the annie blog

The day at work yesterday went fine. But when we went to the cemetery last night after work I bawled my little eyes out. When we finally left I looked like such a mess. We were planning on going out for pizza, but we had to drive around so my eyes wouldn’t be all swollen up. Mark was great – he’s so understanding of me. I’m very lucky I found him.

Today, as in typical Friday fashion, we will leave about 2 and head for lunch – I know, I know, awfully late. Then we’ll probably nap a little bit – we want to see a movie then go out for a late dinner somewhere. I want to see Elf and maybe go to this awesome Chinese place by the theatre, or maybe this Italian place – I don’t know- something casual and easy. We’ll just wait and see what we’re in the mood for.

Thanks for all the kind words. I am sometimes scared to mention my feelings for my pets because there are some people that think that’s crazy. I appreciate not being judged! 🙂

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We had such a nice time last night. A big group of us went for dinner and drinks to celebrate November birthdays. It was fun, yet not too crazy. I stopped drinking my Corona’s just in time – I quickly switched to coffee once I thought I was getting a little too tipsy.

Today marks the anniversary of the death of my kitty. If you think it’s strange that people cry over the loss of a pet – you should probably stop reading this now. I had Honkey for 13 years. Her sister, JD, is still with us, and she’s 16 now. Honkey was diagnosed with diabetes that August. We noticed she was using the litter box a lot, but she wasn’t going. At first the vet thought it was just a bladder infection so we gave her some pills – nothing happened. When we took her back the vet ran some tests and diagnosed with diabetes. I wasn’t too freaked out because I know tons of people with diabetes.

We had to give her insulin shots though. I had never done anything like that before – I’m a city girl. I hated watching Mark try and do it, so I had to learn for myself. We gave her shots twice a day. She started improving almost immediately! We were so happy. We switched her food and really monitored her all the time. Then she stopped going to the bathroom. When we took her in, she had lost some weight, but we really hadn’t noticed it. They said her diabetes was getting worse.

We spent many days at the vets trying to figure out how to manage her sugar levels. While we tried, she kept losing weight and slowly stopped eating. We never let her spend the night at the vets because we wanted to be with her. The weekend of November 11 and 12th of 2000 was our last weekend with her. She got worse overnight. I finally put her in the guest room on a blanket with a garbage bag under it. She had lost control of her bladder – but the urine was totally clear and odorless. We tried to get her to eat and drink – nothing. That Sunday I knew that we would have to go to the vets the next day. She was barely hanging on. I spent the day with her and told her how much I loved her and what she had meant to me. See, we can’t have children, and just the mere presence of our kitties made us feel like a mommy and daddy. That night I spent the night right beside her. The very first night I brought her home as a kitten I slept right beside her on the floor. The very last night of her life I slept right beside her. That comforted me.

The next day we took her to the vets and we knew what had to be done. The vet said that it would probably be best if we weren’t in the room when she gave her the shot. I regret that decision and ache to think of my baby dying all alone. We sadly went home and didn’t speak. I spent the night crying. I mean seriously sobbing – loud, drooling, anguished crying. I had never cried like that before. I took off work the next day because I was a zombie. That night we headed to the cemetery to make arrangements. We go out there at least once a month. We will go out there today. I will cry – as I’m doing now.

Our remaining kitty – JD had a tough time dealing with the loss. She knew something was up. It honestly took her about 3 months to settle down. They had been together each and every day of their lives. My kitties had never even been outside – so they didn’t even know about other cats. I still slip sometimes and say I have two babies, and I know in my heart I always will have two babies.

JD is healthy. Needless to say we watch her very carefully for diabetes. So far, so good. She is healthy and just as naughty as ever. For 16 she is one of the most playful babies I’ve ever seen. No one can believe she’s that old. I think it’s because Mark and I always made a point of playing with the kitties each and every day. We call it “play time” and we still do it today – so I think that’s why she’s still so frisky and kitten-like.

Today I will think about my baby and I will cry when I’m alone. I miss her dearly and miss so many things about her. She was one of the best babies in the world.

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I had a great evening last night. Mark and I made a big ole pot of coffee and worked on things we wanted to do. He had re-writes for his new play, and I started sewing pillows for the couch. I had to lay out the fabric on the dining room floor – I had a lot of help from a little furball. She was loving the fabric. She rolled around on it and stretched and purred. I didn’t have the heart to move her. She looked so happy.

