Just wanted to share some gorgeous rainbow shots with anyone who's interested

http://www.missouriskies.org/rainbow/february_rainbow_2006.html

You know, a part of me is kinda sad that this is all basically going to be over in 4 short days. 

When I first applied to the program, 2 years sounded like an eternity. The thought that I wouldn't be done school till I was 25 actually bothered me. But these two years have flown by at an extraordinary rate. 

I don't think it's the schooling it self I'm going to miss. Gods know I won't miss the long hours of studying when I would rather be doing just about anything else.. But at the same time, some of my classes were a lot of fun. Especially the large animal portion with Brad and Erin.

I guess, when you think about it, it's not really surprising that what I'm going to miss is the people. Not all of them of course, but that's only to be expected. But even the ones that I wasn't personally that close with were still a part of pretty much every day for the last two years.

I know that, with the exception of at grad in June, I will never talk to most of these people again. Nor, I guess, really think about them all that much. There's .. I would say 4 people that I hope I don't lose touch with. One, I can pretty much guarantee I wont, but the other 3 I'm not so sure about.

This is why I didn't want to go away to school. You make some really good friends, then you leave. Not that it would have made much difference now, since I'm moving to Kelowna any how, but still.. It just seems to be the trend of the last 12 years of my life. *shrugs* Oh well.

I should do the things I'm actually -supposed- to be doing now, like eating breakfast and doing some last minute cramming for radiology.

Wish me luck on all my exams folks, because I'm not doing near the amount of studying I should be.

Cheers
-Angi

I took the photographs and what not down off my wall today, in preparation for the move. The walls look so empty and lonely now..

Aargh! I'm trying to empty out the cupboards and the freezer and what not in getting ready for the move(s) next weekend, so I don't have to move food, but the unfortunate result is that there's bloody well nothing good to eat around here! Especially by way of breakfast food. Have to go out any way to get a couple of month's worth on my prescriptions to hold me until I can find a new Dr. to get them from in Kelowna, and it's going to be so hard to fight the temptation to buy yummy junk..

And Gods Damn it! It looks like winter out there again..

I seriously do not feel like studying. I think I'll pack. At least that way I'm still being productive..

So, I've decided to wait till I'm in Kelowna to adopt a dog, just because it'll be less stressful form me -and- the dog that way. But.. *chuckles* that doesn't stop me from looking now.. 

These are the 4 that I would like to go meet when I get to kelowna if they're still there.

http://bcspcapets.shelterbuddy.com/animal/animalDetails.asp?animalid=64791&result=20

http://bcspcapets.shelterbuddy.com/animal/animalDetails.asp?animalid=64651&result=16

http://bcspcapets.shelterbuddy.com/animal/animalDetails.asp?animalid=65118&result=4

http://bcspcapets.shelterbuddy.com/animal/animalDetails.asp?animalid=65038&result=1

The last two are the two I'm most interested in. Of course, I definitely need to meet them to see if their personality is a match for me, but yes, I'm interested.

Well, so. My Practical exam today went -way- better than I expected, and Yay! It was my last one! I still ran out of time, which I totally expected to, but I got -almost- everything done. Everything went crazy smooth for the most part, I even got blood on my first poke. The only thing that really went -wrong-, per say, was my urinalysis. It was the stupidest urinalysis ever! It was like, "Hmm, nothing, nothing, nothing, squamous epithelial cell, nothing nothing, little bit of bacteria, nothing nothing and something I've NEVER seen before, more nothing nothing nothing nothing, and something Else I'd NEVER seen before.." So yeah, I didn't finish filling out my requisition for that, because I hadn't figured out what I was going to call the crazy weird shit I'd never seen before.. And then I did my blood and ran out of time to go back.. *sigh* Oh well. I still got almost everything done and think I got a pretty decent mark. Even stuff that I usually have to do over again went right on the first try. Awesomeness. Yuppers. Angi's in a pretty good mood right now. 

'Sept now I have to get to studying, because while I may be done all my practicals, I've still got 5 written finals to worry about.

