Rest In Peace

After 12 happy years with us our beloved Sedona passed away around 12:30 this afternoon. She was 15 years old.

Sedona came to us from the Ames Animal Shelter in 1994. We had just moved off campus with several housemates. One of our housemates was determined to get a big dog. We went along to control just how *big*(His first pick was as big as 70lb Sedona and only half grown!) because we knew he was too irresponsible to care for her.

And, as expected, within a few weeks Sedona was unalterably Der Deutscher's dog!

She was definitely an Alpha dog personality. She wouldn't accept me was her pack leader's mate until JBP was born some 5.5 years later. I'd tell her to do something and she'd just look at Der Deutscher, "Daddy, do I have to do what she says?" and only do it if he followed up my command with one of his own.

Sedona loved people and walks and my cat Nimitz, who we adopted the same day we'd adopted Sedona. In general, she did not like other dogs.

While most dogs will bark at, chase and even bite the mailman Sedona would wait eagerly for him and drop her tennis ball at his feet, something she would do for no one else.

If she even heard the word "walk" she'd start dancing and leaping like a dolphin. It got so we'd only spell the word, never say it.

Sedona and Nimitz came home to live with us the same day. She was three years old, he was four months. They quickly became the best of friends. He would egg her on until she'd start chasing him. And to strangers it would look like this big vicious dog was about to kill the little, defenseless cat. But, though Sedona would growl fiercely and tear anything inanimate in sight to pieces, she never harmed a hair on Nimitz' head.

Her favorite games were Tennis Ball Stuff, where she would see how many tennis balls she could stuff in her mouth in hopes of tricking Der Deutscher into letting her back into the house with at least one ball, and Big Stick/Bigger Stick, where she would grab a stick until Der Deutscher or I grabbed a bigger stick, then she'd want that one. One day Big Stick/Bigger Stick continued to the point Sedona was trying to drag an entire sapling home!

Although she wouldn't accept me as Alpha Female until JBP was born, once he came home she settled quickly into the Beta Female, or babysitter, role. She would sit next to him in the stroller while he slept in the front yard, guarding him. She would let him do just about anything to her, even sticking his little baby hands into her mouth to check out her teeth and tongue. And if he cried, especially while in his crib, she wouldn't rest until either Der Deutscher or I had responded.

Sedona's been the Queen Bee of our Human/Canine/Feline family for more than a decade. Today, we took her to the vet to check her cancer which had started bleeding Sunday. There was nothing more that could be done for her. She was in pain, exhausted, starving to death.

So, we gathered the entire family and surrounded her with our love on the floor of the examining room, petting her and re-telling family stories about her, as the vet released her from this earth.

She sighed and her whole body relaxed, as if a load had been lifted off her shoulders. She'd been living with this growing cancerous tumor for nearly three years, now she was free.

Sedona, we miss you and love you. I just pray we'll see you, once again in your healthy, athletic body, in heaven.

Nimitz' Lady

The End

It looks like the end is near for our older dog, Sedona. She's a black lab mix who's 15 years old. She's had cancer for some three years or so now.

Today, it burst. She bled all over the basement carpeting.

Last year, the vet told us at some point the cancer would abscess and bleed profusely and that would be the sign that she would die soon.

We don't know if she'll pass tonight or three weeks from now. All we know is the end is here, however long it'll take.

So, in what should be a time of celebration for our family (Der Deutscher and I celebrate our 8th wedding anniverstary this week) we're all focused on making Sedona as comfortable as possible.

When the main lump first showed up about three years ago, we had it removed. But within weeks it had grown back. The vet said it was clearly cancerous. We never had it tested to find out what kind. What was the use?

She was already a senior doggy citizen by then. And it had taken some six weeks for her to heal from the first surgery. We weren't going to put her through that again. So we've just let the cancer grow and fed her as much as she needed to stay alive with it growing. Today it's somewhere between basketball sized and beach ball sized.

