My "Mice"-Mare

Maybe not a great play on words, but I was trying to be witty by combining "nightmare" and "mice" - did I succeed? Anyway, mice are everywhere. I still have them in my car because my husband is so darn nice that he insists on catching them one by one in the "live trap" and then driving them down the road to the local park. I pity the people who live near that park; perhaps they have had a hoard of mice moving into their homes and/or cars. I find little presents in my car every morning when I leave; a mouse poop in the cup holder, a piece of tissue or other trash they got out of the little trash bag in the front of the car; some leaves or bird seed they've brought in to make their nest. I'm preparing to look up the number for an exterminator any minute!

This past week, we took my car to Walser Toyota to have the oil and filter changed. Also had them check out the air cabin filter to see if it needed cleaning. They just did it a couple months ago when they cleaned the bird seed out of the sunroof. This time, the cabin filter needed to be replaced because there was a "good sized nest" in there! When will it end?

Not only are mice in my car, but I found one at a client's house the other day. They have two Ocicats and there was an early Christmas gift waiting for me in the the living room. It was either a very realistic toy or a very dead real mouse. Regardless of what it was, it's in the garbage bin out in the garage now!

Everyone we know tells us to use the old-fashioned traps, the poison, or call an exterminator. I've told Donald that if, by the time he leaves for his first trip to Tennessee in two weeks, the mice are still active, I will be taking over. And it won't be pretty - at least not for the mice.

Cross-stitching: My New Hobby

My new hobby is cross-stitching! I have been doing it for several months (thanks, Anne, for helping me get started with some supplies and a "how to" session). My reasons for starting were twofold: 1) to have something to do while watching T.V. so that I don't eat so much; and 2) to create custom cross-stitch gifts for my clients using their pet's photos.

I am trying to find a reputable, reliable, inexpensive software program that will convert digital photos into cross-stitch patterns. I have found several on the web, but have no idea which one will be worth the money. Does anyone have any suggestions? Is there a software program you have tried - whether free or for a price - that you can give five stars? Any suggestions would be great!

How to Cook a Turkey

by Mrs. E's P.M. Kindergarten Chefs

Isabelle says "Buy the turkey at the store"
Amanda says "Buy a big one"
Allison says "10 pounds"
Emily says "Get all the grease off of it"
Tyler says "Wash it, to get all of the grease off"
Jaelon says "Grill it"
Amber says "Turn on the oven"
Temper says "To 300 degrees"
Heather says "To 10 degrees"
Abbie says "Put it in the oven"
Isaac says "Cook it for 4 minutes"
Nicholas (our little guy) and Evan say "Take it out of the oven"
Caleb says "Slice it"
Jacob says "Cut it"
Abbi says "Get the bones out"
Zack says "Let it cool"
Emma and Porter say "Eat it!"

ENJOY!

My Busy Day

This morning, I took Cocoa (a doggie client) to the doggie park at Cleary Lake, a 28-acre off-leash area. If you have dogs and you haven't been there, it's wonderful! The dogs run around like crazy and play while you can take a leisurely stroll around the many paths. It was a cold walk this morning, but a nice way to wake up and get some fresh air. Plus, I get paid to do it!

Now I'm heading off to see Riley & Kirby, two long-haired Dachshunds. Then it's off to see if I can fit in a make-up session for Gracie's puppy obedience class we missed last weekend. Then Donald and I go pick up Nicholas as Kindergarten and all head up to Edina for Donald's post-surgery check-up with Dr. Saylor. Donald will get his staples out and I'm hoping it will help him feel much, much better! After the doctor appointment, we're off to QCumbers to eat 'til we drop. If you've never been to QCumbers, I highly recommend that as well (but you can't take your dogs). It's very similar to a place we used to frequent in Florida and Georgia called Sweet Tomatoes. Sweet Tomatoes was even nicer, but QCumbers will do...

Tomorrow is not quite as busy, and maybe I'll work on finishing "Ahab's Wife" the longest book I've ever read. Really, I've had to renew my library copy two times because it is long...but good. I just can't wait to get to the end!

I hope everyone takes a moment to enjoy their families, their friends, and their freedom! Next week is Thanksgiving and we have much to be thankful for.

Humbled by Katie's Blog

Just ran across a blog entitled "When Hello Means Goodbye" and I have to say - Wow. If you're feeling down, trampled upon, selfish, or any other "oh poor me" feeling of the day, check out this blog. Katie shows such courage and humor, even after suffering the worst loss a parent could ever imagine. I am humbled by her.

