So, in case you can't tell from the picture, Danger's left eye is a little "lazy". For the past couple fo days he's been blinking a lot and his left eye has been producing a large amount of goop. Being the best kitty parents on the planet, Jeremy and I applied our patented "let's wait and see if it gets better" approach to kitty health. It actually did look like it was getting a little better until tonight. Guess who is going to the vet tomorrow? At this point we're considering just having our paychecks direct deposited directly into the vet's account. We are hoping that she at least buys a nice boat or something with all of our cash - then maybe she'll invite her best clients out sailing.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
When it rains ...
So, in case you can't tell from the picture, Danger's left eye is a little "lazy". For the past couple fo days he's been blinking a lot and his left eye has been producing a large amount of goop. Being the best kitty parents on the planet, Jeremy and I applied our patented "let's wait and see if it gets better" approach to kitty health. It actually did look like it was getting a little better until tonight. Guess who is going to the vet tomorrow? At this point we're considering just having our paychecks direct deposited directly into the vet's account. We are hoping that she at least buys a nice boat or something with all of our cash - then maybe she'll invite her best clients out sailing.
The Kitty Drama Continues
Just as it looked like Lucy was finally on the mend, she's had a bit of a relapse. According to the vet, her urinary tract infection is all cleared up, but her kitty-pee is a little sub-par. And, at the Gottwoods, we always strive to "pee the best", so clearly this is unacceptable. The problem is that her pee is too basic (as in the opposite of acidic) which means that it is easy for crystals to form which makes it easier to get another infection and so on and so forth. Luckily, this is a problem that is easily fixed:
That, my friends, is special pee-balancing prescription kitty food. Available only from the vet. Of course, if we feed it to one cat, there's no way to get around feeding it to all three. Luckily, Danger finds it quite delectable (he is a picky eater - he usually whines until Jeremy licks the sauce off his chicken for him). We are happy to have such an easy fix, and are really glad that there isn't anything more serious wrong with Lucy. However, let me just repeat: this is prescription cat food - available only from the vet. It is a tad more expensive than the cut-rate Friskies that is a more typical kitty dinner option around here. Dear Future Children, you want to know why you have no college fund?!?! GO ASK THE CAT.
That, my friends, is special pee-balancing prescription kitty food. Available only from the vet. Of course, if we feed it to one cat, there's no way to get around feeding it to all three. Luckily, Danger finds it quite delectable (he is a picky eater - he usually whines until Jeremy licks the sauce off his chicken for him). We are happy to have such an easy fix, and are really glad that there isn't anything more serious wrong with Lucy. However, let me just repeat: this is prescription cat food - available only from the vet. It is a tad more expensive than the cut-rate Friskies that is a more typical kitty dinner option around here. Dear Future Children, you want to know why you have no college fund?!?! GO ASK THE CAT.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Happy New Year!
Shana Tova to all of our Jewish friends and family! Happy 5770!
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year celebration begins tonight at sundown. The Gottwoods will not be celebrating this year because the one of us that is actually Jewish was completely unaware of his upcoming High Holiday until he flipped through the complementary calendar he received for being on the waiting list for Bears season tickets.
However, preparations are already well underway for the annual observance of National Cookie Month in October. I, for one, was completely unaware of the deep religious significance of National Cookie Month until I was informed by my husband. I have been informed that the fate of our souls is dependent on the quantity and variety of cookies consumed in the month of October. I clearly have much to learn about Jeremy's faith.
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year celebration begins tonight at sundown. The Gottwoods will not be celebrating this year because the one of us that is actually Jewish was completely unaware of his upcoming High Holiday until he flipped through the complementary calendar he received for being on the waiting list for Bears season tickets.
However, preparations are already well underway for the annual observance of National Cookie Month in October. I, for one, was completely unaware of the deep religious significance of National Cookie Month until I was informed by my husband. I have been informed that the fate of our souls is dependent on the quantity and variety of cookies consumed in the month of October. I clearly have much to learn about Jeremy's faith.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Quarantine
Things have been a little quiet here - on the blog that is - our house has been filled with the sounds of coughing, sneezing and nose-blowing. The first cold of the season managed to hit both of us, I got sick right before Labor Day weekend (right before vacation of course) and Jeremy started to feel under the weather the following Wednesday. We're both on the mend now, but it has been a rough week or two. Especially given how Jeremy caught by cold.
Two weeks ago, we were at a conference in Southern California. While I was getting ready one morning, in the dark, trying not to wake up my sleeping husband, I may have accidentally used Jeremy's toothbrush. Actually, we got new toothbrushes, and I got confused about which one was mine and may have accidentally used Jeremy's toothbrush for two days. Jeremy pointed out my mistake (he was horrified) and then the next day I woke up with a scratchy throat.
You might be surprised how many times one person can work the phrase "YOU USED MY TOOTHBRUSH" into a conversation ...
