It's finals week and you know what that means.....

Study Study Study

And then Beer.

We decided to celebrate finishing our first semester with a series of events. The first was sliding down the water slide at Margaritaville with Kip's guests Rick and Stacy. This slide is so small as compared to....well, anything in the US....but its ours and its fun. And we can drink beer on it. Even Robin jumped in, despite not having her bathing suit on!

Me

Robin - her speed was hampered by the clothes

Kip

Rick

Paul

Kip taking on the slide

That evening we went to Rackhams Bar & Grill, where you can watch the staff feed the tarpon and later in the evening (after a few shots maybe?) jump off the same railing into the water.

Nice sunset

Our first shot of the night (big hint: everyone still wearing their clothes)

The first jumpers of the evening

Kip evaluating his odds of living through a front flip (he did)

Stacy and I having a Jager infusion before our jump. She was terrified of the tarpon. I wasn't too worried until she swam off with the others and Kip left me to climb out a different way and I found myself in ink-black water hearing the Jaws theme in my head. You betcha I was terrified then.

Post jump shot (notice the lack of clothing - Stacy and I went in our dresses)

At Rackhams we met Eric, a friend of our classmate who owns a boat here and does parasailing tours. He invited us out the next day for a aerial tour of the GC. We met him and Chad (our classmate's husband who works with Eric) at Calico Jacks, and they took us up two at a time for a bird's-eye view. It was ridiculously high (about 400 feet) and honestly I almost lost my mind when they started bringing us back down because it seemed we were falling a lot faster than we should have been. Kip brought his beer up with him, its like his security blanket. We saw the diving wall, and Kip saw a few turtles. The view was simply spectacular.

Kip and I waiting for our turn

Kip getting hooked up

Letting out our sail

Our view as we took off

Off we gooooooo

Kip with a nervous smile and his "blanket"

View from above

The water is so blue!

400 feet in the air!

You can see the water depth change at the sea wall

The boat seems so far away...

SuperVet off to save the day!

It is such a weird feeling sitting in that harness. It feels like if you slip forward or backward to much and you'll fall right out!

Coming in for our landing

After we paid Eric and Chad in beer (a couple of buckets and a nice tip), we stayed at Calicos for some drinks and snorkeling. Kip found a turtle and tried to make friends, but it wasn't too keen on hanging out with him.

We topped out the evening with a nice sushi dinner, a perfect end to a great semester.

Kip's friend Rick took these amazing pictures with his fancy-schmancy camera:

The pier at Kip's place

Widescreen view of Seven Mile Beach

Us at Sunset House having cocktails. Rick used some slow timer thing and it came out awesome!

Seven Mile Beach

Boooo.....exams.

Big Day. First two four tests of the semester. Anatomy went well, histo hit me like a brick wall. I try hard to be open to other cultures, but I really do wish that professors whose first language is not English had their exams proof-read by someone else. Boo.

The best part of the day was obviously the fabulous dinner our friend Medi-Mike made for us. Obviously fabulous because A) I didn't have to cook and B) he cooks really well. He cooked a giant pot of chicken pasta goodness and brought the whole thing over for us to enjoy along with some much needed beer. I tell you, some of my favorite moments are spent at home with friends.

Kip, Medi-Mike, me, and Robin. Robin's boob gave me some super awesome curves.

Kip gave a very charming toast about feeling at home with us so quickly and basically being happy at having found a little family here. (Sorry Kip, I can't paraphrase...too much beer by that time.) I realize I've posted about this before, but it really solidifies the point for me that in very little time I've found that same feeling I had when I was at Ross; the feeling like I belong with these people. I can't imagine ever living life without them.

Thank you for the sweet words Sugar.

Mr. Beau-Beaus, Medi-Mike, and Kip rocking out some Awesomeness on the patio.

Kip, Medi-Mike, and me :)

Day Three: I Had To Pee.

There I was, sitting in my physio exam having a mild heart attack as I filled in the last few bubbles, when my body decides to compensate for my hypertensive state by sending out the signal to pee. (signal induced by what physio graduates all?)

