Teri Parris Ford's Blog

My furry faced son

Balt turns 12 on Saturday. He's still adorable but has become a bit more annoying. He has a pretty short notice on when he has to poop so if you don't attend to his bark pretty quick, there is a mess to clean up. When I'm JIm's house (where there's carpet), I am very attentive and I take him for more walks. Luckily, during the work days in Madison, Monika is around to let him out but that doesn't mean we don't see accidents. He's no longer allowed in bed with me. It only took waking up to poop in my bed twice to ban him. He no longer can climb the hard wood stairs without help and he's fallen down the stairs several times. Because of his arthritis, he often loses his footing, especially on hardwood floors. He often barks for dinner right after eating dinner. I wonder if he's just forgotten he ate. He still wakes me up every morning by 5am for breakfast and then sits outside to enjoy the morning, even if it is dark outside. I often wonder what life will be like when he's gone... I'll miss him so much, but I'm looking forward to sleeping in someday.

The Day After Christmas

On Sunday, shortly after arriving at Jessi's, Balt tripped on the stairs of Jessi's apartment. I noticed his toe was bleeding, and his nail looked crooked but it was fully in tact. On Monday morning I called his vet to get some advise on what to do. They said that if the nail broke and became detached, I should see a vet but it was fine at that time. While at the beach on Christmas eve Balt enjoyed a nice walk in the sand without any limp and seemed like all was well. On Christmas morning we woke to find the nail fully sideways on his foot but still attached. If we touched him, he yelped. The quick was fully exposed and bloody. He needed a vet but it was Christmas day so yeah, it had to wait until today. Cody's grandmother gave me the number to her vet and I made an appointment first thing this morning, 7:50am. Balt needed to be sedated inorder to have the nail completely cut down so that it would grow back normally. The whole process took 3 hours and $175. I picked him up groggy but hardly limping at all.

Monika and I decided to drive to Austin, TX. I had never been and Cody's uncle needed a ride so we took him. The traffic was awful. The day was wet and at time pouring. Monika found a LaQuinta across the street from the capitol. We checked in around 3pm, giving us time to freshen up before exploring the capitol and some of the downtown. We got a 5 mile walk in and a vegetarian dinner. I'm very happy to report I'm sleeping in a very comfortable bed tonight!

Better

Today was a great work day. My 7th hour kids wore their shirts (most of them) and we took some photos. We got proofs in and they were all so excited to see their work in print. It is really fun for me to see their enthusiasm.

Balt had a tough night and ended up sleeping on the hard wood floor rather than my bed. He was still in a lot of pain when I got up at 5am. I gave him his meds  but he couldn't go for a walk to pee or poo. I can't stand to see him so uncomfortable. I left for work not knowing how he'd be today but Erika came home and gave him more pain medication and took him for a short walk where he was able to get his business done finally. By the time I got home from work he was so much better. I worked out at Anytime Fitness but didn't do yoga. I watched Survivor and went to bed early.

Balt Update

While I was telling my 2nd hour class about my Balt drama someone called to tell me they had Balt. I had put an ad in Craigslist (as well as called the police, and local vets). We made arrangements to meet at lunch the guy who picked up Balt at a gas station. I offered thank you money but the guy wouldn't take it. Balt is acting kind of funny. He's not really happy to be home, that's for sure. I'm not sure what's going on. I think he actually got lost, or disorientated. This guy told me he found him on Gammon Road walking towards the freeway. He locked him in a dumpster while he unloaded his car to go back to get him and had to force him in his car. Balt spent the night at the guy's girl friend's house because he had dogs that were not friendly.  He told me Balt was a ball of love the whole time but would not get into his car. He was surprised to see how easily Balt got into my big truck. Anyway, the drama is over and now I have to deal with aftermath of never being able to let Balt go out on his own, especially at night. 

Balt Drama Again

He woke me up to poop urgently last night at 1:20am. It had snowed about 2 inches and was about 25 degrees. I let him out hoping he'd come right back. At 1:40am I put on my boots and coat to look for him. There were footprints in the snow in my driveway of a person with dog prints. I found his poop and lots of dog prints but the boot prints come from nowhere and go across the street around the corner. He's gone again and I can only hope someone took him & will take him to the Humane Society. I looked around until 3am and then camped out in the living room hoping he'd return somehow. I'm weepy, feeling stupid for letting him out without tags. They were lost while I was in Cambodia and I have new ones on order but he's only got his collar, no ID. I've left messages on a neighborhood ap and with the Humane Society but am too embarrassed to post anything on Facebook. I have so much to do today but this will weigh heavy on me until I find him. I keep hearing Nancy Kerrigan yell, "WHY!?" in my brain. That's exactly how I feel.

