Hangin’ Out at High School

Somethings never change–kids still hang out in bunches after school, being rowdy and making noise. And they keep it up until the last bus comes.
The only difference between these kids and the kids at my school is their color and their access to technology.
They're pretty funny. I'll bet my kids will be part of a group like this (and like I belonged to) once they hit senior high.

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Hello, SARS

Seven years ago today, I woke up in our hotel room in Guangzhou with the sore throat from Hell.  We had arrived from Nanchang the night before, on our second to last stop on our trip to adopt Rachel.

I didn’t know why my throat hurt so bad, but I figured this was just one of my seasonal allergy sore throats that I get from time to time.  Since we left the spring-like conditions in Nanchang and jumped straight into hot and humid summer in Guangzhou, allergies seemed to be a reasonable guess.

I was worn down from dealing with Rachel, and wanted nothing more than to relax in Guangzhou and see the sights.  As each day passed, the sore throat lingered.  I couldn’t kill it.  We were in Hong Kong a few days later, where I had a brief rally just in time to get on an airplane for home.

At home, I got worse, it moved to my chest, and all hell broke loose in my body.  I went to a doctor who said “it’s just a virus” and sent me to attempt to recover on my own.  Then the SARS outbreak hit Canada, people were dying in China, and I started to wonder if I had SARS.  I certainly had had all the symptoms. 

To make a long story short, I became a SARS suspect, along with several other traveling families had hung around with in Nanchang and Guangzhou.  One bunch of friends made it to the nightly news.

At this point, I was too far into recovery to test conclusively for anything.  But I was still treated like Typhoid Mary by the medical community.

So the point of this post?  Just to celebrate the 7th anniversary of the day I started down the path to be a STARS All Star.  I still have the newspaper clippings, somewhere.  And my lungs have never been the same.  ;^)

It’s Hard to Type with a Dog on Your Lap

Especially when the dog’s tail keeps hitting keys on the keyboard.

Macalester T has become a serious lapdog — usually when I need to be on the computer, grading papers. But he’s so sweet once he’s up here. If he’d just laydown, instead of trying to climb all over me, all would be wonderful.

3 1/2 weeks now. Macalester T has proven he is the loudest and chattiest Scottie we’ve ever been owned by. It’s not like we have quiet dogs, either. But he’s a noise maker, and the rest of us talk right back to him.

He’s also always up for a good howl. Laddie is a howling machine, and Macalester T comes along for the ride. It’s quite the chorus when the kids, dogs, and I have a howling fest. It’s one of those occasions to bond.

Speaking of bonding, Sydney has really taken a shine to Macalester T. She is busy teaching him all her naughty tricks, especially how to eat paper to gain attention. They will sleep butt-to-butt which is a big deal because no dog touches Sydney unless Sydney allows it.

Laddie is getting use to having a little brother, and alternates between thinking it’s the greatest thing since kibble and wishing he’d just go away. Part of Laddie’s problem is that Laddie is in need of a haircut and gets overheated quickly during boy dog frap sessions. This gives Macalester T the mistaken impression that he’s won, which Laddie correctly later via a nip.

All in all, the transition has been so much smoother than expected. It’s really been wonderful watching the dog pack expand and redefine itself.

Butt Dialing

I was grading papers last night when my cell phone went off with the "this person isn't in you address book ring". I answer and all I hear is a bunch noise in the background–like in a class working on a project.
I hung up after I didn't get a response and the classroom noise continued.
It was probably one of my former students, because they only have my cell number. I can think of a few that may have had my number on speed dial.

CA

Scotties in Winter Garb

Itls turned cold again,so it's time to breakout the sweaters for the two hair-challenged dogs: Sydney (in lavender) and Macalester (in red).
Rachel decided Laddie needed to dress up today, so he's wearing my Black Watch scarf.
I'm about to send the three of them upstairs to comfort Sarah, who has strep throat. Again.

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Pup Update

It’s Macalester T’s fourth full day in the house, and things continue to go very well. There are the expected sibling squabbles, but otherwise, he’s done a good job learning his order in the pack — rock bottom.


There are a couple very amazing things about this little guy.

1) He’s an amazing retriever. You throw the rubber barbell across the room, and he brings it back to you. And whines until you pick it up and throw it again.

2) He has a bladder of iron. I’ve never had a dog that holds it as long as he can. It’s like a 12 hour bladder. He’s done very little marking, and the indoor accidents are minimal.

3) He’s got the best breath. No dog food breath here! I think he still has that hint of Scottie puppy breath, which usually fades at 6 months. Macalester T is about 9-10 months and smells good.

He’s very sweet and we’re so glad he’s here with us. Even Sydney sits next to him and lets him touch her royal personal space:


Macalester T is still wearing The Collar of Shame. We took it off this morning, and within an hour he had ripped off the scab on his foot. Back in the Collar he goes:


Here’s a few more pictures to enjoy.

Laddie in the Doggie Condo in the kitchen. Macalester T will move in with Laddie and Sydney once the Collar of Shame is permanently removed.


Laddie wonders why I need to take so many pictures… and when can I get the *BLEEP!* out of the way so he can wrestle with Macalester T.


Sydney has been fantastic! I really thought she’d be as mad as she was when we brought Laddie home 4 years ago. I guess that she’s grown more tolerant of boy dogs over the years.

Macalester T showing off those lovely white teeth in a classic Scottie grin. He’s happy to be here, and we’re happy to have him here!!