From November 6, 2013

When I was a kid walking home from school (35 miles, barefoot, through the snow), I had a lot of time to observe the world and ponder. On three or four days EVERY YEAR, the snow melted (spring) and the world leaped out of its monotone cloak into vibrant brown with greenish hues and on these days, as I left the empty lot and crossed into my friend Joyce's backyard, I was confronted by white dog poo. Yes, Snowflake the Alaskan Spitz was a white dog, but so was the poo that coloured (not the best choice of words here) the grass under the clothes line on which he was frequently chained. Even then I thought it was odd because my dog, Peanut, had brown poo.

I still think it is odd. I've now lived with dogs and picked up dog poo for close to twenty years. Poo is white only when it is stuffed with kleenex. What was Snowflake eating? Granted, I have figured out that it didn't leave his little white bottom as little white poo but aged and bleached into these calcified nuggets. Still, did he have a metabolic condition that over-mineralized his excrement?

Zelda has been dancing on the other side of the rainbow bridge for 4 months now and gross as it may seem to you, I have been watching the few and scattered fecal boluses in the back yard. I couldn't bring myself to scoop them up and dispose of them. They were what I had left of Zelda and maybe cloning technology would take a leap into easy affordability in the next few days and then I'd want that poo! Anyway, there's still a couple of pieces left - under the clothesline though she was never chained there - she just knew it would be a most inconvenient spot - and now they are white. I still don't understand Snowflake, but these, I've decided, must be angel-dog poo and it brings me a little explosion of joy to think she's still checking in on us.

I miss you my princess. Even though you had been confined to the kitchen for your incontinent ways for the last year, I expect to see the blinds stir and then you to meet me at the door when I come home. I keep the screen door closed when I close the sliding glass doors in the kitchen so you can see the closure and not run headlong into the glass. As the days then weeks roll by, in my heart you get younger and are once again in your prime. You tear through the house chasing a balloon. You dash around the backyard playing soccer with me. You pause for minutes to meditate with your peace lily. You leap over and over again at the table while we eat hoping to attract a scrap. Your chin is on my knee when I sit on the couch or lie in my bed. You never give me kisses. Zelda, there is SO MUCH FOOD on the floor these days. I am so sorry you aren't here to enjoy it - sometimes, it is even watermelon!

On occasion I try to think about having a dog again one day but my mind struggles. In my heart - having a dog again - means that somehow I open the door and Zelda is back. Where have you been, dear friend? I love you, so. How I have missed you!

From February 1, 2014

From February 1, 2014

Happy Birthday Dear Renee- ee

Sunday is your birthday. You could be 51. You won't be. You'll always be 50 and, not really. Really 49. Why are you letting ME get older by myself? Isn't the little sister supposed to do that with you? Are you sure you read the fine print?

Sorry Renee. I'm still so angry about this. I'm angry about a lot of things. And, sad. Angry and sad. You name it: angry and sad. When will it stop? How will it stop? Damn it all.

And, I feel so bloody (salute to my new land) selfish about it all - because I want you to be there for me. I miss you. I have a list of projects I need your help with - not the least of which is raising a boy. A BOY, Renee. What do I know about a BOY. And, he doesn't make it easy by possessing a shared language with me. Doesn't he realize I don't know what I'm doing? That, I need some sort of break, here?

The most recent issue of BH&G (Australia) had the audacity to publish an article called "now Paint Your Own Art". HOLD IT. That was your job! I am surrounded by too many, too white walls. They taunt me.

And, who's going to laugh with me about this idea - cutting an Elvis image into your lawn? Laugh and then DO IT!

Gotye, Somebody That I Used To Know -

This is going out to everyone!

Only four weeks now until I need to be packing for New Zealand! Maybe I should be packed already. No, there's still Thursday!

Aloe Blacc - Wake Me Up (Acoustic)

This is here - not because I understand the lyrics, which has been established - but because the tune struck me as beautiful - and I didn't want to forget it.

