Q&A | Orange tree, school break, when I'll graduate, and rental vs. home
First, lots of you had questions about my orange tree after I posted this picture of my sunny bedroom.
So, let's talk about that first! I got this orange tree as a gift several years ago, and miraculously, I haven't killed it yet.
This is miraculous because:
a) I am not that good with plants
and
b) I live nowhere near Florida. Or California. Or any other normal orange-growing climate.
The only obvious conclusion is that this is an easy-to-grow tree.
I leave it outside as long as the temps aren't in the freezing range, which means I have to bring it inside for some months in the winter.
The orange tree has never been super happy about that, but then again, it had to live by the north windows at my old house.
At this house, it's on the south side, so I'm hoping it will be a little healthier during the winter here. We shall see!
And you might remember the table it's sitting on! It's an old Philco table that I rescued from the abandoned house; click here to see what it looked like before.
Since it's at the foot of my bed, here's the view I see when I wake up:
As for what type of orange tree this is...I'm not positive, but I think it's a Calamondin orange tree, and it produces very, very sour oranges. So, I pretty much never eat them; I just enjoy the cheerful orange color.
Next up two, questions from Jana:
1. What is your cat’s name? Wait, is it Frugal Kitty? Frugal Cat? Fru?
2. How is it that you know you are going to nursing school? Did you get accepted before finishing all the prereqs? Just wondering how that works, and how you will remember all that you learned with that 8 month break. (Inquiring mind here. . .)
One
Haha, I like FC for Frugal Cat.
When we adopted our cat, Lisey named her Shelley. But we basically never call her by her given name...the only time we hear that name is when we take her to the vet. 😉
Here at home, we call her any one of the 18 or so nicknames she has. Or sometimes we just call her The Cat.
Two: How do I know I'll get into nursing school?
I got a really good score on the TEAS (basically like an SAT for health students), I have a 4.0 GPA, and I've taken all my prerequisites at my community college, which is also where I want to do the R.N. program.
All of those factors mean it is super, super likely that I will be accepted once I apply in the spring. I will basically fall over in shock if I am not accepted.
In terms of remembering things, I can tell you that I still remember a lot of what I learned in Bio 101, which I took two years ago (spring semester 2021). So, I'm not at all worried that I will forget everything in a mere 8 months.
I also don't think my school is worried about it! They do require that your science courses be taken somewhat recently (if you took microbiology 20 years ago, you'd have to retake it), but there's no rule about you having to go straight from your prereqs right into the nursing program.
I have worked hard in all my semesters to really understand the material (no last-minute cramming for me!), and I wonder if that is maybe what is helping me retain a lot of what I've learned.
In sum: I'm confident about getting into the nursing program, and I'm confident about my ability to remember what I've learned thus far.
How long will it be until you graduate?
-lots of readers
I am now done with EVERY SINGLE class I could possibly do before I start the nursing program, and I plan to join the R.N. program in the fall of 2023. It's a two-year program, so I should graduate in the spring of 2025.
That seems like sort of a long time from now in some ways, but hey, I have already done four semesters of prerequisites! I can do another four semesters.
___________
After those nursing questions, you might be wondering, "Kristen, why do you want to become a nurse?" Click here to see my answer.
(Funny enough, the first picture in that post shows my orange tree at my other house!)
___________
And lastly, a reader emailed this to me:
I'm writing for a kind of crazy reason. Please don't take this as a criticism but more as food for thought. You keep referring to your rental as your rental. In reality, it is your home. For now. A friend of mine always has talked about her home, not her house. At first, it seemed odd to me but over time I began to see the difference. Home is our safe place, a place where we live, share time with friends and family (and our cats) and so on.I know you have gone thru so many struggles and hard times this past year or so. And, I know how much you long for your house and other home. You have created a wonderful home for you and the girls. While it might now be permanant, it is home now.-K
________________________________
And that's it for this round of Q&A!
Yes, your citrus tree does look like a calamondin (which is a cross between a kumquat and an orange, according to a quick online search). I congratulate you on your fine-looking specimen; I've never had the slightest luck growing any kind of potted citrus.
And you might want to check the Wikipedia entry on "calamansi" (another name for calamondin) for some possible uses. This one sounds particularly intriguing: "The fruit can be frozen whole and used as ice cubes in beverages such as tea, soft drinks, water, and cocktails."
@A. Marie, Do you think you can use the zest? (What's wrong with me that I can't just look at it and say, "Oh, how pretty!"? Why do I feel the urge to use some part of that plant?!)
