New Steps

Reading over at Life of a Busy Little Bee, Jen is approaching a gap. Plans are tight for the rest of the school year, followed by an array of options to be punctuated by a major life event- A Wedding!

Thinking of my summer- the end of my fellowship, an unknown next step. Seems huge. My rather sudden change of plans and fresh job search. Are we moving? Will be in academics? Private practice? Considering the radical re-alignment I do feel at peace. As if saying no that will not work for me, and getting off the train that was barreling in the wrong direction was a critical step. A needed moment of clarification, pause to unify my gifts and desires.

And then there is the husband, "Just try something else for a while, and if that doesn't work move on. It is never the END of the world." Well said for a man who may again be following his bride across the country.

Zoom Zoom

Motofino is a Chinese moped manufacturer. A month ago I purchased a retro style scooter for $1200. A practical decision at the time. My husband's truck (1993 Nissan 210,000 miles) was stalling frequently. He drove my car to work (30 min commute) and I rode scoot. The tank fills up with 1.5 gallons, so about $3 a pop. So far 180 miles racked up on the odometer. Now we are the proud owners of a 2007 Honda Accord (4 vehicles now, if anyone is counting). So what happened to the truck? Well it is still parked in front of the house. Sometimes it takes men a while to come to terms with these things. Suprisingly I do not care. Having a husband who struggles to let go is an excellent quality. Besides he has known the truck 4 years longer than he has known me.

Multi-lobar Pneumonia

Medline search for canine pneumonia reveals reference to Yersinia Pestis (Black Plague of the 1930s). Bordetella causes "kennel cough". But why such a serious illness in my puppy (15 months old)? Certainly a bacterial infection is likely, but no white count or left shift despite his certain toxic appearance. I looked up combined immunodeficiency- and found the canine model is used to understand the disease in humans, but it is not clear that it occurs spontaneously in dogs. Moral of the story- lit review provides no solace when the illness is personal.

Smokey is my labradoodle. He has been spending the days at the vet, and the evenings under my care. In our living room we have administered subcutaneous fluids. We have perfected our pill swallowing technique. My husband has surprised me. When Smokey came home he gagged with picking up poop, but now manages rectal temps and special TLC like he was born to do so.