I am experimenting with all of the wonders of Google, and I figured out how to make these neat slideshows for my blog. You need Flash to play it. Tell me what you think!
Finally, let me put some pictures up from all of the goings-on of last month.
The highlight of May was our trip to New Hampshire and Rhode Island to see Annie's pinning ceremony and graduation.
It rained on the graduation day, so the ceremony had to be held indoors. Since each graduate only got 2 tickets, John, Chuck, and I watched Annie graduate on the big screen in a building across campus.
Afterwards, we went to Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse to celebrate. Much to Annie's horror, she got "kissed" by the big stuffed moose.
Mom and Dad are new friends with Al Gore. They bought a hybrid car! Mom's Audi bit the dust, so the Russells got their third trusty family Saturn from Derek at Saturn of Portsmouth. Mom says she gets 60 miles a gallon!
We had a great trip and we're so proud of you, Annie!
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
More fun at the park
First, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to RENEE today!
Pictures from last week are coming soon, but in the meantime, here are some more shots from our latest trip to the dog park. (Warning: These carry a PG-13 rating!) Lenny went back to the vet yesterday for a checkup and got a clean bill of health, and he was feeling very good. He was the fastest dog at the park.
The vet said that Lenny has a little arthritis in both of his back legs, but that apparently wasn't slowing him down yesterday.
Pictures from last week are coming soon, but in the meantime, here are some more shots from our latest trip to the dog park. (Warning: These carry a PG-13 rating!) Lenny went back to the vet yesterday for a checkup and got a clean bill of health, and he was feeling very good. He was the fastest dog at the park.
The vet said that Lenny has a little arthritis in both of his back legs, but that apparently wasn't slowing him down yesterday.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Go Annie!
I won't be posting until next week, because Chuck and I will be attending my sister's graduation from college and pinning ceremony.
CONGRATULATIONS ANNIE!
CONGRATULATIONS ANNIE!
Friday, May 11, 2007
Lenny at the Dog Park
RUNNING
ROLLING
PUTTING ON THE BRAKES
Lenny had to go to the vet yesterday because his allergies have flared up really badly. This is despite our best efforts to keep his itching under control by:
1) Giving him immunotherapy shots every ten days.
2) Giving him children's Benadryl.
3) Bathing him twice a week with medicated shampoo.
4) Changing his bedding twice a week.
5) Vacuuming the house every day.
6) Leaving his "cone-head" on him when we have to leave the house so he won't chew on his paws.
7) Constantly chaperoning him when we are at home - he is not allowed to go in a room without one of us there. (He's sneaky about scratching!)
This is supposed to be a particularly bad allergy season in Indiana. (My allergies have been non-existent, though!)
Wednesday night we came home to find him very cut-up because he had clawed open his front legs with his back paws, on his ankles, paws, and elbows. So Thursday he went to the vet.
This vet (not our usual Dr. Koch) for some reason was convinced that Lenny had cancer, and kept telling Chuck about how Lenny's medications would have to change if he had chemotherapy, etc. His lymph nodes in his legs were swollen, but his other lymph nodes were not, so she did a biopsy. Chuck asked if perhaps the lymph nodes were swollen due to his allergic condition, but she insisted on doing the biopsy. While she was looking at the slides, Chuck could hear her out in the hallway talking to Dr. Koch, our normal vet. She was telling him that she didn't see anything on the slides, and Dr. Koch said something along the lines of "Lenny has allergies, not cancer!" But at least now we can put our minds at ease...
Anyway, Lenny came home with a cocktail of pills - steroids, anti-histamines, and antibiotics. Hopefully he'll get through the next few weeks a little better. We took him to the dog park after his appointment.
ROLLING
PUTTING ON THE BRAKES
Lenny had to go to the vet yesterday because his allergies have flared up really badly. This is despite our best efforts to keep his itching under control by:
1) Giving him immunotherapy shots every ten days.
2) Giving him children's Benadryl.
