A golfer (not Tiger Woods but another) was teeing off when a nearby frog spoke to him.

 

“I’m a magic frog,” said the frog. “I can give you anything you wish for!”

 

Now the golfer was, of course, some what incredulous of the claims of the frog. But even though he had never having been addressed by a talking frog before his mother had raised him to be polite. “I find that rather hard to believe,” He stated.

 

“No really,” insisted the frog. “I’m really a beautiful young Jewish American princess who was enchanted by an evil rock star/pusher and can only regain my svelte and girlish body through a kiss.”

 

“Not being a fan of amphibious osculation,” he said, “I would like a small demonstration first.”

 

“OK, doubting Thomas,” snarled the frog. “Hit the ball.”

 

The golfer teed up for the 375 yard dog leg and hit the ball. It arced into the air and dropped directly into the hole without a bounce. After several more miraculous shots he asked, “What else can you do for me?”

 

“Try me,” smirked the frog.

 

“Take me to Las Vegas”, he commanded.

 

Instantly they were transported to the penthouse of Caesar’s Palace.

 

“Now we are going downstairs and clean this place out!” He cried happily.

 

“Aren’t you forgetting something,” she asked archly?

 

The exuberant golfer picked up the frog and puckered up and…”

 

“And Officer, I swear that’s how a naked sixteen year old girl ended up in my hotel room!””

 

 

 

From The Doctor:

 

Hello everyone. I have a nice Sunday afternoon that I can sit down and write a bit to everyone. This has been a busy year for me and with the holidays coming on I expect to be busier than ever. I know I haven’t kept in touch with everyone like I use to so I apologize. However, with my long work days it really is a challenge for me to keep in touch.    Thankfully Joe as been kind enough to develop this newsletter and I can write a few lines to all. So here is the update from friends and family:

           

            My most recent message from Anthony is that he has passed his NAVLE’s – YEA!!! And he is working as a veterinarian in New York. He and Deb are doing well and are expecting their first child at any time. We all hope that Deb has an easy and safe delivery with a healthy child and Anthony doesn’t fall apart while he is waiting for the baby. Good luck guys and please send up pictures!

            Yesenia (Yesy) is got married right after graduation and now has a new (4 – 6 month old) baby girl named Gabriela Paola. She will be taking the ECFVG test later this year in Mississippi. Don’t worry Lady – we are all pulling for you. By the way, you didn’t send me any pictures of the baby!

            Last we heard, Aileen is doing an internship in New Orleans and should be taking her test sometime this month. Good Luck to you too! By the way, what type of internship are you doing? Ya never write - so your life must be as busy as mine.

            Tammy is back in the states, she is taking a semester off from Ross before either heading back for that last semester or transferring to a college in the states. She is not sure which. I hope that she will get a chance to stop by and work with me for a bit before she goes back.   

            Shelly is still living with her parents last I heard. She was debating getting a job in Ohio, going back to retake her final year in Florida (ECFVG program) or taking the ECFVG exam which she can’t do until Fall of 2005. 

            Petros Voskerchian – for those who remember him, has finally graduated from Vet school and is studying for the ECFVG exam in November. He and his family are doing well and I think they are in Maryland but I am not sure. He said to tell everyone hello and if you want to write to him his email address is:petros1v@yahoo.com.

            Ken Froehlich is still working in acupuncture and massage medicine and will be graduating soon if not already. He has been working in Arizona and if anyone wants to write to him his email is:powermax39@hotmail.com.

            The last time I spoke to any professors was Dr. Torbeck in St. Kitts about a reproduction question and he said to say hello to everyone and to be sure you don’t forget he is there to answer any questions we need.

            Last I heard the hurricanes have done a good job at missing St. Kitts, although there was some storm damage, but not much. Finals went off as usual (people studying by candlelight, no electricity, no water, no air conditioning – you know the drill). 

            BTW, do any of you know of a new Ross Grad that may want to work up here in Ohio, have them give me a call (330-332-1880)? I really need another veterinarian working with me. I am seeing as many as 26 patients a day and boy are my feet and brain tired at the end of the day. I work for Dr. Dan Adamson in Salem, Ohio. That is a small town just south of Youngstown, Ohio which can be found right smack dab in the middle of the eastern Ohio border. Pittsburg is 2 hours away, Columbus is 2 ½ hours away, and although this is a small town, it has some great qualities to it. The hospital is undergoing a big change since I’ve gotten here. I’ve expanded the number of surgeries that are done here as well as the number of dentals. I’ve also picked up quite a few new clients as the older veterinarian in the area has retired. We also have a great support staff which I have been training to do more and more. We have 2 dental machines, 2 anesthesia machines, 2 surgery tables, and all the usual packs plus the ability to do some orthopedic surgeries. There are IV pumps, monitoring equipment, and suction as well. There is a vet test machine for chemistries but all CBCs have to be sent out (right now). We have a really nice radiology set up as well. There is no boarding but we do offer emergency service to our patients (only our patients).   Dr. Adamson and I trade off on who is on call. The community has been very sup portative of the hospital and been very happy with most of the changes. Dr. Adamson is also expanding the hospital and hopes to have it done sometime in October. We are looking for someone that can do basic surgeries and medicine and can develop into whatever they want to do. If that someone that doesn’t want to have to do surgery that is fine, I love surgery as you all know and will do any surgery that I fell comfortable with, which is just about anything but thoracic surgery and bone plating (I don’t have the bone plating equipment). Dr. Adamson provides a decent wage as well as bonuses and money for continuing education. Most of all he is a good mentor. I can always go to him with a problem on a case and hash things out. Eventually we will be adding on endoscopes, ultrasound machine, ECG machine, and hopefully CBC machine over the next year or so. Below is a picture of the outside of the hospital. The brick building is the old hospital. It is a very old historic house that was converted to a hospital and the other portion is the new part of the hospital.

