Doc and Kate

These are our dogs Doc and Kate. We got Doc near the end of January. A friend of Dan's called and said his sister found him out in the cold, abandoned and starving. We were looking for a good dog, wanted one as a puppy but we couldn't turn this one away. He was a good looking dog - and a blue heeler/border collie mix. I wanted a blue heeler, so we took him in and named him Doc.

Because both Dan and I were gone a lot during the day, we knew it would be a good idea for Doc to have a companion. My friend Burke had a red heeler who had had a litter of pups and was trying to find a home for the cute little puppies. As soon as I found out, I called him up and told him I wanted the female.

I drove down to Cedar City valentine's weekend. THere was a big snowstorm that weekend - and it took me forever to get down and back. But it was worth the trip! Although she threw up a few times on the way home (including once all over my lap - UGH!) she eventually got used to the motion sickness and became quite happy.

When we walked in Doc thought she was his new toy. But Kate held her own. She is a tough little girl. And so very darling!! The dogs quickly became friends and got along well. They were sometimes monsters and had to be forced outside when they got a little too rambunctious! Is that how you spell that word?

For about two months our dogs were probably the biggest part of our world. We had them both vaccinated a week or two before we went to las vegas for spring break, and Doc was going to be neutered when we got back.

But when we got back the dogs were a little bit sick. I picked them up from where they were staying but Kate was not interested in a treat. Neither of them had dinner that night. They were not interested. Neither of them ate breakfast. Kate seemed a little bit slow and not quite herself. Neither one of them were, really. But when I got home on Monday Doc was very eager to eat, and since then has been his old self.

Kate, on the other hand, only got worse. By Wednesday we decided we needed to take her to the veterinarian along with Doc the next morning. But that was not soon enough.

My baby girl died that night. She had Parvo. Doc did too but he was older and his immune system was stronger. Little Kate was just so sad and miserable for the last few days. It broke my heart. I wish I could have saved her. I could have if I had known more about the disease, that it could kill her, and that I could have known if she had it with a simple $30 test from our vet. We will never be able to replace her, but Burke has promised us the pick of his next litter. We will not be able to replace Kate, but we will be able to have another dog to love and for Doc to play with.

It has been one of the saddest days of my life. Dan took it hard too. We were both very attached to the cute little thing. Doc has been looking for her, and is really lonely while we are gone. But we were sure lucky to have her for two months. She brought us so much happiness and joy and love.

The Best Day

Here are a few pictures from the big day! I have more fun ones to post of family and friends.

Make a Smilebox photobook

. . . patience . . .

Okay Okay Okay! I know. But I just can't update right now - my life has been turned upside down since about june . . . things are just starting to smooth out - but it's Christmas time . . .I just spent over 6 hours on a saturday night grading algebra tests and make up work while Dan is working nights - it is almost 2:oo am. . . I will update when I can . . . I am thinking Chrismtas break! Thanks to all of you for being interested!!! And i would love to hear from any of you! I think you all have my number!

Killin' Time

Well the last time I was here was well over a month ago - so I just found the comments from April!

I am in my hotel room in Boise at the state track meet. We have an hour until we meet for lunch so I thought now is the time for me to get on here and at least let everyone know I am still alive.

There is plenty to update you on still - last summer had a lot more to it than the Alaska Cruise.

I hiked the half dome at Yosemite and went to two sisters' weddings. My pictures of Colorado were mostly lost when my hard drive crashed in September - so I am not sure what I will be able to find when I finally update all of that. This is one I salvaged because I had emailed it to someone. It was taken from Mt. Columbia looking onto Mt. Harvard. With Columbia and Missouri last summer I finished all the Collegiate Peaks. I think I have done 43 total. I will have to re count to be sure. This summer I am thinking I will do Snowmass in the Aspen area and possibly one or two down near Alamosa. . .

And then there was Cancun. . . I have some pictures from the week long trip just before Thanksgiving up to the right - there are some fun things to share about that trip.

I will tell you about Florida - SO FUN. Yvette and Greg took good care of me as always. Easter Sunday and the following Monday was nice and cool. Yvette nearly froze to death. I bought a sweatshirt at the gift shop and she wore it all day Monday. But the following days were WARM! and by WARM I really mean HOT. We went to see a spring training game. That was fun - and the hot dogs were great! Yvette had sunblock so luckily I didn't get burned. I had been skiing the week before in Idaho - so the change in weather was quite drastic for me!

Let's see - I guess my favorite rides were those at Universal Studio, with the exception of Rockin' Roller Coaster at Disney World and Mt. Everest at Animal Kingdom. I also liked the jeep/dinosour ride at Animal Kingdom - kind of an Indiana Jones type thing. It was fun.

We ate at Epcot Center a couple of times and walked around 'the world' a time or two. We caught good firework shows at the end of the night both at Universal Studios and Epcot.

I saw a sunset on the most beautful beach I have ever been on. The sand was like flour it was so soft and fine. Got most of the sunset on film but I got distracted near the end. Josh was playing in the water - trying to stay dry so he was lifting his pant legs up. The funny thing was that he was already wet up to his waste still holding his pant legs up. . . The week went buy way too fast. I am looking forward to seeing Yvette again.

Wish I had time and money for more trips because I sure would like to get around to see all of you. It has been a long while since I saw family and friends in New Mexico and it has been forever since I have seen many of you who are all across the country. . .

This weekend I am going to Arizona for Amber's wedding. She is marrying John in Springerville on Saturday.

I have a trip to Nashville in July for a professional conference. I will be there for a full week so if anyone is close enough to meet me one day/evening I would love to see you. As a faculty we will have a rental car and maybe I could sneak out with it once or twice . . .

I might update this once school is out. . . I need to move out of my apartment byt he end of June. I am going to try and buya house. I also have some trainging to go to for my new job teaching for Idaho Digital Learning (online classes) and I have to take a certification test for American Govenrment on the 14th. School will be out but I wll have plenty to do still. . . What can I say? I am never bored!