Sunday, I'll be going to Nancy and Chris' house to pet-sit for three nights for their two dogs and three cats while they go away for some R & R. I did the same back in March when they went to Arizona. It gives me great pleasure to see these two get some alone time together, and, I confess, I'll be glad to be responsible for no one other than me and my five animal charges. My own meals will be simple; I'll watch TV and idly pet whichever dogs/cats choose to lie in bed with me. I'll keep on the A/C (we haven't even put our own units in the windows yet, believe it or not), to make sure the animals and I stay cool!

Of course, I'll miss Dan, Brad, Snaps and Bugsy, but it will be nice to go "home", lie down, and take a nap without having to worry about making dinner for anyone else but me.

Last time, Nancy and Chris didn't enjoy themselves nearly as much as I'd hoped they would, but that wasn't my fault. I held up my end of the bargain and took excellent care of their pets and home, so they didn't worry on that score.

Brad's experience with summer school is going well so far. He was observed yesterday and given a "thumbs up."

Dan is still having pain in his chest, arm, wrist, foot, etc., but he's seeing both Jacob and Durant Monday, and will hopefully have all this under control soon. Please! He's becoming very irritating!

I'm going to the gym after work today, then home to play with my doggies. I'd rather take a nap, but exercise is a lot better for me. It's just too much WORK!

It's HOT today, but less humid. HOT!

Later, dudes!

Love, Robin

From Today's Newsday:

The controversy over Angel's Gate, the Fort Salonga animal hospice in a dispute with some of its neighbors, probably is headed to the courts after a Smithtown Town Board vote yesterday that in effect will shut down the facility.

I've made it clear in my blog how I feel about animals, and that they have a higher place in my heart than human beings do.

This decision has, as you can imagine, made me cry. The 200+ animals at Angel's Gate are unwanted by anyone--too old, sickly, maimed. The politicians are already leaping around, parroting: "We'll find homes for them."

Where? If no one wanted them before, who will want them now, when they are being evicted from the only home they have known for so long?

I am praying for a good outcome here, and hope that the positive press Angel's Gate has received results in an outpouring of love/money for the owners of this facility, which was started by good-hearted people in a residential neighborhood whose Fort Salonga residents are complaining about the noise, the stench, the traffic.

Frankly, I think the cruel, hellbound, uncaring PEOPLE should all be evicted; leave behind only the sick, dying animals and their generous, heaven-bound caregivers.

That's all I have to say.

Love, Robin

Jillian, a woman on Craigslist, has been trying to get back her chihuahua puppy, allegedly kidnapped from the beach back in June. After reading many postings and seeing signs begging for the pup's return, I've naturally felt awful for Jillian. What terrible person would so heartlessly steal another person's pet?

Then I read a portion of the story I wasn't aware of--from the dog's owner herself. Apparently, the kidnapper stole the dog from inside a car, on a very hot day! The dog had been left with water and, I assume, the windows cracked, but still, I know how quickly the temperature can rise in a parked car on even a warm summer day, and this pup is only two and a half pounds. Plus, the kidnapper pointed out that the dog has kennel cough, a bacterial infection, and other problems (which, to give the dog's owner credit, she knew about). So was the kidnapper, who is refusing to return the dog to its owner, a hero or villain?

They say every story has many points of view. Here I was feeling so sorry for Jillian, wanting to see her dog returned safely to her, but now I'm not so sure. What loving dog owner leaves a tiny puppy in a car in the summer, even for a brief time?

Shit happens. I realize that. There might be extenuating circumstances of which I am unaware. However, I will assure you of one fact--if *I* had seen that tiny puppy alone in that car, I would probably have done exactly what the kidnapper did, and would be equally reluctant to return the pup.

Hugs to Bugsy and Snapple. I'll be home soon. I love you guys.

Love, Mommy (Robin to you)

I napped a lot, a total of 7 hours or so. What's wrong with me that I need all this napping? I go upstairs, turn on the fan (not just for the cool breeze, but to drown out any sounds from the neighborhood below), and, flanked by Snaps on one side and Bugsy on the other, I go off to blissful slumber.

Saturday I slept until 6:45 PM and was annoyed Dan allowed me to sleep so late. We dined in the mostly-empty D'Antonio's, a restaurant we usually go to only for their Wednesday pasta specials. Their regular menu is really expensive, but for once, I didn't look at the right side of the menu before the left; I wanted chicken parm and ordered it. It was delicious, the portion huge, and I took about half home to enjoy on another occasion.

Last night I slept until about 5:40, then Brad treated us to dinner (the guy who'd hit him driving backwards at Brady Park coughed up $275 in cash to settle the matter, so he was feeling a tad flush) at a restaurant we hadn't frequented in a very long time--Corner Galley. I remember starting to not like the food there for some reason, but, on the plus side, they give you all the salad you can eat and all the soda you can drink with every dinner entree. Dan and Brad both ordered bison burgers and I had mussels with spicy marinara sauce over linguini. I ate little of the latter, but the mussels were delicious, the sauce perfectly spicy. It was great being out with my family, too.

