Sunday, January 31, 2010

January 31, 2010

8 am It looks as if I may make it to Sunday School.

At Sunday School we are discussing our childhood versions of Bible stories. Today we discussed the story about four men lowering a paralytic through the roof so that Jesus could heal him.
I think people should think more about the political ramifications of jesus' teaching. At this point in time, Jesus personifies the establishment.
The Pope is urging priests to blog. WWJB
Had lunch at the round table. Talked mostly with David the iceman.

After my nap we went to the dog park. No wind so it was bearable. Chance and Buddy were there. Packs of big busters were running the fence.
This never happens. Blitzen would not come home. he kept barking at a big dog. Finally I put Lady Xica in the car. Blitzen still would not come, but all other dogs were going home. The last person left besides me carefully waited to pull out until I was pulling out. I was impressed.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
I felt really good tonight. Good running weather. Chance and Buddy were there and we had a pack of big busters running. I did not feel like going home when Mom left. I knew she would never leave me behind.

Lady Xica's Tale
Blitzen pulled a Chica tonight. he was determined not to come home. I was ready. I did a lot of running with Buddy and Chance.

7:35PM. I am ready to take another nap. Tired. Being cold tires me.

BOOK REVIEW
John Sandford, *Chosen Prey* (2001)
Lucas Davenport police procedural, chasing a serial killer. We have alternate chapters with the killer, who is an art history professor. Lucas is back with Weather, after an hiatus. The end of the book implies that she is pregnant.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Saturday, January 30, 2010

January 30, 2010

11 AM Blitzen loudly proclaims he wants breakfast. Finally got up. He is relentless. At least the house is illuminated by the sun. I have been turning on lights.

We took off for a library run and the dog park. Few dogs there. After an hour Blitzen was whining to come home and Lady Xica wanted to play chase. (Blitzen almost never whines. Mostly he demands loudly.) I am exhausted. I finally got her into the air lock and eventually she came up to the gate.
A flock of gulls was hovering over the pond which had developed in the soccer field.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
A little winter weather goes a long way. Mom put my sweater on me and that felt good. Not many dogs there. We did get a few running once in a while.

Lady Xica's Tale
I get to running and nothing else matters. Old Blitzen wanted to go home. So Mom chained him to the fence while she chased me. She doesn't run very fast.

I came home and slept for three hours. Whew. I had an interesting dream. I was attending some kind of convention. A long line of women were waiting at the rest room. So I got in my car and was looking for somewhere to go to the restroom. Pat, somehow you were running around with me.

BOOK REVIEW
John Sandford, *Dark of the Moon* (2007)
Sandford is introducing a new protagonist, Lucas Davenport getting too old. Lucas works for Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Working under his supervision is Virgil Flowers.
Virgil is in his late thirties, rather a rebel.
Virgil is sent out state to investigate a double homicide. As he drives into town he sees a fire. An old man is burned up in an arson.
police procedural

Hugs, Dr. Liz

Friday, January 29, 2010

January 29, 2009

Thursday night 11 PM. I think the storm has passed us.

8 AM Friday. It is raining but I see no signs of ice. Prediction is freezing drizzle this aft. I think I will stay out of the car. Back to bed.

11 AM Got up. We are having a hiatus between rains. So I will dress and we will walk around the block.
Twice I heard the emergency vehicles go screaming down the street.

We took our walk just in time. It is beginning to sprinkle. The wind chill was fierce. I need to walk the dogs more often. Talk about resistance training. The dogs came home and chased each other around the house at 25 mph. I mean literally.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
Mom took us across the street to a big field. Lots of new smells. had a ball.

Lady Xica's Tale
I am glad Mom did not let go of the leash. That horrible Blitzkrieg runs off and Blitzkrieg is his name. He runs down by the creek and gets caught on the branches.

One day I expect to meet a feral hog or a bobcat or a coyote down by the creek.

Martha and I had our more than hour long chat on cell phone as she drives up from Laredo. Jake and Joanna are moving in together Feb 1.
3 PM I feel so cozy and warm inside. Rain has stopped.
4:30PM Feeling cozy and warm altho I think temp is dropping. Temp is 32 degrees with wind chill of 18. Going down to mid-twenties. There will be ice on the roads where puddles stand.
Took a nap for two hours. Evening draws on.

BOOK REVIEW
John Sandford, * Sudden Prey* (1996)
Another Luke Davenport police procedural. Luke has been made deputy chief of Minneapolis PD. In the course of a bank robbery, a woman robber is shot. her husband decides to shoot the spouse of every police officer involved. Cops and robbers.
Hugs, Dr. Liz

Thursday, January 28, 2010

January 28, 2010

I notice that I have been dating these journall thewrong year. It is 2010.

Up at 10:30 AM. First order of business is to take car to have oil changed.

The oil change took 30 minutes and the commute was one block. So I was home in short order. It was raining and we went to the dog park. After 15 minutes Blitzen asked to go home. I have a slicker with hood in which I look like the pictures on those packages of frozen fish.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
I enjoy the rain but only to a certain extent. I raced around the field and then asked Mom to go home. LC was ready to come home, too. This is the kind of day to sleep.

Lady Chica's Tale
I really love falling water. I get in the shower with Mom every night.

I was settling in for my nap when thunder rolled and rain came down like buckets. I felt snug and warm cuddled next to LC, aka heating pad.
Amazed to find it is only 5:45 PM.
Watched the PBS Newshour. I am getting bored with MI-5, always the same plot. Some terrorist org planning to blow up London.
Checked weather channel. Severe thunderstorms tonight but temp is predicted to stay at 32. So we should not have ice. I am so happy I do not have to commute to a job tomorrow morn.

