Service

It was a weekend of exciting times! 

 

On Saturday, Wm finally started his service. I had asked him what he wanted to do and gave him some broad examples: helping kids, the homeless, people who were ill, older people, etc. Wm is definitely my evil kid.

Me: Kids?

Wm: Nah.

Me: Ronald McDonald house - or other sick people?

Wm: No.

Me: Homeless people?

Wm: No. I don't like homeless people.

Me: Uhhhh.

Wm: I like animals better than people.

SO - I set up our training to be volunteers at Friends of the Shelter (we can't do anything there until we've been through training) on Feb 10. And, on Saturday, we went and walked dogs and tried to hang out with some cats at the Humane Society. It was a big win for me because Cat Person William finally admitted that the dogs were more fun! He said the cats just stared at him, but the dogs were happy he was there and to get a walk outside. I completely fell in love with one and totally would have taken him home if he hadn't been adopted an hour later. Suzanne, possibly in the market for a canine companion, came along. And, I THINK, had fun!! Of course, we had to brunch first. As one does.

Hoodie that Steve got me! Love it!!

My favorite guy: Ozzy, Prince of Barkness. I wanted him to be Flip's new BFF!

Then, more big news!! I have been convinced Flip is lonely and depressed. We took him to a really big and exciting dog park and he was soooo happy to frolic with friends! He was SO CUTE. When we first took him off leash, he would only stay right by us. Then, he would venture away and come back to check in every 2 minutes. After 15 minutes, he was tearing around with new friends like a maniac! The actual news is that Steve has agreed to foster dogs!!! WHEEEEE!!! I am filling out our application today. Flip will always have a little friend and we can help out doggos in need. I'm pretty excited about it.

Finally, the last big news is that we saw a house on Sunday and put in an offer. It is very unlikely we will get it since they had 25 showings in one day. And it's in The Fancy Part of The Ville. But, it was pretty nice!! So we figured we'd give it a go. We find out by 9pm today.

Last thing, Wm cracked me up this weekend. He goes, "do you and Pop ever kiss so that your lips actually touch right on his lips?" And I was like, "DUDE. Yes. Of course. You've seen us kiss a million times." And he goes, "But, like, RIGHT on the OPEN lips??" When I told him yes, he goes, "EW. You're going to get ebola."

Shoe Twins

Steve walked in and kicked off his shoes last night and then looked down and goes, "Jesus. Who are we - Heaven's Gate?" Apparently our family has similar taste in shoes!

Black Nikes, anyone?

Steve was "watching Wm" play some new game (clearly he was super invested), and I walked in to be bad cop and tell Wm it was bedtime. Look how cute they are:

Butt snuggles

This made me laugh really hard. Steve was running through Starbucks (he already had my order!) and he texted Wm to see if he wanted anything. But, Wm was after his PayPal login:

Suspicious.

Baby Flip

Wm and I are planning to volunteer at the shelter where we got Flip. (Specifically, at Friends of the Shelter, which is where Flip came from - they take sick and injured dogs from high-kill rural shelters and bring them to Columbus and get them medical care...which is why Flip is still here! As a pittie mix with a severe injury, he was about to be put down in Southern Ohio when Friends of the Shelter found him and got him the medical care he needed.) They pointed me to a corner of their website I hadn't seen - and there was a treasure trove of pictures. I looked through them until I found who I was looking for!! Here is Baby Flip (then known as Robby). It starts with a very skinny flip in his cage at MedVet, where he had to say for weeks and weeks as his bones healed. Then, he moved on to his foster home with his foster brother, Gilbert. Seeing these pics, it's clear they were close. Now I'm sort of sorry we didn't take Gilbert too (Steve would have killed me dead, though!)

Skinny Flip at MedVet. 99% ears.

Flip and Gilbert heading "home"

Flip playing with kids and his foster mom!

Flip and Gilbert healing together

Snugglers

His official shelter portrait taken 2 days before we adopted him!

The volunteer coordinator had some great idea for ways Wm can help out at the Shelter (such as organizing donations, reading to dogs, helping people in their shelter shop, and working on their spring 5k!) Wm super excited!!

Fat Elbow

Steve had his Very Serious Elbow Surgery yesterday. He, basically, had a fatty tumor on his elbow. He does not like it when I tell him he had a fat elbow, though. It had a strange hard bump the size of a pea on his elbow that has been hurting him for a while. And he's been to doctor and after doctor (having 2 X-rays and an MRI in the process!) who basically all told him to stop whining about his fat elbow pea and live with it. But, after much trying, he found a Cutter. Finally, some guy was willing to cut it out! He was a surgeon, so getting it done was a whole business. Steve had to take a surgical shower, couldn't eat or drink for 24 hours, couldn't drive himself, had to wear the whole gown and hair net combo, etc. They took him to pre-op and he was next to people having actual surgeries. It took about 10 minutes. And he lived. And no more fatty pea. 

