Zoooooooo!

Today was my first day for my internship at the Honolulu Zoo.

Yep! I get to work there until I graduate this December. I work in the animal health center with some other pre-vet students from UH , under the head DVM, Dr. Okimoto. I would have posted about this earlier, but I wanted to make sure it was set in stone first.

I owe it all to one of my professors, who is friends with Dr. Okimoto. The Zoo sends him deceased animals, and he gives them to me to skeletalize for the museum..and I won't got into detail of what that means, because I'm sure 99% of you will think that my job is disgusting! And it is.

So today I got my schedule sorted out, met the technicians and the other pre-vet students, sat in on an autopsy of some sort of a duck,  and got to know what needs to be done with the rest of the animals within the zoo. I am SO excited. I was told that I get to watch all sorts of procedures done, and I might be allowed to participate in some of them sometime. I also get to take care of the animals kept in the clinic and those that are quarantined. What I'm excited for, is that I'm not just dealing with cats and dogs here, but all sorts of animals, like primates, crocodiles, tigers, elephants, giraffes, etc. Crazy. I have so much to learn and I can't wait to get started working with all of the animals.

I love the fact that I am not disgusted by all of the sruff that goes into animal medicine. They said some girl fainted during one of the surgeries--Guess my job now has gotten my used to all of that stuff. And Baloo is pretty disgusting--that helps too.

Time to get in shape!

Alright. Since my arm has become practically useless, I have used that as an excuse to not exercise since I can't do much with it. But I can run!....and I haven't since before the Philippines trip. And I'm too lazy to get up in the morning just based on will power. So, I'm signing up for the 6am running class--for the 3rd time! When I did that two years ago I was in some kick- a** shape too. So I'm forcing myself to do it again with or without the use of my arm!
And I'm going to look like this!


Just kidding. Ewww.

Anyone up to doing it with me? I need someone else to share some 6am-running-misery with.

Bathing suit season!

Oh man, can someone please just buy all of these for me? pleeeaaaassse?












Can someone also get me the body that comes with these? ha.

Quickly...

Lately I've been busy just gathering my life and sorting things out. soooo....

This week our car broke down an hour away from home, and it cost us mucho $$ to tow it home. Luckily it wasn't an expensive fix. The bus was my friend (actually not so much) for the last week, but I swear it never comes even close to the time its supposed to and I am so tired of being late to everything. But it was kind of a blessing, because Seth and I were able to be creative when it came to finding things to do. We went on walks, found some tide pools, and took the bus all the way up to Haleiwa to spend the day up there and eat at our favorite sandwich shop! ...buuuuuutttt it is nice to be able to get to school on time!

We can't afford the rent of the place that we live in now, and we officially are on the TVA list. Here we come, everyone! (Everyone at BYUH is in TVA) So what are we going to do with Fatty? That is a question to which I have no clue what the answer is. Ship him home? Try to have grandma watch him? Who knows. We're going to wing it.

We've also decided that we can't afford to fly home this summer, which at first I was bummed to hear, but it's turned into a blessing. One of my professors is good friends with the head Vet at the Honolulu Zoo, and is trying to set me up with a personal internship with him in the vet clinic this summer. wahoo! He would be a great person to get a letter of recommendation from! And I was offered a full time job this summer working for the museum. More things to slap on my resume! And what better place to be in the summer than Hawaii? Seth and I can spend more time hiking and going to the beach to work on a tan (that is virtually non existent right now).

The load I have this semester was too much. Too much! So I postponed my senior research until this fall. And I feel like the biggest LOAD has been taken off of my shoulders! Ahhh... this semester is going to be so much better now.

And today the Tonga girls in our primary class left. It was sad. They are the cutest girls and I will miss them so much!

So things are pretty good for us now. And I promise to actually have an interesting post later.

Pinkberry

Right now I am craving Pinkberry!

When we were up in Murrieta, my sisters introduced Seth and I to Pinkberry.

I've seen it before on The Hills, and I thought it was some Hollywood thing, so I was surprised to hear that there was one nearby! Noelle goes there whenever she can, so she invited us to come one night. No one really told me what it is or what is good to get, sooooo.... I got Pomegranate yogurt with Oreo crumbs in it.

It was disgusting. I don't think I could have come up with a worse combination! Seth's was pretty bad too. He put some sort of cereal mixed with kiwis in his. yuk.

But when I tried the original flavor with bananas and strawberries mixed it, it was pretty good! And that is what I am craving right now....mmm..

Someone send me some Pinkberry!

Until then...5 months until I can get myself some more

Sisters

Over the break, my mom took my sisters and I to get pedicures.

