A sad one to write

We learned this morning that Paul's grandmother died last night. Even though it wasn't unexpected, we were both still shocked when we got the news. Two years ago when we were in Kansas for the 70th wedding anniversary celebration, Paul's cousin Kim, her husband Ben, and I were talking about Grandmother saying she was going to die soon. I said then that while we knew we would be going to Kansas for a funeral sooner than any of us would like, she'd been saying she was dying for the past 15 years or so. At our wedding reception, Reva commented that she didn't think she'd live to see great-grandchildren. Happily, she got to see five of them and we got to enjoy eight more years with her. She was 93 years old.

The funeral will be on Monday morning in Wamego. Because Paul has to travel again next week, we're not certain if we'll be able to make another trip to KS. His mother told us we shouldn't worry since were were there just a few weeks ago but I think both of us would like to go. Paul's brother is planning to go and I'm sure a cousin or two will be there as well. We won't have overwhelming guilt if we don't go but it just seems like we should if at all possible. I didn't ask how Owen is doing--as well as can be expected, I'm assuming. Owen and Reva had known each other since they were children and had been married for over 71 years. I would like to go to the funeral as much for him as anyone else.

Paul's grandmother was a wonderful woman who lovingly welcomed me into the family with a little note saying she was happy Paul and I were getting married and she hoped I would call her Grandmother because she considered me a granddaughter. She was obviously fond of her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and I think the feeling was reciprocated tenfold.

Sarah with Grandmother, June 2006
70th anniversary celebration, Louisville, KS

I promise I haven't forgotten about this place

I don't know if it's a case of the don't wannas or what that's keeping me from writing. I've been busy but not *that* busy in the evenings. I have had a case of the sniffles but it's not been too bad--it's mostly made me have an overwhelming desire to determine the comfiest napping position on the new couch. After a short disagreement with Paul on Sunday, the cat has decided to start speaking to us again and he's right there with me in determining the coziness factor of the couch.

Paul is traveling quite a bit again. Currently, he's in Nashville for a contract review on what is his second trip of this very new year. Next week, he'll be at Berkeley for testing. I believe he has mentioned a fourth trip in early February. I think he's got the same cold I have but unfortunately, he's not able to join me and the kitty in our supreme laziness. We've discussed taking a short trips in the next couple of months but if he's traveling this much, I doubt we'll take those trips. We are planning a two-week trip to the U.K. in June, God-willing and the creek don't rise. I'll settle for just that trip if Paul's able to make it. I've told him that he has to let me know before the first part of April if he plans to bail so we'll be able to change the name on the ticket to someone else. I don't think he will bail but I've already had several offers for stand-ins--I've debated making it an essay contest to determine who would be Paul's stand-in should the occasion arise.

I have finally uploaded all the Christmas pictures--I'm always impressed/amazed with the volume of pictures Paul takes. But that is what photographers say to do--snap away and get rid of the ones that aren't good. The problem is Paul thinks all his pictures are good. . . I'll put some of my favorites up soon--there are some fun ones from our get-togethers with our families. Here's a teaser of what's to come:

In Jub's stocking this year, there was a little mouse that can be filled with catnip (woo!) and this mouse on a string. Because we're classy like that, we twist-tied the end of the string to the back of a dining room chair. Jub's method of attack is to lay in the other chair and whack at the mouse as it swings by. My cat is incredibly lazy with his playing. He's definitely not a mouser--that would require too much energy. (And in another classy decorating touch, we have old towels on the dining room chairs and upholstered chairs to try to save them from Jub and his fur. I try to remember to remove them before we have guests over.)

And I also finally got a frame for our portrait from our photography session in October (which also produced our Christmas card and several Christmas present portraits). It's an odd size portrait--10x10--and I was feeling cheap about how much it would cost to have it framed here in town. Using The Google, I found several places that do custom-sized frames for much, much less than what I'd pay here in town. I love a good bargain and was thrilled that it was only $50-ish with shipping for the mat, frame, mounting board, and UV-protected acrylic, all archival gallery quality. Go Me! (and go framedestination.com). Even though I can hang the picture, I'll probably keep it on the mantel with an easel. I've posted our wedding picture on this place before--it's one of my favorites from our wedding. My absolute favorite wedding picture is the one of us snapped as we were walking back down the aisle and we're both grinning from ear to ear. We didn't get the cropping quite right on this portrait--it was supposed to be more middle of my forehead and less of Paul's chin. While we were talking with the photographer, she showed us several different cropping ideas and we didn't get it back to the original one. I think this one is still good, though.

Finally, four days in Kansas in December and this week's cold weather has once again convinced me that I can never live where it's really cold for extended periods of time. Say, for example, Winter. I get whiny when the temperature dips to 65 degrees, cranky at 45 degrees, and down-right mean at 25 degrees. I just don't do cold--I need between 65 and 85 degrees with a moderate humidity level, say 40%. Then I'm a happy camper. Unfortunately, the temperature will be hanging at that mean mark for the rest of this week. If the meteorologists get it right, it is supposed to be about 12 when I leave for work tomorrow with wind chill in the single digits. I would like a Cold Day--just let me stay home until it warms up so I don't have to go outside at all. Just stay in my comfy spot on the couch with my slippers and blanket until mid-March or so. Basically, I need to hibernate.