@Jody S., I'd guess that the zest can indeed be used. (According to Wikipedia, the peel is sweeter than the fruit itself!) Also, some old-time Floridians used to make calamondin marmalade, and there are several recipes for this online. Maybe some of our Floridians, such as JD and Bee, know other uses.
@A. Marie, My grandmother had that exact tree and I used to sneak the fruits to eat.
I'd like another, but DinGus loves digging in pots, so IDK.
@A. Marie, I think using it to flavor water and teas sounds wonderful.
@A. Marie, You had me at cocktail.
@A. Marie, I grew up in South Africa, and we used to eat kumquats. I remember that we would eat the whole thing. I vaguely remember that the peel was sweeter, and that the inside was tart. It was not my favourite fruit, too tart for me.
@A. Marie, my neighbor has a tree that looks similar. We use the oranges (takes several because they are small) to make sour orange pie or tarts - very similar recipe to key lime pie. Delicious.
@Jody S., me too! I vote for marmalade. Because I LOVE it and jam making is pretty easy.
Hard to say which is thriving more in your new home, you or that gorgeous tree! It must be all that natural light!
No questions, just want to say I’m super thankful for you, your blog, and the beautiful life you are creating still for your family. Much comfort this Christmas!
P.S. We have Calico Critter toys under our tree for our girls, and I always think how I learned of those cute toys first from your posts years ago!
Aww, I love that your girls are enjoying Calico Critters!
I also wondered about the tree! I wonder if those oranges would be good in a blood orange pie recipe, since it's a tarter kind of orange.
2 thoughts:
First I am currently studying for a series of test that will certify me in my current profession. Some coworkers gave me the best advice. I just keep thinking, "I already passed." It puts me in the right frame of mind.
Second a bijillion years ago I moved away from my childhood home and would refer to it as "home" all of the time. Yes even after I bought my home and created a family, I would still say I was going "home." I eventually moved back and realize it is a state of mind.
@Amy, It is, which is why as a writer, not to mention Queen Pedant, I cringe when real estate listings refer to "the home." "The home features four bedrooms and three bathrooms." Then again I also get annoyed when people use "manse" as a shortened form of "mansion," which it is not.
@Rose, don't get me started on the misuse of words. I watch certain Youtube videos and the misuse and overuse of the wotd "literally" is enough to drive you to drink. Literally.
@Anne, bottoms up!
@Anne, Or people who think "infamous" is a fancier way of writing "famous."
I did read a blogger this weekend who wrote she was "literally torn apart" by a problem. You can still type, though?
@Amy, I will occasionally refer to the state where I grew up as "the old country". It still seems wrong to call where I live now "home," even though I have lived here more than half my life, where all my marriage and my son's life have been.
But if you ask me where I am from, some forty years after I left, I will say the state I grew up in. State of mind indeed!
@Rose, If you are Queen, then I am a Princess. I carry a thick sharpie so I can black out apostrophes people use on signs when they think they are forming a plural when in fact they are forming a possessive. My husband speeds up and keeps walking when I stop to correct signs. But my biggest peeve? It's used for possessive form instead of contractive. English is my second language and if I know this stuff, native speakers should, too. Also annoying: unthaw and irregardless.
@Heidi Louise, this habit of thinking of the childhood home as "home" stuck with DH as long as he could think about anything. During the period when he was still at home and in danger through attempted or achieved wandering, I asked him once or twice where "home" was--and he still had enough words to tell me it was his childhood home. (Thank goodness he never got further than a block away. It's a long, long walk from our Central NY city to the Cleveland, OH, suburbs.)
@Lindsey, Year after year, governor after governor, our local state park has a sign out front that reads "Family Camping at it's Best." Even when they put a new sign out, it says "it's Best." Well, now because of me and a little paint, the sign reads "Family Camping at it s Best."
@Rose, LO L
@Lindsey, I didn't realize how much I love you until this comment!
@Rose, okay Rose and A. Marie, we need to meet somewhere for a really good glass of nog and a gripe session.
@Lindsey, I love that you embarass your husband.
@Rose, we're proud of you.
@A. Marie, Sending a non-hugging warm hug to you and DH.
@Lindsey, I have often wished for a Sharpie for that very purpose. I would not be ashamed to be with you, but my husband would probably speed ahead with yours.
