Since I've been off clinics, I've caught up on a boatload of records, sorted out some research and ACVIM case report details and basically gotten my academic life in order.
A classic American novel that is a classic for a reason. Beautiful prose, a dark tortured captain unflinchingly seizing his destiny with both hands, and a DIY how to slaughter a sperm whale chapter; who could ask for more?
This post is an attempt at a break from equine herpes virus stress world and a throwback to when I had a life outside of the VMTH.
I am in love with the Chris Robinson Brotherhood. It's composed of about half of the members of the Black Crowes and is folk/rock/jam band tastic. I have seen them twice at Harlow's in Sacramento with Adam and some of my resident mates and they have totally rocked it both times. It helps that the venue at Harlow's is small and intimate. Though as Chris Robinson pointed out, the decor is reminiscent of a cruise ship.
My absolute favorite song of theirs is "Tulsa Yesterday" though "the Last Place That Love Lives" (technically a Black Crowes song) is a close second.
Youtube or various pirate sites are the best places to find their music: no CD/tracks released yet.
As for books, I am waist deep in Moby Dick. The beautiful prose is still a fair trade-off for the fairly monotonous essays about various aspects of the whale (including 3 chapters on whale representations in art throughout history)but I've been reading approximately 1-2 pages a day before falling into a sleep-coma. Though I am now fairly certain I could butcher a sperm whale with the help of Melville's DIY chapter if it ever came down to it.
PS- I definitely don't mean to sound bitter about my job; this is what I signed up for. What a learning experience. Some people go their whole careers without seeing a case of neurologic EHV-1, and I have 4. And in the past 3 weeks I've done 4 LS taps, 3 AO taps, put 3 horses in slings, and did a BAL and TTW on a respiratory case. But I could use some sleep, and when I am working on 8 hours of sleep in 3 days I find it harder to suffer fools.
Isn't it crazy how small someone can make you feel? How stupid and insignificant? Even when you know that you are right?
I had an argument with a resident in another department about my treatment of a peri-parturient hemorrhage mare. Though I did everything right, and the mare survived and is doing amazingly well, somehow this woman has made me feel stupid in her self-righteous declaration of what I should have done. All of her suggestions could have endangered the life of the mare, and were actually contraindicated. I tried to explain this without making her look stupid (we were in front of students and I didn't want to be as unprofessional as she)but now I wish I would have better held my ground.
I am a non-confrontational person by nature, but I need to stand up for myself more.
And after 6 emergencies on Sunday and a jam-packed first day back on in-house medicine, I'm exhausted.
I'm not really a rose fan. They are lovely as cut flowers and all, but there are others I prefer. And as part of a flower garden, they require a lot of effort and pesticides and rose food and such that in my opinion is really not worth it. However, the mint green 50s style house Adam and I are renting has a whole bunch of roses.
And now that I am basically responsible for these roses I feel like I should do my best to take care of them-mostly because I am afraid the old lady who lived here all her life would likely haunt us if I let them die. Which left me with a dilemma- how do I get rid of aphids and black spot without using pesticides? Surprisingly, it was inexpensive and super easy. I found these recipes on a website about organic gardening:
Against aphids and whiteflies:Garlic Oil Spray
10-15 cloves of minced garlic 2 tbsp. mineral oil 600 ml water 1 tsp. liquid dish soap Soak garlic in mineral oil for 24 hours. Strain garlic out and add 600 ml water and 1 tsp. liquid dish soap. Mix thoroughly and spray rose plants with the solution. This solution will also kill spider mites and whiteflies.
Fungicide for Mildew and Black Spot 1 tsp. baking soda 1 liter water 1 tsp. soap flakes (I used organic goat soap given to me by one of my clients) Dissolve baking soda in 1 liter of warm water. Add soap flakes to help solution cling to leaves. Remove infected leaves from plant and then spray top and bottom of remaining leaf surfaces to control spread of the disease.
Only apply these sprays every 5-7 days.
Both of these sprays worked really well after just one application! You may be asking yourself why I care about not using pesticides- I have lots of reasons, but here's one of them. Mostly I just don't believe in screwing with the environment so I can look at pretty flowers. Try it out and let me know what you think.
It's been busy in the Equine Field Service office! Or more correctly, in the giant diesel Chevy that is my mobile office. Why, you ask? It's foal season! Here are some of the kid things I've been dealing with recently:
All currently happy and healthy! Doesn't get much better than that!
In other news, Adam and I are spending my last weekend off before 7 or so weeks of work/on call in Carmel. And now a job for you, loyal readers: any favorite places to visit/restaurants that can't be missed/hiking trails/scenic views that you recommend?
"But yield who will to their separation,
My object in living is to unite
My avocation and my vocation
As my two eyes make one in sight.
Only where love and need are one,
And the work is play for mortal stakes,
Is the deed ever really done
For Heaven and the future's sakes."
Moby-Dick or, The Whale by Herman Melville
