Saffron Update

This is Saffron, sleeping on her favorite pillow. Doesn't she look happy and sleepy? It's been a while since I've written about her, so here's an update.

She was doing really well, until the beginning of July. Since then she's been having lots of digestive problems and really fighting dehydration. According the blood test results we got today, her liver is about the same as it was last Dec. (and not too bad for a 12-year-old cat with liver disease), her kidneys are great, she's slightly anemic, and her red- and white-bloodcell counts are off, indicating an infection (probably parasitic). The infection is probably an overgrowth of something that's naturally in the digestive tract, but her little immune system just isn't as effective as it used to be. She's still getting fluids twice a week at the vet's to help prevent dehydration. I'm giving her two antibiotics for the infection and she's much better now.

I can't tell you how relieved I was to learn her recent problems are something that can be treated and will go away. I was terrified that her liver and/or kidneys were starting to fail. She's a spunky little thing (and I do mean little: 5 lbs. 4 oz. now) and the vet says that her attitude, plus the loads of love and care we give her, are why she's in such good shape. Her appetite is good, her coat looks healthy, and she purrs a lot. I just want to her to stay happy and comfortable for as long as possible. I'm so glad she's doing so well!

UPDATE Thurs, July 24: Tonight she rubbed her face all over my husband’s dress shoes when he got home from work. We haven’t seen her do that in ages! It’s nice to see her acting more like her old self. Whew!

Needle Felting Scultpure Class

Yesterday Laurie, Sue, and I attended Deb Koch's Needle Felting Scultpure Class. Deb doesn't have room for classes in her store, Stitches 'n' Things, so the class was held at the Senior Center in Fenton. Residents were welcome to attend the first portion of the class (free) and about 6, including Deb's mom, did!

We learned the basic techniques by making a Santa/gnome ornament. Pictured above, left to right: my ornament, Sue's, and Laurie's.

After that we made more complex sculptures. The class was designed to teach Waldorf (faceless) dolls, which several of us made, but you could make any kind of sculpture you wished. At least two ladies, including Sue, make miniature dogs.

Laurie made a Mother Earth doll, with animals on her skirt. I made a mermaid, embellished with mini-sea shells and seed beads.


























Sue's dog is not yet completed, but she has her lovely little dog, Bubbles, to use as a model:




















When she's done I will add photos of Bubbles and the completed project.

Needle Felting Sculpture turned out to be much easier than I expected! I consider myself primarily a cross-stitcher but I really enjoyed sculpting my Santa and my mermaid (especially her hair and jewelry!). Since my Sophie, my Siamese Snowshoe, is attracted to wool, I can't easily work on needle felting at home. That's one reason I really enjoy taking Deb's classes. Other reasons: she funny, an excellent teacher, and she always brings chocolate. :) After this class I feel comfortable enough with needle felting to look forward to the next sculpting class: sculpting faces.

Have You Tried Skype?

Skype is a free Internet phone service -- and it really works! Just download the software, sign up for your account, then call anyone else with a Skype account, all free.

I tried it and was very surprised at how well it works. It works just like a telephone but you make the calls via the computer software. I called some friends in Maine and, since they have a built-in camera on their laptop, I could even see them while we talked! There were only two problems. First, the calls are transferred via satellite, so there's a delay (just like when you see the newspeople on TV talking to the astronauts). Second, the connection isn't always perfect; sometimes there is static or dead air, just like some cell phone providers. Overall, though, I am impressed with this free service and will continue to use it to talk to my friends in Maine.

BTW, you can even use Skype to call a regular phone, but you have to pay for that. If you've tried Skype, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think.

An Exercise in Futility (or Why I Hate the Cable Company)

Today I made an incredibly frustrating phone call that reminds me why we all hate our cable company. (It doesn’t matter which one you have since they are all so similar.) I’m sure in the future this will be funny. Right now I want to reach out and slap my cable/Internet/phone provider!

This one is pretty long! Click here to read the whole thing.



Me: Hi, I don’t have my statement handy but I’d like to get my account balance, make sure both my name and my husband’s name are on our account, and learn how to check my account online.

Cable Rep. #1 (with some kind of foreign accent): What’s your home phone number, please? (I give it.) I’m sorry, we don’t have that number in our system.

