The Halfway Point--Week 6

Technically, the halfway point of this term was at the beginning of this week, but I sort of forgot to mention it, so I thought I'd give some time to it here. It is notable because this term has just gone by so quickly. Part of me still feels like I just moved in to Heimdall a week or so ago, yet I have lived with Devon and Sarah for an astounding five months. Where did the time go? I feel like I have known them forever, particularly Sarah. She has quickly become one of my favorite people, and I am so fortunate to have met her (I already knew Devon from freshman year...in fact, we met during Orientation Weekend, so very early on). Anyway, this has been an amazing year. Maybe I should save this for another post, but it's been on my mind lately, especially since today is the day of house tours for sophomores. They get to go around campus and see all of the TLAs. It reminds me that I do not get to live here next year. I have to move out in five weeks. It almost hurts because I feel like, by the end of the year, I will have lost three roommates: Hannah, Sarah, and Devon. My roommates for next year are fine; we get along pretty well, but I do not think I will make as good of friends with them as I have with the girls I have met this year. This has arguably been the best year of my college career, even though I have barely seen my best college friend. I have made many new friends, friends I hope to spend more time with next year. But for now, I will enjoy the time I have left in Heimdall.

I found out that I got an A on both my Anatomy test and Physics test. The A in Physics was particularly shocking because I think it is the best I have done on a Physics exam since I began taking the class in Winter Term. I also did really, really well on my Public Policy Speech--74/75, plus I got an extra point for staying to listen to the last speech (which went over the class period by about five minutes), so I really got a 75/75 on the speech. I am honestly so surprised because public speaking does not come easily to me. So, everything is going stellar in the academic department. This makes me feel very calm and unworried, which helps me remain focused.

I was glad to get back to my internship on Thursday. Dr. W and I spent most of the time seeing pigs. First, we went to a commercial hog farm, where Dr. W drew blood from 30 different pigs (3 pigs each from 10 pens, 5 pens on either side of the main hallway). He told me that he collects these samples as a way to assess the overall health of the herd. If one sample reveals infection, it is likely that many more pigs are sick, too. Dr. W admitted to finding the task boring and somewhat tedious, but I think it is so cool how something so small and seemingly minor has a huge impact on food safety and the health of hundreds of people. That's what I love about veterinary medicine--it's the little things that make a huge difference, and each and every thing a vet does matters. Our second stop was at a small hobby farm with show pigs. One of the pigs had circle virus, which made him/her lethargic and caused his/her eyes to swell up. Dr. W gave the pig a Vitamin B injection and supplied the farmer with some pills to help make him/her more comfortable. I enjoyed seeing all of the pigs today because even the industrial pigs were curious and wanted to sniff me. This tells me that they were being very well cared for. They protested a lot when they were getting their blood drawn, and it was interesting to see how restless the other pigs nearby got when one of their own was being held against his or her will. Yet I could tell that the herdsman who was working with them really has a passion for them; he would stoop down occasionally to scratch an ear or pat a head. It always warms my heart to see such connections between humans and animals (I am writing about the human-animal bond in my personal statement because it really undergirds a lot of the reasons why I want to be a veterinarian).

Friday was my first 5K since last spring (my third official 5K). I felt really unprepared for it because I haven't been running as much as I used to. However, I must really have been pushing myself because I totally smoked my old time. I think the last time I ran a 5K, I got something like 38 minutes, but this time, I made it in 34:14. I even walk-jogged twice (up the very steep Slough Path and up the last gradual incline near the end of the race--I was so tired and just couldn't make it going up to speed). There were so many times when I wanted to quit, but I knew that if I did, I would hate myself. I was encouraged along the way by two of my classmates, and that really helped because I often am more motivated by the support of others than my own support (I feel like I will work harder if I know other people besides myself are counting on me). Anyway, I saved my race number and wrote down the name of the race and the time so I wouldn't forget this very epic PR. I hope to run in another race this coming week on Thursday. I have to make sure that Circle K will pay for this one (the AIDE for AIDS 5K), otherwise I can't run it because it is a $20 registration fee. After the race, I got some water, a banana, and bagels with cream cheese. It was a very satisfying meal and really helped me feel better after such strenuous activity.

The rest of the weekend has been mainly homework and watching more Avatar with Sarah. Last night, we went to Hy-Vee and got Chinese for dinner and watched a lot of episodes. It was so much fun, especially since there was a raging thunderstorm going on outside. It is always comforting to know that I am safe when something that scary is going on around me.

Yesterday morning, I worked the breakfast table with Heather for the TriBeta District Convention. It was a really good time because we basically just chatted like we always do. I even got a super awesome TriBeta bracelet for my efforts (plus two points to put me at 13 for the year--I got four for being gone all Fall Term in London).

TriBeta swag! The three B's can stand for the motto (BLEPEIN BASIN BIOU or "to see the foundation of life") or for life in three different environments (land or BALANOS, which means "acorn;" air or BOUDETASE, which means "little bird;" and water or BOAX, which means "fish").

                            

                            It says "Biological Honor Society"--I couldn't get a good snapshot.

 Today, Sarah and I are going to Tolkien Society (a club for Lord of the Rings fans, although it's mostly just geek social hour) during the house tours, so we won't be here to see the sophomores, but we have had to do a lot of cleaning up around here to make it presentable. It seems that our house is very desirable. I guess it is when you think about it; three single rooms, lots of space, cute design, good location, the works. I am just glad that this was the first year it was used for student residence, otherwise I probably wouldn't have been able to live here.

About the week ahead: on Tuesday of this week, I have a meeting for juniors called "Transitions." It's something we all have to do if we want to live off-campus next year. I'm guessing they think we need some instruction about how to live independently, but I think I've got that down pretty well after spending time in a TLA. My guess is that the people who really need to hear it won't show up. On Wednesday, I am meeting my advisor for the last time before he goes away to Gustavus. I register for my Fall classes on Friday, and I'm really hoping all goes well. I have very little wiggle room if I don't get into the classes I need, particularly because it is my senior year and the only classes I have left are ones that I absolutely need to graduate and to qualify for acceptance into vet school. Thursday will hopefully be the 5K if I can get Circle K to pay my registration fee, and Friday is my second test in Physics. I am feeling better about this one because I know I can do well, even under as much pressure as I was under last time. Sarah's family is coming next weekend for Siblings Weekend, so it will be good to see them again. Sunday is the Circle K/Kiwanis Bowl-a-thon to raise money for spastic paralysis (a form of cerebral palsy). I am going to be bowling with some of my fellow CKers, so I'm looking forward to it. It is exciting because for the rest of the year, I get to attend Exec Board meetings, even though my duties don't officially start until next year. I love being really involved with Circle K because the organization has been such a big part of my life for the past couple of years. I will always look fondly on that day when I decided to attend my first Circle K meeting, and the rest from there is history.

