Author Archives: ramblingsofaperforatedmind

Conference Recap

by in Teaching and tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Last weekend, our entire department attended the Nebraska Language Association NiLA) conference in Kearney. A lot was accomplished. The new name for the organization is NEBLA, and we have a very competent executive director. We will be able to apply for grants to help support our goals and make a stronger organization.

Conferences can be tiring, but it is worth it to reconnect with people I haven’t seen in a year or more. I learned from my colleagues’ presentations, bought a couple of items from vendors and made plans with some old friends.

There was a pre conference dinner, and it was great. Alley Rose had awesome food. I highly recommend the almond crusted salmon!

There were several awards presented. I wasn’t the only person to get one, of course, but I didn’t get permission yet to post pictures of the others.

Million Dollar Tator

by in Twists and Turns and tagged , , , | 2 Comments

As you may already know, my young Tator Tot was diagnosed with FIP. He finally came home from the vet clinic yesterday. He was adored by the staff.

I’m handling his meds and finding my routine since I have to start work tomorrow. Brian made the joke that Tator Tot is going to be a very expensive cat since one of his meds cost $200 a bottle.

Tator Tot has been eating well. I’ve been feeding him multiple times a day to make sure he gets enough grub. Badger has been a bit hissy. We laughingly say she has a leaky tire. Things are going pretty well, though. I did not get much sleep last night because he just wanted to stick to me like glue. It’s hard to sleep with a silly cat draped across my neck.

While Tator Tot was all over me, Badger jumped up on my pillow. When that happened, I was fearing for my life, so I moved them both. We put Tator in the bathroom and pulled the accordion door closed as much as possible. All of a sudden, he was on the bed again. Little Houdini repeated the feat at least twice.

Thankfully, I was able to get a big nap today.

Badger is tired from hissing.

Tator Tot

by in Twists and Turns and tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

My sweet young Tator Tot has been quite ill for the last  two weeks. I brought him home from the vet last Monday. By that evening I noticed his nose looked yellow, his tummy looked too big and his back end was a bit wobbly.

Me being me, I immediately called the vet’s office and made sure they could see him the next morning. I dropped him off at 7:30 Tuesday, he had blood work done, more Sub-Q fluids and a good check over.

His diagnosis is FIP, which used to be a death sentence. There is now a treatment for it! It involves medicine for 84 days. He might be ready to come home  on Monday. I’ll have to give his meds to him, but he’s a good boy.

I went over to the vet clinic this morning to snuggle him because I miss him so much. I got him to eat a small pack of the Delectables squeeze up gravy. We found out that he has gained a bit of weight, which is encouraging. He quit eating for days while he was so sick. He likes the dry kitten food they have at the clinic, so I guess I will be getting that special food for him, but that’s just fine.

Tator Tot is fighting through this, and the vet’s stance about his condition is “guarded, but optimistic.”

Send some good vibes our way if you can!

Heartbreak

by in Twists and Turns and tagged , , | Leave a comment

Our oldest mare, Oreo, was off her feed Thursday evening. Not coming in for her grain was very suspicious, so off to the vet we went. We had to wait for Saturday morning because the office was closed Friday for the 4th.

The vet said she was ancient. My best guess was 30. He gave her a shot for pain after checking her over. Fortunately, it wasn’t colic.

Oreo has been part of our family for at least 15 years. She was the best horse ever. I never regretted buying her, not even for a second. She kept my younger horses calm since she’d seen it all before.

I went to feed this evening and found her under a tree in the shade. She was gone, and our family is devastated.

I had to call in backup to braid and cut her tail for me. I couldn’t do it. I’m thankful he could.