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.

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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.