So, Monday morning we were checked out and going to go to Book Passage, but they don't open till 10. Sulk. (What I really need is more books, yes.) We did stop at the Jelly Belly factory to show Bernadette the new gift shop, and while we were there we took the tour. Then we also went to the Thompson Chocolate factory, but no one was wrapping chocolate trees while we were there.

We'd thought of going to Blair Witch Project, but had no energy at all. Bernadette left Tuesday. I had some real empty nest moments before I came to my senses.

I asked Rich, later that day, what he was doing on his computer. He said, "oh, paperwork." He's got to catch up with all the mounds of files and things. Then he said, just casually, that he hasn't been feeling well. I leaped to the obvious conclusion and asked if he was putting his affairs in order, and that wasn't what he meant (whew!). He just meant he's felt blah and not like gardening. (The man IS sick!)

Friday he went to the doctor and has had some tests for parasites, the simple explanations first, then we'll look for more serious stuff. His general lassitude means that we missed our last chance at a Steelhead game this season and probably forever, and I haven't broached the subject of a Grand Canyon trip in October, which I've been thinking about since before the wedding.

He said: "I feel guilty. I haven't done anything the last couple of weeks." Oh, just marry off a daughter and try to get us killed a couple of times, said I. He'd forgotten Mr. Road Rage, but he remembered the second one, as it had just happened. He was verging to the right and didn't see the small truck that was right there. Fortunately thery turned back and accepted his apology.

Plus, he's back to sleeping all the time again.

I stopped with the pain pills during the weekend, so I could enjoy my champagne and also get back to feeling OK. Except, of course, the shoulders hurt. I'm not as badly off as I was last year, but I did get a nasty twinge today when I picked up a magazine. Exercises, tai chi, posture!

Sailor is canine non grata with the kennel. He tried an escape while we were still there checking him in. They do have a high-security facility in Roseville if we ever leave him again.

Pagan came with a camera bag so I could free up my film. I lost about two pictures in the kerfluffle, so it could have been worse. The camera is still broken, however, not fixed with a new battery. We're able to jiggle and wiggle it and get the occasional picture, but the switch is broken. It annoys me excessively that it will likely be cheaper to get a new camera than to fix the switch.

I've been really hard on cameras, but this one has done well for 2.5 years, and I like it a lot. Grumble. When we got home, I discovered the VCR tape had jammed and I got none of my weekend shows. Rats. I tried winding it by hand as well as manually using the fast-forward, and nothing. It hit the trash. Too bad about the timing.

Roni came back Friday (yes, with R.J.!) I had hoped for a phone call. I may not even get a postcard. (I am expecting one from Ireland, though my friend professes fear that Rich will be angry.)

I've had a good time all week with the flowers. I just love flowers. The lilies lasted a long time. In fact, I still have five of them. The roses are mostly gone, though I think one of them will open nicely. Crombie keeps jumping up on the table and stealing the asparagus fern.

Crombie nitters when she spies the prey. Currently, that's just flies and blue pull-tabs from the milk bottles, but if she does that with mice, she's not going to catch many.
The first night we were home I shut her into the bathroom and she cried and cried, so we got brave and let her loose at night. She climbs into bed with me and kneads and kneads and kneads, all prickles, and she doesn't stop early. I've shut her away a couple of times. I figured out last night that I need a stuffed toy for between us so I can get some sleep. I felt guilty about giving her my tpy dog from when I was a baby, but I really DO know Precious won't be hurt. This way maybe I won't be, either. I was hoping when she went into Sailor's bed that she'd cuddle with him and spare me, but Nooooo. I can hardly wait for the new kitten!

A different Abercrombie, a different Fitch.
Monica has had this stuffed bear for at least 15 years, and I'd forgotten it was named Abercrombie.

The other day Crombie discovered a jumping bug, one of those clicking ones that's hard to catch, in the kitchen. This was fascinating, and I believe she eventually caught it.
When Sailor barks she runs into the box of the Kit Mahal. Today she was teasing the dog, then ran to the KM and dashed up the ramp and out the window and swatted at the dog. Obviously, they're getting along fine, but he needs the new kitten to get a bit of rest, too.
Her eyes are swollen. Oh, goodie, another trip to the vet.

Friday night we went to see Carousel. I really don't like this musical, even though the songs are fantastic. They don't even have the carousel in it for long! The man next to me was sniffling away, though, when Billy died. I just figured he had it coming. Rich didn't remember this musical but now he agrees that we never need to see it again. It's a shame this wasn't the one for last week.

It's been a busy week doing CASA stuff. Friday the 13th I was at a conference with three counsellors and the social worker, checking on Sam's current status. It turns out that the reason the other school has no record of the IEP is that they didn't actually do it. I took the copy of the report card to Sam's teacher. Sam didn't start school till November 9 last year, and missed 11 days the last trimester. This is no way to learn anything. The teacher got me up to date on what's going on at school. He will get the cumulative report from the other school and start work with Sam. I find out that the foster-care provider can request an IEP and so this will be my project for this week, to find out how and help her. The longer Sam goes without help, the farther Sam falls behind.
I picked up the spelling words, too, and when we went to the library, we worked on them. Sam got real tired of this, and I don't know if it did any good. Sam's spelling words are: be, this, from, I, have, or, by, one, had, not, but (Sam sounded this out but was sure it was wrong till I explained it was the kind of "but" that was "but I don't want to"), what, all, were, when, we, there, can, an, your. Sam had 12 out of 20 of these right, after studying. This is NOT third grade ability. I've been trying to get the desire to read there, and to help with decoding and with the sudden leap of realization that the sounds MEAN something. A reading specialist would be great.

Thursday we went to the library and Sam got quizzed on the books "read" and got to get a couple of small prizes. Yesterday I wanted to entirely avoid anything that looked like school, and we went to the University to hear the Sacramento Philharmonic play Peter and the Wolf. They were terrific. Sam had some wiggles, but not any more than anyone else. (The solution to the nation's energy shortage: young children at a concert!) Sam's big interest was in the "freshments" afterwards. This was a new word.
I worry, sometimes, that I'm creating expectations that Sam can't meet later in life. On the other hand, I'm introducing the child to a different life that is possible to attain, and trying to provide the tools to attain it. I hope this is good for Sam, not a disaster.

I finally called Sam's lawyer. "You were just assigned to the case?" Oops. I should have called in June.

There's another conference tomorrow, which the foster-provider will also attend. I need to discuss Sam's birthday with her, too.

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Two pounds up, but since I came back from the wedding up FIVE pounds, back to the former plateau, this doesn't distress me. No walking, see above. Rich doesn't walk I don't walk. Two magazines, and I sent some pictures to Roni, but mostly I've been vegging.