Dandelion Jelly

I'm at my parents house in Duluth right now. I decided, basically on friday or late thursday to make the trip, because I found out that Winnie, the dog my parents got when I was nine, is rapidly deteriorating in health. She's dying really, and will be dead within a week or two, the result of generally failing health, and some sort of grotesque, horribly painful looking tumor in her mouth.

Winnie is a St. Bernard and Black Lab mix from a farm in what could be called the outskirts of the Duluth Metro area. One of her littermates was picked up by an eagle and presumably eaten when she was a puppy. Winnie is a stubborn, athletic "water dog," and very big hearted, with a penchant for picking up and carrying rocks.

Other sad news, our cat Myrtle, who my parents have had since I was too young to remember otherwise seems to be wasting away mentally and physically. When I came into my parents' house, she was sitting in the front hall, dirty from head to toe, as she's stopped cleaning herself, either from apathy or lack of ability. She just walks around the house, meowing mournfully. Her normally trim and athletic form is now simply skinny and unhealthy looking.

Needless to say, it's a bit of an emotionally trying trip.

This is why I haven't called any of my Duluth friends.

There is Dandelion Jelly in the fridge though, and the weather is absolutely beautiful. The lake is amazing, it's gorgeous, majestic and powerful. There's an island of craggy rock some 10-15 miles out of town to the NorthEast along the shore, and I will visit it's gullshit covered face before I turn 25.