With Abby still recovering from an illness and wanting to rest, I turned to housekeeping chores to keep me occupied. Normally I am a “keep it clean” person rather than a “get it clean over and over” person, but I work full time, and we have two stubborn Chihuahuas in the house. Summer, the young one, is particularly found of shredding anything, including the plastic lids from Abby’s applesauce.

Today I vacuumed, then shampooed the carpet in the office, where the Chihuahuas sneak and poo when it’s wet or stormy outside. I also moved a few items around, then scrubbed on the floor some. Hands-and-knees scrubbing gets the floor cleaner than mopping, and, oddly, doesn’t hurt my back like mopping does.

In grimmer news, The Oklahoman, who laid off two of my friends last year, was bought by Gatehouse Media, regarded as one of the worst entities in newspaper, and immediately laid off 37 people. My newspaper and I are hoping Gatehouse, which at least one social medianite called “Hatehouse” today, isn’t interested in us.

A former boss, who we regard as one of the best, turned in her resignation this week. She penned a letter expressing dismay and frustration, but not regret.

I hate to think of not being a part of my newspaper after all these years, and I hate even more to think of the world without real news entities, but if it happens, I’ll land on my feet, though maybe not as a photographer. I know Abby will support me whatever happens.