Christmas Recap Ch3: Festival of Lights

Maria, Abby, Kelly, Wolfgang, Max and I went through the Festival of Lights in Tanglewood Park Monday night. I'd never been, so it was a maiden voyage for me.

I think Max was most enthralled of all of us. He sat right behind me most of the time so I enjoyed hearing his sweet little voice as he described the lighted sights.


It was difficult to capture photos that weren't completely blurred or washed out - mine are no where near perfect - but you get the gist.





Maria, Abby and Kelly roasting marshmallows. There were these ridiculous signs stating that "due to the extreme expense of maintaining the bon fire, Tanglewood must insist that all marshmallows be purchased on site." Really? Let's see. Fire pit, wood, caging, lighter fluid. Not sounding all that expensive to me, but whatever, the kids enjoyed their $5 S'mores.


Abby being goofy - tangled up in the barrier chains, all smiles with gooey S'more in-hand.



HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Christmas Recap Ch2: Abby

Abby was VERY patient Christmas morning. Fuzzpa didn't arrive until after 10 am and Maria made her wait upstairs until then. She called down repeatedly throughout the morning, "Mom! Can I come down now?!" to which we answered, "Not yet, just one more minute!"

She didn't try to peek. She didn't cry or fuss. I was quite impressed.

Abby making her first pass through her stocking stash.



The reading of the Santa letter. Although I somewhat anticipated it, I found myself shocked when Abby started explaining the patterns of penmanship throughout the years of letters (2002-2009). With such an eye for detail, I'm surprised she hasn't realized said penmanship is none other than mine.



Abby showing off her letter alongside Maria, Zoe and me. I love Abby's "Santa letter pillow," which is going on its 8th year now. Maria is so seamstress-tastic!



For the first time in more than twenty years, we celebrated Christmas in North Carolina. When in Tennessee, the task of gift distribution has been shared by Abby and our cousin, Russell. Obviously Abby had to take over "Santa duties" all by herself this year.

Here she is trying to determine the recipient of a gift. Too bad she's looking on the wrong side!



The last chapter of the Christmas Recap - The Festival of Lights in Tanglewood - is up next.

Christmas Recap Ch1: Dogs

Arrived at Abby's house bright and early Christmas morning despite the doubters. Mom's broken ankle left her rather immobile, so Zoe set up shop on her lap stat.

Be sure to note the snappy holiday collar, courtesy of Maria.



Lounging on the leather sofa, sleepy dog style.



Bailey, mid-bark in the back yard.

Bailey hasn't lost any of his barkability in his old age - just his desire to GET UP and approach the focus of his bark. Zoe frantically and vocally pacing the fence perimeter while Bailey simultaneously barks-in-place (louder than ever) from afar is a sight to be seen.



Zoe, in her new favorite spot a la casa de Glazener, along with Casey dog, howler extraordinaire.


More Christmas recaps to follow shortly.

Pirate Bunny

I lovingly named the bunny pictured left "my ECU bunny." I didn't really grasp the school color affiliation until the little chica was completed, at which time it hit me like a ton of bricks.

Although I never attended East Carolina University, I spent a fair amount of time visiting the campus during my first semester of college.

No ill will by any means, but I'd have to say I think I'd have been better off staying away from the Pirates.

Who knew a tiny bunny ornament could bring back so many undesired memories! Purple. Yellow. Black. Not fond.

I say "not fond," but then I think that some of those mistakes taught me a great deal and allowed me to become the person I am and I like her.

Perhaps I should keep my little ECU bunny as a reminder of the person I left behind and also the person I am happy to be now!

Final note: Guess I should put more thought into my bunny/bear color combinations before the project is underway...

More tiny ornaments

I distributed tiny bear ornaments to my co-workers on Monday - almost solely to my female peers as I assumed the guys wouldn't appreciate them - and they were a hit! While definitely more impressed than they should've been, my colleagues inspired me to go ahead and try out the rabbit pattern. The only real difference is the size of the ears, but I just love my first bunny ornament. I guess the Spring colors qualify as a difference, too, as I would make the bunnies to match Easter colors.

The bears I gave as gifts were far more neatly designed than my "beta bear." After a bit of practice I got the hang of it and even added some cute embellishments to several of them. I hope my friends will hang them on their trees for years to come!

But I am looking for suggestions for the bunnies. For the Christmas bears I mostly crocheted scarves to go around their necks, and on some I sewed tiny heart-shaped buttons to the front of the "dress." But for the bunnies a scarf doesn't really work - at least if we're thinking Spring - so if anyone has a suggestion for an embellishment, I'm all ears!

On a very unrelated and completely FLASHBACK note (as I loudly announce my age), an episode of Cold Case recently aired on TNT cast me to iTunes looking for songs by Asia and Kenny Loggins. Wow.

Good Zoe news

After a week of unfortunate events, I am happy to report a bit of good news. Zoe's recent albumin level check put her in the normal range. Her last test still had her a little low, but Friday's results have her at 2.8 g/DL.

In light of those results I feel I must give props to Nutri-Vet's Healthy Liver tabs since I've been giving them to Zoe since our most recent scare and her albumin level is now 0.6 higher than it was 6 weeks ago.

However I also feel obligated to mention that the healthy liver tabs are a bit hard to find. When I purchased them from Amazon I got them for $7.99 although I think the price has gone up since then. Regular retail price (for 60 tablets) is approximately $25. Since the dosage is (1) tablet twice a day per 20 pounds of body weight, the bottle lasts a bit longer for Zoe. I've been dividing the tablets into halves or thirds.

Her weight is also back up to 7.88 lbs. When I first adopted Zoe in 2005 she was just over 8 pounds. I'd like to keep her between 7 and 8 lbs, so we're on the right track.

She and Bailey are both due for annual examinations in March. I'm hoping both of my babies will be dismissed with a clean bill of health at that time. Here's to hoping!

Late Halloween post and breaking news

On Halloween, as I was packing to drive to Todd's to spend the evening trick-or-treating with Abby, I found myself unable to locate my digital camera. So for the first time in I don't know how long, I was forced to utilize my ELPH film camera. I don't fault my ELPH at all - it is a great camera - but let's face it, digital is just so much easier.

Failure to locate said digital camera resulted in off-season development of pics of All Hallows' Eve. First there are a couple of shots of Abby and I, post-pumpkin carving.





Abby dressed up as Rainbow Magic's Lauren the Puppy Fairy. Her "glue" stitches above her right eye didn't dampen her spirits at all. She was chipper and ready to stomp door-to-door for loot for as long as we'd allow her to do so.



As for recent news, my dad called me Wednesday morning to tell me my mom fell in a parking lot and broke her ankle in three places. She had surgery and was held overnight for observation. They put two screws and a metal plate in her ankle. When I talked to her she sounded okay. A tiny positive note is that she broke her LEFT ankle - meaning driving might not be impossible for weeks and weeks.

Just another monkey wrench in the Glazener Christmas plans, but we will make it through.

Hope everyone else's holidays are going more smoothly than ours!!!

Happy Birthday Bailey!

Bailey turned 12-years-old on December 8th, 2009. I brought him home from Blacksburg, Virginia in February 1998 - at which time he only weighed about 6 pounds.

He was quite an active puppy, and he initially drove his brother Jax crazy, but he slowly worked his way into Jax's good graces. They became inseparable. The day I had to separate them broke my heart, but Bailey has made many friends since, including his newest sibling Zoe.

Bailey's age is evident most of the time, but there are still instances when he is Bailey my puppy. His crooked tail wags excitedly when I get home from work or when the treat jar is exposed. He won't jump in the back of the car anymore, but he'll bound around the living room, playfully pouncing on Zoe or engaging in keep away with mom.

He's been my roommate and faithful companion for 12 years. Here's to hoping he's with me - as long as he's healthy - for at least a few more years! I love you Bailey!

Super Stinker

Jen and I knew what we were in for when we made plans to go to the movies on Sunday (Several shirtless males - one quite buff in particular; werewolves in tennis shoes and sparkly vampires).

Wow. Lifetime movies never looked so good.

The biggest flaws are outlined below:

1. Negative chemistry: Zero between lead female and her boyfriend. Zero between lead female and "the other guy." I could've envisioned a stronger attraction between a girl and a telephone pole.

2. A lead actress incapable of making anyone feel anything. Her face hardly changed expression throughout the entire film.

In one scene she's lost the love of her life while in another she's accepting a birthday gift: expression change = NONE. Facial expression ranged between blank stare and blank stare while biting lower lip. If you've seen the Cake Eaters you might believe this actress is not completely without talent, but in this movie all I can say is what the eff?

3. The score is horrid. While in the original installment of this franchise the music was far more hip and fluent throughout the film, this movie played out like an after school special. Completely sappy background music (which didn't appear to tie in at all with any of the actual songs on the soundtrack) rendered most scenes soap opera-esque at best.

There were only two other people in the theater with us and they found the most horrifically ridiculous scenes just as hilarious as we did. (ie. the running through the woods which alone made the price of my ticket worth it; "Things could get really ugly.")

I can only hope these movies improve with the next two installments. Book #2 was my least favorite, so maybe there is still hope. The third was my favorite, so here's to hoping David Slade hasn't dashed my hopes for greatness.

And yes, I intentionally omitted all names and titles from this post. If you don't live under a rock, you know which movie I'm referring to anyway. WAIT FOR THE DVD.

Awesome Friends

I am so lucky that I share my proximal world with two of my very best friends. Caroline, Kerry and I have been celebrating birthdays together since my return to NC in 2003. (We've known each other since approximately 1984). Last night was for me and it was perfect!

We ate at Bocci Trattoria and enjoyed great service - our gracious server took the photo below.


Thanks girls! Love you TONS!

Holiday Approach

Three weeks until Christmas Eve. Seriously?

I firmly believe that time skates by at an ever increasing swift pace as we get older. Three weeks 'til this:


The Santa letter could prove to be awkward this year due to several logistical uncertainties, but I will do my best to rise to the occasion and churn out a winner. Gotta keep Abby a believer as long as we can!

Hope everyone is feeling more joy than holiday crunch. If we could get a decent break from the nasty rain here in NC I'd be a hell of a lot more jolly.
Ho Freakin' Ho.

'Tis the season!

T-Day/B-Day Weekend

My parents were in town for the Carolina Designer Craftsmen show over the weekend - per usual - so birthday celebrations were thrown into the mix as well.

I stayed home Saturday to watch the Heels play NC State, to whom we unfortunately lost. Grrrrr. After the show we had dinner at Mez - a favorite eatery of mine. I've never had a bad meal there. Best guacamole ever.

