Where has the semester gone?!?

Sorry I have been so negligent on my blogging duties! I have no pictures to share today nor do I have any really fun adventures to tell you about. I just wanted to update to let everyone know I am alive and surviving the most challenging/intense semester I have ever gone through. The material has not been hard to me in any sense especially after living through UW - Eau Claire's Organic Chemistry nightmare, but I have never had to learn the entire normal physiology, anatomy, radiology, histology, and biochemistry all shoved into ONE semester! ENTIRE BOOKS and BOOKS worth of knowledge that I will be examed on in just a few short weeks. My first final is Anatomy theory and then Anatomy practical later that same afternoon on the first friday of June (I think the 7th) and then the following Monday is Biochem final and Thursday is Physiology final. Then the very next day is Friday June 14th and I get to see David Attenborough!!! SOOOOOOOO PYSCHED STILL!!! Brian and I are still trying to find a cheap (hahaha nothing in australia is cheap!!) but nice restaurant to eat dinner at before the show. Cheap is still the main priority, but it will be a nice trip into the city! :) 

THEN June 15th and 16th is Brian's orientation days at his new job at Bunnings. Again, this store is a combination of Menards/Lowes/Home Depot/Sears/Sam's Club... They just have a BUNCH of stuff!! I am very proud and excited for this opportunity for Brian. He was 1 of 6 people that got hired out of FIVE HUNDRED (500) applicants! That is just INSANE!!! :) also the starting pay is anywhere from $20-25 an hour and the more training classes he does for the different departments the more raises he can get! :) This will be VERY helpful since rent ate up my student loans WAAY quicker than hoped! Also looking forward to getting bicycles and hopefully by the end of the year I will have my first Mac Desktop computer since my laptop can only be revived from the dead a few more times (if I am lucky)!! :) I would be sooooo lost with my iPad with such a temperamental laptop and thankfully the school is switching over to a more ipad/mac/mobile friendly classroom software for next semester! No more only being able to see half of the documents I need without running to the campus computers at odd hours! 

Umm other news: I applied to a receptionist job at a brand new emergency and specialty vet clinic that is in the final stages of being  built and stocked. The add was specifically looking for vet students to gain more experience in the field outside of school. They also said they were going to hold off at looking at the applications until the very end of our finals! How nice is that??? Opportunities like this don't open up regularly and I would be SOOO excited to learn more about emergency medicine. I got to help out on like two emergency cases when I worked at Westgate Animal Hospital in Eau Claire and it was absolutely enthralling! I look back at my experiences at Westgate and I truly cherish those times. If any of you are reading this, THANK YOU for the opportunities you have given me and it was by far the BEST job I could have ever hoped to get and I know you guys were a HUGE reason for me getting accepted into Vet School AND everyones passion for animals there just inspires me everyday! :)  

I also have passed every single exam of the semester and even got High Distinctions on both of my biochem exam! Soooo if I don't screw up the final I have a good chance of getting one HD on my transcript from Vet School! :) 

Well I have to get back to studying anatomy!! I am really hoping on my break Brian and I can find as many adventures as possible so I can tell you more about how AWESOME Australia is!!

OH!!! I forgot to tell you!! It is officially autumn and some trees have actually lost a majority of their leaves!! I was quite impressed. You can even see your breath in the mornings!! hahah Either way their autumn is like my PERFECT temperature! No acclimation necessary!! However, as much as I enjoy it only ONE month of official summer was NOT enough for me! To go from Wisconsin winter (8 dreary months - wasn't super full of snow until I left just chilly and or rainy) to have one month of summer and right back into cooler months is not that awesome! haha I wish I could have hopped from US summer to AUS summer, but nooope! hahah I'll survive!! 

I hope everyone is having a good spring and celebrated the true meaning of Memorial Day!! 

