2009 in review...
What a year its been. A lot of "I'll never do..." has actually occured. I never thought I'd end up where I'm at, doing what I"m doing, but life has turned out better than I could have ever picked for myself. It's been a pretty good year.

2010 promises to be an even better year.
I'm going to continue to get a handle on our financial picture and keep paying off debt. I'm happy to report that the end of 2009 found me writing 2 checks (or actually online paying) to completely pay off almost $1500 in debt at one time. WooHoo! I'm going to be more transparent in our debt recovery process. I'm going to actually post more often, especially to have better accountability with our debt recovery efforts. We've both pledged to become more active in our church here, not just going every Sunday (except when I'm on call - it doesn't work out for me) but do more to be involved and study deeper. We want to live more simply and not be so rushed (that's mostly me, crazy job I have). Play more games together and watch less TV.

What about you? What are you going to do with 2010?

Its been a month since I last posted. Oops! December has been over the top-absolutely overwhelming-exhausting-full of guests-tons of fun! A quick synopsis of everything.

- LAS VEGAS! But only for 5 days (6 nights), but there was Cowboy Christmas shopping, NFR rodeo, AAEP Convention, the boyfriend, my friends, his friends, piano bars, cowboys, "slushies", Ricky and the RedStripes, fancy dinners by a pharmaceutical company, and very little sleep. My work had an office pool if we were going to get married while we were out there or not. For the record, it was a not (my parents couldn't make it and I won't get married without my family)

- Came back in time to be on call and get the stomach flu/bug/virus/projective vomiting mess that's going around central Texas. (Sorry if that's TMI).

- My parents came to help put up my Christmas tree and last minute decorating/cleaning/cooking (the week before Christmas - Thanks mom and dad!)

-Christmas with me, mom, dad, brother, brother's girlfriend, grandma, boyfriends brother, his wife and their son. So much fun, family, food, presents, love, card games and dominos.

- My family left and his stayed for a week. They left this morning :(. Lots of staying up late playing card games and cooking and talking and laughing. I wish they didn't live so far away in Idaho, or we could visit more than twice yearly. Boyfriend misses his family terribly.

- Off today, on call tomorrow for New Years.

-December has been a whirlwind and I'm kind of ready for it to end and ready to begin fresh with 2010 tomorrow. Today's agenda is running errands, cleaning and relaxing before tomorrow.

Coming Next: A reflection of 2009 and a look forward to 2010 (I promise before 2010 actually occurs)

Really Houston Intercontinental airport? Really? Houston gets 1/2 an inch of snow in an 8 hour period of time and you aren't "prepared" so you have to cancel flights for 2 days!??! Really?

My flight from AUSTIN tomorrow was cancelled due to HOUSTON getting snow today. ahem Continental ahem. I now have to buy another ticket for $100 more on an airline that isn't afraid to fly out of a different city the day after it snows.

Got to get to Vegas. Got to get to Vegas.

This pup, my 9 month old Australian Shepherd dog, "Eli" was hit by a car on Monday. Or rather, more correctly he was hit by 3 cars before someone stopped to help him. A nice man from a local plumbing company stopped his van to block traffic so he could run get me neighbor and move him off the road. They called me at work and I ran home and got him, to bring him back to check him over. Other than banging his head/nose up pretty severely and whole body soreness, he is ok. Today, he's back to normal. I thank God for small miracles.




My boyfriend takes me on a biweekly date to Nami's, a hibachi grill and steakhouse. We've taken my parents twice, my brother and his girlfriend and some recently visiting friends. A recent picture of the 2 of us...



We went to my parents house for Thanksgiving. Lots of food and relaxing.. Plus my mom helped me make some basket testers for my Scentsy since I haven't had much time. Several parties open right now, hopefully a good first month before Christmas. (Sorry no pics)

Finally the boy left this morning driving to Las Vegas. I will fly in on Saturday morning at 8:30 am, just in time for a full day of shopping at Cowboy Christmas. Also on the agenda is the Finals, AAEP Convention, more Finals, lots of good friends in town, Cowboy Christmas, Las Vegas, a John Wayne chaplain?, Trade show and fun! Pictures to come next week!

The cold snap has finally hit Central Texas. It was in the 40's this morning when I left the house to go to work at 7:45. It feels like November, finally. The next few weeks are going to be a whirlwind (I hope!) Some upcoming events...

