Been a while!

I've been very preoccupied lately with Zoe's health, Oliver's care, and travel. I know I have very few readers so I don't feel that bad about my hiatus - haha!
The good news: Zoe is doing well - very well. She's seizure-free, keeping food down and acting like her normal bitchy self.

The bad news: Oliver's future is up in the air. I'm trying to be optimistic, but it is a hard thing to do.

Oliver is a WONDERFUL dog and deserves nothing less than the most loving home. I wish I could give it to him myself but I've already got my hands full and I would never regret adopting Lucas.

I'm trying to keep a positive outlook in favor of my sweet Oliver. I want nothing more than for him to find a loving caregiver. Should he find one said person(s) will be the luckiest pet owner(s) in Durham!

My girl is sick

Holding on to hope here, but Miss Zoe is not on the up and up. Poor girl had a seizure Monday morning and hasn't been anywhere near herself since. I'm wishing (hard) for some kind of recovery. I can't let her go just yet.

All Zoe fans please point your thoughts our way!

Favorite pen

This is my new favorite pen! It's a 7 year pen made by Seltzer Goods. Provided I hold on to it that long, it will write 1.7 meters a day for 7 years. I love the way it writes (very smooth) and I really love the "Need Coffee" message since I always need coffee! Lots of other designs are available.

Like they say on the web site, this pen is "Eco-Friendly, Swiss-Made, 7-Year Ink Supply, Lots of Fun." I concur!

If you live in the Raleigh/Chapel Hill/Durham area, you can find these pens at Parker and Otis in downtown Durham.

Quote of the day

"Bringing out your own unique brand of creativity into your life and the world can be the most significant thing you'll ever do."

~Lorna Catford

This one is a given, but I've found it to be very relevant lately.

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again."

~T.H. Palmer

Auto update

As of Friday April 13th I am the proud owner of a 2010 Kia Soul and I LOVE it! The photo attached here is a stock photo - mine actually has "privacy glass" (mild tinting) and came loaded with some fine features (bluetooth, upgraded safety, etc).

I do miss my CR-V but I'm a happy girl. It's surely nice to not have to pull up my "power" windows by hand; to not have to double-click the locking mechanism on the glove box every time I want it to close; to actually have power locks and an alarm; and an integrated ipod connection is pretty darn sweet!



Gas mileage thus far is on target despite the trips being almost completely limited to "city" driving - I don't do a great deal of "highway" driving anymore. Lucas and Zoe also completely approve of the new ride (this is an important fact).

I remember way back when I first brought home my beloved Honda CR-V - how I noticed an increasing number of them on the roads - and I'm noticing the same thing now with the Soul. It's a great car and I can also highly recommend Fred Anderson Toyota in this pitch. I got a great deal and an even more amazing deal on an extended warranty. Check them out if you're in the market for a new car: Fred Anderson Toyota.

Car shopping

I had to bid farewell to my trusty 1997 CR-V in mid-March, so I've been auto shopping since. I've honed in on 4 specific vehicles based on reviews from edmunds.com; rated mpg; and overall reliability. If anyone knows anything good or bad about any of the listed vehicles (in order of preference) please let me know.

1. Scion xD: Great used models available locally; low mileage; GREAT mpg; highly rated compact car

2. Kia Soul: Great used models available locally; low mileage; good mpg; great options; great cargo room

3. Honda CR-V (well duh...I loved my '97!): Extremely reliable vehicle; low mileage available; highly rated crossover

4. Nissan Versa: Highly rated compact car; LOW mileage available; roomy interior, good mpg

I'll be sure to post once I acquire my new ride!

My athlete has left the building

Due to unfortunate circumstances I haven't done an "organized" workout in about 4 months, yet I weigh less than I have since I was 21. Anyone suspect serious muscle loss? Ding ding ding! Yet I seem to never lose my shapely triceps.

At approximately 5'6" and barely north of 110 pounds, I'm a bit thin.

Anyway, I've been biking a lot lately and it is seriously pathetic. We're talking non-deserved heart-pounding, mouth gaping open exhaustion under the most minor hilly circumstances. Who would ever believe I used to swim 4-7 miles a day, could outrun most males my age and bench press more than my physical weight?!

This gumby-girl is determined to make more of an iron-woman out of herself in the next several months.

Knowing myself all to well, the progress will be slow, but I'll take slow over nothing any day.

