You Say It's Your Birthday

Happy Birthday to me. Not much planned for today. I just can't believe I'm 55 years old. I just never imagined what life would be at that rather advanced age. I spent my years 30-50 living the life of someone 10 years younger than myself. Having been so sick for so long The age caught up and then passed the difference in how old I was and how old I felt.

This week marked the four year anniversary of the discovery of my brain cancer. Four years is a long time to be ill. This morning I was looking for something in my medicine cabinet and figure there are about 50 bottles of various concoctions and elixirs. Most of which I have no idea of their function.

Stranger still is the age regression I have been experiencing. I live in the town where I grew up (been here on and off for 50 years), went to school, and do the things I did back then. Reading long novels, listening to music from that era, and  playing guitar, seem to inspire the same feeling and thoughts I had a the age of 16. I walk the same roads I did, smelling the same flowering plants, I pass my old elementary school nearly every day. I feel like I have entered a time machine taking me back to my childhood and leaving me there.

Because I have been unable to do the things I used to, for fun or work, I've made my world smaller and smaller to avoid having to meet obligations from nearly any quarter. I've found that "dropping out" has created an unintended consequence. I have been forgotten. My phone can go without ringing all day I may not speak to anyone for hours and hours. 

I can complain but fact is, I'm still alive and I know the less I want the more I have.  Time for Russell's walk.

what got into me today?

Up at 6am. Doggies out. Breakfast, doggies out. Shower. Take Russell on a walk to Toast for breakfast. Take puppies out. Head to gym to work out (first time in several months). Take puppies out. Swept house. All before noon. Puppies asleep now.

Katie is such a lively puppy. She loves to run and chase and eat sticks. She's going to be a great dog.

we're having so much fun

Katie thought we should get up just before 6am. So we did. She loves to be outside, chewing or chasing Russell. Every day she learns new things and explores everything. We were out in the yard last night until it was too dark to see her. We were out in the backyard by 7:30 with me playing my guitar.  I don't know what I would do without my puppies.

Katie is sleeping like the dead after this early morning playtime. She runs and runs and falls down tired. I'm sure she'll be recharged soon.

Looks likes lots of puppy posts ahead

OMG! We are having so much fun. Russell seemed a bit jealous at first, and then curious, now excited to have another Corgi here. Skye was about 9 years old when Russell came to live with us. She liked to play but only a little. I kept telling Russell he'd be happy having a new playmate.

Corgi Kung Fu

more Katie

We're having so much fun. Puppies love to play and insist that everyone join in.  Katie is a bundle of energy. Run, run, run, sleep. She is fitting in and our pack is growing. I can see the signs of attachment starting and even Russell is enjoying Katie's antics.  She goes in her crate without much protest.  I'm looking for our routine to begin to develop but I think it is early because every morning a new puppy wakes up, having grown, adjusted, and anxious to learn. After 2 days of rain, we have several days of cool and sunshine ahead. Puppy exhaustion can occur outside with much running and no worries about toilet matters. Even with that, we're having a pretty easy time of it. My secret, take puppy out upon waking, after eating, before going back in the crate and whenever another hour has passed

I wasn't as involved with Russell's training, being all busy trying not to die from the cancer and it's treatments. He's still requires "adjustments" to his behavior, most likely due to my inattention. We won't see that this time. 


Russell is teaching Katie is fine art of Corgi play fighting. Skye and Lewis played this game endlessly and for years.  It is one reason I like to have two Corgis, so they can play together.

Quitting smoking is a pain in the ass. Mostly because I love to smoke. But I don't like feeling ill and I do when I smoke. Nicotine gum helps but the withdrawal is the same. I'll schedule a detox starting today. Oh well, into every life a little rain must fall and all that.

June 11 (Monday) was Skye's birthday. I had my first date with Harriet the day she was born (Skye, not Harriet). She was a good dog.

Well Katie is ready to get up. My break is over.

Katie day two

Miss Katie's first day was full of running around in the back yard. Katie and Russell are becoming acquainted. Katie found Russell's hideout under the stairs to the one bedroom apt upstairs. Russell seemed a bit unhappy about sharing his dad's attention. Last night I moved her crate into the bedroom for the night and she barely cried at all when it was time to sleep. This morning all that changed when Katie started chasing Russell around the living room. Then he chased her and the race was on. I knew Russell would come around to seeing the advantages to a playmate. Russell is good about sharing his toys and Katie love to chew on them. After some spirited play, both are asleep giving me a moment to rest. I can see that this girl will soon run the house. Katie is adjusting well to her new home.

I think I found the right puppy. She bold, headstrong and already follows us around the yard. She even comes when she is called. Happy family!!!

Katie!!!

New Dog day! Well yesterday actually. New puppy, whose name may be Katie, is one handful. Run, run, run, bite, bite, bite. Eats like a horse. She loves playing with the dog toys. The balls that light up are a big hit.

She cried all night. Took her out around 11pm, and then 12, then 3am, then at 7:00. Took two hours to wear her out this morning. Even Russell is sleeping. Better get breakfast before everyone wakes up.

maybe new dog day tomorrow

I'm in such a good mood. Weather is perfect. Finished cleaning the house this morning, then took Russell for a walk. Wanted the new puppy to come home to a clean house. Still undecided between a puppy and the mother. Some many good reasons for each.

Guess I'll have more to add tomorrow.

what day is it?

I'm still so forgetful. One day just bleeds into the next.  The weather dictates my day more than the calendar. It's OK, just different.


I spend a good deal of time reading world news and politics. My latest interest is what motivates voters to think the way they do. I've been looking into this for a while reading from various disciplines.


The Hight theory on intelligence: For every point you are above 100 on the IQ test, there is someone who is that many points below. And honestly a score of 100 (which you may know is average) is pretty damn low. The ability to perform abstract thought is highly correlated with intelligence.


Hoping to hear soon about my application to have my college loans nullified. I certainly qualify. My goal is to cut any spending I can. Finally feel well enough to do my own house cleaning and that is saving money. Cutting back on smoking will reduce my outlay.


Trying to quit smoking. Chewing nicotine gum. 5 days so far with only two slips. I would be happy just to smoke less, a lot less. When I quit smoking cigarettes (1985) I thought that I might even be allergic to tobacco.


Russell and I walk everyday. We are up to 1.5 miles. We also play catch in the backyard 2-3 times a day. I found one of those rubber balls that lights up when bounced and Russell loved it. Not like Lewis did when I found him one. He thought it was the great thing ever!


I bought a second ball for the new puppy. Driving down to Clover, SC (about an hour away) to look at puppies on Saturday. The mother of the puppies is also available. Guess I'll decide then which. Advantages to both. Very excited. Very.


Saturday evening is the Gov't Mule/Dr. John show!