Here's a sure sign I'm getting old. I pulled onto the highway yesterday behind a Ford Pinto that was painted British racing green, with a black stripe running down the center. It also had "classic car" license plates. Classic?
According to Wikipedia, my go-to resource when my 8-year-old has questions, the Pinto was introduced in 1971. That's a year after I was born. So if that Pinto was a "classic" what does that make me? (And don't say vintage. I'm not ready for that.)
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Cutest. Puppy. Ever.
You've got to admit it. She's just darn cute.
Too bad she's also a serious chewing machine! She's going through beef tendons (ICK)by the case.
Still, there's nothing like a sweet, soft puppy to make you forgive tooth marks on the cabinets.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Puppy Love, Redux
Well, it's happened. We finally got a puppy. Her name is Beckett and she's an 8-week-old Golden Retriever. She is so sweet, so cute, so...
I might as well be honest, she's hell on wheels. It's like having a toddler with sharp teeth running around the house. Luckily, like a toddler, she goes all out and then passes out for an hour so I have a chance to sweep up the wreckage.
Since I swore I would train this dog, that we would do everything "right" so that she'd be a well-mannered dog, I'm in a bit of a panic. I've read the books, spent hours online, and still this pup is a handful. The kids won't come down off the ceiling because she uses them as chew toys.
At least she's somewhat housetrained - I can count the number of potty accidents on one hand, with a few fingers left over. And she'll sleep in her crate at night. The rest of it, I suspect, is just normal puppy energy run amok. I'd forgotten how much attention a toddler needs - especially a toddler with razor-sharp incisors.
But she is awfully cute. I'll post the photos to prove it soon.
I might as well be honest, she's hell on wheels. It's like having a toddler with sharp teeth running around the house. Luckily, like a toddler, she goes all out and then passes out for an hour so I have a chance to sweep up the wreckage.
Since I swore I would train this dog, that we would do everything "right" so that she'd be a well-mannered dog, I'm in a bit of a panic. I've read the books, spent hours online, and still this pup is a handful. The kids won't come down off the ceiling because she uses them as chew toys.
At least she's somewhat housetrained - I can count the number of potty accidents on one hand, with a few fingers left over. And she'll sleep in her crate at night. The rest of it, I suspect, is just normal puppy energy run amok. I'd forgotten how much attention a toddler needs - especially a toddler with razor-sharp incisors.
But she is awfully cute. I'll post the photos to prove it soon.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
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Puppy (and Kitty) Love
Jeanne is blogging about animals this week:
http://www.assertivepatient.com/2007/08/cancer-dog.html
This is a subject close to my heart, for a few reasons. First, my mom. She loved animals, but was extremely allergic, so she could never have pets. When she got pancreatic cancer, she used to come over to my house to cuddle with my cat, TK. She said TK was a "healing cat" and that she always made her feel better. Maybe it was the warmth of the cat on her poor battered body, or maybe it was just the comfort that comes from something furry purring in your lap.
When my mom died, TK started following me around, meowing at me. She's never been one of those dog-like cats, the kind that wants to be with people all the time. TK has always been content to be on her own. Not anymore. These days, I can expect TK to climb into bed with me in the morning, determined to snuggle under the covers with me. Whenever I sit still for more than 5 minutes, TK is there, ready to jump up on my lap. Maybe my mom was right. Maybe TK really is a healing cat. I have to admit, whenever I'm feeling down she makes me feel better too.
Another reason I have been thinking about the power of animals is that we're considering getting a puppy. My youngest son will be off to Kindergarten in a month, and I have to admit I'm afraid the house will be too quiet. It's not like we're lacking in energy around here with two little boys, but I think the time is right to add a puppy to the mix.
http://www.assertivepatient.com/2007/08/cancer-dog.html
This is a subject close to my heart, for a few reasons. First, my mom. She loved animals, but was extremely allergic, so she could never have pets. When she got pancreatic cancer, she used to come over to my house to cuddle with my cat, TK. She said TK was a "healing cat" and that she always made her feel better. Maybe it was the warmth of the cat on her poor battered body, or maybe it was just the comfort that comes from something furry purring in your lap.
When my mom died, TK started following me around, meowing at me. She's never been one of those dog-like cats, the kind that wants to be with people all the time. TK has always been content to be on her own. Not anymore. These days, I can expect TK to climb into bed with me in the morning, determined to snuggle under the covers with me. Whenever I sit still for more than 5 minutes, TK is there, ready to jump up on my lap. Maybe my mom was right. Maybe TK really is a healing cat. I have to admit, whenever I'm feeling down she makes me feel better too.
Another reason I have been thinking about the power of animals is that we're considering getting a puppy. My youngest son will be off to Kindergarten in a month, and I have to admit I'm afraid the house will be too quiet. It's not like we're lacking in energy around here with two little boys, but I think the time is right to add a puppy to the mix.
Winners and Losers
My husband was reading the newspaper the other day when he suddenly threw down the sports section in disgust. "Every other article in this section is about cheating, or drugs, or fraud," he said. "What's the point?"
