Day 269 - Fish Hook in the Arm

Not my arm.  :)

On our vacation trip to TN in 2009, Matt and I went camping with my family.  He went fishing with my dad and my brother and came back with a fish hook stuck in his arm!

It was no one's fault.  Well, Matt tied the knot that came undone and resulted in him impaling himself with the lure, so I guess it would be his. But it was an accident.  He's a seasoned fisher-er. 

As soon as they reached shore my dad said "I didn't do it!"  

Matt had tried to pull it out - but he couldn't get it loose.  He unfortunately cut it too short/too close to his skin to have enough room to push it through.  So, we took him to the local vet clinic and I numbed him up and cut him open and removed it.  :)  

I'm handy. 

Day 268 - Challenger the Eagle

This was during my senior year of vet school, during my exotics rotation.  My group was privileged to visit Dollywood's Eagle Foundation which is a rehab facility for all birds of prey.  They have these huge flight cages for the birds and they each have their own 'room' (see the doors in the background?) with a perch and other bird necessities.  

We also got to have our picture taken with Challenger - who is perhaps the world's most famous Bald Eagle.  If you don't know about him, click on his name to see one of the websites about him.  I've seen him fly around Neyland Stadium more than once and it causes a lump to form in my throat every single time.  He's amazing. 

My two weeks on the exotics/wildlife rotation at the University of TN's College of Vet Med were two of the coolest weeks I have ever experienced.  :)

Day 267 - Joe with an Egg

This is Joe.  He's one of the elders in my church.  He is carrying an egg on a spoon. 

Taken at our church's ice cream social/game night.  I think this shot is epic.  Just the right angle and the right blue sky and little white clouds.  

And Joe.  With the egg.  :)

Day 266 - Water Lilies at Sunset

Taken at Sherando Lake this past Monday.  It was a gorgeous evening...

Day 265 - 6 Month Anniversary

For Matt and I's 6 month dating anniversary (back in 2005) I surprised him by taking him to Wal-Mart.

:)

I pulled up to the store on early Saturday morning and told him he needed to bring his wallet inside to make sure he had his license with him.  He asked "do I need to buy a gun?"

Ha!  No.  But I did take him in and buy us both fishing licenses.  

And then we drove south to Goshen, VA where we went fishing and had a picnic lunch all prepared in advance by me.  

Great 6 month anniversary date, indeed.  On the way home we stopped and got blue ice cream at a little gas station.  Let's just say that the blue food coloring in that ice cream was some powerful stuff, as it not only turned our tongues blue on the way in, but it turned some other stuff blue on the way out.  Serious.  

Funny the things I remember.  

:)

Dday 264 - Black, White, and Red Bird

Anyone know what this little birdie is?

Day 263 - My Blood

I really need to type up a long update about my health and my conversation with my doctor last week, but I'm just not up for it tonight.

But I did want to go ahead and post this picture - in case any of my medical friends might have an idea.....

I had some spontaneous bruising happen two Sundays ago.  I basically got a hickie from my bra strap.  I'm far from a large busted girl, so there is no reason for my bra strap to be causing bruising.  

Worried, I had one my vet tech's draw my blood and do a blood smear to see if my platelet count was ok.  My PCV was normal (my percent of red blood cells in my blood volume) and my platelets were like 30/hpf (dogs are usually good at 10/hpf) - so I assumed that was normal.  The plan was to talk to my doctor on that day, so I wanted to have some data to give him.

As I was looking at the monolayer of the smear, my RBCs had considerable central pallor, which is normal for human cells.  But as I went to the feathered edge, most of my cells lost their central pallor and looked more like reticulocytes.  Odd.  

But what has me perplexed are cells you see in the picture.  In four separate areas on the feathered edge I would see a mass of non-central pallored RBCs and then an Eosinophil with 3 or 4 RBCs around it with off center areas of luceny.  If I had only seen one, I would have disregarded it.  But I distinctly saw four.  There may have been more - I did not explore the entire feathered edge.  

The picture was taken with my little point and shoot camera looking through the eyepiece of the microscope - so there is lots of artifact in the pic.   The color is also a bit funky - but I assure you that is an Eosinophil. 

Do any of you medical folks think that could be a yeast?  It's not taking up stain like Babesia....