Extractions

I could not feed Balt this morning due to his morning surgery to have a cracked tooth removed. I thought he would put me through hell, but he was surprisingly compliant. He gave me a big, sad, puppy eye but gave in and enjoyed our morning walk as if he had had breakfast. I dropped him off at 7:30am and called during my lunch to check on him. They told me he had to have 5 teeth removed, luckily they only charged me for 4... $453 for a teeth cleaning, 4 extractions, pain killers and a vaccine. Ouch!!

I picked him up after my staff meeting, which included a union meeting after. He was pretty out of it and not even interested in dinner. I was told to make sure he drank but he wasn't interested in anything but sleeping. I decided to skip yoga so that I could keep an eye on him. I was told to make sure he didn't chew on anything and to call if he started vomiting or drooling. So far, he's my excuse to go to bed early!

Balt is 49 in dog years!

At some point this next year, Balt will become older than me! It is hard for me to believe but as I see the continuing grey gather around his muzzle, I know it's true. He's survived cancer and in order to schedule a tooth extraction this week, we had a blood work up done and he continues to be cancer free. We certainly are lucky to have him in our lives!

While lots of folks in America were enjoying an extra hour of sleep, my animals woke me up at 4am. I got up and started organizing my week. By 7am, we were out running errands. I purchased paint finally and started prepping to paint. I went to yoga, had lunch with Erika and then got to work. I'm going to need to do at least another coat, most likely two more to get a true color without the blotches of my previous yellow with orange rag-roll. I decided to go with a very light blue eggshell ceiling and top edge with a semi-gloss true orange for the walls. I wanted warmth and boy, I got it. I'm wondering if I should lighted it up with a glazing effect? The cabinets will be lighter, so that should help.

Appointment

I noticed Balt had a small rash back in August when we were in California. I thought it may have been from the heat or the swimming pool. It seemed to heal but then I noticed another rash under a different arm, after I gave him a bath last week. Then last night I inspected to see if it was getting better only to find the one he had originally was still there and there were several patches of flakey, inflamed skin around both upper legs, mostly under his pits. I was hoping it was not ringworm or anything gross. It ended up being a skin infection, most likely from his swimming in my mom's pool and then being out in the heat and his pits not drying completely before jumping in the pool again-- rinse and repeat. The vet also found a cracked tooth that most likely happened over the summer as well- as it was in bad shape and would most likely shatter when extracted. $130 later we were home with meds for the infection, blood work had been drawn and an appointment for a tooth extraction has been made. Pets are expensive. The surgery is going be double what I paid today, I bet! But he's worth every penny. The good news is he lost nearly 10 pounds since his last appointment! He still needs to toss another 5 to be optimal. We can share our goals while we walk together!

My Tuesday was pretty nice. Balt and I went for a morning walk with light rain. It was very chilly- a high of 45. I came home for lunch to have left overs and after Balt's vet appointment, I went to hot yoga and warmed up wonderfully. I finished the night with an episode of This Is Us.

BALT IS IN JAIL!!

I am so sad and yes, I'm very mad at myself. I have procrastinated getting new tags for him and now I'm kicking myself. Balt loves to wander down to Rosati's because Erika used to work there, I'm sure someone there feeds him and they all know him there and typically call me when goes there. The kids at Subway grabbed him (Subway is the first store on the little strip mall at the end of my block) and they called the Human Society to save him. While Subway is less than a block away from my condo, the kids at Subway did not know he lived so close since he did not have a tag and did not want him getting in the parking lot. I noticed Balt was gone at 4:45pm when he did not come in to ask for dinner and started looking for him around our neighborhood. I had seen him last in the garage around 3:30. Yes, the garage door was open and I know he likes to wander. I will need to start chaining him up. The Humane Society picked him up at 4:40pm. I ran down there around 5:30pm in bumper to bumper traffic but they are closed on Wednesdays. I banged on windows and doors until someone came to talk to me-- a vet in scrubs. I was told he was probably in the building but would need to be processed in the morning and I would need to pick him up after noon when they open. I'm hoping I get a call in the morning to re-assure me that he is indeed there. I'm guessing this is all more upsetting for me than for him but I don't know!? This is all so upsetting for me!

California living

It's hot. Balt got me up at 3am, 5am Wisconsin time to eat and go for a walk. I went downstairs and put him off until 5:30 and then we walked to Starbucks for an iced latte. My mom had a nice list of errands to run including unloading a buch of stuff for the Salvation Army. We got out early to beat the heat. We had cauliflower for lunch and I made a quinoa salad for dinner. Balt and I lounged around by the pool and enjoyed a late afternoon nap. I'm trying to keep Balt's hair loss under control but it's hard. It's every where and my mom wants me to net it off the pool surface before it sinks into hair balls at the bottom of the pool, so there's always something to do!!

