Anniversary and Updates

In every marriage more than a week old, there are grounds for divorce. The trick is to find, and continue to find, grounds for marriage. ~Robert Anderson, Solitaire & Double Solitaire

In the good news column: DH was able to get out of work a little early yesterday so was home by seven -- we actually got to spend our anniversary together :-)

Fifteen years has flown by. I *know* it's been that long -- I have a twelve y.o. daughter to prove it, it just doesn't feel like we've been together nearly two decades. It's amazing how fast time flies by.

In more good(ish) news: I was able to force feed Breeann a little yesterday. I have a friend IRL who had similar problems with her kitty and suggested using a liquid syringe with baby food. About the time I was going to go buy baby food, Dakota decided HER tummy was upset, so kept eating grass to vomit. I didn't want to leave her in the house (or the car) while I shopped -- I didn't want to come back to a yucky surprise -- so I thoroughly pureed up some chicken with broth and added some of her soft food (it smells like fish). She didn't love me doing it, but she did take about 5 cc's of food. I really need to get more like 40 - 50 cc's into her daily, but I wanted to make sure she'd keep it down. She's acting a little more perky today -- was actually waiting at the basement door this morning and wanted to come upstairs (though I carried her up). She ignore the food I offered and curled up on the dog bed to sleep, but I'll take any positive I can find.

So today, I'll be feeding her four or five times a day with the syringe, jabbing her twice a day with a needle for fluids. Interestingly, she isn't bothered by that at all. Last night, I did it on my own without help and she just laid there and purred through the whole thing. the only thing she really, really hates are the antibiotics. They make her gag and almost vomit, and then she drools for about fifteen minutes after.

Truthfully, I realize this is probably the beginning of the end for her, but we're just not quite ready to give up on her yet. Hey, I have more time with her than I do with my husband!

Thanks to everyone for your support and kind words and ideas. They mean a lot to me.

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The Left Side of Your Brain is Dominant

You are a verbally and mathematically adept person. You notice details, and you are very precise. You are analytical and linear. You are able to not get overwhelmed and do things one step at a time. You follow through on the plans you make. You like to have everything neat and finished before moving on. You are a perfectionist in almost every aspect of your life. Errors and mistakes drive you crazy.

What Side of Your Brain is Dominant?

That's mostly right, except maybe the math part -- though I did like math up through algebra. Then geometry appeared and I fell to pieces...

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Breeann and a 15th Anniversary

Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms. ~George Eliot

So ... the vet called yesterday and updated me on Breann's blood work. Looks like her kidneys are starting to fail. I looked it up, and it appears that kidney failure is the biggest killer of cats outside of feline leukemia and accidental death, and it's especially prominent in older cats.

I was given three choices: euthanasia (we said no), hospitalization to get fluids (massively expensive, so we said no) and giving her IV fluids at home (still not cheap, but we might still be able to eat and pay the electricity, so we said yes).

So, yesterday I went to the vet's office and got a crash course on sticking a needle under the cat's skin. :::shudders::: I hate doing it, but you do what you have to, right? Twice a day for probably the rest of her life (which I expect to be measured in months, sadly) I'll be giving her subcutaneous fluids.

My biggest concern now is that she won't eat. We've tried her soft food, cooked chicken and ham so far. She sniffs, then curls up and goes to sleep. A little later today, I'm going to try tuna. I hope that once she starts eating again, she'll eat her regular food. I hope it's just a matter of getting her appetite stimulated.

DD fell to pieces last night. She hasn't had a great last few days anyway, and she's an incredibly sensitive and emotional thing on the best of days, but last night she sobbed and sobbed. And sobbed. And then, when I thought she'd gotten it under control, she sobbed some more.

Kinda puts a damper on my fifteenth wedding anniversary. But then, we aren't celebrating today anyway -- DH has to work from early this morning until the wee hours tonight. Pretty much it'll be, "Happy anniversary, here's your coffee, have a good day."

I never realized how YOUNG DH looked when we got married. He's almost five years younger than me and he looked like a baby.




Neither of us look like babies anymore ... but we're hanging in there!

Have a good day.

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You Are Somewhat Self-Reliant

You rely on yourself most of the time, but you're happy to rely on others and have them rely on you in turn. You are a very social creature. You like having a large network of friends and acquaintances. You take pride in being able to be counted on. You consider yourself to be a reliable and responsible person. You believe that no person is an island. You try not to need other people, but you are glad when they are there for you.

How Self Reliant Are You?

Um ... 50/50, I guess...

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Happy FOURTEENTH Anniversary

In every marriage more than a week old, there are grounds for divorce. The trick is to find, and continue to find, grounds for marriage. ~Robert Anderson, Solitaire & Double Solitaire

In my last post, I said it was my thirteenth anniversary. DH disabused me of this fact -- it is our FOURTEENTH. Guess they're already starting to blend together? Time flies? I am mathematically challenged? Whatever the case, he is right and it's fourteen years of marriage we've enjoyed.

