Wednesday, November 9, 2011
So, about third year...
It's going fairly well... except for pharm. Words cannot express how much that class frustrates me. Will update again when I have some breathing space.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
The second arrival entry for my South Africa trip is now posted! Date was 5-26-11.
In other news, my dad's coming up on the 19th and we are getting my bathroom done! There are a few things left to order/purchase, everything will be ready for the renovations. I'm excited.
I'm about 80% done with the first Crash. My tentative goal is to finish all 3 by the time classes start... at this rate I think I'll be good. Next on the list? Spyro the Dragon and its first two sequels. After that I'll probably run through the rest of Dragon Age II, Fable, and maybe Elder Scrolls: Morrowind (I've finished Oblivion). Thankfully they're all easier to save and quit than Crash is!
In other news, my dad's coming up on the 19th and we are getting my bathroom done! There are a few things left to order/purchase, everything will be ready for the renovations. I'm excited.
I'm about 80% done with the first Crash. My tentative goal is to finish all 3 by the time classes start... at this rate I think I'll be good. Next on the list? Spyro the Dragon and its first two sequels. After that I'll probably run through the rest of Dragon Age II, Fable, and maybe Elder Scrolls: Morrowind (I've finished Oblivion). Thankfully they're all easier to save and quit than Crash is!
Monday, August 8, 2011
Old School
The arrival entry for my South Africa trip is now posted! Date was 5-25-11.
Recent news: I got the urge to play Crash Bandicoot and its sequels (the first two, anyway) while I was in Australia... probably because we never got to see a bandicoot. So I borrowed them and a Playstation (does this date us??) from my brother and started working my way through the levels. Man did I forget how frustrating the game's save system can be! And some of the levels! And getting the gems!
But it's super fun!
Recent news: I got the urge to play Crash Bandicoot and its sequels (the first two, anyway) while I was in Australia... probably because we never got to see a bandicoot. So I borrowed them and a Playstation (does this date us??) from my brother and started working my way through the levels. Man did I forget how frustrating the game's save system can be! And some of the levels! And getting the gems!
But it's super fun!
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Countdown to 3rd year
Summer is officially coming to an end in T minus 16 days. Then I'll "really" be a VM3, which is kind of scary but it no longer feels weird referring to myself as one. I've got a few things to get in order around here, which include but aren't limited to:
- Re-arranging my living room
- Cleaning and organizing my office
- Renovating my bathroom
- Replacing the flooring/etc in my entire trailer
Friday, July 8, 2011
Two down, two to go
My second year of veterinary school ended with the worst finals week I have ever had. The only thing I can say is thank God I passed everything because I don't know if I could go through that again! Seriously, both semesters sucked and "worst academic year of my life" (which is how I've been describing it to people) is a serious understatement.
Seriously.
I was going to write more unrelated stuff but I'll leave that for tomorrow.
Seriously.
I was going to write more unrelated stuff but I'll leave that for tomorrow.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
South Africa - Arrival part 2
Ugh for an early morning! Sally and I both slept through our alarms but we were still able to meet Brie for a quick breakfast.
There was a bit of a fiasco with the shuttle -- the 8:05am one sped past the stop without picking anyone up! Thankfully one of the hotel staff called the service and made sure that the 8:25am shuttle could pick everyone up. We met a nice Australian couple as we waited and chatted with them until we got to the airport.
Checking in and going through security took next to no time. On the flight we were treated to a hilariously bad 80's-style safety PSA cartoon, and (for some reason) were fed maybe 10 minutes before starting our descent into Port Elizabeth. The view was spectacular! We flew out over Algoa Bay and circled back toward the airport. We coasted above the water for most of the descent.
The rest of our group (ISU 2013'ers Abby, Emma, and Kristy, and ISU 2014'ers Jane and Barry)* have been in-country on a pre-trip for the past 10 days or so we met up with them as we waited in the airport. We were picked up at 2:30 by a Brothers Safaris representative and headed out for Amakhala Game Reserve.
Abby, Emma, and I talked for most of the drive. Once we got to the reserve -- which is absolutely gorgeous -- we sorted ourselves into tents (I'm with Jane and Sally), unpacked, and headed to dinner and a course introduction.
