How Do I Say Goodbye (Gross Pictures Included. And I mean gross.)

Not what all assistants do at work. But I assure you, we are all weird.

Unfortunately, I believe my time has come for my vet life to come to an end. I get asked all of the time about why I am still working. I love helping animals. The people I work with are pretty awesome. Most of the clients are great. It can be such a rewarding job. I have accomplished and learned so many things.

The appropriately named "Harry".

A cyst. Kind of like a giant zit.

I have been in the business for over 7 years. Our wonderful doctor took a chance hiring an 18 year old fresh out of high school and just starting college. I had only worked at one other job (KB Toys) so my experience was pretty much none. The clinic was pretty intimidating, but I was determined to figure this assistant thing out. Because I don't like failing.

Another view of Blobert. He was made out of three lypomas.

Sid!

We scanned the clinic cat.

I made quite a few mistakes in the beginning, and was always nervous around the doctors and a handful of co-workers. Being there only part time made it difficult for me to remember things. My Border Collie, Sneakers, became very ill within the year I was working there. She had severe renal failure and hung on for me as long as she could, but passed away at the clinic while I was in class. One of the co-workers was bullying me and I was feeling pretty low, but I didn't want her to win so I pushed through.

I love newfies!

No, not an alien. That's a spleen.

And spleens are not supposed to look like that.

And I kept pushing. And then we hired some wonderful new people over time, and the bully left. They brought my spirits up and encouraged me and we became more of a family. I got to see amazing things. I got to scrub in on surgeries (my favorite!) and battle cats made of pure evil. I got to clean teeth and clean up some of the most rancid poo messes you had ever seen. I got to see lives saved (sometimes with the help of my great dane's blood!) and feel them slip away in my arms. I saw the smiles of thankful owners and the pain in the ones who were on the losing end.

Or like this. Oh yes, the spleen queen is weird.

I made an outfit for Squid (AKA Cleo). She retaliated by making me allergic to her.

Spleen Simmons. I know, I have issues.

This is not easy for me. Not easy at all. But I now live in a state of condition where I work my minimal shifts, and come home exhausted and in pain. Sometimes I break down from how weak I feel when I get home. Sometimes I don't even make it home, and this stupid disease cripples me at work. I feel sick every day and it takes me a long time to recover from a day at work. I had a battle with a dog on Saturday that left me vomiting afterwards from over-working my body and then I slept for 21 hours on Sunday. I had planned a day with the ponies and my husband, but it took a lot to wake me up and help going to the bathroom instead. Clients ask if I am tired or sick when they see me. My days are spent working and recovering instead of living. And after the husband got to be with me every day for a week, he got to see just how sick I can get. He did not like it.

Penny and her little boobies.

Oh look, another spleen.

Yep. Another.

She didn't want to walk.

A ruptured spleen. Makes things extra interesting in surgery.

The clinic and my co-workers have made those years awesome for me. There is no way I could ever repay them for all they have done. I will miss my clients and patients, but I will really miss my team. My cat wranglin', dog wrestlin', poo and pee and whatever else cleaner uppers, animal savers, dealers with crazy people, and so many other things. I hope they won't forget me or be spiteful with me leaving. But it is time to try and live life the correct way. It is time to heal.

No words can be said.

Silence.

Yeah, that is a cat's butt. Please don't let them eat tinsel. 

And also, please don't let them get this big (32lb). 

Thank you Eastgate for all of the learning, growing, and memories!

I am...A nurse, an anesthesiologist, an x-ray technician, a candy striper, a maid, a janitor, a surgery assistant, a loving hand, a pharmacist, a teacher, 
a mortician, a coroner, a shoulder to cry on, a friend to cry with, a sucker for a furry face, a lover of all pets, a face to lick, a midwife, a delivery nurse, 
a Lamaze couch, a dental hygienist, a mediator, a vet's best friend, a pet's bestfriend, a babysitter, a physical therapist, a mother, a father, a playmate,
a chew toy,a protector...
I can...Make the pain go away, save a life, see what's wrong, clean anything, fill drug orders, show the right way, end suffering, give kisses, get kisses, 
clean teeth, bring someone to do the right thing...
I have...A strong stomach, a big heart, a thoughtful mind, the strength to do the right thing even if it hurts, the ability to fall in love in 5 seconds, and
the deepest love for all creatures...
I am a Veterinary Technician. 
Poem by Kelly Stone

I Ate a Snail. And Did Lots of Other Things!

The coolest scuba kids ever.

