Wordless Wednesday - Entry 1

Wordless Wednesday

Perhaps I'll give two Meme's a shot. Wordless Wednesday isn't new. It's well-established, but it looks easy and very fun. Yay!

Tasty Tuesday

In an effort to write about something other than the furry kids in my life, I am going to begin participating in a Meme. It's brand new to the Meme world and covers another topic I am fond of: Food.

*pats her belly*

I've never participated in a Meme before but its very exciting to think that once a week I can see what inspiration the day's theme brings me and unload a post on this blog. Story, picture, recipe... who knows.

We shall soon find out.



*NOM*


Ms.B

Back in to "Pet Mode"

If I'm this focused on my animals, just imagine how bad I'd be with a child? I'd be that random stranger who whips out photos of their children for random strangers in the supermarket. Perhaps its for the greater good of my fellow citizens that I have furry children only.

As of yesterday, we have Hunny's AKC papers (her previous owners dropped them by our house!) and she's licensed. She's really and truly official now. It feels good. I can't wait to send in her registration, get her pedigree and have her microchip registered in our name. What a relief!!





p.s. Bo's butt stinks!! We need to find a way to remedy this right away!!
*looks around for a cork*

Mommy

I have a very bad habit. Well, I take that back, actually. It's not a bad habit. It keeps me sane, after all. (Well, as sane as I can be, that is.)

I like to dwell on anything BUT the actual bad drama in my life. Notice how my recent posts have been all about the animals in my life and no update on my poor, sweet crazy mother? SHAME on me!

She started chemotherapy this past Friday and her prognosis is good. We're hopeful that the treatment for the cancer in her ovaries will also help reduce or eliminate the nodules in her lungs and thyroid.

She returned to work a few weeks ago with a wig. She says that if she wears it now, folks won't notice a switch later when her hair falls out. In fact, she already buzzed her real hair down to about 1/2 inches in length just so she doesn't have to go through separation anxiety later. She had a rather dramatic look on her face the first time she whisked her "hair" from her head to display her new haircut. She's trying to be very brave about the whole situation, though I can tell she is a little scared. Who wouldn't be in this kind of situation, after all? If attitude is any indicator of survival, my Mommy is going to be just fine.

Thank heavens.

Tradition

The holidays seem to bring about a lot of tradition for many families and ours is no exception. Ours is not a "baking home". Nor do we have huge festive celebrations each year. But there are a few routines that we seem to repeat. Things that seem to happen each year and will most likely continue for years to come.

For instance, there is a local store here in town that manages to stay in business year after year despite the large Walmart Chains everywhere. I never think to shop there for things I need, and imagine that many other folks are the same way, so I have no idea why the place hasn't gone out of business yet. BUT-- during the holidays it always has the best assortment of tree ornaments. Amazingly cute things. And, if you wait til the right time, they all go on sale for 60% off. I like a good deal. And I love that each year we are able to find fun new ornaments for our tree. Happy Holidays to those to DO shop at this store throughout the year so that it is there for me during the holidays!

Speaking of ornaments, we also have a tradition of getting each of our pets an ornament. Bo's is an inexpensive one we found at Walgreens. It didn't look much like him since his boxer markings are unique. But with a little craft paint I was able to make a pretty good match. I was rather proud of myself, actually. I also found an ornament for Hunny. Ebay is my hero. It's rather difficult to find Pug ornaments. Many of them are just horrid looking. I'm realistic enough to realize that many of the pugs in this world are rather goofy looking as well, but my two are beautiful (I'm a sucker for a crisp, black mask) and I expect their ornaments to be cute as well. I proudly present to you our "current canine collection":





It was bittersweet hanging Chloe, Shelly and Fluffy on the tree this year. I miss them very much. But in all of their situations, they are in a better place now, whether its Rainbow Bridge or a home where they'll get the care and love they deserve, and we can look at their little ornaments and enjoy fond memories.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Ms.B

Did you place a bet...

on how long it would be before we filled the void Shelly's loss left in our lives?

If so, I hope you risked the big bucks on it not taking us very long. We rescued a female pug two days ago. We're calling her Hunny. So far she's fitting in just adorably. More info later, I'm sure.

A picture or three will have to suffice for now. :)

Ms.B

Bones

My two boys are relaxing in their kennels and chewing on their bones. They seem completely content with the world.

Their lives are so easy.

If all goes well, it will be more than 10 years before I have to make another decision like the one we made this week. I am going to enjoy the stuffin' out of these two and move on to focusing on the good memories of our good ol' Granny dog.

We are going to re-arrange the office today to better fit the boys' kennels. Our house is small but its amazing how nicely the things we have seem to fall into place here.

I love my Haven.


