I was having a sever allergy attack — my nose was itching so bad I wanted to put a steel wool scrubber on the end of a pencil and shove it up and down in my nostrils. What the hell did I breathe in to cause this attack? I took a Benedryl to overcome the histamines in my body, and 30 minutes later, I was barely able to keep my head upright.

I’ve heard that hospitals give Benedryl as a sleeping pill, and I believe it. An hour later, I’m nodding, nodding, nodding while seated at the computer. But the maddening itching and watery eyes were gone.

If I don’t quit this and just go to bed, I might wake up in the morning with my head on my keyboard. Man, that stuff is powerful. It’s like I’m in slow motion. My whole body wants to just stop.

Sorry for the weak post, today.

Sleep. Oh wonderful sleep. I will surrender.

Bullgrit

Hugs and kisses to you.

Everyone please wish my mom a happy birthday.

Bullgrit

Well, we met the new guy in our game group. We knew he was much younger than us (he’s 23, we’re 32, 38, 41, 51), and it shows. It’s kind of funny, really. He’s still finishing college, we’re all well into our careers. He’s young and single, we’re old and married.

Getting past that difference in our personalities, I was surprised how inexperienced he is with our preferred game — Dungeons & Dragons. He only started playing back this past summer. The rest of us have been playing for 7-30+ years.

I would have thought this lack of experience with the game could be a good thing — would let us mold him to our play styles. But in practice, for the first time he gamed with us, it proved a bit troublesome. We had to explain everything about the game, even how to do the most basic and simplest actions.

My jury’s still out on whether this guy would be a good addition to our group. He does seem interested in the game, and he involves himself in it, which is a very good thing for a player of RPGs, but the youth and inexperience is an obstacle for feeling comfortable with him.

Bullgrit

Back when Cowgrit and I were dating, well before either of us had any idea of marriage, we got a puppy together — a miniature schnauzer. I had never even heard of a miniature schnauzer before, and seeing one really didn’t turn me on to the breed. They’re not exactly a “man’s” dog. They’re not poodles, at least, but they’re not retrievers, either. They’re not even beagles.

But Cowgrit’s family had a min schnauzer when she was younger, and she liked the breed. I eventually warmed to the idea of a small dog (we both lived in small apartments, at the time), plus, they don’t shed fur — a benefit for someone who didn’t like to clean and vacuum regularly anyway.

We got the puppy — 10 weeks old — and I immediately fell in love with her. And she absolutely adored me, too. We named her Geordi. (We were both Star Trek:the Next Generation fans.)

Geordi liked to snuggle up with Cowgrit, but she liked to play with me. At the time, we were both in college, and lived just off campus. I’d take Geordi walking through and around campus often. She was so well behaved, and we trained her so well, that I usually didn’t have to keep a leash on her. She’d always stay near me on our treks.

Oh man, I loved that little dog. We had so much fun together. Maybe I’ll tell you about some of our adventures in a later post.

She was about 11 years old when our first child was born. She was already slowing down by then, and by the time our second child was born, she was suffering from sever arthritis. At 15 years old, she was just pathetic. She was in always in pain and just couldn’t hardly get around anymore.

She died before our second child was a year old. Calfgrit8 says he remembers her, but it must be only vaguely, because he wasn’t old enough, and she was too old for them to really play together. Calgrit4 doesn’t remember her at all.

Cowgrit and I have discussed getting a new dog for a couple of years, now — pretty much since about a year after Geordi died. But adding more responsibility to our already busy life just didn’t seem like a good idea. In fact, I still have doubts about the idea, but I’ve given in to how much Cowgrit wants another miniature schnauzer.

I remember how much fun I had with Geordi, and I can imagine how much fun our two boys could have with a similar dog in the house and yard. We already have a fenced in back yard (I put up the fence for Geordi), and we already know all about taking care of a miniature schnauzer.

So now Cowgrit is checking out local breeders. We’re looking for puppies born now, so they’ll be ready to adopt in the spring — no one wants to have to take a puppy outside in the winter climate.

I think this will be a good friend and experience for our boys, but I’ve got to admit that I’m worried about adding even more responsibility to our lives. If we can get a dog very similar to Geordi — personality, intelligence, energy, and loves me to death — I think this could be fun, just like the first time.

Bullgrit