I Always Feel Like Somebody's Watching Me...

It's been a while, but it has happened again.  Yes, ladies and gentlemen, IT.  What is it you ask? I have a new Facebook stalker! *Insert dorky smile and spirit fingers*  You're nobody until you have had a Facebook stalker (not really), and now I am on number two- and who knows, there maybe be more.  Facebook stalker number one knows who she is, and may or may not regret her stalking.  It always gives me a funny story to tell.

Now there's number two.  I have no idea who this person is, other than the fact that they are a school mate.  That being said, this person could be spending their time studying, making note cards, catching up on rest, participating in the wonderful clubs and organizations we have here, or so much more.  But instead, they are watching me.  Well maybe not, but they are paying more attention to me than anyone.

Here's the story.  Large animal anatomy.  Cover alls.  Boots.  I felt like I wanted a picture so I had a friend snap one on my Blackberry.  That was January.  Here it is almost January again and I hear something about a picture on my Facebook page angering some folks.  Turns out, there were some things in the background that weren't supposed to be posted.  (We have rules about pictures.  No pictures of client-owned animals, pictures of dissections, etc.)  Well guess what?  In almost a year, no one who has seen that picture, including myself ( I had it as a background on my laptop off and on a few times) even noticed this forbidden thing.  But then one day someone did.  Probably hit that trusty right-click button, saved it, and emailed or printed it.  Who knows.  Now this isn't some lewd photograph, no one is in any type of compromising positions.  So I edited my picture and reposted it, because I like it.  It tells part of the story of my first year in veterinary school and I want to show it.

I do kind of wonder, however, if maybe we should be looking for a boyfriend/girlfriend/both for this person who had so much time on their hands that they noticed something in the corner of a picture that no one else noticed.  I'm quite tempted to delete everyone but a few select folks from school from my Facebook friends list after this... but then I guess Mr. or Ms. or Mrs. Stalker would be bored.  And I DO believe in community service- give the haters (and the stalkers) something to do with their time!

With that being said, I do think that I am pretty fucking awesome.  And quite frankly, if I was someone else, I'd stalk me too.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Only a few months left in October, but I had to remember to write about domestic violence awareness.  This is something I have never had to deal with personally.  I have heard reports of women I know who have been affected by this issue and my heart goes out to them.  I've looked back on a couple of my own relationships, and seen that some things the guys did were borderline controlling.  What if they had escalated? Would I be strong enough to leave? Would I call the police?  Or would I accept his apology and believe that he wouldn't do it again?  I hope I'd have the strength to leave.

One day a couple of weeks ago we walked out of class and saw some strange figures in our lobby.  As we got closer you could tell they were cut-outs.  I had no idea what they were going to be.  Maybe an advertisement for the food drive we are having in which we compete against the university of Alabama? Nope.  It was for Domestid Violence Awareness month.  I actually had no idea that October was so aware.  Breast cancer and domestic violence.  I was kind of excited because this is definitely an important issue, and I'm glad that it is being brought to people's attention. Each of these has the story of a woman who lost her life to domestic violence. 

If you or someone you know needs help check out The Domestic Violence Awareness Project.

Apartment Etiquette for Dummies

 So when I lived in my first apartment, I didn't have any issues with the neighbors.  (Unless you count the old man in the wheelchair who used to flirt with me.  Imagine that old dirty man voice saying "you shole look good" as you are walking to your car in a skirt on the way to church. Eww.)  Been at this complex a little over a year and I want to leave.  These people don't understand the small things that one must take into consideration when living in an apartment.  Apparently no one realizes that most of what they do affects their neighbors because of the close quarters.  So here is a list of things that people should and shouldn't do when living in an apartment setting.

1) Is there an apartment below you? Stop stomping around like an elephant in an aerobics class.
The guy above me is HOT.  Very hot. He's a younger guy, and I assume an undergraduate at Auburn.  But he is SO noisy.  For a while there every weekend he played the same song over... and over... and over.  Then he would watch the same loud action movie with explosion scenes. Well when he wasn't making that kind of noise, he was stomping around.  He hasn't been making noise by playing his music, but he walks so heavily. It's 3 am and I hear "boom boom boom" above me as he walks around his bed room.  You would swear this guy weighed 500lbs.  I know part of it is probably that the apartments need better insulation, but it doesn't stop the loud walking from keeping me up at night.  Someone should teach this kid how to tip toe.



