Telephone pole bridge.

Heather, Erik, Scott, Doug, Diane, Bailey, Gunnar, Bonz and Hannah spent a perfect fall morning over at White Pines. Much fun was had by dogs, humans alike.

Photo blog.

A previously unpublished poem by Erik Frederick, inspired by the autumn season.

A post-election thought.

If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forgive you."

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

- Benjamin Franklin

A story Heather wrote, inspired by a previous post:

Abby Lou was a small gray cat with wide, bright eyes. Usually she was happy, but just in case, she had sharp teeth.

Abby-lou stares contemptously into the lens, barely containing her urge to turn my face into a bloody pulp.

Tonight, she was happy. She was lying in the middle of the bed. She wrapped her fluffy gray tail tightly around her fluffy gray body, and tucked her tiny pink nose under the tip of her fluffy tail, even though it tickled a little. Her wide, bright eyes were still open, just in case.

Soon enough, it began. 9 o'clock: bed time. First, the People came upstairs. Then came the Dog and That Other Dog. Finally, the Other Cat strolled to the door and walked in the room as if she, too, belonged there. Abby Lou's tail twitched.

The Tall Person sat on the bed. Her tail twitched again, a warning. He looked like he might want to pet her, but he didn't.

The Dog bounced up, landing very close. Her eyes got wider and brighter. He looked like he wanted to fetch her, which is how he looked at everything. The Tall Person started petting the Dog instead, who started drooling.

Suddenly, a hand was touching her head! The Smaller Person was PETTING her. Abby Lou tried to make herself very, very small but her eyes stayed big and bright.

She twitched her tail furiously, and blinked her wide eyes. BLINK BLINK BLINK. TWITCH TWITCH.

That Other Dog leaped onto the bed. Dog and Other Dog were circling and stirring up trouble. PLOP. They both lay down at once, shaking the bed. A droplet of drool splattered onto Abby Lou.

BLINK BLINK. What was a cat to do?

Meanwhile, Other Cat jumped up on the pillow and immediately began purring at the top of her lungs. She didn't even notice the dangerous look in Abby Lou's eyes.

TWITCH TWITCH.

A hand touched her again. It was just too much.

HISSSSSSSSSSSSS.

The hand snapped away. Other Cat bolted across the bed, claws out for traction. She ran across Taller Person, who kicked Dog. Dog and Other Dog jumped up and saw Other Cat turning the corner, so they leapt after her. Taller Person was grumbling and stomping toward the bathroom, and Smaller Person was getting up to help him, but not before she gave Abby Lou a Look. It was not a very nice Look.

Soon Abby Lou was alone on the bed. She twitched her tail, and blinked her wide eyes. Eventually she tucked her tail tightly around her fluffy gray body and dropped her head to bury her tiny pink nose under the fluffy tail, even though it tickled a little. She was happy again. But she kept her eyes open, just in case.

Well, I've had to start telling a lot of people at work that I'm pregnant. Not because I'm showing (I still have several months of hiding in increasingly baggy scrubs to hide behind) or because it's affecting my work (as long as I have time to pee every couple of hours and I'm home before the worst of the "morning" sickness takes over). No, the word really started getting out when I wheeled a cart full of newly acquired used maternity clothes through the anesthesia department, in front of the OR waiting room, down the crowded elevators, across the street, and into the parking deck where I filled the back of my car with hangers, dry cleaning bags, and clothes that I won't fit in until 2005. I looked like a bag lady who'd just ransacked a department store. Why was it worth "coming out of the closet" in such a colorful way? Because some maternity angel was selling her entire maternity wardrobe for $75 on the Duke Dialogue, and my ever-resourceful husband couldn't resist the chance to start buying things for our new hobby. (I can't wait to see what other "gear" he finds as the months progress.)

The truth is, I have had a hard time NOT telling my coworkers. Word had been leaking out for a couple weeks, once I made the official announcement to my Program Director. I've managed to casually insert the announcement into a couple conversations, and I've sought out a few people I've been meaning to tell for a while, like my friend Christina. But telling people you're pregnant is like dropping a bomb into a bathtub. It just doesn't go anywhere. Most of the time, there's no reason to mention it at all (just like there's no reason to ever drop a bomb in a bathtub). Unless you're dragging a bright orange plastic cart spilling over with maternity clothes down the hall.

Bailey and the cats continue their blissful existence. For the cats, this means sleeping until we go to bed, then running around like crazy creatures, before battling it out for who gets to sleep where on the bed. Abby-lou has taken to sleeping on the down comforter between Heather and I, jealously guarding the spot and hissing indignantly at anyone who disturbs her. Case study. Last Friday night, we were dog-sitting for Bailey's girlfriend, Hunter (sorry Ginger if you're reading this) and had 6 mammals attempt to cohabitate on the bed. Abby-lou was the first to stake out a spot, then Heather, Hunter, Nimitz, Bailey and finally Erik. All the hissing, tossing, turning, hissing and farting eventually drove away the most tolerant of creatures, leaving Abby-lou, Heather and Erik to fend for space on the bed.

We're expecting our first child this May 5, 2005. By all accounts and according to Heathers apparent addiction to transvaginal ultrasound, everything is developing on schedule! BREAKING NEWS. Heather's constant nausea has subsided.

Closeup of the latest ultrasound

This was only a marginally better state for her to be in than the initial pregnancy symptoms which included an urge to eat that was so strong she figured she might die if she didn't eat now! Currently, family members have the password to see pictures on fotki of the latest ultrasounds.

What the heck happened? I wake up one morning while on "Guy's Weekend", a grueling, yet fun mountain biking and farting festival. My cell phone rings. Heather. "I don't know, but i'm staring at it and I really think it's real. I think I'm pregnant!" Wow! I felt like Ulysses Everett Mcgill.