Snakes Rattle, Prairie Dogs Attack

Well, today was a very interesting day to say the least! I finally found Callie a vet ... conveniently right down the road of of 56 highway. While I was there, I learned that we have quite the rattle snake problem here. Not that I should be surprised ... we are considered "high desert." Although, this is the coldest desert i've ever seen. Of course, I don't think i've ever been to a desert. But, I just kind of always thought they were hot. I could be wrong. Maybe only the low deserts are. Something to investigate ...  Also while at the vet, I learned of a rattle snake vaccine. I haven't decided for sure whether I will be getting it for Callie. All I could think was to heck with her, what about a vaccine for me?? Ha! I'm trying to find out. Apparently the snakes are more concerned with getting away from you and only bite as a last resort. Don't worry, Mr. Snake, I will definitely get out of the way. But what happens when there are multiple snakes and no escape route? I suppose this is where a gun would be helpful ... and John Wayne. So, while we are on the subject of snakes, during Callie and I's walk, we found out that those holes in the middle of the dirt road? Those are not prairie dog holes, oh no. They are snake holes!! When Callie and I peeked in one of them, we saw a snake  ... a big one ... coiled up. Not sure if it was a rattler ... i've only ever seen them on Nat Geo. I didn't wait to find out. It was asleep, and I wanted to keep it that way. I tried to take a picture with the zoom ... not sure if you can see it in there ... but, I really didn't want to get any closer. :-) So, just when you think the stream of knowledge has stopped, I learned more ...

Prairie dogs, while incredibly cute and cuddly, are not in fact cuddly. Actually, if you get too close, they attack (think squirrel and raccoon attack combined). Callie and I like to hide in the what I now know as snake infested bushes and watch them communicate with the other prairie dogs. They actually chirp like birds. It kind of takes the peacefulness out of a nice country walk. So, I think I will rethink a) letting Callie run after them and b) the idea they are cuddly. They really are everywhere. What I haven't seen? A squirrel. Haven't seen one since in St. George at Zion. Despite the snakes and dogs that live on prairies, Callie has grown a liking to horses ... and the horse have grown a liking to her! Every time we are by there, she refuses to continue until we have said hello. Interestingly, they always come over right to the fence and say hello. Once I get some apples on my apple tree, I'm going to bring them some. As far as I know, horses don't attack, so we should be good there.

I also learned there are hardly any female medical doctors here. Not really sure why, but it's bizarre. I set up all of my doctors and got my cardiologist all set up here. He's kind of a temporary cardiologist. Because, of course, if I am dying or something, I want my Kansas cardiologist. They just need to keep me alive until he gets there. Not that I'm expecting anything like that. But with all this hiking, you never know. Check out the view from my doctor's office... breathtaking!! To quote one of my closest friends, I live in a postcard. It's pretty amazing.

On the school front, Theory class is prepped, Research Methods is pretty much prepped, and the intro comm class will be prepped by the end of the week! Then on to working on research!! :D

Annoyance of the day: Why am I listening to ads on Pandora?!

Great obsession of the day: Adele