So here's the short of it, 
I just love these 3 day weekends.  I think I could get used to a life like that! 

And here's the long

Today felt so luxurious.  The second day of a three day weekend is just amazing.  I spent a couple of hours in the garden this morning.  My Purple Cherokee didn't make it.  I don't know what killed it, but I will grow that delicious variety again next year for sure!  The black cherry is still coming on strong and they are really good as well.  Mia stopped by for a quick visit and to pick up a few tomatoes.  It's good to have someone to share with!

Early afternoon I took a nice little nap.  I don't often get that opportunity so it was pretty lovely.  One of my very clear memories of Grandma VanSant, is that after the dishes were done at lunchtime (which she called dinner) she would go and lie down on the sofa and take an afternoon nap.  I think I should do that on a regular basis when I can.  I think I told Mom one time that when I retire I'm going to use Grandma as my role model after I retire, and take a regular afternoon nap! 

I did laundry the rest of the afternoon - I've got all my clothes clean and pressed and ready to go for school!  I'm glad for that..

This evening Mom came up for dinner.  We bought Kiwanis BBQ and had it here and ready to go at dinner time.  The president of the Kiwanis Club called Mom a few weeks ago to ask her permission to honor Dad with having the BBQ this year in his honor (as well as another gentleman).  It was nice for us to be able to share the time together.  Hershey came with Mom and she and Sophie played and played and played!!!

I'm so grateful to have another day before getting back to the five day work week! 

So here's the short of it,

Today I had a nice shopping outing with Mom - that means that the garden is calling tomorrow!
And here's the long

I picked Mom up a little before lunchtime.  The first stop was going over to the Brainerd Rec Center to early vote.  I was glad to get that done so that I wouldn't have to think about it on Election Day.  I'll be so busy and don't want to have to stand in a line!  While we were there, I took Mom down and showed her the pool and we talked to several of the ladies who do the morning water fitness class.  She's thinking about doing that after she finishes this round of physical therapy.  She won't have to join anything and the classes are only $2 each time.  I hope that works out for her.

Mom had never been to Five Guys, and had heard us talking about it one day when several of us were debating where to find a good hamburger.  So we went to Five Guys and had a burger and fries.  Liga was over that way and stopped in to help us with our french fries on her way to work.  After that we headed over to the mall.  We both had a pretty productive shopping trip.  I was pleased to find a couple of tops and pants for school.  It was fun to spend the afternoon together.

This evening Alan and I went to Temple.  I was so glad to see so many people!  Rhonda Seeber was singing tonight, and the music was really lovely! 

I'm feeling some energy coming back that I've been missing for a long time.  Today, I even wanted to go through a pile of junk and get rid of some of it!  It's been awhile since I've had the desire to do any of that kind of stuff at all!

I'm hoping that I get a good night's sleep.  I need to spend a couple of hours in the garden for sure - I think Mia's going to come by to share in the tomato harvest.  It looks like there will be lots!

So here's the short of it, 

I'm starting to look forward to a really good school year. 

And here's the long

Today was the last day of work until the doors open for teachers to report on Monday.  Am I really ready? Not quite!  I'll have Monday and Tuesday to pull together a few loose ends.  So I'll need to be really focused.  Tomorrow I'm taking my last Friday off and going to spend some time with my Mom.  I'm looking forward to that. 

I'm kitten sitting with Dexter again tonight.  He's putting on some weight so I can no longer feel his little ribs sticking out.  Liga is fattening him up pretty nicely!  Sophie is really fascinated with him and she is being very good with him.  She wants to make him go where she wants him to be -- she noses him around but keeps her big mouth shut!  Tonight Liga stopped by on her way to Mommy Anne's and we took Sophie and Dexter out back.  They did fine together but Dexter quickly made his way under something.  Right now he's hiding somewhere in the den  - I don't see him or hear him. 

I'm really looking forward to a great school year.  We've got an initiative going in our inner city schools that I'm pretty excited about - more importantly, I'm so glad that I'm starting the year able to get up and go to work every day and have the stamina to stay all day and be in the buildings with teachers and students! 
It's going to be a good year. 

So here's the short of it, 

Our community suffered an enormous loss in the death of Susan Goldblatt.

And here's the long

This was a sad day.  Friend and fellow Mizpah congregant Susan Goldblatt was killed in an automobile accident and today was her funeral.

Susan was an amazing woman.  Their were so many people at her funeral and there was such obvious love for her from every quarter.  She was a woman who left her mark in many places in Chattanooga and around the region. 

