Babbling with a Full Plate

Taxes... I'm such a procrastinator! I keep putting it off, getting papers in order, until "next weekend." Next weekend gets here and is gone before I even think about taxes. It's like I mentally block the task of getting my life in order, especially my taxes. I wish they, the tax men, would figure out what they need, just take what they need, and then leave the rest alone. I suppose the current tax ways are good for everyone, I just hate doing mine.

I've got so much on my plate at the moment, but probably no more than anyone else. It's that procrastinator in me, competing for my time.

My son is leaving in just over two weeks for boot camp. His girlfriend and he are attached at the hip and I am feeling like I never get a chance to really talk with him, without her. I know, I know, I'm starting to sound like the jealous mother... Honest, I'm not. I just would like to have a good talk with him, without the girlfriend.

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore this gal. She's a real sweety. My son and she are planning to get married late next spring. They are so young and nothing is set in stone, so we'll see. We all know, they should enjoy life and see the world before they get so tied down to each other.

But first, my son needs to go through boot camp and advanced training. He'll be gone for five months, leaving the first week of March and returning the last week of July. His girlfriend and I are planning a "going away" party this coming weekend. It will be just family and maybe a couple of friends. We're having fun going through old photos and putting together a posterboard of photos from when my son was born, to today.

On my doggy front, Lucy and Molly, are both pregnant! Lucy is due any day. This Friday, if she makes it to Friday, we go for another ultrasound to keep the guessing out of it and find out how many puppies she has. I want to know when she's done or when I should start worrying, when she does go into labor. Molly is about three or four weeks behind Lucy. We're going to have a very busy puppy spring this year.

And yes, a male puppy is going to the couple who lost their puppy earlier this month. The morning after Oliver died, everyone still very teary-eyed over his death, I offered another puppy to them, if they wanted.

This last weekend was the first time I've talked with the wife since my offer. Bless her heart, she thought she was ready to see the "going home" photos I had taken of Oliver, the day he went home with them. She had a hard time seeing them. She told me she didn't know how she would ever face me again. They had promised to take care of Oliver, promised to keep him safe, and not 24 hours after taking him home, he was gone.

I assured her I had no hard feelings, that bad things happen to good people sometimes. I was so sorry. We talked about the cost of Lucy's babies and agreed they would pay cost for their new baby, if they wanted one. I let her know, Lucy was ready to deliver next week sometime and asked if she would like to go with me to the Vet's office for her ultrasound this Friday. She had no idea Lucy was pregnant and due so soon. She was tickled pink that I asked her to go with me! She's going to see if she can rearrange her schedule Friday to join me and Lucy.

When I learned Oliver was gone, I couldn't believe it. It just couldn't be true! Disbelief turned to pain over his death, to anger... they should have been more careful! Turns out they were being careful, this was just a horrible, horrible accident. Immediately my anger moved to, they need another puppy. I know just how long this couple has been wanting one of my puppies, how they have been waiting and planning. Waiting for this little guy has been nothing less than being pregnant and having a baby, for them. They loved that little puppy. They picked him out when he was just three weeks old and came by to visit every week until they took him home. They have so much to offer a puppy. I know it's not my fault their puppy died. I know I do not have to GIVE them a puppy. I want to do this for them.

Then there's work. Work with all these women. There is always someone who's offended by another. Always one who has to push the others around. Always one who thinks she doesn't have to follow the rules. I try to let them work out their issues themselves, getting involved when it seems they are not able to do this. And, I thank God, I'm off Fridays and only have to be there four days a week!

If you've made it all the way through this entry, wow! I really appreciate you for listening to me babble on and on about things important to me. Online friends are the greatest!