Andrea Honigmann, DVM

When I was veterinary school, summer meant RAGBRAI, the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. While I never participated, I was in awe as legions of bicyclists made their way through Ames en route to a finish line on the state's eastern edge. There's even a veterinarian version of the famed race, which takes place during fall semester.

Yesterday was Cinco de Mayo, celebrating the end of the French occupation of Mexico in 1862. It also was a special day for my husband and me. We reached one year of wedded bliss.

At this time last year, shortly before I married, I could not imagine doing full-time emergency medicine. Even now, it seems like a daunting task. Last year, our local emergency clinic was looking for two full-time veterinarians and recruited heavily for local DVMs. At the time, I was new to the area. I had no intention of switching jobs so soon, despite the monetary benefits.

After arriving at the hospital and getting ready for the day, I noticed that my afternoon schedule was nearly blank. I had one appointment at the beginning and the end of the appointment block. I did not worry much; it was bound to get busier by mid-day with clients calling in requesting same-day appointments or emergencies.

Today is day 12 of a cold I cannot kick. I have fondly renamed it the Smoketown Crud. When one staff member gets it, it seems to go around until the majority are affected.

4/2/08 - I found myself privileged to stay in bed, watching Matt Lauer and Meredith Viera. There was no alarm; this was my day off. Still, I had plenty to do, most of which required phone calls. I made my first call to the hospital, checking on my patients Pugsley and Elsa (the "misunderstood" dog from the previous night).

The next morning started as all those before it, with my cell phone ringing to inform me it was time to get out of bed. The unwelcome sound is the single part of my day that I never look forward to, even if it could be signaling that this is the day my husband and I will become homeowners.

3/18/08 - While I was sleeping and my husband Mark was working on the other side of the county, a terribly tragic accident occurred early Tuesday morning. An SUV driven by a 23-year-old Lancaster County woman got on the highway (U.S. Route 30) on the wrong side. Unbeknownst to the passengers in the Honda Civic that was traveling the correct way on the highway, they were about to experience the last moments of their lives.

03/04/2008 - When a couple thinks about marriage, certain topics usually come up before they commit their lives to one another. When will we have children? When will we buy a home? How will we deal with finances?

Being away for nearly two weeks attending continuing education does two things: The first few days back to the hospital on a normal working schedule make me very tired!

Something stirred me from sleep. A sound that was distant, but somehow close. Five minutes later, as my eyelids came unwillingly apart, my brain registered that I had fallen asleep on the couch after my husband left for work.

Something stirred me from sleep. A sound that was distant, but somehow close. Five minutes later, as my eyelids came unwillingly apart, my brain registered that I had fallen asleep on the couch after my husband left for work.