Eek, school!

I was poking around the internet this morning and thought to myself, "I haven't really looked to see if I can find any information on the A&M web site regarding money or schedules or anything." So, I looked. And oh my! I found a bill (which may or may not be final) and, even scarier, a tentative schedule. Looks like the courses I'll be taking this fall are: Gross Anatomy, Microscopic Anatomy, Physiology I, Microbiology I, "Clinical Correlates I" and "Professional Development." A little scary, to be sure, but don't those look like fun classes? =D I'm most excited about physiology, I love that subject. There aren't times for most of the classes yet, but it's 20 credit hours (12 is full time student as an undergrad. 15 i s average) - anatomy, and the two micros are all 4 credit hours, physiology is 6, and the other two classes are 1 each, so...lots of labs in my future! I have somewhat of an idea of what it will be like because my microbiology class did have times: MWF 11-11:50 and W 3-5.

Anyway, that was a lot to take in first thing in the morning. Now I'll be checking back frequently to see if my other classes get times/days and if my bill changes. Oh, I found out I got my parking pass assignment too, and it is the lot right at the vet school. Wahoo :) Also vet related: I signed up for a mentor (a 2nd year vet student) at the beginning of the summer on the advice of someone who'd been there. Now, normally I wouldn't have, that isn't my thing. But I got an e-mail from said mentor sometime last week, and I think it'll work out nicely. We got matched up, I believe, because she was in the drum line in high school marching band and likes to play video games. Her name is Karen, she's from Austin, and she has a rabbit and is interested in exotics. Anyway, she seems really nice and we've already exchanged a few e-mails. And since I don't know a bunch of vet students going in, I'm glad to have her as a contact, even if only for the beginning when it is scary.

I poked around even further, and found what I think will be my basic curriculum overview for all of vet school. 2nd year looks very scary. [here] it is

In other news...the Roberts returned from Colorado last night. Matt and I went over and brought them Amore for dinner to welcome them back. Petey the cat was *very* glad to have his people home. Matt and I have started cleaning and throwing stuff away in the apartment in anticipation of the move. He was particularly productive yesterday, tackling three stacks of semi-important documents (health, financial, etc) that have been accumulating for a year. That's about it :)

Matt's job, the official post!

I just realized with all this talk of Colorado and then medical problems that I never shared with my readers the good news about Matt's job. This all came about in the week leading up to vacation, so it was all very fast. I'll try to sum it up.

Vet school is in College Station. There was no way on earth that Matt and I were going to maintain separate residences in Dallas and College Station so he could stay with his company. So that meant he had to find a job in CS. He interviewed with basically the biggest accounting firm in College Station and the Monday before we left for Colorado they made him a job offer. "Yay" we thought, because it was all settled. He'd be taking a pay cut, but that was inevitable and cost of living is less in CS anyway so we were happy. The only thing that wasn't super about the new job was that the first year he wouldn't get any vacation unless he "earned" it through working lots. With me back in school mode, including all its vacation glory, that was a little stinky. But totally doable.

Matt got his job offer on a Monday and he told the guys in CS he'd have an answer for them by Friday. So that left him the duty of telling his company he was leaving. Keep in mind they didn't know I'd gotten into vet school or anything. The next day Matt told his manager (the hierarchy basically goes staff (Matt) -> senior -> manager -> partner) the situation. His partner was gone until the end of the week, but his manager told him to not quit until his partner got back and could talk to him. Thursday his partner came in and talked to Matt about what was going on. Matt told him about vet school, how we didn't want to live in different cities, and how much the company in CS was offering. Having a number in hand, Matt's partner went to work and tried to figure out a way that he could match that salary while only having Matt in Dallas for the spring busy season. Even on Thursday night we were less than optimistic, because that was going to be a hard thing to do. Well, when Matt went in on Friday, his partner had worked it all out. Matt would have to come to Dallas for 10 weeks during busy season but could work remotely from College Station for the rest of the year. His partner matched the salary offer of the College Station people, plus we'd keep our benefits, vacation, and Matt's spot on the corporate ladder. Matt couldn't say no :) It's all because he's awesome, by the way. So that's what we're doing. The only unfortunate thing is Matt committed to stay in the Dallas office until October 1, but it wasn't hard for him to be nice to them after they were so awesome to us. So yeah, Matt is basically the best CPA ever.

