Tuesday, March 31, 2009

March 31

Baptist Center. Chilly this morning. We had seven families for groceries. Yesterday they had 21 families getting groceries.

Martha bought a new suit and came over to have me hang it for her. Only we both decided it was too big. So she returned it. I called later and she couldn't get a smaller size and that is that. She has a job interview this week.

I took a long nap. Finally the dogs got me up at 4:30. They barked and barked. Then they jumped on me. Then lady Chica pawed at me. Off to the dog park where it was pleasant.

We came home and Blitzen was feisty. The dogs ripped around the house. Then I opened the door and out went Blitzen. he took off for exactly 30 minutes and returned. he did this last at Thanksgiving. The neighborhood turned out to look for him. 8 PM and I am utterly exhausted.

Lady Chica's Tale
We almost didn't get to the park today. Mom was gone all morning and slept all afternoon. I was glad to see Aunt Martha. Finally Blitzen and I pestered Mom until she got up. We had a little gang going at the park, racing the fence.

Blitzen's Tale
I had a run tonight!!! Mom wasn't paying attention when she opened the screen door and out I went. I had a great run around the block. I take off out behind the complex. I love it when everybody is out calling for me. I love it. Finally I decided to come home.

BOOK REVIEW
I have five books running. One is too complex, one is too violent, and I go back and forth. I take one to the park. Bro Caedfael.
Not to mention two non fiction.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Monday, March 30, 2009

March 30

Re: the blizzard pictures. As usual, I get comments from Montana and Alaska that it looks like they are used to.

2 AM. I took a long nap earlier in the evening and stayed up reading.

10:30 AM Slept like a log. All that fresh air yesterday. I am sort of stumping around stiff but it will let up.

ARISE YE SLAVES! YOU HAVE ONLY YOUR CARS TO LOSE! Seriously, I think we need to have a populist uprising about the banks versus the auto makers. I am pro AFL-CIO.

I have only sat around today. Resting. Long nap this afternoon.

Lady Chica's Tale
We didn't even go to the dog park today. Mom just sat around on a bench in the back yard. Booooring. She said we had too much fresh air yesterday.

Blitzen's Tale
If Mom didn't have me on a leash I would have beaten up on the neighborhood bruiser. yes! He was barking at us across the street.
We didn't go to the dog park. Mom said she had too much fresh air yesterday. Ha! I still think I could have beaten up on that bruiser.

BOOK REVIEW
Phillip Craig, *A Fatal Season on Martha's Vinyard*
Half the pleasure of reading this series is the description of living on the Vinyard. In this book, two wannabe actresses come to spend some time in their summer house. Violence ensues.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Sunday, March 29, 2009

March 29

Got to bed at 4 AM. Up for a pit stop at 9:30. Plan to sleep till noon. I was having a dream about Vietnam vets coming back and buying houses.
It occurs to me that the housing bubble was the children of the Vietnam generation.

The difference between Vietnam and Afghanistan is that Jane Fonda won't be visiting the Taliban nor Alquida.

I ran over to Kroger to get Rug Doctor enzyme spray. I wasn't sleepy so I thot we might as well get our visit to the dog park over with. Lady Chica found a pointer to race with and got tired out. We stayed an hour and came home. I did take LC to the agility course. She went thru the third tunnel all by herself and then ran off.
I tuned in at half time to NCAA March Madness basketball with Michigan State playing somebody. At first I thot I could not live thru it because the score went back and forth. 30-28, 30-30, 32-30 and so on. Then MSU got the ball and never gave it up. The other team kept missing free throws. My goodness!!! Michigan State won 64-49. Yeah.
I think I enjoy watching basketball because I have actually played it, altho in my day women could not play across the center line.

Meanwhile Brenda called to inform me that the Holy Heretics were meeting at the dog park at four. Well, I pulled myself together and we spent another two hours. My dogs mostly lay around. Allen P was there with three weinie dogs. He and his pack looked so funny.

Lady Chica's tale
We spent most of the day at the dog park, and I am glad to be able to flop down in my cage. The first visit I had a lot of fun racing a dog who liked to run. We ran and ran and ran. Lots of people at the dog park. Lots of big dogs and they never pay much attention to the fence. I was bored the second time because Mom kept chatting with Moxie's mom and the man who owns those wretched weinie dogs.

Blitzen's tale
Man, I really told off that fat bulldog on the other side of the fence. He waddled along trying to outrun me. On our second visit I couldn't get anybody to run. When there are a lot of big dogs they dont pay any attention to the fence. I was mostly bored and we stayed a long time. At least I didn't get in any trouble.

