Making Changes

 First, an update on Polly.  One of my OD friends, [I’m An Okking Fool] (name drop!), brought to my attention that there is a new prescription food from Hill’s Science Diet for hyperthyroid cats (contains a certain concentration of iodine).  I hadn’t a clue about this, and the vet had not made any mention of it.  So, when I called back that Monday, I asked about it, and he was fine with giving it a try!  He ordered it in, and I picked it up this past Monday and am in the process of converting her over.  So far, it’s been a success with her eating her old/new food mixed, so I’m hoping she’ll eat the new food alone by a few days from now.  I’m supposed to bring her back in for thyroid-retesting in a month to see if there’s any improvement *crosses fingers*.  Anyway, a huge thank you to Okking Fool!  You are awesome.  If the food works, it would be a lifesaver, financially.  I can do 35 bucks a month with occasional re-testing. :p

Onto other exciting things…

One of my favorite musicians/people, Kina Grannis, recently started up this program (in case you’re interested –  http://www.runteamkina.com/) which encourages people to become active and healthy and such.  Specifically, she’s planning for a huge event throughout June where you can run a 5K, half-marathon, marathon, etc. in support of LLS (the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society) through Run Team Kina, which she has founded, and is, herself, going to be running a half-marathon, when the time comes.  It would be a dream to run with her at the same event, but, I also have to be realistic about what I can accomplish by that time.  I’ve already posted my pledge, and I at least plan on running a 5K.  I started my first official day of 5K training on Thursday.  It was on a treadmill, because it’s just way too cold for me to run outside quite yet, but it’s something.  I expect to fall behind a bit when I switch to actual running in March, but my hope is that I’ll have built up enough endurance by that time that I’ll be able to jump back pretty quickly.  This is something I’m serious about.  Not only will it do wonders in boosting my self-confidence/health, but it’s for a good cause, and something I can relate to, as my grandfather died of leukemia when I was 7 or 8.  I also had been planning on donating some amount of money once the actual fundraising begins in mid-February, but now I’m actually thinking about starting up a fundraising page online.  It’s both exciting and makes me nervous at the same time, because it’s like, how much will people really listen to me and donate something?  How many people would even actually donate?  I have a number in my head, but I’m not sure if it’s too ambitious of a goal.  I don’t exactly have a ton of friends or connections.  Kina wants to raise $50K to fund a research grant, which is incredible (and, I have no doubts she’ll meet her goal).  I’m just going to do what I can to help out and take part.  I’ve never done anything like this before…any of this.  But, I’m ready to actually do something meaningful in life, and to actually be active about things I care about.  And, I’ll have varying vantage points because of the integration of my career in identifying, and, who knows, possibly researching, cancers.

What’s even more awesome is that I’ve got 2 people now that are willing to do this with me.  One is Tamara, and the other Justin.  I did my first workout with Tamara at the gym at school the other day.  Tomorrow, Justin and I are going to use the gym at my apartment complex.  I’m going to be developing a gym schedule at school with Tamara (and possibly Megan), and we’re going to make a commitment together.  I’m just really excited.  I’ll be making occasional updates on my progress on OD.

School, at the moment, is in the calm-before-storm phase.  I have to come up with my thesis research topic over the next week or so and then get started on getting a proposal together, which I have to write and present by the end of this semester.  Next semester, I’ll actually be doing the research and have to finish off with a journal-quality paper (and presentation) by the end of the program in August.  I have zero experience with research, so this is a bit scary to me, but I think I’ll at least feel better once I actually figure out a topic and have planned everything out.  I’m glad I decided to take the extra 8th class this semester, because I want to have time to focus on research (and studying for the final comprehensive exam/board exam) in the summer.

Hmm, what else… I think I’m going to make a reading goal for this year.  Thinking 15 books is doable, because I’ll probably start off a bit slow until school is finished, but that’s expected because of my crazy schedule.  Once I’m settled into a job and such, I can build from there since my free time won’t be eaten up by studying and assignments!

I really need to kick this staying up insanely late habit.  Time for zzzz’s….