Those boots are made for walkin'...

I pulled out a box of purple rubber doggie boots I had purchased late last winter to finally try on this morning. He let me put them on without much fuss and before he could complain, I opened the door and let him out. He pranced about wondering if he liked them but was finally distracted enough with just being outside. As we began to walk, I got a sense he realized that he could enjoy the cold without pain on his feet. We ended up walking extra this morning because he had missed so many days from the cold. I thought for sure his nails would rip through but we made it home through the ice and salt without a tear. I've got a box of 24, so these will last a while.

My day was pretty nice. I had hot chocolate for my classes and played Christmas music in class. At lunch I came home hoping to connect with the girls but they had gone out to brunch and were out with friends. I made my own lunch and cleaned up. After school I came home and made dinner for Jessi and her friend, Lauren and then made cookies for desert. Jessi and I then went to the Girls basketball game. I did not realize that it was a alumni night, but Jessi knew. There were lots of girls from years past to celebrate playing basketball. It was really fun to see so many faces from the past! 

Check up

Today I had my student teacher presenting in all of my classes and I presented new projects in two classes. In my yearbook classes there is a bit of a frenzy to finish up pages for our Tuesday deadline. After school I rushed out to pick up Balt from home and take him to the vet. He has a fatty lump in his art pit that I was told is pretty normal and not in a place that would be easy to remove. She poked it and pulled out a clear oily liquid and measured it. For now we just keep an eye on it. I thought maybe it was the cause of the periodic limp he had and instead I was told he might have joint pain in his elbows from arthritis. I was given some pain medication and told to help him lose some weight!! Of course! It seems all the ails anyone seems to be cured by simply losing weight. After the vet we ran out to Trader Joe's for a bit of grocery shopping so that I would not have to go tomorrow. I stopped off at the dog park on the way home and it started snowing. Balt and I got home and made a big fire and sat on the couch to enjoy our Friday evening. I am so glad it's the weekend!!

The Limp

Out of nowhere, Balt woke up with a limp. It was not bad, but he would not go for a very long walk this morning (it was 42 degrees). I still took him for a tiny walk. After my Advisory (see below) Monday flew by, I stayed late after school with the Art Dept going over ideas on how to get classes back up next year. We picked classes to teach next year, and I have to decide whether I'll take a study hall next year or not. It's nice to have a choice, but my choice will directly effect Joe, which makes it a bit more complicated. So when I got home it was 60 something degrees and I was so excited to get outside but when I let Balt out, his limp was so much worse, he could hardly walk. I called his vet and they told to me to check his nails to make sure none of them were cracked. I was told I could give him an aspirin tonight but if it didn't get better tomorrow, I should take him in. How does a dog just wake up with a limp?  I decided to run some errands so at least he could get a ride in. I got gas and went to Costco. I should have gone to yoga, but decided to be lazy. I made some leftovers and watched the Voice.

Parent Teacher Conferences

For two days this month I have to be at school all day, 8am to 8pm, but we get comped the day before Thanksgiving for the extra time, so it's worth it! I started my morning with a T25 workout and then taking Balt to daycare. It rained all night, but today wasn't too wet. I ran out for lunch and got sandwiches for my editors and Joe's birthday. During my prep I set up a hot water carafe for parents coming in after school. I got a break at 5pm to run to daycare and pick up Balt. They celebrated his birthday this week because they forgot to last week. It is a super cute activity but I have to be honest, I was a little miffed that they forgot his birthday last week! Oh well. I'm sure he didn't mind the attention this week and why not keep the celebrating going? I got back to conferences and had some good conversations, but really it's all the kids who are doing fantastic who's parents sign up for conferences, so the conversations are easy. At 8pm I ran home as fast as I could, put on my pj's and snuggled into bed with Balt and the cats. I'm ready for the weekend!! Oh, yeah, there's still Friday to do.

The Love of a Dog

A couple of weeks ago there was a story in the Times about True Love, "But who will comfort us without asking for anything in return? A mother, maybe. But a dog, for sure." I had to chuckle a bit because I know Balt asks for a lot in return. Today is Balt's golden birthday. He is 5 years old. I can't believe we've had him that long. I can't remember not having him... sometimes. He's needy of love and attention but he gives both generously. The truth be told, I would not have survived the last year and a half without him by my side. He's kissed the tears off my checks and leaned in close so many nights to make sure I know he is close. I have never had to sit alone to weep because he is always close at hand to make sure I am not alone.