Suck-cess!

My vacuum cleaner sucks! Which is to say, it no longer sucks. By that I mean, it USED to suck because it didn't suck but NOW it doesn't suck because it does!!! Woohoo! I feel like such a success! Thank you You Tube!

Edited: When push came to shove and I attacked the living room carpet, I was sadly surprised to find that my lack of suction had returned. Cleaned the filter again - and ta-da! - we were back in business. But, again for only a few strokes. It took an embarrassing amount of time and repetitions to figure out that there was a hole in the vacuum bag that was blowing debris around in the canister which was then obstructing the filter. I reserve judgement on my success and am still assessing the probability that I'll be buying a new vacuum cleaner.

I think I needed to pull up the blanket…

From January 1, 2014

Last night I had another of my taking a long trip through Ohio dreams. Well, at least that was part of it and by long trip, I don't really mean great distances by car - but usually I"m on foot and I've found a new way to run and I think, "Why don't I do this when I am awake?! It is so easy!" This time I had a silver tricycle - a little silver tricycle and I was traveling between Columbus and Piqua (on small back roads as you would with a little silver tricycle - or when you are practicing your special new running style) through the dark and through the ice and snow. I had an appointment in Piqua. I had to be there early. By 6 AM. Oh, and Zelda was running along with me.

So, I go to this appointment. I was on time but I was not expected. I had failed to call ahead - alerting the medical team with my special toothbrush. And, I had a dog. What was I going to do with Zelda during this appointment. Then, again, I needed to get home and I was not going to be able to travel back on my tricycle.

I was feeling like it was a good thing that this needed to be postponed since I was obviously NOT READY when a nurse or doctor or technician came out carrying a tray on which sat three Easter eggs and three frozen embryos and I had to either make it work or walk away.

Zelda, meanwhile, was donning a white coat. She was fitting right in.

Moral Disorder by Margaret Atwood (9/9/2013)

From January 2014

What a marvellous, marvellous book… and wonderful, wise and witty prose. Drink it in. Some of my favourites!

(And, let it be know that this damn computer is an Aussie and corrects all my spelling. That last word up there, the one before the exclamation point, it didn't have a "u" when it came off my fingertips.)

The persistence of material objects is becoming an amazement to me. It's the same door. The one I used to go in through, out through, year after year in my daily clothing or in various outfits and disguises not thinking at all that I would one day be standing in front of this very same door with my grey-haired little sister... but all doors used regularly are doors to the afterlife.

As any bank robber can tell you, Nell would say, the best thing to do when running away is not to run. Just walk. Just stroll. A combination of ease and purposefulness is desirable then no one will notice you're running. In addition to which, don't carry heavy suitcases or canvas bags full of money or pack sacks with body parts in them. Leave everything behind you except what's in your pockets. Lightest is best.

"I am a cannibal", she thought with odd detachment.
Maybe she would grow cunning up here on the farm. Maybe she would absorb some of the darkness, which might not be darkness at all but only knowledge. She would turn into a woman others came to for advice. She would be called in emergencies. She would roll up her sleeves and dispense with sentimentality and do whatever blood soaked, bad smelling thing had to be done.

She would become adept with axes.

In the end we'll all become stories or else we'll become entities. Maybe, it's the same.

Batman eats a chip! (11-6-13)

From November 6, 2013

FRENCH FRY!! All the other kids were doing it - so after 30 min of intense peer pressure, he relinquished. And, as of today, Jan 29, 2014, he has had no more…though I would have stopped at McDonald's today if I had seen it.

Sushi! Sushi! Sushi!! (Mid November - I must look before I edit!)

