A Few Books, a Backyard Critter and a Big, Happy Event!

I join those of you who have moaned and groaned (as I have) about our dismal spring. The sunny days are few and far between. Most are loaded with rain and even the dry ones have gray skies and are unseasonably cold. Good days to paint!

It's a good time for reading, too. I've been plowing through an assortment of books -- a hefty (500 page) bio of Edward VIII, Michelle Obama's "Becoming," selections from the British Library's 1930s collection of lesser known (but quite good) mysteries, some wonderful mysteries by Susan Hill and now  I'm into Fiona Barton's "The Widow."

I can't say I've bonded with the newest critter in my hood. In fact, I was surprised to see what I thought was a nocturnal creature in my back yard during the middle of the afternoon this past week.

He seemed to find quite a feast in the bird seed. Some of my FB commenters have mentioned that 'possums eat ticks. I don't think I have any in my yard but it's tick season and you never know.

Speaking of which, my vet sent out info on flea and tick natural remedies which you can find on the website HERE. It's that time of year, more so for dog owners and those humans who might be in more tick-infested areas. She also reminded us that it's cat shedding season (as if I didn't know) and frequent brushing is essential to help prevent your fave feline from serious hairball and possibly other issues from spring grooming. The one-pound hairball surgery mentioned below was enough to get me brushing Lizzie fast and furious!

                           

The big news in our house this past week was the graduation of Rick's youngest, Kevin, from his MBA program at University of Michigan!

It was quite the day -- cold, gloomy. Our handicapper parking pass didn't help much given that the handicapper parking was still pretty far from the arena, not to mention having to climb the stadium stairs inside, which seemed extra steep.

I have to hand it to Rick. He made it but it was a long hike. I felt for the really old grandmas who probably couldn't have pulled that off. If it had been me on the crutches, I know I couldn't have pulled it off and I'm not that old yet. But there was no way in the world he would have missed this; I think he would have found a way to be there in person even if he'd been in traction!

We were in the peanut gallery near the end zone of what is usually the basketball court.  For those who asked how far I was from the heron in the photos in this post, I could say I was about half this distance. I think that's about how far my zoom works well. (Harry, for the most part, isn't much of a moving target, either!)

Kevin was in the third row from the stage, so we were about as far away as we could be. Here's one shot -- that was about as good as I got. (I don't usually like to show blurred photos but several of you have asked about the camera. This is pretty soft, but then we were up high and more than a basketball court away.)

I could make out the smaller print on the seal that was on the curtained wall of the stage. That didn't move but it's still "soft."

Unfortunately, graduates are moving targets -- especially when there are a zillion of them (masters and undergrads). Consequently, my photos of the ceremony itself aren't great! But I had to include this one! That's our guy, shaking hands!

The speaker was some fellow from Shark Tank who did a creditable job, along with a couple of students, one of whom was quite good. Rick and I agreed he was a far more compelling speaker than the Shark Tank guy. I'm sure the other student speaker made her parents proud. Hey, we were proud and our guy wasn't even speaking!

I don't think anyone could be more relieved to see Kevin graduate than Molly! It's not easy going to grad school with a full time job, a toddler and a 9-month old who has started walking, and it's not easy being the full-time working mom, either!

And I don't think anyone could have been more proud of Kevin than his dad!

And I was pretty darned happy too!

So, here's to the graduate, here's to spring (whether it shows its face of not) and here's to Rick doing yeoman's work to get to and from the ceremony, stay for the party and even drive home with one foot swollen like a football and maybe five hours of sleep the night before. (And the night before that and the one before that. And that's probably a generous estimate.)

And here's to this one, too, who hung in during the whole however-many-hours-long ceremony without a nap! I adore this little monkey and his brother too!

Now, onward! Maybe with some sun for a change?

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