Tucker

Our family dog is Tucker. He's pretty spectacular and very handsome.

He's got many unique characteristics, but among my favorite is his habit of howling anytime an ambulance drives by. Mom thinks it's because the sound hurts his ears. Maybe it's just because he doesn't know what it is. Stephanie made the observation that if he's outside where he can see the ambulance, he only howls until it comes into sight. Maybe this is because he can then see what's creating the noise? Anyone else have any other possible explanations?

My other favorite thing to see is his "crazy run". I'll have to try to get that on tape for you.

I haven't posted anything in awhile

so, I thought I would throw something on here.  I actually did try to put up a post about my dog the other day, but it involved a video which I was unable to upload.  I'll have to try to figure that one out. 

In the process of writing the above two sentences, I actually forgot what I was originally going to talk about.  Hmmm. 
Oh well. 
I guess I'll just ramble and see if it comes to me.

So, classes start Wednesday.  I am completely unprepared in every possible way.  It will probably suck. 

I just watched an excellent movie on Netflix called Chaos Theory.  Check it out. 

Made some Chex Mix.  It's somewhat delicious.  Froommate Adrian seems to enjoy it. 

I accomplished nothing of value over break. 

I did get to see my family a lot and hear some awesome stories about my grandpa being a super bad-ass State's Attorney and judge. 

I decided when I get married (trying to be optimistic) it'll probably involve some sort of combination of a courthouse, a bonfire, and maybe a potluck barbecue.  It's possible that I will wear a wedding dress but yet invite everyone else, including the groom, to show up jeans and t-shirts.  Ok, maybe not the groom, but definitely everyone else.  I think planning a big wedding would overwhelm me.
Oh! 
I think I was planning on saying something about my sister's engagement!  They settled on New Year's Eve for the Wedding.  I see this being excellent fun for several reasons:
1) Super awesome reception
2) I actually have vacation at that time so I'll get to be home leading up to the wedding!!!!
3) If the world ends in 2012 (aka the next day) we will all go out with a bang!

P.S. I think blue and silver would be excellent winter wedding colors.  Thoughts? 

I don't know what else, so I guess I'm done.  Perhaps something with pictures will come in the future.  I do have a good mouse story I want to share. 

Okay, bye!

Random Scenes of Home

Some of you know me and my family and our house and the craziness that ensues.  For those of you who haven't personally witnessed the Juen household, I am putting together a series of drawings to help enlighten you.  Unfortunately, my pictures can't completely recreate the hilarity of these moments.

 When looking for parmesan cheese:

When Stephanie does headstands:
Apparently this "excites" Tucker.

When putting up Christmas lights:

I'm sure more things will happen over the next two weeks of break, so be sure to tune in.  :)

How Danger Became Chief

Once upon a time there lived a herd of vet students.  They kept a small apartment where they led their stressed but happy lives.  In general, life was pretty good except for one small problem.  Every winter, the students were beset by a vile murder of crows.  They flocked around the apartment.  They were everywhere: the trees, the roofs, the fences, the cars.  Each time the girls stepped outside, they feared for their lives and their eyeballs. 

They knew that the walls surrounding them were the only things keeping them safe from the evil scavengers.  While sleeping, while studying, they knew the birds were always there...waiting.

As companions, they had three cats, a dog, and a hedgehog. Of course, the animals were actually in charge and simply let the humans believe they had control.  The cats, especially, maintained an aloof demeanor so the girls wouldn't become aware the cats were their primary protectors.  As such, the cats knew it was their job to defeat the crows and free the humans. 

Now among the cats, there was one who rose above the others. His tail had been cut short in a previous battle (whether it was with a chinchilla or a drawer is unclear).  This brave cat's name was Danger and he took it upon himself to rally the others. 

For days, the three cats diligently observed the crows and carefully laid out their plan of attack.  The timing had to be just right, so they could catch the birds off guard.  Finally, the day arrived.  The battle was fierce.  Each cat fought ferociously.  They stalked their prey, leaped into the air, and pinned the foe to the ground. The birds dived and clawed and tore flesh with their beaks. It was unclear which side would win, but when the dust and feathers settled, the cats had come out on top.

They were not without casualties, however.  The fearsome Danger was left with a gash in his side and piece missing from his ear.  It was very fortunate for him that his human was studying to be a veterinarian.  After a few stitches and a couple days rest, Danger was as fit as a kitten.  During his recuperation, the others made him a handsome headdress from the feathers of the enemy.  They held a ceremony and presented it to him.

Danger was elected the chief.  The crows had been defeated, and the cats had saved their people. 

Soon after, the girls all went to their families' homes to celebrate the holidays.  They were at peace and everyone lived happily ever after...

