1/22 Car trouble

My car is overheating and I have to take it in tomorrow. Since I can't get home to let Gussie out I'm just going to drop him off at daycare again. He'll be thrilled. Elizabeth has two Havanese (?). The female is in heat and apparently likes Gussie better than Louie. Louie is destined to be the father of her puppies. They're going to have to do artificial insemination because her heart belongs to my Gussie. Isn't that funny?


Article tonight: Were they really the 'good old days'?

11/11 All's well with Gus

His surgery yesterday was so successful that he even went to Doggy Day Care today. I thought I'd have to keep him at home. Nope. He was his cute little self right away. I have to put antibiotics in three to four times a day, but he's pretty good about letting me do it.

Joe and Cindy got back tonight from Silver Dollar City. They brought me some apple butter. Yum. Thanks so much. I love me some apple butter. Welcome home.

10/21 GREAT news for YOU!

I've started another blog for all my bitching and moaning about pain. So you never have to read my whining anymore. You probably can't contain your happiness, right? Well, it's the least I could do for you. You've been reading this blog since December of '03. (Well, my Adventure blog from 12/03-6/04, and then this one after that.) I had to pay you back for your faithfulness. :) So this blog will go back to it's usual boring repertoire. No need to thank me.

Little Gus is just adorable. He passes out the minute I pick him up from Doggy Day Care. What a cutie. Elizabeth said she had to give him a bath because he was so dirty from digging in the mud and eating it. Does that remind you of another dog? Quincy used to do that all the time.

It's always an early night around here after Doggy Day Care. He is just plain worn out.

Today went fast at work and tonight I'll again spend time at the computer working on my QU class. I'll have time tomorrow as well since I have to stay home and rest after a procedure I have to have. (I didn't mention "pain," just said I'm having a procedure.)

My dear, beautiful, eight-year-old grand-daughter Kayla sprained or strained her achilles tendon while playing soccer. I feel so bad for her, but must confess she looks adorable with her crutches. (Hi, Kayla.)

10/20 Work day

Today just sped by. Can't believe how fast days happen when you're busy. And tonight I worked on the QU class. Gussie wasn't too happy about not getting a walk. But at least he goes to doggy day care tomorrow, so he'll have a wonderful day there. :)

9/29 Talked to my bro

It was wonderful. He sounds like himself. (Thanks, God.)

Tomorrow the carpet cleaners come and my car gets detailed. I feel so exquisitely CLEAN.

Have been having a really rough several days with my back. Don't know what to complain about--the back or the bronchitis. Since I can't decide, guess I won't complain about either one. :)

Time for dinner. And then time to play with sweet Gussie. I can't take him for a walk again today, which makes me feel guilty, but at least I can play with him. And tomorrow he'll go to doggy day care, where he'll get plenty of exercise, leaving me guilt free.

9/16 Just call me snot-faced

Or drippy-nose, or sneezy-head, or Dopey. Wait, not the last one.

I'm kind of scared I'll start sneezing during the MRI tomorrow. That would really be awful.

Today has just not been a good day. But Gus is happy. He was at Doggy Day Care and is passed out already. "A tired dog is a happy dog."

It'll sure be an early night for me-I'll go to sleep right after Biggest Loser.

Oh, and my pre-approval expired. About two days before I got the down payment money. Amazing. But the GREAT news is that the percentage went down from 6.7% to 6.0% Can't complain about that. My new approval will be done ASAP.

3/8 Preparing

Last night Caroline called and said she and Genia were on their way to the Ruby Tuesday's near my house and why didn't I join them. Why not indeed. I threw away my peanut butter and jelly sandwich and said good-bye to the pups. Because I'd taken a few bites of my sandwich I wasn't extremely hungry, so I got the salad bar and a margarita. Yum on both.

