Back in the Saddle

So, I'm back working a job in consulting. It's not what I wanted, but the job isn't half bad. I go to Connecticut a couple of days a week, will be there three days a week the last two weeks of July and probably for full weeks at go-live at the beginning of August. The payoff? Supporting the customer from home once they are live with SAP. I miss my dogs, but I know it's short-term pain for a sort of long-term good deal.

Not all that exciting except for the drive home from Manchester, CT on Thursday. I drove through much of that crazy, torrential rain. It was amazing how the rain went so fast from a few drops to an absolute pounding wall of water. Usually I rave about how beautiful the drive is, both going and coming home. The Berkshires of western Massachusetts are lovely, and just about the entire drive in New York is sweet: Hudson Valley, the capitol region of Albany and then Saratoga Springs through the lower Adirondacks all the way back to Willsboro. And once I reached the Adirondacks Thursday, I had the prettiest clear skies and mountain views. We're still having way too much rain in my neck of the woods, but it's better than that rain in Connecticut and Massachusetts yesterday!

Miscellany

Because it's easier right now, this will just be a topic-less hodge podge of happenings of late.

Firstly, I have had my keypad replaced on my Dell laptop. I love this computer, and I had gotten used to not having my left shift key and my B and H keys missing. The left shift key popped off one day when I was typing. The B and H keys flew off when Homer decided to use the laptop as a springboard to jump from my chair over to the sofa. Andrew the Computer Guy kindly spearheaded getting the replacement keyboard. He's a great guy, so anyone who needs computer help up here in the North Country should seek him out. He's based in Plattsburgh. And I LOVE having all of my keys back again.



It's gardening season, don't you know. I've planted some flowers and I've put together my first rough draft of my garden plan. Dana and I built a fifth raised bed, a 3 foot by 5 foot baby that nicely finishes off the gardening area. I've started hardening-off the plants in the basement and stopped at the garden center here in Willsboro to pick up a few more flowers and some other things: rosemary, because my seeds didn't see fit to germinate, and French tarragon, because it is a fantastic herb. They didn't have any thyme, and my thyme couldn't make the time to grow in the basement. I will be busy with the garden for the next few days. Dana will have to water while I am down in Charleston next weekend.



Yes, back down to Charleston, SC for Spoleto Festival 2010. I'm meeting Deb down there; it's a birthday trip for me to celebrate turning 50 this year. Charleston and Spoleto are just about my favorite place to visit on a regular basis. The schedule is packed, and we're staying right in town at the Meeting Street Inn, which is exciting as I've wanted to try this place for years. And we'll be dining once again at the Peninsula Grill (coconut cake!!!) and Il Cortile del Re, and we're finally heading to Fig. Very exciting. And I'm sure we'll manage to get to Paolo's Gelato. And lots and lots of concert-going from Friday through Memorial Day.



As some of you are aware, I am back consulting. Part-time, and traveling to Connecticut for two days a week through the summer, when support for this customer is to revert to remote work from home. So far, so good.

Miller, my lovely senior Golden Retriever-Yellow Lab mix turned 17 in April. He's doing well. He was especially adorable and spunky yesterday.



As I type, the two Beagle mixes Fred and Homer are laying up on the back of the loveseat in the sun. Homer's head is kind of resting on Fred's butt. They look ridiculously comfortable. And adorable. I love them so much. I really cannot get enough of the dogs. I stop almost anyone I can who has a dog with them just for the chance to pet the critters. I don't know what it is about dogs that touches me so. Mine look at me like I am the most important thing in their lives. Fred sometimes seems like he's trying to pet ME. They are wonderful.



I've lately been thinking that I might want to get myself a pair of donkeys (burros, as I like to call them), or maybe goats. I pass by a sweet little donkey on my drive out of town to head to Connecticut. And there is a small farm that I pass on my return home on Thursdays that has about a dozen donkeys. I'm sure they must sell them, and it's very tempting to stop and ask. But I won't. It's hard enough leaving my woofs right now. And I don't even know if I'm allowed to have those kinds of animals in my neighborhood here in Willsboro. I also want chickens, but only because of the fresh eggs. But there are far too many downsides to having chickens.

