Thursday, December 28, 2006

It's a rat's life

In the Rat World there are two types of people:

1- Those who are Nice to rats and

2- Those who are Not nice to rats.

The vet pokes you, squeezes you, cuts your nails, smells bad, puts you to sleep and when you wake up you have owies with these things in them your people won't let you get rid of. Vets are definitely of the second type.

The ratties have had some interesting shifts in their little world today. Fat Rat had surgery to remove 3 masses, two of them tumors and the other a lump of fat (of course). Not only did she have to leave the comfort of her nest and sister to go the the vet but she has several owies. As soon as the medication the vet gave her wore off she started to clean herself and her wounds... not good. Before going to bed I noticed that she had managed to chew off one stitch. Well, her life just went from bad to worse. Tim and I put on the old Elizabethan collar on her and are watching her be extremely unhappy. :-( It just breaks my heart to see her so sad and struggling to get free of this monster.

On the other hand, Tim enlarged The Boy's cage! He's living the high-life right now. He can actually climb and stretch and explore. Currently, he's enjoying his salad in his new digs. :-) He also explored another room in the apt today which he seemed to like, perhaps because it didn't have any other rat smells?

Lastly, little Monkey Rat is confused. Firstly, her sister disappeared for a long time. Then, she came back but is in her own little cage getting extra attention and extra treats! What the heck?! Finally, Monkey Rat had her play time in a different room. I think that did her in. She Explored just a lttle bit but wanted back in her own room with her own smells and her own stuff. She couldn't understand that we were trying to kill the bugs (i.e.: rat lice) in their room. I think she's kinda mopey right now. She'll be better once her sister returns to their cage.

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Random Thoughts Part Deux

Well, it's that time again. Time to bring you up to date on the ramblings of my brain. Again, not enough stuff going on up there to command an entire post, but swept together we might get something a bit interesting.

1. 3 AND 1/2 MORE SCHOOL DAYS BEFORE WINTER BREAK AND TWO WEEKS OF SLEEP. I don't think I need to go into any more detail.

2. Christmas cards- Tim made our Christmas cards and they are perfect! If you get one I think you'll agree it's totally us. :-)

3. Rats are like kids Kids are like rats- My ratties love it when I talk to them, basically give them some positive attention. My students are the same way. They like it when I say, "Thank you, So-and-so, for getting right to work," which is guaranteed to generate a class full of industrious students chiming in "And me," "and me," "Oh, me, too, look at me!" And, sure enough, all of them are doing exactly what the good one was doing. Rats like it when I give them a special yogi treat or even a Cheerio. Students like it when I pass out 2 cent stickers or give them a 1 cent piece of candy or draw a 0 cent star on the board for being well-behaved that day.

4. Another race??- Well, I'm thinking about entering another half marathon. It's in Feb. I guess if I get serious right now, I'll be in shape for it by then. Part of me is scared, though. It was physically tough and emotionally, too. I had a good time but couldn't walk very much the next day and I got that horrible sinus infection. But the medal they're giving out is way cool. And I do like to participate in races. This one should be fun and flat, not like the last half mary. I might if my husband doesn't mind accompanying me again. :-)

5. Bye-bye student teacher- My student teacher is phasing out this week. It's soooo nice to be back in the driver's seat! I didn't realize how much I missed being in front of the classroom. I was actually happy today. What a nice feeling. :-)