Humm, I like this theme of avoiding homework. My contribution to this blog is prompted by:

1) My life being very challenging right now

2) Homework is Hard. I did most of it earlier but now I have to read "Civil Disobedience" by Thoreau.

3) My own blog is about to be under deconstruction and moved.

And now on to the fun stuff!

The bad news:

I am taking way to many credits this term in a wide verity of classes consisting of Architectural Hand Drafting, Geology, US History II: the Civil War and Reconstruction, and Art History: American Residential Architecture. Three of these classes are asking for term projects as well as normal homework. "When are you going to do those?" you ask. Well to tell the truth...I have no idea.

The other piece of bad news is that I've been having gut problems. I was gluten and milk free for the last month or so. It was getting better and now it's worse again which means back to the doctor. The next step is either starting treatment for an Ulcer, an Endoscopy, or a Gastroscopy. The last two really don't sound fun, but not being able to eat isn't fun either and I am desperate enough now to try them. Being uncomfortable, in pain, or nauseated all the time really colours your view of the world and not for the better I'm sad to say.

The in between news:

A Guide Dogs for the Blind puppy I am very close to, she'd been living with me about half time for the past 6 months, was recalled for formal training last weekend. While I'm sad that I don't get to have her again and that Tazzi wont see her again, she taught him how to play which is a major break through for him, I delighted that she is getting to do what she was trained to do. She's currently being evaluated as a breeder, but if she doesn't do that I'm certain that she'll become a guide. A guide dog puppy becoming a working guide isn't as easy as it sounds, they have to have the right temperament, the right energy level, the right enthusiasm and a perfect bill of health, I think Delphine has all of those and she's a sweetie to boot.

And now what you've all been waiting for....The Good News!

My dietary requirements have given me a great opportunity to look at new and exciting ways of cooking.

I think my college major is going to be middle eastern studies, and maybe minoring in musical theatre or ecology. I'm working on my college transfer applications, so if all goes well I'll be moving next fall to either Corvallis, Oregon or Iowa.

And the biggest news of all. *do a drum roll in your head or on a table if your at one, please* I'm getting my own Guide Dog puppy in February. All I know right now is that its a female yellow lab that somewhere around 4 to 6 months old. I hope she has a good name. Because guide dogs has so may puppies and they don't reuse names until the owner of the name dies you can get some pretty weird names. A puppy in my puppy raising club is named "Trumpet", I just don't see that as a girls name. Another puppy I've heard about was named "Vulcan". By contrast I think Delphine is a perfectly wonderful name :) I hope she and Tazzi get along.

That's about it for now.

Delphine on a hay ride in Octobler
Tazzi and Delphine taking a breather after chasing each other all over the yard.

- Margolotta