I got an I Tunes card for christmas - any new music recommendations?

Introspection and reflection seem to be the theme of the final days of 2008. I've been reading other people's blogs and the general consensus is that 2008 sucked for most people. Today I read something that helped with the final let go, something I've been struggling with for the past couple of months. I'm still hanging on to a very deep seated hatred (strong, but true) for a couple certain people and am working on letting it go. Maybe in 2009 I can, and return to some of the activities and groups I left behind because of said individuals. I have a lot of admiration and respect for some people in far away places and without them, things would have been a lot harder than they have been, so to my far-away friends, thank you!

More introspection and reflections coming - I've got a colic on its way in right now.

Everytime I sit down to write something, I forget what it was I wanted to blog about. Writer's block? Blogger's block?

I'm headed home for Christmas Tuesday through Sunday - to get that much time off in an internship is unheard of, so I'm really thankful.

Anyone going to be around Houston that time, send me a message and I'll do my best to catch up. Doesn't look like there are many concerts going on, which is disappointing. Haynes at Warehouse is a for sure though.

Merry Christmas everyone! I'll try to do better from home and in 2009.

In 2008 I..

- dated two completely opposite guys. They couldn't have been further from each other on the spectrum - and I love both of them tremendously for who they are.
- finally graduated from Vet School and achieved something I've wanted to do since I was 3
- lost my best friend in a horrible tragedy, but remember her legacy through her daughter
- lost some other friends through conflict and drama, but learned which people really matter to me
- moved 1500 miles from home, again
- rode a helicoper into the Grand Canyon
- started my first "real" job (not counting all the ones I had as I went through school)


In 2009 I...

- will live adventurously and fearlessly

I'm thankful for the job I have, when so many are losing theirs on a daily basis.

I'm thankful for being able to complain about gas prices, it means I have a reliable vehicle to drive.

I'm thankful for having food to fill my stomach whenever I want, so many people don't.

I'm thankful for the days we spent together and the trips we took, they provide lots of happy memories that will last longer than we ever could.

I'm thankful for friends, scattered across the country and across the world.

I'm thankful to be free and the opportunities I wouldn't have had otherwise.

I'm thankful for the military - those who fight to protect every right I have.

I'm thankful for this year, for the ability to wake up everyday and do what I love every day.

I'm thankful for the education I have received and will continue to strive for - so many will never have the ability to attend college and graduate school.

Life in Arizona is always full of surprises. I don't really do a whole lot except for work, and consequently most of the people I know are either co-workers or clients.

So tonight when I got off work I ran home to make a break pudding for our clinic christmas party tomorrow night and realized I didn't have any Jack for the whiskey sauce or to soak the raisins. Fast forward to a quick trip to the liquor store - and of course I ran into a client, who recognized me as their vet. What a surprise! Somehow mildly embarassing too.

Everyone seems to be doing a lot of introspection and reflecting on their blogs, so I suppose I should too, later I guess.


But for now, a quote from a client last month who came in for a lameness exam....

"Hey Doc., my horse psychic told me the lameness was his left shoulder"

(It was his right front foot)

Today marks 6 months of my internship, the halfway point. Wow! How time flies.

This morning I remembered why I do it. Why I went to undergraduate for 4 1/2 years, why I spent another 4 years in vet school, why I spent a year as an intern, and why I'm considering doing a 3 year residency ontop of that. That doesn't count contemplating a fellowship (2 more years).

Before I get to the why, I maybe should admit I have a problem or 2 (or a few hundred but we're not counting them). I have a compulsive need to be in school, to be studying, to be learning more. I know its a lifetime of learning, especially in the medical field, but really? The other thing is that I have the need to be recognized as being an "expert" on something, which is why I want to do the whole specality thing in medicine and surgery, hence the fellowship idea.

But back to the why... this morning I sutured up a laceration on the inside lip of a horse, just me and the owner and the horse. No technician, no senior clinician, no one looking over my shoulder telling me how I should be doing it, that I was doing it wrong. I got to make my own decisions, and somedays thats a rarity. It was just me and the horse, fixing his injury (oh how I love thee, oh surgery).

Crazy Confession Time



I never, ever, ever, admit to people what I do for a living. I dodge the question, give vague, I work with animals answers, or outright lie about my job. Its not that I'm embarassed by it, quite the opposite in fact, but I do get tired of hearing about every pet a person has ever owned, or asked why their brothers'-girlfriends'-cousins'-neighbors', cat is doing X.



I am probably the most extroverted hermit to ever live. I love talking to people, can talk to just about anyone, stranger or not, but I don't like to go anywhere or do anything. I also prefer to travel alone.

A daily check up of life...