I'm still grumbly about the abrupt end to our vacation. Matt got us home safely on Tuesday, we collected the cat from the 'rents and stumbled into our apartment. I'm going to blame my seizure medicine for me going to sleep before 6pm, because that's just weird. Beware of Keppra - it'll make you sleep 60% of the time! Yesterday we had some breakfast at the Original Pancake House and then Matt took me to get my final rabies shot. Yay for getting that all over with, even if my arm does ache. Then we went to North Park and wandered around, eventually drifting over to the movie theatre where we saw Pirates of the Caribbean 2. Matt thought it was pretty good, I thought it was so-so. We came back home, watched some of our TiVo-ed TV, and I crashed extremely early again.

Today I was supposed to have lunch with Stephanie to catch up (she hasn't heard about all the Colorado excitement yet) but she had to reschedule for tomorrow. So, Matt and I had lunch at the Highland Park Pharmacy (grilled cheese and a vanilla malt here, yummers) and went to the grocery store. We've entered that weird time pre-move when you analyze everything you buy for necessity and mobility. Mom and Dad came over to chat on their way back from the ranch and now Matt's doing some work on his laptop while I putter. I was thinking about playing some New Super Mario Bros again, go for the third 100% completion.

So I have lunch with Stephanie tomorrow, yay. Since I can't drive, that'll probably be the extent of my excitement for tomorrow. Then all I have to look forward to is my appointment with Dr Z on Monday, where hopefully she'll take me off this seizure medicine and I will be able to stay awake again! Oh, and my new cell phone will be arriving somewhere between tomorrow and Monday, so I will be able to return Matt's to him.

The best laid plans of mice and men

Greetings from Amarillo. Yes, that's right, Amarillo. We had to cut our Colorado vacation short because I had another seizure yesterday. About 1 hour after my last blog post, while at the pottery place about to get started with the painting, I went down. Luckily, 1) no other patrons were there to witness, and 2) Matt caught me and knew what was happening. It only lasted about a minute, same as last time. I came to laying on the floor and Matt told me what had happened. I groaned.

The same EMT crew was first on the scene and we exchanged greetings. Then the paramedics, the inevitable vital sign taking and finger stick, and being wheeled to the ambulance. Matt got to ride in the front again (lucky dog) and I immediately asked for the anti-nausea medicine, having learned my lesson about the results of being stoic last time. I got another IV, this time in the back of my left hand instead of the crook of my elbow, was started on fluids, had all my vitals taken and retaken, and went back to the hospital in Frisco. The same doctor was there too, Dr. D, which was nice because he remembered me and would trust the test he had performed less than a week ago. He was not pleased to see me though, because as he said "the first seizure is free," but any after that is no good. Matt had called the house and John came to the hospital to sit with Matt next to my stretcher.

Dr. D talked with some neurologists in Denver to get their opinion. While that was going on, a person who did pet therapy came by with his dog. The guy was almost completely blind, and the dog was not just a therapy animal but also a seeing eye dog. He was a gorgeous golden retriever. So that was a nice way to pass the time while Dr. D was conferring with the neurologists. After a time he came back with his game plan. Basically his part was giving me anti-convulsants (taken 3 times a day, it is awful) and telling me I "had to get out of Dodge." Once back in Dallas he wants me off the anti-convulsants and to get an EEG to make sure that it was just the altitude and not some brain craziness that caused the seizure. I talked that day with my doctor in Dallas, Dr. Z, and she thought his game plan sounded good. I'm seeing her in a week anyway, so that'll work. The only really sucky part was the whole leaving Colorado business.

