Adventures of Puppies, Poop, and Passion: January 2014

My life has completely changed since my acceptance to vet school. I've moved, lost touch with friends and family, forgotten what "boredom" and "relaxation" mean, and have been working harder than I ever imagined. It's exhausting and frustrating, and sometimes I really kind of wish I would have waited a year to apply.

But then I learn something interesting and exciting, and I remember how amazing it is to be a future veterinarian. And it's not been all bad. I have my dogs, my hedgehogs, and my new snake, Tetra, to keep me company. And I met an awesome guy that has been nothing but encouraging and patient and supportive.

They're so cute.

Sexiest snake I've ever seen. She's a pastel ball python, and she's going to make beautiful babies someday with Stanley (who is living with his co-mother, Hillary).

My first semester was pretty rough. I started out studying about as much as I did in undergrad... which wasn't much, and definitely was not enough for vet school. I think I'm getting the hang of things now, though, and I'm going to work on a "Procrastinator's Guide to Vet School" for the class that comes in below me. They're going to worship me for it.

I think part of my problem coming into vet school was that I was already pretty exhausted. I didn't really give myself much of a break over the summer because I worked at camp again. And yes, it is an incredibly fun and rewarding job, but holy cow is it draining.

Within minutes of my arrival at camp (this was the day after my undergrad finals were over), I was given 3 baby African Crested Porcupines to hand-raise. Just what I've always wanted.. 3 ugly, prickly, little rodents.


I guess they can be a little cute. If the lighting is right.

They were named after porn stars. One was a male, and he looked like Ron Jeremy, so yeah... I had to do it. My friends named the girls to follow suit. We kept it on the DL by just calling them by their first names, so the kids never found out, don't worry. I also had to try to leash train Ron Jeremy. That was every bit as fun as it sounds.

I have scars from this.

My dogs got to live with me at camp this summer, so I took them down to the animal area every day, and they became quick friends with the pale fox, Gadget. I loved watching them play together because Gadget always got so excited, but every single time I got him out, he would either "mark his territory" on my foot or on one of my dogs' faces. It was displeasing, but I loved him anyway.

He probably wanted to pee on the camera, too.

One of my favorite things about the summer was my flesh eating beetles. I talked my boss into letting me get some so I could clean the bones of animals after I did necropsies on them, and they were so freaking awesome (I'm pretty sure the people that have to take care of them now hate me for it, though). Remember that paraplegic monkey I had? Yep, I definitely have her skeleton on the bookshelf in my living room right now.

Look at my precious babies eating away on that penis bone. I have a collection of them now. Don't judge me.

Marmie resurrected!

Speaking of necropsies... I did a freaking amazing one on Barbara Bushbaby. Her death was really, really sad, but cutting her open was probably one of the greatest moments of my life. That sounds terrible. I really loved that bushbaby. Seriously, I did. But the things I found inside of her... oh my god. Pure amazingness.

Wait.... that's a penis.... but.. but.. Barbara is supposed to be a woman!

That is.... not testicles.... What is going on here?!?!?


It's not a toomah! Except it is. This (along with the numerous other tumors filling her/his abdominal cavity) is why our potentially hermaphroditic friend kicked the bucket. :(

Good-bye, Barbara.

Ok, before you start thinking I'm a complete freak, I did skin her for a reason. The flesh eating beetles don't really like all that fur very much. The posing, though... yeah, that was just because I'm a freak.

The camp also got an adorable fennec fox named Dash (he's obnoxious and hyper, but I love him), my hedgehog had babies again (which is why I now have two hedgehogs), and I raised a number of baby birds again. So here is a plethora of cute animal pictures from my last summer before vet school.