N.I.C.E.

New job?  Nice.  New co-workers?  Nice.  New roommates?  Nice.  New city?  Nice.

I've uttered that word about 50 fabillion times in the last week (that's a very real and very big number, ya'll).  I'm so sick of it, but I really don't have any idea how to describe the last week of my life.  It's just been...nice.  Gah vomit!  HAHA!  I started my new job this week and it's just been great.  Everyone is so friendly and inviting and helpful and just every other lovely word in the English language you can use to describe a super pleasant situation.  When I first moved to Oregon for my other job, it was hard from the start.  I felt nervous and unsettled, and that kind of never went away.  The new situation is different.  Right from the start, I just felt...at peace.  Relaxed, happy, at home...  How many other verbs can I squeeze into this post?!?!

My cousin has this GREAT phrase: "I love right now!"  (Hi, Syd.)  Talk about writer's envy!  I want to scream that phrase about 50 times every day right now!  I just feel so happy.  I LOVE RIGHT NOW!  This new situation has just boosted my confidence.  It's reassured me of my decision to change my life and try something new.  I feel excited and invigorated again!  And it's only been a week!  I fully realize that I may eat these words in the future, but for now...  Life.  Is.  Awesome.

I'll write again.  And maybe calm down?  Ummm.  Not likely.  On top of all things fabulous here in Oregon, I'm also flying home in a little over a week.  Yep.  I get to go home, hug my family, laugh with my friends, eat red meat, and play with my animals.  Oh and go see the new Twilight movie premiere...with my favorite girls...hopped up on hot totties.  Lordie!  Who's a lucky girl?  THIS ONE!

Doo-doo-doo and a dah-dah-dah!  Singing happy thoughts to you all!  xoxoxAC

New Job, New Home (again)

So much to write, so little time (read: patience).  I have a new job.  Yep.  An equine hospital I sent my resume to back in June called me up and asked if I wanted to interview.  I wasn't really job-hunting, but figured why not and gave them a shot.  Well I apparently bedazzled them in my phone interview, and charmed them in my working interview because they called me and offered me a job.  And get this...they offered me MORE pay than the minimum I said I wanted.  Oh and benefits.  And A.C, do you want paid vacation and holidays?  Well, here you go!  How about guaranteed hours and a set schedule?  They're yours!  Yeah.  What is that all about?  While things have been going well at the current grind, I feel like I've had to just fight tooth and nail to get things that seem...normal...from any other place.  And I've never really felt secure and comfortable there.  Thoughts of getting hours, making ends meet, and any other ancy-pancy feelings you can have...I've had them.  The new place just feels wonderful already.  I had so much fun on my working interview.  And it was just a working interview!  The people were nice, they seemed to enjoy their jobs, the hospital is busy...  Man!  I am so excited!  For privacy's sake, I don't want to reveal where it's at, but I'll still be in Oregon and it's in a small town.  Yes, I am moving back to a small town!  It's not tiny, but I've already spent two days over there and I pretty much already love it.  I'm turning in my two-weeks notice tomorrow and then the fun times of finding a new place to live will begin.  Oh and the fun, awkward last two weeks of being at the current job.  Whatever.  I can't help but feel things are going to get pretty great.  I'll try to keep you all updated over the next couple weeks.  Lots of love and coffee kisses.  xoxoxAC 

Walk about

I took a walk on Saturday.  A long one.  A really long one.  Like my ass was kicking its own ass afterwards - it's possible, I promise.  Anyways, it was partly cloudy and misty.  Glorious Northwest weather, if I may so myself!  PHOTOS:

Annoyingly, upbeat-happy again.

Dare I say it?  Life feels good again.  After a bout of not knowing what to do, second-guessing my decisions, being quite poor, and feeling all around sorry for myself, well I sort of feel normal again.  Like whistling, singing, being annoyingly upbeat-happy again.  Glory hallelujah!

The job is going great.  I'm working full-time, which sounds quite corny to be grateful for, but man - it feels good to be busy again.  And on top of that, I'm working days AND doing my intended job - being a horsey nurse!  WOOT!  I'm being trained in anesthesia right now.  I have quite a bit of experience in small animal anesthesia, but horses are a whole different game.  I spent yesterday running my second case by myself.  I sweated and cussed, but I'm very happy to report that I did not crap my pants, as I usually feel like doing.  I'm not quite sure what's more nerve-wracking than a 1300-pound horse waking up and rolling off the table in the middle of surgery...  Please dear Lord, don't EVER let that happen to me!  But, I'm getting better and more confident, and dammit I'm gonna keep knocking horses out!

As I reported last week, my Mudda was here for the weekend.  It was so good to have her here.  I miss home like crazy.  I know I say that a lot.  Just so you know...I will continue to do so.  My brother and dad are at Deer Camp this week.  I can't think of it because that seriously makes me want to cry.  Some of the best times of my life have been hiking around the woods with my dad, looking for deer.  Or riding on the back of a tailgate with my brother, looking at the mountain changing colors.  And lest we not forget unforgettable (drunken) campfires and stories!  NEXT YEAR I WILL BE THERE!  And I literally just got a text from my brother - HE GOT A DEER!  I'm going home in November for a long weekend and there will be DEER JERKY!  WOOT!