Turning off computer at 7 PM

BOOK REVIEW
John Sandford, *Winter Prey* (1993)
Lucas Davenport, police procedural. In this volume, Lucas meets Weather, the woman whomhe marries about ten books later. We get the back story on Weather who is a surgeon.


Lucas has left the Minneapolis police dept. (Was he fired for use of unnecessary force?) He is spending the winter in his cabin in northern WI. The sheriff asks him to help investigate a brutal murder. In the remains of a burned out farmhouse the firemen find three bodies. Add to this a gay priest.




Hugs, Dr. Liz

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

January 27,2010

Up at 9:30 am altho I stayed up reading until 4 AM (See book review) Grey day not too cold. I plan to do my laundry this morning. PPQS this evening.

Blitzkreig's Tale
Lady Xica's Tale
What happens at Pup's stays at Pup's.

Lea and I are donating our most recent quilt, not quite finished, to a fund raiser for research on breast cancer. Lea's daughter in Colorado is involved with "Power of Seven". Somebody is climbing seven mountains. The quilt will be in a silent auction.
Pics of the quilt are on Lea's facebook. Lea Worcester.



BOOK REVIEW
John Sandford,*Certain Prey* (1999)
Lucas Davenport series police procedural. Lucas is asst chief of police in Minneapolis, MN. (This is what kept me up until 4 AM.) In this book Lucas is chasing a female hitman. A lady lawyer hires a hitman to take out the wife of a man she wants to marry. From there on the plot gets complicated. You love the hitman, altho you come to hate the lady lawyer.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

January 26, 2010

Had a dreadfl dream I cant remember but a flood of feelings came flooding. I feel as if I had been struck by lightning. Off to Baptist Center.

Slow slow slow. I guess people are working at stockyards. We only had five family units.

Came home and took a nap. Then off to the dog park. Buddy was there and the dogs did some running.
They seem to sense time. At the end of an hour they come to find me, expecting to go home.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
Not much to say today. I sat on the table a lot of the time. I like to sit on Mom's back pack. She has a little one labeled ACU. I guess that came from Josh. I used to play with Josh but he is too grown up to come over and run with me.

Lady Chica's Tale
Buddy was at the park and we did some running along the fence. Not much going on. There were fights in the big dog side. Mostly little dogs dont fight.

Tuned in to NOVA but it was too slow, about Monarch butterflies. We always had a lot in Dighton bc our back forty grew milkweeds. Monarchs feed on milkweeds.

BOOK REVIEW
Janet Dawson, *Witness to Evil* (1997)
Jeri Howard, PI, is hired to go to Paris and find a girl named Darcy. It turns out Darcy's grandmother was a hidden child, hidden from the Nazis in rural France. Darcy wants to visit the places.
After Darcy comes home she is sent to a boarding school. One of the maintenance men is murdered and Darcy vanishes again.
Janet Dawson is a CPS worker in CA and her books are parables about abused children.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Monday, January 25, 2010

January 25, 2009

Up at 9 before the alarm rings. Feeling good. No benedryl last night. No pains. off to Wendy's to meet Judy.

Judy and I sat depressing each other about the state of the nation. when I got home, Judy called 2 say the motorsickles were there. I am taking a nap.

I bought a Mother of the Bride dress. It is composed of four fabrics, pieced like a crazy quilt. I love it. Long dress. I will make top into a jacket. It is deep purple but not dark. I love it.

We went to dog park about five. Not warm but not cold. I wore a sweater (not ski jacket). Blitzen and Lady Chica played with each other. They ran with Buddy. In general got some exercise. I am so tired.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
We horsed around at thepark, had fun. Played with LC. Ran with Buddy.

Lady Chica's Tale
Not many dogs at the park. Mom was reading. We ran with Buddy. I think we finally tired him out. Another little dog was running withhim. Blitz and I played together. We usually dont do that at the park. I like to grab B's leg.

BOOK REVIEW
Clyde Edgerton, *Raney* (1985)
Rany is a small town Free Will Baptist and Charles is a liberal librarian from Atlanta. I emphasize librarian. Some of my best friends are librarians. And in the Riots at SIU, they were themost radical. This is the story of their marriage. They started out by playing country music together.
In some ways country music is a symbol. For Rany, it is normal music. For Charles, it is folk music.
I did not find this funny. I found it heart wrenching. I think the ending tells it all. The baby was baptized at the Episcopal church and the Baptists held a reception. The godfather was black, an army friend of the father.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

I just realized I have been saying 2009. It is 2010

Sunday, January 24, 2010

January 24, 2009

Up at 10 AM. Martha and Jeff are coming over to steam clean carpet. Thot I would wait to take dogs to park to get them out of the way.
I forgot to mention last night that John took us out to dinner at JayJays.

I had loaded dogs to go to park when M and J drove up. We stayed at the park until after three. Stiff breeze but not too cold. Blitzen played with Friday.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
We stayed for a long time at the park. I was ready to come home. Friday turned up and we did a little running around. Those little black puppies were around. I keep trying to socialize that little boy dog.

Lady Xicha's Tale
I was too tired today. We stayed at Pup's from noon till seven last night and I got worn out. And we stayed forever at the dog park.

I came home and took a nap. Fussing around putting things back in place around the house. I watched CSI-New York. Found it boring.

