A rag-tag bunch of updates

Thank you internet friends for keeping me on the straight and narrow. I forgot to post an update about Farley and his mystery lameness. Boo and I decided to give him the weekend to improve before we hustled off to the vet. We did give him a couple of low dose childrens aspirin to see if that would help. Apparently, either aspirin is a miracle drug or Farley is a big drama dude. He probably wasn't totally faking it because of the whimpering, but he may have been a little melodramatic. So, he's fine. He wanted to get a rip roaring game of fetch going by Sunday.

In other news, it's a very rainy spring morning in Indiana. I don't mind. The sun is either hiding behind the clouds or has decided to sleep in a bit. Birds are twittering (vocally, not technologically) about in the trees as I gaze out the window at the wet sidewalk. I wish I lived in the country again. *sigh*

In baby news, Boo was finally able to feel our baby girl kick for the first time last night. I've been feeling her for weeks now and I think he was starting to feel left out. I also read that if he puts his ear to my belly he may be able to hear her heartbeat but I'm not sure if that's actually true or not.

In travel news, I'm going to the far westside today to my hometown. I have a doctor appt. for my thyroid (woo hoo.) The great thing about it though is that Dairy Queen is open for the season! DQ will make the whole trip worthwhile. While I'm over there I plan to swing by the tack store and buy my mare a new halter. Poor thing is wearing a dirty black, cracking/peeling leather, "I look like a sale barn horse" kind of halter right now. She really looks like she just came off a crowded trailer of mud caked, sale ring bound, sad eyed horses. She's due for a new halter.
The vet is coming to do spring shots in a couple weeks, and I wouldn't want Dixie to be embarassed about her halter. Good Lawd child! Doesn't your mamma buy you any clothes?

It might be time for me to eat breakfast now.

Hay in My Bra

I was digging through a drawer and came across an old notebook. I used this notebook during a "Women in Literature" course. While flipping through it I came across a little poem type thing that I wrote a long time ago and thought I'd share it.

Yes, I feed in the morning. Scoop out the grain and divy up the hay. I really look good in my business suit with my pants tucked down in manure flecked boots.
The horses crunch their breakfast slow, unaware that I'm late for work and gotta go.
I stretch the hose out to the trough so they have fresh water. With my sleeves rolled up I skim off the green slime, I try to remember why I even bother.
My mare looks amused as I start to wonder where to wipe my hand, I didn't give forethought before I blundered. So as a little revenge on my tickled horse I wipe the remaining slime on her blanket of course.
However, more savvy than me is my astute mare, now from elbow to fingernails I'm tarred with horse hair.
Now I'm later than ever so my mare get turned out in the field. It's now after eight, my boss is fed up and my fate is sealed.
I fly away from the barn, toward the city I zoom. I catch a peek at myself in the ladies room.
I have hay in my hair and hay in my bra. I'm certain nobody will notice at all.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Top o' the mornin to you! Due to my Irish heritage, I thought I'd share a few photos of Ireland. My husband went there a few years ago and these are some images he captured...I've personally never visited, but we intend to go. Boo really wants to go back. To celebrate today I'll be cooking a traditional corned beef brisket with cabbage, potatoes and carrots. There will be Guinness on hand, for those folks who aren't pregnant like myself. I don't think I'll miss green beer at all this year! I may however take a lunchtime trip to McDonald's for a "Shamrock Shake." Today, find a little Irish in you and celebrate by doing something "green." I will be taking all of our paper recycling to the recycle bin and feeding the birds. If you do something green, I'd love to hear about it!

Sweet Doggie

This is a photo of Farley, our four year old yellow lab. It was taken last summer during better days when he was fetching a tennis ball in the lake. This morning he is not feeling well at all and it breaks my heart. I noticed two nights ago that he whimpered as he was trying to stand up. It caught my attention because he's not a very vocal dog. It's just not his style. But he only did it once so I brushed it off. Yesterday, during the day he seemed fine. When Boo got home they went outside to play fetch like usual. Then, Boo and I went to dinner at a very upscale establishment, perhaps you've heard of it. Bobbie E's. Some folks refer to it as "Bob Evans." Upon our return home I noticed Farley didn't greet us at the door preferring instead to lay in the living room gazing toward the door. Hmmm, not crazy, but unusual. When he did get up Boo and I heard an unmistakable painful whimper, then he limped toward us. The dog is unquestionably lame in his right front leg. I went into horse mode, immediately feeling for heat in his leg along with a series of stretches and holds to see if I could get a reaction. He had a poker face. Nothing. Since we don't have any baby aspirin in the house I settled for icing it. He tolerated that really well although I'm pretty sure it didn't make a difference. We went to bed. This morning he is still walking gingerly and seems painful. I really hope it's just a muscle issue and not a bone/ligament issue. It seems a trip to vet is inevitable and I know what that means. Tall dollars. What ever happened to the small town vets that knew their trade and didn't want to perform every test under the sun just to gouge you in your desperate moment of helplessness?

Love Friday. Love Starbucks. Love Photoshop.

