Sometimes when the moon is big and bright and the clouds are low and full I look around and get the feeling that I'm just this little plastic figurine within a colorful diorama sitting on the shelf in some twelve-year-old girl's room. And maybe one day, perhaps when she goes on to high school and turns her interests in other directions, that little girl is going to tire of this silly childhood dream and toss it in the garbage.
Which is disheartening, really, because I kind of like it here.
Ron (names have been changed to protect identities, yada yada) and I have taken to studying at the Marriott lately. They’re open 24 hours, the coffee is yummy, the power is always on, and there is no internet to rudely distract me from my studies (now there is only Ron). This past week was a veterinary conference here in St. Kitts (sorry vet friends…didn’t even know until they swooped down and took over my Marriott) and this place was packed! Large hotels are my new favorite place to hang out; there is a lot of people watching to be had. Especially fun is people watching at an island resort – you get all kinds. At one point we saw a large group of people walking out of the casino carrying pillows. We had a lot of fun coming up with explanations for that one.
Tonight there was one lone hippy guy walking around clutching his pillow as if it were his life preserver. I have to wonder if he’s been wandering around this enormous hotel for days looking for his narcolepsy support group, occasionally putting his pillow down when the need to sleep overtakes him.
While I love studying here, I cannot help but occasionally think back to a time when life was so much simpler (a whole 3 months ago in first semester). I am, of course, speaking of Marriott Madness. I cannot wait for this semester to be over, whatever the outcome, so that life can return to that sweet time of blissful sun and good times with friends.
Oh well, nostalgia must wait. Back to parasitology, in all of its mucopurulent putrid green profuse watery projectile bottle jaw air hunger moroccan leather beaver fever glory.
Tonight I caught some pictures of the fantastic moon and clouds on my way to pick up Steph for our Indian Dinner. No, there was no driving and snapping pics at the same time, nor did I stop in the road or anywhere that would encourage a carjacking. All of these were snapped on campus or at my apartment.
The photo quality is not fantastic, but I did learn a few new tricks and managed to come out with some pretty nice shots. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did! (You can see them bigger if you click on them, though that doesn't necessarily enhance the quality...)
Ode To An Inspiration
Roses are red
Violets are blue
JoAnne is the most awesome vet ever
And she's a damn good friend, too.
Yeah yeah...what were you expecting? My brain has turned to mush; vet school has sucked all of the creativity out of me.
I just realized this evening that I have written many blogs about my support staff here on The Rock, but I haven't said a peep about the one person who writes comments for 75% of my blog entries! I'm sure all of you out there (who don't already know this crazy cat JoAnne) were wondering just Who Is this Mysterious Lady who writes in ALL CAPS?
She is none other than JoAnne of the DMV fame (no, that's not a typo; you had to be there). When I was nothing but a fledgling groupie making $12/hr as a supervisor at the Humane Society it was JoAnne who saw promise in my curious gaze and convinced me I was smart enough to become a vet. When I stood over that metal table and pointed at various internal organs it was JoAnne who yelled "Don't touch the BLUE!" (and thus my introduction to sterility). When I helped out in the exam room too much (seriously? shelter staff can help TOO MUCH?), it was JoAnne who ruthlessly mocked The Hand so my anger would dissipate quickly. And when I needed anything, anything at all, it was JoAnne who would answer my call.
JoAnne's seemingly endless energy and constant drive for doing what is best for animals and people is what inspired me to become a veterinarian. I've worked with other vets, and they have ALL influenced me tremendously. But JoAnne's friendship, dedication to my goals, and support have been immeasurable.
I miss her every day that I am here, and cannot wait until the day we are working together again. I just hope we are both on the same side of the table when that day comes. And I only hope that I can be half the vet, half the person, and half the inspiration to future vets that she is for me.
I love you kid.
