The Gag Order

More Friends

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:27:22 GMT

Becca is back to stay with us for a couple of days. We got our "Becca hugs" when she checked in (she jumps up on us, ever-so-gently and just holds on to our shoulders! It is so cute). But once outside, SHE got a "Jae hug"! LOL!

I have written about her before; she is a standard poodle who likes to "roll the Corgi baby", LOL!

And Zach is new to our facility; he is not very old, but has hip issues. He loves to be picked up and held. Look at his tongue hanging out of the side of his mouth! Sweet boy...

My job is so hard...

Ya Gotta See This!

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:09:09 GMT

I mentioned a 132-pound 8 month old St. Bernard puppy.

His mommy picked him up, Tuesday, but we got a few pic's, first.

His paws are almost as big as my hands.

See?

Isn't he darling???

Bowling

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:41:09 GMT

Yes, today is Wednesday, and therefore time to hit that bowling alley, and brag a bit about myself...

No meds; better bowling...again.

My team (of two) was in third place when we walked in the alley, this morning. Unbeknownst to us, we were bowling the fourth place team.

They beat us 3 of 4 games.

The question afterward was, "does this mean we are now in fourth and they are in third?"

Seems in all the years I have bowled, I never paid attention to the whole team standing stuff.

My partner is a newbie; this is her first time bowling. She carries an average of 106. Mine is up to 144 (still not close to my "old" one). Before this, I had not bowled a league for 15 years. The last league I bowled, I carried a 162 average. It has been a struggle. A struggle bowling, as well as a struggle to accept my new average. But, it was a Summer league, after all, and good practice for the Fall. Right?

Of course I am right.

Anyway, I bowled a 170, a 167, and a 148. Not as good as last week, but certainly nothing to sneeze at, either.

I am feeling more comfortable.

Although, I need to look into re plugging my ball; since I lost the weight, my finger holes are too big, and I think I now have "bowling fingers" because I am gripping the dang thing so hard so I don't drop it behind me as I swing back (this happened during practice). I bowl finger-tip, so I am not sure why they are too big, now. I guess I lost weight in my finger tips! LOL!

Bridgett, it sure would be fun to bowl on a league with you. We could kicksome serious butt, you and I!

Was supposed to go check into another gym membership (my membership ran out in October). Jeff said he would pay for one. But, I spent my day off hanging out with my girl-child. Better get on that. I STILL need to learn to swim. I can dog paddle like a pro, but...

LOL!

RESPONSE NEEDED re: Kory Casto

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:27:15 GMT

Hey, "bouncyb05", send me an e-mail.

Seems I can't send you one.

I would like to respond to your rudeness (and arrogance).

Apparently, because you think you don't know me, I am not real, and I am required to provide information to you in order to identify myself.

You need a background check, too?

What ever it takes, little one.

I can do it.

And when we are done with all that B.S. I will let you publicly apologize to me, just as you publicly tried to humiliate me.

Can YOU do THAT?

Guess we'll see...

Bowling Finger

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 02:51:45 GMT

Tennis elbow.

Turf toe.

Bowling finger?

During a conversation with the doc at work, I went to snap my fingers, but couldn't because my fingers hurt...

Really bad.

I said, "Ow" and then added, "I must have bowling finger or something!"

LOL!

Since I have Wednesdays off, I decided not to take my meds before bowling my league last Wednesday. When I go to work, I have to take meds early, before I go, because if I don't I will most likely forget. But when I am not working, I can take them at "regular time," which is between 10 and noon.

Well, by not having taken them, I showed up at bowling feeling good, and balanced and all that jazz.

And I bowled pretty well...

174 (first game)

196 (second game)

and then my "stinker" game, 137.

Now, this is how I used to bowl.

I think I will just skip those meds on Wednesday mornings and take them after I am finished tossing that bowling ball 50 times or so...

Maybe So

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:57:13 GMT

It is funny that I got the same response to my last entry as I have been thinking. Immediately after giving my "report" to the tech, I added, "I think she may have ADHD."

The tech stopped and thought for a moment, and said, "You know, that may be true."

I want to talk about how much fun this girl can be (and, yes, we are allowed to have fun!):

We were sitting on the stairs outside monitoring a play group that had just been formed.

It included the out of control lab puppy, Gus (anyone remember him? That toe nail is almost grown back, now), the 8 month old ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-TWO POUND St. Bernard puppy, and the Rottie-Mastiff mix pup who is owned by the groomer. They were pretty rowdy, so we hung out with them, just in case it got out of hand.

Well, I think I have described before what it is like to hang out with a group of dogs; they have a tendency to "check-in" every once in a while as they race around, for a kiss, a pat, a scratch or a snuggle. The groomer's dog had been playing with the St. Bernard. Then he wandered over to us, started snuggling up. I reached out to scratch him on his back (everyone likes a little butt-scratch) and my hand landed right in a pool of slime (courtesy of the St. Bernard). The other girl did the exact same thing, just a split second after me. So we were both looking at our hands and saying "Ewwwwwwwww!!!!"

Before I could even move, she reaches over and tries to wipe her hand on MY SHIRT, and in turn, I try to wipe MY hand on her jeans. And it was on!

Now, WE are chasing each other around the play yard, and the dogs are watching US!!! LOL!

And this is why I wish she could just get it together...

