Seriously?

Kasia and I are taking a ton of walks.

As we go out, we see a lot of vacationing people down here with dogs. I like to think of these people who failed pooch etiquette and pooch care 101. For instance, I was walking up from the bay this morning with Kasia and someone who normally doesn’t walk a dog is like” Oh, I don’t know what kind of dog this is.” Uh,it’s a breed that is an A type personality like Kasia, so I grabbed Kasia a little tighter by the leash and stepped lively so we could get out of the situation. I always loved my girls, and since I am down to one, I intend to protect her to the last breath of my body. Then, we are walking back from the bay, and a woman who is visiting her home for a week is walking her two dogs, one of who is not on a leash. I notice when she sees us coming, all of a sudden the leash goes on.

Later this afternoon, I was walking Kasia with my neighbor and the same lady who had no leash on her one dog almost had it run over by a big SUV. Shocker. Then, as the three of us turned the corner, who dog comes charging for Kasia. I yell over to her there’s a leash law and your dog needs to be on a leash.” I know, I heard you the first time.’ Neat trick, as I said it only once. And yet, was her dog on a leash? Nah. Let them urinate and defecate one neighbor’s lawns.

**Shaking my head**

Truly, some folks need to learn how to take care of their dog, learn dog neighborhood good citizenship 101, or if you are just that LAZY, don’t get a dog.

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January is Back

We were spoiled down here at Undisclosed Location with some nice weather for a while last week. In saying that, I mean, no big coats, gloves, scarves, and I was quite happy taking the girls out with a baseball hat.

Not today.

I had leggings under sweatpants, a long sleeve tee under a polar fleece jacket, a vest under a coat, and you know what? The wind really was nasty. My neighbor’s theory that the weather changed too quick probably puts some teeth to the fact that I seem to have picked up a gastro bug. Good mom that I am, I went out twice and got the girls out and together we walked almost a mile and one half. Damn, it was cold.

The good part about the cold was the solitude down here and it soothes the soul.I managed to work prayers for good friends of ours going through a health crisis. By the time I was just about home, we were almost done.

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They take care of me mentally as much as I take care of them physically and emotionally. It’s a win-win for all three of us.

Missing our Outings

The girls and I are going through withdrawal.

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Zush looks over to me and waits for me to say the magic words that aren’t coming. I think she hears it in my voice and figures, well, Mom is resting so I guess I should too. That’s alright.

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Kasia is just as content to be in the yard, bark at everyone and every animal passing by and making her own version of snow angels.

Fortunately we are due for a warm up and even rain later this week, so the three of us will be chomping at the bit until we can get back out.

Eggs, bread, …you know the drill…

..if you are from the East coast and weather snow storms.

I noticed on Facebook that everyone is posting the jokes about running to the grocer to buy eggs, bread and milk and everything that is needed to get a household through a snow storm.

Well, I got all my outdoor Christmas decorations down.I stripped our mailbox by the street.I walked the dogs trying to wear them out for snowy weather.
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I laughed because Jim and I ran out for a quick bit this morning and while we were out, I checked my phone and one weather app said that snow was starting, basically, in 5 minutes.

HAH!

The other app said the snow is coming 8PM tonight.

Well, I am done as are the girls.We are vegging out and I am ready for a hot bath and bed.

Tomorrow is, hopefully, another day.

Exhausted

Here is what one tired girl looks like.

We have been out walking in our “balmy “30 mph winds today and totaled up a little over two miles. We walk at the pace of the Bataan death march, but regardless.it is walking.

We were at the bay this morning and windy was not the word. It is funny how the bay mimics the ocean on days like this.The whitecaps we  seldom see here all of a sudden appear. Even when we were down there, the girls gathered close to me as if they were afraid of blowing away!

In all, a really good day for the three of us!

Dreary is as Dreary Does

The girls and I managed to get out for a couple of times walking before the rain came.
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We had been doing pretty well until the rain came. We managed to get out a few times and visit some friends, but then, we came in about 2:30pm and within a half hour, the heavens opened up. We are going to try to get out before it gets too dark, because I think the girls look forward to it as much as I do.
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So we may tip-toe through the raindrops, but we will go out for one last trip around our neighborhood tonight.After that, I think it’s safe to say we are all kind of sleepy, so we won’t be worth too much.At least us gals can snuggle together! What a treat!

New Day

So, rather than giving in to pain, I got up at 6:30am this morning and, as a result, had a heck of a lot more time to do things during the day.

The girls got a few walks, everyone who needed medicine got it, worked in baking an apple cake and a pork tenderloin, and also did a little bit of wash.
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As I haven’t been back to work yet, I figured I’d try to get some older clothes together and bundle them up for charity.The week will end up on Friday when I have to go back to the infectious disease doctor for an update.I would assume that after that, I’d go back to the orthopedic doctor one more time for a sign-off.It is an assumption, because realist that I am, I KNOW that anything that CAN go wrong, will.

Today, however, was a Blessed day.

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Putting It Out There

Today, I touched base with my orthopedic doctor and updated him with what’s going on with my leg.

Sitting my desk while I was on my phone,I saw my calendar and realized I’ve been laid up with this for almost three weeks.

Three weeks,two antibiotics…

The doctor told me he wanted me to come in tomorrow so he can actually see what is going on.I realized that I am going to get some peace of mind.Either I am going to have to get admitted and get some stronger antibiotics or I am going to another course of my current antibiotics.After all my cancers and other illnesses,I have always appreciated being healthy.Being over 55,I realize that you have to savor what you have and come back stronger to keep it.I have been laid low for a reason, and, in the end,I know the result is I’ll be back stronger than ever.I am trying to rest and get better,and at the same time,recharge my batteries.Granted there are times the girls and I look at each other, and I know they miss the norm I have established with them, especially since we have been down here full time.I know the first time that we get all out back walking together,it’ll be like we never stopped.
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The bay will still be there.Things will be the same.In order to go on,though,there’s one important thing.

“I’ve got to get better.”

We all can’t wait!
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The Grass is Never Greener….

Since we have moved down here, I have been trying to transfer doctors, so in situations like I am currently in,I would have a physician near-by.

HAH.

The latest development in the screwed up knee is, well,” I called the Orthopedic office and they want you to see infectious disease doctor.” Uh,ok…

No wait…”It’s me again, and Infectious Disease wants you to go to the emergency room and THAT WAY an ortho will see you in the ER and they can drain your knee and culture it.”Oh yeah..and the bill for the attending doctor and the ER $100 co-pay?

The girls and I are going through walking withdrawal.They know I am sick, and between Jim and my neighbor,they get one walk a day.A long way from four walks with Mom.I have been in the house and am going stir crazy.

So the next time you see a photo I take,like, of a good sunset or the beach and you think this is the life, well, it’s not all green grass down here at “Amity”.
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Pretty Sad

We are sitting around since it is stormy with wind and rain, and watching Moneyball. It is the movies about baseball starring Brad Pitt.

As we live in an area with no baseball, and we are still in mourning for the Philadelphia Phillies who died a few seasons ago, we found ourselves watching this poor replacement for a baseball game.

It doesn’t make things really light here.My mood is matching the weather, and I just can’t seem to shake how tired I feel.I haven’t had the girls out today but once due to the rain.Maybe it’s because I gave my fitbit off.

I sure hope better days are coming.

Five years…

Some days it seems like only yesterday.

This upcoming Thursday marks five years since my double knee replacements.I remember taking the girls for a last walk the night before the surgery, and as I walked down the hill toward the field, I felt the crunching in my knees and thought that it’s the last time I’ll hear that sound and feel that feeling.

So much has changed in those five years.

My Mom is gone,we left the city,I retired…I can go on and on.

Fortunately,with my union bargained medical benefits.I managed to get through the whole deal,and the pain is a faint memory.

Life goes on.

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A Little Slice of Heaven

It truly is a little slice of heaven.

I got the girls out today slowly,because I am getting over a major kick butt sinus infection gratis’ of my class. I t was funny to actually take our time and bask in the warmth.

I was going to do some baking tonight but don’t really feel the urge, at least not yet.I usually do something and wait until the house temperature is 70 degrees**joking** but it is amazing that when you’re really not feeling 100% yet, there are tons of ideas going through your head.Your inner-self said uh,no. Not yet.

Time to bask in the Delaware Bay sunshine.

 

A Chicken Maiden Voyage

I used to bake chicken once in a while, especially when I was single.

I can honestly say I have not made one at home in almost 13 1/2 years. Really. It’s been that long because when rotisserie is reasonable in the supermarket, well, I factor in what it would cost to make it at home and usually get the one from the market.

Our local Acme had oven stuffer roasters on sale so I thought, why not.It’s been a while and I would make it as it gets cooler.Well, although it was fifty degrees today, at twilight…
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…you could see the front moving in.

Fortunately thanks to my interest in following the weather, plus all the surgical scars I have that react to barometric pressure changes, I felt the oven stuffer’s number was up back around 2PM.

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Zush and I walked the neighborhood while Jim took Kasia to a state park beach to run.Hopefully Daddy and daughter will be home for dinner.

Color

It’s incredible what some overnight rain can do to autumnal color.
Sure, the girls and I were out walking in the rain…
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After all, pups ALWAYS have to go, and thanks to the Internet, I am learning things about the dog’s nose and the coat on it that brings them to smell their trail and their friends trail..I mean who am I to begrudge them that, right?

