I realized this morning would be the last morning walk with the odd little dog that Tara dropped off when she needed a place to foster her. Bonnie has annoyed me something fierce over the past two months, but I think that's because I've been living with older dogs who had very set routines for so long that I forgot what it was like to have a young, frisky dog who was interested in everyone and everything.

I won't miss the morning walks, because I barely have enough time to get myself in order before I have to head out the door for work. I will miss the evening walks, just before bed, as they helped me sort things out in my head as I walked. The neighborhood kids are going to wonder where the little black doggie went, or maybe they won't.

Rita is staying with me. I'm not sure how she's going to manage a cross-country move with me, but I'm sure I can find a way to get her to me or have someone take care of her here. She's adaptable, and as long as she can lord her superiority in all things over you, she's pretty content.

Tara came by after work tonight to stay over so she can get an early start on her trip South. I won't see her in the morning, most likely, so putting Bonnie to bed tonight was the last time I'll see her. Tara looks so much happier than she had the times she dropped the animals off or picked them up over the past couple of months. I'm glad she's moving on, and that she's happy about where she's going.

We mostly watched reality TV and dished about it. She's really fun, and though I say this about a lot of people online, I do wish that I could just live near everyone I like online would live near me, so I could just have them over.

I turned in my signed offer letter today. I should get word on my official start date in Los Angeles soon, but the letter said September. I put down a tentative date of the 4th, which is Labor Day, so that might be bumped to the 5th or the 11th. I wouldn't want to start on September 11th, even though I'm not really superstitious about dates.

They'll let me know what date exactly they want me. I'm expecting a call about the hot water heater soon, and then I can get the furnace. After that, it's a matter of logistics.

I'm not sure how much I'll take with me for this leg of the journey. I should have enough to stay comfortable, but light enough that I could come back if I found a position back in Cambridge after a year, or in NYC, or wherever.

I hope the place will rent quickly, and to good people. I've gone from living with Mom to potentially being a landlord in the span of 3 months. Not too shabby. Maybe that'll be my calling in life; buying properties everywhere I'm transferred and then renting them out. I'd be some kind of mogul, or some kind of slumlord. Hard to tell which.

Tomorrow night is date night with Scott. He asked me what I wanted to do, then mentioned that he'd bought 10 new DVDs today. I said dinner and movies at home was fine. We're like folks who've been dating for quite awhile; we already have our routines.

I've invited him to the 4th of July, and he's accepted. I want him to charm the pants off my family. I have the suspicion that he's going to be a really good fit with my relatives.

Everyone who's been invited in the past is of course invited now. I'll send out e-mails or call within the next couple of days.

I'm really glad I have all Summer to be at home before I take off for a new city. It's bittersweet; kind of like having Bonnie leave.