~ First Scentsy party this weekend... several parties coming up and plans for several basket parties, all before Christmas, you know, for presents. Scentsy is my newest business adventure, besides my regular work.
~ Thanksgiving in Houston at my parents house :) I love all the food and cooking. Did I mention the food?
~ On call the weekend after Thanksgiving :(
~ The Pioneer Woman cookbook signing in Austin. Have I mentioned I totally want to be like her when I grow up. Red hair and all.
~ December 5th - Las Vegas baby.. The AAEP meeting happens to coincide with NFR. I'm flying up at a super early time a day eary for shopping at Cowboy Christmas.
~ Did I mention Las Vegas?? for a whole week?? During the finals???
~ A few more Scentsy parties.
~ Christmas - the boy's family is coming and my family is coming all to my little home here in Central Texas. We'll have a house full and I'm so excited. More.Food!
~ On call New Year's Eve :(

Whew! Going to be busy around here for the next few weeks with all the cooking and cleaning and packing (VEGAS!) and bed-rearranging.
~

I am now a Scentsy Consultant and am very excited for the new possibilities this presents. If you are interested in getting a monthly email from me, hosting a party or a basket party or have any questions, please let me know.

www.jenngrimes.scentsy.us

Thanks Gem for helping me get signed up!

Pretty perfect weekend...

- No work on Saturday (1st day off in 3 weeks)
- Mom & Dad came up so we could all go meet Grandma in Comache for lunch
- Grandma loved the boy - lots of fun pictures
- Clean house
- Almost completed laundry
- Critical patient (that was my 1st time all by myself small intestine anastamosis) - surviving and doing really well (back on food & water & going home tomorrow)
- cloudy/rainy weather
- hot chai tea + pumpkin cake + movie time
- Tex-Mex/Fajita roast in the crock pot
- Yeast rolls rising on the counter
- dogs laying at my feet (quietly!)

As a person on a perennially tight budget. We're talking I make Dave Ramsey and his followers with their gazelle intensity look like they're on a mega shopping spree. I must confess, that after a month of deliberation and contemplation and number crunching (with the associated penny pinching). I went and bought an Iphone. I know you're all thinking, Jennifer, I mean, its only been out for about 2-1/2 years, way to go in having the latest and greatest technology (insert eye roll here). I also splurged and got Direct TV when we moved to Texas, but I must admit, was mostly for the boy (got to bribe him somehow). The app that I'm most in love with - the recipe spinner, and the grocery list maker is a close second.

Copied this idea from Steph.... 5 guilty pleasures ( I couldn't think of 10)

1. Custom made cowboy boots in an exotic skin (Anderson Bean or Rios of Mercedes please)

2. Blingy belts/accessories

3. Pedicures

4. Vanilla coke from Sonic

5. Brand new, never washed Hanes crew cut socks, little boy sized

A nice little lump popped up just behind my right ear about 2 months ago. The lump turned out to be an enlarged lymph node. I kinda forgot about it until a nurse pointed it out the other night while I was radiographing her dog's leg (HBC - fractured tibia). I mentioned it to the boy, who got mad I hadn't had it checked out yet.

Fast forward to Wednesday when I go visit my PCP. He examines it and suggests removing it, the next day (thursday). I also have a few other swollen lymph nodes in my neck he wants to maybe remove at the same time. *Gulp* I have blood drawn for routine blood work + mono test + rickettsial panel (like Lyme Dz, etc due to my occupation).

When I show up on Thursday, he does a local anesthsia (lidocaine) block to numb the right side of my neck from my collar bone to my scalp, including my ear and leaves while it becomes numb. His nurse comes in to set up and scrub for the lymph nodes excision. He comes back with news - no LN excision today.

Evidently the extreme exhaustion I've been feeling for the past few weeks has absolutely nothing to do with the 60 hours + I work each week.

Diagnosis: Infectious Mononucleosis

I have freaking mono.. At least I now know its not Lymphoma (crossed my mind a few times), and have a reason for being so tired all the time, besides not being able to handle my work load/job.

Surgery residency application - round 2 begins today

24 positions posted
Application due December 7, 2009
Match results February 5 at 6:00 am

Make these muffins right now.. Courtesy of the Pioneer Woman. The only adjustment I made was cranberries instead of golden raisins (I didn't have any). They are delicious!

Fall is in the air, well at least until Wednesday when the high in Central Texas hits about 82 again. But since its still Monday, we'll pretend fall is in the air. I'm waiting on the ark to come by, since it's been raining for dang near 40 days and 40 nights around here, but my grass is growing and green! which means the horses had food to eat, which translates to a much smaller hay budget. I even put my down comforter on the bed this morning, I've been waiting since that winter/early spring to do that.