Have a great week!

An Easter Feast for the Senses--Week 5 and Easter Break 2012

You are all in for a treat! I know I told you that you might not get a blog post this week, but I lied. I returned to school several hours ago, finished a few necessary things before classes start up again tomorrow, and found myself with a little free time at the end of the evening so I can share with you my adventures from the past week.
Tuesday was a really good day for shadowing. I spent most of the morning out on cattle farms with Dr. W, vaccinating and castrating calves. Well, I didn't do much, but it was awesome to watch. I really love calves, and my mom told me that this has always been the case. Watching the animals and the procedures Dr. W was performing only made me more interested in bovine medicine. To tell you the truth, I haven't seen anything yet that has really dampened my interest and enthusiasm for the profession.

Thursday was my Anatomy lab practical  (which was okay) and Public Policy Speech day in my speech class (also okay but not super great). I had a massive brain fart near the end, but otherwise, it went pretty well. I was flattered when the professor asked me to be the official timekeeper. I am always happy when a professor acknowledges my academic dedication and appreciates my hard work in class with a small gesture like that. Immediately after the class, I raced back to our house because I knew that Sarah was there waiting for me so we could leave for her house. Luckily, I was all packed up already and only needed to take care of a few last-minute details before we left.

The ride to Libertyville, Illinois (about an hour north of Chicago) was fairly uneventful. Sarah and I listened to music on the way and chatted occasionally. We reached her house at about 8 PM, where her family was waiting to take us to Portillo's, a Chicago staple specializing in hot dogs, burgers, and other specialty sandwiches (Italian beef, for one). I ordered a hamburger with cheese fries...delicious!

Senses affected: taste, sight (the decor was a really cool 1920s/1930s gangster theme)

I don't remember much of that night. I was pretty tired from taking my practical and giving my speech, plus the three-and-a-half hours of driving.

The next morning, I chose a book from the Mattimiros' stunning collection and settled in to wait for Sarah to wake up. She did--at 11:30 AM. She said she felt bad not doing anything with me, so we went to Westfield Mall. I didn't buy anything, but it was nice to get out of the house and walk around a little (since I had been sitting most of the day before). Sarah also took me to the library. Dinner that night was tender pork loins with potatoes and broccoli with carrots. Yum!

Senses affected: sight, smell, taste, hearing (music)

During this time, I met Sarah's pets: a curmudgeonly cat (or is that a redundancy?) named Maggie and a soft black rabbit named Bailey. Bailey only ever let me stick my finger out for her to sniff. Maggie was a little more indulging, but I still get the feeling she wasn't crazy about me. Maybe I showed too much interest in her. Cats hate that. But the joke is on her! I caught her sleeping on the back of the couch in the living room. Take that, Mags!

Hehe...

Senses affected: touch (so soft...), sight, sound (I love Maggie's meow...she's so fat, and it's best when she's hungry because she is just so vocal)

Sarah and I spent most of Friday by ourselves because Sarah's sister Hannah was off with her friend Carly, and Sarah's parents were at work. Friday night, Sarah and I played Just Dance 3 and watched the first half of Return of the King.

Senses affected: sight, sound, groove

On Saturday, Sarah took me to see the Not-So-Big House, a beautifully furnished house of relatively small size. There are several such houses across the country, and the idea is that instead of building McMansions, smart homebuyers should opt for more modest abodes and devote the same money to quality of space over quantity. I didn't get many pictures of the interior, but I did managed to snap a shot of the facade. It's a truly beautiful house. The design features are decidedly Scandinavian and very slightly Frank Lloyd Wright, allowing for lots of light in order to blur the line between inside and outside. The house had three bedrooms, so Sarah and I joked about splitting the cost with Devon and being roommates after college.

Senses affected: sight (I really want a house like this...)

No, seriously...

 On Saturday night, we had spaghetti and meatballs for dinner, a real treat because it kind of reminded me of home a bit. Then, we watched the new Star Trek movie (the one with Chris Pine) because I told them I'd never seen it. It was very good! I liked it! (Especially Scotty and the Russian guy.)

Senses affected: taste, humor, sight

While I was at Sarah's house, I was introduced to a couple of really kick-butt things. The first is the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. A lot of it is about Shadowhunters, half-human/half-angel warriors who kill demons. The books have a lot of standard beings, like vampires, werewolves, faeries, warlocks, witches, and the like. But they are very well written. They are definitely helping me recover from my Hunger Games high. Speaking of which...I went to see it again on Saturday. I know, I know. I'm a little obsessed. But Sarah's family wanted to see it, and how could I say no? Anyway, the other awesome thing is the Avatar: The Last Airbender series. It's an animated TV show that was created a few years ago. I never really got into it until now because I thought it was just for kids. But it's really well made, and I really enjoy it. The gist (for the uninitiated) is that there is a person called the Avatar, master of all four elements (Earth, Fire, Water, and Air). He is charged with protecting world peace. There are four kingdoms in the world (each with tribes of people who can "bend"--control--one of the four elements). The newest Avatar is an Airbender named Aang, who was encased in ice for 100 years before being discovered by a Waterbender named Katara and her non-Bending brother named Sokka. Together, the three of them set out to help Aang master all four elements in time to stop the Fire Nation, which has launched war on the other three Nations in a plot to take over the world. It's filled with all the right elements--romance, adventure, action, suspense, humor, you name it. Sarah has been great because she shows me it's okay to be a complete nerd about things.

