Various and Sundry

So, why does no one tell you really, truly, just how stressful AND wonderful planning a wedding will be? Maybe they did and I just wasn't listening. That's been known to happen with me a time or two. Oops. All the same, it is both and much more. Last week was a stressful one what with teaching, planning, coaching and report cards. But with the help of a LOT of people I made it through and am starting to feel like my old self again. Perhaps that means this blog will return to its old self as well. One can hope...

My life as of late:

Bailey, after visiting with SJ's parents while Jason was in town, has returned to the Cactus Ranch. He has resumed his daily rituals of waking us with loud and insistent meowing as to why no one is standing beside him while he's eating and promptly bathing himself as soon as we sit beside him on the couch. Why he can't do this when we're not home is beyond me, but here's a shot of our graceful gentleman in the middle of his bath. It's amazing the contortions that cat can make in spite of his belly.
















I'm aching for the chance to meet Lydia Kent but have to be content with what she posts on her own blog. Imagine my pride when I saw that she had chosen the outfit her Lulu gave her to wear for her first grown-up party. I don't know that she actually got to go, but isn't she fabulous? It's better when you start them on the fashion early. And as for her parents...all I can say is that Lydia is in for one heck of a ride as their daughter.
















The two fourth grade classes were led by one of the seventh grade science classes as we hiked off into the nature preserve today. It was a precious thing to watch two generations of my students interact...

"The land is the Lord's"















Two generations of my girls AND boys! It's a sweet, sweet thing...















My teaching partner, Rita- we're twins that just happen to be separated by a few years...















I'm looking forward to:

-The first track meet of the season tomorrow. Go Lions!

-Watching "American Idol" tonight and a new episode of "Lost" tomorrow night. I missed last week's episode due to an slight emotional breakdown. Well, not slight. Ok, let's just say it wasn't pretty (have you seen me when I cry?) and my small group deserves some sort of award for loving me through it.

-Choosing bridesmaids and flower girl dresses this week. Any suggestions?

-Talking with Jason tonight. An actual conversation. I'm so proud of us for making it through the first time we both had extremely stressful things happening at the same time. The Mansfield YL Golf Tournament was a success, my report cards are done and there is much to be said via Sprint Cellular.

-Catching up with darling friends who have been ridiculously patient with me.

-Seeing my sister run again! It's a thing of beauty.

Fun with the cat

I think this should be my next knitting project. Bailey will love it.



Thanks to Emilie for this valuable source of ways for me to avenge Bailey waking me up at 4 A.M. and knocking over cups of water in my room. Revenge will be sweet.

Bailey Boy

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After my parents separated and Mom moved into her apartment, she decided she needed some feline companionship. Previous to this, she had been on "pet probation" after she adopted a greyhound on a whim, made us fall in love with the darling dog, and then gave her back when she decided to go back to working full-time. Granted, Tessa the greyhound had some emotional problems which led to high anxiety behavior that was, shall we say, visually unappealing. Still, Allie and I were sad to see her go.

Mom does nothing halfheartedly, so she did her research and decided to purchase a British Shorthair cat from a breeder out west. Allie and I went with Mom to the airport to pick up the pampered kitten and fell in love with him at first sight. He was named Bailey after George Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life." Things were going swimmingly until the day that Bailey decided he didn't want to clean himself. In a particular area. The one area no one else would ever want to clean. So, the devious creature learned to meow until Mom would come and wipe him. Yes, like that five year old girl I babysat one summer, Mom had to wipe Bailey's bottom. And I'm here to declare to the Internet, I don't care how much I love my pets or my children, they will both learn to wipe their own butts.

Tiring of this chore, Mom somehow managed to pawn off Bailey to Sarah Jo's parents, my Aunt Melba and Uncle Randall. They promptly put Bailey on generic cat food and the problem cleared right up. When SJ and I decided to live together, she asked if Bailey could come too. I said yes and the house has never been the same. Oh, don't worry, he cleans himself. That's not what we have to worry about. But you can't leave drinks anywhere near a surface he can jump on, because if he's ticked at you or you haven't paid him enough attention, he'll knock them over. Sometimes he does it just for fun. Bailey, like SJ and I, loves to chat and you can have what seems like actual conversations. He snores like an old man and SJ is afraid he's developing sleep apnea. The cat is FAT and his belly sways side to side when he walks and splays out to each side when he sits. Sometimes, when you walk by him and haven't pet him recently, he bats at your leg as if to say, "Hello? Remember me? The cat you haven't paid attention to in the last five minutes?

Bailey has been on a "sabbatical" at my Mom's house for the last week and a half. I could tell you I don't miss him but it would be a lie. I don't miss him pawing at my door at 6 a.m. and meowing at the top of his lungs to be fed. I don't miss finding cat hair all over my clothes. And SJ informs me that once he returns he will have a hayday with the Christmas tree. Over my dead, tradition-bound body. If that cat messes with my ornaments...

But I do miss his snuggles and purrs and the fact that he greets me at the front door when I come home. Yes, someone to greet you at the end of a work day is very nice indeed. So, until that someone is a someone who can wrap their arms around me, peer into my eyes and tell me, "I'm so glad you're home," I'll settle for Bailey's loud meow and his grateful purr.