Toby
1994-2006
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Friday, July 28, 2006
Can you puree tuna?
We know we have a lot to learn about the parenting gig, but we didn’t think we’d be purchasing baby food just yet. Why, then, are we in possession of 6 jars of meaty baby food (Gerber, Stage 2, if you must know)?
We wish we could be blithe, funny and whimsical. Sadly, our oldest cat, Toby, is very sick. Over the last three or so weeks, Toby has lost roughly 3 pounds. In the last few days he has stopped eating. We are currently awaiting test results, but in examining Toby’s belly, the vet discovered a large mass in his stomach. Once the test results come back, we will then need to decide whether to proceed with surgery. In the meantime, we are giving him small portions of baby food whenever he seems inclined to eat. So far, he’s enjoyed a few bits of veal. We’ve got chicken, turkey and beef as well.
Anyone know where we can get some fish flavored baby food?
We wish we could be blithe, funny and whimsical. Sadly, our oldest cat, Toby, is very sick. Over the last three or so weeks, Toby has lost roughly 3 pounds. In the last few days he has stopped eating. We are currently awaiting test results, but in examining Toby’s belly, the vet discovered a large mass in his stomach. Once the test results come back, we will then need to decide whether to proceed with surgery. In the meantime, we are giving him small portions of baby food whenever he seems inclined to eat. So far, he’s enjoyed a few bits of veal. We’ve got chicken, turkey and beef as well.
Anyone know where we can get some fish flavored baby food?
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Gus: 3; Wily Jeneric: 1
Today a great day of celebration in the house of Wily Jeneric! The evil Gus has been defeated.
On second look, he doesn’t seem so evil – just hungry. And a little scared. But let us recount the brief tale of how Gus came to be captured.
It had been days since we’d seen Gus. There were no signs of him anywhere – no nibbled plants, no fleeting views of him scampering away, no cats staring out the window with drool on their chin. We knew where his home was – under our house – so we installed a crude Gus detection system (we would have used flour, but have you been keeping up with the storm systems that are flying through the east coast??).
We began to wonder if perhaps another force had ‘captured’ Gus – namely, Route 27 or Plainfield Avenue.
You might imagine how startled we were to return home from lunch one day only to find the Gus detector moved.
And the trap sprung.
Despite pending engagements elsewhere, we leapt into action and committed what might be a felony in New Jersey.
We drove Gus 5 miles from our home, across Routes 1 and 514, across the New Jersey Turnpike and released him to a patch of forest just down the street from a new hotel (aptly named the Palace) and a small housing development.
We wish Gus the best of luck in his new neighborhood. May the cucumbers be sweet, the broccoli tall, and all the ground hog ladies good looking. But please, don’t come back!
On second look, he doesn’t seem so evil – just hungry. And a little scared. But let us recount the brief tale of how Gus came to be captured.
It had been days since we’d seen Gus. There were no signs of him anywhere – no nibbled plants, no fleeting views of him scampering away, no cats staring out the window with drool on their chin. We knew where his home was – under our house – so we installed a crude Gus detection system (we would have used flour, but have you been keeping up with the storm systems that are flying through the east coast??).
We began to wonder if perhaps another force had ‘captured’ Gus – namely, Route 27 or Plainfield Avenue.
You might imagine how startled we were to return home from lunch one day only to find the Gus detector moved.
And the trap sprung.
Despite pending engagements elsewhere, we leapt into action and committed what might be a felony in New Jersey.
We drove Gus 5 miles from our home, across Routes 1 and 514, across the New Jersey Turnpike and released him to a patch of forest just down the street from a new hotel (aptly named the Palace) and a small housing development.
We wish Gus the best of luck in his new neighborhood. May the cucumbers be sweet, the broccoli tall, and all the ground hog ladies good looking. But please, don’t come back!
Gus: 3; Wily Jeneric: 0
We sat the trap, rather optimistically, in the late afternoon. Eric boldly baited it with a single cherry and we sauntered out the door to find more suitable bait.
We returned to what we’d expected – an empty trap. Not yet deterred, we sliced up the apple, slathered it with peanut butter and set the trap. We went to bed.
Did you know Gus is diurnal? We did but apparently didn’t consider that fact when we set the trap.
Did you know possums are noctural? We did but apparently didn’t consider that fact when we set the trap.
Did you know that possums love apples? We didn’t, but a quick google educated us on that.
So yes, we awoke in the morning to find one rather scared possum in our trap. Eric released him/her, cleaned out the trap and rebaited it for an afternoon catch of Gus.
We returned to what we’d expected – an empty trap. Not yet deterred, we sliced up the apple, slathered it with peanut butter and set the trap. We went to bed.