Remember, this is girl is 17 and I am 45 and we are running and screaming and laughing. Maybe this is why My Kendra keeps telling me I don't SEEM like I am 45.

Guess I don't act my age.

(ya think?)

Later in the day, I was consulted about something. My boss does not want to give up on this girl. She asked me if I thought the girl could handle a job based solely on the paperwork end of our job. And I voted "yes."

So, it seems she is not on her last leg, yet. They are just going to intensify her training in that area (in which I struggle) and see how it goes...

Off to work the early shift. I hate it. A feeding schedule by myself. Plus check ins and check outs with no support personnel. Until 1:00. Private walks of Gus (out of control lab puppy) and Harley (St. Bernard puppy). Lots of work. Not enough time. Even for someone without "time management issues".

I already have a headache...

Wipe The Tears And Grow Up

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:40:09 GMT

Was stopped by the doc and other hospital staff as I was (practically) running through from B kennel on my way to the boarding desk. Topic turned to the pets in our care. And also how "everyone" was doing.

I stated that I had not been crying so much about departing dogs. They laughed at me. They have always thought this was a very odd aspect of my make up, and I heard many, many times, "Jae, they are not YOUR dogs!"

Anyway, I commented on how I felt I was evolving emotionally, as I could "let go" of the dogs and return them to their owners with little emotional drama. Thinking I was doing better, it occured to me that, even though I am not crying about my "friends" leaving, I am now back to going to work, every day. I am worrying about the dogs, and have been going in to check on them...

LOL!

Guess I am not as emotionally grown up as I thought I was...

***************************************************

Not Here

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:18:40 GMT

I was talking only about work, for more than one reason.

I have been at work a lot (not so much in hours, but in consecutive days).. There has been a lot of chaos at work.

And...

Because, as usual, there are huge issues going on in my personal life. Some good, some not so good. All needing my attention, but I am so mixed up, confused and anxious that I can't continue to talk about any of it. I need a break.

I come here for my break.

And talk light-hearted. About the things that make me happy.

The job I do.

The feeling of acceptance no matter what.

I walk into those kennel rooms, and I am greeted with happy barks and wagging tails and bright eyes staring at me, hoping that I will open their run door first!

They are glad to see me. Some are just glad to see anyone, but honestly, there are those that want me.

Lots of my "friends" checked out Monday and Tuesday. A couple new furry faces checked in.

Today there will be a lull. I have the day off, but I am going in for a couple of hours to fill a gap in the schedule, when no boarding staff member will be there. As luck has it, there will be a ton of boarding chaos that will go on in that 2 hour gap. Maybe by me being there, it won't happen.

Tomorrow we get hit again. Enough check-ins to fill one and a half kennel rooms. Back to semi chaos.

I guess it is okay, I just don't get to play with my buds as much. I can still have them out, but I don't actually get to play...

Too much work to do. If I played in the midst of it all, I would not get my work done and the next shift would not be happy. Then I would never leave, trying to help them catch up.

Anyway...

We have had some beautiful weather around here.

Hot, hot, hot!

The air conditioned kennel rooms is where ALL of us, dogs included, want to hang out! LOL!

Time to hit the shower. I bowl my league this morning, and will go straight to work from there.

Happy Wednesday...

The Lull

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 15:49:52 GMT

When things seem so out of whack and unpleasant, then slowly dissipates as the days go by, it is nice to enjoy the lull before I have to face another round of (inevitable) emotional trauma.

People in my life come and go. Leave then stay; stay then leave; stay, stay (leave?).

"Break up, make up, wobble, fall. Get up! Buck up! Not done with it all..."

That cycle to repeat...

Trying to re connect to self in the midst of the ashes is difficult (difficult really being an understatement).

My life plan drastically changes due to other things going on in life, then re appears (when I become off-kilter) as a reminder of what I should be doing; focusing on other aspects of my life that need tending to.

Like the neglected garden of personal growth.

I am feeling better, again. Not tripping and falling so much over life's obstacles. Not always upright and strong, though, either.

Part of the process.

Work is good, home is good, I am good.

Today.

Hoping that tomorrow there will be sunshine in my soul. That gentle warmth of contentment, to take me through the weekend, and drop me off at the door at work come Monday morning, refreshed and ready to tackle another week.

And a lab or two...

The Good, The Not-So-Good, and the UGLY

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:22:15 GMT

Figured I would share a little bit of the less than precious view of dogs we have in our care, sometimes...

A while back, I explained of being bitten three times by a dog whose dog parents insisted she was "sweet and gentle." Goes to show how sometimes the parents have no clue what their dog is like away from home!

Just to clarify, the "bites" I sustained did not break the skin; they were merely big, dark bruises up my arm. But, still...

Here's Halo...

I think she is in a bad mood...

LOL!

In her defense, she does this every time we approach her suite, but she has never attacked or bitten anyone since that day she bit me (while I was trying to return her to her suite after play time). We open the door, she comes out, follows us outside, does her dog-thing, plays, comes back in, and we "trick" her back in her run by tossing her favorite cookie in there, leave the door open, pretend to ignore her, and within a minute or two, she casually walks in to get the cookie and we rush over and close the door. No tugging at her collar, no slip-leashing her in. Seems that is what really gets her upset, and will compel her to "take a bite.".

We all just laugh at her when she does this now, because we KNOW her bark is bigger than her bite!

Still pretty scary looking, though, huh?

Anyone want to take Halo for a walk?

LOL!