Julia Childs vs. Percy Jackson

My teeth are feeling better today, though I couldn't go to church yesterday.  I think I can get by on OTC pills instead of Loritab now.  So that is good.  I am watching Julie & Julia with my mom.  It is good.  I relate a lot to it. Not the cooking. I DON'T cook. But the blogging, certainly.

AAACK!  Okay, you know how I say I don't cook?  Well, I am still not feeling too good and my teeth can't manage much chewing so I decided I could manage to make myself some Ramen.  But I turned on the wrong stove circle melted a plastic bottle and started a small kitchen fire!  The stench was HORRENDOUS! We were coughing and gagging.  We are just now able to come back in the house.  I am no Julia Childs!

I feel crappy. I am sick and now I have a major headache from all of the smoke and plastic fumes.  Maybe I will lay down with one of my new textbooks and try and get a jump start on school. Oooooor maybe I'll just read Percy Jackson: The Last Olympian.

Or play with my new hermit crabs. Their names are Mahana and Fossil.  They join Archie MacPhee the only survivor of my old crabby crew, but he is doing awesome.

The Dentist-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named

So yesterday I went to the dentist and it was terrible and I CAN'T TELL YOU ABOUT IT!  See it was a new dentist and among all the new patient papers I had to fill out one of them was a contract swearing you wouldn't BLOG ABOUT THEM! Whiskey Tango?!  First of all, tell me I can't do something and that is the thing I most want to do. 2nd of all, maybe they should just try to do a good enough job that any blog fodder would be GOOD advertising instead of bad.

Anyway, I just won't tell you where I went.  So I went to this Dentist-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and it was very fancy and nice but I could really ENJOY their cookies and bottled waters because my tooth was hurting so much.  When I finally got in, I warned them that I took a lot to get numb.  So they gave me extra.  But here is the thing, and this wasn't Dr. Voldemort's fault, I didn't take a lot to get numb. I NEVER GOT NUMB.  Through out the root canal they tried over and over as I cried and actually screamed a few times but it never worked.  It was the worst pain I have ever had, and I have had a lot of pain in my life.  And now I am scared to death to go to the dentist, ANY dentist, ever again to finish all my dental work.  I can't go through that again!

They gave me an antibiotic and Loritab which I definitely need today.  But I am dreading the future and pouring the internet trying to find out what could have made me lose all sensitivity to anesthetic.  Not a lot of concrete answers.  I am just going to have to go under completely for my next root canal, though that is SUPER expensive.

EVERYTHING is expensive when you have almost no money coming in.  School, especially if I don't get any of these scholarships I am applying for.  There's a lot of them, so I am hoping at least even by STATISTICS I should win SOMETHING if I enter enough.  And a trip to Spain... Sigh.

Ola called me yesterday on my way to the Dentist-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named just to wish me luck and say sweet things to me.  It's been a long time since we have talked and I have missed hearing his voice,  He is such an amazing person.

So today I am just going to sit around the house, watch Chronicles of Narnia, play with 2 new hermit crabs Mahana and Fossil and the newly up from Molting, Archie MacPhee, and maybe hit the Library.  And have a lot of pills and probably cry.

Heavy is the Tooth that Wears the Crown

Holy Hell.  My teeth is going to kill me.  I am actually looking FORWARD to my 2 root canals tomorrow morning.  I couldn't sleep all last night I was hurting so much.  Almost finished Enter 3 Witches, though.  It's good. You don't have to be a Shakespeare lover or anything.

Yesterday was so up and down for me.  I hurt, but that evening I did a Critters 2 Go class for the Ostleparkwells' Scout Pack.  Not only was it really good (all the animals cooperated fantastically... well, Baby Fable was a bit of a brat about getting OUT of her dust bath after her demonstration, but still, it went great.) it gave me a REALLY good idea of a direction to take Critters 2 Go.  I am going to make a whole new package for scouts where they make habitats for hissing cockroach habitats and take care of them for 2 weeks (they can keep them AFTER the 2 weeks if their parents approve)  and make a poster about them and stuff like that so that they get their Pet Care belt loop and pin.  It's gonna be awesome.And I totally owe it all to my Aunt Clare for the idea.  I am excited!  However, I can't really advertise it and do a bunch yet... not till my licensing comes through. Bleh.

I really need to write an Examiner article.  I am thinking in honor of the Chinese New Year (which begins this year on the 3rd) and the Year of the Rabbit I will talk about house rabbits.  Snoopy was basically a house bunny, though she played outside and in.  She was potty trained and all that.  She was so funny.  She HAAAAATED guys, though.  She would growl and attack my dad and Spencer.  So they have less than fond memories of my favorite bunny.

