Non-Stop November

I apologize for not updating since last month. November has been a very busy month for us. Many exciting weekends and life changes have occurred. The Peter Anderson Festival is held in Ocean Springs, MS the first weekend of November every year and is my favorite event. This was also a great weekend because I was able to hang out with a few good friends that I haven't seen in awhile. Kati also opened her new store this weekend to drive in some early sales.

As always, I wake up earlier than the festival starts so that I can grab a good parking spot and find the best artwork first. I went straight to Kati's shop to see if she needed any last minute help and then started the walk. No more than 2 minutes after leaving, I had already made a purchase (a beautiful piece of pottery). I had a small amount of cash and reached my budget rather quickly unfortunately (within a few hours). But, I found a Christmas present too so that made it seem better... well, at least in my eyes. After the money disappeared, I headed to a friend's house for mimosas. It was great seeing these old friends. I decided to walk around the festival with them and proceeded to drink from the Blue Moon beer stands that decorated the sides of the streets. This is the first time I have ever drank because usually I have a much larger budget and shopping list. I had a GREAT time. This will definitely be something I will do in the future. During the next week, we were able to get our portraits done for our Christmas cards. They turned out great! Here is a preview.

The next weekend was eventful as well. We were not able to go to Gatlinburg as we previously had planned because Craig was not granted time off. We will try again to go up, hopefully in the beginning of the year. I am happy that it worked out that way because I was able to witness the beautiful baptism of Tristan. Tina had planned this event after our planned vacation but God had another idea I do believe. I was able to attend my cousin's birthday party before the baptism as well.

Josh's Birthday Bash

Tina did a wonderful job planning the event. I rode into town early to try to help her finish up some last minute projects and get the food together. When I arrived, Tina was grocery shopping, so Drew and I decided to go eat at the local Chinese buffet. It was so funny because the wait staff kept asking Drew about Tristan and where his wife was. I swear I got the death glance a couple of times while I was there. This also reminded me of when I went to the hospital with Drew and Tina for Tristan's birth. The sweet nurses in the hospital were somewhat confused and asked if Tina and I were the parents. Bless their hearts. Anyways, Tristan was so well behaved during the whole ceremony. There was another baby there as well, and I have to say, Tristan was better. Even his name was better. This poor child's name was "Massimo." C'mon, I mean really... Those parents are just cruel. Tina invited everyone over after the ceremony for a reception. The food was great and the decorations were beautiful. Luckily, Tina was able to receive and print his newborn pictures just in time. Kati brought the cake over from one of her client's bakeries. Check them out here. I love that I was able to be a part of such a special event. And Tristan, I have to say, loves his Auntie Tara. I also got to witness him holding his bottle by himself at 3 and a half weeks! Can you believe that!?

 



 

I returned late on Monday after Tina bribed me to stay for a trip to the fabric factory where you can buy high end fabrics for dirt cheap. I got several "scraps" for a $1 each that I intend to make pillows with but we'll see if that happens anytime soon. The reason why is because, on my way home that evening, I received a phone call asking if I was interested in a position for a full time associate veterinarian. Absolutely! I set up an interview for that Thursday, was offered the position on Friday, accepted it on Saturday, and started on Tuesday. I met the practice owner randomly at a Continuing Education seminar on a Sunday last month. Apparently, I made a good impression. But, what is really strange is what my fortune revealed when I ate the buffet, "A chance meeting opens new doors to success and friendship." Crazy, I know!

I accepted the position while I was in New Orleans. I traveled there for a wedding of a long time friend. I suggested that several of us get together for some much needed girl time and everyone agreed. I checked in at our very nice and very large room at the Hampton Inn downtown and headed to the wedding. The ceremony was beautiful! It was set up on top of the Jax Brewery and occurred as the sun set in the background. A bit of a chill drew the crowd into the reception directly after the bridal party departed. Guess where I went. Yeah. I went to the bar. As a matter of fact, I went to the bar one to many times that night. I had great conversations up until we left at shut down time. The rest of the night was a blur, or perhaps, non-existent. I recall meeting a dude from the real world, drinking a hurricane at the swamp, and that's. about. it... My babysitters say that I was a blast in a glass. I hope they got some good memories out of me because I have none. All I know is that, I woke up the next morning with a buzz, a right leg lameness, and a pain in my ass. Literally. I had a massive bruise on my left butt cheek that is still present.