Sure it was just an avocado roll and he didn't actually eat any avocado and not much rice, but he enjoyed the nori wrap and sucked down plenty of pickled ginger.  I'm so proud!  My big boy!!
Edited Jan 29 - He's doing much better with the rolls and will eat everything except the avocado. ?? What's wrong with the avocado, Zupe?
Anyway, I what I really wanted to add here is that I have no idea what   means or where it came from. Perhaps, it is code and something cool will happen when this is published. We shall see.
Hmmmm - it disappears. ( )

January is almost over

From January 2014

And, how go those fleeting-on-the-edge-of-consciousness resolutions? I've made myself ONE green smoothy - a chocolate/banana/almond butter smoothy with a mix of spinach and arugula… interesting combo. I would do it again. Maybe next year. I've managed to do my exercise maybe 3 times. That's close to weekly. And, on one day I didn't look like a slob - though I needed a haircut. That is coming. February 6. I just can't keep my hairdresser in the country! Oh, and the blogs. Could be worse. I wrote a series of twelve just to get to a one word punchline. And, despite my camera dying, I have managed to get a few photos published. I'd say, 2014 looks like it is on the road to success!

Finally - On the Twelfth Day of Christmas

FABIO

From christmas 2013

As you see, Zupe was suitably impressed!

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas

FAMILY!!

On the Tenth Day of Christmas

From January 1, 2014

Santa brought gifts. Santa and the Grand One, and Auntie, and Uncle Sam, and Cousin Elaine, and Nana Linda, and Aunt Carolyn and….

From January 1, 2014

From January 1, 2014

From christmas 2013

On the Ninth Day of Christmas

From christmas 2013

SANTA!! This photo was taken at the Piqua Mall. Santa didn't have much of a lap and Zupe was not impressed. This was the only non-tears photo. Gone is our happy to sit with Santa boy. Maybe that is a good thing. Men with long white beards…. suspicious.


Because I wasn't overly pleased with the photo and, why not- Santa was in town- we took Zupe up to the Eagles' Club in Versailles. Daddy and Zupe and Santa had a much better time there. (Love the North Pole Coors Beer sign!)

From christmas 2013

And, sometimes all you need for a great Santa photo is the right hat.

From January 1, 2014

On the Eighth Day of Christmas

From January 1, 2014

Shopping and exploring Bear's Mill. Bear's Mill is always on my list of things to do when I am at home - especially when there are gifts to buy. Kevin had never been there before - though Zupe had. So we explored the upper "working" levels of the mill and then took a walk along the water. This was the first time that Zupe enjoyed being out in the snow. He was smiling from ear to ear as he bumped along in his stroller/sled. Way too many photos here. I'll make a slide show. Enjoy!



I can't believe I didn't take a photo of the great little penguins I bought for Christine… What was I thinking?

On the Seventh Day of Christmas

From January 1, 2014

More lights…but these get separate billing as "nativity scene".

From January 1, 2014

On the Sixth Day of Christmas

From January 1, 2014

My favorite - the lights! Christmas lights really shine on a snowy night!

From January 1, 2014

From January 1, 2014

On the Fifth Day of Christmas

From January 1, 2014

my mother said to me
the time has come
to put up the tree!

From January 1, 2014

We were concerned how our short man would handle a tree with decorations and so my mother decided not to "put up a tree". That really meant not to use breakable ornaments or to put up a tree in the living room. There were, however, three trees in the foyer and countless small trees adorning mantels, and tables, and window sills (oh my!). We were not suffering from a deficit of holiday color!

From christmas 2013

Zupe did really well with the trees and hardly ever took the golf ball ornament off my "father's" tree to hurl it across the room. (But, could you really blame him? It WAS a ball.)

From January 1, 2014

On the Fourth Day of Christmas

From January 1, 2014

I decided I really wanted to take photos of trees that stand alone in fields. I also wanted to get my shopping done. In fact, I wanted the latter first. It was on the drive between Versailles and Piqua - with my mother driving and the forecast calling for white-out conditions - that I was inspired to want the tree photos. I tried taking some shots through the closed car window (my mom thanks me for that) while driving probably less than 55 mph (road conditions). Remember, I was not doing the driving.