2) Don't let your visitors take the "premium" parking spots.
It doesn't happen often, but occasionally I have to park much further away then I'd like.  If I'm just coming and going it isn't as big of a deal, but if I'm carrying groceries, or my 8lb pathology textbook, I'd like to be closer to my door.  Maybe your guest doesn't want to lug their suitcase from a further spot either, but they don't pay rent here.  They should be courteous and not take the premium spaces.

3) Don't let your dog sit on your patio/balcony and bark at passersby. 
I finally got this situation resolved by going to the office.  But a lady who lives above the apartment next to me lets her dog out on the balcony often.  Well this little eskimo dog barks at everything.  Dogs? He barks at them.  People? He barks at them.  Cats? He barks at them.  The wind? He barks at it.  Get my point? Well on weekends she'd let him go out on the balcony as early as 6:30 am and 5:30 weekdays.  Being a vet student I need every bit of sleep I can get.  That means that I get up in just enough time to get myself showered and dressed and the animals walked and fed.  I'll just tell you now that at 5:30 am on weekdays I'm just rolling over, and on weekends? I'm probably not awake enough to roll over.  Who wants to hear a dog barking at 6:30 on a Saturday? No one.  Plus he's got one of those yippy yappy little barks that echoes all too well.

4) Scoop your poop!
This is probably my NUMBER ONE pet peeve.  I have definitely gone to the office and told on a specific person who I've seen not picking up her dog's poop.  It's the lady with the eskimo dog from #3.  She's not the only one though.  Besides the health hazards involved in not picking up your animals waste (Check this out.), it is a rule.  And it's not some frivolous rule.  Who wants to step in dog shit while trying to walk their pets, heading to their car or even just strolling around the complex grounds? And what about all of the kids who play outside?  I'd hope that all the animals here are up-to-date on their deworming schedules, but considering that many of the parasites our pets can be infected with can be transmitted to humans, this is important.

5) Walk, don't run!
Not only could you fall and hurt yourself, but running up and down the stairs is VERY disturbing to your neighbors.  Especially when the fat chicks upstairs do it.  It sounds like a hippo stampede, it scares my cat, makes my dogs try to figure out what exactly was happening and it makes me think it's thundering outside.  I bet if I coated the steps with some baby oil you'd walk.

6) Spank your kids. 
Okay, maybe not.  But maybe.  There is a cute little boy here who is so sweet, but he's also kind of bad.  He doesn't listen, talks back, screams.  When I'm taking my very important Friday afternoon nap, or studying, I don't wanna hear that shit.  At the very least teach him to only yell at you indoors and that when he's on his scooter, bike, or skateboard it is rude to run into the doors of your neighbors.

7) Argue INSIDE. 
I don't get a lot of this here but I can count at least three separate occasions where an upstairs neighbor was arguing with a boyfriend.  One is a younger girl, whose ex-boyfriend came banging on her door.  I can understand not wanting to let him in, but y'all could go argue somewhere else please.  Or you could have just not answered the door and called the police.  Or why not argue through text messages like everyone else.  Then, just a week or so ago, another lady upstairs was arguing.  This one was pretty bad.  (I recorded it on my phone if I can get it uploaded I'll add it to my post).  But with my door closed I could hear every word clearly.  They were cursing and fussing like there was no tomorrow.  Just the fact that you can hear them pretty well on a recording made from my blackberry behind a closed front door speaks volumes about their volume.  It's ridiculous.

8) Leave me alone.
This one probably speaks to my anti-social tendencies.  But a couple of my neighbors always want to talk to me.  I don't ever want to talk to them.  I am fine with being cordial and saying "hi, how are you?" but that's about it.  I told "Crazy Mary" my name on several occasions, only to have her call me Kelly repeatedly.  Kelly and Alexis do not sound similar at all.  Another neighbor also tries to stop me to talk.  I don't want to talk to you people! I want to get my groceries in, walk my dog, or get my books out of the car and get into the house for my pre-study nap time.  I am not living here to make friends.  Let's speak and keep it moving.

