I have my sippy straw brain capacity and it is just not enough to comprehend this fire hose of information I have being thrown in my face. What does that all mean? It means I have started fourth year. You may be told many times that 4th year is full on but nothing actually prepares you for it. I am at uni in the same room and lecturers rotate to us. Three or four hours in the “dungeon” , 80 of us crammed into a tiny windowless usually too cold or waaaaay to hot room and then a one hour break and then 4 hours in a lab, practical, or rotation.
2008, SEMESTER 1
VET432 Surgical Principles & Anaesthesia
VET433 Diagnostic Imaging
VET435 Veterinary Epidemiology & Public Health 2008,
FULL YEAR
VET436 Small Animal Medicine & Surgery
VET437 Production Animal Health and Management
VET438 Equine Medicine and Surgery
VET439 Reproduction & Obstetrics
VET441 Avian Exotic Pets and Wildlife Medicine
2008, SEMESTER 2
VET401 Applied Veterinary Medicine I
It is the stuff I have waited for, all the interesting stuff, the stuff that really matters, but it is SOOOOO MUCH STUFF. The first lab was surgical hand scrubbing, as we all stood there in our surgery scrubs hands in the air we looked at eachother and the look of oh $%^& we are really going to be vets and be the ones DOING surgery not watching dawned on us. I have watched surgery for 9 years. I was still not prepared for the feeling I felt on Monday washing over me and saying I WILL BE IN CHARGE. I WILL BE THE ONE RESPONSIBLE.
I passed the first half and I have yet another BS this time called a BVSc a bachelor in veterinary science. Now it is time for the bachelor of veterinary medicine and surgery.
The lectures are interesting they are not on the webCT system so there is NO missing any part of class to go to work early. In fact there is hardly any work, only two shifts a week if that. My first rotation is Equine for 4 weeks on Thurs and Fri every week. We just did the physical exam of the horse and saw endoscopy which is really awesome. We were quizzed on all the anatomy we learned so long ago and I really don’t know how I passed the first time because I don’t remember any of those bones and ligaments (had to get rid of that info to allow pathology, pharmacology, and toxicology to have room). Next week is Equine dentistry.
We are learning everything there is to know about everything that has to do with radiology, and radiography. Even down to the photons and electrons in outer shells and all the physics which I thought I left behind YEARS ago. I love radiology, but NOT radiography. Cant I just follow the chart on the wall and point and shoot and still get my licence? Guess not, guess I have to know what is happening to the patient and me on the cellular level.
It is ironic that are lecturer on anaesthesia puts us to sleep. I am happy to say he has been the only one that is very hard to stay awake for. All the others are interesting, just so very very fast. You really have to know what is important to write down and what else you can look up.
Life outside of vet school? What life….he he. I went to big day out again this year with Steve and all his friends and had a great time. I cant believe a year has already passed since the last one. I have a small furry child running around the house. He is Sebastian the Crab Man our little cat. The little guy that was sooo sick and not going to make it to six months is bright and healthy and following me everywhere and throwing everything off my desk as we speak. He likes to eat anything on the floor and even follows you to the bathroom and sticks his little paw under why oh why can he not be where you are every second of every day, the little mischief maker
Steve is away on vacation on the gold coast with his dad but since he left before valentines day he surprised me on Tuesday. He took me to Kings Park overlooking the city and had a romantic picnic dinner all planned out. So thoughtful!!!
I have to go study more equine medicine and I will try to write to everyone who writes back individually. I just cut back on all my shifts at work so besides studying and more studying I wont be doing much else. But I must study as much as I can because now I have lives in my hands and I better know what I am doing, oh and I will have 12 finals as well so I sure as heck better keep up.
Cheers,
-Christina
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
The Thinking Blogger Award!!!
I am so very excited to say I have been awarded a Thinking Blogger award by Nearly Dr. Ferox
I’m told there are rules that go with this award too. To quote Dr. Ferox:
There are rules attached to this award
1. You must write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think
2. Acknowledge this post
3. Proudly display the Thinking Blogger Award with a link to the post that you wrote
**Of course all of these things are optional…it’s just a nice way to recognize your favorite blogs.
So, here are the five blogs I nominate to receive the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’ from stinyexoticvet.
1. I Must Be Crazy
2. Nearly Dr. Ferox
3. Naiveterrain
4. Peterinarian
5. Voy al Caminero
Friday, January 25, 2008
Last Days :(
Well, Andrew has gone back and I miss him so much and so does Steve. He was great fun to have around. We succeeded in doing everything I hoped we could and showing him everything I wanted to. He loved going to the Seaview where I used to work and having Absinthe and lemonade and hanging out with my old co-workers and boss. He loved that darn pin ball machine as well. We were able to make it to a Sunday Session at the Left Bank his last Sunday here. I also had to squeeze in Little Creatures for his second to last night and my old Aussie "Family" showed up to meet him. Fatima, Jason, Sam, and Mikey, and then of course Steve, Jarron and Chrissy. Andrew got to finally try kangaroo and he liked it alot. I had a delicious prawn and cilantro pizza I split with Chrissy. Such good times and of course some good Little Creatures freshly brewed Pale Ale.