My doc thinks it could be Bartonella - but it doesn't look classic to him.  

Thoughts?

Day 262 - Corn Stalks and Grape Vines

This is a view I pass by every day on my way home.  I've been noticing the lone corn stalk in the field for about a week now and wanting to take it's picture.  Our days have turned fall-like with gorgeous blue skies, very low humidity, and warm evening sunshine bathing everything in a glow that just begs me to photograph it.  

Last night on my way home I stopped to take pictures of the lone cornstalk.  He looks so out of place,  yet so strong and vibrant.   I look at it against the backdrop of first the barn as I pass, then just sky, and then the mountains..... and it stirs some emotion in me that I can't quite place.  

And it reminds me of the saying 'Bloom where you are planted.'

Even if you are all alone.  

----

I parked a little ways from the field with the corn stalk and walked past a vineyard to get to it.  Last night I only had my little camera with me, so I packed my big camera today in hopes of grabbing a few more shots.  

I parked in the same place tonight and walked the same path by the same vineyard when I was smacked in the face with the sweet, rich aroma of GRAPES!!!!  It actually took my eyes several minutes to focus and see the grapes on the vines.  I smiled and reminded myself that it would be stealing to take one.  Oh, but they smelled SO good!

On my way back, I decided to celebrate the grapes by taking their picture.  And as per usual, my last shot was my favorite.

I can't believe I walked past them only the night before and did not even NOTICE them!  Gorgeous, wonderful, sweet-smelling pearls of deliciousness.  And no, I did not take not even one.  :)

Day 261 - Tulips in DC

Just a pretty picture tonight - no story.  Tired Leslie.  

Day 260 - Derby Car

My vet tech, Tara's husband Kyle competes in the annual demolition derby at the county fair just north of us.  This year, our vet clinic sponsored his car!  We all got to sign it (mark that off my bucket list!) and see it and ooh and ahh over it.  :)  Check out the magnet on the side.  Heh.

I grew up watching a pretty intense demolition derby series at the Greene County Fair in TN.  When I first attended the Augusta County Fair (where I live now) I was very disappointed in the derby.  Too small, too wet, too slow.  I have heard the Rockingham County Fair's derby is better - which is where he was taking this car to compete. 

Sadly, his transmission blew before things even got started.  Very sad.  

Can anyone guess what kind of car this is???

Day 259 - Geeky Cupcakes

So, I think this has been one of the better birthday weekends I can remember.  :)  Partly because it was filled with great friends and great food.  Partly because I have felt really good for the past 3 days.  And partly because I have embraced my youthful side in an effort to deny that I'm turning older.  :)

I bought this shirt last week at Target.  I don't think there could be a more perfect shirt for me.  It has purple sleeves, for one.  It has Little Miss Sunshine on it, for two.  And it says 'Geek Chic' (which I was educated tonight is pronounced 'Geek Sheek') - and though I am not completely sure I am a geek, I AM a nerd, so I still think the shirt is appropriate, for three.  

One of the dairy farms I used to visit on a regular basis had a farm hand that always called me 'Dr. Sunshine.'  I loved the books with Little Miss Sunshine and friends as a kid.  I even had the stickers. None of these things has anything to do with the other.  I'm just writing.  :)

I also made cupcakes this weekend.  Gluten-free little bites of heaven they were - with homemade cream cheese frosting that I must say was fabulous.  Not bad at all for my first cupcake making attempt.  :)

I listened to one of my favorite songs on Friday and I've been rolling the words around in my head all weekend.  I really do hope I can pray this earnestly as I face this next year....

Keep 'em coming - these miles on the road

Keep me responsible - be it a light or a heavy load

Keep me guessing - with these blessings in disguise

And I'll walk with grace my feet and faith my eyes.  

Day 258 - Happy Birthday to Me!

The pictures are blurry - but that's because it was very low light.  This is how I celebrated my birthday this year:  eating at a fabulous local restaurant with locally-grown grass-fed beef and listening to the good Dr. Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys.  With my good friends Rachel and Isaac, to boot!  And my hubby.  :)

Incredible.  

I was so full on so many levels.  :) 

He played claw-hammer banjo for one song.  I tried to record it but it did not turn out so well.  :(  But it was awesome.  :)

Day 256 - Rock On, Dr. B!

