My Three Months And Counting

So... I sort of abandoned ship for awhile. I don't really have an explanation for that. So... sorry? *holds out apology cookies*

Fourth year has been a whirlwind. Here's a rundown...

- My plans for a lab animal residency? Down in flames, up in smoke. I actually opted to withdraw from the Match in mid-January. I had no interview offers and knew I had to make a decision to pursue other things, so I opted to withdraw and started applying to private practices. If there's one thing I've learned in fourth year, it's that I actually do like dealing with clients. I wanted to do small animal and equine (I like cows, they just have zero respect for me and we're best off remaining friends, rather than colleagues). After a few applications around Nova Scotia, I've managed to land a position at a clinic doing small animal and exotics, with the possibility of equine in the future. I'm nervous, but excited for May.

- I passed the NAVLE. It was a good day when I found out. There was wine. 

- I'm reasonably proficient in basic surgery. I certainly won't graduate with the most experience, but I feel I have a decent base I can build on, at least the basic stuff like spays and neuters. And really, that's as far as I want to go with surgery. It's just not my bag.

- Speaking of which, I'm currently on companion animal surgery. Not my favourite. Luckily, all the ridiculous weather meant that we missed the better part of a full week of the rotation and that's fine with me.

- Like the title says, just 3 more months, give or take. Actually, that's until graduation. In terms of rotations, it's (eep) 8 weeks. Two more weeks of surgery, then three weeks of diagnostic services and then I'm off to Louisiana for a three week externship at the Tulane National Primate Research Center. Yeah, I'm stoked. Admittedly, it's going to be kind of a working vacation.

- I acquired another cat. You know, because. He came out of a hoarding situation with 100+ cats. He's just about a year old now, I got him in December. And he's kind of a jerk-butt. He doesn't mean to be a jerk-butt. But he's a young boy cat and just can't help himself; their default setting is jerk-butt.