So that's all I have for this random blog post today.  I never title my posts until I finish them.  I figure the title will come to me then.  I feel like naming this one, "Hodge-podge" or "Nothing substantial to blog about but I know you all get pissy when I don't blog so here you go!"

I love you, my five followers.  And looky - I have pictures for you!  xoxoxAC

The Coast.

More Coast.  It's delightful.

The Mudda and I at Cannon Beach in front of Haystack Rock.

Pretty...rocks.  I think.

Patrick!  Sadly, we did not see SpongeBob.

And lastly, Fall is just about here.  Bring.  It.



Mom's Here!

My mudda is here.  In Oregon.  Right now.  ------>  YAY!

I brought my mom to my favorite little coffee shop in Oregon.  She's reading her Kindle and I'm typa-typing on my laptop.  Yesterday I drug her up the Oregon Coast.  It was fun and beautiful and just...wonderful.  We spent most of the day on the beach with our jeans rolled up, walking in the salty water.  The sun was out and it was pretty warm with a decent breeze.  It was a good day.  We finished up with some super delicious seafood...crab cakes and stuffed salmon.  And a beer for me.  Man, wheel me home in a wheelbarrow because I was a stuffed, happy girl last night.

I'm already dreading saying goodbye to her tomorrow.  I do that - think and plan ahead.  Dread and plan ahead?  Going home or having my family/friends come see me is great, but it reminds me of how much I miss all things home.  I've fallen in love with the Pacific Northwest and things have gotten easier, but home is home.  I miss it.

I have pictures of The Coast but I hadn't really planned on blogging today so I'm unprepared.  I'll make it happen this week, though.  And tell y'all about my job.  It's going good.  I'm feel like the clouds have parted and I'm getting back to that annoying, happy girl again.  Yesss!

Gotta go.  MOM'S HERE!

Decision. Made.

I made a decision.  All by myself - just like a big girl!  I am staying put.  For now.  I never wanted to truly leave the horse hospital.  I wanted to make it work since it was what I had pushed so hard to obtain in the first place.  And dammit if I'm not gonna make it work!  I ain't skeered!

I'll no doubt continue to butt heads and bitch about the doctor, but that sort of comes with the business.  Honestly, I respect him.  And all the others.  It takes a lot of schooling to get there.  And what do you get?  Craptacular hours, sick animals that don't understand and can't communicate, know-it-all clients, and sassy, smart-mouth nurses that push your buttons.  Of course I'm not one of those sassy, smart-mouths.  Nope.  Not me.

Thank you to everyone that emailed, texted, or phoned in your opinions.  Bless your hearts for caring so much about me.

I won't let us down.

Easy-Peasy-Lemon-Squeezy

I miss easy.  Just like everyone else, I miss those days when my parents just told me what to do.  "Eat your peas."  "Don't touch the car."  "Stop hitting your brother.  He was adopted."  Okay that last one was a joke.  I never hit my wittle baby brother!

I'm faced with tough decisions about work right now.  I've worked so hard the last couple years to build something great that it's basically what my world centers around right now.  So when it's not going as planned, or I'm given options...well, I panic.  Me?  Overreact?  Whaaaat?!  HAHA!  Yeah, yeah...I overreact.  I know I do.  I just chalk it up to being passionate and really caring about something good.  Or at least that's how I justify calling my mother five times a day and freaking out.  I love you, Mudda.  And dammit, Dad!  You're retired!  Why don't you ever answer my phone calls?!

I found another job at a small animal hospital.  I wasn't getting the hours I needed at the horse hospital, and it was a little rocky from the start.  The new place is a super-duper high tech, state-of-the-art specialty surgical center.  It's stability, benefits, a tiny bit more money, organization...  Sigh.  Everything I could want in a job, right?  Hmmm.  So I turned in my notice at the horse hospital.  They asked me to stay and try to better my schedule, but I felt like I should make the safe decision this time and move on in two weeks.  Then last night I get called into an emergency horsey surgery (my FIRST!).  It's crazy, frantic, there is blood everywhere, I'm dripping sweat from running around, the obscenities are flinging...and man on man, it is AWESOME.  I leave at 4 AM laughing at the absurdity that is my life and fall asleep hard.  When I wake up this morning, I have a message from my surgeon to call him.  I panic, wondering how I messed up last night.  But instead, I call and am told that the main tech is leaving the hospital and I am wanted.  I'm wanted!  I impressed last night.  I have the makings to be an amazing nurse.  I'll get guaranteed, full-time work.  I'll be utilized.  "Adrienne, I want you to take over and be my right hand..."

And cue, "What the hell am I supposed to do with my life?"  Ever since I started this journey, I knew I wanted to work with horses.  I knew it.  Aside from loving them my entire life, the medicine is tricky.  I find it much harder and trying than small animal medicine.  But, I loved the small animal side too...  I feel lucky that at least I have options right now.  I know how fortunate I am to even have a job, but man...I just want easy for bit.  Just a while!  Mom and Dad, tell me what to do!!!