Me: Oh, that’s the phone I get from you as part of my cable/Internet/phone package. I must have set up the account using my cell phone. (I give her that number.)

CR1: I see you have a business account.

Me: What? No, it’s a residential account. All I want to do is get my account balance, make sure both our names are on the account, and learn how to check our account online -- and switch my phone number on your records to my home phone.

CR1: I’m sorry, ma’am, I can only change residential accounts. I’ll have to transfer you to Business Accounts.

Me: (Sigh with exasperation and wait while my call is transferred.)

Cable Rep #1 (with an American accent – thank God!): How may help you ma’am?

Me: The first rep I talked to said I have a business account but I don’t. My account is residential. I don’t have my statement handy but all I want to do is get my account balance, make sure both my name and my husband’s name are on the account, learn how to check our account online, and switch my phone number on your records to my home phone.

CR2: You don’t have a business account. You have a residential account. I have no idea what the other person thought it was a business account.

Me: Can you help me?

CR2: I can confirm that both your name and your husband’s name are on the account, and I can change the phone number.

Me: Oh, thank you! (I give him our home phone number.)

CR2: For everything else, I’ll have to transfer you back to Residential Accounts.

Me: (Sigh with exasperation and wait while my call is transferred.)

Cable Rep #3 (with some kind of foreign accent): May I help you?

Me: Hi, I don’t have my statement handy but I’d like to get my account balance and learn how to do that online.

CR3: What is your phone number?

Me (Wondering about the accent): Did I just talk to you a few minutes ago?

CR3: No.

Me: Oh, sorry. (I give her the phone number.)

CR3: What is your account number?

Me: I don’t have statement handy, so I don’t know my account number. I just want to get the balance.

CR3: You can do that online.

Me: That would be great.

CR3: Since you don’t have your account number you’ll have to check your balance by phone.

Me: OK.

CR3: I need you to confirm the last four digits of your Social Security Number.

Me (I do, she gives me the balance, and I pay via credit card): I have $83 in credit in my old account. Can I transfer that to my new account?

CR3: No ma’am but I can send you a refund check.

Me: (I had to ask for this?!) OK. Thanks.

CR3: Remember, in the future you can check your account balance and pay online.

Me: I’m at your web site now and I don’t see where to do that.

CR3: Click “Register.”

Me: It doesn’t say “Register”; it says “Log in.”

CR3: Enter your account number.

Me (enunciation slowly and carefully): I. Don’t. Know. My. Account. Number. If. I. Did. I. Would. Have. Given. It. To. You. The. First. Time. You. Asked.

CR3: You can’t log in without your account number.

Me: Do you mean my “username” is my account number? Then what is my “password”?

CR3: Those numbers are on the top of your statement.

Me (Sighing): I guess I’ll do that after I get my next statement! Thanks.

I hung up and flung my phone across the couch.

To top things off, my own cable company called twice this week trying to try to sell me cable/Internet/phone service. Talk about the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing! 29 more days until the Do Not Call Registration kicks in…

Godspeed, Tony Snow

Tony Snow
1955 - 2008

Bio * Photos * Video

Tony Snow, Former White House Press Secretary and FOX News Anchor, Dies at 53.

This news made me so sad. I always enjoyed watching Tony on Fox News and as Press Secretary. He was an inspiring man who personified integrity, honesty, and politeness. It's sad to lose such a good person any time but his relative youth makes his death tragic. I truly hoped that he would beat the odds and overcome his cancer.

I love this photo of him leaving the White House after resigning as Press Secretary:

This is not a man beaten by cancer. Despite the signs of his illness and chemotherapy, this is a man still believing and fighting. Notice, too, his yellow Live Strong bracelet.

Godspeed, Tony. God bless your family, colleagues, and admirers. We'll miss your courage, integrity, and grace.

Photos courtesy of Fox News. The first is from May 12, 2006, his first press briefing as Press Secretary. The second is from Sept. 14, 2007, his last day at the White House.

A New Blogger Trick: Expandable Posts

I've seen expandable posts on other blogs and always wondered how it was done. An expandable post means that the intro is in the blog entry but you can click the link to read the full text. It's used for long posts, stories, etc. Read more.




