I came, I saw, I neutered

I actually did some vet stuff at my preceptor vet clinic on Monday. I intubated a dog, drew blood from the jugular vein, and best of all, did half of a neuter. If you don't understand how a neuter can be divided in half, I feel sorry for you. The cool thing about it was that I actually understood the anatomy and knew what to cut and where to cut it. So very thrilling. Today my clinical skills group has a presentation to do on the cardiovascular system. My friend Molly and myself are the presenters, and we made a dog pinata for the presentation. We made it out of newspapers and a flour/water paste, and used white streamers so it looks shaggy. The plan is to use it to demonstrate how to examine different aspects of the cardiovascular system. At the end, it will be filled with candy, strung up a tree, and "euthanized" by someone with a bat. The pinata looks awesome, I will post a picture later on.

What is wrong with people? Oh, yeah sin.

Recently, world-renown [pyscopath in my opinion] ethicist Peter Singer came to the U to give a talk on his views of ethics. He is an advocate proponent of animal rights, and sadly of infanticide. He thinks that parents should be able to "euthanize" their disabled infant if they so choose. First off, is this world so far gone down the porcelain convenience that animals are being elevated above humans? Singer thinks that an adult pig should have more rights than a human baby. My question is, why? What really have pigs done for us except be delicious? Mmmm...bacon. I am all for the humane treatment of animals, in that their pain be minimalized as much as possible. Ultimately, they are here for our use per God's design. Animals seem to be humanized more and more, while humans are dehumanized more and more (i.e. the word "euthanize" being applied to babies). Why this trend? Have animals invented anything lately? Do cows rally at the capital with signs about better milking facilities? Animals are purely driven by instincts and innately lack the complex thoughts and emotions that we, in God's image, possess. Since animals obviously can't speak out for themselves, people find good cause in advocating for them. Yes, speak out for those that can't speak for themselves. How about UNBORN BABIES ??? Why is it unpopular to speak out for them while praised to shut down meat plants for cruel treatment to cattle? Displays against abortion are criticized for showing pictures of abortion procedures, but animal rights activists often take pictures and video footage of production facilities for their cause. How about videos of what happens in an abortion? That might change some opionions when faced with the bloody reality of abortion. Instead, abortion is hidden behind closed doors and passed off as a "hard decision" but necessary for some women. Back to Singer, he points out that parents do abort their unborn infants if they are determined to have some sort of defect. So what is the difference if this happens before or after birth? See how abortion is making society so much more demented? First its the unborn, then disabled infants, then normal infants, then disabled adults...who knows? This is why GOD is the one who decides who lives, dies, and when they happen. It is really scary how things are perpetuating and how many people just go with the flow rather than evaluating what is actually going on. God, save this crooked generation.

Bye Bye Herschel Street

Well, our landlord came over on Sunday and informed us that he's selling our house. The lease will still be honored (until June 1) so we have until then to find a new place. Someone may buy the house and let us rent it, but we're not banking on that. It's crummy to have to move but also fun to look at houses. Please remember to pray for us, specifically for what we need, as follows: hardwood floors (b/c of Hilary's cat allergies), a set up that would help with Hilary's cat allergies, in-unit washer and dryer, close to vet school, close to bus for Hil and Renee, three bedrooms, decent-sized kitchen, parking on-street, landlord accepts cats, and good neighborhood. Just for fun, because I'm all about fun, pray in addition for: big garage with opener, near a lake, whirlpool bathtub, heat and electric paid, four-season porch, big backyard, and near where my brother is going to live (he may move up here next year). I'm really not worried because God has a great place for us. Pray that we would keep on trusting Him; after all, He hasn't let us down yet!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Ah, the Irish. Leave it up to them to create a holiday that can only be celebrated through drunkeness and debauchery. A day where it is actually encouraged for tempers to flare and fists to fly. I am a quarter Irish, so in honor of my heritage here is a list (in no particular order) of things that irritate me.

1. Mullets
2. When I can't tell if someone is male or female (a trait that should be obvious)
3. When I'm driving, everyone else angers me! (I'm working on this)
4. When people steal (not just possessions, but ideas too)
5. Laziness (as a lifestyle)
6. Abortion (really angers me)
7. Child abuse
8. Animal abuse
9. "Christians" who aren't (don't call yourself a Christian and blatantly disobey God, you either are or you aren't)
10. All the babyish Bush-bashing (I swear it's a fad; people think it's cool to hate Bush but their only reason is "Cause he's stupid". Wow, what profound logic for a political stance. It is fine to disagree but please have a legitimate argument. I could go on about this for hours.)

Okay, so somethings on the list anger me more than irritate but it really is a good composite. For some reason, this week has been an angry week but I'm not mad anymore. I have today off of school so I got to sleep-in, which probably calmed down my amygdala (the part of the brain responsible for anger).

In other news, I went to a planning meeting for the Christian Vet Fellowship group I'm in at school. I kind of ended up on the board, but I think this could be a great opportunity. I wasn't sure of the group's theology but we got a booklet at the meeting that outlined the beliefs and they are right on. This was a huge relief and I really enjoyed the fellowship. Not everyone who is in the group is a believer, but the president and vice-president are. Also, one of my anatomy professors, Dr. Cox, is a believer and he comes to the meetings as a faculty representative. It's great to know that I'm not alone. He is a hilarious guy. He graduated from vet school many years ago, and did his undergrad work at Cornell. He was telling me about how tough it was to date the Cornell girls. The meeting was held at the CVF president's apartment, and she made us dinner. We all brought something to contribute, but when Dr. Cox came he pulls out his old banana and apple from his lunch and sets it in the midst of the smorgousboard (sp?) of food! It was hilarious, but you really have to know him. Anywho, I'm glad to be in this group and am excited to see what God does.