 

 I had to wake up early that morning to attend a family Christmas party. Epic fail. Not the waking up part, no I was good on that. I left the hotel and headed to the parking garage only to find that my driver's side front tire was completely flat. No biggie, right? Oh so totally, WRONG! A nice gentleman that worked at the garage helped me change to my spare tire. It looked a bit flat, but I was assured that it just needed some air. OK. I hooked up my portable air compressor and it was broken. OK. Let's just try to find the nearest gas station to put some air in it. NOPE! As I backed out of the parking spot, Tina shakes her head. Dammit. The spare was now completely flat. It was decided that I just needed to go and get some lunch and chill. I didn't have much of an appetite after this debacle and the liquor was still swimming in my stomach, but I managed to choke down a roll. I learned some baby stuff from the mommies at the table too. Interesting, and we'll leave it at that. Tina drove me back to Ocean Springs with my flat tire in tow and my car left behind in NOLA. It was Sunday, so I would just have to wait to get a new one on Monday. Finally, I was able to get it repaired. I hitched a ride with my sister and bro-in-law who had flown in on Saturday and replaced the flat spare. Needless to say, I now know how to change a flat tire.

The next week was spent hanging out with the family and getting fatter. Our family really pulled together to make this Thanksgiving memorable and delicious. Mimi is still unable to walk, so it was important to all of us to keep it just like every other past Thanksgiving. She is the leader of all of our great meals and is in charge. With Mimi's guidance, the food turned out just right. Everyone enjoyed it, and I think Mimi felt better after it put people in their normal food-induced comas.

My first day on the new job was somewhat busy. I performed six elective surgeries and saw a few rooms. I am hoping that this position will provide me with what I was seeking at my previous employer. I will have emergency call for the first time and that makes me somewhat nervous. Over this past week, I am learning how to be a veterinarian at a new practice with new protocols, new meds, and new rules. This is typically a slower time of year, so I don't have to learn by leaping. It is very different from what I am used to, but I have managed to adjust so far. All of the staff is very nice, and I feel comfortable with them so this helps. I am hopeful and optimistic that this will be a good fit.

So, as you can see, my November was very busy. Tina, Drew and Tristan are coming over tomorrow night, and we are all going to go to Bellingrath Gardens to view the Christmas lights. I am excited to see how Tristan will react. We have mailed out our Christmas cards and will be putting up our Christmas decorations this weekend also. Time to get in the Christmas spirit! I hope I will be able to post next month and keep up with this blog now that I have less free time. See you soon (hopefully)!

Cheers!
Tara

Gotta Love October

As we say goodbye to the month of October, I have much to look back on and be thankful for. Craig and I are a year wiser and older. Well, maybe just older. Our birthdays were spent with each other and family, the way it should be. I received some birthday money, in which I promptly blew at the Canton Flea Market. That place is amazing. It is truly like the Peter Anderson Festival on steroids times a hundred.

The Canton Flea Market is located in a small town north of Jackson, MS. The city looks like something out of an old movie. Well, as a matter of fact, it is. Several films have been created within this city including: My Dog Skip, Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? and Mississippi Burning just to name a few. I was invited to go by my mother-in-law. We would be going with my sister-in-law who knows her way around the market. She charted our way prior to going, making sure we stopped at the hottest spots first. I was able to see a friend that was set up selling her great artwork. Check her out at Paintings by Holly. I have several of her pieces including a portrait of Bella and Asher, which is amazing!

We moved briskly through each section of the market, but it never felt like we even made a dent in visiting what was there. This place is MASSIVE. Unlike the focus on fine art and pottery of the Peter Anderson Festival, it is geared more towards arts and crafts. I found many great things that were at a decent price (also unlike the PAF). A hundred dollars was gone in a flash, but I had so much fun. That night I was completely exhausted. My in-laws are hardcore Canton Flea Marketers, but I would love nothing more than to visit again.

The weekend of Craig’s birthday, he decided he wanted to stay at his family’s camp. This cabin is secluded within a cypress swamp located right on Caswell Lake in Mississippi. It is very beautiful and quiet, a nice place to just get away for a few days. We took the pups with us and they enjoyed being able to go on walks and tromp around in the woods like we used to do at North Farm in Starkville. Both have become very well behaved, staying close and running right back to me if I call to them. They love being off leash, so I think our next home will have to have land associated with it.

 

 

Craig’s parents had a get together for our birthdays, where we had a special MSU cake to celebrate. Hillary’s name was included for her birthday in September. She loved having an MSU cake with Uncle Craig and Aunt Tara. Muahahaha! (both of her parents attended Ole Miss) It was very nice of them to think of us. Shortly after, Craig headed for Columbus, MS for a fishing tournament with his dad, and I got to go home for the weekend and hang out with my family.

