Monterey aquarium

So Jenna and I took the Saturday off and rented a car to go see more of California. After a little back and forth because we didn't reserve a car earlier in the week we ended up with a 2012 Chevy Malibu. It was a great car! The drive there was spectacular. California really is a wonderful state :) once we saw the ocean we knew we had arrived. The aquarium was great. We didn't anticipate the amount of people that are there but most cleared out aroun lunch. The only bummer was that the sea otter exhibit was not open. To compensate they had people on the decks with binoculars to show you the otters in the bay. It was really near to see them live. They wrap themselves up in kelp and just float in their back while thy eat or sleep so cute :) we had dinner at a brewery and had the best calamari I have ever had. At dusk we made our way to the fisherman's wharf which Jenna said was a more touristy version of Pier 39 in San Fran but we found some happy hour margaritas and pursued through the shops. Overall it was a great trip. I wish I had more time in this area I hope my life rings me back to California with Justin because I want to see Yosemite and San Fran at some point.

Update- Snowmass pictures

 

I finally got the picture uploader to work so here are some belated pictures from Snowmass/Aspen.

 

 

 These was the awesome lift up to the top of Aspen.  I am afraid of heights but I did well since they were completely enclosed.  The ski lifts on the other hand were tough at least the first few times...

 Justin and I at the top of Snowmass looking over to Aspen Highlands.

The view was just breathtaking...So pretty!

Happy Cows.....come from California?

So I have spent the last two weeks in California at a big dairy practice. When I mean big I mean that they have 16 veterinarians!!! Holy moly that is a lot of people.  I didn't know quite what to expect when I came but the office is beautiful and the living quarters are very cozy.  You don't see every veterinarian every day and I must say I have probably only met half.  It is a crazy environment but it works well...these guys take one weekend every 2 months and are on call one day a month after hours- WOW can you imagine??? That is definitely one perk! The numbers of cows out here is also astounding. Most dairys in the area range from 800-3000 cows!! And don't let the advertisements fool you they are not on pasture.  They are conventional dairies just like everywhere else.  At least I haven't found the "happy" cows on green lush pastures they may be in other parts of California.  That said the cows here are taken care of wonderfully and the industry out here does a really good job.  I have learned a good deal of dairy medicine as I have been here and have found it is not something I want to do all day every day.  I really enjoy sick cow work but maybe I am not cut out to palpate hundreds of cows a day :) Which is ok I love the idea of varying the work I do every day!!  I have found that I love this area. The valley is very similar to NC, at least in regards to the people I have met and the area.
Last week there were two students from Iowa here and we hit it off great.  We had a great time, even finding a nearby gym and working out in the evenings (though we have not lifted weights since our arms are so beat up by the end of the day).  Thursday evening Jenna came into town.  It has been nice to have a familiar face and good to have some friend time because fourth year has really put a crimp in seeing each other often.  Fourth year is funny that way- you get really close with who you are on for 2 weeks then you get ripped apart and work with other students and teachers for 2 weeks.  It has been an adjustment.  I head home Saturday and though I have learned a great deal I am ready to head home!

Passing NAVLE

So Monday was a great day! I found out that I passed NAVLE. That is our national veterinary licencing exam.  I took it early December and had to wait until now to find out results. It was a multiple choice examination over a span of 6 hours.  It took a lot out of me and I didn't come out of the testing center with good feelings, but that is all over and I passed! Now it is just waiting to hear from the internship selection committee which I will hear from February 4th and finishing out fourth year. I am so thankful for all of the love and support that I got from my friends when they found out that I passed!  It is amazing to think that I am that much closer to being a vet!

Snowmass

Hello everyone welcome to my blog. This blog will follow mine and Justin's adventures.  I am a fourth  year veterinary student and Justin works in research at UNC-CH. We love to travel so hopefully many of these posts will be about our travels!

Skiing was always something that I didn't associate with fun. After a bad experience when I was in the 5th grade I never really took to it.  Doesn't help that I am not very good at picking up new things.  When I met Justin he talked about going on his annual ski trip with his parents. The first year we dated I didn't go and then last year his family took a break from their trip because they were renovating their house. This year it was go time.  We booked tickets back in the Summer and since then I had anxiety attacks about skiing.  The first day I fell multiple times going down the mountain from our apartment to the the lift. That day I also got a little excited turning and ended up going backwards...panicked....and feel on my bindings- yea I cried like a little girl. Lets just say I haven't had that bad of a bruise in a LONG time. The next day Justin decided it would be a good idea to go to Buttermilk. It is the mountain where the Winter X-games are held.  It also has over 40% greens! Yay..perfect for me! I ended up almost going all the way to the top and only falling 3 times on the way down.  Then I took a break at the top after lunch and everyone else did a run without me.  After that I did another run and only fell once, but it was my ski poles fault so it really wasn't a fall!  The next day was a break day for all of us. We went to Aspen and walked around.  The slopes there were no place for me, they don't even have ONE green! We got a walking pass up to the top of Aspen and ate lunch up there.  It was gorgeous!  The shops in Aspen were very ritzy, but we had a good time window shopping.  The next day I decided that I was too sore to ski. Justin's Mom Terri took my day and skied and I took the day off.  I sent Opa a post card and posted pictures. I needed that day.  The last day I skied like a pro!  The first run was great and I didn't fall at all. I was then convinced to go to the top of the mountain and ride down.  The runs were VERY hard (for me) but I made it and didn't fall at all!!! I even did a blue.  Big thanks to my Mom who re-taught me how to ski and Justin and his Mom and Dad for their patience with my slow skiing.  I'm sad to say it's over it was a great trip!

Note...Pictures aren't working at the moment hopefully I'll be able to add them soon.