For the Birds

We've had a bird feeder for three summers in Knoxville now. It's outside our bedroom window and perfectly placed so kitties can gaze outside and dream of a tasty meal. This summer, however, the Blue Jays have found us, and they literally consume all the bird seed in the larger feeder within a day.



David filled it up Saturday evening and by Sunday at noon, the big container was already empty!





While they eat a lot of it, they also knock a lot of it to the ground. We're glad they are here, but it's annoying that we have to replace the bird seed so often.



Fortunately, the doves are ground feeders for the most part and will eat a lot of the seed on the ground. Sammie loves to sit in her tree and watch them.



Summer also means summer gardens! I really miss the fresh potatoes, tomatoes, corn, and squash from my parent's garden. David's boss has a garden this year, and he's been giving us some white onions and garlic. We used them last week in a yummy pasta dish. Thanks John!

TGIF

It's Friday again. How did that happen?

I'm teaching every day during the summer session in June for an hour and a half. After being away from campus for a month, going every day definitely changes my routine, but I enjoy it. Overall, my summer students tend to do better. I think it's because they're only taking my class and possibly one other, and we see each other every day!

Because it's the summer, a herd of UT students work at Oak Ridge National Lab, so parking is harder for David since they've also closed one of the parking lots to construct a new building. The opposite is true for me. There is plenty of parking at UT.

Hope you enjoy your Friday and have a great weekend!

Remembering Dolly

I realize it's been several weeks since I've blogged. Some of you know that Dolly, our cat, passed away on Tuesday, May 26 around 3 p.m. after a brave battle with chronic kidney failure. It's been a hard couple of weeks without her, but I think I'm finally ready to write a few thoughts about what happened.

We're so thankful we had a few more months with Dolly after she got really sick really fast during our trip to Florida in March. After a round of antibiotics, she was herself again and stayed that way almost until the end. The last week, I noticed she was losing weight, and then she didn't want to eat. The ulcers in her mouth made it difficult to chew. I finally found a shrimp and crab soft food packet she loved, but the weekend before she passed, she stopped eating that too. I would put dry food in a bowl with some water, and she'd lick the water.



She still enjoyed going outside on the porch and watching the birds, but we knew the end was coming. The Tuesday morning after Memorial Day, we scheduled an appointment with the vet. As this point, Dolly couldn't jump and had trouble walking, so I would lift her up on the bed or into the cat tree. We wanted her to know how much we loved and cared about her. Right before we left for the vet's office, I picked up her and placed her on the bed. Sammie came over on her own and licked and sniffed Dolly's face. I took one last photo of them on the bed together. When we returned from the vet's office, Sammie was laying on the bed where Dolly had been before we left.



Upon seeing her, the vet knew she was severely dehydrated, even though we'd given her fluids twice a day. She also could have been facing heart failure and liver disease. It was time to say good-bye. This was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. The vet, Dr. Lisa Koob, and vet tech were wonderful. Dr. Koob also had tears in her eyes. We all petted Dolly as she went to sleep. Her little tail kept wagging up until the end. I leaned over and kissed her one more time and said good-bye.

We had her cremated and picked up her ashes last week. They put them in a paw-printed tin with her name on it. I placed it on the window seal since Dolly loved looking outside at the birds. The vet's office also took a paw print of her in clay, and we brought it home and baked it so it would harden. We're going to get an urn, but I'm still shopping around.





Sammie definitely misses Dolly. I never realized how much Sammie followed Dolly's cues when it came to eating and being around us. She seems lost, almost confused, about what to do and when. Dolly would always come in the kitchen and loudly meow when she wanted to eat, and Sammie would hear her and also come to the kitchen. Sammie has wanted to spend a lot of time outside on our porch, more than ever before. I think she might expect Dolly to be out there. She is a very loving cat, and I don't know how David and I could have gotten through this without her.



I also don't know what we would have done without wonderful people who've sent their thoughts and prayers. Lisa, who has taken such wonderful care of our girls when we've been out of town, brought flowers and some cake the next day. She's so thoughtful.

