Cool is Relative.

This is a note to say that I have possibly the best boyfriend in the whole world. About two weeks ago while browsing the net, I came across the cutest anime figure of Matsuri from Strawberry Marshmallow dressed as a Veterinarian. Not only is this a great find because of the rarity of finding a figure (let alone anything) from the manga/show Strawberry Marshmallow, but it combines two of my favorite things, anime and veterinary medicine.

While there are several instances of junctions between those two things (Rik from Di Gi Charat, Dobutsu no o-Isha san, Wildlife ), they are so few are far between that it's hardly worth mentioning. So, imagine my surprise and joy when I happened upon this figure celebrating the two worlds, and then my subsequent depression when I found out that the figure which had been released in 2006 was no longer available ANYWHERE! Ebay, every figure site imaginable, google...NO LUCK TO BE FOUND!

That's when the lovely Pyro-kun swooped in and found it on a japanese site similar to ebay called Rakuten under a title that I never would have suspected to look under. He is just amazing like that. So, if you are reading Pyro-kun, thank you, and I love you!

Below is a picture of the figure:


*Happy sigh*
Now, back to ABLEs. Ugh.

Countdown:
Summer: 39 Days, 1 Physiology Exam, 1 Microanatomy Exam, 2 Anatomy Quizzes, and an Epi Homwork.

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa..."

"...Lois, this is not my Batman cup!"



FINALLY! A REASON TO POST THIS VIDEO!

I would like to announce to the world that today, March 21, 2011, I made my first B on a veterinary anatomy test. It was a joyous occasion marked by much Caramelldansen-ing. I ended up missing 7 points total on the 50 points test (an 86 for those that don't like to do the math). Our professor hasn't posted our new total averages yet, so I am not sure how much the grade pulled up my 68. I'm hoping that it pulled it up noticeably though.

I suppose that the study session actually did work, a fact that I find great comfort in. Not only did I actually learn material, but I had lots of fun doing it. I see this becoming a habit for future tests, even if I have to bribe the group with baked goods.

Tomorrow, I know the number of exams before finals down to 4 by taking my 2nd Microanatomy Exam. Bah.

On a sadder note, there was a boat accident involving the boyfriend of one of the girls in my class, and they have yet to find him. While I don't know her on a close level, I feel deep sympathy for her as I am sure everyone does and hope for the best, despite the odds. My prayers go out to them and their families. I know all of you are not religious, but if you would send out your prayers, well wishes, and thoughts to those involved, I'm sure they would be very much appreciated.

Countdown:
MTAC: 30 days
Summer Break: 48 days, 5 Exams, 2 Quizzes, and 5 Finals (Also, 2 Epidemiology HW's).

T- 50 and Counting

Today marks the 50 days left of my first year of vet school mark. Of course, this presents a mixed vat of joy and despair. Oh joy of joys, I am almost 1/4 done with this crazy, busy, time-consuming death trap! Oh horror of horrors, I have 5 exams, 2 quizzes, and 5 finals left along with scattered papers and labs.

Will I be able to conquer the time that I have left and emerge into summer vacation with my battered head held high and my shields untarnished? Will I remember what it's like to be able to sleep and not study? Stay tuned for more exciting and action-packed tales from the mind of a Dysfunctional Kitsune.

MTAC 2011- 32 days.
Summer 2011- 50 days, 5 Exams, 2 Quizzes, and 5 Finals.

Studying for Anatomy Can Be Fun?

Today, in a move of brazen desperation, I barged my way into an anatomy study group for tonight. I have never laughed so hard or had so much fun studying for anything. To that group, if you ever read this, I appreciate you all so much and am so very, incredibly thankful. I learned more tonight than I have learned this entire time that I've been studying for the test and had a lot more fun doing it.

Now, to see if all my work pays off tomorrow. Wish me luck and send me prayers. I'm going to need them!

Countdown:
Spring Break- 1 DAY!!!!!!!!!!! AND AN ANATOMY TEST!! AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Time to curl up in a carcass and take a nice nap.

THIS IS VET SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay. So, so my Sparta war cry is a shade lamer than the original. Cut me some slack though, how do you really make this interesting?

In 3 more days, I'll be eating dinner back at home with my family and packing to head to New Orleans on Sunday. Just 3 more days. Three brutal, unforgiving, lackluster, miserable, awful, horrible, mind-racking, soul-crushing days.

The second part of the physiology quiz is in the morning. I can't say I'm ready for it. I'm never ready for anything. It seems like a sad, recurring trend that is out to get me. No matter what I do or how I budget time, there just isn't enough in the day. So, it looks like another night without sleep for me. Goody.

