Everyone else did it, so I will too...

Stacy had a great post topic for her blog. The other Bobs chimed in, and now I must follow suit. The premise is to list four things in a 'category.' Lets see if I can do it:

Four Things To Do Before I Die

1. Go up in a Hot Air Balloon
2. Travel to Portland and Seattle - do like a quick weekend-getaway
3. Tour all of Washington D.C. and it's museums
4. See Kileaui (sp? ...active Hawaiian volcano)

Four Things Crossed off That List
1. Hike down the Grand Canyon, and raft the Colorado River for 8 days
2. Take a Helicopter ride
3. Go to Catalina Island
4. See Yosemite

Four Things I'm Good At
1. Offering to help others
2. making chocolate chip cookies
3. Procrastinating
4. Cleaning the house - once I quit procrastinating to do it!

Four Things That Need Improvement
1. Procrastinating
2. My golf swing
3. Food choices and quantities
4. Going to bed earlier

Four Things That I Can't Do
1. Knit
2. Crochet
3. Bake wheat bread that doesn't turn out like a rock
4. Get up on a wake-board

Four Things That I Say Alot
1. Whatchutalkin'bout, Willis
2. Did you feed the fish?
3. WTF?
4. I knew that (when I space something out, and am reminded of it)

Four Things That I Loathe
1. Lazy people
2. Liars
3. Whiners
4. Small dogs

Four Things That Make Me Cranky
1. Being awakened before I'm ready to get up
2. Someone trying to crowd in on a job that is mine to do when their assistance was neither asked for, nor needed.
3. Political advertising
4. The phone ringing at dinner time

Four Things That Feed My Soul
1. Watching Travis love and take care of his cat
2. Watching Travis build things
3. Watching Travis discover something new and fascinating to him
4. New York SuperFudge Chunk Ice cream

Four Things That Crack.Me.Up.
1. The Bobs!
2. My brother-in-law, Jeff
3. Eddie Murphy 'Delirious'
4. My imaginary friend, Brian

Four People Who Enrich Me
1. The Bobs!
2. Greg
3. Travis
4. Deborah-Head

Four People Who Inspire Me
1. The Bobs
2. Travis
3. Deborah-Head
4. Paul

Four Reasons Why I'd Marry Greg Again
1. Honest
2. Trusting and trust-worthy
3. Funny
4. He's a great Meal-Ticket!

Four Quotes I Love (I fall waaaaaaaaay short on this one!)
1. Bite me - Unknown
2. Eat Shit and Die - Unknown
3. Do whatever you think is best - My dad says this a lot
4. Do Not Disturb...already am - Unknown

Little things...

There is so much that needs doing, yet all are little things! I'm getting through them, and that is a good feeling. However, I saw one little thing that will need to be done soon, and that "little thing" is looming large! What is it? It's washing all of the swimsuits that have been left draped over the tub to dry. With temps barely over 80 degrees during the day, there certainly isn't much interest in swimming! However, I was thinking that I need to at least swim after the calendar says it's officially fall. Just because I can!

I'll miss summer, but I'm also looking forward to wearing sweatshirts. For now, shorts and a sweatshirt is my favorite!

The shorter days also seem to help convince me that I don't have to jam so much into a day. For now, I'll get in the shower and get this day started.

It's the little things.

I can stop spinning my wheels!!!

I just got off the phone with the vet. He says we have a "miracle kitty!" Jackson has responded well to the course of treatment they began based on the vet thinking he had hemobartonella. His red cell count was 7 yesterday. This morning, it's up to 12. 18 is a good number!! Woohoo!! We're almost there! He doesn't think sending him home today is a good idea, but if he continues to improve it's likely that we can pick him up tomorrow! We'll get a meds for home treatment, but doc says he's been good about taking them, so should be easy to continue at home.

Oh.My.Gosh. I feel SO great!!! I might have to take myself over to the coffee shop for a hot chocolate! Or. What I ought to do is stay here and clean this pig-sty in preparation for tonight's crop. And cook dinner for the croppers. And make cookies. Hmmmm...I'll substitute that hot chocolate for some cookie dough! That will be a celebration!

I called Greg at work. I rarely if ever call him. I would have anyway, but he was anxious to know about the cat too, though he might not admit it! I'm sure he'll now be more anxious to get Jackson home so we can keep the vet bill down! Wheeeeeeeeee!!!

I almost considered calling the school to get a message to Travis, but decided that might be a little over the top! Really...I bet those women in the office have more important things going on today!!

Connections...

I'm sure many moms can relate to being in a room full of loud kids, yet the only one they hear is there own. Being one place, your child being another, and perhaps you "hear" them, and moments later the phone rings! I don't know if dads are connected that way...perhaps some are, but I think it's more a "mom thing."

