Just when you thought it was safe to read a blog again!

Just to let you know, we are starting this category on our blog because we wanted to have a place where people can go to check up on Donna without having to make one of those pesky phone calls if you don’t want to (in all seriousness, phone calls are welcome!). Our goal is that as Donna’s health improves there will be fewer and fewer posts going into this category. But for now, we will use this site as a medium for distributing news about Donna’s progress (which is going quite well!)

As such, we will open this new category with GOOD NEWS! In the last two weeks Donna has:

• Gained weight to the point that she is now up to 93 pounds!
• Been able to eat (very) small amounts of food without serious ill effects
• Has been slowly increasing her physical activity during the day

This is all wonderful news for us and we are hoping that it will continue slow and steady.

Is there anything that inspires a man quite like a trusty piece of machinery?

Okay…that was lame…

In the news today is the maiden voyage of our new lawn mower (yesterday). It just goes to show you that points that you accumulate on your credit card CAN be put to a non-frivolous use!

Though our lawn had not been cut yet this season, I was able to get out yesterday before the weather got too bad and at least cut the front lawn. Now you should know that this is our first BRAND NEW lawn mower ever…and I have been impressed with some of the technological advancements that have occurred over the years:

• A Battery/Electric Starter: Now THIS is useful! No more yanking on the pull cord til you earn a trip to the chiropractor!
• A built in Deck Wash: I LOVE this! When you are finished mowing you plug a hose into the socket on the lawn mower deck, turn on the water, then run the mower for about 60 seconds. It washes the entire underside of the mower for you!
• Mulcher AND Mower all in one!

And these are just to name a few…

This whole thing came up when we got fed up with the damage that has been done to our lawn over the years by the various lawn cutting services. They are constantly using heavier equipment, even on wet grass, tearing up the lawn. They cut the lawn so short it is unhealthy, and the appear to be “ramming” things like wooden enclosures, brick work, etc. Worst of all was when gasoline was spilled across our front lawn and no one even told us about it…let alone apologized for it. Oh yeah, did I mention the set of lights around the deck that they ran over with the mower (not just one light…SEVERAL lights) without ever mentioning it? TWICE!

So this year we have decided that the only way to get our lawn to look the way we want it to is to do it ourselves…hence the mower.

My only complaint with the mower (a Sears model) was that it came from the manufacturer set to the LOWEST possible mowing level…which was opposite of what I was expecting. Ah well…the front lawn will eventually recover 😉

Okay all…this category is for me to pontificate on any subject that I desire. I think you’ll find that I have a lot to say (maybe I should have called this category “Hot Air”). I promise that in the coming days you will be completely inundated with thoughts and commentary from me on a wide variety of things.

As many of you already know, Mavra has had more than one surgery in the last ten months. Most recently, she had a skin growth removed from behind her left ear.

We are happy to report that Mavra saw the vet yesterday to have her stitches removed, and all is looking quite well. Her doctor (Dr. Corse’) is a wonderful woman who loves animals incredibly much. She and Mavra share a special relationship

You see, the first time Dr. Corse’ had to draw blood from Mavra’s paw, Mavra was so sweet. After the doctor had “poked” her and was letting the blood collect in the tube, Mavra leaned forward, settled her chin on Dr. Corse’s shoulder, gave her the “puppy dog eyes” and just “sighed” at the entire ordeal.

Dr. Corse’ was so taken aback by this that from that point forward, she would keep Mavra’s chart with her and occasionally call to see how Mavra was doing.

Just a little bit of background on our lovable k-9 unit!

Greetings All!

As you can probably see, the LeesOnTheLoose website/blog has now launched using WordPress, a very versatile blogging system.

Peter and Donna thank you profusely for stopping by. We shall be busily working away on this site in the coming days.

Hope to see you back here frequently!