taleofaredhead

Hello again.

taleofaredhead — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 22:13:57 GMT

I hate setting a goal and not reaching it so I don't do New Year's resolutions. I do want to set goals for myself- small, attainable goals. Among others, I would love to begin actually using my journal; I've had it since 2008 and never really wrote in it with much regularity. I would blog but LJ offers more of a community aspect that appeals to me. So here I am, back in my journal, watching the cursor blink inquisitively at me.

Looking back over my posts since 2008, I have to both smile and cringe. I've come a long way- I got into vet school and am in my second year. Danny and I are engaged, getting married in May. Things continue to roll my way for the most part, although this winter break has been absolute hell. I hope that getting back up to school and re-establishing my routine will help me to regain an even keel.

Anyway, the point of the post: goals for 2013? I'm hoping over the next few days I can come up with some attainable yet meaningful goals for myself. Maybe that can be my next post.

Blog.

taleofaredhead — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 23:03:27 GMT

Hi everyone.

Not sure if anyone "follows" me on Livejournal, but I've decided to create a blog journaling my thoughts/etc as I prepare to apply to vet school. I will stay on LJ to follow the communities, but I will post actively on the blog.

http://journeytovetschool.blogspot.com

Enjoy :]

taleofaredhead — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:37:04 GMT

Had my lesson last night with the instructors. I was nervous going in, but I think it worked out well. Didn't get a job offer, but it was far too casual for that sort of thing. We had beer and pizza in the lounge afterwards, and then I went home.

Carolyn had spoken to the woman in charge of sales, and she said I could lease Frosty- for the price of board there. $600/mo is too much for me right now, and I'm frustrated and torn. I could buy Frosty and board him elsewhere for significantly cheaper. He's barefoot, so trims shouldn't be ridiculous. Vet bills are vet bills, and I'd just have to keep my fingers crossed that I wouldn't need to empty my savings (though I would if need be).

I'm going to type out a budget and sleep on it for the next few days. I think I may buy Frosty after all :)

Indecisiveness will be my downfall.

taleofaredhead — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 22:56:23 GMT

Saturday was the horse sale. I didn't buy Frosty, after my mom kind of geeked on me the night before. I asked my instructor about a lease, which is totally do-able, but what happens when I go away and want to take Frosty with me?

So I'll end up buying him. Soon, most likely, because there are lots of reasonable boarding places open. I hate to be dishonest with my parents, but we'll just have to see what happens.

Vet school.

taleofaredhead — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:37:24 GMT

So unless some miracle occurs, I didn't get an interview for Missouri. The admissions lady said that an email was sent out two weeks ago to notify those who did get an interview, and I most certainly did not get an email. She said there would be a letter sent either way by January, so I guess I can still keep my fingers crossed.

Scared.

taleofaredhead — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:45:42 GMT

I'm going to compile a proposal of sorts to give to my parents when I bring up buying Frosty. I've decided I want to buy him, though I would move him to a less-expensive barn. If my parents' feelings are hurt by it, or they really don't want me to, I'll have to give in, I think. But I'm hoping I can be convincing..

Equestrian community.

taleofaredhead — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:56:28 GMT

I feel intimidated posting there. I think I come across as childish and unexperienced. Not to say that I have all of the equine experience in the world, and I'm sure almost everyone in the community has more than I do. But I really am not clueless :\

Note to self : word posts appropriately, so as to convey point.

Frustration.

taleofaredhead — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:17:33 GMT

So just about all that is left of my vet school app is essay-writing. There are three left (I feel good about the one I've already written) but two of them are nearly identical! I'm so frustrated. I'm doing my best not to overlap but it's annoying at best.

Cleaning.

taleofaredhead — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:56:14 GMT

I'm beginning to wonder if I'm becoming some sort of neat/clean-freak.

Ever since I moved into the new house in June, I've made a habit of vacuuming/Swiffering the floors every other week or so. I'm not perfect when it comes to putting the dishes away, but by no means is the sink ever over-flowing with dirty dishes. I suppose I just really like the look, smell and feel of a nice, clean house.

