Of birthdays, parties, cakes, home buying and record-breaking heat

May 27, 2009 -

The big event in my life of late has been, unequivocally, the purchase of my first house - the Brat Pack loves having a patio to sun on and the fact that I have my very own washer, dryer and dishwasher makes me feel like, though a late bloomer, I've finally embraced adulthood.

The downside: the house needs some work. Okay, the house needs a lot of work. Accordingly, I spend the vast majority of my free time arranging, re-arranging, installing, ripping out, buying, returning and driving all around the valley in record-breaking heat in an attempt to make my first house feel a little more like home.

So what's all of that got to do with my Brat Pack? Well, all of the back and forth, up and down and all over about the house took a momentary, but significant, backseat this past weekend to something even more important: Ollie's upcoming birthday bash (to be held here, at PetSmart next week).

Forget about home re-modeling, Ollie's party has to be good.

Of course, Ollie's brothers and sister (who were also adopted by PetSmart associates) will be guests of honor. He's also invited a slew of workplace pups he's known since he was just a little guy trying to figure out whether to be scared of or fascinated by the elevators near my cubicle.

So it seemed perfectly logical on my day off to get in my car, which was registering 111 degrees, and head to the store in search of cake, decorations, doggie-themed goodie bags and items with which I could fill them. As I wandered the aisles in search of just the right treats, I realized I was hot, a little tired, needed my morning coffee and hadn't ticked anything off of my house-related to do list. That's when, for just a split second, I wondered: What am I doing here? Ollie doesn't even know he's turning 2.

But just as soon as I had the thought, the guilt associated with it immediately swept over me and I answered my own question - Ollie's birthday is just one of things worth celebrating. And, I figured, why not make it the most fun possible? So I propelled myself (slowly) down the store aisle, picked up a nice variety of colorful squeaky tennis balls (an all-time favorite among the Brat Pack members - even Fat Louie), pigs ears, rawhide and a few other goodies.

Now I fully realize that, regardless of how much effort I put into the party, Ollie may not have a thought outside of "Wow, cake I'm allowed to eat!" Whereas anyone who walks into my house will notice it needs a little TLC. But I still think marking time and looking back at (and laughing about) all the ways in which the wee man has changed my life is good for the soul (his and mine).

So I'll spend a few nights this week making frozen dog treats and assembling doggie bags for the guests. Bare walls and missing cabinets, for now, will be a little less important. Priorities are good - especially when they're uniquely mine. And in my own personal grand scheme things, my Brat Pack trumps almost most things. And besides all of that, everyone, canine and human alike, needs an excuse to eat cake, right?

--Cat