AAEP - Orlando, Florida

AAEP – December 1-5, 2007

The American Association of Equine Practitioners has an annual international convention held every December. This year, through the best of luck, I was able to attend the conference in Orlando, FL…it was like a trip back home! Only 2 interns from LLAC were able to go and Kaylan and I were drew the long straws.

Kaylan and I at the airport

The theme of the trip for me and Kaylan must have been getting lost and making the best of it. To start out, our rental car place was off-site from the Orlando airport. Well we got on the wrong shuttle bus, which took us to the wrong rental place, so we had a nice tour of the airport’s surrounding scenery! And we were so happy the first time we found the shuttle, we had to get a picture in front of it…and then after getting on the wrong one, we had to document our finding the correct shuttle!

Wrong shuttle...
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Correct shuttle....

We finally got our car...Kaylan couldn't contain herself
I got to meet up with some great friends during the short hectic stay in Fla. It was mostly UF alums that had also made the trip for the equine conference. But Marcia and Kelly made some time to squeeze in a drive to come and see us. It was so fun! On Tuesday, Kerri Mitton and I escaped at lunch and joined Marcia, her mom, Kelly and her baby Michaela at the Millenium Mall. We ate at the Cheesecake Factory and took pics in front of their glorious tree. Baby Michaela was just precious! She didn’t cry the whole time as we passed her around the table during lunch.

Kitty Milton, me, Marcia

Collage of vet school friends

Posing in front of the tree...

Some of the technicians from LLAC got to go too. Here's all of us at dinner one night.

Sarah, me, Kathy, Jess, Kris and Kaylan


Kaylan, Sarah, and Kathy

And we did manage to go out a few nights for dance party!! Dr. Toppin and the ladies posing here. He was the only one brave enough to hit the town with all us girls.

Oh yeah, and I did actually go to lectures and learn a bunch about the career I’ve just entered. It is a weird feeling now, being away from the clinic – not on call or being woken up in the middle of the night, getting up at 4:45am for treatments at 6am….and I loved every second of it. Unfortunately after this little rendezvous I have only 4 more weekends off until June 20, 2008 (not that I’m counting!)….let the job search begin!

Dorothy Anne Margaret GINA Sass Frogger Sissy Sistaw Roth DoddyDoodles

Dorothy, the Floridian

Monday: After getting home at 1am from the Jacksonville airport, I took the "scenic route" by accident, my sister Dorothy Anne Margaret (yes, that's really her name!) and I wasted no time in taking fun pictures and laughing our heads off! Here's just a few, I tried to pick the highlights. This was also the night our realtor, Tasya, came over to tell us that an offer had been placed on our condo. Here's Tom and Dorothy's reaction to the excitement:

They just couldn't contain themselves! Anyway, Katie Tischler came over and we watched "Little Miss Sunshine" (great movie, by the way) and Dor got to sleep on our death trap futon. After 2 nights, Tom spent the rest of the week sleeping on it ;) He's the best! Well, he was also sick and didn't want us to catch his cold, but still what a guy!

Tuesday: Since I'm on vacation too, Dor and I got to hang out all day long. We went for a long walk (to the vet school and back) and watched Ellen.

Wednesday: It's official, our Gainesville condo is sold!! Wow, what a relief and yet I'm sad to leave this house we've made a home. Dor and I went to the Florida pool on campus and laid out in the sun. What a beautiful day! Then we went to the mall...Forever 21, miller's at night, Grey's, fun, amelia walking!!!!

Thursday: laundry, cleaned for Becky's party, went out downtown (laughing uncontrollably), Grey's at sarah's, drinking, laughing, dancing

Friday:

(cowritten by Sarah)

We celebrated Becky’s impending doom happy celebration of future marriage. What a blast! There were several moments of uncontrollable laughter (Sarah almost peed from laughing so hard) and many censored moments that I can't share on this blog. Just use your imagination:

Dorothy the rockstar & co-pole-dancer (Donnie's pole, as lovingly presented by Sarah & Dor):

"GINA!!!!!"

Mean Sissy:

Wrapping up the festivities at Marketstreet and heading to RueBar next, where Amy forgot the rest of the night:

"It's just so magical..."

This is what Sarah & Josie did when they heard Dorothy Dorcas Dodo Princess Sass had to leave:

Amelia was VERY ANGRY (“Come back, Dorcas! Auntie T. McGee!” is specifically what she said):

Go Gators - National Champs!

Tom and I spent the BCS championship game between our very own Gators and OSU at the Miller's house. The Gators pulled off the upset, beating OSU (then ranked #1) 41-14. Go Gators!

The Gator chomp - by Emily and Tom

Amelia, the cutest baby Gator!

Amy, Sarah, Emily, Ella and Amelia

It was also a surprise birthday party for Em Prine since she was in Australia on Dec. 21 (her true birthday). We made her some birthday "sex in a bowl." I dare you to try it a disagree.