Random Thoughts Tuesday 11-23-10

Hey Everyone!  I'm playing along with Keely today over at The UnMom.  Wanna play?  Come on!

Why to some dogs stick their tongues out?  Chili does it.  All the time.  Apparently, she's not the only pug that does it.  I guess maybe their tongues are too big for their mouths.  Or, more likely with Chili, it's an attitude thing.  Here are some pics to show you what I mean.

Chili loves to sleep on the big bear.  With her tongue sticking out.

Chili

Side view

Ginger coming over to tell Chili her tongue is sticking out.

I was planning to get rid of that bear.  Chili pooped on it.  I cleaned it with carpet cleaner.  The kind for pet stains.  The kids don't want me to throw it away.  And it looks fine.  Chili loves to sleep on it.  Ergo, she shouldn't want to poop on it.  Obviously there is something not quite right about her.  She doesn't have that "I won't poop where I sleep" thing that most dogs do.  She spent the first 5 months of her life in a trailer with 46 other dogs.  I don't know exactly what went on there, but I assume she had to poop where she slept.  We are still trying to get her housebroken.  We've had her since February!  She's mostly there.

So Thanksgiving is this week.  I love Thanksgiving.  But it's not right this year.  My fahter-in-law, whom we were planning to go get tomorrow to spend Thanksgiving for us, is in the hospital.  He's had a hemorrhagic stroke.  At least that's what I think you call it.  MRI says lots of bleeding in the brain.  The most tragic part is that he doesn't recognize my husband or brother-in-law.  It's so painful for them to see their dad this way.  He's physically stable at the moment.  They are planning to move him out of the ICU today.  But mentally, he's very confused.
I wish I could be there for my husband.  He's about 3 hours away with his Dad.  But we've got 3 boys.  The younger two really don't need to see him like this.  And although the oldest one could handle it, and wants to go, it's probably not good for him to see Grandpa like this either.

That's the thing about us being in our 40's.  Our parents are getting older or dying.  We lost my mother-in-law about 10 years ago (she died on 9/11, one year before 9/11).  I wasn't there with my husband that day either.  Little boy at home.
My dad died about 5 years ago.  We were living in Alabama.  My parents had driven from Nevada to my sister's house for Easter.  Then they drove down to our house in Alabama.  My dad was running a fever when he got there.  He went to the doc.  Pneumonia.  Doc gave him antibiotics but said not to start driving back unless his fever was gone.  A couple days later we took him to the ER and he was admitted.  He never left.

Chili just came prancing in from upstairs.  I bet she pooped.

Today I have parent-conferences.  This will be a new thing for me with the oldest.  He's in high school.  Apparently, you go to the school.  Stop by the rooms of the teachers you want to visit.  Sign up for an available spot.  Then wait.  Hmm.  I hope it doesn't take the whole 7 hours the teachers are supposed to be available.  Especially since I have two other schools to visit.  At least the oldest can stay with his brothers so I don't have to drag them with me. :)

If you've been following me for over a year (if so, I love you!), you may have seen my post about Tommy.  Well, an author in California heard his story and was moved to write a children's book about him.  Here's the cover.  She will be in town next month for a book signing!  And Tommy will be there too.  He'll be doing paw-tograhs for a small donation to Hope Rescues (just $4).
If that weren't exciting enough, a famous baseball player will be there too!  Yup, Mark Buehlre from the Chicago White Sox will be there.  He and his wife are big supporters of Hope Rescues and have attended several functions.  I've been there at the same time.  Jealous?  Well, he and his wife are super nice people.
If you live in the St. Louis area, check out Hope's website for details.

Well, dear readers.  I hope you will visit the UnMom for some other RTT.  Until next time, I thank you very much for stopping by.  I hope you have a wonderful, blessed Thanksgiving (for the US people!).