Since I'm back in a hotel one or two days a week with the consulting thing, I've started re-reading my library of Dick Francis mysteries. He's an English writer and was a former jockey who became a prolific and successful novelist. He died earlier this year, and it's been really nice reaquainting myself with his writing and the heroes of his novels. Though I'm sure some would say that he's a little formulaic, his topics are all very interesting and well-researched, and that he manages to weave in the horse racing world into these stories is quite impressive. I love how he writes, the heroes of his books are all very appealing, even when they are damaged either physically or emotionally. I highly recommend his books. I would suggest a great starting point would be "Odds Against", where he introduces the former steeplechase jockey turned investigator Sid Halley. It is a wonderful book, and Sid Halley is a terrific, imperfect hero. He appears in three other Francis novels. Worth your time.



The Beagle boys have now switched positions: Homer is where Fred was laying, and Fred has moved to the seat cushion of the loveseat: more sun, dontcha know.

Deb's boyfriend Darryl left for Europe yesterday. He'll stay there a few weeks, then come home for about a month, and then head back over with Deb for a bit more Europe time. I think he's spending most of the first part of his trip in Germany, and then he and Deb will be mostly in France. Nice.



What else to say? Not much, so I think that will suffice for an update.

Adios, and all that.

Hello There

Yowza! It's been a while since I've posted to my blog. Shame on me. Busy, that's my only excuse. Other writing, reading, playing, dogs. Work. Life is that way sometimes. I hope to do better in the near future. For now, I leave you with this, one of my many distractions of late. I'm sure you understand.

"Like" Oprah

My sister came home from work today with an interesting story. She overheard a conversation between two of her co-workers about Oprah Winfrey and the books that she recommends in her book club. They were noting that Oprah tended to recommend books written by people like her. Like Oprah. Like there really is anyone else on Earth like Oprah. I asked what did they mean by that. She said they definitely were referring to her race. I told her she should have interrupted and asked, "What do you mean, like her? Do you mean famous billionaire businesswomen?" What jackasses. So, I found the list of the last 36 books that Oprah has offered in her book club. 6 of the 36 books were written by black people, and that's from a list of international writers.

Such small-minded people who would think that Oprah Winfrey would be like this. Where did this idea come from? More small-minded people who clearly are not watching Oprah. They haven't a clue what goes on within Oprah's book club. Why would they bother to carry on such a conversation? Where did they hear this drivel from? Or did they just make it up? I have no time for people like this, and I can guarantee that I would have challenged them on their premise, even before finding the truth of the matter on the internet.

Today's Republicans Make Me Ill

They really are a messed up bunch. Lying sacks of shit, the entire lot. No matter how much I might say that there is an occasional one who might be worth something, the way the Republicans in Congress are acting is despicable and absolutely against what is best for this country. And beyond that, you have the lying liars not even trying to hide that they are liars. You have that vile John Boner, er, I mean Boehner, with his unadulterated two-facedness talking about the deficit build-up under Obama when he never made a peep about it under Bush. And then there's John McCain, who we know has gone to the Land of the Lost ever since he selected that loony tune from Alaska as his running mate, talking about how unit cohesion will be lost if Don't Ask Don't Tell is repealed, the very day that the head of the military - both heads, the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - testified before Congress that it was a wrong-headed policy and beneath the military to continue with it. And there are so many more examples in the Republican political establishment: Sarah Palin (what kind of a mother would dangle that poor child around like that?), Eric Cantor...well, there's too many of them to count. And then there is the Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, Bill Kristol crowd, who will coo the party line when the truth, which is nearly always opposite of what they spout, is self-evident. It is bad enough that the politicians and the pundits on the right are nuts. There is a new survey that shows that the voters on the right are just as insane. It's referenced by a short post by Bruce Bartlett at Capital Gains and Games here:

http://capitalgainsandgames.com/blog/bruce-bartlett/1467/why-i-am-not-republican

Here are the questions and the responses. Remember, these poll questions were asked of 2,003 self-identified Republicans nationwide:


Now don't forget, this is the party that is against repealing DADT. Sure, there are some of the other party who also oppose repeal and there are some in the Republican party that want repeal. I couldn't name any of these people off the top of my head. But keep in mind that the people who do not want gays and lesbians to serve openly in the armed forces of this country are standing with the following countries who also disallow homosexuals from serving in their armed forces:

Cuba
China
Egypt
Greece
Iran
Jamaica
North Korea
Pakistan
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Singapore
South Korea
Syria
Turkey
Venezuela
Yemen
United States – Don't ask, don't tell

An interesting list, yes? As a whole, I'm thinking most of us as Americans do not want to be thought of in the same breath as a lot of these countries. This is likely an incomplete list, too. Just as the list of countries that do allow gays and lesbians to serve openly is likely incomplete. That list would be:

Argentina
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Bermuda
Brazil
Canada
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Lithuania
Luxembourg
The Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Peru
Philippines
Romania
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
Uruguay

This is just a rant, but I think the comparison is obvious: do we as a nation really want to follow the path of these wing-nuts? Do we really want to side with countries like Cuba, China, Iran and Yemen? We know from a previous post of mine that we're right up there - or, rather, down there, actually - with countries like the Czech Republic, Hungary and Mexico life expectancy versus the total dollars per person spent on healthcare in this country. How proud the right must be pushing back and fighting a change that is so sorely needed. It's a first step people; nobody said that the first attempt at bringing needed reform would be the end of it all.

I think there is absolutely no likelihood of any consensus with this Party of No. How could there be when their sensibilities on questions like those above are so wrong?

Happy New Year!

Well, another year has come and gone. I've been hearing people say that they hope 2010 is a better year than 2009. I have to admit that except for losing Bailey, I don't really have any major complaints about 2009. It was a major transition year for me, where my income was reduced by a serious amount. This lowering of my household income was purposeful, as I from here on out will always be, at minimum, semi-retired. It is a challenge, especially when your roommate doesn't come through with the expected monetary contribution!

Another major change: my status as a Master Gardener volunteer. This has been something that has brought lots of positives into my life. Good people who are excited about spreading the gospel of good gardening practices. My favorite part of this was the success of my own vegetable garden. What a wonderful thing, to walk out into your yard and pick fresh vegetables and herbs to take directly to the kitchen. It was a learning experience, for sure. And of course, the late blight with tomatoes this year was such a disappointment. I will make changes in the garden - no oregano, more beans, eggplant rather than squash - and hope for a better year for tomatoes.

My sisters and I all met up in Charleston, SC for Spoleto Festival in May. I love this festival of music, dance, theater, art and artisans. It's a wonderful atmosphere: sophisticated but casual. My sister Deb is treating me this year to another visit for my 50th birthday. I love Charleston and all of my friends there.

It was a mixed up emotional year on the dog front. I lost my dear Bailey. He was a big guy who lived eight years, six of them with Dana and me and Miller, Boo and Fred. He was a pain in the butt but also a sweet, sweet boy. And he also spent time with my new arrival, Homer, who I adopted from the Elmore SPCA once we returned from Spoleto Festival. He's a joyful boy. He and Fred are well on their way to becoming the best buds that Bailey and Fred were, or that Miller and Boo were.

Miller is getting up there in age: he will be 16 years and 8 months old on January 20th. I recognize that my time is short with him, so all conscious efforts are to make sure he's happy and getting the attention he deserves. He's been the best dog, a wonderful companion. He's been mine since he was 9 months old. As everyone who knows me is aware, all of my dogs are adopted from shelters or the local SPCA. Miller has been around for every home that I've ever owned, and has been brother to Boo, Goofy, Bailey, Fred and Homer, and cousin to Bernie, Menolly, Piccola, Gigi, Puccini, Boomer, Murphy, Lira, Merlin and probably a couple of dogs I've forgotten.

