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George Michael: Thanksgiving Day, 1995 – August 22, 2009

Early this morning we had to make the toughest decision to euthanize our most beloved furry family member, George, due to severe complications from diabetes which resulted in a continuous state of seizure. There was nothing else we could do. His heart and soul weren’t ready to go, but his body was. He will forever be in our hearts. He is already missed. He is so loved.

10 Things about George I will cherish and dearly miss (in no order):

1. The appreciation on his face. George was so thankful and grateful for us, and he showed it.
2. His soft fur. I could pet George for hours, he was so soft.
3. George always wanted to be around us. He would insist one of us sat with him, or that he be smashed between us on the couch.
4. His spirit. George was a fighter long after most would’ve thrown in his towel, and he bounced back quicker than anyone thought.
5. His ears. When George perked his ears and gave me that “huh?” look, I was totally wrapped around his little paw. He was so cute.
6. His love of adventure. George loved going to the beach, going on vacation, going on car rides, going on walks…he was a doer.
7. Playing with George. He would lay on his side and strike at you with his front paws, then grab your arm by wrapping his front paws around in “doggie-jitsu.” And the noises he’d make, you’d think we owned a wookie.
8. How when we’d return home we’d find him sleeping in our closet next to our clothes or next to the front door, waiting for us to get home.
9. Snuggling with George. He would rest his little head in your lap, or lean up against your leg, or throw a paw out over your foot. He always looked so comfortable.
10. His grin…we could tell he was a happy dog much of his time with us.

It is heart-wrenching at least in part knowing that WE were his better place, and where he’d want to be is with us. It was terribly difficult to choose for him a new home.

You’ve got to be promising something pretty enticing to voluntarily get me out of bed at 7am on a Saturday, especially after a Friday night party.

As it turns out, french toast, eggs, and bacon with a glass of apple juice will do it.

Have you ever had that dream where you get really frustrated with someone because they won’t give you the answer you’re looking for, but then you realize the reason they can’t give you the answer is because your brain doesn’t know it?

1. I play video games.
2. I can sleep in on the weekends.
3. My dog is my child.
4. I live with roommates.
5. I rarely eat meals at regular times.
6. My schedule varies so widely that I try to avoid things that need regularity.
7. My ideal morning starts around 10am.
8. I do not have any flowered wallpaper in my house.
9. My family and coworkers still refer to me as “Kid.”
10. Older people don’t always understand my lingo.

1. I’m excited to go to the Home & Garden Show this weekend.
2. I have been for about 2 weeks.
3. I went to bed last night (a Friday) at 9:48pm.
4. I like to read the *gasp* actual physical newspaper.
5. Teenagers are looking younger and younger to me.
6. I don’t like the latest fashion or much of the latest music.
7. I cannot text faster than 20wpm.
8. I enjoy puttering around in my yard.
9. I take vitamins.
10. I play the stock market.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
No, I was supposed to be but I turned out a girl.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
Ooog. A lot in the last 2-3 weeks…did you see this post? (Things are looking up now though.)

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Yes

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Turkey

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
No, but it feels like it with George and Fidiot!

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Absolutely.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
Frequently

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Nope – I hate the feeling of falling.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Shredded Wheat…but I could go on. Cereal is one of my favorite foods.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Hardly ever, unless they don’t come off unless untied.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Cookies ‘n Cream or Cookie Dough or Mint Chocolate Chip (I really like ice cream too)

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Clothes, I think…because I almost always remember clothing when referring to a past event…i.e. ‘it was that day we went to lunch. You were wearing your red hoodie and black pants and I was wearing…’

15. RED OR PINK?
Red

16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
Total fear of confrontation, even when it’s warranted.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
My family members

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
green Rush Hospital scrubs with bare feet.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Heroes on in the living room and the fish tank filter

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Emerald green

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Books, fresh rain, baking cookies, smells associated with my people, cut grass, a simmering crock pot of pot roast.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
My Handsome

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
NFL football – Go Broncos and Packers!

27. HAIR COLOR?
Blonde

28. EYE COLOR?
Brown with green around the outside…they have been getting greener lately.

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
Yes – they are a must.

30 FAVORITE FOOD?
Mexican

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy endings – definitely.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Chocolate Thunder…it was funny but not great. Tom Cruise is hilarious in it.

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
black with white letters

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
oooh, winter if there’s snow.

35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Both. Can’t live without either.

36. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Probably a good pie or cheesecake.

39. WHAT BOOK(S) ARE YOU READING NOW?
The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama
The Temple of the Winds (Book 4 of The Sword of Truth series) by Terry Goodkind

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Nemo

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
Chocolate Thunder, Burn Notice, UFC Fight Night

42. FAVORITE SOUND(S)
Music, rain, a basketball swooshing through the hoop, crunching snow/leaves, the voices of those I love, the ocean, lapping water

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
ehhh, I’m not in this generation, so I don’t really think much of either. Both have songs I listen to but I would be more interested in The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, or America.