Anyway, if you hear of anyone, please send them my way.

 

            Now for the family – Jimmy is still in Maryland, nothing much has changed since my last newsletter. His youngest is growing up fast and I can hardly believe my ears when he told me how big he was. It is amazing how time passes by so fast we loose tract of it. Jamie, Dawn and Melissa are all making ends meet. Melissa and Dawn both have kids that are also growing up fast. Polly is now back in her little trailer in Yucaipa California and doing much better. Last I heard Tara Jo is also doing just fine and her kids are growing like weeds as well. I haven’t heard much from Lavelle, but last I did hear he was working in a department store and had dropped out of college. I hope he gets a chance to go back and finish his degree. Nowassa now has two kids and I’m not sure where she is, but she has taken up the Mormon faith and working hard to teach her children the Mormon faith. Jerry is still living in Washington and has been working in construction. He is starting his own company so good luck. I hope things work out well for you son.   BTW, it seems that I am not the only one in the medical profession. Out of all the grandkids and nieces and nephews it seems that most of the girls are doing some sort of work as nurses or working in nursing homes. I haven’t spoken to Dad for some time. I guess he is doing well. Jimmy spoke to him last month and he is doing well for someone that has Alzheimer’s disease. Wanda was in the hospital for treatment for liver disease and she is now out again. Again, I hope she is doing well.    Thomas and Master Seong are both doing well. Thomas had a car accident earlier this year and really damaged his arm but it is mending.   Master Seong had to have a hernia surgery this year and is recovering from that. Last I heard she is doing well except the rains have made her grass 3 feet tall again. Patty and Marty (sister in law and hubby) are also doing well. Patty has another new job and hopefully likes this one as well as the last one. Marty is still working as a Ferrier as needed

            As for us, I have a new car. It is a Mini Cooper and I love it! It is really cute too. I saw it on the local Ford dealer’s lot and kept watching it and watching it (for 6 months) and finally I had to try it out. It is a stick shift (5 speeds) and easily sits 2 adults and 2 very tiny kids. Luckily for me I no longer have any kids so that is just fine. It reminded me of the red Teletubie named Po that that is what I named it. 

 

As for that fat lady in the picture, Yep, that really is me at 165 pounds. I keep trying to get rid of the weight but I keep getting bigger instead. I’ve tried the Atkins diet – 1 month – no cheating and no weight loss. I’ve tried the Healthy Heart diet – so far 2 months – no cheating and I’ve gained 5 more pounds. Next I go back to the doctor and ask for help. Anyone got any advice?

           

 

This is a July Fourth picture of Yvonne (my daughter), Mike (her husband) and the Grandkids. They came to visit early in the summer and I got to play Grandma. Michael, my grandson, actually stayed with us for 5 weeks and he got to work with me at the hospital 3 days a week to earn a bit of money for games. The girls unfortunately had to go home, but hopefully we’ll be able to have them stay another time. The picture is not the best as I had to take it through a screen window to get the right angle. 

We all went to the Medieval Fair up here in Ohio while they were here and Mike and the kids got their first taste of dress up and strange people. The kids loved it, especially the singing and jousting. It was really neat because there weren’t any mechanical rides, all of them were animal or human powered instead. Everyone got a new hat or toy and I got a corset (yep I said corset) for the next fair and all in all we all had fun. I am now working on my costume for Halloween and the next Faire.

 

Yvonne and the kids having fun watching the skits at the opening of the faire.

 

            Joe has been having fun being retired. He makes a wonderful househusband and makes sure I eat and keeps everything clean. I don’t know where I would be without him. In case you guys didn’t know, this year Joe and I were married 24 years. I can’t believe it has been that long, but it sure is having him around.

            The only other thing I’ve done this year is make a container garden at my back door full of flowers and tomatoes and one pumpkin which may or may not produce any fruit. I’ve also gotten lots of house plants again in all the neat places that will allow one to grow. Joe keeps teasing me telling me I am trying to turn this place into a jungle.

            Well, that is just about it. That was my excitement for the summer and the update from all our friends and family. Mostly I’ve worked my bottom off being a doctor with a few nice weekends out and about and working in my garden. So, for all you that don’t have my current contact information here it is:

Email: dr_brooks@sbcglobal.net   (there is a _ between dr and brooks)

Work: 330-332-1880

Home: 330-337-3528

Cell:      330-429-0942

Fax:     330-332-2255

Snail Mail Address: 657A Continental Drive, Salem, OH 44460

Please write me whenever you can. Let me know what you all are doing. Love to all of you and be sure to take care of you!

Vickey Brooks

 

 

 

There is a type of girl who, while incapable of cleaning her bedroom even at knife point, will fight for the privilege of being allowed to spend the day shoveling manure in a stable. It is a magic that hadn’t rubbed off on everyone.

 

I have nothing against horses but can’t fathom all the snaffles, bridles and fetlocks business. I can’t see why equines have to be measured in “hands” when there are perfectly sensible inches around to do the job. Having watched the Jodhpur clad girls (often blond) who bustle around the stables I have determined this is caused by their inability to understand complicated machines like rulers.

 

…Anyway… the time has come to go…does that make sense? As you might have noticed most of this is last year’s news. Since then we have gone on vacation…excuse me? V A C A T I O N- when you take time off from work and go somewhere for fun. I’ll probably tell you all about that in next year’s letter.

 

Love Vickey, Bart bird, Catapuss, Blonde Kitty, and [;-) joe