the good son

For several days I have been wanting to get a picture of this planter that Junior gave me for mother's day. He selected and potted the plants himself, and they have grown into a happy profusion of color out on the front steps (away from the reach of curious and energetic puppies). Junior has been a happy addition to my life, and though we have different interests and see many things from different perspectives, we have a close and companionable bond. I am always glad to have him home, and sad to see him leave. It's nice to have this colorful reminder of him right outside the door, and to remember his affection for me. Backatcha, Junior.

moving on

Well here she is, caught in her attempt to scale the walls and get onto the dining table! Isn't she just the cutest?

Alas, she and Junior are now gone, having moved the other day to Ohio where Junior will take part in a fire-fighter training program. There he joins a friend from his unit, and together they will train their dogs as well as learn the fundamentals of firefighting and EMT work. The latter is Junior's real interest, and the opportunity allows him to get credentials for much of the knowledge he already has from his army field training. We miss them both!

Not a lot else happening here. Day by day I notice incremental changes with my depression. I'm able to do more, but I run out of steam after a few hours. Still, I'm getting some things done that have needed attention, even if it's only a little each day. I'll take whatever progress I can get!

a new life

Yesterday Junior's friend Nicole (mother of our bathing beauty, Natalie), gave birth to a new member of the family, a sweet boy who is as yet unnamed. Ken had a rain day so joined me on a small road trip to Kentucky to meet the little one and take some goodies to the exhausted Mom and her kids. It ended up being a gorgeous day, and we enjoyed the pastoral scenery as well as the architecture of Hopkinsville.

Today has been a hodge podge of tending to Junior's truck (long story), putting him on an airplane, doing some work for Ken, and caring for Ema. This afternoon the little rascal climbed out of her pen onto the dining room table. This is the third time she has done that. Maybe I'll catch her in the act one of these days with the camera and you can see for youself what a little minx she is!

Happy hump day!

traveling pants

Well, my happy day was short-lived. While trying to install some software last week my computer didn't cooperate and wouldn't boot up as it should. The computer doc had it from Thursday morning until this morning, when they called to tell me that everything was working just fine. Huh? We'll see how long this lasts. I still need to install the software, as well as get my printer functioning.

Without computer access I enjoyed some decadent television watching, including a light-hearted movie called "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants." It's a teenage thing, but it was poignant and sensitive and wise, and gave this adult pause for reflection. Mostly it made me miss my friends, almost all of whom are at a distance and not handy for slumber parties, going to chick flicks, or grabbing a spontaneous latte when the need for face to face conversation arises. Such is my life these days.

Today I am headed downtown to celebrate the noon Eucharist at the cathedral, then do a little window-shopping before an appointment with a new psychiatrist to try to tackle my depression. Too much has been suffering from this illness, and I am more than ready to rise above.

My gratitude today is for Jules, whose birthday it is (and whose card I couldn't get in the mail in time because her address is on the computer!). Happy day, dear friend!! xoxo

happy day!

My new computer arrived last week and it has been at the computer doc to have files from the old hard drive copied to the new. Now it's back and I'm getting used to the new display, with almost all my old files... Yeehaaa! So far iTunes is missing, and i can't open my pampered chef program to work, but I will deal with that tomorrow. Right now I am happy just to be back at my desk and in my cheerful little office (if you overlook the clutter).

One of the benefits of NOT having my computer was having time to "idle" elsewhere. One of the things I did was to dip into some books, and I hit the motherlode in terms of benefit. Too complicated to try to unpack that at the moment, but let's just say that I am beginning to emerge from the rubble of the last few months, and feeling good about it. Now if only I could afford the psychiatrist engaged to help me!

For now, one day at a time, and gratitude for my blessings. Today those happen to begin with a J, so here goes: Janet (two of you), Jill, Jules, Jayne, Junior, Juliet, Johanna, Jacob and Jenny. No doubt I am overlooking someone or something that begins with a J, but this is a really good start.

Any gratitudes you'd like to share?

reporting in...

Sorry to have been absent. We had a full weekend over the Memorial Day holiday with the company of Junior's friend Nicole and her daughter, Natalie. See picture of Natalie trying out her new bathing suit! Tuesday morning Ken and I worked in the office while I simultaneously sprouted the worst head cold of my life. I was down and out from Tuesday afternoon through most of Saturday--didn't even get to the computer to check email one day, and Friday I was so miserable I rallied only to care for Ema, who came home on Thursday! She is much better, skinny as a rail, but expressing her pre-parvo feistiness and desire to put all things (especially fingers) into her mouth to try out those razor-sharp little teeth. But who can resist? Check out these pictures of her with Junior. I'm going to frame the obvious one for him for Father's Day!

I know that many of you have been concerned about her, and I'm sorry it has taken me so long to let you know that she was on the mend, and then had come home. Junior is away for a few days at a dog-handling course in North Carolina, then back to Savannah to retrieve his truck (long story) before returning here. In the meantime I am playing the role of surrogate Nana (tough duty!), and now that I am finally feeling better will love every moment of that.

Not much other news from here. One thing is for certain--after having spent far too many hours on the couch this past week it is quite clear that we need a new one. Not sure how we'll pay for that, but we'll figure it out somehow. Hope all is well in your various worlds. Thanks for all the support and prayers for Ema.