This was not nearly as easy as Blogger Help made it sound in "How can I create expandable post summaries?"! To make it work with my Blogger template, Denim designed by Darren Delaye, I had to turn to Google for help. I found it on a blog called Hash Out.

Even with help from Hash Out, it took some trial and error to make it work. Now that I have it set up it will be easy to use in the future, but my posts are usually so short that I can't imagine using it very often. At least I learned something!

Cool Source: Science Daily

I've started reading a new web site called Science Daily. It has current articles on all aspects of science (health, medicine, astronomy, archaeology, technology, etc.). At the end of each article is the original source, usually a scholarly journal, and it shows you how to correctly site the Science Daily article (in MLA or APA format). Wow! What a fabulous site for science and research geeks (like me :).

How did I find this wonderful site? My buddy, Mitch Gann, frequently links to it in his Boomer Blog. Thanks, Mitch!

Here's an example of the neat articles in Science Daily:

Evidence Of Water Found Deep Within The Moon: Dampens Moon-formation Theory

ScienceDaily (July 10, 2008) — A Brown University-led research team has for the first time discovered evidence of water that came from deep within the Moon, a revelation that strongly suggests water has been a part of the Moon since its early existence – and perhaps ever since it was created by a cataclysmic collision between the early Earth and a Mars-sized object about 4.5 billion years ago.

Read the whole thing.

Be sure to scroll to the end to see how to cite the article in MLA or APA format. Cool, eh?

Great Lakes Trivia

According to Mark Torregrossa's "Weather Watch" column in yesterday's Flint Journal:

The Great Lakes water levels have rebounded some after this snowy winter. The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers reported lake levels last week. All of the Great Lakes are higher than this time last year. Lakes Huron and Michigan (which are the same lake for lake-level purposes) are 7 inches higher than this time last year. I find the most amazing fact of the Great Lakes pertains to the size of Lake Superior. The water of Lake Superior is equal to the water of all the other Great Lakes and five additional Lake Eries. That's a lot of water!

Amazing, eh?

Map courtesy of Great Lakes Circle Tour.

Related Sites:
Michigan Facts and Trivia
Michigan Trivia
Great Lakes Trivia

The End of The Cat Who...?

This summer I am listening to the audio books of one my favorite mystery series: The Cat Who... by Lilian Jackson Braun. For those who aren't familiar with the series, each title begins with the words "The Cat Who" as you can see by following the link to a list of the books.

Braun doesn't have her own web site. There are several devoted to her works but most are not up-to-date. I also noticed that no two sites have the same birth year for her; estimates range from 1912-1916, making her at least 92.

Braun wrote the first three books in her series in 1966-68, then took a break until 1986 when she began writing a book or two each year until 2007 for a total of 29 books, making this one of the most prolific and longest-running modern mystery series. I think it was also the first cozy series to feature cats among the main characters. Regardless, she is the Queen of the Cat Cozies.

The series follows the adventures of journalist Jim Qwilleran (called Qwill) and his two Siamese cats, Kao K'o Kung (Koko) and Yum Yum. The cats are just as important to each story and as realistically three-dimensional as Qwill. Braun skillfully walks a fine line in her portrayal of Koko. Is he a super-smart, psychic cat who can solve crimes, or is Qwilleran projecting his own subconscious ideas onto Koko's neurotic antics and interpreting them as clues to help him solve crimes? Is it just a coincidence that the apparently psychic Koko has an unusual abundance of whiskers (60 instead of the usual 24)? And what about the tingle in his magnificent mustache that Qwill gets when he has a hunch -- is he identifying with Koko or is it all just coincidence?

One of the things I enjoy about the series is all the places Qwill and the Siamese visit and all the people they meet. At the beginning of the series they live in the city but eventually settle in the country after Qwill inherits a fortune from his mom's best friend, "Aunt" Fanny. The state is never identified but is clearly the upper-Midwest. Since Braun is from Michigan, I like to think it's Michigan because some of the names sounds very familiar: Pickax sounds Bad Axe, MI and Ittybittywassee River sounds like Titabawasee River. She's never specific and drops enough hints that it could be anywhere in northern Michigan, Minnesota, or Wisconsin.