[Yes mom, I'm talking about having to pee on my public blog. I'm sure you are sitting in front of the computer aghast. Readers: please note my mother taught me better than this. I'm just a stubborn little girl and don't listen.]

Anyhow, I tried desperately to fight the need to hit the bathroom as fast as I could in exchange for just a few more moments to review my exam answers. Unfortunately, I only got to #3 before the urge was just too great and I could literally feel the bruising in my bladder.

Turns out my renal urges were the best thing that could happen, since in those three questions I changed one of them to another answer and ended up missing that question even though my original answer was correct. Who knows how many more answers I would have missed by doubting myself if I hadn't had a case of The Exploding Bladder?

This is a syndrome I am well acquainted with...called Doubtacoccus retardus. I cannot tell you how many professors (and my father) have told me to go with my first instinct. It's all good and well to hear that over and over, but really when you're hopped up on stimulants and haven't really had your head on straight for days its not so easy to follow that advice. Logic and reason go out the window when Dr. Reich comes in the room.

I have this screensaver that slide-shows a bunch of quotes that I downloaded, and this one sums it all up:

It was like Joanne was sitting there with me channeling her thoughts into my computer...creepy.

In the last few days it seems every time I looked up at my computer that quote was flashing across the screen. So much so that the very first thing I did when I got my exam this afternoon was to write that quote across the top. Just a gentle reminder to myself that all of the answers were there, I just had to find them.

Whether I did that successfully, however, is anyone's guess. But its done, only one more to go. And that one is covering all of the things I love and adore (immune systems and vaccines and hypersensitivities Oh My!).

As Anna said to me earlier this evening, I've gotten off the Stress Train (she took my seat, mind you) and am now standing on the platform at Delusion Depot. Waiting for tomorrow afternoon to come so I can break open my extra large bottle of Grolsch in the fridge. You know the kind...with that snazzy flip stoppered top thingie. Oh yeah.

[Sorry again mom, this time for publically talking about being excited for drinking.]

Less than 17 hours.

Day Two: I Smell Like Poo.

Yes. I said I Smell like Poo. Or at least feel like it.

Day Two of The Worst Week of My Life is over. I'm pretty sure I got a B+ or higher on my parasit final. Which should make me ecstatic. I should be over-the-moon and all that jazz. And I would be...if the next two days of my life weren't going to determine My Entire Life's Direction.

That's some Major Pressure.

It's really hit me tonight. I could seriously lose my place here. I could seriously lose all I've worked towards for the last four years. I can't stop thinking about it, can't stop worrying. I realize that this is detrimental to performance in high stress situations, and I will probably fret for the next thirty minutes before channeling that energy into making sure I rock these F-ing exams.

But for now: ohmygodimightfailoutofvetschoolpleasemakeitstopican'ttakeitanymoremylifesucksi'mprettysuretherewillbemassiveamountsofpeoplelosingtheirmindsinthenexttwodaysi'mnottheonlyonewhereisthewinewho
needsaglassjustgivemethebottle.

Phew.

Alright. I am prepared. I have been preparing for this for four years. I have all of the answers. They are all there. I just have to focus, have to BE the exam, have to BE the answers. I can do this. After all, I've been through worse, right? Anyone remember Organic Chemistry? I mean at least Physio is in English.

Immuno isn't, but whatev. That's just memorization. Lots and lots (and lots and lots) of memorization.

Okay. Back to work. To all at home: I will see you in T minus 4 days, pretty much to the hour. Lynn: I'm looking forward to getting absolutely snookered with you Saturday night. Be forewarned: I plan on drinking on the plane.

Day One: Oh So Fun.

Test 1 of Finals Week:

(can I just interject here and say how sad I am that when you Google Image search "check mark" ALL of the images you find are RIGHT-HANDED check marks? I mean c'mon!

There are loads of Lefties out there....represent!)

