Notes to file

Note to file: Don't EVER presume that the shop vac is ready for use when you have room mates.

Note to file: Don't EVER vacuum fireplace ashes with a shop vac that does not have the air filter in place

Note to file: Don't EVER leave your laptop on the coffee table when you have room mates known to break .. well, anything .. and he says he's not tired and isn't planning on going to bed yet

Note to file: If you want to decorate for Halloween with a thick, even patina of fine dust, the best way to do that is to vacuum the fireplace ashes with a shop vac that has no air filter

This is so strange

Jackie went to Doggy Disney today for the weekend (Tom's place.) It's Disney for her, because he has sixteen cats and a dog, and a fenced back yard. She was so excited this morning when we pulled into his driveway. The last time she stayed there, she didn't really want to come home.

I took her over there since I'm going to Dallas tomorrow over night. Since Bram works all the time, there wasn't reliability as to her being cared for, so I asked Tom if he'd watch her.

This isn't the first time I've left her with Tom, and it's not the first time that I've been in this house without her. Coming home, and not having to walk her, and not having her greet me as I came in the door wasn't that unusual, since it was expected. However, as I've been here tonight, I've been missing her presence - REALLY missing her a lot.

This morning, I got up around the usual time, came downstairs and she was asleep on the landing as she frequently is. She didn't stir when I walked down past her. A while later, Bram came downstairs and she still wasn't stirring. I walked over to her, and looked at her and her eyes blinked open - she lifted her head and looked at me, and I told her hello - that I was just checking on her. She got up, and shook herself and we went outside.

When I took her out the back door on the leash, she was so excited. She got right into the car, and sat down on the passenger floorboard, staying there until we got to Tom's house. Down on the floorboard, she's safe - she can't be thrown off the seat or jostled around as the car goes around corners and such.

Once I started noticing how I was expecting to step around her, or have her watching me while I was in the kitchen, or snoring on the hall rug, I started to really feel how deeply I fell in love with her the first time I saw her eleven years ago this last week. She's the most angelic, loving creature - balanced, pleasant, trusting. She's developed so much since she first came to be with me - she was so skittish and afraid back then. She wanted to be loved and part of a family, but it was so hard to believe that was now true.

Now, eleven years later, she's so settled and confident about her life. She may duck a little bit when I'm in a sour mood, but she knows everything is going to be okay.

When I have traveled, I've always had dreams about her. Vivid dreams. The last two trips, I've not dreamt about her, which I've attributed to her being so engaged in the fun at Tom's place.

So, tonight, feeling so anxious about her, feeling pain in my heart about her - I'm really wondering - is something about to take her away from me?

I hope not. Her whole time with me, I've wanted to make her special. Barney the Bastard chow made it impossible, and since I've moved in here, I've had too much on my plate to pamper her the way I've wanted to.

When Barney passed, I had only a few moments of sadness and no regret. When it's her time to leave me, it's going to hurt badly.

My slightly revised Bend Bedroom

The Corby pant press, mounted to the wall

Christmas decorating at the Bend

HIGH-larious