Let's spend the night together ... for 8 years

Most people want to know where Claren sleeps when they first meet us.

Except for the past three years at Mom and Dad's, when I was in a single bed, the answer has always been: with me.  Even in those single-bed years, she and I have been in the same room.

Eight years ago today, I graduated from Canine Companions for Independence and was "presented Claren."

So that means we have been together almost 3,000  days and nights. Of those, I think we have been apart only two nights. Once, when I rode in a cramped pickup to ride at the U.S. Equestrian Center for a day and once when my brother got married. It was on a boat and I feared Claren might want to go swimming.

Other than that ...

Thanks, Claren.

Up too early

On weekends, I get up at 6:15 to feed Claren and am back in bed by 6:25 and asleep by 6:26.

Usually.

Yesterday, I got up and was getting Claren her pill when I dropped the pill bottle. Only about 10 pills fell out, so even though my fine motor skills are next to zero, I picked them up. I didn't want to wake anyone up ... I could do this. It would just take a while.

I got them picked up, but all the bending made me have to use the bathroom. I did, no problem, but somehow when I was reaching to flush I slipped.

Thankfully I wasn't hurt and there are so many bars in my bathroom, I knew I'd be OK. But I also knew I should probably get some help since it was me on the floor, not just some pills.

Unfortunately, my phone was not in my chair because it was being recharged. I had Claren bark a few times, but my door was closed and we were in the bathroom.

When no one came, I looked  around and saw I was sitting on my slippers. I got them on and pulled myself up.

I got back to bed at 6:50, right as my brother-in-law checked in on me.

I was not asleep by 6:51, though. I was too mad to sleep ... at least until 6:53.

Where the Hell is God?

If ever there is a book title that was meant for me, it is Where the Hell is God? by Richard Leonard, SJ, a Jesuit in Australia. Mom must have thought the same thing because she gave it to me for Christmas.

It is very good -- I will never again pray for it not to snow -- and he knows what he is talking about -- his sister was in a bad car accident. But I am still not sure where the hell God is.

Here are eight points from his introduction (his words, my bullet points):

1. God does not directly send pain, suffering and disease.
2. God does not punish us, at least not in this life.
3. God does not send accidents to teach us things, though we can learn from them.
4. God does not will earthquakes, floods, droughts or other natural disasters: can we stop praying for rain please?
5. God’s will is more in the big picture than in the small.
6. God did not need the blood of Jesus. Jesus did not just come ‘to die’ but God used his death to announce the end to death.
7. God has created a world which is less than perfect, else it would be heaven, and in which suffering, disease and pain are realities.
8. God does not kill us off.

The problem is I knew all these before I started.

The one that comes closest to answering my main question -- what kind of God allows genetic disease? -- is #7, and the author does say that God bears responsibility for the world he created.  But he does not really investigate that responsibility. Instead, he points out correctly, that most problems have human causes and solutions if we are strong enough. He uses famine as an example. It could be cured if enough people cared to help and if people were not caught up in war, terrorism, tyranny and more. He suggests we could solve many of the world's problems.

But not genetic disease. It is in our makeup. So is God responsible  and what does that mean? Will I get some reward? Can I curse God?

The author also gives God a pass for performing miracles -- my other big problem because God did heal some people. The author suggests that the miracles may have been less external healing but people letting their bodies heal themselves after being touched by God. I don't buy this.

I still don't know where the Hell God is, but it does make me happier to know that I am far from alone.

Scared of the dark

Today at work I wrote about a woman who hears poorly. She has her co-workers turn her office light off and on when they come in so they don't scare her. I may need to get people to do this in my room at home.

Last night I was sitting at my sink taking my pills when my sister asked if I was OK. Yeah, I was, except she almost gave me a heart attack.

Apparently, I was making more noise than usual so she was just checking on me.

But I totally did not hear her and consequently almost spilled my cinnamon sticks that I eat so I am not taking my pills on an empty stomach.

I could get her to flip the lights, but the sudden dark would probably freak me out, too.

Welcome back, Daredevil

I ended my ban on Marvel comics today.

I've read good things about Daredevil. I stopped my subscription after they had Daredevil take over the Hand, become a super-villain, die and be brought back to life. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

I have no idea what is going on with Spider-Man. I stopped reading him after he manipulated a photo. I know that Marvel let a writer kill off Peter Parker in one series. Writers -- afraid to make up something wholly new so they try to remake something with their own signature.