Ryan and Kate - good luck on getting your house sold in Bristol, I hope the best for you two so your little family can continue to grow! (cough cough can't wait for future twins cough cough)

Rossi and Amber - I want to see pictures of the newest addition (the kitty I hear you are adopting that I hope bubba doesn't think is food) and Ross, I hope you know how proud of you I am and I'm glad I am not driving around racine county anymore because you would FOR SURE pull me over! hahaha

AND

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY!!! I know its technically in two days for you, but just think, you get to celebrate tomorrow when its the 30th for me AND you get to celebrate when it turns the May 30th for you! :) how awesome is that?? You are the best support system EVER!!! I hope the boys come over for dinner or dad takes you out! You can't just garden and act like its any old day! do something fun dammit! hahah I love you with all of my heart!! 

TALK SOON I HOPE!!! (if I survive finals)

...Not seen the beach in a month...

Hello everyone! Sorry it has been soooo long again. This is truly the weed out semester - supposedly we have lost about 15 in our class, but I haven't double-checked that number! I have an exam on monday, a third physio exam on the 22nd of May and then finals (first two weeks in June) and group projects are all coming due this week and next and a presentation to give on the last week of the teaching period (week of May 20th). For finals I have 4: Anatomy theory (3hours I believe all written), Anatomy practical, Physiology/Histology, and Biochemistry. My brain is already exploding from information overload and I've still got a few weeks of lectures! AHHH :D As stressed as I am, I am really enjoying the challenge.

A quick update about the major events:

• I haven't gone to the beach in such a LONG time!! I miss it! It is definitely cooling down here, but its nowhere near Wisconsin cold yet all the stores have switched to full-on winter clothes! It cracks me up. Thick sweaters and winter jackets! I wear a fleece after sittin in one place for awhile, but still not in jeans except for when I know I have to go into the anatomy dissection lab (SO COLD) and the only jacket I have worn is my rain jacket because that has been an adventure! When it rains it comes on all of a sudden and downpours then stops and the sun will come out, then in anywhere from 2 mins to 30 mins it will rain again. We have had a wind advisory from tuesday through today (thursday)! I didn't believe the warning at first, but it has been soo intense and then the downpouring rain along with i tat times has made for an interesting few days!
• The weather in April was interesting also: the first 11 days or so were sweltering hot around 39 C (102.2 F), then the middle got the coldest around 23 C (73.4 F). Next it warmed up to 31C (87.8 F) on April 30th. Then for May it immediately went down to 20 C (68.0 F). and it has  been bouncing between 22 and 25 since (71.6 - 77 F). It is forcasted to keep raining through May and get down to around 16-18 C by the end of the month (60.8 - 64.4 F)
• Brian and I have been going to the Fremantle markets on Sunday evenings around 3-330pm to get the best deals! This market place is absolutely HUGE!! I have no way to explain it, but there is two different buildings/warehouses?, one is for candles, smoothies, smoothies, souvenir stuff, spices, vitamins, a few restaurant type shops,  then the next building (connected) has just table and tables and tables of fruits and vegetables and cheeses and nuts and fill your own bag grain/flours/noodles/rice. If you get there at the end of the weekend you can get bags of fruits/veggies/potatoes usually $2/bag for 3 bags for $5 or $6 for $10 :) pretty awesome deal and so we get try to help out different vendors each week. The area between the clothing/random area and the food area has a few cafe booths and a sitting area out one door (I've got pictures of the cute benches). Its the biggest farmers market/flea market mix I have ever seen!
• Next Brian and I went to the BIGGGEST VINTAGE FLEA MARKET I HAVE EVER SEEN!! It was called a 3 in 1 market: handmade crafts (a BUNCH of quilting things Grandma Winfield would be in heaven), Antiques & Collectables, and the Polka Dot Vintage Market!! I We got so much fun stuff!! I'll save the descriptions for the photos! But we did get to ride the TRAIN!! I love it every time! 
• Next big thing that happened is WE GOT A NEW APARTMENT! We will be moving in around June 20th which is after my finals! YAY! Its the bottom part of a guys house with a separate entrance. Its like my own mini hobbit hole with it being 3/4 underground! :) It is amazingly remodeled one bedroom with a little sitting area and kitchen and bathroom off the bedroom! It is amazing to find anything this close to school for our price range that isn't dingy and gross OR that isn't in a house share. House shares are the biggest thing here where the rooms of a house are rented out individually and there is like 5-8 bedrooms per house. The problem with that is I am kind of tired of living with so many people after being just Brian, our kitties, our froggies and I! The other problem with the house shares is that it is also twinsized beds, meaning Brian and I would have to rent out two rooms if we were lucky we could maybe find two in the same house or we would have to be in different houses. LAME! So this apartment is amazing and was little a needle in a haystack to find! :) We can't wait to move in - plus our new apartment is completely furnished with an enclosed shower! SOO EXCITED!!!
• Brian volunteers at an Animal hospital that also has a cat adoption center. He goes on tuesday mornings to help take care of the adoption kitties: feeding, cleaning cages, and taking them to an outdoor cage! All the kitties that live in the houses around here ALLLLL go outside! They don't have rabies here and the kitties all just hang out in the owners front yards! Its pretty sweet! :) 
• Next Brian walks a little Cocker spaniel Wednesday, Thursday, and Fridays and she is the cutest and weirdest dog! She trains really well for Brian, but then loses it when she is walked by anyone else. She LOVES water, but to stomp in it not swim and she likes when you kick up water she bites it! It is the FUNNIEST thing I have EVER seen!! She cracks me up and has really helped our transition here, being void of animal companionship has been extremely difficult for Brian and I, but with time we know it will get better.
• Brian has applied to Bunnings which is similar to a Menards/Lowes/steins/home depot mix :) It has sooo much stuff! they had a huge section on worm composting from apartment size to apartment COMPLEX size! :0 It was fantastic. Next they had everything you could possibly think of to start aquaponics! Something I have been researching for over 2 years!! :D LOVE IT!! Back to Brian: he made it through the phone interview and onto a group interview last night. There was three group interviews being held with 10-12 people per group and only like 4 per group makes it on to a personal interview with two managers. Brian got an email almost immediately after the group interviews to come in for a personal interview!! We are so happy for this opportunity and hope it all works out. I went with Brian because it was a new bus route and I wanted to check out the store and it was downpouring in numerous and sporadic intervals and I love rain! (I just wanted to go on an adventure). we got there almost dry after 3 bus transfers (each with short journey times each but a crazy long distance up and down hills). We went to the bathroom and then Brian checked in for the interview and I walked around for about 40 mins looking at the all the options when I met the funniest older gentleman that worked there. We ended up talking for the next 20 mins and he got such a kick out of my vibrams (my crazy cool toe shoes!) that he took me around to all of his coworkers to show them even if they were helping a customer! It was a really funny experience! Then I found Brian and I took him to meet this gentleman. We ended up talking to him and another lady coworker for the next hour after Brian's interview finished and while the second group of the day was being interviewed. It was such a great encounter and really brightened my day! Brian and I journeyed back home with only two bus transfers (I've totally got this bus thing DOWN - still excited to get a bike; I've got a long way to go if I want to keep up with my  mom when she comes to visit!! :D ) and only one heavy rain burst and we made it home just before one of the biggest thunderstorms of the day.
• Lastly, BRIAN AND I GET TO SEE DAVID ATTENBOROUGH LIVE IN PERTH AFTER MY FINALS!!!!! This is the absolute best, amazing, exciting, unimaginable birthday present and 6 year anniversary gift!!!! I never thought I would EVER get the chance to see the nature documentary legend in person!!!! WE CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS REAL!!!! :D :D :D 
Well that is about all the craziness that has been happening in OZ for us! We miss all of you and appreciate all the letters, postcards, random texts, emails, and facebook messages! :D I tried to get Brian to write a post for me while I have been studying like crazy, but I like being the story-teller better! hahahaha :D Well the next few weeks are going to be rough for me, but if anything crazy cool happens I will try to update!! 
• 
   I MISS YOU BOOBOO and your giant pooch and your short little legs!!!! <3
  
  
   I MISS MY LION!!! such a cuddle buddy!!
  