Right now, Der Deutscher is upstairs coating the kitchen floor with plastic so we can move her up there. She's still down in the basement alternately licking at blood spots on the floor and at the burst cancer. I'm here keeping an eye on her and JBP is running back and forth between the two of us.

Nimitz' Lady

Edited: We found Sedona was more at ease sitting in the garage.

God's Way

I don't often comment about the whole immigration debate. I guess mostly because even though I have my opinions, as a Puerto Rican American I don't really have a vested interest in it and feel like an interloper.

But this letter to the editor in today's paper really got me:

Uninvited Guests

Regarding illegal immigration, compare the curent events to this analogy:

How would you feel if an uninvited guest came into your house, opened your refrigerator and helped himself to food and drink? Would you be concerned if this guest then used your heat, air and gas utilities, or even worse, required medical attention, leaving you to foot the bill? It would not take very long to get tired of that situation -- economically and socially.

Comparatively, the same thing is occuring in America. It is on a much larger scale. Literally hundreds of uninvited guests are crossing the border each day, drainig us economically and socially. In addition, there are security and safety issues to consider. Still feel the same way?

You should.

I'm proud to say my first instinctive response to this letter was religious, not political. Not always the case with me.

I read this and immediately thought, but God would want me to let them in and offer any and all hospitality I could.

Jesus said, "If a man asks for your coat give him your shirt too." And we can't forget the story of the Good Samaritan, he not only paid for the injured man's medical bills but his room and board too.

As for the concerns about criminals, even former criminals can be rehabilitated. And, the Lord protects his own. If I'm helping someone out in His name, than anything that happens is in God's cause. Whether it's good for my life or not.

"For we have often entertained angles, unawares." Who knows how many of those angels are "illegal".

Nimitz' Lady

All Boy

JBP is all boy. Today after lunch I went out to take down the tent I'd promised Der Deutscher I'd take down last Sunday. Hey! It kept raining at just the right intervals. I wasn't going to put it away wet.

Anyway, while I was taking down the tent, JBP retreated to his favorite corner of the yard, a hole in the dirt underneath the deck. He's been digging that hole for about three years now.

He stayed there until I called him to come get in the car to go to daycare.

He came running up and was headed into the house when I noticed grey stuff clumped around his hands and dotting his feet.

He's turned his hole into a mudhole and had been happily playing in the wet clay. It was caked so thickly on his hands I couldn't get it all wiped off with paper towels.

I didn't exactly yell at him, although I made sure he knew I was upset. Not because he played in the mud, but because he did it when he knew he was going to have to get in the car in a few minutes.

I know all kids are going to play in the mud sooner or later. At least I'm reassured he's normal.

For the longest time he wouldn't even do any baking that might get his hands "yucky". Well, he's no longer afraid to get his hands "yucky".

Nimitz' Lady

Me, Me and, ah, ME!

This new study reported on NewsLab is so me it's not even funny. --Nimitz' Lady

Producer Burnout
Angele' Anderfuren
Schieffer School of Journalism
Texas Christian University

About a fifth of local TV news producers in Texas at ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC stations are experiencing burnout or are at risk for burning out, according to a new research study. Additionally, almost half of the producers surveyed scored high on exhaustion and almost two-thirds of participating producers scored high on cynicism, both factors indicating potential future burnout problems for producers.

This study found producers who report feelings of burnout also reported unsatisfactory resources to effectively do their jobs, heavy workloads, and a desire to leave their jobs and/or their profession, among other factors. Women producers were found to be feeling more burned out than their male counterparts. Sixty percent of the producers who scored as burned out, at high risk, or at some risk were women.

Younger producers were at highest risk for burnout. No participating producers age 40 or over scored burned out or at risk of burning out. Seventy percent of the producers in the burned out, at high risk, or at some risk categories were in the 20-29 age group. Thirty percent were in the 30-39 age group.

