Introducing...

COSMO!

Who is currently working on his prepositions--on vs. in. :)

Name That Dog!

After much careful consideration, I've narrowed the name possibilities down to four. They are none of the same ones I have considered since meeting this little guy on Sunday. Go figure.

Anyhow, isn't he a cutie? He is just the sweetest thing, and I think the medicine my little Peanut needed after losing Harley (I may post on that later). Anyhow. Read on for the choices.

Cosmo, Copper, Ember, or Zephyr. I have a favorite, but I'm not telling yet!

A tumor???

So, Harley had surgery today to remove a tumor of some sort! Poor guy has been through so much! Getting him in the house was a comedy in and of itself. You just had to laugh. Determined dog whose hind legs wouldn't work, his owner who made the poor decision to dress in BLACK today, and a towel. He finally made it in thanks to my boyfriend coming to the rescue!
We'll find out soon if the mass was cancerous or not.
In the meantime, here's Harley thinking about getting out of my car (I was waiting to catch him) and then when he finally made it to his pillow.

And yes, he has drool hanging out of his mouth. Darn anesthesia does that to him every time!

Finding Humor at Harley's Expense (and Peanut's)

So you'll have to read down to the bottom for the funny part. I have to provide the back story. Harley dog (138 lb. Alaskan Malamute/St. Bernard mix) has quite an extensive medical history. Things have been sort of quiet on that front (thankfully) for the last 1.5 years or so. Well of course he was due! A few months ago, I noticed this black thing on the top of one of his back legs. It didn't seem to be bothering him, so I just made a mental note to let the vet know on our next visit.
Well, that plan changed today. Yesterday, Harley was messing with it, and this morning it was bleeding and he was obviously not feeling well. Off to the emergency vet we went. Sadly, this is a fairly familiar routine for us.
We didn't get any answers at the vet, but we did get this awesome halo for him to wear so he won't be able to gnaw at his sore. I am taking him to his vet first thing in the morning where he will spend the day.

When we got home, I took my stuff in and then Peanut followed me outside. I have to help Harley out of the back of my SUV. So as he's at the edge, about to gingerly jump down (while I pick up his tail end and let him down easily), Peanut decided to jump into the back of the car.

However, the halo is clear...and she didn't see it. Also notice that it is rather large, so its span was wide. So she jumped up and directly into it and promptly fell back down to the ground (landing on her feet). She did this twice before looking at me confused like. I was cracking up. Harley is just standing there and if he could talk, he would have been saying, "Get the f$%# out of my way. I want OUT NOW."

You can see the boo boo on Harley's left hind quarter. They cleaned it up but it continued to bleed a bit. Poor guy. :( I think they will do a needle aspiration and depending on what they find, decide where to go from there. Sigh. A dog's life isn't always easy, is it?

Sweet Pups

Weekend Dog Blog

I took some shots of the dogs basking in the backyard on this 2nd day of fall. Harley is feeling much better and looking much better after the 15 pounds he dropped during his illness.







Check out Sweetnicks for all of the other cute dogs this week!

Snippets from my classroom

What a week! I got 2 new students this week. They are both in my morning class. Typically, my new students will start on their 3rd birthday, which is when they become the school district's legal responsibility per IDEA. Both of these students are about 4 1/2 which makes me sad for a couple of reasons. One is that they've missed 4+ years of early intervention services, and they really could have benefited from having help sooner. The second is that their time with me will be limited! I'll still have them for the rest of this year and next, so hopefully will be able to see much progress. One is a girl (poor thing, she's the only girl). She has no effect at all. I've yet to see her smile or laugh, which really makes me sad for her. The other is a cute red headed blue eyed boy. I almost got teary when I met him--he is too cute and unfortunately his delays are human induced. I know it happens in our world, but seeing the results of child abuse up close is heartbreaking. He is a very engaging and sweet little boy.