We'd gone on and on about how glad we were that we'd be in Colorado for 2 weeks this year, unlike last year. We went through the first week remarking that we had all the time in the world to do the activities we wanted, like white water rafting, because of that second week. Well, poop. I had to get out of the 9000+ feet elevation and fast, and that sucked. I mean, it was necessary - I couldn't go on a long hike or rafting or anything like that when I was at risk for having a seizure - but that doesn't make it suck less. So it was time for the end of the vacation. Last night I had to use my oxygen at all times aside from eating and Matt and I had to pack up. We left this morning, to head back to 100+ weather, humidity, and flatness. I'm more than a little miffed. This is not how the 2 weeks were supposed to go. And poor Matt - I can't drive since there's the seizure risk, so he's having to drive the whole way back.

There's plenty I can be thankful for in this whole situation: Matt's great insurance through KPMG, the support and love of John and Susie, that both my seizures were in very safe places, that Breckenridge has a great little hospital and wonderful paramedics/EMTs/nurses/doctors, that I did get to have a week of fun...but it's hard to think of all that right now. Boo. I was supposed to be fly fishing tomorrow.

One fish, two fish...

Yesterday Matt and Luke went to see Widespread Panic in Winter Park. The concert was from 4-8 and Winter Park is an hour away, so that left me in the company of John and Susie for the day. Naturally, we went fishing. We went back to a place I'd gone last year with Em and Jeff, a stream that runs into a reservoir. Last year we'd had some success there although the bushes attacked me and made me fall down. (There is a lot of pressing through 5-feet high bushes to get to the water, and they are very springy). Well, this time around the bushes behaved, even though they have grown in the past year. AND the fishing was excellent! Susie was a real trooper, following John and me through the bushes and reading her book while we fished. There was one hole that we got eight fish from! They were mostly cutthroats with some browns and the occasional "cut-bo" - a rainbow trout/cutthroat hybrid. I was able to work on my fishing technique as there were some tricky casts along the bushy creek. We amazingly didn't lose any flies, although there were some close calls. John only hooked my finger three times. Ouchie =P

Final fish count:
Cameron: 14
John: 12

Booyah.

Around 5 we reluctantly left the best fishing of the vacation yet and headed back to the house. We went to town and had Mexican food (I had some crazy enchiladas with mushrooms, spinach, tomatillo sauce, and sour cream). After dinner and a run to the grocery store, we returned to the house where we were greeted by Susie's friends Kathleen and Dot, who are staying with us for a few days. I retreated to the upstairs to read and play the DS while the womenfolk chatted. Eventually the boys returned from the concert, allowing me to seek my bed. I was tired! Fishing, bushwhacking, and being in the sun all day will take it out of you.

Today is another relaxed day, because we're doing a big hike tomorrow. Matt and I are about to eat lunch and then go to the pottery place where you can paint and fire stuff. I think I'm going to make a dish for Piper. Then Tuesday I'm fishing with John and the guide, and Wednesday or Thursday the boys and I are going to try and do some IV-V rapids with Charlie and Johnny.

So yeah, there's your update for the day. I'll let my loyal readers know how Matt's pottery painting goes =P

I am the winner

I am the winner. I say this because 1) I totally beat John in number of fish caught yesterday (okay, he let me have the choice spots but still!) and 2) I won our game of "Fact or Crap" tonight. Go me.

So yes, yesterday Matt, John, Luke and I went on a hiking/fishing expedition to Ten Mile Creek. We hiked until noonish up the trail and back a ways to a good lunch rock. Then after lunch John and I fished our way back down the trail while Luke and Matt appreciated our fishing prowess. (John got a new fishing pole; it is very springy.) Eventually they got bored and made their way back to the car. I could've fished longer but all of a sudden some ominous clouds rolled in and thunder and lightning made holding a big metal pole seem like a bad idea. So we hustled our way back down to the car and headed towards home. After picking Susie up from town where she's spent the day shopping, we cleaned up a bit at the house and then headed back to town for dinner. Matt and I treated the family to dinner at this pasta place we love (first discovered when the Halls bought dinner for the Roberts on my first Colorado adventure with them, summer of 2001). Anyway, at this place you pick the style of pasta - angel hair, linguine, or fettuccine, and the flavor of the pasta (e.g. spinach) and the sauce. Matt and I shared spinach fettuccine with marinara sauce and parmesan linguine with alfredo sauce. It was good, great post-hike food. Then back at the house, people watched Syriana and we started a puzzle. I had my back to the movie the whole time since I was puzzling, but the movie *sounded* pretty terrible.