My bedroom is the worst of it, since I don't quite have enough room for all of my clothes (plus Danny's!) to hang in the closet or fit in the dresser. I know I need to go through and take out stuff for Good Will, but I just never seem to get around to that. Once we get a system in place where we can store our clothes properly, it will really reduce the mess in my bedroom. But at least the sheets get changed every other week.

Anyway, just reflecting!

Whew!

taleofaredhead — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:10:53 GMT

It has been a whirlwind past few days! I was going full-speed all weekend, helping Danny move stuff out to Matt and Jen's new house near Chesapeake Beach, and then going out on the boat all day with friends on Saturday. Sunday was actually pretty lazy, but that's ok.

Danny talked to his dad a few days ago, and we're going down to Galveston next week to the beach. The only thing I'm dreading is being in a bathing suit, unfortunately. I just feel self-conscious, and I have plenty of weight left to lose. Not to mention it's Shark Week on the Discovery Channel, and oceans are looking pretty darn scarey right now :)

After a lot of thought, I'm going to forego the pony for the immediate future. I've been thinking of a puppy lately, too, but I think the best thing will be another adult dog. A friend for Ella that doesn't need as much work as a puppy. I'm going to be looking at Humane Society and maybe so local rescue dogs. I'm hesitant to search Craigslist, because I feel like people just put their problem dogs on there. Anyway, I'm off to do cost-analysis and look at dogs!

In which I realize that I am a control freak when it comes to the future.

taleofaredhead — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:25:34 GMT

Ever since it became truth that I'm not going to vet school or med school, and as I become more and more wary of graduate school, I begin to freak out in tiny little explosions. I know what I want to do, and I know what I want out of it, but I don't know how to get there. Like sitting in a parking lot surrounded in water and seeing the highway on the other side. I know where I want to go, and I know where I am, and I understand some of the barriers, but I'm not exactly sure how I get to where I want to be. And that, my friends, freaks the shit out of me.

I'm going to apply for my Master's of Forensic Science at George Washington University. I don't know if I'm going to apply anywhere else, anymore. I'm schooled out. I want to do forensic science, though, and I have like, no qualifications for it. So I guess I'd better get on that, or something. What's so strange is that I've never not known where to go or how to get experience. It's all so disorienting for me.

I have my lesson tonight. I don't want to go to the field or on a trail ride. Sigh.

Lots of things.

taleofaredhead — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:16:16 GMT

Danny came over last night and we fine-tuned his resume, which he then submitted for a new job that begins in September. It'd be really nice if he got the job, because he'd be closer to where I'm living and he'd make more money. That would allow him to get his own place, eventually, which really sets the ball rolling for our future. But, as I've learned, life is unpredictable, so I'm not counting any chickens just yet.

I wanted to go to the racetrack today, but there isn't any racing currently; doesn't start until August, which isn't far away, but still. I don't really want to go shopping, although I should, so I'm kind of stuck here again. I should go back to work tomorrow.

Speaking of work, I've researched the ALAT/LAT certification program, offered by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science. I have the experience and qualifications to get the ALAT certification (if I pass the test), but I may wait to actually take the test until after I get my degree in May to get the LAT certification. That way, I can get a higher certificiation, which is more impressive. Or so I hope.

I researched jobs yesterday to some extent. I looked at available government jobs, and was pleased to find some things I'd be able to apply for, with a nice starting salary. I don't much want to sit in the lab all day, but if it'll pay good money and get me good experience, I may as well. I'm going to apply to graduate school (although that's another thing I need to research- where to go and what to study), see if I get in anywhere I'd want to go. I think my best bet may be to get a master's in Biology, since that would be most applicable to whatever I'd decide to do- vet school, med school, work. It's general enough that I could apply it to just about anything that interests me. If I do Animal Science or Forensics, I think I'll be limiting myself in the future. Plus, with the way life goes (or has proven to me it can go), I think it's best to prepare myself for just about anything.

