Murphy Visited

Oh ... what a day yesterday was. I won't go into details (they might make me cry), but suffice it to say Murphy showed up and he was worse than usual. Not just for me, but for my DH as well. The stars were aligned crooked over our household.

Lexie has been feeling uber needy lately. I mean, it's nice to have a cat who wants to hang out with me, but I can't have her in my lap 24/7. If I sit down anywhere, she wants up, if I walk around, she's under my feet. She'd definitely settled in well, though. And I think she and the dog might actually end up being friends in the near future, though Lexie is definitely boss (cats usually are):



There was no coming up for air yesterday, and probably won't be today. I'd really like my life back, please.

===================

Missing: One Happy Place

Not a lot to say today.

DH starts his next batch of vacation today, and he's sick. This doesn't make him a pleased person. He can't hunt when he's sick, which is the entire reason for his time off.

We got the results of Lexie's fecal exam, and it looks like she has worms. Remember our flea problem? I'm still fairly certain they came in on her. And, for cats, fleas mean worms. Despite using Frontline on her when we first had our problem just over a month ago (and reapplying when the next month started), she had flea dirt at her appointment on Monday. *sigh*

My contact at the shelter doesn't seem to think they can do anything.

So, not in my happy place right now.

In other news ... it's been nine weeks since I submitted my story to Samhain. Three more weeks equals the twelve they ask us to wait. *sigh*

====================

Your Persona is Elegant

You are wise and thoughtful. You are very philosophical about life. You love to have fun, possibly more than most people. You have your own kind of fun though. You are the master of new ideas, techniques, and ways of looking at things. Your thoughts may seem scattered to you, but they seem strong and passionate to those around you.

The Elegant Chandelier Test

Oh yeah, that's me: elegant. From head to toe. :-P

Vet Visit

We have good news/bad news on the kitty after our vet appointment yesterday.

The good news? He thinks she probably has a food allergy of some sort, and recommended some limited ingredient / hypo-allergenic food. He gave me a list of brands, and two of them are actually something I'd feed my pets, so I'll try that.

The bad news? Her back teeth are nearly rotted out. I knew she had bad breath, and had mentioned it. It's clear just why now. I'm so angry ... the shelter had to have known. It's not something anyone would miss and they'd only had her since July. This problem has taken WAY longer than a couple of months to develop. The cost to have them pulled is in the many hundreds of dollars and after the many hundreds of dollars I spent on Breeann, more vet bills just aren't in our budget right now. I know the owner of the shelter personally, and I mentioned it to her via email. I doubt anything will be done, and I can't take her back (though the thought did cross my mind).

But I've learned my lesson about adopting. Next time, I'm treating it like buying a used car -- I want a full vet checkup with MY vet before I sign anything.

Hope your Monday was better than mine!

=====================

You Are Lottery Tickets

You charge full speed ahead. You have a lot to get done and not a lot of time to do it. You are a master at efficiency, and if you were to gamble, you'd like to get it done as quickly as possible. Your friends, family, and job rely on you. You like being needed, and you would never want to let anyone down. You take shortcuts to have time for what matters in your life. You only have so many hours in the day.

What Kind of Gambling Are You?

Mostly right ....

===============

Busy Weekend

Spent the day at the agility fun match yesterday. DD did great! I was very proud. She and Dakota got best overall time, first place in the advanced dog category and their team (of a mix of advanced, intermediate and beginner dogs) also placed first!

Here's a video of one of her runs, the first (and not the best one, but still good -- I haven't uploaded the others yet):



I was exhausted. So was DD and the dog. In fact, we fed the dog lunch when we got home (around 2 pm) and then I forgot to feed her dinner -- because I didn't eat -- and she never woke up to ask for it! LOL...

