Ten Year Old Tent Trailer

Today Ariel and I were discussing what we wanted to do with our tax return. One advantage of having four kids, a mortgage, and some student loans is that tax season is very kind. In a conversation that we have had over and over again, Ar asked why it is we always want to have something. I have never had a very good answer for him...I just chalk it up to the human condition. I like to congratulate myself on being pretty low on the consumption totem pole, but the truth is I can always reel off a handful of things big and small that I want on any given day. At the moment, what I want is a ten year old tent trailer from Craig's List to use for camping trips.
Ar also asked why we just can't be satisfied with what we have - I still didn't have an answer, but I can think of two things I was very satisfied with today. I actually had time to take a nap with Elias, which is at the top of my all time favorite moments with the kids. Elias got the kitty to lay down with him, and the three of us slept all curled up for an hour. It was wonderful. I am also really happy that Ar and I are both at a point were we work part time - he works a bunch in the summer, and ends up working about ten days a month in the winter, and I work 20 hours a week year round. We might not be raking in money, but this is what we have always wanted for our family and it is really great.

Tess & Matcha

So we settled on Tess (for Mom) and Matcha...Masha some how became Matcha (Japanese Green Tea Powder). The kids absolutely love the kitten. Tess is staying pretty tightly holed up in our bedroom, as she does not like Chester, our bulldog, at all. Hopefully she will come out soon.

Help us Name our New Kitties!

In what is becoming a Biggerstaff tradition of doubling up on adoptions - Ar brought home two cats from his shelter foray this morning. They are secured in our bedroom for now, which is too dimly lit too get a good picture, but I will post pictures soon. We adopted the kitten we had planned on adopting - as well as her 1 year old mother (with quite a bit of prompting from the shelter). Now we have to pick two names....Both of the kittens are girls, so Pierre is out, but I am pretenious enough that they must have literary names. Here are our following finalists, so please weigh in on your favorites, or new suggestions.

Tess (Tess of the D'Ubervilles)

Lyra (Golden Compass)

Kate (Taming of the Shrew)

Franny and Zooey (Franny and Zooey)

Portia (The Merchant of Vencie)

Charlotte and Emily (The Bronte Sisters)

Hero (Much Ado About Nothing)

Masha (War and Peace)

Goodbye, Part II

Today we buried Itchy. We didn't have any laid out plans, but it somehow seemed the right thing to do -so we told the kid's school that they had a funeral to go to, and drove out to the Wynoochee River and buried him out at the family campground. Aimee, Ariel's sister came to, as Itchy was originally her dog when she was a toddler. I was really glad we did. It felt like a good way to say goodbye, because he really loved to ride down the river on an innertube with us. Ariel didn't get too visibly upset - but when he made a little casket with handles, I knew how sad he was that Itchy was gone. It may seem like we over did it a bit - but we are not a family who over sentimentalizes our pets.
Now there is serious talk of getting a kitten this weekend. Ariel wants a Maine Coon because they can grow to enormous size. We spent a bit too much time on Pet Finder and I know that I want this kitten, which is up for adoption at a Seattle Animal Shelter. I want to name him Pierre.

Goodbye

I wasn't sure what I wanted to write about it, but Itchy finally died this morning. He had multiple seizures during the night and stopped breathing about breakfast time. We are all really going to miss him, he was a really wonderful dog. He was about 19 years old - and had been with Ariel and I for our entire life together. 

Deciding Vote

I know Washington's primary isn't until next week - I was going to go to the Caucaus with my Dad on Saturday, but I have to work - but I decided to vote for Obama in our primary. We do absentee ballots, so I filled it out today. It basically comes down to buying what Obama is selling. I think Clinton is an extremely compentent person, and I think she is very capable of being a good president, but I find myself swept up in the possibility of Obama. My mind was really made up when I read the Atlantic Monthly's "Why Obama Matters". The possibility of something new going on in America is very, very exciting, and I am ready to sign up. I am not 100% certain about how I feel about all of his policies - but I also am not stupid enough to think that the policies trumpeted during an election year will bear any resemblance to actual legislation two years from now. I am also nervous because Carl Jeffers, one of my favorite political commentators, thinks Obama doesn't have a chance in standing up to McCain in the election. I certainly believe that the next administration is going to start making some important changes to health care, and I think it is inevitable no matter who is in the White House. I am a little embarassed by making such a decision based more on emtion than analysis - but I think when it comes down to it, so does everyone else.
On completely unrelated family news, Ariel and I discussed piano lessons today. The older kids are taking them - with some whining, but overall they enjoy them and I am impressed by their progress. Our discussion was how long piano lessons should be mandatory - any thoughts?

Chocolate Martini

On Thursday, Ar and I went on our semi-annual date night (It isn't quite that rare :). We went to see U2 3-D at the Seattle Imax Theatre, ate dinner at Wild Ginger (with our Christmas gift certificate) and tried a chocolate martini, then went to the Decemberist at the Moore Theatre. The Concert was fantastic. They were truly excellent performers and it was very fun to see all the instruments they played during the concert (A Cello! An Organ! An Accordion! A Base! A Grinder...and several others I didn't even know what they were).  They have traveled even farther up my favorite bands list after that concert.  

 On Sunday we went to my Aunt and Uncle's house for their SuperBowl party. I take personal pride in my complete disinterest in football. I was looking at the party as a good opportunity to see my family, watch a few episodes of the Office with my cousin Trisha, and study endocrinology. I  actually enjoyed the last twenty minutes of the game more than I have ever enjoyed any other football game, even if I was sort of semi hoping the Patriots would win. I did live in Massachusetts for four years, after all.  

  I am enjoying a bit of a break this week. I am taking Advance Cardiac Life Support classes (It is even less exciting than it sounds) this next weekend and get to take this week off in comp time. I am planning on enjoying the extra evenings I get to spend with the kids.