progress report

Life here in Port Credit continues to feel more like real life, and less like some strange role-play game. It's remarkably easy to adjust to more comfort and more convenience: the house, the car, the washer-dryer, the dishwasher.

Allan has been temping three or four days each week at a downtown law firm. They are - of course - wowed by his performance. Yesterday he had a second interview for a permanent position of the kind we're hoping for him - three long days with odd hours. This spot would be Friday, Saturday and Sunday, about 2 pm to 1 am. It's at one of the biggest Canadian firms, so the job comes with good benefits, like dental and prescription coverage (Americans may not realize those are not covered under the provincial health plans), a transportation allowance, and a fair amount of paid time off. We're waiting to see if they make him an offer.

My second Ancient Civilizations book assignment still hasn't started - it was supposed to begin in early or mid September! But my editor assures me the book is mine, and that's all that matters. I've started to write my next Kids On Wheels assignment, and hope to get that out of the way before the grueling book deadlines begin.

I'm purposely keeping my KOW work light this issue, to leave maximum time for Ancient Civs. At some point I'll be writing a substantial chunk of the KOW magazine. It doesn't pay well (although the publishers are very fair, and pay me as best as they can), but I love it and love being part of the project. Here's my big perk.

That's sarcasm, by the way. The title doesn't mean anything.

A dogsitter came over yesterday, and I think she's going to work out excellently. Introducing Buster to a new person is a time-consuming (and expensive) process. Sometimes I feel discouraged at the amount of effort involved, I wish he were a normal dog. But on the positive side, which is the far greater share, an excellent trainer taught us how to acclimate Buster to a new care-person in progressive steps. The method is logical, safe and works every time. It's even worked with a dogwalker who was a little afraid of Buster and not very good at following our direction, so when conditions are better, it's virtually guaranteed.

The woman who came over yesterday is heavily involved in animal rescue, so she's very familiar with dealing with frightened or anxious animals, plus she has a dog of her own with behavioral issues. (Of course, her dog weighs 10 pounds, and Buster weighs 60, but the principles are the same.) She enjoys petsitting while her partner takes care of their animals, and she lives not far from us. She's coming over again today. I'm very optimistic that we'll be able to go away without the pups.

The house is pretty much finished. The only things that aren't done: nothing on the walls yet, nothing on the living and dining room windows, no knick-knacks anywhere (which I'm kind of liking) and a few long-term projects that I'll do when I'm motivated and have money, all cosmetic, nothing necessary.

We had a hell of time establishing good internet access in Allan's basement lair, but we think we've finally found the right equipment and settings. Here's hoping, because we both want his laptop off the dining room table.

That's the ground-level view. From the stratosphere, I love not being in the United States. I love being in Canada. It's better here.