Coyote Beautiful

This will be a thought salad kind of entry. I am in full PreTravel Freak Mode. Child and I are going to Toronto for a very short trip. Still, packing is packing. I take pretty much the same stuff for a short trip as I do for two weeks and I am doing the usual dance.

Two of my neighbors offered to take my dogs. Three others would have, but weren't able to. What a difference for me! I used to almost beg people to watch my dogs, and this time I have to call one and say sorry, maybe next time. Incredible! I love this place :)

The dogs and I took a walk maybe a week ago and went around the pond. Halfway around there is a path that leads deeper into the woods. I have seen deer in the woods before, and watched them run off. Remember I saw the deer running through my backyard once and my brain registered "horses" first?

This time, my brain said, "Deer! I got it right!" - but when I looked, I saw something else. There were two of them, running away from us, with long tails, running like dogs with fluffy tails - coyotes. I had heard there were some near here, but it's the first time I have seen them. They are beautiful!

This is the first time I will be leaving my dogs with anyone besides the child since Molly was diagnosed with Addison's. Molly crashed after my last trip to Toronto - I had no idea she was sick before the crash. I am of course nervous, but I know my neighbor will provide most excellent care of my furbabies.

Child has never been to Toronto. I told her to be prepared to walk a lot. She will whine, but that is too bad. It won't be any colder there than it is here, but it will be raining. It was raining last year when I went, too. Hey, it rains sometimes. We can deal with it.

I guess I need to pack. I had promised myself that I would go to bed at 9 pm with everything done and actually sleep once before a trip. I lied. My intentions were good, but the ADD won again.

Wish me luck. Not only am I traveling with a Nondenominational American Princess, but she is trying to quit smoking again. Luckily for me, the beer in Canada is stronger than it is in the US. I can alsoget absinthe. I already packed my wine key. Priorities. Plus, child is a bartender. Once she learns how they make the absinthe in the bar I went to last year, she can make it for me at home. Of course, I can't bring any home with me. It's illegal to carry it over the border :(

Hm, I thought I had a whole bunch of little things to toss into my thought salad, but if I did, they fell out of the bowl.

I do have to drive through the tunnel into Windsor, Ontario, to get to the train station. I do not like this drive at all. We will leave in the middle of the night, dark, rain, for a trip through Detroit. Wish me luck - this is the worst part of a trip for me.

On Sunday I finally got everything together at the right time and put up my programmable thermostat. I love it. I am very proud that I was able to do that. My shoulder isn't as happy as I am, but it will have to get over it.

I am off to pack. Yuo know, about half a bubble off.