Queen B

Archive for the ‘The dog’ Category

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All is well

In Big time stuff, Healthy shmealthy, Serious Fun, The dog on April 29, 2012 at 6:14 pm

At the end of last week I realized that my Dr. had told me to expect a call in “about a week” with my follow-up test results and I hadn’t heard anything. I tried not to think about it too much because really I didn’t want to call them and appear to be a total freak who doesn’t understand the concept of “don’t call us, we’ll call YOU.” I also didn’t want to risk ruining what I expected to be a pretty good weekend in Madison. I pushed it out of my mind, because test results or not, I could just as easily ruin the trip with worry as I could with the wrong answer from the doctor.

 

The tournament was fun to watch.  Ultimate frisbee is fast and furious if nothing else. The weather was miserable to experience, low temperatures and rain. My shaky, shivery dog will attest to that – the shaky, shivery dog who barks incessantly when left alone in a dry and heated hotel room, that is.  This weekend was really my first experience bonding with other sports parents.  Miserable conditions will bring people together, apparently.  Beer at dinner may play a part in that as well.  My husband is my favorite accessory in social situations, because he is outgoing and funny, and he breaks the ice while I observe and consider and wonder about everything going on around me.  It’s kind of cool the way we’re balanced.

I took tons of pictures which are still trapped in my camera.  I don’t want to try to upload them until the current photos on the computer are backed up to our external hard drive (most already are, only the more recent uploads aren’t backed up yet), just in case. I am stop-loss paranoid, and therefore assume that the computer will crash at any moment (even though it’s a Mac, some habits die hard). I am also worried about the backup drive crapping out, and plan to get a 2nd backup for the backup.  Does that make sense?  Our external is NOT an Apple product and I (and the hubby) just don’t have much confidence in anything else anymore, really.  Maybe I’m brand brainwashed.

When we got home Sunday and brought in the Saturday mail, there was a letter from my Dr.’s office.  My test results were NEGATIVE (!!!), and although I have to go back in 6 months for another re-test, it was quite a relief.  I don’t like hearing a doctor say the C word multiple times prior to a re-test for anything, honestly, and it made the waiting extra nerve-wracking.  This coming from a Nervous Nelly as it is.  So once again a scare, followed by an all-OK.  This is turning into a pattern that I don’t really enjoy so much.  My one complaint, even in the glow of a good test result, is that the Dr. could have called me in a week as promised (which would have been on Thursday) and saved me four days of fretting.  I’m so over this.

Along that line, I have a new book in the pocket of my car door (which is the equivalent to the night-stand for normal people).  Creative Visualization by Shakti Gawain.  Already 110 pages in, I really like it.  I think it will be helpful in making my path.  Give it a go, if you’re so inclined.  You have to commit to keeping an open mind, but what use is a closed mind to you anyhow?

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Go ahead and relax

In The dog on April 17, 2012 at 8:14 am

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This is how it is on a regular basis around here. It can’t just be me, this certainly isn’t normal dog activity. That doesn’t even look comfortable.

If you dare sneeze in our house, be prepared for the dog to get indignant and sneeze back at you five or six times. As if we’re trying to have a sneezing contest. Maybe she could just dust the place once in a while if it’s a problem.

The dog is weird.

Seriously.

It’s not right.

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Double down

In Nothing to it but to do it, Stick a fork in it!, The dog on April 4, 2012 at 5:28 pm

I went ahead with the lacto-fermented soda. I re-started my ginger bug after we got home from the urgent care on the Sunday that my daughter broke her arm. I believe that the first bug died when I switched from a nice, tight-fitting two-part lid to a more convenient but ill-fitting one piece lid. Bad choice. My new bug has been thriving since I started over with the two piece lid.

On Monday I used the directions on my friend Jess’ blog (because my Wild Fermentation and Nourishing Traditions books haven’t arrived yet in the mail), and made syrup for the soda. We went with Strawberry. The fruit syrup cooled and all of that, and then I added the bug. It’s been up on top of my refrigerator next to the Kombucha to stay warm since Monday night. I keep waiting for the air lock to start bubbling which would indicate fermentation, but so far nothing. Panic pants over here is trying to remain calm, because I know my house is a little on the colder side, so there is a chance I haven’t killed it yet. I know it’s just soda, and I have more bug to try again so it’s not the end of the world if I did kill it. However, I hit the 24 hour mark sometime last night so…. YES, I’m a little panicked! I can’t fight my nature.

I also split my kombucha scoby for the first time today, so now I have TWO batches of kombucha brewing side by side. Double down, baby, this is exciting stuff! I will never again have a dry day, dammit. At least not because I’ve run out, anyhow. I split it partly because I wanted to see if it would work, partly to be my own guinea pig before I decide to split the scoby to share with someone else, and partly so that I will always have at least one good scoby if anything catastrophic happens to one of them. White people problems, I know… Upside: there’s always the bonus of extra kombucha for sharing. Or not.

Am I boring you?

