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THIS is a Great Idea

Sunday, December 23rd, 2012

Our theme for the Gentle Doctor holiday party was Masquerade. “Christmas already has a theme,” I whined. “Why can’t our theme be Baby Jesus?”

“NO, ” Shelly said. “Sit down and hot glue these feathers onto these masks.” So I did. Shelly put them together with fishbowls and light sticks and things and used them for the centerpieces, which were absolutely gorgeous. Shelly is awesome at things like that.

Russ and I decided that since the theme was creepy, we would go all out and make our masks as creepy as possible. Here they are. When I quit whining about the theme, we had a very fun time making them. I really liked how they turned out. Also, I got rid of them as soon as possible, because having them in my house was making me cry.

As we did last year (Theme – Hats!), we had a very fun party. I was a very good sport. Actually, I was not. I walked into the party room and said, “Can I take off this mask?” and Pete, being a kind and benevolent boss, laughed and said, “yeah.” Then we had a very fun evening with some of our very favorite people.

~THE END~

Coming soon…the remainder of my (non-creepy) pictures from the season…

It just seemed fitting the masks should stand alone, being a bit darker-themed than Peanut Baby Jesus and the Purple Christmas Tree and all!

Posted in Thoughts, What I am Doing This Week, WITW does this have to do with pets? | No Comments »

Most of my Friends are Real

Saturday, December 15th, 2012

Last weekend our family took a road trip to the Kansas City area for a Oxbow Animal Health sponsored small mammal veterinary conference.

Is there anything about that sentence that you do NOT love??  ME NEITHER!!

Story #1

We arrived at the Crown Center Mall, and I remembered that it was Christmas time in Kansas City and remembered also that I do not like being crowded.  So Russ, having been in that exact situation with me many times (me whispering, “I didn’t realize it would be so crowded, and I just remembered I don’t like being crowded!”) directed us to the one uncrowded corner of the entire mall, which had this awesome gingerbread village in it!

How was that spot not crowded??  It was one of the coolest things I have ever seen!  I said as much on Facebook, and Brendan Howard, who I think lives somewhere near the gingerbread village but was in California bossing people at The Central Veterinary Conference, said, “Why are you visiting KC when I am not there?” even though he had JUST done that to ME by visiting Omaha over Thanksgiving when I was not home.  I said I would stand still while we tried to end up in the same city, but I got distracted by the Crayola Store and wandered off.  It happens.  Also, I got a new coloring book.

Story #2

That evening, our family went to dinner with Dr. JC Burcham and her family.  Dr. Burcham is a veterinarian at Mariposa Veterinary Wellness Center, and we have been friends online for a few years.  We both like writing, reading and pets, including the weird ones, so that has been fun.  I finally got to meet my friend, who up until that very moment, I had no proof was even real.  She is.  And as nice as I suspected.  So is her family.  THAT was my favorite part of the whole trip.

Story #3

I was drunk with the anticipation of our next adventure.  I had not actually had any alcohol at dinner, but we had just spent the evening with wonderful people, there was a tiny bit of snow swirling in the parking lot outside of the restaurant and we were going to look at CHRISTMAS LIGHTS!  That combination has the same effect on me as alcohol.

So I was in a pretty good mood and feeling a bit more extroverted than normal when we came to a yard filled completely with PENGUINS.  I HAD to show my brother.  I HAD to show the author of the awesome blog, I Miss You When I Blink.  So I did.

And SHE asked, “Do you know anyone who would be a good date for Liam?” perhaps assuming from my pictures that I knew hundreds of penguins, which I actually do not.  But I found this cute penguin, and from what I have heard, she and Liam may hit it off.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE CUTE PENGUIN!

If you are keeping track, Story #3 includes:  my brother Dave, who I know is real, the wildly creative author of a very fun blog, who I assume is real but cannot prove, a cartoon penguin and a real penguin, who may or may not be dating.  Most of my friends, as far as I know, are real.