Sunday I headed to Raleigh in the late afternoon to check out the tail end of the show. Mom did pretty well, but I didn't walk around much because I, on the other hand, have no money to spend! Stuck around to help take down the booth - not my favorite way to spend my birthday - but it was worth it to have dinner with mom and dad again.

At Weaver Street my mom came up behind me and just said, "I'm sad." When I asked her why she said that when she stopped for gas she must've lost her phone holder that I made for her years ago. It made me sad, too! Replacement is already in the works.

For the b-day I got a great Vera Bradley purse and wallet from Maria, Todd & Abby; an adorable pottery piece (pictured below) from mom & dad and a fabulous painting of Zoe, Bailey and me on canvas from Abby (also pictured below). She's such a tiny Picasso!





On top of the gifts I got countless birthday greetings from friends - I was a bit overwhelmed! Thanks to all!

Eve Carson Memorial 5K

I participated in the 2nd annual Eve Carson Memorial 5K on Saturday morning in Chapel Hill. While not a race in the true sense for me (I walked), I was more than happy to participate in an event towards such a great cause. Last year Jen came with me, but this year I was alone with my ipod.

Truth be told, I almost bolted after collecting my t-shirt and gift bag only because a separate event taking place on campus made the parking outlook quite grim. (Not that parking on campus at UNC is ever an easy task). But I would've felt guilty had I bailed, and my astonishingly early arrival on-site gave me ample time to scout out alternative parking.

I have no idea how many people turned out for the race - there aren't currently any results online - but it looked like a good crowd. There were several dogs there, which made me sad I hadn't known they were allowed because I would've brought Casey, my brother's dog who is currently bunking at my house. Neither Bailey or Zoe are good at "endurance" walks/runs; but with Todd and Maria running a gazillion miles a week, Casey has adapted to lengthy jaunts. I would've loved to have had him along!

The weather was perfect - I was happy the earlier predicted rain did not come to fruition - and Eve's spirit was definitely present in full-force. I don't remember there ever being that many college students that bright-eyed and bushy-tailed that early on a Saturday morning when I was in school at UNC!

I will do my best to race (walk) for Eve again next year.

Tiny bear ornaments

I fell in love with these tiny teddy bear ornaments created by a woman named Julie at Little Cotton Rabbits. Her work is of course much better than mine, but I made my first tiny teddy bear ornament last night (pictured left).

I thought of making them while I was brainstorming for my Operation Christmas Child boxes, so if I decide to include this little "beta" bear I hope the recipient likes it!

I wanted to make a test bear before investing in materials, so I used green and cream yarn I already owned and made my bear a polar bear.

There are two versions of the pattern - one that makes a dress (the one I used) and one that includes legs as well as arms. For my "beta" bear, I thought less limbs was best.

I didn't have the correct size of double-pointed needles (I sold all of mine on ebay, save one pair, when I gave up knitting in the round) so I used a set of US size 5 double-pointed needles for my bear. Yarn used was cheap-o left over from my knitting practice days. My finished bear (minus ribbon loop) is approximately 3.75" tall.

What do you think? Suggestions?

Huge win Saturday

It was a fabulous football Saturday with the Heels beating Miami 33-24, but still a bit sad seeing as it was the last home game of the season. It all went by so fast.

We did far more tailgating this season than we have in the past due to later game times, and I think Abby really enjoyed the whole spectacle of it. The weather cooperated for the most part, with the last two games taking place under gorgeous Carolina Blue skies.

For the last two games Abby and I got to visit with the Burleigh's on the other side of the stadium, too. Abby loves seeing Felton and I think the trip (which is NOT short) provides a distracting activity. We usually come up with some silly game to pass the time on the way over - like how best to maneuver the path - duck and shimmy or dash and weave.

We needed that win Saturday. It provided some redemption for the Heels and the fans. It really was fabulous.

Until next season - with some basketball in-between!

A Thousand Splendid Suns

I finished this book last night and absolutely loved it. I enjoyed The Kite Runner, but I LOVED this book.

After forcing myself to make it through My Life as a Traitor, I had to distance myself from tales of political unrest, war and cruelty. I indulged myself with the Twilight series, Charlaine Harris' books and the Ghostgirl books and then finally came back to a serious read.

A Thousand Splendid Suns spans over more than 40 years, and tells the story of two (maybe three) families, eventually intertwined by both love and tragedy. A boiled-down synopsis might describe it as a modern-day history of Afghanistan told from a woman's perspective.

I completely disagree with the reviews online that state that the characters lack depth. I easily envisioned each of them while reading: Mariam, Laila, Tariq, Rasheed, Aziza, Jalil and Zalmai.

In fact, for some inexplicable reason, I pictured Zalmai as the little boy in "Thirteen Ghosts," which is a terrible movie and shouldn't have been memorable in any way, but there you have it. Oh, and I pictured Mullah Faizullah as somewhat Gandalf-like. I do NOT mean that as even the slightest insult. I adore both Mullah Faizullah and Gandalf.

A Thousand Splendid Suns begins with scandal and lost-youth, moves forward all the while with non-fictional war-related details, and by the end tells the heartbreaking story of an unlikely yet fiercely faithful friendship. The history behind the scenes never overshadows the central story, but instead makes it all the more powerful.

I highly recommend this book. It is beautifully-written and surprisingly suspenseful - a story expertly executed.

