Zoo!

Cat's finally done with all her classwork (she got all A's and all that). She came to her parent's house and then went to her cousin's wedding. That's all fine and nice, but then today we got to go someplace really fun: the zoo! Snibbly didn't want to go - he said something about "trivial" and "juvenile." But I wanted to go, so Cat and Mr. Cat's Dad took me.

For those who may not know, zoos are places where they keep wild animals, not animals like pigs and cows that are kept as people's friends. But they do have some wild animals that are related to us. Like this warthog that I'm posing with.

Most animals were hiding in the shade - it was hot today! Like this lion. He's not stupid.

We spent a lot of time avoiding large groups of kids. So after the big cats, we swung by the seals and sea lions. The dolphins were close while they finish up their new pool thing. Sad. But here's a sea lion getting up close and personal with the viewing window. They were really playful - probably because they get to play in the water all the time.

Cat was sad there were no walruses. I wasn't sure what a walrus was, but then Cat and Mr. Cat's Dad set up to take a picture at this statue of a walrus named Olga. Apparently, she was Cat's bother's favorite animal when he was very little. Something about blowing in his face and making him giggle? Anyway, I guess there are a number of pictures with the Olga statue floating around. And by Cat and her dad, I mean Cat in the picture and her dad taking it. He got his sole stolen in so many pictures during the wedding, Cat felt bad and didn't try to take any of him.


Cat's eyes are all squinty because it was so bright today. We noticed that the chlidren's zoo was all but deserted, and Cat and Mr. Cat's Dad couldn't remember what was there. But we found some special visitors there! I had to say hi to the ladies - see if we had any mutual acquaintances, that sort of thing.


Also - a lazy pig. I suppose I'm lucky since Snibbly is a little bit civilized - but he has been just as lazy as this guy all weekend while I've been out having adventures!


While we were at the children's zoo, Cat brushed some goats. I think the whole thing was silly, so you'll have to look at her facebook to get those pictures. After the hoards of school kids left, we went to visit the new bear exhibit. The bears were pretty lame (they looked hot) but the bison in their new habitat looked pretty cool. They're a kind of bovine, right? Cousins or something?


Cat has been doing some sewing. She took pictures last week, but didn't give us time on the computer to post them. So look forward to that.

That's all I got for that - but yay summertime!

Spring Vacation

Aha! I have control of the computer while Miss Caitlin plays games, Miss Caitlin's Bother plays with her DS, and Tipsy watches Miss Caitlin's Mother play on Facebook!

Miss Caitlin has taken us with her on Spring Break. Miss Caitlin has already done quite a bit. She finished a dress for Miss Comfort. It is one of Miss Caitlin's "drancy fesses" as she insists on calling them. Miss Comfort has been most insufferable since the thing has been finished. She has continually flounced around crying "I'm a pretty princess!" and demanding that someone make her a crown. I have no pictures to show you of this blue sparkly monstrosity, but I will probably be forced into posting some later. She also made a pair of "Bermuda shorts" for Spud, who has been much more graceful in is acceptance.

Miss Caitlin and Miss Caitlin's excellent Mother went to see Cirque du Solei. Miss Caitlin came back babbling about clown routines and the Cirque's special rigging. It seemed it was quite enjoyable. Miss Caitlin's Mother suggests that it would have been a great thing for children to see, and seems to have tucked it away as an idea for when she has grandchildren some time in the distant future.

Miss Caitlin has taken us to Michigan, where she is relaxing with her Grandmother, her Mother, and her Bother. They have played several games of Carcassonne. Miss Caitlin did not listen to my sage advice and was therefore beaten twice by her relatives.

She will head to her parent's house some time tomorrow, where she will file an amended tax return and hopefully spend a chunk of the rest of the time with her friends in the area. I hope to have a chance to see Lady Deirdre, for while Miss Adrien guested with us back in February, she neglected to bring with her our dearest friend. I hope to also see Gip, as she sent me a nice package a while back, and I wish to thank her personally for her thoughtfulness.

Miss Caitlin also has to fit in a good amount of homework, including reading for her Child Language Development class, studying for a test in her "education psychology" class (it should be renamed as "education philosophy"), and some readings and responses for her school media specialist class. For her practicum, she needs to put together a few lessons on teaching reference sources to third graders. She has decided that she needs to design a lesson on guide words to start, and then something to reinforce keywords. She has some loose thoughts that are beginning to take shape.

Dolly Stuff

Cat doesn't like the snow. She said she's sick of it, and now I think she thinks it's out to get her. She spun out coming home Monday night - luckily she was the only one on the highway and she didn't end up in the ditch. She scared herself pretty bad, but both her and the awesome car (with its sweet ABS brakes) are fine. Anyway, she was fine that everything for yesterday got canceled, and that her school visit today got canceled too.

