Life with my dogs

So, as many of you know -- I am in the process of applying to vet school so that I can follow my dream of working with animals for the rest of my life. Of course, I love animals.. and especially my dogs... and even more so, my basenjis.

We live in the country, so to speak.. but close enough to town to be near the major highways; and my boy dog has gotten loose a couple of times. This one time, in particular was quite humorous, so I thought I would write about it.

It was just the other day --- I was walking Julius and Cleo on leash, and this non-b puppy i adopted was trailing with us, off leash. Mom's husky was in the fenced in yard -- but of course, my b's have trained me to walk them because they refuse to go into the fenced yard with Kaiya, the husky. Normally, on walks we find all sorts of critters and smell all sorts of smells -- and the dogs get excited but, I've always managed to keep them close at hand.

This one morning, was rather early... and i was still in my pajamas --- I typically walk the dogs in the early morning with my big rubber boots, pajama shorts and a t-shirt.. which is exactly the attire i was wearing this particular morning. Well.. everything was going fine..until Julius got stubborn and wanted to smell something for a little longer. I was attempting to tug gently on him to coax him forward.. when all of a sudden.. his collar slipped off him and lurched toward me!

for an instant, I thought he didn't realize he was loose.. and would stand still to let me reach him.. but just as I got close to him.. he realized he was loose -- and did a play lunge.. and ran around me.. and then around and around the yard... and each time he went around, his diameter would increase ---

soon.. he was exploring the neighbor's field.. and then the next field after that...

Typically, my mom and I have to drive down the road and corner the dogs and tell them we're going 'bye bye' ---b ut this time was too early for my mom to be awake -- so I was on my own.

Well.. Cleo (female) was still on leash.. and Gonzo (the new pup) still trailing ... we all three decided to start tracking Julius. A bunch of weeds, a few trees, some tall grass and three fields later -- we found Julius again -- running back and forth behind a house that had a miniature horse in their backyard ----

And here I am in my pajamas and rubber boots -- what a sight I must have been to any neighbors that may have seen me that morning ---

Well.. it took a good 30 minutes, some petting of the miniature horse and some strategy to outsmart Julius.. but I finally cornered him and caught him.. safe and sound.

That was a crazy morning -- and i'm sure all of my basenji friends can relate... the panic sets in as soon as you know your B is loose and running toward the highway... I'm just glad I know most of his usual 'curiosity' points.. and now I have added the miniature horse to the list...

First Blogspot Blog

Okay, thank you to my dear friend Sheri for getting me into the blogging mood! Today is Thursday, November 20, 2008 ... and for Sheri's purpose I will be recapping events yesterday --- some monumental events at that!

So, Wednesday was a crazy day -- I ended up waking up at 5 am to finish a report for my genetics class -- and that's what i get for procrastinating! I could have had an even better report had i not waited till the last minute to do it .. but hopefully, the prof will still think it's a good paper. I was spoiled in undergrad with getting good grades on last minute stuff -- and with grad work too.. so I guess i'm still a professional procrastinator! maybe it will change with vet school? hrmm..

Anyway.. 7 am rolled around and I still hadn't quite finished my paper on von Willebrand disease in dogs, so what did I do? I got ready for class anyway.. and came up to campus -- I skipped out on my first class (organic chem 2) and most of the 2nd class (genetics) to finish my damn paper. It's okay though.. i thought the paper was important.. and actually being in class.. well.. that can be okay to miss once in a blue moon. Anyway... on top of finishing the paper, I also had a physiology exam to study for .. and on tuesday night I was at the library until 11 pm yet again to study for that test. Sometimes the study group is wonderful for me, and sometimes it's not quite so wonderful because we get distracted and delirious and don't focus. Oh well ...

Anyhow.. i went to my physiology lecture class and the prof had decided to move the exam to the lab time .. which was good cuz then the test wouldn't be until 2 pm. After the lecture, i went downstairs to my chemistry professor and apologized for skipping out on class and asked if i missed anything.. well good thing i stopped by cuz he handed out 2 homework assignments and the takehome exam... omg!

Then i went to lunch with my mom at the elementary school where we volunteer and have lunch with our big brother/big sister program lunch buddies. My little brother is absolutely adorable! I love him.. and don't get to see him next week because of Thanksgiving holiday... it won't be the same! I look forward to wednesdays just so I can see the smile on his face :) I'd adopt him if I could, I swear!

So after lunch, i had an hour yet until exam time --- so I talked with some classmates about various things on the respiratory and renal systems and some other bodily functions. Test time... egadz.. there were so many freaking multiple choice questioins.. and i'm not talking NORMAL multiple choice.. these are thought-provoking application multiple choice tests... and they have about 8 possible answers -- from a to j -- not just four or five... uggh.. okay okay, some of them had only four of five... but anyway.. after an hour, the test was over... i'm not sure how i did.. i'll find out tomorrow.

After the test, we did a little lab experiment on digestion.. and it was amusing... people acting as body parts.. i wish i had a picture...

Went home, walked the dogs -- and wednesday night is my workout night at the Y with my passport to health class... well, last night, I was the only one to show up.. and i was already having a tired, crappy day --- But i walked on the treadmill for 10 minutes and then continued to do circuit weight training with my trainer. What an ordeal that was! the ones she had me do last night.. were the awkward ones.. you know, where you sit with your legs spread wide and bring the leg things close together by closing your legs? the hip adducter and abducter machine.. omg.. I SO did not feel fresh while doing that... I felt sorry for my trainer for having to be next to me while I did THAT machine! uggh... she told me my inner thighs and outer thighs might hurt today.. but they don't really, which is either good.. or bad depending on how you look at it. Then we did the ab cruncher weight circuit... my dang boobs get in the way! and then I did the back extension thingy.. which is not hard at all.. i feel like i could do that one all night! After that, i got on the bicycle for 10 minutes.. and then stretched and cooled down.

Well, the end of the night... i was able to get my first stamp for passing a class on the Passport program... I was actually really proud and happy.. i'm the first one to do it .. since i was the only one there last night.. i was the only one to get a stamp! I was really pumped about it, actually..

When i got to my car.. i kinda had a 'biggest loser' moment and cried uncontrollably... i called my sister and talked to her about my emotions.. i think it was a mixture of happiness because of what i'm doing for myself.. and anxiety from stress from all that is going on in my life.

I went home and cried to on my mom's shoulder for a few minutes and just held her for what seemed like the greatest hug ever... it was an amazing feeling :) I went to bed shortly after that.. i was exhausted..

Only to wake up again this morning to start my day.. i had one class this morning.. Chemistry... I love my chem professor.. he's such a neat old man :) and ever since i've been in the library on this computer... attempting to study.. and then just not studying and messing around on the computer some more...

Anyway... that is it for today.. I think perhaps I will start using my blogger to talk about accomplishments with weight and things going on with men .. and perhaps my dad..

watching your parent die is the worst thing in the world.. *sigh*

Alright.. enough for now.. i DO need to get some stuff done for class tomorrow!!!

Ciao!