4:30 But It's Really 5:30

There has to be a reason I’m awake so early this morning and I know I’ll like the morning light in a few days. Yesterday’s extra hour always makes me feel very productive by the end of the day.

I went to change my mom’s clocks yesterday and she said, “Big deal” though I’m sure it was a big deal when she went to breakfast an hour too early. She came to spend the afternoon and the day before we went to the Daughters of the Nile Bazaar. I was feeling very guilty about not spending more time with her after getting a phone call from Clara Bayman’s daughter, Brenda.

It seems my mom went to Famous Nails with one of her friends and when it came time to pay she used a check from Warden. A friend of Brenda’s was there and was trying to help my mom find her ride home as my mom wasn’t sure if she had taken a taxi, a bus or her daughter had brought her. Finally my mom took off with no coat and this woman was concerned about where she went and if she arrived safely.

When I phoned my mom she was very pleasant and said she needed some pink put on her nails. I keep telling her how important it is that she call me when she wants to go places. Maybe these new memory pills are helping her just enough to make things more worrisome. She has very little cash in the Warden account but she prefers checks even though she has cash in her top dresser drawer.

Now for some fun news--Leslie and I had a video conference on our computers last night for about 40 minutes. It was so cool. You need to get a camera and a high speed connection and join us. Leslie has a new MacPro and I have an iSight camera I added last January when I spent time with the twins. I had never used it until last night and it was great looking at Leslie’s nice face. I felt sorry for her having to look at me and I did try to dim my lights but she didn’t go for that.

I could even see her family room and Darren on the recliner playing video games. So I hope to get more people started with our virtual visits. Nancy is going to Portland Thursday to do her decorating thing on Leslie’s home so we’ll chat then, after everyone has her makeup on of course.

Dogs to Adopt

I want to say something about the dingo not eating the baby but it would be so tasteless and this was a traumatic event. I still can see Zoey biting Walker like he was a rag doll. I took a photo of Walker's head and it's blurry but you can get the idea.

I like what you had to say on the subject. Yikes there should have been an introduction between the kids and dogs long ago.
Of course the kids are now invading their territory. It sounds as if the dog attacked unprovoked so I think I wouldn't trust the dogs with the kids. Especially since it was a bad bite. Growling is one thing but biting!
It will just get worse as the kids get more active and the dogs resent their presence so you know the answer to what should happen now.

So I know you will agree to this plan to see who can adopt these dogs. The Schnauzer Rescue Group cannot place dogs who have bitten people but they did give their names to people on their waiting list and a couple in Kirkland are set up to meet Zack and Zoey on Sunday to see what they think. They sound eager but who knows how the meeting will go. The dogs do bark a lot and they may not be friendly initially.

Cydney is very upset about losing her dogs though she knows it is necessary. She could be upset about a much more serious injury.

Thanks for your input on the dog topic. You've had 40 years of experience with dogs and lots of conversations about dogs during your twice daily dog walks in Oz Park.

Zack and Zoey

These are Cyd and Dave’s miniature Schnauzers and they’re nine years old. Today while I was in charge Zoey attacked Walker and punctured his head and left ear lobe. Walker is fine now but we are all wrecks around here. Luckily Linda was here when this happened and she managed to grab Walker within 3 seconds or so. It is so scary to watch this attack and realize how quickly this dog can do much damage.

The worse part was calling Cyd at work and telling her she needed to come home. The dogs are really hers and follow her around all day when she’s home. However she mentioned before she left to watch Zack as he has been growling when the babies come near him. The babies are quickly crawling into all the dogs’ territory and the dogs are threatened by the intrusion.

So tonight after the visit to the pediatric clinic we are discussing where to put the dogs. I think Dave says they need to be gone tomorrow. There must be a Schnauzer Rescue Group near here as I found one in Illinois.

Do you have any suggestions? I know you know dog behavior. They are really nice dogs if you’re an adult.

Peyton and Walker with the Babysitter

Peyton and Walker with the Babysitter
Originally uploaded by arlal.