He's right. It seems like the 'win at any cost' attitude of professional sports is taking its toll. These days, it's hard to tell what is real and what is illusion in sports. When I go see the Mariners play, am I watching the results of natural ability and hard work, or am I seeing a bunch of guys hopped up on goofballs?
I wonder what all of this is teaching kids about sports. We've had some struggles at our house. We're trying to teach our kids to be "good sports," about the importance of being part of a team, and that everyone has a contribution to make, even if he or she is not the best athlete on the team.
My older son has spent the summer on swim team. It's his first year, and he's been swimming a little bit faster each week. I thought he was doing well, that he understood he was really only competing with himself, until last week's championship meet. He was seeded with other swimmers that had similar times, so each heat was really close. In race after race, my son touched the wall last. He was devastated.
I tried to explain that his times were better than they'd ever been, but he was still upset that he didn't win a ribbon. He's come to expect a red or a blue ribbon at each swim meet. I understand that disappointment, but I wonder how to help him use that feeling in a positive way - to work a little harder.
My son is only 8; I don't think I need to worry about steroid use just yet. But I hope that I can teach him that winning at any cost isn't really winning at all.
He's right. It seems like the 'win at any cost' attitude of professional sports is taking its toll. These days, it's hard to tell what is real and what is illusion in sports. When I go see the Mariners play, am I watching the results of natural ability and hard work, or am I seeing a bunch of guys hopped up on goofballs?
I wonder what all of this is teaching kids about sports. We've had some struggles at our house. We're trying to teach our kids to be "good sports," about the importance of being part of a team, and that everyone has a contribution to make, even if he or she is not the best athlete on the team.
My older son has spent the summer on swim team. It's his first year, and he's been swimming a little bit faster each week. I thought he was doing well, that he understood he was really only competing with himself, until last week's championship meet. He was seeded with other swimmers that had similar times, so each heat was really close. In race after race, my son touched the wall last. He was devastated.
I tried to explain that his times were better than they'd ever been, but he was still upset that he didn't win a ribbon. He's come to expect a red or a blue ribbon at each swim meet. I understand that disappointment, but I wonder how to help him use that feeling in a positive way - to work a little harder.
My son is only 8; I don't think I need to worry about steroid use just yet. But I hope that I can teach him that winning at any cost isn't really winning at all.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Trip Report
As usual, I'm way behind. Behind on household stuff. Behind on my paying work. And behind on this, which was supposed to be a place for me to pile up my thoughts. Instead, they are piling up in my brain. As I may have mentioned, my brain is short on space these days, so it's time to empty out the drawers and dust the corners.
Our trip to Wyoming was a big success. We spent 3 days driving from Seattle to Jackson, 5 days in Jackson, then another 3 driving home (including 2 days at Yellowstone). My little monkeys were better than expected in the car, thanks to the occasional well-timed DVD, some books on tape, and a fresh collection of books from the library.
One highlight of this trip was seeing my kids take risks. Not the dangerous kind, mind you, but stretching themselves beyond their usual (narrow) comfort zones. We went whitewater rafting, and Jack actually sat right up in front of the boat with me, gleefully taking the drenching we got with every rapid. We went horseback riding, and they put Timothy right up on his own horse. He looked like a natural, sitting back in the saddle like a real cowboy.
I think it's easier to take risks like that when you're away from home. You're already away from your ordinary life. The expectations are different - if you have any at all.
In many ways this trip felt like the vacations we took when I was a kid. I remember riding from Virginia to Indiana (where my aunt had a house on Lake Michigan) in the back of our station wagon. My three brothers rode in the back seat; I got to share the "way back" with the dog and the suitcases. I could curl up back there with a book and before I knew it we'd be at our destination.
I'm encouraged to keep traveling with my kids, to keep giving them chances to stretch and grow.
That said, we had a lot of togetherness. It's good to be home where I can duck into my office and be alone for a bit!
Our trip to Wyoming was a big success. We spent 3 days driving from Seattle to Jackson, 5 days in Jackson, then another 3 driving home (including 2 days at Yellowstone). My little monkeys were better than expected in the car, thanks to the occasional well-timed DVD, some books on tape, and a fresh collection of books from the library.
One highlight of this trip was seeing my kids take risks. Not the dangerous kind, mind you, but stretching themselves beyond their usual (narrow) comfort zones. We went whitewater rafting, and Jack actually sat right up in front of the boat with me, gleefully taking the drenching we got with every rapid. We went horseback riding, and they put Timothy right up on his own horse. He looked like a natural, sitting back in the saddle like a real cowboy.
I think it's easier to take risks like that when you're away from home. You're already away from your ordinary life. The expectations are different - if you have any at all.
In many ways this trip felt like the vacations we took when I was a kid. I remember riding from Virginia to Indiana (where my aunt had a house on Lake Michigan) in the back of our station wagon. My three brothers rode in the back seat; I got to share the "way back" with the dog and the suitcases. I could curl up back there with a book and before I knew it we'd be at our destination.
I'm encouraged to keep traveling with my kids, to keep giving them chances to stretch and grow.
That said, we had a lot of togetherness. It's good to be home where I can duck into my office and be alone for a bit!
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