Finally

EATHER is actually a bit better for now,

But it remains to be seen what Ida will bring up my way midweek or sooner...today its sunny and only 87  I actually went out did my morning chores and did not sweat...well not a complete wash out I did get one bead on my upper lip...picked the first ripe tomato on my HUGE roaming bush...

Yesterday I went on my first official bird outing since I don't know when...I even made a list for ebird, and I took the advice of the lady who replied to my complaint of the over zealous reviewer and marked my list unsearchable.  This way I know I won't have to deal with Mr Give me Break, but unfortunately my sis won't be able to see my lists which is something we have always shared...I plan to unlock my account when I get to full time birding if I do. 

I will be 68 in about 30 days so life is changing for me.  

I still have that wanderlust in me, but when I think of say going to British  Columbia (which I had planned to do) in the spring, I think of how tiring all that driving would be.  That is not my normal way of thinking so something has changed.   I never gave a second thought on leaving for a trip that I would easily cover 8,000, or 10,000 miles...but now I do.  I think Im doing the wrong thing and looking at the WHOLE picture instead of breaking it down mile by mile...

...my old dogs play a key role in this thinking.  My Floss can barely get up and down the back steps I can't imagine making life harder for her by forcing her into a long tiring and confining road trip.  They both do very well off leash but OTHER dogs are not under my control and they could easily become the prey of a pitt bull who is also off leash or worse yet under the control of 3 kids ages 5, 6, and 7.  Come on parents, Really?? I have come up against this a pittbull pulling 3 kids around a campground doing what ever the  hell he wants to do.

I think the only way I may be able to feel good about it is if I did no interstate travel...and just mapped one little town to the next...Rest areas is where I would run into unruly dogs and campgrounds too of course.  That has happened.  I would have my dogs who listen to me and would NOT run amuck if I say "Come here" they do...no exceptions.  BUT other dogs are not that well behaved.  I have a plan each time Im in a rest area I leash them up walk them to the further away  corner  away from everyone and let them off leash into the corner while I stand sentinel covering the entrance to that corner.  YES I could walk them around till they finally pee and that would take all day...off leash they pee right away because they are marking with their scent.   When I unsnap the leash I say "go pee" they know what that means after years of communication between us, so they do...and then I let them walk a little more watching their behavior if the tail is up they need to do #2, so I allow them the time to sniff out a spot, and once they are done I leash them back up and then pick up after them...It's a perfect plan as long as another dog doesn't come running over to attack...so it's always an iffy thing.

Casey I could not allow to be off leash he was not like my girls he did not listen to me and he was senile so he would not obey any commands I walked him miles hoping for him to do this business so I could go to sleep or get my breakfast...I miss that little guy but he was not as easy to travel with as it seemed yes he was small and he slept a lot but he was nocturnal.  I drove all day he slept then when we hit camp Im exhausted and he wants to walk, and walk, and walk...Finally I decided he would go out at 9 and after that he was put to bed.  

Anyways I was daydreaming of a road trip today...