Nearby Fire
Across the street from us is Linda, our cat-lady neighbor, and next to her is an empty lot where an abandoned house was torn down some years ago. The deer like to hang out there, mostly ignoring those who walk by. On the other side of the lot is (was) a house with various tenants over the years. A few weeks ago, late at night, we heard a band or bump of sorts, figuring it was Hazel crashing around in my office...
Stay-at-Home (Dog) Dad
Starting late last year, Hazel Nut has had much trouble keeping food and water down, to the point of losing weight and dehydration. Possibly being connected to the neurological issue that baffled the vets a while back, she now has megaesophagus and the only thing that seems to work is Viagara -- and sitting her up to eat. It's also cost a fortune in tests and meds (antifungal and antivirals for her chest). Merry...
Dreams, a Feather, and Sandwiches
While finally tending to the ancestral graves in Dunkirk this year, there was a seagull's feather on that of my Grandparents on my Mother's side. This has always been a sort of symbol or sign for me, but this is the only one I've ever seen that was really small. My instinct told me it may hail the rebirth of one of my descendants. A few days later, I found myself sharing on Facebook the following ... It's hard to...
Reunion
Went to the Buffalo River Works to connect up with old classmates from D'Youville. It was the first time I saw more than one person from my class and or someone I knew. It was getting to the point I was remembering alums from much older eras at yearly events like the tea luncheon, but almost never anyone I knew from my actual time as a student. At this one, there was even the husband of an alum who turned out to be...
Parades, Travel, Snuggles, and More
A lot to catch up on, in spite of wasting too much time being addicted to solitaire. The Minecraft update with cherry blossoms finally hit and I spread some in Bab-El and one in Fort Town, but have been uninspired to finish the expansion on the latter or hunt for relics in undiscovered biomes. But I really do have a video game addiction that swallows time even when it shouldn't. Not sure how to deal with it or...
Zig-Zagging into Spring
Not uncommon, the weather has been teasing with warm days, then cold ones. There was less than a week between using the furnace and the air conditioner (and then back again). The big thing I'm looking forward to is spending time outside like in the last couple of years, having tea on the porch and meals on the back deck. The year started with my back out, but not the upper thoracic strains of the past. I seem to...
A Bittersweet Christmas for a Bittersweet Year
It was the first time we had Christmas alone, just Mer and I. As with this Thanksgiving, we had a blizzard that changed all our plans, postponing parties and such. (We've gotten blizzards like this every 8-10 years or so, but twice in one year?) It was quiet, and I was just happy that we were together, safe and warm. It was its own joy, but like most of this year, it was bittersweet. Her parents' house is now sold....
Dream Journaling
Just started reading the second half of "Behind the Veil" by my friend and spiritual brother Daniel Kelley. Last night was the first night I determined to dream journal. Immediate results! I recalled much, and even talked about dream journaling my first dream in my second dream! And much of the meaning in two of the dreams really make me realize a LOT about my personality and where I am in life, especially in...
“The Way Life Should Be”
Our Anniversary trip to Main was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The whole thing was like a dream, and the satisfaction of those memories will last our lifetime. Both ways, we stayed at a pet-friendly Red Roof Inn in Wooster, Mass, to take the edge off driving. We couldn't take turns because it was Merry's standard and she won't let me drive it. It does get insane gas mileage, though. We also hit peak foliage for...