His yelps of hunger every morning drive me crazy, but I can relate. We both need to loose a few pounds and I've cut his dog food down to 3 cups a day-- he'd prefer 4. He's always eager for the day to begin and loves when I finally get out of bed. It certainly makes getting up in the morning a lot more exciting. He greets me so eagerly when I come that I can't help but be happy to be home. When he wants something, he's not afraid to let me know. He'll bark to ask to get out for a walk in the morning if I'm taking too long. He'll bark to ask for a bone when he's bored at night. He'll bark to let me know someone is walking around outside and he wants to look out the window. All I can say is that's it's nice to have someone around talking to me.

I got Balt for Jessi knowing he would ease the transition of my empty nest and boy, am I ever glad I had the foresight to do that. I had read that dogs offered a lot of benefits in life, but now that I'm living it, I get it. It's kind of surprising how much a dog can do for a person. Here's a list I've gathered: Having a dog around actually lowers one's cholesterol, how? I have no idea! I wonder if two dogs will lower it twice as much? The presence of a dog during testing will lower one's heart rate and blood pressure. People who have dogs typically have better health due to the fact they have exercise and care for their dog. If I ever have a heart attack, my odds for survival go way up just because I have a dog. Dogs help people adjust to serious illness and death. It was kind of surprising for me how having to deal with Balt's cancer scare kind of helped me deal with my mom's cancer diagnosis. This may sound strange but while I was feeling overwhelmed with what felt like a death sentence for my mom, being forced to come back home and take care of Balt helped me bring a bit of balance in my life. Bad stuff happens to us, to our mothers and to our dogs, but it's just part of life. 

Dog owners feel less of afraid of being the victim of a crime when walking with their dog or being home alone with their dog. I know that I feel a lot safer with Balt around even though I have a feeling if anyone actually broke into my home to rob me, Balt would probable welcome him and show him where the dog bones are kept. I don't have anything more valuable than that anyway. Dogs help people relax and focus their attention away from problems or worries. The fact that a dog is around offering physical contact is really important. More and more we are finding how much touch is important to physical and emotional health. Having a dog helps lift our mood and feel less lonely by proving companionship for people of all ages-- not just 50 year old women who live alone. A dog helps people feel needed and have something to care for. I have heard that having a dog is a lot like having a 3 year old in the house. The fact that you can leave a dog home alone while you go to work means its a ton easier than a 3 year old.  A dog offers consistency in our lives. They offer a sense of closeness and well-being, not just for individuals but for whole families. Dogs offer a great topic of conversation with people we don't know. I don't know how many times I have chatted with fellow dog walkers who were complete strangers since getting Balt. Dogs have an extraordinary affect on so many different aspects of the human condition. They are non-judgmental and offer love and trust whether we deserve it or not. Apart from all these psychological and physical benefits I've listed, having a dog seems to make life richer and fuller.

That doesn't mean there's no down side to having a dog. It's just that the benefits outweigh the downs. Being woken up early in the morning means not having to worry about my alarm. I still set one, just in case the day comes that Balt decides to sleep in. It's happened, but it's rare. Traveling is kind of tricky with a dog. It means having to drive instead of fly and having to find a hotel that accepts dogs, but it also means not stopping to go shopping or out to eat for very long which is a huge money saver. Leaving your dog at home while you travel means having to pay someone to take care of him, and I'd have to say that's probably one of the biggest downsides. That just means I try to take Balt with me most everywhere I go whenever I can and he LOVES to come with me, no matter where I'm going. Balt just wants to be around me and I'd say that's true love. 

Clear Eye

For the past couple of weeks I have occasionally seen a glimmer or speckle in Balt's eye and I get so afraid that his cancer has spread. I made an appointment for him this afternoon since he needed a shot and some tests for daycare. I was so relieved to hear his eye is all clear, but his ears weren't. They cleaned his ears for me and told me to clean them twice a week without q-tips. 

It was raining this morning, so I did a P90 workout and only walked Balt long enough for the business to get done. My work day was quiet. I have been working on a screen print demo and finished my sample this morning (see below). I ran out at lunch to get a top for my Halloween costume. After school, even though it was still misty, I took Balt for a long walk, ending the day having walked over 8 miles. I always know if a day was busy or if I got enough exercise by checking my mileage. Anything under 4 miles is pretty lazy. I decided to pass on a yoga class this evening. My hips and back were feeling sore so I made a big salad for dinner and enjoyed a fire at home. 

Bath Day

Thursdays Balt goes to daycare so that I can stay late after school working with kids and not worry about him. I try to get over to pick him up from daycare early once a month so that I can use their facilities to bathe him. Balt hates baths and he weeps openly when we go in for a bath. Yet, he seems pretty happy as we finish up. Of course I love it when he's clean. 

I had a great work day. The yearbook is coming together and kids will start making pages next week. We finalized senior superlatives this afternoon. It all keeps me busy and according to Mark Twain, "to be busy is (wo)man's only #happiness." -Mark Twain. I am busy therefore I am happy, I guess, and that sounds good to me.