BOOK REVIEW
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, *Death to Go*
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, *Blood Lines*
Inspector Bill Slider police procedurals. *Death to Go* is one of the most complex mysteries I have read. Corpses are falling left and right.
Blood Lines was confusing. I did begin to guess the key to the mystery.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Saturday, March 28, 2009

March 28

5 AM Up for a pit stop and cup of coffee. Coffee helps my sinus headache. Otherwise pain free.

Up at 10 AM. Dressed and off to Ft. Woof. Martha picks me up at 4:30 to go to a play tonight. Jake's girl friend is in this play.

Ft. Woof was miserable. temp was 39 degrees with real feel of 34. My real feel was zero. When we arrived there was only one big dog who came to join us. Blitzen was humping a dog three times his size who didn't even pay any attention to him. Finally an owner who said, "They'll sort it out."

I came home and took a nap just in time to dress to go out. Martha picked me up. We had dinner at her house, sea bass in parchment. Jeff baked sea bass in a sauce wrapped in foil. It was fantastically delicious.
We drove over to Duncanville to watch a play in which Jake's girl friend was acting. Much to my surprise it was well done. *The Night Hank Williams Died*
They will produce it again next weekend if anybody is seeking something to do.

Afterwards we had a glass of wine with the cast. Then we went off to Buffalo Wild Wings to have a drink with Jake and Joanna. I had two glasses of lemonade. I got home at 1 AM. Oda Mae will tease me about being out late.

Lady Chica's Tale
It was real boring at the park today. No big dogs to race. Not many cars. I actually lay around on a table.

Blitzen's Tale
I had fun today. I really dominated this big bruiser. He was a lot bigger than me and I just dominated him. At one point there were three of us in a row, the big bruiser, a pointer and me.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Friday, March 27, 2009

March 27

Up at 11:30. I took benedryl at 2 AM and slept for ten hours. Yesterday was stressful. My next task is to work on Blitzen to get him under control.
Off to Town Talk and Ft Woof.

Judy and Szabo arrived simultaneously. So we chatted. We were discussing race, caste and class. Judy: I compromise. I think caste is sliding into class.
What impresses *me* most about Obama is that he was *recruited* by Univ. of Chicago. Not many people are recruited.
His undergrad degree was international relations.

Martha called while she was driving home from Laredo. We had our usual chat

I really didn't get a nap in. Clara came home today. She had a light stroke. She is diabetic and eats goodies and her sugar score was off the top.
Tonight I attended *Broadway Goes to the Movies*. Just for fun, people at Broadeway Baptist who can sing presented this program of songs from movies. It was great.
MARK FARMER. YOU MUST ATTEND TOMORROW NIGHT.
Martha, it is 11 PM and I am not sleepy.

Lady Chica's Tale
Not many big dogs in the park today. Almost no little dogs. I was busy parking cars as usual. This is really a big responsibility, seeing that those cars line up the way they are sposed to. I dont know what they do when I am not on the job.

Blitzen's Tale
Mom tried putting a harness on me, over my nose. I managed to get out of that. Not many big dogs there today. I just love talking trash across the fence. Nobody takes it seriously. I can talk to those big guys and they just stand there and listen.



I did not even pick up a book today. No time.
Hugs, Dr. Liz

Thursday, March 26, 2009

March 26

Up for pit stop at 4 AM
Then the dogs dragged me out of bed at 9:30 AM. Happily. I am up in time to hear Jim Lehrer on PBS. Lehrer has a new novel. I have ordered an early book. book written in 1988

Hey folks!!! I have finally realized that law school IS graduate school. The point I was thinking about is that grad students are arrogant and handling a seminar would be good practice for handling reporters at a press conference. (Obama taught law school at Univ of Chicago for 12 years. All us old profs recognize his speeches --- class lectures.)

What a day! First of all my neighbor, Clara, Benji's mom, had a stroke. Marilyn and Clara were in Walmart when Clara had a stroke. Clara is in the hospital, leaving Benji behind. Oda Mae and Marilyn are walking Benji and taking care of him.

Our visit to the dog park was a fiasco. When Blitzen sees a bicycle in the parking lot, I can't control him. I have been using a choke collar. While I am holding Blitzen by the collar, Lady Chica slipped her collar. Finally we got into the park. That was pleasant. A nice lady helped me catch LC. But..... another bicycle came running up. The parking lot is the end of a bike trail. I finally let the dogs go. They reached the bike. The rider hit Lady Chica. I squared off with my tote bag and told him I would hit him. He kept talking about Blitzen wanting to bite him. Lady Chica slipped her collar. I managed to hold Blitz while the bike ran off. Got him into the car. Lady Chica was in the cage before Blitz got there.

SOLUTION do not go to park after 5 PM. Bikers have to work. They just take a ride after work.

