Issues and More Issues

Several things to note this week:

• ‘Zines are way late. Hopefully they’ll go out tonight.
• I missed three deadlines during FebNo that I totally forgot about. Also going out tonight.
• MTOM will be upgraded to the new format as soon as I get up the nerve to do it and not lose all the extras I’ve added.
• Considering I’m starting Budokon tonight I’m likely to be rather bitchy for a while. If I bite you, don’t take it personally.

So if something goes wonky on your next visit here, please be patient. I will fix it.

I got a letter in the mail today. If you’ll take a look to the left column, you’ll see I’ve got a deadbeat dad thing goin’ on down there. I guess the Maintenance Enforcement people are sick of him playing games with them…and they’ve issued a Federal Garnishment order. Could be that any unemployment benefits, GST refund amounts, and his income tax will be either garnished, or sent in full to me to pay the back child support. This’ll take up to 3 months apparently – and in the meantime, the arrears are piling up twice a month.

11 years ago, a bright-eyed little ball of black fluff that looked so much like a negative polar bear came into our lives. She was soon named Bear (her nose did grow out though and she looked less bear-like). A supposed Keeshond – Shepherd cross, it was quickly apparent there was very little, if any Keeshond. Then again, only her body stature looked like a German Shepherd…I think a collie got into that particular mess…anyway Bear was a wonderfully intelligent and gentle dog. The limits to her patience with two toddlers toddling after her seemed boundless; and she seemed intent on making sure they were well fed, bringing back muskrat and mole bits – and deer legs. I don’t know where she found them, but…ick.

She saved me from being trampled by a young bull moose once, simply by growling at me and scaring me back into the house…I watched out the window as the moose moved off into the trees. She kept the girls out of trouble more times than I can count. She was, literally, the perfect dog. Except for the chewing and the messes..but dogs will be dogs (which is one reason why I don’t have one).

In case anyone really cares (and since I know one person visiting this blog did..ROFL) Bear did not die until this past fall, when Mort had to have her put down due to some weirdness in her guts. In the meantime, she had a litter of gorgeous puppies (her first 2-g, 1-b), and was so happy to see the girls and I as often as Mort could get her here, or we could get there. Despite being alone for so long, starving and dehydrated, she lived when she should have died. She found us (thanks Donna and Wayne). She spent the last year of her life with Mort and Wren, and it was a very happy time for her; they spoiled her and her babies. At least she died with all of us loving her – knowing we didn’t abandon her.

Miss you Bear!