I hadn't gotten one in ages, so this was long overdue.
It was fun! I enjoyed relaxing with them and getting a cute purple flower painted on my toes.
The ladies who did our feet were like, "Oh, they sat in the order of their age!"
What?
They thought that my sisters who are 15 and 19 were older than me. People mistake me for being way too young all the time. That reminded me of the plane ride back from Kaua'i when the stewardess had to come and ask how old I was when I was sitting in the emergency exit seat (You have to be at least 15).

Anyway, it was nice to go do something with my sisters. And mom. She was all the way in the corner and didn't fit in the picture! I have to ask someone for the picture of all of our toes so you can see the cute designs we got.

Today I love...

Tide Pens.

I can't even tell you how many times I spill things on myself. Or drop food on my lap--especially when I'm wearing white! These handy dandy pens keep me from embarrassing myself with all of my stains.

Keep one in your purse! You won't regret it.

Confessions of the Frustrated

[sigh]

Unfortunately, I am still having the same problems with my arm.

FRUSTRATING.

Over the break, my arm got worse. It was hot, swollen, stiff, and unbelievably painful. I believe it was due to the cold weather, making it stiff, but who knows. I had some anti-inflammatory drugs, but long usage of them could result in stomach ulcers, so I stopped using them about 2 weeks in. When we got back to Hawaii, it felt a little better, and I had some hope, but this morning it was so painful, I couldn't even lift my arm to wash my hair or brush my teeth this morning. This is SO frustrating. From the outside, you wouldn't be able to tell that there was something wrong with my arm, because I use it frequently and I don't have a cast or bandage on it. Most people have no idea. But the truth is that I am in so much pain everyday, and it is hard to cover it up! I am actually scared that there is something irreversibly wrong--that I might have to live with this. Who knows?

None of the handful of doctors I've seen can figure it out. I am running up quite the $$ tab too, which we can't afford. I am going to physical therapy right now, and it doesn't seem to be doing much. Maybe in a week or so I might be seeing some results.

On top of that I am in the final stretch of my undergraduate degree---the hardest semester, I might add. I have 2 jobs, and am taking anatomy, animal behavior, adv. molecular, senior biology, and my senior research. Having medical problems and all the bills to pay for it is extra stress that I definitely don't need! I am also applying to Veterinary school this fall, so now is the time to shape up and get those A's! I am also studying for the GRE-biology, which I am planning to take this summer. A good score is a must! All of this results in unbearably long days of studying and lab work.

And isn't it annoying to have to deal with rude people while you're having such a hard time? They have no idea what kinds of things you're going through, or how hard of a day you've had, and they just give you this attitude and act incredibly rude? Oh boy, normally I don't care about these kinds of people, but sometimes that's just the icing on the cake when you're having a hard day, and you just want to kick them in the shins or something (You see, I am too short to kick them anywhere higher). Man, when I'm having a hard day, and someone gives me unnecessary attitude, I just want to punch them in the face--right in the face! Don't worry, I haven't done that. [yet]. But I wish people would think more about they're actions and how you never know how someone is feeling that day.

I know everyone has heard me complain about school and work and my arm and blah blah blah a million and a half times, but I really do appreciate what I have. It's just hard to balance all of it (and so much of it!) at the SAME time. I'm not the kind of person that can do a bunch of things really well all at once. But I do know that this is what I need to go through in order to go where I want to in life. I want to go to graduate school, so I have to endure and do well in undergrad school---and I want vet experience and some extra money, so I have to work. See? I get it! ...but its nice to vent about how hard it is sometimes, right? haha.

I asked Seth to give me a blessing so I will be able to make it through this semester without breaking down or anything. In the blessing, he mentioned that I will have health this semester---so I have some hope. Heavenly Father sure has a way of sending me obstacles in life. I don't think it will get any easier, I think I need to learn to take things in stride better.


So, SORRY to be such a downer. I'm normally not this way. Just right now I kinda need to vent my frustration as well as face reality that these next few months are going to be hard.

I need strength!

cuteness

I was looking through my pictures today and found this one.
This is my niece Hannah--isn't she cute?! This puppy was only a few weeks old, and fell asleep on Hannah's lap! She was so happy that the puppy was so comfortable on her! Seth and I get to see her again this summer--can't wait to see my little friend again!

Ironic...

...that I posted about cockroaches last night.

I found one in my bowl while I was eating cereal in it this morning.

I probably won't be able to eat for the rest of the day.

[shudder]

My husband, the cockroach killer

I hate cockroaches! UGH! They are just everywhere in Hawaii, and no matter how long I live here, I will never get used to them. I couldn't even bear to put up a picture of one on this post.

