4/24 A good life

At 1 I met Jan, Tim, Pete, Jane, Sarah, Jordan, and Ashley for lunch at Krieger's. What a perfect way to spend part of Friday afternoon. Cindy walked by and we chatted with her a while.

Jan stopped by my house a little later with some lovely flowers for my garden. She's the greenest thumbed person I know and she'll help me know the weeds from the not-weeds. Of course I can't do much work myself, but I'm feeling pretty good and can surely do some.

We spoke of all the activities going on this summer, and I think I'm going to walk in the Susan B Koman 5k in Peoria with Jan, Kristen, and Jane. Because we're missing the Avon Breast Cancer Walk this year, we want to do something.

Gus and I took a mile walk this afternoon too, and I saw John (our brother). It was nice to talk to him too. (Oh, yesterday I forgot to blog that it wasn't just Gussie's birthday, it was Bozie's too. And speaking of cats, Allie Cat had diarrhea on my bedroom carpeting this morning. But I still love her.)

Tonight's article: Feel-good Friday: Vaginas don't have teeth.

I'm so happy to be in Quincy. There are so many family events going on and I would have been so jealous if I were still in Biloxi. I love you guys.

3/22 Lazy day

This was an extremely lazy day. All I did was laundry and work on the QU class--oh and watch TV with my pets. That's it. I hate being this lazy, but wasted a whole day off.

Cindy told me about a bridge in Biloxi that collapsed and I was really worried. Luckily it wasn't a big bridge, but it was a really long one. It goes over the Back Bay and Big Lake. Thank heavens no one was hurt even though a car did fall in the water, but no one was in it. A barge hit the bridge and that's why it collapsed.

Tonight's article is Long live love! Hope you like it.

3/21 An odd day

A year ago today I moved from Biloxi to Quincy. Wow, time has flown by.

I'd planned to work on my class for QU and to write my article. But Jane and I went shopping at CJ Banks--40% off of everything in the store. Couldn't resist that. And the great thing is that Cindy took Gussie for a walk while I was shopping. I'm so grateful. Afterward we went to lunch with the rest of her family. Then went to TJ Maxx.

While there I got a crisis call (am on call this week). Had to go to Pittsfield to help out a colleague. So poor Jane and Sarah had to take me home to get my car. Jane suggested I take Gussie with me. I wouldn't have thought of that--but it was a great idea, Jane. We got to spend time together--one hour drive there and one hour drive back. The hour I was in the sheriff's office he slept, so it worked out well. Thanks for the idea, Jane.

Tonight's article is a real downer, but a sign of the times. Suicide forest.

5/5 GREAT NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!

I got an offer on my Mississippi house! Hallelujah!

The problem is that it's $12,000 less than what I'm asking. I'm countering at half that. We'll see. Keep your fingers crossed please. (And prayers won't hurt either.)

I'm in between clients at the moment. I saw 8 clients today before I got away for lunch at 4:30. Sure made the day go fast. Have two more before I can go home tonight. It's been a really good, and productive, day.

10/25 A short note

Jill and her family are fine and everything is back to normal at their house. The kids are back in school so Jill is able to go back to her office to work.

I'm so grateful that the fire has been contained and they are all safe.

Two other things:

The bridge between Biloxi and Ocean Springs is going to open up November 1. There are going to be big parties on both sides of Biloxi Bay. So traveling will be easier while Jan and Tim are here.

Also, instead of possums on the road here, there are dead armadillos. Funny, I'd always thought of armadillos as only being in Texas. Maybe that's where the live ones are--the deads one are here.

8/26 A quiet weekend

Just finished cleaning out the dogmobile. After 2,000 miles of driving on our vacation, the car was one hairy mess. Now I need to prepare it for a second dog. So tomorrow I'm taking it for a thorough cleaning, and am putting down the back seats so there's room for two dogs. I'm kind of excited.

But if I had my way, I'd take the puppy next door. She's the one that Q loves so much. They dig toward each other all the time. I brought her over to play yesterday and the two of them had a riot. They played in the pool and ran like crazy throughout the yard.

The neighbors have this beautiful little pup chained outside all the time. She's lonely and she's hot, and needs some attention. I'm not saying they are mistreating her, she always has food and water and a really long chain, but she gets no socialization. I never see anyone talking to her or petting her. And it makes me so sad. I'd take her in a heartbeat.

Ah well, none of my business I guess. And Luxi will be with us soon. Yep, Luxi is short for Biloxi. (For you Yankees, the "lox" in Biloxi is pronounced "lux."

8/25 New family member

We adopted another dog today. I let Quincy make the final choice. Wanted a dog that was a little older, although those puppies were so tempting and so adorable. We settled on a chocolate lab mix. She's about a year old and was a stray. She's a lot smaller than Q, so it's obvious she's a mix.

They named her Cookie but I'm going to change it. Couldn't bring her home yet since she has to be spayed. We'll get her sometime next week.

Quincy and the "unnamed one" got along just fine. But if it doesn't work out I have seven days in which I can make an exchange. I would hate to bring a dog back, but will do so if necessary.

Can't wait to bring her home. It will be good to have two dogs. And I think at some point I'll go for three, and will stop there. But for now, two will do.

Quincy loved it at the Humane Society of South Mississippi. It's a huge beautiful facility with a big gift shop and lots of fun things. It doesn't look like a "dog pound" and is pleasant. Lots of people made over Q, which always makes her happy (me too).