The weather is overcast, varying from drizzle to rain, and as we walked, a lot of the color was down beneath our feet.Don’t get me wrong: anytime we are together is the best, and walking on black macadam with yellow and orange leaves on slick streets almost makes the area look like art deco.

I did manage to find one more splash of color to make our day. The picture is below.

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A salute to all Veterans out there: thanks for your service and we think you are the best.

Bermuda Triangle of “Knee-d”

My leg is rebelling.

More precisely, after close to a year of fit bit zipping, my right leg below my knee, is rebelling. Yesterday and today,it has been swollen a bit.

If you remember,or if you are late to the party, I had double knee replacements in March of 2011.So there should be no issues, right?

Hah.

With the swelling as one part of the Knee-d Bermuda Triangle, the second part would be the medical care.

Oh yeah.Had double knee replacements and have an issue with a leg? Don’t move ninety-some miles away from the surgeon who replaced your bum knees.You see, down here in the boonies, NOBODY wants to deal with your sore leg, as they don’t want to touch someone else’ work.Nice, eh?

The third point of this triangle is the leg itself.I used my head and didn’t do 15,000 steps today: I was babying it a little bit. The leg is somewhat less swollen than it was yesterday, and honestly, pain was really not an issue.It’s just when something gets swollen with your leg, and you know you are smack dab in the middle of your fifties, you get concerned.

Thanks to my friend Kate for a long distance consult.To my other buddies who have heard my tale of woe, thanks to you too. Zush and Kasia still got walked and by using my head, we are hopefully going back down to normal.

Stay tuned.

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That Kind of Day

So far, my morning has been spectacular….

I have had to take the girls out for separate walks. The Zusher needs an additional test from the vet and of course that requires a urine sample.No problem, I would do anything for her.

When I went back to get Kasia, and take her back in,I realize my fit bit zip had FALLEN out of its’ case clipped on my jeans. FALLEN OUT…FIT BIT ZIP…it is not a cheap pedometer and I am not used to going back around to retrace my steps, while a chorus of Saint Anthony, please come around dances in my brain.

Then, I called up my pension board, only to find out they need to send me a new withholding card, as they haven’t been taking quite the amount of tax out of my pension as they should have.

Hope springs eternal.

The rest of the day can only get better!

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Dreary

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Well, we finally had a rainy night last night, and, might I add, it is long overdue.

Of course the summer was long and dry,perfect:the reason was because I was working ALL summer and didn’t have a chance to ENJOY it.Well, I did when I got the chance to get out with the girls and Jim and went for a ride or a hike. Still, the summer went flying by.

Here it is, the first week of autumn, and my first”weekend” off, and of course it is really dreary.I am getting the girls out, and most particularly,Zush and I are taking second walks so I can get a urine sample from her for tomorrow’s vet visit. She is meeting her new vet, and getting her second blood work drawn.

Please work a prayer or send some healthy puppy vibes up for the Zusher tomorrow-she sure can use it!

Healthy is as healthy doesn’t….

I was off this morning so I had a chance to sleep in a little which was great.

Jim made a fresh vegetable and fruit juice which we had with poached eggs and rye toast, or at least I had the eggs and toast.

We went on the road and took the girls with us for a good hike back at Ponderlodge, the walking/nature area by us, and then went to our annual trek to buy mums. It was a great afternoon except for one thing…we got hungry.We had a coupon from McDonald’s for a free medium soda and fries when you buy a new buttermilk chicken sandwich.

Yup.

We got junk for lunch….

There is always room for a healthy dinner.

Zipping away

There was trauma in Fit Bit Zip land the other day…I actually lost it!

We were at our friend Max and his mom Norina, and I was sitting outside talking to her with the dogs. I knew I had it on all day at work, but was astonished-this never happened to me before.

We searched at home, and I texted Max as it was really the only place we were at. Well, Saint Anthony and Max to the rescue! He found it! It really was a frustrating loss, albeit temporarily, because I had 17,000+ steps on it. 

The problem with the Fit Bit Zip is the back. They have two small pieces of plastic that keep sliding off:Jim glued them once for me, but it seems once you have crossed over to wear on the device, or at least my type of wear,this can be a common malady.

I will be getting back to Fit Bit on this. They always have had decent customer service. I am counting on them! 

 

Late August Morning

The weather has actually gotten a little cooler,and for me, that’s a good thing.

The girls and I had gone out for a walk, and  the first time I had jeans on since it got cooler, well, the air was delightful. It was awesome not to be out in a total flop sweat.

I had stopped and looked at the ground and I snapped a picture.I had a sign of fall on the ground right in front of me-an acorn! I know that “Indian Summer” is a breath away. Yes, you can put me in the column of folks who wait for the time of Pumpkin Spice lattes at Starbucks.

I am ready for fall!

  

A Find

I walk the dogs before work, and even when I don’t work, it’s the first thing I do every day. 

The other day, as I went past the house at the corner, I noticed that they had stuff outside. The owners have had the property out for sale for a while.

Basically everything I saw was trashy,ready for the dump….except for this chair. There was a little bit of the rattan across the bottom that had seen better days. Outside of that, it is a perfectly good chair that I am sitting in now.

If I had to put it on Flea Market Flip, I might have gussied it up a little. On the show, they’d have hot glued gunned the rattan, polyurethaned the chair or painted it, thrown in a few matching cushions, and in their spare time, added on a side car.**joking**

For me, this chair is just right!

 

Fit Bit in an Ant Farm 

I made a major error yesterday morning. I got up, threw clothes on,got the girls walked, and 65 minutes later, I realized I did not put my fit bit on. Quel Horror!  3500 steps flying into the air!

So I majored in taking the scenic route yesterday, in order to make up those 3500 steps. It is so infuriating to feel married to my fit bit, but the results are speaking for themselves. I just got my Great Barrier Reef  badge for walking 1600 miles.

I walk everywhere,everyday at my own pace. I am not a race walker, nor do I ever want to be. I have two knee replacements and my motto is you can’t hit s moving target. I admit there are times when I am bone tired and walking is the last thing I feel like doing.i walk enough during the week in the ant farm maze at work.

My 13 year old Zush and 6 year old Kasia love to walk. I don’t want to disappoint them either. We go out together for the entire pack benefit. I am not bad mouthing race walkers, because they are surely more fit then I will ever be.

As for me and my girls…we’ll catch up. 

 

So I come home..

….walk the girls, and meet up with my buddy Isa, and her precious son,Nathan. I was in a post-work coma, and the girls and I were functioning on auto-pilot.

As we were going down the street, all of a sudden, I hear noise like a young toddler. I turned around, and there’s Nathan and Isa. That was the first time I heard him even to attempt to call. It was really sweet.

Now we are in for the night. Work is done, my 15,000 steps are done… Life is good.

  

Thursday, er,Saturday night

So we lost our pal, Lola; her family came to bring her back home and the house is echoing from one less set of four paws padding around.

Now comes the part where we get back to normal, or at least try to get back to normal. I wasted an hour of my life fighting with Verizon.Yup, that’s kind of back to normal. Walking Zush and Kasia around for a bit, yup. kind of normal.Trying to figure out what I need to get done tomorrow, another stab at normalcy.Sadness at the fact that my weekend is half over, yes that is normal.

There is something to the concept of threading water to get through a month: I need to master it quickly

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That Kind of Day

The good part of a day at work?

When it’s over, of course!

I worked the 10 to 6 shift today and when I got home, well, I was wiped out. We had decided that we’d have sphagetti for dinner, and after I walked the girls, I’d come in and start dinner.

Our neighbor Jerry came to the house while I was walking the girls, and brought ribs he made! They were absolutely fabulous. To top it all, just one kindness like this made me forget one lousy day.

Time to pay it forward.

The Zusher

Zush is giving me the stink-eye as I write this, as I feel she is patiently waiting to go for our longer night-time walk.

The humidity here as come down some, and although it is still hot, the air is at least moving and has a slight bit of coolness to it.Trust me, it’s not much, but enough that when you go outside you wonder what happened.

We will be going out and seeing the pretty summer flowers that have hung in with the heat and humidity.We take in the quiet before the weekenders come down, and literally stop to smell the roses.

Here’s hoping you have time to do the same!

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Watching TV

There’s nothing on tv.

We have cable, with the appropriate bells and whistles and premium channels and times are so hard, we are actually watching Phillies baseball for lack of anything better on.Truth be told, I have found some great stuff on Netflix so I really am not caring that the summer season is holding nothing on the television that I need to watch.

It is good, because the girls and I get to go our and walk and enjoy a quiet night and/or sunset.The flip side of this is we have to dodge the mosquitoes, but that’s part of the area here.

Still, a good sunset beats cable any night of the week, and a walk with the girls is the most healing of balms.

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The Pause That Refreshes….

It’s been that kind of week.

My nerves are shot.

The heat is climbing back up.

My solution?

I decided to go to my trusty freezer and pull out my frozen with a kiss bottle of vanilla vodka and made myself an adult beverage. I have made myself a vodka tonic with lime in it.

Now granted it’s not going to ease my mind or the knots in my back or worry about things, but all I need after this is 1800 steps and I’ll have finished 15,000 steps for the day, a few loads of wash, some walks with the girls, some visits with sick friends and some with neighbors.

Not a bad day off.