Today was my first Final Exam for The Dreaded Second Semester. I am now completely finished with smelling like formalin (at least until we get my grades back...but we're working on that positivity thing right now so roll with it, okay?). Next up, Parasitology. So for this evening's post I shall share with you my favorite parasite of the semester:

Heomonchus contortus

Superfamily: Trichostrongyloidea
Common name: Barber pole worm
Appearance of the ADULTS:

Present in abomasum

2 – 3 cm

White ovaries spiraled around blood-filled intestine - hence "barber pole" apperance

Males:

Asymmetrical dorsal lobe

Barbed spicules

Cervical papillae

Lancet inside the buccal capsule

Females:

Cervical papillae

Lancet inside the buccal capsule

Appearance of the EGGS:

Typical trichostongyloid

85 µm

Thin shelled

Shell surface smooth

Contain a morula

Life cycle is DIRECT with infection by L3.

This parasite undergoes HYPOBIOSIS - L4 encyst on gut wall and overwinter

Site of infection: Abomasum

Pathogenesis/lesions:

Acute hemorrhagic anemia

ACUTE haemonchosis:

Anemia – 2 weeks

Decrease in packed red cell volume

Continual loss of iron and protein

Hemorrhagic lesions on abomasums

Contents are dark brown

Pale/edematuous carcass

Hemorrhagic gastritis (hyperacute haemonchosis) leads to sudden death

CHRONIC haemonchosis - typically due to a deficient pasture:

Weight loss

Weakness/inappetence

What are some clinical signs? Hyperacute:

Lambs die from hemorrhagic gastritis

Anemia

Bottle jaw

Ascites

Lethargy

Dark colored feces

Loss of wool

Diarrhea NOT typically seen

PPR occurs with this parasite.

How is this parasite diagnosed?

Season

History

Clinical signs

Fecal worm egg counts

Trichostongyloid L3

Necropsy

How is this parasite treated/prevented?

Selective chemotherapy

Major resistance to all anthelmintics

FAMCHA

What is FAMACHA? (KNOW THIS and ASSOCIATE W/ THIS PARASITE!!)

Ocular mucous membrane chart

Determine level of anemia and thus appropriateness for treatment

*****THIS PARASITE IS RESISTANT TO ALL TYPES OF ANTHELMINTICS*****

Whew! All of that for just one of 42 bagillion parasites we're expected to know for our final! Guess I should get back to work. Night kids!

(oh...and in case you were curious it's my fave because A) the name is super fun to say and B) spiral ovaries? that's freakin cool.)

The Key.

I had it in my hand.

Literally. Or so I thought.

There I was, standing at question 15, casually minding my own business answering one of seventy bagillion questions on our anatomy lab exam, when my gaze fell upon some papers sitting on the windowsill. Papers with red writing. Papers that looked remarkably like my test form. Red writing that looked remarkably like my professor's.

The page was obscured by a sheet above it that documented what specimens should be laid out for the exam. Our exam. The one we were taking.

I might not be able to summon up the names of the muscles innervated by the Left Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve (duh, totally answered that after the exam with no problem) or the proper term used to describe that auditory cavity thingie in the half head specimen (seriously?)....but I can put 2 and 2 together and folks, this time they equal Exam Key. Sitting on the windowsill. Plain as day.

What's a girl to do?

I will admit, I probably spent at least one minute of my precious 120 minutes allotted for the exam (which in reality should be more like 500 minutes, but whatev) debating my next move. Do I gently shove the top sheet over and make sure that I get at least some of the questions on this exam correct? Do I leave it there and move on like I saw nothing? Do I turn it in to the profs, wasting another minute or two of my precious time?

Kinda climactic, isn't it? Sort of like a Choose Your Own Adventure book (God I loved those).

In the end, I turned to page 52 and turned in the sheets. Without even a tiny peek. What can I say? I want to earn my own grades, even if they aren't fantastic. Or even passing.

Course, this story would have been a lot better if I hadn't been told by Dr. Moffatt later that it ended up not being the key but actually just a list of specimens to be laid out for Dr. Berg's section (he hand wrote them vs. typing like the rest of the profs). Maybe I should just keep that little tidbit to myself. Course, she reads my blog so all of the points I might have won for being honest with what I thought was the key will be lost with lying.... ;)

Finals are in Full Swing.

