There are many good things about Temple. My favorite is that it abuts Mt. Blue State Park and the woods abound. No, actually I think my favorite is that Route 43 simply stops -- just ends -- out in Temple and all roads out there turn to dirt, then to logging trails and then to snowmobile trails. Takes me exactly 12 minutes to get where I wanted to be today -- 10 to another favorite launching off spot. The walk was good. It was cool and windy and I was winded and warm. I think it was the last official hike Luna and I will do with her as an only child. New baby is coming on Saturday, the 15th. Her name is Nikki right now; we are naming her Dixie (since she hails from Dixieland). Looking forward to it, but there is a good bit of sadness attached to the event too. I stopped Luna on the trail and treated her like the person she emulates. I thanked her for being such an amazing companion in the woods, thanked her for the last 12 years of her-and-me hiking, noted that this will be a major change, teared up a little and then realized that it was not that sad. She can and will continue to hike with me and I will continue to love her with all of my heart. Love. I have enough love for animals to add another and be extremely confident none of the others will suffer.

I so look forward to meeting Nikki -- picking her up at Logan airport on Saturday. I am sure she will be rocked. I can't wait to introduce her to her new life and watch her become more and more stoked that this is it. She, like all pets, deserves it.

A busy busy week ahead. But a three-day weekend to end it - one that recognizes an amazing man. I enjoy teaching students about MLK's best. And I enjoy allowing them to muse about what they would commit to at such a level.

Yeah, it will be busy, but it will be good. In Temple today, as I ran down the mountain with the sun setting I thought about just how good life is. I am a lucky woman to be living this life.