A trip I'd rather not have to make.

I got a call from the vet's office yesterday. Isabelle's ashes are ready to be picked up. It's funny--I had been wondering whether I should call. I told the vet I would pick them up today, thinking I'd swing by on the way home after picking up my son from preschool. But how do I explain to him the purpose of our errand? He thinks that she's in Heaven, where God is playing with her.

On Wednesday, I came across some of her medications in our downstairs medicine cabinet. I thought I'd given them all back. I suppose reminders of her will keep cropping up. I keep thinking I see her out of the corner of my eye.

Why I've been MIA.

Apologies to my readers for my recent absence. I especially apologize to those of you who entered one of my two giveaways and are waiting to find out if you won. Last week I had to put my cat Isabelle to sleep. She had been my pet and companion for the last 11 years. She saw me through good times and bad, divorces and bad relationships, love and marriage, infertility and pregnancy.

I'm going to write about her on this blog. I'm just not ready yet.

Giveaway: FertilAid from Fairhaven Health

Sorry for the two-week gap in blog postings. There's a good reason (actually, a few good reasons). But that's not important right now. What is important is tonight's giveaway, again brought to you by Fairhaven Health.

Tonight, I'm giving away a bottle of FertilAid for Women, a "fertility enhancing supplement designed for trying-to-conceive women." Just leave a comment on this blog. I'll select a winner at random, and announce him or her at the end of the month. Please note that I'm in no way endorsing or suggesting you use this product; the kind folks at Fairhaven sent me a free sample and asked that I give it away to one lucky reader. Consult with your doctor before taking this or any other supplement.

By the way, in case you're wondering why I didn't announce the winner of my July 27 giveaway, a copy of Bend, Breathe, and Conceive Fertility Yoga DVD, it's because no one entered! C'mon, folks! I'm not going to sell your email address or anything. I promise.

In the meantime, Fairhaven Health is offering a 10% discount to all readers of The Mind Reels. Simply enter the coupon code Sunshine09 at checkout to get 10% off everything on the Fairhaven Health website. It's valid through August 31, 2009.