I have been busy with work or too tired to write a blog lately. But, I am finally found time to update everyone. My work is going very well. I assisted in CPR of an animal, but that story ended sadly. Sometimes it is hard to keep up with all the paperwork, but somehow I am able to get everything done before the end of my shift. I am getting to know my coworkers and become friends with them. Because next monday is Memorial Day and I am working I will get time and half. So more money is always nice:)
I do really enjoy that fact that I only work three days out of a 7 day week. In June, though, I will be working fri-sun so I won't have any weekends free. But, I will be able to check out more college-age groups because I haven't be able to check them out this month just do to schedule conflicts. We haven't found one that works with both our schedules that we both really like.
The weather is great up here. It has been mostly in the 60's during the day and in the 40s at night-but we haven't had much night. The sun rises about 4am and is setting close to 11-11:30pm. Next month during the summer solstice the sun will not set. It is called the longest weekend of the year. After that point the length of sunlight will decrease until the winter solstice when we won't get sunlight for a while. So, with all this sunlight, sleeping at night really has not been a problem for me on the nights I dont work. Because I sleep during the day on those days, the sunlight doesn't bother me. Sometimes I do have a problem waking up and having a problem going back to sleep because I have been awake during those times before on previous nights. But, I have found a way to help that problem so i am getting enough sleep on the nights I am not working and enough sleep during the day when I am working. I am studying for my national exam for my vet tech license. I should be able to take the test in July. I think I will get a pay raise after I get my license. I am ready to take it and that will be the last test in this area for awhile.
I am looking for  a car, furniture for our apartment, and a desk and a bookshelf for my bedroom. I am waiting for the best deal on everything, and gathering up the money for those things.  I want to be wise and use my money wisely.
Life is going well and everything will fall into place.

A Week of Many Firsts

This week at work I had lots of firsts. I helped/assisted in a c-section on a yorkshire terrier. I rubbed the puppies. She had three puppies-2males and 1 female. I rubbed and suctioned until the puppies were whining and squirming around. Everything went well, and about a hour or so after the surgery which included a spay-the whole happy, healthy family went home. It is good when the story has a happy ending.The next night, I helped assist the doctor with porcupine quill removal. It was a very scary sight. I wish I took some pictures, but I didn't have a camera. But, the dog tried to eat the procupine, because the whole roof of the dog's mouth, the lower jaw, all the lips, and the tongue were covered. I was so scared to intubate the animal because I was afraid of pushing a quill down as I pushing the tube down. I couldn't see pass the quills down the throat, so the doctor having done lots of quill removals, intubated the dog. It took the doctor about a hour and half the get all of them out, and she couldn't get all of them out to prevent further tissue damage. But, the dog did well. He went home later on in the morning. That same night, we also did an anal gland abscess cleanse and drainage on a cat, and we bandaged a golden reterievers pads which were torn. So, we were pretty busy that night. On tuesday night, my boss let me and other tech use her cats as "pin cushions." We placed catheters, drew blood, and attempted to do a cystocentesis(place a needle through the skin directly in the urinary bladder). I learned how to work the ultrasound and position the scope. Then, I tried to poke the needle in, but I couldn't hit the bladder. But, it was fun to see the bladder on the screen, plus we got to see the arteries pulse on the screen. My work week went well this week.
Tommorrow, I am checking out a big festival/ market thing downtown while Graham is at work.
Next friday, me and Graham are going to check out the midnight showing of the new Pirates of the Carribean. Things are going well. Our favorite store, Fred Meyer, which we can walk to has been having a super big sale this week. So we have gotten several things a great sales prices.
I am going to check out some more college groups next week on my days off so hopefully we can meet some new people.

