Rhino Time

I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to make it to the Potter Park Zoo this week to see them work on the Black Rhino ("Ebony") with Brielle arriving ahead of schedule and all. But I was able to head over there for a few hours and it was really a treat. A while back the keepers and vet at the zoo had noticed that she was limping on her rear left leg. A bone infection (osteomyelitis) was suspected. Since it is not often that a Rhino is put under anesthesia many other exams were done as well (reproductive, eye, etc.). The police were on hand for "Rhino Control" in case she were to escape and the fire department was there to lend the jaws of life to lift her up on the truck scale (2,500 pounds thank you very much). There were 10 vets there and it was crazy to see everyone scurrying around to focus on their particular body system. Everyone there was required to wear gloves since Etorphine (and close cousin of Morphine but about 3000 times more powerful and can be absorbed through the skin) was used to knock her down. Click here for a write up in the newspaper.

Update

Yes, she does have a name.
Brielle Christine Finlay was born at 9:39 pm on Friday May 4th. She was 7 pounds 5 ounces, and 21 inches long. (that makes me glad I didn't go full term, because she would have been a very large baby!)
She was 3 weeks and 2 days early, but very healthy and we were able to come home from the hospital together Sunday morning. Her favorite thing to do is sleep on her Daddy's chest, which is nice for me, because it lets me get lots of rest.

I had been telling our baby girl since the moment we found out she was coming that she could come into our lives any time as long as it was after final exams. Well, she listened and arrived today, the day after my last final. How's that for obedience? We are so excited that she is here, but shocked at the same time. We were planning a trip to Ohio today, but the baby had other plans. Megan was amazing. She got to the hospital and the nurses and all were not really thinking that she was going to go today since she was about 3 weeks early. Low and behold the doc estimated her at 8 cm! So were rushed off to a delivery room and our little girl was born less than 2 hours later. Ok, enough talk, let's see some pics and videos.

Hawk Island

Today was such a nice day here in Michigan. We went ant had dinner at a friend's house and on the way home we decided it would be nice to take a walk around the park up the street from our house. It was a perfect temperature and there was a slight breeze which just made the evening that much better. The panoramic picture is one that I took on a bike ride a few days ago. It is a ridge that runs through the part of the park that will flood at times (as seen by the water on the right.)

Just.... Wow.

This is probably one of the coolest videos I have seen on YouTube in a while. It is a high speed footage of a great white shark attacking a seal. Since it was shoot in high speed when you slow it down it looks spectacular. The air that these fish get is amazing. The power of nature never ceases to amaze me. Enjoy.

WE DID IT!

As seen from the pictures, my friends and I have tamed the cougar and are now official BYU alumni. After four hard years of schooling, my time at BYU has come to an end. Graduation was absolutely amazing and Dick Cheney (although there were a lot of concerns about how the afternoon would proceed) was a great speaker to have at BYU. What a great end to my college career to have my parents up in Utah with me (more pictures to come later). Thank you to all of you who have visited Utah during the school years, provided prayers on my behalf, and have been a financial as well as an emotional support to the completion of my degree in corporate finance. I can't wait to spend the summer with everyone. I love you all.

Ian

Baby Warnick's Bedroom

More Pictures from Dalian, China

Here are some more pictures from Dalian. The first is of a Mongolian hot pot dinner where we would go through a buffet line and select seafood, meats and vegetables and cook them at our table (we are with a teacher - Dr. Brown- and her husband). The next photo is of Evan on a bicycle that goes around by human power. It was located at a small carnival on the coast with Dalian in the background. The 4th photo is our hotel in Dalian, which had an indoor water park (the 3rd photo). The kids got the opportunity to spend a few hours in the water park which was fun for them. Dalian was an interesting and beautiful coastal city.

Spring Time?

I took these pictures tonight after getting home from a bike ride around the lake. The greenery isn't out on the trees yet as you can see, but the tulips are coming out. Megster is very excited about that, especially since she thought that most of her tulips had died when we were hit with a late frost. I think in about 3 weeks all the tulips in the front and back will be in full bloom.

Seoul, South Korea and Dalian, China

Spring break was a lot of fun, as well as a lot of work, this year. Our high school choir, including Evan, was invited to sing in Dalian, China. Several school officials and city officials went and met with business and municipal officials there also. The first picture is of Dad, Margaret and Ian on the Friendship Bridge in Dalian. The next picture is of Ian and Evan in front of the World Cup Soccer Stadium in Seoul, South Korea (we had a 7-hour layover there and decided to see the city). The next picture was taken at the Tiger Park (similar to our Sea World) in Dalian, with Grammie and Ian and a beluga whale. Our students had been invited to sing there as part of business exchange. The final picture is our students doing an impromptu song for a crowd at the park. Dalian is in the northern part of China on the coast - similar to Monterey in climate. They don't see a lot of Americans in this part of China and thus we gathered quite a crowd around us. Even though we had a tour guide, making sure that students were in the right place at the right time, was exhausting.

