Animal Research

What a topic to pick to talk about. Hate to break it to ya, but that is what my job entails. Extensive animal research that ends in termination of the animal.

I don't say termination to make myself feel better about what it going on, because any life lost is sad. I say it to be a little more politically correct. Although I'm not sure why, since this is a blog, and its my blog. To be honest-I'm rarely PC.

Well tomorrow we are euthanizing animals to harvest brains and hearts. That's pretty much all I can say on the subject. I get to cut off heads-after they have been euthanized. I know its a bit morbid, but I am so excited. Who could have thought that a heart could be harvested, and a brain dissected out of the skull in 22 minutes?! That is incredibly fast for keeping the workspace clean, while being humane about it.

Enough about animal innards, I have much more important things to talk about. Like what the hell am I going to do with my degree after I graduate. I have three options and I want to explore each and every one of them. I'll give you a preview of each of them and let you know more about them as I learn more about their attainability.

1. Go to Vet school or Vet Tech School: This would be the best use and applicable to my future-being a farmer I mean. To be able to vet my own animals, or work as an on-call vet on a farm would be amazing.
2. Become A Research Assistant for Oregon State University: A job opp will become available in 3 years and it is a five year contract to stick with the research team. The professor on the team is well recognized and trusts me enough already to dogsit two weekends from now. The pay is ~28,000 starting out. Eh. And fantastic benefits working for the state. Plus I get hands on training doing surgeries and other random procedures.
   
3. Join the Peace Corps: Travel to a foreign country with my honey, living a bit more primitive and enjoying the things that matter.
   

Where to go and what to do? I'm not sure.

Progress?

Got the results back from my first repro exam-not good. Class average was a 59.9 and I got a 52 :/ I've been a bit bummed all week because the next exam is in two days.

Wtf, america?

I really want to do good in this class, but its so damn hard.I feel like I'm drowning in scientific jargon that should be about the beauty of bodily functions.

This next exam is on oogenesis, spermatogenesis, and endocrinology. Talk about mind-boggling.

The Start

Where I am going in my career-which currently consists of college and campus jobs-is what I have been trying to figure out for sometime. Still I don't know, but I do know where my interests lie. My new job has exposed me to a lot; from delivering injections, drawing blood, inserting artery catheters, surgeries of all types, spinning down blood samples(I LOVE the centrifuge), mixing chemicals, autoclaving everything, to animal handling and basic care. For the time being, I love my job.

2.5 months ago I was unpracticed at giving vaccines, and never dreamed of being able to draw blood. Now those things are so easy, and I feel confident about doing them. I am really enjoying all the hands on experience and it makes the school days less boring and monotonous.

I am also really loving my classes-most days. ANS 316(repro) has been such a breath of fresh air, and so far the most useful course I have taken upon entering college. It is incredibly difficult and I am swimming in index cards full of new vocabulary that I can barely keep up with, but it is so practical and applicable. In my opinion every major should take it. Not only do you learn about repro of farm animals, but also domestic species like cats, dogs, and horses. Plus it gives you a good overview of what the human repro tract is like.

Although this past week I have wanted nothing more than to get outside and get some work done. Every morning I have woken up wanting to play hookie and stay home to get the garden in or go hiking. Too bad that college has to be a priority.

Did I mention that Temple Grandin will be here at OSU for a speech about animal handling practices-open to all students. I am almost finished with her book Animals in Translation. This woman has done everything-well not everything but just about.

Temple Grandin is part of why animal handling facilities are so high tech. In a way this is partly what makes them so expensive, but it really pays off. Not only does she focus on keeping the animals calm, but by doing so efficiency of large operations is increased. It's great. If you haven't read anything of hers I highly recommend you do. You will learn a lot; from how to safely and calmly handle livestock to understanding why your dog bites and training it not to do so. You'll also learn quite a bit about how the autistic mind functions and maybe how to communicate better with those who are autistic.

-Goosey