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Jerusalem, Israel

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Almost…a near photographic memory.

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
in California

48. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE/SIGNIFICANT OTHER(S)?
In high school…Handsome transferred in my junior year and we had many classes together.

Until I post on Valentine’s Day #10…

Things I have done during my lifetime:

() Gone on a blind date
(x) Skipped school
(x) Watched someone die
(x) Been to Canada
(x) Been to Mexico
(x) Been to Florida
(x) Been to Hawaii
(x) Been on a plane
(x) Been on a helicopter
(x) Been lost
(x) Gone to Washington, DC
(x) Gotten an autograph from someone famous
(x) Swam in the ocean
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
(x) Played cops and robbers
() Recently colored with crayons
(x) Been to the top/BOTTOM of the Empire State building
(x) Sang Karaoke (I did with a live band ~ it was awesome!)
() Paid for a meal with coins only
( ) Been to the top of the St. Louis Arch
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t.
(x) Made prank phone calls
(x) Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans
(x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose & elsewhere
(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(x) Danced in the rain
() Gotten into a fist-fight
( ) Eaten Frog, Pig snout or Rattlesnake
(x) Written a letter to Santa Claus
() Been kissed under the mistletoe
( ) Watched the sunrise with someone
(x) Blown bubbles
(x) Gone ice-skating
() Gone skinny-dipping
() Been deep sea fishing
() Driven across the United States
( ) Been in a hot air balloon
( ) Been sky diving
(x) Gone snowmobiling
(x) Gone para sailing
( ) Lived in more than one country
(x) Lay down outside at night and admired the stars while listening to the crickets
(x) Seen a falling star and made a wish
(x) Enjoyed the beauty of Old Faithful Geyser
(x) Seen the Statue of Liberty
() Gone to the top of Seattle Space Needle
(x) Been on a cruise
(x) Traveled by train
(x) Traveled by motorcycle
(x) Been horse back riding
(x) Ridden on a San Francisco CABLE CAR
(x) Been to Disneyland
(x) and Disney World
(x) Truly believe in the power of prayer
() Been in a rain forest
(x) Seen whales in the ocean
() Been to Niagara Falls
() Ridden on an elephant
(x) Swam with dolphins
() Been to the Olympics
() Walked on the Great Wall of China
(x) Been in a parade
() Played ding dong dichum
(x) Been water-skiing
(x) Been snow-skiing
() Been to Westminster Abbey
(x) Been to the Louvre
(x) Witnessed a Miracle
(x) Been to a Major League Baseball game
(x) Been to a National Football League game

I’m always fearful when I’m on top of the world because, in my life at least, it is soon followed by a fall from grace. You could go on about needing the bad to appreciate the good…blah blah blah. I appreciate the good times just fine. That’s why they made “normal.”

To make a long story short, I’m in the aftermath. Colors are a little less vibrant and I feel somewhat listless, drifting, and disconnected. There are brief periods of enjoyment, but when I disengage the burden returns. I’m hoping Valentine’s Day (more on this in another post) brings me out of this funk.

2008 is almost over. Let’s take a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly from this year.

• Bought a brand new 2008 Toyota Prius that I love (April). Grade: A+
• July 4th fireworks in Laurel, Montana (July). Grade: A
• Thanksgiving surprise visit to Montana (November). Grade: A
• Got a raise! (May). Grade: A-
• Handsome and I share a great Valentine’s Day drive (February). Grade: B+
• Cabo San Lucas weekend (November). Grade: B+
• George got his wheelchair (April). Grade: B+
• White Christmas (December). Grade: B
• NONE of my teams make the playoffs (December). Grade: C
• Smashed finger working on Fidiot’s car (January). Grade: C-
• Got strep throat…BAD (September). Grade: D
• Parking lot fender-bender…in the new Prius (August). Grade: D-
• Spent two weeks on crutches for broken leg (September/October). Grade: F
• Fidiot totals my 4-Runner in a rollover car accident (March). Grade: F-

Now that the leg saga has been put to bed, I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed trying to catch up with all the things I haven’t been able to do lately. Such as:

• Finish painting the trim in the living room/hallway
• Weed the back yard
• Finish the touch-up painting in the bathroom
• Finish the freelance website I’m working on
• Work on cover inserts for our binders of MTG and football cards
• Start getting Eric’s online MTG store website functional
• Trim the flowers back for winter
• Plant bulbs for next spring
• Finish the brick work edging in the front yard

Granted, some of these things have been put off for awhile now, but in my defense I had my second car accident this year in early August, then strep throat in early September, then the leg injury in mid September…so my late summer/early fall 2008 has been one physical problem after another. *sigh*

Also, many of these are partially to mostly finished; it’s just a matter of wrapping them up. Nonetheless, it will be nice to cross items off my list so I can play more video games!