Happy Easter!

Just wishing everyone who checks in a very happy Easter. Ster and I enjoyed a wonderful dinner with friends (the Forsyths) of honey baked ham, cheese potatoes, salad and home-made rolls. It was a great way to celebrate. Also here is an interesting clip about that Easter icon, the Peep.

Vet-A-Visit 2007

This past weekend was Vet-a-visit at the vet school. This is a day when the entire hospital (large and small) to the public (except for the infectious disease ward). It was a great event. I worked at the wildlife ward exhibit and showed some of our birds off. We had a Barred Owl, Screech Owl, Barn Owl (pictured) and a Merlin Falcon. The Herp Society of Michigan came as well and brought some of their cold-blooded friends. There were about 5000 people who attended. We hope that some family can come next year!

Sweet Deals

So I know how much everyone loves the outdoors and loves outdoor equipment so I though that this information would be very helpful. Talking with my BYU buds a couple of days ago I ran across a couple of websites that are pretty sweet in terms of saving big bucks on outdoor gear. Enjoy!

• Steepandcheap.com - there is only ever one product on sale here, almost always at least 50% off. Once they run out of the one product then the move on to the next. It can be a little addicting because you always want to check out what the new product is. I have seen brands such as ArcTeryx, Marmot, Mountain Hardware, and Sierra Designs. Products have ranged from watches to shoes to snowshoes to bikes to all sorts of camping gear and ski gear. Check it out.
• Sacattack.com - this is pretty much Steepandcheep on steroids. Although you only save 40% on each product, it is pretty substantial still, so there are some killer deals. Before you buy anything in a retail store make sure you check out this site first because there is a pretty good chance that they will have it. And, since most of the products will have a lifetime warranty by the manufacturer (always double check first - I have a Sierra Designs jacket that the manufacturer has fixed for me as it is covered by a lifetime warranty), it will be covered even if you didn't purchase it from REI.
  

Oh Say Can You See. . .

The first picture is of the ship Barry that was at the Naval Museum where Erin worked in D.C. The second picture is everyone celebrating Megan's birthday at Chipotle and finally, the group is at Fort McHenry, where Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner when he saw the stars and stripes still flying after a night of intense bombing on the fort.

Spring in D.C.

Our trip to D.C. was fun this year. We visited a number of Civil War sites this year in preparation for the Academic Decathlon curriculum next school year. The first photo is Manassas Battlefield, with Olde Town Steak and Seafood in Fredericksburg, Va. in the second photo and Harper's Ferry in the third.

Bring on the BIG DANCE

Although this picture was taken in January (Alana and I traveled to Salt Lake to watch BYU beat the Utah Utes), it applies perfectly to this past weekend as BYU won its first conference title in 19 years. To add to the sweetness of it all, BYU now has the longest home winning streak in the nation and the victory came against its in-state rivals, the Utes of Utah. Everyone, get ready to prepare those March Madness brackets.

Above the fold!

Take this James!!! (Edit... Take that Mom!)(Edit - Tony is above the fold)

Let's Play Doctor!

This past Saturday I participated in a Spay/Neuter clinic at MSU. We did about 80 animals in total. It was a long day which started at 6:30am and ended about 4pm. I was on my feet pretty much the whole time, but I did gain a ton of experience. I was amazed at the ability of the 4th year students. They were already handling abdominal surgery like pros. They say I will be that way as well, but I am really doubting that in my current state. My role during the surgeries was to be the anesthetist. Basically I monitored heart rate/sound, respirations, and anesthesia concentration. It was a great day of learning, but I was glad to get a sit down later on!

Brrrrrr. . .it's cold up there!!!

We decided to visit Ian and Alana up in Utah a few days ago. We got there in time to watch them play their intramural soccer game. That night we had a delicious dinner with the Reeves family in Bountiful and then all of us went to hear the Orchestra at Temple Square in the Conference Center. . .we heard a 16 year old violin soloist that started playing with the Boston Pops at age 8. . .really incredible. The following day, we went snowshoeing at the base of Mt. Timpanogos. . .it was really beautiful but I was glad to get back to no snow and 70 degree temperatures at home.

That is what a Hamburger is all about!

Since we will be in California is just over 2 weeks I thought it was appropriate to think about the wonderful culinary delights that await us there. One that popped into my mind (stomach?) was In-n-out Burger. Now most people who go there on a regular basis know about the unwritten menu items that you can order (animal style fries anyone?). I found today that they actually publish a "Secret Menu" on their website. Check it out here. It is interesting to note that there seems to be no limit to the number of patties that you can add to your hamburger. The secret menu goes up to 4x4, but the picture to the side would suggest differently. This is a 100x100 burger. That's right, 100 patties and 100 pieces of cheese. I think I am going to stick to my normal cheese-burger, animal style, extra lettuce, extra tomato with a thick creamy chocolate shake.