It's a fact that I have too many books. My Kindle has opened this vast world of literature, and I'm buying way more books than actually reading them, and I want to read them all. Except maybe the trilogies. Apparently, the 'it' thing to do these days is write a trilogy. There may not even be enough story for a three parter, but that's not the point. Hook someone in with the first part, and the other two will be bought up come premiere day. And that's the most frustrating thing of all. I'm not the type to read a book and patiently wait for the next two. No. I snap them all up if I can, and maybe later find out that I've regretted doing so. Because it's a fact that if the first book sucks, the other two are sure to follow.

And everyone seems to be writing trilogies, but I just want a measly stand alone novel. A very well written, blow me away story, told in a couple hundred pages or less. No to be continued or senseless cliffhangers. Just a beginning, middle, and end.

A dear friend lost her dog this weekend. He escaped from her backyard along with their other dog. Although not a normal occurrence, the dogs tended to do this from time to time. Once, they disappeared for a couple of months, only to be discovered in a shelter in New Braunfels. Needless to say, my friend was thrilled to have them back. After all, these were two very unique dogs.

I remember when she got Dante. He was this tiny little thing wrecking havoc through out the apartment. Then he grew into this massive beast with a tender heart. When Dolce stumbled into their lives, it was like they became this perfect little family. And as dogs tend to do, Dante and Dolce were inseparable.

And apparently Dolce stayed by Dante's side after he was hit by a car. She didn't leave until it was no longer safe for her, and fortunately she found someone to take her home, broken tail and all.

I'm heartbroken for her and my friend.

It's easy to say that these are just dogs. Why mourn over a being that isn't human. And yet there's a reason they're labeled as man's best friend. They're companions with personalities meant to match our own. They make us laugh, and they make us yell. They love us and protect us. What more could anyone ask for in such a precious friend?

When I got the news I immediately thought of Ravi. I came home and promptly hugged him. And maybe he could tell that I was sad because he plopped himself by my knees, and didn't move until I was ready to move.

Man's best friend indeed.

So maybe this is why I'm having such a hard time getting a scooter?

FBI executes search warrant at the Scooter Store.

The Scooter Store employs about 1,200 people at its New Braunfels headquarters and about 1,800 overall, Zipp told the Express-News earlier this month. The company laid off 150 people earlier this month and 220 people in September.

The search warrant comes as The Scooter Store has been grappling with changes in its business model. Power-mobility devices have come under scrutiny as part of a crackdown on Medicare fraud. Concerns have been raised that the devices are being prescribed to people who don't need them.

And maybe it's a good thing that I'm not using them to get my new wheels, although I did try many years ago.

In 2010, the Supreme Court ruled in Padilla v. Kentucky that defense attorneys had a duty to inform their clients of the potential risks a guilty plea would have on their immigration status. Why? Well, with a felony conviction, an immigrant, legal or non, would be banned from seeking citizenship or any other immigration status.

The thing is, many immigrants, some who have been here for many years in legal status, have quite quickly found themselves in deport proceedings because of crimes they committed in the past. Many times, they accepted a guilty plea because it involved less jail time, or their attorney advised that the case was just not winnable. This advise was given in most cases without the knowledge of the immigration consequences of such a deal. The attorney didn't know, and the client certainly didn't know. So, hypothetically, a one time drug charge that happened when the immigrant was 18 would inevitably come back to haunt him at 50. 32 years after the fact. And now this immigrant, a family man and resident for many years, faces deportation for a mistake.

The Padilla case changed this situation. Now attorneys have a duty to inform their clients of the immigration consequences they face because of the criminal charges against them. As of 2010, this is the law of the land. But what about cases that occured prior to 2010? Can a criminal case be challenged and re-opened based on a Padilla claim?

No. The Supreme Court just ruled in Chaidez v. USA that Padilla claims are not retroactive. So that 18 year old immigrant can't go back and challenge his guilty plea at 50. It doesn't matter if he could have plead to a much lesser charge. It doesn't matter if he wasn't guilty and only followed his attorney's uninformed advice. The 50 year old man will more than likely be deported.

