Tuesday This n' Than

I found this picture of my cousins (First, once removed) Amy and Michael labeled 1994 in the desk and as I had not used the scanner in ages I decided to share it.

Amy has been married to Lee for many years, They have two children and Michael is marrying a beautiful young woman on the river in Minneapolis where they live.

Michael has two dogs who are similar to Molly.  They are nice kids and I wish I got to see them more often.  They are my Aunt JoAnn's grandchildren.

When I read a book about rescues I get emotional about the way the dogs are treated.  I am reading a really great one now but it got me to thinking about the daughter of some friends we made at the Lake (Leech).  They lived in a small town in Iowa and it was right on my way to go to Cedar Falls.  I used to stop once in awhile to see Bev and catch up. (Bev was the daughter of the family who owned the resort where we went) - She had a daughter who was "still at home" - this daughter had decided to raise puppies to make some money so her father had used part of a barn to build a kennel for her dogs.  It looked like a nice set-up.
The dogs could go inside the barn and had outside access so they could get fresh air or be out of the sun if need be.  But it made me uncomfortable, and I did not like the size of the pens they were in and the smell of shit (I know most people say feces but I am not as nice as that - shit is shit) was all over.  The doggies were not socialized and you could tell they were starved for attention.  I just did not feel good about it and it was the last time I stopped by there.  I did not know it at the time but everything I have read about puppy mills since then makes my visceral reaction to this place understandable.

In contrast the place I got Bailey was a home where the Yorkie ruled the roost. They were a real pack of lively action and were loved by the breeders.  They lived inside the house (all over it really) and in hindsight it was probably very traumatic for Bailey to have been taken away from the pack atmosphere.  But we bonded and I became his pack and he saved my life, literally.  He came into my life when my mother left it and he was able to help me with the void I felt.

And of course Hearts United for Animals (Link on the right) is a no-kill shelter. They have over 400 dogs and Molly was waiting there for me and I am eternally grateful to them for letting her come to live with me. I miss Bailey every day but Molly is a love and certainly has given me more than I will ever be able to give back to her.

I went to a Masonic Reception this week-end for one of our Lodge Brothers who is Senior Grand Warden this year.  I usually try to avoid these events but this Brother is a very special one and he has done a lot for our Lodge.  I think sometimes Grand Lodge Officers spend more time trying to be a Grand Lodge Officer than they do being a member but not Bill.  He works in the Lodge and he mentors others and he is one of the few brothers who have offered to help me out while I am driving challenged. He also brings another Mason to Lodge who is similarly challenged.

So as much as I dislike these large events I went.  And I had a good time. One of the Brothers from Specialis Procer Lodge who lives in Mt. Vernon was coming over for it and I asked him if he would mind picking me up after the festivities at the Lodge (which I did not attend and will not attend - but that is another story) and take me out to the Banquet which was being held at the Scheman Building at Iowa State. He would and did and It was a lovely time with a congenial table of friends and I saw a lot of people I had not seen for awhile.

It did really show me how much I need to get some exercise as I have not gotten much with the last 5 months of mostly sitting at home. As with all of these events pictures were taken and someone took and posted a picture of me.  It has been 5 months since my hairs were cut.  I did not know how bad it was until I saw the photo.

So I "messaged" Marsha and asked her if her offer of stopping by to cut my hair was still open.  It was and she came at 11 and cut my hairs. I look human again.
I really like Marsha.  She was my mother's beautician and has been cutting my hair for about 25+ years.  She is a friend and a connection to my mother.  And she did my Aunt JoAnn's hair also so sometimes I would get news from the family from Marsha.

My days and night are mixed up.  I have been reading at night and sleeping late.  I guess it is all right but then I sometimes have to fall asleep watching TV and then watch the shows I have saved on the DVR after I wake up.  For example it is now 12:46 am and I just started my last show.  Then I will read some more call Molly over and we will sleep for awhile and sometime during the night she will get down and go back to the couch.

I guess that is all right because then I do not have to watch the annoying commercials.  Some of them are particularly annoying,  always the Chantex "I quit smoking" commercials and recently the at&t ones with the guy in the suit talking to a bunch of little kids.  I think the kids are obnoxious and the suit is just dumb. Oh it was cute the first time but after the godzillianth time I really hate it.  Speaking of TV, I understand that ABC has cancelled Zero Hour.  Too bad I kind of liked it.  A show like that needs more of a chance than three times.

That is about all I have for now.  Have a great day.  Hugs, j