Cleanliness is Next to Godliness

First, some updates on other things. The warm February thaw of last week gave way to winter temperatures and four inches of snow overnight. Luckily, I was home when it started and have the day off today. I bought groceries but it wasn’t too bad. Of course, its going to make tomorrow’s large animal calls a little more difficult and I’m not looking forward to driving around in it. I’ll have the Chevy though, which is nice. The other nice think about this snow is that it had a fresh slate to lay down on. The warm weather had melted all of the snow from before. [Since the original writing of this, I have learned that it will be approximately 8 degrees tomorrow. Really, not looking forward to large animal calls. Brr!]

I have to get my taxes done in a couple of hours. Not looking forward to it as it seems from what I’ve learned on Facebook, first year vets are taking it hard. No refunds, often owing. Its so hard to imagine going from not making anything and paying large amounts for education to finally being paid and then having to pay on it. [I was in luck. Despite not having a form from MU which would have increased my tax refund to about $5000, I did net a refund of about $3100. I owe some to PA, broke even on the city.]

On the veterinary medicine front, I made it through the weekend on call. Saturday was fairly slow with only a call for a greyhound with a broken leg. It was really broken too! I set it in a splint and then told them they needed to find a surgeon on Monday. I had a phone call and it was fine. Sunday, I had another phone call which started the cascade of emergencies. Shortly after the phone call, I got another one for a dog whelping dystocia. (Which brought up the phrase, ‘I know nothin’ about birthin’ babies.’ Which also seemed to be repeated by several people other than myself.) I went in to see them and the owner had managed to remove the offending pup. After which, the dog popped out another liver pup. Then we x-rayed her and another pup came popping out. We sent her home to continue on her own.  An hour and half later, she was having puppies again for a total of nine with three that died. During our time together, someone else with a dog that had some puppies called. She decided not to come after I told her she should. I would see her on Monday, and all would be well. Then there was someone with a dog that was ODed on pseudoephedrine. There’s really no treatment except slowing down the heart, fluids and sedation. We gave a bunch of sub-q fluids (after two failed catheter attempts) and then sedated her.  It may take three days for the drug to clear her system. In the dose they gave, they were really close to giving a fatal dose. Then I thought my night was clear. I didn’t hear back from the puppy people. I took a shower and went to bed. I was just starting to watch 30 Rock when my phone rang. It was a lambing dystocia call. 11:20pm! So I went out in the sleet which had started in the middle of the night and when I got there, not only was the lamb dead (as the owner had already said), the lamb’s head had been accidently pulled off. The lamb was really, really dead! After a lot of struggling, laying down in awkward positions, cursing my fate, considering calling my  boss  and lots of coaxing of the ewe, I finally got both front legs up and then I just kept pulling. I was hoping the legs wouldn’t come off and send me flying across the stall. They managed to hold and I was presented with a dead, headless, rotten ram lamb. He was big. He was solo. I left some drugs and instructions. I was home to shower again around 1am. I also cursed Joe because he had promised to come with me on LA calls but obviously, had lied. Veterinary medicine knows no time of day.

``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

The spring weather of last week got me into the spring cleaning mode. While I don’t plan on doing anything anytime soon, I can’t wait to do spring cleaning! The house, the yard, the everything!

Joe and I are far from clean. He tries to blame me more than himself. I might be more to blame. Our house is in a constant state of chaos. Chaos being dirty. Once a week, I do manage to vacuum the carpets. Once a week, while I have dog free time while Joe takes the dogs to the dog park. Much beyond that, cleaning is hit or miss. Maybe once a month.

The kitchen is pretty dirty too. Largely, being a function of not having a dishwasher. That being said, Joe is currently washing the dishes. I’ve become tired of having to do nearly a week’s worth all at once and then having dishes drying all over the counters. (Which neither of us seem to want to put up.)

 So my plan for this spring, is to rock it out one weekend or on my day off. Windows up, music cranking, hair pulled up and things are going to get done. Mopping and pine-sol to the woodwork. Cleaning the oven. Sorting the pantry and cabinets.

If we happen to stay in this house, I’m also wanting to paint the bathroom or kitchen. Bathroom first because I HATE the border in there.

Additionally, I’d like to have a yard sale. This state is crazy about yard sales. I’m pretty sure that Joe and I could get enough together to muster a small Saturday sale. I’ve actually decided though to wait until after our wedding so I can sell some of the things we’ve replaced with wedding gifts. Like dishes, pots, small appliances, etc.

The yard needs some work too. Mostly fertilizing it to guarantee that it actually will be green, some mulch for the flower beds and getting rid of the winter’s dying plants. (And of course, having a poo party again. ) I’d like to plant some daffodil bulbs or something too.

And then there’s the compost pile. Joe and I throw out a lot of food. A lot of things that could go into a compost pile. I feel even though we’re still wasting food, we’re not doing it as much if its being recycled into fertile dirt. Right? Just today, the things that could go into our compost pile but are instead going into the garbage includes-the obligatory bag of salad mix that I buy but never use, wilted beyond belief celery, about a pound of grapes, a dozen wilted roses, egg shells, potato peels, onion skins, a rotten onion, receipts, junk mail and muffin wrappers. I’ve investigated compost piles online. There’s a bin for about $50 from Lowe’s. Of course, I don’t want to buy it before knowing that I’m going to stay at this place. Stay here to put in my shredded paper, vegetable waste, rabbit poo, etc , etc. Apparently, you can also compost dairy products and fish/seafood waste. I’m skeptically that I want that in there. Defiantly not dog or cat poo. I did see how you could make an in yard dog poo digester. The other thing I am considering is a undersink compost pile. It consists of a tightly sealed bucket with a filter and small opening. Your kitchen waste goes into it before being transferred out to the outside big container.  I’ve done some research and mostly have a good idea of what can and cannot be put into a compost pile. I can wait! Why am I so excited for a compost pile?