2 of my 3 football teams are doing great, the D Cowboys, well, they had better start living up to that fancy new stadium 'ole Jerry spent equivilant of the gross domestic product of all of Africa building. My ACU Wildcats! and OSU Cowboys! are both having winning seasons, even if the OSU Cowboys win against Texas A&M was ugly.

This is the "slow" time of year for our practice, supposedly. I'm a little worried about when it gets "busy", since right now I don't get home until 6:3o or 7:00 on weeknights when we close at 5:30 or 2:00 on Saturday when we close at 12:00. I suppose we'll lose our 1/2 afternoon off when it starts getting "busier". No complaints here, at least we have work to do and are able to employ close to 40 people in Central Texas. My boss and his wife are great to work for, I'm still having a lot of "that was my first time to do that procedure" moments, ala cat tail amputation Saturday afternoon.

Errands for today: Bank, DPS office (need to change my address on my license still), Library, grocery store

One more thing thats great about this time of year - pumpkin flavored stuff is everywhere! Pumpkin lattes in the morning, pumpkin pie blizzards in the evening.

Funny things clients say or ask for.. Part I:

- "Doc, can I get some of that long acting penicillin - you know, for laminitis?"

- "Can I get a blood test for the cancer that my horse has? - he has spots on his back"

- `"Doc, my little puppy just developed overnight 8 evenly spaced bumps on her belly. What kind of cream should I put on them to go away?"

- ( 2am emergency call:)
Client: "Doc, my dog is dying - I need to bring her in right now."
Me (mostly still sleepy): "OK, what's she doing?"
Client: "Breathing with her mouth open and she won't wag her tail."
Fast forward 45 minutes to examining dog...
Dog is panting (Normal), seems absolutely healthy/normal with fleas and tapeworms coming out
Client: "Well, since we're here, can you vaccinate her too"
Me: "????? - No!"

- Horse owner: "So can you give me a calender date when my horse will be better?" (Lamintis with rotation being treated with wooden shoes)

Sunday morning...

Waking up at 5 am to drive 1-1/2 hours before the sun comes up going West to ride 4 hours rounding up 100 head of cattle to be able to palpate 70 head of cows and work 25 head of calves.

Best picture of the day:

The Boy

His Horse

Day old Calf

A busy on call weekend = very little sleep, so I'm pooped. Tomorrow is a half day for labor day (have to work 8 - 12, boo!).

An altercation with an emergency client last night got me thinking about personal safety and how so far I (we? my female co-worker also) have been lucky and too careless about being safe. In the course of my job, I (again, we) frequently have to meet complete strangers in the middle of the night for emergency cases by ourselves. Often no one knows we're even there, except that the Boy (or her husband) knows that I'm not yet home, but doesn't always know when to expect me back - it all depends on the case. It would be pretty easy for something to happen if the wrong bad guy got wind of the situation. So we have decided, and our clinic has agreed to at least partially pay for us to get self defense training. And I've already requested an application for a concealed license.

The altercation last night was with a client who wouldn't allow me to to do further diagnostics or treatment on his dog, and wouldn't leave. After 1-1/2 hours, I fired him as a client, refused to do anything further with his pet and threatened to call the cops if he didn't leave immediately. He threatened me and then sat in the parking lot for 20 minutes without leaving. I was shaking like a leaf after it, mainly mad, but somewhat scared. Quickly ran to make sure all the doors to the clinic were locked. So to my friends who do the same thing I do, be extra careful out there. The world is getting stranger by the day.

Eli - my dog

I just realized how long it had been since I updated my blog.. Oops.. Well, things are going good since we've moved to Belton. Work is super busy and the current work schedule is Monday through Friday 8 - whenever we're done, usually 6 - 6:30, on Saturday 8 - whenever we're done, usually 1 or so. Half day off during the week. Get a complete weekend off every 6 weeks. If you're off during the weekend, no half day during the week. On call one night a week, or one weekend every 6 weeks. Which all translates to a lot of time spent working. On the plus side, I get a "uniform" which is blue jeans and a button down shirt which the laundry service takes care of (translation = very little laundry to do at home)

Crazy client stories, don't even know where to begin. Biggest complaint I have to owners - I'm the one who went through the 4 years of vet school, so maybe I should be the one to diagnosis and pick the treatment option - just a thought.

The boy, things are still good. Work isn't picking up for him quite as fast as we'd like, but it'll come in time. He's off roping right now. Got an IPod Nano - 6g (4th generation) for him for his b-day. Feeling a little I pod envy since mine is an original one.

Thinking I may have to upgrade to an iphone, or some sort of other technologically advanced cell phone here soon. Maybe...

