Well, its that time of the morning again. Tylenol and Zantac. I am sure beginning to understand Krl's stomach problems. The sun will come out tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar! Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you tomorrow. Sad thing is, it's always a day away!

Tough two days. Highways miles, lawyers, government officials. I need a break. In a way it was with a great sense of relief that I finally made it to the office late yesterday. I had a difficult time staying focused but I was able to muddle through. I am still behind on data entry but a good day today will change all that.

Weather outlook is hopeful. We could use a little relief, cooler temperatures and some moisture. If Doppler can be trusted the grids hold much promise for most of the Big Country along with the St. Lawrence area. We will cross our fingers.

When I first awoke this morning I just lay in bed, telling myself how I needed to stay in bed and go back to sleep. My eyes won that argument of course, and I am up. I had lay there watching the nocturnal activities of our little family. There was a faint light from somewhere in the house, either the computer monitor or a rogue light left on, and I could see three of our four hound's silhouettes.

One was Prissy, at eleven years and being the last born she is the youngest of the old guard. She had had a nap and was busy cleaning up. She is eleven, a pureblood Standard Poodle, black in color. She is a peace keeper. Anytime a new hound or guest hound arrives, she is the one that takes them under her wing. She would have made a good momma. For some reason she loves to sleep with her head under the bed. I still haven't figured that one out.

Maple was in the middle. In fact as I was watching she was making her way up in the bed. She and Krl are sleeping buds, usually when I leave in the morning they are putting trees on the ground and sawing logs! Maple was a February addition to our group. She came from Rescue the Animals. Initially I think they believed we were a foster home for wayward hounds but usually if a hound comes through the door they are "home". I can only think of two exceptions in eighteen years. Maple is a Minature Poodle, apricot in color, full of spit and vinegar. She has two jobs, one is to keep the other hounds on their toes and keep them young, and most important, she is a care giver. She has this ability to know exactly where Krl is hurting and will curl up against it and lay for long periods of time. She has slipped into her role quite well, she is quite mischievous and always ready to play. While we aren't sure of her age, she gives the distinct impression of being only a pup. We think less than a year old.

Shadow, the patriarch, is a real work. He too, is a black Standard Poodle. He is the father of Prissy and Lady. He is twelve. He has good days and bad days. I believe he has arthritis. He gets a bufferin regiment everyday. He is set in his way. When he is ready for bed he is ready for bed, he will stand in the bedroom door trying to coax us in there. He hates anything out of the ordinary. He likes scheduling. As he has aged, it has been interesting to watch. He has started greying. Now instead of solid black he is "salt and pepper". He sports big, bushy eyebrows which have greyed and given him a very wise appearance. These eyebrows have also give him the nickname "Bink" after Bing Crosby. I always halfway expect "Bink" to belt out a couple of verses of White Christmas. He no longer moves with the fluid motion of his younger days, he will set for long periods of time giving the impression of deep thought. Krl thinks he has mastered the ability of sleeping with his eyes wide open. Probably the most sad thing is that he is almost blind. You can certainly tell this if any piece of furniture is out of place. While he is not as good as he once was, he is still king of his domain. The pups dote on him, and him on them. Once Duchess, the pups mother, had weaned them she was through and it was his job to raise them. He has been quite the dad. We were training the pups to sit, lay and shake and if they didn't respond properly in an appropriate time frame he was nipping at their hocks to make them lay or do whatever we were trying to teach. In the wee hours this morning, our house slept under "Bink's" watchful eye. I sometimes call him "old man" He will go to Krl's glider rocker wanting loving and rub his neck on the chair arm gently rocking her and satisfying his need for contact, over the years it has left that chair arm smoothly polished. He is a neat hound and I can only imagine what he thinks about. Oh, and contrary to what people say, he loved to watch TV when he could see. (Especially if there are dogs on the show, at one time he would bark and talk back to them).

Lady, or Black Dog as I affectionately call her, is a different hound. She too, is eleven years old, another black Standard Poodle, and the oldest surviving hound of our pups. She has always been "my" dog. Stillborn, I labored long and hard before finally convincing her to fight. She likes her space. Anyone encroaching is going to be met with a deep rumbling growl and maybe a sharp bark. You gotta draw the line somewhere.

