An Oasis in the North

As I write this, I'm chowing down on pizza at the Bellevue "Oasis", basically a pit stop, which happens to rest over the highway.  Looking out, I see cars approaching from the horizon, gradually increasing in size and detail, until they roar beneath my feet and those of everyone else here. Pretty neat view. It's nice and flat out here, as expected, and the sky is big and wide. Very sunny, with cumulo-cirrus clouds making cool alternating patterns throughout.
When I arrived in Michigan, around 8:30 at night on Sunday, I came to Jess' apartment and set up shop. After sitting for a while, (a short while, as I crashed through one of her chairs :X), catching up and reminiscing (You're drunk/You're sexy!) we had dinner, a freshly made meat loaf with so not so freshly processed meat, despite the assurances of the label. For the rest of the night, both of us were constantly fearing every rumble of our revolting tummies, but we made it through. We slept it off and went to Michigan State University (The Spartans!) the next morning. After performing a mock-patient meeting with an actor/pet owner (cool!), Jess took me to the main Vet building.
While there I was able to hang out at some classes, the most exciting of which was the anatomy lab where we examined the skeletal structure of animals limbs. I was happy with the amount of information I had retained from Deej's A+P, but also learned a ton more, as the amount of information required of a vet student is clearly at a level higher than of an undergrad. Fortunately, Jess has access to several wonderful teachers and classmates. I caught up with/remet Kate H from RI, and she and I spent a lot of time reviewing the differences of the carpus and tarsus bones in both the hind and forelimbs. It was enjoyable to talk with her about Rhode Island and life after college, and about vet school in general.
After getting lunch, where I was able to play table tennis and pool with Vig and Jeremy, Jess and I sat for a bit and did some work, then attended Pharmacology and Anatomy lectures (not terribly exciting, but still valuable experience). After that, we both went home and freshened up, watched the first half of The Departed *Maybe. Maybe Not. Maybe-* We then went to downtown Lansing, meeting up with some more friends, including the super chill/awesome couple of Cassie and Kevin. We relaxed at a bar with live blues/jazz, which created a mellow kinda mood for the evening, where I got to listen in and get to know some of MSUVS's best and brightest. Following some rocking drum solos (Kevin) and some open miking (Cassie), we all headed home. Tired from a day of meeting new people and making good impressions, I quickly crashed under a lovely down blanket.
This morning, Tuesday, we woke up a bit later than expected. Despite this, I decided to return to MSU where I got myself a morning breakfast from the Dairy Store, including milk, grilled cheese, and ice cream. After saying goodbye, I filled up my tank, put in my eyes, and settled in for the drive ahead.
It's 4pm now. I should be in Minneapolis by 8, at which point I will meet up with my next gracious host, Katrin. Until then, avid readers...