This is my entry for Week 16 of LJ Idol (therealljidol). The topic this week is "The Streisand Effect," which refers to the phenomenon where trying to draw attention away from something actually attracts more attention.


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This is my entry this week in the mini-season of therealljidol, Exhibit B. Please read the many fine entries. This week we had to write on two topics. My first choice was "Design Flaw."

( I wish this story had a different ending. )

This is my entry this week for therealljidol. I invite you to read and vote for the many fine entries. This week's topic is "Open Topic," so we can write about anything.

( Who knew I had such capacity for love. )

I returned to my water aerobics class this morning for the first time since giving birth to our Kung Fu Panda. My classmates and instructor were happy to see me, and I got caught up with Ann, the elderly woman who used to chat with me every class. She was doing well, having recovered from eye surgery, but two of her friends had died in September. A ( Read more... )

Even in the midst of sadness, the universe offers up reasons to smile. One of them, surprisingly, came the very night that Una died.

( I didn't expect to smile so soon. )

For some strange reason, I dreamt about my Zumba class, which I've started taking recently. In the dream, I was preoccupied with other things but soon found myself following the instructor, who was trying out new moves ( Read more... )

For the last two nights, I've remembered little of my dreams, except that they have been brooding and sad. In one, for example, I dreamt I was doing a terrible job of taking care of my baby. It's not hard to figure out which furry child that was actually about.

( Una drops by to say hi. )

You will know when it's time, my friends kept telling me over the last several days, ever since I got the unfortunate news about my dog, Una's, end-stage liver and kidney cancer. Last night, she came upstairs and hung out on the bed in the master bedroom while I worked on transcriptions. Periodically, I lay down beside her and petted her. ( Read more... )

Because of the ultrasound that led to a depressing prognosis, Una also has an exposed, nude belly just as the weather is turning colder ( Read more... )

Autumn leaves lined our afternoon drive to the veterinary specialist where Una was scheduled for an ultrasound. Such a deceptively cheery day, I thought. Maybe it bodes well. But then the Garmin GPS delivered me to a political office, and after getting directions from the vet, I arrived later than planned. Then was a difficult struggle to get Kung ( Read more... )