saturday, AA birthday

Got up and headed for the park just after breakfast. Spent two hours chatting with various folk. Ray was there and the retired prof from TCU. I am listening to Margaret Moran, the second tape today.

I have a vivid imagination and I am living in North Carolina.

Tonight I attended AA birthday night. It is so inspiring to watch people. I have attended regularly for four years now and I

Friday May 30

Up in time to get to exercise class. Feeling rested. Mac and cheese for breakfast, courtesy of my neighbor Ola Mae.

Survived Senior Self Defense class as well as exercise class.

Came home and took a nap. Listened to Cat Turned On and Off. No more Cat tapes. Sad story at the dog park. Tom owns Maggie, a dachsund. Tom has been unemployed until recently and has been staying with his niece. Maggie nipped a neighbor child last week. Tom had neglected to get a rabies shot. Now Maggie is in the pound. Ray has agreed to take Maggie for two months, if Tom can raise the money to get her out of the pound.

Came home and am listening to another Moran nvel.

Thursday May 29

AT 9 AM I was composing the journall when my internet connection dropped and my work was erased. So we left for Ft. Woof so that we could chat with Judy. Medium hot today. Two motorsickles were there and Blitzen had to be on time out for trying to dig under the fence. I wish the fences were set in concrete like the dog park on Davis Blvd.

We had a semi-riot here at 6 am (dogs). They were probably walking the dog, the people parked in the RV. The dog and Blitzen exchanged trash talk last night.
Cat Who Saw Stars was cute. At the end Qwill had a dream that a UFO landed and little green cats deplaned.
Off to tai chi. Another day has been added by request. I mean our class is now M, W, Thur.

I had a vivid dream that I was involved in a protest demonstration of some kind.

Now I have awakened from my nap. I feel time disoriented tonight. I have felt rested today. LIstening to a tape of Cat Who Turned On and Off.

Wednesday May 28

I woke at 8 am and could have made exercise but went back to bed. Dogs got me up at ten.

I did some vacuuming this morning and sewed. Took a nap at eleven and woke in time to go to tai chi. The dogs were agitating to go to the park. I stopped off at Walmart. I just learned that there are big boxes of baking soda for sale. We met Judy at four at the park. She brot me some copies of The Nation.

I came home tired out. I lay down and listened to The Cat Who Saw Stars. Went to sleep in the middle.

Got up and I am sewing.

Tuesday May 27

Writing at the Baptist Center. Keyboard sticks.

We gave out about 400 sack lunches. The weather was mild. We were short handed with volunteers. I came home and took a nap. We had a cloud burst.

Meeting of the PPQ society tonight. I took the dogs to play in the back yard. They are usually exhausted for two or three days.

Decoration Day

Decoration Day in my vocabulary.
How luxurious to lie abed without guilt. Dick at the senior center sets his alarm every morning so that he can turn it off and go back to sleep.

Had a great time at ft. Woof chatting with a speech therapist about socio-linguists. Then I went over to Martha's. Jeff roasted a leg of lamb. Jake was there. I asked Jake (my grandson) why people wore tatoos. Then we had a discussion of three generations. We had such fun.

Came home slightly tipsy.

Sunday May 25

Determined to get to Sunday School.

Lady Chica always wonders how I can feel comfortable going off by myself without the pack. Anyhow I even got a parking place in the front lot. That's how early I was. Back home getting lunch.

Joseph Haywood wrote a book titled *Strike Dog*. I have asked and asked for months what that term means. Here is Haywood's reply:
Comments: What is a strike dog? Is that a nickname?[Dear Elizabeth: a
> strike dog is not a nickanme, but a technical term for the lead dog in a
> pack of dogs used to hunt bears. It is the dog with the best nose and it
> is used to "strike" or locate the trail. When it does, the rest of the
> pack is released to follow the strike dog and togethr to tree their
> quarry. Joe]


After my nap we went to Ft. Woof. Not very many dogs. Some people are so silly. They have to show their dogs where the water is. And they try to get the dogs to drink.

This heat is getting to me or I am coming down with something. I have been lying in bed listening to Cat Who on tape.

Hugs, Dr. Liz

May 24

I really slept in this morning. It is already noon. Plan to go to Ft. Woof immediately to avoid the softball crowd which monopolizes the parking lot with tail gate parties. Next weekend the Olympic softball team is coming to Gateway Park.

