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!!!!