A better lifestyle.

taleofaredhead — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 16:49:56 GMT

Every time I watch Dr. G: Medical Examiner, I always get just a little more paranoid about my health. It's a bit silly, because I'm still very young (21 and a half, as of two days ago!) and live a relatively healthy lifestyle. I don't drink except for one beer here or there, and I don't smoke or use drugs. I eat decently, but I'm about 20lbs overweight, which may or may not be due to starting on birth control. I want to get back into a work-out plan that I can do every weekday. I'd love to incorporate swimming, but I feel self-conscious about myself in a bathing suit now. I think I'd probably work out until I get down to a "normal" weight (by BMI) and then go swimming to tone, etc. I want to look better and feel better about myself.

In equine news, I still haven't been able to find a good half-lease anywhere. What I do find are Thoroughbreds, which in all honesty isn't what I'm interested. In fact, I'd take just about anything but a Thoroughbred or an Arabian. I know it's terribly stereotypical, but I've known too many of both breeds to be nutcases. All I want is a nice pleasure pony to ride and trail ride and maybe show here and there. What I have found tends to either be far away or more expensive, and if I'm going to spend $400/month, I might as well just buy a darn horse.

Oh well.

taleofaredhead — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:45:22 GMT

So I went to see Mirage last night, a pony up for half-lease. Unfortunately, I think I'm going to tell her no, because although the pony was nice and the place was pretty nice, it was waaaay too far away for me to drive even twice a week. I guess it's back to the drawing board this time, and hopefully I can find something close.

More brooding.

taleofaredhead — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:39:28 GMT

It's truly amazing how unpredictable life can be. I'm on my way to vet school all twenty-one years of my life, and now I'm stranded in an apathetic mind-set. I'm struggling and sinking in chemistry and I know I just can't make the grades right now. It's barely enough to pass so that I can graduate on time! I think I will change my major (as soon as I get a look at the requirements, so that I don't dig myself in deeper and don't even graduate on time). I'll be able to get a better GPA, at least, and I will plan to apply to graduate school.

I think I'd also like to apply to law school. I feel like I'm grasping at straws here, looking for some reputable thing to do, but at least I had prior interest in law school, at least as a kid. I don't particularly want to be a lawyer, but I'd like to be a judge. I guess being a lawyer would be fun, too. I think forensics is what I'm really interested in, though, so we'll see.

I just feel overwhelmed. How did I get to this point in my life where I'm such a failure at all that I touch? It's frustrating at best.

Miscellaneous.

taleofaredhead — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:20:35 GMT

Last night was another riding lesson. I rode Frosty again. As I brought him to the ring, my instructor told me to just let her know if I wanted a "real horse", but since I'd told her I like ponies and since I rode them well, it was good to give them the work. We went out into the field during this lesson, after a quick warm-up in the smaller field, and I got to be the line-leader, even though my horse had the shortest legs! I was happy about that, though, because I'd rather ride out front that be nosing up someone's rear end the whole time. Frosty was well-behaved, except toward the end when he wanted to go back to the barn and was tossing his head and marching forward and stuff. Oh well.

Summer class is a mixed bag, I'm discovering. My lecture teacher is actually a good lecturer, and I think I'm understanding the material. My lab/discussion TA, on the other hand, is just...ridiculous. He barely speaks or understands English and I get the feeling that while he understands the material, he won't be good at explaining it. We had lab today, which was a complete and utter waste of time and energy. It wouldn't have been so bad if I hadn't had to wake up at 6:30 this morning. Crankiness ensued.

On the positive side of things, Danny and I are going on a mini vacation this weekend! I won tickets to the Virigina Derby and a VIP room/tent (free food and drinks, woot!) with the chance to win $1,000 betting money on the radio a few weeks back. I started thinking that, since the track is so close to Williamsburg, maybe we should visit there, since Danny has never been. I was kind of waffling on it until my parents brought up paying for a little vacation for me. They said they thought I deserved a little relaxation (plus they'd given money to my sister on the various vacations she's been on this summer with her boyfriend); I'm very thankful to them :] I still need to pack, but I have time until Danny gets here.

I got my eyebrows waxed today and I got a compliment on them right after. That woman is an eyebrow genius, I guess, because I -always- get compliments on my eyebrows the few times that I get them done. Go figure.

