Catching up

Well, it has been awhile (I think I always start my blogs out like that ) but I needed a break from putting my scrapbook projects together (sorry can't disclose the details about it right now). I just finished up my second week of vacation.

On Thursday, I went to a new doctor for a physical and to write some prescriptions for me (of which I already had my NJ doc mail over my medical records). I am sitting on the lovely tissue paper covered exam table when the nurse informs me, the doc won't write my prescriptions b/c he doesn't believe in them. Annoyed, my first thought was "only in Oklahoma", I said there was no point in me being here. Well she talked to another doc in the practice who will write those prescriptions and just happen to have an opening since he was only there for 1/2 a day. So I wait some more and get to see him. In talking I show him my mole on my tummy which had mutated into a 3-D, multi-color, glob (quite unsightly). The coversation went as follows:
Doc: Let's take it off
Me: Today? Here? (with panic in my voice, trying to construct a quick excuse in my head for I am NOT a good patient).
Doc: Sure'
Me: Are you sure? (yes, I know, I need to work on my quick witty answers)
Doc: Sure, why not?
And so I was led off, had the area numbed, and biosied, with 2 stiches to show for it. I told the doc I didn't need to come back to have them taken out...since i have suture scissors at home. But at least he wrote my prescriptions.

Yesterday, Nathan and I took Mason swimming at a rather large man-made ditch up the road. I was hoping to give Mason some theraputic exercise since he can't walk very far anymore. We tried to get him to fetch the sticks but he would go after them and only bring them back half way. At the very end he remembered how to play fetch and would bring the stick back on shore. It is sad to see him get old. I asked my professor once, when do you know it is time. His reply was, think of 3 things your dog loves to do and when he can't do it any longer without showing alot of pain or is no longer interested, then it is time. At least Mason still has great yearnings for his stuff animals and to be petted.

Oscar misses having Anya to play with and his toad seem to have disappeared while on vacation, so he has taken a great attachment to my chest and for 3-4 days after we got back from vacation he was pretty much attached to me. But he still has mini-duck butt. Which brings up a rather unusual situation. He carries around mini-duck butt by the scruff and talked to it. At night (and I mean everynight) he puts duck butt in the water bowl. Now is he trying to bathe it or drown it?

Over vacation, I have been trying to catch up with my books on CD. Here are my synopsis:

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (I actually read this while in Duluth): I enjoyed the alteration of Harry's attitude from angry adolescent to determined and at times horny teen. I think the whole love triangle b/w Ron and Herononie and the others was a bit over done but I guess that is the way it is with most teenagers. But the true question is: Is Snape really evil? Nathan seems to think Snape is really on the side of the Order and had previously worked out with Dumbledore to kill him it the situation arose. I think this makes more and more sense to me, but I will have to wait another 2 years for the answer.

Hiliary Clinton's Living History: Well written and appeared sincere. I still believe Hilary is a brillant, determined, woman who only seems to become stronger with each struggle she has faced in the public eye. I hope that she choses to run in 2008 for president, b/c if any woman had a chance at being elected to office, it would be her.

The Best American Non-Required Reading: A strange set of essays. I really didn't care for most of them. I did like Stuff and Saint Chola. Stuff talked about material belongings from the point of view of a young homeless addict girl/woman. It really makes you think about the things that hold you down and in some cases define who you are. Saint Chola was about a Muslim girl who became of age in today's age in a US jr high school and the strength she found within herself to be proud of her culture and where she came from.

An Unfinshed Life: A story mainly about a young 10 year old girl who has spent her life drifting from one abusive home to another with her mom, only to finally land back with her paternal grandfather who hates his daughter-in-law who was driving the night her husband (his son) died in a drunken car crash. It started off slow and took awhile to get a hold of all the characters but picked up in the middle when the two families back back together. Again, alot of themes about "stuff" and the material things that follow us around but also the search to find a "home" with people you love. A sweet, almost Oprah-ist like book.

The Great Fire: I think I am going to stop listening to this book. There really is no plot line and it is really hard to keep track of all the characters. The transitions from memories to present day is very weak and hard to follow. However, the time period is very interesting (which is why I rented the book in the first place). It takes place in post-war Hiroshima, Japan.

Next: Life of Pi.

Ok that is it for now.

Duluth Day 1

Well, it has been a very long time since I have updated my blog. It has been a very busy 3 weeks on equine medicine, have of that rotation i couldn't sleep b/c I kept having dreams I was a persistant carrier of Salmonella (which of course isn't true).

But now I am relaxing in Duluth, MN with the Pitel side of the family. We are staying at a warehouse that was converted into suites. I think our room has more square footage then our duplux. It has 3 bedrooms, a full kitchen, dining room, jacuzzi and a sauna!

This morning we walked along the water and watched the ships come in. Adam got yelled at over the loud speaker by the bridgeguard for sitting on the Coast Guard ship. We then sat by the rocks in which I made a feble attempt at skipping rocks.

For lunch we went to Grandma's (which use to be a brothel for lonely sailors back in the days). After lunch we went to the Great Lakes Aquarium. It wasn't quite an aquarium but Nathan and I had a ton of fun playing with the water exhibit of the great lakes and how they are connected with canals. After the aquarium, we came back to the room for some R and R. Nathan, Adam, and I went down for appetizers where Adam got a beer without an id. Anyway, that is our day thus far.