11.9.98

    It's getting cold. We finally don't have to keep the fans running all day long. Curling up on our new bed and snuggling under the covers is a re-found heaven. Right now my toes are cold and I have on an extra sweatshirt. I like the cold. I like the cold better than I like the heat. Give me a snow-covered mountain over a hot, sandy beach any day.

    I was freezing on my first dog walks this morning. I'll bring a sweatshirt next time. The two difficult dogs, a lab and a bearded collie, were much better today. I think I haven't been firm enough with them. I'll be firmer tomorrow.

    I have fallen in love with one of the dogs on my route. While I'm not partial to small dogs this one is just too adorable. His name is McGyver and he's a Schipperke, pronounced Shipper-key. He's a stout, fluffy black dog with a stub tail. The Schipperke's are Flemmish sea dogs. Apparently, part of their history has included boats and helping to tow in trawling nets. I think McGyver looks like a buoy. In the house along with McGyver is a large, white cat whose name is Gus Van Cat. He's the sweetest thing and thinks nothing of lolling about in your lap. Gus is almost as big as McGyver.

    I'm still sick, if you can believe that. It's been ten days. I took a nap when I got home this afternoon because I just felt icky. This "cold" needs to go away. T. seemed to have come down with it but a week's worth of rest and he was back to his old self. Grrr. I'm so jealous.

    You'll notice that I changed my colors again. I just didn't like those oranges at all. A friend of mine wrote to say how ugly they were (Hi, Sam!) and T. thought they were pretty nauseous. I just need to get that Javascript working. Actually, that's not the only problem. See, I've been wrestling with this design for months. I have the image I want to use and it's just going to look so cool. Except, there's a cross-browser problem that's been holding me back. Just the other day I noticed that somebody who I greatly respect just created a new page that does what I was trying to do and does it well. He worked around the browser thing with style and class. So, now my idea is just shuffling around, frustrated and pissed off. I don't want to look like I copied him but his solution is so good. This is the story of my life. Waiting so long to do something that it either becomes impossible to do or somebody beats me to it.

    *harrumph*

    I will do it, though. It will be my thing to do for 1999. That's a goal I can live with.

    Off to make dinner: my famous mondo quesedillas.