On Friday, I have my 2nd Anatomy Exam. It's like physio only complete with pits of lava to navigate and giant man-eating sharks with lasers on their heads. I can't think about that right now though. For now, it's physio.



The Countdown:
Spring Break- 3 days, a Physio Quiz, and an Anatomy Exam.
MTAC 2011- 45 days.
Summer 2011- 62 days, 6 Exams, 3 Quizzes, and 5 Finals.

Since I Was a Little Kitten...

...I had a dream.

It's days like this that only watching Cats Don't Dance will suffice to ease my pain. Unfortunately, I don't have Cats Don't Dance up here with me. Forgive me while I go into a dark corner and be emo for several hours.

The past two weeks hav been most terrible, most terrible indeed. It started last Thursday with an Anatomy quiz from hell that I ended up making a 7.5/15 on. Yes, that is a 50%. As the class has very few points in total, it was a devastating blow to my average which is now a 68. (I feel I can be honest with anyone that reads this. I'm not going to pretend to be better than I am, afterall.) I have no idea how I'm going to pull my average up. I would have to make grades on the remaining 2 quizzes, exam, and final that I haven't made yet. Just pray for me. I really need it.

The horrible streak continued with the Epidemiology Mid-term on Friday after my two hours of sleep. I don't know how I did as we haven't gotten it back, but I just hope that I got a C on it. The Parasitology exam on Monday wasn't too bad in itself, but the continuing sleep deprivation finally paid its toll on the Physiology quiz on Wednesday. 40 questions in 30 minutes in a class that takes me longer to process than any other one. I didn't even get to finish the blasted thing! I just filled in circles to turn it in on time. Worst part? Round two is next Wednesday, and together they count for 25% of our final Physio grade.

I hate to rant and whine. I just feel so stupid and useless. I feel like everyone is doing better than me despite how hard I try. I just want to pass this semester and move onto next semester. I can't salvage this shipwreck and turn it into a polished turd. I just want to hit shore so that I can board the next ship, but I'm so tired of trying to scoop water out of this sinking hell hole. I can't stay ahead.


Now, back to Anatomy.

Countdown:
Spring Break in 9 Days, a Physio quiz, and an Anatomy Exam.
Summer Break (a.k.a.- Sweet Serenity) in 66 Days, 6 Exams, 3 Quizzes, and 5 Finals.

Hello Again. Miss Me?

ABLEs #2 is finished as are my first 3 exams (Physiology, MicroAnatomy, and Anatomy) and first 2 quizzes (Anatomy). I don't have much to say about them other than I am passing which is good.

ABLEs was a chore as usual. This ABLE the case was a Dairy Herd Health Epidemiology problem. The dairy farm in question has about 25-75% of it's herd too sick to milk either with Mastitis or lameness. The farm was shot in every possible way: grody field conditions, destroyed barns, flooded pastures. Honestly, the guy would have been better off lighting the barns on fire for the insurance money. Our coordinator was nice and funny, but super hardcore as he IS a dairy veterinarian. So, while all the other ables groups wrote reflective journals, we stamped out a 9 page treatment protocol. Ughh!!!!!

What else to update?

Oh! I got the Perfect Tea Maker from Teavana for Valentine's Day from my boyfriend. Nothing beats the mid-week dulls like a hot, delightful cup of tea, afterall.<3 I also got to spend a long weekend with him which, after not seeing him for a month, was a wonderful treat.

Dexter's Birthday was yesterday (2/15) too! He turned 3 yrs. old. Such a big boy.

(He was helping me study for Physio. Such a good boy. <3)


And Exams...I have 4 of them and 2 quizzes in the next 2 weeks.
Friday (2/18)= Virology Exam #1
Monday (2/21)= Physiology II Exam #2
Thursday (2/24)= Anatomy Quiz #3
Friday (2/25)= Epidemiology Exam #1
Monday (2/28)=Parasitology Exam #1
Tuesday or Wednesday (3/1 or 3/2)= Physiology II Quiz #1

>_< So, I'm not sure how much you'll hear from me the next few weeks either.

On the bright side of things, Spring Break 2011 is quickly approaching! I just have to make it through March 11 (24 days!!!!!!) and then I'm off until the March 21. I'm still not sure where I'm going or if I'm going anywhere, but there is talk about a New Orlean's Spring Break. ^-^ Which would, of course, be delicious and awesome, but I'm just happy to get a break from this mad house of school. Yuck.

Well. I've rambled on enough about everything. I better go study a little Virology for the exam on Friday.

Physiology is the Devil.