From January 1, 2014

This shot, you'll note, lacks the solitary tree motif which was the whole point of the entry. But, I wanted to share with you what I discovered and loved as a kid traveling the country roads between my house and my grandparent's farm. Anywhere you looked, in the back of that field that was fronting the road, there was a forest. Maybe they aren't "real" forests, but only moderate stands of trees. The point was that even though they were not physically contiguous, they formed a ring around any place I was. The frontier of Ohio stands on the edge of the present day.

On the Third Day of Christmas

From January 1, 2014

It snowed. There will be other days of Christmas with snow - but the snow won't keep Christmas from coming. (I promise. I have seen the future and it is off-green.) In the meantime, some photos to enjoy of the snow around my mother's house.

From January 1, 2014

From January 1, 2014

From January 1, 2014

On the Second Day of Christmas

From January 1, 2014

This should really have been "the first day" - but I was too amused by the turkey. On the Second Day of Christmas …. TRAVEL: by plane, by car.

From January 1, 2014

To LA, to Dayton, to Versailles, to Cleveland, to a BIG OLE VIRUS that kept us in Versailles with only excursions to Troy and Piqua. Then, of course, it was back to LA and Home. The second day of Christmas lasted 5 weeks.

The First Day of Christmas

looked a lot like Thanksgiving…….

From January 1, 2014

My research on flight prices revealed that traveling from Oz in November was significantly less expensive than in December. Fortunately, I have a very accommodating boss who was willing to let me go for 5 weeks - making it possible to be home for both Christmas and Turkey Day. And, Kevin, has so many holidays that he probably surprises his coworkers on the days he shows up at the office. Yay! Let the festivities begin!

It's a brand new year - so let's wrap up the old one….

I get so excited about the new year… the buying of a new calendar, a new date book, maybe a new pen… resolutions, a do-over. The time is rife with possibilities! I even start thinking of getting some Christmas cards out. This year I felt particularly ambitious. Maybe it was all the difficulties and losses of the last two years. Maybe it was jet lag. I was giddy and ambitious and remembering when Mondays used to be my favourite day of the week. (Yes, really - for the same reason - you never knew what wonder laid ahead.) Anyway, I thought I'd get back on my qi gong horse, fix up my diet, get on a "photo a day" program, write my blog, write old friends, clean off the table, get a new desk, clean the shower…. Nothing has really gelled - yet. But, I do not despair. Tonight, I will start cleaning up 2013. I will start at the end of the year and maybe later I'll attack the 42 draft entries that lie in wait. Tonight we begin with the 12 days of Christmas. (I must admit to being a bit anxious about this project - I think it is because my outline only contains 10 days!)

The Power of the Heart - Peter Gabriel

Book of Love - Peter Gabriel (Lyrics/Pictures)

Happy New Year!

There are at least 20 unfinished posts in the "draft" status from 2013. I'm trying to get back to this project - and several (many?) others. A new year. A clean sheet. The possibilities are endless and I can almost taste success. But, as it is already after 9 PM and it is a "work night", I need to keep this short. Short is do-able. And, so, here are two of my new favourite songs from Peter Gabriel's 2010 (I believe) album "Scratch My Back". Happy New Year! Enjoy!!

Hoping to be

Dear Dr

I would like to begin by stating that we have been very satisfied with your care of our son, James O’Brien. Thank you for your thorough and conscientious attention.

I am having a problem, however, which I am hoping that a letter can rectify since attempts to address this via the telephone have failed miserably. My name. I appreciate that I am no longer Mrs. O in your records. I must assume that the number of mothers in your practice who have a surname that differs from their children is small as I never would have completed any paperwork identifying myself by that name. My name is DA***E. That is a very unusual name in Brisbane, I realize. I’ll spell it again.

