I've been gone for a long time.

Last Wedensday at about 6:50 a.m., my dog died. He was my only companion for a while back in the early '90's, but has been living at my parent's house since I went to college. When I got on my feet enough to take care of him, it seemed too cruel to take him from his home and family (his parents, my parents, the house, etc.)

It was an awful death.

So I spent the last five days with my parents, the surviving dogs and cats, mourning, but also trying to help them keep going. For my parents, it was like they lost a child, and for the dogs he was their child, and he was a good friend for the cats. Mom has lost so much weight from this.

So I watched out for them, fed them, and now I'm home and not sure that's good.

Some friends took care of Avadore while I was gone because Rice and Winter had to work. But that's another story for another time. In any event, I'm back now.

And Rice is 30 today.