Fall Term 2012, Week 1: Fast and Furious

After a week of frustration, we finally got internet installed at our house off campus. That is why I haven't been able to give you any updates. Well, that and the fact that my homework load has been through the roof this first week of classes. I was pretty overwhelmed until about Thursday, when I started to get things under control and started to get back into my groove.

So far, I like all of my classes and my professors, especially my Immunology professor. She is very funny and intelligent, so she's a really great person from which to learn an admittedly detail-heavy subject. Biochemistry is going to be a challenge, but it's nothing compared with Organic, so I'm not too worried at this point. My other classes are generally going to be very manageable--Physics, Personal Finance, and Cadaver lab. I and my partner are doing the thoracic region on our cadaver, and I basically spent all of the lab time on Thursday cleaning fat off the pectoralis major muscle. Yes, my life is utterly glamorous, and it's okay for you to feel a little jealous. It happens. That was obviously sarcastic, but you get the idea.

Now that I am back in my element, it is so good to be back at school, seeing all of my friends and doing something productive with my time everyday. Not that summer was a waste. It's just that I was only actively doing something about three or four (or maybe five) days a week at most, and that tends to wear on me and drive me crazy after an extended period of time. Anyway, I'm sure you're dying to see some pictures of the house, so I will gladly oblige and show them to you.

My comfy reading chair.

My work desk.

My dresser and flat-screen TV with built-in DVD player (yay for movie nights!)

My lovely bed.

Our living room.

Our kitchen/laundry room.

Our dining room, which is basically the same room as the kitchen (just 180 degrees turned around from the last picture).

The view from the window in front of my desk.

Let me back up a bit and give you kind of a story of this past week. On Saturday the 18th, I woke up around 5 AM to leave by 7 AM with Mom and Dad to come down and move in. It was quite the production, and long story short, we arrived close to 2 PM. It took a long time to set up, and I would have to say it was one of the most difficult days of my life because I was so tired and I felt bad about dragging my parents through it, too. For dinner that night, we went to Arthur's Deli with my roommate Danielle and her family. Then, we went to Hy-Vee to buy me some starter groceries--thanks, Mom and Dad! My parents stayed overnight at a bed and breakfast called Top O' the Morning, to which they want to return when we come back in May for my graduation ceremony. On Sunday morning, we went to Target for some last-minute things, then I said goodbye to my parents and finished setting up my room.

Later that evening, I went over to Devon and Sarah's apartment after a Circle K meeting and talked with them for a little bit before dinner. Devon gave me an awesome coaster as a very late birthday present, and I already love it! I like to drink tea a lot during the colder months, especially in the evenings when I am working on the computer, so it will be just perfect. To be honest, talking with them really made me miss living with them in Heimdall. I like my roommates, but I guess I didn't really appreciate how nice it was to be roommates with Devon and Sarah until they were taken from me. I'm just glad we can still hang out and stuff. Like I've said before, I was so blessed to meet them and become friends with them, and I know that all of this happened for a reason. That's what really helps keep it all in perspective.

Devon drew on the back of the coaster: Hunger Games, Big Bang Theory, and Heimdall! Dedicated to all of our great memories from last year. :)

The front of the coaster.

Monday was busy with my new classes plus having to go to the Office of Advancement to sign a thank you card for the donor of one of my scholarships. Monday was a great day, though, because Hannah came over for dinner. We made veggie fritatta (my first attempt), and it was delicious! I really enjoyed talking with her, too. She has such a good outlook on the world and life, so I always get a lot out of our conversations.

Love that face!

 Tuesday was the first official Circle K meeting of the year, and we had 91 attendees! Most of them will probably not continue on with the group, but such a large number is promising. I am excited to fulfill my duties as Fundraising Co-Chair, and I'm also excited that this year, we get cool membership baskets just for paying the $20 dues like we normally would.

I was happy to learn that Aerobics classes are being offered again this term on days that really work for me--Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4:30. I went to the first class on Thursday, and it was so much fun! I can't wait to go again on Tuesday.

On Friday, I went over to visit Sarah and Devon again, this time to watch The Hunger Games on DVD because Sarah had just bought it at Target. We also played the Big Bang Theory trivia game, which Sarah dominated at because she's a freak like that. Just kidding. Anyway, yesterday was pretty great, too, because the three of us plus Hannah went to a dueling pianos show. It was really a lot of fun, and everyone really got into it, singing along with all of the songs and dancing. The best part was when one of the pianists played "The Circle of Life" complete with the African-yelling intro. You know that I'm talking about!