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The Morning After

In light of my blog post yesterday, I actually got a response from Mayor Michael Beck of Lower Township, who made sure I knew who didn’t vote for the dog restrictions.

Uh-huh.

Your leadership is SO strong that the new pretenders to the throne see no problem in ignoring your decisions and leadership, and you all just quietly voted the law in.People who had no life to go home to, who could afford to sit through all of your blow hard politics, were left scratching their heads wondering what happened ?

You should be ashamed of yourself.You lead people to believe that it would be taken under advisement and actually enforce the law already on the books.

Oh yeah. Let’s ENFORCE a law already on the books by writing a new law.And the hell with residents here: I’ll sell a ticket to watch you all collect the fines you are going to collect from those with open containers on the beach, along with dirty diapers left behind with Wawa hoagie wrappers.

Let the games begin.

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same stuff, different day….

.is what I have found out down here at Amity, er Townbank. More importantly a politician is a politician is a politician.

We went to the rather hush-hush hurry up meeting that was held at 4PM today at the town hall. Oh yes, Mr. Mayor, I really agree we should first ENFORCE the laws we have in existence.Let’s see how that fares through the end of the season.Plenty of blah-blah and total kiss offs to anyone who has a dog.They are more concerned about the tourists and their grandchildren and the possibility of them getting bit:did I tell you they announced in the meeting there was one, count’s ONE dog bite on file last year.

So screw the fact that people drove to this meeting from out-of-state, and the Mayor was a patronizing POS politician, talking out of both sides of his mouth.Some of us have lives to come home to and thingsact that people drove to this meeting from out-of-state, and the Mayor was a patronizing POS politician, talking out of both sides of his mouth.Some of us have lives to come home to and things to do, like walk the girls.

Didn’t my neighbor stay to the end and tell me that as everyone left, the board quietly voted to pass the amendment preventing dogs on beach from 11am to 4PM in season.Never mind the trash left behind by the day trippers and the crime that comes with them.This was what was causing them sleep.

Guess what, Mayor Michael Beck, Council persons, Norris Clark,Thomas Conrad, David Perry and Erik Simonsen.We have got your number and now that you made Lower Township lacking tolerance for dogs, we will be campaigning against you 5. Your pictures will be plastered all over and although you are not Michael Vick, well, when you separate us from our family members, there just aren’t words. We will make sure all people who rent will be “used to” renters, as we spread word through vet offices in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and New York.Every dog magazine will hear how terrible it is to be here in Lower Township, thanks to 5 men who write with their tiny pens in their pockets and sign laws to make them feel like big dogs.

Guess what,cowardly boys? You are going OUT.

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Copper Fit

I have a lower lumbar that is reflective of my 55 years if not more.

Seeing the ads that Brett Farve has out for the Copper Fit, I saw it and initially had a bad taste in my mouth.As a kid, you would always read about people wearing copper bracelets for arthritis.Sure, they claimed it worked, but eventually you heard more about people with green wrists from the bracelets.

I saw the copper fit ads and figured it was worth a shot.I had been scripted for prescription strength naproxen sodium,and figured if it worked, I’d save my both the abuse of taking the medicine, especially working in the bakery.There’s something about working the racks and having to scoot down that low, especially if alcohol isn’t involved, well, it’s rough on the back.

I have found that at least the back brace serves to keep the area warm, and I actually can function in the bakery. I can come home and after walking the girls, I lay with ice on my lower lumbar and I feel pretty good.

There’s got to be something to this copper fit: maybe it’s psychological, but it does work.

Full day

I did miss sleeping in today, as former retired people would people know.

We got up for Mass this morning, then paid a sick call on my buddy in Cape May.We then realized that we needed food for the house, so we went food shopping. We ran home and I walked the girls before coming back in and scarfing some lunch before changing for work.I got back in at 7:15 and walked the girls for their last walk of the night. Unfortunately, I have to get up early tomorrow morning for a doctor’s appointment.

I miss retirement. I miss my sleep.

Tarnished Town

So here I am in Townbank, Lower Township, New Jersey.

Retired, pulled up roots, relocated..we are all here.

I walk the girls four times a day. As it has gotten warmer, I have taken the early afternoon walk with Kasia, as Zush isn’t too comfortable with the heat. We walk for two miles, and part of it is on the bay. I have her leashed, and good Dog Mom that I am I have plenty of bags.We have come to enjoy it.

Until tonight.

My neighbor informed me that the local government meeting this past Monday night moved to BAN dogs from the beach between 11 and 4 from Memorial Day.

**Sigh**

I am not stupid. I have lived here in the winter. I know it is a vacation economy and they have to bow to folks who want to come down and go on the beach. Yup, they do, with their infants, toddlers, dirty diapers, juice boxes,little dogs, big dogs, toys, and when the day is done? They pull up their beach blanket, count their children and dogs, and go back to their rental.Never mind the soiled diapers that they leave behind, beer cans, Wawa hoagie wrappers, and the like. Oh that doesn’t happen? Walk with me after the day beach folks and see what is left behind.

Did I mention they are going to fine folks for being on the beach with dogs then? Leashed or otherwise? Hah…would love to see them to catch up with visitors.Whoa if word gets out to pet parents who rent down here, and they bring their dog down and find out their water dog CAN’T go in the water.Obviously the powers that be haven’t read any of the travel surveys that note the trend is people who own dogs LOVE to travel with them.

So now I have made this post, and if someone looks and finds the tags for Lower Township NJ and Townbank, I hope they are warned.

As for me and my girls, we aren’t defeated. Hah! Far from it. We know the shady route, and the girls know their Mom votes. I vote with my wallet and my actual electoral vote.I’ll make my voice heard.

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A calorie is a calorie….

..especially when you are averaging 15,000 steps a day.

After my GI bug bout,I decided to come back to walking with a vengeance.So, with the exception of this past Sunday, when we had to go back to Pennsylvania, I had 15,000 steps, at least,each day last week.I did cut myself some slack since we were socializing on Sunday.

It’s incredible when you are so conscious of what you are doing, in my case, walking, how it affects what you eat.I have completed behavior modification in the past with success, only to put weight on when my Mom got sick and I was caregiver for her with my brother,

Now it’s a new day, a Fit Bit zip, warmer weather, and 2,000 more steps for 15,000 for the day.

Pardon me…I have to go walk my girls…and me!

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Healthy quest

So we have been trying to eat somewhat healthier.

Somehow dinner tonight was heartburn inducing, even for me. I have been trying to stay away from all the drugstore remedies for it, seeing what I could do. I have a body who used to tell me take apple cider vinegar( 2 teaspoons) and that did work, until I found out the vinegar eats the enamel off your teeth. Yikes!

Call it divine intervention or what but when we went food shopping, I treated us to cored pineapple that they had in the produce section.Hmm…

I came in from our evening walk and could not take the discomfort any more.I remembered the pineapple, and knew of the bromide that is good for the digestion process. I took a few pieces and a little sip of the juice.

Good-bye heartburn!

Beauty all around

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This morning, while I was walking the girls, we walked down to the bay.It was a glorious day for it here, although the wind was blowing a bit.

While we were out, I stopped and looked out at the bay.We were at an area where there is a bench by the walkway so we sat down and took it the scene.Rather, I did,as the girls laid low and we happy laying in the grass.I took several deep breaths and knew. I knew the direction that I took when I retired was good.My life, for now, is somewhat peaceful and moving away from the city was the way to go. I always loved water, and as I looked out at the bay, I truly felt my soul at ease.

I knew I was home.

A hopeful week

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It was the week that was.

We are working our way out of the sick bay, and I actually got the girls out for a little while today and enjoyed the weather.I took them out and enjoyed the flowers and trees coming into bloom.

The flip side of that is that the pollen is knocking me for a loop, and that really hasn’t happened for a while.I am used to the fact that you have to pay a price for nature’s beauty, but I can’t help but wonder if the harshness of the winter has something to do with this onslaught of pollen.More than likely, I am just pulling out of the GI bug with a pollen chaser.

I am hoping that this week goes better than this past week.The shot I took of the dogwood blossoms made me feel optimistic.Here’s hoping you have a good week too!

Meanwhile back at Mayberry

I had the girls out this morning and got his picture.

You really couldn’t see it in this picture, but they put a speed limit sign up and to boot, it is a solar operated one.You can’t see in the picture, that above where the solar panel is, there are huge oak trees waiting to bloom out.

Was I the only one to see what’s wrong in this picture? Stay tuned, as it might seem there is some scuttlebutt about the placement.

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Breakfast of Champions

I always ate breakfast, as my figure through the years would advertise.

Then,I retired.

I would get up in the morning and get washed and dressed and get the girls their medicine.Then they are leashed up and away we go.Jim’s nephew would say the secret of losing weight is to have a little something as soon as you get up to within a half hour so you get your metabolism gets going.Good thought, but when you have had a radiation implant in your past, well, eating then leaving the house is not necessarily a wise idea.

Well, this morning we are up early.The girls are up and got medicine and walked. I am not eating the cereal advertised in the post,as the old schoolers in us would recognize Wheaties in a heartbeat.I am having a bowl of Special K protein and hoping for a good day.

It is the most important meal of the day:I do agree with that.Here’s hoping you had a good one.

New kids on the block

While out walking the girls today, we came across two young girls who were 9 years old.

