New Layout Excitement

I updated my blog layout. And yes, I did in fact make my new blog header photo thing. It's to scale. And pretty. :)

Lola was excited about the new layout:

Christmas Vacate

Lola and I are on vacation. YUSSSS!

I finished up my finals last week...two days before Christmas. Oh and I rocked them. Yep. I got two A's and a B which I'm super happy with. Last quarter was tough. I thought about cracking a few times, but my good little mama kept me sane and chugging along.

Christmas was amazing. I got hooked up with a new camera, an ice-cream-ball-maker-thing (WHAT?!), de-stressing lotions & potions, new shoesies, grocery & gas gift cards, pink pajamas... I got other stuff too. Lots of other stuff. Yes, I am a lucky, lucky girl. Lola got a $25 gift card to Petsmart. She's really excited. So excited, she might go in and poop on Petsmart's floor...again. :)

Next up is New Years and then school. Only one week off, but one week that I'm taking full advantage of. I've been going to the gym with my dad during the day, and back again at night with my mom. Between those times, I hang out, walk around, watch movies, and cuddle up on Lola. Yes, vacation life is gooood.

I may or may not update my blog during the rest of my time off. Of course, that would warrant me doing something this week worthy of an update. Like something other than me thinking about cleaning my place...

P.S. With my new camera around, I plan on actually putting up pictures in my posts now. Cool, right?! Too bad my camera and I are fighting right now. It's being bitchy about memory cards and crap. What-ever.

xoxoxAC

"I'm a neurosurgeon - I operate on brains."

So last night I went to the bar with a few friends from school. We decided to have a beer to celebrate all of us passing the math competency test in Pharmacology. We went right after class, so we were all in our scrubs. This conversation ensued:

Random man:
"Hey! Like I noticed that you're all wearing like uniforms so I had to come over. So what are they for?"

Me:
"Uhh...they're scrubs - hospital uniforms actually. I'm a neurosurgeon - I operate on brains. And these guys are my scrub nurses. We just finished a 16-hour surgery so we decided to come have a beer."

Random man:
"Really? That's awesome. Like...I bet you make a lot of money and sh*t, huh!"

Me:
"Yep. But I don't let it affect me, hence why I'm hanging out in this little dive bar, drinking cheap beer."

Random man:
"Wow. Seriously. I totally respect that. Like...that's so cool and sh*t."

Me:
"I know, my friend. I know."

And then he left. Yep. Pretty much gonna wear my scrubs everywhere now. LOL! ;)

Christmas Goodies

Lola and I took a walk yesterday. I got home and even though it was cold and already getting dark, I just felt like walking. Lola did too. :) We walked down to the river bottoms, then back up and around the block. And then I checked my mail. This is a grand statement, as I don't check my mailbox often...thank-you-very-much online billing! My mailbox was stuffed full with the usual obligatory junk, but below that was a lovely array of green, red and white envelopes, stuffed full of cute Christmas goodies! I have good intentions of sending Christmas cards every year, and I even thought about taking a picture of Lola & me, and then going to Walgreen's, but once again...I didn't make it happen. One day when I have loads of time, I will send cute Christmas cards...along with finishing that book, making that quilt, and taking that yoga class. LOL! Anyway, I just wanted to send a quick thank you to everyone that sent me Christmas cards. I love you all so much and I spent a good deal of time last night pouring over your cards, letters and pictures. You all make me laugh, smile and just feel insanely thankful to have such wonderful people in my life! Thank you!! :D

Sunday Morning

It's Sunday morning. I'm sitting here in my pj's, typing my Hematology notes in preparation for finals in about a week. I've got a warm cup of coffee and a sleeping puppy in my lap. Oh and I'm watching it snow outside. Just wanted to throw a quick shout-out to the Maker: thanks for these little moments.

The half-way "Top Ten"

I wrote a blog post this morning about my experience last night at the shelter. It was long, heart-breaking and damn good. I may or may not post it later. At the very least, I feel better after writing it. So for now, in lieu of that blog post, I've decided to post a "Top 10". I am about half-way through my classes right now. In about one year, I will most likely be making some major life changes as a result of the decision I made to become a Veterinary Technologist over a year ago. In honor of my half-way point, here is my list of things of the top ten I've learned over the past year:

10.
Sometimes the assigned "pooper-picker-upper" isn't able to get everything cleaned up during clinic shifts. Tennis shoes with intricate soles may keep your feet from getting sore and look cool, but they're a bitch when you have to clean poop out of them.

9.
Advising your personal doctor that "he could really clear up your hand x-rays if he'd just adjust the KVp of the x-ray machine" is probably not the best idea.

8.
Eric is insanely enthusiastic and passionate about his craft. Even though PCV’s and fecal floats may not seem all that fascinating, a lecture from him will leave you wanting to cheer for the damn things.

7.
Trying to get blood from a cat's jugular will make you curse cats. Cats are dumb. Dumb, dumb, DUMB!

6.
Hitting the jugular on a cat may make you spout tears of joy. Cats are so cool! I LOVE LOVE LOVE CATS!

5.
Jill loves birds. Her passion for them may make you wonder how you can incorporate avian medicine into your career...even though you plan to work with horses.

4.
Pit Bulls get an unfair, bad rap. These plucky, gentle giants will lay still while you poke and prod them while learning about venipuncture, only to retaliate with bouncing loads of affection.

3.
Believe it or not, your head will not actually explode from "information overload" during Tina's Pharmacology class. Holding your forehead to keep your brain from falling out will mostly likely only get you odd looks from your classmates.

2.
It is important to keep your mouth closed when giving an intra-nasal Bordatella vaccination to a snotty, coughing dog. Also, wear goggles if given the option. Better yet...is there a hazmat suit available?

1.
A field trip to the shelter will never get any easier. Feeling a starving kitten's spine press into your gloved hand while you're syringe-feeding it de-wormer will break your heart. Congratulations, you have a heart. Consider your decision to become a Veterinary Technologist money and time well spent.

Proposition

I work in an old, historic building.
There are a lot of big windows with

exposed brick walls and open ceilings.

It's "edgy" and "urban". It's also FUH-REEEEZING!

In an effort to be a team player, I proposed the following today:
BLANKET FORTS! YES!

I decided that our space heaters are pointless,
as heat rises and is lost. In an effort to trap said heat,
I'm pretty sure blanket forts are in order.

Some at work called me a crazy trouble-maker,
but I prefer the term "visionary".

Lola's Life is Hard

Just ask her! ...when she wakes up.