*names changed for privacy
There was a bit of a fiasco with the shuttle -- the 8:05am one sped past the stop without picking anyone up! Thankfully one of the hotel staff called the service and made sure that the 8:25am shuttle could pick everyone up. We met a nice Australian couple as we waited and chatted with them until we got to the airport.
Checking in and going through security took next to no time. On the flight we were treated to a hilariously bad 80's-style safety PSA cartoon, and (for some reason) were fed maybe 10 minutes before starting our descent into Port Elizabeth. The view was spectacular! We flew out over Algoa Bay and circled back toward the airport. We coasted above the water for most of the descent.
The rest of our group (ISU 2013'ers Abby, Emma, and Kristy, and ISU 2014'ers Jane and Barry)* have been in-country on a pre-trip for the past 10 days or so we met up with them as we waited in the airport. We were picked up at 2:30 by a Brothers Safaris representative and headed out for Amakhala Game Reserve.
Abby, Emma, and I talked for most of the drive. Once we got to the reserve -- which is absolutely gorgeous -- we sorted ourselves into tents (I'm with Jane and Sally), unpacked, and headed to dinner and a course introduction.
*names changed for privacy
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
South Africa - Arrival
My journey to South Africa began with a brief and delayed (thanks, thunderstorm) flight to Atlanta, GA, from my natal airport.
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is huge! I had to trek past about a billion gates, hop on the train to go to a separate concourse, then trek past a billion more gates before reaching my departing gate. At some point I got over-priced but delicious food and met up with two of my fellow trip-mates (Sally*, fellow ISU 2013'er, and Brie*, non-ISU 2013'er).
The flight from Atlanta to Johannesburg was uneventful other than the fact that my seat would not recline. We shuffled directly to customs once we arrived... this took a lot longer than it should have because I had the awesome luck of choosing a teller who could not get the computer system to work. On any of the terminals. But they eventually let me into the country!
The three of us then collected our baggage and tried to find our way to the hotel shuttle station. One of the others decided to ask for directions and we were escorted through a dark, creepy (seriously creepy) walkway that did actually lead to the shuttle stop.
Now, here's a tip: Don't let other people handle your luggage when you're in Africa (or lots of other places) because they'll expect a monetary tip. Sally had apparently never been told this and let one of the porters take her bag, and was then shocked/confused or something when he asked for a tip as we were getting onto the shuttle.
In any event, we are now in our nifty little hotel rooms. We've got an early flight to Port Elizabeth tomorrow!
*names changed for privacy
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is huge! I had to trek past about a billion gates, hop on the train to go to a separate concourse, then trek past a billion more gates before reaching my departing gate. At some point I got over-priced but delicious food and met up with two of my fellow trip-mates (Sally*, fellow ISU 2013'er, and Brie*, non-ISU 2013'er).
The flight from Atlanta to Johannesburg was uneventful other than the fact that my seat would not recline. We shuffled directly to customs once we arrived... this took a lot longer than it should have because I had the awesome luck of choosing a teller who could not get the computer system to work. On any of the terminals. But they eventually let me into the country!
The three of us then collected our baggage and tried to find our way to the hotel shuttle station. One of the others decided to ask for directions and we were escorted through a dark, creepy (seriously creepy) walkway that did actually lead to the shuttle stop.
Now, here's a tip: Don't let other people handle your luggage when you're in Africa (or lots of other places) because they'll expect a monetary tip. Sally had apparently never been told this and let one of the porters take her bag, and was then shocked/confused or something when he asked for a tip as we were getting onto the shuttle.
In any event, we are now in our nifty little hotel rooms. We've got an early flight to Port Elizabeth tomorrow!
*names changed for privacy
Friday, March 11, 2011
Spring break!
After the pharmacology exam yesterday I ran a few short errands, walked my dog, and installed Dragon Age II and spent some well-deserved time killing darkspawn and acquiring party members.
That game is awesome. Shiny awesome.
That game is awesome. Shiny awesome.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Gotcha
I'm not sure exactly when it started (the details are fuzzy at this point), but since November or so I have regularly been finding small dog poop all over my yard. On my driveway, all over the part by the street, around the tree that is in the middle of my yard... you name it. It seemed irregular at first, but with the advent of snow it became obvious that it was a daily -- sometimes twice-daily -- occurrence. It has been incredibly frustrating.