Sounds like life to me.

taleofaredhead — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:09:32 GMT

So I went to class today, and that was an interesting blend of terrible and not too terrible. My discussion was first, and my TA seemed lost and unsure. Plus he was really difficult to understand. I think I'll go to another discussion section (at the time time but with a different TA) and see if I like them better. The lecture wasn't so bad, really, but an hour and a half is pretty intense. I should review my notes tonight (I have a quiz on Friday) and really get a head start on this class. Lab tomorrow at 8am until 11am, then lecture from 11am to 12:20 again. It's really vigorous, but that's what you get, I suppose.

Danny's coming over tomorrow night. I'm making tacos :]

I think I've found a nice half-lease situation in the Poolesville area, which isn't too far from me (although in the opposite direction of my lesson barn). I'm planning to meet the owner sometime early next week, and hopefully I can get that going and keep it up during the school year. To be honest, I think the half-lease is better than a full on lease, where I'd need to pay board and such. Keep your fingers crossed!

Summer term, part deux.

taleofaredhead — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:24:28 GMT

So the second summer semester begins today, and I am not there because my payment was late. I'll be there tomorrow, but it's kind of nice getting to sleep in when you know you should be in class!

I've done a lot of soul-searching lately, what with my grades not being so good and my choices for a future (vet school, med school) being pretty darn dependent on my grades. I'm really glad I've been struggling with how I feel, because it means that I'm thinking about it, not letting it all slide by. Do I need to work harder? Most certainly. Will it be the end of the world if I don't get in right away? No. And I've found that I can deal with this, even if it makes me saddened.

And I've finally got the beginnings of excitement for my May 2010 graduation! I wasn't getting remotely excited because I figured I'd be just shipping off to another four years of school, but I've come to view it as the end of a chapter in my life. Might I go on to more school and studying and stress? Almost definitely, at least at some point. But it will be a different kind of school, and even the fact that I'll have my first degree in-hand is cause for happiness. A major milestone achieved.

I'm still worried about other people's perception of it all, but I have come to realize exactly who I expect to show disappointment or polite confusion (Oh, you didn't get in?) and it isn't anyone that matters to me. I have my wonderful immediate family and my unbelievable boyfriend and my shaggy little dog. No one else matters to me, really.

Speaking of boyfriends, Danny and I had a few interesting chats this weekend. Really nothing serious, but it gives me perspective that is rare to come by from him. We talked about marriage, which I manage to sneak in every once in a while. It isn't that I'm dying to be married RIGHTNOW, and I recently realized that I'd rather wait in any case, but I do know that I want to spend the rest of my life with Danny. Danny, however, seems to be a little nervous about marriage. His parents had a nasty divorce and a lot of it fell on his shoulders, as the oldest (although still young). One of his good friends recently went through a rough divorce as well (the wife decided she hadn't had enough time to come into herself, because they had moved in together the minute she was 18) and two of the people he lives with are recently married and fight like cats and dogs. So I feel like he's pretty much surrounded by married life gone wrong.

The fortunate thing is that we agree on so much that is important in life. Our football teams are mortal enemies, and we like country and metal respectively, but when it comes to the heavier matters in life, such as when to get married and how to raise children, we're on the same page. It isn't even hard to wait to be married, because he says he doesn't want to be married before age 25, which is understandable. But I want to wait to have children (two years at least) and I don't want to be too old when I have them. Throw in four years of possible vet school or med school, and it's all out of whack. But I'm so willing to wait for it all to come along. One day, though!

Still got that competitive streak?

taleofaredhead — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:19:15 GMT

My lesson was last night, and I rode a very little chestnut paint pony named Checkers. I arrived and was told she was in the lesson before mine, so I went in and watched her go. They were jumping her a lot and riding her hard, and I was pretty worried when I went in and took her with her mouth a little foamy and definitely sweaty. I loosened her girth and walked her and generally felt bad. It isn't right to ride a pony for two straight hours, thought I. My trainer said "Welcome to Bratty Pony #2" as I brought her in, and I just smiled. I'm really happy she's been putting me on the ponies.

Despite her earlier ride, Checkers was full of beans! We rode in the back ring last night, and did a intro. level dressage test. At one point, Checkers gave me a buck/kick when I demanded that she canter. I think Carolyn was pleased that I could still hang on, as was I. I had a lot of fun with her, cheeky though she was.

