Pet Parenthood

Just like people children, pet children sometimes need to go to the doctor. I am slightly traumatized after our first vet visit with Lily today (Lily is too). Just like most people children, most pet children do not enjoy doctor visits--especially shots. Lily has been sneezing a lot, and she started shooting out these rather large discolored boogies. So, it was off to the vet this morning. Luckily Greg was able to take us! Lily cried all the way to the vet, then she got really mad when the vet assistant stuck a thermometer up her bum to take her temperature (you can't blame her for being mad about that one). It turns out that she has an upper respiratory infection and a fever, so she got two shots (she did not like that part either), and the vet gave us some antibiotics to give her for the next few days. So that was traumatic enough, but then there was this cute little dog sitting in the front of the vet's office. She was shaking and looked very scared, and she looked at Greg and me with her huge doggie eyes. Her owners were petting her, but she was obviously quite distraught. I said, "Oh it's okay sweetie. Don't be scared." Turns out she had reason to be scared. She looked like she'd had quite a rough time--she'd had a stroke and had probably been hit by a car. When the lady owner took off the doggie's collar and the man owner who looked like he had been crying said, "I guess she won't be needing that anymore," Greg and I knew that the doggie was going to be put to sleep :-( It was so sad!!! I am now a totally traumatized pet parent.

Luckily Lily survived the scary vet visit, but she cried all the way home. I think she was afraid that we were taking her to some new strange place since the last time she was in the car was when we brought her home from the APL. So she seemed quite relieved when we got home. We were afraid that she would be mad at us, but she has actually been as cute and cuddly as ever. She likes to curl up right next to my face when I'm on the bed, and she'll lick my nose. She already seems to be feeling a little better. As you can see from the picture above, she's back to her old tricks like trying to climb the Christmas tree and open the presents.

The Spikes were very worried about their little kitty sister when we got home. I took her into our bedroom and shut the door, but Big Spike was outside of the door whining. So I let him in, and he jumped up on the bed and was sniffing Lily all over. Then he started to lick her face, and he's been playing with her all evening. The children are all curled up watching Monday Night Football right now.

I found out yesterday that I'm going to have some competition for the spot on the Athens library board of trustees! I guess that there is only one vacant spot, and someone else besides me was nominated for it. So, tomorrow I have to go to the Athens library board of trustees meeting and try to charm them with my love of books. The competitor is going to be there too, and after the board members meet both of us, they will choose between us. I think it's terribly funny that I am involved in this! I didn't try to be involved--it just kind of fell into my lap :-) I've decided that if my competition is someone really nice, like a cute older lady, I will tell them that they can just have the spot. But if it is someone like Stanley Thayne (maybe it will be Stanley Thayne? Since he seems to enjoy beating me at everything?), I will fight to the death for the spot :-) I have a feeling that tomorrow's library board meeting will be pretty funny, so I'll be sure to tell you all about it.