So, I am one week away from the new semester. Have I written ANY emails? No. Made all the phone calls I wanted to? Some, but not all. Done any productive things at all?

No, Jeni, you haven't.

See, I made all those plans when I thought that a mere 2 or three days of rest would sort me out, and I'd be fairly bursting to do a million exciting things after about Monday. Yeah, right. My sleep debt, though reduced significantly (hello, 11 hour nights!) is still not equalized enough that I feel up to much.

Instead, I have found out a few things about myself.

1. I heart dogs and cats! the shelter was so much fun, even though it was heartbreaking. I'm glad we live in a cheap flat with great neighbours and all that, but seriously. I need me some small fluffly mammals. Especially adorable ones that need homes. All said, I just wanted one lab and one mastiff at the end (the cat I wanted was adopted). That's not too many for a one-bedroom flat that expressly doesn't allow pets, is it?

2. Blogs actually become less riveting the less stressed I am. I think they are my escape from reality, so when I have a real escape, I am just less excited about them.

3. I am seriously addicted to this toy. Matt got one a few months ago, and I have played it every day of the last week, and many of the week before.

4. I can read a mind-boggling number of books, given the inclination and time. A sample (not comprehensive) of the last week or so:
-3 Ian Rankin mystery novels
- 4 Jody Picoult novels
-The Virgin Suicides and Middlesex, both by Eugene Stephanides
-2 James Patterson mystery novels
Hey, I didn't say they were good books, or serious ones. But ne'er the less, slightly ridiculous. I'm glad I have a library card.


How about you all? Did you learn anything enlightening over the break?

We've had a good Jesus' birthday so far.

We went up to Rob and Emma's and ate Christmas breakfast.

Here's me and little Emma blowing bubbles:



Here's Matt having way too much fun with Micaiah:



Adorable, no?

We then went to Deiter and Colleen's for a couple of minutes.

Here's Christian being cute:



Now we're just being together for the rest of the day.

Merry Christmas, everyone! We love you guys!

Well, I'm 1/8 done with vet school. I have written an essay on control of defaecation in the healthy dog, tried to convince an examiner that there is only one ball-and-socket joint in the body, and looked blankly at a a slide of kidney tissue. I am exhausted and grateful exams are done. I really have no idea if I passed or not.

Plans for the Most Blessed Christmas Break:
1. Play with Real Live Animals at the cat & dog home
2. Play with pigs (also real and alive) down in Southern Scotland
3. Spend time with my husband
4. Read several cheesy fiction novels (I read "The Pact" by Jody Picoult last night)
5. Write a bazillion emails to all of you wonderful folk who have emailed me recently.
6. Finally help with some housework (as Matt the Magnificent has taken over in recent weeks)

I'm also going to post a few "life in edinburgh"-type posts and rethink the layout of the website a bit.

Yay!

Friday will be the last day. Yes!!!

The practical spot exam went okayish, but I pretty much bombed the oral component. As it turns out, the radius is not part of the hindlimb at all! :)

Friday I have the multiple choice, short essay, and long essay parts of the finals. Oy.

(Singing Mary's previously commented little song...)

I promise that there will be mondo updates soon. Finals are this week.


Pray.

But I managed to pull myself from its slobbery jaws.

Thanksgiving was really fun; we ate and talked and played with cute kids.

Last week was insane; studying for final, taking final, trying to study for other finals and finish assignments while fighting against burnout and exhaustion. Oh, and you know, eat and sleep and occasionally take a shower.

This weekend, and next week, I will be applying my nose even more intensively to the grindstone to try and make the last push toward finals. I have 3 weeks of Christmas break. The week before Christ's birthday, I will be playing with dogs and cats at the shelter. The week after Hogmanay (New Year's), I will be playing with pigs near England. And during that blessed week in between, I will be sleeping, hanging out with Matt, and catching up on all the (dozens) of emails and phone calls I've been meaning to make.

Pray for me. I think/ hope that Matt will write a post or two in here, and if you're lucky (and email me your address), you'll probably get a Christmas card from us taken in front of The Castle on a windy, windy day.

I miss you guys!