The cat goes in for her first check up with my vet today. She's still having vomiting problems. If I feed her more than a few pieces of food for a meal, she gobbles it down and then throws it right back up. So I have to try to remember to feed her 10 - 15 pieces every hour or two. I know she probably isn't getting enough to eat, because there are times I'm just not around (like yesterday), but I'm not sure what else to do. Will talk to the vet today. Maybe soft food is the answer...

Just once, I'd like to have a low maintenance pet.

Otherwise, she's settling in pretty well. She decided to use DH's hockey equipment as a litter box (I'll admit... I can understand the confusion because it really stinks) and she's starting to climb on the counters (a big no-no), but DH has been remarkably patient.

And, yes, she still loves him best. :-P

Today is supposed to be gorgeous, weatherwise, so I might finally go out and cut down my perennials, and pull down my tomato cages for the winter. We'll see...

Have a happy Monday!

=====================

You Are a Blackberry Smoothie

You are mentally alert and curious. Your mind is always at work, even when you're resting. You produce valuable and original works. You are quite the creator. You are insightful and astute. You are quite savvy when it comes to most things. You are probably an expert in at least one field. You love gaining deep knowledge.

What Berry Smoothie Are You?

The First Rule of Blogthings Is: You Don't Talk About Blogthings

LOL... mostly right.

I pointed out to my DH yesterday what a good kitty Lexie is. "She doesn't get on the counters at all, or on the table. She doesn't open the cupboards or knock over the trash." He said, "I found her on the back of the couch!" (Because, you see, the animals aren't allowed on the furniture... *sigh*). I told him at least it was something that was meant to be sat on (and reminded him that she wasn't clawing it, just sleeping on it).

That's what comes from marrying someone who never had pets growing up (not even a fish -- which I think is just wrong on so many levels).

Lexie, OTOH, seems unfazed. She has also decided that her water dish simply won't do, and prefers Dakota's:



Tried to visit a few places yesterday, but had some trouble commenting. Don't know if it was Blogger or me. :-(

DD had a rough day at school yesterday. Her BFF was out sick and DD said no one would talk to her. In fact, it was as if she had the plague. She drew me a picture of history class (where there are no assigned seats) and she sat in the front corner, and everyone else left a buffer of empty desks between her ... the rest of the class all sat in the farthest away corner. She cried all the way home. Real tears because they were quiet and very, very sloppy.

Her friend will probably be out again today. DD is dreading it, but we talked about how to engage people in conversation and how to behave in various situations. Whether it helps or not, I have no idea. But the simple fact is: she won't always have a friend around so she needs to learn how to deal.

I was perpetually the "new kid" in school as my folks moved so frequently (and often in the middle of a school year), so I had to learn how to make new friends constantly. It's not fun, it's not comfortable, but it's a good skill to have.

As a side note, I talked to her friend's mom the other day (her friend was also homeschooled until this year) and she said, "I thought I'd have so much time once the kids were in school, but I swear I have LESS."

It was good to know I'm not the only one who feels that way...

Have a happy hump day!

=================

You Are a Turkey Sandwich

Conservative and a bit shy, you tend to stick with what you know and trust. You are very introverted, and you prefer to blend in whenever possible. Though you may be hard to know well, anyone who does know you considers you a true friend. Your best friend: The Ham Sandwich Your mortal enemy: The Tuna Fish Sandwich

What Kind of Sandwich Are You?

Mostly right ... yes really. Okay -- who's a ham sandwich?

=========================

Lexie Update

Sarita and Brandy asked about Lexie. She's doing okay, though is still "basement cat" about 90% of the time.

She still loves my husband best of all which both amuses and annoys him. I'm next in line and then DD (which upsets DD terribly -- Lexie was supposed to be "her" cat. But who tells a cat what to do?). Dakota doesn't rank.

She's still jumpy when she's upstairs ... any noise or quick moment will send her running for the basement. But she does come up on her own more than she used to, even if she doesn't stay. She has yet to make it to the second floor.

Dakota is still doing everything right in order to make friends. She's calm, steady, she doesn't make any quick moves or get too close. Lexie still doesn't like her, but she sometimes tolerates having her on the same floor of the house.

She's a sweet, loving kitty. She loves to crawl up on your shoulder and rub her head on your face (hard!) and purrs up a storm. She just isn't very confident. But I imagine that will happen. She's still pretty young (we're guessing she's five) so we have plenty of time for her to settle in. Mostly we just make sure she has what she needs and let her do her thing on her own schedule.

I had a bad moment yesterday missing my Breeann something awful -- I'd just read Angelina Rain's blog where she lost her own sweet furbaby, and my heart just broke all over again. DD even mentioned how much she missed Breeann yesterday, out of the blue.

In other news, en route to the library yesterday we saw this:



That's a dump truck, upended. Don't worry, the driver was fine. But nothing like a little excitement in a podunk town.

DD still loves school. I think I could probably just put that up daily.

Speaking of which, I need to roust her out of bed and get the day moving.

Have a great one!

===================

You Are A Nightgown

You are a bit old fashioned and elegant. You aren't very casual. You are well mannered and modest. You don't make a fool of yourself. You tend to be a bit reserved, and it's hard for strangers to get to know you. You are likely to not let anyone outside your bedroom see you in your pajamas.

What Kind of Pajamas Are You?

Yep. Mostly. I have been known to make a fool of myself...

====================

This and That

A quick post... because life is still getting away from me.

DD has her first ever school pictures today. :-)

Used a flea comb on Dakota yesterday. Discovered they work quite well, and that she has more than one flea. I still wouldn't say it's a massive infestation, but I did find 10 or so. Still working on containing it on my own, but she's developed odd brown spots on her skin that look like either dirt or freckles (not flea dirt... that's entirely different) and I'm concerned about those, so a trip to the vet may be in order. *sigh*

The weather has been gorgeous -- no frost yet, which is odd, but I'll take it. I'm still pulling the occasional tomoato from my garden, though they tend to be split on the top (that always happens near the end of the season ... wonder why?). I still have a few green beans, too, but that's it.

Lexie is still settling. I suspect this will be a very long process. She's fine with just me and the DH, but DD stresses her a bit (DD wants to hold her and play with her and whatnot ... I pretty much let her be) and she still thinks the dog is a threat.

She does like to play with the laser light though. :-)

Otherwise it's all the same here. Busy as heck to the point I can barely breathe, but I'm managing. If only I could discover how to survive on no sleep, life would be better.

Ah well....

Have a great hump day!!

====================

You Struggle With Impatience

You never feel like there is enough time in the day. You are overloaded and overburdened. You tend to take on more than you can accomplish, and you drop the ball when you're not looking. Life is short, but you're making it shorter by not giving yourself the rest you need. If you only slowed down and took your time, you'd actually get more done.

What Do You Struggle With?

Uh.. yeah.

===============

Cats, Flea, and Loving School

Not that I don't enjoy having an affectionate cat for a change, but it sure makes using the computer a challenge. She loves to sit in my lap and roll all over the keyboard. *sigh*

She still loves DH the most. Cats crack me up... it's like they find the person who hates cats and they target them. The other night I was working and she was settled in my lap, but then DH got up and was in her line of sight. She immediately jumped down and ran over to rub on his legs. If anyone can win him over, I think she might be able to.

My dog has flea. Yes, you read that right... one flea. At least at a time. I search her entire body for fleas, and every time I look I find ONE. I kill it. Then several hours later, I'll look again and find ONE. No matter how hard or how long I search, I never find more than one. It's the weirdest thing. She's had two flea baths (she may not speak to me if I give her another one today) but she can't tolerate the chemical flea drops. They burn her skin.

So I'll keep searching, picking, using the flea comb and bathing her. She'll get uninfested, even if it has to be one flea at a time. I wonder if it's a zombie flea and just keeps coming back... undead...