So here I am.  Sitting at Starbucks.  Wondering what to do, where to go, who I should be.  Decisions, decisions.  And to think yesterday I was wondering if I should eat pasta or not.  HA!  Aside from that fun, I went home for a long weekend.  It was glorious.  I went and explored Portland a bit last weekend.  It was glorious.  And my mom will be here a little over a week to visit and witness the fun that is my life right now.  It shall be glorious.

I'm sorry for not updating my blog more often.  It's not that I don't think about it and feel guilty, but I still basically hate writing unless it's about happy, funny stuff with strawberries and unicorns and things.  I mean who doesn't love that stuff?!  Either way, I'll talk about my decision on here shortly...if my head doesn't explode first.  Good times!

Love ya'll.

xoxoxAC

HOME!

I'm going home TOMORROW!  Tomorrow, tomorroooow, I love ya, tomorrooooow!  It's only a daaay awaaaaaay!  And that was my best "Annie" impression.  TA-DAH!

Yep!  Flying home tomorrow!  Cannot even express how excited I am.  I can't wait to hug my family and friends.  I'm pretty sure I'm gonna cry.  Then I'm gonna sit down on the ground and hug my big Pinner Buddies and yell at El Gato Loco.  Afterwards, I'm going to drink some homemade beer, consume loads of red meat (that someone else cooks!), and just relax.  It's going to be great!  I'm already dreading that it's only going to be four days...

So that's my news.  I have more culinary creations to share like pesto eggs with avocado, and chicken pesto pizza with spinach and mushrooms, but I have to go.  I have to go pack.  Because I'm going home.  HOME!

xoxoxAC

Just Food

In as many ways that Oregon has been hard for me, it's also been very good to me.  Oregon is a funny place.  There are dreadlocked-hippies constantly hitchhiking along the freeway (which is totally legal here, mind you), a certain tolerance (eh...and promotion?) of marijuana, and an affinity for recycling that borders on obsession.  And that's a pretty short list of the oddities that I've encountered here.  I'll spare you my thoughts on the transportation system.  I'm not sure I could get through that rant without smacking my palm against my forehead multiple times.

One thing that is easy here?  Living a health lifestyle.  With Whole Foods and Trader Joe's on every corner, Fred Meyers that carry bulk beans, rice, and lentils along with all things organic, and an insanely aesthetically pleasing landscape that you can't NOT explore...well, living healthy has never been so simple.

I tend to cook pretty healthy for myself, but I've taken it to whole new levels here.  I'm even cooking VEGAN MEALS.  What?!  Yes, this red meat-eating, Bud Light-drinking redneck chick has been branching out.  I still eat meat, but usually just chicken.  And that's pretty rare even.  My diet mostly consists of fresh produce, rice and beans these days.  It's been good for me.  And I always loved creating and using colorful, pretty food.  Oregon has just made that super simple for me.

So here are two pictures of my latest culinary creation.  Lime chicken tacos with spicy chipotle sauce.

All organic.

And all delicious.

I marinaded the chicken, and made the chipotle from scratch.  The only two seasonings I have in my kitchen right now?  Salt and pepper.  I haven't had mayo, ketchup, mustard, butter, or anything of the sorts since I moved here.  I know!  What's happening to me?!  I've decided to try and embrace this crazy notion of enjoying food.  Just food.  So far, so good.

Don't think that I've completely changed my ways, though.  To say that I won't be dining on my family's BEEF and enjoying some homemade beer when I go home next week would be the understatement of the century!

Current Digs

I happen to think this post is going to be super boring.  Basically I have some pictures of where I'm living at the moment.  I think my mom will like it, though.  Because moms like this kind of stuff.  "Oh!  Baby's house is so cute!"  I imagine her saying that while clapping.  Love you, Mudda.

Behold!  The entrance!

Behold!  The kitchen!

What?!  A room that nobody uses!  Complete with dusty floor!

Wonders upon wonders!  A messy bedroom!

Behold!  Another shot of the messy bedroom!

I really do like where I live.  The house is only about eight years old, but it was designed to look about a 100 years old.  This includes antique shower faucets and door handles that you have to jiggle, lift, and swear at to get to work.  Good times, good times.

The Categorized Blonde

I've come to find that when I only blog once a week, I forget about what I write in previous posts.  This of course leads me to fear that I may repeat stories and such, and basically look like a dumb blonde.  Then I laugh and remember that I am kind of that and quite enjoy my regular trips to space camp, and well...that's the simple beauty of me.  Moving on...

I passed my boards!  YESSSS!  And yep, I'm repeating that just because it's full of delicious happiness.  Life is looking better at this point.  Without going into full detail (yet), I'm shakin' and bakin' my way back to bliss by exploring some different options.  Truth be told, my dream job is just...not so dreamy.  I'm trying.  And I want to give it the benefit of the doubt.  But it's turning into a "it's not me, it's you" situation.  Blahs.  The very wonderful thing about all of this, is that I have options now.  My dad, he who is full of wisdom (and shenanigans), reminded me that I have an education now.  What?!  I don't have to get stuck.  I don't have be miserable.  And I don't have to sit in the corner, cuz nobody puts Baby in a corner dammit!  HA!  So yeah.  Options: I have them.

