Since the world didn't end at 6pm on the 21st, I have to spend the next two weeks working on everything for finals. I can't decide if that is a bummer or not.
My sleep schedule got messed up this week, where I'd be up at 5am finishing a paper, then completely out for the count by 8pm. I've been feeling really worn and tired, but I'm hoping to get a little back to normal before I leave for Arizona.
Friday night I went to Moonlight Yoga, which was excellent. I couldn't believe how alive downtown Ballard is at night. There are so many more people at 11pm than when I take my 6pm class. Moonlight yoga was wonderful, challenging, and fun. It was only my fourth yoga class, but I really do think I'm improving. I'm so glad I still have 16 more classes on my pass.
Saturday I spent most all of the day at the University Ave Street Fair. I loved wandering around the fair, looking at jewelry and crafts. I ended up shopping at Buffalo Exchange, a used clothing store on the Ave, and got a cute tank top and dress for $19.
After our shopping adventures I was too tired to do much of anything. I was really sore too. My back sometimes still really gets in the way of life.
There is a multi-state outbreak of EHV-1, an equine herpes virus that attacks horses neurologically. I'm trying to get my barn owner to put the barn on a quarantine. If she hasn't implemented a no-haul in or out policy by today I think I'll mention to her that if she ignores the warnings and any horses get sick, she's legally liable. I can't stand this woman. It is just amazing how much stupid a person can contain. I think she feels threatened by me, as she felt the need to chew me out in front of three people for choosing to vaccinate Starla for Strangles.
For those who don't know, Strangles is an equine form of strep that can kill an equine or permanently harm a horse's lungs. There is a vaccine that is controversial, as it is only 70% effective at best, and can cause mild strangles-like symptoms in the horse. The old shot version (now it is intranasal) used to cause severe muscle stiffness in the application area. Starla has successfully gotten the intranasal for 8 years with no bad reactions. I wouldn't bother giving it to her at all, if we were able to board at a barn that actually quarantined new horses, or maintained any standards. But we don't, so I do. Anyways, my barn owner somehow thinks it is only 40% effective, and you risk killing your horse every time you vaccinate (so untrue), and gave me a long rant in front of several people. I wish I had the ability to crush people with my mind. I just said, "my vet and I both agree that it is a good course of action for her, based upon barn traffic and her lack of previous reactions." What I wanted to say isn't really fit for publishing on this blog. Grrr. So much stupid, it hurts.
Anyways, I'm trying to be persistent to get the barn closed down. Hopefully it will work. I can't wait until the day I have a real job and can afford to put Starla in the best care possible. [Edit: barn is now closed. Yay! The barn own made signs that say it is closed for the wrong disease, but who cares? I win.].
This week is going to be so nice. I have three days of classes, then I'm in Tucson for almost a whole week! I'd like to get 10 pages typed up before I leave on the 25-30 I need to finish up in the last couple weeks. Then if I can get 5 typed in Arizona I will be on a good schedule. I'm definitely starting to feel worn down. I start work before I'm technically finished with school, so I'm just trying to stay healthy. I only have three more days of my internship, and maybe 10 more hours to finish up on my own time outside of going in to BioMed. I'm applying for a very part time position, they are advertising for a 3-4 hour a week microscopy position for six months. If it pays well enough to justify the hour each way to get there (or they offer me parking), I'll definitely do it. I really enjoy the people there.
Food-wise, I've been carbing it up like there's no tomorrow. Oh finals, your stress makes me crave bread so much.
I made pretty awesome garlic soft pretzels. I took 1.5 cups wheat flour, 1 cup warm water, 1 packet yeast, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 clove of garlic (diced), a teaspoon of dried parsley, and mixed them up after letting the yeast sit in the sugar water and wake up. I baked at 425 F for 10 minutes, after shaping into pretzels and putting sea salt on top. I only made two fatty pretzels because I was in a hurry, but you could easily make 4 soft pretzels with this recipe. The fresh garlic was awesome. To keep them vegan, instead of using an egg wash like traditional soft pretzels, I just put a little water on them before sprinkling salt. Yum!
I made a pretty kickass pasta salad. I normally hate pasta salad, but this wasn't all heavy and mushy. I mixed cut grape tomatoes, green and yellow bell peppers, olives, and cooked pasta with italian dressing. It was pretty nice. I think I'd want even more veggies in the future.
I'm getting excited for my garden. Swiss chard is still soooo slow, I really don't know what I did wrong, but I should be able to start eating off it in June, and I should have a fairly nice selection of lettuce. I don't know about my tomatoes. They are six inches tall, but I see all the giant plants from the stores, and I wonder if I should just buy some. Potatoes are taking off like crazy, so pretty soon I'll just be watering them and otherwise letting them be. I still need to get a nice big basil plant, but I'll wait until after I get back from Arizona. Shelling peas are growing well, hot peppers are tiny like the tomatoes. Both the carrots and beets will need thinning soon, I think I'll do that when I get back from AZ too.
I was able to make pasta tonight with a tiny bit of microgreens from my garden (chard, beet, and lettuce). Not much, but it's exciting to use things I've grown!
Lake Patagonia. It was beautiful and fun to swim in.
Driving into Bisbee, AZ.
Street in the town. Very cute place.