Cheers!
-Angi

Despite my protestations to the contrary, I fear that, to a large degree, I have become citified. (is slightly surprised to discover that's actually a word...) When weighing the pros and cons on the idea of remaining in Kelowna for longer than just my 5 week practicum, the biggest con's that come to mind are that it lacks certain big city amenities that I have become accustom to. Unfortunately, most of these "amenities" are also certain stores, namely..

a.) Kelowna has no BestBuy Electronics -- this is where all my major electronic purchases have been made, (digital camera, laptop, and MP3 player) and thusly -also- where I would take any of these said devices should anything malfunction with them (I purchased extra service plans on all of them since I have such rotten luck with electronics) So if anything were to happen to these devices, I would have to actually -send them away- to have them looked at. This is decidedly inconvenient. I also have $200 worth of gift cards from there that I got for christmas that was to go towards my new camera, and I don't know when I'm going to have the opportunity to use them..

b.) Kelowna lacks anything resembling a decent music store, which would mean all my music purchases would have to be made on line. A bit of a pain, but not as much as the first one.

c.) There is no MEC (Mountain Equipment Coop) in Kelowna. This is not -really- that bad a thing, because it would probably end up saving me money.. *chuckles* MEC is more of a habit than a need. I love shopping there, and I purchase a fair amount of my summer clothes there. I -can- live without one, but I love having one available.

d.) I'm really not sure how effective Kelowna's public transit system is, and I'll be reliant on it until such time as I get my license and can afford to purchase a vehicle.


So yes *chuckles* I've become quite used to having certain aspects of the "big city" available to me. I guess I'll cope. There are certainly a great number of pros to the location, hiking and paddling high on the list. We'll see how it evens out, eh?

Didn't take the dog, and I seem to have come down with Ann's daughter's cold. Shaping up to be a grand weekend.

Well, it was definitely a good day. Today was my second and last calving shift. The weather was nicer than last week, and I didn't go so hardcore on the mucking, so I probably won't hurt as bad tomorrow *fingers crossed* We didn't have any crazy aggressive mom's, thank goodness. Three pulls and I think 5 natural births. Only bad thing that happened was that Ann managed to leave the bag with our lunch sitting on the sidewalk in front of her house when we left in the morning, so I had to mooch off everyone else *chuckles* I was somewhat grumpy with her. It was still there when we got back though. Someone had moved it from the sidewalk to the front step. So we ate it for dinner *grins*

And, in other news... Got a call while I was out at the ranch, on Dr.Blair's cell phone, from our radiology instructor, Sandi. She thinks that yesterday's radiology dog would be an absolute -perfect- match with me. So.... I'm going to meet her tomorrow morning. Sandi got the pound to wait on sending her to the SPCA, and she brought the dog back to the school so I can meet her there. If I decide to take her, Sandi says she can be spayed at NAIT (so it'll cost me $25 instead of around $300, which is -totally- awesome. AND, she says that she will foster the dog for me at her place for the last couple of weeks of school, which will be easier on Ann, and mean I won't have to buy an insulated dog house, like I thought I would have to for Sam.

So, I meet her first thing tomorrow, and we'll see how things go. I'm bringing my camera, so if I'm taking her, I'll post a pic of her in her when I update. 

Final puppy update

I will not be adopting that dog after all, it seems. I did end up going down to the SPCA this afternoon. In fact, I just go home. The dog I had been waiting for for the last 20 or so days was not there. So I have no idea what happened to him. I have to assume that one of the staff at the SPCA decided he was the dog for them, and that he has a good home now, even if it's not with me. I have to admit that I'm more than a little sad right now.

Puppy update # 6

FRUSTRATION!! It looks like the dog I was talking to the girl at the SPCA about yesterday is -not- in fact my Sam dog. It's a lab cross, not even an Australian Shepherd cross! Aargh! So now I'm trying to get -back- in touch with the admissions desk and trying to get this straightened out... *sigh* I don't know what to do!!

Puppy update #5

Yay! I called the SPCA today during one of my class breaks, and Sam had his surgery (to neuter him) today, and if the incision looks good, he should be up on the adoptables page tomorrow! I'm super crazy excited. Wish me luck!

