Where to start?

Thanks for your comments - I think. Why are you all still posting anonymously? It's not like this blog is popular and everyone will know who you are - no-one will know, you're safe here. Post away - be brave - identify yourself!

So, just got back from an animal health conference. Heard lots of good speakers. But, as usual, ask two experts for their opinions and you'll get three answers. No kidding. I went to two lectures on the Canine Influenza virus given by two different experts and their info couldn't have diverged more. One said it's a huge problem. The other said no problem. One said it primarily infects dogs housed in outdoor kennels, like racing greyhounds in the south. The other said it is really only a concern for dogs housed indoors where they are within 20 feet of other dogs.

Of course, I was worried about poor Hairy (you may know him as Little Shit) the whole time. He was being kenneled with other dogs while I was away. Would he get the Canine Influenza virus? Was he kept within 20 feet of the other boarding dogs? Probably. He's so little and when you pet him, his small size is made more obvious when you can feel how small his little bones are. His fluffy coat makes him look bigger than he is, and his Big Dog 'Tude makes him seem bigger too. But the guy at the kennel made the right call, when he said he has the Napoleon Complex of Dogs, aka, Little Man Syndrome. Evidently, little Hairy wanted to take on all the big dogs at the kennel.

But the best thing and the oddest thing at the conference were some key chains one of the vendors was handing out. They were little soft plastic dogs, that when you squeeze them some brown goo pokes out of their rear ends. I had to get two, for Poopers, you know! GROSS.

The weather is getting cold. In fact they had to close one of the major streets in the city today because of ice build up! So of course this made me worry about the house, and the pipes, and frozen pipes, and nightmares. Of course the plumber is working on the water lines so all of the radiators have been drained. I told them to get them working ASAP!

The new fence is up at the house now, too! Yeah! Hairy had a chance to run around and explore last weekend. And he didn't jump out! The fence is 4 ft high. But I think he has springs in his legs and he could easily jump over if he decided to try.

I almost forgot! I ran in the 5k run on the grass course the other weekend. I didn't meet my time goal, but it was fun, and the weather was perfect. I will definitely run on that course again.

Toto toilets anyone? Does anyone have Toto toilets? I could tell you so much, but I'll try to keep it short. First of all, let me tell you, evidently they are the HOT thing to have in your bathroom now. You can get the eco friendly dual flush type (one for #1, another button for #2), or the Drake or the Neorest with a washlet, etc, etc. Well, evidently this is a Japanese company. The Dual Flush toilet is made in China. (Thank you Terry for the warnings on the dual flushing toilets!!!) The Drake's bowl is made in Vietnam and the tanks are made in Mexico. I bought one of the Dual Flushing toilets for the downstairs bath with an ADA height seat (higher than usual), and two Drakes for upstairs. One of the Drakes (note: both had the same model number) had a sanagloss finish according to the sticker label, and the other didn't. I returned the one that didn't have the sanagloss. Don't want any skid marks, if you know what I mean, and the sanagloss finish is supposed to prevent that.

Ok, enough toilet talk. I suspect tiles will be next. What colors would you use in your high traffic entry/mudroom? Bathroom floors and walls? Sun room? Please let me know your opinions of ceramic, porcelain, stone, etc! ASAP!

Thank you!