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)