Sailor Soldier of Love and Justice

Yesterday was....a day.

I was super nervous to go to class because we were getting our tests back. I knew I passed but I wasn't sure I passed with an A. Being insane, not passing with an A is as good as failing. (It is a miracle I survived college the first time.) But I got a 90 which is an A just barely so Yay!

We got extensions on our homework because it's super hard and everyone was confused. I spent the weekend alternating between fighting with the code and crying about how I'll never be a programmer. I got the program to work, but based on some hints she gave in class, I need to re-write a few parts. I took copious notes.

After class, I headed home to find Maggie standing on top of a screaming Captain Flint. Stupid bird had jumped off her cage AGAIN. But this time, Maggie had managed to do something really bad to Flint's leg. It was bent in ways it should not bend. And she wouldn't stop screaming. It was terrible.

Clearly the leg was broken so I searched for a nearby avian vet and called the right away. They were able to squeeze me in so we rushed over. The vet kept asking me if I was ok spending all the money on x-rays and whatnot for a bird. I kept thinking, "If I wasn't prepared to spend a stupid amount of money on a bird, I wouldn't have gone to a vet." But I used her concern to get $100 knocked off the bill.

An x-ray later, it was determined that she broke the leg right at the knee, so they couldn't splint it. A splint would cause the leg to fuse straight out and she would have extreme difficulties walking and climbing in the future. Instead, they recommended letting it heal naturally. It will likely heal a little shorter and to the side, compared to how it used to be, but her quality of life will likely be better when it's all said and done.

They recommended pain killers and lots of rest. It took forever to get the medicine because they had to hand-make it. They returned maybe 30 minutes later with solutions of ground up pills and tiny syringes to administer them. We practiced giving her the meds at the vet. Flint is so smart. She knew exactly what to do. I guess that means she was hand-fed as a baby.

So after that ordeal was over, we went home to discover someone had bombed Boston. That was a bit upsetting to say the least. I just don't understand how anyone could willfully harm other people like that.

But life does not stop so I gave Flint her first dose of medicine and then ran to the store to get hr a fish tank. I knew there was no way she was going to not climb all over her cage while healing, so a tank with nice smooth edges is just the thing she needed for forced relaxation.

Lucky for me, petco was having a $1/gallon sale on tanks! I got a nice big long one for only $20. Plenty of room for a crippled bird to rest and relax. It was super heavy, so I had a guy there lift it into my cart for me. Then I basically had him take me around the rest of the store to buy everything else I needed. (A lid, bedding, etc.) And then he carried it all out to my car for me. It was like having a personal assistant! Too bad he wasn't there to help me drag that huge thing into the house...

Flint hates her tank because it is new and scary, but I am sure she will get used to it. She'll be in there for a while because the vet said no climbing for THREE MONTHS. Then minimal climbing for the next 3 months. So really 6 months for full recovery. Poor little bird.

Speaking of which, it's about time for her next dose of medicine. I really hope it's helping her feel better.

The other day I was walking the dogs and we encountered an old man taking a walk. The following conversation happened.
Old man: Is that a welsh corgi?
Me: Yup! *maggie bounces and wiggles like the psychopath that she is*
OM: He's got a lot of energy!
Me: Yeah, she's pretty hyper
OM: And he's got a big head!
Me: *dumbfounded*
awkward silence
OM: But I guess that's normal for the breed.

And then he walked away. What a strange thing to say to someone about their dog!

In other news, I got my programming test back. Got a 91! Because I'm awesome! Most of my mistakes were little stupid ones. I only got a few questions wrong.

I was shocked to see the guy next to me only got a 52. Then I remembered he only comes to class about once a month and was less shocked. I'm just confused why someone would pay all the money for these courses (community college is cheaper, but it's certainly not cheap!) and then not put any effort into passing.

There's another guy in class who was saying how he was up until 6am working on the homework and he didn't even finish most of it. Again, it's baffling. We had over 2 weeks to work on this assignment. He started it last night. Why????

I must be getting old, because that ny trip left me totally exhausted. This was the first day this week where I woke up not feeling run over by a truck.

So other stuff in my life.

Tuesday was another farm day. Fruits and veggies were obtained. I even got some flowers this week, which was nice.

Some of the blackberries on the vine have started to turn a little too ripe. Typically I pop the overripe ones in my mouth when I accidentally pick them rather than throw them to the ground. This time, I left the field with a slight buzz. I am a lightweight though, so that might have been part of it.

On wednesday, I took a trillion practice tests for the math placement test at the community college. I was shocked by how much I had to re-learn.

And then on thursday I went in to take the test. It was supposed to take 2 hours but ended up taking 3. (I put 2.5 hours worth of change in the parking meter, but luckily did not get a ticket.) The test is set up in sections and you progress to the next one until you start getting a bunch wrong. Then the test ends. I completed 9 sections, which the proctor said was extremely good and rarely achieved by most people. Take THAT, math! She also said it looks like I easily tested out of taking a math course at all and I just need to talk to an adviser to formalize it in the system. Woo!

Unfortunately thursday and friday appointments were already full. I'll try going early next week. After I get more quarters for those stupid parking meters.

Today I did some house cleaning and food shopping because ben is coming home finally from his long long trip! I'm excited. I've missed him so so much! I'm counting down the hours until his flight lands.