I’ve been reading blogs for almost seven years now. Some come and some go, which seems to be the nature of the beast. It’s hard to keep blogging year after year, especially as your life changes, you add family, kids, etc. New ones come along and they’re interesting and your RSS reader fills up, and suddenly you’re having to categorize them by genre and schedule time to sift through and read. If you miss a day, the output can become overwhelming and then you only focus on your favorites.

2011 seemed a rough year for bloggers I love, bloggers who are well known and beloved (and hated) by thousands and thousands of people. A divorce. A sale. A stalker. Another divorce. And now a trial separation, which is oddly the worst of the bunch.

On one hand, it makes no sense that this would affect me as much as it does. I don’t know any of these people in person. We will, I’m sure, never meet. But I know their families, I read about their lives. I share their ups and their downs. I know the names and ages and birth weights and favorite foods of their children. I mourn when they lose family members and rejoice when a new child enters the house. I feel a kinship for them and theirs.

It’s the price you pay, I think, for reading the thoughts of others. You become invested, so much so that when the family unit separates, it’s as if your family unit has separated.

And so Heather and Jon, know that we share in your sadness and wish you the very best, together or separate.

Don’t watch this unless you are in a location where tearing up wouldn’t be frowned upon—seriously.

From Neatorama: Shelter dog Edie was schedule to be euthanized. She was fearful, aggressive, and hard to control. Then Bronwyne Mirkovich gave her another chance as he and Eldad Hagar recorded the process on video

About a month ago we found out that the best breakfast place in the area had closed and it’s unclear whether they’ll open again. It’s a crazy story: the renter (owner of the breakfast place downstairs) apparently had issues with the landlord (owner of the dinner place upstairs). The renter had been planning to move to a new location down the street, but was having trouble with getting a liquor license and zoning from the town. But then the renter allegedly ran over the landlord’s King Charles Spaniel “accidentally” and didn’t realize she had done that and drove away (the dog died). She claimed she didn’t hear it or feel it (but she was in a Prius… a silent, small car… wouldn’t you think you’d feel it?), I guess that compounded with all sorts of other things, and the next thing you know, their lease wasn’t renewed.

The week we got back from vacation, we heard another of our favorite spots had closed. It appears now they might be reopening in a few weeks, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed.

Last night we headed to another fav and yep, closed. They claim they’ll be open in two weeks.

This morning we drove to get coffee and cars were at a small restaurant that had opened last summer (seasonal, so it’s been closed now for almost 6 months). We stopped to ask when they were opening, and yup, they’re closed permanently. Didn’t make enough money last year, and just can’t take the risk in this economy.

Oh and did I mention my company (who had told us in December there would be a) no bonuses in 2009 and b) no 401K match, among other things), called everyone into their office (and some of us on the phone) and said that in order for them to survive, everyone was getting a 15% pay cut? Across the board, no fighting it, it starts on Monday.

GODDAMN MOTHERFUCKING RECESSION.

Five days ago a very good friend of mine lost her husband. And I’ve been trying to figure out how to blog about it, but it’s been incredibly hard. I adore her—we’ve worked together for three years—and she adored her husband. They never had kids, were together for over 40 years and had the kind of marriage I hope the Chop and I have.

The funeral was this morning. Taps was played at the grave (he served in the Air Force) and she broke down hard when the Honor Guard handed her the flag. He’d been sick for a while—we exchanged stories of home health care issue (my Nana required that level of care the last few years of her life)—but she thought he had a few more years in him.

Sometimes it’s hard to blog.

Our other childhood cat finally passed away today after a very long battle with failing kidneys. This past Christmas was her 20th one with us, and we’ll miss her very much.

Precious 1989-2009

It’s been five years and I still feel like it was yesterday my Nana passed away.

How time flies.

We miss you still.

Today my Nana should’ve turned 83. Instead it’ll be five years this July that she’s been gone.

I don’t have many photos of her with my grandfather, as he died in 1966, but in the ones I do have, I can tell she adored him.

So I know that if she’s with him, she’s happy. Even if the rest of us are left without her.

Precious and Bon Bon, 18 years old.

I’m about to complete a whirlwind trip to the west coast. I flew out Wednesday night, spent three days and am now sitting at the airport, getting ready to head home.

Mainly I came to see my childhood cat, who is no longer really eating, and sleeps constantly. Everyone knows it’s about her time to go. And it’s incredibly devastating to my mom, who has spent every last bit of these past 18 years with her.

On a different note, I got to meet my sister’s new puppy. She’s been in Mexico on vacation, so my parents were babysitting… which, for the past three days, has translated to me babysitting.

Figures.

Fortunately, she is kinda cute (she grows on you). And she’s funny as hell. Not potty-trained yet, which was entertaining to a point, lol, but so tiny that the teaspoon of pee looks so pathetic you don’t even want to discipline her.

The Chop has been packing the past couple of days and that’s what I am heading home to do for the next few weeks. Should be fun.