All of our hounds are special as are all the ones we have loved before. It has been a joy to watch as Shadow, Lady and Prissy have slowly mellowed over the years. I wonder if they have enjoyed watching Krl and I mellow as well. I wonder if we have been as big a blessing to them as they have been to us. Krl has always said when she dies she doesn't want to go to people heaven, she wants to go to pet heaven. What a crew would await. Sadat, Datter II, Duchess, Precious, Sockers, Rachel, Andre, Cocoa, and Ralphy just to name a few.

This has been an interesting blog time. Almost an hour ago I heard loud exhausts and then a loud crashing noise, I opened the door and peered out but didn't see anything. Occasionally we will get some rowdies who will come through, turning over dumpsters or worse, beating mail boxes with baseball bats. I could hear an engine running but couldn't see lights or vehicles. I slipped some clothes on and walked down the walk and two doors to the north I could see vehicles haphazardly scattered across the street. It seems that someone cutting through our neighborhood at this hour had veered off the road into the yard of my immediate neighbor before trying to correct it and get back on the roadway. The result was that the pickup struck one of the boy's car (that was parked at the curb) from two houses down pushing it into the brick mail box and ultimately into his brother's "tricked" out vintage pickup (which was also parked at the curb). Our street is one block long. Go figure. Three car pile up, film at eleven. One added special effect was that when the vehicle exited my neighbor's yard it clipped one of the lawn sprinkler heads. As timing would have it the station timer went off shortly afterward and water was spouting just like in the movies! I hate it for the neighbor boys. They have gradually gone through some progressions of vehicles and just recently acquired the ones involved in this mornings activities. Gotta have wheels!

I guess since I have wandered around this long in this blog I might as well continue. Who knows, I might say something eventually that is astute, enlightening or possibly entertaining.

Krl and I had been summoned downtown Tuesday morning for a nine o'clock appointment. I had caught the local morning news show and was aware of the train derailment and possible hazardous spill near the downtown area. I wasn't quite prepared for the emergency response team's actions. They had barracaded from North Sixth to South Seventh and from Pine to Treadway. When we finally arrived at the meeting (thirty minutes late) we had parked three blocks away and walked. Downtown was a mess. Actually we were summoned downtown under false pretense. We were asked to attend and bring our copies of some paperwork that they said they were missing. Thirty seconds into the meeting they had satisfied that problem and said "The real reason we wanted you to come in today is ...........". Another blast from the past! Just when you think you have put it behind you it surfaces with a new face. Actually this was not totally unexpected. I guess my attorney is psychic because he had cautioned me of this possibility Monday. I had remained below their radar for some reason but I guess I had a problem with my stealth shield. Anyhow, it isn't anything that can't be overcome or fixed with about five hundred fifty-nine thousand dollars. I may have a telethon or maybe Bridger would go around the neighborhood collecting money for me! The people were nice enough. They have a job to do. Best part of it all is that Krl is not mixed up in this equation. Are we having fun yet or what? Or what! (that's my answer and I am sticking to it).

Man I could sleep about now. I am secure in the fact that Abilene's finest are in the neighborhood and the insurgents have been beaten back. My biggest fear is that officer "Barney's" gun will discharge, but with only one bullet what are the odds? Hhmm.

Enough is enough. I am outta here! Sorry for the inconvenience of your having stopped by to read today's insignificant post.

FATHER, carry on. I am frustrated, I am tired, I am angry. I need YOU. I ask that YOU purify my heart and mind. Redirect me, use me. I realize that for everything bad that happens I have many good blessings that counter and I thank YOU for them. Help me to learn the lessons YOU are trying to teach me through these trials and tribulations. FATHER I continue to ask YOUR healing and renewal for Krl. I ask that YOU energize us both and get us through the week. I ask that YOU open the heavens and pour out YOUR blessing of rain for my farming family and friends in Roscoe, St. Lawrence and Coyonosa. I pray that YOU will bless them with bountiful harvest. I pray for moderate temperatures, I pray for relief from the heat and the dry conditions. FATHER I pray for Addie, Memama, Pepa, Hag, B., Lillie, Aimee, Jennifer, Ashlyn Kate, Jess, Dr. Mackie, Jeanine, Verlin and S.T.. I ask you blessing of healing and care for them. I pray for those who have suffered loss, I ask YOUR comfort for them. I pray for those of us who struggle in our daily walk. I pray for our spiritual family and our leaders. I pray for the efforts to spread YOUR good news. Send YOUR angels.