Happy daze

Stella had  her fourth birthday last Friday. What with moving and all, we didn't make it to a carnival this year to take her picture. A friend had given me this crazy stuffed heart though (shaped like a beating heart eek- not our typical romanticized version) so that, and a whole can of wet dog food was her present. I figured she'd chew the thing to smithereens but so far she's just been toting it around the house with the occasional blindside attack. I am planning on getting her a new leather collar too as I think her latest nylon version may sacrifice comfort for design. She's pretty funky all on her own and really shouldn't have to be bothered with itchy fashion accessories. That goes for all of us I suppose.

Happy Birthday

Stella and I took the two orphan kittens to the vet this morning for their first round of shots. I knew there was a carnival set up down the road so we left early and stopped there first. Today was Stella's third birthday. There were some great vintage rides there, a Paratrooper, a Loop (which looks like a very young Kamikaze) and a Tempest. It was too early for corn dogs so we took a few pictures and kept moving. Thanks again to the Dickson Carnival Company for letting us cruise around on the midway when they weren't even open.

It's like the National Geographic Channel around here. Another turtle showed up in the yard yesterday, Whiskey Nick and Cowboy weren't at Petsmart forty-eight hours before they both got adopted. Stella and I went to see them this afternoon (I'm really glad we did that). When we took the little ones in to the vet, it seemed to take forever and just the moment I was beginning to get annoyed, a couple came in with their dog and the doctor took them ahead of us. Thankfully, I didn't have any place to be and wasn't really in a hurry because when they came out, there was a lot of crying and no dog. I felt terrible for them and Stella did too. It was the only move she made the whole time we were there and she did it simply to sit next to the girl who felt awful. Good dog. More later.

Birthday Girl

This day in history from History.com:

On this day in 1884, the first roller coaster in America opens at Coney Island, in Brooklyn, New York. Known as a switchback railway, it was the brainchild of LaMarcus Thompson, traveled approximately six miles per hour and cost a nickel to ride. The new entertainment was an instant success and by the turn of the century there were hundreds of roller coasters around the country.

Today is birthday number two. I got Stella a baby pool. She hasn't seen it yet but I'll be sure to take a picture, I think she'll be pretty excited. Last week we were walking around the neighborhood and stopped in at her friend Banjo's house to play for a few minutes. For the second time in two weeks, she commandeered the baby pool so I decided to get her one of her own to splash around in. It's 95 degrees outside so it shouldn't be too hard to get her in it.

The Bumble Bee ride (shown above) was built in 1961.

Stella is a Gemini

Astrology Weekly has this to say about Geminis:

You're popular, and you know it. You enjoy people, and you love to watch them to keep your mind busy. You're at your best at parties, bars, the office water cooler—anywhere you can find people with whom you can laugh. You thrive on gossip and news—you need information constantly, more even than food.

According to the Farmer's Almanac, if today is your birthday:

Although changeable and restless, you do your tasks faithfully and to your best ability, even though they are irksome to you. You are led by your inward desires rather than by outside influences. You are affectionate and sincere and will not fall in love at first sight. You are sometimes obstinate and like to have your own way.

Today is Stella's first birthday. Assuming I have the right information, she shares a birthday with Irving Penn, and Giacomo Agostini, TuPac and Billy Crash Craddock.

She was invited to the wonderfully prestigious Gemini Party on Old Hickory lake this Saturday but unfortunately she still has six weeks to go on her orthopedic rehab and was forced to decline. The good news is, she gets the staples out of her leg today and as such can retire the lampshade. She does plan to be the star of that party next year though. Something tells me we'll be spending a lot of time near the grill.