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...And Little E Makes 3 Critters

Poopocalypse Now!

This morning, during what seemed like it was just going to be a routine diaper change, darling son of mine unleashed an event that shall forever be known as the Poopocalypse. Now, I’ve hunted for poopapotamus in the suburbs around Poopopolis before, and I’ve read many times a passage of Dickens calling for decreasing the surplus poopulation, but this was a real game of poop goes the weasel. I’ll admit to having barely hung on to my own breakfast during this one, it was such a mess.

And now the pictures! (But not of that.) Let us speak no more of the Poopocalypse. … Read more

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Critters

Good night, Shel

Shel Hannah

Tonight we lost Shel Hannah, a beautiful Arabian mare who we bought at the same time we got Sultry in 1999, from the same person. Shel was related to an alarming number of horses on the farm; her daughter is Hannah, our prize mare who’s probably about to sell, and her sister was Raquina, another of our mares (soon to be the last horse in our names if Hannah sells). Shel was as sweet and gentle and quiet as a horse could possibly be. She’s spent much of the summer losing weight and muscle tone, despite numerous attempts to treat these problems and bring her weight back up. Today after I found her laying on her side and barely able to get up, we made the decision to let her go humanely. But before she left us, she brought herself to her feet, walked outside into the sun, ate some grass, drank some water, and looked at her daughter in the paddock next door for a long time. We’ve given her the best life that she could, and she gave us the best filly our farm has ever produced. Other sisters and nieces of Shel’s who have come and gone have given us more beautiful girls. Her family line will continue, her work is done, and she has earned her rest.

Hannah could be leaving us for a new home as early as a week or two from now, so it’s especially bittersweet. I didn’t expect the gear-shift from “horse owners” into “parents of our own child” to strip the gears this loudly and jarringly, but there you go.

I could go on and on about Shel and “little” Hannah, but words don’t quite cut it. All you need to know can really be seen here – a video of Shel and a then-two-month-old Hannah. The best we ever had, at their best.

Jan’s heartbroken about it all, but I tried to explain to her that, unlike what happened with my horse, we at least got to say a dignified goodbye to this one.

We’ll miss you terribly, Shel.… Read more

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...And Little E Makes 3 Critters

That’s why I hope you’ll join me on the Night Watch

Doin’ Daddy Duty tonight with the little guy. Mommy is only to be woken up in the event of feeding time, which of course she has been…so I get to slip away and post pictures. (No, not of that.)

Oberon and Olivia
My fellow baby guardians tonight: Oberon and Olivia. Olivia has apparently come around with regards to the baby. She’s more or less acting like Obi now. I think what had her unnerved was unexpected visitors yesterday (of which see more below), not necessarily Evan.

Evan
Oh, he looks harmless now. But this little guy can already hold his own head up for short periods of time, rip the binky out of his mouth, and hurl it somewhere. Don’t let your guard down for a second.

Evan and Oberon
Obi checks on his new best pal ever.

Evan
Evan, in the meantime, has not a care in the world.

On visitors: I’ve been asked a couple of times when’s a good time to come see Evan (and us). The answer is: when he’s three. 😆 No, seriously, not that long, but give us a few weeks to get into this new rhythm as parents. Right now he needs to be fed every few hours, needs to be changed about as often (funny coincidence, that), and is keeping his mom and dad up all hours. I’ll be very gentle when I say that anyone just dropping in would not be catching us at our best (and would probably be sent packing by Xena in short order anyway) right now. I’m short on sleep, but not short on patience (yet) – what we’re doing is about as necessary as necessary can get. Jan’s short on sleep, and not short on pain from the surgery. So…smart money right now is on staying away for a little bit and giving us some time. And just know that you’ll be getting plenty of Evan in the blog here, so it’s not like I’m completely shutting everyone out.

Back to the daddy guard shack for me.… Read more

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...And Little E Makes 3 Critters

Home and family

Me and Mini-Me

We came home from the hospital this afternoon. Evan is still trying to get adjusted to new sights, sounds and smells. We’re still trying to get adjusted to him being here! Evan’s mom is resting comfortably now in her own bed, armed with painkillers, copious amounts of water and good food, and me at her beck and call. I go and check on them every hour or so while they sleep in her bed, but I don’t wake them up. While Evan still wakes her up every 3 or 4 hours so she can open up Mommy’s Buffet Line (apparently, judging by how much he chows down, the right boob is way, way better than the left boob), at least here she doesn’t have to deal with nurses waking her up every hour to check her blood pressure, temperature, etc. etc. So while you might not think that you’d get more sleep after going home with a screamin’ baby, that is actually the case here.

For months, we’ve been telling Oberon that Evan is going to be his best buddy. To my total amazement, it’s like Oberon has heard every word of this and taken it on board. He’s completely fascinated by Evan, and has gotten close enough to sniff Evan’s forehead while Evan reached out to try to grab some Obi fur. It’s surreal to imagine that there’s already some kind of bond there, but I suppose stranger things have in fact happened. (Before anyone freaks out – the door is closed while Evan and his mom sleep, so there’s no smother hazard there. I am carefully supervising any contact between baby and kitties.) On the flipside, it’s a bit disappointing that Olivia is the sole holdout: she runs and hides at the first peep or poop that Evan makes. She practically lives in the game room now, in one of Othello’s secret sleeping spots or, if she’s feeling a bit more secure, on the lid of my scanner. Even Othello has gone to scope out the new arrival and seems to approve. No idea what Xena thinks yet – she’s been laying low.

I really do wonder what I used to do with my time before now.… Read more

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...And Little E Makes 3 Critters

Howdy folks

Oberon surveys all that he controls
Oberon the cat here. Welcome to my room. Isn’t it luxurious? Great smooth floor for us kitties to run around and skid out on. I love it.

OBI'S R00M
I’m taking over the blog for a bit while the people get ready to go have this baby thing. They say they’re going to the hospital tonight, and then they’re going to come back in a couple of days with the baby. And then this’ll be his room. Ha! We’ll see about that. He’s not even going to be able to run around and fishtail like we do, what use could he possibly have for this room?

I’ll let you know what all happens. Olivia and Othello might help too. They have to remind me how to type. Actually, Olivia’s typing this for me right now. That’s why everything’s spelled right. She are smrt kttn.… Read more

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Television & Movies

A question that leaves me Blinkered

I’m sitting here watching Blink, my favorite episode of the third season of Doctor Who. Now, bear in mind I’ve already seen it, but I’m up for watching it again and again because it’s just that good. And I got to thinking: I loved Love & Monsters last season. Both of these episodes had very minimal involvement from David Tennant, and Blink just won the poll for the season’s scariest monsters (quite rightly, I gotta say). L&M was a little bit less acclaimed. But…why didn’t anyone think of doing a full 2009 season along the lines of these episodes? Or maybe even have full involvement with whoever’s playing the companion – Freema or Catherine or whoever’s there – and do a bit of a “looking for the Doctor” season. If David can only be fully involved for three episodes or whatever, have that cap off the season.

The precedent’s already been set, why not?

Oh, and Sci-Fi’s “next week” promos = teh suck. Just give the whole freakin’ plot away, why don’t you? Jeez guys. I can still do promos, ya know. Call me.… Read more