After what's felt like a particularly harsh winter, we finally got a bit of a reprieve. I guess I could say it's been unseasonably warm (50s and 60s), but Kentucky is prone to unseasonable weather year round so it's expected. Or at least I expect it and get very grumpy when weeks of below-freezing temperatures persist without the usual unseasonably warm break.
While I've enjoyed taking some more walks (which I need to do regardless of lower temps), I think Zoey is enjoying it the most. The first warm day she had no desire to come inside at all, although she had to because eating leaves (at least I hope it was leaves) is unacceptable. There are no squirrels to chase inside and she prefers to sit under the trees and wait for them, full of hope that some day she'll catch one. Not that I'm sure she knows what she would do with it if she ever did. I hope we'll never find out.
The summer before I started high school my family and I moved from our small house in the city to a larger home, with a larger yard, in the county. The stipulations for this move was that dad would be able to have a John Deere riding lawn mower, and mom could finally have her chocolate lab.
We got Annie that November. I remember reading Pride and Prejudice for the first time on our way to pick her up. I remember pouting because I wanted a small dog. I remember my sketchy high school boyfriend performing his greatest act as my boyfriend by telling me to suck it up and enjoy the new puppy.
Annie was a lovely dog. Loyal. Kind. Always happy to see you. Always ready to bark when asked (like when the convicts would cut the grass along the highway) and when not asked (like at the plastic bag blowing through the yard). She was patient as, over the past few years, we brought several small annoyances into her life. Like the addition of another dog and cat, and my tendency to bring my dog and cat home for visits. (Annie and Zoey have particularly had issues, but eventually learned to respectfully avoid each other.)
I'm sure you can tell where the rest of this story is going. Awhile ago the vet found some cancer in Annie's mouth, which he easily removed, but it came back and was no longer easy to remove. At 12 years old, we pledged to keep her comfortable for as long as we could, but we can now no longer keep her comfortable. Today mom and dad...well... you know.
I'm glad she's not hurting any more, but she'll be missed.
For the sake of ending things on a brighter note, I'm taking more pictures of the painting results right now and will immediately load and start posting tomorrow!
Today Zoey's yard is complete! It is now fully fenced in, and the picket fence has been adjusted so she can't wiggle free. (No worries, when she escaped she just ran to the front door!)
Zoey is spending the week with her Nana (Yes, my mom refers to herself in reference to Zoey as "Nana". It's adorable.) since Lee and I will be away this weekend (Sadly though not in the same place. I have a wedding; Lee has drill.). I always feel a little guilty when Zoey leaves because I kind of love it. It's not that I don't love Zoey, because I do. I mean, look at that face! And those lop-sided ears! But there are several perks to Zoey not being around. Like I don't have to strategically feed the cat so Zoey won't eat all her food. (I have to feed her early before Zoey gets up, but then have put her food away when we leave for work. Basically, Reagan only has a chance of eating if I'm within eye shot of her food bowl.) And Lee doesn't have to cautiously approach me to avoid a dog attack. (We've realized that men can't approach me if I'm seated or Zoey pounces. Good thing she's only 15 pounds.)
But mostly, Lee and I love not having to take Zoey outside to potty. I know, I know, that's one of the big considerations when you get a dog in an apartment, but it's so much more annoying than I ever thought it would be. Lately, as I curse Zoey for taking forever to poo when I'm already running late for work, I remind myself that I only have a few more weeks before I can just let her out into our fenced yard. :)
"I bet there's a circle of hell where the kitties have laser pointers that the humans have to chase around."
-- Lee, after harassing Reagan with a laser pointer
1. Jane Austen mash-ups
Okay, yeah, I can laugh at Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I've flipped through it in the store once and was highly entertained. But now that there's Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters and Emma and the Werewolves (Although this seems to be from a separate person than those who created the previous two.), it has clearly become an attack on my beloved Jane which should stop. Spread the love. Pick on some Bronte sisters. I mean, they already have characters locked in the attic so that would be a good place to start.
2. The United States Government
Since Lee co-signed his friend's mortgage and was on the title for a year, we don't qualify for the $8,000 tax refund for first time home buyers. I know this isn't really the government's fault, but it makes me sad even though I'm not a big fan of government spending in the first place.