I am also going to write about Puxitawny Phil in honor of Groundhog day, I think.  I am just trying not to think about this horrible tooth ache.

I WANT I WANT!

OH MY GOSH. I am in conversation with another bug guy about possibly trading some hissing roaches (of which I have MAAAAAAANY right now. My colony is flourishing) for a RHINOCEROS BEETLE!

That would be awesome just be cause, but also for Critters 2 Go.  By the way, I have a particularly BUGGY Critters 2 Go show to do tonight.  I am going to teach a pack of cub scouts to take care of roaches for a badge.  I will also teach them about "proper pet care and respect for all life." do it for free, take a lot of pictures and do it for my service project for the DoingGood Scholarship!

I am trying not to think about how much pain I am in right now.  Starting today I am going off certain meds and to add to that my tooth and head are both KILLING me.  I got a blessing from my Padre to help with the pain, but I admit my faith is probably too weak for how strong the hurt is today.  Loritab isn't touching it either.

But I HAVE THINGS TO DO!  I don't have time to hurt.  I need to get ready for the pack meeting.  I need all the animals in their respective carriers.  I need to post a little on Gaia, the Pets forum.  I need to straighten my room.  I need to say goodbye to my brother who is on his way out the door (Bye, BoyKid.).

What I do NOT need is what I have. HELL in Head-form.

School Daze

Well, my plan was to ease back into college life slowly. Take 2 online classes so I don't have to GO yet. Then after THAT dive in and really GO to school, getting into the real vet tech program.

My plan. Went. AWRY!

They stopped offering my classes online and not diving in to the program would screw up my whole timeline forever. Basically you HAVE to take stuff when they tell you.  So I am.

This coming spring I will be taking one general (Global Citizenship. Blah) and then Veterinary Medical Terminology and a FOUR HOUR Introduction to Veterinary Technology class. I better win some of those scholarships.  Even just in books.... OH! But I AM a super shopper.  My books cost over 400 bucks from the school.  But I went to Textbooks.com and got my books for $220!  I just have to get my maroon scrubs, my stethoscope, and one more textbook that isn't available anywhere.

So it looks like I will be diving in after all.  Look out below!

Now if I can feel better by April, that will be the best.  Hopefully on significantly less medication I will be more alert, but on CERTAIN meds with less pain.  I hope I hope I hope.  Hope and PRAY.

To this end, I have appointments tomorrow.  Right now I am feeding Clem and Jack (the leopard geckos) juvenile Hissers and watching Fraiser.  Then I will make the gliders their dinner plate and turn on Enter 3 Witches and pretend to sleep. Sigh.

Tomorrow I've got doctors, and then I am going to clean the glider enclosure, and then perhaps start an article on Chinese New Year.  It's the Year of the Rabbit and I figure this would be a good time to talk about house rabbits. :) 

normal?

I am listening to a recorded CES Fireside by D. Todd Christoferson.  I was recommended it by Stef, because I am struggling with not losing hope.  These headaches are tearing my life apart, just while I am trying to glue it back together... become normal. Go back to work (We are writing 2 new merit badge classes - Space Exploration and Archaeology).  Go back to school (registering for classes (at Broadview). Get all legal and doing more Critters 2 Go parties (I am waiting on my vet now to do a home check of Baby Fable and Heber & Lilo (Nani is not preforming in anyway since she hates it)).  NORMAL.

But a NEW normal. After all, I have never had a schedule with as of classes as I will have.  This semester I have the last 2 of my generals, Global Citizenship and Interpersonal Relations but THEN:
Veterinary Office Procedures
Career Development
Veterinary Medical Terminology
Introduction to Veterinary Technology
Introduction to Veterinary Clinical Skills
Animal Physiology I
Animal Physiology II
Animal Anatomy
Veterinary Pharmacology
Imaging
Basic Hematology
Parasitology
Lab Animals, Exotics and Pocket Pets
Advanced Veterinary Clinical Skills
Small Animal Nutrition and Nursing
Hematology and Small Animal Disease
Anesthesiology
Small Animal Surgical Assisting
Production Animals
Equine
Application of Veterinary Clinical Skills
Certified Veterinary Technician Review
Veterinary Clinical Training

Oy.

Luck and Bones

Yesterday I went to the U of U Neurological Center to meet with a specialist. I was very lucky to get in because they were booking a YEAR out. "Bones" as we call this doctor was very nice and had SOME ideas but some are going to be really hard.  Like my goal to be on less meds, well he's decided which of those to cut and weaning off of those is going to be scary. :(

But here's hoping Bones' ideas... the going off some meds and adding Celebrex... is the answer to these horrid headaches.  Today I went to my cousin's bridal shower and it was fun. Everyone is so funny in my family.  But my head was killing me the whole time and so it was kind of spoiled.  Also there was always those mixed feelings of Yay! Weddings! and Aww crap. WEDDINGS. because the guy I feel I truly love is so far away.  And I honestly don't know if we WILL ever get together.  I know the Lord is in control, but I think there is luck involved too and THAT I do not have.

