Not often do I have moments of pure sadness and self pity, but I did today. If all goes well, insurance will okay the surgery. That I am happy about. Then came the self pity moment. I wished that I had my mom...and a way better relationship than when she was alive. I not only have to figure out when to do it, but who can realistically help me...with me and the dogs. In a perfect world, I would have had a better relationship with Carol Ann, she would still be alive, and she would fly out to take care of me. It's moments like this that I realize how truly single I really am. It passes and I am fine, strong, and independent. It's just those small, fleeting moments....If only...

So last Saturday was the day that I decided would be a good day to bring home a friend for Samson, with his consent of course ;) Shortly after bringing Panda home I realized he had a bad case of the fleas. So like any good guardian, I tried taking care of the situation. One of the remedies included a flea comb. Great investment if you have a pet! Anyway, Panda hates being combed..too bad as he has a TON of long hair. So on Wednesday I purchased a flea comb and gave him the once over. He wasn't too bad. Then I came home on Thursday to give him another combing only to find that I have 'misplaced' the comb. I searched high and low for the damn thing. On Friday, I had yet to find it. While pondering the question of what happen to the damn thing -- and completely convinced that Panda hid the comb -- I found it. Yes, the dog indeed hid the comb. It was in his room -- the one in which he resides while I am gone -- hidden under the 'piddle pad'. I most certainly did not put it there! So I was correct in my assumption that the dog hid the comb. He is one smart dog!!

Okay, so this was conference week...very busy and tiring. However, within the past week I have been funded for 2 projects, yes 2, on donorschoose.org! I am getting a class set of Charlotte's Web and $365 worth of pastels (both oil and chalk) in order to do self portraits. As if that wasn't enough good news, one of my students won a poster contest. The contest wanted students to design a poster for the town's Christmas Parade in which the theme is "Candy Cane Lane". It was a very exciting day. The student was greeted (after recess) by her mom, the principal and the Chamber of Commerce. She will have an article in the paper and received $50 in 'Commerce Bucks" to use in establishments around town. Life is indeed, good!!