However, sitting here on the couch while Travis studies his spelling he said "I just heard Jackson scream." Jackson is our sweet kitty that we took to the vet today. We had to leave him there. Tomorrow the vet will call with lab results. He doesn't know what is wrong with him, but he's taken a guess at it being hemobartonella. It's when the body starts destroying red blood cells. As such, Jackson is jaundiced and anemic. Or maybe it's something else. We'll know tomorrow. In the meantime, we're praying. Hopefully if Jackson did 'scream' it was because someone had come to care for him and he was just talking to them. Hopefully he can be remedied with something simple. Hopefully he won't need a transfusion - many risks associated with that. Hopefully we'll be able to bring him home alive. He's only 10 months old, so hopefully he has "youth" on his side.

Travis loves that kitty so, so much. I can't bear the thought of my child having to lose his first pet. I don't want to lose and important family member. It really is nice having a cat in the house...hoping he'll be home soon.

Stuff...

A week later, folks in New Orleans are getting food, water, shelter, rescued. Some are staying where they are. None of the numbers are definite, but the death toll could easily be near 10,000. The media is leading the blame game, and I'm sick of it. Everyone feels the need to point a finger. Sadly, it's a clear indicator of our society. I heard a rescuer today saying that the person he had gone to rescue didn't want to go 'cuz she thought she'd have to pay for the helicopter ride, and she didn't have any money.

I've donated to a church fund, and I've sent money to my friend Elaine in Alabama. Between her church and her community, I figured their proximety to the gulf coast stood a strong chance of my money going to those in need. My next plan, as paydays allow, is to donate to Habitat for Humanity. Lots of help is going out now, much more will be needed in the months and years to come.

We're slowly getting back in the groove of work and school schedules. I can't believe summer is "over." Soccer starts on Saturday. The million-dollar question is "when are you gonna let that go, Martha?" I'm hoping after Saturday, my stuff will slow down enough so that I can put away all that is soccer. Put it away in a manner that would make it oh-so-easy to hand off to my successors! We'll still have monthly meetings, and then there is a coaches dinner to plan. But dealing with registration of players and coaches is nearing the end! Wah-hoo!!!

So much happening in our world...

News reports are full of Katrina's aftermath. A week ago, they were telling people to evacuate New Orleans. Many did. Many didn't. Many died. Many more will die if food, water, and supplies don't get to these folks soon. It's incredibly tragic, and sadly, the worst isn't even over. Residents have taken to looting stores and homes, and they're even shooting each other. It would be so easy to criticize them, but having never been in that sort of desparation, I refrain. Many of these people didn't have squat going into this disaster. They won't be any better off when it's all over. It's incredibly sad. It's not much, but I donated money to a relief organization. I'm not ready to commit to going there and actually DOING, but two of my friends are ready to go, and likely will within the next month or so. They rock! If they need to take stuff, I'll help either with money or purchasing what is needed.

My heart is very heavy with all of that.

Yesterday marked the anniversary of the death of an on-line friend. Last week was the anniversary of the death of another friend who started off with breast cancer. Last week one of my friends and his family buried their mother.

But yet babies continue to come into this world! A world that still keeps on spinning!

Friends in Oregon adopted a baby girl six years ago. She is as cute as she can be, and they knew from the get-go that she would be in need of all things "special." She has Down Syndrome, cleft palate, hair-lip, respiratory problems, heart murmur, and a hole in her heart. A big one. It couldn't be repaird endoscopicly, so they had surgery this morning. I'm happy to share that Allison came out so successfully that her mom didn't see the "blip" on the heart monitor screen where her "murmur" used to be! I'm anxious to hear what this delightful child will be able to do now that her heart is repaired! I bet it will be a kind of "tired" that her parents and big sister will welcome with open arms!

Another friend's daughter is engaged to be married! I 'met' Cindy on line nearly 8 years ago! I can't believe she has a daughter old enough to get married. She's a little too young in my book, but Cindy and her husband think this young man is quite wonderful. Knowing their daughter, I'm sure he is! I wish them many years of happiness!

We've nearly made it through the first week of school and work! Whew! It's tough getting back in the routine! I'm planning to take Friday's off each week. Now, the challenge will be to remain focused and get the things done that I need to do when nobody else is home to distract me!

We have a 4oth b-day party to attend on Saturday. I don't have anything to wear. My gravy-belly and ass just don't look good in the stuff I have. I may have to go shopping. Yuck. I hate to shop!

For now, I must go to bed. It makes me sad that I can just go do that, and folks half a continent away don't have that luxury. What it does remind me of, however, is that we do need to have a plan for emergencies (especially since we live next to a river that has levee's maintained by the landowner...anything could go wrong any time), but more important that that, we need to keep close the ones we love even if. I'll call my dad tomorrow!!!