Always a wrinkle

My flights are booked. Once I realized that there are 31 days in January (as a former social worker who arranged payments for years for adult home help I can recite the months backwards as fast as forward and can tell you 3  months in advance without counting them out, but somehow I almost booked myself coming home on the wrong day) and checked correct flights for returning home, I found one leaving Los Angeles earlier in the day and with a 6-hour layover in Las Vegas. That means I might catch a dribble of sunlight and will have enough time for a long walk and some dinner. Perfect!

I left the house after booking the flights and met a friend for a nice dinner and a movie. We saw The Aviator which is about 3 hours long. My bladder is trained for 2 1/2 hour movies, and I didn't know that the movie was so long. My friend thought I was squirming because my back hurt. The movie was very good, but had no real ending to it. It just sort of stopped. I didn't know some of the information about Howard Hughes that is in the movie, and was surprised that they totally skipped the Mormon attendants and his dealings and life in Las Vegas.

So I came home happy with a slight alcoholic buzz and checked my emails. I had asked my nephew the day before I booked flights if he could watch the dogs. He said no problem. I asked again before I booked, and he assured me, no problem. I of course had an email saying he can't do it when I go out west, but would still do it for Toronto.

So as usual, here I am, scrambling around with little notice for a dog sitter. It makes me look like an irresponsible dog owner, but I always double check my sitters before I make travel arrangements. Sigh. I have a possible lead on a vet tech to sit in my house. Molly needs medication and my girls are spoiled, so I need someone who understands that the dogs are somewhat special needs pets. The vet has told me that Molly cannot go to a kennel or she will die there. I had no idea beagles were high strung. Baby could handle a kennel, but not Molly.

As much as I love to travel, this dog sitting issue takes the wind out of my sail almost every trip. What's a girl to do? It was easier finding someone to watch my child when she was younger.

My friend that I used to call the doggy hotel has brought her elderly father from his hometown state and put him in a local nursing home. His health is deteriorating very fast. Those of you who pray, please say a few words for him.

I did not tell the vet tech about Wiz, the screaming cat. I just said I have a low maintenance older cat. She is low maintenance. She just screams sometimes because she is losing her hearing. She is screaming a lot less than she did. Honest. Poor old Wiz.