"It's" instead of "its", "unthaw", "irregardless". . . these are troubling, because with enough misusage, the dictionary writers will eventually say those words are just fine. Look what happened to "their", now acceptable instead of "his", "hers", or "his/hers"! I cannot stand the plural being used where a singular belongs. Congratulations for your tremendous efforts at mastering English!
@A. Marie, been gone a long time from my childhood home outside Cleveland, Ohio but when I dream I always have my childhood home as the setting.
@Jana,
Don't want to stir anything up, but generally the use of "their" instead of "his" or "her" has to do with gender neutral identity, not grammar.
@Jana, as the Google Machine explains better than I can:
(from the Webster Dictionary online)
Definition of Their:
"his or her : HIS, HER, ITS —used with an indefinite third person singular antecedent
'anyone in their senses'
—W. H. Auden"
and some discussion:
"They, their, them, themselves: English lacks a common-gender third person singular pronoun that can be used to refer to indefinite pronouns (such as everyone, anyone, someone). Writers and speakers have supplied this lack by using the plural pronouns.
'and every one to rest themselves betake'
—William Shakespeare
'I would have everybody marry if they can do it properly'
—Jane Austen
'it is too hideous for anyone in their senses to buy'
—W. H. Auden"
and (as noted by another reader)
"The use of they, their, them, and themselves as pronouns of indefinite gender and indefinite number is well established in speech and writing, even in literary and formal contexts. In recent years, these pronouns have also been adopted by individuals whose gender identity is nonbinary...."
.
I have to admit that I have had to do some deep dive learning into my grammar judgements, particularly around the use of their in a singular way - and because of that I have learned that it has been done for centuries. And also know that I have used 'they' and 'their' when referring to a person when I don't know their (see?) gender, such as "I don't know who's bag this belongs to, but it is beside their book".
well..... I have to say that, as someone who likes to share on this blog, and not being english *therefore making a lot of spelling mistakes, I'm sure * you all now make me - and probably many more readers and commenters- uncomfortable to write here by fear of being judged for my imperfect english ...
I don't ever want you to feel like that, Isa. <3 I understand that English is a hard language, especially for non-native speakers! Please do keep posting.
I sometimes scratch my head at advertisements or signs that have wrong spellings or punctuation, but that's because it was literally someone's job to proof-read the ad or sign before printing. I feel particularly confused when it's an ad from a large-ish company!
But that's a whole different thing than a blog comment from a reader. As long as we can understand what you mean, you're good. 🙂
@Isa, Reinforcing what Kristen wrote! If it is someone's job to get the punctuation right, (such as on a sign, monument, etc.), it is very frustrating to see it wrong.
If the error is someone commenting on a blog, especially one where the writer can't go back and correct mistakes after it is posted, that is a very different situation.
I like reading comments from speakers of languages other than English, partly because seeing how others use the language makes me notice more how I write and speak.
About 2 weeks ago I told my husband that I finally felt "at home." And I never realized that it is a state of mind, but it most certainly is. We moved from FL to WV in April and I do finally feel "at home" and comfortable in this house. I kinda never felt that way in FL and I don't know why. Just didn't feel like a "home" even tho we tried very hard to enjoy it.
@Maureen, My favorite M*A*S*H quotation is from Colonel Sherman T. Potter, who had been in the army from WWI to Korea, probably from a Christmas episode:
"If you ain't where you are, you're noplace."
I try to remind myself of that.
And happy to think of you at home now!
@Heidi Louise,
I LOVE that! Thank you for sharing that awesome saying.
@Maureen, I've not lived in WV for almost 25 years, but it's still home. I'm glad you've made a wild, wonderful home.
I know of people around here who have "sour orange" trees, but except for things like candied orange peel or just being pretty, I've not heard how they use them or if they do use them. I would assume you could make orangeade out of them - orange juice, water and sugar, if they have enough juice in them. It's especially good with sparkling water, and it was my very favorite drink at a local diner when I was a kid.
Right now I am warily watching the weather, since we have nights as low as the 20's forecast for later this week. I love the thought of a chilly Christmas, but my Meyer lemons are not quite ripe yet and the loquat tree is loaded with green loquats. I'll probably have to pick the lemons before they reach their full ripeness, meaning their usual hint of sweet will be missing, but the loquat fruit will probably be a loss. It's too tall to keep water running on it and I'm not equipped to keep it warm any other way.
