We named the new kid Luna Lovegood. It is the first name we all four agreed on, and I love her as much as I would love the original Luna Lovegood.
Today I was told that my throwing away used syringes could be construed as bullying because the team is told to keep syringes and to clean and sterilize them for reuse and I am doing and advocating the opposite.
Of the years of civil arguing back and forth and bringing it up every once in a while to discuss again and researching and cost analysis and meetings...this is the day that got me.
I am a lot of things...stubborn, hard-headed :) ...but I am not a bully, and I work actively against bullying on a few fronts, so that remark hit right where it was intended.
For the sake of the pets and their people and the team and my own sanity and...not to overstate...the veterinary oath and my own veterinary license, I will continue to not reuse syringes meant to be used one time and discarded.
Further updates hopefully soon. Please comment here (as you or anonymously) or on Facebook with your thoughts.
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Post from one year ago today...
February 28, 2016
THERE ARE NO ALLERGIES IN WRITING
Bonus Leap Year Post from One Year Ago!
February 29, 2016
My friend Dan was not a cat person. In fact, I don't think he ever had any pets growing up. I couldn't picture him having a cat, or knowing what to do with one. Until General.
Not General, but he looked like this.
Dan was looking for Camaro parts at the junkyard and found a very tiny abandoned kitten stuck under the pedals of an old junk car. This was a very long time ago, so I do not have pictures of the exact car or cat.
The car that General was born in looked something like this.
Dan took this little kitten home and named him after General Motors. General hid under the dryer for the first month, reluctantly coming out for food and learning to trust Dan. After that, they were inseparable best friends.
Also not General, but he looked this gorgeous. Not bad for a junkyard cat.
Friday was a snow day.
We decided to go to the Zoo. It was one of our favorite zoo trips.
I left the pictures in full color because of the red flower and blue frog and Macaws and peacock.
Pink Fairy Duster - In the Desert Dome
Tawny Frogmouths
These birds are so unique looking! I stared at them a while and then had to go back to watch them some more. I tried not to be rude, but it seems that in general, birds do not mind being stared at as much as dogs and cats do.
Roadrunner
This roadrunner showed us the stick he had found, then put it down to pick up a piece of grass. He pranced the grass blade back and forth in front of us, then set that down too. I love his personality!
Baby Map Turtle!
Courtyard Outside the Jungle
Blue Dart Frog
Macaws
In the Aquarium
Sometimes we don't even go into the Aquarium because it tends to be pretty crowded. This day was perfect! Maybe a half dozen other people besides the Zoo Team were in the entire Aquarium during the time we were there.
Penguins! This picture is for Dave Nelson and Evan Choi :)
Our favorite part of the Aquarium, the tunnel, had no other people in it. We have never gotten to go through it alone! We stayed to make friends with the turtles and rays.
This. This is what got us to the Zoo on such a snowy morning. How precious is he?? Mama was not too impressed with us being close, so we only stayed to take a couple pictures and congratulate her <3
This was a very fun day! Next time, we should go together!
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Post from one year ago today...
February 26, 2016
As team members practice resolving conflicts with each other, they will become proficient at it.
Setting a mood of mutual respect and encouraging one-on-one conflict resolution will separate the “wheat” (important complaints) from the “chaff” (unimportant complaints).
When you consistently build up your team members directly and to each other, and handle conflicts with which you are personally involved privately and respectfully, you will be building the groundwork for an upward, positive spiral.
If you have a conflict with a teammate, talk with them privately and respectfully about whatever needs to be resolved.
Make sure that each team member knows how much you value him or her and the other team members.
Many people working together in a high-stress environment and a relatively small space will inevitably create some conflict between coworkers.
On Friday February 17, 2017 I got home from work and sat in the car to hear the end of a song on the Alexander Hamilton soundtrack. Normally, I come right inside when I get home. Joy and Luna were having none of my stalling.
Joy opened the glass front door and ran to the car followed closely by Luna. I opened the door to explain I was listening to a song and would be right in, but instead of being reasonable dogs, they jumped into the car for a road trip.
Russ came outside to say I did not need to take them on a road trip just because they got into the car. When I said I didn't think it would be kind to dash their hopes especially when they were already in the car and ready to go, Russ got into the car too followed by Amanda and Abby who had come outside to see what was going on.
We drove around the block much to the delight of both dogs. Since we were out, we stopped to get gas and tacos.
At Abelardo's , Russ told the team we were impressed they had closed for A Day Without Immigrants the day before and that we were really happy they are a part of the Omaha community. Also he said thank you for the tacos and churros. He is my favorite guy.
We headed home for dinner. It had been a very fun road trip for all.
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Post from one year ago today...
February 19, 2016
Happy Valentine's Month from Toski!
Remember Olivia who visited Santa?
I will pass on as many pictures as Stephanie sends of her - I think she is awesome!
Olivia hopes you had a happy Valentine's Day.
From Stephanie...
