An Update and "The Dog Hoarder's Convention"

Around here life is settling back into normal routine. After spending 3.5 weeks at home, A returned to work Monday. It was nice to have her home, especially since we had extra furry house-guests for a couple weeks. I guess I've just been feeling quiet and last week I was swamped getting the silent auction together for our rescue's annual get-together (also called the Dog Hoarder's Convention by A's sister). This is the third year I've been in charge but got a late start so I was just happy to pull things together in time.

Saturday morning we woke to a cool, windy day. A had spent Friday getting the RV ready and packed for our trip. The plan was to drive it to the rescue event and then camp along the Redwood river that night. We were running late...as usual...and after getting all the dogs loaded in to RV it wouldn't start. Seriously?! After working on it for over an hour, we just had to load the essential stuff and the dogs into two cars to go. We were both in pissed off moods but after we got there, it was hard to stay mad with all this cuteness running around...120 cute little dogs in attendance to be exact!

 Tawny

 The old man Gizzy looks down on the commoners from his stroller.

 How can you tell which one is yours?

 Love the teeth!

 Suki

 Buddy had the best seat in the house.

This is what happens when you try to give one dog a treat.

We ate too much food, visited and spent all my money at the silent auction. Since I run it and bid for others who can't attend, I don't bid for myself. The last two years A has bid for me and I've come home with a load of stuff and an empty purse.

This is the first year we decided to pose for a group photo. Obviously, this isn't every volunteer in our group but there are people here from Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Iowa and even one person who planned their trip north from New Mexico to coincide with this event. 

This year my offer to the silent auction was a custom pet portrait by fellow blogger Rocket. I had her do one of our dog Gizzy to use as an example and the winner could then submit a photo of their own pet for a portrait. It was a big hit at the auction and I'm ecstatic it raised quite a bit of cash. I just LOVE this picture and she completely captured the Old Man. 

I have it framed and proudly displayed in my living room. THANK YOU ROCKET!

A and I had a lot of things planned for this fall but haven't accomplished much. Mostly I've just wanted to stay close to home and be with her. We were disappointed to not be able to camp this past weekend, but now the RV is up and running again (a bad battery is an easy fix) and we still have a weekend trip planned mid-October near the Mississippi river/Wisconsin before putting it away for the winter. We've had time to re-connect with each other and re-prioritize our lives. A seems to be in a better state if mind about her job and has decided to go back to school (online) to expand her degree. I'm so happy she has finally made that decision and I'm hoping it all works out. This coming weekend, I'm excited that my brother is bringing my nephews for a visit. I haven't seen them in over a year already!

My Remembrance

Last night A built a fire in the backyard and as we sat there looking into the flames we did what so often happens when sitting around a fire...we reminisced.

We talked about 10 years ago when I was on my way to my 8am class that I had no idea as I parked my car and rushed across campus that a plane was hitting the first tower in New York. In 2001, no one had internet on their cell phones. We all sat through our 8am classes without a clue.

At 9am I walked into one of the common areas on campus and people were crowded around every TV. That is when I realized something had happened. I called A who had worked the night shift and was just getting ready to go to bed and told her to turn on the TV. All classes were cancelled and I drove as fast a possible the 1 hour to A's place listening to the radio as the towers fell.

September 11th is also our anniversary. That year on our second one, I remember we had plans but for the life of me, I don't have a clue what they were now. We, like everyone else, sat parked in front of the TV watching and wondering...what next?

In the last 10 years I have not agreed with all the politics and policies that were the outcome of this event. Today I've been saddened to read all the online comments by people who choose to bash the memorial events because of their anger with the government or their hatred of others' religious beliefs.

Today I choose to remember that everyone who died that day loved and was loved by someone else. They were all someone's husband, wife, sister, brother, mother, father, son, daughter or friend. They got up that morning and went through their normal routine just like any other day and in the matter of a few hours they were lost.

Now I'm going to turn off the TV/internet, hug the person I love, be grateful that I still have the ability to do that, and enjoy this beautiful fall day.

"Honey, I'm Home!"

