I'm afraid of my puppy. He won't stop biting me! He'll listen to my dad and Justin, even my mom, but he won't listen to me. Today is the second time I've had to close myself in a room to get away from him. He nips and I say 'no', I yelp, I ignore, I walk away, I grab his muzzle... I've tried all of the 'tricks' that are supposed to make him stop, even if it's only for a little bit, and none of them work. Not for me, anyway. I'm covered in scratches, bruises, cuts... he actually broke the skin the other day and today he cut one of fingers enough to make it bleed.

He's a sweet puppy, he really is, but I don't know what to do. I signed him up for training classes, which should help, but I've got another week till those start and several months before he's done teething. I'm actually afraid of my puppy... I love him and then he bites me and I feel so betrayed. I know he's just playing, in his mind he is anyway, but it *hurts* and I've got the marks to prove it. I don't mind some nipping, chewing, biting, whatever, that's normal. He's a puppy, he's teething, it happens. That's okay. But I shouldn't be scared of him. I shouldn't be worried he's going to hurt me. And the thing is, I spend the most time with him and most of that time I'm alone. It's just me so if he won't listen to me, he won't listen period. I've looked and I've read and I've researched, but I really don't know what to do.

I know! Justin refuses to play rummy! But I have Macho *hug-

... well Macho doesn't like to be touched, but it's a mental hug so it works...

No but Macho is awesome, I'm liking her. Macho is Aaron Camacho. Not sure on the last name, but I know I spelled her first name right (like boy) She's Justin's new neighbor. His old neighbor, one of the crazy Mexican's, skipped town with all the pot he grew in his apartment so Aaron moved in. She used to play soccer with Dana so that's kinda how that happened.

So they still have a pot smoking neighbor, but now it's a girl and she's not Mexican. Is that not the spice of life? And she's way more considerate about it, which is weird to say, but true. The other guy just came over to Justin's to use his computer, whipped out a joint and started smoking it like nobody's business. Aaron was all, 'Neuman's coming over and we'll be smoking and I don't know how comfortable you are with that...' She was sweet about it so I just ducked into Justin's apartment and read my Asimov book while he worked.

Spent the whole day with Justin, Aaron and Katherine (Aaron's friend, also cool) Only my second day with them, but I like. I was left alone with Aaron and it didn't go all horribly awkward and uncomfortable *feels absurdly proud*

Kisses to Tyler and his non-hurricaned ass ;)

Dino... was an unfortunate name, an *evil* name, if you will. Bailey is better. You can never go wrong naming things after alcohol ;) My dad and I were all, Here Jose Quervo! Here boy! *grins* It was fun, we went through, like, the whole liqour cabinet.

Speaking of puppy, he's pissing me off. He got out of his crate today, while we were all gone and *the crate was locked*, tored a library book to shreds *plus* two rather large posters from the museums Smithsonian exhibit. Mother was not pleased. I was horrified. Everything he does, I feel is my fault. It's not, like, I know that, but I feel like he's my responsibility and it works that way. I immediately offered to pay for the library book, come home and clean it up, etc. Definite signs of response, oh yeah. Anna likes her money. Anna likes her friend time.

Oh yes, and I just walked him. Nice long happy walk. We get in the door and what does he do? Pukes. Right there on the carpet. The carpet I cleaned up just hours before because he piddled on it. I swear, he does so well, but that dog cannot control his bladder when Justin's around, he goes nuts. The other day he had two accidents in an hour. An *hour* He hadn't had one in like 3 days.... madness. And then he barks at me the whole time while I'm cleaning it up. and my parents are trying to sleep,

The puppy is for a short time. The dog is forever. Mantra. Wooh. Deep breath.

Also, braces? Evil incarnate.

I'm ever so glad to hear that you changed Dino to Bailey. It was quite an unfortunate name.
But yes, Tyler, as of now, is doing just fine. Pretty sure he went swimming just the other day. So all is well for right now. I don't think the bulk of it has really come all the way up to where he is. Or maybe it has. Whatever the case, I know that he's not worrying near as much as the rest of us. (Thanks for asking...and of course you like me more. Geeeez..)

I'm wondering about Deborah too. Deb....ayalo Deb. Maybe she's swamped with college stuff. Maybe Damien and Candice are holding her captive so that they can play endless games of Rummy all day long. I miss the Rummy and I miss the fact that I didn't get to fully teach my girls the ways of the Train of Mexicans.

Well, I'm gonna go read my riveting pamphlet on propaganda and media bias in the news; then onto some review of the Old Testament and its neglect.

Love y'all!!!

I felt we needed to move into September.

My thigh is murder. It feels like someone stuck a grapling hook in at the knee and just *ripped* it all the way up to my hip. My thigh will never forgive me for running with Bailey. (edit: we changed the dog's name to Bailey. None of us liked Dino)

Is Tyler okay? With all the hurricane/tropical storm stuff hitting the South Carolina coast, I've been worried about him. It's not Iike I can just call Tyler and ask, so I ask you. Plus I like you better (don't tell him!)

Is Deborah okay? Anyone can answer that one, I just really want to know because I miss her.