Things I'm happy about

1. Our cat has terminal cancer but had been doing pretty well until a couple of months ago. About two months ago, she stopped doing many of the things she loved and appeared to be in pain. We took her to the vet and started her on some pain meds a few weeks back, and didn't notice an immediate difference. Then, slowly, she started being more active, wanting to escape to the great outdoors and generally acting more like herself. The thing that made me the saddest was that she didn't come sit on our laps anymore when she wasn't feeling well. But! The last week or so, we've gotten our lap kitty back. This makes me very happy. Pain meds aren't a cure or a long-term solution, but it gives us a chance to enjoy her for a few more months without having to feel guilty that she's in pain and having low quality of life. This pleases me.

2. We missed our farm share drop off on Thursday, so we went out to the farm to pick it up over the weekend. They were having an open house for all their CSA members, and we could have taken a hayride, but it was cool and kept threatening rain off and on. We did get lost in the corn maze for a bit and got to pet some really cute goats, so the trip out and back (about an hour each way) was worth it. There's some really pretty country out north of Chelsea.

3. J. and I are going on vacation in a little while, to do touristy things and to see my brother and his wife. If my calculations are correct, I haven't seen him in person since 2001. When I don't think about it deeply, it's normal-ish: we have different lives, we live many states away from each other, he's with the military and travels out of country a lot, etc. But, when I do think on it, it's weird to have siblings that you actually like and get along with- not estranged in the least- that you don't see for multiple years on end. There have been other times when I haven't seen him or my other brother for up to two-year stretches, but this is definitely the longest period. We write and call, but it's not the same. It'll be good to reconnect.

Queen bees and other things of note

I have a batch of new articles up at ehow.com on a wide variety of topics. These days, I'm making enough money from other freelance projects that I haven't been writing a ton of these, but they're fun when I don't have any other major projects:

Foods that Affect the Thyroid

Nonsurgical Scoliosis Treatments

Where are Carbohydrates Stored in the Body?

Savings Accounts for Children

The Yohimbine Effect on Sperm Count

Queen Bee Facts

Which Foods are Rich in Iodine?

Natural Underactive Thyroid Remedies

Signs & Symptoms of Thyroid Problems in Adolescent Girls

I've also been writing for my Education News Examiner site. I've mainly been posting education-related events and news, but I recently wrote my first commentary/opinion piece:

Commentary: Budget cuts to early childhood programs are indefensible

In related news, if all goes as planned, I'll have one article about meditation and a second about the Detroit Derby Girls going to print on the same day in different local newspapers later this week- fun!