I went to bed last night vowing to accomplish two things today:

• go for a run and
• give Emma a bath.

Well, I did indeed run around the neighborhood for 2.5 miles and a few minutes ago I finished bathing the very stinky, greasy little Emma (which comes from the constant petting she receives as a result of her constant snuggling).

Here’s a picture taken right after I caught her squirming-wiggling-rolling around on her back while kicking her feet in the air. Her tail is blurred because it was wagging vigorously.

Emma doesn’t particularly like baths, BUT she loves that first hour after a bath. Have to say, I also love her post-bath energy.

My accomplishments didn’t end with the run and doggie bath, though. I also made a sign for our front yard.

This is the same spot where we kept an Iraq death toll sign for years and years. You can still see the chain we used to prevent another theft after having two signs stolen. We’d put it out in the morning and take it in at dusk. And now here we are again. Sure would be nice if our government focused on supporting a just and equitable society in which our basic needs were met rather than investing billions in the military industrial complex and genocide.

The sign will remain until there’s a ceasefire in Gaza. And I’ll keep running to maintain my emotional, mental, and physical health AND continue snuggling with our sweet Emma Jean-Jean.