Anyway, now for the main event: Easter! It was very quiet at the Mattimiro house, which suits me just fine. We had Cinnabons and omelets for breakfast before Sarah's older sister Sam and Sam's husband Ryne came over for a short visit. They were both really nice people. The Mattimiros were nice enough to get me an Easter basket, filled with yummy chocolates, a windup bunny, and a beautiful multicolored paisley scarf. Mrs. Mattimiro said she tried to guess my color palate just from knowing me for a couple of days, and I think she was pretty spot-on! (Dark, rich earth/jewel tones all the way!!) Easter dinner was the typical ham with green bean casserole (completely from scratch--even the mushrooms!) and au gratin potatoes. The Mattimiros made a special bunny cake (covered in lavender frosting and dotted with peanut M&Ms for the eyes and nose and coffee straws for the whiskers). It was just too cute to eat (sorry, no pictures...but you can imagine it, I'm sure!)

Senses affected: sight, taste, fashion

Just right for me! Maybe I'm too predictable?

The rest of the day passed pretty quickly. I spent it reading or watching Avatar with Sarah. We picked up Devon at her house early this afternoon (she lives in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, about 40 minutes west of Chicago), and she rode with us back to Augie. I was pleased to see Devon and her mother (I met her mother briefly on Wednesday), as well as Devon's friendly Rhodesian Ridgeback dog named Ruby. She was a welcome change from Maggie...I also got to see Devon's house and her bedroom. I always enjoy seeing where other people live; it helps me understand them.

Senses affected: touch, sight, smell (the blooming trees in the Arboretum near Devon's house made the air smell simply delicious)

So, that brings us back to Augie and another busy week ahead (I'm sensing a pattern here...). The week doesn't get too interesting until Thursday, when I get to go back to my shadowing. I would go tomorrow, but it's a Muesday--the Tuesday after Easter with a Monday schedule (since we missed those classes due to Good Friday). In other words, I cannot go. Friday is my third 5K race (the Friday the Thirteenth 5K benefiting Habitat for Humanity). I do not feel as prepared for this one as for the last two. I feel a bit out of shape, but I have been going to Step Aerobics these past couple of weeks, so I am hoping that will get me ready to go. If all else fails, I can walk parts of the course. I might need to do that on the Slough Path, which is always a part of the course because it adds an easy mile going back and forth. But it has one of the steepest hills it has ever been my misfortune to scale. Friday is also payday! Yay!

Saturday is the BBB District Convention. I don't really have a job to do for it yet, but I really want to help out so I can get those two points I need to stay in good standing for next year. I got a really nice leniency from the Exec Board because I was gone all Fall Term in London--four points! That brings my total to 10, and I need 12 to remain in good standing. Saturday is also a nationally televised Twins game (on Fox), so hopefully, I will get to catch a few minutes of it. Although, from the looks of these last three games (three straight losses, really?), I don't know if I should be too excited. However, the season is young, and we have a lot of players who are new to the team, so maybe I should give it time. It's just frustrating to see your team start out in the basement. I hope you all had nice Easters, and I'll be back real soon!

Spring Is When Life's Alive in Everything*--Week 4

*Quotation by Christina Rossetti

Spring is one of my favorite seasons on they Augustana campus. Well, to tell you the truth, they are all beautiful because the college has purposely planted things that will look nice year-round. Anyway, spring is awesome because of the lovely flowering trees and shrubs, of which there are many. Monday was a nice (if cool) day, so I decided to pull out my camera and get some pictures of the floral splendor. I feel like I need to make up for the lack of cool pictures these past few weeks. So, without further ado, please enjoy the beauty of Augustana!

Some bougainvillea outside Old Main

So, it's not flowers, but this is one of my favorite parts of the Augustana campus: the clock outside the Science Building.

Some pretty white bush-flowers outside the Science Building

Red bud trees! (Also outside the Science Building.)

Forsythia outside our neighbors' house (the Hennings...they are an older couple...so nice!)

 I had another hectic week this week. I took my second Anatomy exam on Monday. I think it went pretty well. I felt fairly confident in my answers. I believe we are getting our tests back tomorrow, so I will find out then. I went to a Circle K transitional meeting for in-coming exec board members such as myself. We ate Hy-Vee Chinese and talked about upcoming events. On Friday, we started an Easter fundraiser for spastic paralysis (cerebral palsy) in which we are selling pieces of candy for 25 cents or a plastic Easter egg filled with a special message and candy for one dollar. Students can send the eggs to their friends/significant others/themselves as an Easter present. I got to work the booth for about an hour on Friday, and I am going to work it again tomorrow and on Wednesday. I really like hanging out with my fellow Circle K-ers, so it's a good time. On Tuesday, I saw some draft horses and a quarter horse as I was shadowing Dr. W. I got to see how they are vaccinated and how their teeth are checked. I also watched a cool bilateral cryptorchid surgery. It is interesting to me how I had never seen a cryptorchid surgery before I started this internship, and now I have seen two in the space of four weeks!

I also found out this week that I did really well on my first speech--49/50! The instructor really liked my attention to detail and found the speech focused and effective. I am actually looking forward to my next speech because it is a public policy speech; we get to select a piece of legislation being considered at the national level and argue for its maintenance, repeal, passage, or rejection. To my utter delight, I found a House Resolution (HR 3886) being debated right now called the Wildlife Veterinarian Employment and Training Act (Wildlife VET Act). It calls for an increase in the number of employment opportunities for wildlife vets, loan-repayment and scholarship programs for wildlife vet students, and an expanded curriculum for wildlife medicine at veterinary colleges around the country. As you might imagine, I am firmly in favor of this act, and I get to convince the class why they should be in favor of it, too, using inductive and deductive reasoning and the Toulmin model of argument. Exciting stuff! I am glad that I found  a topic I am so passionate about because it will make the speech-giving process just so much easier.

I also took my first Physics exam of the term on Friday. It went okay, I guess. I think I got test anxiety because I freaked out about how little time I had to complete the test (it looked pretty long from my first look at it). Hopefully, the instructor will curve the test because I'm sure other people felt overwhelmed by the test, too. Anyway,  I will probably found out how I did tomorrow. Friday was a great day, though, because Devon treated Sarah and I to dinner at Fazoli's, a nearby more upscale fast-food place in Rock Island specializing in Italian fare. Let me tell you, they have the best breadsticks you are likely to find anywhere. I mean, Olive Garden has some pretty delicious ones, but they cannot compare to the garlicky-saltiness of Fazoli's breadsticks. So good. Then, Sarah treated Devon and I to The Hunger Games again. It was even better the second time around! We finally managed to get a picture of ourselves in front of a movie poster (it's on Sarah's camera, so I have to wait until she posts it on Facebook to show it to you). I don't know if I ever showed you this, but I got a movie poster from Hot Topic. It's currently taped up on the wall near the foot of my bed, proudly displayed for all to see my serious obsession with the series.

