Back Again

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Shhhhhhh...

[She sneaks up on the blog. Eyelids straining ever more widely open, like she's trying to see better. Futile, that: it's pitch dark. Bug eyed. Her heart is just a'pounding. Great, now she's fresh out of spit. She's thinking twice...]

Well, if Dolly Parton can sing "Stairway to Heaven". (Playing on my local NPR Saturday morning station. It's pretty. Acoustic banjo, she whisper-sings ala Dolly, "And the forest will echo with laughter.")

Lower those expectations. If I'm going to write this blog, it's got to change. I've overscheduled myself into a deep dark corner. I've made friends in blogland. People I care about. Writing a blog isn't about only the time it takes to write; it's about visiting and commenting on other blogs. That takes hours. Literal hours.

I ain't got 'em anymore.

And there's that Temptress, Facebook. I can check in and check my friends out in minutes. The bitch.

When I started this blog, it was meant to entertain. Those of you that sent me notes in the months this blog lay fallow, saying kind things and encouraging me to write - that meant a lot to me. Thank you.

I got stuck. Tired and stuck. Not that I wasn't doing fun stuff. I just ran out of oomph to write about it.

And here's the truth: I need to write about my sister who died of ovarian cancer, and I haven't been able to. And since I haven't been able to write that, I just haven't been able to write.

I'll do that. And Mama Pajama and Fat Charlie and Sam's mom Jessie in Maryland are going to be 13 years old on the 29th. I'm just not promising to be entertaining anymore. I'm going to write for myself. I also can't promise to visit everyone else's blog. I'll be that kind of blogger, yuck.

I need to write the way I need to breathe.

hug your hounds

One of the Stolen Whippet Puppies Recovered!!!

Just had to update:

REMEMBER THESE ARE NOT MY PUPPIES. They are from Texas.

but the breeder got one of the stolen puppies back!!! Here is the story -

http://www.stolenwhippets.com/

hug your hounds

Bells a'Ringing !

My much admired Canadian blogging friend, Barry, has finished his Chemotherapy. There is a tradition in the Cancer Center where he is being treated: the client rings a big, brass bell after the infusion of his last Chemo. But for our beloved Barry, would just the one bell do?

No way!

On the actual day that he finished, hundreds of bloggers joined him and bells rang all over the world.

I am quite tardy, but I am also a charter member of the Better Late Than Never Club. As I read the blogs which I've missed during my work imposed, funk imposed, not-enough-hours-in-the-day imposed blog exile, I realised I needed to Ring a Bell, late or not!

So, I called on the Waggle to help, of course.

My charge nurse at my new job gave all of her crew a gift for Christmas. I was touched to be included, as I had only been on the floor for a couple of weeks. I received a cute little Santa doorknob decoration with a jingle bell.

Swede William was the first to learn that if he rang the bell when he wanted to go out, he got our attention faster. The rest soon caught on. So I imagine Santa will be a permanent fixture on the kitchen door!

Without further ado (and, unfortunately without the knowledge of how to edit these videos) Here are the BELLS FOR BARRY!!!

Hugs today are for Barry, Linda, and Lindsay!

Smiles as big as a big butt!

I downloaded a video program for my phone. This was my first try. For the Swede William fan club - he was sleeping by my chair in my computer/sewing room, sorry!

Yesterday I loaded up the whole waggle (except Delia who was out for a long walk with her Bill) and we headed to the kennel club property. I didn't take a single photo; I was that selfish. It was sunny.

Did a little agility practice with Sammy, Lindy Loo and Swede William. They were wildly happy, and everyone threw in a zoomie or eight. Let Fat Charlie and Easy run around in the fenced area. In the sun. I couldn't tell you who wore the biggest smiles.

Tossed a squeakie for Luciano by himself in the fenced area. Special time for the special boy. In the sun.

Took Sam, Lindy and William out for a second round of agility practice. Heavy on the treats and squeakie rat rewards. In the sun. It was so warm I got a little bit stinky in my arm pits. Woo-hooo!

Then I took Mama Pajama, Fat Charlie, Easy and Luciano for a leisurely walk around the property. In the sun.

They snuffled and rolled and peed and grinned wide enough to fit my whole heart in.

Better. Life is much better.

Today it's gray and dank and chilly. So I had three cupcakes for lunch and now I'm going to soak in a tub full of scorching hot water. With a book. Then I'll be so hot that walking the dogs will feel good.

Thanks for your wise, gentle, kind words! Guess what? THE FEBRUARIES ARE OVER!!!! I'm happy dancin' here, how about you?

hug your hounds, and hugs from me to you

Friday My Town Shoot Out - Anniversary, and more

Our assignment this week is to celebrate the one year anniversary of Friday My Town Shoot Out's existence. I've only been a member for 18 posts.

Here are some of my favorite shoot out photos:

The downtown Paducah skyline from inside our performing arts center.

My son Jake, with pony Peter in 1986. Jake is 33. Peter is 31. Jake has had a rough go lately: this mother's heart sometimes feels squoze too tight to beat. As any mother of grown children knows.

Silhouettes.

Mama Pajama

Landmark

sunset at the Paducah Kennel Club

I love, love, love the idea of going on virtual visits to towns all over this great globe every Friday through the lenses of some gifted, creative, talented photographers. (Don't ask me how they let me in!) It's so personal. This virtual visiting. (Click on the camera on the right side bar to see what I mean.)

Which brings me to me. I miss you all!

In true Patience fashion, I have cut myself off from the very things which sustain me. My novel languishes. Every time I step into the shower the characters clamor at me:

Let us out! You've shut us in for far too long.

Little Hope stares dead on, letting me know that she expects more from me. Emily goes about her business. She avoids eye contact for the most part. She tries again to anchor a stray branch of curls behind her ear while she watches her dogs play tumble tag and she shoots me a glance to convey her disappointment. You have a story to tell, she says. Proper stops his playing for a moment, turns his handsome face to me and wags. I'm here waiting for you, he beams. When you are ready. I'm here.

I get out of the shower and shove them away.

Every morning that I'm not at the hospital, working, I say, "I'm going to spend the morning in Blogland today." And every evening I realize that I never made the time. What is with that? I let other stuff (crap, poop, shit even) take precedence. I've cut myself off from my friends.

I don't know why.

Do I feel as though I've run out of funny stories to tell? Am I just too tired? Have I over scheduled myself into a creative abyss? Or do I just have a good old case of writer's block? (I feel pretentious at this point even calling myself a writer.)

I don't know. What I do know is that I miss you all.

Circles

So do me a favor, and hug your hounds for me

Friday My Town Shoot Out - Plazas

Rats! I just got called into work! (Waiting for my scrubs to dry in the dryer) No time for brilliant commentary - HA HA HA!

Paducah has a gorgeous plaza which is rarely used. Instead Broadway is closed off - every Saturday night from April to October for dancing in the streets - and for parades. The Market House used to be an open air farmer's market, with goods being pulled up by horse and wagon. Now it houses an art museum and a community theater.

We love our town.

hug your hounds, bye!