#NerdsUnite: The secret life of a veterinary technician

<editorsnote> Nerds, meet my buddy Lindsay. She and I met ... well, somewhere in the social space. I think we might have started talking through this site directly, then through facebook - maybe ... I'm not sure. But she's awesome. I talk to her on twitter almost every day, and she's really rad and TOTALLY a big huge animal lover. Like crazy huge!! In these series of posts she will be talking about her life and random adventures with sometimes more than two legged creatures. I guess there's only one more thing left to say ... HIT IT LINDSAY!! </editorsnote>

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @TheCraftafarian

What's shakin nerds? This week I'm going to talk about some past experience with exotic animals.

Super super cool! 

So most of this takes place at the University of Florida. I worked in their Veterinary Medical Center, Small Animal Hospital ICU/CC (intensive care unit/critical care) for almost 2 years. Although much of the experience I had with their management was abso-fucking-lutely horrible, the medical experience I gained far out weighed the emotional and mental trauma I endured. Now most of my direct patients were only dogs and cats but sometimes Zoological Medicine/Exotics would either have a patient in ICU (for better care then the zoo ward-no overnight care) or I would end up in Zoo med because they didn't have any overnight technicians to help them. 

Some of the most memorable cases were: the kangaroo in ICU, the wild doe in the zoo ward, the white bengal tiger in zoo ward, and the cougar in ICU. 

The kangaroo was in ICU because he needed to get fluids, plasma, and other medications usually all at the same time. So we had to place a central line which is a special intravenous catheter that is placed in the jugular vein. It has multiple ports that empty into the vein separately so the solutions are not mixed.  

The photo is of me leaning in his little cage. Unfortunately I  don't remember his name, I believe he belonged to a zoo or exotic handler. He did well and was eventually transferred back to zoo ward and went home.

The deer was a wild doe that was hit by a car. A good Samaritan (its what we call them in the vet world, and originally it is a bible reference) saw her get hit and brought her into the hospital on emergency. The driver of the car that hit the doe drove away. The man who brought her in also saw her fawn so he went back to find the baby who was hiding at the time. The veterinarian on call for zoo med came down to ICU to get some help. I volunteered. (I like doing different things) The vet asked the vet student (always a vet student on call during the weekend as well as vet) to put in a jugular catheter but she was unable to do so. He asked me to. At this time in my career I had never placed a jugular catheter, tons of regular IV catheters in the legs and even ears. Yes, ears. Some dogs like basset hounds have big floppy ears which also have a nice little vein that can be used if needed. Well I figured it would be just like the other catheters only a much larger target. I never told the vet or the vet student that I hadn't done this before, because essentially I have, just not in this vessel. And I was successful! Unfortunately the doe had to be euthanized as she was fatally injured. The nice man who saved her from suffering was able to save her fawn. 

There's always happy and sad times in my job. 

FYI I only have one actual picture from this time to share currently but next week I should have more. My old laptop is not charged and like a very very bad nerd I didn't not back up any of my files so they are currently trapped on a computer that I cannot turn on. Annnnd the charger is MIA. I'm pretty sure someone borrowed it....like a while ago....ALSO I contacted my Senior Vet Tech/good friend (she was the lead tech on our shift until she went on maternity leave and then I became lead tech) and asked her to email me any photos she has from when we worked together. 

Anyway, the big cats will be next time! I MUST have photos of the kitties to show you with the post. Otherwise it wouldn't be fair :)

OMG! And let us never forget how AMAZING social media is because I posted on twitter and facebook that I needed to borrow a charger for an old compaq presario V5000 model--low and behold help has arrived!!! It isn't in the form of a charger but a facebook/IRL friend from high school contacted me and let me know that he has a compTIA A+ certification. So basically he's going to pull all the data off my old laptop for me even if we can't turn it on. Will only take about 30 minutes and he said NO CHARGE!! AMAZING! Do you know how much this usually costs? To copy over a hard drive? Its apparently called data recovery. I did a quick check online and it can cost up to $350. I may have to buy this dude some starbucks!

Yaaay!! Peace. Love. Pawprints.

-Lindsay @thecraftafarian

craftafarian.blogspot.com

#nerdsunite

#NerdsUnite: Life Without A Purpose

<editorsnote> Nerds, meet Brian Freedman!! He makes funny videos on YouTube. Go watch: youtube.com/ImBrianFreedman. If you don't like 'em, he'll bake you pie. Mmmm... piiiiiiieeee. K. That is all. </editorsnote>

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's Brian Freedman

I don’t really see the point in life. Correction: my life. Is this a common feeling? You bet your sweet ass it is. But here’s my story.

I believe the OVERALL purpose of life is fairly simple:

Life’s Purpose

• Do good
• Have fun
• Learn things

 That’s it. Simple, right?  