I usually and unintentionally freak out when one crawls on me--the worst time being when I was sleeping...and a BIG one crawled up my leg! I freaked out, woke up Seth, who started to freak out because I was screaming like someone was killing me, and then I wouldn't go back to sleep until it was dead. I just shuddered thinking about that. I mean, it was a BIG momma one, not the little ones!  

Another time we were getting back into our car [at night] that was parked in a field after dinner at a friends house, and a roach crawled up my arm after I sat down. I freaked out and somehow my wedding rings few off my hand into A FIELD. AT NIGHT. geez. I eventually found it, but I swear these things are out to get me.

Anyway, Seth has adapted to my roach freak outs, and just learns to come running and kill them when I scream "ROOOOOAAACCCHHH!". haha. He even makes these funny "hiiiiyyaaaah" noises as he smacks them. It's so weird how much I hate them, because I'm not freaked out by spiders, snakes, or anything else. Just nasty roaches. Seth has been so helpful with it too. He'll even be sleeping and I'll gently wake him up and say, "Seth, there's a roach!" and he'll just roll out of bed, stumble over to where it is, kill it, and go back to bed without saying anything.

Poor Seth, you'd be surprised how many roaches he has to kill for me.

My knight in shining armor. I love him.

Romeo

Romeo, we love you and miss you. I'm so glad we were able to have you in our family, and we already miss you so much. I have so many fun memories with you when I was living at home, and you were such a good friend and companion to all of us. I'm so happy I got to see you one last time this Christmas. I know you were in so much pain, and I know that you are in a better place now, watching over us. I'm sad you had to go so soon.

Hammy misses you.

Rest in Peace. We love you.

EPIC

Yesterday Seth surprised me with tickets to the Charger/Colts playoff game. I went crazy---so excited!
I felt at home with the thousands of Charger fans just as excited and crazy as us. There is no feeling better than going crazy and yelling and screaming with your fellow Charger fans. I have a headache from all of that. So worth it. Dressing up in team gear is part of the fun.




The game was AMAZING! I personally watched the Colts get spanked in the playoffs for the second time. SPROLES was AWESOME. The final TD sent Qualcomm into a total frenzy, that I was proud to be apart of .

Mike and Carol were there and invited us to watch the 2nd half up with them in their box seats! We loved it. After the TD was scored in overtime, we just went crazy with everyone else for the next hour, and then talked about how amazing it was to be there that night.


There's Gates!

Bring on the Titans/Steelers!

Anyone know who Pete Rose is?

We got a picture with him, and an autograph.

I didn't know who he was.

Not a baseball fan.

But Seth was excited.

Palm Springs

On the way back from our Vegas trip for our anniversary, we were invited to stay in palm springs with Seth's grandparents. It was my first time visiting there, and it was just as Seth described--amazing!



Too bad it was December, otherwise I would have just stayed by the pool all day!

Julie and Kit were staying there too, so we had fun hanging out with them and Nonnie and Grandpa! Nonnie and I became puzzle experts! Grandpa even let Seth and I ride around in the golf cart.

I was hoping to see some roadrunners, but it just didn't happen. Julie also showed us around to the snack bar by the pool, and where you can get all sorts of sweets! --yum. I don't know why anyone would leave that place. We definitely need to go back and spend some more time there.

On the way back we drove up the mountains, and took some pictures at the top.


Love the view! And hopefully we'll be back soon!

We're ready for Saturday...

I love being in San Diego with my fellow Charger fans. I also love the "Go Charger" signs and bolts everywhere.

But this picture also reminds me how much money I burn to fill up my car. boo.

Go Chargers! The Colts are going to eat dirt! (Even though I actually like the Colts, but someone has to lose...)

Happy Anniversary!

Two years ago from Sunday, I made the best decision I could have ever made.



Happy Anniversary to the one I love so much!

Early bird

I wake up pretty early, so I decided to take a walk down to Windansea beach. This is what I saw:


Morning walks are so relaxing! Especially on the gorgeous California coast.

Balboa Park

I've been a slow blogger. But now I have the cord to upload my pictures! Heres some of what we've been up to...

Seth took me to Balboa Park, which is one of my favorite places in San Diego.

The buildings are so gorgeous and there are so many fun museums and exhibits to see! Not to mention the carousel, of course, which is the first thing we did! Seth actually got the brass ring--I would have if my short t-rex arms didn't miss it the first time around.

And I just HAD to ride the train around! Of course I pushed by all the little 3 year olds to ride in the back with the panda stuffed animal!


We also walked around the science museum, which is my favorite. We saw some animal Imax movie too, which was cool--I always love seeing movies in Imax theatres.


I always wish we could spend more time here.