Dog ticks

Never once in my life have I considered any type of medical career. I also freak out at having to deal with bugs. The way I deal with spiders and bugs in the house is to vacuum them up.

Today as I was working at the computer, I looked over at Tig who was sleeping on his chair (Yes he has his own chair, covered with his own blanket. He's very spoiled). He had something on his eyelid. It looked like one of those dog ticks that expands when it sucks his blood. This would normally fall into "Dan tasks" but Dan was 90 minutes away at some Rotary related function. I knew I could not leave that thing on Tig until Dan came home hours later. So I got the tick remover thingee (or thingamajig, if you prefer that terminology). I got it off without freaking myself or Tig out. I was even a little proud of myself for a few minutes. That is, until I spotted another one of those pesky ticks on his hindquarters. I took care of that one, too.

Poor Tig. Luckily, it looks like he survived my poor nursing skills.

Real Housewives of New Jersey

Ok, here's a confession. I have watched the Real Housewives of New York and New Jerzee. The one who seems to have a face load of plastic surgery just stated with pride that her two daughters, both under the age of 14, are her best friends. What is wrong with this picture? Is there no one who is a parent in the picture? This is the dame one who stated that someone needs to come in a rescue her and her daughters because her ex-husband hasn't come up with the divorce settlement. Here's a idea - get a job and take care of your kids! Being a parent is not the same as being a friend, a best friend, and any parent who wants to relinquish parental duty for being a best friend is taking the easy road and doing no one any favors.

Just my opinion for the two cents it's worth.

The other Dr. Becque

Whenever students call, asking for Dr. Becque, I have to squelch my desire to ask which Dr. Becque. Usually they call when they are in a pickle and it's fairly easy to hear that in their voice. My being snarky or gleefully replying "you're speaking to her," would not likely help the situation.

For all intents and purposes, I am an accidental Ph.D. When I was an undergrad at Syracuse, I was clueless about grad schools and advanced degrees. After my husband earned his Ph.D. and he joined the faculty here, I found jobs scarce. So I went back to school as a part-time job. Having an assistantship brought in some extra income and kept me busy.

And as my father told someone when he was in town for my graduation, "I sent her off to kindergarten at age 5 and now 40 years later, she's finally done."