I currently feel like this (See picture below):



It's been a long day. I'm tired, I'm crabby, and I have a Physiology test tomorrow over GI function which means I will be able to resolve none of the issues listed above tonight. >_< So...Here's my token whine post. WAHHHHHH!

I will spend a majority of the next 12 hours studying, curled into a tiny ball, and feeling sorry for myself. Look's like my night is all planned out.

After 4 Hours in Any Lab...

...You begin to lose what little mind that you actually had left. Today, my three hour parasitology lab turned into a four hour journey into the bowels of hell and confusion. I exited broken, confused, and a shadow of my former self. Okay. That may be an exaggeration, but it was pretty horrible to spend the entire lunch period looking into microscopes at things that all looked the same to me.

A crappy little comic I did summing up my feelings about the previously mentioned 4 hour Parasitology lab. Feel free to enlarge if you wish and ignore my crappy artwork. And, because my handwriting sucks, the raccoon teacher is explaining that "Strongylus edentatus has no teeth in it's buccal cavity while Strongylus equinus has two teeth!"

Of course, I can't really count the teeth because to me, they all just look like fuzzy blobs in a mouth. Blah...Enjoy!



The above comic was spurned during an exceedingly long CCE class about Nephrology which happened right after I got out of my four hour lab. >_<

Hopefully, as I get time, I can make some more doodles describing my vet school experiences because there are only so many things that one can say with words.

Oh, in case anyone is counting, there are 105 days left until the end of this semester. ^-^

If All Else Fails...

...Get on the Fail Boat and ride it across the river to victory. I have learned, in time, that life is not perfect. If life was perfect, than there would certainly be a good deal less to look forward to and few surprises to be had. It is in this very thought that I have learned to find solace and comfort when all else fails.

Having spent a good deal of my life trying to achieve my idea of perfection, I know all too well the struggles that one faces when they find out that no matter how hard they strive, they will never reach their goal level of achievement. It can be taxing to understand that some people shall find ease and comfort in certain areas while others flounder in the seas of uncertainty, trying to forge ahead and not sure which way to go. Surprisingly, it is through this understanding that I have found great peace in my life. After all, when you no longer struggle to be the best, your mind is then opened up to true learning that, unlike your test grades, will follow you the rest of your life. While an A student may graduate top of their class, a C student still graduates with their Doctorate and as the contemporaries (not underlings) of the top of the class. I find no reason to count myself ahead of anyone else nor do I find the need to mourn my place as average or ordinary. We are all extraordinary in our own ways and, to that point, we all must coexist as the truly wonderful, unique, and outstanding individuals that we are. Whether you are top of your class in academics, a brilliant artist, a phenomenal writer, or the best philanthropist this side of the world, find the beauty in ourselves, the acts that you perform, and the talents that you possess. In the end, treasure is relative to the individual perspective. No one can make you see the beauty in yourself, but others most certainly can see it, and I think I am just beginning to see my own.




Below is a dream avatar creator for the site TinierMe. It was too adorable not to post. So...Deal with me. XP

2nd Day Back...Are We There Yet?!

Today was my second day back to my second semester of my nine semester stint in vet school. On my first day back, my first teacher couldn't make it to class because he was snowed in his house. The class, of course, found this out after we got up at the butt crack of dawn and drug our sorry asses into school to sit there for another hour because lecture began.

In other news, the class of 2014 has picked up 3 new classmates that are layover students that did not finish 2nd semester last year. This is fine, but has created quite a seating problem as in...there are none. Every day, I show up and rummage through the entire classroom trying to find seats that don't exist. I get there about 10-15 minutes before class starts, but everyone else seems to have nothing better to do than to get there about 30-40 minutes early. Obsession, much?! >_<

Tomorrow, we have our first Anatomy quiz over the nervous system. And, no, I'm not sure what he wants to know about the nervous system. He really hasn't taught us that much about it, unfortunately. Alas, Day 2 and it's already begun its sucking the life out of me process. Oh well. What can you do?

It's Really Over.

Forgive my absence the past few days, I've been catching up on some much needed sleep.

The semester came and went without much to speak about. I survived, though barely, in some aspects. I suppose the best I have to offer is that I'm still here, trudging down the vet school path. Now for the battle damage breakdown:

Through some serious kindness and curving on behalf of my Gross Anatomy professor, I managed to come out with a C+. Which, might I mention, is the first C that I've ever gotten for a class in my entire life though I take it gratefully and with more joy than I've taken better grades. Through some miracle, I managed to pull a B out of Physiology by getting a 105 on the final. I'm just not going to ask questions. It's better that way.