No pictures because my camera bit the dust and the other one batteries need charging. I'll eventually get pictures posted of the house, the dog, the boy.

That's about all the updating I have. I will eventually make it to a concert/show and see some of you lovely people one of these days. Here the MDD are coming to Temple pretty soon...

Life in a mixed animal practice is never boring. The original agreement up on hiring was to do equine (horse) work during the day, but have to rotate emergency service with all the doctors (there are 6 of us total). The other part of the original agreement was that I wouldn't have to start doing emergency work for a month so that I could get used to the system here. Of course the best intended plans never quite work that way. So 2 weeks after starting, I get emergency duty for the first time.

My very first emergency call:
Answersing service: Hi Dr. G, this is the answering service. I have a call about a pig in distress.
Me: Uh! A pig?!? Ok, what's their number...
AS: XXX-XXXX
Me: OK thanks...

Ringing phone...

Me: Hi, this is Dr. G from BVC.. I got a call about a pig?!?!? What's going on?
Client: My sow (adult female pig) has been in labor for a couple of days, but hasn't had any of her babies yet? Can we bring her in for a C-Section?
Me: silence ___ uh sure?!? Let me call you back..

Me calling more experienced in pig dystocia doctor....He recommended a couple of shots for the pig, instead of surgery...

Just barely avoided a pig c-section as my very first emergency call...

Working like crazy.. half moved into the house.. camera fell apart and is only taking pictures in purple with stripes through the middle... no internet in house yet... lots of firsts at work in the past week.. will update as soon as internet is in the house... had an awesome birthday!

Last week was a trip to Idaho. The boy is from Idaho, but has lived in Arizona for about 10 years now, give or a take a few months. Amid multiple airport diversions, that involved 3:45 am wake up call to 6:30 flight out of Phoenix to a two hour layover in Salt Lake City (I waved hi from the airplane Amalia), we finally landed in Boise around 12:3o to be picked up by his brother, sister-in-law and nephew. A lunch of steakbites, we took over for the 1 1/2 drive to his hometown. That evening met his dad and dad's new wife for dinner at a local restaurant. The (his) sister-in-law and I, with nephew in tow hung out and got to know one another quite well. She's so much fun, I look forward to many more visits with them. The nephew is 14 months and about the cutest thing in the world. The next day we hooked up the horse trailer (part of the reason for the trip) so that boy and his brother could re wire the trailer lights and change the trucks oil before we took off for a trip back to Arizona. On Thursday morning we loaded up and headed south. A 14 hour drive across the southern half of Idaho, all of Nevada (with no radio or cell phone service) and the northern half of Arizona. Thank goodness for laptops and I tunes. The temperature in Idaho was in the 70's the entire time. Spent some time hiking around Snake River at Twin Falls, and managed to not take a single picture, at all! I can't belive I did that.

Now packing, leaving for Belton in T-minus 7 days. As soon as we get somewhat unpacked and get a spare bed, every last one of you is invited to come visit our new little town. I even have an in ground pool as a bribe. I'll be moving 1 hour south of Waco on I 35, which means I'm on the way to Austin/New Braunfels/The river.

I am in desperate need of a blog makeover...And I promise to update more regularly once I get back to Texas. It seems like a lot of sentences have started like that lately. Once I (we) get back to Texas, we'll join a gym. Once we get to Texas we'll do ... or buy ... or remember to ... I suppose I should start back at the beginning since my last update.

My internship ended June 8. WooHoo! While I enjoyed being in Arizona and having the guided mentorship that a structured internship entails, I'm glad to be done. Since Easter it has been a whirlwind of job hunting, two quick trips to Texas and 4 interviews. The first was Easter weekend for a job located in Pilot Point, but would entail a lot of travel, last year approximately 250 days or so on the road. That was my dream job - it was not the boys dream position for me (because of all the travel). I did not get the position though. The second trip and three interviews was the second to last weekend in May. 2 of the clinics were mixed animal practices but wanted an equine (horse) vet. The third was an all equine practice in Brownwood.

The tuesday following my return (and last week of work) - the mixed animal clinic in Belton called to offer me a position, which I immediately accepted.

The job details:
Mixed animal clinic that's been there for 30 + years, but built a new building (which is beautiful) in 2003. He's hiring 2 of us that are both finishing internships, and together we bring the total to 8 doctors in the clinic. It is intended that I do only equine work during the day, and work to expand the already large case load. All 8 of us rotate emergency work, so I'll have to see all species emergency, which isn't that big of a deal. In this economic climate and job market, the compensation package is well above market value.