Yesterday was Dr. B's birthday - I was too deliriously tired from 2 hours of sleep and a 12 hour work-day to post a picture about it.

But here it is today.  :)  

Look at those arms!  Still buff.  For sure.  

Thanks for all you do and have done to help others, Papa B.   I hope your day was splendid and that the chickens sang for you.  

I sing for you today.  Happy Birthday!!!!  

<3

Day 255 - Here Fishy, Fishy

Taken at my vet tech, Tara's wedding reception.

Fishes blowing kisses are the best. :)

Day 244 - Ode To Sidney

Perhaps there is a reason that Sidney had some odd quirks.

Perhaps he was owned by a girl who loved animals and wanted to grow up to be a veterinarian.  

And perhaps that girl liked to dress him in doll clothes and make him sleep in a doll bed. 

And perhaps that same girl made him take his water from a baby bottle. 

And perhaps he just really wanted to be on Miami Vice and was denied that opportunity.  

Thus, he brought socks to the kitchen when he wanted to eat - as an offering to make up for his failings.  

Perhaps.  :)

Day 243 - Sidney the Cat

This is a picture of Sidney.  

Sidney is the only cat of my youth to survive to adulthood.  I believe he made it to the ripe age of 11.  He was a great cat.  

But he was odd.  

I talk about him to clients all the time - especially when they tell me stories of things their cats do.  Because I have never ever heard of another cat doing what Sidney did.

He brought an offering every time he came to eat.  An offering of socks.

Silly cat.  He was an indoor/outdoor cat who had food available to him all the time.  Cats like to be 'grazers' and come and nibble throughout the day.  He was no different.  Except, every time he came to eat he dragged a sock into the kitchen next to his bowl!  

He must have been particularly hungry this day and frequented the food trough quite a few times.  There are even a pair of tights in there!  He did not discriminate.  He brought socks from every family member - clean or dirty.  Never underwear or shirts.  Socks.  Always the socks. 

He meowed a specific meow every morning to request his daily microwave-warmed up milk.  He would not drink it cold.  

He also meowed a specific meow when he had brought us a present of another kind:  vermin.  He had this lovely habit of catching mice, moles, birds, and my favorite: fully grown rabbits!  He would bring them through the doggie door in the basement, eat the head off, then come and get us proudly to share in his plunder.  

He would come upstairs and utter his meow of accomplishment and we would turn to each other and say 'oh, no!'

He was thanking us.  My parents disliked his gratitude greatly when he had to be sedated to clean out his impacted colon of rabbit skull fragments and teeth.  THREE times.  

He loved to lick. He would licks hands, legs, furniture.  My face was the only face he licked, though.  :)  He was friendly, a purr-bucket, and a masterful hunter.  I'll never quite figure out how he caught full sized rabbits and managed to haul them over a 4 foot fence and then through a doggie door.  Quite a cat, he was.

But I will forever remember him as the cat who said thanks for his food by dragging socks to the kitchen.  

Miss you, Sid-ro.  

Day 242 - The Bull and the Muskrat Trap

Last night I was at our clinic's yearly summer picnic.  I spent the day cleaning and then got home late - so, no blogging.

I thought I would share today one of my FEW vet stories that 1) I have a picture of and 2) is ok to tell at the dinner table.  (I often have to remind myself that most of my stories are NOT ok for dinner conversation.)  :)

This picture was taken late summer 2002.  I had been practicing vet med for likely only 3 months at that point.  I thankfully had been taught how to load and shoot our dart gun because on this sunny Sunday afternoon I got this call:  

"I need you to come out and dart my bull."

Um, ok.  "Why, exactly, do you need me to come and dart your bull?"

"Well, I've been having trouble with raccoons in my feed room, so I set out some muskrat traps to catch them.  Today, my bull broke into the feed room and has one of the traps on his jaw.  He's too big to fit in my chute and though he's normally a really nice bull, he's having a bit of a bad day.  The only way I can figure we can get it off is if you come and dart him."  

"Alrighty then, I'll be there after I go to the clinic and get the dart gun."  

I then put my camera in the truck.  :)  

I called Dr. B for a quick refresher on how to use the dart gun and to find out how much sedation I should actually give him.  The bull was in a small paddock, so he was very easy to just pop with the dart in the back leg.  I took a couple of pictures of him as he was getting sleepy - poor guy.  He was drooling and obviously uncomfortable.  

