“Life is now” – Mike Oliveri
www.mikeywheels.com
We just got back from a wonderful trip to Ocracoke. I already miss it.
I hope I will always remember the night we toured the village on our bikes, got Thai take-out, and watched the sun set over Pamlico Sound.

Last year we gave my mom a year’s membership to the local Botanical Gardens. Since the membership is close to expiring, Mom and I decided to go see their latest butterfly exhibit before it was too late.
I don’t think my pictures do the vibrant colors justice, but these guys were pretty incredible.




“Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity,
and I’m not sure about the former.”
Albert Einstein
“Good morning heartache
You old gloomy sight
Good morning heartache
Thought we said goodbye last night
I turned and tossed until it seems you have gone
But here you are with the dawn
Wish I forget you, but you’re here to stay
It seems I met you
When my love went away
Now everyday I stop I’m saying to you
Good morning heartache what’s new
Stop haunting me now
Can’t shake you nohow
Just leave me alone
I’ve got those Monday blues
Straight to Sunday blues
Good morning heartache
Here we go again
Good morning heartache
You’re the one
Who knows me well
Might as well get use to you hanging around
Good morning heartache
Sit down”
- Billie Holiday (written by Irene Higginbotham, Ervin Drake, & Dan Fisher)

“What is good is often spoiled by trying to make it better.”
- Thomas Jefferson

The Ring
We got engaged on April 11 (411) at Skyland Resort on Skyline Drive, near Luray, VA.
More updates coming soon…
“…This is how it works
You’re young until you’re not
You love until you don’t
You try until you can’t
You laugh until you cry
You cry until you laugh
And everyone must breathe
Until their dying breath…”

Regina Spektor
We had quite the scare last week when our dog, Gypsy, had a seizure. I had never seen a seizure in a dog before and naturally it scared the hell out of me.
For the past few months I noticed when she would be watching me in the kitchen she would sometimes have what I can best describe as head tremors. They would last less than a minute and I could distract her with a treat and they would usually stop. Ryan made the observation that they only seemed to happen right after exercise.
Last Wednesday we exercised her like we usually do by throwing her ball up and down the stairs for a few minutes. And since it was a nice day we decided to take her for a walk which took approximately twenty minutes. When we got home I went on the back deck to do some planting and Gypsy followed me out as she likes to lie in the sun. I heard a thud behind me and turned around to see her on the ground. Her toes were curled in and her jaw was clenched tight as she was shaking uncontrollably. The seizure lasted only a couple of minutes, even though it seemed like forever. Afterward she was up and walking around like nothing happened. We took her to the Vet ER that night to make sure she was okay. They did blood tests and said that she probably has epilepsy.
The next day we took her to our regular vet for a follow-up. She said that there is a condition among some labs where they can have seizures after they are over-exercised or over-heated. However, the only way to check for this is to get a rectal temperature while she is having the seizure, as dogs with this condition have a very high fever while suffering one. She couldn’t think of anything else that would cause the seizure, and she was hesitant to caul Gypsy an epileptic dog since she is almost six years old (usually epilepsy appears earlier).
Luckily, she hasn’t had an episode since that night. In the mean time we’ll have to be very careful about how much we play ball or how far and long we walk. She’s happy to be getting much more attention and to be even more lazy.
We just had the first significant snow storm I can remember since the ’90’s. I’ve missed the sound of fresh packed snow crunching under my boots, the glisten and sparkle when the sun hits it, the mountains of white created by plows, and best of all, snow days! I’ve been saying all winter that I just want one good snow. I am definately satisfied!
Gypsy really enjoyed the snow too and we now have a favorite new game: “Where did that snowball go?”