The cat has a flea collar on... but I haven't seen any fleas on her, though she has scratched one ear enough it has a scab. No ear mites I can see either. But I wanted to take her to the vet soon anyway, just for a once over, so we'll see what they say.

The joys of pet ownership.

The weekend was pretty quiet. I'd planned a big day of housecleaning yesterday, but DH got called into work at 1 a.m. Sunday morning, got home at 9 a.m. and I made him take a nap... which turned into nearly all day. He got up around 2 p.m. poor dude. But it really limited what I could do. I did manage laundry (that's in the basement) and I swept, mopped and scrubbed toilets (the glamorous life). It's something.

The excitement never ends.

Last night DD said to me enthusiastically: "Yay! Tomorrow's Monday. I get to go to school." Then quieter, but no less joyfully: "I love school."

I wonder when that will wear off?

I tried bloghopping a bit yesterday, but Google Reader kept locking up my computer. Maybe there's a better way to keep track of blogs I follow? Anyone?

Wishing you all a wonderful week!

====================

You Are Charming and Impassioned

You encourage others to take a leap and to take action. You know it's hard to make that first step sometimes. You are easily distracted. You prefer to multitask, and you're always adding a new task to your list. You have a positive attitude. You try to keep a sunny disposition, even when life is getting you down. The potential for great leadership is there, as long as you don't abuse it. You have a lot more power over people than you might think.

The Autumn Leaves Color Test

About 75%...

=================

Lexie Come Out of Her Shell

Lexie is really coming out of her shell ... I think yesterday was a turning point for her. This morning she was yowling at the basement door ('LET ME OUT!!!') and despite the fact the dog was RIGHT THERE when I opened it, she came almost all the way up. As as soon as I backed the dog up about a foot and made her sit, Lexie came out, yowling the entire time.

She's very vocal. This is actually neat, because Breeann was very vocal, too, and we're used to having conversations with our cat.

Dakota is just so good. She wanted to see the cat, but moved very slow and would follow her around about two feet back. The cat kept a very close eye, but didn't run back downstairs. I'm so thrilled.

My DH might not be, as Lexie is very much a cat. Breeann really wasn't -- she didn't get on the counters (or on the living room furniture, which is FORBIDDEN...:::dum dum dum dum:::), didn't open the cupboards, etc. Except for her attitude, she was far more doggish.

Lexie isn't. She's already getting up on the counters and the furniture. Guess we'll find out if you can train a cat.

DD had a great time on her field trip yesterday. She yammered on and on about it when I picked her up AND wants to go back sometime on our own. Here's where she went -- the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center.

She's having SO much fun with school, that when I asked her if she still wanted me to pull her out for the day next Thursday to go to the Deerfield Fair, she said NO. She'd rather go over the weekend!

Gotta love it.

Me, I'm still trying to get my life into a reasonable amount of order. Maybe by the end of the school year... *sigh*.

Have a great weekend everyone!

======================

Your Height Says You're Daring

You are a true adventurer, and you live for the thrill. You have a lot of charisma, and you're good at convincing people to join you in your schemes. You are open to the world, and you make connections easily. You have lots of friends. You are likely to have many life paths to choose from. There are many possibilities open to you. You are about as tall as the average British man.

What Does Your Height Say About You?

About 50/50 ... I did convice Judy to go along with my crazy scheme about starting a reviews site ... :-)

======================

Lexie, Geese and NaNoWriMo

Look who ventured upstairs to keep me company this morning.



She's on my lap now, and making it tough to type. The last few days she hadn't come upstairs at all, and any time I went downstairs, she'd yell at me: "MEOW! I'M LONELY!"

So last night after the dog went to bed, I dragged Lexie upstairs. She immediately ran back down, but eventually slithered up again, looked for the dog and made herself comfortable. I've tried explaining that my dog is the most harmless thing in the world, but she's not buying it yet.

