Ouch!

(imported from FB, used original posting date)

So I had an injection in my back yesterday. First they had me sit down, got my vitals and inserted an IV in my hand. At this point, I more or less fainted. I remember getting very light headed and having chills. Then I remember the nurse asking, "Can you hear me?" My reply was, "No." I guess my brain was not processing properly because clearly I could hear her! They did the injection and today my back feels different but I don't know that it feels better. The main medicine takes 1-3 days to start working. We'll see how it goes.

New glasses

(imported from FB, used original posting date)

5:48pm Tuesday, Aug 14

I picked up new glasses today. They're red -- or at least in the red family. I thought they were kind of fun.

Hannah's birthday

(imported from FB, used original posting date)

5:41pm Sunday, Aug 5

Hannah turned thirteen today and she had an opportunity to leap for liver. I made Leaping for Liver "cake" for her and filled it with a "ganache" of ricotta cheese and then frosted it with sour cream.

Hannah shared her two layers of canine heaven with her sister, Emma.

Leap for Liver
From Real Food for Dogs, by Arden Moore

1 pound sliced beef liver (save the juice)
1/4 cup water
1 small box corn muffin mix (Jiffy brand 8.5 oz size)

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• In a food processor or blender, blend the liver one slice at a time on high until liquefied. Add a little water as you add each slice.
• Pour the corn muffin mix into a large bowl. Then add the liver liquid and mix thoroughly.
• Line a 7-by-9-inch baking pan with foile and spray the foil with nonstick spray.
• Pour the liver slurry into the pan.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the middle springs back at your touch.
• Cool and cut into small cubes. Store the cubes in resealable plastic bags in the freezer.

Hannah's cake was two layer Leap for Liver goodness filled with ricotta cheese and frosted with sour cream.

In which Lucas takes possession

(imported from FB, used original posting date)

3:52pm Saturday, Jul 14

This afternoon, Kevin and I were running errands. The first stop on our expedition was Costco. While we were there, we noted the gas price was competitive and opted to top off the Kevin-mobile, a 2006 Honda Civic Si. That is when our adventure began.

When the car was filled, Kevin got back in and turned the key. Nothing. He tried again and this time we noted the demonic flashing lights followed by nothingness. He tightened the gas cap and tried again. Darkness. The gas attendant helped us push the Kevin-mobile out of the way and we called my dad and started to check fuses.

Dad came, said that it sounded like a short in the battery, jumped the car. All was well.

As dad and I were waiting for Kevin, I said to him, I didn't know that Lucas did Japanese cars.

Hannah's Carolina Hurricanes story

(imported from FB, used original posting date)

9:58pm Tuesday, Jul 10

Hannah is a big Carolina Hurricanes fan. Hannah's interest in the
team goes way back. In 2002, the Hurricanes made it to the Stanley Cup Finals where they played the Detroit Red Wings.

Kevin with Hannah and Emma in 2006. We were out of town for the (away) Sabres game that could have ended the 2006 run.

This was the spring that Marvin was with us. This was the spring after Penny had passed to the Bridge. Hannah took Penny's passing badly. She had always dreamed of being an only dog but when push came to shove, she really wanted her sister to be around. She was sad and lonely. We adopted Marvin.

As many of you recall, Marvin had kidney issues from the time that we adopted him. As the Hurricanes went further and further into the playoffs, Marvin got sicker and sicker. Meanwhile, Mom and Dad were yelling at the TV. From Hannah's point of view, this was not good.

Then our vet gave us the bad news. Marvin was not going to get better. We were out of treatment options. Our sweet, clownish boy needed to follow Penny to the Bridge. Hannah took this really hard. What was she doing wrong that her brother and sister had both gone to the Bridge? Why were Mom and Dad still yelling at the TV?

We could see that Hannah was having a hard time with all of this. Either she was home alone while we were at the game or we were at home tensely watching the game. We hit upon an idea. Every time the Hurricanes scored a goal, we would give Hannah a treat. This should
help her have a little bit of fun with hockey. Hannah started watching the games. She learned what the crowd reaction was to a goal scored and how the announcers presented this news. She learned the phrase "wrong team" and that Kevin throws his hands above his head when the Hurricanes score. She knows John Forslund's voice. When the announcers sound excited, she hops up and starts to stare at us in anticipation of her treat.

Since 2002 we have gotten a golden retriever, Emma. The golden has picked up on the hockey rules as well.

Emma is also a fan but Hannah gets much more into the games.

If only we could find Hurricanes bandannas for our dogs...