"A little bit about Olivia.....she is a two year old red footed tortoise.
Her favorite foods are kale, peas and bananas. She also loves cat food!! When she gets to crawl in the house, she heads straight for the kitchen looking for cat food. If we don't put it up, she will crawl into the dish.
She loves being outside when its warm out.
I'm sure she thinks I'm crazy when I make her dress up and take pics. Funny thing is she knows to stay still for at least a few minutes so I can get the pic and then she is over it."
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Post from one year ago today...
February 17, 2016
Guest Post - Russ
Jeff and I were finishing up a large custom deck in Bay Hills near Plattsmouth. While
I was cleaning up the scraps, I was greeted by this visitor.
He thought it was super fun to fetch the scrap pieces from the trash pile and bring them back to me. Also to run up and down the stairs we built for him and to jump on us.
We held him still to look for a tag and get a picture. Then Mom came in her minivan and said "Pepper, time to go home!" He was a little sad. We thought he had very cool coloring and neat eyes!
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Post from one year ago today...
February 16, 2016
Another earring and a nose ring. No, not for me! I am at my work handbook-approved maximum. And I am a chicken.
My daughters are brave. Also, Abby kept her room clean for thirty days and was allowed to have her nose pierced as agreed.
Amanda...doesn't tend to absentmindedly throw papers over her shoulder. Much to Abby's dismay, Amanda got day one approval on her requested earring.
When Abby finished her clean room chart (YES they work even better for teenagers than little kids!) and Amanda had summoned all the courage she required, we headed to Authentic Ink Tattoo and Body Piercing with ID's and birth certificates.
The front desk person was very kind. She made Amanda less nervous.
Colin Nichols gave the girls the new holes in their heads. He could see Amanda was getting nervous again after Abby had her nose pierced and had Amanda in the chair and her ear pierced before she could really panic. Thank you Colin!
The little loop in the top of Amanda's ear is the new one.
A trick I learned with recent dental work - if you have a Tsum in your pocket, things are less scary.
They are some days out and very happy with their decisions!
Thank you Authentic Ink team. I know kids are not your normal client demographic, and you were super patient and kind to them. They love their new piercings!
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Post from one year ago today...
February 15, 2016
In February of 2000, Dr. Munger and I teamed up to surgically remove a mass from Chippy the Kindergarten Rat. She was the classroom pet, and her friends wrote us the best Valentines ever after her surgery. She recovered well, and resumed her kindergarten studies soon after surgery.
These are a few of the thank you cards we received.
As you can see, Chippy was a very beautiful rat.
"Thank you for Chippy's operation. She feels better." :)
"You are a very nice doctor." I found this note to be ambiguous as I am a nice doctor, however, Dr. Munger too is a nice doctor.
"I like that the tumor is out. We want Chippy to feel better. I know Chippy will feel better."
Chippy, "Squeak."
One week ago, Mom and Dad's Poodle puppies, Oscar and Felix, were neutered.
They spent the day with Kelly, Jen, Hannah, Amy and me, and said they had a very good but strange day.
Jen got this great picture of Oscar hugging Felix while Kelly holds them :)
I love this picture of sleepy Oscar!
You did it boys!
Felix, do you want to talk about it?
Oscar was not impressed with his protective cone.
We ate lunch together. I ate while the Poodles silently judged me.
2 days post op, Abby and Arthur check on Oscar.
Amanda and Robert check on Felix.
Boys, you did great! And good news! You can take your cones off today!
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Post from one year ago today...
February 13, 2016
I hope you have enjoyed this series!
Do you want to see MORE pictures and hear MORE stories from Dan in the future?
Do YOU have a story to tell?
THE KURTENBACH SERIES, PART 1 - MARCEL
THE KURTENBACH SERIES, PART 2 - GAMBLER
THE KURTENBACH SERIES, PART 3 - THE FOUNTAIN CREEK GENERAL STORE
THE KURTENBACH SERIES, PART 4 - THE FLOWERS
THE KURTENBACH SERIES, PART 5 - AZLYNN GRACE
THE KURTENBACH SERIES, PART 6, LEATHERWORK
THE KURTENBACH SERIES FINALE - MORE DOGS AND SOME CATS...
Here are some great pictures of other dogs and cats Dan has known...
Gus and Dan on the North Shore of Lake Superior.
Gus in the Yard
Happy Old Gus
Gus - to his chagrin, a kitty magnet —— Gus with Rocket
Gus with Harvey
Gus with Little Bit
Wolfie in the Yard
THE KURTENBACH SERIES, PART 1 - MARCEL
THE KURTENBACH SERIES, PART 2 - GAMBLER
THE KURTENBACH SERIES, PART 3 - THE FOUNTAIN CREEK GENERAL STORE
THE KURTENBACH SERIES, PART 4 - THE FLOWERS
THE KURTENBACH SERIES, PART 5 - AZLYNN GRACE...
Azlynn Grace is Dan's granddaughter. She loves Marcel too.
