Snow Day

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Yesterday I had one of those days where even though I kept checking things off the "To Do" list, the list kept growing, making me feel I was sliding backwards instead of moving forward. Not to worry. Today is a new day. A new SNOW covered day. We got about an inch last night, the first snow in what seems like years. I'm disappointed I didn't get to watch it fall, but it's supposed to snow intermittently throughout the day so there's still hope.

I'll probably be out in it. Part of today must be spent canvassing Madison merchants and asking if they'll post a flyer for our Whine & Cheese shelter fundraising event AND if they'll participate in our Februrary APSRC fundraiser. We drop off pink paper hearts to merchants and for $1, people can buy a heart and dedicate it to a pet. The merchant posts the heart in their store and we come back at the end of February and collect the money.

It's a good exercise for me because I HATE to do this sort of thing. Mingle with people? Bah!  And especially mingle with people and ask for a favor. Yuck. But it's important, so I'll do it.

That and the other 80 things on my list. It's 6:37 AM and I already feel like I'm running behind schedule. But I'm still going to take a minute to sip some coffee and stare out at the snow. Might be years before I have the chance again.

Have a great day!

All is Well

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Hot water came gushing back about 9 o'clock last night. I immediately went to work stomping my carbon footprint into the earth by running a load of laundry, the dishwasher, and taking an unnecessarily long and hot shower.

I've got a lot going on for a Sunday. There's an Animal Protection Society (www.apsrc.org) meeting this afternoon where I'm being voted onto the Board. I'm going to dive in and assume Secretarial responsibilities because, frankly, it seems the perfect match for my anal-retentive tendencies.

I'm VERY excited about the work the group has done and is doing. When they formed a year or so ago, GAS CHAMBERS were still being used to kill animals in our county (that's illegal in most states). The Euthanasia rate was close to 90% for animals at the "shelter" -- the tarp-covered building with cement floors where animals were stuffed in not-so-good conditions.

The euthanasia rate is now down around 58%, a new shelter director just came on staff and--best of all--the county has agreed an animal shelter is desperately needed and has put up $800,000 toward the 1.6 million dollar facility. The new facility will have a spay/neuter operating room, seperate spaces for dogs and cats, dog runs for exercise, a "meet and greet" room where people can spend times with animals they're considering adopting and more.

We have to raise $800,000 which is daunting in a rural county already suffering but I have hope. One couple just donated $50,000 (bless them). I think it's possible to raise the rest. So many people understand the love an animal offers and don't want to see animals suffer. Rather, they want to offer them a chance at a real home with people-parents who love them. I think shelter animals know how lucky they are when they find a a forev er home. Any one who's ever adopted a shelter dog or cat always says the same thing, "He/She is the BEST pet I've ever had."

We'll get there. Even if it's one dollar at a time.

Long Day

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Woke up to 19 degree weather and no Internet service. Spent over an hour on the phone with Road Runner and issue still not resolved. Pipes in home frozen--showering just became optional. Got a ton of work done on my book but almost none done for clients as that work requires reliable Internet service. (I'm piggybacking on my neighbor's wi-fi right now, but service keeps going in and out.)

My take on the situation? To quote Captain Jack Sparrow, "But WHY is there no more rum?" Guess wine will have to do.