Ms.B

Happy Afternoon

Today was nice. Barbeque with friends from work. A few rounds of cards.

Relaxation.

Ahhhh!!!

Happy day!


Ms.B

I'll miss you, Shelly

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

Chaos

Toss me an umbrella, because when it rains, it pours.

It's early in the morning and I haven't slept tonight so forgive me for not making any attempts at creating a charming post. I just need a good vent. Congratulations! You, anonymous reader, get to be my unofficial therapist. Kick back, grab a note pad (or not), kick up your feet and listen up! Nod here and there so I think you are paying attention. Ready? Go!


Thank goodness its finally my off-week. Work is one less thing to worry about during this windstorm of drama that has blown into my life.

My dogs are sick. Bo had the runs last week, Gus has them this week and has also, for whatever reason, decided now is a good time to lick his upper lip until it is pink and raw. WTF? And on top of all that, Shelly has one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. Poor Granny dog. At this point letting her go on much longer is practically abuse. DH is calling around pricing the charges for having her humanely euthanized. Dammit! It's like losing a child. I'm sure people with human children might disagree but they aren't in my shoes. These dogs ARE my children. If you want me to experience the difference then go ahead and birth a kid through your own hips and send it my way. Perhaps them I'll quit my bitching understand.

Throughout the giant shit-mess that is my dogs' illness, I've also been under the weather. Just a cold, but still, its wiped me out. All week long my friends at work have told me I looked tired. I guess a forced-peppy attitude doesn't exactly hide the bags under my eyes. Whoopsie. Struggling at work, too. I'm normally near perfection with my processing. I do NOT make mistakes, I tell ya. I made a few doozies last week though with all that was on my mind.

What's on my mind? Oh, yes. The REAL deal causing most of my stress. My mom. Bless her heart, we clash a lot. But when it comes down to it, she's family. I love her.

She's sick.

Doctors found a tumor near her ovaries a few weeks ago. Last week, what was supposed to be an out-patient surgery ended up being a 4-5 hour long "Open Her Up and Get Everything We Can" procedure. I visited her at the Huntsman Cancer Hospital a few days ago and she seemed upbeat, though in a lot of pain. They think the tumor (which turned out to be the size of a softball. Not a baseball, a SOFTBALL!) was benign but the mass on her ovary wasn't so promising. Also, they discovered nodules in her lungs and on her thyroid. Awesome!! (Do sense the sarcasm, please.)

We're still waiting on test results. I plan to call my dad tomorrow to find out if any updates have come along. The worst part is that I can't vent about it on my Facebook account. Only here. The reason behind this is that my mom parents decided that my sister shouldn't be told about what is going on until she comes home from school in three weeks. Apparently she should hear this in person, a month after the fact instead of while she's at school. Over the phone is too impersonal. Seriously? If I was in her position I'd be extremely angry not to be included in what is going on. After all, she is an adult now and should be treated as such, even if she is a little immature for her age. No, the immature comment isn't an insult. I was the same way. Never fear. And in her shoes I'd have been mad not to be filled in on what is going on. A small issue, sure. Wait to tell me. But the doctors have already decided that there will be a few rounds of chemotherapy, at the very least. To me that means a big issue, regardless of the prognosis.

I HATE being asked to keep a secret like this. I'm tempted to just call my sis and spill the beans.

Perhaps I should.


Ms.B

Oh RAPTURE!

Does it reflect poorly on my life's "excitement rating" when a new vacuum is the highlight of my entire off-week from work? I mean, 7-day vacations twice a month are already a blissful thing in itself, I realize, but this fact is eclipsed by today's purchase.

We were only able to afford it thanks to the air-head bitch nice lady at work who backed into our Oldsmobile with her own vehicle two weeks ago. The damage was minor, but noticeable, and her insurance company stepped right in and cut us a check to fix it. Being as our car was made in 1989, we decided it was more practical to put the money to a better use and thus our Dyson DC28 came home with us. The cosmetic appeal of our 20 year old car can be fixed later. Meh.

We pulled out our 4-year-old Hoover vac and vacuumed the upstairs. Mind you, we shampooed the floors less than 2 weeks ago so they were not too nasty to begin with. Then out came the Dyson. Woa nelly! Oh joy! 2 inches of nasty dirt and hair filled the chamber in no time.

I am officially in love! DH should worry. I might just elope with our vacuum!


Ms.B

Sidenote: We found our vacuum hidden in a corner of the store-- minus its box. It had been returned by another customer for an unknown reason but was in perfect/new working order. It was discounted by $110. If you are in the market for a purchase like this one, take a look around. You never know when you might save a ton of money simply by wheeling the treasure out the door instead of lugging a box. Same machine. Same accessories. Same warranty. And we paid $490 for a $600 vacuum.

Sweet deal!