I Am Puppy - Hear Me Roar

So, apparently it's just a toy poodle thing, and Andromache isn't the only one who sounds like a baby cougar with a smoking habit.  She isn't toy possessive at all, so it's hard to capture her doing it.  Usually it only happens when she's super excited or hears her food bowl being filled.  But she sounds just like this. :)

Achilles

Meet Achilles, Andromache's new all-natural cotton dog toy.  He squeaks.

So far, she really likes chewing on him.

Crazy eyes!

Sprouts!

Surprise!  We finally have an avocado sprout.  Hopefully it won't die like the oak sapling.

Retail Therapy

My cheap shoes are falling apart, so I sneaked out to do some shopping while the dog was already crated at home.  Normally I hate shoe shopping and never have much luck.  I was mainly in the market for casual black canvas flats for wear with skirts and capris.  That's just about the only thing I didn't find.

This was the closest thing I came up with.  But, man, are they comfortable.

Dr. Scholl's Women's Joliet

While I was there, I browsed through the high heels.  I've been looking for a successor pair to the ones I've been wearing for the last 4+ years.  I love them, but they won't last forever.  Unfortunately, finding an attractive classic heel amidst all the wedges and stilettos is almost always a losing prospect.  However . . .

Naturalizer Berta (not actually pictured above)

Score!  Actually this was the runner-up pair.  The ones I did get apparently don't exist on the Internet.  They are the same shape and style, just with better decoration.  Awesome, secret shoes.  You'll just have to see them in person.

ALSO, I never go barefoot around the house, but my cheap flip-flops always seem to get raggedy before the next summer.  So, risking Dave's wrath upon his return, I finally bought some Crocs.  Hey, don't laugh.

Crocs Patricia II

Stylish Crocs.  Who knew?!  I love 'em already.

War on Debt V

Family debt report!  I'm actually really excited about this one.  We were able to liquidate some family inheritance that turned out to be worth more than I expected.  After paying off all the credit cards (doggie expenses), there was still plenty to put toward the loan, which is a really good thing now that there are rumblings about the student interest rates rising.  The last report in April was 27.2% paid.  As of today, we've jumped to 49%.  Party!

We are six years paid ahead by the original payment schedule, and at long last our on-hand cash almost equals our obligations.  Not that we're going to empty the bank, or anything.  

I finally feel like we're making some real progress.  Just thinking about all the interest we're avoiding makes me happy.  Someday our adoption fund won't be in the red.