I have also been helping out with my friend’s shop. We painted the entire place, and I helped her inventory her stock. She will be opening this weekend for the Peter Anderson Festival. Everyone should check out her place. I am super excited for this weekend. I haven’t missed this festival as far back as I can remember. I LOVE IT! I’ll get to see some close friends and spend the rest of my birthday money that I stashed away. At least I will get to stay with my folks, where they actually believe in using the dang HEATER! Seriously, I have been frozen the past few days because Craig refuses to turn the thing on!

Last week, Craig and I were trying to find a haunted house or trail to go to, and we thought we found something promising. Wales West Pumpkin Patch was a camping resort and offered a train ride out to a pumpkin patch. I have never been to one so I was very excited. When we got there, I was pretty impressed. Everything was decorated for Halloween, and there was a legit train. However, shortly after we purchased our tickets, it became evident that this “scary” train ride was for children. Every adult was accompanied by a child except for us. We looked like complete doobs. But, we still enjoyed ourselves. When we arrived at the “pumpkin patch” after the train ride, children got to pick a pre-picked pumpkin out of a fenced in decorated area. I grabbed a pumpkin and promptly return to the gate to avoid the over stimulated children. We even got to witness a little girl pee herself. Oh, what fun! I can’t wait to be a mother. Hmmm… I was able to find a for real haunted house in Hurley and got to go with my friends, Kati, Allison and Luke. Needless to say, Luke was a little girl about it and made the night for everyone.

 

 

Which brings us to Halloween. There was a trick or treater tonight dressed up as a mouse. It made me think of Lola. We still miss her like crazy, but it is nice that every time we think of her, we smile. Unfortunately for us, we only had 9 trick or treaters. So that means a crap ton of treats left… as if either one of us needed more of that. I hope everyone had a very HAPPY HALLOWEEN! See ya next month!

Cheers!
Tara

 

Saying Goodbye

Some of you may have noticed my lack of Facebook participation within the past week and the fact that I didn’t blog. Earlier this week, we lost our sweet Lola rat. And truthfully, it has been really tough on me. Some of you may be thinking, why? Why are you upset about a pet rat? Well, the answer is, I don’t really care if you think it is stupid. She was more than just a pet rat. She was a member of our family.

Looking back, working at a place that sells animals was probably not the wisest thing for me to do nor was choosing a pet with a life expectancy of two years. But I really didn’t have a choice in either matters. Anyways, Lola came to us via my animal collecting skills. I had always wanted a pet rat. My mother hates small critters, so growing up, I was never allowed to have them. And as most of you know, keeping something from me only makes me want it more. So, years later, I purchased my Lola rathead in August 2010. Check out this other blog post for more about Lola and one of my fondest memories of her.

When we got home from the weekend at the cabin, we checked on all the critters like we normally do. Craig checked on Lola and gave her a small piece of cheese. Lola grabbed it furiously as she always does, and Craig jokingly said, “I don’t know about Lola but there’s a shark in there.” However, the following morning, she was not doing well. She just lied there in her cage not moving about much. I lifted her igloo and found the uneaten cheese which is unheard of as well as a little piece of macaroni that I gave her the night before.

I picked her up out of her cage and she said “hello” with her sweet little squeak. She was visibly thinner and her skin would tent due to dehydration. Her breathing effort was increased. This was not good. I sat with her wrapped in a warm towel practically all day. I attempted to syringe feed water and flavored antibiotics to her. She resisted both. I cried many times this day, and I stayed up late with her knowing that when I had to say goodnight, it would probably be the last time.

I woke up early the next morning with a knot in my stomach. I didn’t want to find her dead. I slunk out of bed and found my Lola just lying outside the towel that I left her in next to the mini heater I set up for her. Her breathing was still labored, but she was still responsive. This wasn’t fair. I was not going to let her go through another day like this. Not after all of the memories and love she gave to us. I couldn’t make her do this another day. So, I decided to humanely euthanize her.

As a vet, I am all too familiar with this scenario. As an owner, I am as well. We had to have our kitty, Sugar, put to sleep on February 12^th after days of trying to jump start her failed kidneys with IV fluids and every type of diuretic there is. Sugar came to us by way of adoption, as do most of my pets. The day I saw her, and I just knew she would be a part of our family. Just like I did with Bella and Asher. Sugar was a unique and quite perfect feline in my eyes. She acted more like a dog than any cat would dream of. She loved to be in the same room as us at all times. She played fetch very well. She even sat and would sit pretty on command for a treat. There were so many enduring qualities and unique behaviors she did that made her the light of our lives. Craig, who strongly disliked cats, fell head over heels for this friendly feline. Even though her blood values were off the charts and I’m sure she felt like crap, she was still so sweet during her intensive care stay at the ER and right up to the moment I watched the light leave her beautiful blue eyes. I was completely devastated. I still think about her often and tears well up as they are now. And now, I’ve had to revisit this feeling of despair once more.

