…was my good friend Beth, who traveled from Maine to visit her family. I am lucky enough to live relatively close to her folks, so Sunday evening we got to hang out just like in the old days. For the uninitiated this means eating, laughing, knitting, and watching Jane Austin on DVD. It was wonderful catching up with my beautiful, hilarious, and outrageously crafty talented friend, and my swell mom on a cold winter night. For all the snow and frigid temperatures I really had a great weekend. Go figure…
Stopping By the Woods on a Snowy Evening… February 8, 2010
Baby It’s Cold Outside February 6, 2010
It’s cold, and really snowy. I don’t know how much snow has fallen, but I would guess at least 8 inches. Funny, yesterday when I went to work there was no snow on the ground, and it was about 40 degrees. What a difference a day makes!
Don’t worry about me though, I’m safe inside and full of a hearty breakfast consisting of eggs, chorizo, hashbrowns and waffles. Mmmm. I’ve watched a dog cavort in (and eat) snow, and some birds (woodpecker and grackles) hop around the trees – all from the comfort of a warm living room. I’m stocked up with books, food, and have cable and Internet. Ahhhh. I hope all you are enjoying the February weather as much as I am.
Busy Week! February 4, 2010
This week at work is nuts. I began taking a professional on-line class, had two meetings, a webcast, a class to teach, a live webchat, and a conference for which to register. In fact, I am so busy this week that I have to miss a spring conference planning group webchat. Whew! I’m looking forward to the weekend and getting a massage…
News Worthy February 1, 2010
My friends are making the news the month!
A good friend and former colleague of mine was interviewed for the Columbia Journalism Review, and will be representing librarians on a local PBS station later in the week.
A good friend and current colleague made the front page (above the fold) of the local newspaper on Saturday. Imagine my surprise at leaving Bob Evan’s on Sunday morning to see my friend’s face smiling back at me from the news box. I immediately coughed up the .75 cents to read the story, and support my local newspaper.
Not hitting the print, but probably of interest to you is that I am feeling better. Not spectacular, but still…pretty good. I’m adjusting to living alone, but have plans to get another cat probably by the month’s end. This time I plan to get a big, male, non-tiger cat. In other words, the exact opposite of LuLu, so I don’t make even subconscious comparisons. Of course I do know what they say about the “best laid schemes…”
I’m also looking forward to my East Coast buddy, Beef, coming to visit next weekend!
Bathroom Humor January 29, 2010
Or rather in this case bathroom drama. Last night I discovered that the wonders of modern technology allowed me to combine a HOT bath with watching Fringe on Hulu. Hooray for the twenty-first century!
Yesderday Yellow January 27, 2010
Yesterday I only ate yellow foods. It wasn’t planned, but just turned out that way. Odd.
Moment of Grace January 24, 2010
I sit here weeping over your sympathetic and empathetic comments and e-mails. I weep because I am blessed with a network of wonderful people in my life who care about me, and because I know you all know the grief with which I am dealing.
The past few days have been the most anguished of my entire life, but I get through buoyed by my family and friends. Three friends offered to go with me for LuLu’s last moments, which was amazing to me. Everyone has offered to spend time with me, and to do whatever they can to ease my pain. My mom was with me almost all the time from Thursday night forward. She gave so much of herself to me, even though I know she was almost as crushed as I was over her “grand kitty.” My phenomenal mother just kept asking “what do you need?” She kept me fed and hydrated and strong when alone I would not have been. My dad bade a very tender farewell to LuLu, and dug her grave in my parent’s front yard in a shady glade under a bench so “we can all talk to her.” My friend Pete has lived up to his name meaning “the rock.” He too has spent much time with me the last few days. Both my parents and Pete have also put up with my crying binges and smelly sweatshirt…You all have been listening and responding, and again I thank you for that. It’s helped very much, so I feel like you should know about this amazing moment my mom and I shared.
My mom and I drove to her house with LuLu’s body after seeing the vet. When we walked in the house we were astonished to see in the skeletal branches of a large bush a flock (for want of a better term) of disparate birds. There were cardinals, and wrens, and chickadees, and robins, and finches, a wood pecker, and a blue jay. There was no food anywhere near, it was like they were there just for us, and LuLu (who loved to watch the birds through the patio door). The three of us went downstairs, and when we looked again for the birds, there were none in sight. I believe it was a moment a grace when I needed it a lot.
Ain’t no sunshine since she’s gone January 23, 2010
I’m sitting next to my little friend for the last time. She’s lying on a blanket on the sofa resting. I put some bird food out, but really it’s just been me watching the birds. She’s next to me, alive, and I’m missing her already. I can’t imagine my life without this perfect little creature by my side. To me, she is the most wonderful thing that ever was. I defy the universe to ever create a more awesome (and I mean that in the biblical sense of the word) cat. Charming, wry, funny, beautiful, thoughtful, intelligent, an evil genius at times, and with personality to spare. It pains me to think of what she may be feeling due to cancer and fluid in her chest cavity, and so I made the decision to not let her feel bad anymore. Last night the emergency vet said “she feels bad, and we can’t fix it.” And so, today at 11:00 I’m surrendering to the universe my faithful, loving, and dear friend. My loss is the universe’s gain…
More Cat Tests January 21, 2010
Again, friends, I thank you for your support.
My little friend spent the day at the vet’s getting tested. She had two x-rays and a complete CBC. Both results will be sent out to a specialist because the vet found fluid on either her heart or her lungs. Forgive me here, but I was so upset, and the vet talked so much I can’t remember which it was. The bottom line is not good. It could be congestive heart disease, cancer or a tumor. The vet did draw off the fluid, but it will likely come back, and may or may not respond to medication – depending on what the problem actually is.
So there you have it. Me a wreck – completely heart sick. I’m sure this sounds melodramatic, but I know those animal lovers out there feel me when I say I’d sell my soul or my condo to give my little friend 10 more years of happy, pain-free life.
I’ll keep you posted…