After 10 minutes or so, he laid down.  We were able to go in and remove the trap without trouble and there did not appear to be any damage to his jaw except for some abrasions on his gum tissue.  I talked to the farmer a few days later and other than him being very sleepy for 48 hours, he was fine. 

It's one of those calls that I was very nervous about beforehand. What if I miss when I try to shoot him?  What if I don't give him enough sedation and I have to do it again?  What if I give him too much and I kill him?  What if we can't get the trap off?  What if his jaw is broken?  What if we think he's asleep and then he wakes up and the farmer gets hurt?  What if?  What if?  What if????

At that early stage in my career, everything and every call was something new.  Every beep of the pager brought about some new challenge I was not completely confident I could handle.  I literally vomited every time my pager went off.  

But slowly and surely, I gained confidence.  And calls like this one - that went WELL - helped me to understand that I had all the necessary tools to do this job, and to do it well.  One of the key tools was a mentor like Dr. B who communicated to me daily that he believed I could do it.  :) 

That first year was very memorable.  I so wish I had kept a better record of the things I saw and did.  Oh, well.  At least I have this one.

Day 240 - Lisa

I met Lisa 5 1/2 years ago when she brought her cats into the clinic I work at.  I liked her immediately and invited she and her husband to come over for a cookout and to visit our church.  They did - and have been a part of my life ever since.

She fed me dinner more times than I can count, listened to me as Matt and I struggled with our relationship,  made my wedding cake, and helped me to understand that God really does answer prayer.  She has been a wonderful friend. 

I said good-bye to her today - as she and her family are moving back to FL.  I will miss her immensely.

This picture was taken as we were celebrating her 30th birthday at Baja Bean in Staunton, VA.  That tiara she is wearing was worn by me on my 30th birthday - given to me by my friend, Jenny (I think!)  Our friend, Rachel also wore it. 

Every woman should wear a tiara when they turn 30.  :)

Day 239 - Sean

Today marks the two year anniversary of the death of our little nephew, Sean.  He was just shy of being 6 months old when he left this world....

I did not take this picture - my talented sister-in-law, Meagan did.  It's one of my favorites and it's how I imagine him now:  peaceful.  

Day 238 - New York City!

Last August, Matt had to go to NYC for a business trip.  I had never been, so I went with!  It was a really fun 4 days (though we did not get to see any shows.)  We were staying at the Marriott Marquis right in the middle of Times Square.  Our first night we went out and just walked around and I was amazed at how bright it was outside!  

There were these cool red stairs (that were lit up) to give you a better view.  It was a fun place to people watch for sure.  

I felt like my senses were totally accosted there.  SO much sound, SO much to see, SO many smells.  I would breath this sigh of relief every time we went into the hotel and the revolving doors would close behind me ushering in the blissful quietness.  

I liked visiting the city. But I'm certainly a country girl.  :) 

Day 237 - Pig's Feet

When Tatjana, the vet from Croatia was visiting with us this past summer, one of the things we did with her was have a 'spay/neuter' day.  A local rescue organization brings in stray cats and we do the surgeries at a greatly reduced cost to allow our vet students/interns to get some hands-on surgical experience.  Because most of them are wild-ish cats, we place sutures IN their skin (as opposed to through it) that do not have to be removed (they just dissolve over time.)  They are called intra-dermal or subcuticular sutures. 

Tatjana had never learned such a suture pattern, so I felt it was important for her to practice before actually doing the surgery.  I had her practice the same way I did in vet school:  on pig's feet.

We actually had to visit several grocery stores and specifically ask the butcher for them before we could find them!  But find them we did.  And with some old, expired suture, we practiced suturing pig's feet on my dining room table.  I held a flashlight so she could see what she was doing! 

She did great on the pig's feet and she did ever better on the cats.  :)

Day 236 - Five Fingers

Today is a special day for me and my friend, Chris.  Thought I would mark the occasion by posting a picture of his and my footsies in our Five-Fingers. 

This was taken here in VA this past June when he came for a visit.  What a great weekend.  :) 

What a great friend.

Happy August 8th, sweet brother.