 

The same design and coloration is on my Hunger Games t-shirt. Good stuff.

On Saturday, Sarah was gone most of the day in Chicago; she was watching a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream at Navy Pier. As such, Devon and I decided to do something fun. We went to the UNYK dance show--it's a multicultural dance troupe on campus that takes in students of all skill levels. It looks like so much fun. I love to dance even though I stink at it. I just love to watch how the human body can move and be more graceful than I am. My favorite number was probably a hip-hop mix in which five couples (each dressed in matching red, yellowish orange, green, blue, and purple outfits) danced to an ever-changing musical selection. It was cute and very well choreographed.

This next week should be pretty awesome. It is a short week since we have Good Friday off, then we get four days off for Easter Break! I am going to Sarah's house to spend the holiday with her family, and we are really excited. Sarah said she wants to take me to very Chicago-type places like Portillo's Hot Dogs. We are also looking forward to playing the video game Just Dance 3 together for Wii. It's a game like Dance Dance Revolution except that it has real dance moves instead of a mat, and you use the controller to pick up your movements. It makes it so much easier on my family not to have to worry about getting me back for such a short break. I also like spending time in Illinois off campus so I can see how life is different and hang out with my college friends outside of school. I have a lab practical in Anatomy on Thursday, and my public policy speech is that day, too. Luckily, it will all be over by 4:30 PM, and Sarah and I can head off to her home in Libertyville, IL (about an hour north of Chicago, if you want to know). I'm sure we will have lots of awesome adventures at her house. I will bring my computer along, but I am not sure if or when I will have time to write a blog post, so this might be the last one for a couple of weeks. Don't worry, though. I will share all of my Easter escapades with you as soon as possible! Have a great holiday, and eat lots of good food (and share it with family and friends!).

May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favor--Week 3

I can't believe The Hunger Games finally came out! It was utterly fantastic! Haha. I might have to go again. It was such a fun atmosphere with a bunch of other young people. One girl even screamed when the previews started because she was so excited. It got really hushed when the lights finally dimmed. Sarah and I were shaking each other and clutching each other's hands because we just couldn't contain our enthusiasm. I had a lot of fun, but I was very tired the next day.

We also finally had our Lord of the Rings movie marathon this weekend, which was so fun! I loved watching the films with all of my London girls. We ate pizza, popcorn, and chocolate chip cookie bars for dinner then had banana bread, blueberry muffins, bananas, and apple juice for breakfast the next morning. After so much fun, I am glad to have today to just relax and finish up some homework.

My speech in Oral Advocacy went pretty well. I think I spoke too quickly at the beginning, but then I calmed down a bit and did better the rest of the speech. I really enjoyed hearing everyone else's stories because they were interesting.

I also got my Anatomy test back on Friday. I got an A, which I was kind of expecting because I felt like I did really well. The class average was 94, and I got 97, so needless to say it was a pretty easy test. I don't think I've ever seen such a high average in one of my classes before.

My internship went pretty well this week, too. It was kind of slow because a lot of the farm calls are in the afternoon after I am gone, but this week, I will hopefully be able to make a couple of farm calls with Dr. W (I know for sure that Tuesday we are shoeing and floating teeth on horses).

This week, I have another Anatomy test (Monday/tomorrow) and a Physics test (Friday). I also have my Circle K transitional meeting so the new exec board members can learn what exactly we will need to do next year. Basically, we are going to be trained in. I should probably tell you that I have decided to try to graduate after Winter Term next year instead of skipping Winter and going Fall and Spring. There are just too many changes being made at Augustana next year, including the loss of my advisor (he's going to Gustavus Adolphus to be the new Dean of Sciences and Education), the addition of the Student Center onto the library, and the renovation of Old Main. I am afraid that if I tried to skip a term, things would go really badly and I wouldn't be able to graduate on time. I am very worried about that, so I want to play it safe. That way, if something doesn't go according to plan Winter Term, I will still have Spring to take some classes and graduate when I am supposed to. This is even more important since I am not sure I will still be able to work at the thrift store this summer. There has been a management change, and I am not sure if I will be rehired. There are just too many unknowns for me to be able to take that risk. The advising changes will hopefully be explained in more detail at the VET MED meeting on Thursday. My advisor was going to be the faculty advisor for the group, but since he is leaving, we need to find someone else quick (or we won't have a group!).

In other news, because I no longer have Aerobic Dance for a gym class, I have decided to take up Step Aerobics on Monday and Wednesday nights. We had such a great workout on Wednesday. The instructor even incorporated some Zumba into the routine, which was so much fun. You already know that I love Zumba, so to have some of it during Aerobics is just the perfect workout. I get really exhausted from Step, so doing Zumba in the middle helps me recover and breaks up the difficulty a little bit. I felt so good, so I cannot wait for tomorrow night. I need to get more fit in about three weeks because I am doing another 5K (the Friday the 13th 5K sponsored by Habitat for Humanity in April). I really want to break my old record (which I think is like 38 or 39 minutes), so I need to be feeling good and strong before I run.

No word on what's going on next weekend. I'm sure we will find something interesting to do. However, Friday is the deadline for an Outstanding Student scholarship I am applying for. It is only open to freshman, sophomores, and juniors who have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.9 or higher during their time at Augustana. The award is $500, which isn't much, but if I win, it will really help. Wish me luck with that.

That's everything for now. I guess my final thoughts are that you should go see The Hunger Games if you haven't yet. Or, if you still haven't read the books, you should so you can go see the movie later. So worth it. Have a great week!

Top O' the Morning!--Week 2

As you might be able to tell, we are currently celebrating St. Patrick's Day in our little house. Sarah was once an Irish dancer, so she loves all things Irish. We are cooking corned beef and potatoes for dinner. Yum.

I had another busy but exciting week this week.

Tuesday was my second day of shadowing. I didn't see too many interesting things, but it was an okay day. Very calm and whatnot. I did see a cryptorchid dog neuter, which was something new and a little more complicated than a normal neuter because you cannot just make a couple of nice snips and get the job done.

Wednesday was my first anatomy test. It was just on some basic terminology, so I felt like it went really well.