Story #4

Sunday Russ and the girls went shopping and I did the OPPOSITE of shopping on the fun scale, went to the Oxbow Animal Health small mammal veterinary conference.  In case you are not as in love with guinea pigs and bunnies and things as I am, and as out of love with shopping as I am, I will say that I got the good side of the fun scale.  Our girls think they did because they were shopping with Dad all day.  Russ knows that he did not.  hahaha

Dr. JC Burcham and I got to sit together at the meeting.  I tweeted things like “I am with Dr. Burcham at this conference!” and drew cartoons of hamsters with IV catheters, which one of the presenters said was actually possible, and I found amusing, and JC learned important things.  So between us, we picked up some good information.

I met some other veterinarians and caught up with Dr. Micah Kohles, the Oxbow veterinarian, and got to say hi to the other two Omaha veterinarians there.  You would think there would be one hundred twenty Omaha veterinarians there, wouldn’t you?  They were talking about bunnies for goodness’ sake!  Weird.  But nonetheless, very, very fun.

All in all, my favorite weekend of the Christmas season so far.

Happy Holidays to you and yours.

May your life be filled to the top with friends of every kind.

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Posted in Exotic Pets, Thoughts, What I am Doing This Week, WITW does this have to do with pets? | 6 Comments »

The Stuff that Russ Built

Friday, November 2nd, 2012

Russ is my husband, and he is a really good carpenter.  Here are some things that he has built.  I think they are pretty. It is fun when my cases and his projects intersect, like when a dog patient needs a fence, or a kitty patient needs a scratching post, or an arthritic patient needs a ramp or stairs.

If you would like Russ to build you a thing, call him at 402-218-3472.

This is the roof of my parents’ gazebo. I think it is as pretty from the inside as it is from the outside.

This is the deck Russ built for our friends Dawn and Cory. Dawn traded Russ for piano lessons for our girls, so everyone won!

This kid is so cute! He kept asking “Whatcha doing Russell?” His Mom took this picture of him watching Russ build their pergola.

Here are before and after pictures of Dr. McIlnay’s deck. Dr. McIlnay is Omaha’s veterinary ophthalmologist.

Another friend’s new deck. Building decks is Russ’ favorite. I think they always turn out so pretty! Notice the giant dog sized ramp on the left side of the deck for one of my favorite patients ever, Moby.

My parents’ gazebo – my favorite place in the world!

Maybe the Wheelers have trash like normal folks, and maybe they just have a beautiful gated fence!

This is at Russ’ parents’ cabin near Valley, Nebraska. Isn’t the lake beautiful?? Russ built the deck and the “kid-sized” picnic table.

Access ramp at our church. TONS of kids tromp up and down this all week, so it has to be safe!

Double Decker Deck!

It is so peaceful on Mom and Dad’s deck. This was one of Russ’ first projects in Omaha, which he did with a very nice carpenter named Tom.

Russ built this teepee so I could grow Morning Glories and Runner Beans. It also served as a good tea party headquarters when the girls were younger :)

Russ has built me 300-and-counting 1 foot squares for our Square Foot Garden and the fence behind it…

…And Three Squares for Max!

Russ built the fence around our church community garden and the Square Foot grid and teepee on our plot. God grew the plants :)

Russ’ parents dogs safe behind their new fence!

This is a picture of Joy the Puppy on Day One over three years ago! She STILL loves to help Russ build stuff!

See? Here is Joy the Puppy RIGHT NOW with Russ at his parents’ neighbor’s home, building a fence for HIS Lab puppy!

Those are some of my favorite pictures of the things Russ has built.  He does free estimates and also does interior work.  I know this is early to mention, but he and Joy want you to know…They are not afraid of snow!  If he is building your deck or fence in a snowstorm, do not worry – I will bring him hot chocolate!

Thank you friends and family who have supported Russ in his new full time construction business.  We thought it would be a scary step to go out “on our own” but because of you it has been very fun and rewarding!

To ALL of our friends and family and all my awesome readers, please call Russ if you have projects you would like him to help you with.  He is ALWAYS available to advise, will ALWAYS give free estimates, and if it is a project he does not do, he ALWAYS knows the best person for the job.

