#vetschoolproblems

Wow! I can't believe my last post was in January of this year! That feels like a lifetime ago. I guess it kinda is...I'm now living in Stillwater, going to school for what feels like 7 days a week, sleeping never, hanging out with all kinds of different animals, learning more than I ever thought I could, meeting a bazillion new people and continually facing one or more humbling experiences day-after-day. I also happen to be dating this guy who's kinda awesome in every respect. But I miss my girlfriends, family, dogs...everything about normal life.

It's been quite a journey since January 2013 and, likely due to my old age, I can really only remember today. Actually, I suppose I'm not that old but it's been fun joking about it with one of my new vet school friends...who's the ripe old age of 22. We joke about my hearing, my old lady habits and general old lady-ness. You know, the usual...my hip hurts when it's cold, I eat at 500p and really enjoy the cafeteria, I go to bed at 930 or 1000p, if at all possible. Honestly, though, these are sound choices. Who isn't hungry at 500p?! And who doesn't like a nice selection of meats, veggies, breads and desserts at a reasonable price?! And what I wouldn't do to go to bed at 930 omg! I envy my dogs, they get to sleep all day. Alas, my studies beckon and sleep takes a backseat.

But these youngins' really keep me on my toes. They use terms like "pre-gaming." I thought this meant you hung out before a game...like football. As in, "There's a game Saturday we should hang out pre-game - have some food and drinks and then walk over to the stadium." Instead this means, "There is no game, it's a Tuesday and we're drinking before we go out to the bars." When I was their age we simply called that "pre-partying." Times, they are a changing. And I enjoy hearing about the fact that it's now taking them longer to recover from said "pre-gaming" and "gaming" nights. Just wait til you're 29, I say. Just you wait.

I suppose I do actually have some wisdom and foresight to offer seeing as how I have about 7 yrs of experience in life more than most of them. This wisdom often comes in the form of observations about life and factual statements about said observations. For instance, the other day I was in the presence of a classmate and stated with confidence while filling the water bucket for one of the horses under our charge that the water was either on or off there was no in between. I could tell she was moved. You don't get that wise after a mere 23 yrs. Just sayin'.

And although I'm still working on getting to know everyone...I believe I'm up to about 13 of the 82 in my class...I know I'll get there eventually. I believe I've found a good group of people to hang out with and those that I have yet to meet I'm sure I'll like too. Some I've met and, as of this moment, find to be a tad bit exhausting but that's probably because they have more energy than I do. Most of the world does. I think I am part of a fairly eclectic class, though. We've got people from both coasts and everywhere in between, horse people, small animal people, exotics people, don't-know-what-they're-doing-yet people, short people and incredibly tall people. Like I'm talking really tall. So tall they tower over a draft horse (this means that they are really tall). I could see most of their bust while I could only see reaching hands with brushes from everyone else. A bit unsettling these floating brush hands.

That being said I've already gotten the opportunity to experience some pretty cool new things and, surprisingly, I find myself totally digging large animals! Don't get me wrong, I still love dogs (and the occasional cat) but I could get used to working with horses, cattle, sheep, goats and pigs! Note to self: invent some sort of bubble device to wear around your feet in the guaranteed event you get stepped on by said large animal. I got stepped on today by a horse named Newbie. Newbie was a tad grouchy today for whatever reason and one thing led to another and he stepped on my big left toe...which is now even bigger. And blueish purpleish. And it hurts kinda. And I have to wear open-toed shoes to a wedding on Saturday. Awesome. Oh well. #vetschoolproblems

I've met a heifer named Buttercup, a sheep named Eleanore, a pig named Stiletto, a Belgian named Trixie, held adorable baby piglets and goats, been amongst baby cows, milked dairy cows and castrated a goat. All-in-all I'd say it's been one heck of a ride and it's just getting started. I'm applying for an overnight ICU position with the large animal clinic, which I'm really excited about, and I hope to start going over to the hospital more often so I don't forget what live animals look like.

It's also a good idea to keep me busy so I don't buy every single shirt/pullover/hoodie/jacket/headband/wristband/keychain/cooler/bumper sticker/pair of underwear/socks/dog collar/pencil/stethoscope/screensaver/smartphone case/pair of sunglasses that clubs in school are selling to raise money for their members to do wetlabs and have speakers, etc. I swear it's like they wait until just the right moment when we're weak and tired and then they pass the sheets around peddling all sorts of OSU-CVHS paraphernalia. The problem is, I like almost all of them! They've got t-shirts with horses on them and koozies with clever sayings and pants with funny drawings and hats with cute phrases. To be honest, if I had unlimited funding I'd probably buy them all...you know so I'd have an outfit for every day of every week of every month for the four years I'm in school. Like I did with my sorority haha. Not really but same idea. My favorite one thus far truly made me LOL. It said the following, "I found this humerus." And then it had a picture of a humerus bone. Hahahahahaha. I died laughing. So. Funny. I'm dying laughing now. Truth.

It's also surprising the amount of humor we, as a class of nerds, tend to find in our daily grind. For instance, the other day we were shown a video of a macrophage chasing a bacterium. You'd think we were watching a new puppy chase a ball or a small child chase a ball or a kitten chase a ball. No. No. We were watching a microscopic macrophage chase a bacterium. Would macrophage catch bacterium? Would bacterium slip through the cracks and escape certain death? Would this video be better enjoyed if it were put to music? A resounding YES to the latter! Obviously it would but you'll have to watch the video to see the fate of macrophage v bacterium (Macrophage v Bacterium). Spoiler alert: macrophage wins. Anyway, when macrophage engulfed bacterium there was a sigh of relief and what felt like an impending standing ovation for macrophage. We were truly thrilled for macrophage. We, as a group, are not the coolest. #teammacrophage

All-in-all, I'd say things are going well. Here's to those who helped me get here, those who are helping me stay here and those who have yet to help. Can't wait to keep learning and experiencing new things every single day! #vetschoolfun