Taking Time Off

Thank you everyone for welcoming into the Blog World, I hope to return again soon.

Normally I am not so flaky, but I have had a lot on my mind...and I just have to concentrate on getting thigs sorted out right now.

I plan on checking in and reading blogs from time to time...

I hope you all have wonderful summers...

Happy and Sad All Mixed Together

So Buddy has found his new forever family and life is back to “normal”. He was only with me for 2 ½ weeks, but I cried (a lot) when I dropped him off with his new family. I knew it would be hard but I guess I didn’t realize how hard. In my mind it was only a little while and I knew he was never mine to keep. But at the end of day it didn’t make a bit of difference because it still hurt like a…well like giving up a puppy.

His new family is wonderful and actually live about 5 minutes from me, now that’s fate! They have another 8 month old Britt boy so the two of them will get to play and grow up together. The dad is retired and spends most of his days at home so there is very little alone time for the pups. I couldn’t have hoped for a better home for him.

And knowing that he’s in a wonderful home with a wonderful family and that I was doing the right thing didn’t help one little bit when he tried to follow me out the door and when he realized he wasn’t leaving with me he started to cry. Now just thinking about it is making me cry.

His family has sent me two updates, for the two days that he has been away, and for the most part he is doing well. It made me sad to hear that he cried for a bit even after I pulled out of the driveway and also when I found out he didn’t eat the next morning, which is huge for him because he eats everything in his path. But to hear that he spent the day playing with his new brother and that his new mom left work early on Monday to spend time with him makes me smile.

I thought that being a foster mom would be great and that the feeling happiness when finding the dog a forever feeling would override the sadness of letting them go, but after going through it and talking to other foster parents the answer is no, no it does not override that feeling when it first hits, but that in time when you hear about how the dog is truly becoming part of the family and if possible seeing how well their doing with the family later on then it becomes worth it. But the immediate feeling of loss does not become easier.

With hearing this I thought that maybe this isn’t my thing, that I’m just not tough enough to handle the loss. But then I received an email from the state coordinator (going out to all of the volunteers) stating that foster families are needed and that there are two states that are at full capacity (meaning the shelters are full and so are the foster families) so now they are willing to transport dogs all over the country just to get them into foster care. So, I have decided that I need to bite the bullet and not be so damn selfish. In fact I was a bit disappointed in myself for quitting so easily. The amount of sadness that I go through is nothing compared to leaving the dogs out there in shelters or worse being put down because there isn’t anywhere for them to go. So, though I am sad and know that it will suck each and every time I go through this, the benefits and joy for the dogs and forever families (and selfishly for me down the road) override the sadness. So, I will be taking in another foster dog after 05/19/07- odd date I know, but that is the first available time I have to devote enough time it and getting my grass fixed from after the winter.

Hope you all are doing well!

Just had to share this...

Buddy's the one on the left and Daisy's on the right. This picture made me laugh.

Interviewed by Kell...

Sorry, it took me so long to answer..

1. You’ve won a contest to go on your dream vacation. Where do you go?

I would go to Alaska. I have always wanted to go and see the mountains, the whales and go fishing! I’m not even sure why Alaska is that enticing to me, but it is. One day I will get there!

2. If you could take a potion to change one thing about you, what would you change?

My cynical side…I wish I could just squash it! I think that I get better everyday and I actively try and keep it in check, but sometimes it still gets away from me.

3. What was your favorite Halloween costume?

Don’t boo…but I have always disliked getting dressed up in costume. I think that I was excited about being Lemon Meringue (from the Strawberry Shortcake group) but I just remember the mask slipping all the time and then I couldn’t see out of the little eye holes and the plastic outfit/dress thing was too big so I kept tripping on it. L

4. Which reality show would you be on?

Again, don’t boo… but I don’t watch reality TV. But…if I could be on a TV show that is about real people and events, but not a contest, it would the dog whisperer. I have been to one of his seminars and I was able to talk to him for a little bit about my dog, but I would still love to meet him and spend more time learning from him, though he and I do disagree on some of his theories I still think he has a lot of good information to learn from.

5. You have a friend who’s thinking of adopting a rescue dog. What advice would you give her?

LOL!!! Probably more than she would ever want! I have a bad habit of spewing information/my opinions about dogs. But really to make sure that she picks the dog with both her brain and her heart, because there would be nothing worse than it not working out and having to send the dog back. It is so easy to get caught up in looks or the sad life it had, but sometimes people aren’t prepared and/or able to handle the baggage a dog can bring along.

Busy with Buddy

Well all within the same 48 hrs I was accepted as a volunteer with the American Brittany Rescue group and receive my first foster dog!
Buddy is 8 mos old and very sweet he was dropped off with another volunteer by his old family. They stated that he was scratching and nipping at their 4 children under the age of 7, they have 9 children total!
He’s a wonderful little guy, he does need some training, but all dogs do. He learns quickly and is very eager to please. He will make some family very happy!
He and Daisy are doing great together. He and Lily haven’t made fast friends and it’s not because he hasn’t tried!
If I could I would adopt him in a heartbeat. I have only had him since 1:00 PM yesterday, but already have fallen in love with the little guy. I know I will miss him when he leaves, but I can’t wait for him to find a forever family!!! All dogs deserve a good home with a family to love them.