The one girl, Isabelle, the girls and I had met before during the winters’ snow.Her friend Lily was with her.They both loved Zush, who went over to them and sat on their feet and the other girl’s leg.Kasia,as usual, was skittish and kept her distance.They had recognized us as we walked over and we stopped on the way back to talk.They talked to me about so many different things that my head was spinning.

I, thanks to my nephews, knew Minecraft,and the other computer games the girls were telling me about.They talked about haunted dolls and burying dolls by the swamp,Nine year old girls? More like 30 year olds, I felt,after talking to them.I think I was still playing school and Barbies when I was nine.

It was a pleasant experience talking to the girls, if not an education.If anyone was the old soul in the conversation, it was the two of them.It made me miss my childhood for a fleeting moment.

Walk called due to Inclement Weather

I was due to take the girls out tonight for their last walk of the night.

We went a total of two blocks and then the thunder and lightning kicked in.

Ewwww….

They pulled me back home as soon as they could and now both were hiding under my legs when I was in the bathroom and are now panting to beat the band.

It’s going to be a long spring and summer…just saying.

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Long Days’ Journey into Rain

It was a gorgeous day here today.

There was a slight breeze and I took the girls out for our 4 walks. We were enjoying the spring sunshine and breeze, but a funny thing happened during our third walk.

We were walking with my neighbor and her baby and while we were walking by the bay, a friend of mine was passing by.We met up with her in a few blocks, and she walked us back.She wanted the walk, she said, and we enjoyed her company.We all walked and talked and the walk back went by quickly.I felt bad though: my friend had a long walk back to her house.

I dropped the girls back at the house and I walked her back to her house.It felt good. Again, we were walking and talking, so it went by quickly.We said good-bye and I turned around and ugh! I had to walk back alone.Fortunately it was a pretty day, so it was nice.The weather is supposed to turn rainy tonight, so it made me want to savor the day.

I have to really thank Jackie Aschenfelter and the flip fitness class I took last year. Before I took this class, there is no way I could have done this walk. It was an awesome class and I miss my friends from it. Fortunately, I had the fit bit zip to follow it, and the magic number you see on the picture below shows a magic number I never reached before.

Thanks, Jackie!

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The Zusher

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Zush is really my bestie.

She tolerates Jim putting his glasses on her and actually sits for it with an invisible little bubble over her head that would say,” But it’s my Dad, so I guess I have to.”

It is hard for me to leash her, because she is so well-behaved, but in season, the law here is all dogs must be on a leash.I look over to her and tell her she has to have a leash on and she looks up at me and I can feel her sigh.She resigns herself to the fact and hangs in as we walk, and just goes bananas when we get close to the house.Once she gets into the yard,she says with her eyes,”Will you get this leash off of me?”

She really has hung with me, especially through the first few months of retirement, to the point where Jim said her eyes follow me where ever I am in the house.

She’s my heart!

Beautiful day…

…because we are due,according to the weatherman, to have snow tomorrow morning.

We have to go to another part of the state for a funeral tomorrow morning, so we have to call it an early night.The fit bit zip has seen lucky 15,000 steps, we had Chinese food for dinner**our first since we relocated down here**, all I have to do is get the girls out for a quick good night walk, and then we are shutting down for the night.

Have a good Friday, and if the weather is iffy tomorrow where you are, be careful,ok?

Well, at least it cleaned the car off…

We had a full day of rain today.

What’s the old school saying? It makes the flowers grow? It cleans the air of all the pollen, snow, pollution,fill in the blank ________.

There is something nice about a full rainy day on a Saturday.Not a rainy week, mind you, or three rainy days in a row, but a rainy Saturday.

You get up in the morning when the spirit moves you.Things seem to go a little slower.When the girls and I walk, we are walking slower because it must make the smells more attractive to the girls.Not too many people are out so the world is a little quieter, except for your footsteps and the sound of the rain.

The highlight of the day?

The salt got cleaned off the car…..lol.

Hole-y Sinking Sand!

The girls and I had a rare treat today.
Jim finished work early and we celebrated by taking a 3 mile walk on the Cove beach at Cape May.

We had a rough time for a little,though.

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Where we were walking, which would normally have been the sand right around the tide line, when you stepped on, when Zush stepped on it, it sunk! I mean, you would put your foot down and your foot would go down a bit and then, eventually, you hit another layer of sand.It scared me, and Zush and Jim, when it happened to each of us: eventually we moved away from the tide line.

We love the Cove, as do a ton of folks, because it allows you a southward view of the ocean and beach and the lighthouse at Cape May State Park.
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We took our time walking,picking up seashells as we went along.There is a bunker that was built for World War II that still was on the beach, and for some reason,we couldn’t make it out from the distance. It gave us incentive to keep on walking.Well, we decided when we would make it to the bunker, we’d touch it and then turn back.

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Here’s a shot of Jim and Zush when we made it down to the ruins of the bunker. Kasia was walking with me.I took this shot of the lighthouse and considered it my reward for the effort and to make 15,000 for my fit bit zip today.

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It was a wonderful family outing…I am hoping we have more of them in the future.

Squirrel Girl

There is a history behind my affection for squirrels.

When I was a kid, my Mom let me go to the local recreation center and one of the first arts and crafts that I did was painting a plaster of paris mold of a squirrel. I loved that statue and it was around for a full time.As a kid, I’d go with my best friend, Karen, and we’d collect acorns and put them in the trees for the squirrels.Seriously.We did.

When I got older and was up Penn State’s main campus,I met the timid, almost tame squirrels.I was in heaven.When Zush came into my life, she chased squirrels and she became my squirrel girl.

It was very funny.that as we go for walks here, I found a sign that I was meant to be here.
The picture is below.

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Winter Storm OVER

I guess the Weather Channel thinks they have almighty power over the National Weather Service and have decided to name all the winter storms.

Seriously?

And tonight’s storm due to hit here is named Thor? What’s more depressing?The fact it’s March 4th and all the storms have hit ALL THE WAY down to”T”? Or is it more depressing that we have managed to make it through and are still here to see yet ANOTHER storm? Would it be the fact that the Weather Channel figures it’s a cute marketing tool to name those storms.

Dear Weather Channel,

I am 55 years old and have gone through enough storms.I know there will be more to come.Do you have to be cute with the winter storms? Seriously? Just tell us what’s up,ok? Unless you are coming to shovel or walk the girls in the ice, just the facts, ok?

A disgusted viewer who doesn’t live in Boston.

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Inland Ice

Yesterdays’ post dealt with chunks of ice in Delaware Bay.

Overnight we had sleet down here that would have had Katerina Witt shaking her head and going WTF?

Our handicapped ramp in the back is metal, so when I take the girls out, I have to go out very slowly, as I still have the phobia of landing on my knees and seeing pieces of metal sticking out of my knee replacements.It’s almost 4 years but falling on ice is still pretty scary.

We went down for our walk this morning and although the temperature was pretty stable at 28, you were getting your head wet from the ice melting when it dripped off the trees.I feel sorry for Kasia, because with weather getting warmer, she will definitely miss the snow. The girls are pretty good though, as they know the tone of my voice when I tell them,”Go slow for Mommy.”

I hope, gentle reader, you have fared well in the ice. Hang in there: spring is coming.

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Busy Saturday

We have had a busy Saturday so far.

You know it’s kind of busy when, by 5:45PM, I have 11,000+ steps on the Fit Bit and synched it early due to our “date night”.The girls and I have been out for a few miles walking today. Jim joined us for one of the walks, so that was nice, as usually it’s just me and the girls.We managed to get a quick stop in at CVS and stopped to see my buddy Linda and her family. It was good because we haven’t seen Duch in a while and I got to meet her youngest granddaughter, Emily.

Now we are back in, trying to woof down some dinner,and get ready for our Diana Krall concert in Atlantic City tonight.The girls are walked, we’re almost ready to go…

Stay warm, friends!

It’s been that kind of week.

I am writing this at 8:59PM because I am getting ready for bed, and figured now is as good as a time as any to blog. I just had a hot shower and washed my hair.

The big deal about this?

Uh, our pipes froze last night.

Fortunately our neighbor Tom from down the street loaned us a heater and a kick-butt industrial extension cord and along with my hair dryer, water is back here in Undisclosed.This explains, if you here with me now, why you hear the end of the dishwasher cycle and the dryer on and washer.I mean, seriously? My bathtub is filled so we can flush toilets, water jugs filled for the dogs and us, Keurig reservoir is filled…wow! It’s incredible that 16 hours without water makes you feel like the prehistoric age.A gentle reminder from above to appreciate what you have.

Jim is out giving the girls their last walk of the night, and I can’t help wonder about the amount of women who, once the temperatures are constant again around 36-40, will be joining me in the store to get a new hair dryer…who’s with me?

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Pretty sad to say when you were actually out walking in 30 degree weather and enjoying it.

I watch the weather channel and heave a mighty sigh when I see what the Northeastern part of the United States, especially Boston, is going through.We actually had a pleasant day, where I went out with a shovel and tried to move snow around before the Siberian chill hits.I managed to make my 10,000 fit bit steps early and am still trying to do a few more, in anticipation of NOT going out tomorrow.