I had an important meeting, so, thankfully, Guy was able to drive Steve. I got an update text during my meeting and I was looking at my phone, so I go, "Sorry - I'm not being rude, my husband is having surgery and I'm getting an update." Someone gave me a funny look so I said, "OH, not a real surgery. A stupid surgery. I'm not missing his triple bypass or anything!" Then, all the biomedical engineers wanted to know what a "stupid surgery" was. So I explained about his fat elbow. And they agreed that I am the best wife ever (jk). 

It is crazy gorgeous outside today, so we ran all our errands this morning (including selling back Wm's violin). Then, after Mimi and Wm's Spanish lesson, we are going to take Flip on the walking path and enjoy it!! I am REAL excited because I have been trying to talk Steve into selling everything and living on a beach in Mexico. Maybe this warmish sunny tide will tide me over for a while!

And now, some fun pictures.

Woke up to multiple animals sleeping ON my legs. 

Just cuties being cute (look at Flip resting his dog elbow on Wm!)

At 9:15 this morning, I went in to see if Wm was still alive. He did not enjoy me showing up in his room and accidentally waking him up (then taking pictures of him). So here is the progression of Wm waking up this morning and going from cutely sleeping to cutely grumpy:

Sleeping like a baby

Trying to get me to go away and stay asleep

Awake. And pissed.

Ain't nobody knows how to nap like Flip. He digs DEEP. Check out this intense napping situation right here:

Snowmageddon

I made an eye appointment for me and Wm on Friday at 4pm. Unbeknownst to me, Snowmageddon was headed our way! Luckily, the eye doctor was close because I had to drive us home through sleet and ice with dilated pupils. My eyes are still great! And Wm's are stable. He got new frames, which should arrive later next week. But then, while we slept, 5 inches of snow fell. So we woke up on Saturday and decided that we weren't leaving the house! 

We did go out to shovel. And I told Wm if he shoveled our neighbor's sidewalk, I'd sign off on an hour of service for him. He then whined around that his fingers were numb until he was presented with hot chocolate.

Service!

Steve was hanging out cutely on the couch, resting his face on a pillow.
Me: Hey, just FYI, Flip's entire butthole and wiener were just mashed all up against that pillow. I haven't washed it yet; it's on the agenda for later. So you're covered in a bunch of dog nether juice.
Steve: Shut up. No I'm not.
Me: [shows this picture]

Exhibit A

Steve: Ugh. Oh well, he's constantly licking both those things and then licking my face anyway.

Last night, I was reading on the couch and Wm was upstairs in his room doing whatever weirdness he gets up to in there when he texted me a picture. I loved his caption!

Since we were snowed in yesterday, we are doing all the things today! We rolled out of bed and went to breakfast at our favorite place. Then Steve went to play soccer and we grocery shopped. Afterwards, we took Flip to PetPeople to get him booties (we did not get him booties since they didn't have his size). He was very ill-behaved and tried to eat or steal all the things, but still left with a Sherlock Holmes fleece and bacon flavored NylaBone.

Both new items in use

We then went to the library and will shortly leave to go see Jumanji. Wm is REAL excited about it because Steve has promised him pretzel bites. Meanwhile, I (like a NORMAL PERSON) have packed my own bag of home goodies to smuggle in for free intend of paying $900 for some pretzels. Once we get home, I have loaded baked potatoes (made in the Instant Pot!) on the menu and then a nice evening of reading and watching Pitbulls and Parolees in bed.

Tomorrow, Steve heads to work (chump!) and Wm and I will loaf around, like we do.

Oh, also, at his annual check up, we found out Schroeder has some weird tooth/gum anomaly and he needs to have at least one tooth pulled. To the tune of $500. But, the good news is that the doctor said he's in a lot of pain (NOT THE GOOD NEWS), so maybe he's been extra grumpy recently because of the pain. And once the tooth is out and his gum has healed (it's more a gum issue that tooth issue), he may be more willing to be friendly with Flip instead of trying to claw his eyes out because he's not in pain anymore. The pain may also be causing his nighttime yowling. So, hopefully we will have a much happier cat soon!!

Shoe Mixup

Well, Wm has reached a new milestone! We got home from school and I was going to take Flip for a walk. I was looking everywhere for my sneaks and couldn't find them. Finally, I realized that Wm had worn them to school!! We both have black Nikes and he had just grabbed mine and worn them all day. We are only a half size apart now, so it's an easy mistake! It freaks me out that Wm, basically, wears the same size shoe that I do! Captain Tiny is getting big!!

He has also continued to tinker around on his keyboard and is getting quite good!



We are supposed to get a weird snow storm tonight. So we are planning to snuggle in tomorrow! Then we're planning a movie and adventures (maybe sledding!) on Sunday. Wm and I are off for MLK Day, but Steve has to work on Monday. Wm is actually off today AND Tuesday for Round Tables. He has his Round Table on Tuesday. It should be interesting! (At Metro, in lieu of conferences, they have Round Tables - which is, basically, where the kids create a presentation for parents and their teachers about what they've learned, what they think strengths/weaknesses are, how they are doing in class, and request any help they need. Kids only report to school for their Round Table during those 2 days.)

