February FREEZE!

It is cold outside .... as in 10 degrees at the bus stop this morning! yikers!


still very little snow, and that makes me sad, sad, sad. it's winter, and new england has glorious winters usually. i like snow. i do. i like the fun it provides my kids. i like the feeling it brings to adults that enjoy it. i like the way it changes the scenery you look at once it falls. i like the way people feel when it falls. i like the serenity after a snow fall. i like the peace, and the quiet, and the crisp white smell of it. and i love the way it changes the way you look at your home, your yard, and the earth covered in it. it's peaceful. it's cleansing. and i think we are getting whacked with global warming. :o( i read an article at the gym today that highlighted the changes with home owners insurance for east coasters - they are jacking up premiums (as in WAY up) due to the increased events of natural disasters. the risk we are as a group of folks living so close to the epicenters, as well as the ocean. and the likely cause being global warming. we have had a mild winter, and hot as ever summers the last few, and both of those things make me sad.


i want it to snow in the winter. i want it to be hot in the summer, but not unbearable. i'd love it is we could see some several inches of snow each weekend, play in it, throw snowballs at each other, and just enjoy the weather like we did when i was a kid (anyone remember the blizzard of '78 like i do?!)

but instead of snow, we have blustery wind, with temps in the teens ... therefore the windchill is in the minuses. brrrrrr. ick. kiddies freeze with red cheeks, and frozen fingers .... but the boys on the street still find a way to bare the cold to shoot pucks, and shoot hoops, and just run outside. it isn't long, for sure, but it gives me a great excuse to brew some yummy hot chocolate when they come in. :o) so we make the most of it, anyway.


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in other news, had a trip to the vet this weekend ..... :o( the big fella, my 9 year old lovebug of a chocolate lab woke up last tues with a terrible limp on his left front paw. he didn't improve too much, and didn't decline either, but it was clearly paining him, so i called on thursday and they got me in for first thing sat morn. he was due for his annual exam as well, as was the little monster cocker spaniel. so we did a twofer (or is that a threefer?) and chatted with the vet about my fella. :o(


best case scenario he told me was an injured toenail (which they discovered whilst clipping them - how'd i miss that in the three hundred times i palpated his leg, shoulder, spine, ankle, elbow, and fingers?) next case scenario was an old injury to his wrist that he has now developed arthritis in, and worst case - osteosarcoma. yes, bone cancer. a death sentence for a canine with it's inability to accept any treatment, or cure once it has metasicized - and inevitably it does in canines - so, he said that it's not likely, but it is an outside possibility. and he had to tell me.


i was crushed. wham. a hammer to my heart. murphy is my babe. my first babe. a big guy that found his way into my heart, and speaks to my soul. i have had many dogs, and each of them are very special. murphy exceeds that quality. he is by far the gentlest, kindest, sweetest dog i have ever had or known. s and i have only known our married lives with him. we got him when we were married only 4 months. we have birthday parties for him. we love him like a child. s spoiled him the most initially, taking him everyday to work with him, and keeping him entertained and allowing him to entertain others. he was a rock star very early on. for two years, the vet has discussed with me the conversation i need to be having with the kids about murph's departure - inevitable departure - from our lives. i've begun it, painfully, and unwillingly. i hope it happens years from now, not months.


so, we need to report back to the vet how he is walking (much better today, very little limping) and also if the whimpering has stopped while he lays down (it hasn't). he asked me to call him back on saturday to report to him the progress, and we can better lay out a plan for the sweetpea.


i am so sad to be in this position at all. i know it happens. i've had two of my own dogs in my lifetime, and they've passed. my family has had closer to 10 that have passed, so i've done the drill. i hate this drill. :o( you never are quite the same after the dog passes on. they really do feel like family members.


other than that, hockey was leaps and bounds better than the NY trip. c had 2 goals, and an assist, as well as 2 penalties. he played really well, as did the entire team. most importantly, above all else, the refs were SO much better. they were fair, and kept comlete control of the game. {sigh of relief}

we have another gymnastics meet (the first one i will see this year!) in two weeks, so she is working hard with that. piano concert has a date, according to the teacher, miss stephanie - june - so we'll be working on that too.

baseball signups are done, tryouts in march. batting cage (yes, batting CAGE) will be installed end of feb in the backyard. (s'pose that's a benefit of being married to a sporting goods salesman, right?) but c and s have a fantastic fundraising activity planned for that cage to benefit ALS for the summer months .... details on that soon! :) so proud of my guys .... k and i will be support gals, for sure!

so with that (all of that), i end today. all of your good thoughts would be much appreciated for my murph-inator ..... i'm remaining positive, and of course, strong to the best of my ability. it isn't easy yo think about, but knowing that he has been a dear friend of ours already for 9 years, i know that we are lucky. very lucky.

have a good monday evening ......