It's all just a mindset...

Things started getting busier today and I know the next few days or so are going to be crazy as we try to finish the June issue of the S&S and get yearbooks delivered and organized for distribution. At lunch I ran out to pick up the Film Fest posters and then took Monika out to lunch. Balt was so happy to see me. He seems so un-phased by the lack of an eye. A friend reminded me how quickly animals adapt. I wish I could adapt just as quickly with just as positive an outlook on life. It's all a mindset.

Today was Senior Convocation so I was at school until late taking photos and working on the paper. I came home for dinner and Erika was home working. She needed internet and enjoyed some of my homemade big salad with homemade spinach dressing. I had leftover soup before going back to work. Jessi posted a photo on Facebook this evening from Alaska. I'm pretty sure she goes off the grid after tomorrow. It was fun to see her group of friends. I know she's going to have a blast!

8 Class Periods left

Over and over, I reminded my students they only had 8 class periods left after today. Two of my classes are starting projects today, the other three are in the midst of work and all should finish by next week. There's still finals week to get stuff done, graded and cleaned up, but the daily grind will be done for the school year next Friday. After school today we had a bit of excitement. The four teachers who completed the half marathon gathered to grab a photo and compare notes. I am uncomfortable claiming to have "ran" it since I barely jogged, but completed it was a big deal and all four of us discussed the possibility of doing it again next year. 

At lunch I took Balt to the Vet to get his sutures removed. His eye still has a bit of swelling but is pretty well healed. The vet was very please with his progress and now we just keep "an eye" on him (yuck!). He's still as cute as ever and has a very handsome look. He's such a good boy and I'm so lucky to have him at my side every night when I go to bed and he's still there every morning when I wake up. 

Jessi flew out to Seattle today with a bunch of her fellow Naval Academics. She starts her Alaskan adventure tomorrow. I am so excited for all that she will be learning. We snap chatted a bit back and forth today. I made sure to send her a bunch of pics of Balt. I made a big crock pot full of veggie soup for Monika and I. I've started a print that I hope to sell at the June art sale next week. I worked on that this evening at the kitchen table while Monika watched Netflix. It was wet, windy but mild-- the perfect weather for sitting around inside.

Borrowed Time

After my walk with Balt this morning, the vet called. Balt's been so good and so happy, my assumption has been that he is well now. The report came back on his tumor and he had a very aggressive malignant melanoma that appeared to be localized in the eye. My vet assured me that in her professional opinion, she felt she got all of the cancer. Of course if money was not an issue, she would suggests more tests and scans to rule out any possibilities of it having spread but understanding that my resources are limited she said to just keep a close eye on him, especially his other eye and his mood. She felt the most likely places for the cancer to have spread to are his brain, lymph nodes and lungs. These would not be places I would be able to notice visual problems, so it would be important to keep a close eye on changes in his behavior.

This past year Balt has been an amazing gift to me, of companionship and comfort. His outlook on life has changed mine. Even in losing his eye, he seems genuinely thrilled to be alive. When sharing with a friend the news from the vet, I was encouraged to cherish the time I have with him that the reality is that it is borrowed time. He has been given more time to be with me and comfort me, but I will not know if that time will be a year or ten. I am learning that is how I must approach life always, on a daily basis as I am confronted with my mom's illness, knowing her prognosis is as bad if not worse than Balt's. Every phone call, every connection, every moment together is a gift. 

It was the last Backyard Monday. The day flew by quickly. I brought cake and hot dogs for my kids in backyard. After taking photos of my seniors, my juniors asked to take one as well (see below). "Seven Mile Creek" will be disbanded after this year. After 15 years or so of traditions, it all ends to start again with something different next year. I will be assigned to work with seniors in some kind of advisory group. I would love to have my juniors come with me, but we shall see. After school, Monika and I went grocery shopping to get dish detergent because Erika had taken mine. Monika needed a bunch of stuff and of course I ended up getting a bunch of stuff to, so it was like a full blown grocery run. We had dinner together and watched The Voice. Balt is used to snuggling up with me on couch when I watch my shows, so he had no problem jumping right on top of Monika to get comfortable. I'm glad the couch is still big enough for all of us.

 

Just a little loopy...

Balt and I got up early. I knew he'd never look the same after today. I wanted to enjoy some time with him. I knew there was no chance of loosing him, but there was a chance things might turn out badly. Throughout the day I got snapchats and texts from my mom and Monika. My parents helped move her out of her dorm. My mom stayed by the car while my dad and Moni went back and forth filling it up. I had hoped to be there but I had to stay in Madison to take care of Balt. I called the vet at 2:30pm to find out the results and whether he would be able to come home tonight.  We have to wait until we get the biopsy back to find out if things are bad, but for now all looks good. The tumor seemed to be contained in the eye socket area. I was able to pick him up at 6pm.

