Moments in Time

If you're looking for philosophical thoughts or witty discussion, you won't find it here this week. If you're looking for an update on our family -- that I can do.

The good:
Jess tried out for and made Honors Band last week, 4th chair French horn. She had her first practice this week and liked it.
Ali had a good week at school last week and this week. Our new daily communication form is working wonders.
I snagged a sub job today, my customary day off. I worked in the office of a local middle school. Everyone was very nice. It was fun. I ran into several kids/adults that I knew from working elsewhere in the district.

The not-so-good:
Ali was bitten by a neighbor's dog while selling Girl Scout cookies the other day. Not fun! She's OK, but I never realized how much is involved - calling animal control, checking on Ali's tetanus shot history, etc.

I'm looking forward to having a movie night with some mom friends tonight. This is going to be my lazy weekend!!

No, it's not a reference to the John Belushi movie, just an apt description of our household!

We added a member to our household this week. We're fostering a guinea pig named Buddy from the local humane society. He's a bit shy but the girls are having fun holding and petting him.

Today was also the dreaded "take the cat to the vet" day. Fortunately, the kids were off for MLK Day so Jess came with me. She was able to help soothe poor Tiger through the trauma of the car ride across town. He was still a bundle of nerves by the time we got there, but at least he was a QUIET bundle of nerves. Let's just say that I'm not surprised that the word "cat" is part of the word caterwaul. What a cry baby! The vet told us that Tiger, (aka "Fat Boy"!) needs to go a diet. No surprise there!

I've started Tasha on a new "treatment" today for her lymphoma - prednisone. It won't cure her but it should make her feel much better because it will reduce the swelling in her lymph glands. I'm just dreading the side effects but if it increases her quality of life, I can't refuse to try it. (Remind me of that after I've cleaned the carpet for the 100th time.)

It's back to work tomorrow after a 4 day weekend. It's going to be a long day....

Wow, it's a gorgeous day here in mid-MO - 57 and sunny. As the locals here are fond of saying, if you don't like the weather, wait 15 minutes. So, I'm enjoying it while I can. I took the opportunity to refill my bird feeders before it turns seasonally chilly again. I put up a second feeder hoping to be able to keep up with demand easier - instead I just got more birds! Oh well, it's fun to watch the little things. The cat ESPECIALLY enjoys watching them! We enjoy him watching the birds. He's mesmerized by them, his tail swishing in some kind of primal cat rhythm, his body haunched for attack. And, when he gets really worked up, he chatters at them. I don't think the chattering affects the birds in the least but we find it pretty funny.

It's a bittersweet day, though. Normally, a taste of spring like this would be the perfect day to take my dog, Tasha, for a long walk. Her tail would be wagging and she'd stop every 5 minutes to sniff some irresistably tempting smell. She's old, arthritic and she's dying of cancer, though, so our days of long strolls are over. Our last walk consisted of strolling around our front yard and the neighbors. Her back legs had had enough.The girls and I will still take walks along the local trail in the spring, but we'll no longer have to worry about taking the stretch that has a stream for Tash to drink from. I will miss her.

To everything there is a season,
a time for every purpose under the sun.
A time to be born and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
a time to kill and a time to heal ...
a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance ...
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to lose and a time to seek;
a time to rend and a time to sew;
a time to keep silent and a time to speak;
a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and a time for peace.

~Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Welcome to my little spot on the web!

Although I'm very quiet and shy in person, when it comes to the written word I love to ramble. As a member of many email lists, I'm not sure my listmates always appreciate my enthusiasm for the written word, so I decided to join the world of blogging. If you're listening to me ramble, it's because you chose to be here. :-)

I'm still trying to figure out this blog writing interface, so be patient. Please come back soon... I promise not to ramble TOO much.