What led me to believe that the tail gate parties would not be there? It was hot. I sit at a picnic table under a shelter. After an hour, Lady Chica came over and asked to go home. Blitzen takes breaks by lying on the table.

Whited Sepulchre: no indication of a dachsund meetup. I think that may be obsolete info.

Stopped by Town Talk. Now I am ready for a nap.

Well, when I woke from my nap it is 6 PM. So far all I have done today is sleep. I am trying to play fetch with LC who has no concept of the idea.

Writing at 10 PM. I am sleepy again. I called my son and then sat around reading. Blue Wolf in Green Fire. about upper MI.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Party Party

I slept in until ten. So I missed exercise and senior self defense. I am still slightly stiff from my massage hier but she fixed the pain in my left arm.
I finished *The Devil Jumps Up*. Could not resist starting *Storm Track* and had to peek at the last chapter so that I could go to sleep. Yes, WS, I peek at the last chapter. And I am still eager to finish reading it ce matin.

Tonight our Sunday School class had a party for our pastor and his wife. I had a great time altho I had to drive over to the other side of Ft. Worth. Chatted with the mother of our hostess, who despairs as do I that we can only get one thing done in a day.

I also listened to The Cat Who something, the first Cat Who book. When the killer turned up, I did not remember meeting him in the beginning. I may have to listen to that tape over again.

After taking a nap. I needed a nap??? we went to Ft. Woof. Ray brought me a sack of new potatoes. So delicious. I broiled a couple before I went to the party so that I would not be so greedy. As it turned out, most of the food was dessert. I had a little dish of mousse from La Madelaine, a piece of some kind of cake, a piece of choc cheese cake and a little tart. Oh yes, somebody brought ice cream bars. What a great idea. I had a fudge bar. from that little creamery in Brenham. Blue Belle ice cream.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Maron, Up Jumps the Devil

Yesterday, Blitzen barked at me until I lay down for my nap. That is what I am supposed to do every afternoon. I personally believe that Blitzen needs to attend AlAnon. In AlAnon he might learn not to control others. Unfortunately he can control me.

Landscapers were here early this morning. The dogs were up at 1 am barking at something I could not see.

I spent the morning sewing and listening to The Cat Who Read Backwards, the first Cat who. I have completed four shirts, have one ready to hem, and I keep cutting them out. I have all this fabric. I planned to make blouses etc. fabric I need to use before I die.

Massage at one. Came home and napped. Fascinating to read about computers in 1970, with a pic of young Ross Perot. I remember, that is when we were afraid government would monopolize info about each of us.

Went off to Ft. Woof where Ray was there with Charlie and Marcie with Heidi. There was the cutest little hound puppy. The owners of the puppy looked like a couple out of Tobacco Road. I had a hard time believing they are real.
I made a library run. So I was *reading* a Margaret Maron novel. I manfully resisted temptation to look at the last chapter and was even more amazed than ever at the killer. Picked up more tapes to hold me over the weekend.

I have finished four shirts and have nine more cut out. I can wear a different shirt every day for two weeks. wow.

May 21

Decided last night not to set the alarm and to skip exercise class. Our teacher gave us some exercises to loosen ham strings. I am doing that. Going to do laundry and sew and listen to tape. Should it be Cat Who or Margaret Maron's Homefire.

Well, Margaret Maron won again. I am amazed at who the arsonist turned out to be. I thot I had it figured out. I have spent the day listening to Homefire on tape and sewing. I managed to make it to tai chi, but I forgot completely that I had signed up for a luncheon at the Senior Center.

Ray brought me two new potatoes from his garden. I broiled them for supper. sliced and broiled. My neighbor found and brot home a stash of old Geographic magazines. I am reading an article written in 1970 about the computer revolution. And the personal computer had not yet appreared.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

May 20

When the alarm rang I hit the wrong button. Eventually I realized tempus fugit and I got up and threw on my clothes.

What do we do at Baptist Center? We give out sack lunches (about 200 every Tue). adult clothing, children's clothing, and food pantry. I am in charge of vetting food pantry. You have to live in 76104. I finally realized why we limit who gets groceries. We have limited space to store groceries.

Came home and took a nap. What else? 4 PM an off to ft. Woof. Not very many people there on either side. Perhaps the heat. Mid-nineties altho a cool breeze kept it pleasant.

AlAnon tonight and Group Conscience. I am secy and keep minutes.