I was nearly thirty when we were married (he was twenty-five ... yes, I robbed the cradle ::rawr::), my dad had passed away years before and we were financing our own wedding. I was already working full time, but took a second job waiting tables nights and weekends to pay for everything. Still, it was a modest wedding. DH stayed out of the planning, but did say he wanted to be able to wear Wranglers during the ceremony.

Okay ... I could work with that.

I bought a tea-length, western wedding dress. My mom added the bustle/train to it. The most expensive part of my wedding outfit was the boots -- and I only wore them once! I tried to wear them again after I'd had my DD, but my feet had gotten larger and they didn't fit.

I remember the morning of my wedding, I (and my attendants) stopped by a local convenience store to pick up ice. I had a caterer, but had to provide the drinks, so needed bags of ice. While we were paying, the cashier said, "Summer picnic?" I said, "Nope, wedding. Mine. I'm getting married in less than an hour." The jaw-dropping surprise made me wish for a camera.

I did my own hair. No limo was involved. The reception was in the church hall. But, hey, it worked. And sometimes I think folks put more effort into their wedding than they do their marriage.

So ... pictures. Please remember that not only do I not have a scanner, but my real camera is broken, so these are pictures of pictures I too using my cell phone.

Me, getting ready. I'm holding my teal garter and, no that isn't a real smile, lol.



Putting on my boots:



My mom walked me down the aisle and gave me away:



Here's our cake:



It had the cutest topper:



And our wedding party (and quite possibly the only photo that will be posted of my DH online ever):



If you want to read a fictional account of our meeting, I wrote up a story that loosely follows it here (click the cover):



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Now ... on to the drama about DD's sinking swim fin.

We went to The Sports Authority and told them the story. The girl helping us disappeared for a bit, then returned and indicated that they would be unable to issue a return, a store credit or anything else. That items needed to be returned in the condition they were purchased. I told her that if I was able to return them in the condition purchased, I wouldn't BE returning them.

I asked for the number of her district manager. She advised me that she'd already called him and he backed the decision. She wouldn't give me his number, but would give him ours. I gave my DH's number. She also said they recommended I contact the manufacturer.

I didn't even get a "We're sorry this happened."

When the district manager called, he basically said that because so many people lie and defraud the company about returns, they have a strict policy. Period. No exceptions. He also suggested we contact the manufacturer. The fact is, though, they could have refunded us the money (or given us a store credit) and then contacted the manufacturer themselves. These were $25 fins ... it wasn't as though I was asking for hundreds of dollars in a refund.

The Sports Authority gets a BIG "FAIL" in my book. And in Manchester where I shop, there is a Modell's Sports right next door to TSA. Guess who will get my business from now on?

We emailed the manufacturer. The fins we bought were Gnarly Swin Fins from Fluid Water Sports (part of C Walters Intercoastal Corporation ).

In a matter of a couple of hours we had a response. Not only would they refund our money (I simply have to fax a copy of the receipt), but they apologized for what happened, indicated that those fins ARE supposed to float. She said they would test a pair to make certain they floated and would send a pair to DD in her size. This ON TOP of refunding the money. This was so far above and beyond what we expected, I was floored. After the incredibly poor service we received from The Sports Authority, I wasn't certain we'd receive any better from the manufacturer.

Here's the thing: Fluid Water Sports has built SUCH good will with us at this point that, when DD buys her mask and snorkel that she's saving for ... guess who we'll use? Their gear is nice, their prices very reasonable and their service is absolutely amazing.

So, although I'm disgusted at TSA, my confidence and faith was restored by the outstanding care we received from Fluid Water Sports. Kudos to them.

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You Are a Snake

You have extraordinarily sharp senses. You sense what's going on almost before it happens. You connect with the world. People instantly feel close to you. You are a natural protector. You take good care of your friends. You are an ambitious person. Your ambitious drives you. But while you are ambitious, you are also humble. You are thankful for everything you have.

What Reptile Are You?

Mostly right...

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Happy Anniversary

A wedding anniversary is the celebration of love, trust, partnership, tolerance and tenacity. The order varies for any given year. ~Paul Sweeney

Today my DH and I celebrate 13 years of marriage. I use the term "celebrate" loosely, because it will probably entail a greeting of "Happy Anniversary" when I wake him up and not much else, lol.

We were going to take a weekend away this year, but the logistics got too crazy. Finding someone to watch the DD and the Dd is tough. My in-laws and the one friend I'd trust to keep DD all don't like dogs. And boarding the dog costs more than my frugal self can stand. We can't go out to dinner -- DH's long hours at work preclude that. So, we'll just wish one another a happy anniversary and go from there. One of these days we'll get away. Heck DD turns 18 in eight more years. Maybe DH and I will go away then!

