I just got the 48 hour post-surgery Murphy update from Dad. He's doing well but still on IV fluids and antibiotics. Dr. Myers is going to try switching him to oral medicine and see how he does; a good reaction may get him a ticket home for Saturday. We think the condition of the skin around the tumor site is what is making Dr. Myers take the cautious approach, but we're glad Murphy is improving and I hope we'll get him home this weekend!
Our Colorado trip has snuck up on us - we leave on Monday! The plan is an all-day drive Monday, then we'll play in Breckenridge Tuesday-Friday and drive back all day Saturday. But before Colorado, Dad and I are making a day trip to see the Big Uncle Cemetery get its historical marker (the Halls are one of the main families buried there). From the Texas Historical Commission website:
The Big Uncle Association invites you to the Dedication Ceremony for the Texas Historical Commission marker medallion awarded by the State of Texas to the Historic Big Uncle Cemetery of Richland Springs, Texas, presented by the San Saba County Historical Commission. The ceremony will commence at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 28, 2007 under the beautiful oaks of the Big Uncle Cemetery, just off CR 204 northwest of Richland Spring, San Saba County, Texas
So I'm recovered from whatever little bug that made me feel wonky. My indisposition did make me pick up "the Garion" books as Leslie and I call them for some comfort reading though (the five books of the Belgariad by David Eddings). But then, I was past due for my essentially annual reread of my first love in fantasy books. :)
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Murphy Update
In other news, I'm sick or something and feel like crap. I've just lain around all day...stupid headache ruins my favorite sick activity - reading - so I'm miffed.
Friday, July 20, 2007
*It's Not a Tuma!* and other upbeat news
Those of you who have seen Murphy in the last six months know that he's been toting around a little something extra. Called his sidecar, his friend, Mr. T, his copilot, his backpack, etc, he had what we took as a fatty tumor protruding off his left side. In the last month or so it had gotten as broad as his back and was really starting to encumber him (it never hurt him or really bothered him except when he misjudged his width or perhaps to slow him down a bit). The vets at Metro Paws didn't want to take it off because of 1) his age, and 2) how huge the incision would be be to get it all off. Anyway, Mom and Dad took him to Dr. Myers yesterday because it was finally getting SO big and had a couple new developments and they wanted a different set of eyes to look at it. Well, long story short, it ISN'T a fatty tumor, it is a cyst with a great deal of fluid accumulation (so all that mass wasn't dense fatty tissue) and Dr. Myers isn't concerned at all about negative side effects to him taking it off. So next Tuesday Murphy will lose his grapefruit-sized pal and we can all rejoice that he will be more comfortable and will no longer cause people to shriek in terror. Yay!
In other news, my cousin Katie spent Tuesday and Wednesday nights over here and we had a smashing time. We watched "Spirited Away," played video games, ate restaurant food, played Quiddler with Matt, went swimming, climbed the mulberry tree, dance dance revolted, and played Luke's Wii. It was really fun and I think we're doing it again after we get back from Colorado. I took a few pictures, as well as some house-related photos, and they are in the normal place.
I just finished reading my latest book today and it was really interesting. When Elephants Weep: The Emotional Lives of Animals by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson and Susan McCarthy examined emotion in animals and addressed how it is often considered the worst kind of science to make any mention of an animal having emotions. The fear of the accusation of anthropomorphism keeps many people who work with animals on a scientific level from ever talking about fear, love, grief, altruism, shame, or an appreciation of beauty by a non-human. But the book was full of accounts of just that both in nature and by animals in captivity. It was very interesting! Like the chimpanzees who climbed up a hill to watch a sunset, or the elephant to tried to free the baby rhino from mud, or gorillas with pet kittens.
In other news, my cousin Katie spent Tuesday and Wednesday nights over here and we had a smashing time. We watched "Spirited Away," played video games, ate restaurant food, played Quiddler with Matt, went swimming, climbed the mulberry tree, dance dance revolted, and played Luke's Wii. It was really fun and I think we're doing it again after we get back from Colorado. I took a few pictures, as well as some house-related photos, and they are in the normal place.
