Welcome 2015!

I was so excited to welcome in 2015 with my fellow fans of Pink Martini, Kim Holt and Spring Halland.  We love Pink Martini, but the Walt Disney Concert Hall is a fabulous place to hear them (or any other music.  We caught a glimpse of the Los Angeles Grand Park NYE Celebration and the giant projections onto the iconic City Hall building.  We enjoyed our champagne and tailgate picnic in the warm parking garage (yeah - 70 degrees while outside was closer to freezing). 

Happy 2015!

Pink Martini is such a delight and the special guests are always, well, special.  This performance included the Von Trapps.  Yes, they are the great grands of "those" Von Trapps, as in descendants of the ones in the Sound of Music.  I recommend you check out the Von Trapps and Pink Martini's album  "Dream a Little Dream" which is $8.99 for the MP3 on Amazon.com.  If you have Amazon Prime, my favorite track "Storm" streams free.  I get goose bumps thinking about that song.  Ari Shapiro showed up to sing the reply to China Forbes "And then your gone."  China and Ari sang a duet first performed by Barbara Streisand and Judy Garland.  A group of business men from Portland flew to LA to bring their unique Blue Brothers Japanese Portlandia style to the event.  They were hilarious.  Totally hilarious.  No, truly.  Hilarious!

If you have never heard of Pink Martini, it is challenging to explain the music they perform.  Of course I was listening to them while writing this.  Looking at the genres listed in iTunes you can find a single song listed with classical, jazz, Latin and lounge and then another would be classical, African and disco.  I think I finally have a was to explain them to the Pink Martini Newbie.  They a genre-blending multicultural musical integration.  Got it?  No. Well, go listen and see for yourself.

Balls and Dragons" Reptile Super Show 2014

Not many places where you can see a big banner stating, "Superior Balls and Dragons".  Ball pythons and bearded dragons were some of the most featured reptiles at the largest reptile show in the United States www.reptilesupershow.com). There is still plenty of pacman frogs,  king snakes and after the title critters.   My favorites: the adorable sulcatta tortoises, Eastern indigo snakes (if I had a $1000) and the Living Gems Reptiles rainbow boas (on Facebook & lgreptiles@yahoo.com). 

Oscar Reducindo, silver jewelry craftsman, does beautiful work AND he does custom pieces by request.  Visit his etsy store at biologicaljewels.etsy.com.

Exotic Animal Care Center of Pasadena was the only veterinary practice represented.   This practice is growing so quickly that they have recently added a third doctor to the staff.  Dr. Stephanie Lamb has recently joined doctors Tiffany Margolin and practice owner Dr. Sari Kanfer.  Way to go Sari!

There are good prices on reptile housing and husband the supplies abound.  The show continues at the Fairplex in Pomona til Sunday January 5th at 5 pm.

I posted this entire blog from my Samsung Galaxy Note 3.  I even took and edited photos and videos.  They'll be on my Facebook page: Diane McClure DVM

Here's to better success at regular blogging in 2014!

Veterinary Nomad Journal 1.4.14

Back that thing up!!

Back that thing up!!  and I am not referring to twerking.  Before you upgrade to iOS 7, take a few minutes to follow the suggestions in this great article by CNET.
Five Things to Do Before Installing iOS 7

Welcome to 2013!

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

UC Denver Anschultz Medical Campus

DVM 2015 and 2016 have started their first PBL cases for the year.  DVM 2013 have arrived at their 3rd year course sites.  We have two new sites beginning:  Cheyenne Mountain Zoo for Zoo & Wildlife Medicine and UC Denver for Lab Animal Medicine & Research.  DVM 2013 on campus are enjoying a 9:00 am start.  DVM 2014 are still on the road, but many have successfully hurdled the National Boards (NAVLE).  Congrats to the DVM 2013 who have this milestone behind them!

  ~Veterinary Nomad journal 1-8-13

Stops along the Way - Portland Street Food Cart

After perusing the options we decided on the Portland Soup Company.
Paul's pickled beets, homemade mozzarella and arugula on a honey drizzled wheat roll was something he will try at home. My smoked pork butt had a distinct but not overwhelming smoked favor. The cabbage and apple salad was carefully composed to have a wonderful balance of sweet tang.

It will be hard to look at choices from other carts until the Portland Soup Company offerings have been fully explored.

Veterinary Nomad Journal Oct. 19, 2012
LAM 5 - OHSU Site Visit

DVM 2014 Block 1 of 16 ...

    The first course of the third year for DVM 2014 is winding down.  CVM faculty are reporting back from our many locations: Dr. Dawes from Nebraska, Dr. Kidd from Costa Rica,  Dr. Gordon-Ross from a plane on the tarmack of an airport preparing for take off and myself from Seattle.  Dr. Cole is at home base in Pomona.  We are having challenges with remote reporting software, getting ground transportation arranged, getting hotels accommodations worked out.  We are becoming well seasoned Veterinary Nomads.   

     We start a new course every two weeks all year with quarter (exam) breaks and holidays.  My lab animal medicine and research course students will spend 2 weeks in zoo medicine (eg Los Angeles Zoo), 2 weeks in surgery (Upland Animal Shelter)  and 2 weeks in pathology (Antech Diagnostics).  This is the Misc. block or Quarter and all students return to the Pomona campus for exams at the end of the quarter. Other quarters are Large Animal (Nebraska, etc.), small animal and Population/Public Health/Food Safety.

       This distributive model requires travel and technology.  I am working with the new Microsoft Web Access and SkyDrive for my course.  Being in Seattle, I can get assistance from the Microsoft Store at University Village with support staff who really understand what we need and are EXCITED about what we are doing.  WesternU CVM is truly leading from the edge.

      DVM 2014 is hanging in and doing amazing work.  The local feedback about our student's performance on their debut in the bigger veterinaryprofessional world makes it all worthwhile.  We are off to a great start to the year!   First course down and only 15 to go.

DMcClureDVM
Veterinary Nomad Journal 8-24-12

On the Road Again

       The DVM Class of 2016 has survived orientation and the first week of vet school.   The 2015s have arrived and are feeling like they never left.  The 2014s have been launched into full Nomad mode.

       I have my first third year site visits itineraries set and now I am reviewing my travel gear and preparing to get traveling.  First stop was the Eddie Bauer Outlet in Camarillo.  They have some great travel gear at a price that typically beats regular travel stores.  Magellan's and TravelSmith are other favorite travel gear shops.  The TravelSmith Packing Center is a useful site for resources for the world traveler.  Check out the printable packing list.

   Join me on Pinterest and for my Products I Love for Travel Pinterest board.  

   Happy travels!
  DMcClureDVM Veterinary Nomad  8-18-12