A Wonderful Wedding Weekend

I had the privilege to be a bridesmaid in my friend Jessica Smith's wedding this past weekend (now Jessica Smith Harris).  I got to spend Friday  night at my grandparents' house, which was very nice.  I also stopped through Raleigh on my way to Nashville, NC on Saturday.  I surprised my Mom for a few minutes at the barn, loved on Ivan for a few minutes, then had lunch with Justin.  It was so weird to be in Raleigh and not feel like I had a place there.  I know I have a room at my parents' house, but it was strange being there when my "home" isn't there.  Anyway, lunch was awesome and far too short.

I arrived in Nashville about an hour before the rehearsal at Jessica's house.  We went over to Rose Hill where the wedding was to be held and had a nice rehearsal, followed by a delicious dinner.  Jessica gave all the girls some jewelry that a friend of hers had made that matched the colors of her wedding.  She also gave us matching pajamas to wear the next day before we got dressed for the wedding.  Everyone was pretty tired that evening and we went to bed a bit early.

Sunday morning, we all got up and headed over to Rose Hill.  We stayed there all day getting ready, doing our hair and make up, and taking pictures before the ceremony started at 3:00.  There was way too much delicious food around and we all ate pretty much the whole morning.  Muffins, brownies, biscuits, cake, mixed nuts, fruit...yeah we ate too much!  The ceremony was absolutely beautiful, with adorable, personal touches everywhere!  The reception was a lot of fun and Jessica and Jason rode away on a huge John Deere tractor.  It was so cute! 

It was so awesome to be in a wedding.  Firstly, I felt so honored to be a part of such a special day.  Secondly, it was really neat to see the behind-the-scenes of a wedding; how things work, what all has to get done, etc.  I'm getting some good research done so I'll be ready for mine! :)  This wedding has seriously pumped me up about our wedding and I have all these ideas now along with tons of excitement. 

I drove back to Granite Falls Sunday night and finished the drive to Knoxville Monday morning.  After a long day and a great night's sleep, it is Tuesday and I'm feeling pretty good.  Tomorrow I fly HOME and then I get to spend the rest of the week/end with family, fiance, friends, food and Ivan (poor guy, doesn't start with an F).  This semester is almost over and I am so thankful that time really does fly.  It'll be June 2012 before you know it :)

Busy, busy, busy

This past week was extremely busy.  I don't recall being that busy ever in my life or if I have, it has been a very long time.  I spent most of my time during the days in the lab, continuing my learning of techniques that I will be using for my project as well as making media.  We did go out to lunch on Thursday for Dr. Edwards's birthday, which was a nice break.  I rode Essau bareback on Monday and have not ridden him since.  The days were just so cram packed and when I was finished in the lab, it was pitch black outside and all I wanted to do was go home.  He has been fine though, going out in a pasture behind the barn and doesn't seem to mind that I haven't worked him much this week. 

I am not sure what all I will get into this week.  The Animal Science department is having their annual Thanksgiving lunch on Wednesday so that will be a fun time!  I am going to be a bridesmaid in a wedding on Sunday the 21st in Nashville, NC.  I am driving to Granite Falls Friday night, driving to Raleigh Saturday morning to stop and have lunch with Justin, then heading to Nashville.  The wedding is at 3:00 PM on Sunday and I will be driving back to Granite Falls that night.  I will then wake up early and drive back to Knoxville in time for class Monday morning.  I then have three days of class and fly HOME on Wednesday evening.  I am looking forward to seeing my family, Justin, my horse, and all of my people!  I can't wait and hope that this next week flies by so I can get home ASAP!  Justin has all of his final exams before Thanksgiving, so please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.  It is a very stressful time for the vet students as they have 7 finals in 7 days!  EEK!  Oh, I get my longhorns back next week in time to drive to Raleigh.  I'm so excited to see them and get them home so I can work on finishing them up over break.  Yay!

Did I mention I'm ready to come home?

qPCR RT RNA KSOM...it's an abbreviation sort of week!

Well this week has flown by, but it's been a great one!  I have been incredibly busy, but not in a rushed, overwhelmed way.  I have been spending a lot of time reading about the theory behind all of the biotechnology that I will be using for my research project (qPCR, RT, RNA isolation).  While it is difficult to understand some of it without actually doing the process, it has been very helpful for understanding the reasoning behind why it's done, how it's done, and which parts are most critical.  I have also been getting some more training in media making, RNA isolation, and did my first qPCR run today.  Brooke is an incredible teacher and she explained the process so well!  I made KSOM, an extremely important media that the embryos live in, today by myself (with Brooke watching).  As long as the pH checks out tomorrow (at 24 hours), then I should be cleared to make it on my own.  Check! 

I have been learning all of the information about adipose collection and RNA isolation because tomorrow while I am at the slaughter house collecting ovaries for Kim, I will also be collecting a few fat samples in order to practice next week.  I am really looking forward to this as it will be the first time I isolate RNA by myself.  I will be doing a LOT of this in my project, so it is a great feeling knowing I am learning something that will directly affect my project! 

Essau has been doing well, but I haven't had the time to ride him a lot lately.  He doesn't seem to mind at all.  I rode him on Tuesday and he did really well.  Today he got de-wormed and was surprisingly good for it.  I really like that Quest Gel!  It isn't messy at all!  It's so nice to get the de-wormer all in his mouth and none on me!  It is supposed to be pretty cold the next few days and nights (lows in upper 20s/lower 30s and tomorrow's high is 45!!) so he has on a warm blankie :) 

Asher is also doing well.  He got de-clawed last Thursday and came home on Saturday.  His surgery went well and he is healing super fast!  We had to do 5 days of shredded paper in the litter box (yick) and he finishes up his antibiotics tomorrow.  He will most definitely appreciate that! 

It's hard to believe this semester is winding down.  I have two more full weeks of class, then the week with Thanksgiving break, then 2 days of class after the break.  After that, it's two exams and this semester is over!  I am really, really excited about coming home for the first time since I've been here.  I can't wait to see all of my friends and family, ride Ivan, and spend 4 whole days with Justin!!  I just hope that I will have the strength and courage to come back to Tennessee!  I actually get to come to NC the weekend before Thanksgiving because I am in a good friend's wedding as a bridesmaid.  She is getting married in Nashville, NC (yes it's a real place) on Sunday the 21st.  Since I have to come back to TN Sunday PM and go back to Raleigh on Wednesday, I decided to fly home for Thanksgiving so I didn't have to make two 6+ hour trips in 4 days.  This will also give me more time at home since I won't have to take 6 hours out of the day for driving each direction. 

A few for the prayer list:
* Justin is sick with a double ear infection and sinus infection
* My great aunt Nina has pneumonia
* NCSU vet students have their finals all before Thanksgiving