Michele might move to Atlanta! Woo hoo!
Seriously - I like it here more or less, but there are pros and cons. The weather is generally good, the people are pretty friendly, we have art and culture and theaters and great restaurants, the traffic is generally bad and we are run by a very conservative government. A conservative, Christian government. As you probably know from here and my FB I'm pretty liberal, so that is hard for me sometimes. It is better now that I've found some like minded friends. The school systems are cutting jobs right now, so I don't know how easy it would be for you to find something. There are parts of the city that are better than others and are more progressive. I think you could like it. (Not a rousing 'heck yea' I know. Sometimes I would like to move. LOL)
Shannon-- we are quite conservative so this is actually a selling point!
I've been to Atlanta a few times when dh's brother was attending Emory, but that was almost 15 years ago. I really liked it then.
She has also started a blog, and I am so proud of her. I think she could eventually turn it into a book if she wishes to. I think it is very therapeutic for her as well.
She has also started a blog, and I am so proud of her. I think she could eventually turn it into a book if she wishes to. I think it is very therapeutic for her as well.
This sounds like an ideal thing for your daughter. The dog will really help her keep an envelope of space around herself. Don't know about other service dogs but I think just about everyone knows to not touch a dog assisting a blind person. It even says so on a plaque on the dog's harness!
She has also started a blog, and I am so proud of her. I think she could eventually turn it into a book if she wishes to. I think it is very therapeutic for her as well.
Thank you for sharing about your daughter's Tourette's. I will say your daughter has more courage than I would have if I had to deal with Tourette's. I hope she has success in getting a Service Dog.
I was so exhausted by bedtime last night I passed right out, and didn't want to get up this AM! I'm still OP and the scale is cooperating. -2.5 lbs for January. I've been really hungry the last few days and am hoping it will diminish a little bit. The little "tricks" are working for now - drink tea, do the dishes and then consider if I'm still hungry, etc. Work as usual today, rehearsal as usual tonight. I will only have time for the gym or walking the dog, so the dog wins. I'll try to jog with her to make it a more intense workout.
Dagmar, I'm sorry for Hap but it sounds like he will be ok. Sometimes it's hard to convince dogs they shouldn't be running and playing like normal. They don't understand it's for their own good.
Allison, wow, crazy-sounding wind storm! I hope all is calming down out there. Your hiking sounds fun, and with beautiful scenery.
Iris, yes, the doggie snooze button, didn't you know? Emma will wait fairly patiently on weekend mornings for me to get up, as long as she is fed and has been let out to use the bathroom. She knows she'll get a long walk soon.
Michele, what a great story. Your daughter has a beautiful smile! Has this story attracted a lot of attention to your DD's website?
On other Superbowl news: the other day, my DH was showing a couple some entry doors up at Big Horn Country Club. The couple are planning on building a house and wanted to see some of our handiwork to see if we are worth hiring to do the job (of course we are!). DH noticed the guy's ring and said, "That's got to be a Superbowl ring." They guy took it off and let DH hold it. He was so excited! (Guys, really, it's just a ring.) Anyway, I guess this guy (and sorry, I don't remember his name) is the defensive line coach for the Dallas Cowboys.
It was supposed to get windy again yesterday, but I didn't notice it much. It did rain quite a bit though. Clear and cold this morning.
OP yesterday and my reward? Half pound gain. It's not going to look good tomorrow when I go to the doctor for my yearly exam.
Dagmar~that's so sad about Hap. I can't imagine NOT taking a dog to the vet for that! Perhaps it was extremely low speed? In any case, it's got to hurt. Poor baby.
Michele, what a great story. Your daughter has a beautiful smile! Has this story attracted a lot of attention to your DD's website?
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We are spreading the word through facebook, etc. The article is via an online local newspaper, which is also through facebook. You are welcome (as is anyone else) to share her story or blog through your contacts.
Allison, good luck with your doctor's visit. I was at the doctor yesterday and didn't take my jacket off when I got weighed.. That must be worth a pound or two at least. I meant to weigh myself in the same clothes on my scale when I got home but forget to do it.
Michele, great article about your daughter. I'm going to check out her blog, too. I never thought about having a service dog for tourette's but it does make sense.
Hap is one tough little monkey. Her leg looked better today - less swelling and it's starting to scab over in spots. Of course they didn't bother to get her a head collar. She went to lick the wound and I gave her a gentle correction. She got it right away.
She is raring to go. On leash she's like a coiled spring. I was hoping Stella's calm strolling would slow Hap down but Hap was a jumping bean today.
And she seems to be ravenous. She's just over a year old and I think she's still developing. Judging by her poop they are feeding her all sorts of stuff - most of it doesn't look all that good for her. I am going to buy some quality dog food and start giving her a bit whenever I put her in the car.
I'm sure the girfriend doesn't know any better and the guy (who controls all the money and thus the spending for Hap's care) is a cheapskate. He was with his other dog and history is repeating itself. I took care of Scout (the other dog) and I can take care of this one too.
My chief worry in all of this is the girlfriend moving back to China. What will Hap do then? I will be leaving Toronto in the not too distant future and I worry about what will happen then too.
I have a wild fantasy of quietly taking her from them and putting her on the plane with us. If her owner couldn't find me (after 14 years of making out a cheque to me - I have a distinctive last name) and I live 4 blocks away from him now I imagine I can hide Hap on the other side of the country.
I haven't seen my friend since her husband passed away unexpectedly at the age of 36. I'm going to see her tonight. She said she doesn't need food because people have been bringing food, so I went to Target and bought a big basket-- I filled it with magazines, movies, snacks, candy, gum, tea, bath stuff, etc. I'm going to go to Marshalls after school and get some cards, candles, etc. too. I just hope I know what to say to her. I don't know how you ever know.
It's still got me in a funky mood. I skipped the gym again last night, but it would have been very late and I was exhausted. Dd sensed my mood and offered to sleep with Dewey and I. It was nice....
I'm going to go to the funeral on Saturday. It says there is a reception after. Do I bring food? Do I offer? I'm not sure about the etiquette here. The funeral is about 1.5 hours away so I wouldn't be able to bring anything that needed refrigeration.
Dh put in his application for the job that we think would be in Atlanta. Now we wait to see if he gets an interview...
Dagmar-- maybe Hap's owners would be willing to let you have him when the girlfriend leaves? Maybe he would realize he doesn't have the time for him.
(Not a rousing 'heck yea' I know. Sometimes I would like to move. LOL)
I've been really hungry the last few days and am hoping it will diminish a little bit. The little "tricks" are working for now - drink tea, do the dishes and then consider if I'm still hungry, etc. Work as usual today, rehearsal as usual tonight. I will only have time for the gym or walking the dog, so the dog wins. I'll try to jog with her to make it a more intense workout. 