DA***E

The most recent version of my name, Duporth, was attached to the letter dated 26 September 2013 referring us to Dr A. Unfortunately, that is also the name that was attached to the letter to Dr A’s office. I hope I have corrected it successfully when they called me to set up an appointment for James in March – only time will tell.

 It is both an annoyance and a source of mild amusement to me – these various misnamings – but I fear they would be making a poor impression on other professionals to which you communicate on our behalf.

 Hoping to be Ann Da***e ever onward.

 Sincerely,

 Ann

Don't call me tomorrow

Really.  I know you haven't heard from me in more than 6 months and just the idea that I still exist probably induces an almost irresistible urge to call me - even though you've never called me before and there is a really significant possibility that you don't even know HOW to call me - and, therefore, I should not have even mentioned anything.  Who calls me, anyway, and yet - there I did it.

So, I must repeat.  Please don't call me tomorrow.

I'm trying to leave the line open so I can be informed that I have won $5000 and my book "Llamas in Lampshades" has won the picture book competition and is about to be published.

Don't call me and I'll send you a copy.

EDITED:  Sigh.  You all did a great job of not calling.  Unfortunately, the competition notifier didn't call either.  Instead, I have a tooth ache.

Happy Mother's Day!

From USA tour

Wishing love and comfort to all mothers and children of mothers.

Springing in Ohio

Friends of the Fliegen

Note: This is a work in progress. Additional friends to be added. Also, note, these only include US friends. Thirdly, note, there are many friends for whom I lack a photo. With apologies. It is a very big task to compile "Friends of the Fliegen".

Jim and Diane O'Brien (and Megan and Katie), Tim Beeker, Don Solosan, Marianna Hunt, Marge Dapore, Sam and Renee Dapore-Schwartz, Andy and Brittany Hunt, Todd Hunt, Linda Rice, Sandra Love, Earl and Louise Sloniker, Steve Herminghausen and Georgia Blum, Stephen and Sharon Newell, Mizzie Misko, Xan and Chris Sprouse, David Zecchini, Sharon and Jeff Stahlman, Barbara Revard, Andrew Penry, Sarah Rhodebeck Kreis, Johnda Kapteina (and Melissa), Timothy Rice, Steve and Mary Rice (and Renee and Edward), Steven Brey, Debby Miller, Diane Ray, Meg Morrison, Robert and Gina Saunders, Elaine Fagan, Martha and Maggie Fagan, Carroll Hunt and Karen Schindler, M. Heather Hartley, Robyn Thompson, Blanche Ostrander, Liz and Bob Byers, Nancy Decker, Marcia Decker, Leigh Davis and Richard Rynes, Christine and Nina Good, Ken and Gail Spontelli, Steve Hunt, Abby Holmes (and Alex and Olivia), Dixie Wehrkamp.

This is the plan

Once again I am in the position of trying to (quickly but thoroughly - or at least to my satisfaction) record the past while (at least being open to, should anything happen!) documenting the now. Oh, and probably worrying about the future. So, here is the plan. I'm going to do it like I did our last US trip with highlights - heavy on the photos - though resizing them to smaller files is pretty time consuming in and of itself. This is in contrast to a "day by day" approach like I did in NZ. I took 765 photos on our American tour. I promise I won't make you review them all. BTW, if you are anxious to see photographs, I have already started publishing daily photos from the trip on my photoblog. You can see that here (Looking @).

Many thanks!

From USA tour

On behalf of (the) Zuperfliegen and his staff, we wish to thank everyone who came out to see us on our Great North American* tour. Tour details and images to follow. *Note we consider this a continent tour because we did both include a Canadian person (and a quick trip across the border by Kevin) AND a lunch at Chiptole.

Coming to a town near you!

From Singles 2012

OK, yeah, I'm slow getting this published. There's still time to buy your ticket! Happy smiling faces NOT guaranteed...

Confession from a terrible mother

From Singles 2012

The pear.

It was meant for you, my dear.