Well, we are home. Dogs are fed and going to sleep. I am still reading *In the Night of the Heat*. At the park I am reading another Bill Slider novel which is one of the most complex I have ever read.

Lady Chica's Tale
Mom really got bent out of shape. Blitzen goes beserk when he sees a bike. I know how to slip out of my collar and took off. I danced around. Then I played games with Mom when it was time to go home. A nice lady caught me.
Another bike was coming past. Mom let go of the leash. Blitz and I reached the bike. That man was really upset. He thot we were going to eat him up.

Blitzen's tale
I dawdled around getting up with Mom at 4 AM. When I got into the computer room, LC had the gall to be laying beside Mom at the computer. I staged a mini tantrum and she slunk back to bed.
This morning there were huge snakes curling around outside our house. I have really been nervous. Editor's note: huge vacuum tubes belonging to carpet cleaners.

When we were in the parking lot going into the park a bike turned up. That nice man called me to come over but I didn't buy it.
Coming out we saw another bike. Mom let go of the leash. That guy got bent out of shape. He kept yelling "Get control of your dogs! Get control of your dogs!" He thot I was going to eat him.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

March 25

As early as 9:30, those dogs were dragging me out of bed, almost literally. They jump up and play on me. Then I nearly had a heart attack when my washer would not start. I finally figured out that the water is turned off. I need to find out about that.

I went over to the Senior Center to use the rest room. Highland Assisted Living was serving broccoli soup and corn bread. Yummy. Everybody was glad to see me. I lingered for an hour reading the paper and such.
Finally the water was turned on about 12:30. Doing laundry. Plan to take a nap as soon as I get the sheets back on the bed.

Took a nap. Then went to Lea's for PPQS. Tonight Lea was mending John's blue jeans. I helped by ripping the seam.

Lady Chica's Tale
Blitzen and I had to drag Mom out of bed. First I tried the mild treatment, licking her face. She just turned over. Well, finally we jumped up and down on her. Then Blitzen and I went back to napping.
Well, she finally came home about noon and took us out for a walk. And she expects us to be house broken!!!
This afternoon we went over to visit Pup. I had a really good time, digging for mice. I wish we had a back yard like that.

Blitzen's Tale
2 AM I wish Mom would stop getting up at all hours in the night. I have to get up and stay with her to make sure she doesn't get in trouble. It disrupts my sleep.
We went over to visit Pup. I love digging in the backyard. I wish we had a back yard.

BOOK REVIEW
Three authors, *In the Night of the Heat*
This novel is a new phenomenon, a black protagonist who has a main stream mind. Tennyson has a father who is a retired police captain and he almost graduated from the academy. His girl friend's fa is a professor. Ten has led a colorful life. WARNING: Xrated. explicit sex scenes. Lea would say ---------------(not necessary) gratuitous sex.
The plot of this novel revolves around the murder of T.D. Jackson, who resembles OJ Simpson.

Hugs, Dr. Liz

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

March 24

Up at 7:15 AM. Only two hits on the snooze button. Off to Baptist Center.

11:30AM We have served twelve families today with food pantry. Yesterday nineteen families were served. 175 sack lunches.

I came home and took a nap. Then I had a massage. Today it was pure luxury. Often it is painful as my masseuse uncoils my muscles. I was relaxed. Then I ran over to a new thrift shop my neighbors found.
Pat: I have found a new thrift shop. Have you read the news articles about the Goodwill style shows in Arlington, Virginia?

Took the dogs to the dog park. Finally. They had a great time. Came home and watched the President's press conference. I was feeling sorry for Obama being peppered with questions until I remembered he is a lawyer. I wonder if he ever taught grad seminars. Nothing like grad students to harrass one.

Lady Chica's Tale
Mom was gone all day. Mark Farmer thinks Blitzen and I need to learn to read so that we can amuse ourselves while Mom is gone. Anyhow, we finally got to the dog park. There were a lot of dogs racing along the fence. I had a lot of exercise and decided to give Mom a break and meet her at the gate.

Blitzen's Tale
I get up every morning and lie down beside Mom at the computer. I dont know what she does. She keeps making clicking noises with a little black thing. I lie there waiting to lick the dish after she finishes breakfast. I dont like coffee. I sort of nap.
People are such party poopers. Mom put me on time out just because I wanted to dominate this little Spud lookalike dog.

BOOK REVIEW
No time to read today.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Monday, March 23, 2009

March 23

The wind was strong during the night. My neighbor's lawn chairs are scattered along the sidewalk.
I stayed up until 1:30 AM reading *Pillars of the Earth*. I slept till ten so I have plenty of sleep. I intend to sew until time to go to dog park, IF we go. Temp will be 77 with real feel 71.