Producer burnout was determined using a device called the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). The MBI is a series of 16 questions designed to rate a test subject’s scores in three key areas: emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and professional efficacy.

The data collected in this survey showed the majority (67.4%) of producer participants in this study were at a low risk of burning out. However, 6.5% scored as burned out, with another 6.5% scoring at high risk for burnout, and an additional 8.7% at risk of burning out. This was a combined total of 21.7% in need of help.

Exhaustion. Looking at the scores that make up the burnout scale, almost half (42.9%) of the participants were suffering from high exhaustion, 38.8% rated as having some exhaustion, and 24.5% had low exhaustion. Exhaustion is the key component of burnout. This should be a sign of potential future problems because exhaustion leads workers to distance themselves from their work, which, in turn, leads to to cynicism about doing one’s job. Because almost half of the producers scored high on exhaustion, stations should seek solutions to avoid full burnout.

Cynicism. A majority of producers (57.1%) also scored high on cynicism. Another 14.3% rated somewhat cynical. The remaining 28.6% rated low on cynicism.

Professional Efficacy. Interestingly, the element that seemed to keep more producers from scoring at some level of risk of burning out or actually being burned out was that an overwhelming majority (70.8%) of participants scored high on professional efficacy. The majority of producers in the study felt like they are effective in their jobs. Another 20.8% scored in the mid range on professional efficacy, with the last 8.3% scoring low on professional efficacy.

“Job Engaged” Producers. Producers that scored “job engaged,” the opposite of burned out, had several common characteristics. All of them said they love their jobs. They all also reported to be satisfied, somewhat satisfied, or very satisfied with their station’s ethical standards. Eighty percent said they just re-signed their contracts. Sixty percent produced their station’s late show, i.e. 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. newscast.

This study found that the higher the level of burnout, the more likely producers were to report that they feel like quitting frequently. This is yet another reason stations should take steps to manage burnout.

Stations can manage burnout and burnout risks by offering educational and training opportunities, having satisfactory daily schedules, and offering enough vacation time. Producers can manage burnout by seeking additional education/training on their own, as well as paying adequate attention to their life outside of work.

Al(most) Done

I'm a couple grand poorer this evening, but have some grand new floors.

The new wood-look laminate, tiles and carpet are all completely installed in their appropriate places on the upper floor of our house.

Laminate in the Kitchen, Dining Room, Living Room and Bedrooms. Tile in the Bathroom. Carpet on the stairs.

While the contractor did a great job putting everything in, he didn't do such a great job cleaning up afterward. Everything's covered in sawdust.

So tonight, Der Deutscher and I will buy a swiffer and start cleaning up. We're also taking this opportunity to revamp the look.

We've already gotten rid of about a third of the books in our bookcases. No mean accomplishment when you consider we had our bookcases triple, and in some cases quadruple, stacked.

We're looking at buying a new bookcase to replace the oldest one as well as getting a storm door to keep the rain from sneaking in under the backdoor.

And, we're looking at re-arranging what goes where in the upstairs area.

When alls said and done we should have the house put back together to our satisfaction by the end of the week. Whether that means in time for the weekend or by the end of the weekend, I'm not sure.

Nimitz' Lady

Counting Down

The day after Memorial Day JBP begins attending summer day camp at the local Y.

He's sooo excited about this coming change. A) he's been begging to attend day camp for the last couple of years and B) they don't have naps at day camp the way they do at day care.

For the last week he's been counting down how many days left at day care.

Today when I dropped him off he turned to his direct care giver held up his fingers and said, "Three days left!"

This has been his constant refrain all day. I hate to think what he'll be like on Friday!

Nimitz' Lady

Wow!

I can't say it any more poetically.

The change in our home over the last two days is just dynamic. The floor guys are about 75% of the way done.

When I checked over lunch they'd done the kitchen, dining room, living room and bathroom. They were starting on JBP's room.

