Kiss My Knits!

This morning I went to the doctor to get my blood pressure checked after that high reading last week. It was a good 10 points lower in the doctor’s office, back out of the OMG HYPERTENSION range. Clearly I was more “het up” about standing up than I thought, and chugging that coffee probably didn’t help. We’re just going to keep an eye on it for now and when I go in for my next physical in a few months we’ll discuss it again.

Fishwatch 2009: Two days ago I changed Kathleen’s water. After the change, while I was out of the room, Em got the net and transferred the fish back into her original bowl and scraped off a tiny piece of fin. The fish seems fine, but I’ve made it clear now that moving the fish is my job. It could certainly have been worse. I’ll be showing Kathleen a little extra TLC while he recovers.

Later that day, Kathleen was very angry, puffing and displaying at me whenever I got near the bowl. I was very surprised that he would have that kind of a memory. Kathleen must be some kind of fish genius!

Then I realized that I was wearing a burgundy shirt that was the same color as he was. I took it off and he calmed down. Then I held the shirt up to a different part of the bowl and he ignored me and flared his fins toward the shirty intruder.

Kathleen thought the shirt was another betta. Genius my eye.

A process-of-elimination game made by my smart daughter. I used to love these when I was a kid. She had me do it, and then she made another one afterward. Good times.

We got back her report card, which was satisfactory. It’s the stupid standardized testing that kills her.



Fishwatch 2009: I think Kathleen might have a mild case of fin rot. I’m not sure. Her fins look a little more ragged than they did when we brought her home, but it might be my imagination. It would be caused mainly by her not having clean enough water, and since this is the first fish we’ve had, it’s very possible that I’ve been too slack with this as I learn how to take care of her. Em feeds her quite responsibly, but it seems a bit much to ask her to change the water and clean the tank without injuring the fish, so I handle that.

I’m going to change her water this morning anyway, so I guess I’ll stop by the pet store first and pick up some additives.

Aside from that, it’s all Jayne hats, Jayne hats, Jayne hats today.

Em’s space fish seems to have inspired her to space silliness.

Helmet on…

Helmet off.

Fishwatch 2009: Still alive. Was carefully fed exactly two small pellets upon owner’s arrival home from school. Prognosis: good.

A belated Christmas gift for my daughter, who is very excited by the prospect of having a fish. This came from her cousins up in Raleigh. Ever the optimist, my girl observes that “she’s not dead!” It’s been less than a day. So far, so good.

The fish has no name yet. That may be just as well. I’ve taken great pains with its health, following the instructions included and also the advice from bettatalk.com but… well… we’ll see. Live, little anonyfish! Swim among the stars!

Oh, and I must mention their other gift, the constellation umbrella. This is going to be a hard one not to steal.

These gifts came from the family I made the FuzzyFeet for. I’m glad I made the effort, they’re good people.

An aunt asks about buying Emily a fishbowl. Specifically, this fishbowl. Fish not included.

I know next to nothing about fish and taking care of them, but Emily has occasionally expressed an interest in having a small pet frog or fish. We have a family-owned pet store specializing in fish just up the road from us, Frank and Peg’s. Their website is awful, but the store itself has been around for more than 40 years and seems to be well-run. They’ve always been patient with Em and I wandering in to look at the animals and occasionally buy something. I’m sure we could get some fishy support there.

I reckon I can ask them, and of course I’ll do some research, but I want to ask you guys too: does anyone know anything about fish? Would a bowl 6.6 x 8 x 10.1 inches be suitable for a fish, and if so, does anyone have a recommendation?