Currently reading: Better: A Surgeons Notes on Performance by Atul Gawanda It's a look at human health care from a surgeons perspective.

Thanksgiving was good, lots of food, watched the Dallas game, went back home. Was off all weekend, no patients and no on call duty (that is a rare occurrance), so I watched more football. That OSU vs. OU game was a disappointment and the BCS ranking was even more of a disappointment. Did it really come down to who beat OSU worse - should have went to Texas. I will admit I wish it would have gone to Tech, wouldn't that have been the upset of the year.

I'm rethinking my decision to apply for medicine residencies. I've always wanted to be a surgeon, as long as I can remember. The medicine thing was a recent developmenet. I enjoyed being on medicine a lot, but now that I'm back on Surgery (again) I get so excited for all the surgeries we are doing. Don't know what to do, its too late to apply for surgery residencies now. I can always pull out of the match and wait until next year to try again. sigh

The pioneer woman, is my internet girl crush - I want to be like her someday.

Instead of resolutions for the new year, I always create a specific list of things I want to do, usually they come from my list of 100 things to do before I die. I'm almost done with my list, maybe I'll post some of the list.

Its been busy, update coming soon...

Thanksgiving was great..

BCS is a crappy system! OU SUCKS!

Some randoms...

Residency applications are in the mail, now just got to wait, ranking is January 16 and the Match is March 3.

Made the first pot of chili of the season last night. It's ok, for the first one. It's been hard to make winter foods when its still 85 degrees out (not complaining). Had to open my winter clothes box for a sweatshirt the other day.

Going home in a few minutes to make some pie crusts for pumpkin pie. One of our senior partners is having us interns (aka "orphans") over for Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, right behind my birthday of course. Food, friends/family, and football. Doesn't get any better than that.

Speaking of football. How about the Abilene Christian Wildcats win over West Texas A&M Buffalos last week 93-68 for a football game. Go Cats! (my undergrad alma mater)

And the all important Oklahoma State Cowboys (Rah! Go Pokes!) against Oklahoma Sooners (Boo! Hiss!) game this week. What a wreck the Big 12 South is and how once again the BCS is a major cluster.

I'm really losing my mind today folks..

I couldn't remember if I locked the gates and front door at work since I was the last one to leave, had to drive back to work to check. Then when I started looking for my keys to come back to work, I couldn't find them anywhere, turned out I left them in the front door lock.

I have got to figure out this source of perpetual exhaustion that I've been suffering from for the past 3-4 weeks. I'm not any more stressed than usual and I'm getting to sleep like a (fairly) normal person, 10 pm to 6 am. I don't even have the energy to workout much these days.

I didn’t realize it had been so long since I’ve updated.. Oops!! Its been a busy couple of weeks around here. Work is kind of slow, holidays, economy, the usual thing that keeps people from spending money on horses.

What else have I been working on …
~ Applications for internal medicine residencies – they’re due December 3 but I have to make the final decision by January 16 (looking at 3 hospitals/schools in TX/FL/CA)
~ Last minute tickets to NFR – going to Vegas Dec 12- 14
~ Caught up with an old friend – in a surprising way
~ Doing the 30 day Shred about every 2-3 days – I think its going to turn into a 6 month day Shred. Still working I guess
~ Looking at some temporary (1 year) possibilities about going to Australia/South Africa/England if I don’t get a residency and don’t get a good job offer in Texas
~ Vetted a PRCA Xtreme Bullriding last weekend- VIP passes, dinner before from Texas Roadhouse (and free beer), dance afterwards. Arizona boys are like Texas boys, they dance with anyone (Oklahoma boys - not so much), lots of fun.
~ Will be vetting the IPRA rodeos this weekend as part of the Gilbert Days Festivities... good times around here.

Today is the day that the Lord hath made,

Today I am grateful for...
1. The peace I feel for everything that has happened. Last nights dream solidified that everything will be okay.
2. For deciding to go the residency route, in medicine and being almost finished with applications. This is a huge 180 degree decision for the people who know my professional goals the best, but I have peace about it too.
3. For my true friends across the country, friends from vet school, college, united by medicine or music. I know who my true friends are and that is all that matters.
4. For a squeaky clean house, it doesn't happen often these days.
5. Coffee and the morning paper on the porch, Phoenix "falls" are wonderful.
6. Going to see the Cowboy art exhibit at the Phoenix art museum - leaving now (as soon as I google directions)

And I will rejoice, I will rejoice..

Hi everyone! Welcome to my new blog. Due to some recent occurances in my life, I kindly ask that you do not reveal the address of my blog to anyone, or to link my blog on your sites. I have sent you the new link instead of creating a login on my old site. That one will continue to be accessed as it is now, but will no longer have new posts.

Thank you,
Jenn