Kristen, I feel pretty confident you will get in the nursing program as well. The only thing I see as a potential problem is that, at least in the experience of my friends around here, the schools sometimes limit the number of candidates because the field has been getting flooded with nursing graduates (in the differing years my friends and acquaintances were trying to get accepted, some years ago, the nearest school was accepting only 40-50 nursing students each year, in a university with almost 100,000 students overall and none of my applying friends got into nursing). Since every medical place I see is crying out for more nursing staff now, I doubt that will happen to you!
@JD, Traditionally, marmalade is made with Seville sour oranges. I've made it but the oranges are canned.
@Rose, yes, I make marmalade with Seville oranges(real ones) once a year. Right now as a matter of fact as the Sevilles are in season in California.
@christina, Nice. It's a giant pet peeve of mine (5,984,532 in a series) that people don't understand the need for sour/tart fruit. They don't use proper cooking apples or sour cherries for pies, and so on.
@Rose,
I don't know of a single person who makes marmalade these days, including me, but back when my grandmother made it, she used sweet oranges. That's probably all she had access to, since she didn't live in an orange producing area and fruit wasn't shipped as much as it is now. It tasted good, as I remember.
@JD, Canned! That's what I and lots of people use, because we don't have access to Seville oranges. (On my recent trip to Mobile, I got to pick Meyer lemons though from my friend's neighbor. We made lemon curd with it.)
This is the brand I use and it's easy, although like everything else, the cans have gotten more expensive.
https://www.amazon.com/Robertsons-Orange-Mamade-Marmalade-850gX2PK/dp/B00KE3JXSI/
@Rose, I just made Meyer lemon marmalade the other day. Costco, here in N. California has 4lb bags for $6-7.00. I love meyer lemons. Also FYI, Pearsons in the California Valley will ship Sevilles and that's how I got them last year. It's pricey, I think I paid $40. for 5lbs, but worth it.
@JD, My mother-in-law makes it. She orders Seville oranges online somewhere (and lives in NY, so is definitely not growing them).
@christina, Thank you! The Internet is how I get Rhode Island Greenings--the best apple for pies and I will brook no dissent--in the autuumn.
My mom makes marmalade and she uses a combo of oranges, lemons and grapefruit, I believe.
@Rose, i use David Lebovitz’s recipe for grapefruit marmalade, but substitute navel oranges for half of the fruit. Just delicious.
That tree is pretty. Your cat is very cute. The orphan kittens at pearlsragdolls on tiktok gave me an awwww this morning. How orphan babies get by in this modern age.
If you look up calamondin, there are lots of recipes featuring them. Also, in most Latin cooking, sour orange is used as a marinade or part of a marinade for chicken, pork, etc. There should be lots of uses for it.
I am so excited for your entry into the nursing program in the Fall. OF COURSE you will get in! And, I am a-retired Nurse..I recall school with such fondness (and exhaustion..) and the cool thing is: In a community college program (which I think are the BEST!) you start doing clinical fairly quickly after starting..so the WHOLE TIME you are in school and studying, you are also IN THE HOSPITALS, working the floors, the shifts,doing care plans, TAKING CARE OF PATIENTS, etc.. you feel like a nurse pretty much right away!! You are a natural and I see a happy couple of years ahead for you!
Your home is beautiful..I enjoy the photos of your decorations and the kitty.
Happy Holidays to you and yours.Thanks for sharing your journey, your tips,your encouragements with us.
Yes, I'm so happy my program starts clinical right away. Such a good way to get some practice under your belt.
Apropros of nothing except our shared love of cream: Both my husband and I have been in Walmart in the past couple of weeks, and both times we looked for cream. I found none and had to go to the other, much smaller grocery store in the town, where there was plenty. He found some, but it was the last few they had, and he only saw it because he's over six feet and could see the last ones at the very top allll the way in the back.
So, two takeaways: One, there does indeed appear to be a cream shortage at popular stores right now. And two: It pays to have a tall person go grocery shopping. 🙂
I love your cat's absolutely perfect mustache. <3<3<3
Kristen, what is the name of the company you sell your books back to? I have a bunch of books that need to go. Thank you.
I always sell them on eBay! Here's how I do that: https://www.thefrugalgirl.com/how-to-sell-books-on-ebay/
I just bought a calamondin tree this past weekend (at a 50% discount)! Do you pick the oranges or just let them stay on the tree?
@Steph,
Maybe that sounds like a stupid question because there are several on your tree. I guess I'm just wondering what happens if you don't ever pick them?