Russell Finch Construction

402-218-3472

More Great Pictures on Facebook…

Russell Finch Construction Fan Page 

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Posted in Thoughts, Walking Around Omaha, WITW does this have to do with pets? | 4 Comments »

Happy Anniversary, Us

Saturday, September 22nd, 2012

Not US, that is in June.

We had ten year old girls spend the night last night and they were sugared, caffinated and completely wound up.  I closed our bedroom door at 2 am because I could not sleep.  It muffled the chaos but did not silence it.  I must have slept some because we woke up four hours after I shut the door realizing Max the Cat had peed on our bed.  I suppose it seemed like the second best option since he could not get out to get to his litter box.  Do not judge him too harshly – It is only the second time in two decades that he has done that.  I am up (and showered, laundry running – not by choice).  And the kids are STILL wound up and yelling.

Remember when Jodi said this?

“Any day you can say, ‘At least no one peed on me,’ is a good day.”

Even so, today I woke up in a good mood.  Today is a good day.

I have been officially working at Gentle Doctor Animal Hospitals for one year today.  It is my favorite job I have ever had.  (Dr. Munger – working at Companion Animal Veterinary Hospital is ALSO my favorite job I have ever had.  Yeah, it’s that good.)

One year and ten days ago, I called Dr. Bashara and asked if I could come work with him.  I called three hospitals, including one where a classmate works.  Her boss offered me a job too.  I knew it was a great hospital also, and I would love working there with her.  I said, “Anne I really think I would love working at Gentle Doctor.”  She said, “I know Pete.  I really think you would too.”  We were right.  I told Pete during a working interview before he offered me a job that I would like to retire from his company.

Do you see all the extroversion in this story so far?  All of what is for me reckless, crazy, dangerous behavior??  Pete, if you are online reading this :) stop here.  I don’t want you to know that…

I was desperate.  I was wounded.  I was done with working in veterinary medicine.  I told Russ that I was going to call the three hospitals I knew from growing up in Omaha were awesome, follow through wherever that led, and then basically come home, curl up and recover.  Then start over in a new direction.

I am so glad I was wrong.  I was also wrong about there being only three hospitals in Omaha that are awesome.  There are way more.  Apparently, it is the norm in veterinary medicine?  Now I remember!  I did start over in a new direction, but it is within the career and calling that I love.

I know things could change.  I know I may not retire from this hospital.  I hope it lasts, and things are truly great here, but no matter what, my love of veterinary medicine and my faith in leadership have been restored.  And for me, that is huge.

I know (as you may recall, I needed to remind myself at the beginning of this year) that James said THIS…

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”  James 4:13-14

But remember too that Jesus said THIS…

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.  Matthew 6:34

Thank you friends and family.  Even good stress is stressful, and you have walked right beside me through all the emotions of this past year.  Thank you coworkers.  I love working with you, and you have become dear friends (yeah, you!)  Thank you clients for coming with me, and thank you new clients for making me feel like I have been here forever.  It’s been a good year.

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Posted in Thoughts, What I am Doing This Week, WITW does this have to do with pets? | 8 Comments »

Animal Practice

Thursday, August 16th, 2012

I liked it.

I think it will be a funny show.

Here is a link to the The Animal Practice Website.

You can watch the first episode from there if you want.  If you do, or if you have seen it, let me know what you think.

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How Are You?

Thursday, June 21st, 2012

Dr. Phil Zeltzman DVM, DACVS, CVJ recently wrote an article for ImproMed titled “How is Your Attitude When You Show Up for Work?”

While I agreed with his main point – of course we should have a good attitude – I disagree with what he said about asking and answering “How are you?”

The sad truth is, most people don’t really care how you’re doing when they pop the question. It’s a habit, a ritual, a social convention, rarely a true invitation for you to share your misery.  So at the very least, if you’re having a bad day, fake it. Say something non-committal like “Good, thank you, and you?” or “I’m fine, thanks, how are you?”