It is really crazy,as the Siberian chill is due to hit here tomorrow and Friday, and Saturday it is due to rain here and be 46.I longingly think back to the time when winter was winter and you knew it: you weren’t playing twirl the radio dial as fast as you can to see what the next hour’s weather will bring.
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The girls had fun walking with me.They get a wee bit confused when I stay inside and they have to go in the yard for the bathroom.They miss the exercise we get together.I miss the exercise together. The wind chill, though, keeps my feet firmly planted on the ground.

Stay warm and be safe! Watch the ice!

Walking on Water

It is another chilly **understatement of the century**day.

Errands were run today and the wind chill actually let me go out with the girls twice today for walks. We walked some sugar cookies over to our neighbors who are moving back into their house.They had a rancher, but to accommodate their family of 4, they moved out to allow workmen to construct a second story.The cookies were a gift to welcome them back in: with hot cocoa they can enjoy them after dinner tonight.

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We drove past the bay after grocery shopping today:no, it wasn’t an eggs,bread and milk run.It was a weekly grocery trip.We knew it was cold out but there we saw a house with such poor insulation, or a roof warmed in this cold weather by the sun.On it were all these birds sitting on the roof trying to warm up.

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This was the scene we took in at the bay.It looked as if you could walk out, if you wanted to, and walk on the solidly frozen bay.It made my mind think of Alaska, not Undisclosed.I don’t mind winter.Honestly, it’s the truth, I like changing seasons.I just didn’t sign on for walking on a frozen bay.

Damn Cold

It’s 7:48pm and I have 8446 steps logged on my fit bit zip.

I’m pissed.

It’s too damn cold out.My girls have had to put up with the yard today.I wasn’t happy about doing it, nor were they to go out without me walking with them.Jim and I stepped out for a quick bit to the Lobster House to pick up a belated take out dinner.That afforded me a few steps in actual comfort but I am officially addicted to my fit bit zip.I can’t sit quietly all day because I know I have to get my steps in.

It’s going to be a long day tomorrow too, but we’ll see what’s up. I want to watch the SNL special so I have to go “house-walking”.

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How cold is it?

We savored the day today, as a clipper is due to hit this area especially tomorrow, Sunday and Monday, with a scheduled high of 18 and low of 9. The clincher is the wind chill, which is due to make it feel like -10 to -25.

I am not too stupid when it comes to weather. I will take the girls out tomorrow and then see how bad it is. They might be going to the potty in the yard if indeed the wind really is that bad. If not,I will get them out and get some steps in to boot.

Tomorrow is Friday the 13th and I’m looking forward to only good things this weekend.Stay warm, snuggle with your Valentine, and be safe!

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Kicking it Back

We’re relaxing out here at Undisclosed West today.

My buddy Juls and I went our way for a few hours to hang and the guys did their thing. We got back here and I had the girls out for a spell where everyone was making snow angels: it was all rather cute here at March Mountain.The were walking with me and helped me make my Fit Bit Zip steps. We are waiting to get ourselves together to go out for dinner. It was odd being here with all the snow, only to have temperatures go into the 40’s. At least the girls got to eat all the fresh snow they wanted.

We always have fun while we are out here, and it always seems to go by so fast when we have to leave to go back. Definitely we have to get together a little more!

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Moonlight feels right, er, cold…

We are down here now, and I had walked the girls for a bit today.There were swaying trees in the wind that scared especially Kasia.I managed to do my 10,000 steps today on my fit bit zip despite that.

As I sat in the house today and heard the wind, I didn’t necessarily want to go back out.Jim took the girls out after dinner and I stayed in here and tried to stay warm.We went out tonight to pick up medicine from the drugstore, and the wind serenaded us all the way up.We got what we needed, came back home, and now are in tight for the night.

It’s a shame thought.The perk of being down the shore off-season is how quiet it is and very peaceful it is.When we were out tonight,I looked up in the sky and saw the beautiful moon and stars. You never had a chance to appreciate it in the city, but down here, it looks wonderful.
The only bad part? It’s so damn cold and windy!

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The storm that wasn’t..

…at least not here.

Poor New England got their butt kicked with snow, but I remain oh, so thankful, I didn’t run out and buy eggs, bread and milk.It was a pleasant surprise when I woke up this morning and looked out our window.I slept like crap, probably because I was anticipating a long day.

The girls got out with me, and I capped off the fit bit zip at 10,142, because my legs were awfully tired from 18,000+ steps yesterday.Now I get to get a hot shower, and tuck into fleece sheets.The clipper that is due allegedly coming through tomorrow, so warmth is the name of the game.

Stay safe and warm,friends.Below,the girls on their morning walk.

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Dodging the bullet…

…for a day.

Or at least three-quarters of a day.

Looking at the television, and seeing snow in Philadelphia, New York and other spots, when it came time for me to walk the girls in the rain, I was a happy girl. I even managed to get over 18,000 steps in today on my Fit Bit zip.

Because? Yes, I know “it’s coming.”The barometric pressure is coming down.The girls have been walked to the point of exhaustion.I’m beat too. Worrying about if we are going to lose power when the wet snow brings wires down.Do we have candles and flashlights?The house has everything and all we have to do is wait.

Stay safe,friends,especially if in the snow zone.

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No snow day

We had some snow fall today.

The forecast had me out early walking the girls, or should I say, Zush led the way and we walked a ton today. Fortunately we came in to pass out just as the snow was starting to flurry.I spoke to a former co-worker who gleefully let me know school children in the city were being let out at 1:30PM. I lamented the fact that I couldn’t call in for a snow sick day, or vacation day, or whatever. We laughed about that.

So January is half way done.

Spring is just around the corner.

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Fit Bit Flu

I was hit with a GI bug around 2am this morning.Not much fun.

The sleep I lost caused me to sleep a little later and wave “buh-bye” to 15,000 steps today.I realized from the get go that it is more important for me to get rid of this bug than to kick over another 15,000 steps.

I am going out now to give the girls their last stroll of the night with me.Jim took the first walk this morning, well, by default.It’ll be interesting to see what the final number is, as I just want to come back in, take a hot shower, watch American Idol, and go to bed.

Stay tuned….

Oh, BTW? My last number for the night is 10,269…not to shabby.

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Fit Bit Bug

I was hit with a GI bug around 2am this morning.Not much fun.

The sleep I lost caused me to sleep a little later and wave “buh-bye” to 15,000 steps today.I realized from the get go that it is more important for me to get rid of this bug than to kick over another 15,000 steps.

I am going out now to give the girls their last stroll of the night with me.Jim took the first walk this morning, well, by default.It’ll be interesting to see what the final number is, as I just want to come back in, take a hot shower, watch American Idol, and go to bed.

Stay tuned….

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Hail, hail the gangs all here….

We got through the day and the family is back as a whole.

Zush made it through her surgery,thank God.

We got through the day in different ways. Jim tried to work through the day and did a few things through the house.Kasia went through the day having a hunger strike because she missed her sister: it was the first time in 5 1/2 years they were apart for a good part of the day.I kept going back and forth through the house, praying and puttering and waiting to hear the outcome from the vet.

We got the call and were relieved that she made it through the surgery, as she is 13 in February and at that age we take nothing for granted. We picked her up at 4PM and the weirdest part is the only walk we can do is a potty walk on a leash and then back in. It’s hard because she is a walker, and the colder weather is her trump card.Normally she would run back to the house after a walk, but it’s going to be rough.

We are blessed that we are all together.

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Should old…you know the rest…

I am home tonight with my girls, as Jim took an entire SUV full of our belongings down to Undisclosed. I tried to talk him into staying down there for tonight, as I know tonight is amateur hour, and I am worried about his safety on the road.He is determined to come back tonight though…

The girls and I just got back in from our last walk of 2014, taking in some neon Christmas lights.

I wish you all a happy and healthy 2015!

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Melancholy Overload

A buddy of mine had posted a picture on Facebook tonight and it showed a plate of pizzelle cookies and some wine.Gee, I thought, what a good idea, until I remembered that my pizzelle maker is down at Undisclosed.

**sigh**

I think of other things that I could be doing up here, or, over the weekend, reverse it to down there, and whatever I am looking for always seems to be in the opposite place.The girls and I have been doing our walks, and I look around at their favorite routes and wonder to myself if they’ll miss it.

**sigh**

I stop and think about the history of this house that I am in right now, and it is the last place that my entire family was together seventeen years ago. Yes, I know that you take the memories with you but,……

**sigh**

We are going through the holiday season right now and I am trying hard to keep in the spirit. It really isn’t easy, and as my buddies would say, when you are down there full time, things will be good and different and you will feel better.

I like to think that I am ready to move forward into a new chapter of life. I just wish I didn’t feel the need to think I am going to need an ativan chaser for it.

Worn out

The stress of moving is really catching up to the both of us.

Jim actually helped me do the chocolate covered pretzels that we give neighbors every year at the holiday.We had packed the car up almost to the hilt today, and it had the odd feel of being a Beverly Hillbilly trip to the house today.While going through motions of moving things in and walking the girls for a healthy trek, it has left muscles in a big fat knot.

A hot shower and off to bed! That’s the ticket!

Good night!

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I really had a crappy bus commute this morning coming into work and texted Jim that I was going to blog about it tonight.

Until I came home and got off the bus, and got home and got the girls.

My mood changed.

We went for our pre-dinner walk and we took in the local Christmas lights of the immediate area that we walk in, where there was basically semi-detached, or “twin” houses.The girls are always happy to be out with me, especially in my zip fit bit stage, because they know we will WALK!
We did, and we paused on occasion to take the lights in. I have to watch with the big blow up snow globes, because Kasia gets scared of them.