I had a good cry when I was finished - largely in part because I'd reached the end.

Doggie Supplements – Advice?

Following Zoe’s less than favorable recent test results, I’ve been supplementing her food with both milk thistle and Nutri-Vet Probiotics.

The milk thistle is in powder form – emptied from 150 mg capsules – added by a few sprinkles per meal. Milk thistle is believed to be a natural “liver tonic,” and its use is widely accepted in veterinary practices across the country. It is often used in the treatment of liver cirrhosis. Since the only adverse side-effects usually extend to mild diarrhea, milk thistle doesn't scare me much. I've taken it myself off and on for years. Zoe has had no problems so far.

The Probiotics supplement is in liquid form and hopefully helps to mask the herbal tinge added by the milk thistle. Thus far Zoe hasn’t turned up her nose, but I’m still trying to arrive at the perfect balance for regular feedings.

Probiotics is chock-full of Omega-3 essential fatty acids, which help maintain immune health. The formula also promotes healthy digestion via naturally occurring microorganisms and enzymes. It smells quite fishy, but again, Zoe doesn’t seem to mind at all.

I suppose the real effectiveness towards my personal goals for Zoe’s health will be revealed when her blood is re-tested next month. Either way, the lack of counter-productive effects encourages me to continue with our current regimen.

I’m curious if anyone out there has any experience with similar supplements, and if so, were the results positive? As I said before, I don’t know yet if Zoe’s slight upturn in relative healthiness had anything to do with the recent supplementation to her diet. Only time will tell!

Quote of the day

"I really love it here. I think the freedom of this place is just so beautiful. To me I wouldn't move for $10,000,000, unless I had to. So I'm contented here in the desert and I'm livin' where I wanna live, and ah, I think good gets better..."

- Leonard Knight as himself in "Into the Wild"

I wish more people could exude the sunny disposition of Knight. His lines are among my favorite in one of my favorite movies.

Go HEELS! Boo DOOK!

I'm not one for bragging about Tar Heel football this season, but Saturday's game was a sweet victory over DOOK, 19-6.

The 3:30 pm kick-off gave us plenty of time for tailgating. Todd made veggie burgers, Maria made veggie chili and I brought potato salad and BEER. The weather was gorgeous - perfect game day skies.

I know very little about football - the bare minimum - but I do know how to throw one. Abby still struggles a bit. Below you can see my attempt to steer her in the right direction.


Self-portrait of Maria and I (you can totally see my outstretched arm in the reflection of my sunglasses):


Around half-time we met up with Kerry and Felton. I really wish I could've gotten a photo of Abby and Felton chasing each other around the stairwell. I think they both had a blast. Got a photo of Mommy (Maria) and Abby instead:



Todd and Maria watching the game, listening to Woody, enjoying the defeat of DOOK:


I am positive that the 3-3:30 kick-off time is my favorite. I can sleep in, we get to tailgate and I make it home before 8 pm. PERFECT - especially when we spank DOOK.

Tiny terrier news

I expected the call from Dr. Geyer Thursday (she called me, but not with results) but received it Friday. Zoe's albumin was 2.4, up from 2.2 last week. "Normal" is between 2.7 and 4.4 g/DL according to my vet's lab, but "normal" levels seem to vary across veterinary clinics. We'll go back in a month for another albumin check.

On Thursday when they drew blood, I also had them weigh Zoe and check her glucose.

She's back up to 6.75 lbs, and her glucose was up to 115 from 64. Since low glucose is a huge cause of doggie seizures, I was ecstatic that her glucose is now within the normal range (70-138 mg/dL).

Her behavior is VERY regular Zoe (extremely active, alert and demanding of attention) so for now I'm breathing a bit of a sigh of relief, but we're not out of the woods yet. There are strong indicators of kidney/liver disease. Only time will tell.

Zoe, Bailey and I are so thankful for all of your well-wishes. It really means a lot to know that others are pulling for us - especially my tiny terrier.

xoxo, T, B & Z.

Gran Torino

I picked up Gran Torino from my local redbox last night. I'd heard nothing but good things about it and thus I was excited to tuck in to a good flick. I was not disappointed.

I do love Clint Eastwood - I always have. Now I'm not talking Dirty Harry or The Dead Pool - I fell in love with Clint Eastwood through watching In the Line of Fire, True Crime, Blood Work, The Bridges of Madison County and Million Dollar Baby, just to name a few. And by the way, he may be 79-years-old, but I still think he's one of the most handsome men on this earth.

I'm always a big fan of so-called no-name actors making a good movie great. Ahney Her (Sue Lor) made an excellent debut in Gran Torino. Bee Vang (Thao Van Lor) really didn't impress me, but I found the character he attempted to portray endearing.

Eastwood's character seems to suffer from the same tortured soul syndrome his character experienced in Million Dollar Baby, but I didn't feel like I was watching the same story with different scenery. Walt Kowalski (Eastwood), was quite a unique character in my opinion. Yes, he was a curmudgeon who spent most of his days growling at people. But he also had a yellow lab, Daisy, who was obviously his best friend after the passing of his wife, Dorothy. Through his "conversations" with Daisy and his interactions with Sue and Thao, we get a clearer picture of the real Walt. He's a good man. A little damaged, but still a good man.

Gran Torino addresses war, racism, familial estrangement, gang violence, poverty and many other complex issues.