Even after they expanded the qualifications, we still don't make the cut since we haven't lived in the same home for five years.
(Yes, I could get a mortgage without Lee but Lee qualifies for the VA loan which is better than the FHA loan.)
3. Ice storms
We lost power for four days. That was not cool, Mother Nature.
4. Cat pee
While I have forgiven Reagan, I can't forget. We still have a long way to go on the road to building back trust.
Note: I just realized that last year's naughty list was titled "2009 Naughty List..." Oops.
5. Jon and Kate Plus Hate
I have a high tolerance for over-publicized celeb fiascoes and miscellaneous celeb non-sense. If I get tired of your crazy life, then you must have already crossed the line 70 miles back. Although, I will admit to the unpopular opinion of siding with Kate.
Yes, I like to dress my dog and no, I'm not ashamed nor do I feel bad about it. Zoey does get cold sometimes outside in the winter and it entertains me. I mean, I have to smell her breath and pick up her poop everyday! Don't get me started on the time she ripped up my carpet. So the least she can do is entertain me by sitting still for some photographs of her wearing holiday accessories. And it's just so cute!
I don't know if you can tell but those antlers have flashing lights!
This is actually Reagan's but we can't get her to wear it. (She might have poked her head out of the bedroom during the photo shoot, gave a bewildered look, and ran back under the bed.)
Jingle bells rock!
I'm a little Type A. Okay, maybe more than a little. Sudden plan changes really bug me, even little ones. Even if I've planned nothing and now something technically cooler has come along, I don't like it. Today has been full of "special" sudden events and some small to medium sized plan changes. Overall, I think I'm okay with it. Does this mean I'm growing? Doubtful. I think it just means I need a nap.
I have been feeling a little lazy lately. I come home from work and my motivation meter is at -20. I fall asleep in the chair because I'm too lazy to drag myself to bed. And I've been getting up later and later, which has been screwing with both my and Lee's morning schedule. I had hoped that this morning would be better but it wasn't. I snoozed too long, even though I had plenty of sleep and was plenty awake. The bed was comfier than the bathroom and it won. After a series of pep-talks, I vowed to cheer up, persevere and next week we will do better. "We" being me and pep-talk-giver who lives in my head.
So I'm looking for my sunglasses in a hurry to take Zoey out to potty and finally head to work, but funny thing is my glasses case is wet. Huh. And so is my adorable Clinique makeup bag. And my cute little notebook is soaked in something smellier than water...must be animal urine!
For a number of reasons it was ultimately concluded that my dear, beloved, perfect Reagan peed in my purse this morning.
So now I'm running later AND trying to get the cat urine off my belongings. Thankfully, the Fossil wallet and camera were spared. The purse might be a lost cause, but at least it was a $15 Walmart purse. A fabulous purse, but a $15 purse none the less.
I yelled and cursed Reagan a lot as I cleaned up, got a new purse and headed out the door, but after talking to coworkers and Lee's mom who is above-average with pet knowledge, it appears that she may have a urinary infection.
So Reagan, I am sorry for yelling those horrible things at you this morning. (Note: Apology pending veterinary diagnosis.)
Instead of getting errands done at lunch, I came home and created a kitty haven in our bathroom (I really wish we had two of those right now.) where we can better control where she'll decide to pee and better see if there's any blood in the pee. Fun!
Oh, did I mention I was going to go home (like the where-my-parents-live, two-hours-away home) right after work? For my friend's baby shower tomorrow? And Lee's got drill this weekend so he will be gone from about at least 6 am to 6 pm all weekend?
Or I was going home. I'll be staying in Louisville for the night to monitor Reagan's situation and get her medical attention if needed.
Honestly, I'm kind of relived. Not so much about the situation where I need to buy a medicine dropper to collect cat urine off the bathroom floor, but like I said, I've been lazy and I'm hoping that tonight I will actually get some things done that need to be taken care of, mostly laundry. And it's an extra night to hang out with Lee. And if I was at my parents' house I'd just be worried about my precious little kitty. (Note: Precious status pending veterinary diagnosis.)