Well, had a good day out calving. Got to see a couple of fulls, which was nice, since last year I didn't even get to see any natural births, all the babies were there when we would come back from somewhere..

Worked -really- hard today. Basically spent the day mucking stalls again. I forgot how hard of work it is. I'm going to be hurting pretty bad tomorrow, I think.. On the drive home I was trying to decide what's going to hurt the most tomorrow (because I hurt in a lot of places) but I think I've settled on my lower back. So I'm going to fall asleep on my heating pad tonight and hopefully that will help.

Was totally worth it though. Can't wait to go again next thursday.

So, in the process of trying to get organized for the move to Kelowna in less than a month, when I went to pay my phone bill today (which was less than $100 this time! Yay me! Darn expensive international texts any how... *chuckles*) and thought I would inquire what will be involved in getting my number changed when I move. Yeah, so... *sigh* As it turns out, I'm going to have to switch service providers, because the provider I'm currently with doesn't have a local service area in Kelowna. Pain in the ass!! Thank goodness I chose to go month to month, rather than sign a contract (which I'll probably have to do now...) So now added to my ever growing list of things I need to accomplish in the next... 23 days is shopping for a new provider that's going to give me a decent deal. Hmm, well, on the plus side, maybe I'll be able to get a better $$ on international text messages.. *grins* Gotta find the bright side in everything, right?

Everything feels very complicated, all of a sudden. I've been looking this morning at what all I need to accomplish in the next month.. It -just- occurred to me that I have a whole bunch of paperwork to do, more than I would have if I wasn't moving to BC instead of staying in Alberta. 

Only three weeks till I write final exams, and practical exams start next week. I have to figure out what goes where in regards to packing and the moves.. (what goes to Calgary and what comes with me to Kelowna) Which also would have been a whole lot easier if I was just going to BC for my practicum and then coming back to Calgary. I have to find -time- to pack, and study for finals at the same time. And I have to some how contrive to keep my space presentable while doing this because my land lord is in the process of selling the condo. I currently have no idea how I'm going to manage all of this.

Still no idea what's going on with Sam, he hasn't come up for adoption yet. I think I may try calling the admissions desk and make sure he's actually still with them... Who knows, maybe they put him up as a stray and his owners came and got him. I have no idea. It hasn't -really- been that long since he was admitted, but I'm just anxious, so it feels like longer.. *sigh*

One of the neighbors was cutting down a big old hawthorn, and some how it came that Dad was going to take all the wood. After returning the neighbor's puppy who had squirmed through the fence to play with Ginger, I wound up helping Dad collect all this wood and stack it against the house to be used for the fireplace, the lathe, and carving. It was fun and good hard work, but I think I strained something in my back lifting some of the larger, heavier pieces. 

I've really enjoyed going to the gym while I've been here. I'm going to miss it for the last month that I'm in Edmonton, and I'm definitely getting a membership when I come back in a month's time.

Well, tomorrow morning, after I go visit the chiropractor, I visit the clinic I will be doing my practicum at for the first time. I will admit, I'm a bit nervous. The whole last two years of my life, more or less, ride on the 5 weeks I will be spending at this clinic. They have the power to pass or fail me, based on my performance in their clinic. 

All I can really hope to do is to make a good impression tomorrow, and then, when I'm back after the easter weekend, do my very best while I'm "working" there.

Well, just got home from doing my horse practical exam, and I'm happy to report it went well. No craziness like on the day I did my cow practical (with forgetting my kit at school and losing my cell phone battery down the storm drain and all that) The only thing I messed up on was fitting the halter, which luckily was not one of the three auto fail points. I got everything else, including all the anatomy points, which were what I was most worried about. 

Unfortunately, this is also the last time I got to see Saffire, and I will miss her for sure. I feel bad, I promised her carrots, and I forgot to bring any. But she was a total sweet hear for me for the most part. The only thing she did, was try and shoulder me into a snow drift when I was trotting her. It was really quite funny. Even Erin (who was testing me) laughed. Silly girl.

So, now I have the rest of the day off, and thank goodness, because I have a lot to do to get ready to fly to Kelowna tomorrow afternoon. 

Yay! Only one more exam to write!!