Hugs, Dr. Liz

Libby's Death

I dreamed about Libby last night. My daughter, Libby, died two years ago today. I miss her.

Libby and I emailed daily for almost ten years. If she didn't get my email she called me to see what was wrong. She nagged me constantly about getting more exercise (she walked five miles every morning). She bought me a membership in the Y where I discovered Silver sneakers.

Blitzen fell in love with her at first sight and she was always his favorite person. Libby gave the dogs long walks.

So life goes on. At first I felt guilty that we argued so often. Then one day I found myself wanting to argue with her. It was our way to communicate.

Well, I made it to Silver Sneakers and then to Yoga stretch. Libby would be proud of me. (IN the south they use that proud of you differently.) Came home and took anap. Then I made it to tai chi. Then I came home and took another nap.

At 4:30 the dogs decided it was time to go to the park. I think they have that time fixed now. The temp was 99 degrees but the park was pleasant with a breeze blowing. I smeared sun tan lotion on face and arms but I managed to sun burn a small area on my leg.

I am tired. Man I am tired. Three hours of exercise.

Books on Tape

The alarm rang and I just could not wake up. So I am missing Sunday School. Eating breakfast. Hopefully I can get myself to church. Sun is shining.

After church we had lunch on the patio, hamburgers no less. I have been craving a hamburger, a fast food hamburger, not ground beef I can make at home.

Came home and took a nap.


I have not looked at the time until now, 4 PM. Unlike me.


I have been flighty lately. As I ignored, saw too late a Do Not Enter Sign and drove the wrong way down a one way street, I figured out what is happening. I changed to a more efficient anti-depressent, which also treats OCD. I use obsessions to compensate for ADD. And as my obsessions vanish I manifest ADD.
Off to Ft. Woof.

Best I get this sent. Blitzen was such a good dog at Ft. Woof. he minded me when I shouted to stop humping another dog.
I purely love to listen to mysteries on tape, because I can't read the last chapter and find who the killer is. This is especially true of Margaret Moran bc in the last chapter the killer is never anybody whom you suspected, altho the clues are all there. In an interview, Moran said that she grew up reading classical mysteries.

Went to AlAnon and only four of us there. Few people always makes for an informal meeting and more in depth.

Dingo Dog Who...

Lady Chica's father was a blue heeler and she looks like a miniature blue heeler. If you want to see what she looks like, see "blue heeler" or "Australian cattle dog" in Wikipedia. Heelers have a "mask", dark circles around one or both eyes, and ears straight up. They hold their tails out to balance. Martha says she looks like a bullet, aerodynamic shaping.

She loves to dig in corners, searching for whatever.

Another Saturday

Sent off last night's journall. Checked my bank account online and found my $300 rebate. Yeah.

Well, I made a library run. I took back an overdue book and paid a fine of 15 cents. Then I went to Walgreen's to pick up a roll of developed film. That was a fiasco. Only one picture on the film. Off to my bank. In total broad daylight I cannot find my way out of the Northeast Mall complex. Eventually I manged to return home.

Took a nap. Sewed and listened to yet another book on tape. *Shooting at Loons*. At five the dogs demanded to go to the park. Ray was there with Charlie, the lazy weiner dog. Another pair of owners of a black weiner dog arrived, and on and on they went. Owners of weiner dogs are absolutely the worst. Recounting every weiner dog they have ever seen.

Came home exhausted. Called my son. Gotta shower and to bed.
When Lady Chica sleeps she makes a little humming noise.

Chuck Logan and Iraq veterans

After watching the Ken Burns documentary about the War Between the States, I came up with an hypothesis about writings concerning wars. I have done only rudimentary research on this subject. Would welcome comments.
During and just after the war, authors tend to villify war. Is that the word I want? Mailer's *The Naked and the dead*. Tim Obrien's *If I Die in a combat zone*.
About twenty-five years later, authors begin to romanticize the War. That is when the combatants merge into their mid-life crisis.
For the first time, I have found a protagonist who is a veteran of the Gulf War. And off-stage a character has died in Iraq in this episode of the War. This is in Chuck Logan's *South of Shiloh*.
I found this novel a serious consideration of the ordeal of combat. His protagonist waxes philosophical as he observes a reinactment of a battle (skirmish?) of the War of Northern Aggression. The novel compares the Civil War and modern war. And the Battle of Shiloh was said to be the first modern battle.