So, that pretty much brings us up to speed with today. I just wanted to quickly fill you in on everything that has been going on. I'll have more time next week for more details about my classes and things, but for now I have to go make myself some dinner and then do some computer-based homework (I feel that it's necessary since I don't have an excuse anymore).

Have a great week, and I'll catch you on the flip side!

Summer 2012--St. Francis Veterinary Clinic Visit #11: The Long Goodbye

Alas, Wednesday was my last day of the summer to shadow at St. Francis. I made gluten-free peanut butter cookies for everyone and wrote a thank you note as a way of expressing my gratitude for everything everyone did for me during my third summer at the clinic. Everyone seemed to enjoy the treat, and a couple of people even said that they owed me lunch or a treat for what I had done for them over the past 12 weeks. However, I do not feel that they owe me anything at all. Shadowing is its own reward, as is the experience I gain in veterinary medicine as a result.

Anyway, I definitely got my figurative money's worth on this last day, observing a total of six surgeries in addition to several appointments. To start, I watched a feline neuter with all four paws declawed--NOT GOOD. Second was a canine neuter, very routine and not particularly exciting. Next came a canine dental, one of the shortest I have ever watched. The fourth surgery was another feline neuter with a wound repair thrown in for good measure. That one was cool because I got to write down some things for the vet--namely, where each wound was located and what we did to it (stitched, bandaged, etc). I also got to hold one of the paws for awhile while Dr. K stitched the skin together. We took a lunch break after that fourth surgery before what we thought was the last one, a canine cystotomy. Dr. K was thinking of taking the dog home with her and trying her out because she might want to adopt her. It's been awhile since Dr. K had a dog, and she thinks it's time for a new one. I got to take pictures during the surgery, which involved removing one large (nickle-sized) stone from the bladder. I actually thought it was pretty big, at least one of the biggest that I have seen. But everyone else was really unimpressed. They said that the stone looked much bigger on the radiograph, perhaps because it was almost as big as the bladder itself!

After that surgery, I followed Dr. J to a couple of appointments and made up some puppy packs before I found out that we would have yet another surgery! This one was kind of an emergency because the dog had an oral abscess that had worked its way around the eye and up into the cranial area. It looked really extreme until Dr. K lanced it and was able to draw a lot of the fluid out. The fluid seemed to resemble saliva, so the doctors weren't really sure what happened. After they were done with the dog, I got to sit with her while she woke up and hold a warm compress on the eye to help the abscess drain a bit more.

In addition to my normal surgical activities, like anesthesia monitoring, taking temperatures, helping with intubation and extubation, restraining, and the like, I also got to give a subcutaneous injection to one of the surgery dogs under Dr. K's supervision as well as administer an IV antibiotic just before surgery (through the catheter that one of the techs placed). Later in the day, I got to help give subcutaneous fluids to a febrile cat, while one of the techs held her. I was able to watch Dr. Jill drain a purulent (pus-filled) wound on the cat beforehand, too.

So, all in all, it was a very eventful day. I said goodbye to all of my kitty friends and the humans at the clinic and left feeling like I really made a difference that day. I know I will be back when I come home for Fall Break, but that is a long way away, and many things will happen to me before then. One parting thing that I learned today was that veterinarians worry about job security just as much as anyone else. I was expressing to Dr. J my concern for my father, who is applying for a permanent position at his company. He seems very unsettled, and I really think a full-time, permanent job would be so good for his well-being and general attitude toward life. Anyway, Dr. J said that she wished she lived closer to her place of employment and that she's often thought about seeking a position closer to home. However, she told me her fears that any slow business or troubles in the practice that might arise would probably cause her to be let go first because she would be the newest doctor and thus have the least leverage in the clinic. I think this is a good thing for me to know because a veterinary medicine degree does not mean that I will easily find a job and does not excuse me from the normal functionings of any business, including money matters, interviewing, performance reviews, and the like.

I head back to school on Saturday, and hopefully the internet will be up already. If so, I can get some pictures up and post about my first impressions of the house. From here until early November, I'll mostly be posting about academic things. Hopefully, I'll have some vet-related things to talk about, but we'll see. Senior year, here I come!