Now 1 PM. I mostly ran errands this morning, paid rent early. The rent check is never cashed until the middle of the month to allow people to have money in bank.

4 PM. How long did I sleep? I woke up totally disoriented, not knowing who or where I was. I do not intend to waste my limited energy going to the dog park. I still need to sew.

I took the dogs out for a walk around the compound and wound up sitting down and chatting with Helen. Then I took another nap. Finally I did another round of sewing, got out some more strips and started another project.

Lady Chica Tale
Mom has been so frustrating this morning. She keeps going outdoors all by herself w/o taking us. She did finally take us for a mini walk around the buildings. After we all took a nap she took us out for another walk. She sat around and we watched the cat in the window.

BOOK REVIEW
Finally finished *Pillars of the Earth*. I have decided to read the Brother Caedfael chronicles again. They are set in that period of civil war between King Stephen and Countess Maud. textbook names her Matilda.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Sunday, March 22, 2009

March 22

Alarm rang at 7:30 AM. I am reasonably awake and eager. No pain this morning. Off to Sunday school and church. This afternoon I am going over to Lea's to sort quilt blocks. Leslie gave me yard sale clutter. A sack of quilt blocks her grandmother pieced.

1:46. Well, SS and church. Came home to eat and nap.

Woke at 3. Gladys called to talk. Went over to Lea's. She ironed quilt blocks while I hemmed her new pants.

LADY CHICA'S TALE
This afternoon we went over to visit Pup. he loves to see us altho we sort of bewilder him. He is not very bright and he is getting older. I love to visit Pup because there are mice in the yard. I dig and dig and dig and bark. Blitzen got into the house and scared Amelia, the cat. Blitzen just wanted to see Mom.

No Book review tonight. I have not had time to read. I am still plugging on *Pillars of the Earth*. I can hardly put it down. Hence I did not pick it up today.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Friday, March 20, 2009

March 20

Up at 6:30 AM for a pit stop. I have been up every two hours all night, a restless night with dreams. Cant think of an adjective and I cant remember the dreams. Intense. My sinus is bothering me.
8 AM Reading emails and CNN Online. I turned up heat and feel better. I get chilled at night bc the dogs lie on my covers and I cant get them pulled up.

Has anybody read stories about the octuplets? CNN Online has had two stories on video which I cant seem to get pulled up. Are the babies still in hospital?

Car Inspection was so simple. I was home in about an hour. Inspection took twenty minutes and I passed everything. No extra expense. Yeah. I have been agonizing over this for weeks. Also I happened to arrive when there was no line. It was so easy. It only goes to show. Worrying causes you to plow the field twice.

The dogs were restless. So we went to the dog park. It was a perfect day. A little girl was running on the big dog side, urging the dogs to run. They all had fun. I came home and took a nap.
This evening I watched PBS, Jim Lehrer, Washington Week in Review and Bill Moyer. Moyer had a real live socialist on his program.

BOOK REVIEW
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, *Dear Departed*
Another Bill Slider police procedural for people who dont like to read police procedurals. This book was written in 2004. Each book is part of a serial story and ends with a cliff hanger. This novel concerns a woman stabbed in the park by a copy cat serial killer.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Thursday, March 19, 2009

March 19

9:30 AM No more sleep for me. The landscapers came to trim the trees in our front yard. Oh, dear. I can calm the dogs if I get up and calm them down. As soon as I read my emails we will go to the dog park. I need to leave time to take a nap before I leave at 4 to have dinner with Leslie.

Whatever the temperature, Texas sun is hot. We had a pleasant hour at the dog park. Lots of rug rats, this being spring vacation. Came home and took a nap. Went over to Leslie's house. she fixed dinner. Delicious baked chicken.
Leslie and I always have a great chat. We see almost eye to eye, but she always adds a slight difference in perspective.

BOOK REVIEW
Robert Parker, *Rough Weather*
Spenser, Susan and Hawk have not changed. The series has been going for forty years. Spenser and Hawk must be about eight by now. Spenser is hired as a body guard at a wedding when the bride is kidnapped.



Hugs, Dr. Liz

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

March 17

I made green jello to celebrate St. Patrick's day.

Off to Baptist Center. Clothing is shut down for today. We fed seventeen families from the food pantry and about 200 sack lunches. This is spring break and we did not have volunteers for clothing.
I came home and took a nap. Then off to the dog park. Lady Chica can keep up with big dogs but does not have their stamina. She has to work harder.

Temp is 82 with real feel of 79. In the sun it is hot.