Oh, hey--I have a blog!

Momentarily forgot about this place in the past 10 days. I still haven't uploaded our pictures from Christmas--don't ask what I've been doing because the answer would be embarrassing since it mostly has involve copious amounts of sitting. I had a bit of a cold the end of last week and as it was still Winter Break, I took full advantage of the sitting time. Even turned it into a bit of lying down time.

School started back on Monday and I must admit that the first week back has gone really smoothly. Hopefully that is a good indication of the semester to come. ::::knock on wood:::: I finally finally got the magnetic strips and contraption to magnetize/demagnetize them for the books so after a YEAR, I'll be able to start using the security system in the library. All in good time. There are 20,000 of these strips. There are about 10,000 books in my library so I've definitely got plenty for the future. Or to surreptitiously stick on students and then get really cranky with them for taking things. Hey, a librarian has to get her kicks in some way.

I took the cat to the vet on Monday to have some blood work done for his dental appointment yesterday. The vet had a hard time finding a vein in either of his front legs and ended up having to draw it from his inner thigh. I jokingly commented that as mean as Jub is, the lack of blood was probably a strong indication that he is, in fact, a vampire. I mean, throw in his constant slinking around during daylight hours, spending as much time as possible under the bed, and I think the proof is pretty much there. I also reminded the vet and vet tech that when I'd had Jub neutered, he woke up fighting mad from the anesthesia.

I took the cat for his dental appointment on, dropping him off before work. When I left him, he was already pretty crabby since we'd had to pick up his food the night before. One thing that can be said for my cat is that Jub loves him some of the food. That boy doesn't miss many meals. I left him yowling at the vet's office after receiving instructions to call back after 1:00 to check on him. I called during my prep period, which conveniently started at 1:15 to learn that everything was fine and I could come claim my cat. Not wanting my poor baby to have to spend one more minute at the vet's office than necessary, and because the vet is not even 5 minutes from work, I ran over to pick him up at that time.

As I was paying, the vet tech heard the receptionist asking about Jub's carrier and stepped out from one of the exam rooms to let me know that I'd have to come back to get Jub. It seems he woke up fighting mad again. Not just fighting mad but hissing, yowling, growling and lunging mad and the vet tech didn't want to even try to pick him up. I quickly determined which kennel he was in--it was the only one covered by a towel. It was an unsuccessful attempt to calm him down. I managed to get him in the carrier only by shoving the carrier completely into the kennel and scooping him up that way. It took both the vet tech and me to get the carrier closed. I forgot to ask the vet, who was happy to see that we'd managed to get him in the carrier, about his teeth and which one was pulled or anything. Honestly, all three of us were laughing so at the cat and his antics that we forgot much of anything. Jub yowled and hissed the entire way back to school. I left the cat in his carrier in my office, where he'd hiss any time I walked by. I took him into the office after school to show off the beast and apparently all the cooing and fawning by my coworkers helped to calm him down. He voiced his displeasure with me a bit on the way home but by the time we made it to the friendly confines of our house, he was mostly done with the mad routine. Now he's to the ignoring stage. Give him a day or two and he'll come around to snuggling.
Jub, in happier days:

And here he is needing a belly rub. Or just teasing that he might be sweet enough to let you do that. If I'd tried to pet him at this point, he would attack my hand. He's not a very nice cat.

2008!

A very Happy New Year to everyone who happens by this little place!

Paul and I, as usual, spent a quiet evening at home last night--watching an old movie and playing board games. We did make it to midnight but not too long after. I'm getting too old for that.

We had a good week of travel and visiting family. More on that later. In the meantime, I need to peel myself off the couch and the endless football games today and make a trip to the grocery store. We should at least have milk in the fridge to start the New Year off.

Season's Greetings

For the maybe-three people who read this blog regularly and aren't on the Christmas card list and everyone in Blogger-land who might stumble upon this little place:

I'll be taking a brief hiatus as Paul and I are leaving for Texas early in the morning to visit my family for a few days. We come back to ABQ on the 26th only to fly to Kansas early on the 27th to visit Paul's grandparents and the family that is gathered there for a few days. His grandfather Owen celebrates his 95th birthday on Christmas Day. Milestone birthday aside, this trip is a little bittersweet because it will probably be the final time we see Paul's 93-year-old grandmother. Needless to say, it was very important to both of us to make the trip to KS this holiday. I will be back here most likely on the 31st with pictures and stories from all our excursions that occur over the next week.

In the meantime, we wish you a wonderful Christmas filled nothing but laughter and joy and 2008 that is brings you all the happiness and goodness that life has to offer.