Long time no post! Guess I have a bit of catching up to do here.

First news is that I have a new kitten. I took Dylan to the vet back in mid June for a re-check. He's doing very well. While I was there the vet mentioned that 3 female kittens had been abandoned on their doorstep and needed a home. My big mistake was in asking to see them. Of course I went home with one. She is now 10 weeks old and adorable as only a kitten can be. Her name is Phoebe Buffay after the character on Friends because the name suits her.

I returned home yesterday afternoon after spending the week in northern West Virginia helping my parents prepare for their move. They are leaving the house we more or less grew up in after 31 years and are moving to a more manageable one story house across town. Dad and I did a lot of painting in the new place and took several loads of miscellaneous things over. The movers will do the official move this Wednesday and then Mom and Dad have until July 31 to clear out anything left. It's an emotional time and it was strange to drive away Saturday morning knowing I would never again return "home."

Since there is NO WAY the furniture in a 3 story house could possibly ever fit into a one story house my sisters and I have all taken a few things. I drove back with a U-Haul trailer attached to the truck and now have to find a place for the "new" furniture! In the meantime the cats are making themselves at home . . .

I had an opportunity to drive to Cleveland for the day on Thursday and was able to see my youngest sister for the first time in 2 1/2 years and also meet the nephew who was born just a few weeks before I left for Japan. Jacob is 18 months old now and he and his brother John are delightful. I got to also tour the vet clinic my sister and brother-in-law Paul own and I only wish I lived close enough that they could be my vets!