I've been meaning to link to this for a while, as an update to this post. My story (which is slightly more polished than my post here, and includes a picture) is message #2069. (Note, the linked site is not for the squeamish.)

Last night we watched "De-Lovely." It was an interesting movie, especially if you like musicals and the 1920s/30s/40s genre of music. But it left me feeling the same way as I did after viewing "Pollack." If anything, it made me appreciate the work of the artist less, not more, after knowing about his life. Not that I care about the personal lives of famous people that much, but I have a really hard time admiring people from those times who enjoyed every advantage and then chose to live dishonestly, recklessly, or on the fringe, when other people who were just as worthy had to risk everything to immigrate here, or were born poor and didn't get the chance to go beyond eighth grade. Both were undoubtedly talented, but being talented is not an excuse. If they weren't born rich they wouldn't have been able to pull it off and probably never would have been famous in the first place. They would have been toiling in a factory or on a farm, and worrying about how the kids would get enough to eat, not sipping mixed drinks and singing ditties with pinkies in the air. But then Hollywood biographies are always suspect. How much is really true anyway? And does the worship that I'm sure many actors feel for greats from the entertainment business color the way the story is presented?

More good news on the large parcel.

My first class is August 30. I am getting ready. I have been constantly working this summer, and it has been very hot, so I am not upset to have to return to campus. We are working out the details for how we will care for Rudy on the two days per week when I cannot be here. The specialist said he would not live through the month, but actually, using the holistic methods and lots of TLC, he is doing pretty well and I don't think that prediction will be true. At least I hope not. Bob was coming back right after work in the Spring to check on him, so this Fall he will do that again, and also make a trip at lunch to feed him. His appetite isn't great so we have to feed him many times a day to be sure he gets enough.

Long time since my last post...I have been very, very busy (summer session grades and the never ending book), and also exhausted. Rudy has been diagnosed with kidney cancer (which explains the blood in his urine since January), his prognosis is not good, and I haven't felt like writing here. It is a long story, but after cancelling exploratory surgery at our regular vet, and a trip to a veterinary internist, we have landed at a holistic vet. So far, so good; he seems more comfortable and is still obsessed with going for walks on his leash. Please have a good thought for Rudy, the best dog I have ever had.

On another subject, some good news. We win again!