YAY HEELS!

Elite 8 - enough said. Thank you Henson for playing! Good luck on Sunday!

Quote of the day

"It is not so much our friends' help that helps us, as the confidence of their help."

~Epicurus

Experiencing DATA

I started riding the bus about a week and a half ago - partly as an experiment, partly because it just makes sense as there is a bus stop in my back yard and gas costs a fortune these days.

I can get from my house to the doorway of my work building by a fairly direct route - although I must say connections can be quite tricky and annoying. I've not yet been completely stranded (thanks to great friends) but I'm still perfecting my schedule.

What has been the most pleasant surprise is the folks I've met on the bus. I biked to downtown Durham this evening and decided it would be safest to take the bus home from the Durham Station with my loaner bike in tow. A fellow passenger asked me if the bike was mine and that kicked off a conversation that I thought was pretty cool: He, like my dad, is in his late 60s yet still walks, runs and bikes a great deal. He's training for an upcoming race and told me he even qualified for the Olympic trials when he was in college. The kicker: he's great friends with James Worthy! This Tar Heel swooned at that revelation.

I've also shared a two-seater seat with a mom and her son; successfully advised several fellow passengers of their best travel options and managed to pare my normal 3-bag-a-day commute down to 1 backpack.

I'm feeling pretty savvy. It's the little things you know?

Donations for Doggies Please!

Looking for a few more donations:
Last Sunday I spent my morning as I do most Sundays - with an amazing group of compassionately dedicated volunteers who donate their time each week to giving chained dogs new, free lives. I've been volunteering with Coalition to Unchain Dogs for just over a year and it has been the most rewarding experience - I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. I've made great friends and had tons of fun, but the pricelessness of the experience is witnessing previously confined animals realize what life can really be like. They romp. They strut. They jump, hop, skip and frolic. Please help us build more fences for these more than deserving animals. By following the link below you can watch a video of what the Coalition does and make a donation - even the smallest amount makes a difference! And of course you are always welcome to volunteer - we'd love to have you!

http://www.active.com/donate/ghr2012/tracey2012

Quote of the day

"To every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction."

~Sir Isaac Newton

I'm pretty sure I thought I understood that principle despite my lack of scientific knowledge, but I've recently come to the conclusion that the principle - applied to social situations - is very perplexing and quite wrong.

In recent personal dealings, I've been taught that to every action there is always a weird and strange and unexplained reaction. Connections you once thought you had with others disappear into foggy memories - those which you begin to wonder if you manufactured all on your own. It's a frustrating endeavor - trying to make sense of what others won't explain to you.

I long for a world where people say what they mean, act the way they feel and remain true to their heart.

Farewell House

I'm quite behind on reading my subscription to Entertainment Weekly so I just learned that House MD's 8th season will be its last. I only became a fan via reruns in early 2011 so I'm pretty sad that it will all be over soon.

In fact, I became so obsessed with the show and diagnoses that I found myself trying to diagnose my brother when he fell ill last summer. He responded, "Thanks Dr. House. I'll look in to that." I got a pretty hearty chuckle out of that comment.

Happy notes from Ken Tucker's piece in the February 24th issue of EW:

1. He professed a favoritism for Olivia Wilde's character, Thirteen. I was happy to read that because I also very much like Thirteen and her complicated backstory, while many fans consistently expressed a strong hatred for Wilde and Thirteen. I've missed her in season 8!

2. He described the show at its best as a vivid portrait of a complex friendship. I love House and Wilson as best friends. Having had some complex friendships myself, it is always nice to realize that sometimes friends hurt each other - all the while loving each other - and that's just life. Your most faithful friends will always love you for who you truly are.

I'll miss you House! I'll deeply miss the presentation of crazy medical cases and your insanely awesome sense of humor for a long, long time! Hope there is a new role in the works for Hugh Laurie very soon.

Moot

Check out this poor little guy! Moot is soon to be taken in by the foster/rescue group I volunteer with: Best Friend Pet Adoption. I can't wait to meet him! He's only about 3 months old and was picked up as a stray.

According to those who have met him he's been just terrified since landing at the Nash County Animal Shelter. He cowers in the corner and completely tenses up if someone tries to touch him. I'm so proud to work with BFPA and I know we'll find him a forever home that will give him all the love he deserves! Welcome to BFPA Moot!