Vaxed out

[bill_schubert]

While we were in the area Dana and I got the flu vaccine.  She also got a shingles one but I decided to space out my misery.

Actually I don't feel much from it other than a sore arm but it is the same arm that is attached to my shoulder so it is sore all the time anyway.

Then this morning I went in for a fasting blood test.  No news yet.  I'm interested since I'm on Noom and have cleaned up my act a bit to see where my lipids are as well as the other markers.  They were all OK since I take Crestor but now might be even better.  

This morning it was COLD when I went out for our walk.  We had to go early so I could make my blood draw so it was a few degrees cooler than it would have been anyway but it was really chilly.  I had a long sleeve shirt on.  Two days ago I was dripping sweat from my fingers as I walked.  Getting to be my favorite time of year.

Next week (Tuesday) is the week I take Zoe down to Texas A&M vet college for her checkout prior to becoming part of the trial pack.  I've got to be there at 9 so have to leave here before 7.  It is a boring drive to a university town I've never seen before so it will be a PIA to find the place.  I'm giving the map to Zoe so it should be interesting.

Comments

[mairi-dubh.livejournal.com]

"Down" to Texas A&M. To this Ohioan, it looks like "over to," so is it a matter of elevation?

And I'm glad you mentioned this, by the way. In a conversation with one of the veterinarians at the clinic to which we were referred (for the little tortoiseshell, who has chronic kidney disease) I mentioned the vet.-specialist who had previously treated her for her hyperthyroidism, which is all he does), I mentioned that hyperthyroidism specialist and Texas A&M's Veterinary College, and was corrected by the veterinarian I was talking with: "No, no; it's the University of Texas that has the veterinary school."
Well, I didn't argue, but I felt sure I'd heard of the Aggie veterinary school, and not the UT veterinary school.
I wasn't wrong, as it turns out ! (Yes, I did look it up. )

Going by Google Maps, it looks much as State College, PA, looked when I visited there back in my long-ago youth: essentially a company town, with the college or university the company.

It'll be O.K.. Talk to Zoe on your drive; I imagine she'll appreciate it.

And pack extra drinking water --- in case anything untoward should happen and there you are, in the middle of great, big ol' Texas, waiting for road service from AAA or your equivalent.

Positive thoughts to both of you.

[bill-schubert.livejournal.com]

This is how they sign their emails:

Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital - Small Animal | Texas A&M University

They also have 'large animal'. He was likely thinking of University of Tennessee which has a vet school. Still UT.

[mairi-dubh.livejournal.com]

Ah.
Thanks for this.

Here in Ohio, The Ohio State University has a College of Veterinary Medicine (I'm assuming that's how they head their emails, but I don't actually know ), and we also have a UT: University of Toledo.

He did tell me there are fewer than fifty vet schools in the country, and in that he was not mistaken.

I wasn't going to get into a harangue over it with him, though: he's the oldest and the "senior-est" of the veterinarians at that clinic and a good guy, and like just about every other vet at that clinic got his DVM from tOSU. My understanding is that veterinary school is only marginally less difficult that med school, so I am very respectful of good veterinarians and these are some of the best people I've ever "worked with," which is how they describe the patient/owner/veterinarian relationship. I reckon any veterinarian might be forgiven for not having kept track of the rest of the veterinary schools in the country.

And it did kinda make sense that a veterinarian would have been a Tea-Sipper, no?
Although it doesn't make sense that A&M wouldn't have its own veterinary school....

Thanks again, and safe travels next week! :^)

[mollywheezy.livejournal.com]

What is the trial pack for Zoe?

I hope y'all have a safe trip and it's easier to find that you think. I've been to A&M once for my college roommate to visit her boyfriend, but I didn't go to the vet school and that was almost 30 years ago, so I'm not helpful with directions. My friend aggiebell90 works at A&M so she might be a good resource for directional tips.

[bill-schubert.livejournal.com]

Zoe is in the Dog Aging Project (https://dogagingproject.org/). Very cool group dedicated to extending and enriching the lives of dogs. Within that group she enrolled in a study of a drug that may do just that. This Tuesday we are going to TAM for her final trial screening. If she is found suitable we'll begin taking the medication (whatever it is) or a placebo for two years during which time they will monitor her health.

We also do other things like a semi-annual dementia questionnaire. It is a wonderful group of people and a great cause.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

It's my college town. I don't think you'll have any trouble finding the vet school. It's on Highway 6 West of the main campus. :)

[mollywheezy.livejournal.com]

That's great! What a neat thing to do. :)

Here are directions to A&M from aggiebell90.

Hey, mollywheezy -- it looks like you tagged me in a comment to a friend. I can't comment because he has it set so only friends can respond, but I can definitely tell him how to get to the Vet School -- it's SUPER easy, especially given he direction it looks like he's probably going to be coming from. You can tell him to either friend me or DM me, or you can just tell him that if he comes in from HWY 21 through Caldwell, he'll need to take the exit for HWY 47 by the RELLIS campus. HWY 47 will dump him on to HWY 60, and that will turn into University Dr. He'll pass the airport and have to go through a diverging diamond (just don't turn off at any of the lights and you'll still be on University). The Vet School will be on his left--he'll come to the Large Animal Clinic before the Small Animal Clinic. I can't remember off the top of my head if you can turn left into the Small Animal Clinic off of University (I go onto campus on the other side of University and don't ever make it to the vet school entrances, and when I do go there, I'm coming from the east, not the west); if not, he can turn left at the light at Agronomy Rd (that's the first light after the Vet School) and turn into the parking lot from there.

If he wants to get food, his best bet will be going east on University; there are a ton of options across from campus and even more once you cross Texas Ave. For local flavor, he can go to the Dixie Chicken (on University directly across from main campus; parking is behind the building). This will depend on timing, obviously -- the Chicken is primarily a bar, but they sell decent burgers, etc. It's THE place for the college kids to hang out on the weekends, but it's a lot calmer on weekdays.

Also, you can tell the other person who commented on his post, that she's correct. The University of Texas does NOT have their own vet school, but A&M does, and until very recently--this year--has been the only Vet School in Texas (Texas Tech just opened their Vet School to students in 2021, assuming they got approval from the AVMA). Also, A&M and tOSU are tied for #4 in the nation in Vet School rankings.

[bill-schubert.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the googles have it. Now I just need to figure out what I'm doing from about 9:30 to 12:30. They won't let me in w/ Zoe.

[bill-schubert.livejournal.com]

Wow, how nice of @aggiebell90!

I'm pretty sure I've got the spot on the googles. The people I'm checking in with sent me a link. Looks easy.

I've got three hours to kill while Zoe is fawned over by a bunch of vet students so the food recommendation is nice. I won't have eaten much before we get there.

Thanks.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

(Tongue in Cheek) You can visit my parents in the nearby cemetery. Mom and Dad's fine resting place is less than a mile away.