One More Semester Down

Well, I finally made it through this horrid semester, even if just by the skin of my teeth.  My sincerest apologies to everyone I have pissed off, snapped at, hurt, or left feeling abandoned these past 5 months.  I've been a wee bit on the depressed side (understatement) and  unable, and honestly, unwilling, to pull myself out of my funk.  Instead I have been wallowing in a pit of despair surrounded by a stench borne of self-pity, anger, and only showering once every 3 days.  Grades kind of got pushed by the wayside, and I'm just happy to be finished.  Hopefully a couple weeks at home with my family will set me straight before my last semester of real classwork.  After that I just have to survive a year of clinical rotations and somehow pass the board exams. No problem though right?  Eek! However, the prospect of finally starting my career after a grand total of 20 years in school is pretty exciting!  As is the idea that I can potentially move back home to live near my family and my soon to be newlywed sister.  It won't be long before I can be a real person again!  I guess I'm getting ahead of myself though.  For now, I'm just glad to have a chance to breathe. 

Above and Beyond

   Today was my last session at the school rec center with my personal trainer.  You're probably laughing at me for even having a personal trainer.  Who am I that I deserve special treatment like that?  Aren't personal trainers for rich actresses who need to waste their money on something?  Well, I'm not that special, and I'm certainly not rich, but getting a personal trainer was one of the best decisions I've made for myself.  If you know me, you've probably come to realize that exercising is not my favorite thing.  I would be much happier sitting on the couch watching a movie or reading than going out running.  Having a trainer really kept me motivated and held me accountable to someone else.
   You may already know this, but for awhile now I've been having some mental/emotional issues tied in with my appearance.  There's a lot of back story to this, but when I came to vet school I was at the heaviest weight of my life and couldn't manage to lose it on my own due to some difficulties with eating.  I had thought about getting a trainer during my first year at school, but thought it was too expensive, and besides, shouldn't I be able to lose weight on my own?
    After being very frustrated and depressed, I decided to do the PT thing when I came back as a second year.  I was pretty nervous and doubtful that I would like it or stick with it, but then the rec center assigned me the best trainer in the world!  (not an exaggeration)  She's super nice, cheerful, and encouraging.  I thought I would have someone that worked out with me and that would be that, but we really ended up hitting it off, and I found myself with a new friend.  If I had gotten someone else I really doubt I would have kept up with it. But as it is, I've been training with her for the last three semesters, and we're only stopping because she graduated.
    So basically what I'm trying to say is PT has been a great experience for me.  My trainer helped me meet my fitness goals and as a result I feel better about my appearance, and more importantly about myself as a whole.  I feel like my whole attitude has had a makeover since I began this. She has been a real blessing in my life, and I know I couldn't have done it with her.

Oh The Excitement!!

It was Saturday night, so of course I was at home studying for finals (actually I was on the phone with my boyfriend) when my younger sister, Megan, beeped in.  I switched over to talk to her and she said:

"Call the boyfriend back."

And I said, "No.  You interrupted.  I'll call you back."

And Megan was all like, "No! Talk to me biznatch!"

So I was like, "Fine!"

So I got off the phone with the boyfriend.  All of a sudden I found myself on a conference call with both my sisters!  I was entirely confused until Megan said we were actually on a 4-way call because her boyfriend was with her and listening too, and they had news...

Now I thought I had an idea what this news might be, but I didn't want to get too excited just yet.  I sat, waiting, breath held....and then she said it, "We're engaged!!!"

I'm not really sure what was said in the next couple seconds because I was squealing with delight.

I had been waiting for this day to come!!  Is it disappointing that the youngest of us three is getting married first?  Yes.  But with me and Stephanie (the older sister) swamped in the soul sucking void of professional school, Megan is the only hope for a wedding in the family anytime soon.  Thus, I have accepted the fact that I will have to live vicariously...at least for now. 

There may or may not have been some dancing at this point.  And school may or may not have been forgotten for the rest of the night.

After the dancing, I told all my roommates and other various friends.

They probably didn't appreciate my interruption of their studying, or my random outbursts that continued throughout the rest of the night, but they listened like faithful froommates do.  Finals are thankfully almost over now, and then I get to go home and talk wedding!  Of course, being the best sister, I will get to be Maid of Honor!  I suppose I'd be willing to share some of the duties with Steph though. ;) We're gonna plan the best bachelorette party ever! 

There's only one thing in the way.  I'll give you one guess....

Did you say vet school?

You're right!  It's always in the way of everything.  The next year and a half of my life have been planned out since early September.  Next semesters classes are set and starting in May I'll be doing my clinical rotations until I finally graduate the following May.  I already know what rotation I'll be doing when and what weeks I have vacation.  I gave Megan my schedule to look at but she doesn't want to have the wedding any of the times I'm free and of course, she shouldn't have to worry about it.  It's her day!  Vet school is just stubborn and makes you plan out your life before you even know what is going to happen!  I think I might be able to get an extra day off, but it requires filling out a form for a leave of absence and finding someone to take over my duties.  So I have a little more investigating to do on how all that stuff works. It just sucks cause I'll probably end up taking a Friday off and going home for the weekend (assuming I'm not on call that weekend) which means I'll only have a couple days at home.  I would really like to be at home for the days leading up to the wedding.  I guess that's life, though, and you have to work with what you get. For now anyways, I'm super excited and can't wait to gain a brother!