Learning Lessons

I'm trying to stay on top of the blog...and the dogs, and the shop, but I want to keep you informed, because it turns out some of you are really interested in Trooper. (If you're only here for the vintage I am SO sorry. Really. Until I get the new dog blog--yes, the dogs are getting their own blog--set up I'm posting here.

So, a quick run down of today:

1. Walking the dogs together is really...frustrating. I'm not sure how I'm going to improve on it, but it's a must or mommy's going to have a little meltdown. I walked them tonight, came home, dropped all leashes, turned around and took my very own walk. I was that stressed out. It happens.

2. My book came today: "Living With A Deaf Dog" by Susan Cope Becker. Now that we're moving from Trooper emergency care to daily care, it's really time to better understand him, rather than just coexisting with him. I think it will do us both good, as he's getting pretty demanding, a lot of barking if he can't see me and perhaps a bit spoiled.

3. Trooper made a serious break for it yesterday, down the driveway, FOUR houses down. I, of course, was in socks & flip-flops. I ditched the flip-flops mid-run and chased him down in my socks on a wet sidewalk. Good times. My knees really love me today, too. With better health, he's getting faster. I SO need a driveway gate.

4. As his teeth feel better, his appetite is growing, but he's having some trouble with food. I grind it up and make a mushy paste with water, but we're now one step further making "dog food soup" that he can lap up. The mush was getting pushed all over the floor, leaving Zephyr as clean-up patrol. Trooper has NO front teeth anymore, or, no scoopers, as I like to think of them. So, I'm trying to make sure he gets enough to eat. I worry. (I worry about everything, but now I have a whole new list of dog worries too. Sigh. Breathe. Om.)

Needs a clean-up commity

5. Lastly, I got another donation to the surgery fund! Now at, $185!. It's from someone I don't even know, not even from Twitter. (I love it when people blow my mind, in a good way.). This lovely woman nearly put me in tears, because she APOLOGIZED for not being able to give very much. My mind just reeled, because, because...no one should ever apologize for giving. We give what we can, when we can, if we can, however we can, or not. I get we are in a major recession, and we are all doing the best we can at any given moment. Let's all say "Oooooommmm". And, thank you kind person for donating. It ALL helps. :-)

Side note: I am being taught a lot about generosity right now. It's good for me, and sometimes hard too, because I often feel that asking for help with Trooper--or anything, really--is wrong, not polite, "we just don't do that." It's needy, greedy or...in poor taste. I sometimes feel very guilty. I don't want to make people feel uncomfortabe. I don't expect anything. Who am "I" to ask for anything?! Etc, etc, etc. I'm trying--trying, trying, trying--to learn to just sit still, say thank you, be gracious and let it happen. It isn't easy, but perhaps, necessary. 

And...that was today's short list. Sorry. I think, write, pontificate and write. It's never short. Brevity, something else to work on.


Again, thank you. Thank you for just reading. You rock. :-)

d, xo

Little Guy: Dental, Earaches & Hope

So, I find this little dog and my whole life gets flipped for a loop--Zephyr's too, poor guy--but that's how life works. It's okay--or, it will be okay, or it is depending on how I look at it--the glass is half empty or half full. And people have been SO GENEROUS. I'm floored by it all, but not used to the flurry, commotion, attention, distraction, the whole EVENT of it all, I just haven't caught my breath yet.



Last night, at 3am, Zephyr and I were startled awake by little guy yowling from his box. I ran downstairs to find him all agitated. I took him outside, not much help. He was all in a dither, scratching his ears and wobbling.

I took him back to the vet today, way out in the burbs--the vet I was going to specifically for a dental overhaul CONSULTATION. Alas, 30 minutes later we had a mass ear infection diagnosis plus an extensive dental layout. We walked out with a boat load of meds: TrizUltra + Keto: ear cleaning fluid, Mometamax: a steroid, I think, Biomax: an antibiotic and Tramadol for pain. Ka-ching: $140. There goes Christmas.

 Plus, the dental estimate which ranges from an absolutely easy-peasy surgery at $195 to the most extensive teeth extractions, neuter and prolonged anesthesia at a conservative $473. Please lord, pass the wine...

As the honeymoon of finding little guy wears down and the cost goes up, I am settling into my former panic--bills, bills, bills, rent, and, oh, Christmas. My niece is the only one receiving this year and I feel shitty about that. I'm having a bad-grown up moment. Then I think of my niece and how she'd give up a present for little guy because she adores him, even though she's only met him once so far.

I have to remember--over, over and over--that the universe has been incredibly generous. Strangers have donated money, kind wishes, encouragement, direction, dog treats and good comfort. I look in the mirror, again and again, repeat with shaky will: I AM BLESSED.

d, xo