BOOK REVIEW
J.A. Jance, *Breach of Duty* (1999)
J.P. Beaumont police procedural. Beau is a homicide dick with Seattle PD. An elderly woman is found burned to death and Fire Dept declares arson. They find $300,000 in a refrigerator in garage. Also some old bones are found in a park and a native American lady insists they belong to a shaman and have power.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Saturday, January 23, 2010

January 23, 2009

Slept until eleven. I have to hustle. Dropping pups at Pup's. Pup really is his name. Then off to set up exhibit at Woodland West, on Park Row near Tom Thumb.

7 PM I am exhausted but I have had so much fun. I got to library at 12:45. The setup took me five minutes. We had three partially fnished quilts. also a scrapbook.. Somebody was talking to us all the time. I saw other booths. gourds, buttons, GSP orienting.

Blitzkrig's Tale
Lady Xica's Tale
What happens at Pup's stays at Pup's

Oda Mae and Russ were here today, visiting their house. Russ has to hve radiation. My favorite neighbor has given up the ghost. Doris was alwaysthe life of the party. She wore funny hats. I mean hats meant to be entertaining. She got shingles, worse and worse. Then she contracted an infection in the hospital.

BOOK REVIEW
Diana Gabaldon, *Brotherhood of the Blade* (2007)
Third Lord John book. Brotherhood of the blade is just the bonding of soldiers. This book is complex. The theme of the book is repairing the honor of Lord John's father. The fa was accused of treason (giving info to French troops) but was a duke and House of Lordsdid not want to try him. He could only be triedby his peers. Lord John finally tracks down traitorsand exonerates his fa.
Jamie Fraser plays a cameo role. At this point Jamie is on parole working as a groom.

I seem to be living in the 18th century. Last night I was watching MI-5 and was amazed that Heathrowwas in the story.




Hugs, Dr. Liz

Friday, January 22, 2010

January 22, 2009

Up and off to tai chi. Then to Kroger to buy glue for scrapbook. All my glue has dried up. I am excited about what I am doing for scrapbook. Now for a nap. 1 PM

After my nap we went to the park. My dogs did not seem too excited. We stayed until 5:30 to avoid traffic which was in vain. We drove west to Riverside to get on 121. Somehow Beach St. was just plugged.

Blitzkreig's Tale
Nobody was eager to run. I just wandered around the park. I tried to socialize this little pup but everybody intervened. Nobody seems to understand that pups need to be straightened out.

Lady Xica's Tale
I was ready to come home. Mom dragged me through the agility mess. I dont know why she thinks I am going to do that voluntarily. She sat and read mostly. Ray was there and Marcie.

BOOK REVIEW
Diana Gabaldon, *Lord John and the Private Matter* (2003)
Lord John Grey was a minor character in the Outlander series. He was a teen ager in *Outlander*. His bro saved Jamie after Culloden. Lord John was the warden of a prison where Jamie and other "traitors" were incarcerated. He was gov of Jamaica in *Voyager*.

Gabaldon was asked to write a short story and a new series was born.
This story is set in 1757. Lord John is home between postings in France, in the Seven Years War between England and France. A soldier in his regiment is found beaten to death and Lord John is asked to investigate. (The regiment was raised by his bro.) His superiors think the man had been a spy.
I read this in 2003 and found it boring. Today I found it entriguing. Lord John is gay and his lover died at Culloden. His sexual orientation is always part of the story.

Hugs, Dr. Liz

Thursday, January 21, 2010

January 21, 2009

9 am Going back to bed. Sun is shining. Will be a beautiful day.
My task is to put together a scrap book for our Saturday presentation. Pics of our quilts.

Slept until noon. I have slept the clock around. I was tired.

I am tidying, trying to find a thank you note for scrap book. We spent more than two hours at the dog park. Weather was perfect. Lady Xica ran up and down trying to entice a dog to run. Finally Buddy arrived. Dogs were ready to come home.

Blitzkreig's Tale
We stayed for a long time at dog park. I ran for a little bit but mostl I hung around Mom and sat on the table. We couldn't get any of those ol buggers to run.

Lady Xica's Tale
I am spelling my name differently. at the vet's, Dr. Jan told Mom about a dog who spelled her name that way, true Mexican.
Buddy finally came but by then I was too tired to run.

BOOK REVIEW
Diana Gabaldon, *Outlandish Companion* (1999)
This is an encyclopedia of all kinds of lore about the Outlander series. There is a synopsis of the first four books, Q&A from fans. And lots more.
There is a selection that was a short story that appears in the seventh book.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

January 20, 2009

Up at 8. Temp is 62 degrees. Gnash your teeth, Michicanos. We are off to the vet for Blitzen's annual exam and shots.

Blitzen was a pill. Otherwise he is in good shape. The vet techs have known Blitzen for ten years.

Blitzkreig's Tale
I truly hate that ol vet. They stick things into me. Mom says it will keep me well but I dont believe it. They had everything in one sticker today.

Blitzen's corner looks like an archeological site, with s atack of bones.
4:20 PM We are under a tornado watch. On my way to Pup's.

Tornado touched down many, many miles east of us. Lea and I spent out time fixing stuff to take to next Sat. We are going to be one exhibit at "Doing Your Passion" Some branch library.

Lady Xica's Tale
What happens at Pup's stays at Pup's.

I have not had time to read this week. I have been busy, busy, busy.



Hugs, Dr. Liz

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

January 19, 2009

Last night a reader said my late night would haunt me in the morning. This is the haunted morning. Up at 7:30 to get to Baptist Center. Predicted temp todayin the 70's.

Baptist Center
Slow this morning. Lots of people have temp jobs at stock show. 10 family units for groceries at 10:25PM
Altogether 14 family units by closing time.