For those of you out there who care (i.e. aren't my classmates), the following is my dreaded Final Exam Week(s) Schedule:

Tues Dec. 2..........Parasitology Lab

Fri Dec. 5.............Anatomy Lab

Mon Dec. 8..........Anatomy Lecture

Tue Dec. 9...........Parasitology Lecture

Wed Dec. 10........Physiology Lecture

Thur Dec. 11........Immunology Lecture


Around 5pm on December 11 I will be completely done with this semester. I will also be pretty well aware as to how I did this semester, and thus will know to pack light or heavy. It will also be an indication of how many beers I will consume that night. Ah, who am I kidding...the number will be the same either way.

I fly home Saturday, December 13th for those of you at home who are waiting. Not sure of my flight schedule, but for headache's sake let's just say I won't be available for autographs or photo opps until late Sunday. Maybe even Monday. Unless you bribe me with food. We'll see how things pan out.

2/5 DONE.

Two down, three to go.

Anatomy was my biggest concern, so now that it's out of the way bring on the final finals!

In case you guys were curious....here's a smattering of questions from my anat lecture final:

#1. Which of the following is correct?
A. Large volumes of local anesthetics injected into the epidural space can reach nerves proximal to the site of injection. This is not the case for agents injected into the subarachnoid space.
B. The cheif advantage to obtaining a cerebral spinal fluid sample at the lumbosacral junction is that the lumbar intumescence is easily accessible.
C. The subarachnoid space exists by virtue of the cerebral spinal fluid that fills it.
D. In order to avoid inserting a CSF tap needle into a patient's brainstem or spinal cord, the needle should be directed toward the pedicle of the vertebral foramen.
E. Cerebral spinal fluid results help veterinarians to determine the nature of lesions, particularly those that cause vascular damage.

#2. An anesthetic agent that "shuts down" the output of the reticular formation to the cerebral cortex would be expected to:
A. result in paralysis of striated muscle
B. result in atrophy of striated muscle
C. affect the animal's awareness of stimuli
D. affect all sensory neurons
E. affest all lower motor neurons (neurons innervating striated muscle)

#3. A horses's loss of awareness of the position of its joints (for example, the horse's being unaware of the knuckling of the metatarsophalangeal joint of a pelvic limb) could be the result of damage to its:
A. olfactory cortex
B. somatosensory cortex
C. visual (optic) cortex
D. auditory cortex
E. motor cortex

#4. A complete transverse fracture of the olecranon bone will affect the dog's ability to:
A. extend the elbow joint
B. extend the digits
C. extend the shoulder joint
D. flex the elbow joint

#5. T/F. The large intestine of the dog contains haustra and tenia. (I wrote a big WTF next to this one).

#6. Matching the following functions to the appropriate nerves below.
A. Purely motor function
B. Mixed function
C. Special sensory ensory function
Nerves:
1. Olfactory CN
2. Trigeminal CN
3. Trochlear CN

*Extra credit from me if you can number the CNs correctly without cheating!! :)

Alright, guess that's all I'll share. You guys probably already think I'm nutty enough. Just keep in mind that I had 125 of those questions. And I reallllly had to pee around #68.

For those of you who are curious, our retarded school does not release final exam or final course grades until Saturday 8/16 at noon. Which means just before I get on the plane home I'll know whether I should pack light or heavy. No reason to stress about it now!

Have a great week!! :)

Coming into home plate.

We closing in on the end of the semester...the pressure is ON.

For those of you who send me postive thinking (JoAnne!), my exam schedules are as follows:

7/21 - Histo #3
7/28 - Anat Lab 4 & Lect 2
8/6 - Anat Lab final
Finals Week
8/11 - Anat lect final
8/12 - Histo final
8/13 - Nutrition final
8/14 - Physio final

Yes, you counted right. That's SEVEN exams in less than 30 days.

Thankfully a lot of the material overlaps...but still. What the F.

Sorry I haven't kept up with the lesson of the week....I'll look for something especially special in my histo notes and get something posted soon.

Much love to my readers (all 3 of you), see you in TWENTY SEVEN DAYS!!