Got home and vegged, knowing that the weekend would involve lots of cleaning. This morning I took the dogs to the kennel because I'd planned on shampooing the carpet. However--the only grocery store near me (where one usually rents carpet shampooers) is Walmart and they don't rent them. Yikes. So I'm doing the few "baddest" parts with my spot cleaner, and my carpet looks like it has some disease that causes spots.

I hated to spend money on it anyway, because all the carpet is going to get torn up very soon when the new stuff is installed. Ah well...at least it's only mud and not yucky stuff.

Genia and Caroline are coming over tonight to play cards. I wanted them here instead of going to their houses because that way I can work longer. Yeah, I know I'm not working now...quit being such a smartaleck.

Okay, back to the lovely carpet. (Do you recognize sarcasm when you hear it?)

One day until my family arrives. Nine days until the movers arrive. Things are happening.

1/13 Odd day

Started at church where I cantored, plus had a solo during "Wade in the Water." It went well, but I made one error that sufficiently humbled me. So that's good.

The dogs have dug a hole nearly under the gate. Won't be long until they are both gone--running through the neighborhood like unruly children. I put their poop in the hole and hope that will deter them. I know they'll just start somewhere else, but at least I stopped one hole from getting worse. (Kind of like the "starfish" tale.) :)

My wrist feels immensely better, hurts a lot less; so I'm exercising it just a little bit. Then back into the brace.

I've been traveling way too much, according to my dogs. One of them has pooped and peed in the house three times this weekend. I honestly don't know which one it is, but I suspect it's Cookie. She's the one with the really bad separation anxiety.

Tomorrow I leave for Austin and later in the week will go to Los Angeles to see the grandkids. Hooray. (And of course Jill and Todd too.) I haven't seen them since August and am pining away for the little sweeties.

But this means that my dogs will sleep at Pampered Pets for ten nights, with only a one night at home in between. No wonder their behavior (and my nerves) suffers. I should be home for a while after these trips.

Adios, and I'll write from Austin tomorrow night.

1/3 I've been unfaithful

and my dogs know it. Not only are they sniffing all my clothes as I unpack the suitcase, they are eyeing me like, "We know what you did."

I can't help it I adore dogs, even other people's. So I cuddled a lot with Alfie and Rocky and Max. So sue me. (Perhaps Quincy and Cookie will indeed do that.)

They licked my coat today up one side and down the other, as if putting their own scent back on it was the most important thing in the world. I guess that's a lot better than the other way dogs mark their territory.

I did miss the little buggers. But they are wild, wild, wild. Am working on trying to get them back under control, but I leave again the week after next and I'm afraid their wildness will be repeated. At least I won't be with other dogs when I'm in Austin, but I will be when I'm in Los Angeles.

Guess I'm a loose woman when it comes to animals.

10/3 New title

As of today I'm State Director of Disaster Response. Formerly I was State Coordinator. It's not a promotion, just a title change more reflective of what I really do.

Mark, a VP from Austin, was in today and we had some meetings. Will do so tomorrow morning too. Then off to Hancock County in the afternoon for an LTRC meeting (Long Term Recovery Committee). Lots going on.

But I've set aside all day Friday to put my new office into shape. Boxes are piled everywhere and I need to get "moving in" finished.

Damn, I miss my dogs. They're staying over at Pampered Pets because I thought I'd be gone late tonight. But I got home pretty early--but still too late to pick them up. Doggy Day Care closes at 6. Will someone please stand at the back door and whine to go outside? Then I'll feel better.

9/24 Lots going on

The day at work was busy, busy, busy. And tomorrow I move my office from Biloxi to Ocean Springs. So lots of extra work to be done. I blanked out my calendar to devote the whole day to moving.

Tonight was a special choir practice because the choir is going out of town to perform for the weekend. The musical director said that he wished I were going with them because I pick up the harmony easily and have a good alto voice. So that felt good to hear.

The pups have been crazy again tonight. They always are nutso when Doggy Day Care is closed (Sunday and Monday, plus I don't take them on Saturday). I'm glad they're back playing with their friends tomorrow. They'll be much more settled tomorrow night. Yay.