 

I have helped many people and their pets with this situation. Putting a pet to sleep is never an easy decision whether warranted or not. Losing a member of your family is something that inevitably happens to everyone. Whether human or animal, the pain is great and something that we all share. And for me, it’s devastating. So please, the next time you learn of someone loosing a pet, show sympathy. You never will know how much that pet, big or small, meant to someone, and you too will be there one day.

Godspeed my babies, I love you and will see you again!
Love, Your Mommy

Watch this video of Lola and Sugar sharing some yogurt, makes me smile every time

Another Year Bites the Dust

My sister came into town from Indianapolis a few weekends back for a short visit. Finally, she was able to enjoy the ‘rent’s boat and go out to Horn Island. It seems like every time her and her husband come down they bring terrible weather with them. But, this weekend was niiiice. We got to relax and enjoy the summer sun for one last time before cooler temps hit. Side note: I loathe winter weather hence why we live on the coast… I would take a hurricane any day over a dang blizzard. Anyways. We went out and stayed out a bit to late in downtown Ocean Springs. We found a small pub and pretty much drank our faces off. As usual when the sis drinks one too many, she requests "cheesy bean and riiiiice!" In other words... give her Taco Bell , and do it NOW. However, she settled for a build-your-own burrito place instead. Ashley also got to take the pups down to East Beach too, something I do believe she really really enjoys even though she doesn’t have dogs. She is definitely a cat person. Seriously, every five minutes she would make a statement about how she misses her “sweet angel baby kitties…” I like cats and always have but I definitely enjoy my pups more. They would go everywhere with me if they weren’t so big. And as for Junebug... well, she doesn’t consider herself a cat. I should know - she told me…

The Beer House in downtown OS - a late night sampler

Senor Lopez Burrito Cafe - a late night snack

Me and my kids on East Beach

So, my birthday came and went. I’m still alive, so I guess that’s good. Craig and I celebrated by going to my favorite place, the beach. Imagine that. We stayed pretty much all day. I got to drink some beers and get my tan on. So, overall, a marvelous day. Originally, we were going to dinner at Lulu’s but opted for the less expensive route and chose Lambert’s instead. For those of you that have never been to Lambert’s, I will describe it to you briefly. Lambert’s is the “home of the throwed rolls.” Basically, they throw your dinner rolls at your face from across the room. They serve home style southern cooking with pass arounds (they pass around large buckets of food which you can choose to get heaping portion plopped on your plate or pass). The pass around foods vary from black-eyed peas to potatoes and onions and are delish. Needless to say, my birthday was filled with the three Bs: beach, beer, and binge eating! Yesss! Oh, and if you were curious, Craig got me a lifeproof iPhone cover - this sucker withstands dropping, dust/sand, and is waterproof up to 6 feet. Perfect for me just in case my phone takes a dive which is a common occurence. We are also going to the Smokies in November for a mini vaycay. Yesss!

                                 Craig lovingly wrapped my gift all by himself...

The following weekend I had the privilege to attend a beautiful Mississippi themed wedding. My friend, Kati, married another friend of mine, Luke. Check out Tina's blog to get the scoop on how we unknowingly united these two.The wedding and reception were held at The Old Place in Gautier, Mississippi under the oaks and right on the Pascagoula River. All of the wedding design from the floral arrangements down to the print on the programs were put together by the bride. She is a truly talented individual. She had lawn games, live music, and BBQ. The food was very cleverly put together. There were several food stands similar to what you would see at a carnival, set up along with a separate bar. You could go up to any of these stands and request whatever you would like - popcorn, cotton candy, funnel cakes, homemade potato chips, stuffed jalapeños, and of course various types of BBQ. It was a great wedding weekend with great company and great times. (Just wish I wouldn’t have stayed out till 4 am the previous night…) and to all the haters, I wore a dress... both nights... ha! I even got to try out my photography skills and editing skills. Check out my pics below...



The Old Place - Gautier, Mississippi

  

 

 

Kati is an interior designer and event planner. If you have an upcoming event or project and you need some help or guidance, check her out at Abode Design Studio and you can follow her on Twitter or Facebook. She will be opening a studio in downtown Ocean Springs late October as well. I promise you, she is awesome! Tomorrow, I will fill you in on the Canton Flea Market and Craig’s birthday weekend. I know, I know. You’re on pins and needles…

Cheers!
Tara