The next day, and last day was back to the Seaview for the last round of Absinthe and pinball. After that we headed over to Steve's parents house and had a huge dinner and they had a lovely cake for him as well. Thank you Steve, Nicole, Lynn, and Ken for all of your hospitality!!!
The next day, and last day was back to the Seaview for the last round of Absinthe and pinball. After that we headed over to Steve's parents house and had a huge dinner and they had a lovely cake for him as well. Thank you Steve, Nicole, Lynn, and Ken for all of your hospitality!!!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Rottnest!!
Next: On to Rottnest. You cant really have someone come and visit and not take them to Rottnest. It is a little island only thirty minutes off the shores of Fremantle by ferry ride. We ate at the dome cafe over looking the water. Andrew had his 30 wt. Motor oil coffee, I swear that stuff could grease an engine, and I had some blended yummy sugar chocolate coffee thing of doom that kept me going for the next two days strait. We rented our bikes, because there are no cars on the island, and headed to the Kingstown Barracks Hostel where we would be staying for the evening and put all our stuff away. I have stayed at a few hostels so I knew what to expect...one shower and toilet to share and communal kitchen. Does not matter, you meet the coolest people at Hostels.
We rode back into town and after doing a bit of shopping we rented our snorkel gear with the intention of snorkeling all day. We passed the first bay and lo and behold there were about ten young ladies dancing on the beach and on a boat in their bikinis
giggling and drinking away. Sooooo what to do what to do, " I feel like a donkey stuck between two bales of hay who starves to death" Those were Andrews exact words Ha ha ha! He said he is going back to the grocery store and if there is still one case of Corona there then that means he is supposed to buy it and go back to that first beach.
Back to the store we go and sure enough there is a case of Corona. He puts that on his shoulder and we walk all the way back to the beach. He walks right down into the middle of all the Aussie girls and says who is thirsty. Needless to say we spent the whole day dancing and the beach and on the boat and playing beach cricket.
Went back to the Hostel and there to greet us on our doorstep were little critters the island was named after. Quokkas were everywhere. These little marsupials came right up to us. We went outside to take some photos and met some great guys who were from Queensland...Hawka, Macca, Thom the Pom, Alex from France, Avery from California, and Ethan. They made us a huge bowel of homemade vege soup and then we shared some drinks put our helmets on, I threw a little blaster in my bag with Bob Marley tunes and we jumped on our bikes and slowly rode our bikes back into town.
It was so nice with the wind blowing a little the stars out and all of us a bit tipsy biking around singing "Dont Worry About a Thing" Arrived at the pub and all the ladies were there and we watched Andrew dance the night away. Macca's bike was stolen so he got to ride on the back of Andrews bike on the way back to the hostel...it looked so funny.
The next morning Steve arrived and after a nice breakfast at the Dome again it was time for some snorkeling. Andrew and I were a bit hung over and we saw no reason for Steve to rent a bike so we walked to all the great snorkel spots. Saw an octopus and many other pretty fish. Steve loves to be under water, I think that is why he has yet another nickname...FISH...I just call him Scuba Steve. The water was a bit cold though so I had to keep coming back to land to warm up. Andrew and I are sitting there and we hear Andrews name being called from the top of the rocks over the next bay. Look into the distance and realize it is Macca...30 minutes later he swims into shore, I have no clue where he came from LOL. He joins us and we go off to the next bay where he swims with no fins or snorkel. Just a mask is it...WOW. The guys stay out in The Basin for hours chasin fishies and I join for a bit with a wet suit this time. Rottnest was so much fun!!!
We rode back into town and after doing a bit of shopping we rented our snorkel gear with the intention of snorkeling all day. We passed the first bay and lo and behold there were about ten young ladies dancing on the beach and on a boat in their bikinis
giggling and drinking away. Sooooo what to do what to do, " I feel like a donkey stuck between two bales of hay who starves to death" Those were Andrews exact words Ha ha ha! He said he is going back to the grocery store and if there is still one case of Corona there then that means he is supposed to buy it and go back to that first beach.
Back to the store we go and sure enough there is a case of Corona. He puts that on his shoulder and we walk all the way back to the beach. He walks right down into the middle of all the Aussie girls and says who is thirsty. Needless to say we spent the whole day dancing and the beach and on the boat and playing beach cricket.