Thursday was a really awesome day shadowing because I got to see some pigs! Dr. W went out to a farm to castrate a few future show pigs. I did not realize how curious the pigs are. They kept coming up to the side of their enclosures to sniff me. They were simply adorable! They looked so charming when they were sleeping in piles or yawning. Of course, they did not like the procedure that was being done to them, but they seemed okay once it was over. They must be very hardy and thick-skinned creatures.

Last night, we had some people over for pizza and games. These were girls that Devon and Sarah knew from last year and freshman year, so there were a few people I did not know (but most of the girls I have seen around). We all had a great time, and I really hope we can get together again soon.

I suppose I should tell you a little bit about last weekend, too, because I wrote my blog post so early. We got all of our Hunger Games gear--t-shirts, posters, and keychains. We also successfully got our midnight premiere tickets, so I am very excited about that. We took Devon out to Olive Garden on Saturday for her birthday, where I introduced Devon and Sarah to my favorite wine, the Sicilian red wine Nero D'Avola. They liked it so much that they want to buy it to drink at home!

Sunday night, I had a chance to hang out with some of my London friends. It was so good to see them again! We are hopefully getting together this coming weekend for that LOTR marathon (at last!), but it was still really fun, and I'm glad we were able to throw together our little gathering.

This morning, I volunteered at the Million Trees Project at the  Quad City Expo Center with Circle K. We got cool t-shirts this year, which was so awesome. I spent most of the two hours wrapping baby pin oaks in newspaper and dunking them in water to be passed to one of the baggers. And I actually have pictures! Yay! I think the rest of this weekend is going to be pretty low key, which I am okay with because I really need  to get some homework done.

Attractive...

I'm on to the photographer this time!!

Posing with our new shirts at the end of our service!

More good stuff is on the docket for this coming week. Tuesday is my first speech in Argument and Oral Advocacy. I am nervous for it, obviously, but it is just supposed to be a casual introduction to speech-giving where we all tell a story about ourselves that teaches a lesson/makes an argument (I bet you can't guess the subject of my speech!). I'm sure that with a little more practice, I will feel more prepared and less afraid. I also have another Circle K meeting on Tuesday and a speaker broadcast for NSLS. I only need two more to qualify for induction, and there will be two more this year, including the one on Tuesday. I am really happy about this because I missed a lot when I was in London, and I was afraid that I would not be able to get inducted until last year. However, everything seems to be working out just fine.

Thursday is also going to be a big day because it's the premiere of The Hunger Games!! We are probably going to get to the theater a couple of hours before the movie starts, and I think we are meeting up with some other people who are going, too. It will be such a neat experience to see the movie with so many other fans because I am sure that almost everyone in the audience will have read (and loved!) the books as much as my roommates and I have.

Well, that is everything that is going on in my life right now. I'm excited for the true beginning of spring on Tuesday, but the weather has been positively summery for about a week straight now (in the 70s and 80s), so life has been pretty sweet. I hope that you all are enjoying fine weather wherever you are. Until next time!

Springing into Action--Week 1

What a hectic first week back it has been! I wanted to post about this week earlier than I normally do because I'm anticipating a busy weekend, and I don't want to abandon my readers!

Monday I had a meeting to finalize the details of my internship and to learn what to expect and what my  a responsibilities are as a student and as an intern. I actually started the internship on Tuesday. Luckily, I have a very nice friend who is letting me borrow her car on Tuesdays and Thursdays for just that purpose. The large animal clinic is about 45 minutes from school, so it's quite a long drive, especially when I have to get up at 6 AM and leave at 7 AM. However, it is a pretty scenic drive since I travel through open fields and farms on my way to the clinic. It's actually quite freeing and enjoyable when I turn the radio on and just go with the flow. Anyway, when I arrived at the clinic, dressed in my navy blue coveralls and hiking boots, I had to wait a few minutes before Becky, one of the receptionists, let me in. She showed me around the clinic and introduced me to Mrs. F, the lone veterinary technician at the clinic. I learned that Dr. W, who I will be shadowing this term, built the clinic. I can tell that it was designed by a vet because it has many different kinds of rooms, some of which are on separate heating and cooling systems. He really seems to take a lot of pride in excellent animal care, which I deeply admire. I did not meet Dr. W until a couple of hours after I arrived because he was already out on a call. He had woken up at 5:45 that morning to assist in the birthing of a calf, which was not going very well. The calf was upside down and backwards in the birth canal, and the mother's obturator nerves (nerves that help control the hind legs) were damaged, making it difficult for her to stand up. The calf did not make it, but Dr. W said that the mother would probably make a full recovery. I kind of wish I could have seen it, but Dr. W said he was glad that I was not with him. I would probably just have been in the way. It wasn't long before we were off on another farm call, but not before I was redressed in a pair of lined coveralls with a zip-up hoodie and rubber boots and gloves. It appears that I was not as well prepared for the experience as I thought I was going to be. However, the clinic luckily has extras of everything so that I never have to worry about being improperly dressed. Anyway, Dr. W and I took off for a farm, where 21 pregnant cows waiting for checkups and vaccines. Because it is hard to ultrasound a cow on-site, the progress of the pregnancies must be assessed the manual way. That is, rectal palpations, where the doctor thrusts his arm into the birth canal and feels for the calf. In this manner, he can tell how far along the cow is. Obviously, cows do not like this process, so they must be put in a chute and sent into a cramped holding device to give the doctor axis to their hind ends. Indeed, the process itself is called "chuting." After awhile, it becomes very rote and assembly-line-like. I enjoyed seeing all the new tools that Dr. W uses on cows. They are much different from those used on small animals, particularly the syringes. They look more like guns than medical devices. One of the cows, Number 8, was particularly stubborn and shoved herself into the holding dock with the cow in front of her. Dr. W couldn't do anything but examine them as a pair, which he did with surprising success (maybe he's just done it a million times before). He is very brave, and I can only hope that I will be like that someday. He also really seems to enjoy working with the farmers, and this is something that I hope to do one day, too. After we left the farm, we went back to the clinic for a cat spay and a cat neuter/declaw on a gray feline named Gracie (a boy, sadly). Our joke was that Gracie was such a jerk because he was mad at the world about his name. Overall, it was not a bad first day. I only hope that I am able to go to more farm calls next week. I did not go on Thursday because Dr. W had continuing education seminars, which means he was not in the clinic, so there was nothing interesting for me to see. Mrs. F and the receptionists said they would have something for me to do, but they were also okay with my not coming. Besides, I am there to get large animal experience, which I would not get without Dr. W.