I came home and took a short nap. Then I had a massage. Leah, my massage, therapist spent last week at something called the Chili Bowl. Small cars racing on an indoor track. She did not enjoy the week. I heard detail by detail.

Came home and went to dog park. Kelly came in and talked. Kelly talks and talks. The dogs ran off and on. Buddy was there when we came in. He was chasing our car on the road.

Blitzkreig's Tale
Buddy was there and we ran off and on. We ran and rested, ran and rested.

Lady Chica's Tale
Buddy was there. I ran on and off, on and off. Not much doing.

Came home. Booted up computer and my sister called on Skype. I feel as if I were living in Brave New World. She showed me pirate tee shirt she bought for her grandson in Oz.
I am tired, tired, tired. Massage tires me out.

BOOK REVIEW
Diana Gabaldon, *Drums of Autumn* (1997)
Fourth book in Outlander series. Claire and Jamie Fraser are blown ashore in Georgia, American colonies. Jamie's aunt has a plantation in North Carolina. Clare and Jamie head there, where the governor gives Jamie a huge land grant (the gov assuming Jamie will keep law and order on the frontier). Jamie brings in men from where he was in prison. They were in prison for the Rising, but it was treason.
I so enjoy this book for the picture it paints of life in the wilderness. They build a cabin, produce their own food.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Monday, January 18, 2010

January 18, 2009

Up by 8:45 am. wow. Sun is shining. Temp will be 68 today. This week temps will be in sixties.
Meeting Judy at Wendy's at eleven.

HUMOR
TCU has a mascot, horned frog. One week TCU had a big game and they died a pond purple, urged people to wear purple. Now. Town Talk has a big sign board telling what the special is today. I drove by and saw FROGS. How can they sell frogs? Are frog legs frozen? Oh,yeah. Big delicacy.
The next trip I saw GO FROGS.

Judy and I discussed Haiti. I did not realize until this aft and evening that Haiti only had one runway at the airport. Furthermore, the port is damaged. What a mess. One dr said they were practicing Civil War medicine (our war of northern aggression). They are amputating limbs that are becoming infected bcthey have no antibiotics.

I took a nap. Then Off tothe dog races. Happily Chance was there and my dogs ran and ran. When we were going out, Buddy was coming in and he howled long and hard that we were leaving. Blitzen still has issues about his name.

Blitzkreig's Tale
I have decided to change my name. This is what I am, a blitzkreig. So there, too. I suppose Mom will still use my old name for my "call name".

Lady Chica's Tale
That Blitzen is so stupid. I am embarressed to be seen withhim at the dog park. I had a great time running with Chance. She and I are buddies.

BOOK REVIEW
Barack Obama, *Audacityof Hope*
I have read this before, two years ago during the election campaign. I think every citizen should read this. Obama lays out his value system. He is proceding according to his lights. He also says that politics is "a contact sport".
For one thing, he is being a constitutional president, eschewing the empirical presicdency that has been developing since LBJ.








Hugs, Dr. Liz

Sunday, January 17, 2010

January 17, 2009

Up at 10:30. Slept like a log. Off to the dog park. martha is picking me up after the Cowboygame. Sun is shining. Will be warmer today.

The weather is PERFECT. Absolutely perfect. Dog park is mostly empty over the noon hour. My dogs were content to lie down under the table.

Blitzen's Tale
Everybody thinks I am a reindeer. I just hate my name. I think I will see about getting it legally changed. Mom is so behind the times. She thinks about blitzkreigs.

Lady Chica's Tale
Not many big busters and we couldn't get anybody to run. Mom thought she could get me to run the agility course without being on a leash. Funny mom. She has such funny ideas.


1:36 PM I am going to take a nap and let the Cowboy game take care of itself!!!!

I watched the last few minutes of the game, in time to see Brett Favre make his fourth touchdown pass. Martha was devastated.

We watched more pictures of Haiti. How horrible. Everything is devastated.

We had seafood soup for dinner. Oh, my. mussels, shrimp, clam, crab legs and what not.
Martha made gingerbread cup cakes.
We watched telly and Martha brot me home.

BOOK REVIEW
Ian Rankin, *Exit Music* (2007)
Inspector Rebus police procedural. Rebus is about to take retirement. One more body discovered beside the road, a Russian expat poet.
It is weird to be running around Edinburgh after being there in the 18th century.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Saturday, January 16, 2010

January 16, 2009

Up at 8:30 AM. I am going back to bed. Probably not to sleep.
I have a strange plant growing in one of my plants.

10:30 am. Had a great nap with Lady Chica snuggled against my back like a heating pad. I wish radio and/or tv had something on I wanted to hear or watch.

Well. I found something. Channel 13-2 had reruns of NOVA. I did some hand sewing.

After a nap, we set forth for the dog races, and I do mean dog races. We stayed for two hours. Lady Chica, Blitzen, Chance and Buddy ran and ran and ran. Chance's Mom told me thank you. Chance was tired out.

Blitzen's Tale
Chance and Buddy ran and ran and we ran and ran. What else is there to say?

Lady Chica has asked me to write her tale. She reports she is too tired out to write.

BOOK REVIEW
Nevada Barr, *Liberty falling* (1999(
Anna Pigeon's sister, Molly, is seriously ill in a New York hospital. Anna stays with a friend in Liberty Island, a national park. A girl jumps and a ranger falls or is pushed off a balcony on Lady Liberty. Anna of course becomes involved.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Friday, January 15, 2010

January 15, 2009

Thursday night I watched MI-5. I hope I am never taken hostage. I have to go to the bathroom too often.

