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!