We've also received some greatly appreciated cards, e-mails and phone calls from family and friends. These folks know and understand what it's like to lose a pet. Pets are members of the family, and I honestly was closer to Dolly than some members of my own family. It's sad that some people don't understand this connection. Losing a pet has made me even more aware of how much they mean to humans. Even if you don't know what to say when someone loses a pet, it's better to say or write something than nothing at all. I used to not realize this, but now I do.

Below is a poem I found online. I found quite a few out there, but I really like this one. I still cry at times and expect to see Dolly on the bed, or greeting us at the door when we come home, or gently tapping me on my face with her paw in the middle of the night when she wanted to eat. We only had Dolly for six years, but we're very thankful for that time because she taught us how to love and be loved in a very special way. Dolly was one of a kind.

We love and miss you Dolly!



Four Feet in Heaven

Your favorite chair is vacant now...
No eager purrs to greet me.
No softly padded paws to run
Ecstatically to meet me.

No coaxing rubs, no plaintive cry
Will say it's time for feeding.
I've put away your bowl, and all
The things you won't be needing;

But I will miss you little friend,
For I could never measure
The happiness you brought me,
The comfort and the pleasure.

And since God put you here to share
In earthly joy and sorrow;
I'm sure there'll be a place for you
In Heaven's bright tomorrow...

- Alice E. Chase

Happy Anniversary Jason and Kristen!

My young brother and his wife celebrated their one-year anniversary Sunday, May 17. Congratulations! It's hard to believe it's already been a year.

The photo below is of all the groomsmen and my dad on the end, and is one of my brother's favorites from the wedding. It's based on the movie Tombstone, which is one of his favorite movies.


All the siblings on both sides are now married, so no more weddings for a while. Hallelujah!

Samdog Millionaire

We've started calling Sammie Samdog Millionaire just for fun with all the hype of the Oscar-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire. We also call her Sambolina and Samboli. I'm not sure why.

Both Sammie and Dolly enjoy spending time outside on our porch now that the weather is warmer. They love to lay in the sun and watch the birds perch on the bird feeder. Sammie has always been a higher jumper than Dolly and quickly jumps up onto the deck chair on the porch.



After a while Dolly comes inside and wants to cool down a bit. She is doing about the same, but is getting weaker. Because she has lost weight and muscle, it's harder for her to jump.



Saint Francis is the patron saint of animals, so we bought a statue of him and placed it near the girls' food and water bowls. Dolly is only a tad taller than him, and sometimes she rubs up against him while waiting on us to feed her. It's nice to know he's watching over both our girls.

Happy Mother's Day

This is one of my mom's favorite quotes and mine too. Happy Mother's Day!

"I looked on child rearing not only as a work of love and duty but as a profession that was fully as interesting and challenging as any honorable profession in the world and one that demanded the best that I could bring to it."
-Rose F. Kennedy

Graduation Stories

I was an usher again Thursday at UT's Graduate Hooding Ceremony. Next May, I plan to be one of the graduates and not an usher. However, it's fun to help out and be at the ceremony.

My job was to greet guests as they entered the Thompson-Boling Arena and help direct them to their seats, answer questions and pass out programs. As you can imagine, there are some interesting people who walk through the doors, so I thought I'd share some of my experiences.

One man and his family walked up to me, and after I handed them all programs, he said, "Where is the whites only section? I'm a racist. Where do you put the racists?" I was obviously caught off guard by his comment and after a second or so I said, "We got rid of that section a long time ago." He started laughing and claimed he was kidding. His wife looked horrified and said, "I'm so sorry. I can't take him anywhere!"

One of the other ushers stationed at another entrance came and told me someone had brought their little dog with him and was sitting in the audience. A little boy sitting near the dog is allergic to dogs, and his mother had complained. So I was the one who had to tell the folks their little doggie couldn't have a seat up front. I kindly told them animals aren't allowed and asked them to move to a seat in the back. The man tried to hide the dog at that point, and I told him there were people around him who are allergic to dogs. They moved to the back of the arena but he told me he was there first and didn't like being asked to move. Again, I said only service animals, such as seeing-eye dogs are allowed. His wife responded, "Well, she's a dog and she can see!" I just smiled and told them to enjoy the ceremony.