On Friday, Dan treated Brad and I to dinner at the diner, and our waiter didn't make one error with my meal (unlike our two previous visits, upon which our fledgling waiter got only MY order wrong both times). We had such a great time! Hey, I may be sleeping my weekends away, but spending quality time with my family is still my favorite thing to do!

Dan and I hit the gym Saturday for a good workout. We were there nearly two hours. I worked on the bike and treadmill, plus several of the weight exercises. I swam and soaked in the Jacuzzi. Felt great! I plan to stop there after work, too. It was too hot to walk today, just too humid, so I'll get some exercise in the air-conditioned gym instead.

We have these gnatty little bugs in the house, flying around, landing on us, hanging around the lights. They don't bite, but they're damned annoying, and there are way too many of 'em. I have no idea how to get rid of them, and I don't like to use any bug poisons with the dogs around. I have no clue how to make them go away, and yelling, "GO AWAY, YOU MISERABLE BASTARD BUGS!" doesn't seem to faze them in the least.

You know what I really enjoyed yesterday? Sitting on the deck in my backyard, my faced turned up to a nice breeze, a cup of iced coffee in one hand, Sunday Newsday in my lap, my dogs sprawled contentedly at my side.

Peaceful. Yeah, I love that.

Love, Robin

I'm so tired. My period lasted eight or nine days, and I probably lost a quart or two of blood, which might explain that. I dunno. I do know that I feel like falling asleep right here and now. I have about an hour and a half to go, ending my three day week. Well, three days consisting of 10 hours each, with two overtime per day. That's a loooong three days.

Bugsy has been more aggressive and biting lately. While I was trying to engage his attention so Dan could get into our bed without being bitten last night, Bugsy attacked me. He went for my right tit. He only grazed it with his teeth, but even that hurt. Damn, that dog has some jaws! I noticed teeth marks in our very strong Rubbermaid garbage can, which Dan must have used as a shield once upon a time to prevent Bugsy from biting him. The marks are pretty scary looking when you consider this dog is only 25-30 pounds. His mouth grip is really something. Hey, he bit my knee once, many months ago, and I still have a faint purple ring there as a memory. Last night, Bugs attacked Brad while chasing him upstairs, and took a bite out of his new sock. My son was not amused, but I can't help but feel Bugsy thinks this is a game he's playing--a game Brad started in the first place!

Sigh. I atill love the damn pooch, just hate his unexpected, nasty behavior. He can be so sweet when he wants to be. But I wonder. . .which is the REAL Bugsy Vogel?

Brad got his Masters diploma in the mail yesterday. My baby boy is teaching summer school (gave his first quiz today)! Just a few weeks ago, Brad himself took his own final final, and now he's administering tests! So cool.

I got really pissed at my husband last night. First is all the complaining he's been doing about how much pain he's in. I know I've said this before, but damn, if *I* complained about my aches and pains, there would be nothing else left for me to discuss. Between my bum back, ankle, diabetic neuropathy in my feet, sciatica, abdominal pain, blah blah blah, I could go on forever--but I don't!

Dan, on the other hand, just moans, groans, bitches and bellyaches. It's like he's the first person on earth to discover pain, and he's as vocal about it as any one person can be. He reached up to turn on a light the other night and strained something in his chest wall, and oh, Jesus, the wailing I've had to listen to about that!!!

Dan likes to put out our kitchen garbage pail to let Mother Nature wash it. Which means it stays out there until it rains (and even after) while Brad and I search for someplace to put the garbage. It INFURIATES me when this happens. Why the man can't take the can, put some dishwashing liquid inside it and wash it out himself, then just put it back in the house instead of leaving it outside for DAYS is beyond me. So when we got home last night after meeting briefly at the gym for some exercise (he just went on the Jacuzzi machine) and I saw that filthy can still outside, I slammed out there, took the hose, and washed the fucking can out myself, brought it back in, stuffed a plastic bag inside and warned him that if he did this again, I'd. . .

He tried tickling me out of my pissy mood, demanding a kiss, but I didn't give in. He wasn't getting me to laugh, no way. I squirmed away from him, still mad. I was so freaking tired, but I still had to come home and fix dinner for Dan and Brad. Neither of them knows how to cook, being Jewish princes. I was just feeling fed up, I guess. I love doing things for my family, I really do, but there are times when both my husband and son repetitively do things that anger me on a visceral, base level that makes me want to stand naked in the middle of my street and scream. (The naked part is to get back at my asshole neighbors, too!)

Perhaps you're thinking, "This Robin is the whackadoodle one." But I'm not, at least not always. You should try walking a mile in my moccasins, then you'd understand. Maybe I'd go insane walking a mile in yours.

Hey, it's the weekend. That's a good thing. I love my family, including my two nutso dogs, more than anything in the entire world. Don't ever think I don't. But those we love the most have the most power to drive us crazy. Remember that.

Love, Robin