In other news, a long time friend of my husband posted a video he took of my wedding on YouTube. Man were we skinny. I watched it the other night and decided that I looked weird. It was so NOT ME with the out of character super fancy sprayed stiff up-do hair and the heavy handed makeup applied by the staff of the ever-classy Treasure Island spa. If I had it to do over again, I would still hit Vegas with all the friends and family we could muster but I would probably be truer to myself in the get up. When I watched the video the other night, I could see my discomfort on the screen and it made me cringe. Of course, it’s the marriage itself that endures, and the makeup washes off so nothing is lost. It still qualifies as the best time of my life.

Finally, I have to make a random confession. Yesterday I said “fricking” at the elementary school, in front of the new girl, to my daughter’s teacher. It qualified as a swear. She asked me to repeat it, and stupidly, I did. Now THAT is completely in character.

I think it’s time they re-test my IQ. Seriously, I can practically feel it going down.

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Not to scale

In The dog on April 3, 2012 at 10:02 pm

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This is our beast and her monster truck tire. She is insane for this thing. You decide if what’s ginormous and what’s itty bitty…

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Hard Labor

In Big time stuff, Nothing to it but to do it, The dog on January 27, 2012 at 1:27 pm

This weekend should revolve around drywall – hanging, taping and mudding. Using objectionable language towards it, probably.

I hear we’re expecting snow, so there will likely be shoveling.

We will also probably be dragging more of our useless or unused crap to the Goodwill. Multiple trips, I’m assuming.

The children shall clean their rooms. I don’t care if it’s begrudgingly, or happily. That should be a fun argument for all involved.

Did I really wait all week to get off of work for this?

So what are you doing this weekend? Cleaning toilets? Yea, me too.

Before I go, somebody wants to say HI!

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Nosey always wants to know what I’m doing.

Speaking of, she needs to be brushed and have her toenails trimmed.  Should be as fun as getting children to clean willingly, or well.  Yea, me!

There will probably be wine involved in all of the above (except for the kids part, obviously).

Enjoy your weekend, all.  Don’t blink, or you might miss it!

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A soft spot

In The dog on January 2, 2012 at 9:46 pm

She thinks that my discarded clothing is a ready made bed wherever it lands. Sweatshirts, coats, yoga pants… not even my socks are safe. She always wags just the tip of her tail when she sees me come near, begging me not to ask her to “hop up.”. It’s almost endearing.

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This evening I threw the sweatshirt down on the couch because I was trying (in vain) to crush the boy in pong and it was infringing on my agility. As in, he was beating me and I blame the sweatshirt.

Luckily there was a fire burning in the fireplace, so this time I let her lay in peace. Should make all you Mylie lovers out there happy.

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Not a hater

In The dog on September 26, 2011 at 12:12 pm

The Shih, rolling in the v-dub on random errands, loving life with heated seats. Yes, I did wrap her in a t-shirt! Just thought I’d share. You know, to kill the rumors that I am a heartless Shih hater.

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The intellect

In The dog on June 1, 2011 at 8:30 am

Just getting in a little light reading…

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Is it over yet?

In The dog on February 2, 2011 at 5:27 pm

Maybe you heard we had a little dusting of snow in the Chicago area this week?

It was so fun!!  I love it when everyone gets all crazy because the media has hyped everything completely out of proportion.  The news coverage is nuts!  Borderline obsessive coverage, in my opinion.  Seriously, is nothing else happening that’s newsworthy?

After white knuckling it home from work on Tuesday, I’m pretty sure that everyone was really enjoying the “view from the car” coverage that every station seemed to be giving on the tens as much as I did.  I personally enjoyed the street level views of people literally blowing away on their feet, completely out of control.  Fun stuff when you’re already at home safe.  Really, though, the names for the blizzard were the best part!  Some of my favorites:

  • Blizzkreig
  • Snowmageddon
  • Blizzaster
  • Snowtastrophy
  • Flurricane
  • Snowzilla
  • Snowpocalypse

Oh, the list could go on and on… some more appropriate than others.  Wildly amusing if you’re like snowed in or something, and you’ve got nothing but time on your hands.

Let me tell you who didn’t so much enjoy the blizzard of 2011, no matter what it’s called.

Princess Mini Dog wants the snow to stop.  She won’t even consider heading out into the snow covered grass unless a path has been cleared for her (a task her minion, aka my husband, has completed), and she isn’t really interested in wind much, either.  As in when the wind blows she turns around to shoot a look like it’s our fault.  Ten foot drifts and fifty mile per hour winds aren’t really working great for her.  She has been in a funk since it started snowing.  Yes, a funk.  It’s ridiculous to have a dog so moody that you actually notice when she’s pouting.

So if someone could give Mr. Heat Miser a call we’d be alright with that, because this Snow Miser thing is getting to be too much.

For the dog, I mean.

 

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Dog

In The dog on January 26, 2011 at 8:35 am

It would appear that we have a one legged dog.  Who does that?

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