It's so hard - a young woman with two young children snatched away in an instant. If you pray - please remember her husband and two sons.  This will be a difficult time for them.  

So here's the short of it, 
I'm tired but not sleepy...yet again.

And here's the long

This was just another work day.  I enjoyed being around my colleagues - but by afternoon I was just worn out tired.  I thought I'd come home and take a nap, but that didn't happen.  Then at some point in the evening, I got over the sleepies!  It's after midnight and I'm not the least bit tired now.  I sure do wish I could get my sleep straightened out. 

Tonight I'm also out of words.

So here's the short of it, 
 I'm having trouble sleeping.

And here's the long

Sleep escaped me last night until nearly 3 this morning.  I tossed and turned and even though I was so tired, I just couldn't go to sleep.  For the most part of my life, going to sleep at night hasn't really been much of a problem.  So this is a little new problem I'm dealing with.  I have doctor appointments coming up in the next week - both my internist and my oncologist.  I'm going to talk about it with both of them.

Anyway, I had to be at work early - and didn't make it as early as should have.  By this afternoon about 4:30 I was working away at my computer and suddenly I felt myself pitch forward.  It reminded me of those pictures of babies - animals and people - falling asleep right in the middle of something.  I came home and after dinner I stretched out on the sofa to try and nap - but I got "the big eye".  That's what Mom used to say when we were growing up.  Sometimes she'd be up really late - or we'd wake up and it would be apparent that she hadn't been to bed and she'd just say, "I got the big eye last night".  So I didn't get a nap, I have an early morning again tomorrow, and I'm not sleepy yet! 

I have to attend a training in the morning.  I hope I can get to sleep and don't end up nodding off in the middle of my training!

So here's the short of it, 
Long weekends are so nice. 

And here's the long

I really like these three day weekends!  It's too bad that they are coming to an end.

I got in some gardening time; was available to be with Mommy Anne when she needed someone to be there; and made a great birthday dinner for Mia tonight.  And I still had time to do most of my chores.  I didn't have time to do any of the extras on my humongous to do list.  Oh well, that stuff will all be here whenever I do have some time to tackle it. 

We enjoyed having Mia for dinner tonight.  Mom and Liga joined us.  I told Mia that I was glad she had a birthday - it probably saved Alan and me from having a bowl of Rice Crispies for dinner! 

In addition to Mom and Liga, we had Hershey and Dexter this evening.  Hershey is calming down some.  She loves to play with Sophie - the biggest issue that we have when Hershey comes to visit she gets so excited to see Sophie that she pees on the floor!  We haven't figured that out.  Mom suggested tonight that we keep Hershey out in the back yard and let Sophie come out there until she gets over her excitement.  We'll sure have to try that next time.   Dexter is just the tiniest little fellow and Sophie really likes him.  She wants to nudge him around and get him to go somewhere - I'm not really sure where she wants him to go.  It's a funny kind of thing - I've always heard people talking about trying to herd cats.  Here Sophie is her herding instinct going full blast trying to herd a tiny baby kitten. 

Tomorrow is back to work!

So here's the short of it, 

Mommy Anne isn't liking bedrest!

And here's the long

Mommy Anne is supposed to be on complete bed rest until at least tomorrow evening because of the blood clot in her ankle.  She's not really doing too well with that!  NHC called this morning to say she was being noncompliant and I spent a good bit of the day sitting with her.  She dozed off and on most of the day, but could not remember that she didn't need to be getting up.  She really wants to be out of that bed!  Alan came and relieved me about 4 this afternoon and then he stayed until the sitter got there about 8:15 this evening.  She's very agitated and out of sorts.  I can understand how annoying it is to be bed bound and want to be able to do the things you're used to.  We'll have to see what tomorrow brings.

It sure has been hot today.  Sophie hasn't wanted to be outside very much at all.  I did  go out for my evening walk, but I only did about three turns around the circle and I was ready to come in!  Sophie didn't object to coming in either.  I think the heat index here in Chattanooga was about 106 today.

I'm hoping that I get a good night's sleep tonight.

So here's the short of it, 
Dexter kept me from getting a good night's sleep!

And here's the long

Dexter is a sweet and tiny little kitten.  Liga worked until 9 and then spent the night with Mommy Anne last night, so I kept him again.  Hershey had gone back home to Mom's so I put him in her cage instead of all the way in the back bathroom.  He did just fine, but every time he woke and meowed, he woke me as well! Sophie really likes him.  Every time he started making noise she went over to the cage to try to get him settled down. 

Liga picked him up after her shift tonight, so Sophie and Lola and I are here keeping Alan company. 

