Hi Dark Eyes --

I'm in the same sleep pattern as you -- last night up til 5 a.m.!!!! I miss my dogs because they are great for keeping one on a regular schedule. Was just thinking about them this a.m. bec. I went for a walk, and it seemed a lonely, not fun thing to do.

So I was thinking @ that this morning and realized -- For 30 years, I walked with dogs! And that's so lovely, bec. every walk is a new walk to them. They get so excited. Live in the moment. And if I "be" with my dogs and watch them, I get a piece of that sheer enjoyment. And without them, the joy is gone. No wonder I don't like taking walks so much anymore.

I am pretty determined to sell this condo where I am not allowed to have dogs in 2 years, when I can do so without getting clipped for a capital gains tax.

Another reason I don't go to chat anymore is because everyone is anonymous -- including me -- I can't see who's around anymore. I've gotten "trapped" in chat with someone who needed to talk, badly, and I wanted diversion, and I felt as if I couldn't leave. In fact, I've had it happen when I've tried to leave chat too soon, the person says, "Oh it's because of me," and of course I can't say, "Yeah, it is."

So going into chat has become a venture fraught with risk.