OK, Linda!

I got an email from my friend Linda that reminded me of how remiss I've been in updating my blog. She's right, and I'm even starting to feel guilty about it! It's just summer, you know. Stuff going on. Minimal time on the computer.

There are some good stories, though. I'll begin with my favorite Wil quote to date. He ran into the Viking room, ran back out, put his hands huffily on his hips, and announced "There's a fart in there, from Leo!". And indeed there was.

If not for wanting to say hi to Linda, the title of this post would have been titled something like "dead kitty" or "Blue blues". Don't worry, she isn't really. Here's the story:

Brian texted me when I was on my way home from work one night to say that he had found our cat, Blue, dead on the road while running. Crap. Another pet lost. It wasn't as bad as losing Minnie, but still sad. Blue is probably the least attached of our pets as she is very independent and does not like to be petted. However, she is very pretty, fun to watch, and we've had her for 5 years, so she is part of our family.

The next morning Brian took Ariana to see the dead cat by the road. Ana confirmed that it was, indeed, Blue. (We questioned it just because Brian can be a bonehead that way). Later, I drove over there (it was a mile away) and took a look myself. Yep. No mistaking it. It was blue. Just to be sure, I took a picture with my cell phone and we went home and compared it to pictures we had of her on the computer. A perfect match. So sad....no more Blue.

I was sad for Ben because Blue is technically his kitty. He, however, did not act sad. I was concerned, because he does not talk about how he feels, and I still suspect a touch of Aspergers. I invited him to sleep with me that night, which he did.

But first, we went to pick up the body. I took a plastic bag and when we got there I started to gather the body into it.

And then I saw the balls.

The dead cat had balls.

Blue was a spayed female.

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But it was so so obviously her! Her markings are quite distinctive, there just couldn't be two cats out there that look exactly like that, with goofy spots at the butt and a grey head and white body.

So I fiddled with the little appendage causing the confusion, and honestly, I just couldn't think that it was anything but balls. I wondered if something got pushed out when she got run over. I briefly considered calling the vet to ask if maybe...maybe...could she have GROWN some? (That, I am glad I didn't do. Like an RN I work with said when I told him that story, "Hi, I'm a nurse at the VA, and I was wondering...").

I left the dead kitty with balls beside the road for the time being and went home to think. And think. And think. Honestly I must have thought about cat balls for 24 hours. Then I decided that we would never know how Blue grew whatever it was, but that we would bring her home and bury her next to Minnie.

And then she daintily sashayed into the driveway, quite clearly not dead.

The Blue resurrection!

We were very excited to tell Ben the news, but his affect, in response, was characteristically flat. "I knew that wasn't Blue." he said evenly.

"Why didn't you say something?" I asked him. "Didn't want to." he said.

OK....................

I still haven't figured out how on earth she could be missing for 3 days and we can find her twin dead by the road and then she can come home (she never leaves for days at a time...never)................'twill always be a mystery, I suppose. In the meantime, I'm enjoying watching her in the evenings as she carouses with her sister, Jamie, and chases the dog.

Joy to the world

THE TOOTH HAS COME!

June 5th 1972

That's when I got born, so happy birthday to me. And indeed it has been. The weather has been beautiful and I've been having fun outside with 4 very good and independent big kids and 1 very crabby and clingy little kid. The good news on that one is that I believe there is only one more tooth to go and we'll be done with that teething business for awhile.........however as far as the other two problems go, there are still 10 months of him being 2 and I suspect we are destined for a lifetime of him being spoiled.

I got some great presents, too. Mom sent me cash and I went and bought myself some Keens! I've wanted for a long time for work, everyone here has them--they are ideal "nurse" shoes. They're dark blue and soooo comfy. Then, Brian gave me a clothesline. I couldn't be happier. I've wanted one forever and he always ignored me (he doesn't say no--he is passive aggressive so he has to ignore instead) because he is snobby and thinks they are tacky. As he gets older he cares less what other people think and that's all good for me.

Then, Fedex arrived with my laptop. ON my birthday, I'm not kidding. I"ve been waiting weeks for it. I'm required to have one for fall for school as I"ll be traveling some for clinicals (just to Fargo for a few long weekends through the year but still I have to have one) plus we really have been needing a 2nd computer, what with 6 computer users in the house (and one more on the up and up). It's shiny red--just deliciously electronic looking. I took it out of the box and of course had a million people crowded around me looking at it and reaching out grimy fingers. "Oh, no," I said, "No child will touch this!".

To which Wil responded.................."Look, a child is touching it.........." and reached out his dirty little finger while horns grew out of his head and a tail swished visibly behind him. That guy..............

The kids brought home their report cards and everyone did well. Ana got SIX "O"s!!! Ana, I know you read this, so I want you to know how proud we are of you! You worked very hard for your grades! Ben got five O's, which is also great. Lij brought home a neat paper that they made on the last day of school, they passed around papers on which everyone was supposed to write one nice thing about that person, and his was interesting. "you are so funny" "you are funnyer than i exepted" "You are so cool" "you are an awesome friend" "you are so funny" "you are so funny" "you are so funny" "you are so funny" "you are so funny"

I take it we have a class clown on our hands.