HAPPY ANNIVERSARY.....

Today was my 30th wedding anniversary!! That's an amazing accomplishment nowadays. I can't say it's been all moonlight and roses, but pretty damn close. It was Pouring, and I mean POURING rain that day~ I've heard rain on your wedding day is supposed to be good luck- maybe that's true.....

Speaking of roses, I got a dozen, yellow ones (OF COURSE, they are my favorite), and the most BEAUTIFUL, funky necklace ever. I love it. I have to say, seriously, my husband is a kick ass gift giver. Honestly. I'd say he's pretty much 'on' 98% of the time...okay, the stay puff marshmallow man outfit was a clunker, but, this one for sure was a major winner!!

We had a lovely weekend, starting on Friday night, with some friends hearing a great band, followed by two days on the boat at the air and water show (I will post pictures from that soon) and a delish dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in the area. So all in all- I have to say- thanks Mark- hope the next 30 are are even better ~ I love you!

QUICKY POST.....

BUSY, BUSY BUSY week. Appointments, engagements, and typical around the house drudgery. But, it's the weekend, and Monday is our 30th Anniversary. Wow, that's a long time.

Today we hit the lake~ it's the Wild and Wet Weekend in Chicago... here are the products of the last 30 years ~ Jessica

Scarlett

Corbin

They are beauties... but then you know what my mom says... 'Beauty is as beauty does'... so, yeah, they are beauties..MOST of the time!

more later, when I have time~

CLEMMIE UPDATE...

A quick update for my psycho girl... she's doing great!! The steroids are taking care of the problem and the vet was DELIGHTED with the outcome. As a matter of fact, she said, she couldn't have 'hoped for a better outcome'. So, here she is, with Millie, in a comfy relaxed state. Check out the crossed feet- cracks me up

For those of you non pet lovers...get over it...and try it- you'll like it!! Really.

MY JOB????

NOT.

I am jobless. Like a zillion other people. Only, it's by choice...sorta.

My job was perfect. I job shared my job as a teacher's aide, in the grade school about 2 blocks from my house. I really loved my job. It was perfect. I worked two days a week, just enough to make me have a purpose, but not so much that I had no time for creative endeavors, or travel.

Well, in the last 3 or so years, I've had to re-convince the ever changing 'powers that be' how 'modern' and 'sensible' job sharing is. This year, my convincing was for naught. There was no 'position' that would support job sharing, so my counterpart and I were offered part time positions, opposite each other. That's just NOT going to work. Apparently, the children who require a one on one aide only ever encounter one person in their lives, so there is no way it could POSSIBLY work to have two assigned to the same kid. Right.

I resigned. I'm done fighting. They won. Not really, because they will realize all the extra things I did. The ~ hey, will you cover this? can you sub here? Could you write this? Not to mention all the free artwork and other crap they got out of me, and be sorry. Won't they? Well, they SHOULD....

I'm really not too upset about it, a little bummed, but maybe it was time. I did toy with the idea of resigning last spring, but honestly felt like I needed something to do. I am hoping to sub, I know there are at least 3 or 4 teachers who have and will request me. With that said, I will get to see my fave kiddies, and friends. And on the upside, I can travel whenever I like, sleep 'til noon if I want, stay in my pajamas on really cruddy days, play at whatever arty thing that peaks my interest, be a 'lady who lunches' you know, all those things that seem like perfect ideas whenever you are at work.

So, I'm planning a couple trips this fall for starters. And, am really kind of relieved that I don't have to start school in less than two weeks. So there.

FAMILY REUNION AND OTHER MUSINGS......

First up, a Clemmie update. We were gone over the weekend, came home to a skinny bellied dog!! After 2 1/2 days of steroids she seems to be herself! I am cautiously optimistic, and delighted.

On to the weekend...

We had a family reunion for my husbands mother's side of the family. Sadly, she is dead, but her family remembered her fondly and partied it up in Gunderson Fashion!!



We gathered at my husband's cousin's house. They have a large (very large) yard and a pool area to die for. BIG L shaped pool with an outside bar area, shuffleboard court (is it a court?) and bags area. Let the fun begin.





All three of our kids came and got to re-meet some of their Aunts, Uncles and cousins. We all 'teamed' up and played in bags and shuffleboard tournaments, as well as swam, ate and drank! Who knew that my girls and their dad were shuffleboard experts? Is there money in this? They need to join the circuit!! After many elimination rounds, it was down to Jessica and Blain pitted against Scarlett and Mark. Scarlett and Mark came out on top ~ this mom was routing for everyone, and feeling everyone's pain!



Corbin, who burns the candle at both ends, felt the need for a little sleep, and settled in with a little friend. His cousin and sisters took care of that; no rest for the wicked!

It was a great time, with a lot of great people.




Sunday was a day for the boat. After we left the reunion Mark and I headed to the boat. I guess the kids had had enough of 'togetherness' as they opted not to join us. It was a beautiful day...

QUICK UPDATE FOR CLEMMIE....

I spoke with the vet for the next step with Clemmie's 'situation'. And let me just say, I LOVE this vet... and after talking we've decided to give the steroids a try and forgo the biopsy and all unpleasantries. If by chance her PLE is caused by irritable bowel syndrome, the steroids will help it. If it's caused by the other option which I can neither say or spell, nothing will help.

She continues to be her little neurotic self... eating, running around, barking, and you'd never guess anything way wrong. So at this point lets pray it's IBS and the steroid can kick it.

woof woof...

CLEMENTINE.....

Clementine is one of my dogs. A retired puppy mill breeder, who came to live with me about 5 years ago. Until she came here, her life was a living hell. But, she's been living large here! She is a sweet, tiny, neurotic Yorkie who HATES men. This can pose problems, as my husband, and son are both men. But, we are working on it.

Anyway..... she is skinny, when she arrived she was emaciated, and has always been wild for food ~ of any kind. Last week I noticed her belly seemed fat. At first I assumed she had eaten a lot; it didn't go away. As the week wore on, it stayed full, almost swollen.

The dogs went to Donna, the groomer on Thursday. We've had this groomer forever. She has always been the 'family' groomer. She is a dog breeder, and really knows dogs, so I asked her opinion of the chubby belly. She was pensive. Unfortunately when she returned the dogs later, I understood why.

She said, 'I'm no vet, but I think this is whats wrong with Clemmie', and handed me a post-it. PLE Protein Losing Entreopathy. A big name for a NOT good disease. We discussed it, after she left, I had a melt down, that my poor friend Barb had to deal with~ (thanks Barb).

Friday morning I took her to the seriously,fancy schmancy vet clinic in Aurora, and saw the nicest Vet. She ran some tests (Mark's going to kill me when he sees what they cost) and confirmed my fears. Donna was right. It's not a good thing. Sadly, it will kill her.

Choices.

Shall I put her through the diagnostic testing to see just what the deal is? Testing including a bowel biopsy? Shall I let it rest and let nature take it's course? Shall I put her to sleep? I HATE PLAYING GOD.

Tuesday, I will talk to the Vet and see what our time-frame is. I can't say I feel it's fair to put a 10yr. old dog through a surgical procedure to see whether or not steroids are an option for buying time. I'm going to lobby for trying the steroids with out any surgery.

This has been one sucky week. My job is not working out for me, so decisions are needed there and my poor little dog is sick and I've had a stomach ache.

Oh, and I have houseguests. They are wonderful people ~ but ~ have I ever mentioned I HATE HOUSEGUESTS????

Seriously, is it any wonder I have stomach problems?