I found it sincere rather than trite, moving rather than cheesy and realistic rather than unbelievable. I really liked this movie. Highly recommended.

ghostgirl: sincerely light reading

My dear friend Jen loaned both of these books to me: ghostgirl and ghostgirl: homecoming. While both are a bit over-the-top dramatic, I enjoyed reading them. When I first started ghostgirl, I thought, "Wow, Abby would really like this cute book." But after the initial "cute" death of the heroine - she chokes to death on a gummy bear in physics class - the plot turns down a few too many inappropriate corners for an eight-year-old.

My best description of the first book is Beetle Juice meets Heathers. Quirky outcast Charlotte Usher longs to be part of the in-crowd - Petula and the Wendys - and to be with her dream-man, Damen, who happens to be Petula's boyfriend. When Charlotte is matched up with Damen as a physics lab partner (book published in 2008, anyone smell a Twilight rip-off?!) she thinks her dreams have come true. Too bad their first class ends with her meeting the reaper via gelatinous candy.

Charlotte attends "Dead Ed," and learns a bit about the afterlife and her former life a little too late. Chock full of references to popular culture and a killer graduation much like the finale of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 3, ghostgirl made me laugh, reminisce and thank my lucky stars that I'm done with high school.

ghostgirl: homecoming read like a soap opera on overdrive. The cultural references were dripping with an effort at humor; and the plot, which never came around to making any sense, was all over the place. Therefore, I'm sure I'd be no good at trying to describe the story because I'm not even sure what it was.

What's more disturbing is that the second book ended the same as the first - with a strong suggestion that a third book will follow. It shouldn't. I realize I said I enjoyed reading it, but I read it on an elliptical machine for the most part - a place where reading advanced physics is more enjoyable than concentrating on the minutes left in my workout.

I started A Thousand Splendid Suns on Sunday and it is thus far a phenomenally huge step up - at least intellectually - from ghostgirl. Happy reading!

The canine patient

Zoe, Bailey and I are so thankful for everyone's well-wishes. As of Thursday night Zoe appears to be doing well. I spoke with my regular vet Thursday morning and she relayed some strange results regarding Zoe's thyroid function, but I don't think those will be the focus of our ongoing investigation - at least not right now. She also told me I could stop testing Zoe's urine for glucose (Huge Hurray!)

As of Thursday morning, our next step is to test her blood albumin levels next Thursday morning. If the albumin is low I'm sure Dr. Geyer will recommend either another glucose blood test and/or an abdominal ultrasound.

Zoe has been eating like a champ since Monday evening with no vomiting or abnormal stool. We had a minor scare Wednesday morning, which I've since come to believe was paranoia on my part. But seriously, after the episode Zoe had on Monday night, I can't imagine any pet owner not feeling an equivalent level of paranoia. Zoe is just so darn tiny that it's hard not to worry about any behavioral change.

I'm actually looking forward to going to work Friday morning (I haven't been in the office since Monday afternoon). I thought Zoe would be sick of me by now since I've been stalking her with urine collection containers, water bowls and lights in her eyes to check for responsiveness; but she is apparently just as obsessed with me as always. I, however, am completely ready for some human interaction and a little break from doggy drama.

If I come home Friday night to find her listless and stumbling I'll know I'm going to hell for sure, but I'm confident that she will be just fine for the time being - and I hope for the long run as well.

Zoe, Bailey and I wish everyone a happy and safe Halloween. Updates on Zoe will follow as I get definitive answers. Thanks again for the love!

Zoe update

Test results - several following the initial blood panel - were not terrible, but certainly not good. While her behavior appears to be normal, Zoe's blood tests and urinalysis have not offered anything promising.

Under orders to feed her small and frequent meals along with stringent observation, I can only hope that we might get some answers soon. During this time I've also been instructed to test her urine for glucose each time I take her out to empty her bladder (by utilizing test strips often used by diabetics for glucose monitoring).

Collecting a urine sample from a 5.6 pound dog might seem daunting, but I've somehow almost mastered it in less than a day. Of course that does NOT mean it is fun or ego-boosting to be seen trailing behind a tiny terrier with a Gladware container on the ready for piss collection. No siree bob. But I'll deal with it.

Nothing is definitive yet, but possible diagnoses at this point include: cancer; liver disease; a shunt (obstruction); kidney disease/failure (less likely based on test results); other mass/tumor; or least likely yet most hopeful, a complete fluke.

We appreciate your support!

Zoe panic strikes again

When I got home last night and let Zoe out of her crate, she wouldn't walk. Upon going outside she proceeded to wildly rub her face and upper torso on the ground and driveway while struggling to get her footing. She couldn't hold her head up and when I picked her up she flailed around as if trying to right herself but she couldn't. She appeared to have no control of her limbs whatsoever.

I called my vet 5 minutes before closing and they agreed to wait for me (THANK YOU Park Vet).

I'm astonished that I didn't get a speeding ticket on my way to the vet. I'm even more astonished that I didn't have a car accident. Zoe spent the entire ride tossing haphazardly about in her crate, crashing face-forward into the door in an attempt to get herself upright. The vet assistant who took Zoe in did not have a promising look on her face once she laid eyes on my pathetic baby girl.

Dr. Geyer's initial recommendation was for me to immediately take Zoe to the emergency vet as she was dehydrated, she's down to 5.6 pounds (she was 7.3 lbs in March 2009) and she appeared to have had some kind of seizure.

