Well, it's been done, I have somewhere to live in the fall!! Yes, my dad is, like, a knight or a superhero or something. He has done the footwork and obtained a really really great and nice trailer in the trailer park behind vet med, jam-packed full of vet students (the park, not the trailer) on a good lot. So, I have somewhere to live for vet school! Crazy cool, quite exciting. I am really looking forward to spending the next four years of my life in a trailer, in this trailer. It has a washer and dryer, a dishwasher... in short, heaven. And I'm going to be living with my middle sister, which is definitely going to work. I will have a small indoor herb garden and a cherry tomato plant and in the end of the summer I will plant croci and perhaps some blue flags to come up the next spring. Yes, that's right folks, in short, I am moving another step closer to real-persondom! Now if I could just make it through the next few months not killing the other people who live in the building I live in now, I can start vet school not a felon...

So, I watched a little preview of the remake of "Dawn of the Dead" yesterday and one of the cast members stated that every movie should have at least one zombie. Well, I though about that, and it does seem to be the success formula for the year. "Passion of the Christ", undoubtedly the most-watched movie of the year so far, has Zombie Jesus. And this weekend, for the first time since "Christ" opened in the theaters it was surpassed in tickets sales, and what movie passed it up?? "Dawn of the Dead"!! And I think that I know why, MORE ZOMBIES! People love those brain-eating, risen from the dead characters. Mel Gibson should have added some zombie apostles or philistines, then he would probably still be on top.

Well, Tuesday I did it, I sent in my confirmation and deposit to ISU's Vet School. I RSVPed, via phone for the April 3 open house. This morning I am going to call K-State and tell them that I have taken a position at ISU. Tomorrow I am going to stop in Ames on my way home and my dad and I are going to get moving further on this whole buying a trailer thing. Exciting times....
Also, this will be the final oral hygeine obsession for a while, I promise, I have begun a new, pro-active oral hygiene regemin. Here is how it goes:
MORNING-
brush teeth with regular toothbrush and toothpaste
Use Listerine
MID-DAY-
after eating, brush teeth with regular toothbrush and toothpaste
EVENING-
brush teeth with regular toothbrush and toothpaste
brush teeth dry with special end-tuft toothbrush and sweeping motions, concentrating on the 2nd and 3rd molars
floss
Use Listerine
This is my plan of action. The gods help any bacteria who find their way into my mouth, because THEY'RE GOING TO HELL!!!!

Just trying to post a picture. Did it work?

aren't they cute?
The one on the left is a Blue and Gold Macaw. The one on the right is a Hahns' Macaw.

So, I just got back from the dentist and I have two fucking cavities!!! What in the hell... I still love going to the dentist, don't get me wrong, but come on, I am so disappointed in myself. Oh, and, how exciting is this: I should get my wisdom teeth taken out! (can you sense the sarcasm) I have a relatively short jaw and, though my wisdom teeth are all totally up, they are basically being hugged by the skin at the back of my mouth leaving nice homie pockets for bacteria to grow in. Since humans have teeth in sockets of bone, I am not only jeopardizing the wisdom molars, but my second (12 year) molars as well, as the down-pocketing can cause significant damage to the socket of both teeth and the teeth themselves. Apparently, up to 80% of people end up having to have their wisdom teeth out over the course of their lives (according to a search that I just did on the internet). And I don't mean to be all self-righteous or anything, but I have always had good teeth (and, paradoxically, the hygenist and dentist both said that I have really good teeth today during my appointment). That is part of who I am, Rachel: over-achieving perfectionist, high-strung, science geek, bari player, near-perfect attendance, good teeth, and, until about 2 years ago, no cavities, good teeth. ::sigh::
I thought that I had come to terms with my one cavity up to this point, but I definitely haven't, let alone two new ones and a "minor" wisdom tooth surgery. Stupid humans, working against natural selection in so many ways... If it weren't for them, I would either not have wisdom teeth or my jaw would be large enough to accommodate them...
But, in case anyone is looking for a dentist in the Iowa City area, I do recommend Classic Smiles, which was recommended to me by the lovely and talented Kim. They were nice and did a really good job on my teeth.

That is indeed the question.
A question to those of you more versed in html than I (which would be pretty much anybody): How do I add a picture in text on this thing?

Well, due to the advice of some of my followers, I shall stick with the html blog thing for a while, it's always good to learn a new skill, or just bits of one. Besides, ten million French men can't be wrong!

That is the question... which one is going to be easier for me to use and, more importantly, personalize...
I am going to try live journal too...

Wow, so, I've been trying to get a new template working, one that fits better, is more personal, all to no avail. I know no html, though I did manage to figure out how to add a new link to the sidebar. Wow...

BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, well, well, what have we here?? Why, it is a blog!! "Why?" you may ask. Let me tell you... A couple of weeks ago I found out that I have been accepted to Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. It was suggested by a couple of friends, Chim and Kris (names have been changed to protect the innocent), suggested that I keep a blog of what is happening in my life once I get to Ames to let people know what I am up to on my next big adventure, since, as they put it, some things, while interesting, just don't seem important enough to send an email to everyone you know.
"But," you may say,"you aren't in Ames yet? Why are you starting so early?" Several reasons:
1) I thought it would be good to get into the habit now, while my life is still in a routine with which I am familiar.
2) I am avoiding doing a project.
3) It seems a neat idea to include this leg of my journey leading up to vet school as well.
4) I have interesting things happening in my life right now too!
So, welcome, and I hope that you will enjoy coming along for this ride with me. It will be hard and intense, and I guarentee that at one time or another, one or another of us will want to give up, but I also guarentee that I'll do my best to keep this updated as to the interesting (and not-so-interesting) things that I will be facing in the years to come.