Summer 2012--Lake Vermilion Vacation (August 4th through August 11th): Northern Delights

And so, another great week at the cabin has passed. I really enjoyed my time up north, and I really needed it after this insanely hectic summer. Of course, the minute we got home, the stress levels were back to crazy, but at least I had that week of respite.

We got up early Saturday morning to head up, and after some last-minute packing up of the truck and boat, we were on our way by 9:30 AM. Of course, we had to stop at Caribou before truly hitting the road because it's one of our traditions, but after that, we were actually on our way. We didn't have Cami with us, though, because she was at We Fest. We had a pretty low-key ride up; not much happened. We stopped at Arby's in Cloquet for a quick lunch and saw my uncle, aunt, her son (my step-cousin), and my actual cousin. They went up a week before us, so they were just heading home. Before I knew it, we were arriving at End of Trail "Lodge," which is really just a collection of privately-owned cabins that are rented out during the year for various lengths of time. We were back in our usual Sunset cabin, the most rustic. The cabin has no shower or tub, just a toilet and sink. The kitchen and dining room are combined into one large space, and against one wall is a bunk-bed. I sleep on the top bunk, and David gets the bottom bunk. The cabin also has two bedrooms. One we use for storing our stuff, and my parents sleep in the other one. It is very simple, but I think it's cute and comfortable. I was feeling really tired when we got there, but I sucked it up and did my exercise routine, which woke me up and made me feel a whole lot better. Before dinner, my brother, my cousin Sam, and I went to Gruben's, the local food-and-bait shop, to buy some candy. While I did not purchase anything, David wanted some gummy bears, so I agreed to buy them for him since he didn't have enough money with him. When we first entered, we saw no one at the counter, just a large goldish-yellow lab resting peacefully on the floor. He came up to greet us, and we all assumed he must be a grown-up dog because he was so well-behaved. Before long, the shopkeeper came out from behind the shelves and saw us petting her dog. She explained that his name was Bobbles and that her late husband Bob (hence the name) had purchased Bobbles for his wife. We learned that Bobbles was only a year old. I was absolutely flabbergasted because Bobbles is such a calm, sweet dog. He has everything to make one think he would be wild: he's a lab, a boy, only a year old, and intact (not neutered). The crazy thing is how he's not wild. I'm usually a proponent of neutering, but in this case, I don't think it's super necessary. I even worry that neutering Bobbles might change his wonderful personality. Wonders will never cease.

The rest of the night was pretty uneventful, which was okay because I was starting to feel quite tired again. Luckily, I got a great night's sleep, and I woke up feeling refreshed and ready for the day ahead.

By late morning on Sunday, David, Sam, and I were already kind of bored (there's not much to do at the lake except fish, read, swim, and eat). Dad gave us money to go play mini-golf at Pier 77. It was really fun because we were there right when it opened, so we were first on a course that was mostly-empty even by the time we finished. We played really well for the first few holes; I even got a hole-in-one on a par 4! Afterwards, I was allowed to write my name in a book that lists all the holes-in-one for each hole for 2012. Anyway, the back holes didn't go as well because we had a loud, rowdy group of kids behind us who were making us uncomfortable and making us feel like we needed to speed up, even though they assured us that it was fine and that they'd just play the holes more than once (which is against the rules). I ended up with a 66, which was 14 over par, so not super great, but it was still a good time.

David is leaning in close like a creeper, and Sam is backing away.

A pretty waterfall trap at Pier 77.

 In the early afternoon on Sunday, the three of us went swimming in the lake for a little while, so I got to try out my new swim shirt and swim shorts. Then, Mom, my uncle's girlfriend Kaye, and I went to a nearby flea market operated by the woman who owns the Pier 77. I was fortunate enough to find a nice vegetable peeler for just $1.07. I hope it will come in handy during this school year.

An old game we cousins play is called Slop, where we basically throw wet sand on a rock. I don't know why. This Slop is designed to look like a heart.

 After dinner that day, I went with David, Sam, and Dad on a little fishing trip. I caught a pretty nice bass in one spot where Dad reminded me I had caught a walleye a few years back. I do not remember that time, but that's my dad for you. He can't remember where he left his glasses or the TV remote to save his life, but he recalls every fish any of us ever caught. Go figure.

Not much really happened on Monday. I think I just read the whole day and played rummy with David and Sam.