Musical Genius

This may be shorter than planned since Steve got me fancy knives for Christmas and I just sliced the top of my finger off with one (hyperbole...finger is intact). Which makes typing difficult.

To sum up, Wm is the next Mozart. After Mimi and Guy gave him a keyboard, he discovered a hidden talent. He can hear any song and then recreate it on the keyboard. So, farewell violin lessons, hello piano lessons!! Here he is doing his thang:




Besides my very serious finger injury, we've had a good weekend. Steve installed my plant shelf in the kitchen!

And we've done a bunch of snuggling and planning our move to warmer climes. Steve and Flip have done lots of co-napping.

I've been figuring out my Instant Pot. Which is weirdly complicated. Good thing I am a very stable genius. I have made a roast, spaghetti sauce, steel cut oats, rice, dried beans, and currently have soup simmering in there. So I've spent my weekend familiarizing myself with The Beast (a Christmas present from Grandma and Grandpa!)

For some reason, my camera didn't want to stay in focus, but here are The Two Idiots fighting. Which I find hilarious. They are entertaining!! (Flip goes upstairs to bed around 8pm and then it's like Carnivale for the cats from 8pm-dawn every night.)

High School

Wm came home from school yesterday with his syllabus for Algebra I. Not only is it a high school level class, but, he is actually earning high school credits! By the time Wm even starts high school, he should have AT LEAST 3 Math credits complete (which, technically, is all he needs to even graduate!) SO PROUD of my little Math Nerd! He will start 10th grade math (Geometry) in 7th grade. We are also so happy that he is in a school that allows him to just plug along at his own pace. He is completing 2 years of Math in 6th grade. He completed the (typically) year long pre-Algebra class in one semester and it is anticipated he will complete Algebra I after spring semester. If he keeps going at this rate, he will be starting at Ohio State shortly after high school begins! But, I'm thinking, at some point, the kid has got to slow down!! He's very tiny. There's not room in his body for all this information!

Also, Wm is savage...
Wm: Some YouTubers that started when I do have over a million subs.
Me: Dude! You have almost 60 subscribers! That is amazing! I've been on YouTube forever and I only have, like, 7.
Wm: You have 2.
Me: Burn.
Wm: And they are both me. So if I unsubscribed both my accounts from your channel, you'd have 0 subs.

He must get it from Steve. Who seems to think I am overreacting about the cold weather. Pfffft.

Anatomy of a Nap

The car said it was -1 out as I drove in to work yesterday. NEGATIVE ONE. This is not a drill. And nowhere is safe! I read 90% of the US is below freezing. I think we have to move to Miami! But, regardless of the frigid horrors we are living through, everyone is now back at work and school today. Wm made the most of his last day off by laughing at Flip's insane napping with me as we huddled under piles of blankets. Wm was wearing a ton of layers when he left for school today and was still silent and grumpy in the backseat because school was not canceled due to cold. I am picking him up all this week because I don't want him walking to my office. The high is in the 30's on Sunday (balmy!), so I think he'll be OK next week!

Update! Wm was so close to mastering Medical Detectives, he is just going to meet with the teacher a couple times to do that instead of taking up a whole J-Term class period. Instead, he is going to start Algebra I! Way to go Wm!!! High school Math in 6th grade. Woot! AND, his favorite teacher is teaching his Algebra I class to boot!

Without further ado, here is the Anatomy of a Nap:

Phase 1: pets make one sleepy

Phase 2: BIIIIIIG stretch

Phase 3: Settled in for the long haul

Final Phase: Fang poking out and intense dreaming

This was also a visual, due to the crazy dreams The Pup was having. So, here he is, doing what Flip do:

New Year

It's a new year! And I am REALLY COLD and VERY GRUMPY about it. Wm and Flip have been enjoying the snow...for as long as they can stay out in it! But, otherwise, everyone is very annoyed.

Snow ball

We've mostly been snuggling in, despite having to return to work today!

Nappin'

Cuddlin'

Wm returns to school tomorrow. He got his J-Term schedule. (J-Term is for the month of January, between fall semester and spring semester and the kids get to take fun/unusual courses, as well as remediate anything they didn't master). Wm is taking:

Murderers, Codebreakers & Puzzle Solvers (i.e., logic and deductive reasoning)

WHAM! (i.e., gym)

Don't Make Me Think (i.e., web design)

Medical Detectives Remediation

Because he got a B+ in Medical Detectives last semester, he has to remediate that class and get an A to move on to spring semester with a clean slate. Wm should knock that out quickly. That was actually his favorite class, but it was really hard! 

Being cooped up inside is forcing some canine-feline interaction.

Flip: "why can't we be friends?" Schroeder: "GTFO."

OMG!! Co-snuggling!!! Schroeder and Flip...BFFs 4EVAH!

Today is Mimi's birthday! To celebrate, here she is playing Angel of Music from Phantom at her recital:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MIMI!