Today we are celebrating the birthdays of two of our friends. They have birthdays just a few days from each other, so we are all going out for dinner and drinks. I still have to go shopping for them – yikes! I have an actually easy day today, but I still dread my afternoon class – it’s such an odd mix of students that the chemistry in there is bizarre! It’s a very odd vibe.

I stayed up late reading Steven King’s On Writing I love it! It’s making me happy. I have a link to it on my sidebar. Check it out.

On another note I am feeling so great about things right now – life, work, home, family, friends. I don’t know why. Just this “high on life” going on with me right now. I’ve actually felt this way for awhile now – all I know is that I love it!!

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Guess what Amanda and Feli – I’m a copy cat too!

I AM: Bethanie Frank

I WANT: to be a good person and a famous writer

I HAVE: one of the best husbands in the world

I WISH: People weren’t so mean to others

I HATE: zits

I MISS: my kitty that died three years ago

I FEAR: death

I HEAR: My refrigerator running

I SEARCH: for knowledge with everything I do

I WONDER: what the future holds

I REGRET: nothing

I LOVE: my husband and my kitty

I ACHE: when I think I may not be a good person

I ALWAYS: am reading something

I AM NOT: afraid to stand up for what’s right

I DANCE: when I’m alone

I SING: all the time – even though I’m not good

I CRY: more than I ever used to when I was younger

I AM NOT ALWAYS: easy to be around

I WRITE: each and every day

I WIN: all board games because hubby lets me win

I LOSE: patience when my hubby misplaces things

I CONFUSE: others because I’m rather unconventional

I NEED: lots of attention

I SHOULDA: read more when I was little

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Yes Or No…

You keep a diary: This blog, a hand-written journal – and numerous other writings

You like to cook: Yes, especially when hubby and I cook together

You have a secret you have not shared with
anyone: Yes – don’t remind me

You believe in love: Yes

The weirdest person you know: Probably someone in the theatre department at the campus. I was one of those odd people, so I don’t really notice it too much. Other profs notice it more than I do.

The Loudest Person you Know: Helen

The Sexiest Person you Know: My husband, and then the only other people I find sexy are movie stars and I don’t know them, really.

Your closest friend(s): Just my husband, I really don’t have any girlfriends.

The People that Knows the Most about you:My husband

Do You…?

Have a(any) crush(es): Tons – my hubby, Bon Jovi, Mark Wahlberg – lots of them!

Want to get married: I am, but I would do it again with the same guy in a heartbeat.

Get motion Sickness: Nope

Think you’re a health freak: No, but I wish I was

Get along with your parents: Yes

Like thunderstorms: Depends

————————————————-

NATURAL HAIR COLOR:dark brown

CURRENT HAIR COLOR: Cinnaberry – that’s what it says on the box

EYE COLOR: green

BIRTHPLACE: Aberdeen, South Dakota
————————————————-

(FAVORITES )

NUMBER:3

COLOR: black

DAY: Friday

MONTH: September

SONG: “My Song” by Ray Charles

FOOD: Italian, Chinese, Mexican

SEASON: fall

SPORT: Pro – Football – Chiefs!

DRINK: Diet Pepsi

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( PREFERENCES )

CUDDLE OR MAKE OUT : Make out

CHOCOLATE MILK, OR HOT CHOCOLATE: hot chocolate

MILK, DARK, OR WHITE CHOCOLATE? dark

VANILLA OR CHOCOLATE? chocolate

————————————————-

( IN THE LAST 24 HOURS, HAVE YOU…. )

CRIED? no

HELPED SOMEONE? Yes

BOUGHT SOMETHING? No

GOTTEN SICK? No

GONE TO THE MOVIES? no

GONE OUT FOR DINNER? Nope

WRITTEN A REAL LETTER? No

TALKED TO AN EX? no

MISSED AN EX? No

WRITTEN IN A JOURNAL? yes

HAD A SERIOUS TALK? yes

MISSED SOMEONE? Yes

HUGGED SOMEONE? Yes

FOUGHT WITH YOUR PARENTS? nope

FOUGHT WITH A FRIEND?No

PLAYED ANY GAMES ONLINE? no

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I did some good sleeping this weekend. That’s always nice to have the time to catch up and relax. I got my housework done, so I didn’t feel like I was slacking off. I should have a fairly easy day today. There’s a lecture that I’m supposed to be going to tonight, but I’m not going to go. I’ve already decided.