The house (Tenatively)
I decided to just rent a place for the first year so that I can better scope out the area for a place to live. I didn't want to buy on such short notice the first thing that came along, especially since I'd be doing it from Phoenix. I am still talking to the property management company but should find out this week, but the house I found is a 3000 sq ft, 3.25 acres, with an in ground pool, for $1500 a month. Once I get moved, I'll be sure to have a housewarming party (or 2) that everyone will be invited. And there is always room for visitors, plenty of spare bedrooms.

The reason I needed 3.25 acres is for horses. The boy is moving with me to Texas and bringing his horses (he's a team roper).

The Move:
Should happen around June 30/July 1, and I'll start work around July 6th. I can't get licensed until August 11 (to take the state exam) for after hours work but I can work daytime hours until then, which makes for some open weekends to roadtrip and see all my friends I've missed for the past year.

This week, beginning tomorrow morning at 6:30 am (thanks to Delta for messing up my flight arrangements and bumping us up 2 hours), we're flying to Idaho to visit his family for a week. I haven't met anyone besides his brother yet, so its the first meeting of family. He met my family at Easter and they absolutely love him. I'll update with pictures when I get back.

Thats the update for now! I promise to be more diligent in updating about the move, the house, the job, the boy and anything else that happens. Especially since I'll have internet at my house in Texas (I didn't in Arizona).

The recent current events have left me scratching my head at the world these days.

~ Miss California USA... Is to be commended for standing up for her beliefs and her views when it is the unpopular opinion. Whether you agree with her or not, she said and has stuck with her convictions. I believe that all the name calling that ensued the day after (Perez Hilton, Shanna Moakler, et al) was uncalled for, unprofessional of their respective positions and not conducive to promoting tolerance. Today's youth need to see people standing up for what they believe in and to be shown how to respectfully disagree with a person's opinion. The first happened, the second did not.

- The polo horses in Florida... horribly tragic but the pharmacy stepped up and admitted their error. Again, they should be commended for taking responsibility for their actions. Not many companies do that these days, epsecially when lawsuits are possible (probable?)

- The current political mess... and the economy mess.... disasterous!

Some days, I'm so over it...

- I'm over technicians who can't be bothered to do their job.
- I'm over 9 years of school + a Dr. in front of my name, and having to clean stalls at my place of employment because of technicians who can't be bothered to do their job (see above)
- I'm over having to perpetually please 5 different bosses at any given time, who all have their own way of doing something that is the ONLY way to do said procedure
- I'm over having everything I do criticized by bosses (see above) and technicians (see above), there are more than one way to skin a cat (or wrap a tail, folks)
- I'm over constantly having to walk on eggshells around certain people because they fly off the handle at really stupid shit
- I'm over being blamed for bad case management, when I wasn't managing the case to begin with and had no control over what was administered

I just want to be able to make my own decisions, right or wrong. If wrapping the tail up is really worse than down, I want to see the consequences for myself. (I'm not talking about medical treatments, I understand if I'm making a medically unsound decision, I would like to be corrected)

Not much sympanthy from me...

Ms. Parnell says the couple's gross income last year was about $260,000. Taxes, premiums for medical care and deductions for Social Security and their 401(k) contributions cut the gross to about $12,000 per month. The family tithes $1,300 a month at their church. Their mortgage, second mortgage and payment on land they bought is nearly $4,000 a month. Other expenses, including their family car payment, insurance and college funds, as well as basics like food, utilities and donations to charities, leave them with about $1,200 left over each month.
"I'm not after sympathy. We are blessed. What I want is a reality check on what rich means," Ms. Parnell says. "I can pay my mortgage and I can buy some clothes. I'm not going without, but I'm not living a life of luxury."

The countdown is on…

53 days remaining of the internship

Future employment status: Yet to be determined

Future housing status: Also yet to be determined – hard to find a place to live when you don’t know where to look

Reading: Adams’ Lameness

Looking forward to: Crawfish tomorrow (In Arizona even)

The Boy went home to Texas to meet Mom and Dad (and brother + brother’s girlfriend). They loved him, he loved them. Even left them alone unattended for hours while I interviewed – still went ok.

Had crawfish + lone star light beer + kolaches + saw bluebonnets = steller weekend
The interview – don’t know yet and won’t for a few weeks. I would love to have this job, but I’m not feeling too confident about it, and I can’t explain why

Only 68 days remaining of the internship...

Big job interview next weekend in Texas (flying home to Houston) for a clinic based up north in horse country. It's Easter - taking the boy home to meet mom and dad.

Prayers for said job would be appreciated - it would be a GREAT opportunity to help me get a surgery position next year. It's my 2nd best dream job (after surgeon of course).