Alan took Mommy Anne to the doctor today - actually she saw the nurse practitioner.  It turns out that she has a blood clot in her ankle or maybe just above and she still has a urinary tract infection.  No wonder she's been so miserable!  She's not to get out of bed except to go to the bathroom, and she'll be starting on coumadin and Lovenox tonight. 

I'm going to take a melatonin in just a few minutes and maybe sleep in tomorrow!

So here's the short of it, 
Tonight we celebrated Uncle Arvin's birthday. 

And here's the long

Alan's Uncle Arvin had a birthday today.  His son Arthur, who lives in Chicago flew in to surprise him and we took Mommy Anne for dinner.  Aunt Miriam came as well with Doc and Sherry.  Here's a picture of the three siblings!    That's Mommy Anne seated and Aunt Miriam standing with Uncle Arvin.  Mommy Anne is the big sister! 

We have Dexter again tonight.  When he heard us come in this evening from dinner, he started squalling.  I guess he was pretty hungry.  When I fed him, he attacked it and made all kinds of noises while he ate! Mom got home this afternoon so we took Hershey back home.  Right now Dexter (teeny, tiny little kitty boy) is exploring the den and Sophie (big 85 pound puppy girl) is watching and keeping an eye on him.  She's being so sweet.  Lola on the other hand took one look at Dexter back in "her" den, hissed a couple of times and then left the room.  She's quite upset with me for having a kitten in the house. 

I'm really pretty tired tonight.  These long days in a 4 day work week really wear me down.  I've got the alarm turned off and plan to sleep til I wake tomorrow!  Every day as I've gone past the garden to get in the car for work, I've wished that I could be in the garden.  Well, tomorrow morning, you'll find me with a hoe and a basket in the garden. I'm going to make short work of those weeds that are trying to take hold and harvest a bunch of tomatoes.  They are SO good this summer.

So here's the short of it, 
 Puppy and kitty sitting

And here's the long

I spent the whole day today in the office - well - I took about 15 minutes and ran over to the Purple Daisy and picked up lunch which I brought back to the office and ate while I looked at e-mail.  I got lots done today and feel particularly good about making my way through two of the piles that have been sitting there for over a year.  That's a long story - but nevertheless - they are gone now!

Tomorrow I'll only get to be in the office for a few hours and then I have obligations out and about.  I'm looking foward to making another dent in yet another pile!

We are kitty sitting and pup sitting.  We have Hershey for Mom while she's gone to Nashville.  She  still hasn't figured out about peeing ONLY outside.  We are working on it, but I think that's not an easy one for her to learn. We've also got Dexter.  Liga is spending two nights a week with Mommy Anne - she goes directly from work.  So Dexter is staying with us.  He's so tiny!  He's in the bathroom for the night, but this evening he has certainly run the show! 

I'm very tired and hoping that sleep comes easily and that I don't wake too often. 

So here's the short of it, 
Today I attended a seminar with lots of big name speakers to get motivated. 

And here's the long

Today I went to a Get Motivated Seminar.There were so many motivational speakers! 

Dr. Robert Schuller opened the morning.  We also heard Bruce Pearl, Tennessee Men's Basketball Coach; Zig Ziglar, a motivational speaker that I remember hearing about in my younger days; Rick Belluzzo, former President of Microsoft; Rudy Giuliani, former Mayor of New York; and Pat Summitt, all time winningest coach in college basketball and coach at the Universtiy of Tennessee at Knoxville. In addition we heard James Smith, Bob Kittrell, and Stephen Pierce, all selling seminars.  I suppose the selling was to be expected  - - but all in all, it was a pretty good way to spend the second day back at work. Even the guys who were selling things were good speakers for the most part.  Zig Ziglar has had a fall and a head injury and was accompanied by his daughter.  She prompted him by asking questions which he was able to answer.  Their portion was supplemented by vintage video clips of Zig all through his career delivering some of his most inspirational quotes.  I loved seeing her support her father and help him continue to do the work that he loves. One of the things he said that I really liked went something like this "You can get anything money can buy without character, but without character you cant' get any of the things that money can't buy."  He also said "Encouragement is the fuel on which hope runs."  I really like that too!

I especially enjoyed Dr. Schuller's opening.  My two take aways from him were these:  "If you don't have a challenge you can't solve you aren't thinking big enough.  Think big enough that you can't succeed without God."  and "There's a God who believes in you even if you don't believe in him."   

And Bruce Pearl - he said lots of highly engaging things, but my take away is this.  "Hard work won't guarantee success, but success won't come at all without hard work.  Choose to be prepared."