I had a meeting with some parents today that left us all in stitches. They were asking who K is. They thought it was a student. K is one of my TAs. Turns out there son really likes K and talks about her all the time. Funny that her name has stuck so well because the first two weeks of school he called her Leo! Anyhow, one night he was talking about her and said "Ms. B (me) changes K's diapers. K has big titties!" I don't know which is more hysterical--that he said this or that the mom felt she had to share this bit! I was giving this child an assessment recently. I asked him to draw a person for me, like his mom or dad. He proceded to draw a bunch of lines and circles. When I asked him to identify the parts he drew, he pointed to one circle and said, "That's my daddy's ass!" I had to look away and take a deep breath. He doesn't know what a chin, thumb, elbow, or knee are but he knows his daddy's ass!

I'm happy to report that Harley came home on Wednesday and so far is doing OK. He's still on meds, and has a checkup next week. I hope once he's off the meds that the same issues don't arise again because my checkbook can't handle much more! Still, Peanut and I are so glad that he's home and getting back to his normal self!

Top 10 Things I Miss About Texas

10. The cheap little Italian joint near my house. I would love one of their calzones right about now.

9. My Supper Club. While we didn't meet as often anymore, we always had a good time with good food, good laughs, and good company. So far, people treat me like a freak if they realize I am eating a home made lunch!

8. DSW (Discount Shoe Warehouse). I hear one is coming in here though.

7. Sprouts. I was just getting used to having one-their produce was the cheapest and good quality to boot. And the chocolate covered peanut butter filled pretzels? Yum!

6. Central Market. Need I say more?

5. Night OWLS--family respite program I volunteered with. I am visiting them next month. :)

4. My students. Most of them. I will not forget them--they taught me a lot.

3. My neighbors. I had good neighbors. They were good to my dogs. And to me.

2. My friends there. You know who you are. :)

1. Children's Medical Center of Dallas--my volunteer 'job' there was the most constant part of the 7 years I spent in Dallas. I met many wonderful, professional staff there over that course of time.


On another note, think good healing thoughts towards my dog Harley. He has been in the hospital since Monday. :( He's on IV antibiotics and is also getting fluids. I visited him yesterday and it was just heartbreaking. I miss my Harley. So does Peanut.

They're Baaaccckkkkk!

After 3+ months of living as 'country dogs', my dogs came to their new home today. I went to my parents' house and gave them both a bath. They were soooooo dirty--most of Harley's fur was the color of an Oklahoma farm pond--deep dirt red. I had the back of my car open, and each of them hopped in upon finishing their bath. They were ready to go! After some sniffing around, the dogs have pretty much just vegged. They keep trading places between the new pillow and the cool tile.
Meanwhile, Kita (the Malamute puppy of my nephew's) has been looking for them ever since we left. Poor girl, she lost her playmates. She played with Peanut and did everything else with Harley (sleep, poop-seriously, and eat).

Check out Sweetnicks' site for this weekend's edition of Weekend Dog Blog--lots of cute pups over there!

To be continued...& WDB

Life is busy right now and I'm not on or around a computer much. The post below I actually started May 20! I have had lots on my mind, just never the opportunity to post when it's fresh.

I'll be back later this summer--probably around when Camp Esperanza 2006 ends. I'll be sure to post my reflections from that magical week. Camp E 2005 is still somewhat fresh in my mind (and it's already been a year?) This year is sure to be a brand new experience, as I'll be in the youngest cabin with 6-8 year olds. I can't wait!

Have a great summer...

Jennifer

Weekend Dog Blog

OK, I've been absent from this event for quite some time. Busy busy. Here are some recent cute pics of my mutts!
Go on over to Sweetnicks site Sunday night to see all of the cute doggies out in blog land!

Peanut is such a happy dog!


















Whereas Harley is such a sleepy dog.

Holiday Baking and Sharing & WDB

Every year since 2001, a group of girls and I have gotten together for some holiday baking. While the group has changed (RangerGrrl and I are the only ones who have been there year after year), the sharing of good sweets, conversation, and friendship remain constant. Here's the goods. I'll link to recipes if possible, though some that I used are from Bon Appetit and are not on the Epicurious website yet.


