It is with teary eye that I must report the passing of my beloved Baby Jane. She died peacefully in her sleep yesterday afternoon. She has been my companion for 22 years and a great source of entertainment.

When she was allowed to roam and play outside she was always bringing home presents, such as a dead field mouse or a dead garter snake. I remember the time she came home with a puncture hole between her shoulder blades. We doctored her and it healed without a problem. She had a cute little way of talking it sounded like she was saying "Now" all the time.

As she got older she was kept inside. Her eyesight was failing. She was arthritic. I believe she was getting alzheimers by the way she would come into the room, pause for quite a while, then turn around as though she forgot what she came into the room to do. She liked to cuddle when she was younger but crabby about it when she got older.

I know I didn't say much about T. Tom's (we had him 18 years) passage in April, but he was such a different soul. He was timid, had never gone outside, not much of a cuddler, but still had a personality of his own. He was the one who "reminded us" to take our meds, especially Steve. Baby Jane and I both missed him. She would look for him.

This has been a rough year or so. We lost Steve in August 2009, T. Tom in April 2010, and Baby Jane in July 2010. I miss them all.

Steve is in Forest Lawn, T. Tom is in the back yard, and Baby Jane will be in the front yard flower bed. May they rest in peace.

It's a fairly quiet day so far. Kent was at work from 6:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. and is now at home. Brian is here with us and may spend the night again. Heather is at work right now. Her hours today are noon to 6:00 p.m.

On a more sober note: Baby Jane is worse. We did not expect her to make it through the night but she did. I tried to feed her this morning with an eyedropper, but her mouth is clenched so tight I couldn't get the eyedropper in very far. Every now and then she sort of stretches and her breathing is very shallow. Everyone here checks on her every time they pass her. She has had a long life and she has arthritis and a cateract in her right eye. I don't think her hearing is all that good either and at times she acts like she has alzheimers. I marvel at her survival skills all these years. For a 21 year old cat she has lived a full life as an outside and inside cat. As she aged she was kept inside.

Heather picked up Brian a day early and he is with us tonight and tomorrow night.

Today Heather, Brian, Kent and I went to the Ohio State Fair for a couple of hours. We couldn't stay too long since Kent had to go to work at noon and Heather has orientation for her new PT job. The rain held off and we did quite a bit of walking around. It's just Brian and I here at the moment.

Baby Jane (our cat) is having a rough day today. She's puked three times. First in the kitchen, shortly after she ate, then this afternoon on Heather's side of the bed, and Brian just told me she threw up in the living room. I will be getting off here to put the bedding into the drier and to clean up the new mess.

Don't think I'll be back today.

Sunday Heather and I went over to Stephanie's to give her the Serenity Prayer plaque that was her father's. It had been hanging in the living room on the wall next to the front door for many, many, years. We had a nice visit and Heather played with the cats.

Monday I made tuna and macaroni salad for our meals for the next couple of days. Kent has been working some strange schedules and is working at this very moment. Heather will start a part-time job for our local KMart on Thursday. Yay!

Tomorrow Heather and I (and possibly Kent if he doesn't have to work) plan on going to opening day of the Ohio State Fair. It's the cheapest day to get in.

Now a news flash: I sort of, kind of, have Skype capability! I can see you, hear you, and talk to you, but you can't see me. I don't have a camera at the moment. My Skype name available via email.

Well now, I have been a slouch on posting here...shame on me.

Thursday (July 15) - Did nothing special. Changed the bedding on my bed, did some paper shredding, and worked on a novel.

Friday (July 16) - Had to fast overnight for my yearly physical this morning. Finally got to eat at lunch time. Will get results of the tests she took next week.

Saturday (July 17) - Did my laundry and made a vat of potato salad for Brian's birthday cookout at his other grandparents.

Sunday (July 18) - Went to the cookout and had a nice time. Heather and Kent wanted me to make more potato salad, so when we got home I made another vat of potato salad. (Vat equals 12 potatoes and two large bowls when done.)

Monday (July 19) - Nothing special today. Played on the computer.

Tuesday (July 20) - Did some yard work before it got too hot. Worked on my family history.

Wednesday (July 21) - Worked on a manuscript and collected trash, it is Wednesday after all.

Thursday (July 22) - Kent treated us to dinner. We had Donatos pizza. Brian was with us for his date day with Mom. Then we went to WalMart so Kent could buy some work shoes. After that we drove Kent to Springfield to spend a day plus some time with a friend of his.

Friday (July 23) - Had my results from my physical to share with my nurse (insurance related). My cholestorol is up, so we're monitoring it. My med was changed by my cardiologist and I'd only been on it two weeks. My thyroid was off so the doctor upped my dosage from 50 mcg to 75 mcg. Glucose was okay. Weight is up eleven pounds. After that conversation I worked on my manuscript.

Today (July 24) - I was by myself all day. That was very different. Heather was out setting up for a concert of the Pops and Kent was still in Springfield. Heather picked him up a 3:30 or there abouts and he got home in time to take a quick shower and get to work. He's working right now and Heather is at the Pops concert. I worked on my family history most of the day.

Spent most of the day yesterday getting a query letter, synopsis, and the first three chapters in the shape this new publisher wanted them in, then I sent it off. Now I have to wait 6 to 12 weeks before I should hear back from them. I'm still getting the manuscript itself all "tightened up".

I just finished working on the manuscript, but I'm not done yet. Kent is working. Heather had a follow up meeting on a job and is now in her Wednesday meetings. She thinks she'll be home around eight and Kent works until ten.

Today is trash day I've gathered some of it and plan to do the rest this evening. Someone can carry it out to the curb for me.

Catch up time again.

Saturday: We (Heather, Mark, and I) went to Sharon Woods for a tram ride and a walk through the park to the pond. We saw flotillas of ducks and geese. Kent was at work. We had invited Mark to stay for dinner since he and Heather had plans for the evening. They were working at the Picnic with the Pops presentation. I didn't get laundry done or much of anything else.

Sunday: Kent went to work. His hours are early (6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.), so most of the time we all get up at 5:30. I am ready for a nap about the time he is getting home from work. I worked on the manuscript that I am getting ready for peddling to another publisher.

Today: I had a real reason for getting up early today besides Kent and Heather getting up. Monday I take a pill for osteoporois. You have to do it on an empty stomach, sit or walk around for at least an hour and drink 8 ounces or more of water. Then I have another pill that must be taken on an empty stomach every day for my thyroid, so an hour after the first pill I take this one. Around nine I take the rest of my morning pills that have to be taken with food.

I worked some more on my manuscript. It's just about ready to throw out there to a publisher.
Heather had a job interview this afternoon. She thinks she'll be hired.

Heather is with some friends of hers for dinner and a jam session. A mutual friend had come to town from Michigan. Kent is home from work and has tomorrow off. Maybe we can sleep in to 7:00 a.m.