What to talk about?

Friday was an awesome day. It was random, frustrating, and laughable, but it was one of my best. I woke up super early to go bird catching, way before the sun, way before the city. It was chilly and humid, I had my coffee in one had and equipment in the other. We hiked through brush and cactus and mesquite, past our nets and to a little camp site. The best part was holding these little birds--I'm talking 20 grams or less--and the way they just looked at you. Big, calm, black eyes. I learned that Cardinals are little jerks when it comes to biting. I learned how to hold their wings open, how to draw blood safely. I learned how to band them, what measurements to take, how to release them. It was just AWESOME. It's what I've been wanting all along in a job.

The rest of the day was stressful and fun. And amazing.


Recently I've been thinking more about what I want to do. What I want to be. Where I want to go. It's one of those questions that people throw in your face constantly, and one of the most dreaded. For me, I never really had an answer. Sometimes I would just say Doctor, or Archaeologist, or Circus Clown just to make the big people happy and go away. When you ask yourself, however, you can't really do that. Lately I've been thinking more and more about vet school. The idea appeals to me in ways that are unique and powerful. I don't have that with anything else. Even art, a talent of mine that I cherish and love--even art, I have little passion for. Animals, though--their anatomy, physiology, behavior--it all truly fascinates me. I want to be a veterinarian, I know this. But can I? Of course I can. Will it be what I want it to be? That's a harder one. I want it, though. I really do. I'm even scoping out vet schools, checking off prereqs. I feel excited about this.

Right now I'm supposed to be analyzing data. It's a total crock,though--I don't have the slightest clue as to what I'm doing. I never took statistics. Looks like it's in my near future, though. Joy.