While the house is an overall disaster, with stuff (mostly books) stacked all over the floor in the basement and sawdust covering everything upstairs, we can already get a glimpse of how things will look when its finished.

I can't wait! This is so much fun, and so worth my struggles with buyer's remorse.

Yippee!

Nimitz' Lady

Congratulations!

A hearty cyber-congratulations goes out today to our former Cyclone friend, now an official Monarch.

Brittany Wilkins, #51, survived the final pre-season cut for the WNBA's Sacramento Monarchs last week.

She's only the third Cyclone to do so. And the only one to do so who's never been drafted. She was up for the draft but instead ended up signing a free agent contract with the Monarchs because no one picked her on draft day.

I guess she's having the last laugh on that.

We'll be writing her a congratulatory letter and sending it with some cookies. But, as idiot I never bothered to get direct contact information for her (I always sent things to her at the ISU Women's Basketball Office), I'm not sure if she'll get the package.

So, in the vain hopes she may have discovered this website at some point, I'm posting our heartfelt congratulations here. Hey, I've mentioned her often enough, I'm sure this site would show up sooner or later if she googles herself.

So, Brittany, if you're reading, "Congratulations and lots of hugs. We're busy marking all your televised games for TiVo to record so we can watch you play and slow-mo any bench shots to look for you when you're not playing."

Somehow, I've had a feeling Britt would make it ever since she signed her free agent contract. See, we're headed to California in August to visit my Dad. But the Monarchs are playing out of state the entire week we're there. They play their first CA game in Los Angeles the day after we leave!!!!!!! And I don't think we can change the dates on our tickets!

Damn and blast!!!!!!

That being said, Der Deutscher is already talking about a roadtrip to Minneapolist to catch a game. And here I thought basketball season was over.

But, unlike many other players we've seen come and go from the Cyclones, Britt's extra special to us. We connected the first time we met and our family has just sort of adopted her since then.

I've even had other players' relatives at games ask if she was my daughter (Not plarents, they know who's who. Other, more distant, relatives. =) Which... she's 6'3", blonde and skinny, I'm 5'7.5", greying brunette and... we'll just say voluptuous. But hey, stranger things have happened. =)

Congratulations again, Brittany!

Nimitz' Lady

7:30 am Monday

That's when the floor guy's supposed to arrive and rip out our carpeting upstairs to replace it with nice new, hypoallergenic laminate floors.

I still tend to hyperventilate a little when I think of how much we're spending on this, but it's desperately needed and if all goes according to plan we should be able to pay the last little bit off by September. If it doesn't go well we have until next May to pay it off without interest.

Anyway, since he's coming, we're preparing. While he said he'll move the furniture around, we're still going to be spending most of today moving books out of our triple stacked bookcases. We soooooo need new bookcases!

We're using the opportunity to thin the ranks a little. "Little" being the operative word here.

**********

On another note, yesterday at church they discussed changing the annual men's campout into a family campout. JBP got so excited about the prospect we came home and put our tent up in the backyard to test its readiness.

See, the tent's just been sitting in a pile in the garage, not properly stored, for something like two years now.

Grammy (my mother) was the last one to use it and she wasn't able to stuff it back into its bag by herself. It takes Der Deutscher and I in tandem to get it in and we just never got around to it.

It seems to have weathered last night's rainstorm well, however. And JBP has been having a blast using it as his playhouse.

He'll be quit upset later today when I must take it down and put it away. But, Der Deutscher doesn't want to leave it up long enough to kill the grass, so I promised him it would only be up overnight.

*******

Also at church yesterday, we had a couple of El Salvadoran visitors, relatives of church members. And for some reason they attended my adult sabbath school class instead of the one their family attends. So, I ended up playing translator.

It was good practice, but hard. I had a headache much of the rest of the afternoon. But JBP was content to play in the tent by himself, as long as I sat outside with him.

Asi es la vida de una madre.

Hasta Luego! I'm off to sort books.
Nimitz' Lady

Depressed

Not sure if its because I've spent much of the day looking at video of myself. (There's no WAAAAY I am that fat!)

