Updates

So I know I have been a terrible blogger. I had an entire month off and didn't prepare enough posts to last, and I completely neglected you all over Christmas break. I am very sorry. But a lot has happened, so I will update you:

First of all, I moved! I finally got out of the creepy apartment with the stalker living above me. I moved to a complex right across the street from the school, and one of my best friends is in the same building! I absolutely love it here, and I am glad that I made the choice to spend the money to break my lease and move to a place where I can finally feel safe. I'm on the second floor, and I have a mountain view, and a "lake" view. (You can't convince a native Minnesotan than a man-made pond with a fountain counts as a lake).

View from the patio

Love watching the ducks here

Also, I did my first surgery! I volunteered with the mobile clinic that the school has been running, and I was able to perform a kitten neuter. It was the scariest and most exciting experience. Most of the cats we worked with that day were feral, so I got to utilize my cat wrangling skills. I sedated, examined, shaved, and vaccinated 18 cats and kittens. I also drew blood for FIV testing, a skill that I need some more practice with in the future (sorry kitten veins!). 

Selfie from the mobile clinic

Thanksgiving was really awesome. My childhood friend Josh was here on a business trip, and he extended his trip to spend Thanksgiving with me and the dogs. We ended up going to a classmate's place for Friendsgiving, and everything was delicious. I brought a Minnesota classic: Tater Tot Hotdish. Otherwise known as heaven in a pan. I didn't really do any Black Friday shopping, but I spent the day watching the COPS marathon and relaxing. 

I was excited to go back to my second quarter of vet school at the end of November. This is known as the notoriously hard quarter, and I have to agree. I have never studied so much in my entire life and still have a hard time with the exams. We have six classes: Immunology, Physiology, Anatomy, Practice of Veterinary Medicine, Genetics and Nutrition, and One Health. One Health is basically epidemiology, with a focus on crossing the bridge between human and animal medicine and public health. It is interesting, but sometimes a bit heavy for an 8am class. I think I could be a much better student if classes started around 10am... 

Christmas break came and went. Christmas is never a really happy time for me. I always feel so sad for all of the people and animals who are alone, and this year I almost had to spend it alone. Luckily, my dad was able to come down and we had an awesome time relaxing and watching television. I made a pretty good spread for Christmas dinner, and we stayed in matching pjs all day. I was also kitten sitting for my friend, and the kitten and my dad became best friends right away. 

So in love

Best buds

He's such a teddy bear

I clearly was not the favored babysitter

We had a lovely visit, and one day took a trip up to Sedona. It was a lovely drive, despite the terror of driving on curvy roads with a 75 mph speed limit. We walked around the tourist area and had lunch at a tavern that was fantastic. We are planning on checking out the Grand Canyon when he comes in February. 

Naturally, I was excited to see snow! (True Minnesota girl here)

Although we had a great visit, it was still a weird Christmas. This was the first Christmas that my family wasn't together. Had I been in Minnesota, it still would have been weird since this was the first Christmas after the divorce. Also, my mother recently was diagnosed with breast cancer, so it was incredibly hard for me to not be there for the holidays. Even worse, I couldn't be home for her surgery, and I was so stressed about everything that I ended up failing a genetics exam, which is ridiculous considering I have taken two genetics courses. I'll be really cramming in the study time for the next exam so I can pass the course. 

Even with all of the emotions surrounding the holidays, it was nice to have a bit of a break. However, getting back into the swing of classes was inevitable and I'm currently in the midst of what we are calling HELL WEEK. Three exams, two simulations, an interview, and four writing assignments all due within a seven day period. But such is life of a vet student...and I wouldn't trade it for the world!