Countrydiction

Shadow, affectionately known as Boathouse, has settled in to his new residence at our house. He mourned forever his long-time family in Alexandria, VA (my son, daughter-in-law, and Kodie). Shadow came with me when Leo and Sara couldn't take any pets with them to their new assignment in Sri Lanka. Leo and Sara will probably cringe to hear this, but Shadow has about three more scars than he did before he arrived here in the woods of wild west Florida. Unlike Ozzie, my 'timid' other bulldog, Shadow will mix it up in a heartbeat. When I run Shadow runs with me, and he is the classic guard dog. If we run by a neighbor who's dogs run loose he will run ahead and stay between the dogs and me. A few times he has intruded into the yards of the other dogs and at times the other dogs took umbrage...big time! Now, Shadow has massive heart. He doesn't have extensive fighting experience. The other hounds have been slightly quicker and obviously more experienced. Bloodied ...

Oslo, my young bulldog who is affectionately called Junkyard (see the seeing eye in my profile foto), has had a run of bad luck, or stupidity. A few weeks ago he came home with blood dripping out the side of his mouth. He bled for about 24 hours and couldn't drink or eat. I don't really know if it was his tongue, gums or lips that was lacerated. I don't know if he was hit by a car or tangled with a fence or coon or what. No witnesses. He's young and he healed quickly. To top that calamity, he came limping home the other day on three legs. Somehow he tore one of the pads of his front right paw. I'm going to take him in to the vet tomorrow, my first day off since it happened. I've thought about saving a couple hundred dollars by getting my wire cutters and taking torn, dangling piece off myself. There is a race in Destin in the morning called 'Run with the Dogs.' I would have taken Oslo because he gets along with all peace loving, social people a...

One week on the new job. I was warned about the problems with staffing, but I wasn't prepared for what I've found. With all the turnover in management that has transpired in the last few months at the Y, the challenge is to form a nucleus of a new team. My boss has only been on board for a month, but he exudes confidence and enthusiasm. The mountain is steep because I not only have to jell with the new management team but we are converting to a new computer system to replace the 20 year old one, AND we are in the middle of a 90 day facility renovation. Total turmoil! I love my new job!

This has been an up and down season for the MildCats. At times fans have pulled their hair out. Sleight of hand hasn't worked...hard-nosed defense is the solution. The Cats will squeeze into the Big Dance. Who knows how long they can hold on. If Tubby has any cards left, he better whip it out. How could we know it would shake out this way?

The sabbatical is over and done. I've accepted an offer to take the membership director position at the YMCA of Fort Walton Beach . This is a job that I feel qualified for and am excited about. This area was just declared 1st on a list of the top 179 'smallest metros' by the Milken Institute, a non-profit, independent, economic think tank . The ' Best Performing Cities Index' is a measurement of where jobs are being created in America. Florida's 'large metros' rock this list! Since moving back down here to the 'emerald coast' area I've lived the life of the semi-retired, sleeping, gardening, riding motorcycle, bonding with my animals. The columnist gig lasted almost a year, but that was more like a hobby than a job. I'm rejuvenated, motivated, and ready to roll! My new boss is a retired Colonel who left Louisianna about the time Katrina hit and took the Y's director job. The Y is starting a major renovation and while that is ...