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.