We had our Circle K Exec Board elections on Tuesday, as well. I was unaware of this, but I was also nominated for Fundraising Chair along with this girl named Catherine. We were running together because she will be gone Spring Term in Ireland, and I will probably be at home Winter Term since I don't really need to be here for three terms next year (which you know already). Anyway, that position was up for voting before Social Chair, so I had to give my nice speech earlier than I thought. Well, I must have been pretty convincing because I was elected Fundraising Co-Chair, without any chance of being Social Chair. It's odd how I originally wanted to be Service Chair, then had just come to terms with being Social Chair before the role of Fundraising Co-Chair was thrust upon me. However, Heather tells me that it is easy, and it is that ever-elusive Circle K Exec Board Position that I have wanted since I joined. I'm excited to work with the other members and have another leadership role (since I'll probably be Secretary or Co-Secretary for Vet Med next year, too).

I'm really enjoying all of my classes, too. My physics professor is really funny and approachable, and he seems really enthusiastic about the subject, which is really infectious. His lectures are easy to follow and enjoyable, so I think this term will be even better than last term (I still don't know how I pulled off that A...). He's great because he emphasizes understanding the concept behind the questions more than the nitty-gritty math and such, which is often what tripped me up last term. Anatomy is a pretty cool class because it's biology and because it's so practical. I enjoy learning about the human body, and even in a human science, I can see parallels to animal science. I agreed to participate in a research study that the professor and her colleague are conducting along with some professors from St. Ambrose University in Davenport (almost like our sister school, if you want to call it that...or maybe just our neighbor across the river). They are examining whether computer programs help Anatomy students better learn and understand the human body and its 3D structure and relationships. The study offers bonus points for participating students, awarded in the form of surveys and a final 60-minute test given during Finals Week to test our retention of anatomical information. I am looking forward to contributing to scientific research. Having done a little myself, I have a greater appreciation that I did before of the process as a whole, and I want other people to be as successful in their studies as I feel I was in mine. Finally, my Argument and Oral Advocacy professor is freaking hilarious. He is a young guy (just 29 years old) from Texas who talks with a very slight accent and uses very Southern phrases. He told us the first day of class that his brand of humor is a mix of sarcasm and self-deprecation, which are my two favorites. I don't need to tell you that I was pretty much cracking up most of the time. He seems really nice and accessible, and he told us that he is in the learning process, too, which means he is a pretty fair guy and wanting the classroom to be an inviting, supportive environment of collective learning and teaching. However, he also told us that we really have to earn our grades, and that even "doing things right" does not guarantee an A. Well, you can imagine that I take that as a kind of challenge of sorts to strive for excellence in all of my assignments in the class. I am a bit nervous for the four speeches we must give (one of which is less than two weeks away), but the first one is pretty casual, and I'm sure I will get more comfortable as I become more familiar with him and the class.

So, as you can see, I've had quite the week. I'm really looking forward to the weekend because my homework load is relatively light (lighter than it will probably be for the rest of the term) and because I am going to do a lot of fun things. Tomorrow, Sarah and I are driving to the movie theater to see if we can get our Hunger Games tickets early and then to Hot Topic at Southpark Mall, which has lots of Hunger Games merchandise. After all, we have to show up to the premiere properly dressed!! Later in the afternoon and evening, I am going to the QCAWC to help with Trivia Night. I love trivia; it reminds me of my Knowledge Bowl days. When you combine that with cute, furry animals, it's a recipe for instant success and good times! Sunday will be pretty low-key, but that will be okay because I will need some down time to do homework. So, that's everything new for you. This next week doesn't look too exciting, but it's still a few days away, so you never know what might happen. Obviously, I will share everything noteworthy with you. But until then, have a great weekend, and don't forget to set your clocks ahead one hour on Sunday!!

Back for More--Spring Break

I was fortunate enough to be allowed back to the VCA Cedar Animal Hospital for more shadowing with Dr. B. This time around, I was able to watch surgery--the removal of a rectal mass from a young Sheltie. I won't go into many details, only that it was a first for me and interesting because the surgery was basically performed vertically instead of horizontally. I got a glimpse of the many intricacies and challenges that vets face on a daily basis. Not that those were unfamiliar to me, but I welcome any new addition to my ever-growing body of experience in the field of veterinary medicine. I really want to know all of the nitty-gritty details about what daily life as a vet is all about so that I am neither surprised nor disappointed when my own time to shine comes.

The exotic species I saw at the hospital were a ferret and a cockatiel. Well, I didn't technically accompany Dr. B into the exam room with the ferret because I was watching surgery, but I glimpsed the creature through the window of the surgery room. It looked like it was having a seizure, which was very sad to watch because its poor little body was twitching. Dr. B explained that she suspected hypoglycemia/overproduction of insulin, but when she checked the blood sugar level, it was about 60 (I don't really know what that means, but she told me it is just slightly low). Definitely not a level at which seizures generally occur (that would typically be 40 or below). She also suspected kidney problems, so she sent the little guy home with some fluids and told the owners to let her know what happened.

The cockatiel, named Prettiness, was also something of a mystery. She was all fluffed up, which is a bird's way of saying it doesn't feel well. But she was chirping a little bit, which Dr. B said means that she was not in critical condition. She had abnormal stool, so Dr. B said they would keep her overnight in the warm bird room and take blood samples the next day (she wanted to assess just how unwell the bird was because drawing blood could be stressful for a very sick animal).

I also learned of the recent emergence of influenza in dogs. It is something that only started a few years ago in Florida, probably a mutation of swine flu. I think it is interesting how rapidly the science of veterinary medicine is changing. A few years ago, there was no such thing as canine influenza, but it has been steadily making its way north ever since it first appeared. There have been no reported cases in Minnesota yet, but it is only a matter of time. The VCA Cedar Animal Hospital already has vaccines, and they are encouraging their clients to vaccinate their dogs against this ever-looming threat. We have talked so much in school about the mutation of viruses, but I have never really seen it in action. I feel that this was the first time I could really relate something I have learned in school to my future career (I have a feeling that once I get deeper into upper-division biology classes like Anatomy and Comparative Physiology, my shadowing sessions will become even more relevant).