And I informed A I'm not leaving again. I don't like the single life.

Sunday

We joined friends at their home for a Labor Day BBQ and bonfire. There was so much food. You know so much good food that you're full but you just keep going back for little of this and that. JK went crazy on the grill making burgers, brats, steak, chops and ribs...holy shit that's a lot of meat! I woke up Monday morning still feeling full.

A lovely fall sunset. 

 Someone had the bright idea to throw that bale of hay on the fire.

 Which turned it into an even bigger/hotter fire. Our friend Faye ended up with embers in her hair and A swatting her across the head to put her out.

 A loving the heat...it was 54 degrees. No alcohol for her last night, 7Up only.

And JK serenaded us around the fire...or tried to. He hasn't picked up a guitar in years. Who am I to criticize, I can't play a single chord.

Frog Massacres, Car Rides, Lattes and Other Randomness

Woke up this morning and it was 56 degrees. Seriously, it was 92 and so humid I could hardly breathe just a few days ago. Oh, the joys of Minnesota...you can't hold onto the summer. Yesterday morning A and I sat in the back yard trying to catch a cooling breeze then somewhere mid-afternoon I saw my neighbor's windmill change direction-here comes the north wind. By evening the AC was off, windows open and sweatshirts out.

Late last night I finally forced myself to leave home and return to the Twin Cities. As I drove along the back roads it was a frog massacre. There were frogs everywhere hopping across the road; leaving the swamps, lakes and ponds to return to the mud of the fields. There is just no way to dodge all the hopping bodies and each "thud" I heard under my car just made me sick to my stomach. The frogs and busy squirrels know that it won't be long until until the big chill arrives. I'm just hoping for a long, long fall.

This is the first day in over a week that I haven't went home for the day. I've been spending my nights at my house sitting/pet sitting gig. I get up in the morning, clean, do laundry, run the dogs in the yard, hop in the shower and make the 1:15 hour drive home to do the same thing again at that house. A is recovering well. She has finished her antibiotics and is passing the point of concern over complications. This morning though, I woke up and followed my normal routine....cleaning, laundry, dog running, showering and then found myself wandering. A and I had plans to join friends for a BBQ/bonfire today before her surgery. Since A is feeling up to entering public life again and they are about 1/2 the way home, we are meeting there.

It's good that I'm staying here with these dogs today. My pet sitting crew has greatly decreased after 5 moved to other foster homes and our sweet little Petie passed. I won't lie and say I miss them all (well I truly miss Petie) but the numbers here are much more manageable and I'm enjoying them much more. Like sweet and spunky Suki who definitely got her point across to me yesterday as I got ready to leave. They've been spending too much time alone.

Betty takes her crew in the car a lot and even has these cute little baskets/booster seats they ride in. Since she left I had not had them out but today I was craving a coffee so I rattled my keys and called "Wanna go for a ride?" and Suki, Juno and Gus went ballistic! I opened the door to the garage and they were leaping with all they had to get into my car.

We headed to Starbucks but the line was a mile long...don't know what that was about so instead we settled for a vanilla latte at McD's. I've had better (and worse) but I did save myself a $1...well more like $2 especially when you consider a latte is 1/2 foam anyway. The thing I dislike about McD's is they make you declare if you want whole or fat-free milk. At Starbucks, unless you say fat-free they just make it with the good stuff and you can delude yourself into believing whatever you want...if you don't say it it didn't happen.

Sweet little Susannah sleeping in the sun. Soon she will be coming home to stay with me. Honestly I feel a lot like this....just so very, very tired. I've been sleeping; more like I can't keep my eyes open another second and passing out sleeping, but spending 8+ hours in bed at night plus taking naps with A during the day. I just can't get enough sleep. I know that I'm just stressed and this is how my body deals...I need to sleep and repair. Betty should be returning home mid-week and my work asked me if I wanted to extend my time off another day so I don't go back until Wednesday. Hallelujah!
If you managed to make it through this long and mostly pointless post, I applaud you for your dedication. Now get the hell out of here and go out and enjoy your Labor Day!