Below are a few of the pictures that made a crappy morning and mediocre day into a fun night.

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Keep it clean!

I came home from work tonight to find out our Zush got her bandage off. Jim let me know, and as Dr./Nurse Mom, it’s my job to clean her up. I washed the area and cleaned it up, put Neosporin on it and tried self stick adhesive bandage over non stick gauze.**fingers crossed**

Kasia is keeping her sister on her toes, as it’s Halloween week, Kasia doesn’t care for kids.They probably teased or hurt her when she was younger, but kids are running up and down the street looking at Halloween decorations. Zush is just being a puppy: the pain-killer makes her feel that good. In the meantime, Kasia is ready to pull me into the street to get away from kids.

In the grand scheme of things, keep the prayers coming.They are appreciated by all of us.Trust us, we are sending them back up for you!

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The Perils of Pauline,er, Zush…

We managed to get in to the vet with Zush today.She isn’t yelping all the time, but the sporadic yelps let me know she is uncomfortable.He gave her another shot of cortisone and we are leash walking her only for potty walks so she can heal.

It’s a job.

After we got her in for her first shot, combined with the pain killers, she was feeling so good she went and tweaked her back again.That’s the rough part about working. You don’t know if you missed her doing something or she did it while we were working or what.It’s frustrating because you don’t know why and, like an infant or toddler, you are left to wonder what’s the problem.

Down here at Undisclosed, I found a new vet, who is willing to help us until we are down here full-time. I am going to be working with the Cape May Veterinary Hospital with taking care of Zush as needed when we are down here. Eventually they’ll be our new vet.They were so nice over the phone and I felt comforted by them and knew it would be a good fit with the girls.

Hold good thoughts for both the fur girls, especially Zush.

We’ll keep you posted.

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Zosiacare

Too bad my girl doesn’t qualify for Obama care..lol

All of a sudden Zush was in such apparent pain she kept leaving little yelps of pain out to let us know something wasn’t right. My nephew Gregory was kind enough to get over to the vet yesterday and pick up her Tramadol for her arthritis.That, we thought, would have resolved the issue but it didn’t.

This morning was not a fun scene. Zush obviously in pain yelping, Kasia wondering what’s wrong and me crying because, yes, damn it, they’re my fur kids.Managed to get through the day to 1:30, when I could leave for the girl’s 2:30pm appointment.

She was in such pain Jim had trouble getting her out of the car, but she got down and into the vet we went. Evidently, Zush’s spine was out of whack and now, with a steroid shot, and slow bathroom only walks, we’ll have our Zush up to speed in new time.When you are talking about a fur baby that’s 12 years old, well we had a big sigh of relief for our girl.She is the rock of our lives!

Below is a shot of Jim’s arm as he carries our Zush out of the back of the car.

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Full Moon

I walked the girls tonight, as we have had a long day. I figured I would give Jim a break and take the girls out for their last walk of the day.

It was the kind of walk that as you walked, even with keeping eyes on the dogs, your mind kept reviewing the events of the day. I thought of my Mom, momentarily, and thanked God I can still remember the events of the day.

The weather has gotten September like, cool and crisp. I looked up and saw this wonderful picture in my eye. I knew the Designer’s masterpiece when I see it.

 

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I miss the snow.

Yup.

Don’t hate me because I do, but I do. I think back to when it was 9 below and I had to walk the girls and thought, spring will be coming. Spring. Spring got me smiling.The thought of summer didn’t.

Mosquitoes, heat,sweat, public transportation…not rocking my world.It’s my fault that I probably look like crap in a bathing suit, but hey,air-conditioning works.Sure, there’s watermelon, water-ice, pasta salad,water, iced tea,and healthier, lighter eating, but **shaking my head** I am and always will be a sweater girl. I like to be cool to the point of needing a little warmth. I know if I was younger,well, summer rocked. If I knew then what I know now, well, I’d never have to give my dermatologist business for skin cancer checks.

So I will veg out with some iced tea, and sit in front of the fan, but rest assured,I am waiting for October.

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Beautiful morning…

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…if you don’t mind some humidity and early summer heat. Fortunately it is due to rain tonight into tomorrow to, hopefully,cool things down a little.

The shot gave me a decent nights’ sleep,and thanks to Comcast living up to its’ crappy reputation, our modem was down this morning so I took the girls out solo while Jim wrangled with the internet. Our walk was pleasant,though, and we enjoyed the sights and smells of a late spring morning. The picture above is a rose we walked past and I stopped to admire.

Stay cool!

Bouncing off of concrete

I walked the girls when I came in last night from work.

It was my usual deal; our “quiet time”, if you will, that we walk through the neighborhood and smell the flowers.

Kasia saw a dog up the street and wanted to hurry and catch up.Unfortunately, it corresponded with a slight rise in the concrete, which ended up with me falling on my right knee and side. Ouch! I ended up being in bed at 7 last night, with a frozen water bottle on my side and an icepack on my knee. Needless to say, I am walking like Walter Brennan**showing my age** in The Real McCoys. It never ceases to amaze me but you would think that you would have some bounce off of concrete, when you have a cushion, of sorts, around you.

Fat chance!

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Beautiful Sunrise

As I sit here at the laptop and look at the window, the sun reflects off the fence and is absolutely radiant.

Fortunately I am inside: it is bitter cold outside, and Jim is on his way to work.It’s 9 degrees out,with an alleged high of 23 here in the city today.Undisclosed Deux is leading the pack with a blistering 14 degrees and an alleged 28 degree high.

I am lovingly waiting for a break in the weather where the girls and I can walk a little further and we all can get out in the fresh air.As Jim just mentioned when he left, he hopes the car starts in this cold.The few birds out are singing: how they are managing to do that is God’s wonder.

Someone remind me of this post when we have 25 days of 90 degree plus weather, ok?

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It’s quiet.

It’s 1:17am and I am the only one awake in our home.

Amazing what trying to rebound from slipping and falling will do to you.

I crashed and burned about 9:30pm and Kept my aching body under the covers. I had a scare when walking the girls last night that the ligament behind the right knee was not feeling too supportive and I have not felt that in a long, long time.It’s hard to believe that it’s going to be three years since the knees were replaced.Jim and I both agree that we have to shake off this temporary abode malaise and start getting our act together. I personally am looking forward to having a fully working kitchen again and flatlands to exercise myself and the pups in.

Bring it on!

Below? An almost three year old picture of the knees while in rehab…lovely, right?
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After the fact.

Through the ups and downs of the week, there has been one saving grace: the thought of being here, together as a family, just to relax.

We went out to dinner tonight and came back early to relax and rest. Jim will get the fur girls out for one last walk of the night.I get to hang out on-line for a little while I am doing wash.It would be nice to be out watching Olympics on television: I guess I can maybe try to find something streaming on-line.

We are just going to exhale and enjoy our weekend: hope you get to do the same.

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Dysfunctional Weather

I wish, sometimes, weather would stay somewhat consistent for a bit.

We came down last week, and even, on this past Friday, the bay really resembled a polar icecap. You literally could see the chunks of ice floating in the bay. I should say, that’s’ if they floated: it was so cold that it looked more like a white boulder field at times.

When the girls and I went out this morning, we knew it snowed down here during the week and they both loved it.I enjoy to see how much Zush still thinks she is a young Eskimo sled dog in the snow, and Kasia has decided that doggie snow angels are her strong suit.

The story changed by mid-day, when the weather warmed up it time for us to start emptying the storage locker. Snow gave way to mud puddles, and there were a ton of them. Jim and I were carrying boxes and trying not to give anything a mud bath in the process.

We had gone out for dinner with our friend and sitting now, Jim had come back in with the girls and was soaking wet from rain.

Did I mention they were calling for snow here on Tuesday?

**sigh**

Happy Groundhogs’ Day!

Running on Empty

It was a long day today.The only break I had ? I managed to catch the early express train home and that was an unexpected surprise,

The trick was, after I came home, to walk the girls, then I came back in to make us a somewhat healthy dinner. After all, I started the day with heat to tweak my metabolism. I went and filet a bone in chicken breast or two.We had a baked sweet potato and mixed vegetables. There has to be some thought to make a “healthy” dinner so I am going to give it a shot.

We’ll see how far this goes.
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Another day in Paradise**read heavy sarcasm**

So it’s Wednesday in a week that I have to stay up here in the city.

Bizarre.

Although I am taking advantage of being stuck up here on Saturday,so we both can get our eyes checked out. Outside of that, the gals will have to be walked ad nauseam so they will tire for us. We are going out to a birthday party Saturday night.

But it’s the office.

Normally this would be my Thursday…it’s not.

**sigh**

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Work is never done…

Sunday morning at the ” Campground”,and we have plenty to do.

Jim is out taking the trash to the recycle yard. Once he comes back with
the rake, I get to go raking leaves, as we are fortunate enough to have
the township collect them curbside.We need a few walk-throughs in the
new house and walks with the girls.

It’ll be a busy Sunday. Enjoy yours!

Today’s the day..

Hopefully ,by this time tomorrow,I’ll have an idea of what is going on with my back. The pain has gotten down considerably with Aleve and icing at night and morning. When you have enough medical history as I do, well,it still gives you a few nervous moments.