This is a very cozy series with an emphasis on descriptions of people, places, customs, food, and Koko and Yum Yum's antics (of course). There's a host of recurring supporting characters we get to know and love almost as much as Qwill and the Siamese including Polly, Qwill's long-time girlfriend; Arch Riker, Qwill's friend since childhood and fellow journalist; Junior Goodwinter (and the extended Goodwinter clan), a newspaperman from Moose County, and many, many others. Qwill enjoys collecting folk stories so the almost every book contains a quaint historical or personal story from a minor character that greatly adds to the flavor of the series.

Cat lovers will enjoy the playful and sometimes neurotic behavior of Koko and Yum Yum and the way Qwill spoils them. Qwill doesn't cook for himself and lives on restaurant food but cooks or purchases gourmet food for the cats. In each book Koko and Yum Yum's antics relate to the title of the book and the current mystery (of course). I love the fact that they act like real cats! You can tell the author loves cats and has been owned by several Siamese. As the "owner" of a half-Siamese I can verify that Braun portrays their quirky personalities accurately and affectionately.

After settling down in Moose County (400 miles north of everywhere), Qwill and the Siamese sometimes visit his cottage at the lake, presumably one of the Great Lakes. Qwill is always skeptical of the lake residents' obsession with the UFOs said to appear over the lake in the summer. This becomes a running theme/joke in all the books set at the lake, my favorite of which is The Cat Who Saw Stars. (I won't give away the ending but it's perfect!)

Settling down with one of The Cat Who... books is like a pleasant visit with comfortable old friends. Although the plots are interesting, there are seldom any surprises and you love them anyway because you get to visit the people and cats you love.

The series changed noticeably in 2002 with The Cat Who Went Up the Creek. It wasn't quite as focused as the previous books, but given the author's age (probably 90 at that time), it was understandable. The next couple books were better but the last few were shorter and had a lot less plot. Most disappointing was the last book, The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers.

SPOILER ALERT! I'm about to give away important plot elements of The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers -- stop reading now if you don't want to know. The first problem in this book is the lack of a puzzle, an essential element in even a cozy mystery; there is no crime of any kind and, hence, no plot. Other troublesome problems are that a likable minor character is tragically and pointlessly killed in an auto accident; Polly unexpected leaves Qwill for a job in France, apparently permanently; Qwill, nonplussed, simply decides to date someone else; Qwill's home burns down; the cats are hardly in the story; and we never learn the significance of Koko's extra whiskers (which is what the title refers to). Most frustrating are Qwill and Polly's actions which are completely out of character. Although they never marry, Qwill and Polly are devotedly attached to each other and in The Cat Who Came to Breakfast he realizes he can't imagine life without her. These horrible events left me wondering if Braun simply wanted to end the series and decided to do so in a dramatic and unexpected way, however disappointing to her readers. When I heard she was working on a new book, The Cat Who Smelled Smoke, I hoped that she would fix or undo everything that happened in The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers, or a least explain it. Sadly, the most recent news is that The Cat Who Smelled Smoke has been canceled by the publisher; no reason is given and I can't find any news about the author. I fear the worst. Apparently The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers was the last of the series and am very sad to have it end with such a disappointing and uncharacteristic book.

Despite the unfortunate last book, I still strongly recommend this series for anyone who likes cozies, cats, or light, fun mysteries. I also recommend the unabridged audio books read by George Guidall. If you don't want to buy them, you can probably find them in your local library. (I know the Flint Public Library and Genesee District Library have them.)

Related Web Sites:
Stop You're Killing Me
Fantastic Fiction (a UK site)
Wikipedia
Ronald Frobnitz and Family (not up-to-date; site name is a reference to one of Qwill's aliases)
The Unofficial Lilian Jackson Braun Site (not up-to-date)

Surprise! Girl Scout Cookies

How long do Girl Scout Cookies stay fresh? I'm still unpacking and just found several boxes I forgot I had stashed away: two boxes of Peanut Butter Sandwich cookies and two boxes low-fat Lemon Pastry cookies. They don't even make Lemon Pastry cookies any more, so I have no idea how old these are! Not that that has stopped me from eating them...

