I can't believe it's been so long since I posted here. I'm so focused on getting by minute-to-minute lately, days go by without me noticing. I guess a month or two went by without me noticing either.

I'm feeling more comfortable being a dog owner. I don't know if it's just because Duchess is a little older (and sleeps through the night just fine, thank goodness) or if I'm really doing an okay job of training her to fit into my life, instead of the other way around. At any rate, it looks like I'll be keeping her... well, for a while anyway. This dog ownership thing feels possible day-to-day, but when I think about doing it for the next 14 years I start having another panic attack. So like I said, we take things one at a time and try to get things done as they come.

It sure helps that Duchess continues to be unbearably cute. Also it helps that I've had some more work come in and next week I should finally be paid the full amount for a job I did back in August. Ain't freelancing fun?

Oh, just to clarify... this picture is from Halloween. I'm not in the habit of putting clothes on her generally, except her winter coat for when it's -7F on our daily walks. Anyway, that's where the confused, slightly freaked out look comes from. That and the witch's hat I was wearing at the time the photo was taken.