Happy Halloween

We don't get trick-or-treaters here in our complex. I wish we did, but then Katherine and I wouldn't be able to eat the entire bowl of candy bars that she bought today.

For those of you who know Katherine well, picture this scene that is currently taking place in our living room: Katherine imitating Michael Jackson singing and dancing to "Thriller", which is playing on the radio. In her pajamas holding a dish towel. She only had one glass of wine tonight. Clearly, it's the end of the week.

The best costume that I saw today was our cashier at the Co-op. She was dressed as "The Queen of Yarnia". Very appropriate for the current knitting craze.

Any future dog of ours will have some big paws to fill.

Whenever Kath and I have talked about getting pets, she's always held up Scully and Midnight as the epitome of loyal, loving companions.
She got Ty thinking that she would be exactly like Midnight. Oops. I don't think any cat of ours will ever be as perfectly cat-like as Midnight. Kath talks fondly about how she and Midnight shared the queen-sized bed growing up. Of course, "sharing" meant that Katherine slept on the outermost 10% of the bed while Midnight managed to take up the entire rest of the bed with her massive personality.
And then there's Scully with her happy tail and butt wiggle. We remembered how it was only two years ago when Scully was shaved for the summer that we were stopped on the canal while walking with her by people commenting on the "cute puppy". Of course, that made Scully perk up and prance about even more. We talk about getting a dog someday. Lately our plan is to rescue a shelter dog. But I know that if a red and white Welsh springer spaniel happens to cross our path at the right time, I can guarantee that we will be bringing it home.
I can also guarantee that no dog of ours will ever be as perfectly dog-like as Scully. And that's the way it should be.

Who's in charge?

I just learned that the kitties are completely different when I'm not home. Lately, it seems to me that they spend all of their waking moments hovering around the closet where the cat food is located. Every time I hop up from the couch, they run around squeaking wildly, thinking they are about to be fed. This happens in the morning, when I come home from work, in the evening.... basically all of the time.
Katherine just told me that when I left to go to the grocery store, the kitties all settled down for their afternoon nap.
But, as soon as I got home again, they are back to being governed by their tummies.
Hmmm... I wonder if this has anything to do with the fact that when they beg for food, I tend to give in because I cannot help giving in to their pathetic, pleading meows.

I know all of the psychology behind behavioral training, and yet, apparently, I'm the one being trained. By 3 cats. This does not bode well for future child-rearing.

The meaning of life

I've never been one to be engrossed in searching for "the meaning" in my life. I tend to think that such introspective processes would lead me to feel futile and defeated in the grand scheme of life. I just think that the meaning of one's life is found in enjoying it.... enjoying those everyday little things like...

Puck curling up on top of my feet under the bedcovers as she's doing now.

Enjoying a warm October evening at a local high school football game - with me knitting and Kath watching. (It's true. I brought my knitting to a football game. I'm surprised Kath accompanied me. :)

Enjoying a lazy Saturday morning, drinking my coffee in bed with Kath reading and the kitties sleeping around us.

Looking forward to an outing tonight to Second City with my "favorite human".

Listening to the Dan in Real Life soundtrack while making apple crisp on a rainy day.

Katherine telling me that she has a "crush" on Patrick Dempsey because he has nice eyes.... she also has a "crush" on Colin Farrell because he has nice eyes and is a bad boy who just needs some love.

A gorgeous October Saturday spent at Notre Dame watching the Irish defeat Stanford. The sunburn I endured was worth it.

Spending two whole weekends in a row with my hon bun.

Hmmmm... as I look back on this list it seems to me that the "little things" all represent love. And isn't that the meaning of life?

When is a tablespoon not a tablespoon?

I am baking Tyler Florence's ultimate caramel apple pie for us to enjoy while watching or not watching the debate tonight. I am using the Jonagold and Spigold apples freshly picked by us this weekend at Wilson's Apple Orchard (picked off of the trees no less... usually Kath and I go out to the orchard and the trees are bare and we end up picking apples from the bins inside). However, I am a trifle befuddled by Tyler's directions. The recipe calls for 3 tablespoons of ice-cold water to moisten the dough. I found myself using at least 3 times that much. How can that be? Is Tyler using a different version of a tablespoon than me?

Flight of ideas

I finished up my 9 days on OB - days and nights. It was fun to deliver babies but too emotionally intense for me. Especially in a high-risk population that constitutes at least 50% of our patients. It's hard for me to be calm and objective and think through the 20 things that must be thought about when a baby decides to enter the world. I enjoyed the midwife births the most, though. Now I want a midwife. When I'm pregnant, that is.

Yesterday was my recovery day after being on nights. I wasn't going to nap all day, but I did. It was a cozy, cool fall day, and the kitties were asleep on top of me on the couch. They're asleep on top of me now, as I'm on my 1st "study" time, which means I don't have to go to the hospital until noon. Hallelujah.

Kath and I went out to dinner at Panera last night and then saw Nights in Rodanthe, the new Nicholas Sparks movie with Richard Gere and Diane Lane. The trailer was better but the movie was still enjoyable. Kind of romantically cheesy and luckily I figured out what was going to happen before it did so Katherine was still able to enjoy the movie since it wasn't exactly a "Katherine ending".

We only watched snippets of the debate last night. I decided that watching a movie would be more relaxing. Thinking about the fact that a significant percentage of the US celebrates mediocrity makes me a tad upset.

I am enjoying some lovely Shelburne Falls coffee this morning. Thank you, Marianne and Andy! :)