Ha ha! This morning was searching an old folder on a hard disk, not finding it...but I came across this poem I wrote, years ago, from the point of view of a certain dog:

Second and First

Light comes. 

First Bird has yet to call at the waiting dawn, for dark still hangs in the air. 

Just beyond the coarse wood stake fence, fresh cat reeks, pungent wet in the dust. 

And yes, through the faintly graying quiet comes the careful…

Wrapping up the 2014 financial debacle, my English-major math revealed that this disastrous year racked up $9,723 in unplanned and "extraordinary" expenditures. Part of that was...hang onto your hat...TWO THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SIX DOLLARS for Ruby the Corgi Pup. And fifty-one cents.

Holeeee mackerel! This is not my first pup, and so yes, I do know that puppies are expensive. But is this ridiculous or not?

Part of it piled up when she got a series of…