3) Bathing him twice a week with medicated shampoo.
4) Changing his bedding twice a week.
5) Vacuuming the house every day.
6) Leaving his "cone-head" on him when we have to leave the house so he won't chew on his paws.
7) Constantly chaperoning him when we are at home - he is not allowed to go in a room without one of us there. (He's sneaky about scratching!)
This is supposed to be a particularly bad allergy season in Indiana. (My allergies have been non-existent, though!)
Wednesday night we came home to find him very cut-up because he had clawed open his front legs with his back paws, on his ankles, paws, and elbows. So Thursday he went to the vet.
This vet (not our usual Dr. Koch) for some reason was convinced that Lenny had cancer, and kept telling Chuck about how Lenny's medications would have to change if he had chemotherapy, etc. His lymph nodes in his legs were swollen, but his other lymph nodes were not, so she did a biopsy. Chuck asked if perhaps the lymph nodes were swollen due to his allergic condition, but she insisted on doing the biopsy. While she was looking at the slides, Chuck could hear her out in the hallway talking to Dr. Koch, our normal vet. She was telling him that she didn't see anything on the slides, and Dr. Koch said something along the lines of "Lenny has allergies, not cancer!" But at least now we can put our minds at ease...
Anyway, Lenny came home with a cocktail of pills - steroids, anti-histamines, and antibiotics. Hopefully he'll get through the next few weeks a little better. We took him to the dog park after his appointment.
Photographer Chuck
So Chuck has been playing a lot with his new camera. Here are some of the pictures he is proud of so far.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHUCK!
Happy 28th birthday to Chuck today!
And congratulations to Chuck! He graduated on Saturday (finally!) with his master's degree in Instrumental Conducting, after three years of hard work. Our friend Aaron (Amanda Niskode's fiance) also graduated from the law and business programs here at IU. Amanda made a great sign that she stuck on her garage door. She lives on a very busy street in Bloomington, so a lot of people saw it!
Here are some pictures from Saturday afternoon. We attended the School of Music graduation luncheon, but not the university-wide ceremony. (We were disappointed to miss Tavis Smiley's speech at commencement, but not that much.) After the luncheon, all the music graduates names and degrees were announced, and they shook hands with a bunch of VIPs, including the dean. I was very proud and I cried. We had been ready for it for a long time, but it felt like a very nice ending to Chuck's time at IU.
Sunday night, we celebrated with a barbecue. We had lots of food and friends and had a great time. Chuck wasn't as proficient at grilling as he used to be back when he ate meat, but things turned out alright. I have some pictures of some of our friends who were there:
This is Chuck with some of his conducting friends: Christian, Marcello, Hakan (trombone player), and Chris. His teacher, Mr. Baldner, also came to the barbecue.
This is our wonderful friends Renee, Amanda, and Aaron (the graduate). We went to Ohio State with Renee and Amanda.
Our friends Gaye and Rob, and hornists Zach and Eric.
We also had some canine guests, Lenny's buddies Tobey (red collar) and Stoney (blue collar). They belong to our neighbor and friend Steve.
Lenny was a little bit anti-social, though, because he was preoccupied with his rawhide chew, a special treat for him.
I attempted a small Martha Stewart project - to make cute cupcakes with the IU symbol on them. They came out looking a little bit more like lobsters than IU, but at least they tasted pretty good!
Thanks to everyone who came, and those who brought food also! We had a great time!
And congratulations to Chuck! He graduated on Saturday (finally!) with his master's degree in Instrumental Conducting, after three years of hard work. Our friend Aaron (Amanda Niskode's fiance) also graduated from the law and business programs here at IU. Amanda made a great sign that she stuck on her garage door. She lives on a very busy street in Bloomington, so a lot of people saw it!
