Six Months Ago . . .

. . . A wreck happened.

That was three days before Christmas in Arizona and it effectively put Newsie's Lucid Moments on hold.

Now it's time for revival of this periodic compendium of words as Spring draws to a close to be replaced by Summer.

Chores Piled Up

The "to do" agenda grows daily with little things that were overshadowed by major chores but they are getting done one by one.

Our big helpers, Barbara and Terry, spent lots of time working at our house while we were in Arizona, forced to remain there by a Christmastime auto wreck until Laby B's many injuries were healing.

When we'd finally got back to Hobbs we found the place spick and span- floors cleaned and polished, carpets cleaned, the potties sanitized, clothes washed and ironed, the larder well stocked with fresh food and the refrigerators and freezers loaded to the hilt.

It was Easter weekend when we finally arrived home, chauffeured by Charlie and Jeanie, who also contributed more stuff to the larder, followed by Mary and Jeff wwith more goodies which, all added to the larder filling by Barbara and Terry, provided enough for weeks to come.

By surprise a new computer was installed by Terry, updating one several years old and which I am gradually re-learning but I have glitches yet to iron out.

Bare with me.

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Tidbits of Interest

BABY IN ARMS

SPOTS WILDFIRE,

SAVES HIS HOME

It's hard to believe but this weeek in my community where nearly a dozen wildfires have consumed thousands of acres and a least one house, a babe in his mother's arms alerted her to a fire creeping up on their home.

Mama and her two sons were playing peek-a-boo when the baby stopped and just kept gazing out a window and making a funny face. Mama looked and saw flames coming through a field about 40 feet from the house.

Quickly firefighters were called and in short order controlled and then extinguished the fire but not before it burned a nearby abandoned house and a vehicle. Nobody got hurt.

I've just discovered, with Nurse Kori's assistance the way to publish my musings on this blog but there's one more glitch to solve - adding to a saved draft and making corrections before the page disappears. Just bare with me folks, I'm working on it this very minute and maybe I've got it.

There have been many items of tragedy turning up in the recent spate of tornados in Alabama and Missouri but one with good news caught my eye this weekend.

A young dog in Tuscaloosa took refuge in the corner of a barn when the howling wind invaded his usually peaceful territory. But to his dismay the canine went with the barn when the fury blew it to bits and carried the debris and the dog for miles.

The dog flew to who knows where before landing. His owners, after much searching, gave up and resigned themselves to the knowledge their pet had been killed.

But wait! Three weeks went by and suddenly the dog's owners, visiting the ruins of what was left of their home, found on the morning of May 20, their beloved pet sprawled on the front porch.

The canine was half dead looking, fur torn away and his two rear legs broken. From "who knows where" the pet had laborously crawled for three weeks on those broken legs to the place he called home. He's recovering with tender care.

Browsing the Internet a few nights ago I ran across a post by someone who sounded familiar although no name was given. I posted a note since there was an address of sorts.

Soon from Florida came a reply, from a man with whom I had previously corresponded but had forgotten because of the six months my blog had been on hold because of a wreck in another state at Christmastime.

While I was happy to hear again from him, I was made unhappy to learn from his post that two ex-news people I had worked with in Massachusetts had passed away from cancer. This news solved a question in my mind "why hasn't Glenn answered my questions I sent last week."

My mind, fingers and new computer have had enough workout for tonight but I'll be back again soon.

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Pinky and the Bobcat Chase

You've read about our little Chihuahua, Pinky, in the past (but not recently because we've been incapacitated sincc last November) so it's time to bring ya'll up to date on the doing of that litle gal.

PINKY AND THE BOBCAT

During the past few months we've been holed up at the foot of Thunder Mountain in Arizona, an area frequented by javelinas, mourning doves, quail, bobcats and others.

And of course ya'll know little dogs have to go outside the house on occasion to relieve themselves.

Came this one night Pinky asked to go out and as she did she met a huge (for her) black animal outside the front door.

She barked and the animal began to run and so did Pinky, chasing that huge thing from the yead into a neighbor's yad and then down the adjacent street.

A few days later the animal, which by then we'd determined was a bobcat, turned up again, this time in daylight, as Pinky wen out for her daily pee and poop.

The two came face to face under a nearby tree and stared at each other. As if to say "I don't want to tangle with this little gal again, the bobcat turned and ambled away into the neighbor's yard again.

Days later the local newspaper's photogapher pictured the bobcat a few blocks away. We figured the animal had to detour in a long semi-circle to reach tha area from where Pinky had accosted it.

PINKY AND THE NEWSPAPER

As previously mentioned Pinky, like other dogs, has now and then to get out to relieve herself. But saying to her "let's go out" will not budge her some of the time.

Now back home in New Mexico she has adopted a phrase which early in the morning she likes, answering and acting quickly when I say to her "let's go get the paper."

PINKY ON A WINDY MORNING

Many a morn here it is very windy and after getting the paper and doing her chores, Pinky beats me back to the bedroom, jumps onto the bed and wakes Lady B in the process of burrowing under the warm bed covers.

There are mornings, too, when she knows the wind is howling and balks at a trip to get the paper, causing me to carry her. As I set her down on the ground and order her to do her chores, Pinky turns her head upward to stare at me as if asking " you expect me to stay out here in this wind?"

PINKY AND HER FOOD

Pinky is a fussy eater, a trait probably caused by her former owner. She came to us after her owner's demise. Lady C always fed Pinky hot cooked meals!

It has taken years to break that habit and finally we've found one or two brands of canned dog food she will eat - when she is hungry enough. She now also likes vanilla cookies, potato chips and an ocasional dish of pasta.

NOW IF SPELLCHECK WORKS . . .

I can publish this blog as I get back into the writing business after my six months hiatus.

It didn't work had to correct manually.

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