NOOOOOOO!

If you ask such an intimate and personal question as “How are you?” you had better be ready for the whole story.  If you do not want to know, do not ask.

Is it wrong to say “fine”?  Absolutely not.  You may need an opt-out answer.  And sometimes we really are fine.

Perhaps we need safer greeting options.  If we want our greeting to serve only as a morale booster, we should nod and say “hey” with a smile.  Or wave on our way past the front desk.  Or something.

But I think we should be checking in with each other, really asking “How are you?” and letting our coworkers decide how much they would like to share.

It is a dangerous question, and yet one worth asking.  Whether the interaction is going to be a kind exchange of pleasantries, a door to a deep unveiling or something in between should be completely at the  discretion of the one asked.

This is a tough career, people.  We have difficult cases.  We have clients who need us.  We have patients we love who insist on being mortal.  We have Life.  We need to be looking out for each other.  Be brave.  Ask the question.  Be braver still and answer.  Your team needs you, and you need them too.  It is a question worth asking with empathy and worth answering with honesty.  We are far more likely to reach and maintain a good attitude by taking care of each other than by faking our way through a difficult day alone.

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Posted in Thoughts, What I am Doing This Week, What I am Reading This Week, WITW does this have to do with pets?, Written for Vets...Now Available for Normal Pe | 4 Comments »

Panties and a Positive Outlook

Sunday, June 10th, 2012

At work we dedicated a small corner of the white board at each location to a “Positivity Corner.”  Team members can add to the list of random things that make us happy, mostly work related, but anything goes.  I post our lists on twitter.

The Positivity Corner was fun but  was eventually erased at two of the three locations.

At the third location, every morning, a team member volunteers a (ahem) verbal description of their underwear pattern and we use that for the border of the Positivity Corner.

We are all so amused with ourselves that I truly believe that as valuable as a positive outlook is in and of itself, the last Positivity Corner standing has survived the longest because we just thought we were hilarious.

Sometimes the mortality and morbidity inherent in our veterinary career needs to be balanced with a positive outlook, and sometimes getting through the day takes a little bit more.

Only on Riley and James people.

True story.




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Congratulations Dr. McIlnay!

Wednesday, May 30th, 2012

Dr. Tonya McIlnay, Omaha’s wonderful veterinary ophthalmologist and her equally wonderful team, moved into a new building recently and had their Open House tonight.

Remember when I went to the Farmers’ Market and I saw a dog and Vernon said (paraphrase) “It is going to be alright” and then it was? I again walked into a crowd On Purpose tonight and again it turned out just fine.

In fact, it was a very fun evening.  A hug from Dr. McIlnay right as I walked in the door and a tour from Jen and Shelly (MY coworkers, who were just being nice because they know how much I unlove crowds) is equally comforting as seeing a dog and having Vernon say everything will be okay.

Jen and Shelly - Thank you both! I think you are great.

Anyways, I am a grown up now.  I join crowds.  Because so many of my Favorites were there.  And I like Dr. McIlnay so much.  And her new hospital is really nice.  I would not have wanted to miss THAT.

So here are some pictures.  I forgot to get a picture of Dr. McIlnay’s vet tech, Susie, and my coworker Dr. Kanne, who are also my Favorites.  The pictures also do not do the beautiful building justice.  I bet if you called ahead and were super nice, they would give you a tour sometime.  It really is great.

Whitney, Trey and Becky, more awesome Gentle Doctor coworkers

Allison and Rhea, MORE awesome Gentle Doctor coworkers

Angie and Erin, still MORE awesome Gentle Doctor coworkers

Amanda, yet another awesome Gentle Doctor coworker

Pastor Mark and Pastor Wenda - They stayed after the Open House to offer a blessing for the new location and pray for Dr. McIlnay and her team. How cool is that?? I know! Very!

Pastor Wenda and Shawn McIlnay, Dr. McIlnay's husband who is AS NICE as his wife!