I just finished reading my latest book today and it was really interesting. When Elephants Weep: The Emotional Lives of Animals by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson and Susan McCarthy examined emotion in animals and addressed how it is often considered the worst kind of science to make any mention of an animal having emotions. The fear of the accusation of anthropomorphism keeps many people who work with animals on a scientific level from ever talking about fear, love, grief, altruism, shame, or an appreciation of beauty by a non-human. But the book was full of accounts of just that both in nature and by animals in captivity. It was very interesting! Like the chimpanzees who climbed up a hill to watch a sunset, or the elephant to tried to free the baby rhino from mud, or gorillas with pet kittens.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Monday, July 16, 2007
a whole slew of pictures
There's a whole slew of new pictures up on our gallery, including bunches of house pictures, Piper pictures, and the last batch of College Station photos.
We spent the weekend at the ranch in celebration of Uncle Mike's and Dad's birthdays (we split the difference between the two). In attendance: Mom and Dad, Uncle Mike and Eve, Carolyn, cousin Lisa, Eric and Miles, cousin Michael, and Matt and I. There was much food, fun, and lake time to be had by all. Miles was very well behaved. Carolyn made a fresh strawberry cake from scratch that was amazing. It was really nice to see Michael who was finally back from Dresden, and Miles was so much bigger and interesting than last we saw of him (three months vs three weeks brings quite a change). Matt and I enjoyed seeing Carolyn meet her great-grandchild for the first time (as well as Mom and Dad meeting their great-nephew). And we only rubbed it in a little that we'd met Miles before Michael did =P
We didn't have to hover around Miles and the Drehers too much though because we got them all to ourselves last night. They came back to Dallas and saw our house for the first time. We sat around the den and watched Miles and watched Piper watching Miles, grilled steaks, and had a merry but low-keyed time. They were our first over-night guests and it was very fun to host them.
The local nursery had a sale offering 50% off ALL plants this past weekend and I stocked up on Friday. I got bee balm, sage (2), oregano, basil (2), another coneflower, chives, ornamental peppers (2), sweet potato vine, dwarf bamboo (2) and a black elephant ear. In the process of planting I got extremely dirty and later muddy when it rained on me. I also got compost to make all my plants happy and used it to seed my own compost pile with good things as well. Speaking of my compost pile, the wandering jews (excuse me, "purple hearts") that I planted are extremely pleased with their home and are already starting to wander. *tear* they grow up so fast!
The other activity on Friday was a trip with Matt to IKEA in the god-forsaken land of Frisco. We proceeded to get almost everything on our list, including mirrors and rugs. And IKEA is always a great time. On the way back home we stopped at the Purple Cow diner/soda fountain for dinner and had real cherry cokes and they were amazing. I'd forgotten how fabulous the real thing was.
Tomorrow cousin Katie is coming to visit for a couple days! I don't know if she wants to do lots of stuff or just hang out and enjoy being away from home, but either way I think we'll have fun. And Piper always loves company! Speaking of that, I should get back to laundry - there are sheets to wash!
We spent the weekend at the ranch in celebration of Uncle Mike's and Dad's birthdays (we split the difference between the two). In attendance: Mom and Dad, Uncle Mike and Eve, Carolyn, cousin Lisa, Eric and Miles, cousin Michael, and Matt and I. There was much food, fun, and lake time to be had by all. Miles was very well behaved. Carolyn made a fresh strawberry cake from scratch that was amazing. It was really nice to see Michael who was finally back from Dresden, and Miles was so much bigger and interesting than last we saw of him (three months vs three weeks brings quite a change). Matt and I enjoyed seeing Carolyn meet her great-grandchild for the first time (as well as Mom and Dad meeting their great-nephew). And we only rubbed it in a little that we'd met Miles before Michael did =P
We didn't have to hover around Miles and the Drehers too much though because we got them all to ourselves last night. They came back to Dallas and saw our house for the first time. We sat around the den and watched Miles and watched Piper watching Miles, grilled steaks, and had a merry but low-keyed time. They were our first over-night guests and it was very fun to host them.
