IONA WOOFS                                            

May 10, 2006: 

Monty and I have started the rehearsals for "NightCourt", the annual musical theatre event that we put on under the Houston Bar Association to raise money. It is in the third week of June, five shows at the Hobby Theatre (yep, we are in the big times here!).  This year the theme is the "Law of the West" and I get to play "Running Late", which is pretty funny to me coz of my pet peeve of people who are always late. 

Monty is helping me make a costume for the Rimkus party on Thursday, so I can go Native American.  I love the my part and songs.  Monty is a "Ranch Hand" or as he put it "Raunch Hand" hehehe.  Only lawyers can be on stage so he works techie and stage stuff, already he's at work with props and sets.  It is like summer camp for us in many ways, reuniting with our extended family.  Judy Frow (www.frowbiz.com) is back as our Director and Jim Benton as our Musical Director, ten years now they've been herding us from a motley group of lawyers, judges, politicians and such to a professional cast that puts on a great show.

Monty has had his oral surgery and has a new smile.  He made it through all that fine and dandy, although I'm thinking I may have to put a mirror in his toolbox as he keeps checking out his grin.  Thanks to all who've kept him in their thoughts and prayers, he's doing great.

I'm still at a loss over the death of my friend Maggie Macary, who died unexpectedly on Easter Sunday. Her web site, www.mythandculture.com was a revolutionary concept that was making such strides, and I just can't imagine a world without Maggie's intensity, focus and brilliance.  I hope that her work will continue, and hopefully her dissertation will be published by her family someday as a tribute to her.

Work is wonderful, I am so loving the Labor department, good people, good boss, good work and good clients; I am super busy which is terrific, handling hearings and arbitrations, all great.  Monty is doing really well at the Fire Department, and happy as the proverbial clam.  I'm trying to get writing done in between work, taking the "kids" to the dog park, and rehearsals for NightCourt but this makes life fun and busy.  I also have a lovely step-daughter, April, who has sent me my first ever Mother's Day Gift!  How cool is that?

Life has its ups and downs, and while there always seems to be 'something' I am always grateful for the good things each day. The nuzzle of Phantom against my hand, Chey's kissies when I take her for her "Bark & Ride", the purrs of the Meowettes (Gypsy and Victoria), having a terrific job, NightCourt and all my NC family, and all my wonderful friends.  And then there is Monty, with whom life just gets better and better each day. He is the most amazing and wonderful man, so caring and strong at the same time, (and soooo sexy too!)  I've never had anyone give me such love.  Life is wonderful.

May 18, 2006

Boy dogs are a hoot. Now everyone knows that Cheyenne, the DivaDevilDog is my heart of hearts. So when I say that Phantom is just cracking me up being such a boy dog and that I just adore him, it is understood that this is a WHOLE different thing than a girl shepherd.

I’ve always said that the girl Shepherds in my life have been a hoot, full of love with a seriously major dose of SASS. Cheyenne is wonderful, she will come when it is time to go at the dog park, but it is only after she thinks a bit whether she really wants to go or not. It is not a long consideration but I can tell she’s making it, and while she generally decides to come and let me think she’s obeying there have been a few times when she’s given me the "Not now I’m busy" look. Or she’ll come but with a grumble as if to say, you know, my calendar is very full, and I’m fitting you in because I love you and only because of that.

Now Phantom is a different matter. He’s still a puppy and we still have to get him to training. He’s learning a few things but seems to delight in teasing us by not brining the ball back when we throw it, that sort of thing. But gosh is he ever a boy dog, such a huge love puppy that it is just hilarious.

He has to be next to me or to Monty, and wants lots of scratches and pats. He’s a real sucker for a belly scratch to ("Thank you Aunt Candice for giving Mommy such nice nails, I know you do them just for me!") He also loves to play. Even after two hours at the dog park, he can come home and want to have a toy thrown for him to retrieve. When you are trying to do something like oh say, check email, and he bumps your arm it can be a tad bit annoying but when you look at him with those great golden eyes and such a silly look on his face, you can’t help but playing with him.

I have missed Ritz so much and I’m happy to say that Phantom is not filling Ritz’ paws but giving me a new and wonderful boy dog experience. He is definitely his own personality. Cheyenne is doing a great job of keeping him in his puppy place, even though he’s as tall as she is now. He still has to fill out of course and that will be over the next year. The running and swimming at the dog park really helps I think.

So doggie life is good. The Meowettes are doing fine too although they still fuss at each other at times. Then of course I come home and the two of them are both on the bed sleeping near each other. So go figure. We are looking at getting them a kitty condo unit so they can enjoy looking out windows without a certain puppy breathing on them!

Come to think of it, life is good period. Monty is recovering well from his oral surgery and looking quite handsome there. Work is great, we are busy with the NightCourt production so weekends and nights are quite busy. After work we run the kids to the dogpark then go to rehearsal. How lucky we are to be so blessed with good people and activities in our life, and of course such wonderful critters.

Coming soon my review of the Dog Whisperer book. I have only had a chance to catch his show a couple of times on tv alas. I’m about half way through the book but so far am impressed with much of what he advocates. His sources are familiar to many of us who have read dog training and behavior books over the years and he has a very good take on how dog’s work.