So now I'll get back to work tomorrow, ready to put a bunch of that stuff into practice - if I can get my office chair fixed so that it doesn't cause my legs and back to cramp I'll be set to go! 

I'm especially tired this evening.  We have Hershey - Pat, Sarah, and Meredith came through town on their way to visit Lauren and family for a couple of days and they picked up Mom and took her with them.  Hershey just loves being up here with Sophie.  They've played nonstop for the 3 hours that I've been home now.   

So here's the short of it,
Well today I was back at work!

And here's the long

Today I started back to work.  I spent the majority of the day in my office catching up on e-mail and trying to sort out some loose ends - notice I did not say tie them up.  They are currently in a knot just like two or three necklaces can get in the bottom of an unorganized jewelry box or drawer.  Once I get them sorted out they'll be pretty simple to tie up! 

By 10:00 this morning my legs had started siezing up with muscle cramps.  It kept on coming all day long.  The cramps are in the back of my thighs, my lower buttocks, and down into my legs.  From what I can figure it's the femoris and sartorius  muscles in the anterior region of my thighs that are giving me the most problems. 

Check out the thigh muscles here.


Later this week maybe I can work on adjusting my chair.  I'm thinking that's the whole problem!  Last night when Liga left for home (about midnight) her car wouldn't start - well it started and about a block from here, it quit.  Since it was so late she just came back here and spent the night so her Dad could help her get it taken care of today.  So we had a tiny baby kitten in the house last night.  What fun that was! 

So here's the short of it,
Today is my last summer vacation day!

And here's the long

Today is my very last day before the working starts for the 2010-11 school year.  I've got lots to get done in the two weeks before teachers report!  I'm not looking forward to getting myself out of bed in the morning, but it can be done!

Tonight Liga has come over with Dexter.  She's going to watch TV with me - and wash the sheets that Dexter had an accident on!  He's so tiny that he just can't remember how to get to the litter box!  She's really having lots of fun with him and Blueie the fish.

Tonight we went to dinner with Pennie and Mommy Anne.  Mommy Anne seemed pretty out of sorts, but it was nice to be together. 

I've left my power cord to the laptop in Atlanta, so I'm borrowing Alan's laptop...  they'll bring my power cord as they come through Chattanooga with the bed for Liga!  I'll be fine at work tomorrow as I'll use the desktop for everything I need. I do have a couple of things on the laptop, so I'll take it in to the office and can probably borrow a cord from a co-worker for long enough to get the stuff e-mailed to myself. 

Sophie and Lola are getting to know Dexter.  I wonder how often he'll come visit!

So here's the short of it, 
So tonight I met my new Grandkitten.

And here's the long

Mom and I had a great day in Atlanta but are finally back home.  Steve got up and made bacon and gravy and Mom discovered a recipe for biscuits that she wanted to try.  The recipe said.  "Making biscuits is difficult and takes lots of practice.  Don't be discouraged if they do not come out perfectly the first time."  We all thought that would be a good thing to write on all the recipes we share with others!  ...anyway, Mom was not entirely happy with the biscuits but we all thought they were excellent.

Pat took us to a great thrift store, to the antique mall where she used to have a booth, and then to Jo-Ann's fabric.  It was a great day.  Liga sent a text saying she had a secret she couldn't wait to share and she'd tell me when I got home.  She couldn't keep it though!  She called about 2 in the afternoon to tell me that last night someone abandoned a kitten in the parking lot of the hospital.  One of her co-workers saw a person throw it out the window of a moving car!  She picked it up and brought it into the lab and they began to talk about what to do with it.  Liga seemed the obvious choice since she's just moved into an apartment, but she didn't have the funds to pay the pet deposit.  All the lab workers said they'd pitch in and pay the pet deposit if she would take it home.  So he went home with her last night! He's an adorable long haired black tiny baby kitten! 

Tonight she brought him to visit.  He is so scrawny and feels really underfed!  But he's a cutie.  He's a long hair black boy, and she's named him Dexter.  He was hungry and filled up his little belly with Lola's catmilk.  And he was very content to perch on Liga's shoulder and either purr away or hiss and growl if Sophie or Lola got anywhere near.  He came and sat with me for a little and just purred and purred.  He's a special little kitty and I know he and Liga will be great friends. 

So here's the short of it, 
It's been a nice day of visiting with Atlanta family. 

And here's the long

This morning, Mom did a command performance of pancakes for the Atlanta bunch.  Patrick and Meredith were up and enjoying them.  Patrick before going off to his job of custodian, and Meredith before our girl's adventure day.