The other activity on Friday was a trip with Matt to IKEA in the god-forsaken land of Frisco. We proceeded to get almost everything on our list, including mirrors and rugs. And IKEA is always a great time. On the way back home we stopped at the Purple Cow diner/soda fountain for dinner and had real cherry cokes and they were amazing. I'd forgotten how fabulous the real thing was.
Tomorrow cousin Katie is coming to visit for a couple days! I don't know if she wants to do lots of stuff or just hang out and enjoy being away from home, but either way I think we'll have fun. And Piper always loves company! Speaking of that, I should get back to laundry - there are sheets to wash!
Sunday, July 08, 2007
home of the brave
Happy belated 4th of July! We celebrated by having family over, some of whom hadn't yet seen the house. Carolyn, Mom & Dad, Susie & John, Luke, Grampa Stimson and Sandra, Phyllis, and Mike & Yolanda came over for burgers and hot dogs (the grill works great!). Matt and I figured out it was the first time we've hosted a party ... ever. I made homemade strawberry ice cream, which was a first for me too. It turned out really well. After the meal and a few people called it a night (John, Luke and Susie had to go see Spam-a-lot) the rest of us played a few rounds of "Pigs," one of the best games ever. And Piper was on her best behavior, due in part I'm sure to the fact we had her harnessed to try to prevent escape attempts. She made the rounds sitting in people's laps and being adored. And we decided our house is really good for entertaining, so I don't think this was our last party! It was a complete success, but then we chose to experiment with our hosting skills by having people over who were easy to please :)
Matt started back at the office on Thursday. A lot of people were out for a long weekend, but those that were there were very happy to see him back. He caught up on all the office gossip and news. We've continued doing little house projects, and our latest was outdoors. We got all the weeds pulled and things spruced up in the front yard that we could. We mulched some areas in the way front that we don't have a plan for yet, and we planted a couple plants next to some happy-seeming plants in the beds right before the driveway. The existing plants were kind of wild-looking and seemingly thriving on neglect and there were always bees and butterflies visiting them. So we put some more butterfly-friendly specimens out there - a butterfly bush and a purple coneflower. I'll let you know how they do. I also got some earthworm-poop-based plant food and gave most of the plants a snack. I hope they liked it.
Last night we had a really pleasant evening with Taylor Bradley and his girlfriend Alice. They are house-sitting in Lake Highlands about a 90-second drive from here and we went over and swam and ate Taylor's spectacular bratwurst. Then we played the board game "Battle of the Sexes" which was less fun than we hoped but still had the girls and boys appropriately miffed at each other. Some of the questions were kind of cheap though (or insulting to male intelligence) - do we really think the average guy doesn't know the two colors that mix together to make pink?
Matt and I visiting our happy little Dallas Public Library branch on Audelia Road again today. We got 11 books, including a home improvement book, two paint books, a Texas gardening book, and the one I already read about puppy care/training. Just getting prepared, you know? Next Sunday we're hosting Lisa, Eric, and Miles and their two dogs so we'll get a feel for what canines think about the house. But I think when we get back from Colorado I'm really going to be itching to get Piper a doggy brother or sister.
Matt started back at the office on Thursday. A lot of people were out for a long weekend, but those that were there were very happy to see him back. He caught up on all the office gossip and news. We've continued doing little house projects, and our latest was outdoors. We got all the weeds pulled and things spruced up in the front yard that we could. We mulched some areas in the way front that we don't have a plan for yet, and we planted a couple plants next to some happy-seeming plants in the beds right before the driveway. The existing plants were kind of wild-looking and seemingly thriving on neglect and there were always bees and butterflies visiting them. So we put some more butterfly-friendly specimens out there - a butterfly bush and a purple coneflower. I'll let you know how they do. I also got some earthworm-poop-based plant food and gave most of the plants a snack. I hope they liked it.
