I am deep cleaning -- or at least sort of deep cleaning. This seems to involve furniture rearrangement. The cat, while happy we are home is unsure why a vacuum cleaner is necessary and he has moved into a box that is slightly to small for him.

Hope Abby's not hurt too badly, Barb.

AVAST, ye scurvy dogs! It be Talk Like a Pirate Day!!!

Ahoy, mateys. After a long hard slog at the Renaisance Festival, we took our victuals at Arrrrrrrrby's.

Omnis, I just saw your post about your dad's update. Wow. Much healing~ma to him.

Omnis, much healing ~ma for your dad.

We're back from the Doc-- it was all very efficient, once we got there, they got us right into a room, took her vitals, and within twenty minutes, were taking a full set of x-rays of both ankles for comparison.

The verdict is a severe sprain-- she's wrapped, has a surgical walking shoe and a pair of crutches that she's to use for the next week. Which should be an adventure given how physically big her middle school is and the fact that her schedule has her schlepping from one end to the other at least four different times throughout her six period day.

It's good that it's not a break and it's good that while we're going out of town on Tuesday, it's my sister who's coming to stay with the kids. Since she's a nurse she can administer Mooshu's insulin and wrap Abby's ankle.

I bought a cupcake earlier today. I'm going to wait for Lewis to get home, have him make me a cup of tea, and enjoy my freakin' cupcake because dammit, I think I've earned it.

Oh, Barb! Much ~ma for the whole family. Maybe you can just skip Monday this coming week?

Recovery~ma for your dad, omnis.

Omnis, recovery-ma to your dad.

Okay, my first try administering Mooshu's insulin went smoothly. He's such an angel of a puppy dog.

Eep, Barb!

I stayed out late last night watching Wall-E with friends, and ended up sleeping in until 2pm today. Oops! I was having all sorts of crazy dreams. Then my friend called and clearly we did not go to the spa together, since there was not time, but we did go and hang out, and bravely decided against the pie place, and instead went to the healthy juice place for the first time, and had strange juice drinks. Mine had aloe vera juice, and beet juice, and ginger. But it was kinda yummy. It is supposed to detox my liver...

Here's hoping the routine becomes routinely easy Barb. Bless the pup's heart.

I observed the two dogs fighting with a fair bit of growling. I don't think I've ever seen two dogs of the same family/pack fight like that in person before. But that just confirms how out of balance the command structure is with them.

It goes this way sometimes, Andi. It's a matter of preference and temperament. Our first trainer gave me some great advice: "If you don't see blood...they're just talking."

The more relaxed we can be around the pooches, the less likely they are to escalate into actual aggression.

You aren't wrong about the command structure though. That can lead to so much confusion that things can spiral out of control.

I had a second session with a family today that has a crazed 4 year old who is spinning the puppy up into a frenzy. I was so relieved, at one point, to hear the da say, "Maybe we should use the same techniques on her" (meaning the kid) It took all I had to not respond, "Yes, please do!"