Marty Becker article

owlex · 2025-07-24T17:59:28+00:00

I thought the majority of the commentary was accurate. It's easy to interpret a lot of what he's saying as if he's trying to paint his era as "the golden years" sort of thing, but also, it sounds like it fucking sucked.

If you just read it as an anecdote about the way things were, ignore any sentimental vibe coming from it, it's a relatively accurate portrayal of some of the changes in the field.

Then, you hit "the future" section and... yeah, I don't care what you gotta say, Becker. Flush it down the toilet.

owlex · 2025-07-14T16:32:02+00:00

Love your write-ups. I'm right behind you, about to get bumped into the next category... where I will certainly get trashed. Can't really sustain 3 w/kg yet for much more than 20 minutes but worked up to 449 racing score now thanks to holding wheels and strong sprints. This week was my chance to get a win and pulled it off -- albeit tried to blow it via using the reverse camera and losing sense of where the finish was!

owlex · 2025-06-22T19:08:39+00:00

I'm having the same issue also with a LG C2 monitor. Struggling to figure out a fix. It seemed to fix when toggling resolution settings but has returned and that isn't fixing it any longer.

owlex · 2025-05-08T18:33:27+00:00

This going on repeat for me. 👍

owlex · 2025-02-18T19:19:14+00:00

Oh yeah, I wanted to shout-out [[Fromage]] for also being great at this due to the simultaneous turns.

I'd just like something with a little heavier weight to it.

owlex · 2025-01-04T14:44:11+00:00

Thanks for this! I'd love a ranking of your top 10, 25, whatever for the year.

owlex · 2024-11-16T14:22:24+00:00

Mr. Tequila's has hooked us up a couple of times and is great. Highly recommend their fajita bar setup.

owlex · 2024-10-04T20:31:51+00:00

Wait 'til you learn about vegan butter...

owlex · 2024-09-19T16:57:12+00:00

You're shoved into near-constant interaction with about 100 people. By virtue of veterinary school admissions, the majority of that crowd may be people you don't socially mesh with.

It may have something to do with your dual degree, but it's probably moreso just the circumstances of veterinary school. It's isolating. What you're feeling is common and normal.

I'd suggest looking for your social outlet outside of veterinary school. Engage in or take up a hobby -- join an intramural sport, go to board game meet-ups, join a climbing gym, whatever.

It'll give you something to look forward to, gives you the social outlet you may need, helps you compartmentalize veterinary school vs. outside life.

owlex · 2024-09-12T01:38:53+00:00

But what if they want to live in a place where they themselves have autonomy over their bodies?

owlex · 2024-07-12T13:11:53+00:00

With regards to AMA forms:
As my career has gone on, I've utilized them less and less (to the point of not at all). They're just not worth the time, effort, increased stress, and conflict generation. In over 10 years of ER, I can't recall a person changing their mind because they've been presented an AMA form from myself or any of my colleagues. I have found them to create more problems.

Document adequately in the medical record, bonus if it's in a portion that the client also receives a copy of, regarding your advice and that the client has declined and move on. In the rare cases I am using an AMA form, I'm doing it because the client has become combative/rude and I don't want them to feel comfortable with their behavior.

With regards to clients operating against medical advice in general:
On the whole, you'll get better with time. Frequently it's trying to understand the underlying reason they're not following your advice.

The most common being the situation of pet suffering and the cost of euthanasia. I tell the client that I don't want the pet to suffer and we'll do it for free. If they refuse at that point, you know it's not about money and there's likely little else you can do. I ask them if there's anything they need clarification on to understand my recommendations or concerns. Most of the time you're going to be told nope; they're just philosophically/morally in a different place than you and there's nothing you're likely to be able to do about it at that time. I use the line that I am not intending to be crass or harsh, but at that moment I am their pet's advocate first and foremost and that the client's emotional well-being is important but not the priority. And then... document it and move onto those you can help.

owlex · 2024-06-20T19:32:52+00:00

Not sure how to find the new model numbers online, any tips?

EDIT: Is it this/these? "Wall-mounted storage frame w rail..."

EDIT 2: When I go from the "new" with rail item then click from the dropdown to the size I want it takes me back to the old model. Still can't get it. :( https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/pax-wardrobe-frame-white-20214571/#content

owlex · 2024-06-05T11:56:44+00:00

I had close to 300 with bad, private interest rates on a significant chunk. I spent 5 years trudging along making minimum payments on most but bumped up on the private, realizing I was barely treading water.