When I turned on the tv for Jim Lehrer news hour, Blitzen started barking at the t.v. He barked and barked and barked. Finally he went away and hid under the bed. I watched Nova which talked about Pisarro conquering the Incas. The Spanish had horses. The narrator made an interesting comment, that it took Europeans several centuries to learn how to counter a cavalry charge. I had never considered that. I know that the English foot soldiers defeated French cavalry at Crecy, and I had always wondered why they hadn't done it sooner. They had to learn how.

BOOK REVIEW
Bill Crider, *A Romantic Way to Die*
Sheriff Dan Rhodes police procedural. Small town in Texas. This is less funny than some of Crider's. Setting is a writer's conference, romance writers.
Hugs, Dr. Liz

Monday, March 16, 2009

March 16

Monday
I was dreaming--- Lady Chica barked and woke me up. I got everybody a treat and went back to sleep. Or was that a dream also?
Up at 9 am. No pain. I feel wonderful. Walking did me good. I need to walk sans dogs. temp is 46 feels like 39. High today will be 76. Warm weather has returned. My rubber trees suffered. the leaves are strange

I slept until noon. I ate lunch while Lady Chica barked to go to the dog park. We stayed for two hours Judy having arrived. Temp is 74 and feels like 77.

Lady Chica reminds me of Josh. Neither likes to lose a race. Josh used to be upset bc Belle could beat him running. Lady Chica kept up with a greyhound for two lengths of the park. I think the greyhound thot she was a rabbit. When she gets tired, she makes big circles and pretends it is all a game.

I came home and took a nap. And the evening passes.

BOOK REVIEW
Philip Craig, *Death on a Vineyard Beach*
J.W. and Zee get married. On their honeymoon they attend a matinee of Carmen in Boston. Outside J.W. manages to wrest a shotgun from a kid intent on shooting Lucius Marcus, a retired Mafioso. Marcus lives on the Island. Later Marcus hires J.W. To find out who tried to kill him.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Sunday, March 15, 2009

March15

Up at 10 AM. This afternoon I am going with Martha and jeff to dallas Blooms at Dallas Arboretum. We go evey fall and spring. Meanwhile I am eating breakfast, taking a shower and getting dressed.

We spent two hours at Dallas Blooms. It was glorious. Tulips were in perfect shape. So many colors. and fringed tulips. Then we went to Maggiano's Little Italy. Wonderful food.

All in all a wonderful day.

BOOK REVIEW
Sue Henry, *Death Trap*
Henry's first book was *Murder on the Iditarod Trail* which I have read three times. Jessie Arnold runs a kennel for mushers and runs races. She lives just west of Wasilla, Alaska. In this book she has sustained a knee injury which necessitates her taking the winter off from racing. She helps out with the booth at the state fair, the booth raising money for the Iditarod. In the process she and her lead dog, Tank, get kidnapped.

By the way, that shooter in Alabama killed three dogs as well as ten people.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Saturday, March 14, 2009

March 14

Up at 10 AM. My back is hurting. I was too active doing stretching exercises yesterday. The difficulty with getting older is that one's muscles dont respond the way I want. I am not sure I am going to the park today. It looks miserable.
We have a heat index!!!!!! temp is 42 and real feel is 43. It will warm to 52 this aft. Maybe I will go after all.

I read and sewed. Took a three hour nap. We went to the dog park between 5 and 6. Temp was reasonable. I wore only a sweat shirt (over my other clothes, of course). I chatted with Joel who is a helicopter pilot. He is the third person who has asked me if I like being retired. He thinks about retirement. Asked me how I got along financially. I told him that I had been in grad school for years and years making no money. I say that the most important thing I learned in grad school was how to live on Social Security.

I did not have time to read today. I am delving into Ken Follet's *Pillars of the Earth*. I had to get past the first incident, a hanging. Life in the middle ages was not easy.

Hugs, Dr. Liz

Friday, March 13, 2009

March 13

Slept till eleven. Reading emails. Going to dog park in the rain. Temp is 37 and feels like 28. This is hard on the body after high eighties all week.
Had an interesting dream that would make a good plot for Tony Hillerman. A young native American who was on R&R from Special Forces (I got that from Vineyard series) was arranging the disappearance of his girl friend. (Got that from Women's Murder Club). a couple FBI agents were investigating. (Got that from ---).

We went over to the dog park briefly. I cant give the dogs enuf exercise walking them. No sidewalks around here. Blitzen was ready to come home after fifteen minutes. Getting Lady Chica was another matter. She loves falling water. Obviously we were the only creatures there. I need a nap.

Took a long nap. That expedition did me in. Turned on tv to watch various news shows. I heard a news program on PBS this afternoon that shocked me. I had not realized the extent of the mortgage failure. And this was not sudden. People have been defaulting for more than a year.