On Thursday, I got an email from my Bacteriology teacher telling me that he curved the grades a bit more to make the class average an 84, and it pushed me from a B+ to an A in the class. I hope my downstairs neighbor isn't too angry at me for jumping up and down and screaming so loudly for an hour. ^-~

I came out with A's in C.C.E. and Physical Diagnosis, proving for good that I'm fantastic at bullshitting and recognizing cows.

The Microanatomy final was rough, at best. It pulled down everyone's final grade in the class, so my A went to a B. I also came out with a B+ in Immunology though it was the very last final, and I was running on caffeine and hope. So, I'm happy to take it.

So, I made it! 11.1% or 1/9th of a veterinarian, at your service! It was much harder than I ever imagined that vet school would be. At times, I wanted nothing more than to run, screaming out of my window. I was afraid I wouldn't make it, but this semester showed me that sometimes incredibly impossible things happen. I'm very fortunate, to say the very least.

NOW LET'S GET TO CHRISTMAS BREAK, PEEPS!

I'm Just Hypersensitive About This, Okay!?

Only one more final left in Finals Week 2010. It's been horrible, grueling, disheartening, but I fought the good fight, regardless. Tomorrow's stab about my intelligence is Immunology. I've been studying all day, but cannot seem to focus correctly. I must admit, I am incredibly exhausted. To say that I lack the enthusiasm to go on would be an understatement. Vet school does that to you. While I know that they want us all to graduate, I feel like there's constantly a laser from a sniper rifle pointed straight at my forehead. I think that's why so many people in medical professions suffer nervous breakdowns. You're put in a place where everything is at odds with you. Usually, you don't have time to sleep, eating becomes a chore, and you lose social contacts because by the time you can talk to them you are exhausted and lack the verbal command to carry on a conversation. And, then, there's finals week which usually consists of 6-9 finals, all in varying degrees of "I'll just jump out the window" difficulty. You spend all your time focusing on your biggest problem class and get to a class that would have been easy to Ace, had you had more than a night or a few hours to study for it.

Regardless, in 8 short hours, my first semester is turning the final corner in its race to the finish line, and I think that I've been riding this pony long enough.

The Final Countdown: 1 DAY!!

Thursday: Immunology Final
Friday-January sometime: Sleep!!!!!!!

Weighing the Options

I spent most of tonight writing up an extra credit paper for Physiology...that I couldn't find the answer for. So, after 3 hours of research, I said "Screw you, physio!" and started studying again.

Tomorrow, I have my Physical Diagnosis Final which shouldn't be terrible, but there are only about 100 points total in that class, so you miss one question and you're on a one-way ticket to "I'm an idiot"-ville.

"Oh. You can't tell that my Lakeland Terrier isn't an Irish Terrier? Obviously, I value your medical knowledge significantly less now."

-_-

Example below:

Lakeland Terrier=


Irish Terrier=


The test also includes birds. And, with that, I leave you with possibly the most horrifying image I can give you for today.



In case having the knowledge of what this is makes you feel better, this is showing a doctor performing vent sexing on a Rattite type of bird. Feel better? I didn't think so.

The Final Countdown: 2 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday: P.D. Final (New Zero Punctuation episode... Check it out!!!!)
Thursday: Immunology Final
Friday-January sometime: Sleep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unequivocal Joy.

I could miss 13 questions on today's Gross Anatomy exam and still pass the class with a C. Today, I missed exactly 13 questions (12 as I discovered later because a question was thrown out). So, everyone who has been praying/blessing/hoping/wishing/good-lucking/thinking of me, THANKS SO MUCH! WE DID IT!

This joy so overshadows the fact that I have a microanatomy final tomorrow that I have barely even looked at, and I haven't slept more than 2-3 hours a night for a while now. *happy sigh*

3 more finals to go, and I'm home free. On Thursday, my boyfriend's coming up to spend a few days with me and go to Mecha's graduation, and then, Saturday after the graduation, I'm headed home to spend some quality time with my family, my animals, and sleep! <3

The Final Countdown: 3 DAYS!!!!!!

Tuesday: Microanatomy Final
Wednesday: P.D. Final
Thursday: Immunology Final
Friday- January 9-10thish: SLEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Clinically Blonde?

So, after a long day of studying anatomy and feeling rather dejected, I was delighted to find that Legally Blonde was on TBS tonight. I know it may seem rather silly, but it's always been one of my favorite movies. Something about it always makes me feel so good about everything. I guess I've always found myself to be an outsider. I've always been different and strange. I've never really fit in anywhere, not in high school, not in undergrad, and, to a certain extent, not in vet school. I'm just different. It's not a bad thing, by any means. It's something I've always appreciated and acknowledged openly. Sometimes, I think we let ourselves fall into the trap of hating how different we are from everyone else. I know that I do, anyway.

