Random Thoughts

Random thoughts for this week:

I turned 30 last week. I feel about the same, but I am blaming more of the normal problems I have (ie, tired, not cleaning, sore shoulder) on being old. I find that this helps have a real explanation, so i am all about it.

We just finished 4 weeks of CAS. This is the first time I have done 4 weeks straight. Or well, at least, someone has run CAS 4 weeks in a row. I was there for week 1, completely gone for week 2, sick in bed, back physically but not really emotionally or mentally during week 3, and then back for week 4. In between I was trying desperately to keep up with all the students, and the national students' travel, which was happening at the same time. I think I have everything covered, but I am sure there is something large I have forgotten. Oh well, things will work out right? I mean, just because JPL is having "Bring your Child to Work" Day while we are there, and the shuttle is also launching while we are there, AND Katherine is going out of town to see said launch, doesn't mean there will be chaos, right? Right?!?

I cleaned the house today. It was the first time in probably 2 months. Don't tell my mom. I mean, I have been doing dishes and such, but really cleaning, it hasn't happened. I think I am still recovering from feeling crappy a few weeks ago, so I am taking it slowly, but getting back into the swing of things.

Mollie has a lump on her shoulder. I think it is from the shot they gave her at the vet, so I am just watching it to make sure it doesn't get any bigger. She seems to be unconcerned about this, even when I touch it. I have named it after someone in my life who, like the lump, is is small, annoying, and always on someone's back. Ask me in person if you want to know the lump's name.

I have noticed the bamboo in my backyard is growing again. Dammit. I would pay bit money for someone to come and kill it. I mean, yes, I can dig it up, but seriously, I am not even sure I have it in me, this bamboo is horrendous!

I have two weeks off in May and no real plans. I was going to go on vacation, but really, I am perfectly happy staying at home and doing nothing. And if I were going to go travel, I would only go if at the other end was a beach chair and a margarita, and someone to carry me between my hotel room and the sand. It has been a LONG spring...

Suzy

I have a friend. She is a strong woman who has always lived life to the fullest, enjoying each moment. Always smiling. She cares about everything, everyone. She is an amazing mother to a beautiful two year old little girl. A little girl she carried for five months without knowing, and was ecstatic when she discovered what was causing her stomach to expand. She welcomed this little girl into life as if it was the most natural thing she had ever done. Motherhood agrees with my friend, always has, and she quickly became the best friend and confidant of this little girl. Since little Morgan was born, these two have been attached at the hip. Morgan only has eyes for one person, her momma. We used to have dinner, Morgan would come and charm us both with her ability to eat rice off the table without hands. Morgan loved the cats at my house, and talked about them weeks after she visited. We once took Morgan to take professional portraits. I think my friend and I had more fun than Morgan did. We laughed and laughed and laughed. That's pretty normal though. She loves to laugh. When Morgan learned my name, she would say it with such inflection, copying her mom. She has so much energy, so much life. Just like her mom.

Last year, my friend announced she was pregnant a second time. She joked about naming the baby Bear Hunter. She was so excited to meet this little boy, and we spent some great afternoons joking about other names that she could pick to rival that of Hunter, when matched with Bear. She was thrilled to have a son, and to give Morgan a baby brother (whether or not Morgan wanted a brother didn't seem to be of concern). She was so excited to take a trip this summer with her newborn and her toddler, and her husband. She suggested a road trip even. We all thought she was nuts, two babies on a trip like that, but she was all about planning. She loves being a mom, and is one of the best moms I have ever known.

Suzy gave birth to 8lb 14oz Bear Thomas on Sunday. We joked about Suzy, as happy-go-lucky as she was, arriving at the hospital almost completely dilated, having a completely smooth delivery, and birthday a huge baby. I bet she didn't break a sweat. She brought him home from the hospital on Tuesday. And this morning, she passed away.

Suzy leaves behind two amazing children and a huge group of family and friends who loved her, and will continue to love and care for her babies. Because, above anything else, that is what Susie would have wanted. And I am sure she is here somewhere, watching over those two babies and making sure they grow into wonderful people who love life as much as she did.

We will all miss you Suzy.

Recovering

This is the best thing i have seen all week:


That's right, they are home, and they are eating. And it is about time. I picked these two little furrballs up on Thursday afternoon with my hero, Becky. It was my first outing since going to the doctors and work on Wednesday, and it kicked my butt. Pretty sure I slept for 12 hours straight last night. Good thing Becky was here too, as I told her, I am running out of unsuspecting friends to help me in the car with these monsters. After sending my vet on his next Mexican Riviera vacation, they brought out the furrballs. We wrapped each one in a towel (as you do), and got them to the car. There was a moment of slight panic when we thought both cats were going to make a run for it in the GHETTO Kroger parking lot, but luckily, Becky and I are strong women, and held onto those cats for dear life. Once inside the vehicle, there was very little crying and whining, as both cats were given the massages of a lifetime. I almost got us hit on the feeder after some one handed driving, but we made it out alive. See, the thing is, these cats DO NOT LIKE THE CAR. You can reference my post about the Ike evacuation for some details about specifics (arguably one of the funniest and most read posts I have ever written). Or I can tell you, that any time I have taken these animals on a fun trip to the vet, someone has pooped. In the car. Usually on a seat. Or one time, Tony took his claws to my leather chair, the lining to my door, and the dashboard (that I had replaced after a particularly good morning at the Acura dealership when they assumed the crack was a car defect. I kept my mouth shut about my flying cat and his large claws). Basically, I know I need to get cat carriers, but it never seems like a big deal until I need them, and by then it is way too late. Anyway, so Becky and I made it the house after only ingesting about a pound of cat fur each. I dropped Becky back at home and came home to pass out. I tried to give the cats food, Mollie ate a little bit, and Tony just looked at me, curled up, and went to sleep. The same thing next morning, only opposite, as Mollie didn't want anything to do with her food, but Tony happily ate his. And then hers. He is definitely my little piglet. He has been especially cuddly since he has come home, which is pretty fun, seeing as he usually has very little patience for my antics. Anyway, tonight Mollie came into the kitchen crying, and when I put the food down, she went to town. And so did Tony. my job here is done, they seem to be back to normal. I am sure this includes the 4am wake up calls. Tomorrow morning should be interesting.

So, for those of you who were worried, by the way, I do not have mono. And I am not dying. Turns out, my thyroid is out of whack. How you ask? No clue, but the doctor likes to point to stress as one thing that might cause this to change. Hmmm, stress you say? Not in my life. Yea. Right. Anyway, so, I have to take some medicine, and she says this will speed up my metabolism, which should be interesting considering I have lost 4lbs since Tuesday. My body was really not happy this week. I am still on the couch, since I can't take the medicine until the morning, an hour before I eat anything, but she says it should make me feel a lot better and give me my energy back (just in time for this awesome "spring" weather Houston is having before summer rolls in next week...). Pretty excited I don't have mono, not really sure how I was going to function for the next month(s) with this exhaustion.

Big shout out to the girls (and boys) who helped out this week to get through CAS. I promise, next week I will be back and better than ever! And I'm buying the first round at the bar afterwards ;-)