All in all, it was a very profitable and educational day at the clinic. I always welcome the chance to see something out of the ordinary, and there was plenty of that. This coming Wednesday (Leap Day!), I will return to the St. Francis Veterinary Clinic for another day of small-animal shadowing with Dr. J. I hope you all find something unique to do on your extra day of the year. Until Wednesday!

A-OK on Spring Break

Now, I don't  usually post during breaks because I want this to be a school- and pre-vet-centered blog. But what I have to say is definitely school related. As you might be able to tell from the title of this blog post, I got my final grades for Winter Term today. And they were all A's! I cannot believe it! Even Physics, which gave me so much trouble. Even with five weeks of feeling overwhelmed from London. I know God helped me through this one. I could not have done it without Him. I feel so good right now. Oh, and I'm technically a senior because I have accumulated three years' worth of credits (93 so far). I only need 30 more credits to graduate, which puts me in line perfectly for that term off next year. And now I've had four straight all-A terms (Fall Term Organic Chemistry last year was not my best class...). I am very happy because this means that I am capable of doing good work under fatigue, stress, and pressure. I felt so busy this term, but I pulled off the good grades that I was hoping for. I thank you all for believing in me, even when I didn't really believe in myself (still kind of working on that...). I am very excited for Wednesday because I get to shadow Dr. B, the exotic veterinarian, again. She is so great to let me come again!

"Don't do anything stupid."--Week 10 and Finals Week

Such are the inspirational words of Sarah's grandmother. I have been posting quotations on my white board during these last few weeks to motivate both myself and my roommates as we work hard in our classes. Well, this is about all I could muster this week. I apologize for missing last week's post. I just had too much going on. However, now I am on break and have time to fill you in on the last two weeks.

We finally finished our project in Botany. Here is the poster for you to admire. I already know that I got an A on it, so I am very pleased. The final went well, I think, too, so it seems that a class I was quite worried about at the beginning of the term will turn into another A! Yay! My grade should be helped a little by the four extra credit points that Heather told me our professor is giving us just for attending the Chocolate Festival! If you remember, he saw us when we were there and told us it was nice to see us. Now I'm really glad that I spent the money!

Just so you know, I got a 94 on this project. :)

I presented my dance in Aerobics. I was very nervous during it and was constantly afraid of messing up. However, my instructor gave me an A and said that my dance was fun (she also told me to lighten up; big surprise there!).

The rest of the week went by rather quickly. It felt like almost no time had passed until it was already Friday with a weekend of studying ahead of me. However, I did manage to have some fun. Friday afternoon, Heather and I went to the animal shelter. I was so excited to see the FIV cats again after such a long time away from them. But sad day! One of the cats has had a skin condition since early December. I don't know who it is, but I hope he (or she, if it's the lone female named Boger) gets better soon. Obviously, we were not allowed in. However, I met a very nice cat in the regular cat room named Butters. Apparently, he likes to gnaw on hands and paw at the them with his declawed front paws, but he didn't do anything like that to me. I guess I just have the magic touch with animals or something like that. ;) Heather and I also went to meet some of the dogs,who I have been neglecting in favor of the FIV cats for awhile. We were even put in charge of brushing one of the dogs, whose name was Lady. She was a little hairy white dog (maybe a bischon?), so I didn't really find her all that attractive. The very next day, though, I got word from Facebook that she was adopted! It seems that Heather and I did a great job on her hairdo! She must have looked so pretty to the person who adopted her. :) On Friday night, I went to see The Muppets at the Olin auditorium. Augustana puts on free movies each week for students as an alternative to parties. I met up with some friends of mine from way back during freshman year, and I think we all had a great time. My favorite part was the cameo by Jim Parsons (Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory). Sarah and Devon bought the second season of the show for us to watch, and we have already gotten through the first disk. I hope we make it last a long time; otherwise, it will be over too quickly, and I'll be sad.

I'd rather not talk about Saturday. I had so much studying to do, but I feel like I spent half the day doing other things and only halfheartedly studying for my finals. I volunteered for the Kiwanis Pancake Day by cleaning and resetting tables. I was hoping that I would get to make the pancakes with the other Circle K kids, but another group was already doing that, so we got kind of a dirty job. After that, I spent a little time at home before going for a run and studying for a bit. Heather picked me up again at 5 PM so we could go to Cans for Kids. We let another kid do all the work while we studied because he needs it for community service. I spent most of the time talking to Heather and singing along to the music that the kid was playing as he worked, so I didn't really get much done. After that, I went back home for a quick dinner and another study session before accompanying Heather to her job at the Seminary desk from 9 PM to midnight so we could study Botany. I was so tired at that point, and my brain was so study-exhausted, that I had trouble focusing and just wanted to go home and go to bed. However, I still had stuff to do when I got home. Long story short, I stayed up until at least 1 AM both Friday night and Saturday. I tried to keep a better bedtime Sunday night so that I would feel refreshed for my Monday final, and I managed to stick to it.

 On Monday, I finished my Molecular Genetics poster! It looks so good, and I am so proud of it. I presented it to the professor on Wednesday at noon. As you might imagine, I was very nervous for the poster defense. I can't really say why. I guess I was just afraid that I would majorly mess up or something like that. But I was totally wrong! I completely rocked it! My professor kept telling me how well I was doing and saying how glad she was that the first two people to present (I was the second) really knew that they were doing. She praised the hard work  I did on my poster and, best of all, told me that I will most likely get an A in the class. So, now I am done with my Senior Inquiry project and probably received a really good grade on it, too! If you want to see the poster, I can send you the file through e-mail (I didn't get a picture of it, and it would be much easier to look at if you can see the original file).

I took my Physics final on Tuesday night. For the most part, it was a lot more manageable than I thought it was going to be. There was one problem that was quite the doozy, but the rest of the test went fairly well, and I think I may manage to pull off an A- in the class (which is all I really care about). My only consolation is that I'm absolutely killing lab with over 100%. This is strange to me because I usually do really well in the lecture portion of the course and not so hot in lab (as far as chemistry goes, anyway; biology has been fantastic).

The only thing that made Tuesday--Valentine's Day--better was that Sarah's mom sent us all a little bag of chocolate candy. I was very pleased and grateful because all day, I saw kids carrying packages from their parents. You know, since it was Finals Week and everyone needed a little care package. Anyway, I felt a little left out, even though Mom just send me that wonderful package full of quarters, my lost shirt, yogurt pretzels, and onion salt. Well, I didn't have to feel left out because Sarah's mom rocks! This bag will definitely last me a long time (or not...). ;)

So cute!

