Kelly Turns 11

Kelly 11We celebrated Kelly turning 11, Nicole coming in from Athens, and D.C. Sr. standing in for D.C. 3, who was attending drivers ed class. Kathy baked Kelly her favorite Strawberry Pecan Cake (featured on the Fiveforks.com Foodstack). I think this is Uncle Ted’s favorite cake, too. Aunt Carol posted a happy birthday note to Kelly on her blog. Something of a first. Kelly got a funky, purple digital watch with a timer, the most important feature she wanted. Nicole gave her the most entertaining gift of the evening, an automated braiding machine. All the girls had braids in their hair by the end of the night.

Grandaddy told a story about the Jehovah Witness classmate in Boy’s Catholic High who all the Catholic boys thought was a spy. He seemed to always be making notes which they were all convinced were being shared with some Jehovah High Council. A group of these good Catholic boys decided to go into the spy’s desk and review his notes where they found all kinds of heretical writings. After some debate, they decided to tear up all the notes and throw them away. This upset the Jehovah Spy greatly, and all the boys were called on the carpet where they were told by the principal (a brother) that they should respect others’ property (wink wink) and that they should not have destroyed (nod nod) the spy’s notes. The young boy did not return to Boys Catholic High the next year.

Poor Clyde had to go into surgery on Kelly’s birthday and get a cyst removed from the top of his head. He looked something like Franken-Clyde with the purple-stiched gash, shaved head, and a “drip tube” sticking out the front like a deformed unicorn. If you are squeemish, don’t click here.

Now playing: Strawberry Fields Forever by The Beatles from “Magical Mystery Tour”

Can’t Find 1984

Dad and I went looking for a Geocache called 1984, and we failed to find it. Others have taken three and four visits to find it. The problem with this one is that there is a verticle dimension because the cache could be anywhere on five levels of a parking deck. To zero in, we had to go on the top deck. The 20 story office building next to it kept blocking our reception. It’s somewhere within (under) the red circle, but it could be in the adjacent courtyard. The “big brother” clue (hence 1984) seems to allude to the security cameras in the parking deck. We gave up after about and hour and decided to go ask for clues.

Geocache 1984

Now playing: Brick by Ben Folds Five from “Whatever And Ever Amen”

Pond Flower

Pond Flower

This floating pond plant surprised us by blooming. We’ve had these plants before in past years, but they’ve never grown as large as this year’s crop. Perhaps it is because of all the rain we’ve had. 🙂 Pleasant floating surprise. (Click to zoom.)

Now playing: Dead Flowers by Rolling Stones from “Sticky Fingers”

Little Katie

Little KatieTed found a little (puppy) version of Katie. Kathy is amazed how much the puppy looks like Katie. Mary Claire played with Big Kattie, Little Katie, and Cleo while DC and I helped Ted cut down a tree that was threatening the house. The good news is that the tree fell exactly where we wanted it to. However, if you see a good buy on a bench swing frame, do give Ted a call. More photos of Katie here.

The Husqvarna performed well. Started up on about the 5th pull thanks to Ted’s recommendation to close the choke after a few pulls. Where was he a few weeks ago?

The three of us with Clyde stopped by Dad’s on the way home to drop off the Anna Maria photo CD. Dad treated us all to grilled dogs, burgers, and icecream. None for Clyde, though. Birthday is over.

Now playing: Lazy Days by Enya from “A Day Without Rain”

Eastern Rhinoceros Beetle

Mary Claire found these beetles after a late night swim meet on the tennis courts. Carol figured out what family of beetles they belong to. Ted found out what kind of beetles they are in this article: Grant’s Rhinoceros Beetle. The Eastern Rhino is a slightly smaller cousin to the Arizona Grant’s Rhino. Looks like the big bug we found earlier in the year was a female Rhino.

The mystery of the big-horned bugs is closed.

Now playing: Carry That Weight by The Beatles from “Abbey Road”

DC Courses Fall 2003

1. Coach Doug Jones, Weight Lifting, Pitchers Special Program

2. Coach David Nelson, AP Physics, Egg Drop, Famous Scientist

3. Dr. Varieta Benjamin, Honors Junior Langage Arts, The Crucible and The Scarlet Letter

4. Mr. Keith Toda, Latin III / IV, Aeneid

5. Mrs. Teresa Taylor, Precalculus

6. Dr. Beverly Roberts, Gifted U.S. History. Colonization through Civil War/Reconstruction.

Poor Clyde

Dear Dr. Yeomans,

On July 26 I brought my dog, Clyde, in for boarding. I was surprised when your office had no record of our reservation, which I made prior to the 26th. During Clyde’s drop off, after the receptionist said she could fit him in, she asked the assistant if there was room for my dog. I was uneasy about leaving him at that point, but had no choice as we were leaving at that hour for our vacation.

With the assistant standing at her side, the receptionist recorded all the items we brought for Clyde: his bed, his leash and collar, his food already in individual serving bags, and a box containing some comfort toys and bones to be given daily. I asked if it would be a problem to give the dog his toys and a bone each day. The receptionist told me that it would not be a problem. Clyde is not yet a year old and had never before stayed in a kennel. I wanted to make sure he had his puppy things (toys & daily chew bones) to make his stay easier on him as well as to make me feel better about leaving him.

My daughter picked the dog up before we returned from vacation. He was sent home only with his bed and the blue leash from your office. Upon returning from vacation, I came to your office to pick up all of Clyde’s other things. The assistant at the front desk opened up his box, which had the wrong name on it, and there were his toys and the unopened package of bones I brought for him. He was not cared for in the manner I had hoped and I question whether he ever got the food I brought for him.

What I experienced this past week is not typical of my other experiences with your practice over the years. I would like to continue using your facility as you have handled Clyde’s past healthcare and you are convenient to my home. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Cashel