Groundhog Day, March 5, 2009

This is a story of my wildlife adventure on Thursday. I strongly feel that this is something that would only happen to me and only while Geoff is away.

Thursday was scheduled to be a long day. After working my normal hours at school, I was going to have to race home to walk Bella, and then head back to school for a special program for the upoming 7th graders and their parents to tour the school and find out curricular information. I arrived home about 3:15 p.m., and immediately went inside to get Bella. Once we exited the house, she immediately started flipping out. She was "on the hunt." She tracked something into the cutout window of our basement, and would NOT leave that spot. So I went over, peered into the hole, and saw a very frightened groundhog. Geoff and I have seen him around before--we nicknamed him Hamilton a while back (long story there--but he's "Hammie" for short due to the "pig" part of his name). Well, I managed to get Bella to leave him along while I took her for her walk. When we got back to the house, I called Animal Control. The lady on the phone promptly told me they would NOT come to Hammie's rescue. "We only visit when the animal is injured or there is rabid contact with a human." "Well," I responded, "either of those could be true if I try to get him out on my own!" No sympathy from said lady. So, my first plan of attack was to shovel him out. Hammie would have NONE of the shovel, and I was too scared of him biting me to get my hand low enough for the proper leverage. My second plan of attack was to ask the help of a neighbor--NONE of whom were home. So, my third plan of attack was to sit on the stairs and cry over my abandonment. NO ONE WAS AROUND TO HELP ME!!! By this time, it was time to return to work. Hamilton was still stuck, and I was beyond frustrated. My final idea was to create a ramp for Hammie out of a spare 2 by 4 from the kitchen work into the hole and hope Hammie would climb out himself. I left for work, told my story to ALL who would hear it, including my LAUGHING, unsympathetic husband in Baghdad! I smiled at parents, helped lost future students, and was finally able to get home about 8:15 p.m. The first thing I did was check on Hamilton. HE WAS GONE! HOORAY! My ingenius ramp worked!

Now all I have to do is replace the broken cover over the window eyelet to prevent this from happening again.

Baby Howard's on his/her way!

I know, I know...I said I would post more regularly than once a month. Somehow, life seems to get in the way of posting. Sorry about that! Here is the current news about Baby Howard.

Today, I am 10 weeks' pregnant. What that means...Baby Howard is 1 1/4 to 1 3/4 inches long, weighs close to .18 of an ounce, and is about the size of a small plum. (I find it funny that the pregnancy books always compare the size of the baby to different foods!). I'm feeling okay most days; I have found coping techniques to battle the nausea, and as for the fatigue I just go to sleep by 8 p.m. most nights! Geoff and I are starting to spread the word to close friends and work colleagues, and we are starting to consider names. Geoff and I are both opinionated people, so this naming thing should be FUN! We both like a couple of family names and some good, solid, classic names (don't worry--no Apples or Rains or Demetris here.) The problem seems to be the combinations--we can't quite agree yet. It's a good thing we have 30 weeks to decide! We have not decided if we are going to find out the sex of the baby. I think that will be Geoff's call as I consider that the one "Dad Moment" in the whole process--the grand announcement of "It's a boy!" or "It's a girl" upon delivery. Knowing would certainly be easier in terms of clothing and nursery decor, but there is something special about being surprised, I think. Here is a picture of the first ultrasound--this was at 7 and 1/2 weeks. We got to hear the heartbeat which was really cool, and Geoff thought it sounded just like the sound effects in the Pac-Man game! (I did too, by the way.) We won't get another one of these images for a while, so this little pic will have to whet your appetites for some time. Love to all!

My bad, but genius dog...

Everyone who meets Bella is usually impressed by her. She is quiet, loving, and pretty well behaved. I have a story to tell all of you...

Today, I decided to make homemade chicken noodle soup. (I've been craving some ever since I saw Paula Deen make her Lady and Sons chicken soup on TV Wednesday. To those not familiar with the process, it can take a couple of hours to make the stock, pick the chicken, make the soup, and clean up. I started at 10, and we ate lunch at 12:45 p.m.--it was delicious even if I do say so myself.) Well, right before I finished cleaning up, Geoff asked me to take him to get his newly fixed car. I dropped the chicken carcass, veggie scraps, and paper towels from cleaning in the trash, and then off we went. I dropped Geoff off at the car care place and headed back home. When I walked in the door, I greeted Bella as usual and remarked to her, "It still smells yummy in here, huh girl?" She walked away from me and laid down on her blanket. I thought, "That's odd." I walked into the kitchen and noticed some of the contents of the trash (old bread, tops of carrots, napkins, etc.) in a nice, neat pile NEXT to the trash can. I didn't understand at first. You see, we have a trash can that has a spring-loaded foot pedal to open and close the top. I thought perhaps I hadn't been careful enough and had missed throwing all those things INSIDE the trash can. Then I turned around and saw what was left of the chicken carcass on the living room floor. I walked into the living room, and there was Bella cowering on her blanket. Then it hit me...my genius dog had somehow figured out how to lift the lid of the metal trash can and had rummaged neatly through its contents to get to the chicken! I told her she was a "Bad Girl!" several times in a very stern voice, but part of me remains very impressed.

