Dianne Armstrong
| I'm Dianne Armstrong, an old-timer on the list.
Hailed from Birmingham, Alabama, came to Helena, Montana to visit my
grandparents when I was 12, stepped off the bus, took a look around and
announced "Honey, I'm home!" Went back, finished high school,
left the day after graduation, never looked back, still feel the same way
about Montana, but very proud of my southern heritage. Ron and I (blind date) got married very late (38 & 41), first for both of us. After 20 years alone each, what an adjustment! I'd wake up in the night and see him coming back from the bathroom in his shorts and I'd shriek thinking he was a burglar, then I'd go "oh, I just remembered, I got married." A few mos. later l acquired full time care of my brother (only sibling) with AIDS who moved in with us. I wouldn't want to relive that year! After that, we figured we could survive anything. We really grew as a couple and remain very happy. P.S. My anniversary card this year came addressed to "alpha bitch." Alpha who? Our Dogs: "Allie" (Wyo's Jazz Singer) and "Kelsey" the Sheltie. We hope to get a new B/S Mini pup this year. We are active in obedience/agility but we leave the breeding to the experts. Everything in this house is spayed except Ron. We're active in both M/S and Sheltie rescue. Ron's favorite saying: "too much estrogen in this house..." Our Jobs: I'm an RN working in an OB dept. and Ron's an internet specialist for the state. I've worked in the same ward for 27 yrs. I ached reading Kennalea's passion for her job. I felt that way for 25 yrs. but went through the biggest ordeal of my career 2 yrs. ago, when I had to report someone/something - only those who promised to back me up all wimped out and I got left holding the bag. Thanks to a very special friend I met on this list (thank you, Karen T!) who coached me, I did survive although it's not the same. Maybe some day. Greatest joys: web mastering Montana Pets on the Net which Ron and I created to showcase all the shelter pets in Montana. It's a 30-50 hour/week commitment outside two full time jobs and well worth it. MPON has been responsible for thousands of adoptions. It's what I live for. My other great love is for the two 12-step groups I've belonged to for 14 and 15 years respectively. Greatest sorrows: losing my 36 yr. old brother to AIDS (died in my arms) and my two precious fur babies Sadie and Rosie. Sadie, my first Mini tragically died as the result of Shaken Baby Syndrome at the hands of a highly recommended vet who later lost his license. We lost our precious 12 yr. old Rosie in March. I, like many others on this list also get to battle a chronic illness. "IC" totally controls my life but thankfully I have 426 IC online friends also, who keep me on the cutting edge of technology, something that wouldn't have been possible in a rural state before the Internet. Ain't it grand? I'm currently undergoing a new option never tried in Montana thanks to the IC site. Greatest dream: done! My 5 yr. dream to publish "Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety Jig" (dedicated in loving memory of Sadie) finally happened last Aug . This book features the 16 best lost/found pet reunion stories I encountered during 7 yrs. of shelter work and has sold over 900 copies so far with 100% of the profits going to rescue efforts. :) Looking forward to meeting more of my list friends at the Portland Schnauzer Walk. Dianne Armstrong Dogs4@juno.com Mom to Allie and Kelsey Our furpage: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/5723/ Book Page: http://montanapets.org/book/index.html |