[Jeremy just came in to the room and said "are you blogging? did you tell them HOW YOU USED MY TOOTHBRUSH???]
Anyway, after a week and a half of soup, popcicles and kleenex I think we're both starting to feel a little better.
Unfortunately, Lucy has also been sick. She kept jumping up on the bed next to us and peeing - which, as you can imagine was less than ideal (thank goodness for the sanitize cycle on the washer). We thought she just having some sort of adjustment-to-the-new-house issue, but then she starting hiding under the bed and refusing to come out for anything. After two visits to the vet, blood work, and several more "incidents" we finally found out that she has a kitty urinary tract infection (probably). The vet gave her a big shot of antibiotics on Wednesday, and said that in a week she should be back to her old self.
While she recovers, we're keeping Lucy in "kitty jail" which is really just the spare bedroom made up with a litter box, kitty bed, and food and water. We go in there periodically to hang out with her and sometimes one of us sleeps in there on the aerobed to keep her company. It has been a few days since her dose of antibiotics and she's already starting to show some improvement, so we're optimistic that the shot will do the trick. Instead of just cowering in the closet, she is starting to show some opposition to being cooped up in kitty jail. She's also eating more and has used the litter box. It has been a really trying experience (there is nothing quite like getting peed on in the middle of the night while you are hopped up on Nyquil), and Jeremy and I both feel bad for not figuring out what was wrong sooner. Mostly we just really hope that our kitty is back to normal soon.
Two weeks ago, we were at a conference in Southern California. While I was getting ready one morning, in the dark, trying not to wake up my sleeping husband, I may have accidentally used Jeremy's toothbrush. Actually, we got new toothbrushes, and I got confused about which one was mine and may have accidentally used Jeremy's toothbrush for two days. Jeremy pointed out my mistake (he was horrified) and then the next day I woke up with a scratchy throat.
You might be surprised how many times one person can work the phrase "YOU USED MY TOOTHBRUSH" into a conversation ...
[Jeremy just came in to the room and said "are you blogging? did you tell them HOW YOU USED MY TOOTHBRUSH???]
Anyway, after a week and a half of soup, popcicles and kleenex I think we're both starting to feel a little better.
Unfortunately, Lucy has also been sick. She kept jumping up on the bed next to us and peeing - which, as you can imagine was less than ideal (thank goodness for the sanitize cycle on the washer). We thought she just having some sort of adjustment-to-the-new-house issue, but then she starting hiding under the bed and refusing to come out for anything. After two visits to the vet, blood work, and several more "incidents" we finally found out that she has a kitty urinary tract infection (probably). The vet gave her a big shot of antibiotics on Wednesday, and said that in a week she should be back to her old self.
While she recovers, we're keeping Lucy in "kitty jail" which is really just the spare bedroom made up with a litter box, kitty bed, and food and water. We go in there periodically to hang out with her and sometimes one of us sleeps in there on the aerobed to keep her company. It has been a few days since her dose of antibiotics and she's already starting to show some improvement, so we're optimistic that the shot will do the trick. Instead of just cowering in the closet, she is starting to show some opposition to being cooped up in kitty jail. She's also eating more and has used the litter box. It has been a really trying experience (there is nothing quite like getting peed on in the middle of the night while you are hopped up on Nyquil), and Jeremy and I both feel bad for not figuring out what was wrong sooner. Mostly we just really hope that our kitty is back to normal soon.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Road Trip, Day 3: Rocky Mountain National Park
I spent Wednesday in Boulder where the Bourlands and I trekked up to Rocky Mountain National Park.
On the original drive to California, there wasn't much in the way of what one expects with mountains. Wyoming and Utah were pretty, but it was largely a high plateau.
RMNP was mountains! We drove up this one-way, narrow gravel road that is only open about 3-4 months a year. My mother said that she and my dad visited the park one June or July and this particular road was closed.
As harrowing as it was, it was definitely worth the trek.
Here is Matthew and Leona in the back of the car. She seems pretty excited by all the scenery. She was much more excited by the cheddar goldfish that were in the car with me.
This gives you a pretty good sense of the drop-off from the road we were on. Jessica was kindly taking pictures out the window and sun roof.
The road takes you up to the Alpine station in the park. This is the view from a little higher up the hill than the station. That little brown strip on the bottom right is the road.
From the station you can hike up a "small" hill to get to 12,000 feet. We had to stop twice for breaks because I was sucking wind in the altitude. Matthew and I had figured out that we hadn't seen each other in about 7 years. He looks exactly the same. I've put on about 20 pounds since then. I need to hit the gym more in California.
The view over the other side of the hill was worth it, though.
If anything, the ride back down on the paved road was even more harrowing, but just as scenic.
Elk!
The road back home.
Dinner with Leona. She ate my bread.
