In answer to Kate's questions

Sorry about being so remiss on the posting lately. I have been having a grad school related stress spiral and feeling rather blue. But I am determined to bounce back and get this grad school monkey off my back.

My hand is doing much better although I still have to keep it bandaged up. I left it unbandaged for about 10 minutes yesterday and managed to bump it into something and start it bleeding a little and hurting more. It was a necessary reminder that it is not healed completely and I had better keep protecting it. But all in all it should be fine with minimal to no scarring. Most of the hand looks normal again and the thumb is getting there. It is just the spot below my bottom knuckle that had the 3rd degree burns that is the real problem. Lesson learned, hopefully.

Asta is also doing much better. She has a check-up with the vet on Wednesday, one day into the Obama presidency. I am thinking this is good luck. She can walk, very gingerly, on the leg again and almost all the scars are covered up by her hair. We weren't sure it would all grow back again but except for a few spots on the knee she is back to her usual sleek black self. We went for our first walk yesterday. It was a very short one, just around one block but she did very well and was very happy about it all. We will try again later today. It did tire her out. She sat down in the grass of our yard as soon as we reached home.

The good news is that her convalescence has resulted in a lasting friendship with Weese. Turns out Weese was willing to overlook the whole other species thing in favor of the gender politics. Weese may like Cab all right but she is pretty sure you can't trust men, except for my dad, and Matt, but mostly my Dad. He gives her fresh seafood and lots of love so he is definitely worth the love in her eyes. But now Weese and Asta spend a few hours each day sitting outside on the back porch. I don't have to worry about Weese wandering off becasue Asta herds her back onto the porch as soon as she so much as thinks about exploring further. It works for all of us. Weese gets to sun herself. Asta has a new best friend and I have the cat/dog friendship I always hoped for. I have always been a sucker for those calenders with the pictures of the kittens and puppies hanging out together. I will take some pictures of my own soon but so far it has been difficult. Both Weese and Asta come running up to the camera as soon as I pull it out and the pictures have all turned out blurry and too close.

Guarding against the villains

So I am in San Antonio for a few days visiting with Molly and Jerry. Mom and Dad are arriving later today so that we can all go to Molly's swearing in ceremony tomorrow morning at the Texas Supreme Court. I spent yesterday with Molly volunteering at the First San Antonio Rock & Roll Marathon. We worked at mile 19 from 5:30 in the morning until just past 1:30. But we will blog about that later.

I just felt the need to blog about the crazy night visitors that Molly and Jerry had last night. They slept through the whole thing but I was in the front room and neither Asta nor I nor Nola could sleep through these crazy people. Someone pulled into the driveway around 1:30 and started getting in and out of their car over and over again. Then they came up to the front door and started banging on it. Asta went crazy and started barking. She may be small but she sounds really big from the other side of a closed door. Clearly she got her bark from the lab side of her family tree. So after Asta chases them off I hear them get back in their car and I glance out the window and see them weaving off down the street. I think, maybe they are drunk or high and had the wrong house. Okay, glad Asta was here and Asta and I head back to bed. Half an hour later they come back and start the entire routine over again only this time they use the doorbell. This time both Nola and Asta both go crazy and I expect Molly and Jerry to come flying out to see what is happening. But as I learned this morning, they slept through the whole thing and only woke up to hear Nola barking. They figured he was just being annoying and made him stop barking and go back to his crate. Asta kept up her barking until the car drove off again. She likes to protect me from the villains. Apparently she is very good at it. They didn't return for a third visit and for that I am glad but I am still somewhat freaked out, and not only because Molly and Jerry could sleep through such a visit. At least they have Nola and next time they say they'll trust his nighttime barking and let it continue. After all, when Asta and I go home, someone will have to guard against the villains.

Asta Arrives

So as some of you may know, the Neck family has recently welcomed the arrival of a new canine member. Oso is delighted at the chance to shape a mini-me, although he remains discouraged at the new arrival's enjoyment of rain. He remains hopeful that she will eventually understand how very scary it really is.

Sorry about the delay in the photos, but post-wedding my camera went missing. We eventually gave up looking and just used Betsy's.


We came home one day and John was sleeping in the hammock with Oso and Asta. He said the hammock didn't count as furniture because it swings, thereby making it a toy. He says Asta is allowed to play with toys even if she isn't allowed on furniture. His verdict has stood. Who are we to argue with such rock solid logic?


Asta is convinced that Gomez is her 2nd best friend, after Oso of course. Gomez remains unconvinced, but he does let Asta lick his face. Asta is still working her charm on Weese and Cab. They are less easy going then Gomez, although in truth, they too have been rather chill about the new arrival.



We had a health scare this weekend and almost lost Asta. Molly's vet saved the day. That brings his tally to 3 Neck pets saved. We love him. Asta is doing great now and we think she will be okay. Well wishes are still appreciated, however.