All four boxes were made by ABC Bakers, so they are the best. I just checked the FAQs on the Girl Scout web site, which says "Girl Scout Cookies do not contain preservatives. They are all made with pure vegetable shortening, are kosher, and freeze well to extend their shelf life." I'm amazed they still taste so good!

If you really bored, read all about Girl Scout Cookies and the two licensed bakeries that make them. Read up so you'll be ready to shop wisely next year. Oh, and don't bother freezing them. They apparently stay just as fresh when shoved to the back of the pantry for a couple of years.

Is the Internet Changing the Way We Think?

I read an interesting article in The Flint Journal today: “Is the Internet Shortening Our Attention Spans?” by Allan Hoffman, Newhouse News Service. It refers to “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” by Nicholas Carr, July/August 2008 Atlantic Monthly. (You can also read it on Digg.com, with readers’ comments.)

Carr’s article is especially interesting, comparing the Internet to previous changes in the way we write (i.e., writing itself which Plato feared would destroy memory, the Gutenberg press, the typewriter, etc.). As a college writing instructor I'm always interested in things that influence the way we think and write, especially the tools we use. I’m sure the Internet is changing the way we think, and I imagine the life-long exposure of our younger students means they think about things in a way we older folks (i.e., over 40) can't imagine.

I'm still pondering Carr's argument that Google has made our attention span shorter; for example, he can no longer concentrate on long articles, let alone heavy-going literature like War and Peace. I wonder if he's read any of the Harry Potter books, or if he gave up after book three when they got -- gasp! -- lengthy and literary.

Maybe the Internet has made me a little impatient, but it hasn't hurt my attention span or my love of reading. I'd write more, but my summer booklist awaits!

My Summer Reading List:

J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarship and Critical Assessment (Hardcover)
by Michael D. C. Drout (Editor)

Titanic - The Ship Magnificent Vol I: Design & Construction (Hardcover)

by Bruce Beveridge, Scott Andrews, Steve Hall, and Daniel Klistorner

Titanic - The Ship Magnificent Vol II: Interior Design & Fitting Out (Hardcover)

by by Bruce Beveridge, Scott Andrews, Steve Hall, and Daniel Klistorner

The History of the Hobbit (Hardcover) by John D. Rateliff

Robin Pagie's Victorian/Edwardian Murder Mysteries

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Birthday, America!

























Photo courtesy of Fireworks by Grucci.

Indy 4

We've been so busy moving and unpacking that I didn't have a chance to see Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull until yesterday. It was wonderful! (Don't worry, I'm not about to give anything away.)

Most of the reviews I've read said the film has more action and less plot than the previous films, and I agree but that doesn't make this a bad film. Despite the emphasis on action, there are still lots of visual treats that are reminiscent of the previous films, which are a homage to classic B-movies: our first glimpse of Indy's shadow as he puts on his famous hat, the light focused on Indy's eyes in an otherwise dark scene, and several shots of Indy's famous silhouette. My favorite is at the end of the unforgettable opening sequence. You'll see what I mean! Speaking of the opening sequence, I doubt we'll ever see another movie that starts off with such a bang. Wow!

The cast was especially good. Harrison Ford looked great and was the same old Indy but with a little more sarcasm thrown in. Just think of it as a touch of Han Solo. (Speaking of Star Wars, look for the references to Star Wars and Young Indiana Jones in this film. :) Marian Ravenwood, played by Karen Allen, was the same Marian we all know and love from Raiders of the Lost Ark. It was wonderful to see the two of them together again (characters and actors) and see that their magnificent chemistry is still there.

The rest of the cast was also outstanding. This was the first time I've seen Shia LaBeouf and I was impressed by the fact that he wasn't overshadowed by Harrison Ford. As an actor he is nowhere near Ford's caliber yet but he can hold his own. Cate Blanchette was amazing, as she always is, and very convincing as the leader of the evil Ruskies. (I didn't think of Galadriel or Elizabeth except to marvel at her acting ability.) I didn't recognize John Hurt as Professor Harold "Ox" Oxley, a colleague of Marian's dad, but that's probably because he's so convincing in any role he plays!

