I've created a monster

A bell-ringing, peeing, pooping, monster.

                                  These are the bells:

                                        And this is the monster:

     

     I blame my little brother.  He told me to use the bells.  It worked for his dogs.  Well it works alright.  It works too dang well!!  

     Of course, this means that Gabby is a genius, a fact of which I had no doubt.

I put the bells up to train her to ring them when she needs to go out.  And it works great!  It all clicked when I got back from Boston and she's done a great job.  She hasn't had an accident in over 2 days.  She rings the bells and then sits at the door until you let her out.  If you fail to notice the bell she whines.

     This also means that she has discovered that when she rings the bells, I jump.  I run to the back door, telling her what a good girl she is and gushing all over her.

      And so the bells ring.  All.  Of.  The.  Time.  

I told you .... she's a genius.  If only my kids had discovered bells.  They'd probably be much happier adults.  Too bad.

      Actually, I'm thrilled about the bells.  And the fact that I haven't had to sop up a gallon of pee or a mound of poop.  

     She's smarter than she looks.

     On the cat front,  I have changed kitten food.  And am paying the price (cough, cough, gag, yuck).  My mom discovered (while I was in Boston) that I am not as crazy as people think.  These cats spend more time pooping than they do sleeping.  I clean out that stupid litter box at least 3 or 4 times a day.  Often more.  I think it drove my mom nuts and she's had 3 cats a lot longer than I have!  

     So I have switched food on them to see if I can stop them up.  It has certainly given one or two of them gas, which is why I was buying the other stuff.  I now have to decide which is worse, cat gas or cat poop.  It's a toss up.  I may have to take a poll.

      On the kid note, I received a letter today.  Here's how strange I found that .... I looked at the return address and thought, "Gee, _____ ,  who in that town would be writing to me?"  Not once did it enter my mind -- until I opened the letter --- that it was from Son #2.  I think I fainted.  Or one of my alternate personalities took over for a moment.  I don't recall.

Anyway, it was a letter.  Well, actually, it was a note.  About 3 lines.  

Here's  what it said, more or less:

"So, the first day sucked.  I expect the next 2 weeks to suck even more.  I miss you (OMG, really?!!  YES!!), my home, my girl friend (only he used her name ...  hi A!!), and, strangely enough, I miss my little brother."  I think I fainted again after that line.

    Then, "I swear to ALL THAT IS HOLY (more or less) that if you take me out of here early I will never fail another class".

Yep, that's basically it.  Then he signed his name.  And three of his nicknames.

In case I didn't know who it was from, I guess.

    I sent him a lovely card, telling him that I was sorry that his first day was so difficult but that hopefully it was getting better.  Then I asked him about his room mate, the food, his classes, etc.  And told him I was looking forward to seeing him in his uniform next Saturday and how proud I was of him.

     I failed to mention the whole "I want to come home" thing.  Yeah.  Like, totally.

Mother of the Year.  I'd like to thank the little people who made this award possible.

Wait, there goes my alternate personality again.  Or one of them.

     Today was better.  OK, here's the deal --- I need to just start a post with "tennis sucked" so that you'll be forewarned.  Because when tennis sucks, the whole day seems to go that way.

Today's tennis was better than yesterdays.  

     Then I went to work.  I am so excited about my job and the path that I'm following.  My job will change and I'm very glad.  Not that it was bad before --- it was great, too.  But now I know that God is calling me to something else.  And I happen to work with the most amazing people in the world, who are more encouraging that I can say.  

So things are changing a bit, but more on that later.

     A friend of mine came over tonight to visit and brought a bottle of wine.  I had a wonderful time with her.  And am very grateful because I bailed on her for a trip to Vegas this weekend.  She's now going alone (and will be perfectly fine) but I felt so bad for dumping her.  I just realized that I was too overwhelmed this week to go out of town again.  Especially since I'll be on a work retreat Mon and Tues next week.  And then gone to see Son #2 the following weekend.  I'm pooped.  And overwhelmed.  Wait .... I already said that, didn't I?  Oh well.

She wanted to come over and visit so that I'd know that it's OK and she's not upset (thank you, JN)!.  Do I have wonderful friends or what?  And that goes for ALL of my personalities.  I think.

     Just to let you know .... the carpenter came yesterday for a while.  I was happily surprised to see him.  No one came today.

     I'm totally ratting them out when my contractor returns.  

A woman's wrath and all that.

     I think I'm forgetting something but then .... what else is new?

So here's the question of the day (does that mean that I have to come up with a question for every day?!):

     Which would you rather put up with ---- cat poop or cat gas.

C'mon, don't be afraid.  Speak your mind!!!  

Is this a great country or what?!!