The bad day from Friday, remember the one I mentioned earlier. The day with the guy, the great guy, who made it all better just by being available. So back to that day, it started with an emergency call around 7:30 am for a acutely neurologic horse that I ended up euthanizing and the day ended with all the hoopla that is involved in reporting a neurologic horse to the state health department, as required by the state of Arizona. The rest of the hectic day is not worth the blurred details.

Fast forward to yesterday I get the phone call from the state veterinarian, the horse is positive for rabies. So today, I get to go get my post exposure vaccination. Since I’m previously vaccinated (required in veterinary school), I only get 2 shots, instead of the standard 5 series. That same guy, remember him, the really great guy, volunteered to go with me and hold my hand, even though he’s terrified of needles and shots. (I’m ok with shots but who’s going to turn down a cute guy volunteering to sit and hold my hand).

Proof he's a great guy...

Dropped everything (in the middle of moving dirt/cleaning barns) to take a quick trip to Tuscon (over 2 hours away) and back with me, just because I was having a bad day and asked him to.

Kristin Armstrong, (yes the ex-wife of Lance) writes a regular colum/blog for Runner’s World magazine, and I subscribe so it shows up in my email inbox when she has a new post. This post is all about contentment and life in balance. It has been hard to remember to blog lately, because life has been super busy, but in balance and full of contentment.

Right now, there are 93 days left of my internship, 93 days until I leave this contracted and salaried position and start something new. The new part hasn’t quite been figured out just yet. By now, most everyone knows that I didn’t match in a residency program, this time. I had some reservations about my last minute decision to apply for a medicine position instead of a surgery position. Not receiving a highly coveted position just proves that medicine is not my spot in the world, and a better-for-me opportunity will come along. So until I find out what that is, I’m coasting comfortably. But if anyone knows of a horse vet that is hiring, let me know. I have some possible ideas, one of which involves the summer in Idaho (Braun Bros Reunion will happen if I wind up in Idaho – just sayin’).

Work is good; I’m on medicine with a highly critical case that has beaten all sorts of statistical odds and survived. Oleander plants (an ornamental bush that looks like this) is highly toxic to all animals, including people and this horse ingested a few mouths full. It is highly rewarding and makes the many nights up here with him, completely worth it. Same goes for my 7 day old foal with diarrhea – he’s looking better.

The team roper/farrier is absolutely wonderful and amazing beyond all comprehension. He completely understands my job and why I sometimes have to cut plans short or cancel last minute, or why I have to leave church early to take a phone call, or spend a Sunday afternoon running to work 6 times. He constantly finds ways to amaze me, he’s so kind hearted, just to watch him with his horses is awe inspiring, but then to watch him with one of my patients, was just amazing. He’s funny, I haven’t done crunches in weeks but my stomach is sore from all the laughing. He’s always surprising me with things he says and does and his thoughtful gestures. I’m so lucky to have him.

I’ve been riding more horses in the past 2 months, than I had the opportunity to do in the past 4 years, which alone is causing suc



Kristin Armstrong, (yes the ex-wife of Lance) writes a regular colum/blog for Runner’s World magazine, and I subscribe so it shows up in my email inbox when she has a new post. This post is all about contentment and life in balance. It has been hard to remember to blog lately, because life has been super busy, but in balance and full of contentment.

Right now, there are 93 days left of my internship, 93 days until I leave this contracted and salaried position and start something new. The new part hasn’t quite been figured out just yet. By now, most everyone knows that I didn’t match in a residency program, this time. I had some reservations about my last minute decision to apply for a medicine position instead of a surgery position. Not receiving a highly coveted position just proves that medicine is not my spot in the world, and a better-for-me opportunity will come along. So until I find out what that is, I’m coasting comfortably. But if anyone knows of a horse vet that is hiring, let me know. I have some possible ideas, one of which involves the summer in Idaho (Braun Bros Reunion will happen if I wind up in Idaho – just sayin’).

Work is good; I’m on medicine with a highly critical case that has beaten all sorts of statistical odds and survived. Oleander plants (an ornamental bush that looks like this) is highly toxic to all animals, including people and this horse ingested a few mouths full. It is highly rewarding and makes the many nights up here with him, completely worth it. Same goes for my 7 day old foal with diarrhea – he’s looking better.

