I don't see nothing new, but I feel a lot of change

Something new I'm trying. Click me, I go with the title.

So... as I attempt to re-start (resurrect?) this failure of a blog, I ask to myself "Self, what's the point?"...

I really don't know. This is not a knitting blog (shoutout to knit-tastic cousin Annie). I do not craft. I don't cook particularly well. I am not devoted to any small children. The only thing that I am really any good at is veterinary medicine, and I think UC Davis could potentially fire me if I talk too much about my individual patients. (I will, however, say that I floated 3 mules' teeth today. For info on floating, see this video of someone else doing it). Though I have quite strong political/environmental convictions, I'm not very good at expressing them (thank you last 4 years of reading scientific papers and medical textbooks).

I do, however, like stuff. I mean I like the hell out of some stuff. And I usually have an internal soundtrack. Today's soundtrack was brought to you by the Traveling Wilburys, a supergroup comprised of Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison.

As for stuff I like: I really like this great band Among the Oak and Ash. Very Appalachia/folksy/Americana. The frontman is Josh Joplin. Check them out on the Mountain Stage on NPR. A note to my Republican readers: you will not turn into a socialist by watching a Mountain Stage broadcast. I can personally guarantee no liberal overtures in this concert.

I'm also really really liking my new LL Bean boots. I am firmly of the belief that cold feel are bad for the soul. Until recently, however, I was NOT of the belief that Northern California turned into a 6-inch-deep-mud-pit-puddle-ridden-crap-fest that could penetrate my poor beloved Ariat leather cowboy boots in under17 seconds. Everyone who spends any time outside should get these, they are amazing and warm and comfy. Here's a link to them featured in another blog I like, except this girl makes them part of a cute outfit. Order a size down.

Hope all 2 of my readers like the new format/theme.

I'm a long time traveling away from home

It's been a difficult 6 months. New place, new job, new friends (and old friends who have trouble with time zone math). New expectations. Apparently when I accepted my residency I was supposed to magically acquire a boatload of knowledge. This did not happen for me, so I am currently struggling through giant textbooks with bible thin pages and feeling like I'm running to stand still.

As always though, I am still finding time to read novels. "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" by David Wroblewski and "the Magicians" by Lev Grossman were both particularly good. Warning: "the Magicians" was quite gritty. Don't believe the review that compares it to Harry Potter- it's way more "Catcher in the Rye".

It's also been a particularly hard time for the family. It's strange calling it "family" when it's just the two of us. I try to put things into perspective and remember all I'm thankful for (dogs, Adam, Ellen for weeding the garden and helping me clean when that seemed so very important to me for some reason, everyone who came to the memorial service, sunsets on the sacramento river delta, foals). And I know when I see my dad again, it will be in a place like this:

which is far, far better than a wheel chair. But it's hard to stay in perspective all the time.

trying to re-start this whole thing. will do my best. stay tuned for updates.