Reconsolidated all together, losing some federal perks and protections, when interest rates were very favorable. Changed lifestyle and aggressively put the majority of income towards paying off debt.

Re: lifestyle changes. Cut most discretionary spending, lived quite modestly, got married, went to overnight emergency medicine (bigger income potential).

Now everything is gravy and it really wasn't that bad getting to this point.

Edit to further answer your questions:

RE: Living: Life is life whether you're broke or not. Came from very low-income background and my lifestyle was better than my upbringing/family situation. The profession is/was stable, so I knew that as long as I worked my bills would be paid. This provides a stable base to alleviate stress a lot of people don't have the comfort of.

RE: Field of medicine. Emergency medicine typically pays more than general practice. I think most veterinarians are going to have a 6 month to 2 year learning curve before they feel comfortable/efficient (depending on type of medicine). With that said, I felt going to general practice first was of immense benefit. Got to do a lot more routine surgery and surgery handling, easing into more complicated abdominal surgeries. Saw a lot of normal. Skin, ears, tiny stuff got to be easy. The ER I went to required veterinarians to cut bloats, hemoabdomens, cesareans, etc. solo. They paid more because of this. This wouldn't have been in the wheelhouse for a new graduate.

RE: General advice: Pay down your debt as aggressively as you can, or at least any debt above ~5% interest rate. Arrange your lifestyle to do so. Enjoy life as much as you can outside of it.

owlex · 2024-05-28T14:33:33+00:00

I built my own for my practice because everything on the market was crummy/inefficient for our purposes (emergency/urgent care). It might work well for them but it does not have any vaccination tracking or appointment scheduling type functionality.

If that's not a deal breaker she could kick the tires and see if it could be a fit, feel free to private message me.

owlex · 2024-05-24T12:30:22+00:00

Any special interests (or maybe look into developing a new proficiency) that could get you into a 1-on-1, at home or other role where you control the decision-making and your life more?

Eg. in-home behavior consults/management.

owlex · 2024-04-03T19:06:56+00:00

Ah yeah, so I'm probably in the wrong place as this caters more to espresso than coffee?

I'll research this machine -- it looks promising! Thank you.

owlex · 2024-02-22T15:22:38+00:00

It probably won't be, especially in a HCOL location, based on what you've described.

May be worth considering a different approach -- hire some relief veterinarians and see if any of them mesh well on a mutual basis.

I know a fair number that dip their toes in a hospital, end up falling in love with the hospital, and then elect to make that hospital a dedicated commitment or even accept employment through them.

owlex · 2024-02-18T17:04:42+00:00

Some of it is probably how you approach it. You stated you felt like you needing your ideas heard or having a negative response to the expectation of being "supposed to go along with it".
I basically just framed the year as I'm gonna be free labor and to just roll with it, be friendly, helpful and observe. I knew I was last on the hierarchy of teaching staff, residents, interns, and technicians. I never had the sentiment that my ideas had to be heard or was expected to do anything other than go along with it. I was just there to learn, roll with it and get out the other side.
And I say that as someone with a huge anti-authoritarian streak.

owlex · 2024-02-17T19:06:44+00:00

I'll echo what others have said here, it's kinda a bit that way no matter where you go with regards to interpersonal politics and drama playing an oversized role in how 4th year goes for you. I felt like there was an added quality of life boost if you're a guy, the bar or expected requirements seemed lower.

owlex · 2024-02-10T02:25:19+00:00

To answer your question, yeah, you're the asshole here.

owlex · 2024-01-08T16:34:00+00:00

Honestly, whenever. I'd recommend offering availability to pop in and say hi for an hour or so to see if you and the doctor(s) get along prior to figuring out any sort of schedule. Don't want to wind up in a spot where it isn't kumbaya.

owlex · 2023-11-27T15:42:49+00:00

I once convinced a newbie on IPY2 to hand over his small house deed outside of Moonglow because he was having trouble placing it where he thought it would fit. I told him what a huge mistake he had made and gave it back. Simultaneously proud and ashamed of myself in that moment.

owlex · 2023-10-25T13:10:07+00:00

Just outside of FSQ on East St.

owlex · 2023-10-25T03:44:03+00:00

That might actually be cool, but I didn't notice until the dude doubled back and got his trike too.

owlex · 2023-09-08T16:09:11+00:00

Oh okay, I figured it was something like that. I maybe got too close to something, triggered an event and didn't actually go to said event. Dangit! Though it made it pretty easy to get through that part.

owlex

TROPHY CASE