Tuesday was our day to go to Ely, something we do every year. Ely is about a 45-minute drive from the cabin, so it is very accessible. It has a large amount of culture, especially for being a northern-Minnesota town. The shops are so cute, and it is just a lot of fun. My main purpose in Ely was to buy some Christmas presents for my close friends at school, and I would say that I met half of my goal. I still need to get a couple of things, but I have some good ideas for where to look in Minneapolis for unique and thoughtful gifts. I also have over four months to shop, so it will all work out. During the shopping part of our trip, Mom gave me 50 cents so I could get a polished rock out of a candy dispenser. I was a little disappointed to pull a piece of rose quartz out (I hate any shade of pink), but it is still a nice addition to my already-vast collection.



After shopping, we went to the Rockwood restaurant, which has very good food (but it's very pricey). Mom and I split an artichoke-prosciutto pizza with a side of sweet potato fries. After lunch, we all went to the International Wolf Center because Kaye and my uncle Kirk had never been. We breezed through the displays in a rush to get to the observation area, where we were just in time to get a quick glance of one of the adult wolves and a large pup before they melted into the shadows of the trees. It was close to midday, so the wolves were mostly interested in sleeping. We debated staying until 3:30 to see a feeding, but Mom and Dad needed to go to Zup's grocery store to pick up some things for dinner, so we decided against it. While the parents were buying food, David, Sam, and I went to get ice cream. I had a delicious homemade waffle cone with a single towering "scoop" of brownie nut fudge on it.

David is using a moose hoof as a prop. He and Sam are holding "hands."

David wanted it to look like a moose was about to stomp on his head.

Then he wanted a close-up!

 Sam's boyfriend Blade and Cami arrived on Tuesday, so that added a bit of interest to the day, as well. After dinner, the three siblings went to the Y Store (now called the Ledge), which is a gas station at the turnoff that takes us to the cabin, to pick up some treats. I bought myself a Vitamin Water to keep from buying something I don't need. I have a serious sweet-tooth that gets away from me if I don't watch it closely. Thus, I tried as best I could to limit my dessert consumption during my vacation. It didn't go perfectly, but I think it could have been a lot worse. Anyway, then we returned to End of Trail and watched Hitch in my uncle's cabin (Hermitage), which was the largest and most conducive to a large group of people such as ourselves.

Another interesting thing that happened on Tuesday was that we found a toad sitting on one of our camp chairs. My mom was going to make Dad move it, but I wanted to do it. It was pretty much the cutest toad I have ever seen. The air was still cool, so the toad did not move much, so I was able to get a pretty good look at him. I set him by a birch tree before taking a picture of him.

We're toad-ally friends!

On Wednesday, we took Cami to Gruben's to get a fishing license and to meet Bobbles. We also found out that World Market, one of my favorite stores, is coming back to Minnesota in September. I know what I'm doing when I come home for Fall Break! In the evening, we went to the Vermilion Club, a restaurant that makes great pizza, including a large 24" pizza called the Bamboozler. We started going to the Vermilion Club two years ago. I don't really know what made us decide to go out instead of just cooking at home like we always do. But I'm glad that it's become a tradition because it's delicious! We didn't get a Bamboozler this year because we couldn't all agree on toppings, but we still got our fill.

The best part about the cabin is that by August, the air in northern Minnesota starts to get a delicious tinge of fall in it. Now, as I have explained before, fall is my absolute favorite season, so I am not at all sad when the weather starts to turn a little cooler.

On Thursday morning, I accidentally blew a fuse in Sunset because I was using my hair dryer, and the cabin is not equipped to take the wattage. I was scared for a minute because I thought I had caused a bigger problem than was actually occurring, so I headed next door to the Birches cabin, the cabin Grandma and Grandma (and the six cousins!) used to sleep in before a bat infestation drove them out. The cabin is currently being remodeled, so it was empty, and the bathroom was available for me to plug my dryer in and finish with my hair. It was weird walking through the cabin because it is basically a shell of its former self, which no furniture. It is still beautiful, but it is also strange. Maybe my grandparents will return to the cabin when it is finished and they are assured that the bats are gone.

