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.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
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)
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)
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Saturday, December 6, 2008
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).
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).
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
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.
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.
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.
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