I was sorry to hear that Denholm Elliott, who played Indy's boss Dr. Marcus Brody, had died. There are nice tributes to him throughout the sequences at Marshall College. I found three. How many can you find? Jim Broadbent was a perfect choice for Indy's new boss and old friend, Dean Charles Stanforth. I can't figure out where I've seen him before but he kind of reminds me of Jack Coleman who plays Claire's dad (aka HRG or "Horn Rimmed Glasses") on Heroes, but maybe it's just the glasses.

I was also hoping, despite the producers' denial, that Sean Connery might put in a surprise appearance at the end, a la Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Sadly, the film made it clear that like Dr. Marcus Brody, Dr. Henry Jones Sr. had died since the the last film. Crap! I also missed John Rhys-Davies as Indy's friend Sallah (from Raiders and Last Crusade) and am sorry he wasn't in this film.

Those rumors you've heard about the plot involving aliens? Don't believe everything you hear. The supernatural element isn't quite up to par with Raiders or Last Crusade, but it's less disappointing than you might expect if you listen to rumors.

For those worried about spiders, snakes, etc.: arachnophobes have nothing to worry about. There is one big snake (Of course! What's an Indy film without Indy confronting a snake?), large scorpions, and ants. No bugs, spiders, or other disgusting things, probably because they overdid those in Temple of Doom.

For soundtrack fans, this one is a must. It combines motifs from all three movies, of course. I don't own it yet but even after only seeing the movie once I clearly heard famliar themes throughout the film (music we associate with Marian, Dr. Henry Jones Sr./the Grail, the Ark, etc.) as well as music for the new characters and adventures. Best of all, of course, is the familiar, rousing Indiana Jones theme. Will I buy the soundtrack? Most likely. Will I see the film again? You bet! And I want the DVD. Thank goodness Indy is back!

Related Web Sites:
Indiana Jones (official site)
The Raider (unofficial fan site. WARNING: contains spoliers!)

Michigan Solstices

This is was the Solstices are like here in mid-Michigan (43 N latitude):

Summer Solstice, 10 p.m.: Ack! Doesn't it ever get dark outside?!

Winter Solstice, 10 a.m.: Ack! Doesn't it ever get light outside?!

According to Weather Underground, today we had 16.5 hours of visible daylight. I'm looking forward to October and November, when the number of hours of daylight and dark are more balanced -- and it's dark enough to sleep at 10 p.m.!

I took this photo of the sunset over Lake Michigan in Charlevoix, 45.3 N latitude, where they have slightly longer days than we do.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

We are 99% done moving. Tomorrow we'll move the last few odds and ends and clean the old apartment one last time before handing in our keys.

Now that most of our stuff is here (even if it isn't unpacked yet), it's starting to feel more like home. It's nice to be able to cook again instead of eating take-out. Speaking of our new appliances, I especially like the dishwasher, clothes washer, and dryer.

The cats are relaxed and happy and enjoy exploring new corners or new bits of floor (each time we empty or move a box), helping us unpack, assemble new bookcases, etc.

I'm relieved to be nearly done running up and down the stairs. Since each apartment is on the second floor, I've been getting tons of exercise. One day I decided to count the number of trips I made up and down the stairs in one day but stopped counting at 30 because it was too depressing! After we are completely done moving I plan to do something less physically challenging, like run a marathon (I hear there are no stairs in those)!

The Big Move

This afternoon we moved the cats to the new apartment. It went much better than I anticipated!

First we brought over all the cat paraphernalia (blankets, toys, food, treats, etc.) and I plugged in the Feliway (happy pheromone dispenser) in the bedroom.

Then we brought the cats. I sprayed the towel in each carrier with Feliway, of course. My husband coaxed Sophie, our neurotic Siamese Snowshoe, into the larger carrier and I put Saffron, our sweet little orange cat, in the small one. Sophie cried a little in the car, but there was no yowling or panicking. Whew!

In the new apartment we put the carriers on our bed and let the cats out. They quickly explored the bedroom, master bath, and walk-in closet. Both were fascinated by the shower stall and wanted that door open so they could go inside. LOL. Even clear doors must be open. :)

Saffron quickly wanted to explore the rest of the apartment and examined the place like she was deciding whether or not to buy it. In just 15 minutes she had made the rounds a few times, then went back the bedroom and started eating. That’s my adaptable girl!