Here are some pictures from Saturday afternoon. We attended the School of Music graduation luncheon, but not the university-wide ceremony. (We were disappointed to miss Tavis Smiley's speech at commencement, but not that much.) After the luncheon, all the music graduates names and degrees were announced, and they shook hands with a bunch of VIPs, including the dean. I was very proud and I cried. We had been ready for it for a long time, but it felt like a very nice ending to Chuck's time at IU.
Sunday night, we celebrated with a barbecue. We had lots of food and friends and had a great time. Chuck wasn't as proficient at grilling as he used to be back when he ate meat, but things turned out alright. I have some pictures of some of our friends who were there:
This is Chuck with some of his conducting friends: Christian, Marcello, Hakan (trombone player), and Chris. His teacher, Mr. Baldner, also came to the barbecue.
This is our wonderful friends Renee, Amanda, and Aaron (the graduate). We went to Ohio State with Renee and Amanda.
Our friends Gaye and Rob, and hornists Zach and Eric.
We also had some canine guests, Lenny's buddies Tobey (red collar) and Stoney (blue collar). They belong to our neighbor and friend Steve.
Lenny was a little bit anti-social, though, because he was preoccupied with his rawhide chew, a special treat for him.
I attempted a small Martha Stewart project - to make cute cupcakes with the IU symbol on them. They came out looking a little bit more like lobsters than IU, but at least they tasted pretty good!
Thanks to everyone who came, and those who brought food also! We had a great time!
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Chuck's new toy
I am starting to feel like Paris Hilton. Chuck got a new fancy camera from our parents for graduation, and it arrived yesterday. He's been taking pictures like he's one of the paparazzi!
On Sunday afternoon, Lenny and I did our first session of interval training - and I don't mean something out of a freshman music theory class. We were taking the advice of a study published in the NY Times that said it would help build our endurance. We're giving it a try!
We had a great weekend, and I will give updates and pictures soon. In the meantime, Chuck was listed in Fanfare! - the Jacobs School of Music online newsletter.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Birthday parties
Yesterday was a big day at the Jacobs School of Music - Mrs. Clouse turned 100 years old! She has worked for the practice room scheduling office for 46 years, and each year she throws a Christmas party for all of the students. The lounge that connects two of our music buildings is called "Clouse's Lounge" in her honor.
The school had a little event outside for the naming of "Clouse's Plaza," which is a recently landscaped and re-done area in front of the Practice Building.
The Dean and the president of the University both spoke, along with a member of the city council. The governor of Indiana sent a letter to be read and the mayor of Bloomington made a decree that May 1 was "Helen Clouse Day."
The Brass Choir performed, and then we all had lots of cake. Mrs. Clouse is planning on retiring in July.
CHUCK'S BIRTHDAY
On Sunday, we'll be celebrating Chuck's 28th birthday, and his MM graduation, with a barbecue - please join us! We'll be starting around 6 p.m.
Chuck is out of town right now for his audition. I haven't heard much in the way of updates, except that he forgot to pack his toothpaste. He flies home tomorrow.
Running update: Lenny and I ran an entire mile on Monday without stopping to walk! A small achievement, but it felt big to us. Lenny didn't move the rest of the evening.
The school had a little event outside for the naming of "Clouse's Plaza," which is a recently landscaped and re-done area in front of the Practice Building.
The Dean and the president of the University both spoke, along with a member of the city council. The governor of Indiana sent a letter to be read and the mayor of Bloomington made a decree that May 1 was "Helen Clouse Day."
The Brass Choir performed, and then we all had lots of cake. Mrs. Clouse is planning on retiring in July.
CHUCK'S BIRTHDAY
On Sunday, we'll be celebrating Chuck's 28th birthday, and his MM graduation, with a barbecue - please join us! We'll be starting around 6 p.m.
Chuck is out of town right now for his audition. I haven't heard much in the way of updates, except that he forgot to pack his toothpaste. He flies home tomorrow.
Running update: Lenny and I ran an entire mile on Monday without stopping to walk! A small achievement, but it felt big to us. Lenny didn't move the rest of the evening.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