My Turn in the Hospital

I guess I didn't want Donald to have all the fun, so I took a trip to the hospital on Friday, November 14th. I started out the day feeling great. I ate breakfast, then took my pills for the day, and started taking the bed sheets and blankets off the bed. I was putting on the clean sheets when I felt out of breath and sort of ill. Sometimes my pills act like they "get stuck" and don't go down all the way, so I sat down to take a break. I started feeling even worse, so I headed to the bathroom. I knew I was going to be sick, so I made myself get sick just to get it over with. I asked Donald to get Nicholas down to the bus stop. While they were down the street, I called our neighbor, Jeff, who's an EMT and asked him to come up to check me. I didn't know if I was having a heart attack, getting the flu, or what!

Long story short - I ended up being taken by ambulance to the hospital and Donald drove there a while later to see me. Then he went with Nicholas to see a dog that I had to walk that afternoon. While he was there, Sammy's "mommy" showed up and said that I (Melissa) shouldn't be concerned about Sammy; she wanted to make sure I was okay and said Sammy would go spend the night at a friend's house and I didn't need to worry about coming to see him Friday night or Saturday morning like planned. Donald told Sammy's mommy that "Melissa wanted to make sure Sammy was taken care of." Because I'm such a good pet sitter, everybody, I make sure the pets are taken care of even when I'm in the hospital!

For five hours, the doctors checked me out, did EKG, chest X-ray, blood work, and found nothing wrong. Which is good. They want me to follow-up with my regular doctor. So I'm not sure if it was a stress-related incident, indigestion, the beginnings of the flu (I feel fine today), or what. Either way, I'm home now and I'm taking it easy. Laundry can wait for some other day!

Happy Birthday to Donald!

Today is my husband's 66th Birthday. We met on September 30, 1991, about two months before he turned 49 years old and one week from when I turned 22 years ago. Wow! Now, we are much older and (somewhat) wiser. We've known each other for 17 years and have been married for eight. Now that he's home from the hospital and getting healthy again, he's hoping that he will be around for 40 more years....God help me. Ha ha.

Our Honeymoon at Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida

Why Do I Have to Move?

What is it about the woman's role in a marriage that requires her to give up everything in order to go where the husband is working? I understand that a lot of times it has to do with money and who makes more, but why doesn't the wife's job/career carry just as much weight as the man's even if she doesn't make nearly as much? I am asking this because of the possibility that we may have to move to Tennessee. I am thankful that Donald has a job, although it requires that he start working down in Tennessee next month. And, perhaps if he were 40 or 50 instead of 66, I'd feel differently about giving up everything I have started with my pet sitting business to move down there. Donald is 66 and within a few years he should seriously consider retiring. Yes, he loves his job. But so do I. Yes, he makes very good money, but if he retires, we'd be able to get by. After retirement, he won't need to pay that huge alimony amount every month! He's already collecting social security benefits and that is giving us a great boost in our income every month, but we could still make due with his social security, my pet sitting profits, and any 401(k) benefits he'd be bringing in. The man who bought the AirCel division from Donaldson has bought and sold at least 40 companies over his lifetime. Who's to say that Dick won't sell off the AirCel company within two or three years and then Donald is, once again, out of a job or required to move to yet another state where the company is located. Or perhaps he decides to retire if the company is sold and we don't want to live in Tennessee any longer. Then, we have to pack up and move again - north, south, east, or west - and I would need to start up the pet sitting business.

We aren't looking forward to the commuting aspect of Donald's new position at AirCel, but we are thankful that he has a job. Before I started my pet sitting business, we were both hoping that we'd get to move to Tennessee. There were rumors that Donaldson Company was going to transfer Donald down to Tennessee two years ago, and I made plans for the move. I checked into the schools, the prices of homes, and the area. But then I started my business and it took off so quickly, becoming much more successful than I ever would have guessed. Now, I have decided that I don't want to take my business to Tennesee, I don't want to enroll Nicholas in school in Tennessee, and I don't want to sell our house and move again!

