The Gate to Hell

I keep getting more and more optimistic as the days drag on. My life is way too exciting and my time is too limited to share as I had in the past but here goes...

Friday morning at 2:45 AM, the dogs were going nuts. I would not have woken up without them. I got up and heard knocking and whispers, so I tiptoed to the kitchen.

I saw the burglar trying to get thru my bars and already had pried my door open! He was NOT scared of the dogs, as most locals are. (Foolish, because my dogs, without a doubt, would bite an intruder.) No doubt he intended to club the dogs to death if he'd gotten inside.

I was inches from him, but he did not see me. He gave up on my gate, and walked back to his buddy's van. I'm really glad I have burglar bars and a padlock on my door!

The van was a cream or white newish taxi type, and I could hear them talking. They sat there discussing the neighborhood and how long they thought it would take for someone to wake up. Then they saw my shadow in the window and said "There's a fellow, let's go, let's go." They drove away slowly.

When I started hearing the noises, I started calling Campus Security. I called and called and called, panicked that I couldn't get them to pick up. To make sure it wasn't my phone, I started calling the girls that live up and down my street, thus waking them up.

I called security for 30 minutes and could NOT get them to answer. The ONLY reason they came is because Mel made them. The burglars had gotten her window open about 15 minutes before I noticed that they'd come to my house.

Security would not check on anything. They actually stood there, next to the Ross vehicle, with their arms crossed staring at their feet. WTF!?!?! Then they called their security supervisor and handed me the phone. I told him I'd been trying to call for 30 minutes, he replied "That's not true." Like hell it's not.

The police came, and took a statement. Neither the police nor Campus Security would walk around the house to check on the property and other tenants, despite Mel and my pleading.

These two burglars were just testing to see how long it would take to alert me. They will be back.

My landlady has asked a really buff police friend of hers to stay with us because she's scared too. He's armed and a very good guy. Even Salty likes him! (And he loves her cuz she's mean.)

I've taken more security precautions, in addition to all the things I'd done before. I have a small pick axe that I now keep next to me, rather than in the kitchen, as I sleep. My mace is on my bedroom door rather than on my cable tv box. I put an additional window alarm (VERY loud) on my front door. It shrieks if the door is opened more than 1 inch. I made a sign for my door (pictured above) reminding potential burglars, in this overly religious society, that stealing is wrong. Someone suggested I get post an "Evil Eye" on my door to curse those that entered, so I did that. (I feel totally pathetic resorting to voodoo though!) I'll be picking up an air horn plus a round Master Lock (that can't be cut with bolt cutters) on Monday. And I made a snare on my burglar bars to catch the thief so I can hack him to bits with my pick axe.

75 days of school and 81 days left on island...

FOR SALE: 1994 Maroon Mitsubishi Sedan

Welcome to all who are unfamiliar with my blog!

I'm in 7th, so my car will be available at the end of the semester. It's been the absolute BEST car! Never left me stranded, which is SO amazing for a Ross-mobile. If I could put it in my suitcase and take it back to the states, I would.

When I got it, I knew that it had major problems (timing belt was about to go, no power steering, busted CV joint, etc), so the first thing I did was drive to the mechanic and get everything fixed! I'm a bit OCD and my dad is a mechanic himself, so I'm very "in-tune" to proper car care. The following are my expenses in US$ (with receipts):

Purchased 149,965 miles (Sept 2007) $1000 (hey, at least I'm honest)
Car Insurance (Sept 2007) $120
Timing belt, drive belts, engine mounts, tensoner, rack and pinion, air and oil filters (Sept 2007) $620
Recheck for Valve Seals (Oct 2007) $75
Inspection (Jan 2008) $10
Wheel Tax (Jan 2008) $120
Title Change (Jan 2008) $25
2 NEW Tires (May 2008) $160
Car Insurance (Sept 2008) $120
Oil Change (Dec 2008) $65
Tail Light Set (Jan 2009) $112
Inspection (Jan 2009) $10
Wheel Tax (Jan 2009) $120
NEW Battery (March 2009) $118
Brake Fluid (May 2009) $5
2 NEW Tires (May 2009) $110
Oil Change (July 2009) $65
Interior Detailing (July 2009) $15
Total Expenses ~153,600 miles $3075

With gas, I fill up 1x/mo, which gets me 175 miles for $20-50/fill-up (depending on gas prices). The tank can hold ~7gal of gas.

The best things about the car are that it starts reliably, the radiator doesn't leak, it doesn't burn oil, has 4 NEW tires, has a NEW battery, has 4 doors with working crank windows and 3 of the 4 doors lock, the lights work, comes with all sorts or car stuff (2 jacks, gas can, fluids, spare tire, etc) it runs very very well, and can make it over a mountain! I need to have the oil changed soon.

Problems: no A/C, no radio, left front door's handle is "tricky," you can't park on a hill, stalls out when you parallel park (but you just have to turn it back on so it's no biggie), and it's just not a "looker" (but you should not be superficial with a reliable running engine). I'll show you all its quirks.

Anyway, I'm not letting it go until the semester ends in AUGUST because I enjoy having a car (and will have to be on campus at all hours of day and night on a moment's notice). The reason I'm asking $2000 is because it is in excellent working condition, which is not how I purchased it. (He wanted $1500 for it, but it didn't even have power steering then, so I decided that I couldn't do that with the repairs I knew it would need.) If you do decide to buy it, then I'll take ½ of the purchase price as a non-refundable deposit until I hand it over. Thanks for looking!