In the grand scheme of things, people should realize that just like they pay rent here, so do those of us around them, and we deserve some peace and respect some times.

Willow Smith- Whip my Hair

All I can say is that the Smith family is definitely doing it big!  Fine husband, sexy wife, kids that are adorable.  And talent runs through their blood streams.  The song is awesome.  The video is awesome.  It's all upbeat, positive and age-appropriate.  She is going to be big.

Hispanic Heritage Month

I can't believe I almost missed Hispanic Heritage Month.  It's a weird month because it's not just September or October.  It's September 15th to October 15th.  I was thinking it was October-November but I'm glad I checked!

I decided to do a quick blog.  I wish I had remembered (and had time) to do a few different posts, so I'll just talk about two great Hispanic Americans here.

In 1990 Ellen Ochoa became the first Hispanic American astronaut.  She has logged nearly 1000 hours in space as a flight specialist and engineer.  She has developed software, hardware and robotics and is involved with testing and training.  She has been awarded numerous times by NASA.  In addition to being an astronaut, wife, and mother, she is also a classical flutist.






Born in South Bronx in 1954, Sonia Sotomayor was inspired to become a judge while watching television's Perry Mason.  After graduating from Princeton summa cum laude in 1976 she went on to Yale Law school.  She was nominated by President George H.W. Bush as the U.S. District Court Judge for the Southern District of New York City in 1992, with unanimous US Senate confirmation.  Under President Clinton's administration she became a U.S. Second circuit Court of Appeals judge.  In 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Sonia Sotomayor for Supreme Court Justice.  Her nomination was confirmed in August of 2009, making Sotomayr the first Latina Supreme Court Justice in US history.

Shit That's Offensive 101: Bama

Bama.  I bet some people don't even know that the "word" is used as an insult by people from the north, east, or just other states.  (I won't start on how people from Mississippi have no room to talk about any state, and that Georgia is at the bottom of a lot of lists also.)  The problem is that as a person from Alabama, I don't like that shit.  It offends me.  Are there people here who are ignorant, country, and just overall weird? Yep.  Bet your state has them too.  Call them rednecks, ratchet, foolish, whatever... just don't call them bamas.  Usually when I see BAMA it makes me cringe for different reasons.  Many people call the University of Alabama "Bama" for short, and you all know I hate that school with a passion (that could be a post of its own).  Find another insult to use, and don't use my state as an insult to others.

Shit That's Offensive 101: The Rebel Flag

Diversity is being mentioned a lot in my life these days.  Starting with last semester's Diversity Matters Symposium at the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine, to our Diversity Seminars here at the AUCVM, to the Diversity in Veterinary Medicine club of which I am the vice president.  It's important in my life.

So I realized that I've come across quite a few people who didn't know that to a Black person, a confederate flag could be offensive.  I guess they missed that whole slavery thing.  We all know (or should know) about the civil war, the confederacy, the confederate flag, slavery.  Bottom line, the confederacy decided they wanted to keep us Negroes as their slaves, so they seceded from the nation.  They went through a few flags, but the flag that became synonymous with the confederacy is this one:

I know a lot of white people feel that we Black people need to let go of the whole slavery issue.  Maybe we could do that but racism remains alive and kicking and so it is something that will always be discussed, something we will never forget.  To me, seeing a confederate flag is just as upsetting as I would imagine a swastika would be to a Jewish person.  I see all the videos and pictures of Black people being attacked with hoses and guard dogs, I see the assassination of Dr. King.  I hear the stories told to me by my grandparents of the "White Only" water fountains and benches, how my grandmother would take water and food with her when shopping downtown to avoid having to drink from one of these fountains.  These flags can be seen flown at Ku Kux Klan rallies, and many skin heads use this flag as well as the swastika as symbols of their love for hate.  Is every White person who owns a confederate flag a racist? Certainly not.  But I personally find the symbol offensive and I know several other Blacks who do.

Now some people do claim that they fly this flag as a sign of Southern Heritage.  I know one chick who had a key chain that said she was something by choice but Southern by the grace of God-- complete with the confederate flag.  I love the non-racist aspects of the south as much as the next Southern girl, but how can one hid behind this when they are from a state that can not be mistaken for a Southern state.  and if we want to be proud of the south, there are so many great things here other than that flag! Georgia's peaches, Alabama and Florida's beaches, New Orleans Cuisine, grits- yes I said grits.

