I was caught up on my LJing and Flickring for about a day and a half.  Then we brought Fergus home.  I had completely forgotten how much work puppies are.  I no longer have hours of uninterrupted time.  Being a responsible dog owner is HARD work!  He's young enough that when he goes outside to do his 'puppy business' I need to go out with him, and while he's doing his thing, give him the command I want to use when he is better trained, then rewarding him on a job well done.  So, basically, I spend lots of my day watching a dog relieve himself!  He is too young for much serious training, we just do some simple things, we're working on sit.  He comes when called about 75% of the time (not a bad percentage).  He is getting better at 'No Cat!' but still really wants to chase them.  Also since he is so much smaller than a full grown Newf, he fits in places where I didn't have to worry with Rochester.  He also has the strong puppy chewing thing going on, he chews whatever he can get his teeth on.  But, unlike Rochester was, Fergus is easily distracted from inappropriate chewing with a toy.  It's also a good thing that Fergus doesn't mind preowned toys.  I've only bought him 2 new toys which are his very own, the rest he's inherited.  He'll be getting some new toys this weekend, I only go to (the nearest 'big') town when I can combine several chores at once.  I spent part of last weekend doing squeaker-ectomies on the plush toys.  I'm sure if the only pet in the house is a dog or two, it's not a problem.  But since we have cats, I think it's a good idea that his toys don't make wounded or dying animal noises. I've had a few days of serious Rochester missing, but Fergus definitely takes so much time I'm not getting too blue.

We went to the store yesterday evening (in the car the Stepson brought to us a couple of weeks ago), it was my first drive in the car (I don't love it) and Fergus' first unrestrained ride in the car.  I was only going into the store for a loaf of bread so I thought it would be a good test.  When I got back to the car, he was sitting in the driver's seat and looked at me as if to say, "Hey, I watched what you were doing on the way to the store, I think I'm capable of driving us home!"

Whining ahead:  Since the Stepson is going back to Italy, he wanted to make sure we got the car (for which we cosigned) to us, so he took a trip from Miami to our house on Memorial Day weekend.  We're talking about a 3500 mile trip in 3 days.  So, now we are going to have a car payment for the first time in YEARS!  I think we're going to try and sell it, but we may give it to my daughter and sell her 5 year old car.  We just haven't decided yet.

But on the positive side, the first time I went to the store yesterday, I discovered they had Mexican made Coca Cola in glass bottles.  I snagged four and just finished my first one!  Why am I so over the moon?  The Coca Cola made in Mexico is made with real sugar rather than high fructose corn syrup.  There is just no comparison!

I haven't written a word in weeks.  I posted a chapter of my latest fan fiction (on fan fiction.net) a week or so ago, but I had written most of it before we went to Spokane, before we lost Rochester.  I just have no urge to write, but since I sort of left the story hanging, I should really get to it.  Luckily the next chapter is mulling around the back of my mind, I am thinking I may be up to writing soon.

I'm still re-re-re-re-reading Harry Potter.  Before we lost Rochester (15 May) I was on book two, and am only now on book 4.  I have NEVER in my life read so slowly.  I'm just not getting the time, or the inclination, to read.  Hopefully I'll get back into the swing of things, when I'm not supervising Fergus' bathroom activities!  But for now I'm just busy with the puppy.  

I vow to get caught up on my f-list some time this century!!