On Friday morning, I went to the Wayside Cafe with parents so we could check our email and such. I got a nice paycheck from work, which is good because I needed it to pay for my last couple of textbooks. I ordered some iced tea and a fruit cup, but we want to come back next year and have a full breakfast. After reconnecting with the outside world, Mom and I went for a walk on Isle of Pines, a small residential island in Lake Vermilion. Halfway through our walk, we spotted two deer running across the path in broad daylight. It was really cool. On the way back, we met a very old Golden retriever named Rosie, who was very happy to make some new friends. In the late afternoon, I went for one last boating/fishing excursion with Mom and Dad before we had to pack up. It was a fantastic day, and Mom and Dad showed me a cool gazebo designed to look like a lighthouse. We also found an abandoned collection of cabins for sale that would fit our extended family quite well. However, the selling price was $400,000, so I don't think it's gonna happen. But it was fun to poke around the site and dream about the what-ifs. Finally, we ended our day with a bonfire. We usually have a least one while we are up north, and it's typically held on The Point, a rocky outcropping that is just perfect for the job. But this year, Cami and David found a colony of fire ants on The Point, and both of them got bitten by them, so we lit the fire in another fire pit near one of the cabins. We sat around and talked about a lot of things, savoring our last few hours up north.

On Saturday morning, we got up early again and packed everything up, which didn't take too long. We said goodbye to everyone and drove off. We stopped in Virginia for breakfast at Village Inn, then I climbed back in Cami's car and rode the rest of the way with her and David. I'm glad I did, even though I had to spend most of that time listening to Cami's music (country and rap/hip-hop, possibly my two least-favorite genres). In the typical year, I really don't see to much of them, definitely less than I see of my parents, so I feel like I need to spend as much time with them when I can. We got home even quicker than we arrived, mostly because Cami was driving too fast, but we made it safely, so I can't complain too much. Mom and I went to Hidden Treasures so I could pick up my last pay stub and so we could see if the chair would fit in the car (it won't).

Of course, during this whole time, we were watching the Olympics on TV each night, which was really great because I really like sharing important things like that with other people. I'm really glad that the US won the medal count, and now I'm really looking forward to Sochi in 2014.

Well, that's our whole vacation for you. It's back to work and shadowing this week before I head back to Augie on Saturday. I have all of my books in order, and I just need to do some last-minute shopping to be all set for the year. I do still need to pick up a dresser, TV, and twin bed frame before Saturday, but I've already made those arrangements, so I'm not stressing out about it or anything. I also picked up a nice desk from OfficeMax yesterday, so I'm glad about that. I'm equal parts nervous and excited for my last "year" of college (it's more like six months). I am still not sure how this whole off-campus living is going to go, but I'm looking forward to hanging out with the good friends I made last year (like Devon and Sarah and my London pals!) as well as friends from earlier (like Hannah B!). Not to mention all of the vet-related things that will be happening to me (hopefully receiving interview invitations and such) and all of my extracurricular activities. It will be another hectic year for sure, but I think I'm going to enjoy my classes and everything else that happens.

Summer 2012: St. Francis Veterinary Clinic Visit #10: Holy Saint Bernard, Batman!

Wednesday was quite the slow day at the clinic. I only saw two surgeries in the morning: a canine neuter with removal of deciduous (baby) teeth and a canine spay with microchip placement. I performed my usual duties of monitoring anesthesia, taking temperatures, cleaning, and helping administer nerve block to the ovary on the spay as before. All of this occurred without too much excitement. We got out of surgery early enough that there was still an hour before lunch break, so I decided to make up some more puppy and kitty packs. One of the techs thanked me profusely and complimented me on the good job I was doing. I think she just wanted to let me know how appreciated it was because everyone is usually so busy that they cannot keep up with the demand for them and have to take time out of their schedules to make them up on the spot, which keeps clients waiting during their new-puppy or new-kitty appointment. Other than that, my only real contribution was doing some pill-counting later in the day, which I usually enjoy. I counted out some antibiotic pills for a dog with an ear infection.

Even though it was a really slow day, I think it was beneficial, and it was even fun because of a couple of interesting appointments. One led me to the title of this blog post. A very large Saint Bernard came to visit the clinic for some diarrhea issues and general lethargy. He was an easy 174 pounds on the scale. I was absolutely astounded because I have honestly never met a dog so big as this one. I was even more flabbergasted to learn that the dog had dropped 20 pounds. So yes. He was supposed to weigh close to 200 pounds! Woah.

Another fun appointment was with a couple and their cat Fred. They had another cat at home whose name was...can you guess? That's right. George! Like from Harry Potter. I shared this with Sarah because she is a Harry Potter fan. I wonder if this couple (an older couple) knew what they were doing or if it was just a cool coincidence.