After about 40 minutes at Dr. Geyer's office, she regained her ability to walk, however, the vet remains worried about the weight loss and disorientation. They took a full blood panel and I will get results this morning (Tuesday).

Tiny Zoe has been doing well since we got home (at the time of my writing this post at 1:08 am). I bought her some baby food on the way home from the vet as I knew she would suck it down without any difficulty. I wish I could get her to drink more water, but she's never been a big water-drinker.

Thus far I'm extremely thankful to have not had to make use of the rectal Valium syringes the vet gave me to use in the event that Zoe has another seizure. Let's hope she holds off from anything requiring their use.

Meanwhile, my 12-year-old Norwegian Elkhound, Bailey, is healthy as a horse. He's maintained his goal weight for more than 6 months.

Now if I could only keep them both healthy at the same time. Well wishes for Zoe are very much appreciated!

Closet Office Complete

I finished the closet office on Saturday, after hanging my homemade bulletin board (blue-framed item in the center of the photos). I still need to hire an electrician so that I don't have wires and cables tangled every which way, but otherwise I'm loving my new little office space (ignore the glimpses of my blue dresser on the right).

Unexpected perk and simultaneous downer: While cleaning up for the office project I found my Chris Reuther memory ribbon, which I thought I'd lost. I was so happy to have found it, but finding it also made me break down into a long fit of tears. Chris' ribbon is the green and blue ribbon pinned to the central bulletin board.

In order to not end this post on a severely solemn note, I'll just say that Chris' ribbon will now remain safe in my new closet office for as long as I live in my current residence.

While I don't need a ribbon to remember Chris, I'm proud to keep a reminder of him close to me.

Quote of the day

"Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they've got a second;
Give your dreams all you've got and you'll be amazed at the energy that comes out of you."

- William James

All I really need to know I learned through swimming

...or by the obligation of going to practice.

Six days a week. 20+ hours a week back and forth in a pool. At least there was underwater music at UNC-Chapel Hill, but that perk didn't come until college.

I don't miss the misery of 6 am practices in an ice cold pool, 5:15 am practices in the weight room or endless weekends spent in the middle of nowhere at random meets in an effort to make qualifying times.

What I remember the most are my friends I made along the way - my closest friends to this day - friends I made before I was 10-years-old. Oddly enough (and of course not inclusive) these are largely my only friends with families intact (no divorce, etc). I have no ideas on any connection there - I've just always found that interesting - faithful friends, faithful parents. Who knows.

Anyway, I learned a great deal from practice, from Robbie (my coach), my parents, my friends and my teammates. No matter how much I may have cursed practice or any individual forcing such practice on me, I know I am a better person for having endured, participated, committed and dedicated myself to my sport.

1. Be prompt: Even if you're the last person to dive in the pool the coach will remember you were there on time.

2. Don't hit (or grab) people: If you find yourself behind someone slower than you, find a way to politely make your way in front of them. Groping their heels is really just not polite.

3. Support your friends: When you're at a big meet, encourage them and do your part to cheer them on.

4. Don't take things that aren't yours: PSYCH! If you are the underdog and you beat the top dog, Good on ya! Keep going even harder. But I must interject here that a girl from a rival high school stole my swim team jacket, tried to pick my embroidered name out of it and pass it off as hers. I still recall the whole situation as one of the most ridiculously pointless and vindictive dealings ever forced on me. Her parents made her call me to apologize, but I could hear her metaphorically spitting on me through the phone. I admit I wanted her to be caught, but I didn't want the jacket back. To want it would've given her the satisfaction of hurting me.

5. It's always nice to share: Goggles, caps, towels, back rubs, "strap massages." Share and share alike. I always admired the kids sitting back in the following heat who would offer up their goggles or what have you to the SOL swimmer racing before them. It happened more than you'd think.

6. Take a nap: Had I ever actually had time to do that during my swimming career I would've. It would've been glorious.

7. Shoot for the stars and believe in yourself: As my closest friends can quote me, When I was 12, I miraculously made my dreams come true. Against the odds and without my own coach's belief in me, I propelled myself in the ranks and achieved my goal to make the All-Star NC team. I placed in the top 4 in 6 races despite being seated no higher than 12th in any given race. I still remember my "goal meeting" with my age-group coach so clearly, weeks before the Junior Olympics, the way she looked at me like my dreams were completely unreachable. And I remember even more clearly the ecstatic cheering, jumping and wild victory-fist pumping of Robbie when I crushed my personal best times in each and every event. I truly wish I could've bottled that feeling. It was amazing.

8. Live a balanced life: Do the time, do the sets, finish practice. When you leave the pool, leave the pool. You might still smell like chlorine, but it's healthy to remove yourself from your sport on a regular basis.

9. Play fair: Don't pull on the lane ropes during backstroke sets or take a dive mid-lap and double-back unless you want to hurt yourself. Cutting a lap = cutting your training = cutting your ability.

10. There is no "I" in team: While swimming is a highly individualized sport, there are also relays, and more importantly the necessity of a support system. If you think about all of the athletes most likely to crack under pressure (ice skaters, gymnasts for example) this idea should be quite clear. Individualized focus is fine, but keeping things in perspective is even more important. I don't think I could've gotten through a single swim meet completely on my own. I know for certain I never could've gotten through a Robbie swim practice without my teammates - my friends.