What a shame.

Our department was moved last Thursday to a different building. We're now the Guadalupe Community Center's new neighbor.

The offices are smaller. The walls echo with the sound of our voices, so that someone in the back can easily hear anyone chatting in the front. Since we uphold confidentiality above all else, the sound situation makes things a bit complicated. Obviously, I'll have to keep my door closed. Unless my master plan of covering all the walls helps.

Either way, the place is nice and cozy. We're back amongst people, other employees assisting with taxes or food.

Now I just hope the clients can find us.

Pistorius charged with murder.

As the hearing started, Pistorius kept his head down, cried and held his hands to his face. At times, he appeared confused.

"Take it easy. Come, take a seat," Reuters quoted Magistrate Desmond Nair as telling him.

A defense lawyer referred to his client’s “traumatised state of mind.”

Several of Pistorius’ family members were in the courtroom and also appeared emotional; one seemed distraught and others wept.

Poor sympathetic Pistorius. He mistakenly killed his girlfriend, and seems all but distraught at the fact. It's a buffet for the media. A free for all. It seems quite unreal that a man such as Pistorius could be guilty. Then again he may not be not guilty.

But, he's disabled? He couldn't possibly...?

I'm a firm believer in innocent until proven guilty. Unfortunately, since I'm not a fly on the courthouse wall, nor am I privy to the man's mind, it's really hard to say if he's innocent or not. It's not for me to judge. But I do feel bad. This man was a hero to many. He proved that anything was possible. I admired him for that. So it's a shame this happened because a remarkable man has just been charged with murder. His hero image has been tarnished.

And yet anyone can be a murderer, regardless of skin color, size, or capacity. Anyone can be a saint. It's the person who chooses what to do in life, not the image or the blades.

Don't make me sympathize for him because he's disabled, or make him seem more incapacitated than he is. He's just a man who may or may not have committed murder.

I keep squeaking by on my trusty Amigo scooter. For some reason the longer I go in reverse, the better it works going forward. It's like, give it 5 and it turns into 10. So I've caught myself going backwards wherever I can, trying to ignore the gawking stares of that security guard at Frost bank, and that couple strolling down Houston St. I smile and try to avoid sharp corners while marveling at my dexterity with the steering. Really, going backwards is scary.

This little bit of freedom recaptured is startling. I'm thankful that I can go out and about, but at the same time I'm paranoid that my scooter will stop, never to budge again. I think, just don't let it happen while I'm crossing a street. It's not that I'm afraid I'll get run down, though knowing San Antonio, it could happen. No, it's the fact that people will stop to stare, horns will blare, and maybe then someone might come up hollering if I need any help. How mortifying.

But I have to keep going.

The VIATrans schedulers have given me horrible times for the next few days, and if I don't want to get in trouble at work, I'll have no choice but to use the regular bus and travel like I used to.

And the new scooter is no where near to being approved. I called to check on the status, and the lady told me she had used the wrong code. Which means getting a new authorization signed by the doctor. Which means starting over.

So my baby has to hold on a little longer. Please, hold on.

I was preparing a post on caregiving and Texas health care, but the State of the Union sounds like so much more fun.

I hate SOTU's. The last one I listened to was during GW Bush's term, and his accent alone was enough to send me running.

I'm listening today because I want to hear what Obama has to say on immigration. It probably won't be anything new from what I've heard, but it will be interesting to hear. And watch how members react to the President's comments.

So, I'll be updating this post with my reaction. Catch me on twitter to @lekiare.

update: The SOTU isn't over yet, but I've found myself yawning.

The only thing that irks me is the President's comments on sending eligible immigrants to the back of the line before they can qualify for status. Well why not fix the actual line? Wait times for citizen siblings petitioning their immigrant siblings is over 15 years. The priority date is '96, but the line only advances a week per month. So in reality that line is like a 100 yrs.

Fix the lines!