Yet another very poor decision

From April 2016

Possibly the worst decision in recent times.

Quite possibly.

Kevin left for his month of single nerdhood in America on Easter morning.  Kevin took the big suitcases, yes, the super-cool big suitcases, and got out of the car at the airport where everyone has super-cool bags and luggage carts and didn't take Zupe.  This was not going to make our little boy happy.  Not one bit.

So, good mother, Ann, decided she would plan fun things for Zupe.  First, we went to the secret road behind the airport - it probably isn't a secret, but it was a surprise to me - where you can park and watch planes take off and land.  It didn't take long before I realized that jet planes were more interesting to Mommy than Zupe.  He really only wants to watch bags being weighed, pulled and loaded onto luggage carts and conveyor belts.  So, plan B.

Plan B - The Boondall Wetlands.  A nice cool morning.  A boardwalk.  Trees.  And, millions upon millions of biting insects.  Maybe I should have more fully considered why there were no other cars in the lot.  But, it WAS Easter morning.  And, I had tropical strength insect repellent.

At least my give up time was not excessive.  I didn't have to watch the swarming mosquitoes, and worse, biting midges, too long before I turned the stroller around and said, "Let's go to McDonald's and buy pancakes!"

Those damn midges (aka, sand flies).  I woke up in the middle of the night tearing the skin from my legs and continued to scratch and rub and rub and scratch for almost a week.

From April 2016

Not the most attractive self portrait- but not as bad as my ugly toe shot.  Still, the point here.  I double applied the tropical strength repellent to behind my knees.  What would this have looked like without it??

Oh, and a bit of good news.  Mr. Zupe, for reasons I cannot explain, is not allergic to insect bites!  No itching on the raised red welts all over his arms and legs.  At least I am the only one to pay for my folly. 

Ann's Mini-vacation - Day Wednesday

I had plan for today. That ought to count for something.

I had a plan- but it got scrapped about 8 AM. The plan is still viable. Maybe tomorrow. Yes. Maybe.

Zelda and I had a kick around the house day. I put a little time into my "to do" list. Not enough to knock much off the list. For example, I didn't even try to start the lawn mower. Still, I made some progress.

I don't think I have the concept of vacation down.

First and foremost, Zelda FINALLY got her walk. Today I took her to the Boondall wetlands. She is not a happy-to-ride-in-the-car girl - so I came back an hour later recognizing she'd have been happier with a 30 min around the neighborhood walk. Still, I enjoyed walking through trees rather than down the suburban canyons. I must admit, however, that it is much quieter to walk here at home. The "near" walk at Boondall parallels the Gateway Motorway. Perhaps I've told you?

I read over the schedule for the upcoming veterinary conference (next weekend) and decided I could find more fun ways to spend $500. Then, as I was driving home from the grocery this afternoon, I wondered if maybe I'd enjoy going to the behavior meeting. I wonder if I could scare up some behavior research project. Unlike most (veterinary) behavior students I've met, I really don't have much of an interest in clinical behavior practice. Cats pee. Dogs bite. Nobody is happy. However, I enjoy reading and thinking and talking and writing behavior.

All this thinking was probably spurred on by my effort at the mall. I spent an hour at Border's Bookstore with the entire stack of dog care books they had (once) shelved. I read through (ok, skimmed) each one's chapter on housebreaking. I need to have some references ready for my clients who know nothing about having a puppy. I could write my own, but this is quicker. Interestingly, every single book I looked at made use of a crate for housebreaking. So, why is it that Australians have never heard of the concept? Oh, yes. They aren't reading any books. I must admit, I was in no hurry to buy any of these texts. I still find the cost of books here to be incredible.

And, speaking of books, I found that my dissertation (about the development of courtship behavior in doves) is listed at Amazon.com. ("Out of Print--Limited Availability.") I thought this was kinda cool- but what amused me more were the books that were listed as alternative titles.

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Carl never did like my title. I can see why now. Totally leads a person down the wrong track. (And, WHO ARE these customers who are making these suggestions?)