Uneventful Christmas

Christmas is just not the same without kids around.

Preston came by for a couple of hours. Matt spent most of the day in his room. Ang cooked a turkey dinner and I was grateful that the four of us could have dinner together. I couldn't help thinking that it was the last time in a long time that we would all be around the table. Such is life. Hug your babies 'cause they won't be babies long!

Idgy got a "big dog" haircut at the groomers. She is teething on everything and losing teeth left & right!

No more fuzzy puppy!

We start Basic I puppy school next week. I hope she is a good girl & not the devil dog she is at home!

I still have my fur kids to keep me busy! Happy New Year to everyone!

Hemi got a haircut too!

I spend my day picking up sticks!

"Idgy" will be five months old at the end of December. What a cute dog she is- but a bundle of work!

She loves to find socks or anything else the humans own, so she can taunt you with it and dare you to catch her as she runs around the house.

I am cute, give me a treat, is what she says with her eyes, but if you don't get the message that way - she will bark at you!

No matter how many sticks she drags in from the yard, or toys she scatters to chew on, she cannot sooth her sore puppy teeth as they begin to make way for dog teeth.

Fender bender

I got "side-swiped" the other night by a big Ford F-150 truck! We came together as we turned at the same time (from different directions) on to a two lane street. He was in my lane, but of course he said that I was in his lane. Since there were no independent witnesses - it's my word against his. The Florida State Trooper who wrote the accident said that our insurance companies would fight it out. I have $250. deductible & a smashed left front fender. (the photo is before the wreck) The estimate was a whopping $1200.+! Truth be told, I usually drive too fast in my sporty little car. On the occasion of the accident, I was going the posted speed, so I guess I am lucky. Accidents happen so quickly; I am glad to say that no one was hurt. My car is in the body shop being repaired. I guess I will be riding my bike for the next few days. (I need the exercise anyway) During the holidays, one out of every four drivers is IMPAIRED! Be careful out there. Drive defensively!

Hurry up & wait!

Matt was sick with a cold & ear infection so he could not go in the Navy until he is better. They changed his ship date to January 25th. He was so disapointed, he wants to hurry up and get on with it.

He will have plenty of waiting to do when he gets in. There is always something to wait for in such a big organization like the Navy.

Today is his 19th birthday and he expected to be starting boot camp today!

It seems like only a few weeks ago I was reading Preston his favorite book, "Prince Valentino".


Yesterday we were packing up all the stuff from his room for him to move and we came across the book. I was suprised when he said that he wanted to keep it and put it in a box to take with him to his new apartment.

I asked him if he wanted me to read it to him one more time and he said, "Not right now." It is strange to see your little boy as a man. I smile at him and remember the slide show in my head of all his childhood quips, all his teenage challenges. I think back to the time when I first left my parents to get my own place. What exciting times!

He called last night, his first night in the new place to tell me that he forgot his bathroom stuff, toothbrush, razor, shampoo & soap. Of course, I got in the car and took it right over to him!

My other boy, my partner's son, Matthew, leaves for the Navy next Tuesday. It will be so weird being childless. All of a sudden our small cracker-box house has two empty bedrooms! Maybe we will make and office or a workout room, or both!

New beginnings

I hate change. I always want everything to stay pretty much the same. I am even resistant to switching the furniture around. Over the years I have learned to live with myself, I MAKE myself change the things that need changing - throw away the old one, get a new one, stuff you can't fix anymore. My son must have inherited this trait from me. He never likes any change. Don't move stuff around in his room, he'd rather see things stay the same. Imagine my suprise when he said to me last week that it was time for him to leave home, move closer to college, move into an apartment with a friend. First I was shocked. (Why would you want to leave home? You have it so good here!) Shock gave way to good sense and I realized that it is the natural course of things. I just did not know it would happen so soon. He will be 20 years old in a couple of months; the time went by so fast. Did I tell him enough, show him enough? Our time together was so short, and I told him this. He said, "It hasn't been that short, it has been my whole life." My heart is breaking but at the same time I am happy & thrilled for him to begin this journey of his life. He is not going to Europe after all, he will only be 20 minutes away!