5/7/25

 Today I got the notification for Ethan to check in for his three appointments next week. Luckily two are virtual and we were able to schedule them for Ethan’s lunch and as his shift ends. How did people juggle appointments and working when virtual visits were not available?

I do remember using a significant amount of my PTO when the kids were little to go to all of the appointments. We made it work. I guess people do what they need to do. The bright side of Covid is virtual visits are more readily available.

I guess Ethan has always had multiple specialists and appointments but it has now tripled. The good news is that he is able to swing all of these appointments AND  continue working full time. That is a big deal in my book. 

Ethan is the reason why I push my practices for employees to have more than 40 hours of PTO. There is no way to juggle appointments, kids events, family events AND take a vacation with 40 hours a year. 

We have a pileated woodpecker pecking away at a tree stump in our back yard. I heard his calls all day today. I watched him pecking around the stump.

I like these birds and have a special place in my heart for them. I was able to handle a few when I worked with our wildlife rehabilitation guy. 

I do like that they mate for life. They can be shy because they prefer denser wooded areas. If you look around at the trees, they peck dead trees for their nests. If you see a rectangular hole in a dead tree, it is likely their nest. They don’t use the same nest twice, so it allows other birds like wood ducks, to use the dwelling after the woodpecker is done with it. Nature’s recycling initiative.

I like that pileated woodpeckers eat the carpenter ants. Get those ants away from our house. Eat them all Mr. Woodpecker!

Tomorrow night is Moe’s final exam. We have been working daily of his training. Even if he doesn’t pass, he will still be a winner in my book 📖 

Wish us luck!