My vet just contributed to KERA (Public Radio).

8:30 AM What am I doing up feeling rested? Now I know why I never watch telly. The news shows are showing how to cook chicken wings for a tailgate party.

Got to tai chi. Then made a library run. Then home for a nap.
3:20 PM Off to the dog park. Gloomy day but not cold.

But it was mizzling. I sat under the shelter and missed the drizzle. Both dogs played -- with each other and then a Belgian shepherd puppy named Friday. Blitzen has played two or three times but this is the first that Lady Chica has run and played with a dog on this side of the fence. it was fun to watch.

Blitzen's Tale
had fun playing with a big ol puppy. We ran and ran. Then I got tired and sat on the table. Mickey's dad called Ray and Ray said we were crazy.

Lady Chica's Tale
I tried something new. I ran and played with this big ol puppy named Friday. We ran and ran. It was fun.

BOOK REVIEW
Ellen Hart, *The Mirror and the Mask* (2009)
A cozy mystery, except that Jane Lawless is a lesbian. Jane owns two restaurants in one of the twin cities in Minnesota. A young woman applies as a bar tender. Jane undertakes to find the woman's father. A woman is pushed downstairs and dies. I was amazed at the killer. I had no idea.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Thursday, January 14, 2010

January 14, 2009

Woke from a dream that I was living in 18th century and was trying to find a dress to wear to some gala.
9:44 AM and back to bed.
I really should go to dog park right now.
but I am sleepy.
Well, turned out I was too wired to sleep. So set forth for dog park. The drizzle let up while we were at the park. Dogs were bored. No little dogs. Few big dogs.
I have spoiled pups. Blitzen thinks the Lazyboy belongs to him. He barks at me when Isit in it.

Blitzen's Tale
Dog owners are such weinies. Nobody out today. Not even anybicycles to chase.

Lady Chica's Tale
I stood at the fence watching for cars to park. Nobody came. No dogs, no cars. Bored

took a nap. 6:00 PM Listening to President Clinton describe Haiti. He says it is indescribable.

BOOK REVIEW
Diana Gabaldon, *Outlander* (1991)
The story opens in 1945 (1946 in the English edition). Claire Randall is on vacation in Soctland with her husband. Claire has been an army nurse for four years, working near the front lines. She is interested in herbs, and in the process of gathering a flower she touches some standing stones and is thrust 200 years into the past.
She finds herself in the Scottish Highlands. The English think her a spy. She marries Jamie Fraser in order to become a Scottish citizen. Jamie is an outlaw and they have many adventures. In some ways this is a romance novel. It won a prize as such.
The writing draws one in. I am dreaming 18th century.



Hugs, Dr. Liz

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

January 13, 2009

will clarify earlier story. Here is what is known.
Some construction workers called animal control bc a little Italian greyhound was barking at people. Gollum kept barkig and asking people to follow him.
The animal control officer kept looking around and found a red coat with car keys in it. About two hours later they found the body of Andrea and two dogs in the pond.
Andrea had gone walking with her two greyhounds and a rottweiler puppy.
We are interested bc Andrea had been frequently in the dog park. And nobody knows where Gollum got off to.

I got up at ten. Ate breakfast and went back for a nap. Now 2 PM. I intend to run vacuum and get ready for PPQS tonight. We go to Pup's. (dont say that out loud)
Lady Chica thinks that "Come" means "Let's play chase".

3:38. I have taken a nap, vacuumed theliving room and taken a shower, in that order, with a bit of reading in the cracks.

Blitzen's Tale
Lady Chica's Tale
What happens at Pup's stays at Pup's

Personally I think they ate up Pup's food. Neither one ate supper when we got home.

BOOK REVIEW
John Sandford, *Rough Country*
Virgil Flowers police procedural. Virgil works for Lucas Davenport at Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Something -- MBCA. Virgil is on a fishing trip in northern Minnesota when Lucas orders him to investigate a murder at a nearby fancy resort for women.
Virgil is really neat.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

January 12, 2009

Monday evening. Dogs have not moved a muscle since we got home and they ate supper. They dropped and are sound asleep. No fussing around tonight.

Tuesday morning. Baptist Center Fewer customers today. I guess because it is too cold to stand in line. We only did 12 family units today.

I came home and took a nap as usual. The dog park was boring. I think partly my dogs dont run much the day after a lot of exercise. Buddy was there, champing at the bit.

Blitzen's Tale
Well, we couldn't get those big busters over to the fence. Lots and lots of little dogs there. I sort of wandered around.

Lady Chica's Tale
I came and stood on the table and snuggled up to Mom. She was surprised. There is a little dog named Kissy. She gets inside her dad's shirt. She has a huge big brother, also named Buddy. He is a golden.

Talked on phone for an hour. Now 6:30 PM. I think I will just read tonight. In the OUtlander it is 1767.

BOOK REVIEW
Jan Burke, *kidnapped*
Irene Kelly series. Irene Kelly is a newspaper reporter in CA, married to a homicide dick. She writes a series on vanished children and stirs up all kinds of trouble.
In 2006 I thot this was fiction, but we have since found that woman kept for a long time.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Monday, January 11, 2010

January 11, 2009

Blitzen barked to go outdoors and eat grass. He had difficulty finding any after the hard freeze. We are all glad for the heavy freeze. Less insects this summer. Winters sans freeze see an insect ridden spring.

Judy and I beat our old record. We sat talking for 2 1/2 hours --- without discussing politics. Each of us is deep in the 18th century in the Outlander series. judy began first, reading bookOne. I pickedup Book Seven, then went backto Book One and now am in Book Three. Judy finished Book One and is in Book Two.
That took us into history in general. Then we discussed Doctor Who. That led me to bring up Old Spock meeting Young Spock in the movie, Star Trek. Somehow that is against the rules of time travel.

