Finally, here I am to write for you again. 

And once again, I am apologizing for my absence. 

This time, however, I am not suffering from writer's block, but distraction.  Since I last posted, morning (yeah, right) sickness has set in with a vengance.  I am CONSTANTLY thirsty, not in the "I could really use a drink right now" way but in the "Give me water NOW before I CRY because my throat is so dry" way.

On the plus side, being too sick to eat meant a three pound weight loss last week, and I am definitely getting plenty of water every day.  On the down side, I am easily distracted by filling up  my water bottle, running to the bathroom, searching for crackers to help the nausea, being frustrated by the fact that I do not have a due date yet, and wondering when we will find the time to get everything done!

Then I start worrying about Girl Scouts.  What if another parent doesn't step up to help out?  What if no one will be a cookie mom?  This baby should come right in the middle of our cookie sale.  See a problem there?  I sure do! Unless more girls join my troop this fall and someone has a wonderful, helpful mom who will do more than drop off her daughter and bring snacks once in a while, this isn't going to work.  Especially having a split-age troop next year.

So I haven't written anything, because I don't want to have one of "those" blogs - you know, something like "The Joys (or not) of Pregnancy," or something along those lines.  It is necessary to get to the end result, but carrying a child is not one of my favourite things by any means.  I also can't in good conscious fill up a page with "ick." even if that is the only thought in my head right now.

So I work, and I read everyone else's blogs, and wish I had something fun and interesting and thought-provoking to regale you all with. Hopefully, soon I will get my brain back and will be able to do just that.

Until then....

ick.

There has been a story in the news here for several months, progressively developing.  To catch you up, several completely healthy dogs had died suddenly after visiting a dog grooming facility in town.  First it was one, then another one, then a third.  All dogs were in excellent health before their visit.  The owner of the business was finally charged with animal cruelty.  Then yesterday, this happened:  http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/jun/03/pet-spa-owner-kills-wife-self-in-w-knox/

I'll give you a few minutes to read the story.

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A tragedy, right?  Those poor children!  I can't see how they could ever recover from such a horror.  But what really gets me is the father of the indictee.  Did you catch this?  "Webb's father, veterinarian Carlos Webb, said Tuesday that he blamed the News Sentinel and a $750,000 lawsuit filed against Happy Tails by the owners of Moxie, the deceased beagle, for the tragedy."

Your son treats dogs so badly they die after a visit to his facility.  He then decides to murder his wife in front of their young children.  Then he has the presence of mind to call a taxi to take him to the "pet spa" where he takes the time to write a suicide note and then shoots himself in the head. And you blame the newspaper for reporting the charges??  And the owners of the third dog that died for suing your son for killing thier family pet?  What kind of human are you? 

It seems the son was taught by example to have no personal responsibility.  If you get caught in a crime, it is the fault of who found out, not your own.  It is the victim's fault they are your victim.  Are you freaking kidding me, sir??  The father was upset because the family's lawyer said he was going to put the pet spa out of business.  As well it should be!  This man caused the death of four family pets by horrendous, cruel, inhumane treatment that caused them to suffer and die.  He should not have been allowed to remain in business!

I am sorry he has to suffer through the death of his son and daughter-in-law, really, and the fact that his son is a monster.  But I have to wonder how the son got that way...