Toxy Lady

Another goat story-remember when I bought the two goats, one was called Topo Gigio? Of course you do. If it isn't a strange enough name, Topo Gigio was actually a mouse! Well not really because he was imaginary. Anyway, awhile after I got her, her utters got huge. I called one vet and he said, "maybe she is pregnant. I can come out and do an ultrasound." While it would have been embarrassing to have an unmarried pregnant goat, I denied the offer. What did he think I was going to do-have an abortion or send her to a Catholic home for goats???? So I got a new vet! Topo was an angry goat before the giant udders, but this made it worse. I called the new vet and told her about the issue and asked if maybe some kind of hormone treatment would help. She said no and not to worry about it. But they got so big and were dragging the ground, so she said she would come take a look. When she came, she was incredulous. She had never seen anything like this. I was so proud (not). S...

I know I am not writing on a topic I promised, but it is very topical. OMG-I hate paswords! Between the time spent trying to come up with a new one, writing them down, spending hours on the phone and the extra heartbeats when they don't work, I am shaving time off my lifespan. Sometimes I don't think technology is a good thing. I only have so many live animals, dead animals, birth dates of family members and lucky numbers! I have been on hold with Citibank for 20 minutes so far today because, apparently, my birth date or social security number changed and I don't know it!! Then they told me they needed to transfer me to another number, even though I called the one on the screen when they denied my existence!! I feel like I have to come up with a magic potion recipe to develop a new password-one capital letter, one even number, 3 eyes of newt, a symbol, a letter from the Greek alphabet, an Austen heroine.................................... I may be limited to living only a f...

So I missed blogging last week and am late this week. I know you are on the edge of your seats waiting to hear about the goat in the ICU.  I was traveling for Thanksgiving and too lazy to blog. Another reason I missed last week is that I couldn't find a good photo of Jackson, the goat. I was looking for the Christmas card I made one year where his head and most of his body was inside a paper feed bag and only his rear and tail were sticking out. But, alas, I couldn't find it. I might have been able to recover it, but that would involve cleaning out the closet in my office. Then the fun of trying to close the door before everything falls out would be gone. I also looked for the photo of him on the dishwasher door when it was open and the one of him on the kitchen table! No luck. If I find either, I promise to post. For Valentine's Day one year, I gave Michael, my first husband, a pair of pygmy goats. We named them  Señor Wences  and  Topo Gigio (re: Ed Sullivan...

As I mentioned in a previous blog, I have done 3 trips as the ship physician (for passengers and staff) to Antarctica. I'll spell it the right way this time, since I am tired of that red line that says I misspelled something. There are anywhere from 120-200 passengers on each expedition, depending on the ship. There is also a doctor for the crew (all of the sailors, hospitality crew, cleaning crew, etc.). We usually have a fairly well-stocked clinic and can do more than I expected. We cannot do any laboratory testing or x-rays. Most importantly, there is no nurse!! Many of you may not realize that most doctors do not start IV's, do EKG's, etc. So, on the first trip as doctor we begin in Punta Arenas, Chile. I arranged a few days before the trip for rest in relaxation. My recommendation is to NOT spend any extra time in this town. We started in a "hostel" where a fight broke out the first night outside of our room. Fortunately, we moved to a hotel the next day.  ...

First of all, hope the seal jumping out at you on the maiden blog wasn't scary. Those eyes-so sweet. That is a Waddell seal-they are pretty friendly. And notice the change in font. Still tinkering with blog details. Auntarctica? Yes, I spelled the continent correctly. One of my favorite jobs is being an Aunt to 3 nephews and 1 niece (also an outstanding nephew-in-law). And my favorite place is Antarctica........................so I have been to Auntarctica 4 times and am going back again this season. The first trip was in 2010 as a tourist and completed my quest of going to all seven continents. There was a family practice physician on board that trip for the passengers, and I asked her how I could get the gig. She gave me a contact, but they didn't need any more doctors. They referred me to Quark Expeditions and I have done 3 trips as the physician and have another planned this season. In this installment, I thought I would answer some common questions about the White Cont...

I learned long ago I would never be a Foxy Lady. While I am pretty sly, no one would ever call me foxy. But as a medical toxicologist, I can be Toxy. I love writing and cycling and am a physician, so my alias is "Spin Doctor." A little about me-I grew up in rural Indiana with 2 older brothers, only to be dragged to Kansas after my sophomore year in high school. You can imagine the joy. Not only did I GET to go to another high school smack dab in he middle of those years but I GOT to go to Kansas! Fortunately, being a Jayhawk is another moniker I hold dear. I graduated from KU (NOT UK) undergrad and medical school ( Rock Chalk, Jayhawk ) and am board certified in Emergency Medicine and Medical Toxicology. My first husband died after a car accident in 1999 and I re-married in 2002. I live on a farm with 2 German wire-haired pointers and a wonderful husband. I was hoping maybe to get a service dog for menopause! Do they do that? My most recent passion has been addiction me...