Living in a not-so-little house on the prairie, life has become oh, so sweet.

Yeah, yeah, I know, I suppose you all thought I had gone the way of the Jurassic crew - became extinct or otherwise disappeared...NOT. I got sucked into the moving and starting new job vortex from which I have emerged somewhat unscathed, although I still cannot locate the small measuring cup and our small plates. It remains disconcerting to stare at a lone egg floating on a sea of plate that is 15-inches wide each morning. I tried to fill the void with toast or avocado, but to no avail...sheesh.

Ok, the update. We closed on the house. I had been shacking it at a Best Western in Chadron, Nebraska, for almost a week before closing. Personally, I have nothing against hotels or motels - though I defy you to cite a difference between the two even in the tonier parts - but after a few days of rip your skin off showers and beds made of granite, well, I longed for the creature comforts of the cloud bed aka the back surgeon's worst nightmare. But I LOVE my cloud bed so very much.

Our new house is perched high atop a butte in the Pine Ridge area just south of Chadron. And it is glorious and beautiful country. The wanbli (eagle) welcomed us. I was beyond thrilled to hear his cry above again. The dogs were happy, too. They jumped about and sniffed out everything until one went sliding down the hill commencing an impromptu search and rescue by Mel and myself mid-move-in.

But, me being, well, me, all could not be bliss and pop tarts. Nope. See, the house we bought was remodeled...very well, I might add. It's gorgeous. I love it. BUT but buttttttt....the contractor had left many holes under various sinks through which to thread the nouveau-style water lines. We have four cats. They now have a new name: wall rats. Yes, folks, you guessed it.

All four cats - whose criminal names are now: Stinky Tom; Ratcine; Stinkleberry; and Spoob - disappeared THROUGH THE HOLES and into the walls of the house like so many oversized RATS. You could hear them moving around just like big ol' vermin.

I have never been so angry in my whole life. So Mel and I stood guard in the attic next to their rat hole scratched out through the FIBERGLASS insulation lying in wait with a can of tuna. "Come here, Boopsies...Boops...here kitty kitty..." Never mind what was in the bubble over my head.

A cat emerged only to be promptly and somewhat violently snatched through the hole and immediately sent packing to a cat carrier. Oh and then began the "woe is me" howling fiesta. Howling howling howling...until Mel could get the childproof latches onto all cabinets and drawers so the little rats could not return to their sanctuary of iniquity. That's when I noticed the irritating itchiness on my arms. Yep, fiberglass.

Needless to say, a small rash and several angry cats later, all was well up on the hill once more.

Then I started my new job as chief judge for the Oglala Sioux Tribe. What a great job this is proving to be. I absolutely love what I do. Mel is so very pleased to be back with his people and every day is definitely a new adventure but always in a good way. Being a judge is so very different from being a prosecutor or public defender. It is one of the biggest challenges I have ever faced.

In short, all is good and the tails moved from one city to the next without too much of a hitch, just a stint in the walls...hmph...figures. More later.