Or if its because my boss told me I have about a 1% chance of getting the reporter/photographer position because I won't work on Sabbath (Saturday).

Or if its because I also spent some time this afternoon reading blogs of folks overseas right now in China picking up their baby girls and there's no forward momentum whatsoever in our plans/hopes for another child.

So, that's my day. Nearly time to go home and take a break.

Nimitz' Lady

Busy, busy, busy

Sorry I haven't posted often lately. I've been busy trying to get my boss to let me report/shoot again.

I actually spent most of my Mother's Day working on a story for a new resume tape. The plan was to have it ready to go by today.

No such luck. Lack of personnel Sunday and then poor planning on the part of the Assignment Desk this morning had me running around doing other things for the actual show. Even though I was in on my own time to work on my tape.

I did get to help edit (non-linear... I'll try to explain later)another reporter's story this afternoon. What a blast!

Of course, in a downer, another former one man band interested in the position will be in the rest of the week working on a new "tape" just like I am. Except he'll be able to concentrate just on that. No "real" work to get in his way. Pflbt!

I soooo hope I get this reporter/photographer gig. I am sick to death of producing!

Nimitz' Lady

Trouble with a capital JBP!

We are soooo in trouble.

I've known we have a future Ladies' Man on our hands since JBP was four months old and I caught him flirting with the teenaged girls in the pew behind us at church.

Friday, JBP ran some errands with Der Deutscher. To celebrate his good behavior, they ended the trip with a stop at the ice cream shop.

As Der Deutscher is paying the bill, JBP stares soulfully up at the checkout girl, a teenager, and says, "You've got pretty eyes!".

We are sooooo in trouble!

Nimitz' Lady

Love Is...

...a husband who will clean up your cat's puke from the blanket on your side of the bed, at 3:00 am!

Ich liebe dich, Der Deutscher!

Nimitz' Lady

p.s. no Mom's Day posts this week. I chose to put off our celebrations until next week, to avoid the crowds.

Cautious Optimism

First, sorry it took so long to get back to you. For some reason my internet connection to blogspot has been reeeeaaaallly slow and I haven't had the patience to deal with it.

Now, on to last week's thyroid doctor visit.

I am cautiously optimistic. At least Dr. M admitted there's something wrong with me, which is more than Dr. H was willing to do.

Before he even takes blood tests, he wants me to spend six weeks on the name brand synthroid supplement. Dr. H had me on the generic stuff which, surprise, surprise, has a history of uneven effectiveness. One lot will work really well and the next lot might not work at all.

Then, he wants to do a full blood work up, lipids/cholesterol screen, insulin resistance test, etc as well as the thyroid tsh test. I'm not sure, but hopefully he'll do a free T3/T4 test as well. Maybe even an RT3 test.

Then, we'll go from there. He still insists on doing all these blood tests, but at least he's willing to admit something's wrong with me. So, we'll see what happens.

Nimitz' Lady

New Things

Tomorrow, I visit a new thyroid doctor. Here's hoping he works out better than the last one.

Meanwhile, I got my new TiVo machine in yesterday. Got it mostly installed last night and finished the job this morning.

Tonight, I get to start recording stuff. I love new technology toys!

I'll let you know what happened at the doctor's.

Nimitz' Lady

Buyer's Remorse

I've got it baaaaad right now. Why? This weekend Der Deutscher and I committed to spend all our savings, plus the next three months of savings to come, on new floors for our house.

We've been in desperate need of this move for years and have been planning it since the beginning of the year when we got my big sale bonus from the sale of my TV station.

We also, jointly, decided to get the highest quality stuff we could to avoid having to do this again in another five years or so.

But now it's beginning to sink in that I've, at best, delayed any chances I have to get Der Deutscher to agree to an adoption by at least six months.

Serious buyer's remorse.
Nimitz' Lady