I was so tired I took a nap. Made a library run. Temp was 62 degrees, no wind, sunny. The dog park was great. My dogs stirred up a pack of dogs on the other side of the fence. We were starting to leave when Buddy arrived and LadyChica had to take a few turns with him.

Blitzen's Tale
We really got those big busters stirred up. They were barking and barking. Sometimes we did some running. There was a big old mastiff who wanted to eat Lady Chica for a snack.

Lady Chica's Tale
We had a great time today. We got the whole pack of big dogs barking and running. Mom and I had a great game of chase when it came time to go home. I couldn't calm down.

BOOK REVIEW
Nevada Barr, *Hunting Season* (2002)
Anna Pigeon is district ranger in Natchez Trace, Mississippi. A dead body is found laid out in Grandma's bed in an historic mansion. Police procedural. Anna is always faced with a deadly adventure. She is also developing a relationship with Paul, who is both Episcopalian priest and county sheriff.

Nevada Barr, *High Country*(2004)
Anna Pigeon goes undercover as a waitress in Yosemite Park. Four seasonal employees have vanished. The park superintendant asks Anna to investigate. Her co-workers think she is a lousy waitress.

Nevada Barr, *Borderline* (2009)
Most recent and I hope not the last Anna Pigeon story. Anna is given medical leave for PTSD. She and her husband, Paul, take a rafting trip down the Rio Grande, the borderline between Mexico and the United States. Of course, they find a body caught by the debris. Complex plot and a tricky prologue.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Sunday, January 10, 2010

January 10, 2009

Sat night I wrote that the AA speaker had a dry sense of humor and a reader responded.

Reader Response:
Well, of course, it's a dry sense of humor! He's been sober for how many years

Changed alarm to 9:30 to make it to church. I must hurry.

Well, I was late fore church. I planned to sit in back but the back pews were full.
Had lunch at the round table with Ron & Beverly, Bette, Margie T, and a woman who sells eggs. Mark F was staying home resting. We missed him.

I came home and took dogs to park while it was warm altho I was desparately sleepy. Lots and lots of dogs there but none that we knew except Kevin whom Blitzen went over to hump. His owner says that Kevin humps; so turn aboutis fair play.

Blitzen's Tale
The bigdog park was full of big old busters. We had a lot of fun. They would come over and run a little and change off.

Lady Chica's tale
Yeah, we had a lot of fun. Lots and lots of big busters would run half a fence. There was this big old great dane as big as a pony.

I took a nap. I was tired. LC was so cute, all curled up in her cage. She likes to take naps there.

BOOK REVIEW
Nevada Barr, *Blind Descent* (1998)
A member of a surveying party has broken her leg in a deep cave. A team of park rangers is sent to extract her. (She will have to be carried out up and down cliffs.) The accident victim is a friend of Ann Pigeon. So Anna is sent down to be with her and stabalize her on the way out. Anna suffers from claustrophobia but bravely descends. On the way out an avalanche kills the victim. Anna is convinced that this was no accident.

Nevada Barr, *Blood Lure* (2001)
This is after Anna Pigeon has become a district ranger. She goes on a training course to Glacier National Park to track grizzly bears. Rangers with volunteers hang lures in open cages so that grizzlies will catch their hair on the wires. Then they analyze the DNA, as a means of taking a census of the bear population. Of course, Anna finds a body.

Hugs, Dr. Liz

Saturday, January 9, 2010

January 9, 2009

Up by 10 AM. Today is the big anniversary celebration of Primary Purpose AA and AlAnon. I intend to go to lunch and stay for AlAnon speaker.
Meanwhile I will take dogs on a poop walk (Meaning out of the complex and around the corner.).

Attended lunch. Saw a lot of old friends. sneaked out of speaker meeting. I was tired. Came home and took a nap.

After my nap, I went back for dinner and the evening AA speaker. The AA speaker was really, really good. He had a dry sense of humor.

Blitzen's Tale
Mom was gone all day and we never went anywhere. What a dumb day. I feel like using words Mom wont let me say!

Lady Chica's Tale
Well, we did sleep all day. I was thankful to get a little rest. Mom did come home and take a nap with us.



BOOK REVIEW
Nevada Barr, *Endangered Species* (1997)
Anna Pigeon is assigned to presuppression fire duty on Cumberland Island. The endangered species is some kind of sea turtle. A Plane used for drug interdiction crashes. It is discovered to be sabotage. Anna searches for the killer.

Hugs, Dr. Liz

Friday, January 8, 2010

January 8, 2009

Response to Winter Poem:
I don't think there's any 3 words to better describe our situation.

That was a two dog night. I may have to borrow another dog for tonight. I woke one minute before the alarm rang. Feeling good. Off to tai chi.

Well, I exercised with tai chi, had lunch at the Senior Center.
Came home and decided to go to dog park before taking my nap. Good thinking. It was getting colder as we stayed.
No other small dogs. Blitzen and Lady Chica got so bored they actually played with each other, first time ever in four years. They play with each other at home but never in the park.

Blitzen's Tale
I smelled all over the park, checked everything out. There were two big busters, but they didn't get the picture. Finally lady Chica and I played together. I can take her down.

Lady Chica's Tale
We tried to get those big busters to move but no luck. Blitzen and I finally played with each other. We usually ignore each other at the park.

I came home and slept for three hours. Watching telly. I forgot MI-5 hier soir.