Still, this morning when I opened the basement door (no, she's not allowed to roam at night -- neither was Breeann) she popped right out. Of course, the dog was up so she ran back down, but she hovered halfway down the stairs (way to tease the dog!) and waited. Once Dakota left, she came back up.

Silly girl.

And fall is definitely here. We're getting flocks of geese coming through as the venture south. I was at the library yesterday morning around 9 a.m. and there were a couple dozen on the lawn below, grazing (and finding the occasional apple -- it's an old apple orchard):



I know they're hard to see, but my camera on the phone doesn't zoom. I've cropped it here:


DD goes on her first field trip today. I admit to being a little nervous ... it's something I did hundreds of times as a kid and never thought about whether my mom worried about my safety (on the road ... not so much at the place). Still, this is good for me, too. Gotta let go of your kidlets at some point, right?

Charity Tahmaseb commented yesterday about my issues with waiting on my Samhain submission: You could, of course, take your mind off things by writing something new. I believe NaNo is coming up, no?

Yes, yes it is!! And yes, I'd love to try NaNo again. I really, really love NaNoWriMo ... I have a month to plan. Maybe I'll even (*GASP*) write an outline! I'd still love to give Geoff (from "One Love for Liv") his HEA. And it would be wildly appropriate to finish his story during NaNo, since that's when I originally wrote Liv.

I'll have to give it some serious thought. And for those of you who've read Liv: What kind of heroine do you think would be perfect for Geoff?

===================

You Are Confident

You know what you want, and you're not quick to change your mind. You have strong opinions that are set in stone. You love being the center of attention and having your moment. You don't shy away from the spotlight. You are focused and committed. You never lose site of your goals. You enjoy challenges... in fact, you seek them out. You like to put yourself to the test and see what you're made of.

The Toast Test

About 90% right!

======================

Mother Nature Flipped a Switch

It's COLD here!

Wednesday was almost uncomfortably warm and then POOF! Last night a cold front blew in and it's shivery cold. I had to close my windows last night for the first time in months.

Darn.

I actually really enjoy fall. The temps are pleasant, my outdoor chores are mostly done -- no more gardening at least, though there is wood to split and stack (especially since DH took down more trees out back). September and October in particular are lovely months and I think I would enjoy them more if I didn't know that winter came next.

This year, though, I'm determined to enjoy fall. Long walks with the dog without sweating up a storm! No more feeling guilty because I'm not outside weeding! I'll have my "outdoor refrigerator" again -- especially handy for making dog food and thawing turkeys.

And I'll be able to wave at my down the street neighbor again and she can see me do it, because the leaves will be down by end of October.

Still, I could really get into having three seasons (like we did in California): Spring, Summer, Winter .... lather, rinse, repeat!

In cat news, Lexie is still "basement cat". She'll come upstairs sometimes at night but she never sticks around long. I leave the door open all day long and she never peeks her head out. The slightest (and I mean slightest) noise will freak her out if she's upstairs and she flies back down to her "house".

I've also found that she's a plastic eater (cardboard, too, but that worries me less since it's pretty well digestible). I had another cat who ate plastic and it's a real pain. I can't leave the garbage down in the basement -- she chews on the bag. I have potatoes in the basement as well .... and she chews on the bag. Hopefully it's just a nervous habit and she'll out grow it, though my other cat never did.

Otherwise she's a sweet, affectionate kitty who really loves living in the mushroom patch.

========================

You Are an Imaginative Thinker

You are a nonlinear thinker, and you're even surprised by the places your mind takes you. You love to get lost in a story, whether it's your own or not. You love fantasy. You are a positive and uplifting person. You inspire others to be better. You are full of wonder and curiosity. You feel a strong connection to the world.

The Library Test

About 75% right ...

==================

Monday? .... uh, no... What day is it?

I swear, Monday holidays really mess with the rest of my week... I'm not going to remember what day it is until NEXT week, when things go back to normal.

