Many of you have met in real life or via the internet my beloved cat, Jane Austen. (That's her as a kitten in the user icon). Days 7 through 9 of the year of photos are concerned with the pets with whom I am allowed to live. Including a new introduction - Murphy my roommate's yellow lab.

( clicky for pet pics )

Sally, the incorrigible puppy, chewed through the cable. Therefore my house has no internet or television service until the cable people can come on Monday evening. The worst part about this is missing the episode where Leo's death is revealed on West Wing tomorrow. (We don't have antennae for any of our televisions). Bad puppy! (I'm posting from the library by the way.)

I will begin by saying that it is still a bit chilly (mid 50s) but sunny and beautiful. Since today is my late day at work (go in and work noon to nine so I can close as opposed to 8 to 5), I had a nice free morning. I watched an Everwood episode I'd taped (so very glad my show is back), worked a teensy little bit on school, partially cleaned the turtle cage, and took the puppy on an hour long walk. She was diligent and left no scent unsmelled. I didn't remember that Tuesday is trash day in our neighborhood. Sally is getting really good at the "Leave it!" command. The only thing she wouldn't leave was a beer can. There was some beer still in the can and she stuck her nose into the can and was trying to get it all out. She also tried to pick up the can and carry it away. We may have an alcoholic puppy on our hands.

And now part two of my adventures of last week. Tuesday evening found me finally arriving exhausted in Manhattan. Wednesday morning, I get up early and head toward campus of K-State. I find it (yay!) and the information booth where I am to pick up my parking permit is not yet open. (I had gone through a ton of hassle to determine where I could get a parking permit to later discover that they were pre-reserved for us.) I pay a meter and join beeform for coffee. It was nice to get to know her and put a face with words. Then got my parking permit, and toured campus in my attempt to find a parking place near the library (I was still quite a bit early). Originally class was supposed to last from 8-5, then 8:30-4:30, and it finally ended up being 9-4. Class was okay, the subject was professional development. The morning was good, but the afternoon was too geared toward academic librarians to be of much interest to me. After class I met buffyholic and oneechan19 for coffee. Then a nice drive home going a much easier, more convenient way than google maps had led me there by.

Thursday, I worked.
Friday, I worked part day and drove to Emporia. Class on Friday and Saturday were good. Did a group presentation where everyone did their part and was relaxed and cheerful about the whole thing. This is in such stark contrast to my last experience (which I have not blogged about because it is still too fresh, too raw, and too personal). I got to go to the chocolate cafe again, so that is always extremely pleasurable. Saturday afternoon, our class had an amazing guest speaker. This elderly man indexes historical newspapers just for fun. He was really good and kept sharing all these fabulous stories he had found in the old newspapers.

Class was cancelled Sunday because our professor was ill so I got to come home Saturday night. I went to church Sunday morning. Instead of Sunday school (or Bible Class as they insist upon calling it), they had a ministry fair. All the church's ministries had booths set up and people could learn what the church is doing and volunteer for things. I maybe accidentally volunteered to be the church's library coordinator. (I was trying to volunteer to come in an hour or two a week and help label and shelve books, but how can I say no to the ninety-year-old, hundred pound woman?) Then I went to lunch with the singles group which due to work and class I don't get to do too often. Following that I took a nap (in the middle of the day, so decadently wonderful) and went shopping with Heather (huckleberrycake). We hit all the home stores and had such a blast. I am moving (more details later) and getting a bigger, queen sized bed (more details later). I found a beautiful comforter. It is pink and navy and girly without being over the top with flowers and old lady things. Heather and I had a blast just looking at all the home stuff. Such a relaxing, restful day.

More to say, but this is too long already. Later.

Today after class I drove home and went to the Sally's graduation from puppy school. We just gave her a grad gift, this funny monkey chew/pull toy thing. It is part plush toy, but the legs and arms are rope, bright colors, it is fabulous. We went, Sally passed her "final", she sat and stayed right by the bird cages and with people walking all around her. (The class is at PetSmart.) I have the video to prove it. They had a little mortar board hat for her to wear and a little bandanna. We couldn't get her to wear the bandanna and the hat at the same time, but I am posting some pictures. I posted them before and she has grown so much since I posted photos. She's now 53 pounds (we weighed her on the scales in the store). She was so little, just about 20 pounds when we brought her home (which is the last time I posted pictures). Enjoy!

( Sally's Puppy School Graduation )

( Jane Austen pictures )

My last post (of any substanance) was on last tuesday of the pictures of the new puppy. Lots has happened since then, so this will be a long entry. Starting with the puppy's arrival. Well, to tell you more about this and how the cat reacted... ( pet stuff )

Thursday Thanksgiving was nice. Friday my mom and I did our usually mad shopping day blitz. We got some great deals. We weren't at Wal-mart at 5am because just no. But they still had a lot of their doorbusters and they were still on sale when we were there at 7pm, so I got a 23 inch television for $88. It is nicer than my little 13 inch one. It isn't the best brand or quality, but it is so cheap that if I use it for 2 years, I feel I will have more than gotten my money for it. My Christmas shopping is 95% done. I need one more little thing and some gift bags and I'm good. Except I need to make all my Christmas cards, and some people are getting packs of homemade cards for Christmas and I need to make those. I have all the supplies, just need to make them.

Saturday and Sunday I spent at the library doing research for a project. When I say I spent the weekend at the library, I mean I got there when they opened and left when they closed give or take fifteen minutes. I'm going insane with school stuff, but this semester will be done on Dec. 11th. Yay! I had to leave for a couple of hours on Saturday because Jane Austen cat was sick. She just kept throwing up. We went to vet, and much grossness later but thankfully not too much money, she is better. I think not being sick and grandma leaving have helped her to accept the puppy. The poor cat, she was sick, there was a new puppy that was bigger than her, there was a brand new person living there, we moved her food/water/litter box (so the dog wouldn't get them and we gated off the upstairs and made it her territory). It was probably the worst week of her short little life. Poor thing, but she seems happier now.

Monday grandma left (much to Jane Austen's relief) and Heather came in town! Yay! I haven't seen her in over a year and I've really missed her. She had a job interview in town, and I am hoping she will take the job here, but I know she needs to go where is best for her. But we had fun hanging out Monday night and Tuesday after her interview since she stayed an extra day to hang out with me. She left this morning which puts us back at the present. Of course she brought Montanna weather with her and it has been cold and snowy.

Congrats if you made it through this mammoth of an entry! Even more congrats if you clicked and read the stuff under the cut!

We got a new puppy! More details later. I have to go to work now.

( pictures )