Nothing special -- end of the week

There's a tropical storm in the Gulf. Kevin (Katie's husband) is in Trinidad, working offshore. I wonder if the storm will have an impact on him. I'll have to ask Katie. The storm, named Arlene, is supposed to hit land around the Mississippi gulf coast somewhere, but here in New Orleans the weather people are past hyper because IT COULD TURN. If it did turn westward, we could get a lot of rain which always causes some streets to flood. I have never experienced high water here, thank goodness. I'm just not up to shoveling mud from my house. Or replacing furniture and carpeting and and and . . . My main trouble when we have a lot of rain is getting the girls to go out in it, to do what they need to do.

Speaking of the girls, I put Gretel in the hospital on Monday because she had another back episode. I have been careful about the jumping and I haven't seen her do any, but somehow she injured herself and I had to take her in. She's fine now. It just takes a steroid shot in the spinal area and an antibiotic for a few days. But it's expensive and I don't know what will happen if I have to do this every other month. And yet, how can I not?

Also, while I'm on this dog subject, I want to say thank you to Katie Tompkins for sending me a picture of the very handsome Oliver. Thanks, Katie. I lost the return address, sorry to say. He is very beautiful. I know the doctor is pleased at his weight. Liezel has maintained her 10 pound weight and I'm always praised for that when I take her in, but Gretel, because of her inactivity, is up to 14 pounds and I was told to cut her food. She eats her portion and then goes to sit behind Liezel, to watch and wait. Liezel gives up the bowl in frustration over the scrutiny, walks off, and Gretel dives in to finish it off. If I'm watchful, I take the bowl and put it up, but sometimes I'm careless. I do have a life that doesn't involve dogs, you know.

I'm leaving for Minnesota early Tuesday morning. I think I'm to be picked up around 6, so I will have to be packed the night before. I usually pack in the short hours before I leave; Sam and his mother were always packed way ahead of time and it drove him nuts that I couldn't get it going. I work a little better under a time constraint for some reason.

My house is very quiet these days. The boys are with Phillip and Christina is visiting her friend Amy in San Diego. She'll return late Sunday night and I'll be glad to see her.

For those of you who continued reading, hoping for something of substance, thank you!