When I was cleaning the kitchen on Monday, I noticed three wishbones that we had saved from rotisserie chickens.
I decided that Jeff and I needed some luck and I figured that one of us would win each try and maybe get a little lift.
I was wrong. On our first attempt, Jeff and I each ended up with only a small part of the bone, no wish included.
We just looked at each other with our stubby wishbones.
They were symbolic of all our recent bad luck.
Friday, December 18, 2015
Thursday, December 17, 2015
TV's Fargo
Fargo is one of my favorite movies.
I was skeptical about about the TV series until I heard that the Coens were involved.We gave it a try, and I loved it. In the first season, I tried to match show characters to the film's. TV's Lester was the closest to the Jerry character in the film, but Lester was worse. He actually killed his first wife, and then allowed his second wife to be killed. At least Jerry "only" had his wife kidnapped.
At first, I thought Molly wasn't smart enough to stand in for Marge. But Marge was already a success when we see her in the film. In the show we watch Molly become an excellent police office
In the first season, Molly was awesome; so was her dad Lou. The acting was solid; the story intricate and compelling.
I've been obsessed with the second season. Lou is back as a younger state police officer. Molly is an young girl around six. The season's plot revolves around a local crime family's battle against the acquisition hungry Kansas City mob, a car accident and its aftermath, and the story of Lou and Molly's family.
The finale aired on Monday. For me, it was a slight letdown from the action-packed penultimate show. But that's what it was supposed to be--a denouement for the season. I need to re-watch it. I have mixed feelings about Lou and Peggy's conversation.
Overall, the second season was incredible. The story was fascinating--I couldn't wait until the next installment. The acting was incredible. There were so many layers. I'd like to re-watch it all.
I was skeptical about about the TV series until I heard that the Coens were involved.We gave it a try, and I loved it. In the first season, I tried to match show characters to the film's. TV's Lester was the closest to the Jerry character in the film, but Lester was worse. He actually killed his first wife, and then allowed his second wife to be killed. At least Jerry "only" had his wife kidnapped.
At first, I thought Molly wasn't smart enough to stand in for Marge. But Marge was already a success when we see her in the film. In the show we watch Molly become an excellent police office
In the first season, Molly was awesome; so was her dad Lou. The acting was solid; the story intricate and compelling.
I've been obsessed with the second season. Lou is back as a younger state police officer. Molly is an young girl around six. The season's plot revolves around a local crime family's battle against the acquisition hungry Kansas City mob, a car accident and its aftermath, and the story of Lou and Molly's family.
The finale aired on Monday. For me, it was a slight letdown from the action-packed penultimate show. But that's what it was supposed to be--a denouement for the season. I need to re-watch it. I have mixed feelings about Lou and Peggy's conversation.
Overall, the second season was incredible. The story was fascinating--I couldn't wait until the next installment. The acting was incredible. There were so many layers. I'd like to re-watch it all.
Sunday, December 13, 2015
The Stalking Black Cloud
It's been three weeks since my last post. I never intended to take such a long hiatus. I figured I'd write about getaway day, Thanksgiving, Black Friday and/or Jake-sitting.
Instead, I was too busy, too pre-occupied, ultimately too depressed. I don't want to list all the bad things, all the things that have gone wrong for me. I'll focus on two things.
The first is Spike. We've been managing the tumor on his heart for a year. But now the tumor's growing. Spike has nodules on his liver and a diseased gall bladder. He sleeps most of the day and hardly walks. He's become a finicky eater. The vet says he could have another two days, two weeks or two years. With all his health problems, the two years seems like a dream. He's on six different meds.We're very worried about him: glad that he's not in any kind of pain, but sad to see how tough daily activities are for him.
Here's the second bad thing. Last week I was leaving for a tutoring appointment. As I put on my raincoat, my wedding ring caught on something, hard enough to hurt my finger. When I looked at my left hand, the diamond from my engagement ring was gone. I only had a few minutes to search that day. I was literally heading out the door--no luck. Later searches also proved fruitless. I moved my hand across the surface of the rug, swept the hardwood with a tiny broom and pan, shined a flashlight in the dark to try to get a glint of diamond.
I began to feel that I was living under a black cloud. Later I wondered if the black cloud was actively stalking me. Things felt that bad.
Things are less bleak now. But the black cloud is hovering.
Instead, I was too busy, too pre-occupied, ultimately too depressed. I don't want to list all the bad things, all the things that have gone wrong for me. I'll focus on two things.
The first is Spike. We've been managing the tumor on his heart for a year. But now the tumor's growing. Spike has nodules on his liver and a diseased gall bladder. He sleeps most of the day and hardly walks. He's become a finicky eater. The vet says he could have another two days, two weeks or two years. With all his health problems, the two years seems like a dream. He's on six different meds.We're very worried about him: glad that he's not in any kind of pain, but sad to see how tough daily activities are for him.
Here's the second bad thing. Last week I was leaving for a tutoring appointment. As I put on my raincoat, my wedding ring caught on something, hard enough to hurt my finger. When I looked at my left hand, the diamond from my engagement ring was gone. I only had a few minutes to search that day. I was literally heading out the door--no luck. Later searches also proved fruitless. I moved my hand across the surface of the rug, swept the hardwood with a tiny broom and pan, shined a flashlight in the dark to try to get a glint of diamond.