We went on a family walk last night and all enjoyed the nice breezy weather.It’s incredible to see how much more energy Zush has, as do I, when the weather breaks for a bit. It made me stop and realize that half of August is gone.

Enjoy your Thursday!

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Weather or not..

It’s Friday, which gives purpose to the fact that it’s supposed to rain.

Not that I am complaining, mind you. I went through the barometric
pressure headache that predicted this current patch of weather.The
front comes through, and bang, the headache goes. Amazing that
weather can affect a body: I am constantly amazed by that fact.

The leaves are turning a richer shade of green apropos of late
summer, and even with the overcast sky,it is a pretty day.The breeze
is going through the bushes in the next yard.The girls and I are getting
ready to go for our stroll between the raindrops.

Enjoy the day!

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Sing around the campfire…

We have returned…

Old Undisclosed is officially gone.

It is quite funny to pull up and look at a space that looks better suited for growing a field of corn or something. Our little cottage that was in the rear now stands forlornly in the corner of the lot, wondering what happened, no doubt.

The flip side is as the house is down, the corresponding amount of mud has increased.I didn’t have enough foresight to bring some larger old rug to take care of the messy shoes and dog prints.I am sure ,though, that we’ll be eyeballing the new house as it goes up, and I’ll be able to bring something else down.

The fur girls are somewhat content to be down, although they no longer can run around in reckless abandon, as the fence in the front is down.We have them out walking and they seem to be happy.

Jim will be meeting with the builder later, so it is quite nice to feel,albeit a pin hole,light at the end of the tunnel.

Stay tuned.

Whew!

Well, had the classic middle age life experience this morning: up to tap a kidney at 3:30am-so much for sleep.

On the flip side, I got the girls out for their morning walk and met up with my buddy Kathy.Kathy fostered my Zush when she was 6 months old for the SPCA. It’s funny, because 12 years later, I give her the ok to go, and she’ll run to Kathy-she remembers her! Kath has two new dogs of their own, Henry and Chunks.The four of them had a good walk together, and it was good to see my buddy.

Now to get ready for the office and yet another day of heat.Hope it is going to break soon;after all,there are only so many outfits a gal can put together with one eye open.

Have a great day!

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Daniel Boone et al

So I mentioned that a new Undisclosed location is going to be put up soon?
Did I mention they have to shut utilities off in order to get rid of this house? Oh,and did I mention this is one of the rare times we both have 5 days off together ?

Hello Daniel and Rebecca Boone!

No, it’s not exactly that rough, but it truly lives up to the old chestnut about appreciating something /someone when it’s gone…in this case, electricity.

We aren’t really roughing it, after all, Zush is 12 and sweating isn’t my forte’ either, so we got a generator. We figured that eventually living down here, in the land of Nor’easters , tropical storms, and hurricanes, it’ll be of some use.

In the meantime, we are all squeezed into a little cottage; Zusher, Kasia, Jim and myself.

Ah, togetherness!

Happy Fourth of July!

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Pull

I don’t mean I have a lot of pull.

I used to get a lot of pull… from Kasia, my younger dog. Now that we are at domicile Deux , we have no fenced in yard, and laws at Undisclosed location make us have both girls on a leash.
Zush finds this law humiliating: she’s a person, or so she says…lol

I found this leash on the Internet
. It goes cushioned around Kasia’s groin , then a piece runs to her collar- you latch it on. Basically it allows control from torso, not neck.

She sure is happier, I am happier ….and the picture below is her modeling her girly pink leash for you.

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Fur girl and Mom malaise

Too much has been going on lately for the liking of me and the girls. Us gals stick together, as they have been the last few days with my cellulitis .. They have been patient, and you KNOW they know something’s wrong or different .

We are comfortable with our routines, but now without me walking them…they know they have to make do, each walk fills me with melancholia. Even if you pass this way again, it just isn’t the same.

We girls will go forward,and try to keep new routines but in new places.Wish us luck!

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Friday Five

It’s been a while so here goes…

I am grateful for the delicious cool front blowing through the area this morning.
It makes the fur girls and myself oh so comfy not to sweat.

The birch trees we have planted along the side of the house are nid=ce and green and protecting the house
with lovely shade.Not only pretty, not only home to the birds, but shady!

A chance to have a three day weekend away from city issues and bumps and
bruises-the body and mind are both grateful .

An opportunity to get some good fur girl walking in to get all three of
us in shape-go team fur girl!

For all my good friends and your support for me, please always feel it’s right
back at you!

Have a great weekend.

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Worn out

Worked some overtime today, but was glad to run out home to Jim and the girls.

The rain had been sporadic all day, yet we have to put the fan on because its’ so humid.

So after a quick dinner, Kasia, Zush and I walked the neighborhood. Now we are kicking back before bedtime… Ready to fight again tomorrow.

Needing some fur children love

It has been that kind of day.

The minutiae of work, trying to get my brain to stop traveling through issues.My mind is stressing over stuff, some needed, some warranted,ok , but…

As a follow-up to yesterday’s posting on my Zush and Kasia ,boy, am I ever in need of my gals…I think a good walk with the gals will hit the spot. The amount of BS that has been around on a daily basis, well, it has to be shaken away.

Not that I don’t love Jim~ I do with all my heart and then some. He’s stressed out like me too … but being in an office all day? The girls are the answer!

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Amazing..

..how being stuck in the big city just one weekend makes you love the fact that a weekend of Undisclosed location seem like Nirvana.

Just couldn’t stay in bed this morning, so it was to my advantage to get on up and get the day started.I made some cookies to take down because we are hosting game night tomorrow night. All I really have to do is finish laundry, pack on up, walk the girls and wait for Jim.

Enjoy your weekend …I know I will!

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Long day hacking

It was a long day in the office today: probably due to the arrival of daylight savings time.Once again, it was dark in the morning, but working later, I had the added perk of having sunlight, or should I say twilight? Either way you slice it, it was swell coming home with the light!

The hack,a.k.a. I”ll walk a mile for a Camel cough, is doing somewhat better…instead of hacking every five minutes, I can actually go 1/2 hour without coughing~ a major feat!

Now,with no offense to my fur girls, if only the cough would no longer sound like it belonged to a cocker spaniel….lol

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Foggy Sunday

Going a little slow for a Sunday, trying to heal those ribs. We’re taking a little housekeeping on, slowly packing up clean clothes and the like. We’ve had a little breakfast, and are moving slowly to get the day going.

There was the promise of some sun today but the fog is fighting hard to keep it away. Jim is going to go and try to get a beach walk in, and the girls and I will be getting some exercise too.

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Ssh…don’t tell anyone…

..but it’s the weekend and we are both**knocking wood** feeling a little better.

I don’t know if it is the juicing, when, in fact, we’ve had none today, or the fact it’s the weekend, but whatever psychologically has put us in this frame of mind, hey, I’ll take it.

We are both hanging at our dining room table , both on computers. I have to surf the net to see if I can find a few knitting patterns, but the day went well for the girls in the house. We got many walks in and chores done.Now we all are kicking back and hoping to enjoy the weekend and stay warm.

Here’s hoping the same for you!

Beautiful Saturday

We had wonderful weather yesterday and so far today, but as far as I am concerned, four days away from the city and job are the ticket.

The wash is about five minutes away from hanging, after that the girls get their walk with Mommy, and then if Mommy is lucky, I’ll get some quiet time to sit out and read. Oh, I forgot one thing- tomato bath for Kasia the skunk girl. Shingleman says he will help me with that….

Film at 11.

Driftwood

We celebrated the first day of autumn with a trip…

By me..,

Landing on a blunt stick of driftwood, thanking God I didn’t land on the sharp part: I wouldn’t be writing this now. I have also thanked God for my belly, since I landed on it, I didn’t puncture the skin deep, but punctured it deep enough to scare me to pieces. All of this was due to me trying to be a polite dog mom and give a teacup terrier freedom from Kas.

Glad today is almost done.
**Whew**

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Laying low before the storm

Today is a nice day. There’s a nice breeze going when you are by the bay. We put the air back on because the humidity is back.

The weather forecast is calling for a bad storm later, with winds and hail. We are going out now so the girls won’t go stir crazy later.

Just a good day to kick back and take it all in.

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Friday gratitude 5

How grateful am I to have had a chunk of time off. It gave me the chance to relax, spend quality time with Zush, bond tighter with Kasia, ….in short, a chance to kick back.

The weather cooperated enough to get us dog walking daily and savor the peace and quiet .Thankful, I think, all three of us are.

I was so grateful to step away from the office and kind of experience a taste of retirement. I am ready for it!

Shingleman is coming down today-always nice and grateful for having him in my life.

My final gratitude moment is for hydrocortisone cream/ rubbing alcohol/witch hazel… Mosquito bites are almost tolerable!

Have a good weekend!

Work A Little, Play a little…

So, trying to take advantage of the down time, I have Evita on in the background as I try to multitask, trying to keep the girls happy, get some chores done, and not make myself nuttier**insert your witty take on nuttier here____*** than normal.

Bowing to off time, the girls and I had a nice walk this morning, especially since Labor day has come and gone! We freely wandered the streets on our walk, but due to the humidity, I always keep on top of Zush to make sure I am not pushing her too much. Kasia was playing with me and the mosquitoes**scratch,scratch** as I tried to consolidate the recycles for the trash tomorrow. I have a little wash to hang, and in honor of the saint of multi-tasking, I have a baggie with lime away secured with a rubber band on my shower head, trying to clean that up.

