Master Waffler, That's Me!

The past few months without Azi have been really hard. I miss having him. I miss having my own dog.
I checked the county shelter for a pup, but none seemed right for me. Then. Besides, I have a hard time being there and not crying. I went to the adoption day at PetCo, but didn't find my dog there either, yet.
I still want a small dog, but one sturdy enough to run with kids and not as fragile as the mini-dachsies are.
I thought that a Corgi would be a good match for me. Smallish, sturdy, outdoorsy, pleasers and an even temperament. Don't forget short haired fur. Would I drive to Southern California or New Mexico to get a rescue dog? I don't think so!
I broadened my options and included Beagles for similar reasons. They tend to bark more and are not quite so willing to obey. They are hunters after all.
I found a Beagle mixed with a forty pound dad on Petfinders website. This pup is with a foster home in the Davis area, a good hour away by car. Very doable distance. But, there's a huge but! I was asked to fill out a five page adoption request which will be reviewed and the SPCA will dicide if I am suitable. I will be interviewed by an adoption councellor to see if I can provide a suitable home.
Frankly, I found many of the question very invasive. All adults in an adoptive home are to be there for the adoption interview and be evaluated. I am asked to provided my driver's license, every adult's name (that lives here), their age. My vet's name. Do I own this place, why do I want a dog. Have I had dogs before. Have I ever had to have a pet euthanized. Why. Who will care for the dog, train it, feed it. Where will it sleep. On and on and on. No, they did not want to see a bank statement!
Though I was excited about one of the Beagle puppies, I will rethink this plan. This was not meant to be.
I will continue to look locally. I will let the rescue groups in the area know what I'm waiting for and then I will wait. My new buddy is out there and we will meet. When it's meant to be.

December Rush

Somehow the time slipped away from me. What with appointments to keep, books to read and socks to knit. Yesterday I had one of the screws removed out of my foot's bone. After which I had to lay down because I felt weird. The second break is a bit slow to bond, so that hardware will stay in a bit longer.
So when the mail carrier arrived with a Christmas card I knew it was time to get organized. Today I spent writing cards and baking bread.
Tomorrow the cat sees the vet because she has a sore under her arm pit and is not feeling well. She hasn't moved far in twenty-four hours. You know something is wrong when she won't eat a bit of ham from the deli. I carried her to and from the commode and now it's nap time on the couch. That's a change from the fur covered bench.
Friday I will go to the Sacramento Auditorium with Suzanne's youngster's class to see TheNutcracker. I never managed to work my schedule to go while I worked for the school district. I don't mind the bus trip. I enjoy sitting up higher for a different perspective and not be concerned with the practicalities of driving, and parking in the Capitol.
Monday the pest control guy will........
.....to be continued

The Butcher, The Baker, The Candlestick Maker

I don't eat meat very often. I bake my own bread. With the advent of electricity I don't have much need for candles, or candle sticks, for that matter.
That being said, in the last seven months I have needed a handy friend, a handyman, an electrician, no, two. The bug guy shows up every couple of months. I've hired a contractor, had the heating/cooling system serviced. The plumber came to snake out the sewer line. Again I'm waiting for a plumber to fix the leak that has developed on top of the water heater. The hourly rate for a Saturday job is $125. It has not flooded the garage, yet. So far only the rug in front of it is being soaked. Shel placed a basin under the leak that we empty periodically. Good thing it hasn't dripped over night, not everything in the garage is waterproof.
This will make the ninth service guy here in a short time.
I'm doing my part to keep things rolling economically.

The Blue House

I've had little news to write about this past week.
The little blue house across the street has changed hands. The next door neighbor bought it for a song. So I've been watching the transformation this past week.
The house began during the Depression as a one room dwelling with dirt floor garage attached. The siding had been opened tin cans, flattened and nailed to the boards. "Old" Joe lived there for many years, like a hermit. (he was hard of hearing)
Then, twenty-five years ago, a retired woman saw some potential. She turned the one room into kitchen and bath, as well as dining area. The garage became her living room, having added a fireplace and cement floor. She added another room in which she slept.
Though the house is small, it became too much for her to take care of alone. Little did we know how messy and unhealthy it had become. She'd stayed with family this past year but was reluctant to sign any papers to sell the place. Finally, the county's code enforcement agency got involved. Clean it up, sell it, or pay fines, was their judgement.
So the 'kids' came, got what they wanted.
The new owner is a guy who's always on the move. He has many friends willing to help. The new roof has been laid. Another section has been taken off and rebuilt to current specs.
I'm happy to see that the property is being improved. I wonder how they will use the house.

Autumn

Once our summer was over we'd gone straight to cold.
I'm happy to report we're in the middle of autumn now. Light breeze, sunshine, open kitchen door, no heat on in the house. Nice.
I might have to find be a sheltered spot and sit out there with a book for a while.

Huge Waste of Time

I drove for more than an hour today to get a friend to an appointment out of town. We were delayed, having taken a wrong turn. We had to ask for directions and arrived at the location with three minutes to spare.
And were told that our appointment had been canceled! "We tried to call...blah blah blah.. the number we have is .....( clearly not our number.)
We stretched a bit, got back in the car and I drove back.
I entertained the friend at my house since her ride home was delayed.
I am tired tonight, but my friend must be totally wiped. Her day had begun much earlier. My guess is that she probably already asleep.
The next time I will call ahead before I get in the car and end up driving that distance without reason.

33 Years Ago Today...

...the Edmond Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior. This ship sank fast, very near to safety, no one survived.
Legend has it that should a ship sink during November, the lakes won't give up the dead.