First week!

I can officially say I have survived week one of vet school. It's been a crazy long week, but looking back, it went by so fast!

The first day was nothing to worry about, no labs or anything, thankfully. Just lectures with some housekeeping. Then, every day after that, we had 3 hour anatomy labs... not so fun, at least what we are doing right now. It is pretty dull to me, though important (muscles, nerves, vessels of the thoracic limb). Somehow, we had to have it 4 days last week and then every week on we have it 3 days a week. What a way to start off. Now, if only I can figure out a good way to get the anatomy stench out of my hair!

Microanatomy is really boring. The lecturer we have right now... well, he is right after lunch and I basically could not keep my eyes open to save my life on Thursday. And, I apparently cannot stare into a microscope very long until I start getting a headache. I had a headache every day this week (minus Saturday). It really sucks to have borderline migraines when starting your first week of class. Today, I started to wear my glasses again, though I don't like to, I am hoping they will help with that. If not, I'm not sure what else to do at the moment besides just shoveling in excedrin every day. My glasses are over 4 years old, so I really need to go see another eye doctor at some point.

Other that those things, I'm really enjoying things we are learning about! It is hard to adjust being in class from basically 8 or 9 until five at night and then coming home and reviewing all the things you learned that day for another 3 or 4 hours. So, yeah, we basically have no life. But, I came in knowing this was how it was going to be, so not a shocker there. Just an adjustment.

Also, this week was pretty hellacious because my pup, Beamer, wasn't doing right. I took him in 3 different times over the course of a week and we still have no idea whats going on with him, but he seems to be back to his normal self, thankfully, for the moment.

Today, I studied on and off until about 3pm and I called it quits. I studied a lot yesterday as well, so I think I'll be alright for this coming week. We have 3 quizzes at the end of the week. We had our first quiz on Friday in anatomy and it was super easy (I apparently just cannot spell a certain word... OH WELL). I still got a 90% on it, so that's a good way to start the year.

I'll try to update when I can, but I know it won't be weekly at this point. Maybe only when I have interesting things to talk about.

First day of class tomorrow

Well, I'm writing tonight for multiple reasons- the main thing being is that I start my first day of veterinary school tomorrow. I have so many emotions tonight, I'm not sure to be excited, nervous, anxious, scared, etc. There are just so many things to think about; but, I have dreamed of this for many years so I am pumped to finally begin a new journey in my life with 119 other classmates.

 My roommates have been fantastic- I really could not ask for better people to live with. They held me up yesterday as I broke down in front of them. The past day or two has been an emotional roller-coaster for me. Beamer has not been right and I get worried thinking the of the worst possible situations. So, I had quite a few good cries and I'm feeling better about him today. I took him to the vet school and they basically told me to wait and bring him back during the week if he hasn't improved. We'll see how he does. Yesterday he was very lethargic (among other things going on) but today he did seem brighter, but still not his usual self.

But, that's not something I want to get into at the moment. I want to focus on my first day of class and doing well with keeping up with everything. Today was a good day because I put up a lot of my posters from comic-con. All except the one I have to order a frame for because it is a strange size. I'm super excited to finally have these up so I can look at them. They are all really gorgeous (though, one I will have to move to another place).

But, here I am rambling, so I will try to update this about once a week if I can. We will see how it goes with classes. I'm sure by the end of the week, I'll be an emotional wreck again (we already have our first quiz on Friday in anatomy).

Vet school is just around the corner

Well, it has been almost 2 weeks since the last time I updated. Not much had been going on, honestly, until I went to VET orientation a few days ago. That was pretty fantastic! I really wasn't that pumped for it since I really don't like meeting new people or doing team exercises. But, I have to say, I had a lot of fun. Everyone in my class has been so nice and wonderful, it is a great change of pace. My group was great (notorious narwhals!) And hopefully I've made a foundation for some great friends. I'm not a very outgoing person and I'm pretty quiet, so it was a bit outside my comfort zone, as they kept calling it, for me to get up and talk and meet new people. I'm glad I did and I'd do it all over again. I think I can say that both my two roomies and I are worn out from the past few days. They definitely filled up our entire day from 7:30am to about 10:30pm with activities together. It is nice to be home and have some alone time (and to see Beamer boy, of course).