I have moved three times since 2000 (the year we were married) and I'm ready to stay put. So many people are saying "well, you wanted to move to Tennessee a couple years ago" and "your business can be run from anywhere" just don't get it. That's not the point, people. The point is that I'm tired of getting settled, getting close to friends, starting to like a place, and then having to give everything up to move. This time it's even more of a problem because I have my own business. If you've never had your own business or worked hard to create something of your own then you don't know what it's like. Sure, I can pick up and take my pet sitting business wherever we move to - but I don't want to. I like running my business here in Savage, Minnesota. And the more people try to convince me that I should move, the more likely that I'm going to dig in my heels and not budge!

Donald is Home

Donald came home this evening. With the raining/sleety weather and the "rush hour" traffic (no one was in a rush!) it took about an hour to get home. He's relaxing on the couch, surfing the t.v. channels and considering having a bowl of cereal for dinner. He is still very confused at times and goes off on these tangents that don't make sense - such as saying that he wanted to eat the lifesavers that were given to Nicholas so that his friends wouldn't take them back, and that Gracie (our puppy) had gotten upset because he sent out an email that wasn't correct. Hopefully, within a few days, he'll be back on track! And hopefully, this is the last surgery we have to deal with!

Missing Mr. White

Went to see Donald this afternoon at the hospital and we spent a few hours watching the Vikings-Packers game (Vikings won by one point). Cheri, Donald's daughter from his previous marriage, is in town and will be flying back to NY state early tomorrow morning. She's a doctor and it's been nice to have someone around to keep an eye on things, know the right questions to ask, and let me know that everything is going well and just as it should be. Donald still hasn't been able to have anything to eat - just a few ice chips - since Wednesday night when he has his last real meal. He had liquids on Thursday, the day before surgery, and then nothing since then. He's still dreaming of chicken wings! The nurse turned down the Epidural so that maybe he won't be so groggy and out of it; the walked him out into the hall and he did pretty well doing that; he should be able to have some liquids tomorrow - whoopie!

I wanted to call Donald last night while I watched t.v. but I knew he'd be asleep or out of it and wouldn't be able to chat. I'm hoping that tomorrow he's much more alert and can converse without drifting off or starting to mumble. I cannot wait until he comes home!

Surgery & Other Shenanigans

Don's AAA surgery went very well and he's in ICU recovering. He was given an epidural before surgery which they will use to give him medicine for the pain and keep his abdomen comfortable. Hopefully, today they will begin giving him some liquids and will gradually work up to giving him solids as his digestive system gets back on track. He's been dreaming about chicken wings since Thursday when his co-workers took him to lunch and then out for a little gathering after work to say "good-bye and good luck" since he'll no longer be working for Donaldson. How cruel is that, I ask? The poor guy was on a liquid diet all day and couldn't eat anything! So he just had to sit there and watch them eat chicken wings, etc. He's been telling the doctors and nurses that he wants chicken wings today. Not gonna happen, but he can dream!

Yesterday morning, "Grandma Jan" Holman was here to help Nicholas get ready for school and she got him on the bus. She came over Thursday night and spent the night here so she wouldn't have to get up and be here by 5:00 a.m. She is a God-send and I'm thankful that she was here to help out. She and Nicholas went out in the first snowfall and threw snowballs, got cold and wet, and tracked in mud....but that's okay! They had fun and that's all that matters. Jan is getting Nicholas into making cards and doing other scrapbooking stuff; he has little pieces of paper and things all over the floor and he made little "Fall" pictures and taped them to the side of the entertainment center. Very cute! Below are some photos of the shenanigans!

Jan said that Nicholas wanted to take his snowball to school
in his backpack, but it didn't last that long!

Bailey was too tired out from all the commotion;
Nicholas and Gracie had fun with scrapbooking

Today I go meet a new client who has Ocicats. I think that if I were to have a cat, it would have to be an Ocicat. It sounds fascinating and I can't wait to meet them! I have to admit, I'm usually more excited about the animals than I am their owners - but that's why I started this business of pet sitting! :-)

Feeling Overwhelmed

I am feeling so overwhelmed. My business is going crazy with three new clients just this week needing daily dog walks or vacation visits for November or December. Donald accepted a job offer with the man who bought Aircel-Ultrafilter and is tentatively scheduled to start working for him on December 13th. Of course, that date depends on how his recovery from surgery goes! Donald has surgery tomorrow morning at 8:00 to repair his AAA. It's supposed to snow/rain and be cold tomorrow; winter is rearing it's ugly head! I have bills to pay, dogs to walk (not including mine), cats to feed (again, not mine), and one of the remotes on our Wii died. The Wii remote is the biggest disappointment for Nicholas; thankfully, he really doesn't have a clue about the other crap that's going on. I need to buy a new Wii remote today so that at least something will seem normal around here. I know I should be happy that my husband has a job, but I'm still NOT MOVING!

