the wonders of nature

Wednesday was one heck of a stressful day, but it did start out nicely.

Our pool is full of tadpoles (aka "organic mosquito control" or OMC) in various stages of maturity. The area surrounding the pool is heavily populated with tiny frogs, about 1/2" in length. I photographed a few "colonies" of frogs. The most interesting group were warming themselves in the sun, each sitting on a separate leaf of our desert rose. Less artful (but still fascinating) was the frame of the pool skimmer. Tiny frogs sitting beside one another almost continuously all the way around.

Rocko's kiddie pool, which I had drained just over a week ago, is filled to overflowing from our recent spate of heavy weather. An earthworm managed to get into the water on Monday or Tuesday; at any rate, it was pale and waterlogged by Tuesday evening.

There are tadpoles (OMC) in there as well because it is a biological fact that frogs are Love Machines and will get down any time, any where, with anybody. No morals; just lots of fertile eggs that hatch quickly. But hey, they eat bugs, so let them live their lives the way they want to. As long as they show up for work and do their jobs, I don't care if their screwin' freaking sheep.

On that same fine Wednesday morn when I'd seen the wee froggies, I witnessed an event so terrifying that I had could nae ha' believed th' tale had I not seen it wi' me own eyes: a tadpole feeding frenzy in th' kiddie pool! The wee devils were swarming cheek-to-cheek and devouring the earthworm, tearing viciously at its flesh, as a school of sharks or piranha would do. Still, tho' - horrifying as it was, 'twas also a miracle o' nature. A frightening miracle, if that makes any sense. I respect it but it gives me th' willies, don't ya know.

The kiddie pool, for cryin' out loud! Won't somebody please think of the children?

A bit later on, the stress began. I had to drive Lisa to her knee surgeon for her two-week followup.

We had recently - and foolishly - allowed Lisa's adult son to borrow the car a couple of times. He told us both times that he would put gas in the tank. Needless to say he never did gas it up. Before he took the car, there was half a tankful. When we went to the doctor on Wednesday, I was concerned that we might not get home on the fumes that remained in the tank.

New rule: if he wants to borrow the car, he gives me $10 up front.

Just before taking Lisa to the doctor, I had washed a load of laundry. At some point the discharge hose from the washer came out of the drain pipe. Water everywhere. I didn't have time to clean it up because we had to hit the road.

Upon our return, we found out that our very well housebroken dog had shit in the bathroom (on the tile floor, fortunately). I had taken him out in the yard twice already before we left but he didn't poop either time. He doesn't like to poop in our yard; he wants to go all the way to the end of the street. I can't do that every time. I am usually too busy.

Cleaned up that mess and headed to CVS to drop off Lisa's prescription. Oh-oh, sorry, "can't give you any of those until July 16th" because her primary physician gives her those for her back. This is additional medicine for post-surgical pain. So Lisa had to call the surgeon's office to ask for a different medication. That worked; all he did was call it in, so we didn't have to drive all the way back to his office.

Finally, tonight, Lisa got hungry at about midnight. I was drifting off to sleep. She took her cane and walked to the kitchen. There she promptly fainted from low blood sugar, banging her newly-replaced knee on the refrigerator and crashing to the floor on her hip. I heard the noise and called to see if she was all right. She responded by crying out for help.

I found her on the floor. A brief examination led me to believe she would be OK for the time being, so she laid flat on the floor while I fetched the wheelchair. Once we got her into the chair, she held on to a short leash and Rocko pulled her all the way to the bedroom. I brought her a variety of foods and a sweet drink. She is feeling much better now but has ice on her knee and back.