Since it started I've been suspicious of my new-ish neighbors. Why? They're the only ones that I've seen with a small dog in my immediate vicinity and this started after they moved in. Talking to them was obviously the "good neighbor" thing to do -- except that they're home at odd hours that rarely coincide with when I am home, which makes it extremely difficult to do so.
Since it started I've been suspicious of my new-ish neighbors. Why? They're the only ones that I've seen with a small dog in my immediate vicinity and this started after they moved in. Talking to them was obviously the "good neighbor" thing to do -- except that they're home at odd hours that rarely coincide with when I am home, which makes it extremely difficult to do so.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Halfway to break
Three exams down, three to go in PSBTM. Case study and public health went well, but virology... let's just say it took everything I'd studied, laughed, and threw it down a black hole while cackling about clinically irrelevant minutia and laughing maniacally. Words cannot express how much I loathe that class.
What a way to start another weekend full of studying! Blagh.
What a way to start another weekend full of studying! Blagh.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Studying and whiny dogs
My dog likes to talk to me. A lot. "I need outside." "I'm sure there are rabbits or squirrels outside for me to chase." "I want a chewie." "You just got home, therefore you should feed me." "That plate you have there has something on it for me." "Go to sleep. Seriously."
Sometimes he combines the talking with bounding around the trailer like a horse. Just in case I couldn't hear him, I guess. Oh, well. At least he's cute.
Sometimes he combines the talking with bounding around the trailer like a horse. Just in case I couldn't hear him, I guess. Oh, well. At least he's cute.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
The little things
I discovered during surgery lecture that my dog has a doppelganger. Seriously; at first glance, and upon closer inspection, one of the 3-legged dogs pictured in our powerpoint is just about identical to the 4-legged hooligan that trots through my trailer. My friends agreed, and my mom thought it was Vanyel when I sent her the picture until I pointed out the missing leg.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
A break in the storm
Pre-Spring Break Testing Madness doesn't start until February 28. Unfortunately, PSBTM consists of 6 exams over 2 weeks -- but it should be doable as long as I can recapture the productivity that came over me yesterday for most of the next week.
It was entirely unexpected. I got so much accomplished! It was the first truly productive night I have had all semester. In summary:
In non-school news, my pre-ordered copy of Dragon Age II will (hopefully) arrive on March 8th! This is right at the tail end of PSBTM but it should only burn a hole on my desk for about 2 days... then it's spring break! And I can play without jeopardizing a test!
I'm already getting antsy and started playing Fable: The Lost Chapters to help tide me over.
It was entirely unexpected. I got so much accomplished! It was the first truly productive night I have had all semester. In summary:
- Got some things squared away with the WCC (I'm working with them on something Really Cool)
- Finished something for Really Cool Thing and made progress on another
- Knocked out 4 diagnostic pathfinders for clin path
- Finished my virus chart and started on flashcards that will be highly color-coded
- Backed up my computer
In non-school news, my pre-ordered copy of Dragon Age II will (hopefully) arrive on March 8th! This is right at the tail end of PSBTM but it should only burn a hole on my desk for about 2 days... then it's spring break! And I can play without jeopardizing a test!
I'm already getting antsy and started playing Fable: The Lost Chapters to help tide me over.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Why hello there February...
This semester is sucking the life out of me. Our classes seem largely disorganized (possibly because most everything last semester was hyper-organized) and the weather is crappy and everyone is sick and the motivation to study is seriously lacking.
Yeah.
As a side note: Why did I decide to watch Bones (online... I have no cable) as it airs and not wait until the season ended?? This whole wait-until-next-week, then oh-we're-on-hiatus-for-like-two-weeks thing is going to drive me nuts! And no, Booth! No!
Yeah.
As a side note: Why did I decide to watch Bones (online... I have no cable) as it airs and not wait until the season ended?? This whole wait-until-next-week, then oh-we're-on-hiatus-for-like-two-weeks thing is going to drive me nuts! And no, Booth! No!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)