But, when I peeled it, I had a taste. It was the sweetest and most juicy pear I'd ever found. I ate that quarter.

And, then I ate the next.

The other half...

I put in the fridge and gave to your Daddy.

Someday, maybe, you'll understand. Someday, maybe, you'll see it was out of my hands. It was Eve. It was the Serpent.

It was Phil Collins.

50 Reasons I Love You #50

From Singles 2011

You like dark chocolate (and mint)!

What's with all this love?

From Singles 2012

The most common post these days is something about "50 reasons I love you". Actually, it isn't "something about" it, it IS "50 Reasons I Love You". I'm not sure I have ever explained what this is.

You may or may not remember that for my birthday, Kevin gave me 50 of my favorite dark chocolate (with mint!) chocolate bars and in each he had, like a fortune cookie, a little slip of paper on which was written one of 50 reasons (in no particular order) he loves me.

Isn't that beautiful?!

So, to honor him, I thought I'd post each one with some sort of image. Originally, I wanted to post each "reason" on the day we opened the chocolate bar. But, things get in the way, even of such a simple idea. So, I tend to accumulate a few and then type them all up. Sometimes, it then takes days to weeks to months to find the photograph.

What I like most about this project is that I could have written almost all of the same reasons for Kevin.

"My wife. I think I'll keep him."

Happy New Year!

From Singles 2012

2012: The Year of the Dragon!

Big, big, big news

From Singles 2012

I have doubled our knife population.

Be warned.

We are "ready to spread".

50 Reasons I Love You #14

From Zuperfliegen 2012

You are the mother of our son and the reason he is with us.

50 Reasons I Love You #39

From Singles 2012

You like to check out houses that are for sale.

50 Reasons I Love You #13

From Singles 2009

You understand the importance of choosing the right airline for an international flight.

50 Reasons I Love You #42

From Flat Stanley

You moved to Australia and became a (dual) citizen!

50 Reasons I Love You #22

From Singles 2012

You want to be a flying red horse. (Or, at least, you once did.)

(Note - this is not my photograph. Thank you to: http://www.google.com.au/imgres?q=flying+red+horse+logo&hl=en&sa=X&rls=com.microsoft:en-au&biw=1920&bih=883&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=s-qoYIsOGcqITM:&imgrefurl=http://homepage.mac.com/credmond/iblog/C880906225/E384194819/index.html&docid=We7xuFDUN4bOBM&imgurl=http://homepage.mac.com/credmond/iblog/C880906225/E384194819/Media/FlyingRedHorse.jpg&w=500&h=489&ei=9JUWT_WeAYHgmAW6rPzKAw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=490&vpy=2&dur=5578&hovh=222&hovw=227&tx=136&ty=119&sig=110693804874043938459&page=1&tbnh=125&tbnw=128&start=0&ndsp=54&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0

50 Reasons I Love You #29

From Zuperfliegen 2011

You totally rolled with the name Zuperfliegen Baadasssss and helped me to make it "real". (And the world is more fun and interesting beause of it.)

50 Reasons I Love You #41

You support my dreams.

From I married a zombie

Bone scans (and cancer)

Note: This blog entry should have been written in JULY. The causes of my delay are many and for the hope of actually getting this DONE before next July, I shall not bother with listing them.

If you are a reader of Kevin's blog or you know Kevin or you know someone who knows someone who knows Kevin, then you know that Kevin was diagnosed last July with prostate cancer. (And, if you are a reader of Kevin's blog or you know Kevin or you know someone who knows someone who knows Kevin, then you must have been wondering why six months have gone by without the fact of that cancer appearing in my blog. Again, the reasons are legion.) Finally, if you are a reader of Kevin's blog or you know Kevin or you know someone who knows someone who knows Kevin, then you are probably expecting I'll open my soul to examine what this cancer means to him and to me and to Zupe. But,

you'd be wrong.