Not much else to update until classes start- though I did order an iPad. Beamer also seems to not be feeling so well today. I hope he will be back to himself tomorrow (hopefully it was just because I was gone). Also, it seems that it won't be working out (relationship wise) with the girl I've been talking to. She and I really didn't have any 'butterflies' when we kissed. But, I still hope we can become great friends! It is going to be great to have someone outside of the veterinary school to talk to... to escape from there every once in a while.

Lastly, I'm taking Beamer to the vet today. He's been licking his chops ever since I got home from VET almost non-stop and he has been licking his right front paw a lot. I'm not sure what's going on, but with class starting and us going into the weekend, I'm not taking any chances. I watched him yesterday but he is not any better. Besides, I do need to still establish a vet in the area and find him someone who can do his lifetime study exam and bloodwork.

Great past two days

As  some of you might be aware, I've been posting about an amazing girl I've been talking to for a while. We met online back in April. I was still in Virginia, while she was in Missouri. I wanted to first get to know some people out here before I moved, but this I had hoped would turn into more. I've never been with another woman before, so this is all new territory for me.

We finally met for the first time in person, yesterday. We have been texting multiple times a day before that and I was already falling for her before I even met her. We meet at a noodle place downtown and sit and chat for while. We go and order her food and without a second thought she buys me lunch. After we finished, we walked around the downtown area. She showed me quite a few key places that I would need to know in Columbia. We walk buy an awesome video game store with all the retro things in it. VERY dangerous for me. I do actually end up buying a PS2 controller since I did need one (my sister gave me her old one she hasn't used that she got from an old boyfriend).

More walking and we end up in a small park off of the side of campus. We sit on a bridge over what used to be a creek with almost no water in it and talk more. I couldn't even tell you what we talked about this entire time, but I was definitely having a good time and hoped she was, too. Then we end up in a cute little cafe and get some drinks. I buy this time; iced tea for me and coffee for her.

Since our meters are about to run out (after 2 hours at this point) we both drive to the mall and look around there, of course chatting some more. Then we finally end up back at my place- my roomie is home and they meet. Beamer is finally introduced and he had to show her his toys. Lastly, we drive up the street to a nice park nearby with Beamer and walk around the pond. We stopped and played some fetch in the tennis court and then watched some guys play. Once we are back at my place again, she has to go (understandable, since it had been an almost 6 hour date!) It didn't feel that long at all and I had such a great time. A quick hug and she is on her way home.

Of course, she 'accidentally' left her water bottle in my room. She just said that she will just have to come by and get it the next day. Well, that is exactly what happened and she was over here at 10am this morning before she had to be at work at 12. We just laid in my bed and cuddled. Eventually holding hands and laying a bit on each other. Of course, there was Beamer right in the middle of us to begin with, being a buzz-kill. But it all worked out fine- I did imagine it being a little strange the first time with this sort of thing, but you know, it wasn't in the least bit. She is super sweet, nice, caring, cute, funny... everything you could ever want. She says that she will keep things as slow as I need to go, but I honestly want to just take the plunge now and go all out. It has been way too long.

So, maybe a bit TMI for some people, but I don't even care. I am hopefully seeing her again on Sunday after my dad leaves that morning for the airport! I could hardly make it just overnight (I slept awful last night) how am I going to make it almost 2 days!?

The epic move

Well, I've been in Columbia for 4 days now. Seems like just yesterday I was still at home, everything normal like it should be. I haven't updated so far just because I've been so busy unpacking and getting things together. I'm going to recant the entire trip here so you all know how it went (all 3 of my followers!)

Late Friday night, we started to pack the truck, tetris style (is there any other way?) after mom had family/friends over to the house. It was a nice, small party with my grandparents, my great grandmother (her husband is currently in the hospital... probable cancer... so I did visit him that day. He is being moved to a nursing home for the time being) and also two long-time friends. We had some good food, opened some gifts, and said our goodbyes.

Saturday, I went to my dad's for his party. They had it at Great Falls park, a place I'd never been. Lots of traffic to get in, but it was a beautiful place. My grandmother and her husband were there, grandfather, aunt, uncle, cousins, step-mom, her friend, and of course my dad. It was a good party, we went to see the falls and then it came to a close after being rained out (literal downpour). It was still fun; Beamer had a good time, too, and met some new friends. After that, I went back to my dad's for a few hours and just chatted. I said my goodbyes again and then went home to finish packing the truck and get a few last minute things together.