Mom, Sarah, Meredith and I went to IKEA and got Liga the bed for her apartment.  The packages are pretty big.  Pat and the girls are coming through Chattanooga this coming week on their way to spend a few days with Lauren in Nashville, and are going to bring it by.  It was lots of fun going to the IKEA store and very fun calling and texting with Liga to make sure to get the right thing.  It was fun to have Sarah and Meredith along helping with the whole project.  

Later this evening  we went by and picked up Betsy and visited Intimacy the bra fitting specialists.   I've been promising myself this was something I was going to do since my first visit to Dr. Witherspoon after my surgery.  She suggested that it would be a worthwhile adventure.  Well, it was.  We all enjoyed the pampering and most of us made a purchase in spite of the expense! 

Last night Hershey had a hard time going to sleep.  She barked and barked!  Along about midnight I went down and slept on the sofa where I could have her cage over next to me.  She calmed right down and slept until about 5:30 this morning.  But I'm pretty tired! So it's heading to bed pretty soon. 

So here's the short of it, 
Mom and I are visiting my brother Steve and family in Atlanta. 

And here's the long

Mom and I drove down to Atlanta this afternoon and are at Steve and Pat's for the evening.  Hershey came with us to visit with Nutmeg and Lucy!

We were greeted with a beautiful dinner of tilapia, scalloped potatoes, and broccoli.  Mom and I contributed a variety of homegrown tomatoes.  What a great dinner.  Meredith and Patrick were both here and Sarah and Ryan came over for dinner.  They brought Lucy for a visit.  She is a cutie!  She's a wheaten terrier, and she is so soft and beautiful. 


Our trip down was really uneventful..  We had very little traffic and the weather was good for traveling.  Hershey was taking a long trip for her first time, and it was the first time she had ridden in a crate where she could see the traffic.  She usually rides with Mom in the passenger front floor.  She certainly had lots to say.  She has a high little bark and she talked to us for the first half of the trip.  By the time we were about 30 minutes away, she had worn herself out and went sound asleep.  She's been having a really good time investigating everything about here. 


The girls have plans to visit IKEA tomorrow and then a girls evening for a bra fitting! 


For now, the bed is calling.

So here's the short of it,
So Knox County has one more certified substitute!

And here's the long

Last night and this morning Joyce was here at Mom's and she and I worked on her substitute certification.  Knox County has instituted a new process requiring substitute teachers to be trained in several areas that have been identified as important to successful substitute teachers.  She ordered the training book last week and then came down and completed the online test.  The Knox County folks told her to find someone to coach her and sit with her when she took the test.  I was honored to be asked!

There was a huge emphasis on classroom management.  I've never been a substitute, but I always thought that classroom management was the most important. Anyway, I sure enjoyed spending some time with Joyce.  Sophie went with me and she spent some time with Hershey.  This morning they were a case!  Mom left and went to work in the church library for a couple of hours, and three times Sophie and Hershey got out of the back yard!  When they get out at my house, they generally stay around on the circle, but Mom's much closer to a busy road!  They are smart little pups! 

Congratulations Joyce on your sub certificate!  It was no easy task!

So here's the short of it, 

Cherokee Purple.

And here's the long

This is the first year that I've ever grown Cherokee Purple Tomatoes.  It is a beautiful dark purple tomato and it tastes just wonderful.  Tonight Aunt Joyce came down for a night or two and Mom made quiche and I furnished a Cherokee Purple tomato for our salad.  Not only is this tomato a beautiful dark color, it also has a marvelous flavor!  The one I picked today was a bit odd.  It looked like conjoined twins!

So here's the short of it, 
Just a few more days of summer break.

And here's the long

So - time has flown by!  Next Monday morning I go back to work, so I'm trying to fill these last few days with things that will be sustaining until my next break!

I did go into the office for a couple of hours today to do a teacher screening  for one of our positions and to work a bit on the staffing puzzle.   But before we could get his paper work even processed, he had accepted another job!  If I "hadda known"  I could have skipped going to the office!

Pennie arrived this morning, and I got to see her briefly at Parkwood; I'm hoping we get to have lunch tomorrow.  It will be good to have some time just to catch up and talk with her.  I'm also going to try to get some garden time in tomorrow morning.  It rained last night (yea!) but that meant it was too wet to work in the dirt this morning.  The tomatoes that I got out earlier - definitely not early - as I didn't get anything out early.  Anyway, the first ones I set out are coming on great. I can have a tomato salad with 3, 4 or 5 different varieties - yummy!  I really love the taste of the black cherry and the Cherokee purple!