As we were all cooling out, Carolyn mentioned the in-house shows they have for dressage and hunter/jumper in the fall and spring. I can't even express how much that perked me up. She said I "should definitely" do the hunter/jumper series, and the whole way home my head was full of visions of blue. I would be riding against the other adult riders, though not those in my class, and I haven't seen any of them ride yet, so I don't know that I'd even do well, but part of me thinks I would.

In other news, I got replies from people I sent out emails to about leasing, and I'm really leaning toward Glory Be, a pretty black mare. Even the chance of an off-site lease, but I'd really have to find out pricing details before I said yes. Exciting, though :]

Horses.

taleofaredhead — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:41:46 GMT

The desire for my own equine is getting stronger by the day. One lesson per week is not enough! I grew out of being fulfilled by one lesson a week years and years ago. That leaves three options...

1. Get over it and take your one lesson a week. ($1,988 per year)
2. Do something about it and find a horse to lease, or join the equi-lease program at the stable. ($5,636 per year)
3. Do something about it and get your own horse.

Obviously, one lesson a week is the least expensive option. In fact, that list goes from least expensive to most expensive. But other than the pure monetary expense, owning my own horse (besides being a dream come true) would satisfy me in so many ways that one measly lesson per week just can't do.

Thoughts thoughts thoughts.

In which life is considered.

taleofaredhead — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:18:37 GMT

It seems to me that the way things are going, I will not be able to apply to veterinary school for fall 2010 admission. I can't blame it entirely on my more-terrible-than-death advisor- a good deal of it has been my laziness in classes. I did not get a satisfactory grade in organic chemistry I and have to re-take it, pushing back my schedule so that one class remains for the summer of 2010 (biochemistry). However, I should be able to apply to medical school even if the one class is pushed back. In fact, I might even be able to substitute another class in its place and finish all of my classes by May 2010.

Would I even be able to get into medical school? I really don't know. I think my chances are better than vet school, at least. The plan would be to apply to medical school and graduate school and see if either (or both!?) takes me. If only graduate school accepts me, I will work towards my Master's degree and then apply to vet school and medical school after that. If neither accepts me then, I will either go for my Ph.D or just find a job.

In other news, I really want to buy my own horse now. One lesson per week just doesn't seem enough right now!

In which I am a star once more.

taleofaredhead — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:13:49 GMT

Thursday's lesson was aboard Frosty, a cute pony with one blue eye and one brown, as well as patches of dapple grey in the otherwise plain grey of his body. I was so happy to be riding a pony again, since all of my riding before this had been predominantly on ponies and not horses. I told my teacher this the last lesson and she took that into consideration when assigning me to Frosty.

He was admittedly more challenging than Maverick or Valentine were. He wanted to stand in the middle, to hang with the group. In the end, though, we got along really well. The moment in which I was the star was when Carolyn asked us to drop our stirrups. Ha! I've gone whole lessons with no stirrups even attached to the saddle. Five steps of sitting trot with no stirrups? Piece of cake. It ended up that I got to showcase my stirrup-less abilities. All that work finally paid off.

Anyway, I'm going to look into getting another dog.

Riding lesson number one.

taleofaredhead — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:00:56 GMT

My first lesson was Thursday! I rode Valentine, a good-natured solid bay beastie. Carolyn was my instructor, and I rode with five other adult women. They were older than me but very friendly. Right away, after two minutes of trotting, instructor pulls me over and asks about my riding experience before now. I summarized and she told me she could tell I was experienced because of my awesome position. She was really complimentary of my position the whole time. She told me that she would place me in the advanced class with a different instructor next class, but I would rather stay in this class to get my muscles back :P

ugh.

taleofaredhead — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:45:11 GMT

breakfast- one choc. muffin
lunch- 2 pieces of pizza
dinner- box dinner. 250cal

diet day thirty-two

taleofaredhead — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 16:58:43 GMT

breakfast- two lg eggs, 2 slices bacon, fruit salad. ~210+cal
lunch- handful of sunchips. 140cal
dinner-