Have a great St. Patrick's Day everyone!!!

I hate snow today

Hey stupid snow, guess what it's March!!! Mid-March!! We got like a foot of snow today, which made for a miserable day for most everyone. The silly vet school wouldn't cancel, but many of my collegues (yeah, that's we are called now) didn't come anyway. I would have gladly jumped on that bandwagon but I am on a fundraising committee that had to put on an exhibitor fair today. A couple exhibitors didn't come because of the carnage outside, but who can blame them? I am petsitting for a family and staying at their house. Last time I stayed at their house, I was able to keep my car in their garage. Not this time though because both of their cars are parked in it. Who would've thought I would have needed it though, since IT WAS 50 DEGREES when they left. So, of course, it snows without abandon. I got stuck backing out of their driveway, but by a miracle of God (really) I was able to get out and go on. The drive to school was TERRIBLE. I was already cross since I had this exhibitor fair so I would have to miss all my classes today. The snow really added insult to injury. The visibility was seriously about 20 feet, people were driving like blind monkeys on PCP, and several stop lights were broken. It took an hour and a half to get to school (usually it is 10 minutes). I had to park in the parking lot because the sides of the streets were too deep in snow, but those fat cats at the U who yoink all my money can't even plow their stupid parking lot. Well played Fat Cats, I know some people who want to be like you. So, I couldn't even get into the parking lot so someone had to push me in. Then I was stuck again. A nice guy and his wife helped push me, then I got stuck again, and they helped again. Finally, the guy dug out a parking spot for me and helped get my car in it. That was sooooo nice of them because I would have been stuck. The exhibitor fair was okay except that we were supposed to get 50 pizzas from Papa Johns to get people to come look at the booths. Papa John's didn't open because the manager went into the ditch on his way in. He didn't even call though and was very rude when one of the other committee members called him. People coming to the exhibitor fair were kind of presumptuous too, as they kept bugging us about the pizza. "Where's the pizza?" "When's it getting here?" Settle down, you bunch of hyenas. One lady, who was the size of me x 5 + a cow + the Kool Aid man /1 was really on the watch for the food. A couple of my committee members drove to another pizza place and got 30 pizzas, and the place delivered another 20 soon after. The first 30 pizzas were seriously gone in about 5 minutes. It was like watching piranas. After the fair, the roads were better but I got stuck going into my garage. The alley was plowed but that piled snow in front of the garage. Stupid, heavy, wet, slippery snow. I was stuck again, but luckily some neighbors came and helped me. I'm glad for all those nice people, but I am mad at snow. All the way to school today I shook my fist at it. I realized that shaking a fist really gives much more satisfaction than the finger, shaking the head, etc. Shaking a fist makes others respect you and has an aire of wisdom about it. A fist shaker can really inflict a sense of guilt on the shakee. What can you do when a fist is shaken at you? You just have to agree that you were wrong.

Bye bye spring break

Awwww peaches! My spring break is coming to an end. It was a good spring break. My Mom came to visit for a few days, and I played doggie-sitter for a sweet golden retriever mix. For school, we have to do two half days and a full day at a small animal vet clinic. I did a half day today. It was fun, but the clinic wasn't that busy. Also, I think the doctor who is in charge of me is scared to have me draw blood. I can do it, but I just need the practice. The scary thing about going to the clinic was that I AM GOING TO DO THIS IN THREE YEARS!!!! I talked with all the vets who worked at this clinic and we discussed some of their cases. I even understood some of what they were talking about. After that, I went and got a massage. It was scrumtrulescent. I would recommend to everyone to get a massage, even guys. So very excellent. Yes, very excellent. I miss my cats and they need to come home!!! P.S. My fish still isn't eating. How is he still alive?

Why it's hard to be a pimp

While watching the academy awards this past Sunday, the song "It's Hard out Here to be a Pimp" won an oscar. I'm so glad America is finally recognizing the struggles of pimps. I mean, how would you like it if some two-timing ho was holding out on you? You know, giving you crap about how she has five kids to feed so she can't pay up. I can't even imagine the difficulty of riding around in a velvet-interior caddie with a wicked sound system, dealing out ho after ho like a game of blackjack. Oh, and then there's whitey to deal with. How is a pimp supposed to make an honest living with all those cracker cops just waiting to bust out his gold teeth? Wake up America, the time is a quarter past "make me a sandwich %$&@*" and pimps are in.

Guest columnist

Hi everyone, I have a test tomorrow so I brought in a guest columnist to cover for me. Enjoy.

Well, I have reached day three of my hunger strike. The uncomely white homo sapien, who keeps me prisoner in this clear, convex orb, continues to try to force upon me brown betta fish pellets both day and night. Oh, beautiful brown pellets that will satisfy my hunger and "enhance my color" as the manufactuers say. Fools! Color as brilliant and positively awe-inspiring such as mine cannot be brought about by mere human-manufactured nonsense. I come from a long line of valiant warriors who fought courageously and true and for what? That their descendents should be become enslaved by the land-dwellers? I think not! I am aware of the fact that I am just one small voice in a small glass cage, but I must be true to my lineage and fight! I have endured imprisonment, renaming, humiliation, and racial slurs by my captor, yet I continue to hold on. Justice may not come in my time but it would be an insult to those who came before me if I gave in. I beg you, my brothers, hold on for our day will come.

Regards,
J. Octavian Bettalauian III