I fully plan on blogging again this week.  With pictures!  I'm just basically killing some time while my brother updates his blog (HERE).  Oh man.  I just got the notice it's been updated.  I kind of love my brother and stuff, but the little brat categorized women into three categories.  I told him he's a successful blogger because he's already managed to aggravate one of his readers (read: I'm not happy with my apparent category).  Bratface.  I still love him, though.  Sometimes.

Peace and carrots, ya'll.

Dry land is not a myth!

I passed my boards.

PASSED!

All hope is not lost!  Whimsical musings and pretty pictures shall shortly follow.  And when I say shortly, I mean next week.  Probably.  Maybe.  We'll see.

I PASSSSSSSSED!

A non-shiny post.

So I pretty much hate blogging unless I have pretty pictures and tales of hope and joy to share.  Right now, I do not.  To put it bluntly, I'm struggling a little right now.  Or maybe a lot.  I had a really rough week at work last week.  Like the worst in my working career.  I messed up and went from being "that funny, weird, new girl" to basically the idiot newbie and social pariah.  It's a long story in which I feel I was put in a horrible situation, but in the end...I made the mistake.  At this point, no one will talk to me and I feel like I can't do anything right.  Friends?  HA!  I managed to kill any relationships I was starting to form.  Dream job = nightmare.  Yes, woe is me.  On top of that, I'm set to take my boards tomorrow and I can't manage to pass a practice test to save my life.  I'm trying not to let my head get in the way, but my confidence has basically evacuated the building.  So I'm expecting rock bottom to hit at about 4:00 PM tomorrow.  Pacific Standard Time if you want to set your watches.  I think the hardest thing about all of this is that I'm here alone and I've never felt more isolated in my entire life.  I left Utah on a full tank of gas with big aspirations.  Not only my own, but those of my friends and family.  What hurts the most is knowing that I've probably let some people down.  To have everything I've worked so hard for over the last two years derailed in just three short weeks...  UGH.

Despite everything that's transpired, I'm okay.  I still think I'm really lucky.  And kinda funny.  Heh!  I know that I'll get past this and I'll look back and think, "Dude.  You shoulda paid somebody to bitch slap your ass for being such the whiny drama queen!"  But right now, I'm wallowing.  And maybe not blogging so much?  I don't know.  I have a hard time imagining people want to hear about me crying, a la Nancy Kerrigan, "Why?  Why?!  WHYYYYYYY?!?!?!?"  We'll see.

I need to re-group, re-assess, and re-be-awesome.  Yeah.

Foresty and deer and mossy trees.

Well here I am, blogging to you from another coffee shop.  Maybe even a little more sheek this time because guess what...  No more U-Haul!  I'm no longer homeless!  Yeah!  I found a place to live.  A place amongst the pine trees.  It's really quite whimsical where I live.  No joke.  It's foresty and there are deer and mossy trees.  I'm a little in love.  I always envied people that lived in such beautiful places (I'm looking at you, Sara Lizbeth), but then I wondered if they might just get used to it.  Well I plan on NOT getting used to where I live and taking full advantage of it.

Work is going great.  I work days, nights, weekends.  Oh and I'm on call a lot.  I basically worked by myself last weekend.  It was fun.  And there were shenanigans.  Like when I had to strip and disinfect an ICU stall.  Did you know that sawdust shavings make quite the lovely soup?  Well now you and I both know!  I spent Saturday and Sunday night administering treatments to sick horses, making surgery packs, and doing general cleaning around the hospital.  Yep.  This is my new life.  And it's pretty frickin' awesome.

My new places (amongst the pine trees!) is up there and doesn't give great internet so I'm now going to try and blog once a week when I visit the local coffee shop for their delicious coffee (read: free wifi).  I have some pictures from a hike I took yesterday.  This glorious place was only about TWO MILES from my new place.  I realize now, though, that you might want to see pictures of my new places.  Next week?  For now, hiking pictures.  Until next time!


Trailsss...

A little spring off the beaten path.

Local wildlife.  Whoa!  Slow down!

Wild raspberries?  Maybe?

Stream life.

End of the trail.  And mossy trees.  (I might be obsessed!)

Barn Livin'

I'm blogging to you all now from a Starbucks...in Oregon!  It's very sheek.  Well except for the fact that my tarped-down truck and U-HAUL trailer are out in the parking lot.  I think it looks quite nice amongst the SUV's and Subaru's.  Heh!

That's right.  I made it to Oregon.  In one physical piece - the mental part is still up for debate!  The drive here was a little nerve-wracking.  I got a later start than I wanted (uhhh...thanks, U-Haul beetches), it was only my second time driving a trailer (with no adult supervision!), and it was WINDY.  But, I made it!  I spent my first night in a hotel then reported to work the next morning at 9 AM.  I don't have a place to live yet.  I've looked at a couple places around here so hopefully I get something soon!  The gypsy-life is not all it's cracked up to be.  But then again, I'm guessing gypsies don't own Ikea dressers that bounce around in the back of their trailers.  Just a guess.

