Updates and Such

My dad was released from the hospital yesterday and is now at home. They are going to do a biopsy on Wednesday. He does have a brain tumor but it's not entirely clear if it's cancer or not. For now, it's a waiting game.

So, here I am in a holding pattern basically. When we know something definite, I'll start planning a trip to Minnesota. Cancer or not, Dad will have to undergo surgery to have the tumor removed so a trip is still called for. Until then, I have a few distractions. My writers group Christmas party is tonight. We are also saying goodbye to a member/friend who is moving to Virginia, so it's kind of a bitter-sweet event. And I still have some paperwork to fill out at the bank for my business accounts. (I have my first pet-sitting job this coming weekend.)

On the cat-front, Muffin disappeared on Saturday afternoon. One minute she was in the yard, the next she was gone. Now, I know cats tend to wander sometimes, but truth is, she doesn't usually. When Sunday morning rolled around and she wasn't waiting for her breakfast, I got really worried. And as the day wore on and still no sign of her....well, my heart was breaking to say the least.

Then, Sunday evening, I decided to go check out my neighbor's basement. Chris had mentioned something about that possibility that morning, but as far as I knew she had never gone down there. Well, what the heck do I know? I walked over there, flashlight in hand, and called her name...and did the usual "kitty, kitty, kitty" thing. And sure enough, I heard a meow from the basement. I opened the door and here she came, looking at me as if I was a crazy monkey for taking so long to find her. She followed me home, ate like crazy, then proceeded to run back and forth across the porch for a good bit of the evening. I think she had a lot of pent up energy to get rid of.

Cats. Gotta love 'em.

The day started out great...

...then hit a wall.

Yesterday was a pretty good day. I went to the local Register of Deeds and filed a Certificate of Assumed Name for my pet sitting business. Then, I went to the bank and opened a business account. Tri-County Critter Sitters is now up and running. (Just need to find an artist to make some changes to my logo.) I am now working for myself, and I'm thrilled and nervous as heck all at the same time.

Don't think it will be too bad. Got a pretty good boss, doesn't yell too much. ;-)

Then last night, the wall I mentioned earlier showed up. It seems my dad is in the hospital ICU. They're saying he has a brain tumor. Couldn't get too much info from my step-mom last night as she was pretty tired and distraught. Should learn more this morning. Either way, looks like I will be heading for Minnesota at some point soon.

Dad and I aren't extrememely close, but he is my dad. Over the past few years, with email and all, we've managed to keep in touch a lot more than when I was a kid. We even have some pretty good phone conversations once in a while. And he's the only parent I have left.

Right now, it's a sit and wait thing. I'm sitting and waiting for the phone to ring with some sort of news. Until then, keep good thoughts for my dad.