No that is not a WIG!

Last weekend Emily and our friend Elizabeth hosted a "Libra"/Halloween party! This is something Elizabeth does every year because so many of her friends are libras. But a "libra" status is not required for attendance, and costumes are encouraged. It was a funtime for all!

Liz as the "dirty old professor", Em as "John McEnroe", and me as "Bob Ross"
Elizabeth and Kevin "Palin"

Christina and Liz!?!?!?
Amy as a very convincing pregnant redneck!
Tara & Em, note the tennis ball holder sported by Em!
Me painting a "Super-Ben"

Catching Up!

I'm finished...well temporarily that is! I had my last final exam today for this semester's core classes. Monday I start elective courses, but electives are always so much more relaxed! So, hopefully this means our blog will see more regular updates.

FIONA needs a HOME!

Yesterday I successfully completed my first spay (hopefully one of many)! Many thanks to Shirin for help with the first ovary and all her calming abilities! Thanks also to Tammy for her skills on anesthesia! And finally thanks to our pup--Fiona. She is a shelter dog from Washington-Wilkes...and in need of a good home.

So if anyone wants to share their home with Fiona (I don't think she would notice if you changed her name)...or know someone who does...please let me know (bethyash@gmail.com)! She had to go back to the shelter today and we hated it for her!

Look at those ears...she is adorable, weighs about 40lbs, just had a bath (thanks to Tammy and Shirin) and flea preventative--plus, she is SPAYED!

And I Would Walk 2,175 Miles

Congrats to the Appalachian Trail hikers - Bib, Kevin, Kathryn, and Chris (sorry I can't remember your trail names)!!!

They have all officially completed the 2,175 mile hike from Georgia to Maine. Whew!!!

For those of you who don't know, Bib and Kathryn are my sisters.

Kathryn and Chris finished September 26th and Bib and Kevin finished October 1st.

Way to go guys!!

I guess now the only question is, "What next?"















If anyone is interested, you can check out Bib and Kevin's blog for pictures and stories from the trail.

You Say It's Your Birthday, It's My Birthday Too!

Yep, number 29. It was a nice birthday weekend, except for the fact that the Bulldogs lost on Saturday night.

Elwood getting ready for the big game.
Unfortunately, his good looks didn't bring any good luck for the dawgs.

Birthday Lunch at Transmet on Sunday.
Someone thought it would be funny to play a joke with the candles. 18, yeah right!


Beth dishing out the birthday cake.

Obviously, explaining something extremely complicated to Tina and Ben, and having to use hand gestures.

Cecile and Christina seem perplexed.

Katz cooling off with one of my Birthday gifts, a Spanish fan from Christina.


The fan turned out to be the party favorite.

I also received a fire pit from Cecile and Liz (thanks guys!) and an antique record player (that works) from Beth! No pics of these yet.

VET SCHOOL has taken over my LIFE!

So, obviously it's been awhile since I have last posted a blog. This would be due to VET SCHOOL. It has taken over my life once again. My friend Shirin keeps a pretty good account of our life at vet school. If you are interested, you should check out her blog (www.modaresibeal.blogspot.com)

Yesterday was a rough day for me. We did our first surgical procedure of the year--a canine neuter! Which was a great learning experience, and we were able to do the neuter on a shelter dog, making it more adoptable! But on top of that I have a radiology test looming overhead (thursday to be precise)....this is not my strongest subject! And then they threw a kink in my spokes...by "informing" us that the alternative in place for the terminal surgery lab isn't what we thought it would be--and I broke down!
our surgical candidate--ROCKET!
he is now neutered and up for adoption at Washington-Wilkes Animal Shelter.

Basically, we are required to conduct an exploratory and OHE during our surgery lab. This is normally done on a pig or dog that is euthanized after surgery. I feel that killing an animal for my learning is unacceptable. I'm in vet school to help animals, not kill healthy animals (even if they are pigs that will be taken to market). As an alternative, we would like to obtain ethically-sourced cadavers (animals dying of natural causes or being humanely euthanized in face of pain/suffering). However, this is NOT the alternative given to us. Our so-called "alternative" is conducting surgery on a freshly euthanized pig--bought by the university! Sorry, but this is unacceptable to me!!!!

I don't want to continue ranting...so I'll leave it at that...still not sure what "option" I will choose...seeing as there isn't really an option!

And I promise, my next blog will be happier than this one!

Cil's Kitchen (err...Cecile cooking in our kitchen)

Say cheese! Yes, we finally got our camera back from Beth's sister and we've been putting it to use!

Cecile came over to cook us some dinner on Sunday night and as always it was delicious!

Thanks Cil!

Cecile hard at work - if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen!



Yum-O! Spinach and Artichokes.


Pretending to fry some pork chops (I don't even eat pork chops.)

Finally, Chow Time!


Beth getting crazy with her napkin bowtie.