T-minus 1 week until midterms

I've been pretty bad about updating, no lie. We have a week until midterms and my time has been consumed with studying and a new puppy! That's right, I'm the dumb vet student that got a puppy two weeks (she's been here a week!) before midterms. She hasn't been too bad, we only have a couple accidents a day inside and she definitely knows that she's not supposed to be doing it so at least she knows it's wrong. She's pretty friendly, but also fairly timid. I'm hoping to break her out of that shell. I took her to Banfield the other day to get her first round of puppy shots (DAPP, lepto, bord) and a fecal and deworming. She's also now on Comfortis and Iverhart but I'm trying to get my hands on some Trifexis, since that's what I prefer.

Piper!

Playing with the toys my mum got her

Not supposed to be on the furniture!

Our case this week wasn't too crazy, at least I didn't think so. It's all about integument and hypersensitivity reactions so I've been looking at that. Last week was all about leukocytes and specifically mast cell reactions. I've started making study guides for the major concepts that have come up. I've completed one for bones (which included endochondral ossification, bone remodeling, bone repair, and Haversian systems) and joints (that included the anatomy of joints, articular cartilage, synovial fluid, and the various types of joints with examples). I'm going to go and spend some time in the anatomy lab today because I definitely feel like that's my weak spot.
The concert a few weeks ago was a lot of fun! It was really nice to be able to see Taylor, see my parents, and ride my horses. I can't wait to see Taylor again after midterms, and then go home for Thanksgiving in two months! I can't believe I've already lived here for two months.

Mumford and Sons

Hot and sweaty after the concert

Nicholas

Big jump! 

Bruno

I'm getting more adventurous with my cooking and what I'm eating. I tried Rubio's fish tacos which were really good but made me sick both times so that sucks. I tried cooking steak, which ended up being delicious! I cooked it medium the first time, and medium-rare the second and it was awesome both ways. I tried mochi ice cream, which I guess is a California thing. I'm already addicted.

Three weeks until midterms!

So, it's been awhile since I updated! I definitely got caught up and busy in vet school. I haven't been talking to Taylor much either, whoops!
I think I'm finally, finally, finally starting to get the hang of anatomy. It really does just take a crazy amount of repetition. We got a not so anatomy intense case this week so that helped too. We were able to take some time and go over the canine forelimb and hind limb again and studying the equine hind limb really helped to reaffirm what I already knew about the dog! I just need to go over the muscles and everything in the tarsus and carpus of the dog (seeing as horses don't really have a ton of muscles there, just muscle attachments!)
I started looking at pharm too, which I'd really neglected. Physio is starting to make more and more sense, but I definitely need to review bone formation before it seeps out of my mind completely.
We only have three weeks until midterms and that'll be our first exams of the block! Kind of scary considering we really only have two sets of exams for the semester and then that's it. I'm feeling okay about everything, but I definitely know that there's improvement to be made. I did a good job covering the information present in the case this week, especially since a lot of it related to basic science concepts I'd been comfortable with in the past (yay, muscle contraction and sarcomeres!) so it's a good chance for me to really nail down some concepts I'd been lacking.
I went to a really cool lunch talk today, by Dr. Kaur, Dr. Boynton, and Dr. Charles and they basically talked about challenges they faced and obstacles they overcame while in school -- not just vet school. They all kind of had the same message: don't let anything set you back. Dr. Boynton's words really stuck with me though. She was determined to be the best, and she was. She made sure she learned more concepts and facts than they could ask. My motivation has kind of been lacking in the last week or so, so that really gave me the kick in the butt to refocus. I want to be the best, and I'm going to be the best. I want to be one of those incredible, amazing students that I was in awe of in undergrad and that professors are so unbelievably impressed by.
Unfortunately, I don't know how impressed administration is with our class right now. Apparently a fellow first year wore a low cut shirt, and no bra today and bent over in front of the dean... So, now we may have a dress code put into place. Most colleges at our school, and most vet colleges have a dress code so it was a definite privilege that we didn't...I just wish she hadn't taken it for granted.
On a totally not school related note, I'm currently in the Phoenix airport! Someone told me they don't use daylight savings here, so that's kind of weird. I'm on my way home to see the Fun. (but they cancelled :( ) and Mumford and Sons concert with Taylor! I'm so excited to be able to see him and spend some time with him. I also get to see my parents and ride my amazing horses which is something I've been sorely missing!