Relay Day--Week 8

As you can guess from the title, I spent most of this week getting pumped for Relay for Life. I will talk about that soon, but I first want to tell you about the days before.

My refutation speech on Tuesday went pretty well. I did mine on smoking at Augustana. We also had a mock trial in the class on Thursday. I was pretty nervous for it beforehand, but luckily, I prepared really well, and we got to choose our roles, so I was able to execute mine very well. (I gave the opening statement for the defense.) It was actually really enjoyable and funny!

Tuesday was also the induction ceremony for new BBB members. I sat with Heather and one of the members of my SNT group, Bryan. We chatted a little about Relay, since we were on the same team. It was great to see all of the new members and celebrate their acceptance into the society.

Shadowing went pretty well this week. I was able to help quite a bit around the clinic, sweeping floors and restraining animals as needed. Dr. W and I went to semen test a bull on Tuesday, which was something new.

Finally, Friday arrived! Relay for Life was so great!  We started with a Survivors Ceremony, complete with two laps around the track at Pepsico Rec Center for survivors from the Augustana community (some students, some faculty). We had a great speech by one of our most revered professors, Bob Tallitsch. Most of the rest of the time was spent walking around and dancing to the music they were playing. Because I reached my goal of $100, I got a cool purple wristband that allowed me access to the VIP room and free food from Noodles and Company. I had such a great time with my teammates. They are all really cool and funny people. We played games and talked. Devon and I cheered on Sarah, Bryan, Liz, and Emma when they played water pong. We finished at around 5 AM, and I didn't get to bed until 5:30. Needless to say, I was really tired and slept until noon, but it was so worth it. My only regret is that I cannot go next year because I will be home (hopefully working before I come back to graduate in May). We did get a team picture, though, so I can always remember the great time I had.

Team Cure Brigade! From the left is Renae, Liz, Bryan, me, Grace, and Emma. Sarah is in the front. I really like this picture because we all look so good!

 This weekend has been pretty low key aside from Relay. I've just been working on homework and resting so I can recover from staying up so late on Friday/Saturday.

I got A's on both of my tests--Anatomy and Physics--so things are still going well academically, too.

Next week, I have lots of things to look forward to. Monday is my induction ceremony for Mortar Board. Wednesday is our end of the year meeting for Circle K--a potluck at Shantytown (a fundraiser put on by Habitat for Humanity where student groups buy cardboard boxes and sleep in them overnight to raise awareness for homelessness). We have an orthopedic surgeon coming to Anatomy on Wednesday to talk to us about knee and shoulder surgery. Saturday is Celebration of Learning, where I will get to display my poster from Molecular Genetics and answer questions anyone has about it while I stand in the hall with my fellow students. I'm looking forward to showing off my own work as well as seeing that of my peers.

Well, that's all for now! It's getting down to the wire with classes; only two more weeks of learning before Finals Week, and then I'll be home for the summer. Busy, busy. Have a great week!

The Spinning Ball in the Middle of Space--Week 7

 Happy Earth Day! I'm kind of a nature girl, so I really like Earth Day. I didn't do anything environmentally-oriented today, but I did get out a little bit just to appreciate the breeze, sun, and the green leaves on the trees, so I think that counts!

Anyway, this week was pretty important. I had a meeting on Tuesday for upcoming seniors, all about what to expect living off-campus and how to find the right resources if we have problems. I mean, most of it was pretty self-explanatory, but I suppose it's always good to get a reminder.

I met with my advisor on Wednesday to discuss Fall Term and applying to vet school. The application opens in just five weeks! I'm a bit nervous because it's a big task, but it'll a get done. It was a little sad to have my meeting with Dr. Good because it is my last with him before he leaves for Gustavus. He was very encouraging and complimented me very highly when he said that my "passion for science really shines through." I told him thank you for all of the help he has given me over the past two years. I cannot count the number of times I have come to him all stressed out about classes and life, and he has helped me straighten many things out.

I registered for my classes on Friday. In the fall, I will be taking Physics again (I missed the first trimester this year because of London, so I have to take it in August), Biochemistry, Immunology, and Cadaver Lab. I am excited to take more advanced biology classes. I had Molecular Genetics last term, but I need more before I graduate. Cadaver Lab is just as it sounds...dissecting a real human body! I'm curious to see the pathologies present in the cadaver I will be dissecting with my as-yet-undetermined partner.

I also took my second Physics test of the term on Friday. I felt much more sure of myself and not as stressed about the time as last time.

On Thursday, I learned that I was accepted into Mortar Board for next year. I can't remember if I told you a lot about Mortar Board, but it is a senior national honor society. So, it's like Circle K but for high-achieving fourth-year students. There are about 60 people in the group, so it's composed of the top 10% of the class.

On the subject of my shadowing, it's still going well. I got to meet one of the receptionist's sons on Tuesday. He is a third-year vet student at Oklahoma State, so it was great to hear his stories and get some advice. Like, "Buy a stock in your favorite alcohol." Gems like that. But seriously, I always like knowing more about what my life is going to be like soon. Thursday was my favorite day of shadowing so far. Dr. W went out to a farm and treated four different species while he was there--dogs, cats, horses, and even a llama!! Will wonders never cease? The llama was nice but kind of creeped me out because it was staring at me. The dogs were so sweet. One was an old Golden Retriever named Sam (a girl), a young Yellow Lab named Chloe, and a middle-aged Black Lab named Luther. They were a little unsure of me at first, but I just held out my hand for them to sniff and scratched their heads and ears a little, and then they decided that I was pretty okay. Soon, they were following us to the barn and sticking their noses into my hands for me to pet them. They also kept bringing me their Kong toy so I could throw it and play fetch with them. I got to help Dr. W by holding the dogs and squeezing off the veins in their arms so he could draw blood for heartworm checks. I felt pretty involved and happy that I had a job to do (he forgot his tourniquet at the clinic). But it was such a great experience.

This weekend was really fun because Sarah and I finally finished the Avatar television series. It was absolutely fantastic. Luckily, there is The Legend of Korra, a kind of sequel series, to watch every Saturday, so that helps ease my Avatar withdrawal. Sarah's family was here for Sibling Weekend, so we watched Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol after we went to Outback Steakhouse for dinner and then got Whitey's ice cream for dessert. Today, I went bowling at Milan Lanes for the Circle K social (plus we dropped off the Spastic Paralysis money that we raised from the Easter egg fundraiser). Unfortunately, we had to sit through an hour-long Kiwanis meeting before we got to bowl (and we had to leave early because a lot of people had to be back for other obligations by 3:30), but it was still a good time, and I'm glad I went.

As you might have guessed, I have another hectic week ahead. I'm giving my third speech on Tuesday, and I'm still as nervous as I have been for the last two, even though I've been doing stellar in the class. I just can't help it--as soon as I get up there, my heart starts beating like a mile a minute. Even when it's just to read off some notes. It's so weird. I've got a lot of assignments and things to work on, too, like preparing for our mock trial in Oral Advocacy and working on my Darwinian medicine project in Anatomy (I'm doing mine on flat feet/fallen arches). Luckily, Friday is a pay day, which is awesome. Friday is also Relay for Life! A big shout-out and thank you to everyone who has contributed so far! I'm very close to my goal of $100, and it's going to be a great time, like an all-night party with pizza and a DJ and good friends. And it's all for a great cause! Man, I love college.

I'd love to hear if you did anything earthy for Earth Day. Even if you didn't, that's okay. Have a good week, as always!

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!