I left with Dad to go back home right after my poster defense. We had a nice ride back. When I got home, I already had one of my books for next term waiting for me. It was nice because now I don't have to worry about that class, at least. Also waiting for me was a silly turtle lamp from my coworkers at the thrift store. I think they meant it half in earnest and half as a joke because they know I love animals. And on a different note, Dad has been working on the kitchen ceiling, and this is what he produced. Pretty spiffy, if you ask me. We are in the process of redoing the whole kitchen. It's kind of the only part of the house that hasn't been redone since we moved in more than 13 years ago.

I think I'm going to name him Ralph.

Great job, Dad!

 
This morning, I finalized the details of my vet internship for the spring. I will be volunteering at Aledo Veterinary Clinic in Aledo, IL. It is about 45 minutes from Augustana, but Heather is allowing me to borrow her car for the term. I will intern on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The clinic manager, with whom I spoke, told me that I will most likely be doing farm visits with the lone veterinarian at the practice (AKA her husband). He will be the first male vet that I have shadowed, which should be interesting. I am excited to actually go out and see large animal medicine in action. It will be a little dirty with the mud, but I'm really looking forward to it. I badly need the hours, too. I only hope that they like me and allow me to come all term. I have a lot on my shoulders as a representative of Augustana and the pre-veterinary program.

My time at home should be pretty low key. I am going to try to work a little bit (it's pretty slow right now, but it seems like they need me on weekends) and shadow when I'm not working. I also want some down time so I can catch my breath and recover from a pretty difficult term. It was intense coming back from London and then having to start school so suddenly. Not only that, but I wasn't exactly taking blow-off classes. I did feel a lot better after Christmas break, but I won't lie and say that these last five weeks have been a cake walk. One exciting thing that I will be doing over break is taking a free GRE practice test. The GRE is a very widely accepted standardized test at a variety of graduate schools (even those that have nothing to do with science). It is a prerequisite for getting into veterinary school, but it will also help me if I do not get in to veterinary school and apply at a graduate school in some field of animal science (I'm thinking behavior or nutrition) or genetics (since I had so much experience with it this term). I also need to do some mundane things like see the dentist and eye doctor and get a haircut. But all in good time. Right now, I'm just soaking in my first day of break with no work. I did have a fairly productive morning, but now I am just relaxing.

I still haven't found my camera cord, so I took all of these pictures with my cell phone. They aren't the best quality, but they are definitely better than nothing.

All That Jazz--Week 9

Well, it's getting down to the clutch. My senior project is due in about a week or so. At about the same time, I will be taking my finals for Botany and Physics. I can't believe how quickly this term has gone. What a whirlwind school year this has been so far.

We had nominations for Circle K executive board positions on Tuesday. I was not nominated for Service Chair like I thought I was because someone else e-mailed Heather asking to be nominated. In addition, about four other people nominated themselves for the position. It's okay, though, because Heather nominated me for Social Chair, a position I would be sharing with another girl. She is going to Ireland Spring Term, and I am probably going to be gone Winter Term, so it works out well. Social Chair is in charge of setting up a fun activity for everyone in Circle K to get together to do. I have some great ideas! One would be a trip to the Davenport farmers' market or a maybe a game night where everyone could bring a board game that we could play in groups. Elections are Week 1 of Spring Term, so I have a little while to prepare my nomination speech.

Hannah came to visit us on Tuesday, as well! It was so great to see her again. I can't wait until she is back on campus again so we can hang out like we used to. She even brought me a scarf and a bead ring from Ecuador! I feel bad because I didn't really get her anything from London...

After a rather hard day at school on Thursday, it was great to go out to dinner at Panera Bread with Sarah and Devon. I had, of course, the wonderful Vermont cheddar mac'n'cheese along with a small Caesar salad and a side of their delicious bread. Well worth the eight dollars.

I took my third Physics exam on Friday. I think it went okay (at least better than last time). I also received a package from Mom containing not only the black long-sleeved cardigan that I left at home but also some quarters (I need them for laundry this week!), yogurt pretzels, and onion salt (which is strangely difficult to find in the grocery store). Friday night was so much fun because I went with Sarah and Devon to the Augustana Jazz Ensemble concert. Wow. I forgot how much I love jazz! They did a fantastic job. I knew a few of the guys from my classes and from work, so that was fun. We also looked at some of the art in the museum (located in the basement of Centennial Hall, where the concert was held). Afterwards, we watched the Disney movie The Princess in the Frog. It is so cute! If you haven't seen it, I highly, highly recommend it. I can't believe I hadn't seen it until Friday night!

Yesterday, I made some great progress on my poster for Molecular Genetics (the Results section is basically done except for a couple things I haven't done in lab yet) and finished my homework by 5 PM so that I could volunteer for Cans for Kids. I think I told you about it before: we sort bottles and cans into bags to pay for the occupational therapy of autistic children. We can only take the five-cent refund bottles and cans; the rest goes into the regular recycling. It's a little dirty but totally worthwhile and fulfilling. Devon went home yesterday morning, so it's just been me and Sarah for the rest of the weekend. Last night, we watched most of My Fair Lady and then played the Lord of the Rings Trivial Pursuit game. Sarah won, of course, because she's a dork like that (not that I'm any better...).

Now, Sarah and I are just watching the Superbowl (for the commercials, of course!) and eating supreme pizza and tater tots (with salad for me because I love my veggies).

This week looks pretty intense. Tomorrow I am presenting my one-minute aerobics routine, taking a lab quiz in Botany, and presenting the results of our fast plant experiment with the rest of my group. I will be glad when tomorrow is done because the rest of the week will be a little less stressful (if only slightly). Tuesday I am helping to run the fundraiser for BBB. We are selling flowers (it is Valentine's Day soon, after all). The rest of  the week will mainly be spent finishing my senior project, which I hope to share with you soon. Saturday is Kiwanis Pancake Day, so I will be making pancakes for people along with Heather and Stephanie (another co-president of Circle K) and maybe a couple of others, too. Well, I hope that you are all enjoying your Sunday Fundays, as I know I am. Have a great week, and I'll be back to tell you all about my week before you know it. Ciao!