Looking back on posts gone by.

Every so often, I take a look back at my first few months of blog posts to remind me where I came from, and how much has changed since then. I just came across this one again, which was the last July 4th I was in the US for. I just realized (belatedly) that I was wrong.

I WILL be in the US for July 4th 2014. Because I'll be in the first week of my internship. And probably still jet-lagged. And hopefully will be so busy I won't realize how tired I am.

Also, today has been a day of numbers crunching. I've spent so much money buying plane tickets in the past week, it's put me in a panic about my budget for next year.

Because what else do I worry about but money.

The good part: I now have plane tickets to fly back to the US after exams are over (the day after exams, to be precise), fly back to the UK before graduation, and then fly again to Boston (to pick up my car and drive back to Saratoga, oy). I don't have to worry about agonizing over prices of flights, or worry about buying them because they're already bought. The money is gone.

The bad part: budget panic. My original plan for this coming year was to have money left over from my last loan payment to give me a bit of a cushion during the internship year. I'm getting paid well for an intern, don't get me wrong. I'm thrilled. But because I opted to get an apartment by myself and in a very secure location close to the practice, I'm paying a hefty price for housing. I've already sent off the deposit check, it's done. I'm living there, and I'm glad of it. But I still get anxiety about spending so much on housing. So I have to make sacrifices in other aspects of my budget, AND I need that cushion to help me pay for car insurance/some other small bills in order to make ends meet.

I can totally do it. I'm selling my car in the UK (I will miss my TARDIS, but I'll be very glad of the cash that comes from her), I'm selling a bunch of my books that I know I won't need (Small Animal Surgery, anyone?), I'm selling my TV, and I'm selling my sister some of my bedroom furniture (she's staying in the UK).

So why am I anxious? Because I'm good at it. Or used to it. And it keeps me in line.

Ugh, I'm rambling now. I'm tired. Getting up early to help with morning treatments. Time for bed.

Visit to Florida

I'm back in Florida visiting my friend Sara for the first time in almost 2 years (which is way too long). The last time I was here, my nephew was 4 months old. Now he's over 2! And talking. And running everywhere. He has so much energy.

It's so nice to relax, hang out, play with my nephew and enjoy time with my friends. I don't get to do this often enough. Also, it's nice to be in a place that doesn't have snow on the ground and it's warm enough for flip flops and t-shirts. It's going to be tough to go to KY after this.

Anyway, I've got until Sunday here, then I fly to KY for 3 weeks. Time is going by so fast! I should probably start attempting to study for OSCEs.

Snow day in VA

There is currently about a foot of snow on the ground here in VA, and as a result a snow day has been called. So no work for me. There might even be a delay tomorrow, since this area isn't really all that familiar with this amount of snow. 

At least we haven't lost power, and there is stuff to do. I've been making an equine intern cheat notebook with stuff that I think will help/be important to have easily on hand while on an internship. Also, Netflix makes the time go by faster. And exercising, just to keep myself from being completely sedentary. 

Tomorrow is my last day here in VA, so only 3 more weeks of EMS left to go. It's crazy to think that this time last year I was just finishing my first week of rotations. Now I'm close to finished, have an internship lined up for next year, and prepping for finals (and the rest of my life). 

It goes by so fast! Ah, well. So does everything good in life.

Last day of formal rotations

Today was my absolute last day of rotations, minus the 5 weeks of EMS I have lined up for February/March. It's amazing how fast this time has flown by. I'm glad there is one less hurdle to jump now, but I'm going to miss my rotation mates. We've got plans to celebrate the end of rotations in April when we're all back for OSCEs (practical exams, oh my!) and electives.

So...yeah. Flight to Virginia is on Sunday, then two weeks with equine imaging specialists, then a week with my best friend and her family, 3 weeks with Rood and Riddle, and that's it.

THAT'S IT.

I'm gonna go celebrate now. Only 5 months left!!

And the results are in...

I passed the NAVLE!!

I think I'm more happy that I don't need to take it again than I am about passing it. Oh well, I guess that's the same thing, right?

Wooooooooooo!!!!!! The only big hurdle now is my finals.

And wow, two posts in a week. I haven't done that in a while.

Sleepless in the ERH

This week started my Equine Out of Hours (OOH) rotation, also my last equine rotation as a student. It goes without saying that I'm pretty tired. Sunday night started off with a bang (colic surgery), although we ended up euthanizing on the table. Made me sad, but that's how it goes sometimes.

I'm at last in the final stretch of rotations. I have this week of OOH (which ends 6am on Sunday morning), and then a week of Pathology...and then I'm done.

It's been less than a year since I started rotations, and I'm almost finished. It feels pretty weird and wonderful. I'm excited to be finished, but at the same time I'm sad to leave all my friends. I've had a great rotation group, and I love those girls. It's the last time we'll all be together as a group. And it kinda sucks.

So...yeah. Last two weeks of rotations, then 6 weeks in the US. Again. Except this time for both work and pleasure. I'll be seeing my friend Sara and her family, which will be amazing. (Speaking of...I need to book that flight!) And I'll be seeing my college girlies for a couple of days before I head back to London for electives/revision/exams season.

Truthfully, I'll be glad to not fly for a little while after I fly back from graduation in July.

The countdown begins...

I don't know why I decided to do this tonight, but I did. I figured out how many days I have left until my last final.

171 days.

Ugh. So far away.

And 175 days until I start my internship. Again, far away.

I'm flying back to London on Wednesday, and on the following Monday I'll be starting my LAST ROTATION BLOCK. EVER.

Crazy.