BOOK REVIEW
I read two books from two pm to two am.
James Patterson, *Fifth Horseman*
Women's Murder Club. The ADA's mother died in hospital. Eventually they find a nurse who is killing patients. There was another plot I cant remember.
James Patterson, *7th Something*
Lindsay has gotten herself back on the street as a sergeant. Police procedural tracking down two young men who murder and burn down houses.




Hugs, Dr. Liz

Thursday, March 12, 2009

March 12

Persis, thanks for Bible verse. In the book *Goose in the Pond*, the grandmother and her sister fight by telephone using Bible verses. One calls the other and says, "John 3:16" and so on and on.

I got up around eleven. Worked on new quilt, modified log cabin. Took a nap. Made a library run. It is cold today. We are not going to dog park.

I have steadily worked on new quilt. Lea, I have taken a lesson from your grandmother. I have been sitting at the ironing board. I almost forgot to send this tonight. Temp was about forty today. We had rain this morning but nothing this afternoon.

I worry about my rubber trees. I had Jake carry them outdoors. It was forty today. It is predicted to stay about 35 degrees.




BOOK REVIEW
Cynthia harrod-Eagles, *Orchestrated Death*
This is the first book in the inspector Bill Slider series. The author writes historical novels. This reads more like a novel than just a mystery. Police procedural. Slider is a homicide detective in London.

Hugs, Dr. Liz

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

March 11

Tuesday evening. Lady Chica has turned over all the wastebaskets in the house. (The garbage is under the sink out of reach.) Now she has retreated to her cage to take a nap.

If any of you are able to maneuver in Facebook (and I know Allen can) there are pictures posted on Ft. Woof. I dont know how to get there.

Wednesday morning 8:30 AM I feel so rested. The rains came and are still coming down. I had a weird dream about Broadway Baptist church. In the dream it was Sunday and I was on the third floor doing something altho the service had started in the sanctuary. I went downstairs. The sanctuary had been turned into two rooms. And there was a preacher in each room. I went into the room with the unknown preacher and sat down. After a while I was bored. He was the standard preacher. I got up and went into the room where our current pastor (temporary) was preaching. I left there also and the dream ended.
It's like I visualized my feelings. I think our pastor preaches a sermon with a double meaning. The regulars hear a regular sermon. Some of us hear a radical sermon. (Paul Tillich and )

I read about the shooting in Alabama. I think we can expect more of this kind of thing as the year progresses. Stress pushes people over the line.

Spent the evening with Lea and John. We chatted as usual. I was sorting pictures of Pueto Vallarta. I need to get some refill pages. Raining.

BOOK REVIEW
Earlene Fowler, *Goose in the Pond*
Every title in this series is the name of a quilt design. Altho I don't know how the design got this name. And it has nothing to do with the plot. The series protagonist is Benni Harper who is the curator of a folk art museum. One of the coop members is murdered. Classic mystery with folk overtones.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

March 10

7:30 am and it is still dark, altho I dont think the sun will rise today. Cloudy. Blitzen has not deigned to get out of bed. Usually he is begging to lick the dish. Off to Baptist Center. I did get a good night's sleep.

We fed eleven families at the food pantry of the Baptist Center. about 150 sack lunches. It was slow. I was so sleepy. I came home and slept for three hours. I think it is the weather.

And I am sleepy all over again at 6:24 PM We went to the dog park. Lady Chica spent most of the hour lying under my bench. Blitzen kept chasing a young dog trying to hump him. Finally I had to put Blitzen on time out. blitzen is almost ten years old and he wore out a young dog.

The black dog in the Race picture is Storm. I talked with his owner and I am sending her the pic.

BOOK REVIEW
Bill Crider, *Cursed to Death*
sherif Rhodes series. This is one of Crider's first books and I like it better than his later ones. It is not as smooth. A dentist comes into the sheriff's office complaining that he has been cursed by a witch. Rhodes does not have a law covering that.


If anyone knows how to maneuver in Facebook, you can find pics at Ft. Woof.

Monday, March 9, 2009

March9

Midnight. I made myself some faux gazpacho. I took some frozen stir fry veggies and blended them with canned tomatoes. Tasted good.

Noon. My sleep patterns are all messed up. I woke at seven with pain in my leg. So Lady Chica and I took a hot shower. Back to bed and slept till noon. I am going to do some sewing and go to dog park about five. The sickles for sure will be gone.

I am so excited about the new lap quilt I have begun. It is a modified log cabin. Log cabin design but not tidy strips. the beginning is black and red

Went to dog park from five to six. I forgot that Mr. Agent Orange is a conspiracy buff. I forgot and chatted with him. He knows conspiracies beyond conspiracies. It was a pleasant day. Dogs mostly sat around. I think they got tired on Saturday.