Eventually they will dry up and fall off. But they stay on the tree for quite a while, looking plump and orange so I just leave them as long as possible!
We use calamondin in Filipino recipes. We call it calamansi if you wanted to search for recipes. You can also substitute it for lemons in marinades. It gives a hint of orange flavor mixed with lemon/lime.
Also, I wonder if maybe people are questioning nursing school admission because nursing programs are very impacted in certain areas. In California, even with high test scores and perfect GPAs, you still get placed on waitlists that can take years, especially at community colleges.
Oh wow! Luckily here at my school, they've expanded the capacity of the nursing program, so there are usually lots of spots available.
That would stink to have to wait years!
@Anne, I live in Central California, and have had friends (in the past) try multiple times to get accepted into the nursing program at the local junior college. That's why I asked about Kristen's certainty.
Persian cuisine might be interesting to check out if you want to use your sour oranges.
In California, all the nursing programs are "impacted". So even with a straight 4.0 and even with great test scores, all that gets you is a place in a lottery, and then you see if you get the luck of the draw. This really stinks, there's such a shortage of nurses, and it doesn't necessarily mean that the best candidates will get chosen in the lottery system.
Plus, getting the necessary pre-reqs here is a food fight. It's very hard to get the classes you need, and when you might get a lecture class you may not get the lab class that's required at the same time.
Sounds like things are much better in your state and school!
Wow, yeah, here it was very easy to get into my prerequisite classes (both lab and lecture).
I hope they can figure out a way to fix this problem in CA because yes, we need a lot more nurses!
@Jan, I don't know if this is true, bit I read once that the reason there isn't more room in nursing schools (at least here in California) is the difficulty in attracting teachers. Apparently hospital pay is much higher than teaching pay.
Although, I'm now worried we're giving Kristen palpitations.
The obvious solution is to pay nursing school teachers more...but it must not be that simple, or someone would have done it!
@Anne, luckily Kristen does not live in California. ;o)
It seems that you have frugally acquired everything you have needed to set up housekeeping in your present house. Were you not able to take ANYTHING from your former house? It seems to me that you should have been able to take many items as your fair share. Not to be nosy but it looks as if you were cheated out of items that were rightfully yours.
Yes, I did take some things; my personal belongings, and the girls' personal belongings, plus some household items, and the living room furniture.
Whatever I take from the house, he would likely replace at full price (I highly doubt he would be rehabbing old furniture or getting stuff from the Buy Nothing group), so more of the family money is preserved if I take on the job of acquiring household items.
And until things are split for good, it is actually in my best interest to preserve the family money.
@Kristen, For several years, I had to keep reminding myself, keep your eyes on the prize. Eyes on the prize. That kept me from exploding in rage more than twice a month or so (I mean let's get real here, "Rage" is my middle name), so that he would agree to give me what I wanted.
And Kristen, please, pal, GET A GOOD LAWYER. And don't be a nice girl. Nice girls get screwed in divorce.
Do not worry: I will get a lawyer to help me get what is rightfully mine. 🙂
I did not go to the grocery store this week at all. Amazing.
Sat: Homemade pizza (The grandchildren were here)
Sun: Again, I can't remember
Mon: Pasta & sausage
Tues: Waffles (Work day. If it is my responsibility to come home and decide on dinner too, you get what I offer.
Wed: Chicken, peas & carrots
Thurs: Chicken pie
Fri: Steak, vegetables.
I was asked how much over the month I spend on groceries. I looked over the last 3 months because I put it on the CC and it appears I average about 425 a month. I don't buy a lot of snacky stuff, which I am sure would bring up the cost.
@JEG, Whoops, I thought I got myself to Friday to update. Oh well.
Yes, that orange tree looks so nice to wake up to. A pleasant color. I remember when you were so happy to get the new windows put into your dining room at your house. The cat is such a poser for photos.
Merry Christmas, FG family! My parents had multiple calico cats that were all named Ms. Kitty (even the male ones). Confused the heck out of the vet when "Ms. Kitty" kept showed up repeatedly to get spayed! I've always thought calling your pets by their full legal name is kind of like when parents yell at their kids ("Joseph Michael Smith, don't talk to your sister that way!"), so the more nicknames, the better.
@OregonGuest, My mother always called me "Miss Prim" from toddlerhood. Anyone less prim can be scarcely imagined. I have no idea where she came up with that, but she also called my daughter "Miss Prim." Ditto on lack of primness.
