So, I came home after we got the news, after spending the rest of the planned Christmas vacation with my folks and brothers. And talking to toxicfur online and by phone, a lot.

It's so good she can be there, doing whatever needs doing, but mostly just being there, with her mama, chatting about whatever, and doing the little things to make her more comfortable.

Here, I bailed out the dog and the car, worked a couple days, and checked out for another "vacation". I'm off to NC tomorrow afternoon, hoping I can be somewhat more help up close and personal.

One of toxicfur's cow-orkers took the dog. They're dog people, who decided not to get another one after the kids left home and the last dog died. They wanted to do something concrete, and this is something really useful that they can do well. So I dropped him off there about sunset. He had a grand time sniffing everything in the yard, playing fetch (including letting go of the ball when he got back, which he won't do for us, at all). She was going to take him out walking after I left. It's sad, driving away leaving my buddy with somebody who's not us. But he'll be in good hands.

So tomorrow, leave out lotsa food for the cat; the bowl will be refilled in a few days by a friend and cow-orker of mine. Pack suitcase, and off we go. Not knowing what'll be at the other end, how long things will take, or much of anything else. Just hoping to be useful and supportive, somehow.

We may rent a car and drive back, in a week or two. We've done that drive twice before. Should be nice, not having a moving truck along. We're inheriting the dog, a 6.5 year old Jack Russell terrier. I hope she doesn't run roughshod over us. She's a good dog, to be sure, but very spoiled, and very energetic. Not nearly so much now that she's middle-aged, but still. And very much the dominant dog, so I guess she'll fit into the family well; Rocky's very submissive, and the cat can take care of himself.

I've agreed to return for the spring term, singing with Coro Stella Maris. I'm doing this mostly for the music: the Byrd Mass for Four voices, and the Palestrina mass (and motet) Veni Sponsa Christi, with an assortment of motets, mostly by Palestrina (and one of Josquin des Prez). I hope it's not too horrible, interacting with the director. At least the music's good.

Well, enough. More later.