BOOK REVIEW
Lynn Hightower, *Fortunes of the Dead*
I really enjoyed this book. Lena Paget is a PI specializing in domestic violence cases, for example, getting battered wives to a shelter etc. She lives with a homicide dick, Joel Mendez. Federal agents are being assassinated.

Hugs, Dr. Liz

Sunday, March 8, 2009

March 8

Slept in until noon and about to take another nap. Lady Chica is feisty today, trying to entice Blitzen or me into playing. She danced all around me in bed. (She was on the bed.) I had a long dream about being in that play I saw yesterday. My unconscious was dancing!!!!
Before I can take a nap I have to get a sheet on the bed.

Brenda called and I agreed to meet at the dog park at 3 PM. I did not know that time had changed. I just thot my computer had gone crazy. I took another nap. Then we arrived at the dog park at 3. Brenda was just leaving Her watch read 4. She agreed to stay another hour and we chatted away. The day was almost too warm. Lady Chica got tired and came over to lie down beside me. So I captured her.

I managed to get clean sheets on the bed. I found my shorts, just where I remembered. Hallelujah!!!!!! I have lost somehow a pair of white jeans. I am doing a laundry.

Time always feels funny after the time change. It is 9:40 which should be 8:40 and it feels like the middle of the night. I have been reading. Air drying my tee shirts which are shrinking.

21 points to this point. Weight Watcher Points. I am allowed twenty. deliver me from a midnight binge.





BOOK REVIEW
Sue Henry, *Murder a Five Finger Light*
I found a Sue Henry I had not read. I have read the Iditarod Trail about three times. In this book, Jessie has a bad knee and cannot run her dogs. She goes to visit some friends who are restoring an old light house. The light houses are automatic run on solar power. So the Coast Guard is selling them to private owners.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Saturday, March 7, 2009

March 7

Sort of overcast. Up at 9 AM. Jake is coming over to get fouton and take away. This aft I go to a play with John and Lea then an Indian pow wow. I doubt if I have energy to go to Sunday school tomorrow, all you guys.

Sat. 8:37 PM and I have turned off the alarm for tomorrow.

Jake and I had a good visit this morning. Jake is graduating with a BA in sociology and we discussed how sociologists view the world differently from most folks. We discussed nature and nurture. jake is taking a class in "Sex and Gender Roles". I told him I taught that in the seventies, and he explained how roles are changing. he is going to bring me his text when his class is over.

Took a nap and made it over to Lea's house by two. John and I took the truck over to campus. We saw a Threatre production of "Robber Bridegroom". Sort of a sureal Applachian folk tale loosely based on the Bros Grim. I think it was Beauty and the Beast. The set was incredible. It was a musical, song and dance.
Then we went over to the Indian pow wow, held indoors in some ballroom on campus. we stayed there an hour or so. Opening ceremonies. I had stew and fry bread. Afterwards we went to Braums and I had a milk shake. Alas.

No time for reading today. No book review.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

March 5

I was up for breakfast at 4 am and the dogs did not get up. Lands sakes, what is the world coming to? I am up again at 9 AM but am going back to bed. No errands to run today. I am going to start back working on quilts.

I didn't do much. Got down a box of archived photos. What a mess. And it is only one of several. First I need to label the photos. Took a couple naps. We went to Northfield Park dog park this aft. to miss the motorsicles. More people there than a year or two ago. Lady Chica treed a squirrel. I asked some kid to help me catch her.

Landscapers trimmed a couple of our trees. I never can remember their name. They are beautifully ornamental at a distance. First they shed blossoms. Then they shed berries. Then they shed leaves.

Took another nap. Then I watched CSI. I somehow pulled a muscle in my upper back. I am fragile.

BOOK REVIEW
William Tapply, *Nervous Water*
Another Brady Coyne novel. Nervous water is when a school of fish is right close to the surface. After thirty years, Brady's Uncle Moz calls him. Moz is estranged from his daughter and wants Brady to find her. It turns out that the drs have told him he has an aneurysm that will burst. Three bodies later, Brady finds her.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

March4

I am fascinated by genetics. Since the use of DNA, categorization has changed. Wolves, dogs , coyotes and dingos are now considered each a sub species. Experts can distinguish wolf skull from dog skull. I think it is those OFF and ON genes again. Dingos may become extinct bc of mixing with domestic dogs. In the eastern US wolves and coyotes have mixed to become a new breed, grey wolves.

A prof at Wayne State wants to throw chimps and bonobos into the genus, homo. It would mess up the fossils, however.