Went back to the Hostel and there to greet us on our doorstep were little critters the island was named after. Quokkas were everywhere. These little marsupials came right up to us. We went outside to take some photos and met some great guys who were from Queensland...Hawka, Macca, Thom the Pom, Alex from France, Avery from California, and Ethan. They made us a huge bowel of homemade vege soup and then we shared some drinks put our helmets on, I threw a little blaster in my bag with Bob Marley tunes and we jumped on our bikes and slowly rode our bikes back into town.
It was so nice with the wind blowing a little the stars out and all of us a bit tipsy biking around singing "Dont Worry About a Thing" Arrived at the pub and all the ladies were there and we watched Andrew dance the night away. Macca's bike was stolen so he got to ride on the back of Andrews bike on the way back to the hostel...it looked so funny.
The next morning Steve arrived and after a nice breakfast at the Dome again it was time for some snorkeling. Andrew and I were a bit hung over and we saw no reason for Steve to rent a bike so we walked to all the great snorkel spots. Saw an octopus and many other pretty fish. Steve loves to be under water, I think that is why he has yet another nickname...FISH...I just call him Scuba Steve. The water was a bit cold though so I had to keep coming back to land to warm up. Andrew and I are sitting there and we hear Andrews name being called from the top of the rocks over the next bay. Look into the distance and realize it is Macca...30 minutes later he swims into shore, I have no clue where he came from LOL. He joins us and we go off to the next bay where he swims with no fins or snorkel. Just a mask is it...WOW. The guys stay out in The Basin for hours chasin fishies and I join for a bit with a wet suit this time. Rottnest was so much fun!!!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Surfing time
When we got back from the red sands of the outback it was time to hit the beach again. This time it was to the very touristy and windy Scarborough beach. Did not even know Steve was on a construction site in that part of town. Once he finished work he came down to join us. He neglected to remember any boardies in his car and looked like the Seaside Strangler when he arrived in work gear and steel toed boots. A quick change into denim shorts and a makeshift belt with a piece of rope from work and he was good to go. The wind was a bit strong but the water was soooo nice.
The Middle of Nowhere!!!
The next day was spent at the dog beach. Keaton and Storm had a blast and Andrew and Steve frolicked all day as well. I am so proud of Keaton!! He actually did some swimming and did not panic in the water. We had a blast at the beach and I could not stop snapping photos.
I had to take Andrew to a Sunday session at the Cott. It was ok for the first hour and then the youngsters started to get on the nerves. For a complete contrast I took Andrew to meet Daryl and Anne who I did my Alpaca prac with. We had a great time with the quads and animals. Andrew got to see and pet his first kangaroo and she even had a little joey. We stayed the night there and swam in their pool because it was about 100 degrees. The next day something possessed us to go even further into the heat and the outback to the huge formation known as wave rock.
What a contrast to go from the beaches of Cottesloe to the wheatbelt and red sands of waverock. I even let Andrew give driving a try and besides entering the road on the wrong side he quickly learned to stay left...left...LEFT!! It did not matter if he stayed in the middle, there was nobody out there for the majority of the time. What...nobody else wants to brave 112 degree heat, no air con, middle of nowhere red sands...Why ever not??
I had to take Andrew to a Sunday session at the Cott. It was ok for the first hour and then the youngsters started to get on the nerves. For a complete contrast I took Andrew to meet Daryl and Anne who I did my Alpaca prac with. We had a great time with the quads and animals. Andrew got to see and pet his first kangaroo and she even had a little joey. We stayed the night there and swam in their pool because it was about 100 degrees. The next day something possessed us to go even further into the heat and the outback to the huge formation known as wave rock.
What a contrast to go from the beaches of Cottesloe to the wheatbelt and red sands of waverock. I even let Andrew give driving a try and besides entering the road on the wrong side he quickly learned to stay left...left...LEFT!! It did not matter if he stayed in the middle, there was nobody out there for the majority of the time. What...nobody else wants to brave 112 degree heat, no air con, middle of nowhere red sands...Why ever not??
Monday, January 7, 2008
New Years!!!
So New Years has come and gone. Happy New Year everyone. I cannot believe it is 2008 already. Wow!!! We had a house party here so everyone could party safe and not have to worry about anything. I think everyone had a great time. Good food, good friends, and good fun.
A day to recover and clean and then Andrew and I went to the Perth Zoo. We took the train all over Perth. We went to Mandurah and had the worlds largest pile of fried fish and chips goodness. Back on the train to ride into the city for the zoo and caught another train back to Cottesloe beach for some photos and a pint. After that it was back onto the train and into freo to make our way to the Seaview where I used to work.
A day to recover and clean and then Andrew and I went to the Perth Zoo. We took the train all over Perth. We went to Mandurah and had the worlds largest pile of fried fish and chips goodness. Back on the train to ride into the city for the zoo and caught another train back to Cottesloe beach for some photos and a pint. After that it was back onto the train and into freo to make our way to the Seaview where I used to work.
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