Deena, I dreamt I met your kids and spent a great deal of time goofing around with Aidan. The memory is bringing a smile to my face.

ita, you'd probably be smiling even more if you'd actually met them in person. They are just sweethearts.

I'm starting my Saturday morning off with coffee, I Love Lucy and crocheting. Boy, I'm lazy.

Aidan was such a darling.

Coffee! Coffee and pancakes, that's what I'm going to do. Annoyingly, all the Cooks Illustrated recipes have buttermilk and I do not. So I don't get to experiment with new stuff.

Well, the old wasn't that bad.

Plus, Blue Mountain Coffee (a co-worker asked me yesterday if Jamaica really had Blue Mountains, and if we really grew coffee there. It hadn't occurred to me it might be any other way).

That sounds lovely, ita. I've just got some cheap coffee here. But, it does the trick. Oh, and poptarts. I love my poptarts.

Today our dog graduates from Dog training class. She is such a friendly, people-lover that we are hoping to train her to be a therapy dog so we can take her around to hospitals and nursing homes. First, however, she has to master sitting, staying, and stuff like that. We've had her three months and she knew nothing when we got her from the pound, so it'll be interesting to see how much she's learned.

That *does* sound lovely, ita. Now I want pancakes and coffee. Ironically, I have buttermilk (because I never know when I am going to be making pancakes) but no Jamaica Blue Mountain. However I do have Peets.

Did I tell y'all about Franny asking for pancakes for breakfast the other day? I was so proud of her.

eta: Congrats on graduating dog school, Robin!

Yay Frannie.

Robin, that's a great idea. I thought about doing that with Lucy, but at the time I didn't have the money for the certification classes. It's amazing how sensitive they are - she was unbeliveable with my mom when she was sick. And even recently, after my dad had surgery, her behaviour totally changed to accomodate the fact that he couldn't have her banging around and leaning on him like she ususally does.

We're off to the vet now. She's done something to her foreleg and developed a limp. It doesn't seem to bother her really, but it's finally getting me off my ass to take her in and get her a once-over. She hasn't been to a vet since we came to Chicago a year and a half ago. Plus it's cold enough out today (fucking freezing is what it is) that she can manage the walk - once the temp hits 65, she refuses to go very far. Not a fan of the heat, this one.

Where's the Empress? Steve Irwin is going after wild camels on my tv right now. Apparently Australia has huge populations all throughout the interior.

eta: Heh. He's leaning out the window of a pick-up with a lasso, and his wife drove too close to a tree and knocked him right out of the car. And didn't notice - kept right on going after the camels.

Deena, I dreamt I met your kids

ita, come visit. They'd LOVE you. Aidan would be fascinated, Kara would try to act just like you and Nick would be in seventh heaven. You could kick all his friends' asses.

I had instant coffee. I'm out of the real stuff. It worked, though, well enough.

Robin, that would be wonderful if you could train your dog to be a therapy dog. My cousin and her son trained their dog, and they just love it.

Did I tell y'all about Franny asking for pancakes for breakfast the other day? I was so proud of her

So cute!