Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

It is so cold here!!!!  We woke up this morning and the house was 64 degrees.  I brought all our plants in last night.  It was going down to 46 degrees and I didn't think the Boston Ferns nor most of the other plants would be too happy.  We received an email at work yesterday saying "Dress warmly!" because the school isn't scheduled to turn on the heat for three more weeks.  (It's way too early to be this cold in the South)  The sad thing about UNCC is that it was actually warmer yesterday in the building than it was been all summer because the air conditioner wasn't running.  I have a big sweater I wear in the office during the summer because it's entirely too cold to wear summer clothes.  I think we could reduce UNC's budget problems if we could adjust a/c and heating to appropriate levels during the year.  (BTW--no raises for faculty this year.  It's just a bit worse than the $50/month raise I recieved last year.  Become rich!  Be a faculty member!!!)

Ok.  It's too early to be this surly. 

We've started a new training method with Patches:  The Snappy Trainer.  They are modified mouse traps that make a noise when set off.  We are using them to discourage shoe, bra, and cheese-napping.  Sunday, we put one on the counter with a piece of cheese just beyond it.  From the other side of the house, I heard it go off and heard the sound of some startled paws.  I came into the kitchen:  nothing.  I looked around the living room and dining room:  nothing.  I went to the bedroom:  Patches was on my side of the bed in a "Ohhhhh.  That was bad, bad, bad" position.  He had his hang dog expression and looked very sad.  He didn't leave the side of the bed for about 15 minutes.  He is such a sensitive dog!  We reset the Snappy Trainer and put the cheese back on the counter, and we didn't have any more problems the rest of the day.  I tried to set one near a running shirt yesterday, but I kept setting it off and scaring myself!  I can't quite grasp how it works.  Fortunately, I'm married, and the man can do those high end, smarty pants things like setting Snappy trainers. 

Sergio continues to settle in.  He likes resting in the grass in the aquarium.  He'll actually lie across a couple of leaves and hang out for a while.  It's very cute.  He ate his breakfast pellets as soon as the plopped in the water this morning.  So far, not cat stalking. 

Working at home today.

8:13:37 AM