BOOK REVIEW
Ralph McInery, *Wisdom of Father Dowling*
This is a volume of short stories. I am not a great fan of short stories, but if you like them, then this is for you. Good stories, like O. Henry.
IMHO short stories do not allow enough character development. In these stories, of course, you meet characters you have known over the years as you read the series.







Hugs, Dr. Liz

Thursday, January 7, 2010

January 7, 2009

Chill factor is 3 degrees (actual temp is 24). Cold for Tejas. Sun has come out but temp will not rise above 28.
Diana Gabaldon watched Dr. Who. Dr Who was a cult figure for intellectuals. He traveled time in an old fashioned British phone booth. G got the name, Jamie Fraser, from a Dr. Who episode.

I am ravenously hungry but what I want to eat is a Frosty. I am making do with oatmeal. I am tired of eating the same old thing.

Doing laundry this morning. Almost time for my nap.

I have not been so cold since leaving Michigan in 1982. The chill factor that weekend was fifty below. Well, we lasted twenty minutes at the dog park. Even the dogs wanted to go home. They beat me to the gate.
Chance and Buddy were there. My dogs were more interested in a predator bird (hawk?) swooping over the adjoining field.

Blitzen's Tale
There was an interesting thing falling down and getting up, in the field next door. Then it flapped its wings. LC and I were fascinated. We did do some running with Chance andBuddy.

Lady Chica's Tale
Not many dogs at the park. It was awful cold. Mom kept walkin around. She did not sit and read. We kept watching this thing falling down and getting up in the field next door. I think it was a bird but Blitzen says I am crazy. Blitzen thinks it's an alien.

I intend to snuggle up and read Outlander. Lots of soft pornography.

BOOK REVIEW
J.A. Jance, *Exit Wounds* (2003)
Sheriff Joanne Brady series. Brady is sheriff in an Arizona county. The novel focuses on "collectors" or "hoarders". People, usually women, who collect stray pets. A woman collector was murdered and shut in a trailer, sixteen dogs died of heat exhaustion.
I rescued Lady Chica from a collector who had forty cats and dogs.




Hugs, Dr. Liz

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

January 6, 2009

Woke before the alarm rang, feeling rested, no pain. Will meet Judy at Wendy's. She has been back in Ohio, visiting family.

Judy and I chatted and chatted. She discussed family problems. I looked at watch and we had been talking for two hours.
She gave me three huge baguettes from Town Talk.
2:39 PM I installed my printer again from original CD. No luck. Computer cannot communicate with printer.
I tried a nap but did not sleep. I will try again.

Blitzen's Tale
Lady Chica's Tale
What happens at Pup's stays at Pup's.

I am almost asleep on my feet. I did get a nap and then went over to Pup's. Lea was making jewelry. I did hand work on an unfinished project from forty years ago.
PBS was showing a documentary about human evolution and Neanderthal man. So we commented on that and various things, about growing old.

BOOK REVIEW
Ralph McInerny, *Ash Wednesday*
The title just comes from the fact that the book opens on Ash Wednesday. A new congregant joins the congregation. it is a complex plot with an unexpected denouement. This is an old fashioned mystery.

Hugs, Dr. Liz

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

January 5, 2009

Yeah!!! I found my scraper.
I wentoutside --- 24 degrees --- and much to my surprise found my car covered with frost. My MI scraper disappeared long since.
fortunately I started early.

10 AM One hour at the Baptist Center and 17 family units wanting food pantry.

Altogether 25 and only one Hispanic. Wow

Came home and took a nap. Then over to the dog park. Finally, finally Chase and Buddy arrived and Lady Chica got some exercise. She is flopped out now. Thank goodness. When she does not get enough exercise she goes on the prowl, searching thru all the waste baskets.

Blitzen's Tale
Mom is such a party pooper. There was this little dog still unfixed and I wanted to show him who's boss but Mom put me on time out. Finally Chase and Buddy arrived and we got some running in.

Lady Chica's tale
I couldn't get anybody to run. Finally Chance and Buddy showed up. Buddy got into a fight with Tiger. She is a girl dog. He shouldn't be fighting her.

And so it goes.

BOOK REVIEW
Nevada Barr, *Superior Death* (1994)
Anna Pigeon is stationed on Isle Royal in Lake Superior. The focus of this book is a sunken freighter from the 1920's in Lake Superior. Lake Superior never gives up her dead because they do not decompose in the cold water. Another corpse is found in the engine room of the sunken vessal.

Nevada Barr, *Ill Wind* (1995)
Colorado's Mesa Verde National Park is noted for its well-preved cliff dwellings, the sole legacy of the Anasazi civilization, which vanished without any other trace in the twelfth century.
Anna Pigeon is transfered here, with a promotion. And of course a body is found in one of the ancient kivas. Frederick the Fed is sent by the FBI, the body being found on federal ground.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Monday, January 4, 2010

January 4, 2010

Cold this morning. Not Michigan cold. Texas cold. I ran (tottered) over to mail a letter at club house. I plan to sew this morning until time to go to dog park. After dog park I am always so exhausted.
Lady Chica is lying around eating cardboard. Paper and cardboard are always digested. I wonder what it turns into in the digestive system.

Noon. Temp is 38 but real feel is 24. It wont warm up today. I need a nap.

After my nap and sewing some we went to the park. Blitzn actually played with a girl dog. Her mom said she was a beagle but she didn't look like it. She looked misc. When Blitzen was tired and wouldn't play anymore, Bama's mom took her to the big dog side where she played with a Saint Bernard. She took the Saint Bernard down. Her mom was scared she would scare Blitzen. ha, ha, ha, ha rofl
Nobody played with lady Chica.