Speak Up

Cried a lot today.  It was a very bad headache day plus my teeth are killing me after my last dentist appointment.  I think I need something fixed... it shouldn't hurt this long.

I got my acceptance letter into the Vet Tech program.  That's not really a surprise, I am pretty sure I was "accepted" as soon as I paid to apply.  But the letter saying so is needed for a couple of the scholarships I am trying for, so it was good to get.  I think I have applied for 30 scholarships so far.  I have been tearing up Fastweb, College Board, Cappex, Fresch, Petersons, Scholarship Page, FinAid, LDS Jobs, Scholarships.com, and Wired Scholar.  Plus Google and others.

I just finished my first book of the year, Speak.  I have a goal to read at least 100 books (but that counts audio books) in 2011. It was hard to read.  There were parts I related to too much.  The character's high school reminded me of my junior high and that was a really really bad time of my life. Just like her, I had my best friends tell me, "No offense, we just don't want to be friends with you anymore."  However, unlike her, I was not raped.  Obviously, that would have made my life 4 bazillion times worse.  My friends who have had that happen to them (yes FRIENDS. Multiple. How awful is that?!) are the strongest women I know for SURVIVING that and they better dang well know that!  I love you.  God loves you.

I almost couldn't finish that book.  But it ended with Melinda being STRONG. It ended right.

So, I can't actually AFFORD school...

Today I have been pouring over scholarship sites looking for scholarships from companies like Oxbow and the American Kennel Club. See yesterday I went to an interview and school tour of Broadview.  I was amazed at how GOOD their program is... REALLY good.  They have a surgical lab, basically a whole veterinary practice right inside the building.  The classes are small and the teachers, well one of them works with MY exotic vet, Dr. Dobson.  It's just perfect, actually.

Except the price.

They are SOOOO expensive.  More than UVU or Spencer's BYU and frankly my family can't afford it.  At all.  So these are the things I am trying 1. Getting a Pell Grant.  I have applied and hope to know for sure when I meet with the financial aid guy at Broadview Monday. 2. Win a scholarship.  So I am applying for a LOT of them.  I am having to be the essay queen right now.  Luckily I *can* write.  But you also have to be really lucky. And that I am NOT.

For Narnia!

I love Narnia.  I love the books. I love the movies. I love the lessons. I love the story. SIGH.  I am watching Prince Caspian on TV and just sighing like a dork, even though it's not my favorite of the series. For Narnia!

I am also watching Clementine hunt crickets in her tank.  She's so cool.

Tomorrow I am going down to my old school (the now titled UVU) to get my transcripts.  I need them for my meeting with the counselor at Broadview.  First baby steps toward getting my Vet Tech degree.  Now if only I can manage to not be groaning and clutching my stomach during the interview.  This is really getting annoying.  I hate hurting all the time!  I go to the hospital for an endoscopy on Wednesday.  Maybe they can give me some answers.

I just want to get past this. Past the stomachaches and headaches and diabetes and get on with my life.  I feel so stuck.

  Thank goodness for my pets, seriously.  Thry are a great distraction.  Like right now Baby Fable is running around like she is insane.  Circuit Training Rodent, You can't help but smile when you see that.

Eating my weight in Ramen

And toast.  My stomach is hurting like crazy, but I think the MRI, at least, was pretty normal.  So even if my liver is screwed up there is no stenosis or the valves which is something they thought.  No answers, but one less SERIOUS answer eliminated.

In other news I AM GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.  Not to get my bachelors but to get another associates. This time from what used to be Utah Career College, Broadview University in Veterinary Technology, specializing in "pocket pets and exotics."  I'll be honest. I don't KNOW if I can do it.  My pills leave my brain so foggy, and I don't study as well as I used to and I am scared of the math... I know there is going to be things like dosing by weight and such, and I am BAD at math.  But I really want to do this.  I want a real career I can continue in.  I know a lot already, just from experience.  I think being a Vet Tech is something I could do and be good at.  I could still do Critters 2 Go. I could still teach at Thanksgiving Point.  But it will be something more stable.

So THAT is my first New Years Resolution 1. Start school again.