Comments

Well, Leslie is brave and will answer for you. I definitely hope she starts a blog. I love her photo website and she is outspoken and interesting enough just to put her daily musings online too. I try to be so careful to use only politically correct topics and I try to keep the gossip down too but it’s hard for me. Mostly I end up sending you a separate, private email for any controversial topics.

I am at Cyd’s today watching Peyton and Walker in an effort to bond with the twins as best I can with monthly visits. They didn’t cry when they saw me yesterday so that’s a positive sign. Linda is coming sometime today to provide some reinforcement in case they start to get the best of me. They are quiet, good boys so far and Cyd has only phoned once.

My mom’s new medicine has quit being totally effective as she was asked to stay out of the beauty shop. I think she was trying to tell the beautician how to cut and style her hair but she was pretty bossy about it. I’ll have to make some other arrangements for her weekly hair appointment.

She helped me pick up pine needles the other day, missed the step on the porch, flailed around and landed on her feet. She mostly doesn’t remember anything but then she says something that makes me feel bad, “I really miss my house.”

How was the black tie event?

Monster Time

My house is all decorated with witches, skeletons, pumpkins, spiders and bats. Yes, it is the same house that from 1980-2003 was darkened and undecorated for Halloween. Bill and I would go to dinner, walk around an empty shopping mall and then hide in the dark house to avoid answering the persistent doorbell.

Lucas has changed all that. He has always liked monsters so the conversation about Halloween starts in late summer and goes for months. We have a worn out plastic mask that we all take turns wearing for fun occasionally but this year I intend to hide behind a real witch getup. I have the huge, black, pointed hat and last Sunday morning I found Lucas sitting on the couch in his pj’s wearing the hat. I keep mentioning what a scary witch I’ll be so he was no doubt trying to get familiar with the witch idea.

I’m thinking I need a more interactive blog but I can’t get comments for some reason since you refuse to write anything that might get on the internet. One reader is curious about what you have to say in response to my writing and I’d have to say not much. I hope it's alright to share this very little bit.

Great picture of BB & A.....
Cold here...snowed yesterday but didn't stick. We are going to a 1920's Black Tie event in a tent tomorrow nite. They had better have the tent heated!

Now I suppose you won’t even send that much anymore. It would be great to see a photo of you and Hank in the heated tent. I’ve never even been anywhere where a black tie was required.

Johanson Sisters

Today Betty and Brice arrived in Spokane to visit their latest grandchild, McKenna. They also had lunch with Alberta. Here are their ages: Brice 86, Betty, 81, and Alberta 89.

Lucas is 4!!!

You can tell he's happy to be older and he loves his Batman Party even though he's wearing a Spiderman shirt. Any super hero will do for him these days. And he shares his birthday with Katie and John's McKenna.

He had a small party at a children's science center downtown and after all the hoopla and planning the party was over in about 45 minutes leaving the kids to play with the exhibits.

My mom has been entertaining lately also. I've had dinner with her and her friend Wanda twice now and it is amusing. Each time I meet Wanda as if the first time and she is so pleased to meet me. We always have an interesting dinner conversation until I attempt to piece together the story line and find it just won't make sense. Wanda always makes certain to tell us why she can't chew food with her lower dentures and then shows us how they fall out of her mouth. I always cover my eyes and utter, "No", but that seems to make her more determined to demonstrate the loose dentures.

Mother's favorite conversation is so nice as she repeats this story at least two or three times during the course of the meal. "I am so thankful I have a daughter and I had to beg Palmer for her. I said, Let's have a child before you go into the service and finally he obliged me."

Someone at the table always wants more information about this topic and I'm cringing hoping she doesn't offer any more specific details. I never once say I was 3 when he enlisted.

Lucas and I are taking a Parent/Tot Spanish class once a week and I'm seeing a student teacher twice a week so I'm getting a routine going for myself. I'm also trying to spend more time with Miles since he is wedging himself into my presence with his sweet personality. Here he is with his required glasses since he kept losing his contacts.

What's going on in Chicago?