"Christmas in Dixie"

Well, today marked my official return to work after winter break. It was such a lovely Christmas (except for my cold) that I was NOT ready for it to end. I got to see all of my relatives on my mom's side (except for my cousin Emmi who had to work), and I got to see some good high school buddies as well! Shannon and I both got foot spas--probably our favorite gifts! Geoff enjoyed himself too--Dad set up a poker game for Connor and Geoff. They hardly get to play so Dad always tries to get a game together for them. My hubby did well, of course, and so did Dad and Connor. I very much doubt Dad's friends will play with as much $ the next time we visit! We also played Connor's Guitar Hero world tour. Now THAT is a fun family game. Connor played the drums, Geoff played guitar, and Shannon and I took turns singing. Things to note...Leslie should not try to rap Beastie Boys with a headcold, and Geoff should not attempt the drums on Connor's level. We got "booed off the stage."

News on the homefront: 1) the kitchen is tiled and grouted. Now all we have to do is paint, install the shoe molding, and install the cabinet hardware. It looks really nice. Geoff has worked hard! 2) I GOT A DYSON VACUUM!! We've been eyeing one for a while, but have been holding off due to their cost. Costco got some in and they ran a rebate, so VOILA! We now have a purple Dyson Animal (specially designed for pet hair). Geoff even likes to use it, so I REALLY lucked out! 3) I probably will not graduate this summer. USC seems to be out to get me on a tecnicality (long, confusing story that frustrates me so I won't tell it), so I may have to suck it up and wait until Fall. This stinks for so many reasons, but what can I do? Nothing. 4) Geoff's job will be changing with the administration. We don't know what he'll be doing yet, but hopefully it will involve much less travel.

The Christmas Card photo

Geoff and I thought it would be nice to do a photo Christmas card this year. We so enjoy receiving our friends' photo cards, and we thought they/you might like to have one from us. Our original plan...dress nicely for Thanksgiving dinner and have our friends Shawn and Robin snap a quick picture. That didn't happen (for some unknown reason), and then Geoff had a 2 week work trip at the beginning of December, so I gave up on the photo card idea. However, Geoff refused to let it go. Once he got back from his trip, he really wanted to take a nice picture, but then he got a vicious head cold, and we still needed to pick out and decorate our tree, and the kitchen needed to be tiled, and gifts needed to be bought, etc., etc., etc. So on Wednesday night, (Dec. 17), Geoff finally convinces me to dress up (this after wearing pigtails to school for "Wacky Hair Day"), and we take several pictures. This may sound like a quick process, but after dinner, I needed to make a broccoli salad for a luncheon at school, which included frying some bacon, toasting some pinenuts, making a homemade dressing, etc. In the midst of my food preparation, I had to keep running to the living room to be a photo subject so Geoff could play around with lighting and practice with the camera's timer. After I finish my salad, I quickly head upstairs to change and attempt to fix my hair. Once I come back down, I notice Geoff has piled my antique books on top of the wine bar and has placed the camera on top of it. I stand in front of the tree as directed, he turns on the timer, runs over to my side, and promptly puts his arm on top of my hair. That picture is no good. The process begins again. Geoff turns on the timer, runs to my side, and I blink during the flash. No good. Geoff turns on the timer, runs to my side, and grimmaces instead of smiles. After several rounds of this, we finally snap a "good enough" photo for the card only to find out that the online picture services (Kodak Gallery, Snapfish, Shutterfly, etc.) can't get the cards to us before Christmas, even with the highly overpriced overnight shipping! We compromise by taking our picture to Target and getting the hour printouts (which are so grainy you'd think we'd taken the photo with a webcam or cameraphone!) In the end, we got our photo Christmas cards. Whether or not they actually make it to you all before Christmas remains to be seen! Here's the lucky photo getting mailed out. I'm sorry to say that Geoff deleted the Griswold family versions.

The Walk for Autism

So the Glenn family piled into the Honda CRV and drove the 12 hours to northern Virginia to see their lovely daughter (sister to Connor and Shannon), and so the three women could participate in the national Walk Now for Autism. Mom, Shannon, and I got all dressed up in Auburn orange and blue and walked the two miles around the monuments downtown while the men slept in, cooked a big breakfast, and eventually made it downtown to see the last part of the walk (and Bob Dole at the the WWII Memorial). We capped the visit off by watching LSU fall to Alabama (BOOOOO...) and scarfing down wings--just like old times! I so enjoyed having my family here, and each time they come (or I go home), I realize more and more how much of a homebody I truly am. I miss them and the downhome comfort of small town Alabama much more than I ever thought I would. I love the opportunities here--museums, theatre, mountains, vineyards. But there just is no replacing the feeling of home. Sigh...

October stuff

Kitchen, pumpkin, and Palin...oh my! October was full of wacky fun for the Howards. First, we started our grand kitchen renovation. And when I say we, I mean Geoff. He worked so hard sanding, priming, then painting the cabinets. Things actually look pretty good (except for the hardware he mounted without the guiding tool, which I specifically asked him to let ME handle)! Here's a pic of my handyman! The new stove is installed, and the last 2 steps are painting and tiling--which should be a grand adventure. Please stay tuned...

We also carved a pumpkin. And when I say we,

I mean Geoff. Here is a pic of his ingenious use

of the electric knife and his obvious determination

to have the best jack o'lantern on the block!

Last, but certainly not least, we dressed for the occasion.

And when I say we, I mean WE (haha--ticked you!).

Here I am as Tina fey's version of Sarah Palin.

Geoff was my secret service agent who could not be photographed for security reasons.