It might happen one day. That day isn't today.

Today the topic is nuclear medicine, scintigraphy, bone scans.

And horse pee.

After Kevin "failed" his forth or fifth PSA test, though just barely, his urologist recommended a biopsy. The biopsy was positive for cancer. Widespread cancer. Widespread but rather private cancer.

The next step was to look for evidence that the cancer was adventurous and had set up camp in areas outside the prostate - in particular, in his bones. I went with Kevin to his biopsy appointment - though not into the surgery to view the biopsy process. I did not go with Kevin to not watch the bone scan.

I didn't need to. I used to do, or at least assist in the doing of, bone scans.

I was the bucket girl.

We weren't looking for cancer in bones. We were just looking for increased "activity" in bone suggestive of inflammation or damage. In horses. The process would be the same. An intravenous injection of a radioactive nucleotide (something like the bone cell equivalent of a case of radioactive Big Macs) is made and then an hour or so later a series of "magic photos' are taken of the bones looking to see if those nucleotides are congregating. They should spread themselves out evenly (to feed the masses), but if a localized area of bone is particularly "hungry" because there is an injury that is inflamed or it is harboring a tumor, then those microscopic radioactive Big Macs will be absorbed at a greater rate. (If you are confused and you want to understand the process, check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_medicine.)

Did I mention the process involves making an intravenous injection of a radioactive substance? That means into the blood. And, where does the blood go? It goes everywhere. Including the kidneys. And, then the bladder. And, then potentially the floor.

Which is why you need a bucket girl.

Yes. For a summer I "caught" radioactive horse urine.

Boy, do I know how to have fun!

So, I didn't go with Kevin. I didn't get to meet his bucket girl. Though, maybe they just asked him not to pee on the floor. He's pretty good about that.

(And, if you are not a reader of Kevin's blog, or someone who knows Kevin, or someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows Kevin, then I should tell you here that the scan was negative. There was no evidence that the cancer had spread into the bone. This is very, very, very good news.)

With sincere apologies to the creator of Aptimil's leveler

Zupe's having issues with his skin. Eczema. From what I can glean, it is a description of a lesion - like "missing right arm" - without relation to any single or often even identifiable cause. By that I mean, you could be missing your right arm because you had a birth defect or an accident with a circular saw or a velociraptor. With eczema there seems to be a genetic predisposition with reactions to external stimuli (chemicals, dry air, irritating surfaces) and/or internal stimuli (i.e. food allergies). And so, in an effort to address the "cause", we have changed bath soaps (if changed means eliminated), laundry detergents (OMG that's another story!), pajamas, and diet.

The goal of his new diet is to eliminate exposure to cows' milk proteins.  That means I am not eating any more yogurt or cheese or butter or drinking any milk or MILK SHAKES!  And, Zupe is drinking a formula made from hydrolyzed milk proteins...sort of like Zelda.

Anyway, our new formula - Pepti-Junior - still by Aptimil but now requiring a prescription to buy - does not include a built in leveler.

Wow.

And, boy do I miss it!  Now, we have to keep a butter knife around to "level off" the scoop.  This is a pretty sizable sacrifice for us.  We only have 4 (FOUR) such knives in total!  (We used to have five but I foolishly lost one when I took a banana cream pie to a party - a party at which said pie was only tasted by ONE PERSON!  Ah! What is wrong with this country?!) 

On a more positive note - actually two more positive notes.  (I think that is enough to be a positive chord!)

Note one - the Pepti-Junior scoop IS flat on the bottom, so when I want to set a filled scoop down, and for the life of me I can't remember why I'd want to do it, but I have done it, none-the-less, it doesn't fall over and spill out 23% of its contents.  Yay.

Note two - his skin is much better.  He still has a few patches - really he always has a small patch or two - but that is pretty, pretty, pretty good.  He's not scratching at himself and I am not covering him in steroids daily any more.

From Zuperfliegen