Today we finished the puzzle in the morning. John and Susie went and picnicked/fished while Matt and I wandered about Breckenridge and Luke tried to read Crime & Punishment (hehe, high school). Matt and I both got t-shirts, and I bought a couple pairs of socks at my favorite Breckenridge store, The Joy of Sox. =D We returned home and I kicked Matt and Luke's butts at Mario Kart, and then we had fajitas at home and played "Fact or Crap." And I won. I rock.

Tomorrow Matt and Luke are going to a Widespread Panic concert in Winter Park. I'm not sure what I'll do, but fishing is likely :)

Vacation is good, mmkay?

First off, no more seizures. There, that's out of the way. I still can't believe I have to wear oxygen snaked under my nose each night, but oh well. Yesterday we just took it easy while John went fishing. The rest of us lazed around and then went to Frisco to look for new cell phones for me, since the washing machine incident. I didn't find any - the ones at the Cingular store were way overpriced, not surprisingly. Then we ate lunch at the A&W (cheeseburger and a root beer float, oh boy!), after which we walked around Frisco and looked in the stores for a while before heading home. We went out to dinner last night and I went to bed at 8:55 pm. I was tired! And that's like almost 10 pm CST!

Today Matt and I went fly fishing with John while Susie museum-ed in Fairplay (at historic South Park City) and Luke vegged at the house. Unfortunately for us, John's spare fishing pole broke 5 minutes into our excursion, so we were operating with only one pole. John helped refresh me on the finer points (like casting =P) of fly fishing while Matt was our "fishing caddy." The fish, unfortunately, were feeling mean and teased us mercilessly. John caught a couple though. In the afternoon we picked Susie up and drove home. A wonderful thunderstorm has blown in, and Matt and I have been watching it while the others ran to the grocery and puzzle stores. Tomorrow, who knows? Hiking? Fishing? Shopping? I love vacation!

(addendum)

My cell phone went through the washing machine. Oops. It was already sort of broken (the screen didn't work) so I'm not too upset I have to get a new one. But until I say otherwise, don't count on getting a hold of me via my cell. You can call Matt's cell phone (or Luke, Susie, or John) =D

Colorado Excitement

Greetings from Breckenridge! Matt and I escaped Dallas on Saturday to head this way. We took Matt's car this time and when he actually let me drive it for a couple hours in the middle of day 1, that was my 3rd time driving it ever! We spent the night in Trinidad, CO, a good 30 minutes across the New Mexico border. Then it was off again bright and early on Sunday to get to the rental house here in Breckenridge by lunchtime.

The house, wow, it's nice. It is actually a townhouse, but you'd hardly tell. It's the typical Colorado ski house-type place. Three stories: garage on the bottom with lots of hooks and benches for pulling off gear. Then on the main floor, the "Greatroom" with some comfy furniture, a 60-something inch TV, the kitchen and dining table, and 2 bedrooms. One is Luke's and leads to the hot tub, and the other will be used for guests - Susie has a friend coming later and Matt's aunt and uncle from Denver may spend a night or two later on in the trip. Upstairs is the master bedroom for John and Susie, and our bedroom. We have a lovely little balcony off of our room. :) Oh, and that garage I mentioned? It isn't actually a garage anymore. It has been converted to a media room. There is a giant projector that gives us a 90" screen, stadium seating - first row on couch (the one with subwoofers under the seats, incidentally), second row couch, and third row 2 leather lazyboy recliners. The owners have an Xbox (with 4 Logitech wireless controllers) and tons of games and 200+ DVDs, but they forgot to give us the key to unlock the cabinet yet, so we haven't seen our selection yet. And since it is a garage, it gets pitch black when you close the door. We're pretty excited.

