Sorry, folks. I have to recycle last year’s Halloween/Samhain post due to my internal celebrations with the bronchitis virus. (I had to stay home in bed and miss the party and parade at school today…am very sad.) So, as I hack and cough and pass out, please enjoy last year’s tidbits: Happy Samhain!

So…………I really want another dog. I tossed the idea out to Honey (only for the millionth time) last night and he was more open to it than he had been previously. We’re planning on making a baby next Summer so if we add another critter to our Animal Kingdom, then I want to do it before then. That way, the new little one can be trained and pal up with Dobby before a baby comes in to steal away most of his attention and spoiling. I desperately want a Golden Retriever but our yard just isn’t big enough for it. Although the previous owners of our house had two goldens, it just wouldn’t be fair to such an active dog. And Dobby really hates other big dogs so I’ll just hold out on that dream and get one down the road in a bigger house some day.
So I’ve got some of my criteria narrowed down:
* smaller dog (smaller than a Golden)
* female (Dobby hates other males - yes, he is neutered)
* from a pound or rescue (I’ve begun looking at MaxFund, Denver Dumb Friends and other breed-specific rescues in the area)
* ideally between the ages of 1 to 5 years

I’m considering and researching Dauchshunds, Rat Terriers and Chihuahua mixes (I don’t want a tiny fragile Chi). I know that some of you are dog fans so please feel free to recommend a specific breed or two in comments for me!

I finally got to give my Harry Potter speech today, after cramming it together at the last minute after our trip to Topeka but the day before it was due in class. Fortunately, though, we ran out of time last Tuesday for me to give my speech and then Thursday our instructor was sick so class was cancelled. Today I was late to class (I was busy finishing up some stuff for work!) so I didn’t get to sign up to give my speech right away. I was number 10 on the list. BAH! I ended up being the last speaker of the day so I got right to it.
I brought one prop (a toy magic wand with a big sparkly star on the tip) and a Power Point visual. I wasn’t preaching…I was teaching. ‘A Current Issue’ was our assigned topic and, as I am focusing the rest of my speeches on banned books, I chose this news story as my topic. Here are my notes (almost word-for-word) and Power Point from my speech. I thought you might enjoy them! (more…)

A gazillion thanks to the lovely pocketchange mama for opening the door to my flying lessons! I’m doing the BabySteps and so far I am working on shining my sink, dressing to lace up shoes, and nightly ritual as part of my daily habits. I also bought a pretty pink timer and I’m doing it all in only 15 minute incraments.

If you’re overwhelmed, under organized and messier than you’d like to admit, then try flying! You’ll love it!

My fellow book club buddy, Candace, tagged me with this fun meme!

1) One book that changed your life:
Das Energi by Paul Williams. I was given this book as a gift when I was 15. I opened it up and couldn’t seem to put it down for five years! I highlighted, dog-earred and underlined the crap outta this book as it opened my mind to the true nature of my personal spirituality. It spoke to me the way the Bible or the Koran probably speak to others. On a mystical and yet-unnamed level of consciousness. It didn’t just open my mind, it blew the doors off completely!
“Sooner or later a person begins to notice…”

2) One book that you’d read more than once:
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. This was my introduction to Irving novels and will always be my favorite. I can always find new meaning to the symbolism in this book!

3) One book you’d want on a deserted island:
The book mentioned in #1.

4) One book that made you laugh:
The book mentioned in #2.

5) One book that made you cry:
My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult. The ending took me completely by surprise and made me bawl my head off. Such a tragedy.

6) One book you wish you’d written:
A Book of Shadows! It takes far more discipline and commitment than I can muster to create my very own Book of Shadows!

7) One book you wish had never been written:
A Million Little Pieces by James Frey (supposedly). What a farce. Great story. But what a snake he was to lie about it all being an honest memoir. Bah.

8) One book you’re currently reading:
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon I had a profound dream the other night that revolved around a fantastical plot. So I figured that was my subconscious requesting a good fantasy book to read. After researching the internet and my fellow blog-readers’ sites, I settled on this series. Not sure what I think of it yet. It’s keeping my interest but getting quite complex.

9) One book you’ve been meaning to read:
Watership Down by Richard Adams. It’s on my shelf and ready to go but I can’t bear to read about little bunnies dying. How sad.

10) Tag five people:
Okay, if you want to do it, I tag: Evil Mommy, Pocketchange, Turtleheart, Writer-Girl and Shylah.