It's my beautiful sister's 27th birthday today! This pic was taken just before my cousin's wedding this summer. Funny thing-- my mother, sister, and I all wore black or black and white dresses. Mom taught us everything we know about fashion, it would seem. Steph is celebrating in frigid weather up in Chicago today. I can't imagine. I won't have to imagine soon... we're flying up tomorrow night for the weekend. I'm scared. But it's so worth it to get face-to-face time with my family.
In other news, a few weeks ago Brad and I visited the Edison-Ford Winter Estates which are in Fort Myers. The houses were decorated for the holidays and it was a really neat experience. We went on the last night and were thinking it would be jam-packed. Instead it was quite quiet and peaceful, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The Edison house has been restored and was just beautiful. We also saw his laboratory and Mrs. Edison's gardens. It is really beautiful. Here is one of the largest banyan trees in the world, and the first planted in the US by Edison. It was a gift from Henry Firestone, one of the three buddies who hung out in Fort Myers. It's sort of like if the CEOs of Apple, Microsoft, and Ron Popeil (inventor of practically every kitchen gadget) all hung out together-- quite a social group:
Here's what it looks like in the daytime. It's really a sight to behold:
(pic thanks to this random person.)
The semester started up on the 5th and we've been adjusting to the routine. Last semester things were nuts-- Brad was working full time and juggling two grad classes, and I was teaching and also doing the tutor-coordinator job-from-hades. I prayed for deliverance from that nuttiness, and God answered. I was laid off from the tutoring thing on Monday the 5th, just before my classes started. Money will be a little tighter, but we'll be fine. And I am SO relieved to not be working there. The people mean well, but have little business sense and are severely understaffed. Not a recipe for long-term success. That's all I have to say about that.
We've been spending our quiet evenings watching CSI and Law and Order, my new favorite TV shows. Don't know what took me so long to catch on as they're both in their zillionth season. We come home, let Georgie out of her cage, and eat dinner while watching episodes. It has been a lovely transition back into the semester.
George, we learned from the vet last week, is a she. But we like the name so we're keeping it. We're learning all sorts of fun things about being bunny parents. If you put a bunny on it's back, it falls into a trance like this:
Georgie doesn't love it, but she'll tolerate me holding her. She usually hops around the living room, sometimes the lanai when we let her, and then plops down on the floor in front of the TV. She also loves it when we sit on the floor near her. She'll nuzzle our hands a little and then poke her nose down near the floor, about an inch under our hand, as if to say, "It's time to pet me." She loves the lanai especially on the cool days we've had lately. Yesterday we were all sitting out there when she sensed the next door neighbor's cat approaching. The big grey fat cat loves to lay under the palm tree in our yard in the sun. Georgie saw the kitty and gave out a warning of danger-- she thumped her foot! Apparently that's what bunnies do to warn other bunnies of danger. It sounded like someone slapped a shoe on the ground! Then she dashed into the house as fast as she could, peeling out on the tile floor that provides zero traction. Quite a comical sight. I'll try to video these things as they really are funny.
We also learned at the vet that her little cage was too small for her. We did some research online and found some options. Apparently it's all the bunny rage to build cages out of these storage cubes, zip-tying them together to form the cage. We bought the storage cubes at Target, assembled the cage, and Georgie loves it.
Here she is exploring. See how there are two different sizes of grates? One with little holes and one with big holes? We finished this around 10 p.m. on Friday night. We sat and watched her explore as it was clear she was overjoyed. She kept jumping from the shelf to the floor, running back into her old cage, etc. We asked each other, "Do you think she can fit through those big grates?" "No, she'll be fine. Do YOU think she can?" etc. After one hour and seventeen minutes, she answered that question for us and made a diving escape from her little shelf. On Saturday we went back to Target to get another set so we'd have enough little grates. Argh.
After a while she just plopped down on the shelf. She loved the kleenex box and tears off strips to build a nest. She also tried to get into it, which was a sight to behold. I just love her little cottontail, and she lets me wiggle it for her sometimes.
I had originally begun this post this morning with the intent to tell you we were closing on our house today. Unfortunately, mid-post I received a call that the closing will not happen today. The buyers' loan is a USDA government loan, and occasionally they run out of money, which has happened in this case. I'm told they will be funded on Tuesday and we'll be able to close next week. Guess who's not holding her breath. This $%^&*( house has been a pain in the neck, and despite the fact that I'd like to be done, that's not what God has in mind. So we will continue to be patient and lean on our faith to get us through. Argh, patience.
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