Last night we had a really pleasant evening with Taylor Bradley and his girlfriend Alice. They are house-sitting in Lake Highlands about a 90-second drive from here and we went over and swam and ate Taylor's spectacular bratwurst. Then we played the board game "Battle of the Sexes" which was less fun than we hoped but still had the girls and boys appropriately miffed at each other. Some of the questions were kind of cheap though (or insulting to male intelligence) - do we really think the average guy doesn't know the two colors that mix together to make pink?
Matt and I visiting our happy little Dallas Public Library branch on Audelia Road again today. We got 11 books, including a home improvement book, two paint books, a Texas gardening book, and the one I already read about puppy care/training. Just getting prepared, you know? Next Sunday we're hosting Lisa, Eric, and Miles and their two dogs so we'll get a feel for what canines think about the house. But I think when we get back from Colorado I'm really going to be itching to get Piper a doggy brother or sister.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Piper went up the cottonwood tree again today but this time didn't stop at a few feet up. More like fifteen. I got Dad's ladder and Matt went in the alley and we tried to coax her down. She didn't come for a while (we don't know if this was because she was having a fabulous time or because she was scared). Eventually she worked her way back down the branch to me and I scruffed her. This was the motivation I needed to update our contact information linked to her microchip!
Yesterday was the Hamm family reunion. The Hamm family is Mom's father's branch of my family tree, for those not in the know =P They have a reunion every year and this year Mom volunteered to host it at the ranch. Well it went off smashingly...I got to meet all sorts of relatives, including great-aunt Veydene, "Cooter," Aunt Sissie, "Kiddo," and many other distant relatives with unusual nicknames. We had barbecue and fifty different desserts (including many cobblers, home-made ice creams, and cakes). The kids and kids at heart enjoyed horseshoes, darts, ping pong, badminton, frisbees and ball throwing. The pair of ducks made an appearance, as did the mobile vet, called in to look at Story's back hooves. She'd been limping - turns out she has hoof issues because of all the wet weather. So she has to have her hooves wrapped for a week, get daily anti-inflammatory medicine for six, and until the rain stops and the fields get dry, she's banished to the barn. Montana and Pindar are very confused and want to know where their gal-pal is.
While we were at the ranch this weekend we also got to have some lake time, floating, jet skiing, and going down the Pous' slide into the water :) I got to know cousin Katie a little better too, as she's on the cusp of teenagerhood and much more of a real person than the last time I was around her. I'm hoping she can come hang out at the house later this summer.
Yesterday was the Hamm family reunion. The Hamm family is Mom's father's branch of my family tree, for those not in the know =P They have a reunion every year and this year Mom volunteered to host it at the ranch. Well it went off smashingly...I got to meet all sorts of relatives, including great-aunt Veydene, "Cooter," Aunt Sissie, "Kiddo," and many other distant relatives with unusual nicknames. We had barbecue and fifty different desserts (including many cobblers, home-made ice creams, and cakes). The kids and kids at heart enjoyed horseshoes, darts, ping pong, badminton, frisbees and ball throwing. The pair of ducks made an appearance, as did the mobile vet, called in to look at Story's back hooves. She'd been limping - turns out she has hoof issues because of all the wet weather. So she has to have her hooves wrapped for a week, get daily anti-inflammatory medicine for six, and until the rain stops and the fields get dry, she's banished to the barn. Montana and Pindar are very confused and want to know where their gal-pal is.
While we were at the ranch this weekend we also got to have some lake time, floating, jet skiing, and going down the Pous' slide into the water :) I got to know cousin Katie a little better too, as she's on the cusp of teenagerhood and much more of a real person than the last time I was around her. I'm hoping she can come hang out at the house later this summer.
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