So we arrived on Sunday and got unpacked and lounged around. That afternoon Aunt Trish and Uncle Neville came in from Denver to spend the evening with us. After chatting, we central time zone people were hungry so we picked a yummy Italian place for dinner. After that we walked a bit in town, losing Susie and Trish to the scrapbooking store, forcing us to peruse the Joy of Sox (I bought one pair of hiking socks). When we got back to the house we all got sucked into the Tour de France. Then Matt and I were sleepy, so we said goodnight and headed for bed.

Yesterday it was time to try and get used to the altitude so we planned an easy hike to McCullough Gulch. It was only 1.3 miles and 800 ft elevation gain (although we were starting at over 10k feet). It was a nice hike, though a bit more steep parts than Susie would have liked. Our destination was a lake and some high up falls behind, but along the way we saw lots of rushing waters and waterfalls coming down from the lake. We got to the lake, found a nice rock and ate lunch. We noticed some storm clouds in the distance and then heard some thunder...which made it seem like a good time to go down. About 1/3 of the way down, the rain starts, not too hard, but there. Then some lands on my shirt and when I look down I realize it isn't rain - it is sleet, almost like wet snow. That made it much more exciting, even though it made the trail pretty slick. It got a lot heavier before the end and all our pants were soaked. Luckily we all had rain jackets! So basically it was an awesome hike!

We got back, hot tubed, and decided to watch "Driving Miss Daisy" down in the media room. I claimed one of the leather recliners in the back. I watched maybe 2/3 of the movie and then awoke to Matt, Susie, and Luke all sort of clustered around me. I tried to get up and Matt wouldn't let me. I tried to assure him I was fine, I was just sleepy and I wanted to go upstairs. But he was really adamant and asked if I knew what had happened. Um, no? He said "Cameron you had a seizure, the ambulance is on its way." I guess I believe him because now I'm realizing I do feel rather funny and they wouldn't all be staring at me like this otherwise. The EMTs on the fire truck and the constable arrived barely a couple minutes before the paramedics. Mean while I'm getting asked fun questions like "what's today's date? what year? where are you? did you pee on yourself?" (7/17, 2006, Breckenridge, and no). They prick my finger for a quick blood sugar (that being one cause for a seizure), but it is normal. Then pretty soon Matt's gotten me some shoes and I'm getting walked very slowly and carefully to the ambulance. The two paramedics there were so incredibly Colorado-ish, which means for one they were very cool. Anyway, I got laid out on the stretcher, Matt was up front with the driver, and I got to have my first ambulance ride. Along the way they started an IV, drew blood, took my vitals, put an oxygen mask on me, all that good stuff. Oh, and word to the wise: If you feel a little nauseous riding in an ambulance and they offer you drugs to stop that, take them up on their offer. Don't wait until you're puking in the ambulance bay at the hospital! :)

We got to the (brand new) hospital in Frisco and I got wheeled into a room and transferred to a bed. It made me feel like I was on ER or House. Matt was there the whole time which definitely kept me from freaking out about the whole thing. The doctor came in and asked a billion questions, then told us what he probably thought was the cause. He thought (and all the tests later indicated) that it was just the altitude. No matter what your previous experiences have been, sometimes a person can just get hypoxic and, well, have a seizure. We did a CT scan to make sure it wasn't a brain tumor or something instead (my first CT was well!), but my brain looked lovely. So, after being there for a while and being lucid, stale, good vitals, I was able to go home. But, not without a prescription for oxygen! I had a mini tank I took with me back to the house, then when we got home this guy came and brought a "concentrator," which just concentrates the oxygen from the air, avoiding the need for tanks that keep running out. And now for the rest of my time here I'm supposed to use oxygen every night. I feel very special/dumb =P

So anyway, I told you there was excitement!

New Super Mario Bros

New Super Mario Bros for the Nintendo DS is the best game I've played in a looooong time. I wrapped up my 100% completion of the game this morning (right after my second rabies shot, wee). *sends a hug over to Bryan in Berkeley in thanks for the DS*

Now I need to step it up on Mario Kart DS!

(oh, and Matt and I leave for Breckenridge on Saturday! 2 weeks in Colorado = yay)