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Not really SAD, but

A lot of people are affected with Seasonal Affective Disorder in Wisconsin.  We have many, many days without sun during the winter months.  This year, we've had a string of days with heavy fog and unseasonably warm temperatures in the 30's and 40's.   Personally, I can't claim that I've ever really felt the effects of SAD, but this year, knowing that we are likely moving west later next year, I've been very impatient and annoyed with Wisconsin weather.   Sun trying to fight through the clouds It hasn't helped that my daily routine involves looking at the weather in Fort Collins and Tucson.  Their weather has been spectacularly sunny and more pleasant this time of year.   So, I haven't been blogging much because not much is going on. I've substituted indoor pickleball for hiking. The trails have been muddy and not much fun. For Christmas, we had my mother, Julia's brother and Allie here.  I went and retrieved my mother from Cedar Rapids a...
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New Canine Companion


Towards the end of October, my son Justin called and said, “Dad, I want Elvis back.”  This summer, Justin decided to go to his summer transition semester without Elvis.  He made the same decision about the fall semester.  Clearly, however, he began missing Elvis.  Many of the students at Justin’s college go home on the weekends, and Elvis is a great compa-nion.  Plus, as a service dog, he can do some handy stuff for someone in a power wheelchair. Picking things up and delivering them is Elvis’ specialty.

So, of course, I said, “yes, when were you thinking?”  Justin replied, “Now, or asap.”  Julia, Elvis and I were in Utah, so “now” wasn’t practical.  However, I delivered Elvis back to his boy right after I returned from my trip out West.  Elvis has been with Justin ever since. Our concerns about Elvis fitting in at college and having Justin’s caregivers do the daily doggie chores have so far been misplaced.   That isn’t to say there won’t be challenges.  Justin managed to break his leg during the fall semester (fell out of his power wheelchair), and had one other trip in the middle of the night by ambulance.  Still, within the limitations of a young adult with Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy, Justin seems to be  managing things. He and Elvis will return home for a month at semester break. My daughter Allie will take over his caregiving responsibilities to earn a few extra bucks for a car that she is saving up for.

With Julia at work, the kids at college,and no dog at home, the empty nest has been too quiet, even for an introvert and silence-lover like myself.  I’ve been on the hunt for a new dog to hike and sit by the fire with.  Julia requested a smaller dog this time and a female.  She also didn’t want a purebred or a puppy and preferred a rescue or humane society dog.  Some of those criteria would not have been mine, but I could live with those guidelines.  This week, we narrowed the search down to Callie, a mix of Blue Heeler and Border Collie, sometimes referred to as a Border Heeler.

Callie was found as a stray in Indiana, spent some time in an Indiana shelter, and was rescued by a dog trainer in Wisconsin with Indiana connections.  She comes to us with basic skills and a sweet disposition.  I think she’ll fit right in.


Callie is about a year old, loves to hike, and was looking for a forever home.  Seems like a perfect match.
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