This is Melissa, whom I love dearly.   

 Ashley came out with us on Tuesday night.  ( :

We went to the London Underground, which is rather ironic b/c I will be in London for real in a few weeks! 

Yesterday, my bible study was fantastic.  There is a guy in our group from Colombia and he was really interesting.  He said that getting a PhD has always been his dream and it's super rare to get the opportunity if you're from Colombia.  He also talked about how he served in the army for a while because it is mandatory to do a year there and then he decided to get out because one of his friends died.  And he also talked about how everyone is Catholic there.  He said when a politician was scheduled to give a pro-abortion speech, all the bishops moved the mass times to the same time so that hardly anyone even showed up to the talk.  Lastly, it was nice to hear him talk about his faith life.  How he had decided to believe in God and how that is helping him not feel so alone now that he is not even on the same continent as his family.  

After bible study, we decided to go hiking in reactor woods via candlelight and a giant glow stick (that's all we could scrounge up out of Ashley's trunk, which was actually pretty impressive).  And then we got about ten feet down the trail before chickening out.  It was rather amusing.  Some other time maybe.  Then, we walked into Cafe Mood which was interesting.  The scantily-clad bar girls got up on the bar and Melissa looks at me and says, "look Allie, it's you."  I didn't know this before, but apparently dancing on the bar is something that is retained in people's memories forever, despite the fact that I was not scantily-clad when this occurred.  It's retained for good reason--that was definitely one of the most fun nights that I've spent with Melissa.  Going out with her is usually an adventure.  

The sunset at my family's farm was AMAZING tonight!

I'm back in Ames for a couple of days (until Thursday) to have some fun before I leave for two months!

I stumbled upon this in my fav places.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/paws/cats-as-fonts
#6 is too funny.  I chuckle every time I look at it.

I'm done with my residency applications, I just put the last one in the mailbox!  I don't know why I dreaded doing them in the first place.  Silly me.  Now I can just have fun the rest of the week, although I've been having fun all along and just working some of the time anyway.  I went to a labor day weekend picnic with Ashley Waller and her family and then to another one with my extended family.  My cousin was home from Boston and it was nice to get to see her.

Yesterday, I went to church and the priest gave a good homily.  It wasn't very deep but encompassed the heart of being a Christian.  He talked about his relationships with his parents, which were each very different.  His mom gave and enforced many rules, while his dad didn't give any.  He loved his dad dearly and always tried to please him, while he begrudgingly followed his mother's rules.  His father showed him how he wanted his son act by being an example.  Then, the priest said that his relationship with his dad resembled much more closely his relationship with God than his relationship with his mom.  And some folks think Catholics only care about rules--too funny.

Then, I had lunch w/ Ashley again and hung out with my high school friend, Dani Bell last night.  Her mom made lasagna and we had a bonfire.  It was quite lovely.  ( :

I went to a wedding w/ John over the weekend.  We were at the rowdy table that drank 8 bottles of campaign.  It was a good time.  

 Now I'm in the Wisconsin Dells on vacation with my family.  I'm living in luxury but was pretty stressed out last night about the amount of work that I need to get done.  My email has exploded and I have to apply for at least 5 residencies.  I went to a water park with my brother, dad, and my dad's friend this morning and have got a little work done this afternoon so far.  I'm feeling less stressed today.  ( :

 Mallards!

 My brother, David, and niece, Keira (the little one on the left).  

They are super cute.  

This is a great photo!!

 Percheron draft horses.  They are gorgeous.  

 A big and beautiful team of mares.  

 I got an ISU tattoo.  Just kidding, it's fake.  

I just got back from a Christian Veterinary Fellowship BBQ.  They had a panel of profs and practicing vets talk about how they incorporate Christianity into their work life and it was really refreshing to hear their wisdom!  I got to catch up with some good friends too!

Caitlin is a wonderful cook!  One day she cooked awesome spaghetti and meatballs and another she cooked this Indian chicken dish w/ curry, yogurt, almonds, and cilantro.  It was amazing!!

 And then we went out on the town w/ Leigh.  

 This is Leigh.  She is taller than me and prettier than me.  She should be a model but is actually an opera singer, which takes more talent anyway.  She is also a vegan and rides her bike everywhere.  In other words, I think she is fabulous.  

 We went to a classy bar w/ chandeliers and a lounge filled w/ beautiful furniture.     

 This is Caitlin's friend, Kristina.  She is a pre-vet student and she bought us drinks.  It was great.  

 We went to a super cute bar called the Library Club.  I'm rather fond of any type of library and this was definitely no exception.  They had tables in little coves surrounded by books and a dance club in the next room.  

 Pretty, huge houses by the lake.  

 This is one of my best friends, Senior Airman Ashley Sue Waller.  And I finally had time to get my haircut yesterday.  I have had a surgery patient in the hospital all week and she pretty much sucked up all my free time until she went home yesterday.  

 We went to the state fair which I absolutely love and go to every year.  This cow is adorable.  

 Ashley and a red angus bull.  

 The charolais show.  Aren't they pretty?

 Am I just tall or is this cow short?

 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs made w/ butter.  

And the evil stepmother.  

 The butter cow.  

Flowers.  

 We got fake Iowa Honey Bee Association tattoos.  

 This man was fabulous.  Not only did he sound like an entire band, he sounded like a great band!  

 This is one of my best friends, Margaret.  She taught me more about showing goats (I love goats but I'm more of a sheep/horse person) and then we visited the army tent.  

 Margaret is ripped, so we entered her in a push up contest so they slapped a weighted vest and helmet on her and away she went.  She slaughtered the women's record and beat all but one of the guys' records too.  She did 100.  No big deal right?  hahaha  I can do about 4.