I try to avoid long posts because in all honesty, I never read all of a long post so I doubt anyone would read all of my long blog post, but there are three random bits that I must share with the world today. I refuse to break up these three very different, yet mildly (by a thread) related topics.
Friends
If I made a list of all the things I'd like to change about myself or improve on, it would be quite lengthy. We don't need to go into it all now (We can save that for January 1.), but one thing is a desire to keep in better touch with my friends. Yet after the past 48 hours, I think I've decided I can cross that off the list.
Relationships will change when you don't live in the same sorority house or have the same lunch block anymore. There's no avoiding it. The important thing is that you keep in touch enough, and do the most you can, so you're still a part of each others' lives.
Sunday night I went out for dinner and coffee in Lexington with three of my sorority sisters. I LOVE Ramsey's friend chicken!
In no time at all we were laughing, sharing too much information, and talking about people we don't like (There's something to add to the January 1 list!).
Last night, some friends from high school came over for dinner, and even though it feels like forever since the last time we saw them, that didn't really seem to matter, although it does help that we mutually stalk each other online. (Sarah might have walked in and gone, "Oh! It's your asymmetrical mantel arrangement!" I love the Internet!)
I know it's gushy and overly-sentimental, but the past two nights I got to spend with people I love a whole lot and who I don't talk to nearly as often as I want to, or as I used to, and it makes me giddily happy.
Dog Attacks
This video was taken last night before my friends arrived. It is awesome for two reasons: 1. It's hott to watch husband vacuum. He's so helpful!
2. It's a riot to watch Zoey attack the vacuum. So glad I finally got this on film. Now if only I can get some shots of her and Reagan wrestling.
Head Wounds
I am a huge wimp and mild hypochondriac. Yet once I survive my "major" injuries, I like to brag about them because I'm quirky and that's what I do.
I think it might be the oven's fault, but with the oven on 500 degrees for the 30 minutes it took to roast the tenderloin, the apartment got very smokey and we had to open a lot of windows. So once our friends left, I went into the laundry room to shut the window. It's a smaller window and sits up a little higher than the norm. Apparently, this window will also fold out, as I learned when I went to shut it and pulled it down ON MY HEAD. The window put a gash in my forehead and landed right at the top of my nose. (The bridge perhaps? It was right at the top between my eyes.) There was some bleeding and a lot of whining that ensued. Sarah, being a nurse and having just left, almost got a phone call to immediately come back and fix me, but Lee promised I would be fine, even though he wouldn't shine lights in my eyes to check for a concussion. I had to do that myself. And my head still hurts today. :( ouch.
I think my mom's longing for a small dog started when I got Zoey. Three years later, she finally has her lap dog. Meet Maisy!
Maisy is a four-year-old Yorkie-Shih Tzu mix mom adopted through a rescue group. I'm already in love and can't wait to meet her. Hopefully Zoey likes her too. *fingers crossed*
Not only is it a three day weekend, but Sunday is my and Lee's one year anniversary and I am dorkily excited. Not just because we're going to the zoo, fancy restaurant and got a bottle of the sparkling wine we toasted with at the reception, but also just happy to be married to the coolest guy ever. Like seriously. Plus, we now have married couple street cred. It's almost as if we know what we're doing.
Meerkats, I will see you soon. Please forgive me if I squeal too loud, try to pet you, or attempt to keep you. My dog can make a meerkat pose you know and sometimes I watch your TV show.
I've been a bad pet parent. I'm having a love affair with someone else's dog. My coworker has a new Yorkie puppy named Charlie who's been spending lots of time at the office. Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 5:30, he is my precious.
My brother-in-law and his wife went to a wedding this weekend and this was the centerpiece at the rehearsal and they brought us one! And then they decided that they didn't want the additional one they had brought to our apartment and promised to take with them. Awesome. Or not.
Actually, I picked Kevin out early on as the one we would keep since he played dead the least. Since then, I've kind of fallen for him. He's pretty awesome, as you can clearly tell. And we've found a home for Not Kevin. (Yes, that has become his name.)
So welcome to the family Kevin! We are now officially outnumbered by the animals.
It's Reagan's first birthday! We guess. Lee's parents found her on their way to our rehearsal dinner on September 5th and guessed she was two months old.
This is the little fur ball when she came to live with us in October.