Hello there my 27 followers (and people who don't follow but like to read about my weirdness)! I am back from my Mexican cruise adventure. Back to the cold, foggy, wet Idaho. Damn you Idaho. But, I am very happy to be back home. Eight days without ponies and puppies is a stretch for this one.

So, things I learned:

• I hate boats. Big boats. Big boats and the ocean put together. I could NOT get acclimated to the sea and its seaness, even with all the patches and balance bracelets and etc.
• There is at least a lot of food on a boat. FOOD AT ALL TIMES. 
• Side-note: Do not start Prednisone the same time you get on the boat with all the food. Because you will frickin eat everything in sight. And then get fat.
• Don't forget womanly supplies at home. Because you will end up paying $8 for a box of five tampons.
• Don't take the water bottles in the room. They cost $4.50 each. Whoops.
• Scuba diving is a mind game. You must trick your body into thinking it is ok to breath under water. Please don't freak out body.
• Also, sometimes you have to lie on your health form to do the dive. It was worth it damnit.
• You may see sharks. And sharks are the best thing in the world. YES!
• Drivers in Mexico are scary. 
• I thought LA was bad. Shows what I know...
• Cabo was my favorite. Mazatlan was a little too intense.
• In Peurto Vallarta, you are an expert horseback rider if you have ridden more than 17 times.
• Congrats. You are all experts.
• According to my 7 year old cousin, boys have tails and girls don't. 
• Yeah, I'll just let you think about that for a bit.
• Blake loves ice cream. Well, maybe I already knew that.
• Snails don't taste as bad as I thought.
• I almost stole my baby sea turtle. 

What's more majestic. The sea lion or the cruise ship?

So, that is basically the jist of it. I had a wonderful time with my hubs, even though I felt sick the whole time I was on the boat. I also did not last long out on our excursions on shore, and had to get back on the boat as soon as they were done, so that made me sad. But that's ok! 

Yep. There I am.

Our fav thing by far was the scuba diving. We only wished we could have gone deeper (we went 40ft) and explored more. But I got to be by sharks, and that is all I have ever wanted to do. Plus, the two other people wussed out in our group, so the prof photographer followed us around the whole time. Cabo was great, and I found out that I like my Mexico americanized and touristy.

Cabo!

Even more!

A cool ass pirate ship.

It only requires 15 minutes of your time and offering your soul to get a wet suit on.

Lookin suave.

I love eels!

I know you are jealous.

Dolphins checking out the ship.

A sea pony!

Sea lions are badass.

Just look at them go.

Holding hands and swimming in the ocean!

Just below me...

...were these guys! I wanted to hug them so bad!

I wanted him too.

Jumping in!

It's not normal for a fish to be able to smile at you.

A whale shark!

Mazatlan was beautiful and I really enjoyed releasing my baby sea turtle into the ocean. But I would be ok if I did not have to go back there. The people assume that you must be rich if you are on the ship, and if you make eye contact or hesitate, they will follow you. Forever. And I don't dig that.

Pelicans. Everywhere.

Go turtles go!

My little "Tsunami".

He did not win the race. But Blake's turtle did!

Peurto Vallarta was a lot of fun and very pretty too. We rode horses around the villages and through the trails. We filled out a form before hand, and if you had ridden a horse 0-9 times, you were a beginner, 10-16 intermediate, and 17+ experts. Blake and I were experts. Everyone else were beginners. I threw a helmet on (all of them covered my eyes) and they pulled out my expert horse, Paloma. There was dancing and prancing and a very sensitive horse in my hands. And then Blake was thrown onto his expert mount "Peckles". He was a head flipper. Any contact on the reins and you better be ready to avoid concussion. We figured out our horses pretty quick though, and had a pleasant ride through some rivers, and even hopped on a naked horse for a swim!

Hello Paloma!

Blaker and that backpack that never leaves his side.

Leaders of the pack.

Sturdy ponies.

The rest of the group making their way over.

What a good swimming pony!

Blaker being pulled ashore.

They look like friends. But that's a lie.

That's right. I had a goddamn machete.

That is not a very flattering shirt. Jesus.

Nerds in Mexico.

The weather was perfect, we met cool people on the ship and had a great time. I think if I were to do it again, I would go on the other side of Mexico. Hubs has been, and said it is even more beautiful, and better for scuba diving! Yes, I am obsessed now.

Here are some more photographer pictures! Can't give him credit as he never gave his name!

Weird ass fish.

EEL!

Aimee does not like this.

Blake and his ice cream cones.

Lady on the ship that looked like "Fat Amy" from Pitch Perfect.