The new job is going great.  It's always hard starting out somewhere new, but it's better than I thought it'd be.  Everyone there is really nice and the work is great.  It was really hard to not get all excited every time I started thinking, "Oh my gosh!  I'm graduated and working in my field of choice!  AHHH!"  You know...typical work-day thoughts.  HA!  All I know is after about three years of hard work...I've frickin made it!  YEAH!

Right now I'm living up above the hospital in the intern quarters.  Fourth-year veterinary students have to complete what's called a "preceptorship" where they go to a hospital and work for 2-4 weeks their last year of school.  It's required and tradition so a lot of hospitals have living quarters on site just for that very purpose.  The area I'm sleeping in is above the barn.  It's mostly storage but they've curtained off a corner with three twin beds and various furniture.  It's actually better than I thought.  It's really dark and kind of peaceful up there.  The twin bed thing sucks.  The last time I slept on a twin bed was probably when I still fit on a twin bed.  HAHA!  It'll do for now, though.  I'm mostly looking forward to unpacking my stuff somewhere and ditching the U-Haul. 

I'm working and will (hopefully) be living just south of Portland.  It's an awesome area!  Lots of big Evergreens and farm land.  It's not rolly hills like Pullman, but it's very beautiful.  I passed a Christmas tree farm the other day and got super excited.  Baby Christmas trees might be the cutest thing ever!  The weather has been pretty nice too.  I think I love the mild temperatures the most about this area.  It's definitely been cloudy and misty more than sunny here, but not being extremely hot or cold is quite lovely.

The Starbucks employees are starting to give me the evil eye.  I think my grande-vanilla-latte-free-wifi's worth of time is up!  I'll blog again.  Fun stuff - like surgeries on tiny mini ponies from yesterday.  Good times, good times!

Oregon or BUST!

So a lot has happened since my last blog post.  I suppose that's what occurs when you don't update for a couple weeks.  Eh...whatever.

Life's been quite chaotic and grand as of late.  I finished up my internship at Washington State University, and have been working there as a temporary employee the last couple weeks.  Last week I had the opportunity to travel to Seattle to work at the Emerald Downs racetrack.  I went with the doctor I'm working with now and his technician to work with some local staff there.  It was such an awesome experience!  First of all, I love the Seattle area.  It's so green and lush and sparkly!  Second, the people I got to work with were a kick!  It was fast-paced and nerve-wracking, but it was so fun.  After a long first day, we were invited to one of the local doctor's home for a barbecue and drinks.  If there's one thing I love about the vetmed-horse world, it's the people.  I feel so lucky to have gone and worked with such fun, energetic, hard-working people.  It was a long two days with very little sleep and non-stop work., but I will never forget what a cool experience it was!

I started calling on my resumes last week.  To say I've been a little stressed out the last two weeks...well that's an understatement of epic proportions.  No one was calling, no jobs were open, I was being rejected, you name it!  Thank goodness I have one super cool Mom to bring me back to reality, a comforting Dad to "talk me off the cliff", and one amazingly funny brother to keep me grounded with humor!  Just when I'd given up hope, three amazing job offers fell in my lap.  Oh and some other not-so-great ones...moving on!  The jobs were in Oklahoma, Oregon, and California.  Three completely different places and three completely different jobs.  I did phone interviews with Oklahoma and came to the conclusion that I couldn't live in Oklahoma.  It's one thing to move away from everything you know and LOVE the place you live, and it's another to live in...Oklahoma.  HAHA!  I'm sure there are lovely things about Oklahoma, but I'm a West Coast Girl.  So it boiled down to Oregon and California.  Two completely different jobs.  California was safe and stable, while Oregon was a gamble but possibly my "dream job".  As I've gone through school and my internship, I started forming an idea of just where I wanted to work.  It was never about the money, but what I wanted out of the job itself and the life I wanted to make for myself.  So, I chose Oregon.  I loved the facility, I got on well with the surgeon, and well...it just feels like me.  So Oregon it is.  And I'm starting...IMMEDIATELY!  Today is Thursday, and well...I'm going to try and be down there on Sunday.  Yep.  What fun is life when you aren't flying around by the seat of your pants?!

I'm excited to get settled and start working.  It seems like a different era when I started school and even left Utah.  To think I'm finally going to start doing what I've worked so hard to get to...it's a wonderful feeling.  As nervous as I am, I can't wait to finally settle in somewhere and work my butt off!  I am quite sad to be leaving Washington, though.  For privacy sake, I've never stated on here where I've been living, but it's Pullman.  Pullman, Washington.  If there ever was a place in this world where I could've landed after leaving home for the first time, it was here.  This sleepy little town is a bit of home for me and it breaks my heart to know I'll be leaving in the next couple days.  I've managed to befriend some amazing people here and experience just what small town living is all about.  It's been an experience I wouldn't trade for anything.

Well I told myself only five minutes for a quick update, but when the hell have I ever been short on words?  HA!  Time to start packing.  I've gotta shove my life into a U-Haul in the next 36 hours.  Time to get my gypsy on!

Do the hustle!

I don't really have much to write about at this moment, but figured I'd post something since my dad heckled me earlier about being a bad blogger.  Psht!