Dr. McIlnay and Dr. Backlund, another very nice Omaha veterinarian

May your pets never have problems with their eyeballs.  But if they do, may they be blessed with Dr. McIlnay as their doctor.



 

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Happy Memorial Day and…Squirrel!

Monday, May 28th, 2012

Happy Memorial Day to you and your families.

THANK YOU to the men and women of the United States military who have kept and continue to keep us safe and protect our country. Thank you Dad and Dad-Finch.  Thank you Grandpa Rasmussen and Grandpa Everingham.

 

View Down Our Street Where Flags are Lined Up Three Times a Year

I love our neighborhood.  Reason #93 (or so :)) – The neighbors who have lived here since the homes were built in the mid 1940’s put a small flag out for every neighbor who wants one every Memorial Day, Independence Day and Veteran’s Day.

This year, Russ and I helped.  We also put a flag in the yard of the new bike shop on the corner to say, “Happy Memorial Day.  We are so glad you are here and hope you feel like a part of the neighborhood.”  The shop owner drove by and waved, which I think meant, “That is exactly what I thought you meant, and thank you.”

Here are some pictures from the week…

 

Robins' Nest that Abby Found at the Park Near My Work

Baby Gizmo - Puppy at Our Neighbors' Movie Party - Doesn't she look like Joy??

Tucker Dog at Movie Night

Oscar Dog at Movie Night

Baby Gizmo and Tucker Dog are new friends.  Oscar Dog and I are old friends.  His family is Jeff and Lu and their son and their cat – five of my very favorites in the whole world.  Oscar and Henny Penny Cat are also patients, something, surprisingly, they have never held against me.

Squirrel! Black Squirrel playing on our fence

I commented from the Aksarben Farmers’ Market yesterday that if I can focus on the babies or dogs in a crowd, I can relax.  Otherwise, I get antsy, and I need to be at the edge of a crowd if possible.  Vernon asked if I have a social anxiety disorder, and I said I probably do, though it has never been formally diagnosed.  I do okay though.

On a related note, Lu laughed that all of my pictures from Movie Night were of the dogs.  But I otherwise acted Almost Normal.  I love people!  Just more than a few strangers at a time gets overwhelming!  I spent much of the evening talking with a friend of Lu’s who raises African Tortoises (How cool is that??) and also Gizmo’s Mom, who it turns out, loves super cute black Lab Something puppies as much as I do.

Pictures from Work…

These pictures are from the @GentleDoctor120 twitter account. Dr. Bashara let me start it for the team, and it is very fun.  Because Dr. Krapfl and Angie are also involved, there is helpful medical information in the twitter stream as well!

This is Trudy, the Super Cute doggy of my coworker Koni

This is on the white board at work.  Every day we add things and every day we change the border.  Fun!

Positivity Corner

Here are a few pictures from my parents’ backyard. Have you ever seen anything more beautiful??

Everything I know about fish medicine, I learned from helping Dad with this pond

This is what Mom and Dad do when they find out a ground hog is living under the shed. You see why I am the way I am?? They named him "G" which Dad and I both find hilarious.

This is the view that would be lost if the field behind Mom and Dad's is developed, which may occur soon. To the right of the picture is my high school Millard North.

Websites I am Reading this Week…

I Miss You When I Blink

Thank you Dr. Roark!

The Bloggess

Dr. Grumpy in the House

Veterinarians Behaving Badly

New Games I Have Found…

Logo Quiz

(Thank you African Tortoise Farmer!)

Draw Something

How sweet is Russ? :)

I would have added you to my Draw Something group if I knew how.  I think I am “Finch93” if you would like to play with me.  It is super fun!

Happy Memorial Day!


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Posted in Thoughts, Walking Around Omaha, What I am Doing This Week, What I am Reading This Week, WITW does this have to do with pets? | 5 Comments »

Happy Birthday!

Thursday, May 10th, 2012

Happy Birthday to my awesome husband, Russ…

*whispering* He is forty!

and to our equally awesome cat, Max the Cat…

*YELLING* HAPPY SWEET SIXTEEN MAX!

*smooch!*

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