The day was uneventful. I am working on getting videos connected to the yearbook page during my free time at school. Of course, Madison was in the news but things at school were calm and collected. After school I was asked to be a part of the teacher appreciate night for the softball team. I got a fun selfie with Geof who was also there being appreciated (see below). Right after the ceremony I ran out to get Balt. I could hear him crying while I was paying the bill and getting the dope. They warned me he would be loopy and boy, was he. He's supposed to wear a cone but I made him bleed putting it on, so I gave up. He seemed confused and walked about unable to eat or relax for the first hour he was home. He was bleeding from somewhere, but I could not figure out where. Erika came home and helped me get his meds into him. I was glad she was home to help me as well to avoid the downtown protests, just in case things got out of hand, I would not have to worry about her. Balt finally calmed down once he had some pain meds in him, but he is still crying a lot. I know if he is not doing well in the morning I can take him to the vet to be cared for. I'm hoping for a good night's sleep, but I maybe sleeping on the couch.

Drooping Eyes

As I type, I can hardly keep my eyes open. It's been a long productive day and I have to get up at 3am to catch a plane in the morning, so I'll keep this somewhat brief. I had long list of things to do today that I think all got done. I dropped Balt off at 7:30am and got to work to find a mocha latte waiting for me from Grace-- so sweet! Joe came in during 1st hour to give me a big hug and catch up on news. I am feeling very loved at work.

I let each of my classes know that I'd be gone until Wednesday. In one class a few kids cheered when I said Melissa would be my sub on Monday and Tuesday! I ran to Costco to get dog food for Balt just to make sure he did not run out while I was gone. When I went to pick him from daycare, I was told his eyes were red and watery. I have no idea what to do. I called the vet and of course they want to see him, but I have no time to take him in. They said dogs can get pink eye from daycare settings. I have him signed up for daycare again tomorrow. I am sure they will call me if it is in issue. He was given a bath at daycare today, so I am hoping he just got soap in his eyes. I dropped him off at home and then rushed back to work after picking up pizza for the yearbook and newspaper kids. I stayed at work until 8pm getting things done and then came home to pack. I'm not sure if I have everything ready for tomorrow but I'm not too worried, I'm just going to my parents.

My mom did call me late this afternoon to let me know she was being released from the hospital tomorrow. I can't believe how fast this is all gone. Of course we are not done with this journey. There will be a meeting with doctors with detailed prognosis and options of things to do. I am hoping this happens on Monday when I am there to support her through this. I have a feeling I will be traveling back and forth a lot this year to California. 

Mid Week, Mid Month

We are more than half way through the second half of the second school year. I had to go downtown today to drop off some artwork for a contest I had my illustrators enter and I passed Lake Monona. It was so beautiful. I wish I had more time, but I did enjoy some time in the sunshine today. It is days like today that make living in Madison nice. I counted the months that I like living here-- 7. I was glad it was more than half of the year. 

I woke up early again to take Balt for a good, long walk-- about 2 1/2 miles. The school day was very quiet. I took Balt to get a flu shot after school today. Initially his daycare required it due to a flu epidemic running rampant in the Midwest. There is only one case in Madison of H3N2 thus far. It ended up that the flu shot won't protect our dogs from this outbreak, so the daycare rescinded it's requirement but I went ahead and got Balt the shot. Why not? I get a flu shot every year and the only year I did not get one, was the one year I got really sick. I figured it would only help protect him. They are advising folks to isolate their dogs but I know how much he loves daycare and I need to stay late after school tomorrow. He's a pretty healthy boy, so I'm not too concerned. I made some of my paleo power balls yesterday and I came home today to find that he had eaten the whole bag of them. If anything is going to kill him, it won't be the flu, it will be chocolate. 

Happy Birthday Time!

November is birthday month. Today is Balt's 4th birthday as well as my nephew's. Jessi turns 20 on the 9th, Erika turns 24 on the 11th and my friend, Joe turns 40 on the 12th!! My sisters-in-law both have birthdays as well later in the month and then it's Thanksgiving!

So today I celebrate Balt's life with me. I purchased Balt as a Christmas gift for Jessi. I got him knowing I would end up taking care of him. I got him knowing that the girls were going to go off to college and I would need a little extra love in the house. Little did I know that Balt would help be get through way more emotional turmoil than just losing the girls. I love the way he sits on the couch next to me real close. I love the way he leans in on my leg when we go to bed. I had no idea when I got him, he would teach me how to enjoy being outside in the winter. He offers to me what I call a kick back. When I make him happy, he throws a little happiness back my way. Every morning I get up to walk him for a bit of that kick back.