We are the same about naming our outside cat. She's been around for more than 11 years, but she's still "the cat" or "kitty." The two feral cats that roam our yard, however, have names-- One-eyed Nick and Sgt. Socks.
You talk about your girls all the time. You haven't mentioned your son. What is he up to?
Our relationship is really hard right now; my silence in this period is just me waiting patiently, with open arms, hoping for things to get better in the future.
Just a good way to use your cute sour oranges: make orange-ade! Add sugar and water (or make sugar syrup) like you would if it were lemons or limes!
Kristen, thank you for satisfying my curiosity!
1. When I hear young adults say, "I'm living at home again", I want to say, "Nope, you are living in your parents' home again because it ain't yours, Toots."
2. Your rental is so beautiful. You have done a wonderful job of making it a place of comfort and refuge.
3. "The Cat" works, especially with all the nicknames. We have a tailless ginger cat named Pippin, who gets called "Pipsqueak" and "Orange Bob Square Pants".
4. Sounds as if getting into nursing school is fairly certain. They'd be foolish to not let you in!
5. There are some great suggestions for using those sour oranges in the comments.
6. Selfishly, I am worried that you will be too busy to blog once school starts up again for you. Your blog has become my favorite one to follow, and you feel like a friend I just haven't met yet.
Kristen, thank you for addressing my questions!
1. "The Cat" works, especially because of nicknames. We have a tailless ginger named Pippin, AKA Pip and Orange Bob Square Pants.
2. Your rental home is so beautiful. It looks like a great place of refuge and comfort.
3. When I hear young adults say that they "moved back home", I want to say, "Nope. You moved to your PARENTS' HOME. It ain't yours, Toots!"
4. Nursing school would be foolish to not accept you! It sounds as if your college program is nowhere near as impacted as here in California.
5. Lots of great suggestions in the comments regarding use of those oranges.
6. Selfishly, I am a bit worried that you will be too busy to blog when you are actually in nursing school. Your blog has become my favorite go-to, a comfortable place on the World Wide Web.
#3: Whenever my dad would go back to South Dakota to see his parents, he would say, "I'm going home to visit the folks." I think wherever your parents live always feels like home to some people!
Regarding #6: The fact that I managed to keep blogging this last semester makes me think I will be ok to keep blogging during nursing school.
@Kristen, I'm sorry for the dual comments. Feel free to delete one! You are right about where your parents living feeling like home. After my dad died and my mom moved, I began only using "home" to mean the place where my husband and I reside.
Thank you for the reassurance about #6. Maybe you will do like I do, which is write a bunch of posts and schedule ahead. (Maybe you already do that!)
Kristen, don't let those oranges go to waste! They make a delicious pie. I have not made in a long time because I no longer have access to this kind of tree, but here's the recipe we used:
Calamondin Pie
1 large/reg size graham cracker pie crust
1/2 cup calamondin juice
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1- 8 oz Cool Whip topping, thawed
Combine juice and milk. Fold in Cool Whip. Pour into crust. Chill. ENJOY!
Squeeze and freeze the juice in 1/2 cup amounts. Then you can thaw for the next pie.
Merry Christmas!
I get rather sad sometimes about the fact that the 'homes' I grew up in or lived in as a young adult have all been sold, or were apartments to begin with. I inherited the home I live in from my father, and it is HOME....but so were all the other places.
My current kitty is Percy, Percy Cat, Percette, get down you little brat LOL etc. He is 16+ years old and I've had him since 2008. There was a LONG adjustment period as I'm pretty sure he'd been abused before I adopted him AND he hadn't been fully neutered either so there was a lovely spraying issue (me, my bed, my recliner, the other cat, etc). Got him fully fixed and he turned into one of the sweetest cats I've ever had.
I keep considering a MFA or a MBA (my BS is Business/Economics, my AS is Hotel Restaurant Management but my heart is a writer!!) Right now I'm working 72!! hours a week so school is on the back burner.
Grateful that our bout of VERY COLD weather (ie 5 or 6 degrees for the HIGH temp) is over. Still snowy and cold, but 41 (today's high) is much better than 5 or 6.
Even more grateful that I was able to replace the heat pump about a month ago -- the old one (and by that I mean 22-24 years old. way out of warranty, repairs would not have been guaranteed) died last winter, and space heaters/wood stove only went so far.
And even more more more grateful for the physically demanding BUT well paying job that allowed me to replace the heat pump.