Top: Maple-Walnut Spice Cookies (me), Candy-I forget what these are called-cream cheese, powdered sugar, ADDICTIVE, Anise Cookies, and Chocolate Crinkles (all made by RangerGrrl ).
I think I had an ADD moment when making the Maple cookies and used 1/2 cup less flour than was called for, hence the flat appearance. However, the reviews were good--if you like maple. I was also said that they could do without the icing/nuts. The spices in these cookies are amazing-cloves, cinnamon, ginger. Yum!
The candies are delicious--I could eat all of them in a sitting. Anise cookies-if you like licorice, these are for you! They are RangerGrrl's favorites. Moist and cake-like, the anise flavor is evident but not overpowering.



Top: Peanut brittle (Chimene). What is a holiday without crunchy peanut brittle? This stuff is addictive! Fudge (Joann, our host)--fudge is another favorite of mine. Yum! Chocolate haystacks (?) (Chimene's daughter). Gingerbread truffles (me). This is a Bon Appetit recipe. I mentioned them below. I haven't had the finished product, but with spices, cream, and chocolate, how can it be bad?




Finally, Chocolate Peppermint Sandwich Cookies-the finished product on the top row, and the sandwich parts on the bottom right.
The biscotti is Pistachio-Cranberry made by Maria--some coated with chocolate. Cranberries and pistachios--that's an awesome flavor combination!
I love chocolate. I love mint. Thus, I think this ma be my new favorite special occasion cookie. The chocolate is rich--I used Penzey's Dutch Process Cocoa. I'll link to the recipe as soon as it's on Epicurious. Or check out the December Bon Appetit. This is a must-try recipe for mint lovers! It's not as labor intensive as I thought it would be. I made the cookies last night, and then the filling today at Joann's house. I iced them while sitting and talking. Piece of cake!

Now for weekend dog blog #15. My dogs have been really needy/clingy--mostly Harley, so here he is thinking he's a lap dog (all 140 #s of him)!




Peanut was feeling left out, so had to join in. Nothing like laying around with 180 #s of dog on/against you!

Check out Sweetnicks to see all the other cute dogs in this weeks' WDB!

Calypso Cascades & WDB #5

Tonight, I ate something I hadnever eaten before. We have a wonderful new science teacher who is Indian. Last year, she student taught in a class that I was an inclusion teacher in, so I got to know her. Tonight, she saw me working late (something she does often herself, being a new teacher and all) and invited me to dinner. I've eaten at her house before--and it was wonderful. She said it was something quick and easy but I was welcome, so I took her up on it. We a type of mutton curry--the mutton was goat. So, I ate goat. We had the curry, rice, roti, and a yogurt sauce. It was tasty--I got a 2nd serving. Next time, I am going to go over and help her make whatever she makes so I can learn how. I'm excited!

I'm heading to OK tomorrow morning as I am in my cousin's wedding on Saturday. I still need to pack....

So, due to a busy weekend, I'm doing my WDB early. This is another Colorado dog--




Not sure of his name, but he was a dandy! This was another one taken in the sculpture park in Loveland.
Sunday night, be sure to check out all of the other cuties at Sweetnicks site.

Weekend Dog Blog #3

This is the 3rd week that Sweetnicks has hosted Weekend Dog Blog. I am on vacation in Colorado so am borrowing my friends' dogs Bria and Jacey. They are cute and much harder to keep still than my own dogs! Introducing Bria and Jacey! Jacey is in the front--she's the younger of the two and easier to photograph.

I left the heat of Dallas, with sweatshirts, jeans, and boots in tow. What did I wear today? Running shorts and a t-shirt! We did a 4 mile hike that was brutal only because the sky was clear and the sun was beating down on us. We were in the foothills so there wasn't as many trees as yesterday to shade us. The initial climb was very steep. It was a good workout and allowed us some nice views. We didn't see any wildlife this time, other than a bluejay.