Cat worked on Child #1's birthday present yesterday with the time she got by everything being canceled. She was a little worried it wouldn't get done in time, but it looks awesome.


Things to note - light blue sparkly fabric, little flower bows with bling in them on all the scallops, and a bolero with a feathery edging. That's right - feathery edging. Cat should get her act together and VACUUM after messing up the room with the stuff. She said she saw it in the store, thought "Oh, that's perfect! But the future me is going to hate me for it!" The future Cat did hate the Cat that picked it out, and so do the rest of us, but the dress does look a lot more sophisticated with it. It's for Child #1's Kirsten - it'll probably look nicer on Kirsten than it does here on Cathy - consolation for Cathy who, for the second year running, has to give up a fantastic dress.

Last year, people may remember, Cathy was also used to fit the birthday gift for Child #1. The coloring was even less suited to her, and therefore easier for her to let go of.

Cathy now awaits the day when Cat will make something cool for HER.

Cat's going to try to get a fashion show of her dresses on the dolls that they were actually made for. Hopefully that will be soon.

January and the Return to School

Greetings. I have the pleasure to announce the successful completion of the Plan with the return of Josey! She spent an enjoyable time abroad in Greece and Germany, and after visiting our friends back in Missouri, she has come back to us. She was rather surprised to find that we had moved but has settled in well here. She would not mind going on another trip, so if any our friends are set to go abroad, or even to another location within the States, please let us know and Josey would be happy to accompany you.

Miss Caitlin has started classes - one about children and language development, and another on language development. She hopes the first will be interesting, while the second has her saying bad things about the Education department. I am happy to say she only needs four classes from said department - it would be cruel, unusual, and unjustified punishment of us if she were required to take more. She is taking one class from her normal graduate school - that for learning to become a school librarian. She is not too hopeful that this will be helpful - rather she has higher hopes in her practicum with a local school librarian.

My good friend Gip sent a package that arrived today. She has given me little stationary cards and a notebook, in addition to some scrumptious snacks. Very thoughtful of her. I generously gave Miss Caitlin a pair of socks that were also enclosed.

After the Funeral

So Cat's Grandpa died over the weekend after several days of not having any brain activity. Several of Cat's relatives poked him, whispering things to the effect of "Teddy, you forgot to turn your body off when you left." So Cat's Mom and Bother were their when he actually died. Then everyone descended on the house (including little children - ah!), and they had a Big Fat Polish Funeral. In addition to black and white, many people wore red - I guess that's from the Polish flag. Also Cat's Grandpa wore it all the time. And they served Polish sausage at the luncheon - and a concertina player (that's an accordion folks) played polkas through the luncheon. Cat says the grave site thing was nice. They put him next to Cat's Uncle Scottie - she's glad the little boy isn't alone now. They did the Catholic prayer thing and then the V.A. did their bit. They were too cheap to get him hearing aids while he was alive, but they did send four nice young service men to help the old guys do the gun salute thing and the stuff with the flag.

Cat's birthday sort of got postponed - you know people were busy with other things that had to be done so they could bury Grandpa on time. That was okay - Cat didn't feel like having a fuss then anyway. Though her Aunt decided last minute to make a cake, and that was good. Not a lot of fuss - just enough to know it wasn't forgotten. So one of these days, Cat will actually have her birthday.

Christmas is also low key, though we do have plenty of presents to guard. Sheepy seems to want to steal them . . . we'll have to keep an eye on her.

Hopefully, we'll get to see some of our friends before we get dragged back to Champaign or out to Michigan, but plans are still really shaky and Cat's not sure when she's going to be where.

Bad News, Bad Time

Cat's Grandpa is dying. It sucks. We're in Michigan instead of under the Christmas Tree at home or at Cat's Mom and Dad's.

Miss Caitlin, the Computer Hog

It turns out that a masters degree in Library and Information Science requires a person to be on the computer a great deal of the time. Miss Caitlin has been constantly doing homework for her computer networking class or her cataloging class, and then she turns it off to read for her children's literature assignments. It is most vexing.

Miss Caitlin has made it into the K-12 Media Specialist program, meaning she will be certified to work in Illinois schools as a librarian. She has to take a bunch of education classes, so that won't be hard, but then she has to do a practicum and student teaching. I am not at all interested in this part of her education - sticky children are not at all interesting to me.

Miss Caitlin is still ill and not sleeping. The sleep specialist has gotten back to her saying her sleep study was "inconclusive." Miss Caitlin thinks that means they want to get more of her money. But she needs to sleep so . . .

In happier news, Deirdre and Miss Adrien came to visit. They young ladies spent their time on campus mostly, while Deirdre stayed with us. However, Tipsy positively hung on her the whole time, so I was unable to meet with Deirdre alone.

She will travel this week for Thanksgiving to visit her Grandparents and immediate family. Hopefully she will remember to take us as well.