Saturday night at the play, tons of alumni showed up. It’s always nice to see everyone. They grow up and actually turn into adults. It’s amazing. When we have them, they’re such KIDS. I know that 20 isn’t’ that young, but my goodness, sometimes they act like it. It’s so nice to catch up with them and find out what they’ve been up to. We went out to a bar with a few of them later that night. It was good to catch up. That’s one of the reasons I love my job so much. I feel like I actually do make a difference in some people’s lives. Not all – obviously – that would be impossible. But the ones that actually click with me – it’s great. I really enjoy that feeling.

Alright, speaking of teaching – I have to copy a quiz on Antigone. Only seven questions – easy!

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I am so ready for this weekend. In fact, I was just visiting with Mark and had to find out what we were doing this weekend. I haven’t even thought about it. Sleeping in is the first order of business. Then I’m sure we’ll head to the coffee shop for lunch. Our favorite place.

Today I had such a super busy. A colleague of mine came down to lecture to one of my classes. He’s been doing this for many semesters. I love listening to him. Today he spoke abut Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales I was happy. It made me want to dive right into the book again. Then afterwards we went to the tea room with the woman who held my job before me. She has since retired. I admire her greatly, and she has been a big influence on my career. The three of us sat in the tea room munching on scones and sipping our various teas. I had a nice green tea they offered. It was such a great morning.

Tonight we are going to a bar and hanging out with a couple friends of ours. One just recently moved back in town. We’re excited about that because he’s one of Mark’s good friends, plus he’s just a nice guy. We think that will be a good way to end our week. I am debating as to what I should drink – I’m not in a beer mood, so maybe Bailey’s over ice? White Russian? Chardonnay? That’s all I’m kind of in the mood for. I bet I’ll take a Bailey’s over ice – yummy. I’ll wait and see, we have a few hours before we’re heading out. We’ll meet them at 10.

I am planning on doing some work this weekend – I need to prepare for a lecture on Antigone. This time I want to have students compare it with the themes in The Oedipus Trilogy. I think that’s simple enough – if they’ve done the reading. Their in-class writing assignment will be easy to tell if they did the reading or not. So, off I go to read some Greek literature!

I think I’ll brew a quick cup of chai to go along with that Greek.

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I added a “100 Things About Bethanie” – it’s on my sidebar – click away.

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I am here, bright and early. Ready to begin my day. I actually have a pretty easy day. I have an appt with the doc at 9:15, so I get to escape for a little bit. I’ll probably get a stinkin’ flu shot then too. I’ve never ever had one, but people are insisting that I get one. So, I probably will…

I have papers to grade, a recommendation letter to write, and I need to start working ahead on some stuff. The papers won’t be bad. They aren’t rough drafts – they’re final copies, so it’s all or nothin’ baby. I just glance at it and see if they did what they were supposed to.

I’m going to try and go shopping after work tonight. I could use another pair of jeans. So, I’ll probably head out and spend some money.

I’ve been in a very festive spirit lately. I think I already have the Christmas feeling. Kinda early, hope it stays around till December…

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I went to bed last night and got up at 1:00 with a killer migraine. I crawled out of bed and nursed my little head till 4:30. I finally got the darn thing under control and crawled back in the bed only to have my alarm go off at 5:00. I sat up and started crying – drama queen that I am. I told Mark that I didn’t get any sleep last night and my head was still hurting. He told me he’d take care of things at the college for me today. What a great hubby. I fell asleep till 8:00, then got up because my head was pounding again. Got it under control at 9:00- fell back asleep till noon. Then I was finally up for the day. I feel ok now – it’s still lingering behind my right eye. I am heading to the doctor tomorrow – I need some serious medication for when this happens again. I’ve been dealing with these for years and years now – I have no idea why I’ve never made an appointment before. Stubborn?

Other than that, the weather outside is beautifully fall-like. It finally got chilly. I had the air on a few days ago. That’s crazy. It’s nice to have to wear a jacket when you go out. I can’t wait for this weather to get here and stay here. I will probably head to bed early tonight considering I didn’t get much sleep last night. I need to vacuum yet. So I’ll get that done then crawl under the covers with my book and my kitty!

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I’m tired

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