Friday, April 29, 2016

Let's Go Mets!

Part of me is hesitant to start this post--the superstitious baseball part, that is. Since I started the first line, the Mets have scored two runs with nobody out. Maybe I can relax.

The Mets got off to a slow start, but have now won six in a row, nine of their last 10 games, and pulled within a half game of the Nationals.

As I paused in writing this post to watch the game, the Mets have scored the most runs in an inning in their 54 year history with 12.

Mets are up 12-0 at the end of the third. The highlight: a grand slam from Yoenis Cespedes--he drove in six runs that inning.

This team is for real.


Lola Emerges!

Last evening Lola emerged from her refuge on her own. She explored our bedroom and settled on her bed there. I took this photo today when she was resting on her bed.


We're so happy and proud of her for exploring her new home. We promise that we'll give her a happy life.

Here are some photos from last weekend: 




Tuesday, April 26, 2016

The Thunderstorm

Around 3:30 this morning a thunderstorm woke us up.

It woke Lola too and drove her out of her refuge and into our bedroom. Then she quickly returned to her safe zone. We went into the dining area and sat next to her for the next half hour through thunder and lightning. She came out periodically so we could pet her.

We're sorry she was so frightened, but we're happy that she knew we're there for her.

A Historic Vote

I voted today in Connecticut's presidential primary. There wasn't much of a crowd at my polling place around 10 AM, although Connecticut expected a large turnout.

I'm pretty conscientious about voting--it's a right that too many take for granted--it's also a responsibility.

As I left the polling place, I realized that this was the first time I voted for a woman for president. It was a nice feeling. 


Monday, April 25, 2016

Lola's Refuge


This is where Lola's been hanging since Friday afternoon when we brought her home. Obviously this is her safe zone.

We talk to her, occasionally reach in to pet her, but for the most part leave her be, until we have to take her outside.

Sometimes she's comfortable in our side yard--on Sunday afternoon we sat outside for about 1.5 hours. Other times minor noises freak her out-- yesterday morning someone closed a door (not even a slam) and she had to come back inside. We are honoring her feelings and trying our best to be patient. 

She's eating well and seems to be adjusting slowly. We just have to make her feel safe and secure by loving her.

Friday, April 22, 2016

Welcome Lola!

Today we brought Lola to her new home. She had been living at Danbury Animal Welfare Society. Lola spent most of the day under our drop-leaf table or a chair.

We knew she was shy. When we met her last week, she immediately ran under a chair in the cubicle at the shelter. I asked if it would help if we brought another dog out to join us. Instead we went outside where Lola seemed like a different dog. She still wasn't really interacting with us, but she was much more relaxed.

We met another beagle mix that day--Daphne, an eight month puppy. Daphne was friendlier and livelier. She jumped up on us, let us rub her tummy. As we submitted our application, we weren't sure whether to select Lola or Daphne. We had to pick one; I thought that Lola needed us more. We did have the option to switch to Daphne. We thought we'd be happy with either.

After some discussions, we decided to stick with Lola. It's been a confusing day for her, a bit frightening too. Earlier tonight she met one of the other dogs in the building and seemed to relax a bit. We just have to be patient and love her.

Closet Cleaning Contemplation

Closet cleaning is always on my rotating to-do list. Of course, that doesn't mean it will get done in a timely manner. It may have been four years since I've done a thorough cleaning, removing everything from our largest closet, and working from there.

I emptied the closet and then figured what things to put back and where to put them. I was surprised at some of the things I found. Why did we have so many plastic and paper bags?  I like to reuse and recycle, but damn--there were just too many--so I tossed a bunch. I wonder why we saved too many to use.

Onto clothes: we bagged a few jackets and a vest for Goodwill. I added some planters and we have some glassware from my recent kitchen reorganization.

Living in a relatively small space has helped me with purging possessions. I remember going through boxes in my parents attic and finding real estate magazines. I didn't understand why I kept them, other than that I had space. Not a good idea.

I'm better at purging than Jeff. His philosophy is if we have room, keep things. I think more about what don't we need. I still have to confess that I regret getting rid of some of my books.

I've heard about (but haven't read) The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. It sounds too extreme for me. But it did encourage me to get rid of a few things.

For now, we've gotten rid of enough. Let's relax. 

Friday, April 15, 2016

Transitions

The Mets were the subject of my last optimistic post. Watching the Mets since then has not made me feel optimistic. They kept losing and losing badly, until they finally eked out a win Wednesday afternoon. If Mets wins correlated to my posts, I'd post every game day. If only. Mets fans are always waiting for the other shoe to drop...ominously.

We had a mild winter, but a cold spring with at least three snow events, two in April. It's been weird. I think we can finally relax into spring.

Jeff just finished a two-to-four week project that lasted eight weeks. He's happy that he doesn't have to commute to lower Manhattan anymore.

I have three students on hiatus. Unless I get some new students (please) I'll be off for another week or so. This is unusual at this time of year. I tell myself not to worry, new students will come, but it's hard.

Where do we go from here? This is what I have to figure out. 

Friday, April 8, 2016

Mets Home Opener--Looking Good

I've been to at least two Mets Opening Days--most memorably 15 years ago. We watched Ralph Kiner raise the National League pennant. Today Rusty Staub, Edgardo Alfonzo and John Franco did the honors. It would have been nice to be there. Instead I watched at home--at least it was warm.

The Mets won 7-2--a good start to the homestand.

The Mets opened the season Sunday night in Kansas City. I hate Sunday night games--they start too late. We avoided watching the Royals raise the World Series flag--unfortunately the Mets could not. I didn't enjoy watching the Royals take the lead early and hold it. This sums it up well.

The Mets are back to their winning ways and they're at home. Let's go Mets!

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Mets Win!

Today was the Mets' first win of 2016.

Despite many successful opening days, the Mets battled back but fell short in Game One. It was the first time that World Series contenders met each other in the first game of the following season.

Today in Game Two the Mets prevailed.

I admit that I got a little nervous when Mets starter Noah Syndergaard gave up a lead-off triple. But then he struck out the side. He responded in a similar manner whenever challenged throughout the game.

Let's go Mets!

Happy Birthday Bette!

At several times when I noticed today's date, I asked myself what it meant to me.

Later I learned from a Facebook group that Jeff checked that it's Bette Davis' birthday. How could I have forgotten?

Bette Davis has been my favorite actress for something like 40 years. I don't remember when I first discovered her. I do remember that my mother let me stay home from school one day to watch "The Letter." No one would need to that today. It only worked then because I was a good student. Plus I wasn't asking to cut for random movies.

In college I met Beth who was also a Bette fan. She helped me appreciate Bette even more.

Happy Birthday Bette. You are awesome.

Sunday, April 3, 2016

Opening Night (Day)

There were two Opening Day games in baseball today. I missed both because I had one class and two tutoring sessions. But the evening marquee match-up is the Mets at the Royals. This is the first time an opening day game featured the two teams who played in the previous World Series.

This is one reason I love baseball: the statistics.

When the Mets were down 0-1, one of ESPN's announcers, Aaron Boone, said something like if the Mets score, they can be right back in it. Like 0-1 is out of it? I may be prejudiced towards the Mets, but I'm not an ESPN announcer. Most of Aaron's statements indicate he favors the Royals.

Let it go, Lynne. Aaron Boone is only memorable for a freak home run.

Let's go Mets!