Sunday Coffee Break

Dudley, Buster and GiGi.

aKa-The Beagle Bunch

And Dudley make three! Dudley came to us a couple of weeks ago. I guess with losing Winston and then Patches, the Fates decided that we needed another older dog to keep the balance. Dudley is nine years old and needed GiGi and Buster. They have been helping him get in touch with his inner Beagleness as Hubby and I try to break all his good habits. And that is a mole on Dudley's face which we are going to have removed. Our livestyle is becoming very active and we don't want to take a chance at something catching it. Three Beagles and two Chihuahua's are the proud owners of us. They make for a very cohesive group.

As I mentioned earlier our lifestyle has taken a dramatic turn. As the lack of blogs suggest, we haven't been around the computers or tv lately. We are completely outfitted for camping to the point of where we are a complete self-contained little camping unit, (pics to come next blog because I can't find them anywhere and I know we have them) down to the solar shower unit. I can't wait until we go next. I have to admit, the tent trailer for as old as it is (1972) has to be the most comfortable thing to sleep in. It may sound rather silly but when we have the entire thing set up with the camp kitchen and camping stove/oven out front, it feel very luxurious. The best thing is the dogs love it. We will find out about Dudley.

The cool thing about the solar shower is really worked. Hot steaming water came out of this little black bag. We now have two of them. I want one for the dishes and washing up. Hubby is now rethinking the whole solar hot water system on the house now. I love the curves on the Road to Solar Hell, it makes the trip a whole lot more interesting.

My garden is suffering from the lack of attention. I was in a war with the ants and losing until I bought ant killer. Screw the home made crap, I was in a battle to the death and they were winning. It went from a little tiny ant hill to a city inside of a week. I was losing plants left and right. I felt like General Patton going win with both guns loaded once I had the ant killer in my hands. Now the weeds are laughing at me as I pull them back from my chives. We have had a good mix of sun and rain this year which definitely bolstered my garden. Bolstered, Hell, bolting is more the word.

We have discovered I can not go without the fish pond. It happens to be essential to my mental health. Hubby was set back a bit by a pond pump giving out which also set back getting the pond running. I was heading straight and hard into mania and I couldn't pull the brakes. Until I realized the lack of the fish pond wasn't helping. I sat for three days in between the rain by the pond getting my fill.

I've returned to my artwork to help curb the mania. I'm not sure what we are going to do this winter but something has to be set up. Its a massage for the eyes and ears out by the pond. I really have to watch the amount of stimulation.

Which is why I'm thinking of limiting my exposure to the theatre. I'm thinking of shifting my focus entirely on the management end of things to get us up and running. As much as the plays are fun, if we have no where to perform then as a troop we are screwed.

I also realize that my writing suffers and that is frustrating. I have three stories lined up and because of obligations and planning I have to keep setting it aside. So tonight at the meeting I'm explaining that I am setting up a studio/office and I will only be available evenings and weekends. And if I were my boss, I'd probably fire my ass as I am not taking my talents a bit more seriously. If I want a book published then I had better start taking my writing a lot more seriously.

I'm looking forward to it.

Is that a turn off I see?

So the sun is shining, the birds are chirping and the seasonal journey down the road to Solar Hell is back upon us. Oh wait, there is a turn off up ahead. Could be...can it be...wait...wait for it...Oh of course...(big heavy sigh)... it's not a turn off but another wind tunnel. Lucky me, not only to I have spend hours listening to the new navigational directions of Solar Hell, I now get to spend hours of imagining headless birds as Hubby finds away to capture the wind. I'd tell him to use a kite but he would some how have it connected to wire and running on solar power.

I'm not sure what is worse, the actual road itself or the diversions he likes to take. They range from wind power, to how I can cook in a solar over and my personal favorite, the solar clothes dryer that involved a turn crank and a fan. The turncoats in my life don't help. They are the ones sympathizing with me but secretly keeping an eye on what Hubby is doing, and this includes my own mother. I feel so abandoned. Its lonely on the passenger side. So I'll console myself with culinary delights that I can torture Hubby with. The man does love me, he told me so...once...I think...pretty sure he did somewhere in the past eleven and half years of marriage.

Actually Hubby was amazing during my week of bed rest. He cooked, did dishes, and tried to control the household. Tee Hee... but then really how much control does one have of six dogs, a nagging guinea pig and a cat that sees you merely there for her own pleasure? The four old dogs were the easy ones, they just laid around and snoozed. The Beagles on the other hand, were a completely different story. The cat found entertainment by trying to trip Daddy as he carried dishes. Somehow I get the sense her rubbing up against our legs is merely a ploy for her to take over the household. Fine by me, she can have it.

Daught thankfully has given up the talk of Roller Derby and has wisely decided to concentrate on her schooling. That and she was too late in getting her application in due to exams. She did announce that she could still join next year. I'm really hoping that it was just a threat. She rarely comes through with them. Doesn't mean she won't if the notion took her but for now my visions of steel meeting plastic coated teeth are laid to rest.