My work day was full. I had a mid morning meeting. I had a guest speaker for my CAMM class-- Chris Herr (who just might be really famous someday). I went out and got lunch for us. My metals classes were busy. After school I went for a long walk with Balt, came home and watched a bit of the news - all bad political news for most folks in Madison.  I need to sit and work on the novel, put some laundry away and maybe do the dishes. Of course my #100happydays photos for the day are all of Balt-- from this morning's walk and this afternoon's.
 

Dog Paddle

I purchased tickets for Erika and me to attend the Dog Paddle,  an event of Capital K9s that helps raise funds to support the Madison Police Department canine unit. Compared to our local pool, this event was huge. Hundreds of dogs and no fights. It was amazing. Balt had a blast but tired out pretty quickly and was eager to leave only after an hour of running around and swimming. It seemed the crowd overwhelmed him and instead of acting out, like lots of dogs do, he withdrew. He found a table and sat underneath. It was so cute.  We had such a wonderful time, I will try to make it annually. 

After the event, Erika and I came home, had a snack then watched an episode of the Cosmos. I'd never heard of it, but loved it, mostly because I love Neil deGrasse Tyson (but who doesn't?). I could have used a nap but did some school work instead. Erika and her boyfriend helped me return our new tub and we looked at new front doors. We will need to do some measuring before making any purchases though. The three of us went out to dinner for Chinese after and had a grand time. It was a wonderful Sunday with great weather, great fun, and good company.

Must Love Dogs

I had hoped to sleep in, but Balt had me up early. When were out walking, I had to wear a sweatshirt and it felt very September-like. The day seemed so wide open with not all that much to do. Even with Erika home, there's not enough laundry to do keep me busy for more than an hour a week now. I went grocery shopping, cleaned the kitchen, vacuumed the whole house, redesigned the newspaper t-shirt, created an event for the yearbook club, and met with a guy for an estimate for my tub replacement, all before 2pm. The tub situation ended up being not so easy as I thought. It was a really good thing I didn't rip out the old tub. I would have been in without a tub for a while. It seems I need an electrician before I can get the plumber. My jacuzzi tub needs to be plugged in and there are no outlets anywhere near my tub. So instead of calling an electrician, I'm going to return the tub. Erika wants me to use the money to buy a new front door instead, although she is pretty bummed about not getting the spa tub. 

I made it to Hot Yoga today. It was a difficult class to begin with. I felt dizzy a couple of times and needed to lay down. My goal is to bring my mind to the present moment and cleanse it from the stress and neagativity. As I dripped in sweat, I could feel myself calming down, becoming more flexible, and feeling more balanced. I definitely need to do more yoga. I came home and made zucchini and tomatoes for dinner and watched a movie on Amazon Prime.  Erika told me I would enjoy Must Love Dogs (2005) with John Cusack and yes, she was right. Romantic comedies are always a great way to finish a wonderful Saturday. 

Jake (played by the lovable John Cusack): You know, but I think your heart grows back bigger. You know? Once you get the shit beat out of you. And, um, the universe lets your heart expand that way, and I think that's the function of all this pain and heartache that you go through and you gotta go through that to come out to a better place and that's how I see it, anyway. (great movie quote & words for me to believe in)

 

Happy Birthday Balt!

Balt is unaware that Sunday daylight savings happened, so at 5am he's hungry and wants me up. It's been nice getting up a bit early but it does mean I'm pretty much ready for bed by 8pm. Today Balt got to go to daycare and because it was his birthday, he got a very special treat. They gave him a doggie birthday party along with party hats and cake! He got a bath after and a special birthday scarf! I was thinking about how much our life has changed because of him. It's hard to recall life without him, but he's only been around for 3 years. Erika informed me that while I was away visiting Jessi, she found out just how much work he really is. She told me he seemed to constantly look for me and of course she was not very excited about getting up early with him, but she survived. I thought it was pretty funny that when I got home last week, he didn't seem all that excited to see me. It was more like relief.  I do enjoy doting on him and love it when he sits on my lap as if he were the size of our cats. It's been fun to get to know his personality. He's pretty silly and a lot of fun.

Today was a productive day. I got 1 out of 3 of my metals classes caught up on grading, I finished cleaning and stretching all the screens for printmaking and then stayed late after school to put emulsion on them in the dark room. This is the very first time I am teaching silkscreen printing in a class, so I'm having to do a lot of problem solving up front, but I know it will only get easier each time I do it. I have all the screens on a cart that I pulled into the photolab dark room to work on. I hoping tomorrow we can start burning the screens with images.