Interviewed by Newt...

1. Your pup Daisy gets a friend - what do you choose?

That’s easy another Brittany, but this time it would be from the American Brittany Rescue group. I love Brittany’s their size, “normal” temperament, energy level and affection level, for me their the best dog. But they’re definitely not for everyone.

2. What designer would you want to be a runway model for?

That’s a tough question because I don’t have a favorite designer. So I will go with whoever is modeling petites. Being short isn’t bad, but trying to find clothes that fit can be a real stinker.

3. What would your ultimate car be?

Stupid answer, but honest answer, would be the same car I have right now, but new and I don’t mean a 2007 I really mean the car I have right now. The 2000 Grand Cherokee Limited. I love the size, color and interior. I love having a sunroof for the summer and the heated seats in the winter. In fact I would keep the same exterior and interior colors. The only thing I don’t like about my car is that I have 80K+ miles on it.

4. You could live inside one book - which one?

Clifford the Big Red Dog…that would rock!

5. Free day off from work - all expense paid - how do you spend it?

Springtime buying plants and planting flowers and then have family and friends over for a cheese and wine tasting party.

Summer enjoy reading a good book on the patio while Daisy plays in the kiddie pool then have family and friends over for beer and a BBQ.

Fall I would spend the day up North admiring the beautiful scenery on the North Shore

Winter…well I would just wait until spring to take my day off.

There’s just something about spring…

What a great weekend...Friday I had dinner with an old friend, K. K and I have known each other since the 7^th grade but actually started becoming friends in the 12^th grade. Basically we were college best friends. She and I can go forever without talking and then pick up where we left off as if a day had not passed by. Before Friday I hadn’t seen her since early November. Anywho, it was great getting together with her and catching up.

Saturday, started with a nice walk in the AM with Daisy and then I met up with Newt. We hung out for a while at her place, as I am trying to bribe Caleb and Lily into trusting me. Then we headed off for a fun day of shopping! Let me just say that thank god my dad was nice enough to take Daisy for the day as we were gone for over 8 hrs shopping! By the time I had picked up Daisy and gotten home it was 10 and I still hadn’t eaten, so I threw some burgers on the grill and ate dinner at 10:30. J I know that’s super late to eat, but a girl’s gotta eat (again)!

Sunday I went to parents to visit and we relaxed, drank wine and read our books. It was nice. The dogs played all day running around in the backyard.

Today, the weather was unbelievable! It actually hit 80+ degrees! Needless to say after work Daisy and I hit the park and I let her go in the lake for a little bit, there was still some ice on the lake so she could only wade, but by the time we got back to the car she was already dry!

SPRING

On Saturday Daisy and I went for a four mile walk and I loved it!!!! I know spring is full of mud puddles and there's still snow on the ground, but that doesn't bother me in spring. I love driving with my sunroof open, being able to open the windows in the house, turning off the heat and oddly enough I love the spring cleaning. There's just something about spring that changes the way things look.

WTF

I don’t get it! I was driving with my mom today and as we were waiting at a red light 3 boys all under the age of 15 (I would guess) started running across the hwy (A true Hwy w/a speed limit 50 MPH). They were crossing against the light. Two of the boys stopped and stood on the island to wait for the traffic and the third STROLLED into traffic. Then when cars slammed on their brakes to avoid hitting the kid he turned and gave the drivers the finger and continued to stand there, in the middle of the highway, giving various drivers the finger. My mom and I were both like WTF???? Then he finally crossed and was standing on the sidewalk waiting for his other two friends. Of course, he is staring into our car (two feet from my window) and throwing rocks in our direction to get a rise out o f us. Both of us refused to give him any reaction, which I believe disappointed him. I turned and looked at him and casually turned away as if I just looked at a pile of …on the side of the road. After looking directly at him without any emotion he stopped. This kid was just looking for a fight. When I was his age there was no way I would have attempted any such idiotic behavior, hell I don’t think that I knew anyone who would’ve behaved in this fashion back then. I guess I just wonder why is it the police are never around when you want them to be, because that would have been sweet had the kids been busted by them.

The Slump is Over!!!!!

The Perfect Weekend...

It started out with dinner with friends, L², L and her husband (also an L) just brought home the newest addition to their family, so I stopped over to visit after work and see the baby. It was a nice quiet evening.

Saturday started with a walk at the park, it was a beautiful morning, followed by a successful training session with Daisy at the vet clinic. Later that afternoon I met up with Newt at the conservatory and zoo. We had a great time! The weather was so warm I didn’t even need a jacket, the scenery was beautiful and the company was wonderful. I took a ton of pictures and was able to try out different features on my new camera.

Sunday I spent with my parents we just hung out around the house and relaxed. We had our first BBQ, yum… And to top it all off BB and I were able chat, via IM, twice this weekend!!! (We haven’t had an opportunity to IM in a long time)