So here's the short of it, 
We had quite an adventure tonight.  

And here's the long

Mom and I planned to make a garden supper tonight since Aunt Joyce was coming back through on her way home from visiting David and Cyndi and kids.  So I took tomatoes, cucumbers, and cottage cheese down and Mom made her delicious fried corn and cornbread.

As we were getting it going, Joyce called.  She was stranded on the side of I59 somewhere between Gadsden and Chattanooga.  She had come up over a rise on the interstate and there in the road was a big piece of tire that she couldn't avoid.  It put a big hole in the left rear tire - she made it over to the side of the interstate, but she couldn't see the sign, but thought she was somewhere near Rising Fawn. She assured us that she had roadside hazard coverage and that she would have someone there to help her really soon.

The three of us went ahead with dinner but a phone call afterwards and Joyce was still sitting on the side of the road somewhere and not sure when help would be there.  Alan insisted that we go to check on her, so we loaded up and headed out.  As we got started we called and found out that her battery had gone down!  Now, since she drives a Prius and neither of us knows much about them and were a bit worried about that piece of news.   A few minutes later Joyce called again and said that she couldn't read the sign, but that it wasn't shaped like Rising Fawn and that she thought it might say Fort Payne!  Alan said (I swear this is true!) I'll bet she's at mile 120.  Believe it or not, we passed the first exit to Fort Payne at mile 121 and there she was on the side of the road between mile 121 and mile 120!

The tow truck was only about 10 minutes behind us - he had also driven from Chattanooga!  He boosted the battery and put the spare donut tire on and we were ready to head to Mom's.  I road with Joyce, and Alan followed along behind to be sure we were OK.  We got home about 10:30!  What an evening adventure!

So here's the short of it, 
Are Pet Owners Happier

And here's the long

"Anyone who lives with a cat or a dog will tell you how much love there is to be found in this man/woman-beast relationship."  Here's the opening sentence from an article by Kristen Houghton - Happiness Is: Are Pet Owners Happier.  She explores some of what makes the relationship between us and our pets so special.  I count myself fortunate to have grown up with cats and dogs. 

Mom and Dad who grew up with dogs and cats as farm animals never did especially relish having our pets inside. (That certainly changed when they got Molly Blue!)  As soon as I got old enough, I would sneak whatever cat was our current pet into my bedroom whenever I thought I could get away with it.  I remember waking one night - I know I was older than 12 because of the house we were living in - anyway, I remember waking in the middle of the night to soft high mewling.  One of our Momma cats was giving birth to a litter of kittens right in my bedroom!  I loved having the baby kittens around. 

I've been lucky as an adult to have had the company of wonderful dogs and cats.  Sophie and Lola were certainly on duty over the last year to pull me through my illness.  Lola still sleeps at my feet, and Sophie on the floor right next to my bed! 

Are pet owners happier?  I wouldn't ever want to be without a pet to have to find that out. 

Liga went and bought a fish today!  I think she may share my affinity for pets.

So here's the short of it, 
Leaving the nest

And here's the long

Our neighbor has two more baby birds in her chimney!

I thought it was such a metaphor - baby birds all around us fledging this time of year.  Some don't make it like the little bird that was in the crowded nest at Mom's house.  Some fledge right away and go directly on their journey, and a few others are a bit like the little birds that fell out of their nest and into the chimney.  They certainly didn't intend to get into this place, and they are having a hard time figuring out how to get out, but they want to!  They are even afraid of the folks that are trying to help them out!

-----------

And on another note - but maybe  mostly the same - Liga got mostly moved into her apartment today.  It's a great place, and she's very excited to be on her own - even though she's here tonight finishing up some laundry.  She is going over to spend her first night tonight.  She's promised me some pictures for the blog tomorrow.  We'll see.  

So here's the short of it, 
Getting ready for Liga to move.

And here's the long

We had some excitement on the circle this evening.  The dogs and I were out walking with a neighbor it was almost dark and another neighbor came out and said that there was something in her chimney.  We rounded up flashlights and set about trying to figure it out.  Three women.  It turned out to be a bird who had gotten in the chimney and couldn't get back out.  We got a temporary damper out and saw the bird.  But we couldn't get it into our nets.  The two little girls who live there were all engaged in the excitement.  In the end, our neighbor the vet came over and helped.  He taped the net to a long handle on a swiffer and got it far enough up the chimney to capture it.  It flew around the living room a bit, but he captured it and released it.  The poor little bird flew directly to a tree!  I know he was glad not to be in that chimney any more!

