3 legs, a rat, the others, small plates, and permit pending

i never imagined how much chaos would ensue from having simon go from being a normal 4-legged canine to a 3-legged tripawd.

i'm amazed at the depth of questions it has evoked  from a 3.5 year old mind!  "did they throw simon's leg away?" "how did they remove his leg?" "how do we get sick?" "how do the staples and stitches work to keep his skin together?" "why do people die?" 

so, in case you haven't heard- we had to have simon's leg amputated on monday.  this is actually a good thing- he had cancer in his leg and in order to prevent it from spreading and painfully and quickly killing him, they discovered the cancer hadn't spread- so in a two-pronged focus- the amputation stops the spread of the cancer and reduces the pain this poor guys been feeling.

in an effort to prepare xixi for this- we watched a lot of 3-legged dog videos on You Tube along with the Clifford episode about KC the 3 legged dog.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lx6Wg*ht2vE

yet- the abstract concept of a 3 legged simon and the reality of xixi's best bud sporting an elizabethan collar, 25+staples, bad bruising, and only 3 legs are as far as east is from the west in a 3.5 year old's mind!

we've been encouraged by simon's resiliance and he's been astounding everyone at his quick recovery.  i'll be glad when the collar comes off- bad shin bruises!

xixi's been stepping up and making a great nurse maid!

in other news....

• this saturday starts our chinese new year party season!  we have 2 big parties we'll be attending this year- the 2nd and 9th.  for those of you born in 1996, 1984, and 1972- this is your year!  rats are known for being great leaders, highly organized, meticulous, and purveyors of only a few close friends!   gong hay fat choy!
  
• the season premiere of lost starts tonite.  ross and i stayed up until after midnite watching the season finale of season 3 and trying to figure out why charlie could drown in an air tight underwater station (ross) and whether my theory of why jack has to go back and kate is filthy rich is correct.  we're praying the writer's strike ends soon!
  
• this is another baltimore restaurant week and ross and i are going with our friends, lance and amy, to pazo- a great spanish tapas restaurant in fells point tomorrow nite.  tapas means small plates.  small plates full of incredible flavor!  i've been drooling in anticipation since saturday nite.
  
• finally- the permits people from carroll county finally came out today, looked at where the ground loop people want to put the 2 400 foot wells from our new geo-thermal system and gave the heads up.  hopefully the heating/cooling system that was delivered and is now in our garage will be installed soon.  we'll deal with the aftermath of the well drilling on our yard soon enough!