I know it has been a little while since my last post. So, heres the update so far. We have moved into our new apartment last friday. We really like it. It is in a good neighborhood in the good part of town. We went to church last sunday and the pastor gave us a air mattress and a pad to use since we were sleeping on the floor until we could find our own beds. The pastor also gave us two chairs and a table. They are in good quality and pretty nice. Then the next day, another member of the church gave us a microwave, and gave me a queen-sized mattress and boxspring with sheets, and a dresser. I was thinking to myself that this week I was going to the store and get some more pairs of scrubs, but the God provided me with two free pairs. My boss gave me two pairs of official work scrubs that have the office logo on them. SO now, I have almost enough scrubs to get me through 2 weeks of work. That way, I don't have to do laundry every week after only working three days. We had to wait until wednesday to get our mailbox key so I could pick up my debit card from the new bank account I opened. So yesterday, Graham and I went to Fred Meyer and went shopping. I got mixing bowls with lids(which I am excited about!), cookie sheets, other small kitchen things, plus- we were able to get groceries to fill up our cabinets. Oh, and speaking of cabinets, There are some many cabinets in the kitchen that I am actually having a hard time figuring out where I want to put everything. I was able to go back today and find a few more things on sale and some even on clearance. I found some really cute dish towels a small tv tray, and a small bath rug all on sale. I stopped by Safeway and found a toaster, and ice trays on sale too!
On sunday, we stopped by a thrift store and found a nice older tube tv for a good price so we got that. But we are looking for a flat screen but that will be after we get more on our feet.
We are still need of a couch, tables, lamps, and other furniture, but we are slowly getting that. We are in no real rush.
We did get our internet, cable, and home phone service up and running on Monday so it is nice. I found a home phone at a thrift store a few weeks so we are able to take advance of all the services.
 At the same thrift store Graham found a working Nintendo 64 with a remote, and a Playstation with a remote. Then, he found a game for the playstation at another store we checked out. He was really excited!

Last week, we went hiking along the Turnagain trail. It was really nice day, and it was a nice hike. We got some really good views of the mountains and the ocean. It is called Turnagain because it is where Capt Cook the explorer tried to get through, but had to "turnagain," to turn around.

I started working nights on sunday. It is an adjustment, but I actually kinda like it. It slows down and there are not people and animals running around like crazy. It is kinda nice. I can practice all my techniques for the procedures and not feel like I am in a rush. I can learn from the doctors and the other technique in a more relaxed way. I am not stuck on nights for the rest of my work career with this office.

Graham was able to start working at Office Depot today after a long wait on a background check was delayed in getting here. So, he is pleased to be working again and be able to have a paycheck again.

I think that is everything, so heres a few pictures

I am still enjoying my job. It is an adjustment to get used to working 12-hour shifts, but I am slowly getting there. I like everyone there and I am getting to know them. We are getting along. I am going to be moving onto night shift within the next month or so. It is going to take a little while to get use to working 9p-9a, but I can do it. It is also let me have alittle bit more "set" schedule. I will work three days in a row and have four days off. Right now, I have been spread out since I am new and still in training. But, everything with my job is going great.

Graham and I have explored downtown Anchorage over the last week or so. It is pretty cool. There are lot of neat shops and stores. We were even able to go see the coast. Right now, it is mostly ice. It doesn't look very picture worthy. But we plan on going back once all the ice has melted and the trees are green. We went down to the coast today, and I touched to water. It is really cold! I did find two rocks that look really close to a kidney beans. Graham found a rock that is totally smooth and round. I also found these really tiny pine cones. I will get pictures of these up soon. We found a really nice ice cream shop that we both liked.

Last week, we checked out two different college/young adult groups. We really liked one and plan on going back next week. It reminded me alot of the NCC group. There was a great pastor who is the leader. Everyone was genuine and there was a tangible sense of welcoming and unity. I had to work this week the night that they meet. The other one we checked out, we really did not like. It was just terrible-There was no leadership or even unity within the group itself. We were extremely uncomfortable for the entire meeting. As soon as it was over, we left without talking to anyone.

Graham has been looking for a job. He had an interview last friday at Office Depot. He almost has the job. They are just waiting on results on a background and then he is hired. He is being offering full-time with benefits, so he is real excited about that.
Yesterday, he went to the dentist and had to have a tooth pulled, but he is really better. He had a upper molar removed. He has to go back next week to remove the sutures.

I opened a new bank account here and I got a free lunch tubberware. I got pretty excited about it. This bank looks pretty cool. Hopefully, it will be good.
Today, we went down to the DMV to get AK licenses. We had to take a 20 question written test. We could get 4 wrong and once we got 16 questions right we were done. I did get 4 wrong, but I passed. So, I got my AK drivers license(pics up soon), but Graham got 5 wrong. He can go back tommorrow to retake the test. But, in his and mine defense the questions were not really cut and dry questions. They were more questions about what things were implied, and they were worded very weird. For example, we both had two similiar questions
 The question was what does the posted sign of 55mph mean?
a-you can go 55mph
b-you can go less than 55mph
c-you can go greater than 55mph

So, you think the correct answer is A, but actually what the computer said was the correct answer was b.

