[Kim]

Hi all,
You all already know me, but I realized that I never actually introduced myself. Ok, maybe I stayed away from this section because of the deep fear that my mom instilled in my about the internet, but I got over it ! Here goes...

When I was little we had a 10 gallon tank. I don't really remember it, but my dad only thought you had to clean it every 6 months so nothing much survived. When we moved, my dad promised me a 55 gallon aquarium because I have always been fascinated with fish. Later the 10 gallon went into my room and we got some guppies. Slowly all the fish in the 55 gallon died except for 2 enormous irridescent sharks, a huge Common Pleco, and 2 corys. The guppies in the 10 gallon did what guppies do best-reproduce. The 10 gallon went into my brother's room and I got a 20 gallon tall (what a pain to clean). Keep in mind that I am still pretty young and believe everything my parents tell me. Finally we give away the 55 gallon, soon after I get sick of the unkempt 20 gallon and give that away as well.

Wow, how empty my room felt. So, I (being much smarter now) start to research betta fish. I get one who dies of fin rot and ick which he came with. I also think that the melafix did him in but enough of that sad story. So, I get another one who is still with me today. Then I want to try plants so I get a 15 gallon. Then I, now knowing a lot more about fish, see the pitiful state of my brother's 10 gallon. I take it and realize that the fish have internal parasites but only after loosing quite a few. Now I have a 29 gallon that I got for $10 with the stand on craigslist! I am waiting for Christmas to set it up. So there you go, complete obsession in less than a year! Hopefully I will be getting a QT tank soon as well.

I also have 2 horses (who try to kill me) and 4 cats (who love me). Besides fishkeeping I try to avoid being killed by my horse while riding, do karate, run, bike, mountain climb, occasionally do art, and of course go to school. I hope to be a veterinary surgeon when I am an adult. So that's basically me. I would have introduced myself sooner but...you never know what kind of people are on the interned d-d-donnnn....as my mom would say!

-Kim

[Amphitrite]

Hi there Kim!

[willow]

hi kim.
i'm safe,it's all the other nutters here.

[SolaceTiger]

Hi Kim,

So very nice intro. :D I should do one..... when I'm feeling motivated. I'd say get to school asap for your vet career. I'm 24 1/2 and I haven't gone yet, but I will be a veterinary technician one day. A surgeon would be to much for me, a vet tech gets a little more one on one time with the animal and gets to know em. Although, that can be really hard cause you get attached. But hey, don't put your schooling off. Good luck. :)

[aunt kymmie]

Hi Kim!

As far as fear over the internet my boyfriend beats your mom out for first prize, hands down.
I posted a picture on this forum of me holding a carp so that I could get an ID on it. The boyfriend just about gave himself a hernia over me posting a picture with my face on it. He freaked out and started in a huge lecture with gory examples. Does he really expect me to believe that a stalker would appear out of nowhere due to a simple posting??
Of course, I had an ID on that carp in a matter of a few moments thanks to everyone here.

Nice to meet you, again!
Kym

[SolaceTiger]

In your case, it's good for your mom to be protective, you're young ya know? It's better than her not giving a crap at all, and you hooking up with 25 year olds right? lol

[iamntbatman]

It's funny when you think about it. How would a picture compromise your safety? If someone recognized you in the photo, that means they already know you. If they recognized the background of the picture? Well...that's just some goofy CSI nonsense...

I dunno, I think a lot of internet paranoia is warranted, but some people are just a little bonkers about it.

Anyway, a career as a veterinary surgeon is definitely a cool choice. A friend of mine who just graduated with his undergraduate degree in biology is now studying to be a vet surgeon. He worked at an animal hospital as an intern as well, so that's definitely something you should look into.

[aunt kymmie]

The boyfriend is a big fan of CSI and he also believes in UFO's so what does that tell you about his state of mind??

Kim, if I had it to do all over again veterinary medicine is the exact field I would have chosen. I'll live vicariously through you.....go for it!!

[Kim]

Thanks everyone! Yeah, I'm really excited to be a surgeon. I'm even going to get to observe some surgeries over Christmas vacation! And by that I mean I will actually be in the same room, right there to see everything! Yay, it's going to be so cool because the only other place I've seen any has been on TV and that's just not the same. It's kind of funny because my mom can't stand blood and the like, but I could easily eat my lunch watching that stuff!

As far as the scary internet goes, I do understand my mom's concern. I know what goes on out there, but I don't think anyone could ID me because of my fishtanks and the fact that I go to school. Wow, that narrows it down to only about a billion people! I am very careful anyway. I'm not sure how many predators would search a fish forum anyway...

[SolaceTiger]

When I did my job shadowing at the vet clinic down the block, I watched the veterinarian remove anal glands on an older dog. I swear, you have never smelled anything so foul! The stench was unbelievable, my knees were buckling the whole time and I had to restrain myself from blacking out, but I was fascinated all the time. LOL and usually I have a pretty strong tolerance for that sort of thing, but it was really bad. Good luck! =D