I have done all of the above (as I'm sure everyone has), but my life has gradually become more & more stale. For me, I don’t really do much with my life. The main cause of that is, I have no ambitions, no real desires. Let’s say, for example, you would LOVE to go to New York or Hawaii for 2 weeks. Great! Now how do you accomplish such a task? You work hard (most likely at a job you would rather volunteer to get your butt bleached than work another day at), earn money which you then save, and eventually you WILL go on that trip. The reason you work so hard is because whenever you feel tired, down or upset you KNOW there is a shopping spree in New York or a beach chair, Mai Tais, a perfect natural tan and beach hunnies/hunkies waiting for you in Hawaii with your name on it.

With me, though, there’s nothing I care to have. I’m not talking about food and a place to live (those are basic necessities). I mean, I don’t care to be a CEO of a vegan company, traveling anywhere would be interesting but I could easily go without, and I’m single and could honestly go the rest of my life that way (and no, I’m not a typical man afraid of commitment who just wants to fuck and run, I genuinely adore women). Besides, I know nothing’s sexier to a woman than a man with no ambition. Am I right ladies?? 

:: crickets. Condescending crickets. ::

In my life, since I have no desires, I have no carrot. Don’t mistake this. I’m not claiming I’m some Buddha who’s reached a higher way of being and I don’t need material things to make me happy. Hell, I love my PS3 and TiVo. And I’m not some hippie who sits around all day smoking weed wondering why the elephant on my ceiling doesn’t pay rent in American dollars (never done drugs). I’m a very functional guy who just happens to have nothing to do or work towards.  

Really my whole life I’ve never cared for things. I personally just live very simply. The problem with that is, I’m bored out of my mind. With nothing to work for, I have nothing to do. The only thing I ever truly wanted was an awesome personality, and after years of working hard on myself I feel very happy with who I am.

You could say, “Well Brian, maybe if you weren’t such a lazy piece of shit your life would mean something.” Valid point, but I feel I can only play according to my strengths working towards something worth working towards. Otherwise, I don’t see the point and thus, take no action.

Everyday I waste so much time feeling I could be used for greater purposes, yet have no interest pursuing... anything. Yes, I would love to be a Top 100 YouTube Partner, but if I didn’t get it I would be okay with it. You see!?  Anything I kind of desire, if it doesn’t happen I don’t care. I adapt to the path of least resistance. I could honestly die tomorrow and would be happy because I wouldn’t be wasting my time anymore. No, I’m not going to off myself, that’s just stupid. I’m just demonstrating that my life feels very non-influential and unfulfilling right now.

Hell, in a couple years let’s say I do find my purpose, very well plausible, but up until this point I haven’t and it’s frustrating.   

When I was in school, high school and even more so in college, I didn’t care for it. The teachers would give me assignments, and if I didn’t know how to do it their way, I just said, ”Fuck it, this doesn’t make sense to me. I’ll do it my way.” And you know what? Didn’t make a lick of difference. I still did well playing to my strengths in lieu of their requirements.

I remember in one class we were getting back our philosophy papers and before the teacher handed out the first paper, he said it was the finest paper in the class and was quite impressed, then handed me my paper. I thought it was cool but nonchalantly told him, “Yeah, I did this in an hour & a half the night before” (mind you, I’m not genius, I just procrastinated).  He looked irritated, “Don’t tell me that.” And I casually quipped, “I don’t care.”  I didn’t say it out of disrespect, I said it matter-of-fact, out of honesty.

That is my experience with school. I did it however I wanted, and did well. Thus, I view school as a joke. I understand it is quite valuable to others, I’m merely speaking from my own experience.
It wasn’t until very recently I realized I view life the same way I view school ⎯ a waste of my time.
Yes, I’ve learned a lot and will continue to learn, but with no desires to motivate or guide me what’s the point?

Maybe you guys can help me out and share your motivations, your desires.  What makes life worth living? What’s your purpose? Maybe then I can find something interesting enough to do with my life.

Probably not.  

But hey, it’s worth a shot.

#nerdsunite

Check out more from Brian over yonder ...
YouTube: youtube.com/ImBrianFreedman
Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Brian-Freedman/119790301389812

#NerdsUnite: 2 girls, 1 livestream- TOMORROW!!

A hoi hoi nerderinos, just packing up for my flight back to LA (THANK YOOOUUUUU GOOODDDD), and looky looky the tweet I just got ...

YEP!!!

Tomorrow! 8pm PST ... TNTML's livestream show will be back!! It's going to be every Monday actually - wait, here ... just watch this:

SO SO SO SO SO excited!! Misti and I will be live in studio together too!! (Still need to figure out how to do multi-cam webcasts on Ustream Studio Producer. They do not make that shit easy like Sunday morning!!)

You can still submit questions - email: Questions@TalkNerdyToMeLover.com

Obviously you guys can ask us questions in the chat too, but it will increase your odds of getting an answer by asking ahead since, dudes, last week in the chat - I could BARELY keep up!! So. So. So. Amazing.

This week is going to be even better, and you don't even have to go anywhere - I'll make sure I embed the chat right here on the site.

