Trudy is All Grown Up

From the first day Trudy came home from the Humane Society we insisted on her being kennel trained. Not for long periods of time or while we are gone, but as a precaution while we are sleeping so that she didn't potty on the floor or chase the cat. Aside from the first night, she has never given us any trouble...until two nights ago when she decided she no longer wanted to sleep in the kennel. Hubby sent her to bed and she immediately jumped into Lily's bed, he told her again and she curled up on a blanket which had fallen on floor, he told her again and she ran back to Lily's bed again. At first I chalked it up to senility, I mean she is almost 10 years old but it became rapidly apparent that she understood, she just didn't agree.

So last night, Hubby removed the kennel from the bedroom and gave Trudy a bed of her own. I am happy to say she slept restfully and quietly all night with no incidents.

I am strangely melancholy that my "baby" has grown out of her "crib" and is now sleeping in a "big-girl-bed".

Good Veterinarians are Hard to Come By...

I am blessed to say that my animals, overall, are in very good health. However, Lily has developed a bump on her spine which is slightly concerning and should probably be biopsied. I called my veterinarian's office yesterday to make an appointment but was surprised to find that my vet, Dr. L, is no longer there and hasn't been for some time.

I have taken Piper to Dr. L since she was a tiny, baby kitten, Lily since she was born, and Trudy since we adopted her. For myself and my "kids" this is the only animal doctor we have ever known. After some internet investigation, I found his email address and dropped him a note last night. He graciously responded and said that he is opening his own practice very soon.

This all seems to be copacetic but Hubby and I have a differing opinion as to what to do next:

I would like to continue taking the animals to Dr. L at his new practice when it opens.
Hubby would like to switch vets because he has a feeling that something strange is going on.

Hubby's concern is valid, I will admit! First and foremost, this is probably the 5th or 6th time Dr. L has moved locations in the last 9 years. It is Hubby's stance that there may be an illicit or insidious reason why Dr. L cannot or does not stay at any one location for very long. Secondly, I may be going out on a limb here but, I also get the impression that Hubby gets a weird vibe from him.

I, on the other hand, don't get that same vibe and Dr. L has been nothing but wonderful to me and my pets. I am having a hard time with the idea of leaving him after so many years of outstanding service and compassion. He once talked on the phone with me for over an hour discussing Piper's health and future prognosis. He also personally calls me with test results and updates me on my animals instead of passing it off to a technician. From my perspective, he is just a great vet...however, I trust my hubby and his instincts...

So, my question for all of you out there is: what would you do? Would you continue to go to what appears to be an outstanding vet who has a shadow of doubt hanging over him? Or would you take the chance on a new vet??

My Spring Break List II

So, I thought it might be fun to reflect on my spring break list and see how much I actually accomplished:

1. Spend time with Hubby
Not as much as I had hoped but more than usual.

2. Play and beat Mass Effect I
Not yet, but I am so very, very close!

3. Transfer character from 1 to Mass Effect 2 and beat that game too!
Nope, haven't beat the first one yet.

4. Read Jerry Doyle's book, "Have You Seen My Country Lately?"
Negative, didn't get around to it because my professor assigned a different book to be read.

5. Sleep
Not as much as I had hoped but more than usual.

6. Clean out the garage and have a yard sale
Yes and Yes. A pretty successful yard sale, if I do say so myself. It was exhausting and I am relieved that it is over but I am glad that I had this experience and know what to do better in the future.

7. Deep clean the house and dogs/catch-up on laundry, dishes and vacuuming
Hubby deep cleaned the dogs (including haircuts), I caught up on laundry, dishes and vacuuming and than quickly fell behind again. Deep cleaning of the entire house did not get done, but my bathroom is immaculate!

8. Do a minimal amount of homework
I did more than I wanted but not enough to get me ahead.

9. Catch up on my favorite TV shows
Yes!

10. Rearrange the Sci-fi room
I didn't do this but hubby did while I was yard sale-ing. He turned the Sci-Fi room into a combination of collectibles and my new scrapbooking room! I cannot wait to organize!!!!!!

11. Learn to decoupage
I did not decoupage, but I did scrapbook for one entire day. My sister came over and we destroyed my living room with tiny scraps of paper, glue sticks, and stickers. It was fantastic!! Perhaps this is why hubby agreed to designate an entire room to this hobby?

I am actually pleasantly surprised that I accomplished as much as I did. It felt like a majority of my time was spent just preparing for and completing the yard sale. In addition to the above items, I also baked cookies and cooked new, delicious dinners for hubby regularly. All in all I feel like spring break was a success, I just wish it was longer.

UA and Tuition SUCKS!

Fall 08 & Spring 09 $2850.00 -- $5700 per year

Fall 09 & Spring 10 $3450.00 -- $6900 per year

Fall 10 & Spring 11 $4130.00 -- $8260 per year

Are you kidding? I feel like puking!
I can assure you that the quality of my education does not correlate with the drastic increase in tuition. If anything the programs, services, and other perks have been cut. The depth of my frustration and anger cannot be adequately conveyed at this moment. It makes no sense to me how the Arizona Board of Regents is intent on balancing their checkbook on the backs of the students. How about starting to cut some money/jobs/bonuses from the top?

My Spring Break List

Yippee!! Spring break is here and not a moment too soon. In honor of spring break, I have created a small list of my hopes and desires for the next 10 days.

1. Spend time with Hubby
2. Play and beat Mass Effect I
3. Transfer character from 1 to Mass Effect 2 and beat that game too!
4. Read Jerry Doyle's book, "Have You Seen My Country Lately?"
5. Sleep
6. Clean out the garage and have a yard sale
7. Deep clean the house and dogs/catch-up on laundry, dishes and vacuuming
8. Do a minimal amount of homework
9. Catch up on my favorite TV shows
10. Rearrange the Sci-fi room
11. Learn to decoupage

Perhaps this is a little ambitious but I can't wait to start!!

Reid Park Zoo, Again...

In my biological anthropology class we are learning how to study primates. In order to get hands-on experience, we were sent to the local zoo to observe either the macaques, the mandrills, or the gibbons. My friend and lab partner, Jenna, and I chose the gibbons and had a glorious time running around the zoo like little kids with expensive cameras. Below are just a few pics we shot while there!
Today my professor asked if any of us would be interesting in volunteering to design some new signage for the zoo since they are sorely lacking in relevant and current educational materials. I am seriously considering it! Our zoo looks more like a rest home for unwanted animals instead of the sanctuary and educational haven that it should be. To be a part of that change sounds very rewarding...