The team roper/farrier is absolutely wonderful and amazing beyond all comprehension. He completely understands my job and why I sometimes have to cut plans short or cancel last minute, or why I have to leave church early to take a phone call, or spend a Sunday afternoon running to work 6 times. He constantly finds ways to amaze me, he’s so kind hearted, just to watch him with his horses is awe inspiring, but then to watch him with one of my patients, was just amazing. He’s funny, I haven’t done crunches in weeks but my stomach is sore from all the laughing. He’s always surprising me with things he says and does and his thoughtful gestures. I’m so lucky to have him.

I’ve been riding more horses in the past 2 months, than I had the opportunity to do in the past 4 years, which alone is causing such happiness in my heart.

I’ve switched churches, the new one I’m attending is very different than the church of Christ I’m used to, but the lessons are great and the pastors are wonderful. I’m enjoying newfound spiritual growth.

And that’s what I’ve been doing since the last update…

h happiness in my heart.

I’ve switched churches, the new one I’m attending is very different than the church of Christ I’m used to, but the lessons are great and the pastors are wonderful. I’m enjoying newfound spiritual growth.

And that’s what I’ve been doing since the last update…

It has been said that all horses come with 2 a**holes. One under the tail and the other holding the lead rope.

I have an owner for a hospitalized case that certainely fits that description. Last night at 11:00 pm, it goes off. It of course being satan, the loveable nickname of our emergency pager. The tune on our pager isn't the standard beep-beep-beep, but the tune to 'raindrops keep falling on my head'. From Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kids, everyone sing along now. I call the answering service to check the message and get this message.. "

"Hey, this is Client X, just wanting an update on Patient X before I go to bed. I talked to the doctor twice today and visited once, but just needed another update."

So I call her back, at 11:15 pm, and she procedes to keep me on the phone for 45 minutes asking all sorts of questions that could have waited for a time with the sun is shining. Questions about turn out (doesn't happen following surgery for 4 months), when can he show again (he's an unbroke 3 year old, can go back to work in 5 months), can he be insured (don't know, not an insurance agent), my horse friend said that he'll need this particular procedure done again every year for the rest of his life now (really? I've never heard that and I do the said procedure all the time), etc etc..

I keep meaning to blog but keep forgetting what I have to blog about.

My life consists of.. work (ah, the crazy life of an intern), on call duty (again, crazy life of an intern), eating, sleeping some (hahahaha!), and spending a little time with the boy. Crazy farrier/roper schedules.

My match results are in 8 days - not stressing yet and trying not to think about it. It is what it is.

Thats about it.

I'm day 2 into a 4 day call and have had 2 surgeries already.

The best thing about February 14, not that it was valentine's day (no valentine for me anyhow) was...

Pitchers and catchers reported to spring training...

Baseball season has arrived...

Phoenix happens to have 11 teams for spring training and 2 in Tucson...

"Oh dear Christian College..."

Recent reports of my alma mater breaking NCAA recruiting rules have recently come into the headlines. (here, here, and here). It absolutely breaks my heart to hear that international students, far from home, were being shown an outpouring of Christian love by local Abilene citizens are now going to have their titles, scholarships and reputations marred. In addition, ACU was standing up and doing the right thing by self reporting their infractions and are being severely punished, for being the "little guys". Remember when OU's football team got in trouble for accepting brand spanking new cars from a local dealership - they sure didn't get their winning season, along with records, statistics and resulting awards revoked. A slap on the wrist and a berth in the BCS championship game were their "punishment".

NCAA = biased

Go Purple, Go White! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!

GO WILDCATS!

So my date from friday was absolutely perfect. Sushi (his idea - what cowboy/farrier/team roper suggests sushi?) then dancing which was an absolute blast. He's such a good dancer.

And Saturday we went to a team roping then lunch, then he came with me while I checked on a colicky patient in the hospital. Just watched TV and relaxed last night on the couch.

Today, going to ride his horses then watch the superbowl.

What a great weekend and a lot of time spent with him.

Suishi date and then dancing at a dive-country bar with a hot team roper/cowboy tonight.. details to come ;)

I always mean to update much sooner.. A lot has gone on and I always forget what all I should report...

For the month of January I have been on ambulatory/field services which means we go mostly on outcalls (but do see some in clinic stuff) for routine health care maintenance and the occasional colic or laceration. This means vaccines, routine teeth floats, health papers for the upcoming show season, Coggins test, etc. Our work is very seasonal in nature, centering around show schedules and breeding schedules, so January and June/July is when we typically float teeth and do big barn vaccine days, which is exactly what we have been doing this month. Floating 8-10 horses in a day will wear a person out, but is a great upper arm work out.

