Just Us: Getting Back To Normal

Tony and I got back from the wedding in Rhode Island and did a lot of decompressing. I was off of work for another 5 days and I just hung around and enjoyed being off.

Dixie did forgive us for leaving her with her Godparents--in fact, she seemed to have the run of the place and probably wouldn't have minded if we left her there for another week!

That is not to say, however, that she didn't get some revenge. Dixie has this "puppy love" thing for Chance, a rescue dog who lives a few houses down from us. The other day, when Tony was driving for the Disabled Vets to Fayetteville, I rolled out of bed early (complete with major bed-head) to take her out to pee in the backyard. She got too close to the wet lands at the back of our property and I was concerned that she was investigating a snake, so I pulled on her collar to get her to move. Damn....she slipped the collar and knew it the minute it happened. I actually saw a grin on her face as she took off. And, off she went. There was a period of about 10 minutes when I had absolutely no idea where she was and was quickly starting not to care! I ran through yards, through shrubs, trees and mud. I was a mess.

Whenever she surfaced, I went after her, but she was too fast for me. She would let me get close and then run away. After what seemed to be forever, I heard the neighbor's dogs barking and I figured she was trying to visit Chance. She was. I rang the doorbell (and it was way, way to early to visit....) and our neighbor, Bill, came to the door pretty much in the same condition I was (minus the nightgown and bed head.) He kind of grinned at me because by this point, my nightgown was wet from the knees down, I think I only had one strap of it up on my shoulder and not only did I have bed-head, I had sweaty, bug infested, bed head. I told him that I thought Dixie was trying to get into his backyard and just as I said that, she came zipping around the side of the house, up the steps and headed toward the front door. I yelled to Bill to shut it and he did so I was able to catch her. Bill opened up the door after I caught her and was laughing at me as I was yelling at her....he said, very wisely...."Jan, go back to bed...."

I did, but not until Dixie got a spanking. I didn't see her for the rest of the day, but when Tony got back from Fayetteville, she wouldn't leave his side. It was like she was telling him what I did and asking for protection. What a brat!

September and October are big birthday months for us. Tony Jr., will be 35 on the 16th of September and Sam, Zach and Anthony all have October birthdays....and, don't forget "Smalls," who still hasn't made her (OK, I'm thinking pink...) entrance yet. Hurricane Jose is starting to increase in activity near Florida, so I hope she arrives soon.

I can't believe that I am talking about October....that means 2017 is almost over. What a year it has been. My retirement list is growing with things I want to do.

It is warm here, but the nights are cool and it is nice to be able to sit on the lanai and enjoy a glass of wine.

Tony and I are still working with our health issues. My arthritis is in high gear; stretching now to my right hip and back. I don't think I will look at people who come to the hospital with back pain in the same way now that I have it.

Here is what our days are looking like now: