daffodils & dogs AND PIGS

Philip jumped on the blog the other day to check for any comments (which we really love reading, I always wonder who is reading any of my ramblings or where in the world they are) and he said, "wow, you haven't posted since the 9th - we must be really busy." Prettymuch. A recap of the week's highlights:

* Philip went from work straight to class (got home around 10 pm) each night last week and then was in class all day Saturday & Sunday. It was an international political economics class - something that was at least interesting and engaging for him. He liked his prof. - a Princeton graduate. The guy was really liberal so he and Philip didn't agree on much of anything as far as economic policy goes, but they had some good discussions.

After his long week, he went into work at 3:30 on Monday morning for a day and a half of work rolled into one. As you can imagine he's looking forward to an overdue weekend.

* On Thursday night I had a wife of one of Philip's airmen over for supper and a girlie movie. Her husband is deployed so we had a husbandless night that was really great. We watched "The secret life of bees" (which I enjoyed) and had a great faith/marriage/how-does-marriage -work-without-Christ conversation.

* Most of my spare moments have been spent working on my research paper for my psychopharmacology class. I'm writing about psychotropic treatment of eating disorders. I've loved the research but the writing has been a bit laborious. I'm hoping to finish and hand it in tonight.

* THE DAFFODILS came up last week. I remember last February how shocked I was to see tulips and daffodils coming up in our yard and in the parks. Because the winter was colder this year they were about a month later but they are beautiful. I love spring. Today we had the most beautiful day.

* The dog. We've been dog sitting for Matt & Jana while they've been in Ireland. I've really loved having Clieo stay with us. I'm much more of a dog person than a cat person (I'm really NOT a cat person) Still, I'm not entirely keen on dogs indoors because I CANNOT stand hair over everything and they smell like, well, dog... but it's been a lot of fun having her around to keep me company. I'm not sure it makes me want to have a dog but it does make me want to have a miniature pig even more! (for those of you who don't know that story I DESPERATELY want a miniature pig - they breed them in the UK smaller than potbellys, a patient had one and I coveted it VERY VERY much, the problem is they're expensive and my husband won't let me get one (And has the support of my father on that *rolling my eyes* they're out to get me) I think when Philip gets home tonight we'll try to go for a walk before the sun sets and it's time to hit the books.
I WANT ONE MORE THAN I WANTED A PONY AS A LITTLE GIRL (and ask my dad, I reeeeally lobbied for a pony). This breed of pig has been named "Tetley Miniature Pig." I think because they were so popular and there was such a long waiting list that they're still pretty hard to get ahold of even over in England. (boo!)

Tetley is a popular brand of tea in England, and since the pigs are the size of a tea cup - Tetley pig. And no, don't bother telling me that if I want a fun creature to just have a baby because I don't want a baby right now. I WANT A PIG! I'm not a huge animal person but when I think of pigs I can understand how people come to love animals like a part of the family. I'm not sure I could do that with a dog, but I do have that kind of love in my heart for a pig.

Philip apologized in advance for working on my birthday and not being around much in May due to work. I told him I didn't mind at all and won't be bothered about being alone one bit on my birthday again because I'll be playing with the new pig he gets me. I even have a patient who is studying to be a lawyer (or in England a "barrister" which sounds so posh) figure out how to make a better case to win him over (she loves pigs as much as I do, so she understands the importance of the matter).

My parents feel really bad for Philip. He's starting to experience what they really lived with for 18 long years ;) A VERY passionate, willful, assertive girl.