Excitement, happiness, Joy, shock, nervousness, sadness… yep we’ve been experiencing them all here the past few days. I got some amazing news a few days ago, news that I’ve been hoping for and waiting for, for the last 8 months. I got accepted into a program called the Exotic Animal Training and Management Program. (EATM). It’s the only program of its kind (it’s been referred to as the Harvard of Animal Training), and they only take 52 students each year.  I have only told my family and a few close friends that I applied for it as I didn’t want to say anything unless I knew it was for sure. And now I know. so….. I’m moving to California!!!!!! In 2 MONTHS!!! yikes! and……all by myself. 

This has been a lifelong dream of mine – to work with exotic animals and train them. I kind of thought it would always just be a dream, but it’s actually a reality now. 

This 2 year program is intense – both academically and hands on. The EATM program is located at Moorpark College in Southern California and they have their own teaching zoo right there. Graduates of the program go on to work at zoos, SeaWorld, sanctuaries, train animals for TV/ Movies, and basically anywhere where animals are. If you know me in real life, you will know how much I love animals and how big a part of my life they have always been. 

Getting accepted to this program really is a dream come true for me. I honestly thought I’d have to apply for a couple years before I would get in. 

Needless to say I am thrilled! I am just a little stressed and nervous now cause I have to move my entire life to another country in 2 months and I’m not even sure where to start at the moment. How do I just pick up and go, leaving everybody and everything I love behind?

To explain how this all came about, I put together a little mini book:

I’ve got 3 new classes coming up in May at Precious Memories: 2 mini albums – one for Mother’s Day and one for Father’s Day, and another Techniques class – Fun! 

The past couple weeks have been busy: we’re working on a whole bunch of new exciting things for WeScrap which will hopefully be revealed soon. I’ve also been working on more mini albums as 4 new ones are going to be in the September/ October issue of Memory Makers Magazine. They are all done now and sent off so I can now focus on video tutorials and other fun stuff.

The weather here is gorgeous today – finally it feels like Spring is here. The dogs and I took a nice early morning walk in the sunshine today to the vet to drop Zoey off. She is in there getting a series of tests to check her liver function. (some abnormalities showed up in some blood tests last week).  I felt awful for leaving her there – she was pulling and straining at her leash trying to get to me as Angus and I left. It was as if she was saying “Don’t go!! You’re forgetting ME!!!!”

If only she could understand that I will be back in a few hours to pick her up, but I know she will be stressing out the entire time now. My poor girl. 

Angus, on the other hand, would be perfectly fine staying there the entire day if he had too. He must be the only dog in the world that LOVES going to the vet. He just thrives on the attention he gets. Getting poked and proded doesn’t faze him at all. Even when he has to have a blood test, he is fine, as long as he is standing on his back 2 legs only. (these odd little tricks we discover). Getting his nails clipped is a completely different story though….

That’s my word for today, well maybe even for this week. Today I have been particularly good at it and I usually am when I have something I really have to get done or have a deadline. The good thing is I always get it done, but it usually means right at the last minute or staying up until the wee hours of the morning. 

And here I am, writing in my blog, procrastinating again. A little while ago, I had the great idea of making muffins so I created a new healthy recipe….mmmm…they are so yummy!! 

Banana Pom-Berry Oat Muffins

2 bananas mashed

1/2 cup applesauce (unsweetened)

 1 egg

3/4 low fat yogurt

1 cup frozen berries (I used a blend of raspberries, pomegranite, strawberries, blueberries and blackberries)

1/2 cup splenda

1 cup oats

1 1/2 flour (I use whole spelt flour)

2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp baking soda

Pre heat oven to 375

Mix the mashed bananas, egg, applesauce, yogurt and splenda in a bowl. Combine all dry ingredients in another bowl then add to the wet mixture and stir until mixed. Add frozen berries. 

Bake until the tops of the muffins are firm to touch (about 20-25 minutes)

On a completely different topic, I have started taking yoga classes again. I can’t believe how energized I feel afterwards, it’s fantastic! I don’t usually talk about this here, but I have an inflammatory disease called Ankylosing Spondylitis (I’ve had it since I was 19).  Apparantly only 1% of Canadians have this. It’s a type of arthritis which affects the spine and where the spine meets the pelvis. There is no cure and the worst that can happen is that the vertebraes of the spine fuse together – there is no surgery to undo this. Once they are fused they are fused. This is why exercise and yoga type stetches are recommended for people with this condition. Now I have to admit that I have taken my body for granted through my 20’s. I should have made myself continue with the exercises and not continually gone for months without. I feel like I’m getting payback for that now.  The past few months have been really really tough and very painful. I have been living on my anti-inflammatory pills counting the seconds until I can take the next one.  Anyway, enough whining. But if anyone out there has AS, I would love to hear from you and get some advice on what works best for you to help keep the pain down. I start aquafit classes this week as I heard that’s very good for the joints, and of course the yoga is already helping I think (I hope!).  I went to a class today called “Joint Works” as its specially tailored for people with arthritis. The instructor came over to me before the class started and said “Um, the yoga class doesn’t start for another hour…” and I said “I know, I’m here for the joints class” she was surprised but happy to hear that. Turned out I was the youngest one in the class by far! 

Anyway, enough about that. Here are a few pictures of the babes that I took today:

the winner is:

Lori A. Says: 
March 26th, 2009 at 11:31 am

I would love to win this book! I haven’t tried a mini album yet. I don’t even know how to get started! I love to see any tutorials on anything. I learn so much from them.
Have fun in California!

 

Please email me your address Lori and I will send the book off to you : )