Gray Days

Well, the didactic portion of Nicholas' first semester of dental school is over.  He did really well and we're both very proud of the hard work that he's done.  At this point he's been going into the under-served areas of Cleveland and putting sealants on the teeth of public school children so that they don't get cavities.

Hard at work

This is a really wonderful program that Case has established and the dental students do a lot of very hard work.  And besides, why wouldn't you hand over your children to strange men doing charity work?

Oh, yeah.

As for me, I'm in process of writing all of my final papers.  I must say I'm handling it well:

Artist's rendering

Okay, fine, maybe I've been a little stressed as the end of the semester approaches; but I'll rally.  I have to.  Cause, really, who ever heard of a crazy mental health professional?

 Oh, yeah.

School aside, autumn in Cleveland has been really nasty.  We've had a ton of gray days and inches upon inches of rain.  Take a look at our back yard from this past weekend:

 Clearly God's covenant never to flood the world again does not extend to the suburbs of Cleveland.  You know where I'll bet it never floods...

It's a bible joke AND a gay joke

Well, I'm busy with finals so that's all for now.

This blog entry was sponsored by 

Topol brand toothpaste: where dental hygiene isn't just our job...it's TRADITION!

What We're Thankful For...

We're thankful for Addi, who's sassy and cute,

For Brynli and Ben, both yellow to boot!

We're thankful for Chloe, who's verbal and smart

And for our Dads, you're both in our hearts.

We're thankful  for Electricians--they make the world shine.

We're thankful for Fifters, who can read our minds.

We're thankful for Grandmas--Beth, Betty and May

And for new Houses! Hip-hip-hooray!

We're thankful for "Ice cream"--It's like the real thing, just try it!

And we're thankful for Joey, though I may deny it.

We're thankful for in-laws, both Kayla and Kate

And for the Love that has made our lives great.

We're thankful for Mothers, lovely and rare.

We're thankful for Nursing students with extra flair.

I'm thankful for Owen,  Derek and Mark--all brooding and steamy.

And Pig, Pog, Pi, Tolliver-- all cuddly and dreamy.

We're glad Querius is gone, even though it was dandy.

We're thankful for Rosalind and all of her candy!

We're thankful for Step-families, who have bonded through strife.

And we're thankful for Tiit who is dancing through life.

We're thankful for all the hard work that we do

At our new Alma Mater, CWRU.

We're thankful we don't speak the Pittsburgh Vernacular,

And for the Waxlers, a couple spectacular.

We're thankful we're Xendochial, it's helped us to make lots of friends

And for our Youth, though God knows it ends.

We're thankful for Z's when we're able to catch 'em

But we're usually awakened by someone hoping we'll scratch 'em

Wishing you all a very happy Thanksgiving,
Nicholas and Wendy

Third Star to the Right and Straight Down I-80

Hello, my fellow Halloweenies! This post is dedicated to all of the seasonal activities that have been keeping us busy leading up to Halloween.  Well, for starters we had the CADA Halloween Carnival.  Every year the dental spouses' association puts on a Halloween event in The Sheep Barn at Squire Valleevue and Valley Ridge Farms.  And this year not only did I help the Mommunists to set up, but Nicholas and I attended the event in costume.  I'm sure you're wondering what kind of costumes we wore, so here it is:

You guessed it! Nicholas went as Mary Martin and I went as a schizophrenic who can't properly regulate body temperature and, therefore, wears a nightgown outside in the 35 degree October weather.  Just kidding.  We went as Peter Pan and Wendy.  Nicholas wants me to tell you all that it was his idea.  Oh, he's clever! Oh, the cleverness of him!  Of course, I did nothing...

Nicholas as Mary Martin.  Note comparable breast size.

Nicholas was a big hit with our little neighbor, MaKendree, who followed him around and repeated in awe, "Peter Pan...Peter Pan...Peter?"  Don't worry, I set her straight.  I told her that Peter Pan doesn't really exist and that her parents are also pulling her leg about Santa, the Easter Bunny, and the need to floss.  She took the news well:

Footage Not Found

 Her mom told me that a week later, on their way to their church's Halloween carnival, MaKendree was asking for Peter Pan.  Now that I know how good Nicholas is at establishing rapport with small children, I think it's time for us to start considering some major life changes.  I've even begun to redecorate and rearrange the house accordingly.

Children: The Cleveland Treat

Yesterday we drove back to Pittsburgh to see Nicholas' family and go to the pumpkin patch.  Some people would tell you that the snow and freezing rain detracted from the experience.  I will tell you that it only served to make it better.  I am a liar.
 Here we are at the archway leading into the farm.  The other side was inscribed with the words "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here."

The gateway to a super fun time.  Just ask Dante.

To get to the pumpkin patch we got to take a really damp hayride. Here we are on the hayride with Shea's little girl, Addison.

Addi is really sweet and, with the right seasoning,  savory as well

After we chose our pumpkins, Nicholas, Shea and I took Addi to the Boo Barn.  The Barn held all manner of things designed to scare both the old and the young alike.

Tonight Nicholas and I carved our pumpkins.  I'll give you a preview of what they look like all lit up.

In the Halloween spirit

Aware of Social Worker's long-term earning potential

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYBODY!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr's Anatomy

We join you now for this post-op addition of--you guessed it--our blog! Yesterday we took Pog to the vet to be spayed.  For those of you not in the know, the spay operation is the process through which the female cat's reproductive organs are surgically removed.  It's a long operation because, unlike the human female, female cats actually have multiple uterine horns.

Uterine horns

The more elusive Unihorn

As you can imagine, Pog was pretty nervous about going under the knife.  She used all of the normal coping mechanisms to deal with her heightened state of anxiety: cat nip, diaphragmatic breathing, and some other old-school  tricks she had up her sleeve.

At any rate we crated Pog and took her to the vet early yesterday morning and some point thereafter, Tolliver finally came out of hiding.

Huge pussy...cat

In case you're biting your nails about how the surgery went, Pog is fine and home with us again (SPOILER ALERT).  And you know, for as much as Pog bothers Tolliver, I really think he was worried about her while she was gone.

Anyway, not much more to say here.  Her recovery process has been pretty standard so far.  She's had no appetite,

pronounced lethargy,

and a really unflattering new haircut.

The only problem is that she cloistered up in the second bedroom again and she and the other cats are having a hard time with the separation.

I'd like to believe that Pog is not behind that door trying to dig her way out to her new friends; but the pieces of wall-to-wall that I keep finding stuck between her toes is pretty damning evidence...

People's exhibit A

That's about all I have to say for now.  Everyone's home together and recovering nicely from own little surgical drama...

...Actually come to think of it, all of this talk of neutering has got Nicholas acting a little strange...

Guarding the Gonads