Dairy Barns

For the last three weeks I have been on break from school before summer classes start up. I quit my job here in Northfield because we are moving soon and it wasn't worth the pay and 3 hours per shift for a 30 minute drive. I'm still finding though things here and there to do to make some money until I can get a job in Burnsville.

My aunt and uncle own a company that builds and maintains milking parlors. My cousin usually goes an route with one of the guys there and helps him replace inflations/liners and deliver chemicals to lots of different dairy farms around the Rochester area. This past week though Alex was on a mission trip and my aunt and uncle needed some help. I told them that I would be more than happy to help them.

So for the last week I worked my butt off, sweated like crazy, built some muscles, and got lots of cow poop on me! I went on route with a guy named Tony who is in his 50's, delivering all kinds of chemicals to farms, and fixing and changing equipment in milking parlors. It was actually a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it. I was exhausted and sore at the end of each day, but it was nice.

I learned a lot about dairy farms, and even though I wasn't directly working with animals, it still dealt with the animal world and that makes me happy!

I would definitely do this job again if Karen and Mark need help in the future!

Biking

On Saturday Tony and I decided to put our bikes to good use and check out some of the local bike paths. We loaded the bikes onto the roof rack, grabbed our camelbaks, and off to Cannon Falls we went. The path we went on is called the Cannon Valley Trail. Most of it is under a canopy of trees so it's nice and shaded, and it goes from Cannon Falls, all the way to Red Wing. There wasn't a whole lot to look at while biking, but we did see a rattle snake.

I didn't even know that there were rattlesnakes in Minnesota. Some people had passed us on the trail and gave us a heads up to be careful because there was a snake on the path. By the time we got there another guy had stopped and in my opinion was antagonizing it. We slowed down, but didn't stop because it's rattler was going like crazy, and being bitten by a rattlesnake, on a path were paramedics can't really get to us easily didn't really sound like a good idea. It was cool looking though.

Tony's coworker also came with us and it was a lot of fun. We made it to Welch and rested for a bit. Welch is half way and it 10 miles from Cannon Falls. It was super humid out and about 87 degrees so we were kind of tired but still wanted to keep going. By mile 15 it was pretty slow going. I had run out of energy and wanted to be done..thank goodness there was only 4 more miles to go until Red Wing, but then there was the dilemma of do we ride back or find a ride in a car??

We stopped at some little German bar/grill/bowling alley and all had some super yummy burgers. Tony and his co-worker called another coworker who lives in Cannon Falls and she agreed to come get one of us. Tony went with her because his car is the one with the bike rack. They took one bike with them, and about an hour later, Tony was back for us!

That night and all the next day my legs hurt so bad. It was a lot of fun though, and Tony and I plan to do that trail a couple times a week!

Another quarter done!

Another quarter at school is done and that means I'm that much closer to graduation! I took 4 classes this time around, which means I was doing 15 credits. It wasn't so bad though, and it feels so good to know that I accomplished it!

The classes that I took were.....

Small Animal Nutrition and Nursing. I got a B on the final and got a B for a final grade.

Imaging - I got a B on the final and an A for a final grade

College Algebra - This class totally sucked , as I struggled with it a lot and had to enlist Tony's help quite often. I got a B on the final and a C for a final grade though.

Ant the final class - Film in Society - This class was the easier ever. All I had to do was watch a bunch of movies, and answer 4 questions about each movie. I got a B on the final and a B for a final grade!

So eat that 15 credits! I did it! I conquered it!

Now only 4 more quarters till graduation!

SOLD!

On Friday June 18 my house finally sold. It was on the market for 7 months. I know that isn't all that long, but when you're trying to sell before foreclosure happens, 7 months is a long time.

I had to do a short sale because I had lost my full time job and had no way to make anymore payments. I am so glad that this headache is over with and I can move on with my life!

I am so so so glad that this huge ball of stress is gone!!! Now it's time to rebuild my credit!

Beasley

This is Beasley. Beasley is the sweetest dog in the world! I am so in love with this little guy (Ok he's not so little I guess) Beasley has been in an animal shelter for about a year and has yet to be adopted.

I wish I would adopt him. I wish a lot of things...I wish that there was someone who would take him for me, be willing to keep him for a year and a half, and then when Tony and I have a house someday, let me take him back. That is a long ways away though and I don't know anyone who would be willing to do that for me.

The apartment that Tony and I are moving to only allows to pets and we already have Allis and Cloe. This is where I wish the situation was different. I love Cloe to death and am glad that I have her, but had Beasley come along first, I would have him and would never of even thought about getting another pug. Maybe that's bad to say, but what I mean is that at the time when I wanted a second dog, I didn't even know Beasley existed so I decided to get another pug because I liked Allis so much.

Sometimes life is so unfair for animals....I just hope that the shelter doesn't decide that because he's not being adopted that he needs to be put down, because at that point I would do anything to get him and keep him from that horrible end.

Volunteering at the zoo

I have realized that I haven't written yet about my zoo experience. Memorial day was the first day so there's isn't a ton to write about yet. What I can say though is that it's awesome!

Going to the zoo to see and learn about all the animals has always been a favorite thing of mine to do. This year though, now that I'm in school to be a veterinary technician, I decided that I would enjoy the zoo even more if I was volunteering. One area there that you can actually get hands on experience with the animals is at the farm. My first day there was Memorial day and I enjoyed it so much. There is quite the array of ages there too. Some volunteers are in their teens, like the ones I am with on Mondays are 15, 16, 19, then me 25, and then there is farmer Andy who is this sweet old man (90 years old to be exact) that shows up every day at the zoo summer winter fall and spring. That is one dedicated man!

My favorite part though is that I have complete freedom to take chickens out, go in the pig pen and pick up the pigglets...as long as they aren't squealing, milk goats, help with cow milking and so on. Now to me, I grew up in the suburbs so even though these are farm animals I LOVE THEM!!!!

I also have several opportunities all day long to chat with the zoo keepers, and help them with different tasks. I am sure that through out the summer I will be back here with many stories of my volunteering adventures!

Getting in shape!

Well I've decided that it's about time I get back into shape and fit into my bikini. Right now there is no way that could happen. Tony and I both have decided that we need more things to do together too that don't involve sitting on the couch watching t.v, so we decided on biking. Because of all the student loans I've taken out this year, and still having the house, I ended up with a very nice tax return, and treated myself to a new bike. It's a 2009 Cannondale F7. To many of you that means nothing and to tell you the truth it means nothing to me too, I just liked the color and it felt nice to ride so I bought it.


Here it is! My shiny new pretty blue baby!

Tony and I have been regularly going out for rides together and it's kicking my ass! I just keep telling myself that if I keep it up, it'll get easier. Tony used to be really into biking and even has the clip shoes. I am going to get some of those too once I'm more in shape.

So onward with the biking I go! Even though when I get home I'm exhausted, at least I feel good too!