Hello again, Internet! It has been a year since I’ve given this space any attention, and it has been a year of enormous changes in every aspect of my life. I am excited to report that, with the exception of the monumental loss of my truly amazing husband, each change has only served to catapult me into a happier and healthier person. He wasn’t the only one to disappear: I lost my own life (as I knew it) when Phil died. There I was, teetering on the edge of 28 years old, and suddenly the future into which Phil and I had thrown our everything, at the sacrifice of so much, had vanished. We weren’t going to have those 5 happy children (a secret desire) in the perfect home, nestled somewhere near Seattle – a life full of love, comfort and warmth. I was alone in a big city filled with the ghost of him, overwhelmed by a sadness I will carry inside for my entire life and knocked back to the very beginning. There was not much I could salvage from the wreckage of everything. This was a blank slate. I was to become a new person, because, indeed, that’s what I was.
The intense dark days have waned, because I now know on the deepest level what my young but so wise Phil always knew: you choose how you feel each day. This was how he triumphed in conditions no one else could tolerate. I am so grateful for every minute we had together, and every lesson he taught. I treasure the memories of our life, and of our rare love, without drowning in despair.
I am excited to return to some of my old self’s loves: design, illustration and all things of good taste! And of course, I’d like to share this with you. Phil’s family has a wonderful saying that I loved seeing in their elegant cards and correspondence: Happiness Always. Let’s do that, shall we? Happiness Always!
Personally, I find it too much effort to actually move the laser pointer. First you have to create interesting and varied patterns to make sure your pet is extremely confused and bites themselves. Really cerebral. Then there is the monumental effort of moving your hand around. Not to worry. Set 
Cats especially love loud noises and rapid movement, so they will love 
Pets are nosy and many are actually thieves. My cat just takes things. He doesn’t even ask to borrow them. Animals don’t realize that your stuff belongs to you. They’re selfish, yes, but it’s okay because there are ways to keep them out of your stuff. 