Officially Coming Home!!!

My flight is booked! I have a timeline!

I return on Wednesday, August 19th:
Flight 2280 SKB (2:50 PM) to MIA (5:55 PM)
Flight 972 MIA (8:40 PM) to DFW (10:40 PM)

Now all I have to do if figure out how to get both dogs back. I'm having the same problem with Rudder as I did before he got here: his weight. He weighs 85 lbs now, without his crate, which weighs an additional 25 lbs. I'd rather if I didn't have to starve my poor dog for the flight. I investigated AmeriJet, but found out that their 'direct flight' actually overnights in San Juan and dogs have been lost for over 27 hours. Worse is that they've left dogs on the tarmac for over two hours while loading the plane. With the heat here at any time of the year, that is absolutely unacceptable for mid-day flight that costs ~$600US/dog. Delta accepts dogs up to 150lbs, but charges $300US, which isn't a bad option. Unfortunately their flights out of St Kitts are difficult to book because they require phone calls, making it very difficult to compare flight date, times, and prices. I'm going to try AA Cargo, and if that fails, then Rudder and Salty will be my checked luggage.

Mango, on the other hand, can ride in the plane. He's set with his little mesh carry-on. The girl that's moving into my apt said that she's interested in keeping him though. Another girl, who I gave some plants to, said she'd love to have him. She'll pick him up on Mid-Semester Break to try him out, and if they get along, I suppose she can have him. It would be safer than having him eaten by a coyote in Oklahoma when he demands to go exploring. Of course, if he is miserable with her, he will be coming to the states with me. Leaving Mango on the island means that never again will I step on a dead mouse on my doorstep in the morning or find a lizard on my soap in the shower. He's such a good orange cat.

Oklahoma State University

"Congratulations! You have been accepted for the September 2009 to September 2010 Clinical Year at Oklahoma State University."

As a bonus, a certain someone invited me to the Cotton Bowl to watch OU beat the hell outta tu in October! (Assuming OSU will let me go.)

My internet at the house isn't working, so I can't make any calls. Will be on campus most of the weekend to try to answer emails and study, but be prepared as my responses might be slow.

Here's other people so far (I will be adding to this list as time goes on):

Auburn: Katie B, Courtney, Kelli, Chris P, Mary D, Dan
Colorado State: Noah, Jon D, Ian
Cornell: Regis, Deana, Maria D
Florida: Alyson, Art, Jenni D, Christina, Kate G, Tricia, Kim, Anna
Illinois: Shannon, Laurie
Iowa State: Sarah D, Sheila
Louisiana State: Jossie, Nidhi, Angel, Juan, Payal
Michigan State: Melissa, Tim
Minnesota: Nicole
Missouri: Becky H, Liz G, Vanessa, Genevieve
North Carolina State: Jenn S, Adam S, Thada
Ohio State: Stephanie
Oklahoma State: me, Crystal, Hannah, Missy, Jennifer L, Stephanie B, Brian, Corine, Denise, KP
Oregon State: David
U Penn: Renee, Kristen W
Purdue: Brooke, Tracy, Liz R, Adam P, Misty, Chanelle
Texas A&M: Anna B, Midge, Justin, Adam C, Jeneal, Tiffany
Tufts: Becky F
Virginia Tech: Joe, Bora, Andrew
Washington State: Julie B
Wisconsin: Kate N

There are 75 people in my class.
Last name's are listed on Dr Wallace's webpage.

Clinical Placement Request

This is what wrote (max of 50 words):

Cornell has an excellent poultry disease research facility; I intend on becoming a research-oriented poultry veterinarian.

CSU has premiere equine facility, a primary interest.

OSU/TAMU are close to family (Dallas, TX) and my SO (Norman, OK); also have the cheapest horse boarding.

Thank you.

I have no idea where they'll send me. I find out on Friday.

Thank you all for voting! Here are the results from the 27 people who took park in my poll:

Auburn 2 (7%)
Colorado State 6 (22%)
Cornell 8 (29%)
Florida 4 (14%)
Illinois 0 (0%)
Iowa State 0 (0%)
Louisiana State 4 (14%)
Michigan State 0 (0%)
Minnesota 2 (7%)
Missouri 2 (7%)
North Carolina State 5 (18%)
Ohio State 2 (7%)
Oklahoma State 11 (40%)
Oregon State 3 (11%)
U Penn 3 (11%)
Purdue 2 (7%)
Texas A&M 15 (55%)
Tufts 1 (3%)
Virginia Tech 4 (14%)
Washington State 0 (0%)
Wisconsin 0 (0%)

Meanwhile, our rotations started today; my first one was Bovine. Two cows vomited (projectile) all over me. Rest assured, I smell lovely. Still prefer large animals to being trapped in the clinic!

Clinics???

The last semester of school starts tomorrow!!! I'm so excited! (We get a donkey!)

I have no idea where to go for clinics and have less than a week to decide! If you haven't voted already, the poll is to the left of this entry. Click your top 3 picks to help me choose where to go! If you want to tell me your reasoning to help me decide, make a comment below!

Thanks a bunch! :o)