I just watched "Big Fish" again.  Caron had never seen it before.  He enjoyed it, but said it was emotionally draining.  I agree.  So, it's been awhile since I've last blogged.  I'd say that I'm sorry, but I'm feeling just a bit guilty...that's all.  Guilt rather than sorrow.  There's my life with my parents, in a nutshell.  Here's the latest update, everyone's healthy, I still have the excellent job, Caron made it through his fall semester with good grades (although he doesn't think so...typical), things are still going well between Caron and I, and between Leo and his fiance, they've chosen a wedding day, cats are still healthy, I think.  I'm not sure what else is in store here.  Caron has been talking more seriously about getting married (to me, that is).  It's been quite a surprise for me, because as of a few months ago, I didn't think that he'd ever want to get married.  So, I worked on not wanting to be married.  And then he goes and changes his mind.  Men.  I'm not sure what other comment could be more appropriate.

Here's a new story for you.  In 1997, I graduated from college (don't get all wrapped up in figuring out how old I am, I didn't go right from high school to college).  That summer, I gave my friend Mort a ride up north to the trailhead of a famous walking trail.  It was in a way out place, far from even a small town.  We couldn't drive to the trailhead, we had to park the car at the end of a semi-private dirt road and walk up.  I wanted to see him off at the trailhead, so I walked up the dirtroad with him.  It was a big mistake.  We had no problems walking up the road.  I gave him a hug and watched him walk off into the distance, down into the forest.  Then I turned and walked back down the dirt road.  About a mile down the road, with a mile more to go, I came upon four houses side-by-side.  There was nothing interesting or significant about them, and earlier we had passed them with no notice.  But on my way back, there were three large agressive dogs waiting for me to pass by.  At first, I had no fear, they were just barking and trying to get close to me.  I talked to them friendly like, until it was apparent that no one from the houses was going to come out, and that the dogs were not going to let me pass.  I bent down quickly to pick up some rocks and one of the barking dogs ran at me, snapping.  I jumped up and charged him, yelling and screaming at him.  He began a quick retreat and then I started throwing the few rocks that I could grab.  I grew up around horses and other agressive farm animals.  I knew how to intimidate domesticated animals.  The three dogs started to circle me, looking for a way to get behind me and rush me when I wasn't looking.  I made my way slowly over to a large branch that had fallen in the road and picked it up, again getting charged by the dogs.  They were getting bolder and two charged me the second time.  I quickly swung the branch at them and warded them off.  Then I slowly backed my way down the road, always keeping all three dogs in sight.  They followed me for a while down the road, but then eventually realized that I wasn't going to run, or put down the large branch and that they weren't going to get a piece of me.  It's a good thing that I didn't try to run, and that I did know how to be agressive, because otherwise, I could have been killed.  How's that for a nice cheery story on the first weekend of the new year?  That Big Fish movie got me thinking about all the stories that I have in my life.  I've got to get writing again.  But it's not going to happen anytime soon...I'm going to take an accounting course for my job.  Three credits in five months.  Oh.  Joy.