Good Friday morning! I feel like I should be walking in, sitting down to change my shoes and put on my morning sweater while singing a little tune to you internet friends. Sunny Friday mornings are just the bees knees aren't they? What does that have to do with the photo I have posted? Nothing. I just like that guy. I met him on a sunny morning in the desert while I was in Arizona one time. He may actually be a she, I'm not sure. I kept my distance because he/she was a little leery of me. I used one of PW's photoshop actions, then I added more edge burn on my own. I seem to have a heavy hand with the burn tool, but in my defense, I apply it using my laptop with doesn't have a mouse, I just use my finger on the mouse pad thing. I'm sure if I had better equipment I could do better. Regardless, I like that photo.
This morning I'm going to Starbucks for a cup o' decaf. I'm sort of a high maintenance customer, but only because I used to work at Starbucks once upon a time. When it's cold out, I order a (decaf these days) tall, hazelnut americano with cream. It's basically a hazelnut latte, but without the pricetag. When it's warm I love to get iced lattes. Especially iced chai with whip. Yum.
Anyway, just have a great friday internet friends!

I love books

I went to Barnes and Noble Bookstore today just to browse around and wile away some time.
First I went into the "Sales" section to see what's new. Then I meandered into the gardening section. I was trying to find the "writing" section when I stumbled into the "Children's" section. Much like the children's department at my childhood library it was almost magical to walk thru the special entrance. The Children's section is separated by a half wall and the entrance is guarded by Dr. Seuss characters and flying elephants. I was transported. As I browsed my appreciation for classic illustration and simple storytelling was awoken from some dusty place in my brain. I could see myself sitting on the floor of the library at North Elementary while Mrs. Franklin read aloud to us. Mrs. Franklin is a whole other story..but she was really good at reading aloud. I bet if I went back and looked on the shelves my name would be scrawled on the checkout card of a few particular books. All the horse books and one particular Christmas book.
I have always loved to read. I want my daughter to love to read. So I picked up a couple of books for her. One is a cloth book with crinkle sounding pages and soft animals to pet. The other is a bedtime story. I also found some "Llama llama" books that I enjoyed but decided I would tell someone so they can get them as a shower or future birthday gift. There was the cutest stuffed llama that I bought for her because there are two llama art prints hanging in her room. Did I mention I used to own a llama? I'm fond of llamas.
But I'm really fond of reading.

Baby Countdown

Okay, with a little help from my friends on the internet I have installed a "pregnancy ticker." It is located all the way at the bottom of my blog because it's a long skinny "ruler" style ticker. The small square ones that would've fit on the right sidebar were pics of an animated creepy floating fetus. I didn't want to creep you guys out. So I picked a cartoon stork that now flys at the bottom of my blog. It will take some effort to check it, with all the scrolling down and whatnot. In the meantime I will try to search for a cute square one that will fit up toward the top, but I'm particular. I want it to tell us how far we have to go in "weeks" not "days" or "percentages." So, bear with me. By the way, Boo and I went and registered the other night and it completely wore us both out. She's been moving around a lot more in the last few days too. Baby furniture arrives on Monday! Yay!

Report Card

I'm a couple weeks into this "stay at home mom" thing and I thought I'd report how I'm doing thus far. Complete and utter honesty, okay?
First of all, the baby is still in my belly so there is no "momming" to be done yet so I have to find things to fill my day with. The whole idea for leaving my job early was to accomplish a few things before the baby's arrival. I guess I've gotten some things done, just not the meaningful things. We'll get into that in a minute.
Most days I sit on the couch and Facebook/check email/eat breakfast and watch the "Today Show" from about 8 to 10am. At 10 am Hoda and Kathi Lee come on for the final hour of "Today" and I can't stand Kathi Lee. She's just a little melodramatic for me. Basically for two hours I sit on my couch watching the tv or my computer screen. I think this is ridiculous. I expect more from myself and I feel like I'm wasting time.
Then, miraculously and out of a sense of duty I take a shower and get dressed in something other than pajamas. If it's Monday I go to the grocery store. If not I bide my time until it's time for lunch. I have been really good about eating lunch at home. When I worked I ate lunch out everyday. I'm not exaggerating at all either.
My dogs love that I'm home, I think. Mya has a tendency to bark at nothing so I yell at her and Farley doesn't want to hear it so he gets up and goes in the other room. Who can blame him?
Here's what has been accomplished: Home office deconstructed and office desk and chair sold on Craigslist. Score! Spare bedroom moved into former home office. Still needs organized. Pending score! Nursery is starting to take shape in former spare bedroom (pronounced spare-oom in Narnia for you trivia freaks). The rocker/recliner with side table and lamp are in place. Just waiting on furniture to arrive. Color scheme figured out...no matchy matchiness. I hate that. Pending score! Boo built more shelves in hall closet and I put shelf liner on them yesterday. Rearranged both hall closets and threw out old stuff and expired medications that were hiding in the back. Low and behold I found extra space in those closets after the purge session. I have a pile of more stuff to be sold on Craigslist or Freecycled.
So, I've accomplished a few things. But when I began this hiatus I had visions of painting at my easel, taking photos then editing them, or beginning to write that book, or gardening and planting flowers. Nevermind that it's been February and I can't garden yet...maybe when I get the "necessary projects" out of the way I can focus on more fun projects.
Those are the things I had in mind for myself. I have always had a tendency to expect too much too soon. I always hold myself to a high standard. I am 21 weeks pregnant. Maybe I'm doing okay after all. Warmer weather can't hurt my motivation either, c'mon spring!