The Questions for Today Are:

1. How much do I love my dogs?

and

2. How the @#*$ is wrong with the computer?

Taenzer lost some weight over the summer--I think because it's been such a nice summer and we've been out much more than usual--at least an hour a day unless it's raining, and some days 3 or 4 hours, and when Taenzer is outside, Taenzer is going. At top speed. The entire time. She seems very healthy, lots of energy, shiny coat and eyes, happy, enthusiastic--just skinny. So I bought the makings for one of the variations on "Satin Balls," which is a recipe for putting weight on skinny dogs, usually rescues. I like the version without Total cereal (too much sugar), which consists of raw hamburger, raw egg yolks, natural peanut butter (read the labels!), cream cheese, oatmeal, heavy cream, and wheat germ. Now--imagine separating 18 eggs (what does one do with 18 egg whites?), then imagine putting all of the above into a giant pot and mixing it with one's hands, while one's dogs sit adoringly at one's feet radiating approval. I felt like I'd got hold of the Tarbaby! But I managed to get loose, the dogs got a taste, and I put the pot into the fridge. Taenzer will get a big spoonful and Timber will get a little spoonful with their dinners for the next couple of weeks.

As for the computer--for some reason it decided to unload all my e-mail, and is now in the process of laboriously re-downloading the entire mailbox. Now in the first place, although I use Outlook Express on this computer, it comes through freaking Zimbra from work and you know how much I hate loathe and despise Zimbra. In the 2nd place, we're talking dial-up here. I may have my mailbox re-filled by, oh, say, midnight tonight. Unfortunately, there are about 5 messages in my work sub-box; I sincerely hope they're nothing I needed to respond to this afternoon, cause it ain't gonna happen. Grrrrrr. (I suppose I should consider actually deleting some of my e-mail...)

I've been thinking about switching from landline to the cell phone/DSL combo. It's just that I don't much like cell phones. I got a card in the mail about the Jitterbug J cell phone/service, which is targeted at seniors, and I'm not sure what's worse--that I got a card about a cell phone for seniors or that I think it looks interesting! Anyway, I can't afford the landline plus DSL, so the options are stick with what I've got and moan and groan about dial-up, or drop the landline and moan and groan about having to use a cellphone.

I'm freezing, but I refuse to turn on my heat on the 2nd of October! So I have on a nice warm pair of hand-knit socks, and I'm wearing my Ugly Shawl, which is ugly but warm. Mental note: next time I make a shawl, I should try a circular or semi-circular shawl. I want something to cover my thighs when I'm sitting down, and the ends of a triangular shawl don't really do the job. Also, my forearms get cold, so I guess altogether I want something wider.

My sweater is wonderful, but--catastrophe!--I don't have enough yarn to finish it, and it's a discontinued yarn. My sister suggested I could wear it as a vest, but I don't like vests--my arms get cold. I wanted a nice big rugged casual outdoor sweater, darn it!

(it's a dark picture but if you click on it, the large size shows up better)

So I have two options: Try to find enough of this discontinued yarn in this color (at least I don't have to try to match a dye lot), or rip it out. I happen to have some of the same yarn in a different shade, and I could make the same sweater by using one strand of each color. I had other plans for that other yarn, so I guess that first I'll see if anyone on Ravelry has 6 or 8 balls of this yarn they'd be willing to part with at a price I can afford. (I hope 8 balls would be enough.)UPDATE: I FOUND IT!! I FOUND IT!! I knew I had some more of this yarn somewhere, and I found it! I can finish my sweater! Calloo callay!!

P.S. - Taenzer was so excited about her Satin Balls that she sat in the living room by her food mat and whined, loudly, the entire time I was fixing their dinner. Nice to have a happy girl!