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Liga is moving to an apartment tomorrow.  She's been looking forward to this day for a long time, and she's really excited.  I'm excited for her.  I remember telling someone a long time ago that if  Liga and Valdis get their 18 years at  home, they'll only be 24 and 23 years old.  She's 22 1/2 - she's had 16 years - and she's ready to fledge.

She's spent the last couple of months getting things together for her move.  She's shopped very judiciously.  Alan took her to Sam's to get a few bulk items and he was very impressed with her shopping. She and I have also been getting ready emotionally.  She's there. I really am too, but I'll sure miss having her around, especially in the evening.  As it is, she get home a little after 9 usually from her work shift and she's become my television buddy.  She was such a support to me last year when I was sick.  She often slept on the sofa near me when Alan had to be out of the house and she was here.  I also don't think I'd have gotten Sophie housebroken nearly as quickly if she hadn't taken over the chore of taking her out when she would get home in the evening.  She's really bonded with Sophie and keeps telling me that she's going to take Sophie with her.  Tomorrow will be a day for her to remember. 

Michael is still here and is going to help her some tomorrow morning.  It will be really special to her for him to help some. Valdis has also said that he would help.  We've borrowed Dad's truck and are sitting on ready.  Tomorrow I'll try to post some pictures of her apartment.  It's supposed to rain tomorrow in the early afternoon.  I hope we can get everything moved before it starts. 

So here's the short of it, 
Michael, Myra's oldest son, is here for a visit.

And here's the long

Michael arrived this evening and after a quick stop at the house we went to Parkwood for a nice long visit with Mommy Anne.  

She was so delighted to see him and was in really good spirits the whole visit.  Michael was so sweet with her and engaged her in conversation for much of the time.  It was such a joy to see them interact.

Her doctor said that she has to leave her cast on for two more weeks.  Darn.  She can't manage her walker with the cast. 

Tomorrow we are looking forward to taking her to lunch at Elmcroft.  She says she's been at Parkwood so long that she hardly knows where she lives. 

I worked today for a bit.  We had a couple of interviews to do and so I went in for the afternoon.  I was making some copies and one of my colleagues came in for a chat.  I said something about not working until July 19th...she looked all around the room and said in a sing-songy voice..."Oh right, I can't seeee you."  I just cracked up! 

One of our secretaries and I were talking about how I'm occupying myself now that I've got some time off in the summer and I started talking about my garden full of tomatoes.  As I was sharing with her how it feels to get out in the morning before it gets hot and go to work on the weeds with a hoe, or sit down in the dirt and pull the weeds away from the plants, I realized just how restorative it's been for me to have the garden this summer.  I had a tomato and bean salad for lunch today and had three varieties of tomatoes in it.  How lovely! 

So here's the short of it, 
yucky.....

And here's the long

One of the difficult side effects of Chemotherapy for me was the unrelenting diarrhea that it caused.  It seems that all my life, I was likely to have diarrhea if I got sick.  Maybe the Chemo just brings out  the vulnerabilities in folks.  For example, I didn't lose my fingernails or toenails like so many people do.  But here's the thing.  The diarrhea just keeps on.  I can't put my finger on any causative thing at this point - and it isn't all the time like during treatment, but I do have times, and today was one of those times.  Since Herceptin can cause it as a side effect, I thought it was just that, but it's been awhile since my last Herceptin and I still have days like this! 

I certainly don't mean to be complaining.  It I come out of this with just a few minor difficulties, as a trade off for being cancer free, that will be just fine with me!

Sophie

So here's the short of it, 
Sophie the dog... 

And here's the long

                                                                                 Last year when Suni got so sick and died, I found myself wondering how in the world I would make it through this illness.  When Alan and I talked about getting a new dog, he suggested that we wait until I got through chemotherapy and I started feeling better.  I remember thinking that I didn't know if I could start feeling better without whatever it is that a dog brings into our lives.  We found Sophie at the Pet Placement Center - her mother was pregnant when they rescued her so we know her birthday and what her mother looked like.  She was born on May 5th - Cinco de Mayo and her mother looked like a Blue Heeler.  Someone saw her the other day and said that she looked like a Corgi on steroids!  She has some Heeler personality - that herding instinct is pretty apparent, but she has a much calmer nature than you would expect from a Heeler.  One of the things we read is that Heelers want to have a job. 

Sophie considers me her job.  I guess that she sized up the situation when we got her and decided that I needed her to watch over me.  Even though she was just a pup she decided she needed to stay right near me all the time.  That's continued! When I'm sleeping, she sleeps right next to me, no matter where I am.  This morning I got up and then decided to go back to bed.  She came and stood next to me and gave a big sigh and then took up her position next to me.  When I work in the garden in the mornings, she's right there with me.  She really likes to roll or just lie in the grass (I'm gradually getting rid of that much to her dismay).  Her next favorite thing to do is get muddy while I'm watering.  But she definitely likes to be right near me.

