You can call me Doctor!

That's right...I passed! I do have some revisions to complete by Nov. 1st, but I will be able to walk across the stage on December 11th. Actually, I will officially be a doctor when the final copy of the dissertation is submitted to the graduate college, but who is quibbling? Gosh, I don't know what to do next?
:)

M-i-c-k-e-y

Here's Mickey! She is still pretty depressed about being away from the home she has known for most of her life. Rick has been petting her and loving her. She reminds me of a skinny Shadow!

Moving Day for fosters

I spent the day helping a co-worker move out of her house and into a new apartment. She has two cats, but her room-mate has a very elderly, sick cat, and Kinsey cat "Turtle" is not in good health. So they elected to take those two and left Mickey all alone. So we are fostering her until Kinsey can take her back. It may be a while. She is living in the upstairs apartment. I can't get a picture because she is hiding, but will get one soon. I am scared about Monday...

Here comes the Sun!!!

After seven days of continual rains and clouds, today we had sunny weather!!! Rick is officiating, but I am going out on the bike. I did the mowing this morning, as did all of my neighbors. This was a tropical low that was stalled over Oklahoma, so although it wasn't very hot, it was quite muggy and humid. I haven't seen the grass this thick and green in a long time. We are expecting another cool front that should knock the humidity down and bring in some good Fall weather. I am making a big batch of Potato Corn Chowder this week! I got the go-ahead to print the dissertation and get it to my committee. I will be presenting next Monday (28th). I made a PowerPoint today and will start practicing. I am trying to anticipate all of the questions they might ask.

Hope you all are well,

mommy

PLEASE give me some....

Evidently, Thursday thinks Rick's funnel cakes are the best in the world! Fat cats love the deep fried goodness dipped in confectioners' sugar as much as I do. Rick has been in the habit of making either beginets or funnel cakes for breakfast on the weekends. (I don't why I am gaining weight???)

It's a rained out weekend, so we are forced to do house cleaning today. One of Rick's friends was killed in a motorcycle accident and we are going to the funereal tomorrow. The rest of the week is going to be busy as I have parent/teacher conferences on Tuesday and Thursday evening. Ah well...keeps us out of trouble.

love,

mommy

Assistance from the Dead ...

...dog, that is. No she's not really dead. I know that most of you have heard the story of Jessie, the adorable Corgi. Beth had rescued her many years ago. The vet told her that the dog had heartworms and if they didn't pay the $1,000 treatment cost, she would only last for 6 months. Beth and Mike didn't have the money at that time and Jess was about 10 years old, so she asked me if I would provide hospice for doggy and make the last few months of her life comfortable. That was about 7 years ago. The dog is still alive, but we call her "the dead dog". Either the vet was totally incompetent, or very corrupt. Anyhow, Rick is building a deck addition off our bedroom and he had the pad all nice and level and ready for concrete, but JESSIE thought it should have more holes in it! Isn't she cute???

-Update... I will defend my dissertation on Sept. 28th. I am profoundly frightened of this, but immediately, I have to finish editing the draft. I should be done on Sunday.

-Katie is back home and doing well, but the specialist told her that there is too much damage and she will need a cornea transplant. I think this will happen within a few months. She starts school on the 29th.

-Rick and I have been bicycling quite a bit and A.J. has even joined us for a ride or two.

-On a more somber note...my mom was rushed to the hospital on Saturday because she was paralyzed on her left side. My sister thought she had a stroke. Testing showed she did not have a stroke, but she is still unable to walk. She is lucid and getting stronger every day. Last night she was moved to a nursing home for rehabilitation. I think the source of the problem is her inability to take her medication regularly and her diabetes got the best of her. She will be getting good care at the nursing home. Keep her in your prayers.

I hope you are all well. We have a rainy weekend in store.

She is a Pip!

Katie just returned home to Chicago this afternoon and met the new lady in her life ...Pip! Hayley, Kate's room-mate adopted her from a rescue organization. Now Bruce has a little friend to entertain him when the girls are in class. I need to give a huge thank you to Beth and Mike for taking such good care of little sis during her recuperation process. The infection is gone and she is no longer in any pain. Her eyesight has not returned completely, but it is getting better. On top of that, Katie has a job! She interviewed before she got sick and they help it for her. Looks like we all are getting back on our schedules.

Hope you are all well, mommy