January also means the beginning of breeding season. In the quarter horse and thoroughbred horse world, all horses turn a year older on January 1, and this is very important in show/race circuits, so consequently the goal of all breeders is to get a baby as close to Jan 1 without being born in December. And since the gestation period is 342 days (11 months for horse) we start breeding in mid-February to accomplish this, but have to start checking (palpating) mares in January to follow where they are in their cycle, which I've also been doing. We've also done a few embryo flushes and working on freezing embryos to implant in a recipient in a few weeks. Reproduction isn't my favorite thing, but its an important part of my job.. that being said, I'm ready for February and Surgery!!!

I've also managed to be on a fairly consistent running schedule (except this weekend because I'm on call and super busy with emergencies). I would like to run the San Diego 1/2 marathon on May 31, it's 2 weeks before my internship is done and I happen to be off that weekend. I'm planning on doing the 5K SkirtChaser series in Tempe on February 14, free running skirt with race entry. I'm loving the new Saucony running shoes.

The highlight of January was getting to see Aaron Watson at Martini Ranch in Scottsdale last week. I went by myself, not knowing a soul there, and ended up talking to about 6 different guys, even got to dance some, successful night. Then Aaron came on stage and played a super fantastic show. Got to hang out with him after the concert for a while and it was so good to catch up with my old college buddy. I love that guy - I wish Kim and the boys were there, I haven't got to meet the newest addition yet. I suppose going to the bar/concert by myself was adventuresome (never mind I do it a lot).

I had decided to not date during 2009, on purpose, boycott boys and relationships for the year. But of course that hasn't made it very far into the year. Apparently, one of the farriers that we do a lot of work with is best friends with one of my bosses' husband, and he is planning on asking me out sometime soon (she sent me a text telling me to expect it). He's a nice guy, cute and like horses, I think I'll go (pending if he does ask of course).

I think that's all I got for now, busy emergency weekend (cross your fingers for quiet for the rest of the night for me please...)

I'll do better to keep up , I promise!

Today is the inaguration, thankfully. I'm already tired of hearing/reading/listening to people rattle on about today being history making. Every time we swear in a new president, its history making.

The guy selected to be the Secretary of Treasury, owes taxes. Why is this not an issue?

The weather has been in the mid 80's all week - I love it! Ran an extra 25 minutes on saturday because I didn't realize it was time to stop.

I just finalized my rank for the Match... Now we wait, we wait until March 2, 2009 at 8:00 am EST, to determine where I go for the next 3 years....

While such a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders about my ranking, it has been replaced by 1) was medicine the right choice to be followed by a surgery fellowship 2) should I have gone straight surgery instead 3) what if I don't get a residency, what then?...

Step one, admit you have a problem.. Oh wait, wrong step 1. The first step to keeping resolutions or the theme for the new year, is to create a plan. With that in mind, in order to keep with the adventerous theme of the year, I've devised a way to step out of my comfort zone. I am a creature of habit, and slightly OCD, but that's a different blog topic.

While considering ways to specifically become adventerous I pondered the idea of talking to a stranger, but realized I do that already. Of course most of those conversations are "Hi, this is Dr. G from that equine hospital, you called because your horse is colicking, has a laceration, or other variety of emergency? What's going on?" Come on, it still counts, its a stranger. I even tell some minute detail of my personal life, sometimes.

Then I thought about going somewhere new and doing a bit of exploring of Arizona, which is also on my list of things to do this year. But then I remembered I'm on back up call and have to be somewhat available in the event something needs surgery.

So, today, I changed the brand of my running shoes. Baby steps folks, baby steps.. I have worn Asics Gel Nimbus since they were released 5 years ago, not the same pair of course, I rotate and change every 500 miles. My truck doesn't even get this kind of care folks. But today, today, I bought Sauccony Grids in black and light blue, irony much? We'll see how they feel tomorrow on my run.

Wow! That was a lot of ramble about absolutely nothing important.

Congratulations! to Sara and Clint and Baby Carter! I've seen pictures, he's beautiful.

I'm also contemplating re-Twittering. Any thoughts? I cut off all communication with a group of people due to a certain night in November where words I said were taken out of context and caused a heap of problems. But I'm thinking of re-introducing communication with some of that group of people and part of that is via Twitter. (I"m still staying away from little online music group - forever)

Today marks the first day of 2009. A new day, a new year, a chance a new beginning. 2008 was a tough year for many, but its now over and done and gone (thankfully!). I've copied Amalia's idea (thanks!) and will be living 2009 by a theme. No longer with I be on cruise control and just accept what happens.

I will live 2009 adventurously, fearlessly, diligently, and overall with great compassion.

Clink! Here's a toast to 2009! May it be the best one yet! Clink!