Oh wait, did I say I was going to update more frequently?

Yeah, yeah, I also say I'll spend an hour a day at the fitness center.

It's all good here. I've actually managed to get a few pictures on the walls, and they are straight and level. My cabinets have shelf paper. My little Christmas tree is up and decorated. My books are unpacked. I'm sending out resumes and networking. If you wanted a romantic tale of a magical life-transforming move, you may as well move along. I'm having fun, I'm happy as a clam, but it's not exactly the stuff of romantic drama. Eat, Pray, Love in real life is more like Empty Boxes, Take Boxes to Dumpster, go to Target.

My greatest victory of the week was figuring out and fixing the security settings on my router all by my ownself. I followed this feat by finding my way to the DMV for a copy of the NC driver's handbook, so I can study for my license exam, because it would be really, really embarrassing to flunk it after driving for...35-ish years? My son wisely warned me of this issue - in FL, the written test is written for cretins - "identify these road signs by shape," stuff. NC does a written test with questions generated by computer, and my son pointed out that I could get ten ridiculous questions about stuff I haven't thought about in over 35 years, and bomb it in spite of my spotless driving history. I had an NC license when we lived here in the early 90s, but damn, that was a long time ago.

Oh, my happiest surprise of the week was discovering I had a nice credit waiting to be used at Zappos. I bought really nice, comfy warm UGGs. So yeah, the driver's handbook and UGGs, resumes and hanging pictures. This is why Julia Roberts will not play me in a movie anytime soon, but it's all quite fun and satisfying in its incredibly dull way.

We have not been without Drama, but definitely not drama of a romantic movie nature. Murphy's upset tummy was cause for great concern early this week. He was throwing up and producing runny poopies, and he's a wee snip of a dog to start with and was losing weight fast. I was about to hit the panic button and start searching for a vet with some familiarity with his condition. In the meantime I continued my Dr. Mom educated guesswork treatment, including switching him to smaller, more frequent meals in addition to his meds, and by midweek he was better, and today he's his feisty little self again and braving walks all the way around the neighborhood in 26 degree weather.

Higgins Update: Higgins is doing much better. His eye is healing without the expensive intervention of a veterinary opthalmologist, and he has fallen into the sweet golden years he always felt he deserved. My son-in-law is a soft touch when it comes to opening a can for the old man, and Higgins has him wrapped around his elderly paw. He meows, and son-in-law obligingly opens a can of Fancy Feast. Higgins is living the good life. Son-in-law is on disability right now and home all day, (his knee surgery happens on Monday) and Higgins will be so disappointed when SiL returns to work and Higgins loses his personal manservant. Higgins has also come to terms with the new team of dogs and has started sharing the couch with Layla. Higgins is doing very well, and all is good in Florida.

We have rumors of snow tonight - maybe an inch, if it happens at all - but the prospect is there. Sophie may get to meet snow! Murphy is fine with it - we were here last Christmas in time for the biggest snowfall in 40+ years and Murphy was unfazed, even when he skidded on ice and fell over, he just scrambled up and kept going. I'm hoping his nonchalance about that white stuff on the ground rubs off on the Little Princess. Right now she's on her down throw on "her" chair (once again, my knitting chair has been claimed by animals) watching Air Force One. And yes, she is watching - I think she's not, and then something happens that gets her attention and she sits up and watches very intently, making excited little noises. It's not just other animals - any scenes with action or people sounding upset get her attention.

It's really cold. Wind chills below zero (in the wee hours) are forecast. We are loving the hell out of our down blankets here at the Bossy Doghouse Asheville. Tomorrow I have brunch plans, to be followed by laundry and housework, because while this is a delightful new life, it's still life, and there is still laundry.