Poor Sophie was very nervous and hid in the closet under my hanging clothes. She hissed at me a little and just wanted to hide. We were both afraid to leave her anywhere unsupervised, so we carried her back to the bedroom and closed the closet door. She explored the apartment for a while, then settled under my husband's desk and seems to want to stay there!

It’s now about 7:30 pm; the cats have been here since about 3. Saffron is clingy but eating and drinking. Sophie wasn’t interested in eating until I offered her some Gerber’s chicken baby food. Now she’s back under the desk.

This is going much better than I expected. What a relief!

The Joys and Sorrows of Moving

"Why aren't you blogging?" my lone reader asked. "I check your blog every day. Nothing new. It is because you are moving?"

Bingo!

Yes, my life is nothing but boxes -- at work and at home. At work, our department is about get remodeled. That means everything in my office had to be packed. That wouldn't have been so bad but the date was unexpectedly moved up. Naturally, it was moved up to the same time I was moving at home. SIGH.

Speaking of moving at home, let me just say for the record: I hate change and I hate moving, and when you've lived in one place for 15 years during which half your family died you accumulate a lot of stuff.

To make the move less stressful we've been spreading it out over about three weeks (we are now at the end of week 2). My husband and I have been busy sorting, packing, and moving small stuff. The new apartment is only about a mile away so we're slowly but surely getting a lot done. We're unpacking as much as we can as we go along and re-using the boxes, one of advantages of moving nearby. Tuesday the movers will come for the furniture and Wednesday the cable TV/Internet will be hooked up at the new place. Tuesday or Wednesday we'll move the cats and the worst will be over.

Why are we moving to a new apartment instead of a house? Yes, I really want a house but I want to find the right house -- and right now if we buy one we don't really like we won't be able to sell it.

The new apartment is like a condo (huge kitchen, three bedrooms, two baths, laundry room, etc.) so we'll have a lot more room. It has all hardwood floors and I'm hoping the lack of carpet will mean I don't need to take my allergy medicine in the winter. Although it's much larger than our old apartment, I think we actually have less wall space for bookcases and floorspace for desks so we are now deciding what to put in storage.

Between losing Uncle Bob, moving at work, and moving at home, I feel pretty overwhelmed. Grief counseling is helping, slowly but surely, and after we are done moving I plan on spending the rest of the summer relaxing, recuperating, and doing nothing (except blogging)!

If you need a daily blog fix, read Mitch Gann's Boomer Blog by one of my colleagues. It's wonderfully funny!

PS: I should mention that physical and moral support from our dear friends Laurie, John, and Denise during this move are priceless.

Sophie's Treasures

Last night we moved the cedar chest. Underneath it we found 14 sparklie balls, 1 fluffy ball, and one toy mouse. Sophie immediately reclaimed her treasures:

















Then our clever girl showed us how they got there in the first place:


















Before I went to bed, I put all the these toys in the toy basket. When I got up this morning, Sophie had moved 10 of the sparklie balls to strategic locations around the apartment. She was a busy girl!

Happy Retirement, Mr. Tuttle!

One of my favorite high school teachers, Mr. Tom Tuttle, is retiring.

Mr. Tuttle, after putting up with us kids for 36 years and spending your summers teaching driver's training, I hope you have a wonderful retirement! I'll never forget all the fun we had in Earth Science and Astronomy, or how disappointed I was when you didn't get selected for the teaching space program, or how glad I was that you weren't on Challenger that day. I wish you happy travels always; may you find many more additions for your space memorabilia collection.

---

Here's the story from The Davison Index:

Long-time teacher retiring

Tom Tuttle in his classroom. He’s been teaching in room 344 since 1972.

By Monica Dufour
INDEX Staff Writer

DAVISON — Davison High School opened its doors in 1972, with Tom Tuttle teaching in room 344.

This June, the earth science teacher will close the door for the last time.
“I think the time is right for me to retire,” Tuttle said. “I’ve been teaching in the same classroom for 36 years.”

Tuttle said the earth science program is transferring to the Davison Middle School after this school year because of a state mandate, so he thought the time was right for him to leave.
He’s enjoyed his time at the high school. “I was hired by Don Green, the assistant superintendent,” Tuttle said. “I remember him telling me I’d like teaching in the Davison school system. He was right.”

