a week off and start over)... my grades have not been as good as they should be, but I only have so many hours in a day to study for exams on top of everything else. I've even been neglecting writing on here because it takes time! Speaking of which... I need to go work on my bio paper and my NAS paper and my readings and that video I'm supposed to watch and studying for my exam on Tuesday and working on my biochem HW problems and oh yeah the three or four chapters in textbooks I'm supposed to have read by Monday...
At least its good practice for vet school. Which I may one day get into, and then put myself in debt for the rest of my life.
Happy Tails and Trails,
~Melissa
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