One couple came in 15 minutes after the ceremony and seemed confused. "We're here for the graduation. What do we do?" I told him it had already started, but the guest speaker was still talking, so he hadn't missed much. They proceeded to look through the program for another 5 to 10 minutes trying to find their daughter's name. They kept saying how confusing the program was, and I kept explaining it was separated by degrees. Then, they asked when their daughter's name would be called. I explained that students walk up on stage in a random order within their college or department. They don't walk alphabetically. They couldn't believe this and kept complaining about how unorganized everything was. I walked around the arena after they left to obtain more programs, and I saw them walking around as well, still confused about where to sit. I hope they heard their daughter's name and saw her walk across the stage!

During the ceremony, lots of people with children walk around since the kids aren't thrilled about being at graduation. One man was walking with his grandson who had braces on his legs. He was a cute kid and playing with an action figure, so I asked him about the toy. His grandfather was friendly and told me how his grandson was like Forrest Gump who also wore braces. He told me all about his condition, and I just listened. Then we realized a bird had made its way into the arena and was trying to get out. The man proceeded to tell me how a grocery store in his hometown of Huntsville, Alabama had a whole family of birds living inside the store, 7 of them! He hated it since the birds obviously use the bathroom on some of the food items at times. He told the owners he could get rid of them, but they seem to like having them inside. He talked for about 10 minutes about the birds, while his grandson was begging him to keep moving.

Unfortunately, Dolly Parton was honored with an honorary degree at the next day's ceremony, so I didn't get to hear her sing "Rocky Top" live on stage. It was still a fun experience. Congratulations graduates!

Thoughts from the Dog and the Cat

My aunt sent the following to me today in an e-mail. I love it! Thanks Aunt Vada!

Thoughts from the Dog

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
6:00 pm - Oooh, Bath . Bummer.
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

Thoughts from the Cat

Day 983 of my captivity.

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.

They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed
hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the
rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to
keep up my strength.

The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt
to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their
feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it
clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made
condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. Bastards.

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was
placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However,
I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my
confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this
means and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my
tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try
this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches.
The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and
seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously an idiot.

The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with
the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My
captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell,
so he is safe. For now.................

Viva Las Vegas!

At the end of April, we flew to Las Vegas for the Broadcast Education Association conference, where I had three research presentations.

We left Knoxville on time at 3:15 p.m. and arrived in Atlanta for our connecting flight. We boarded the plane in Atlanta on time and were ready to take off, but the captain told us there was a problem with the electrical system, so we went back to the gate for the maintenance staff to take a look. This took a while since we had to taxi back to the gate.

The maintenance crew boarded the plane and determined there was an issue with the back-up generators, so we all had to get off that plane and board another one. Keep in mind this was a full flight, so it took a while for this process to occur. Once we were ready to take off, the captain told us we would be furthered delayed since the control tower had lost the paperwork for our flight and would need to refile it. Finally, we made it into the air and because of all our delays, our compensation was a lovely pair of cheap headphones. Granted, I'm grateful they put safety first and had us get on another plane, but it was still a long night.

We arrived in Vegas and took a shuttle to our hotel, and we were of course the last stop, arriving at 11 p.m. Vegas time (2 a.m. Knoxville time). The woman at the front desk informed us that our room wasn't ready since someone had checked out late. She could put a rush on cleaning it, but it would still take an hour and a half. She ended up putting us in another room for the night that had 1980s decor and a murphy bed.



This is the view from our original room. We were on the 21st floor.




See how the pool is shaped like a moose head.




We changed rooms the next day and had very nice renovated accommodations as you can see below.





I had three research presentations Thursday and Friday, so we had a little time to have some fun. We didn't gamble much, just playing a few of the slot machines. You can't smoke in the Vegas restaurants, but you can in the casinos...another reason why I don't like to gamble.

The flight home Saturday was much smoother, and Dolly and Sammie greeted us at the door, not so much because they missed us, but they were hungry!

Spring Travels

During April, we traveled the most we probably ever have in less than a month. David was in six states during three weeks, and I was in five (Texas and Georgia only count since we had layovers in Houston and Atlanta).

At the beginning of April, David and I drove to Norfolk, Virginia for the Southern States Communication Association Convention, where I presented some research about students and text messaging.