On the original drive to California, there wasn't much in the way of what one expects with mountains. Wyoming and Utah were pretty, but it was largely a high plateau.
RMNP was mountains! We drove up this one-way, narrow gravel road that is only open about 3-4 months a year. My mother said that she and my dad visited the park one June or July and this particular road was closed.
As harrowing as it was, it was definitely worth the trek.
Here is Matthew and Leona in the back of the car. She seems pretty excited by all the scenery. She was much more excited by the cheddar goldfish that were in the car with me.
This gives you a pretty good sense of the drop-off from the road we were on. Jessica was kindly taking pictures out the window and sun roof.
The road takes you up to the Alpine station in the park. This is the view from a little higher up the hill than the station. That little brown strip on the bottom right is the road.
From the station you can hike up a "small" hill to get to 12,000 feet. We had to stop twice for breaks because I was sucking wind in the altitude. Matthew and I had figured out that we hadn't seen each other in about 7 years. He looks exactly the same. I've put on about 20 pounds since then. I need to hit the gym more in California.
The view over the other side of the hill was worth it, though.
If anything, the ride back down on the paved road was even more harrowing, but just as scenic.
Elk!
The road back home.
Dinner with Leona. She ate my bread.Road Trip, Day 2
Day 2: St. Louis, MO to Boulder, CO (861 miles)
This was the longest day in the car, so there aren't as many pictures. I left the Peils' house on Tuesday morning and drove all the way to the Bourlands' house in Boulder.
Missouri is an okay state to drive through. Eastern Kansas was actually somewhat pretty. Western Kansas and Eastern Colorado were about as flat as everyone thinks they are. I did pass Fort Riley, home of the Big Red One, and at one of the places I stopped to get gas, there was a "Mexican" place called "Carlos O'Kelly's". Draw your own conclusions.
This was the longest day in the car, so there aren't as many pictures. I left the Peils' house on Tuesday morning and drove all the way to the Bourlands' house in Boulder.
Missouri is an okay state to drive through. Eastern Kansas was actually somewhat pretty. Western Kansas and Eastern Colorado were about as flat as everyone thinks they are. I did pass Fort Riley, home of the Big Red One, and at one of the places I stopped to get gas, there was a "Mexican" place called "Carlos O'Kelly's". Draw your own conclusions.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Jeremy's Road Trip, day 1.
One of the things that Kate and I learned during the process of planning and executing our move is that it is a royal pain in the neck to ship a car. Basically, it can't be done on any sort of schedule. This made it impossible to ship my car out here before or during our move. Once we had resolved to leave it behind and arrange shipping later, Kate suggested that, so long as we were going to be spending several hundred dollars to move the car, anyway, one of might as well get some fun out of the deal. So I flew back to Chicago and drove the car back out here, making numerous stops along the way.
Have I mentioned that I have the best wife in the world?
I flew to Chicago on Aug. 14 and played at the 21st Annual Cooler Classic Ultimate tournament in Milwauke on the 15th and 16th. I stayed with Ernie in Chicago the night of the 16th, and on the 17th, I commenced my journey. The trip was a blast. Over the next few days, I'll be posting pictures and descriptions of my trip, and all the stops I made along the way.
DAY 1: Chicago to St. Louis (300 miles)
I was going to post Google Map pictures of my entire route, but then it occurred to me that some folks might not want Google maps of their homes posted on a public blog. So you'll have to be content without for most legs.
Day 1 saw me drive from Ernie's place to the Peil's house in St. Louis, with a stop at Illinois State University to meet with a collaborator of mine, and in Springfield to have lunch with a friend.
Archie is always horribly neglected at the Peil's, now that they have a child, so I made sure to get a picture of him first.
Lucy objected, however, and wanted to be sure I got a picture of her.
"Look at me! I do more tricks than the dog!"
Which just made Archie sad. Poor Archie.
Have I mentioned that I have the best wife in the world?
I flew to Chicago on Aug. 14 and played at the 21st Annual Cooler Classic Ultimate tournament in Milwauke on the 15th and 16th. I stayed with Ernie in Chicago the night of the 16th, and on the 17th, I commenced my journey. The trip was a blast. Over the next few days, I'll be posting pictures and descriptions of my trip, and all the stops I made along the way.
DAY 1: Chicago to St. Louis (300 miles)
I was going to post Google Map pictures of my entire route, but then it occurred to me that some folks might not want Google maps of their homes posted on a public blog. So you'll have to be content without for most legs.
Day 1 saw me drive from Ernie's place to the Peil's house in St. Louis, with a stop at Illinois State University to meet with a collaborator of mine, and in Springfield to have lunch with a friend.
Archie is always horribly neglected at the Peil's, now that they have a child, so I made sure to get a picture of him first.
Lucy objected, however, and wanted to be sure I got a picture of her.
"Look at me! I do more tricks than the dog!"
Which just made Archie sad. Poor Archie.
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