But, everything is going great. We are looking forward to moving into our new apartment a week from sunday. We can't wait to actually be able to cook again.
Everything is going well.

In one week.....

This past tuesday, I started my job here in Anchorage. I love it already! The people are really nice and genuine. It is weird because I am being introduced to my new co-workers and clients as a "tech." It just going to take some time before my mind gets used to hearing that. I work three 12-hr shifts a week so I get 36 hours a week. I have to do a double-take when I am looking at the timeclock because it is still a shock to see so many hours. Because I am still in training with until the end of the month, my schedule is kinda spread out throughout the week instead of having three 12hrs back to back. But, I really like my job! People are respecting my degree and actually listening to my opinion. I am not having to have everything I do check and double checked. Most of the other techs have heard of Bel-Rea, and they are kinda impressed when I tell them that I graduated from there. In fact I thought it was kinda ironic, I saw a commercial for Bel-Rea here in Anchorage a few days ago. Here's the website for the clinic-http://www.petemergencytreatment.com/. I have to type out a Bio and get a pic for the website and for "the wall of pics" at the office. I found out I get paid on the 15th. I am excited about getting money! I have also found a bank that I like.
On other aspects, we have put down a deposit on a nice apartments about 2 miles away from the clinic or a 5min drive away. It is within the budget we wanted and very worth it. It is very nice with covered parking with plug-ins, there is laundry on site on every 2nd and 3rd floor, private patio/deck, and cable is included in the rent(thats just a plus). We will move in about May 1st. It is right down the street from a Fred Meyer. Fred Meyer is the greatest store very created. It is a walmart, target, home depot, and a lowes all in one! It is pretty much the coolest store. And it is in the Kroger family, so my King Soopers card works there! Another plus:) We also were about to borrow a car from the church we visited last sunday. It is paid for and insured. We got the car yesterday so today we are taking it on errands.
Yesterday, we went to the big 5th avenue mall. It is pretty big. It is bigger than any of the malls in Denver with four levels. Graham put in some applications to some of the restaurants and stores. We also went into the Anchorage Museum and He put an application into there too. He really wants to work at the museum. The museum was pretty cool. It had alot of art work and the history of the natives that lived here in Alaska. I got some pictures before my camera batteries gave out. So I will get them uploaded soon.
So we are off to explore the town in our "new" car:)

My first attempt

Here's my first attempt at blogging. I figured it might be an easy way to keep everyone updated on all my new adventures here in Alaska.
Graham and I got here in Anchorage around 12:30-1am on friday Apr 1st. We are staying in a temporary extended hotel until we can find a more permanent or semi-permanent place. We are looking for apartments and are looking for something as soon as possible. Also, we are kinda starting to look for a car, but we want to find the apartment first.
I am trying to get used to the new time difference and the higher altitude. It seems that the days are longer here. I know that the daylight hours are longer here and will continue to add more hours until sometime in June. But, what I mean is the day seems to go slower. That the hours are longer and the day seems to move slower. But, that is just more adjusting I have to do.
It is still snowing and pretty cold here. The highs are in the 30s with the lows being in the 20s.
I don't think that the idea that I have moved here as really sunk in yet. It kinda feels like I am on vacation.
It may have to due with the fact that I have not started work yet or the fact that we are staying in a hotel.
But, the reality of the move is slowly setting in.
I start work on tuesday, Apr 5. I can't wait. I am very excited to get to work in my first "grown up" job. I also can't wait to put to practice everything I learned in school.
I think once we get a apartment and I can have a bedroom and a kitchen again. I think I will be more settled in, but for now, we are making do.
Today, Graham and I went out to the Alaska Natural History Musuem. It was pretty fun. It was amazing to see all the different kinds of wildlife that live in Alaska. I was excited to find out that there are flying squirrels and penquins. Maybe one day, I can get to see one in wild.
So thats what we have been up since we got here.