:-)

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It's hot here. Sometimes I think that the earth's tilt has changed a little bit because it sure seems like our seasons have shifted by a few weeks. The past few years everything seems to come just a little later. The weather we're having now is typical for late July, and I bet we have a longer fall. Last year we didn't even get our first frost until October!

Regardless, it's going to be brutal the next couple of days. It's hot (high 90s) and it's VERY VERY humid (which is what gets me). We don't have A/C because we really seldom need it. But OY.

It makes it especially tough for the dog because she's got so much energy, and we just can't take her for walks or play with her between late morning and early evening. Poor puppy.

DD is angry because I won't let her bake cookies.

**sigh**

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You Are Right Brained in Love

When it comes to love, you go with your gut not with your head. You have an open heart. You fall in love easily and get hurt just as easily. You are spontaneous with relationships. You go with the flow and don't worry about the future. You are romantic, empathetic, and caring. More than most people, you really love being in love.

Are You Right Brained or Left Brained in Love?

Um.. No.

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Weekend Recap

Alice came to a fork in the road.
"Which road do I take?" she asked.
"Where do you want to go?" responded the Cheshire cat.
"I don't know," Alice answered.
"Then," said the cat, "it doesn't matter."
~Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

We had a fairly quiet day yesterday. We had lunch out (where DH left his wallet... thankfully, the waitstaff found it immediately), and then shared a romantic shopping trip to WalMart where DH bought doe urine and fishing lures. *G*

We came home and took a nice, long walk with the dog all through the neighborhood. Then DH fertilized the lawn, and I weeded.

As silly as it sounds, it was a good day. I love my DD, I really do -- but I never realized the demands she makes on me all the time. I get "Mom!" every five minutes, and seldom am able to just do what I want, when I want for as long as I want.

And DH and I talked. A lot. Something else we can't do with little pitcher's ears.

So, year twelve is history, and year thirteen begins.

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We released another butterfly yesterday, a male monarch (interestingly enough -- the first batch we had were all females, and this last batch were all males. I wonder if there's a reason for that?). I actually caught it hatching the moment it emerged. Fascinating... actually, if you're interested, here are pix from last year of a monarch emerging from its chrysalis:





We also lost our last pillar -- he started the vomiting/writing thing ... so our mortality rate this year was three pillars, and one butterfly (that one was the hardest to take).

We only have two more chrysalis to go and we're done with Pillar Place 2008.

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I did some writing yesterday as well. I opened up my fantasy that I started for NaNoWriMo last year. I'd gotten about 16,000 words before I quit. I really, really like this story. The world-building is arduous, but worth it, I think. I wrote another 1,000 words yesterday and hope to keep up the momentum. It's going to need a close eye by someone when it's done. And, I sure wish I'd taken better notes on my IM brainstorming session with Jen. Oh well...

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Broken Boats and Anniversarys

I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life. ~Rita Rudner

See... y'all are so smart! You're paying attention :-)

Yes, DD and DH went boating yesterday. Since the weekend the boat broke, DH took the boat engine apart and spent hours nearly every day scouring it for anything that could be wrong. He replaced a few parts, thought it was good and took it out on a nearby lake.

It died again.

So, he had his brother tow him in, and took the thing apart again right there on the dock. Found a couple more parts that looked like they might be a problem, brought them down to a local marina and got new ones. Replaced them, put it back together and then drove the boat like he'd stolen it.

It did NOT die.

Thusly deemed safe for use, he called the family and arranged a boating date. So, for a few hundred dollars, instead of several thousand, it seem we may have an operating boat again. I hope.

Funny thing -- three weeks ago, I would have been horrified at the thought of spending a few hundred on the boat, now it seems like a paltry sum. Amazing how perspective changes when faced with the idea of several thousand!

Fingers crossed that the problem has been fixed permanently. It's kind of nice having a handy husband.

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Speaking of husbands, I've had mine for twelve years today. It's amazing how quickly the time has gone by... it doesn't seem like it's been that long.

Our plans? SIL is taking DD for a few hours and DH and I are going out on a date. *G* We don't do that very often, especially now that my mom isn't here to watch DD regularly. I imagine we'll have seafood (DH is a clam freak... I prefer scallops) and then see what happens next. If it's a nice day, maybe we'll go walk by the lake. If not, a movie? Who knows. DH isn't one for making plans.

Speaking of marriage, the best wedding scene ever:



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From Melissa:

Your Hidden Talent

You have the natural talent of rocking the boat, thwarting the system. And while this may not seem big, it can be. It's people like you who serve as the catalysts to major cultural changes. You're just a bit behind the scenes, so no one really notices.

What's Your Hidden Talent?

I think they're saying I'm sneaky... hmmm...

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