Packing and Niki to vet

I was up until about 3 AM getting packed and doing all those little last-minute things you forget you need to do until the last possible moment.  Like wash my heavy yankee coat.  I only have one coat for super-cold weather and I've been wearing it here since it fell into the 20-degree zone last month.   And "here" includes to the barn -- where apparently some of the horses wiped their mouths on it.  On black, that showed up like neon.  So I threw that in the wash about 2 AM, then began transferring all the music that came on that laptop I bought for Dad onto an external hard drive.  Everything looked fine, then suddenly the screen went black and now the thing won't come on at all.  So much for that idea.  I'll probably be able to return it, but that won't help my dad at the moment.  Sigh.  So I finally gave up and went to bed around 3.

Niki went to the vet this morning to have her tail amputated.  Poor darling.  Just as she began to feel better she ends up having to have surgery.  But in another month or two I'm hoping that between the meds and the surgery she'll be a "new woman" -- or at least feel a BIT more like her old self.  (Apparently the picture below was taken after her last surgery -- the spay.  Looks like her tummy has been shaved.)

Niki and Rocky grew up together -- both are 9 or 10, but he still seems just as energetic and happy as he ever did, while Niki seems to be aging so quickly lately.

I like the picture above -- it pretty much illustrates their relationship in general.  Rocky's job his whole life has been to provide Niki with companionship and keep her entertained.  And when he gets tired, well . . . too bad.  She can be VERY insistent!

Here he is looking very much like "someone" just woke him up!