Today was a good.  The head doctor of my rotation has been out the last couple months due to a surgery but returned today.  To put it nicely...let's just say he has a reputation as being a bit gruff.  It's hard for me to not say, "Isn't every doctor?!"  HA!  If I've learned one thing in this profession, it's you do what the doctor says, when he says it, and as fast as you frickin' can.  Just like any business, time is money in the vet world.  So when I'm asked to schedule x-rays, give a horse an injection, or jump three feet in the air, I don't question - I just do.  And quickly!  Guess what I get for it...

"Nice hustle."

I. Am. Job.

Whoa!  Hold onto your underwear!  It's another update - the next day!

I mailed out resumes today.  Yep.  Twenty-four little jewel-filled packets of hope.  In all, I'm applying to hospitals in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Kentucky, and Texas.  I read a really scary statistic about the job market right now and how many resumes it actually takes to get just one interview...  Let's just say I'm being super cautious (or it's just my inner OCD child - hi).  I love you Mom and Dad, but Lordie I don't want to move back home...again.

Fingers crossed, people!

The Great Blog Update (Part Three): Life As I Know It

I'm a blog slacker.  I know it.  Whatever.

Life is good.  In addition to the last couple of fabulous weeks I've been having (see previous two posts), I started my Equine Surgery rotation and it's been just glorious.  My first day on the rotation, I was trotting horses, giving injections, taking notes, kissing babies and shaking hands.  Vote for me!  Or something like that.  In all seriousness, the rotation has been wonderful.  The tech I work with is great.  I've learned so much from her in just two short weeks.  And I've really enjoyed the doctor on the rotation.  You know it's a good surgery when you place yourself around the horse to catch flying instruments when he's breaking down the surgery table!  I've had a couple 10-hour days, been kicked in the hand, ran my butt off, and learned to dodge flailing horses like a pro.  I love it!

I have one week left on this rotation...and then I'm done with my internship.  Holy crap cakes!  I can't believe it's finally here.  It seems like yesterday that I was saying goodbye to my sleepy parents and bawling my eyes out as I left Utah.  Everyone said this twelve weeks would fly, and boy were they right.  I do have some good news.  I got a job!  A temporary job at least.  My lease on my place here goes until the end of July so the hospital has worked out a deal to have me temp up there in the barns until I leave.  YAY!  Little did they know I was just gonna show up and work for free since I had nothing better to do!  Heh!  It's really a great deal, though.  For one, I'm pretty much out of money.  So yay - money!  Second, I'll be working in the hospital, taking care of patients - basically my job but still hanging out in the teaching environment.  Score!  I've had multiple people tell me they would love to hire me and even hope this temporary thing could turn into something, but unfortunately the state of Washington is broke so the university is under a hiring freeze.  Bummer.  I did get one killer recommendation letter, though.

So that means I'm looking for work.  I've spent the last couple weeks researching and compiling lists of hospitals.  Mostly places along the West Coast, but a few random ones back East.  The ones outside of the West coast are some of the biggest and best hospitals in the U.S.  I don't really think I have a shot at getting on at one of them, but hey - go big or go home, right?  I'm hoping to maybe stay in Washington or California.  Maybe Texas.  Or maybe even Utah...  I don't really have much say, though.  I basically will be at the mercy of 26 different hospitals when my resume goes out...tomorrow.  Vote for me!  Or give me a job!  Either way.

I'm really sad that in just a couple weeks I might be leaving my sleepy little town.  I've loved it here so much.  I've always felt safe and everyone has been so welcoming.  I've seen some incredible places around here and had some good "me time".  I always said I wanted to live in a small town, but was always willing to admit that it might not work out.  Well I can say now with 100% that I love it.  Wherever I go these next couple years, I will always work and point myself back to some place like this.  It's for me.

That's all I've got for now.  Ya'll be good now, ya hear?!

The Great Blog Update (Part Two): Trippy-poo!

So last weekend a few friends and my brother descended upon town.  Wow.  I just tried to explain how excited I was and almost started crying.  It was great.  Really, really great.  Anyways...

Zach, Kate, Brandy, and Kelly flew into Washington on Thursday night.  After we got home from the airport, we hit the bar for some beer and darts.  It's a Washington thing.  I was really, really good at darts.  They thought I must practice all the time, but little do they know I'm just like super gifted.  Or lucky.  Either way.

After some hemming and hawing about what we were going to do on Friday, we bit the bullet, jumped in my truck and headed to Couer d'Alene, Idaho.

Best.  Idea.  Ever.

The drive up there was super fun.  I had never been there either so experiencing the insanely gorgeous drive up there for the first time with everyone was awesome.  It slowly turned from rolling wheat fields into big, green Evergreens.  We laughed at town names like "Tensed" and "Plummer".  HA!  We did quite a bit of car dancing.  And we chuckled as Zach rambled on about his Bucket List, when it was really quite cute.

When we finally got to Couer d'Alene, it lived up to its hype.  The weather wasn't the best, but it still didn't mask the beauty of the place.  We parked near the lake and literally ran down to the water.  It was so pretty!  After the obligatory tourist shenanigans and pictures, we settled down at a little bar right on the water.  Bob Marley was playing, we had fruity, delicious cocktails, and some fun conversations.  The sun even came out.  It was a good afternoon.

