Healing

Smudge has returned from the hospital, fingers crossed this time it's for good! He was re-admitted after he was released last time because he re-blocked AGAIN two days later, which apparently is fairly common. We brought him home on Wednesday and so far so good as far as the blockage goes.

However, we're having some issues since his return with him urinating wherever he pleases - ALL over the apartment! Needless to say it's been driving D and I a bit crazy, but as the Dr. says, at least he's peeing! (sigh)

He has been walking slower than usual and it's pretty obvious he's still in some pain, but he's been very cuddly and I think he's happy to be home again. I just hope the antibiotics and anti-inflammatory are doing their job.

He's now sporting his new haircut… a "Lion Cut" as it's called. He really does look like a little lion being orange and all! Too cute. My dad would laugh himself silly if he saw him! Once he saw a woman on TV that had given her long-haired cat a lion cut and with the southern inflections in her voice she kept calling it a "Liiiiiiiiine cut" so my father would often walk around the house imitating her and announcing he was going to give Emma (mom and dad's cat) a "Liiiiiiiiiine cut!" Silliness.

At first I thought Smudge looked kind-of ridiculous, but now I think he looks adorable this way and I'll probably continue to have him shaved once a year. It's so much easier for him (and us) to manage! No more dreadlocks! And in this heat, I'm sure it's a relief to him. He feels like a soft little peach.

So that's the conclusion to the heartache that has been my life lately. It's been an emotional couple of weeks but I'm hopeful he's officially on the mend. Now I can maybe get back to the business of life as usual and start blogging regularly again. Thanks for your patience and your kind well wishes.

Happy 4th of July everyone!

Thankful Thursday #1

I've been thinking a lot lately about the impact certain people have had on my career thus far and wanted to start a theme here on my blog for celebrating these people over the course of the next few weeks. Once a week, in no particular order, I'll pick a different person and focus on a way they have directly contributed, shaped and/or influenced my life, particularly the business end of what I do (aka: the stuff they don't teach you in art school).

My mentors have given me an assortment of both big and small "life lessons" regarding how to conduct myself in business. All of which has been helpful as I navigate how to make a living doing what I love while remaining true to myself, my goals, wants/needs. So without further adieu…

The Mentor: My dad, Mark Lange (graphic/industrial designer)

The Lesson Learned: Use the person's name in conversation.

Often when visiting with my father down in his office in the basement of our house (aka: 'the cave') he would get a phone call from a client of his and I would sit patiently, overhearing the conversation from start to finish. The one thing I noticed from listening to him on the phone was how many times throughout a conversation he would address the person he was speaking to by name. If not sewn throughout various points of the call, than at least at the very end. For instance, "Thanks again for calling Richard" or "Have a good day Pamela." Using an individuals name when speaking with them can make a person feel "important" or well attended to. It shows you're paying attention and you care. People enjoy hearing their own name, just as people like to talk about themselves. We all know how helpful it can be to repeat someones name aloud upon first being introduced to them: "Nice to meet you Susie" This is also an extension of that idea. The more you say it, the more it sticks in your head, the better that person feels about the way you're addressing them and the conversation.