A Better Look

I got a new ID today. I'm happier with this year's look. I wore a bit of make up and made sure to keep my hair down. I didn't wear my glasses. Last year a student told me the glasses made we look older and since the photo is used for the yearbook, I opted not to wear them. Monika said I looked kind of bohemian-- which is a look I like. I haven't worn them yet this year, but I find myself straining more and more. I know I can't go without them all year, but for now I'm keeping them off. My eyesight isn't that bad, just not as clear as it used to be when I was young. 

This morning it occurred to me it would be better to leave Balt in the garage rather than stick the garbage can in there and hope for the best inside of the house. After yesterday's fiasco, I reconsidered putting him back into a crate. I'm not sure why he's acting so naughty but I realize he's still recovering from illness, so I'll cut him some slack. He refused to go for a walk yesterday so this morning I forced him to walk, pulling and tugging at him until he finally gave in to walk. He did fine in the garage today. The day was cooler, but I left plenty of water and put a fan on as well. Then after a long meeting after school, I got home late and took him to the dog park. He poked around and then wanted to leave without walking. I put his leash on and pulled at him, making him walk for nearly 45 minutes. He'd get going okay for a while and then suddenly pull back or occassion sit down. It's kind of weird. I'm hoping to see a turn around soon. 

The beginning of the semester is always intense, days full of teaching-- lots of stories, instruction and non-stop talking. My throat aches and my feet hurt. I'm learning names and getting to know my classes. My day is top heavy, hours 1-4 are on the go. I get a long break to prep and then teach 7th hour. It's a nice schedule but no matter what the schedule is, the beginning of the semester is extremely exhausting and not just for me. A couple of fellow teachers mentioned going to bed by 8:30pm last night. I'm looking forward to the weekend and a bit of rest!

Pooped

Above is the schedule poster that Josh created this year. I went to pick up the poster last night and posted it in our hallway late last night for students to see early this morning. The poster was created in photoshop and is perhaps his best art department schedule banner yet. The kids really like it. A couple have asked what I think about my rendition and of course, I love it. But I do have to admit I think Frontier is the coolest.

The day was extremely exhausting and of course I am up late working on a power point for my painting class. I find it amazing how the time just fliies. I came home right after school to find that Balt had been a VERY bad boy. He pooped in Erika's room, he pulled down the trash can and ripped the bag to shreds, tossing coffee grounds everywhere. He got into his dog treat bin and ate the whole lot and then had the audacity to bark for dinner! I took him for a nice walk after school but I know he was frustrated on his first day home all alone all day (yesterday Monika was home in the morning with him). Tomorrow I will have to put the garbage into the garage and hope for the best. I'll need to schedule some time at doggie day care next week.

Saying Goodbye to Summer

It was in the 50's this morning... too cool for the hot summer day I had planned for. Oh well. I went to Starbucks for a venti latte and went for a long walk with Balt in long yoga pants and a sweat jacket. The high barely made to 70 this afternoon. I ran errands before getting to the pool hoping for some sunshine. I ordered a kitchen drawer at Menards and purchased a yoga ball at Dicks. I think this is the third year I drove over to Costco on a Labor Day only to find it was closed. I enjoyed my last swim at the Shorewood pool, hoping to continue swimming at Memorial during the school year. I set up an exercise area in the basement to do yoga and setups. As eager as I am to get back to hot yoga, I'd like to save a bit of my money and try working out independently. 

At 5pm, I made my way over to the Parkcrest Pool for their annual "doggie dip" at the end of their season. I knew Balt would not want to get into the big pool but he'd enjoy the baby pool plus, I wanted to get him around lots of other dogs. We walked to the pool and he seemed fine around the dogs but would not jump into the pool. Other dogs could fly off the diving boards chasing balls. Balt is just cautious. He is feeling a lot better today although he woke me up early panting this morning, I haven't seen him drool all day. I'm assuming he had some kind of infection, possibly in his mouth since he chews on just about everything, especially plastic-- maybe it was a sliced gum. Either way, the meds are working and he's almost back to normal. 

I got to talk to my mom earlier today and then to Jessi late in the morning. Jessi is doing well, but extremely busy with swim team, classes and homework.  I am often amazed at all that she can juggle and seems to be thriving under extremely stressful situations. As a plebe at the bottom of the Navy food chain, she has to work on bullenton boards for the company halls, isn't allowed to wear her backpack (must hold it in her left hand), and is tortured with a face-planting plank stance for being late. When I ask her if it's worth it, she eagerly assures me it is. She loves her English class, has a great dorm room and room mate, likes the food, and knows she's in for a lifetime of adventure. She is happy and learning a great deal. I am eager to see her swim. 

I woke up with a scratchy throat this morning. I am hoping tomorrow won't be worse. I'll be talking 100 times more than normal in the next week. It's going to get back into the 80's so hot tea won't be an option. I'm hoping it was just a "last day of summer" thing.

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