I also got to snuggle quite a bit with Bailey, who has taken to giving me love bites when we are playing. It is cute but also painful, and I kind of want her to stop. I feel bad whenever she picks on Odie, too, because he was my first kitty friend at St. Francis, and I don't want to push him aside (like the other cats have) just because he has to share his space with others. I feel awful that he has taken to sleeping in the laundry room, all alone, because he feels so threatened and side-lined. Yet I still wish I could take Bailey home.

I wanted to let you know that I have changed my views on declawing now. I read a leaflet about it from the American Association of Feline Practitioners (2007). Declawing does not just cause a behavioral tendency to bite more than scratch. The surgery itself is painful and risky because of a liability for permanent nerve damage and hemorrhaging. The procedure is not really necessary because cats can be trained to direct their scratching--a normal, natural activity--to things like scratching posts instead of couches and such. I now think that declaws are only okay as long as they are only the front two paws (the back two do not really cause any damage to furniture or to people, usually) and as long as the process is absolutely essential for household harmony. I can also understand why perhaps elderly or disabled people might have a hard time training cats properly not to scratch, so declaws might be more viable for them than for other groups of people. So, that's how I feel about declawing after getting more information on it.

One of my favorite parts of shadowing is learning more about diseases whose names are familiar to be but about which I know relatively little because no one has really explained them to me (or I have been too lazy or busy to look them up on my own!). I like hearing a vet's explanation of them, too, sometimes, better than any explanation I encounter on the often-incorrect Internet. Anyway, on Wednesday, I got more information about leptospirosis, a bacterial infection that animals get from water contaminated with urine from an affected animal or from the urine of wildlife that pets may encounter when outdoors. The condition causes severe kidney problems and is especially common after a flood, when large bodies of standing water form and when wildlife is driven from its habitat. After some personal research about the topic, I learned that it is more common in warmer climates (easier for bacteria to grow) and that its typical symptoms include fever, headache, nausea/vomiting, chills, and muscle soreness. People can get the disease, too, and just thinking about it makes me feel a bit sick. A fun fact is that in the United States, Hawaii garners the most cases annually. Tropical climates do have their drawbacks, I guess. Another fun fact (albeit unrelated) is that sharks do not get sick! They are immune to every known disease, including cancer. I am guessing this must be due to their thick skin and environment (salt water tends to discourage bacterial growth).

I will leave you with a couple of anecdotes. First, I learned that Dr. N was at the clinic until almost 1:30 AM one night. I was really surprised. I felt bad for her because it kind of happens a lot to her. She is kind of a perfectionist, so it takes her awhile to write things up. The only reason I point this out is that it worries me just a little. Is that what I will be like during my first few years of being a vet? Will I get stressed out all the time like she does? I think of myself as quite the perfectionist, too, so I worry that I will end up spending late nights at my clinic, too. But maybe that's the whole point. By applying to veterinary school, I am making a commitment and expressing a desire to dedicate my life to animal health. I am pledging to serve animals and people for the rest of my time on Earth, and if this entails a few late nights, then it is worth it. I'm not becoming a vet because it is an easy way to support myself. I want to be a vet because animals and people are very important to me, and I want to use my gifts to help them to the best of my ability. However, one of the vet techs encouraged me by saying that I am much more focused than Dr. N, who tends to be a bit scattered, so I'm not completely hopeless. Basically, Dr. N gives me hope and scares me at the same time because I see a lot of myself in her. If she can become a vet, so can I!

The other anecdote was very funny. One of the techs was showing one of the four orange kittens to a potential adopter when it got away from her. It rushed toward the break room, where I was standing making up some puppy and kitty packs. It rounded the corner just before the tech did. "No! Kitten!" she shouted as she chased after the elusive animal. Hoping to draw it toward me, I crouched down near it where it had stopped momentarily to rest and said, "Hey! You wanna play?" Not with me it didn't. That or it decided the game of the moment was Tag. It ran the other way, and the tech finally snared it, while it gave out a loud, "MAU!" I was surprised that such a big sound came from such a tiny kitten (it is only six weeks old).

So, that was my day! Though it was a little on the slow side, I still enjoyed myself, especially going into vacation this weekend. Like I said in my last post, I will try to include all of the highlights so I can share them with you when I return. Have a great week!