Afterwards, we headed towards Main Street.  There was a big car show that night so the street was packed with old hot rods and people galore.  We did a little bit of shopping, but by that time I was ready to head home since we had a long drive back and I didn't want to do it in the dark.  We stopped at a local "floating restaurant" for dinner, but quickly evacuated when we saw the prices, and hit the road, figuring we'd find some place on the way home.

About midway through the drive home, we stopped in a tiny town whose name escapes me now.  It was on an Indian reservation and there was a gas station/deli/sports bar/electricity plant on the side of the road so we pulled in.  You know how you have those times in life that are completely unplanned and you happen to realize you're having one of the best times ever?  Yeah that was that spot and that time.  We grabbed some beers, cheap nachos, lottery tickets and ended up sitting on a small patio outside a gas station/bar next to an electricity plant.  There really was no view, it was dingy, but it was so fun!  We laughed so hard sitting in the sunshine, drinking cheap beer, while Kate scratched lotto tickets.  I will remember that time forever.

The rest of the drive home was just as eventful.  We sang really, really loud and off-key, stopped in the middle of nowhere for a pee stop and ended up playing and taking pics like little kids, and talked about life and how much we loved it.  And we ended the night at the bar.  Of course.

Saturday was pretty low-key.  We decided to hang around town and just do whatever.  We shopped, went out for lunch, gambled at the local casino, and napped here and there.  I cooked a big meal that night and afterwards we turned up the music and (somewhat successfully) practiced dancing The Shuffle.  And we ended the night at the bar.  Of course.

Sunday everyone flew home.  After a big breakfast, we made the hour and a half drive back up to Spokane.  Everyone was tired, but we still managed to laugh quite a bit during the drive.  Leaving my brother and friends at the airport was hard.  So hard.  I'm not sure I'll ever drive away from that dang airport and not cry.  But it was a good weekend.  We saw some amazing places, ate some delicious food, laughed our guts out, and talked so much you'd think we were solving world peace.  I couldn't have asked for anything better.

Here are some pics from their trip.  My little camera that I love more than anything has never let me down - never died!  I always amazed at its battery life.  So what does it do fifteen minutes after we get to Couer d'Alene?  DIE!  You can't hear it, but I'm still grumbling.  I guess it just means I'll have to go up again before I leave Washington...for the sake of pictures and all.  Yep!

Lake Couer d'Alene. 

A little beachy poo! 

Effin tourists! 

My little brother, Zachey Boy!  Oh boy I love him to pieces!

Kate didn't like her drink.  Zach and Kelly did.  A lot.

My favorite picture phenomenon ever! The Self Timer! AHHH!  This pic may or may not have required a purse, wallet, cell phone, two credit cards and a piece of gum to achieve.  HA!

And the boys doing what boys seem to do best...

The Great Blog Update (Part One): Farm Livin'

About two weeks ago I house-sat for a girl at school.  She lives about 10 miles outside of town, down a dirt road, in the middle of the wheat fields, and to the left of the big silo.  Or something like that.  She asked me to watch her place for the weekend which included three dogs, two cats, and a whole lot of land.  She tried to pay me.  I laughed.  It was an awesome weekend of doing pretty much nothing.  I basically sat on her front porch, turned up the music, and played with doggies all weekend.

View from the driveway/front porch.

My buddy, Cinch.  This dog did not leave my side.

Obligatory picture of a cool, old truck.

The local watering hole.

Horse exercise.

A Day by the Snake River

Yesterday I went down to the Snake River with a few buddies from the department I'm currently rotating through.  The weather had been pretty crappy here all week.  We're talking lots 'o rain and flipping cold temperatures.  So the fact that yesterday was warm, even a little hot...well hello good times!

We camped out upstream from the Lower Granite Lock & Dam that I've blogged about before.  The river is much more slow and lake-like here.  The drive down was beautiful...again.  The sides of the roads were lined with these pretty little white and pink wildflowers.

Everyone brought their dogs down.  It was seriously like a Puppy Palooza!  There was one little dog, "Bogey", that was my buddy the entire day.  The owner said he didn't really like people and was nippy, but he must've know I needed some puppy love because he followed me around all day.  Whenever I sat down, he'd even jump up in my lap.  I was in love.

We hung out and BBQ'd by the side of the river the entire day.  The water was still too chilly to swim, but we did dip our feet a little.  Everyone once in a while, a boat would pass but the water was so calm and smooth.  Especially by the evening.



We started a fire and watched as deer and coyotes came down the other side of the river to drink.  Even the dogs were enthralled.

A couple people stayed and camped but I drove back home to sleep in my bed.  I might have to take my tent out there in the future, though.


Two weeks and my brother and some friends are coming up to visit me.  YAY!!!!

Bad Blogger!

I know.  I failed on my challenge.  The 30-days-straight-blogging was tough.  Aside from coming up with crap to write about, I just plain didn't like getting on the internet every day.  Not sure if I'll try again, but I do promise to update at least every other day or so.  Mostly since my father, a man who swore he'd never use a computer, now reads my blog and harasses me when I don't update it.  Thanks, Dad.  At least I'm up to five readers, aka The Big Time!

