Oops, looks like I forgot to update this page much this month. LOL So here goes...

Jodi got promoted to afternoon charge nurse at the nursing home where she has been working. (And working a lot too, poor thing.) Finally, her degree and competence seem to be paying off a little bit. She's becoming quite a valued employee there.

My "kids" are all doing okay. Eightyball still struggles some but is doing okay. I put all the dogs on Fit-n-Trim but I swear she's getting heavier. And I should know since I have to carry her upstairs to bed every night. She is able to come up the back three steps most days - she's learned I don't like going out in the rain to carry her in from a potty break. LOL Gosh, I can't wait till I have to go out in the snow ,or worse the ice, to help her in.

Goobie and Gabby are actually getting along with one another quite well. See Goobie was never quite happy that he was no longer the "baby". But recently, they have started playing some and occasionally, I've noticed that Goobie will let Gabby sleep right next to him. I'm glad to see the sibling rivalry seems to have finally worked out.

Personally, my health has been ok. I still get kinda sick off some of the meds that I am taking; but for the most part, I've been fairly well. I have had to go the dentist now and it looks like I'll have to be getting dentures soon. I think some of the meds have had a bad side-effect since several of my teeth have broken in the last couple of months. But Jodi is helping and I should have a brand new smile by Christmas time.

BIG NEWS: I added to my little ol' family!!

Since I had those back problems with Eightball, I've been thinking about getting another dog. While she was in the vet's over Labor Day weekend, I realized that two doggies just weren't enough. Also, it would be better to get a new dog adjusted to life here while it wasn't snowing and while Eightball was still well enough. That way the new dog and the old dogs would feel like a pack again.

Well, I hadn't been looking too hard when I got a call. Some friends have been breeding Triumph's brother for a few years and had a litter back in the July. They sold one of the pups to their daughter. However, she just had another child and had to move to a larger place where, of course, the landlord wasn't happy to have them move in with a 4 month old puppy. Needless to say, when they were looking for a good home for this pup, they quickly called me. I mean, who could provide a better home for one of the family (this pup is Apple's great-grandson, the grandson of Eightball, the nephew to Triumph and Gabby's brother from another litter) than ME! If you ever get a chance and want to get all the nitty-gritty about the family of cockers and the newest member - Joxer, surf over to my pets' website. (yes, I love them enough that I made them their OWN website.)

So far everyone is getting along ok. Triumph has been a crabby (like his mom LBB) alpha male about it all. Gabby's nose has been bent out of shape some by not being the "baby" anymore; but she has played with Joxer a little bit. It's only Day Two. I think with a little more time, everyone will settle down. But boy, I forgot what having a puppy was like! Luckily, I've got the "pack" to help show him the ropes and he seems to be learning the routine pretty fast.

Me and Joxer

Jodi after a hard day at work

Jodi and me, being goofy and playing with the QuickCam