Most evenings I try to walk around the circle - when she was a pup, I couldn't even do that all the time, but when I did feel up to it, she would always accompany me.  Usually other dogs that live on the circle are out enjoying some time out of the house or the yard.  She's become good friends with them and they enjoy just running around with one another.  Sometimes if I'm walking and she's tired of playing, she'll just go lie down in the middle of the circle and watch me walk around.  She keeps her eye right on everything to make sure all is OK.  Sometimes if I'm really not cooperating with her, she'll just go up and wait for me on the porch!  

Every evening when I'm doing the blog, it's a sure thing that Sophie is right near me.  Right now she's already asleep.  When I turn off the TV and shut down the computer, she wakes up and knows that it's time to head to the bed and she'll be right behind me.  Whatever it is that a dog brings to your life, she's brought in full measure.

So here's the short of it, 
 Happy 4th of July!

And here's the long

 This is our flag display today.  Look carefully at the lighting wrapped around the tree.

 Here's the night time view of our flag display!

So here's the short of it, 
Our neighborhood had the July 4th picnic early this year since the fourth is on Sunday. 

And here's the long

The neighborhood picnic on the triangle is a great tradition - and today was such a nice day to be together with our neighbors.  There were the usual politicians (it's school board elections this August) and of course the firetruck and firemen!  I saw people that I haven't seen in a long time.  It was nice.  Liga didn't have to be at work until 2:00 today so she came over and had lunch before she left.

This evening Mom and Hershey came up for dinner with us.  Alan put a couple of steaks on the grill - Mom brought green beans and a tomato salad.  I put on some fingerling potatoes with onions and we had leftover cake from the picnic for dessert. 

Hershey and Sophie had a good time playing together while we ate and then went out in the front and played while we sat on the porch and visited. 

So here's the short of it,
I had a lovely lunch with Aunt Judy and went with Mom to the cemetery.

And here's the long

Today I had a lovely lunch with Alan's Aunt Judy.  She took me to Beyond the Garden Gate at Streetside, a Tea Room in Ooltewah.  It was such a lovely luncheon place and we had a great visit.  The picture is at the back entrance to the Tea Room.  While we were there two young mothers came in with their daughters who appeared to be about 8 years old or so.  They each had a stuffed animal with them, and they were enjoying themselves so much.  There was obviously a special children's serving.  The little girls had girl size tea cups and small plates.  They were pouring tea for one another and really enjoying the grown up tea party.  Aunt Judy and I both enjoyed watching them. Afterwards on the way home she drove back down Ooltewah Ringgold Road and we drove around several newer subdivisions and just looked at the construction going on.  She talked a bit about the years when she and Uncle Alvin were in the construction business.  It was nice for her to share a bit about that time with me. 

On the way home, I stopped at Mom's for a bit and we decided to go down for a visit to the cemetery and take a decoration for the 4th of July.  The sod that they've laid is beginning to take and it really is a beautiful spot.  Mom and I both were a bit teary as we left the cemetery.

So here's the short of it,
What a lot to think about after lunch with one of my cancer sisters.

And here's the long

I had a lovely lunch today with one of my cancer sisters.  I hadn't seen her since last spring and it was just great to have some time to visit.  One of the things she said was pretty interesting.  At some point she said that she gave away all her pink cancer shirts and memorabilia because she was not going to let herself be defined by her bout with cancer.  That sure was something to think about.  My life for the last year and a half has certainly been bounded by cancer, if not defined by it.  Today, I'm less defined by the cancer, but the lingering effects of the chemotherapy, radiation, and Arimidex - the estrogen repressor - remind me daily that I am physically a different person.

This afternoon Clyde, my second cousin spent the afternoon with me.  He is Mia Hansford's son.  Mia and my Dad were first cousins.  Dad was the oldest of that generation and Mia is the youngest.  Clyde is now a 10 year old.  They've been in Chattanooga now for 5 years.  Clyde helped me bathe Sophie and Hershey, work on the dishwasher, and did several other chores to help me out.  He's really growing up.  He's leaving this weekend to spend about 5 weeks with his Dad in New York.  He'll be back in time for school which begins in early August!

Liga is spending the night with Mommy Anne again tonight.  Mommy Anne is really having a difficult time now at Parkwood.  Remember her in your prayers.