getting there {still + life}
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at 05:00AM 
Well, we've had a time around these parts. On and off line, I suppose. As you can see from your address bar, we're making tweaks to SPL, and carts got put in front of horses and things were a bit rough for awhile (I may or may not have been weeping in the laps of the wonderful folks from Customer Support at MacHighway, but that's a story for another day.), but I'm here (thank goodness), and you are too (really, really, thank YOU!), so I'll try to keep things smooth sailing from here on out. Thank you to all of you who checked in and wanted to make sure things were okay. They mostly weren't okay, but they never were insurmountable. We're getting there.
In the midst of all of this our sweet Violet has been getting worse. Our vet had wanted to do a follow-up with her this week anyway, but Neel and I were both noticing appreciable changes in her gait and struggles with her back legs. We simply love our vet, at Dog and Cat Hospital, not least of which because she (rightly so) adores Miss Violet. Dr. Marshall has been cautious but careful, and yet it was clearly time for further action. Yesterday we headed north about half an hour to a surgeon recommended by our vet. This surgeon is wonderful and has now recommended that we head south and west about three hours for an MRI. It could be a bulging disk. It could be a mass on her spine. But we need answers. It doesn't hurt that our vet wrote on our records to the the surgeon that Violet was "the sweetest dog ever." She's right. We leave at seven this morning for an involved (and pricey) appointment that will hopefully clarify our next steps.
Between that and my blog woes, the mantle of worry has weighed heavily upon me this week.
1. Friday hike | 2. New lunch tradition | 3. Dinner with friends | 4. Foggy morning | 5. Personal best savings at the grocery store | 6. Foggy afternoon | 7. Sweet winter blooms | 8. Dinner party prep| 9. What I drink when I'm not having wine |10. Hostess gift |11. Rum cake | 12. Dinner party | 13. Brunch | 14. Happy to do the taxes | 15. Lazy Sunday (but not really)
I was all set to tell you about our weekend, which was pretty fabulous, so I'll just pop a few tidbits on here. We had just the most lovely dinner with friends on Friday night (and Neel got some long awaited spaghetti and meatballs) which capped off the most decadent day ever: hike, then lunch, then dinner. If I managed to squeeze a massage in there somewhere, I practically would have qualified as a Real Housewife. Our Supper Club went really well, even though some people (I'm looking at YOU Tequila Bill) had babies to avoid us, and perhaps flu season isn't the best time to get together. Still, we managed to shuffle through with some amazing food and equally wonderful company. I'll blog about it as soon as I possibly can. But really the highlight of my day was saving a whopping $61.43 at the grocery store on Saturday. It's the little things, right? It's $61.43 worth of things.
There's one other thing I want to say about our weekend, and that's the fog. It was thick and dark and deep almost all weekend. Saturday, for sure, never got past misty. I know I've told you that we're just blocks from the Elizabeth River, one of the busiest rivers in the US, and on Saturday morning I woke up to the sound of foghorns, long and low. All morning they blew. It's such a mournful sound, but beautiful too, and I thought how lucky we are to live near the river and hear that sound. It's good to remember how lucky you are sometimes.
So as you're reading this, we've likely headed out the door. Violet has probably begged at least half a dozen times to stop and get fries at McDonalds (she can't have food past midnight), and she's saying over and over again "When Violet was good, she was very, very good, and when she was bad she was PRETTY!" (It's going to be a long drive.) Please hold us all in the light. My little puppers especially. I don't know exactly what the week will hold for me. I've been taking photos, and I have some posts lined up, but I can't promise to get them on here. Frankly, I'm just happy to be here. Love you guys. Thanks for everything. We're getting there.
Reader Comments (9)
Oh, sweet Violet! You are all in my heart and will be all day. On the prayer list too. Do you know there is a song called "Sweet Violet"? I'll have to look up the words and sing it to her. She'll love it.
Sweet, sweet little lady. My thoughts are totally with Miss V and all of you during this, and I hope you get loads of good news and she is back to her usual self soon. And come on, give the girl some fries! Maybe on the way home you can splurge and buy her a happy meal? I'm holding her (and you and the other pups) in the light.
And you forgot to add Erin Customer Support to the list, ahem! ;) Take gentle care, and don't worry about being here. Just be present. xoxo
I know how tough this is. Hang in there. Violet is one lucky pup because her people love her So. Much. Sending healing prayers via St. Francis...I have connections, you see. :-)
Awww poor pups x love that the vet said that about her. Fingers crossed she's ok.
Love that picture of neel behind the taxes. I paid my taxes this week too. boo.
MacHighway - I'm with them. A recommendation from Madam Erin perchance? xx
I was a little shocked when I couldn't see your blog yesterday and instead only saw hello world in big letters on the screen. Glad that you are back! Ha, ha I am also happy to see what I saved on my grocery shopping, love that they put it on the receipts here. I can totally get why people get into extreme couponing it must be a great feeling to pay next to nothing for what you need ;)
Have been thinking all day about Violet and hope she is doing well! Must have been a pretty tough day for her...
Thanks so much for popping in and giving us an update. It's good to read that there are some light, happy moments (supper club) in the midst of frustrating and worrisome moments (blog + V.). I do hope things get straightened with the blog (for your sanity) and V. gets some good/better news about her gait (for your family's peace of mind). Life always take precedence, so do what you need to do. We'll all be here when you're ready. Thinking of you. x
thinking of you and your four-legged sweetie. keep us up on things. the part about the fog and foghorns sounds really neat. we live near the ohio river, but not that close!
oh little violet, she does look like the sweetest dog ever. i would buy her some french fries, maybe even from mcdonalds. i hope the mri went well. i will be keeping her sweet little face in my thoughts.
i am just so happy to see your blog back (whether you are writing in it or not). the other page that was popping up was making me feel like there was a big old void where lauren once was. hopefully this blog stuff will work out magically too (those are the kind of things that immediately send me into crazy land i hate dealing with that kind of stuff).
take care of you and violet and be well. xoxo
Poor Miss Violet - what a patient little pup. If only people were as good as dogs :)