Progress Vs. Perfection

   I'm happy to report that Gypsy made some much-needed progress last night! At the vet, we learned that the fluids we've been giving ARE helping: there was a very modest improvement in her BUN & creatinine levels. And this morning I counted the food pieces remaining on the plates to learn that she had eaten FORTY-SEVEN pieces!!! She left all the k/d (her most recent food), and ate some of the Science Diet Healthy from my vet, and some of the Nutro indoor adult salmon food, which was what I was feeding prior to the switch to k/d.
   Additionally, a couple of friends have already answered my pleas to bring samples of their cats' food. So tonight Gypsy can sample a different Science Diet blend (light) and some t/d (dental care) from Olivia and some Iams tuna flavor from Kelly. Here's hoping she loves it all. THANKS, FRIENDS!!!

   At work we have been using the mantra "progress vs. perfection" to remind ourselves that we need to be pushing forward and making an impact even when the results aren't perfect. I think that works for my Gyp, too. She's fifteen years old, and kidney disease and cancer are terminal, so I can't realistically expect a miraculous cure. But we will focus on making a little progress every day, so that she remains healthy and happy for as long as possible. I'm reminding myself to spend every free moment I have with her and be thankful for whatever time we have left. Life is precious!

Feast Your Eyes

   I've been cooking for a couple of hours now and just sat down to catch up on Project Runway (I'm currently all three episodes behind!) and enjoy the feast that resulted from my ridiculously huge grocery run Friday night. (Well, some of it anyway.) Barbequed pork chops, and two new recipes: roasted root vegetables (sweet potatoes, red potatoes, and parsnips), and a Greek couscous salad.

   It seemed like kind of an odd combination at first, but there was actually good balance between the sweetness of the caramelized BBQ sauce and the garlicky roasted veggies; the lemon juice in both the veggies and the couscous, offset by the the veggies' natural sugars and the crisp cucumber in the salad, and the sourness of the feta. There was a good variety of textures too. And the plate looked like an artist's palette! (Crappy Blackberry photo aside)

   I've learned two things: 1) Parsnips are DELICIOUS. And thank goodness, because I had to buy a whole bag. They look like white carrots, and taste similar, but with a little more aromatic spiciness. Yum. Kristin said that parsnip puree is to die for. That may be up next.  And: 2) One SMALL box of couscous makes a LOT of couscous. If anyone is in the mood for Greek salad, please, for the love of God, don't make any. Help me eat mine!

Night Lights

Some funky shots of street lights & cars at night. I love the randomness of the designs, and how abstract everything becomes. (They look like art to me, so I titled them.)

neon

neon squiggles

congregation

flock of doves

lonely highway

flying "J"s