My parents were here last weekend.  Oh man do I miss them!  I had a great time with them, and hopefully they had fun here.  We bummed around town, went to the university, took some drives, and just hung out.  It was awesome.  I love being out here on my own and trying something new, but if there were anything that would bring me back home...it's my family for sure.

I started a new rotation at the university in the Anesthesia Department this week.  It is so fun!  It kicks my ass every day.  My very first day, I was placing catheters, intubating animals, running & monitoring anesthesia, and everything else that goes along with it.  The techs in that department are super fun and all so insanely smart.  A lot of them have gone on to specialize in anesthesia and it's really inspiring.  I read an article when I first started school about a tech that had done the same thing.  She wrote about the science behind it and I was totally enthralled.  I figured if there was anything I'd go on to specialize in, it would be anesthesia.  Being engulfed in it now makes me remember why I wanted to do it when I first started.

I've upped my job searching lately.  I have some leads on various hospitals throughout the West, and am looking at some universities across the country.  Moving to Washington didn't scare me since I'd been planning and scheming for two years.  Not knowing where I might go after this...yikes!  I'm hoping to stay out West, but we shall see where the journey takes me.

Things outside of school have been quite dumpy this last week.  I've always wondered why both can't be great...at the same time.  Whatever.  Anyways, my roommate moved out.  She's subleasing to one of her friends.  I would freak out, but I figure I moved in with a total stranger so what's a total stranger moving in with me?  HA!  I'm just biting my lip, hoping the new roommate is at least a bit more tidy.  Let's just say I've spent the past five hours cleaning my place today.  A half gallon of bleach later, my smeller is toast!

That's all I have for now.  It's Memorial Day weekend.  I have no plans but to hang out at home and recoop after this week.  Yes!

Day Thirteen: Parentals

My parents are here.  So this is my blog update for today.  Family time is in order.

Okaythanksbye!

Day Twelve: A Letter

Dear Mom & Dad,

My internship is going great.  Today was really fun.  A farmer brought a herd of lambs in to be castrated.  The vet said I can crush a spermatic cord like no other.  There were testicles flying everywhere.  You would have been so proud.

I really miss you guys.  Especially Dad's biscuits and gravy.  I'm doing well eating Ramen noodles and PB&J's every day, though.

Give Pinner a hug for me.

Love,
Adrienne

Day Eleven: UGH.

I hate blogging every day.  I spent ten years sitting in front of a computer and having to do it every night now...  Blah!  But a challenge is a challenge.  Even if it is stupid.

I spent all day with cows today.  Calves that needed vaccinations and branding, giant (angry) bulls that thought it fun to climb fences, and a cute, miniature Hereford that needed an emergency c-section.  The c-section went well and the heifer lived; the calf unfortunately did not.  The heifer had been in labor for quite a while, and well...that is life sometimes.

I was on my feet all day.  In new rubber boots.  They kept my feet dry, but oh man do they hurt!  I made about three trips up and down two flights of stairs for various surgery instruments, and another two trips around the entire hospital to give medications.

I'm spent.  And done with this post for today.

Day Ten: More Wicking

Well with the virus outbreak, I've been confined to the agricultural animal side of the barn.  No horses for a minimum of two weeks.  Bummer.  I really enjoy working with cows and sheep and such, but I was quite liking working with horses again.

On the other down side, the barns are filling with foot baths now.  More wicking.  Foot baths are simply trays of liquid with a detergent that helps to disinfect the bottoms of your shoes since those seem to track the most crap...like infectious equine viruses.  The foot baths are everywhere.  In front of every door and every entryway into a hall.

So yep.  Soggy bottom girl, am I.

Day Nine: Limbo

Today was weird.  I arrived at the hospital this morning and found out it's under voluntary quarantine.  Get this: a horse from Utah was brought up to be seen and was diagnosed with a highly infectious equine virus.  A horse from Utah!  It's a little crazy.  It's basically put the Western US in a slight state of panic with horse shows being canceled and transportation warnings issued to owners.  No new cases are being accepted at the hospital, and no patients are allowed to leave until two weeks after the last positive case has been diagnosed.  I have no idea what this means for my internship.  The teaching barn is on lockdown with restricted access wherever you go.  I left early today since all of our client appointments were canceled.  The students and doctors left to work with the teaching herds of horses, but since I only brought one change of clothes, I couldn't go.  I'm going back tomorrow since we have some other appointments coming in, but no horses.  I'm keeping my fingers double-crossed this clears up before I'm supposed to start my equine surgery rotation in a couple weeks...

Day Eight: A Northwestern Sunday

It's raining here today.  Quite a bit.  The sky outside is a dark, opaque gray.  It sets the scene for a brilliant contrast of Spring: emerald greens, Earth browns, and chalky grays.

I spent the morning reading in bed, listening to the rain fall down my windows.  Afterwards, I went to run errands and ended up taking a short drive through the farmlands, followed by a walk through town.

I'm back home again and the rain is still spilling down the windows.  My normal Sunday routine of laundry and cleaning is about to commence.  Of all the things I left behind, I sort of wish they wouldn't have followed me.  But...at least I have the rain now.