Complaining?

Hell, no.

Even the chores of life are more palatable down here…nice!

 

Rain or humidity is a zillion times better

The rain everyone has been experiencing is everywhere but here. Mind you, the humidity is absurd and grey sky fights the sun, but anyday here is better than being in the city!

The girls are each chomping a dog bone as the three of us try to veg. We have had some good walks today, but I am always mindful of Zush in this weather.

Early to bed for us…we can hardly wait to see what tomorrow brings!

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Kasiagirl…the saga continues

Well, I figured out how to reward Miss Kasia for coming out and being around people.

When we had “the big event” weekend, if you’ll remember, she was keeping pretty much to herself and even hiding. What would bring her out of her shell, if you’ll forgive the turtle reference, was a walk.

A big one….

A 4.2 mile walk roundtrip. Just Kasiagirl.

Quality time with Mom. Whoo-hoo!

Zush was sadly excused because I knew the distance was going to be rough for her, so she stayed behind, pouting until we returned. I am sure that having Kasia come back and run to her, as if to say,”nyah-nyah!…I got to go with Mom and you didn’t.” was not taken too well, although Zush’s pout disappeared when we came back. For the record, Zush got some prime Mommy time and was most appreciative.

Love my gals and am blessed to have them!

Trauma weekend for Kasia

The trauma is all in her head.

My Kasia was ok until my sister-in-law and her husband came over tonite.

Did I mention Kas hates change?
She is a product of a rescue, and her foster mom treated her well, but whatever her first owners did to her, well, my girl gets very reclusive. It’s a shame, as Jim’s family loves her,yet she is a bit stand-offish…to her credit, she is getting a little bit better.

We just want her to be a social butterfly. Doesn’t every parent? Lol

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Soggy Saturday

What is it about the rain?

Farmers and their families pray for it, when it rains too much, people get depressed, and people in Seattle have a ton of it.

We have had rain last night and today. The earth gets so scorched, so how can you not be happy to see it?We still go out and the girls and I go for our walks, but we are definitely doing a lot of inside stuff so far. Jim and our friend Mike are out, so I made some chocolate chip cookies for them when they come in. I even went out and got my hair down today…so for people who say there is nothing to do in the rain, well,..

…there’s always something!

We’re off( no wisecracks,please!)

We are on our way to “Undisclosed Location”. Thank God!

The girls are ready to swim and play and get some quality walks. Shingle man has some things on his “wanna-do” list in the house, and we have a ton of sunscreen.

Away from the office, from traffic, from juries, from city heat** rubbing hands in anticipation**….ah, almost home!

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Kasia

Although I made Zush miserable ** joking-Zush is never miserable** by getting her a baby sister, Kasia has come a long way.

We had friends of ours come over today to Undisclosed location. After her usual barking, Kasia actually quieted down, and came into the room where four of us were, looked around, and quietly stayed and listened to us.

My baby is growing up! I am blessed to have such sweet fur girls. Walking, playing or chewing a bone , the sisters hang together, for which I am happy.

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Busy is as busy does

Things are bustling here at undisclosed.

After last night’s hockey game, we went into today with guns blazing. Dog play,dog walking,chores like the wash are all done. I did my 4.2 mile walk with my buddies. To top it off, we even had company for dinner!

If what they say is true, you can’t hit a moving target …we are in good shape.**fingers crossed**

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Getting out of Dodge

The girls and I patiently are waiting for Daddy to get home. It has been a long week, and we all are in need of our good neighbors and the comfort of the Undisclosed location. The girls know that there’s a lot of walking coming, and I am getting set for St. Patricks’ day. Now if only Jim can relax, it’ ll all be good.

Have a good weekend!

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Another day…

…and another day walking the girls, only this time with Jim. We were trying to get his mind off his shingles, so we all walked until we couldn’t anymore. It’s a shame because it is almost sunset, and we hate to leave to come back up.

We walked the girls on the Cape May beach for a few miles and now we just came back from a long neighborhood walk. We hate to leave, but for now all four of us are refreshed and waiting for NEXT weekend!

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Day off for us both

We are wrapping up a wonderful stretch of time here @Undisclosed, and hate to leave.

Jim had the morning off from his deli job, so with the rest of the day? It was awesome!

Pups were always walking, and I managed two days walking 4.2 miles a day with my neighbor friends. We saw friends and tried to relax and just hoped Jim’s pain gets better.

Hate to leave- can’t wait to be here full time!

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Greetings from an Undisclosed Location…

..Where, for the first time since Mom has left us, we’ll be down here for a three-day weekend.

It’s an odd feeling, knowing that we don’t have to rush back for the city on Sunday night, in anticipation of Monday. Don’t worry: there is plenty of sleep to catch up on, walking for the girls, wash to do, yarn to knit, and my walk with my neighbors to the ferry in back. There is actually anticipation of a snowfall on Sunday, which took me by surprise, as I saw the weather saying we were only due rain here at ” Undisclosed.” It just makes things interesting.

Here’s hoping you are lucky enough to have a three-day weekend and no matter what, you enjoy each day to the fullest.

Happy St. Valentine’s Day

It’s Valentine’s day!

Zush and Kasia had a good morning walk with their Mom. Kasia is out front standing guard and Zush is hanging with Mom until she leaves for work. I am savoring a good cup of coffee, and getting ready to leave.

If you are your own valentine, or have someone as a valentine- no matter what, savor the day! I even got my valentine some chocolate.( not that Jim will eat it around me)….

Enjoy the day!

…and if you happen to have a birthday today, like my friend Duch, more so the better.

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Another day

Off to the most scenic area of the city **read heavy sarcasm here**to perform my job. Fortunately I am going to be with my boss, as no one should be going through that part of the city solo.

The girls got a really good walk through the woods with Mom this morning, so hopefully they will be tired out until Daddy comes home later. Jim’s rash seems to have disappeared in the back, and the shingles are working their way  back down the food chain.

Here’s hoping that a page has truly turned and maybe the household will be going on an uptrend again,

Pausing

Today was a day of action, and also a day to collect my thoughts.

Started with Bob and I going to the undertaker and Church. We are still working on the post funeral reception.

Then, the girls and I have been walking, and wash has been done. Jim’s boss sent us lunch down, which was great.

Most of all, we’re breathing… All in all, a good thing.

Pawprints on my heart

 

My fur girls are my oxygen.

We finished Christmas shopping and went to walk the girls on Cape May Beach. It was right at the cusp where high tide switches over to low: there were a ton of shells left at the shore line, and between the baby, Kasia, running like a lunatic, and my Zosia staying by Mom while I scavenged for shells, it was the best head clearing time I have had in a long time. Although I have never given birth to kids, these fur babies give me so much love. It is hysterical to watch them run all about, and then, later, tell them to run to their Daddy(Jim), and there they went, speeding like lunatics.

It has been a wonderful birthday weekend so far, much in part to the girls and to Jim.

Love them all to pieces!

Devil Dog not made by Drake’s

Kasia

 

Here is my “devil dog”, and I don’t mean the one from Drake’s cakes…this is my Kasia.

Kasia is a golden retriever/collie/chow mix. She’s a little over two years old and has been a member of our family since February 2010. It has been incredible to see her as she matures. Somehow, still the puppy in her remains, but she is accompanying her sister Zosia as one of our two humans in fur suits. When she wants your attention, she stands on her back two legs and taps you on the shoulder with her paw. Yet, for such a sweet girl, she still is pretty skittish around little children-they scare her a little yet. She has the job, or, rather, the chow in her has the job of being our alarm dog.We never had a barking girl-Zush was pretty much a devil-may-care type of gal. Once her sister came around, now we have barking in stereo.She will bark to keep you away from the house, but if you come up to her, she’ll wrap all around whoever has her leash, trying to get away from strangers. I get angry with her because she definitely wants to be the “a” dog, but that is the Zush girl’s title.When I try to get her out to go for a walk, she gets so excited that she’ll literally jump over Zush and try to push her quicker to the gate.

She has her own mind, our Kasia girl. She definitely takes her time to get comfortable with you.Once she does, though, she’s definitely yours for keeps. we are so glad she’d part of the family.

 

 

 

OUCH…..

Yes, OUCH!

I was walking the dogs on Saturday morning, and twisted my right ankle on a horse-chestnut or whatever from a tree, and the end result sucked I fell on my right side and my shoulder hit the ground first.

You know how you “know” you are going to fall? Well, I tried to brace myself for it and as my shoulder hit the ground, I heard a “pop” and thought, uh , “Holy Chicago”….

Long story short, I am hurting big time, yes, even three days later. It was frustrating because when I fell, I couldn’t get up. Really. I COULD NOT GET UP! I was thinking that I was going to have to shimmy my butt over to a tree and try to pull myself up. Fortunately I had my cell and called Jim and he was over in a split second. I told him don’t pull me up .I didn’t want to have him get hurt. I told him just to stand there so I could pull myself up on him. Tears were in my eyes-I was so frustrated. The dogs were so good-they stayed with me and were licking my face when I first fell. It just was so scary.

So if you see me walking around kind of twisted, now you know….

Send Stolyichnaya-so if I fall I have good reason….lol