Tuttle’s involvement at the school didn’t stop with teaching sciences. He has taught driver’s education for 27 years. He has been the Gen-Net Fiber optic instructor, teaching earth science and astronomy for 10 years.

He has volunteered for high school activities such as working in the press box at Cardinal stadium during games and has assisted with the basketball team. Tuttle has helped out with Davison’s senior prom since 1982. “I enjoy helping with the prom,” he said. “It’s a great community activity for kids and parents.”

The development of technology is something he’s noticed as one of the biggest changes over the years. “Especially with the Gen-Net program,” he said. “It allows me to teach to students at other schools.”

Tuttle said the same activities that have kept him busy over the years will be what he will misses the most.

“I’m planning on helping out still with football games if they need me,” he said.

Tuttle will also miss the staff. “We have a great support staff in Davison. We have the best secretaries, custodians, coaches and aides,” he said. “They’re fantastic people who make teachers’ jobs a lot easier.”

The Richfield Township resident said that once he’s retired, he’d like to travel. “My summers I would spend teaching driver’s education, so now I will have some time to go to places I haven’t been able to go,” he said.

Tuttle and his wife, Kathleen, have been married for 37 years. They have two daughters, Jennifer, and Heather.

In his spare time, he enjoys collecting space memorabilia from American and Russian Space programs.

Review: I Shall Not Want by Julia Spencer-Fleming

I Shall Not Want is the sixth book in Julia Spencer-Fleming’s Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne series. In this much-anticipated book, we learn what happens after the death Russ’s wife and Clare’s reinstatement in the military at the end of All Mortal Flesh.

In you aren’t familiar with this series, it’s set in the small town of Millers [sic] Kill in up state New York where ex-military helicopter pilot and newly ordained Episcopal Priest Clare Fergusson often gets involved in the criminal cases of Chief of Police Russ Van Alstyne. Clare is a refreshingly unusual heroine while Russ, also ex-military, is a much more traditional hero: an admirably good and decent man who is also a very good cop. The two are antagonistic at first but soon realized they are strongly attracted to each other. Clare is reluctant to get involved with a married man for moral reasons and Russ is determined to be faithful to his wife despite recent troubles in their marriage. Trite as it sounds, the tension between Clare and Russ is the driving force between these two very likeable characters in a very well-crafted series. All of the plots are amazingly but understandably complex and compellingly unpredictable. Keeping with the theme of Clare’s vocation, each book title refers to a hymn or scripture with the related text included as a preface.

I Shall Not Want starts off with a bang that will drive you crazy until you see how it plays out. You may be tempted to skip to the end but resist the urge and enjoy the ride. The plot is excellent, as usual, and involves the deaths Latino immigrants who work on the local farms. Clare’s work with the immigrants throws her into close proximity of Russ and the tension between the two is heightened by the grief and guilt they feel over the recent accidental death of Russ’s wife. The possibility that Clare’s unit will be called up for active duty in Iraq increases the tension throughout the book.

In addition to the usual supporting characters, we meet a new police officer Hadley Knox, who returns to Millers Kill as a divorced mom. The first female officer in the Millers Kill PD struggles to adapt and has her own romantic problems that complicate her new career. I really like her and hope she sticks around!

The book has an ending that will satisfactorily resolve some issues but leave you looking forward to the next book. I can’t say more than that without giving anything away! Do plan on uninterrupted reading time because once you start this book, you won’t want to stop.

If you haven’t read the series I strongly recommend you start at the beginning so you don't miss any of these fantastic stories or the on-going character development:

1. In the Bleak Midwinter (2002. Agatha Award for Best First Novel)
2. A Fountain Filled With Blood (2003.)
3. Out of the Deep I Cry (2004. Finalist 2005 Edgar Award for Best Mystery Novel)
4. To Darkness and to Death (2005.)
5. All Mortal Flesh (2006. 2007 Nero Award, Finalist 2006 Agatha Award for Best Novel, Finalist 2007 Macavity Award for Best Novel, and Finalist 2007 Anthony Award for Best Mystery)
6. I Shall Not Want (2008.)

Thank you, Julia, for another wonderful book and for allowing me to review it! I hope to goodness you are busy writing the next one. ☺