Yes We Can!

Barack Obama is our President-elect and I hope everyone who did not vote for him will stand behind their new president when he takes office in January. With his wife, Michelle, and their two young children, Malia and Sasha, we are entering a new era and I am excited. I know President Obama has a long, rough road ahead of him. Let us all pray that he appoints a cabinet that will help him get this country back in order! We all need to have hope and optimism, the things that Barack Obama ran his campaign on for the last two years.

If it ain't one thing, it's another! Update

Well, Donald is flying down to Maryville, Tennessee to meet with this Dick guy about the job he wants to give him. Of course, I am hating this whole thing. Yes, I should be grateful that Don still has a job given the economic condition of the country, etc. etc. but I can still hate it. He is foreseeing himself commuting for six months or so (or I say six years or so....) until we sell our house and move down there. With the real estate market the way it is, we'd take a HUGE loss on our house if we sold it now; Nicholas is doing so well in school, I'd hate to make him start over in a strange place; and I do have a successful business that I can't just drop! Therefore, I have decided that I am NOT moving. I'm sure Donald will take the job offer, since he's not ready to retire for good, and he will commute back and forth. You know what they say: Absense makes the heart grow fonder. Well, if we're only seeing each other two weekends a month or so, he'll be excited to know that he'll be gettin' lucky on those weekends!

If it ain't one thing, it's another!

Okay, get ready for a scream.... Ahhhhhhh!!!
Donald called me from work today and told me he was coming home. "Why?" I asked. "Dick Burkis (or whatever his name is) bought AirCell and he wants to talk to me on Wednesday," Don answers. "Okay...but why are you coming home?" I asked again. After all, I'm getting ready to take Nicholas to the bus stop and then I have three dog walks to do. So, if he was coming home to spend time with me (ha ha) I needed to know this. "I don't have to come home, I can just stay here if you like," he says. "Well, WHY are you coming home?" He is soooo NOT a good communicator! "Well, they don't need me here," he says. I think for a moment. "Are you trying to say you've been fired?" I asked. "Well, you could say that," he answers. Apparently, the division that Donald works for at Donaldson was sold to some guy on Friday. This guy (Dick) wants Donald to work for him and called him at the office today to ask him to fly down to Maryville, Tennessee to meet with him. The AirCell-Ultrafilter division is based in Maryville, I guess. WTF do I know?

Donaldson has Don's official "end date" as December 12th, the date he's supposed to have returned to work after his upcoming surgery for his AAA repair. So, Donaldson is keeping him on, covered by insurance, and he'll get his full pay through disability for being out due to his surgery, just as planned, which is good to know.

This Dick guy told Donald that he was prepared to cover Don's surgery before Don told him that Donaldson was taking care of it. And this Dick guy also told Donald that he should think about "putting your house on the market." I told Donald that I am NOT moving. NOT NOT NOT. Feel free to commute back and forth if you wish, I said, because I am NOT moving. Do you understand me? NOT MOVING!

I'll keep you posted on how things are going.

I voted today!

Went and voted today. Now I don't have to worry about it tomorrow. With my busy pet sitting schedule tomorrow, and the possible long lines, I don't have to think about it. I did an Absentee Ballot at City Hall and so did Donald. He was home this afternoon, so we both went together. Read my next blog entry to find out why he was home. Hope everyone gets out to vote today or tomorrow! Don't listen to the false reports that say that Republicans vote on Tuesday and Democrats vote on Wednesday! Election Day is Tuesday, November 4th!

Happy Halloween

Bailey, Gracie, and Nicholas

Another Halloween gone...now it's on to Christmas! Well, Thanksgiving is in the middle there somewhere. Nicholas made it easy this year - he wanted to be a policeman again so we were able to use the same costume as last year. Gracie had an "Angel" costume (a cape with angel wings on it) and Bailey wore the red cape from Asher's Superman costume of last year. It was bittersweet getting out Asher's costume and finding Asher's white hairs covering it. We had a great time and Nicholas really got into Trick-or-Treating this year; we were out for about an hour and then we came home for a potty break and Donald took Nicholas out for another hour. We have enough candy to open our own candy store!