So thanks Robbie, Robin, Dad and Mom; and of course Kerry, Mark, Susan, Anna, Amy, Elaine, Suzanne, Alex, Scottie and many, many more Wahoos. I admit that I was often a bitter teenager loathing my plight, but I know that I wouldn't be the same Tracey had I not been "Tracey the swimmer." I know I'm a better person for it.

Forgetting high school

I SO do not miss high school, or middle school. I am certain that I met and was forced to interact with the meanest individuals I could ever deal with in my entire life when I was in the 7th grade. But I must admit that some of my favorite teachers were those assigned to my 7th grade education – especially my algebra teacher, Mrs. Martin, who adored my brother, and therefore allowed me into her good graces despite my lack of mathematical skills.

Thirteen-year-olds are most often inherently mean. The meanness is not necessarily intentional, but likely unavoidable.

While I’d hoped all of that could’ve been left behind before high school, it wasn’t. The cliques followed, the hatefulness followed, the complete lack of genuine friendships followed. The apparent inability to bond with my only sibling followed.

I could feel sorry for myself, but instead I’m reminded every day that I have been blessed with friends who love me for me – flaws flaring, bitchiness and ugliness for everyone to see – I have REAL friends.

While they know who they are, I can’t help but say out loud that I couldn’t live without Kerry. KB is my true North, and her daughter and Abby create my happiness. And yes, Felton adds to that, too. I love you Burleighs! You save my life every day just by being there. (Jen, too, couldn't live without you - no doubt).

Thank you for loving me, the friends I often think I don't deserve. I love you all every day of my life!

This post was inspired by a couple of episodes of Grey's Anatomy that were dripping with metaphorical messages that I just couldn't ignore. Yes, it's all stupid and just television, but the producers likely develop story lines based on experienced dramas, so taking notice is somewhat unavoidable.

Tech40 Trail Runner Watch: A Love/Hate Relationship

The Tech⁴0 Accelerator Series Trail Runner Watch with pedometer functioning is genius in theory. Priced between $30-$135 (I believe my particular model is no longer available as I bought it as a closeout sale from the REI outlet) this watch records daily steps taken, calories burned and distance traveled. The watch also includes dual-time features, date stamps, alarm and stopwatch capabilities and an indiglo light.

There is no worry about the positioning of the device in order to yield accurate pedometer results, and from what I can tell, it’s quite accurate to about +/- .04 miles or so.

Love the neutral color. Love the size. Do NOT love the complications, vague customer support and super-short battery life. Their web site stinks.

If you use the pedometer function daily you can expect to replace the battery at least once every two to three months – and the battery replacement is NOT easy. In fact, the stupid manual not only fails to identify the battery required (CR2032), but it also instructs owners to have batteries replaced solely by a licensed store or jeweler.

For normal watches I would be more than willing to take the time to have a jeweler/licensed store replace my watch battery, but this type of watch eats batteries like we breathe air. Therefore, I took it upon myself to force the battery from my watch for replacement (I was CERTAIN I had completely broken it), and while I was at the end of my rapidly fraying rope of frustration, I figured I was only throwing away $40. I did get the watch on close-out at an outlet after all.

The watch is still functioning, but here I introduce super-annoying drawback #2.

Every time you replace the battery the personal information is deleted (height, weight, stride-length for walking and running, time settings [format and dual-time settings], alarm settings, etc.)

If the watch was easy to program I might not care so much, but said programming is both complicated and cumbersome. Maybe I got a lemon, but there is no rhyme or reason to the buttons on my watch. Not to mention that any watch that requires the viewing of online tutorials must be a bit over the top.

I am glad to say that certain features that never worked when I first received the watch now seem to function perfectly. I must've received one that sat on the shelf for quite a while running down that easily drained battery!

I suppose the bottom line is that I'd purchase this watch again, but only if able to find a super-deal similar to the one I got from the REI Outlet. Unless I become a step-by-step/mileage fanatic like both my father and brother, my max offer would be $45. If I recall correctly, I paid about $35, including shipping to my local REI store FREE, for my Tech⁴0 Trail Runner Watch.

Project in progress

The closet office is almost complete (thanks a TON to Jim, my fabulous guardian angel who does so much for me).

Only waiting on a few adornments - I am so pleased with my results. My life feels more organized already!

However, I'm not looking forward to hiring an electrician to provide convenient power with minimal extension cords, and sadly I feel certain that additional complications will arise. Anybody out there have an electrician on speed dial in the Durham area whom they really trust?

I've become torn about home ownership. I love the tax benefits, but I hate the fact that the health of my yard and weed population has been made a top priority. THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE.

SERIOUSLY - MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE.
I have neighbors who are complete NAZIS about dog poop - even when it's in MY yard. In my dreams, I punch those people, repeatedly in the face, especially since I poop scoop 4-6 times a week, and it is MY yard.

I really hate coming across as such a bitter hateful person, but what I hate more are the people who make me this way.

I have a new conviction - I will be a better person no matter what.

Dead like me

Anyone know anything about this show? Like it? Hate it?

I ask because one of my most looney acquaintances mentioned it to me a while back, so when I saw the complete series on sale at Costco yesterday for little more than I spend on dog food, I bought it.

Maybe it's that I'll very shortly finish Ghostgirl - who knows. Maybe I'm just in a Reaper mood. I always did like Beetlejuice!