So the next time you are walking around in your confederate flag t-shirt just remember that someone might be offended by your apparel, and maybe you'll think twice.  Or maybe you won't. But you can't say you didn't know.

Press Pause...

I just wanted to take a quick moment to talk about PauseApp for Blackberry.  Someone retweeted the article from Pocket Berry talking about this the other day.  I made the tweet a favorite so I could read it later.  As I read it, I felt like this app might be worth the try so I downloaded it to my precious TootsBerry.  It’s a simple app, with a simple concept.  Most of us are addicted to our Blackberry (or other smart phones).  Turning it off Is hard for me.   I can’t really recall when I turned it off last.  I’ve had it on silent for about 4 or 5 weeks straight, but with Berry Buzz installed, the various colored blinking LED that notifies me of texts (lime green), emails (turquoise), and other incoming messages or calls draws my attention.  I rarely forget to look down to see if I’m blinking.  I figured with an addiction such as mine this new app wouldn’t help.

I was wrong.  I tried it out for a while last night while I studied.  The app does just what it says it does-puts your phone on pause.  You don’t have to hit ignore to send your mom to voicemail, or try hard to ignore that blinking light that says “hey, text message here, looooook at me!” Pause sends your calls to voicemail and “hides” your messages.  No notifications, no ringing, vibrating, or blinking lights.  Now it only takes a simple click to put your phone back into “play” mode, but for me, the lack of blinking made me forget about it.  If you find yourself spending way too much time tweeting, texting, etc, then try this app.  It may work for you.  Head over to Pocket Berry for the OTA link.  

Breast Cancer Awareness on Your Blackberry

These are screenshots from my Blackberry bold 9700.  This awesome theme for breast cancer awareness is by Cool Blackberry Themes.  The application screens have a "Save the hooters" backgroud, the outgoing calls have a "check your boo bees" background and the incoming calls have an "I walk for the cure" background.   Check out the site for more screenshots and to download this them.  Here's the link.  It's a great way to show support.  So if you have survived, have family members who have been affected, or just like boobs and want to save them, check it out.

Remember to do to monthly exams at home.  Know what "normal" feels like so you can recognize abnormal.  Peace.

Did You Go to Church Today???

There's a question that I HATE to hear... first it's none of your business, and second, does it REALLY matter? Nope.



The Eddie Long drama currently unfolding in the media has sparked lots of talk. Facebook, twitter, everyone is talking about this. Many people have found this as just another reason not to go to church.  I've seen it said over and over that you shouldn't put your faith in man, but in God. I fully agree. But that isn't the issue.  The issue, at least for me, is that a pastor is a leader.  He is a man who has supposedly been called by God to teach his word and lead his flock.  No man is perfect, and we all sin, but you just kind of expect that your pastor is at least making an attempt at being Christ-like.  Maybe the allegations aren't true, but we know things like this go on.  Pastors, priests, bishops, whoever, are out there molesting kids, sleeping w/ the secretary, fathering kids with members of the congregation while they are married, or stealing money from the church.

I've had this conversation with friends and followers, but I feel like today we put too much emphasis on traditions and the actual act of going to church.  Yes, the fellowship can be great but people often get so caught up in the tradition of "religion." Add to the fact that the people are sometimes such hypocrites! I've sat next to my own auntie only to have her talking about people while we are in church.  Or you are all about love, but you are ready to fight Sis. Jones because she sat in your seat or parked where you always parked.  Seriously people? Let's do better.

I can admit, I haven't been to church here in Auburn since I moved here august 2009.  When I go home, I do occasionally visit the church that I am a member of, because quite frankly my pastor is awesome.  But I always in the back of my head wonder when the "honeymoon" will be over.  Surely no pastor starts out horrible or their memberships wouldn't grow so large or they wouldn't be welcomed into new churches.  We have a 4 day weekend (Fall Break) coming up, so I'll probably go to church that Sunday, just to see if it's worth going more often.  And by more often I mean maybe 3 or so times a semester.  Let's face it.  I'm a vet student.  Weekends are often spent studying, cleaning, and sleeping, but I'll try to make it more than never.