The drive was a nice one since we had not traveled through that part of Tennessee or Southern Virginia. Once we arrived in Norfolk, which is next to Virginia Beach, we couldn't believe the traffic at 2 p.m. on a Friday afternoon. To get there, you have to drive through an underground tunnel, which would definitely freak out those who do not like closed spaces. Apparently, traffic can be backed up for miles through the tunnels. We were lucky driving in but not driving out the next day.



We only stayed in Norfolk for one night and ate at a great seafood restaurant in Virginia Beach, the Lynnhaven Fish House Restaurant. While on a flight a few weeks later, I saw the restaurant listed in a magazine on a list of the top 10 seafood places in the U.S.

On Saturday, we visited the actual beach, which was nice because we haven't seen the ocean since we moved from Florida.





We had lunch at a cafe on the water (photos below) before heading halfway back and stopping in the Roanoke/Salem, Virginia area for the night. We ate at a delicious restaurant with a huge menu in Roanoke called Montanos. It's in a strip mall, but don't let that turn you off. The food and service were excellent. It's a mix of Italian, Spanish, Greek, steak, seafood and more. I had the best paella I've ever had, and David had a wonderful veal dish. Just putting in a plug for the place in case you ever find yourself in Roanoke.









The Monday after Easter, David flew to San Francisco for the Materials Research Society spring meeting. He was there for a week and took a few photos of the city.








At the end of April, we flew to Las Vegas for one of my conferences. I'll blog about that experience in my next post!

A Spring Wedding

I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the wedding of my dear friend Katerina and her husband Iso on April 2 at the Knox County Courthouse. It was also Katerina's birthday.



The man who married them was a true Southern gentleman and so excited to perform the ceremony. I asked him how many weddings he has performed over the years, and he said he's lost count.



Katerina and Iso's son Aljosha joined them and was a little shy at first, hiding between his parent's legs.



We had a post-wedding celebration at Calhoun's on the River. Katerina loves the BBQ ribs.



Instead of feeding each other wedding cake, they celebrated with a wedding ice cream sundae.



Congratulations to the happy couple!

A couple of weeks later, we celebrated their daughter Sara's fourth birthday with a dinner and cake. I brought them some markers that can only be used on special paper, so my hands and their walls were safe.





Aljosha loved wearing my sunglasses!

April Showers

I realize it's May 2, and I'm finally blogging about a lot that happened in April, which is one reason I'm so far behind. The end of the semester and several trips have kept us pretty busy.

The first week in April we had some snow showers in East Tennessee. It's hard to believe, but up here we have a different kind of April shower. Here are a few photos I snapped as proof.





Dolly enjoys looking at the snow but not being in the snow.



Sammie has taken Dolly's lead and now likes to work on the computer. Dolly is about the same. She doesn't have as much energy as she used to, but she still enjoys being Dolly.

Happy Easter!

I know I haven't blogged in almost two weeks! Sorry, I've been out of town, but I have plenty to write about, including a wedding, a Virginia trip, Dolly and Sammie and more!

Here's a funny Easter Bunny story someone sent via e-mail. Enjoy!

A man is driving along a highway and sees a rabbit jump out across the middle of the road. He swerves to avoid hitting it, but unfortunately the rabbit jumps right in front of the car.

The driver, a sensitive man as well as an animal lover, pulls over and gets out to see what has become of the rabbit. Much to his dismay, the rabbit is the Easter Bunny, and he is DEAD.

The driver feels so awful that he begins to cry. A beautiful blonde woman driving down the highway sees a man crying on the side of the road and pulls over. She steps out of the car and asks the man what's wrong.

"I feel terrible!" he explains. "I accidentally hit the Easter Bunny with my car and KILLED HIM." The blonde says, "Don’t worry."

She runs to her car and pulls out a spray can. She walks over to the limp, dead Easter Bunny, bends down, and sprays the contents onto him. The Easter Bunny jumps up, waves its paw at the two of them and hops off down the road.

Ten feet away he stops, turns around and waves again. He hops down the road another 10 feet, turns and waves, hops another 10 feet, turns and waves, and repeats this again and again and again and again, until he hops out of sight.

The man is astonished. He runs over to the woman and demands, "What is in that can? What did you spray on the Easter Bunny?"

The woman turns the can around so that the man can read the label.
It says..."Hair spray restores life to dead hair, and adds permanent wave."


Happy Easter!!!