CALL THE DO NOT CALL NUMBER. I guess those five years have expired and we need to call a number on our cell phone in order to prevent telemarketing calls.
1-888-382-1222

This is not a joke. I have called the number and registered my cell phone.

Made a library run, stopped at Senior Center to read a cartoon in the paper and keep up my membership, picked up Puerto Vallarta pics. Exhausted by all that activity, I took a nap and suddenly it was 4:30. PPQS is being taken out to dinner tonight.

Asked what I wanted to eat, I replied that i craved a hamburger. So we went to JayJay's. I had a hamburger and rhubarb pie. I didn't know that rhubarb is a northern delicacy.

Home early and to bed.

BOOK REVIEW
Philip Craig, *Vineyard Stalker*
A man came back from Vietnam, where he had been a sniper, built a litle hut and lived a monastic life, presumably in penance for killing people in Nam. His aunt gave him a life time lease, but when she died his cousin wanted to sell the property. So she had to get rid of him. J.W. was hired to find the vandals who were hassling the Monk.

I took three books back to library unread. I could not finish *EyeStroke*, could not start a jeffry Deaver book, had already read twice *Murder One*. I have figured out I like mysteries where the murder occurs off stage, as it were. I get scared reading about the murder itself.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

March 3

I was on my fifth and last, honest, I promise, snooze button when the old blue heeler began to nag. I wonder if the Dog Whisperer has dealt with blue heelers. Personally I do not classify them as canus domestica. They prowl like a cat.

They really do have structural differences. Their ankles and wrists are flexible.
And I just realized I am walking normally this morning. off to Baptist Center.

My task as a volunteer at the Baptist Center is to screen applicants for the food pantry. The food pantry is divided into areas by zip code. I have to see ID and address verification, like a bill or something. Then I look them up in the computer to see if they have been within 30 days. We had about twenty families today. I was busy steadily all morning.

Came home and slept for almost three hours. Got to the dog park at 4:30 and the sickles left at 5. Meanwhile I had Blitzen on time out. Tomorrow we got to Lea's house. Then I think for the rest of the week I go to the other park.
I am craving another nap. Dealing with Blitzen is hard work.

BOOK REVIEW
Philip Craig, *A Deadly Vineyard Holiday*
The prez comes for a vacation on the Vineyard. His daughter is threatened and stays with J>W> Unlikely villain.




Hugs, Dr. Liz

Monday, March 2, 2009

March 2

Up at 10:30. Had a nice sleep in after dogs stopped barking at the trash pickup. My hips are steadily feeling better day by day.

I managed to iron my last two shirts. Then I had to lie down. I managed to get to Walgreen to order the pics from Puerto Vallarta. And then off to the dog park where I met Judy. Yeah. Blitzen was impossible bc the motorsickles were practicing. he kept digging under the fence and I kept putting him on time out. Finally, just as I was ready to go home, he suceeded in getting under the fence. A nice lady volunteered to catch him and he came quietly. Hallelujah. A Miracle. Now for a nap at 5 PM. Lady Chica and Blitzen keep squabbling. The other day I saw one tiny moment of rapport. At the park they run in tandem.

Well, that nap lasted almost three hours. I woke rested, with my back in better shape. Trying to answer all the emails from Ruth on genealogy. She has found the treasure trove.



BOOK REVIEW
Abraham Verghese, *The Tennis Partner*
Another autobiography. In 1991 Abe took a job teaching in the dept of internal medicine at Texas Tech in ElPaso, TX. There he met a senior medical student who had once been a tennis pro. Tennis had always been a fantasy of Abe's. So David and Abe began playing tennis regularly. David had once been a cocaine addict. Now he is a recovering addict. He has been admitted back into med school under strict provisions.
Eventually David has a relapse. After several months at a rehab hospital for physicians, David returns to El Paso. Eventually he has another relapse and shoots himself.
This book presents the idea that drug addicts have a gene defect. I know that brain scans are showing brain differences. One of the characters in the book suggests that Abe go to AlAnon.




Hugs, Dr. Liz

Sunday, March 1, 2009

March 1

I forgot to turn on the alarm but got up anyhow. I woke up from a nightmare. I was trying to make a phone call. I couldn't hear over the noise. I seemed to be in the waiting room of a hospital. I tried three phones and each had impossible keyboards.

Went to SS and church, had lunch at church. We missed Farmer. Now for a nap.

Went to dog park 4 PM to 5 PM. Wind not blowing. So it was not too bad. Temp was 49. This week each day will be warmer than the day before. High eighties by the end of the week.

BOOK REVIEW
No review today. I have not had time to catch up on my reading. I have been watching tv.


Hugs, Dr. Liz