Wednesday, January 18th

Depending on what the DNA testing reveals I register the litter with one sire (or the other) or as a multiple sire litter. I sent in samples for all three dogs for DNA testing. So, both sires and Blue will have DNA profiles. There are something like 16-20 specific markers that will be used to determine the parentage of each pup. After the pups come I take samples from each pup, send the samples in for DNA evaluation and get the results of parentage. Sometimes the pups are all from one sire or the other. Sometimes from both. For me, it will be far cheaper to register a litter with a single sire. But given that I've already committed to testing each pup, what's an extra $175, right? 

203.  Under so much stress, feels like my head is going to burst.  My daughter is being discharged today, so it may get better if she doesn't overdo it.  Unfortunately, my son-in-law is super demanding.  It was bad before his stroke, now it is over the top. She needs to take care of herself first. 

I have made mistakes at work.  I am missing too much time to keep up and there is nobody else who does my job.  One of the attorneys volunteered to help with anything I need, which was a tremendous offer because my boss would trust her and she...volunteered...to do...my job.  Crazy, not many attorneys would volunteer to do paralegal and secretarial work. 

Went to KFC last night for tenders for the kids and grilled drumsticks for me.  Guess what, they no longer make grilled chicken!  So I ate a chicken breast without the skin. 

I am doing what I can and trying not to lose my mind about what I cannot do. 

My thoughts and strength are with you! 

So sorry that you are grappling with all of this. There is nothing more stressful than illness/stress with your children.  You do what you have to do, but do try to take care of yourself (easier said than done).  When my oldest daughter had cancer, I ended up finally taking a year off from work to help her, even though we really couldn't afford it. We ended up mortgaging the house to finance that time (luckily we had a lot of equity), and I lived with my daughter in Miami for 4 months (in summer). I NEVER regretted doing that.  

Good day friends. I'm down another pound to 115 so things are going  in the right direction from rolling back the evening eating. Not sure this strategy will take me all the way back to my coveted 112, but that's not the goal at this point.  It's really about correcting a super bad habit that I developed over the last six months and seeing where my weight lands accordingly. In other words,being vigilant. 112 is always emotionally nice, but anything south of 115 is super good for me. 

I've been having fun playing around with my skin care routine and to a lesser degree my makeup. Always fun!  Wearing a super 'glowy/shiny' look for a change.  So far I like it.

Diane I can't fathom having to deal with water damage right after your Reiki room makeover!  Sounds like you're handling it better than I would. Also chuckled over the junk food fraud - hardly fair that someone else gets to have it on your card! Haha

Joey, you've been carrying such a huge burden and my heart hurts for you. 

Dave, I love you to bits. That is all. 

Greetings dear ones

Hugs and good vibes to all of you who have struggles. Joey take advantage of any help offered. Wish I could figure out solutions. You have such a stressful job. Could you take a family medical leave time? Could your son in law go stay with someone else for awhile? 

Dave please don't think of yourself as broken. You are just uniquely assembled as we all are. There is a book called "Feeling Good" which is cognitive behavioral therapy in a paperback but it was recommended to me by a shrink  and it does help. 

Phooey on water leaks and credit card fraud. Wasn't life after the year 2000 supposed to be easier? Not hardly.  Plus I am up a pound to 133. Could be the salty food and late night peanut eating. And its pouring rain with something like 5 inches predicted. Not much chance of flooding around our place but others are not so lucky. The expression "when it rains, it pours" could not be more true - for all of us.

All this talk of humping!  Just got an inquiry about breeding to my male Chip. He had is equipment removed when we got the female puppy as I just can't manage a house hold with intact dad and daughter. Daughter humps her dad at times. She is now shredding the crummy rag that passes for a newspaper around here. We call her "the news hound". Our breeder has a litter of 6 border puppies that are at the cute stage. But she lives out in the woods on impossible roads so I doubt I will get up to visit them soon. 

Well I need to go to studio today and grocery but I sure hate to go out. Was awakened by a dog wrestling match on the bed plus early morning hang up phone call. None of the dogs want to go outside in the rain so they have to work off energy somehow. 

Well peace and hope to all. Maybe I will go find some butternut squash.  And more coffee for sure. Diane S