Sunday was the big day- woke up a bit before 7 to shower and grab last last minute things together. Got Beamer squared away in the car with his crate and off we went at about 8am. Mom was in the truck with her fiancee, who was determined to drive the truck the entire way. I was driving my car with Beamer boy. We had a 14 hour trip ahead of us. It actually went as well as I think it could have gone (minus men having to stop and pee too many times on a trip... wow!) We stopped at b-dubs in Ohio for lunch and ate outside since we had Beamer. Stopped at McDonalds for dinner since we needed something quick in Illinois. We finally made it to St. Louis after the sun had set and still had a good 2 hours to go. We stopped about 20 minutes from Columbia at a Holiday Inn Express for the night. It was about midnight (but we also had gained an hour, so we had been on the road for almost 17 hours. I tell you, men are awful travelers). We were so beat after that, everyone passed out as soon as we got there. I also want to note that Beamer did SO well with the trip. I did have to drug him with Benadryl every 6 hours or so, but he did so much better than I expected. He isn't the best car traveler (he pants and paces) so I was pretty worried about this long trip.

The next day we got up and finished the short drive to Columbia. Got to the place at around 10:30 and started unpacking. My first roomie was already here and unpacked. She helped get everything in. We organized my room for a good part of the day and then went out to Walmart to get a few things we needed.

We did see the house when we came down in April for the open-house. They said the road would be paved this summer, but it wasn't when we got here. And let me just say, this road is AWFUL it is filled with potholes beyond belief. That is probably the biggest complaint we have with it. We talked to the guy in charge who came over and he said it is going to be paved in September. We will see. Also, the washer and dryer we requested wasn't here. The guy told us he had no idea we wanted one (we've not been talking to him, but someone else about the place this whole time). Apparently he had no idea my roomie was moving in so early, either. We think something happened with the girl we talked with as she is apparently on medical leave and I don't think she will be coming back... But, all is well with the washer situation as we had brand new ones from Lowes delivered this morning! My last complaint with this place is that the backyard is full of junk. We need to get them to clean it up since we will be having two dogs living here. Beamer doesn't really like the backyard very much; you can tell when he walks in it. It isn't a large backyard, but it is nice just to have a place to let him out to potty quickly if needed. One of the best things about this place is our location. We are SO close to food, grocery stores, walmart... anything we need! There is even a vet clinic about 3 doors down from us that I'll be looking into.

That night, we went out for mexican and margaritas at a great place we found! They have margarita specials almost every night (of course except for the day we were there). Came back home and crashed after that.

Tuesday we did some more work in my room. A VM-2 gave us a tour of the school (he was super nice and came out on his lunch break to do it). Got a few more inside tips. Then we walked around campus with Beamer a little bit. After that, more errands like trying to find some white shirts, a gate for the kitchen, frames for some posters (that was unsuccessful), and finally groceries. It was pretty late after that was done, and mom made spaghetti for dinner here. We went out to a place called Andy's for ice cream that night (really good custard!) that is close to our place. 

The next day, Mom and her fiancee were leaving. Mom drove to the airport in St. Louis and we stopped at a chick-fil-a (since there are no CFA's in Columbia!) on the way there for lunch. Very sad goodbye there... Mom, of course, was crying. I was teary, but was keeping it together. The good thing is that I'll be seeing her in October for her wedding. I drove back home pretty upset. I knew that it would be hard since mom and I are so close. I hate being so far away from home, and especially her. We talk at least once daily, if not more. They made it home safely (and on time from their flight, surprisingly, since it was United). I didn't do much of anything else yesterday. I was pretty upset and didn't feel up for much of anything. I did end up playing  a bit more of Mass Effect 2 last night before bed. I also made tacos for dinner last night, delicious!

Today, I have a good amount of things to get done. I took Beamer on a quick walk throughout the neighborhood, which went better than I expected! It isn't the best looking place and seems a bit sketchy at times, but all seemed well on our walk. I also am finally meeting the girl I've been talking to since April today! We are getting lunch at 1pm at Noodles and Company, which I need to find. I am pretty excited for that. I also have some errands to run later.

Lastly, my dad will be here tomorrow evening. He is going to be visiting for the weekend, so it will be good to see a familiar face. So, I think that is all for now. I'm sure I forgot some things, but I will have more to post later. Once I get all my posters up and I'm happy with my room, I will be posting pictures.