I began to feel that I was living under a black cloud. Later I wondered if the black cloud was actively stalking me. Things felt that bad.
Things are less bleak now. But the black cloud is hovering.
Friday, November 20, 2015
Christmas Shopping and Holiday Angst
Thanksgiving is a week away, and we've been inundated with catalogs. I started Christmas shopping last week. I found a few things online and a few in catalogs.
Today I shopped in person. I stopped at the Stamford Home Goods. I love Home Goods--you never know what you may find. I found some ideas for Elaine's party (assuming she is having one--I haven't heard from her.) I picked up a few things for Jeff. (I can't list them because he's one of the few persons to read this blog.)
I then went to a tutoring session. On the way home, I went to an anniversary party at this store. It was literally on my way home. I did well, getting a belated birthday and a few Christmas gifts for family members.
I'm feeling ambivalent about the holidays. We have several family changes to deal with.
Spike is not as ill as he was last year--we worried about him surviving the holidays then. But now he is dealing with other problems.
I'm trying to get into some kind of holiday spirit, but it can be a challenge.
Today I shopped in person. I stopped at the Stamford Home Goods. I love Home Goods--you never know what you may find. I found some ideas for Elaine's party (assuming she is having one--I haven't heard from her.) I picked up a few things for Jeff. (I can't list them because he's one of the few persons to read this blog.)
I then went to a tutoring session. On the way home, I went to an anniversary party at this store. It was literally on my way home. I did well, getting a belated birthday and a few Christmas gifts for family members.
I'm feeling ambivalent about the holidays. We have several family changes to deal with.
Spike is not as ill as he was last year--we worried about him surviving the holidays then. But now he is dealing with other problems.
I'm trying to get into some kind of holiday spirit, but it can be a challenge.
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
A Trip to the Vet's
When I got home from the gym today, Jeff had noticed something off in Spike's right eye and made an appointment at the vet's.
Good thing; his eye needed antibiotics, and what we thought was a hot spot was much worse.
Our poor guy needed a shot for pain, antibiotics and eye drops.
Spike seemed better pretty quickly. Thank goodness, we got to the vet's today.
Good thing; his eye needed antibiotics, and what we thought was a hot spot was much worse.
Our poor guy needed a shot for pain, antibiotics and eye drops.
Spike seemed better pretty quickly. Thank goodness, we got to the vet's today.
Monday, November 16, 2015
Today's Afternoon at the Dog Park
Because of my general malaise and my discouraging post this morning, I decided I had to post something more positive.
Today was an unseasonably warm fall day--it reached 61 degrees. So we took Spike to the dog park. It wasn't as nice as the day before his birthday, but very pleasant. We timed our visit for the warmest part of the day: we saw Chance and Tipper, their humans Art and Kevin, and met some new dogs and people. We even met a Basenji named Zoe. We've only seen one or two Basenjis before. It's a rare event.
As usual, Spike was reluctant to get into the car. We told him he would be happy when we arrived at dog park. Art and Kevin greeted him, a few dogs sniffed, but mostly ignored him as he "chilled" as Art said.
This may be our last visit to the dog park in a long time. It's not good for Spike to go in the cold. I just hope we have a few more unseasonably warm visits this fall.
Today was an unseasonably warm fall day--it reached 61 degrees. So we took Spike to the dog park. It wasn't as nice as the day before his birthday, but very pleasant. We timed our visit for the warmest part of the day: we saw Chance and Tipper, their humans Art and Kevin, and met some new dogs and people. We even met a Basenji named Zoe. We've only seen one or two Basenjis before. It's a rare event.
As usual, Spike was reluctant to get into the car. We told him he would be happy when we arrived at dog park. Art and Kevin greeted him, a few dogs sniffed, but mostly ignored him as he "chilled" as Art said.
This may be our last visit to the dog park in a long time. It's not good for Spike to go in the cold. I just hope we have a few more unseasonably warm visits this fall.
Checking In
I've been feeling discouraged.
As if I'm treading water. I'm not drowning, but I'm still far from the shore and I'm getting tired.
It's the little things. I sweep or vacuum a floor and minutes later, dead leaves are scattered across it.
On the way to the dog park, a hose breaks in Jeff's car causing it to overheat. We have to leave his car at the shop and take a cab home. The hose breaks when the auto repair shop is busy, so the car remains there for days. The replacement hose isn't expensive, but the labor to install it is.
It's the bigger things. Spike's health remains a concern. We thought he had finally kicked pneumonia, but he stated huffing again.
The holidays are approaching, bringing about as much stress as good cheer.
How will I make it to shore?
As if I'm treading water. I'm not drowning, but I'm still far from the shore and I'm getting tired.
It's the little things. I sweep or vacuum a floor and minutes later, dead leaves are scattered across it.
On the way to the dog park, a hose breaks in Jeff's car causing it to overheat. We have to leave his car at the shop and take a cab home. The hose breaks when the auto repair shop is busy, so the car remains there for days. The replacement hose isn't expensive, but the labor to install it is.
It's the bigger things. Spike's health remains a concern. We thought he had finally kicked pneumonia, but he stated huffing again.
The holidays are approaching, bringing about as much stress as good cheer.
How will I make it to shore?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)