  
  FREO MARKET
  
  
   Smoothie/juicer stand! look at all those fresh fruits!!!! full watermelon, green apples, oranges, bananas!! AMAZING
  
  
   cool looking store front - a bunch of oils and vitamins and soaps
  
  
   How big the warehouse is - Just section one! still by an entrance
  
  
   Only if these were adult size!! Brian would be the penguin and I'd be the cow for halloween!! :D
  
  
   trying something from the food vendors - seafood paella! BRIAN ATE THEM CLAM!
  
  
   Where the food vendors are for food like above
  
  
   Sitting area
  
  
   Mom - dad should put these around the sunniest sides of the house and you could grow a huge hanging herb garden! Just an idea!! :)
  
  
   Coolest, biggest building art!
  
  
  
  
   More flower "pots"
  
  
   AMAZING DRAWING!!!!! it was of a tiger!! absolutely stunning!!! Street art in Freo
  
  
   hotel that is being renovated near our bank in Freo
  
  
   DAD - these need to go around your firepit!!
  
  
   A TABLE TO MATCH! :)
  
  
   SO MUCH FRUIT!!
  
  
   MORE FRUIT
  
  
   can just barely see the city center!! very center - on horizon
  
  
  
  
   The Esplande! walkway that follows the swan river
  
  
  
  
   seagull who sat on one foot and talked to us for 30mins haha while walking the dog! :)
  
  
   Dog walking - city center across from the swan river
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   SNAIL!!! :D
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   Neat, but I like my mom's better :D
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   BIRD FEEDERS OR just decoration out of cups and plates
  
  
   lamps made from strainers and a dessert tray made from vinyl records!
  
  
   COW COOKIE JAR!!! so close to buying! haha
  
  
   DID BUY THIS!! spice jar set with corks for lids, a bowl (not seen), 4 cups, a water pitcher, and a jam jar!
  
  
   A rooster box just for mom! :D
  
  
   Elvis knife just for my Dad
  
  
   Coat hooks, which i know my grandma would have bought for me! <3
  
  
   old school train station on way home from VINTAGE MARKET
  
  
   train station
  
  
   found in library bathroom stall! :D Love it!
  
  
   Murdoch sign at sunset!
  
  
   NEON bright pink and red tree!!
  
  
  
  
  
   NEON red!! never seen flowers so vibrant!!
  
  
   pretty flowers - on a random walk-about!
  
  
   coolest fence  thingy out of bricks ever!!
  
  
  
  
   LIME GREEN AND PURPLE HOUSE!!! my favorite colors!!!!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Kind of the aquaponics set up we want to grow our cilantro on our countertop in new apartment!! :) 

Door to outside, love seat with TV across. Bookshelf on left of screen is wall. Kitchen and window to driveway outside

bedroom is to the right of the fridge, microwave on top of fridge, stove but no oven, double sink

pretty big bedroom with two dressers to the right of screen, a desk, small closet with water heater behind and bathroom through door

Bathroom! toilet and shelves for towels to the left of screen! :) 

Video One: obnoxiously loud rainstorm at like 1am, and I hit stop record right before it got deadly quiet!! CRAZY RAIN. not sure if the video will actually work

Video Two and Three: Hard to tell but the walkways flashflood like crazy! this is off of my porch like the one above. Not as cool as experiencing it firsthand - not as dramatic on video! haha

WALL OF HOME!

FRUIT INFUSED WATER!! delicious!!

All stainless steel knife set! and old school razor kit made in germany!

 VINYL! So bummed we couldn't find any Frank Zappa and the one copy one of the sellers knew about was sold earlier in the day!

Plus we got the set of orange spice jars from one vendor (pictured higher up) and then found a LIME green set with cork stoppers as well from another vendor!! So random and sooooo coool!!!! The picture of the green jars wouldn't upload so I will have to show another time!! hahaha