Blitzen's Tale
Hey, I met this ol gal named Bama and we played and played. We had a great time. I hope she comes to the park again. No other dogs were there.

Lady Chica's Tale
Tiger ran with me a couple of laps but she aint got no perseverance. After that I had no body to run with. No little dogs and not many big dogs. It was cold. I like it cold.

Came home. After supper I took another nap.

BOOK REVIEW
John Sandford, *Hidden Prey* (2004)
Martha has already read this. So I cant spoil it for her. This turns into a spy story.
Lucas Davenport in this novel works for Minnesota criminal investigation. A Russian sailor is shot on the quay in Duluth. Duluth is a port that connects to the Atlantic.
A Russian policewoman is sent to investigate. Fascinating denouement.
Hugs, Dr. Liz

Sunday, January 3, 2010

January 3, 2010

Made it to SS and church. In SS somebody mentioned Darwin. People think "survival of the fitest" means individual survival. Not so. It means survival of your offspring. I was thinking about how important the female is to this process. She produces the offspring from her own body(means eating for two) and sometimes she nurtures.

I was taking a nap. I went to sleep thinking of dinosaurs and evolution. I was preparing an important theoretical paper on evolution when Blitzen rudely awakened me. Off to dog park.

And I come home exhausted and tired out. It got colder and colder and colder. I think NPR said it is 29 degrees now. The dogs loved it. Chance and Buddy were there and both dogs raced and raced.

Blitzen's Tale
Chance and Buddy were there and we had a good old run. Lots of other big busters were there, too. Mom said it was too cold for her. People get cold too fast.

Lady Chica's Tale
I deigned to run with Buddy today. I was in the right mood. I was ready to come home but I did some more running just to get Mom to catch me. I like to play catch with her.

4:41 PM I am sending this. I intend to take a nap and Uncle Mark will be complaining he has not gotten the report from the dogs.

BOOK REVIEW
Richard Montaneri, *Badlands*
Another serial killer, another police procedural. I am tired of getting into the mind of a serial killer. Badlands is an area of Philadelphia. Kevin Byrne and Jessica Balzano are homicide dicks with PPD.
Well written and interesting.
Especially if you like serial killers.
Hugs, Dr. Liz

Saturday, January 2, 2010

January 2, 2010

I have returned three books to library. I have sworn a solemn vow not to set foot inside library until I am returning the last of the books I have out. I returned books outside.
I will then borrow the remaining Galadon books and start requesting.

Saturday morning 9:30 AM. Blitzen demanded his breakfast.
I woke from a dream that I was helping to start a new AA group from scratch.

I took a nap and we went to dog park at 2:30. Beautiful day. I wore my coat but took it off. The regulars were there. Most of the time Blitzen and Lady Chica chased bikes and ran around in general. No racing the fence this day.

Blitzen's Tale
What is there to say? Some bike folks came and sat down just outside the fence, but I got bored. The big dogs were all big busters who dont run.

Lady Chica's Tale
I have fun chasing anything. There is a man named Bill who calls me a wolf. Lots of people say I look like a wolf. I dont think so. I am a dingo dog and dingoes were not much removed from wolves.

I slept for about three hours. Uncle Mark writes that he is waiting for today's report. I installed Artist Gold which makes greeting cards, but my printer is not working again. I think that next week I may go to library and look up printers in consumer reports and get a new one.

BOOK REVIEW:
Michael Pollan, *Botany of Desire*
Chapter Three: marijuana
A lot has been happening behind my back since the sixties. In the seventies Mexico began sprinkling marijuana with pesticide. So nort americanos began growing inside. They found a new species which grows in the mountains, more suited to our climate. Then they crossed two species. At any rate, I knew marijuana was stronger but not how it came to be. Now only the stamens are used, not leaves.
I guess Nevada Barr did not know either. She had her characters harvesting leaves and stems.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Friday, January 1, 2010

January 1, 2010

Once upon a time the new millenium seemed so far away!

Lady Chica seems to remember her puppy class, five years ago. She is so restless in the evening that I decided we needed to work obedience.

I had forgotten that Obama wrote that politics is a contact sport. He knew in 2006 that politics had become increasingly hostile.

We went for our final pee walk and we heard a shot. The dogs are terrified. In the South and in Detroit, people shoot to celebrate the new year.

Whatever happened to Lawrence Welk? NBC at Times Square is featuring hip hop. I have segued out of the culture. HAPPY NEW YEAR.

11:30 AM When Lady Chica begins to lick my face I know it is time to get up. The sun is shining and it is supposed to warm up. I think I will sew this morning --- ha the morning is over.

We spent almost two hours at the dog park. I chatted with lots of people. Nukka, the French bull terrier, came with her puppies. Blitzen and Kevin were determined to socialize the male puppy properly. And Wally kept coming back to have Blitzen hump him.

Blitzen's tale
Nobody was running the fence. I moseyed around. Mom was mad cuz I kept humping Wally but Wally kept wanting it. She took me home when I was socialing that black puppy.

Lady Chica's Tale
Well, Buddy came when we were almost ready to come home. But I didn't run with him. I spent the day mostly just nosing around smelling. Lots of dogs there.

I am sleepy. So I think I will just send this along.

BOOK REVIEW
Richard Montanari, *Merciless*
Kevin Byrne and Jessica Balzano are homicide dicks with Philly PD. Usual police procedural. Serial killer. I ignored the idea that Byrne has "the sight".



Hugs, Dr. Liz