Time Out

Most of you know already, but my sister-in-law, the one with the 9 week old twins, had a stroke a week and a half ago on May 15th. It was caused  by a condition called postpartum cardiomyopathy. It first appeared as a pulmonary embolism, then the stroke. She's recovering at the the in-house stroke rehabilitation center at the U, and is making some progress.

With all this going on my Mom is in town to help, and we've been hunkering down and taking care of the family. I'll follow with some more detailed posts later, but I've taken a bit of a time out from all of my extracurricular activities lately.

Wedding Cake

In honor of my third wedding anniversary yesterday (love you darlin'!!) I thought I'd share a story that needs to be written down, lest we forget.

It starts with tradition. That funny tradition where the top layer of the cake is frozen and saved for the newlyweds for their first anniversary. Well, to start with, nobody told us to cut the bottom layer of the cake first. (Who knew??) So we sliced into our own top layer at the reception. No biggie though. We of course did the whole cake trading ritual, with only minimal smears of frosting- shocking, I know- but I didn't really get a piece of that cake.

I was busy cutting the rug with the rest of the family while the cake was served, so no piece of cake then either. Then we left for our honeymoon. Forget about cake.

A little less than a year later, I graduated from college and my parents and little brother came into town for the festivities. Baby bro was acting weird, even for him, but refused to tell me why. Dad let it slip later that evening that he was being so strange because he ate my leftover wedding cake from the previous spring. All of it. Including that top tier that was reserved for me and Hubby. Let the relentless teasing begin. At first I was a bit upset that I wouldn't get to actually taste my cake (which I hear was delicious). But then I realized the power that I had in my hands. This could be blackmail for the entire decade. Like something I can tease him about to his future girlfriends.

I'll take that instead of cake anyday.

Inside of a Dog

I toss a ball into the other room for her. Its her favorite after dinner game. She bounds away, landing with a definitive pounce on the object of her desire. She trots back to me, tail high in the air. If the find was exceptional, or if she caught it on the bounce, she may include a victory lap around the ottoman. Eventually I get the ball back from her. On this toss, I hear no pounce. All is quiet. She trots back in to the room not proud, questioning. She makes eye contact with me and trots right up to me, head in my lap. She's lost the ball out of  reach. 

So Alex got me a book this weekend called "Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know" by Alexandra Horowitz. He knows I'm a sucker for these animals, which is exactly why we have one while we are renters. What I have read so far is not surprising, but fascinating. research shows that dogs are descendants of wolves. 

So how did they get to be so dog like? I mean isn't it incredible that my dog will look for her ball where I point? She looks me in the eyes as if to ask for attention? She knows by which pair of pants I'm putting on (each get a thorough sniff on the way out of the drawers) if I'm going to hang around for a bit, take her for a run, or go to work. Upon recognition, she will lay down in the middle of the room, bounce and play bow and run to the front door, or curl up on her bed and go back to sleep respectively. 

I find this type of research fascinating. I guess thats why I went into biology and decided to teach. But I love to read about it and experience dog-ness. 

Do your four-legged friends amaze you sometimes? Mine does every day. 

On Being Happy: 12 Lessons from a Labrador

1. Go to be when you're tired. Few things are worth staying up. Good friends make the cut sometimes, facebook, TV, Movies or even a good book do not. 
2. Nap whenever possible, or reasonable. Few problems can't be fixed when you're feeling rested. Or at least your attitude will have improved. 
3. Take every opportunity to go outside. Even if you don't NEED to go...
4. Be observant. You never know what joy and beauty you can find if you look for it. 
5. Be quick to respond to criticism and encouragement. Even if they are awkwardly delivered, and especially if given by a loved one. 
6. Make friends easily. If you looks for friends or enemies, you will surely find them. Look for a friend in everyone. 
7. Be excited to see old friends. What's better than an old friend to play with?
8. Play. Its good exercise, and it relieves stress. 
9. Defend those you love. There are all kinds of meanies out there. Don't let people boss you around. 
10. Let people know how you feel. Sometimes people just don't know!
11. Find joy in simple things. Bugs, sticks, birds, wind... The list goes on. 
12. Run for the sheer joy of it. Its good to know you're alive. 

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