I am still into that one scripture for goal making. Luke 2:52.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Wisdom
1. Start school again to become a Vet Tech
2. Read 50 books in 2011
3. Write 2 articles a week for either the Examiner or Suite 101

Stature
1. Do water aerobics more days of the week than not.
2. Figure out my liver
3. Lower my A1C

Favor with God
1. Finish the Book of Mormon
2. Be attending all 3 meetings by the end of 2011
3. Pray with more sincerety

Favor with Man
1. Attend more parties and lunch groups
2. Make sure Ola knows how much I care at LEAST every holiday in paper
3. Update this blog at least weekly

Hello, My Liver!

I am sick.  I've been sick since before Christmas and I'm still sick.  And I finally went to the doctor yesterday and after blood tests they weren't so worried about my probable stomach flu as they were about my Liver.  Yeah, my liver is messed up AGAIN.  Or rather not so much AGAIN as STILL because they never heard from Johns Hopkins about my liver biopsy last...no, the year before that.  I am hurting a lot, BUT I get to use this title. Hee hee!

Tomorrow I have an MRI of my liver.  Next week I have an endoscopy.  Yeah, not feeling to awesome.

Caplin Rous. I will miss you so much.

My second favorite animal in the whole world is a capybara.  And my favorite capybara is Caplin Rous.  Caplin died today.  I feel like I have lost a close friend and an imaginary friend all at once.  Melanie Typaldos was his owner and we have talked on Facebook.  I bought her book, Celeste and the Giant Hamster. She sent me a CapyCopy... a plush version of Caplin. I just can't believe he's dead.  She must be so heart broken.  He was a HUGE part of her life.

And in a small way, he was a big part of MY life.  Caplin, I love you.  You inspired me in many ways. I will always love you and I will give you a big hug (and a popcicle!) in heaven. You will be missed.

Homesick.

Yesterday was sort of the last day of the family "stay-cation."  All this holiday season we have been making an effort to do more together.  BoyKid and Rinny came home to stay and we have been having Racko tournaments, going to Salt Lake to see the Church History Museum, and watching movies.  Last night we saw Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader.  And yes, it was good, especially for being based on one of the best series of books ever made.  That's hard to live up to.  But it didn't ruin the book.

Then Rinny went home. To her apartment.  BoyKid goes back to his today.

When do *I* get to go back to MY apartment?  When will things return to normal?  When will I be able to work again?  Not have doctors every week?  Not have a headache every day?

For that matter when will I be able to eat with out throwing it up?  Argh.



So I didn't go to church with the fam. Feeling too crummy. But at least I am listening to K-Love (Christian Rock). Hee hee!

Also, I am watching all my animals.  Tortuga is swimming happily in his tank and begging for a treat. He is a good turtle.  Cute little Baby Fable is sleeping on her fleece cube. Jack and Clementine, the leopard geckos are curled up like cats in their respective houses, and Bratanik is climbing up his basking rock backwards.  Like going up the tallest side first.  He is cute, but not the brightest crayon in the box.  The hermit crabs are doing NOTHING.  Well, especially Archie MacPhee as he is under the ground molting so I don't even know if he is ever coming up again or if he will DIE.  Gosh I hate when they molt. The gliders are, I assume, asleep in their pouch, but as their Reptarium is in my bedroom I don't know that for sure.

I love my little zoo.

I ALSO love my little business!  And in order to keep it on the up and up I really need to get that USDA Exhibitor's License FINISHED!  I have a doctor tomorrow but I am going to call my exotic vet, Dr. Dobson and see if I can set up the mandatory home inspection by her this week.  Get that ball rolling.  Especially since I have some parties scheduled in the spring.

1-1-11

The Sybs are back from Comedy Sports and we have decided to await the New Year with STAR TREK! 'Cause we LOVE that movie.  Well BoyKid and I do, Rinny has never seen it!  Anyway, we figured something futuristic was a good choice for ringing in 2011.

So earlier today we went to the BYU Museum of Art to see the Carl Bloch exhibit.  It was AMAZING.  But then so was the James Tissot stuff! Oh my gosh!  Those details with WATERCOLORS?! It was all amazing.  And of course as it was primarily about the savior it was inspiring and gave me a better understanding of his life, truly.  But the art itself for arts sake was just awesome, too.  We saw the rest of the museum there too. I loved it. I haven't been there since high school. I miss art.

Anyway, if you get a chance SEE THOSE EXHIBITS! OH MY GOSH!  HIGHLY recommended IMHO.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

It is now actually 2011.and I am finishing this entry and sharing some pics.  We greeted the New Year old school with pots and pans and spoons and yelling.

It was VERY cold!

Then TheIrish (our most awesome neighbors) set off pirates and ran around the circle.

It was good times. :) Then it was just TOO cold so we went inside and finished Star Trek.