Did you know Gus is diurnal? We did but apparently didn’t consider that fact when we set the trap.
Did you know possums are noctural? We did but apparently didn’t consider that fact when we set the trap.
Did you know that possums love apples? We didn’t, but a quick google educated us on that.
So yes, we awoke in the morning to find one rather scared possum in our trap. Eric released him/her, cleaned out the trap and rebaited it for an afternoon catch of Gus.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Pregnancy Myth?
I have been told and have read widely that pregnant women are tastier to mosquitoes. We’re like the sinful sticky bun in the mosquito world.
Why is it, then, that I have been bitten once this entire summer? I have been traipsing about parks and forests, kayaking along various waterways (in two countries!), and frankly, doing everything I can to get bit.
To wit: Tuesday night, we joined the CRSSA folks for a short kayaking* adventure down the DNR canal and Millstone River. I could see the mosquitoes. People were putting on bug spray. Eric was bit repeatedly. Yet I remain bite free, scratch free and pretty smug.
Of course, there’s always Gus…
*Sorry no pictures – we forgot the camera in our haste to get out the door. Rest assured, Jenni wore her life vest the entire time with nary a thought at adjusting the straps.
Why is it, then, that I have been bitten once this entire summer? I have been traipsing about parks and forests, kayaking along various waterways (in two countries!), and frankly, doing everything I can to get bit.
To wit: Tuesday night, we joined the CRSSA folks for a short kayaking* adventure down the DNR canal and Millstone River. I could see the mosquitoes. People were putting on bug spray. Eric was bit repeatedly. Yet I remain bite free, scratch free and pretty smug.
Of course, there’s always Gus…
*Sorry no pictures – we forgot the camera in our haste to get out the door. Rest assured, Jenni wore her life vest the entire time with nary a thought at adjusting the straps.
Friday, July 21, 2006
Gus: 2; Wily Jeneric: 0
Wily Jeneric are a peaceful people, prone to organic gardening methods (call us hippies if you like, but our baby ain’t gonna have three eyes. Poor grammar, maybe…). In our standoff with Gus, we have tried:
1. Garlic. Mince up a bunch of garlic, toss it in some water and spray it where you don’t want Gus to be.
2. Cayenne Pepper. Add many tablespoons of cayenne pepper to about a liter of water and spray where you wish to deter Gus.
Gus has responded by:
1. Eating the garlic. We left a pile of juicy garlic by his entrance to our yard and the little vermin ate the entire lot.
2. Ignoring us. While the cayenne pepper and garlic appear to deter the squirrels, rabbits and mice, Gus appears to like the extra seasoning.
Our hand has been forced and we must up the stakes.
1. Garlic. Mince up a bunch of garlic, toss it in some water and spray it where you don’t want Gus to be.
2. Cayenne Pepper. Add many tablespoons of cayenne pepper to about a liter of water and spray where you wish to deter Gus.
Gus has responded by:
1. Eating the garlic. We left a pile of juicy garlic by his entrance to our yard and the little vermin ate the entire lot.
2. Ignoring us. While the cayenne pepper and garlic appear to deter the squirrels, rabbits and mice, Gus appears to like the extra seasoning.
Our hand has been forced and we must up the stakes.
The cow says moo!
Long-time friends and family are keenly aware that Jenni is not a fan of the meat products. She had her vegetarian phase in college, but eventually began eating poultry. Pig and cow, however were still exiled from the menu.
These days, one can occasionally find Jenni partaking in a bit of sausage (especially if it has homemade spaghetti sauce on top). However, the moratorium on ham, bacon and beef has continued.
Until today.
Sadly, recent test results reveal that Jenni is slightly anemic. We’d like to emphasize the slightly – it’s not a big issue. The doctor has recommended some slow-release iron pills, which should help in the short-term. However, it’s clear that Jenni’s diet is lacking in iron.
So until further notice, whenever Wily Jeneric ventures out to eat, Jenni will, if at all possible, attempt to include cow, er, beef in her lunch or dinner selection.
The sacrifices we make for our kids, eh?
These days, one can occasionally find Jenni partaking in a bit of sausage (especially if it has homemade spaghetti sauce on top). However, the moratorium on ham, bacon and beef has continued.
Until today.
Sadly, recent test results reveal that Jenni is slightly anemic. We’d like to emphasize the slightly – it’s not a big issue. The doctor has recommended some slow-release iron pills, which should help in the short-term. However, it’s clear that Jenni’s diet is lacking in iron.
So until further notice, whenever Wily Jeneric ventures out to eat, Jenni will, if at all possible, attempt to include cow, er, beef in her lunch or dinner selection.
The sacrifices we make for our kids, eh?
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