The online reviews of Dead Like Me are highly favorable. In fact, the only negative review I found was written by someone who didn't realize the Dead Like Me movie was included in the complete series. Therefore, the buyer was just bitter about their own foolish double-purchase of the movie.

By the way, that could fuel a whole other blog post. ie. I don't understand people who write negative reviews for items that aren't based on the quality/content of the actual item. Such negative reviews should be reserved for the sellers of said items, or in the aforementioned case, the buyer who obviously didn't read the fine print. Yada yada.

I'm still knee-deep in Grey's Anatomy, thanks to my dear friend Jen who owns seasons 1-4. Since I've just started season 3 I'm not watching the current season, nor do I know if I'll want to, but I will follow through with the DVDs I can get on loan for free.

I'll start Dead Like Me soon after the GA marathon. If I like it, of course I'll blog about it favorably!

Quote of the day

"Every ship that comes to America got its chart from Columbus."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Boots, Spanish and Dragons, OH MY!

Dinner with the Burleighs last night ended with rubber boot modeling, Spanish lessons with Diego and a book about a bad pet dragon. What girl could ask for more?

Just before her bedtime, Miss almost 2-year-old Sydney was adamant about showing off her yellow rain boots. She tripped and stumbled, but she kept those boots on her tiny feet, smile plastered across her face the whole time.





Then the division of bedtime responsibilities arose and to my delight Felton requested that I watch Diego with him. I tried to take photos of him watching without him noticing, but he's too smart for that. He immediately turned toward me and started saying, "CHEESE!" As an aside, I must mention that for a three-year-old, Felton is quite proficient in the Spanish language.



After Diego I read Felton a story about a pet dragon that eats spaghetti in the bathtub. I found that weird. But I always get a kick out of reading Felton his bedtime stories. One word explains it all: IMAGINATION, and I LOVE that.

Home Improvement task #1 complete

While some touch-up painting to the trim, etc. is likely in order, I consider task #1 completed. The threshold support under my front door is now far more structurally sound, effective and attractive.

I must admit that I find it extremely irritating that ALL of my other doors are constructed with similar supports that haven't deteriorated. So, was it just some slacker jackass that took care of my front door or is there some other random explanation? I'm sure I'll never know, so I'll just have to let it go and be proud of my ability to remedy the situation.

Should there be any interest in how I did this, I've included rough instructions following the photos. The whole job only cost me about $42. Many people probably already own some of the items I had to purchase, so the task is likely a bit less expensive for most. I've included the items needed below with the instructions.

If you eliminate the necessary shopping and the drying time for certain steps in the process, this project only took about 2 1/2 hours to complete.




Items needed:

• 2x4 piece of treated lumber, cut to the size you need

• Sandpaper, 120 and 220. I was lucky enough to have an electric sander. 220 to sand the bare wood, 120 to sand between coats of paint and/or to sand over filled screw holes

• wood filler or spackle

• a decent drill and the following drill bits: 3/16" regular bit; 5/32" x 4 1/2" carbide tipped concrete drill bit (if you're on a slab like me); 1/4" titanium countersink bit

• Concrete anchors, I used (4) 3/16" x 2 3/4" Tapcon brand (not sure what you'd need if not on a slab, but I recommend some kind of anchor in addition to liquid nails if that's what you use)

• Interior/exterior primer; oil or latex base

• Exterior latex paint (I used Valspar premium semi-gloss from Lowes)

• 9" Caulking gun

• DAP Concrete & Mortar Filler & Sealant (not necessary if your foundation is without cracks)

• Liquid Nails Heavy Duty Construction Adhesive

• GE Premium Waterproof Silicone Caulk for window/door/attic/basement, Clear, 10 oz


1. After forcefully ripping off the previous support, I took that piece of wood to Lowes to have a new piece of treated lumber cut. I then sanded, primed and painted all sides of the wood. (While many people, including the guy who cut my wood say that painting all sides is unnecessary, I couldn't help but think that by priming and painting all sides, the wood would more likely be thoroughly sealed from the elements).

2. Remove any materials/residue from the original support base. I used my hair dryer to heat the leftover liquid nails residue and an industrial scraper. I used a standard caulk remover tool to remove any extraneous old caulk.

3. I found the previous attachment method asinine. Whoever attached the original support used a tiny amount of liquid nails and then actual nails to attach the support to concrete. The nails were placed only towards the middle of the support board and the liquid nails were applied in much the same way. No wonder the wood separated at the ends! Therefore, I decided to use both concrete anchors (screws) and liquid nails. I drilled holes through my wood piece, evenly placed across the entire support, then lined it up where it was to be placed and drilled through with the concrete bit to make corresponding holes in the concrete. I used the countersink bit to make impressions in the front side of the wood where the anchors would rest.

4. I coated the backside of the piece of wood with generous strips of liquid nails and positioned the wood in place. I then immediately screwed in the anchors, working from side to side to keep the wood even while the liquid nails dried.

5. Once all the anchors were screwed in, I used spackling to cover over the screws. After allowing that to dry, I sanded the entire area and then painted over the entire face of the wood with another coat of exterior latex paint.

6. Following a suitable period of drying time for the paint, I applied clear silicone caulk, using a caulk gun, to seal all gaps. I then used a standard caulk finishing tool to neaten up the edges.