Snow up here in the north country has been something to get used to. It's not hard, really, because I do love the snow. I love watching the dogs romp in the snow. I love the way it sits on the boughs and catches in the bark of the trees. I even like shoveling it. And the vistas up here after a good snowfall are absolutely stunning.

So, I have mostly fond memories of 2009. But it's true, there is nothing wrong with hoping that the next year will be better than the last. And for all of those people who have had a hard time of it with the economy, or have had to deal with the loss of a family member, like I did with Bailey, or who miss loved ones who are away in the military, I truly do hope that 2010 brings better things.

FROM MY HOUSE TO YOURS, HAVE A HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!

Kurt Elling - Awesome

If I had to choose for my desert island, I would absolutely choose Kurt Elling.

Oh. Did I forget something in that question? I meant, a recording to have on my desert island, along with my wine and cheese and sunglasses, it would be just about anything from Kurt Elling. However, this particular performance is just fantastic. My Foolish Heart, and so much more. He is such an amazing singer. He is just incredible to see live, in concert. I would settle for the recording on my island, but I would kidnap Kurt to have him all to myself.

His band is pretty kick-ass, too.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he will be at Spoleto Festival this year. He wasn't there last year, and he had been attending every other year for a while. I know he's bigger now - and nominated for another Grammy Award - but I will be pleased like all get out if he shows up.

If not, maybe this year's Montreal Jazz Festival. I now live just 90 minutes away from this great city to the north.

Warning: the very end of this You Tube video cuts off, but every second of your time is well-spent watching and listening to what's there. Enjoy.

Can Dogs Be Too Cute and Too Funny?

I wonder. I recognize that I come across as a crazy dog lady sometimes, but the moments of sheer joy I get from my dogs are so breathtaking to me. I am overwhelmed with happiness when I watch them interact. Frankly, they don't even have to do that. They can just be like Miller, sixteen and a half years old and still willingly and adorably wanting to run and play with the two year old and the five year old. He's not really interacting with Fred and Homer much, because they kind of leave him in the dust, which he doesn't seem to mind in the least. He seems perfectly happy to still be enjoying the party. So cute.

Today was a great day of dog time for me during my lunch break. I drive 35 minutes home to walk the dogs, feed Miller some lunch, and then spend a little time with them before heading back to the office )35 more minutes on the road, today with wet snow all the way) for our afternoon session. Fred and Homer ended up sitting together on the loveseat in front of the Christmas tree. They were adorable, so I quickly grabbed the camera, and of course, the moment I point it towards them, Homer jumps down. I put the camera down, encouraged Homer back up, and then grabbed the camera again. As I approached the sofa, Homer decided to join me and leaped from the loveseat, right across in front of Fred, and onto the sofa. Oy. I urged him back next to Fred. He seemed content to stay there for the moment, but this is when the Puppy ADD really kicked in: first he looked left, then he grabbed his little green rubber froggy toy, then while he was down that way, he licked his privates, and then scratched his head. He looked out the window. And finally he gazed in the same direction as Fred - sort of - which was the look I was going for. It was at this point that I finally really looked at Fred for the first time in a few minutes. His eyes were becoming slits, and he was leaning against his brother Homer, starting to fall asleep:

I mean, seriously, how freaking cute is that? I think it's SO cute.

The other photos from today's Too Cute to be Believed Photo Shoot:

And this, the close-up that was worth all the trouble:

Am I wrong about the cute?

I Love the Christmas Season

I am not religious and therefore I do not celebrate the season in the way Christians might like. I like the feeling of the season, the thought that we could possibly all get along, even love one another, as the good people that we should all want to be, and try to be. I like the lights and the Christmas music and the holiday concerts. And the holiday parties. I like dressing the boys up in their red and green scarves. And I am loving catching pictures of the boys in front of the tree. I haven't been able to get a good shot of Miller yet in front of the tree, but the little boys make it easy, since they like the back of the loveseat and it sits just in front of the tree.

Merry Christmas, or Happy whatever other holiday you celebrate this time of year.