DD spent her weekend agonizing over her "homework" -- she has one short paragraph to memorize in Spanish and a couple chapters of reading that she then had to summarize.

I don't know how to break it to her that it's going to get worse...

Still, she's loving school so far. She's so excited to go in the mornings that she almost can't eat. I hope that doesn't go away. I liked school (yeah, I'm a nerd, what can I say), so was hoping she would too.

Lexie is settling in well. I'd kept her in the basement for a few days because that's her "safe" house. The dog isn't allowed down there (cat litter box + cat food = dog treat heaven) so it's where she can go to get away from it all. However, it appears that she's TOO comfy there. She wants nothing to do with coming upstairs at all.

This frustrates DD who wants the cat to go up to her room and hang out with her. I told her she will eventually, but that she's just not comfortable yet -- she's had a lot of changes (she'd been dropped off at the shelter overnight ... the found her waiting outside when they opened -- she's such a love bug, she had to have belonged to someone who cared, so that breaks my heart), then being stuck in a cage for a couple months, then coming to our house -- new smells, new people, new home.

She's not a shy cat, not really, though she can be a little jumpy (who wouldn't be in her situation?), but she trusts us, comes when we call her. She'll figure it out.

For now, every day after I drop DD off at school, I'll leave the door to her room in the basement open. She can come up if she chooses. Maybe since it'll be quieter with everyone gone, she will. The dog is interested in her, but not overly so -- she stayed lying down yesterday when we brought Lexie upstairs (where she yowled for about five minutes like she was being tortured and then ran downstairs) and is remarkably mellow, just watching her.

I did some blog-hopping yesterday, but it's a struggle. Truthfully, everything I do on the computer right now is -- my wireless router died last week and I ordered a new one (which should be here soon, thankfully). In the meantime, I either have to hardwire into the modem and sit in the living room (which is VERY uncomfortable and gives me a crazy headache) or tether to my phone (which keeps my body happier but runs REALLY SLOWLY). Visiting blogs this past week has been tough and time consuming, so it hasn't gotten done much. I've kept up with most of you who are on Facebook (everything all in one place -- much easier!), but otherwise, I feel so disconnected.

I'm grateful for my phone's ability to tether, but wish it ran just a tad bit faster.

Hope all of you had a great weekend.

======================

Feeling Inspired Makes You Sparkle

You yearn to leave your mark and make a difference. You dream big, and no one is going to get in your way. You believe that almost anything is possible. And you consider yourself a very lucky person. You love luxury, and even if you're a bit broke, you want things to look rich. You want to make the world a better place. You can be quite passionate about your ideals.

The Sparkly Test

Mostly right...

=================

Happy Labor Day

Not much to say today... it's been largely uneventful. Lexie is still settling in to the basement, though I think we'll be letting her out (under supervision and with all the doors to the bedrooms closed) soon. Hopefully she and Dakota will get along.

She's very, VERY affectionate -- the shelter had reported that she didn't like being picked up, which is completely wrong. If you pick her up, she crawls up on your shoulder and nuzzles your face. DD is loving her to death.

Here's a picture I finally managed to take of her -- she doesn't sit still much:



Had a bad time last night missing Breeann ... she was really MY kitty and I kept thinking about the time I didn't spend with her. You know -- regrets. We always have them. The times she asked to sit on my lap and I was too busy. I wish I could have every one of them back. I really miss her. Never realized how much of a fixture she was until she wasn't around.

Give your pets, your kids, your friends a hug today. It's never a waste of time.

=====================

You Are a Crime Drama

You may seem quiet and withdrawn, but you're paying attention to every single thing around you. You intuitively understand people. You are an amazing listener. You are very tightly-wound. You can get completely wrapped up in your job. You're the type of person who always finishes what you start. You like to wrap things up completely.

What Kind of TV Show is Your Life?

About 75% right...

=====================