Go, tell your friends - but more importantly submit questions. Two very qualified life living females with two very different perspectives here, at your service to help you demystify the female mind.

Keep on keepin on nerderinos!! Can't WAIT to talk to you all tomorrow.

#love

Click here to read what people said about last week's show!

#NerdsUnite: What's up DC! Who's down to kick it tonight??

OOOHHHHHH bless, I am just ... a hot mess today. My soul is like defeated after spending a month back east. Again, NYC was obviously rad - those are my peoples too, but this whole east coast proper New England thaaannnnnggg just ain't my scene. Not mad at it - of course, but I really really really just want to have fun tonight. Like really really really have organic, beer drinking, girl burping, booty shaking ... FUN!!!!! 

If you live in the area, and want to also have that kinda fun - totes come out to Sine Irish Pub tonight in Arlington, VA. I figure if you read this site we clearly have something in common which is 99% more than I have had with everyone I have interacted with in the last month. 

It's my last night on the road - and I'd love love love to go out with a bang or at least be so hungover that I have to use my puke bag on the plane tomorrow. 

Seriously, I've never had to use it ... but I kinda feel like that should be a goal in life at one point. 

Ewe ... wait, maybe not. 

But yah! Here's the addy: 

Sine' Irish Pub on Pentagon Row

1301 S. Joyce St Arlington, VA 22202

p: 703-415-4420 f: 703-415-4421

9pm.

And like don't be one of those weirdos that comes to a 9pm party at like midnight. I'm going to get there at 9 and if it's like too lame or whatever, we'll bounce around. Translation: I ain't waitin' for ya!! Let's just have fun peoples. 

I just want beer, good times, and good people. If you also want those three things, I'd love to talk to you. If not, sod off because I'm cranky. 

Look forward to seeing/ meeting you guys. Like no, that part I'm for real on - you all MAKE MY FRIGGEN LIFE!!! BAH!! Let's go have some fucking fun!!! 

#loveyoulongtime

#NerdsUnite: Hold Up, Don't Tweet This!

<editorsnote> Nerds, meet Mark. I actually went to high school with this duderino, and he's super rad. Like for real rad - we had junior year math together, and he might not admit it - but he's pretty smart. He's going through some shizzy shiznat right now, and would like to talk about it ... HIT IT MARK!!  </editorsnote>

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's Mark Lindquist

My entire life I have held myself back and watched other people less fortunate/talented/motivated etc. rocket past me and achieve their dreams while I sat around with my excuses justifying why I couldn’t do it.  

WELL I AM HERE TO TELL YOU I AM COMING OUT OF MY SHELL!! A coming out party of a different kind….. if you will.  

I have waited for that chance to shine, to find that groove to follow, to catch a glimpse of an opening for my success. Now the door has opened and I am stepping in with confidence. It’s such a great time to be me because I am participating in the events that will create the lifestyle I want to have.

I can literally feel success right around the corner and the truth is that I have become good at being me.  If you can feel electricity running through these words it’s because I have stumbled onto a secret and just like any sales promotion will tell you, I’m here to give you the goods……. for free.

So what is stopping you from achieving the lifestyle you dream of?  Could it be that you aren’t using your energy efficiently? When information that excites and shocks us comes rocketing towards our digital social space we have a tendency to pass it along, re-tweet, and re-post before it has a chance to have a positive lasting impact. Why would we willingly participate in a virtual game of hot potato? What are we actually doing????? We are giving that energy away before we can use it for ourselves!!

The problem with passing along a hot tweet-izzle or scintillating photo is that we are stamping it with our approval or disapproval and unknowingly sending away a piece of our energy with it. It’s all about managing inflow versus out flow and I don’t know about you, but I lose enough energy just sitting in traffic.

Well this time why not try something different? Try holding that message in before sending it to your tweetable peeps and facebooking faces.  It even works well after an awesome night out. If you override your instinct to tweet and fb the details of an incredible night on the dance floor you can harness your energy for the next time and unleash a fury of dance moves, the likes of which the world has yet to see.  
Why should anyone do that? It boosts your confidence and allows for the channeling of that energy.  It’s easy to pass a hot potato to the next person because it’s hot. The task becomes more difficult when you try to hold in and transmute the energy for your own personal use. If something can make you immediately act, then there is real power behind it. Tap into that power and become proactive rather than a passive receiver of information and….  

With so many things to on the internet waiting to misguide and mislead us, it’s very important to sit on the information we take in. In doing so the truth will remain and the rest will fall away.  

So instead of immediately forwarding this, take a moment to center yourself…… Hold this message in awareness. What can you take from it? Maybe you can channel some of the energy and finish that project you have put off or you could talk to someone whose spirits could use some uplifting. At that point if it’s still worthy enough to send into the cloud of confusion then fire away.  I did in order to get this message to you, but only after contemplating this:  Life is reflective.  In order to bring in and attract the lifestyle I am looking for, I have to give out willingly to yours.

#nerdsunite