Uh oh!

I really don't have a thing to say as I slide into the end of the semester, but blogging's in my blood, so I thought I'd better come up with something. A list perhaps, of all the mundane things that are going on in my life:
1) I called the doctor's office yesterday to find out that the nurse didn't "check the box" to order the MRI I've been waiting for. Way to go non-box-checking imbecile. After all, it's only constant pain I'm in.

2) I did some yard work and while I thought I might never walk again last night I am fine this morning, well as fine as someone in constant pain can claim to be.

3) Vincent got his claws stuck in a screen window on the back porch and lost part of one. No blood and one less nail to clip.

4) Last night I dreamed of my father's funeral and that he woke up in the middle of it. Not really woke up, more yawned and rolled onto his side and went back to sleep. I sort of liked this dream (not at first) because it gave me the idea that he might be sleeping (metaphor!) peacefully in Mt. Carmel cemetery.

5) I will likely not go to graduation on May 7th. Sitting for two hours in a metal chair will render me incapable of most movement and in wretched pain for days. I will likely go surprise Mrs. Murphy for Mother's Day instead.

In not-so-mundane news, D's parents are coming for a visit this weekend. I'll be taking bets on how long it'll take them to notice that gorgeous ring I'm sporting on my stubby little finger. Your bets?

Enjoy the spring weather, if there is some where you are.
MNYAGG

Come On, Really!!!!!!!!

Snow! When will winter end already? Think happy place; think happy place.

What Could Make Me Happier?

Spring coming, that's what. Yesterday as I was driving home from work it started snowing. It didn't stick, mind you, but it was enough to ice the cake of what the hell happened to spring this year. I, like many others in CNY no doubt, expected to be rewarded after this horrible winter with an early and beautiful spring. Alas, that is not what's happening, not here at least. The buds on my trees are probably wondering what's going on, but the little purple and yellow flowers on my lawn still insist on standing proud against the 40 mph winds that kept me indoors on Saturday and Sunday. They're tougher than I am, that's for sure.
What's spring doing in your neck of the woods?
MNYAGG

So I said . . .

to D "you know I don't just love this ring because it's so pretty. I love it because it symbolizes our life together." I also said something about him having to pry it off my cold dead hand. I'm cheerful like that.

I love it. I love it. I love it.

So why can't I get a decent picture of it? My new engagement ring, that is. I'm gonna ask D if he'll try taking a picture of it. And then I'm gonna put that picture here, so stay tuned.
MNYAGG

Dear Vincent,

I love you, you know I do, but you are really making me sneeze right now. May I please have you shaved, or would that do something to your cat dignity? Maybe I'll buy some antihistamines.
Your Owner,
Dr. Patricia Murphy

Spoil Sports

Don't you hate it when a few people just spoil "it" for everyone else? Yes, I'm talking about plagiarism, the reason my students didn't get both of their assignments back last night (online class). I said that it was because it takes longer to grade when I have to look for plagiarism, and that's true. But it also made me mad enough to not want to look at annotated bibliographies just then and have to determine whether or not some of them were also plagiarized.

Don't you hate it when a few people just spoil it for everyone else?

So, how big are these needles, anyway?

I'm going to have a procedure -- an epidural steroid injection. They will stick needles in my back, and happily two of them will contain anesthesia. I am calm now, but I suspect that when it is scheduled (and further, when it is happening) I will not be calm. I will ask for a sedative; of this I am sure. I fear too that I will start talking while sedated and reveal unsavory details about myself. Gawd knows there are plenty of those I could go on about. Mostly, I'm afraid that they'll stick the needle(s) in the wrong place and I'll wind up ...
well, I don't want to think about that.
How was your day?
MNYAGG

Yes,

I'm grading letters from my online bus com writers. I really am. I'm not blogging to avoid that, not me. But since I'm here I should tell you to check out a feature of Smithsonian magazine (yes, I have a subscription; yes, I'm a nerd) that's online. It's called My Kind of Town, and after reading Charles Michener's piece on Cleveland in this month's print version I had to go look for more. I found Anthony Doerr writing about Boise, Idaho and Mark Doty expressing his love for Houston. Made me miss that Big Sky. You should check it out http://microsite.smithsonianmag.com/content/my-kind-of-town/

You can thank me later.
MNYAGG

Spring, I'll Get Back To You On That One

I was toying with the idea of having a bbq this Sunday, one that would involve me cooking outside while friends come and clean up my yard. It's a nice American tradition I think, to feed people after making them work for you: sort of like a barn raising.

Last night my roommate (who has actually said that he misses winter) asked me if I was still going to do it. Since it's been raining and snowing every day despite the "50% chance of rain" predicted on the news, I'm gonna say no. Sometimes here a 50% chance of rain = 100% rain, 100% of the time. I've learned this after seven years.

Don't get me wrong; we do have spring here, most years. This year winter started early and has stayed like a drunk at a party. You know the one: everybody else leaves and s/he lingers, maybe falling asleep a few times but rousing him/herself to talk about the good times, the bad times, whatever. Spring this year in CNY is that guy, the one who winds up sleeping on your couch after you thought s/he'd sober up enough to go home.

Winter has to stop sleeping on my couch. I am sick of turning the upstairs heat on.

Yes, there are more serious things I could blog about besides my fluffy cat, my dear deceased dog, and the weather, but that's not this blog. I have my feet firmly planted in a blog world where I can choose what I want to write about. Sometimes I bet people who wander "into" this little world by mistake (probably after typing a search like Murphy's Law) must think. "Who is this vapid middle aged woman who's obsessed with her pets and the weather?. Well, take it or leave, that's me. I have really serious things on my mind (the professor who was arrested for closing his student's laptop on her hands) but I don't want to talk about them in my happy sunshine gripe about the weather place.

That's me, and if you did a google search and you're disappointed, sorry. Go read the NYT online for free while you can. It's full of bad news.

MNYAGG

One Year!

Well, Vincent and I have been together for a year, yesterday actually. I guess April 2nd will be his birthday, since I have no idea when he was born. He could be two years old. He's at least 21 months by now. He's a joy, so sweet and lovable. Handsome too in a fluff ball kind of way. I remember how worried I was that Missy wouldn't like him or would feel jealous, but it all worked out and we had nine good months together. We both miss her, but let's not talk about that. Whether or not I use April 2nd as Vincent's birthday, it'll be our happy anniversary. So, to celebrate, here are a few of his nicknames:

Vince, Vinny, Vin
VJ Supercat
Fluffmeister Phil
Vin Diesel
My Cousin Vinny (used rarely)
Bunny (Daryl's not mine. Daryl seems to get bunnies and cats confused.)
Mr. Murphy
Superchunk (Daryl's again. My cat is not chubby; he's fluffy.)

Sometimes I call him Sweet Sally Sue when I first come home because that's what I used to say to Missy. I hope he doesn't find it too emasculating.
Anyway, I'm glad he's mine.
MNYAGG