Like Elle conquered law school, at first being irrationally different from everyone else in her class, I know that I can conquer vet school. I may be off the wall at times. My zombie converses and cartoon tshirts might seem a little unorthodox as professional attire, but, in the end, I have a passion and drive for what I'm doing. This semester, my biggest struggle has been against Gross Anatomy. I have nightmares about it when I'm not studying it, actually. However, I want with all my heart to care for the medical needs of animals, and I always have. I just hope that I can do well enough on my exam on Monday to prove that.



The Final Countdown:
Sunday: Study ass off for anatomy....T_T
Monday: Gross Anatomy Final (T_T) (A.K.A.- D Day!!)
Tuesday: Microscopic Anatomy Final (Also, online C.C.E. Final is due.)
Wednesday: Physical Diagnosis Final
Thursday: Immunology Final
Friday-January 9thish= SLEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tea and Cookies: The Study Fuel of Champions

One final down. One very impossible, illogical, fallible, hard-hitting final down. Oh well. You can't win all your battles.

Now to start studying for the Physiology exam tomorrow...

Official Countdown to Christmas Break: 7 DAYS!!

Friday: Physiology Final
Saturday: Study ass off for Gross Anatomy.
Sunday: Ditto Above.
Monday: Gross Anatomy Final (T_T) (A.K.A.- D Day!!)
Tuesday: Microscopic Anatomy Final (Also, online C.C.E. Final is due.)
Wednesday: Physical Diagnosis Final
Thursday: Immunology Final
Friday-January 9thish= SLEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just Clostridium

My family came up to visit this weekend and go to the football game. I love them very much and am always very happy to get a chance to spend time with them. Too bad that I am stuck here studying for my Bacteriology test on Monday. At least I get to go to the game tonight. Although football really isn't my forte, I do like watching the games live. It's kind of exciting to get caught up in everyone's emotions, and my dad has wanted to go to this game forever since we are playing a big rival team.

I wish my tests didn't have to cut out our time together. I'm so burnt out on studying that I really don't know how I'm still going. The other day, a friend told me after the P.D. test that she's been pretty sick and needed to see someone or else she was going to have to drop out of vet school. I don't think people on the outside realize just how hard, time-consuming, and breaking vet school can be at times. So many people crash and burn because they just can't do it anymore, physically or mentally. I can't blame them. It does wear on the soul. You begin to miss the daylight, the friends, significant others, and life, in general. When you are in vet school, most people don't have lives outside of school. They simply can't maintain both lives anymore. You can try as hard as you want, but eventually one has to give for the other to survive. It's a wonder that so many people actually graduate from vet school. I know that I am not in the most challenging, death-match of programs, also. One of our interns is from Germany. She told us that they let everyone into vet school there and see how many crash and burn. She said you sit down for a test and you and someone else are the last ones there, and you know that one of you won't be there tomorrow.

I know that I could be in a program like that where you are almost expected to fail. I'm very fortunate. I know I shouldn't complain about things like this. I could be one of the people struggling to even get a shot to try out vet school. I suppose the message that I want to convey is that it's very consuming. For the friends and family of those in vet school, we may not be as open or understanding at times. We may have a bad attitude about things. We may seem broken, beaten, and empty at moments, but we are always going to be here for you. We love you, truly we do. We will be ourselves again, even if we seem to lack that at times. Just give us a while for our heads to clear when we act oddly.

For the significant others of those in vet school, it really isn't you. It is us. We are overworked and downtrodden. We may see the smallest things as the beginnings of battles. While it is us, you have got to meet us half way. If you have a loved one in vet school, make them dinner some night so that they eat and leave sweet, encouraging notes for them to find. If you aren't close to your loved one, send them sweet emails, letters, or "care" packages. Let them know that you care. Understand that they won't always want to talk to you on the phone or when they get home. Above all, just love them. That's what they need most of all.

All that said, I guess I'm not really sure what kind of blog this is. I would say self-pity, but I'm not sure I feel like it is so much. Maybe it's a, "just so you know" blog or a "facts of vet school life" blog so that people entering vet school or people with loved ones in vet school will have some kind of understanding of the time, the love, and the losses associated with being in it. Maybe it's just a "I am miffed because I'm here and not at GMX this weekend" blog. >_<

Whatever it is, I got a chai mix of tea from Teavana and german rock sugar, so it will all be okay.

^-^


Also, I'm found this picture on PostSecret. I found it strangely true. Maybe not a book read by Babar, but when I was little I always thought that I was just a character in a really crappy book with a boring plot that someday someone would just stop reading. I know it probably sounds strange. Anyway. Does anyone else remember Babar?!