no, no, don't be scared. I am not the creature from the black lagoon. I am back from the abyss of self-invovement that the past bit has required here at school. I have not yet drowned nor have I flunked out.
Quick update before I resubmerge for another week or so until after my finals are over. I will try to just hit the high points:


1) A big shot out to lil' Susie S for the sweetest thing that has happened to me in some time. I have been carrying the heart-wrenchingly cute little frog around in my bag. I stands watch as I study, both inspiring and protecting me.

2) I have no more tests until my finals start this Thursday. How cool is that?

3) Tomorrow will be the final day that I have to deal with the rotting corpse that has been my lab group's "best friend" for the past 15 weeks. I would dance a jig of joy and thanksgiving, but sore muscles prevent me from doing so.

4) I braved the rec center here on campus for the first time on Friday. Although I allowed the meat-heads to intimidate me away from lifting weights in any fashion, I was introduced to the eliptical machine. After being freaked out by it for many reasons, I moved on to a normal stationary bicycle, which was much less foreign. Cardiovascular work-out ensued.

5) Saturday I ice-skated for the first time ever. IT WAS AWESOME!! I can't even describe the amazing mix of pain, excitement, and elation that ice skating delivered to me. The pain was from a couple of kinda nasty falls as well as painful-to-the-point-of-tears non-existant foot arches. I think that the pain may have actually hightened the experience, though. I believe that this could be supported biochemically, as well.

6) This morning during my break I went to the rec center again, happy to find that it was nearly empty. Rapture! At the bidding of my friend, Meredith, I gave the eliptical another try. I think that I will like it once I get the hang of the stride. I also used a recumbant stationary bike as well several muscle group isolation machines.

7) The muscle soreness mentioned in number 3 is most likely due to 4-6.

8) One of the reasons for the striving to increase physical activity level is in the interest of stress-relief.

9) also, I would like to begin establishing habits now that will benefit me for the rest of my life

10) And the third big and final reason is... I have recently become somewhat irrationally concerned with increasing my long-term heart health. There is no familial or personal medical reason for this. Mostly, it is because we just finished cardiac physiology and are working on the biochemistry of lipids and cholesterol at school. So, because I don't want to be one of those statistics, I work out. I am hoping that my obsessive nature will benefit me here, keeping me on track and motivating me to be regular with my schedule in the interest of physical and mental health.

My first semester of vet school is almost over. Where did it go? Will I retain what I have learned? Will it be pertinant in the future? Will I still want to be doing this at this time next year? Will I make it that far?
Stay tuned to find out the answers to these questions and more!