Lots and lots and lots

Misty does in fact have a brain tumor, but yes, over a month later I used the present-tense "has." Misty has been on prednisone since her initial vet visit. We've had to add a couple other medications as well and continue with 30-day visits; however, she is doing incredible! I have to remind myself that it's only treating the symptoms and not the tumor, so this won't go on forever. But I have my baby girl back and she's back more than ever! She runs, barks, plays and is back to her best fighting weight! I couldn't ask for anything more this year.

However, we've moved into our house as well. It's been about a month, but there are still boxes and piles and things to go through each and every day. Slowly I'm pulling the place together. It's an old, old place, built in 1940 and feels like it sometimes with the cold and dust everywhere. But it's beautiful and will be crazy awesome once we finish all the reno.

Here's a before and after of the kitchen, just as an example:

Amazing, right?

AND we opened a second store. Am I crazy? Absolutely. Have a lost my head a few times? Beyond yes. But I'm trying to seek the good and positive and enjoy these moments. When else in my life will all of this happen at once? (NEVER! Thank God - I hope).

Changes

Life is changing and I'm not quite sure I'm ready. I'm welcoming the good, of course. Don't we all? But as life moves on, not all changes are always easy. And this particular instance of change is anything but easy. Anything at all. My heart is so heavy as I even try and figure out how to say anything.

I took my dear sweet Misty to the vet this morning. Things haven't been easy for a while and I was hoping instead of old age there'd be a simple pill to make her the puppy I've loved for over 13 years again. Somehow I knew it wouldn't be that simple. It's like that quote from Steel Magnolia's character Truvy - "Time marches on, and sooner or later you realize it's marching right across your face." I'm not actually sure how accurate that is to this moment, but it seems cynical and real enough to work.

The vet told me this morning that Misty has a brain tumor and is rapidly suffering functionality, vision, hearing, muscle, etc. She started steroids this morning. But the vet is only giving her a few days to show improvement before he makes us talk about next steps. I feel empty and numb, like I'm slowly drifting into a dark and comforting depression. That usually follows the extreme tears that poured upon learning what I feel somehow I already knew.

The prognosis isn't completely tragic and there's a chance for a few years if her body decides to fight. But after watching her have a seizure this morning, and realizing it wasn't her first, I'm coming to terms that this is just another change in life as it moves on around me. I'm just clinging on, legs flying behind me as it moves so fast it's blowing my hair back, flinging me along with the bumps and mountains.

My dear sweet Misty-Miss. My heart, my love. The truest, longest relationship I've ever had and I can't imagine one day without her.

Perfect Sunday!

This has been the best, cleaned-laundry done-grocery shopping-Target hunting-sheets changed-gourmet dinner-wine-football sort of Sunday! Ugh, I'm in heaven.

The day began with Brunch at a local fav. Then I spent the next two hours traipsing through Target (two different ones) finding the perfect Halloween costume for Misty. OMG, she is the cutest flower ever! Such a perfect costume for her. She's a brat. Well, she's always a brat, but she's a costume brat. She won't wear anything on her head and if it isn't fitted around her back she sits and refuses to walk. So a neck costume is the best and the $4.99 price tag is awesome! And then continued to find a great black and white, snap front flannel. Sometimes you can't beat a good fashion deal from Tar-geh.

The real treat; however, was the farmer's market and cooking. I made an antipasto snack a couple hours before dinner. Fresh spinach, washed and tossed in an olive oil spray, salt, pepper and drip of balsamic vinegar, Mozzarella balls tossed in basil, rosemary and olive oil spray, whole wheat saltines, sliced red bell pepper and salami. Yummers!

Meanwhile, I marinated chicken in lemon rind, rosemary, thyme, salt, pepper and olive oil. I threw it on the grill a couple hours later; browned pancetta in a skillet with some frozen peas, then tossed with mint, salt and pepper and put whole wheat boucle in the oven. Made a fresh lemon juice, parsley, olive oil sauce for the chicken. SERIOUSLY! So freaking yummy. Topped with my Cupcake Merlot (less than $10) and this night cannot, CANNOT get any better.

Go team!

It doesn't get any cuter

Misty-Miss has had a couple days off work and recovered. Now she's ready to get there and greet some customers! After 3 straight long days, she was too exhausted to move on Sunday (as was I). So I let her work at home with Daddy for a bit. But now she anxious and back in the game.

Put me in coach!

Kitchen Posts

LISTENING TO: PRISCILLA AHN "DREAM"
& RAY LAMONTAGNE "WITHIN YOU"


Oven heating. Whole wheat rolls sitting on the cookie sheet next to me. Peppercorn porkloin resting in a shallow baking pan. Spinach waiting in its steaming bag. Dinner is almost served, I suppose.

I'm standing in the kitchen listening to quiet music attempting alone time. That's quite a difficult feat when living 24/7 with a boyfriend who works from home, office only steps from your own home desk. Dinner will cook 30 minutes. I may still be standing here. My eye keeps resting on an unopened bottle of Sangiovese. Does red go with porkloin? I think any wine goes with anything on a stressful day. To that end, any wine will work today.

Misty and I began the morning, pre shower, at the vet. I had to drop her off to be worked in. She started crying for attention 24 hours ago - turns out it was a doggy UTI. The cost of a set of 2 tires (which I needed) and three trips down the way in a monsoon of coldfront rain and we're all nestled back at home for the evening.

That wine is looking mighty fine.

I have now opened it. It's breathing next to me in my beautiful stemless glass. Ah, sweet flavor.

Boat Baby

Misty is a prima donna city dog. She prances in walks, pees on sidewalks and refuses to get wet. However, she just spent 4 days running, sweating, playing, rolling around and generally stinking...and loving it.

We took Misty to Conroe to spend some time with Boo's family. It was their anniversary, his Mom's bday and near Mother's Day. The trifecta of "must visit." It was a weekend of Houston humidity, miles of walks, lots of food, playing in the backyard and a boat ride. Add in dinner out, a business meeting and laying by the pool and you actually have my visit as well.

My princess has converted to an outdoor pooch! However, she seemed quite pleased to have a bath this morning and had no problem curling up in the backseat on the way home, smelling lovely. In fact, she stood at the back door and cried as we packed the car. So at least she still has a heart for the city.

And one of the humans:

Freezing Bathroom Break

It is frigid, no, downright arctic outside right now. 17-degrees, and then a windchill. I expected it and felt it even a rite of passage of sorts to navigate my way in the frozen tundra of NYC. Yes, dear friends left back in the boring warmth of the south, I made it to the subway this morning. I wear sunglasses and my IPOD indoors and out. I layer hats, gloves, scarves, legwarmers and boots just to hike 2 miles to work when the MTA goes on strike. I am a warrior of the cold. I am a NYer. But this is Dallas. Dear Lord, it's cold. I had to put on snuggly socks, winter boots (my lovely $30 faux Uggs), my big girl puffer coat that covers below my knees, gloves and a scarf wrapped around my FACE! All this to take the dog out this morning.

I waited for her Princess butt to freeze, to run back towards the building, anxious to get her cold paws back on warm ground. But no. She stood and looked around, letting the biting below-freezing wind nip her face. She wagged her tail at cars that drove by with their heaters and seat warmers toasting passengers. She eventually got dragged by the leash back to the building. It's great that her body is made of fur, but mine is not and this thinned Southern blood needed coffee and a hot shower.