memorial day

I guess today's as good a day as any.

Todat is Memorial Day... a good day to remember and move on. I haven't posted since my Jefe died - I really guess I didn't have anything to say really without addressing that first, and I just haven't felt like it. But we really do have to move on, even when we're desperate to hang on to the past, and this is my attempt.

Jefe was one of the best dogs I've ever known. He had some very annoying qualities, but his sweetness balanced out his neurosis. He was deaf, and I think that made him much more of a velcro-dog than Dalmatians are to begin with... which was both annoying and endearing. He was a beautiful dog - he was lean and muscular and had the most beautiful face and ears. He knew sign language... the last one he saw was hand-clapping, for "good boy." And he was a good boy. He did not like getting a bath, but he would eventually give up and walk himself into the bathtub. He was obedient - most of the time - but especially when treats were involved. When he wanted somthing really badly, he would get this yippie-bark... a really high-pitched, annoyingly insistent bark that usually got him what he wanted. He loved tennis balls... well, balls of all types. He loved bones of all types - nylabones, rubber bones and milkbones. He loved his Kong stuffed with peanut butter. Oh - and he LOVED peanut butter. He would salivate and drool out of both sides of his mouth! He loved homemade peanut butter or pumpkin cookies. He loved my sister dearly, and he tended to break stuff with my brother-in-law. He was a cuddle-bug. He slept with his mouth open, and sometimes on his back. If he couldn't sleep touching you, he'd sleep with one eye open. He hated to miss out on anything!

I could keep going... on and on... and probably never really capture the wonderful personality of this dog or the reasons why I loved him so. It has been two months, date-wise, and almost nine weeks in true count. It's hard to believe it's been that long, but it's beyond time to move on. I guess I just need to convince myself that moving on doesn't mean that he's forgotten... but also that obsessing over all the details doesn't remember him well. Don't misunderstand: I really have moved on in most regards, but there are parts of me that need to catch up with the rest of me. It'll happen one day... and today's as good a day as any. Here's to Memorial Day.

And now for the real reason for Memorial Day. I have a friend who just joined the Army and is at basic training at Fort Benning, GA. He's been there for a couple of weeks, and I've had his address for several days... on my to-do list for today is to write him a letter. I want to tell him about watching the shuttle land on tv, planting my garden, and reading his "diary" from Ft. Benning after his wife posted it to Facebook - things to hopefully distract him for a few minutes from his sore body and tired mind. I also want to tell him that I'm proud of him for wanting to serve his country at age 32, and I want to thank him and his wife (who is also in the Army and is currently stationed in Iraq) for their service to our country. I have two other friends who are Air Force and Navy and stationed in Europe that I need to thank. I know veterans... too many to name here. I will take this opportunity to replace our worn flag with a new one and thank those who serve our country, but more importantly, remember those who served our country and are no longer with us. They are the real reason. Here's to Memorial Day.

Jefe's test results

Basically a repost of an email to the family today:

I spoke with the vet today - he received the test results from UK. Apparently, UK could find NO cancerous growth of any kind in the tumor sample that our vet sent to them - they are calling it a hematoma! Doc said he was surprised that it wasn't a hemangiosarcoma (aka, cancer), and said that it's always possible that UK could have missed something, but ... as it stands, UK called it benign... and removal surgery for a hematoma is the cure! If they did miss something, we'll look for a quick change from pink to pale and a large belly again, indicating probable tumor growth on the liver or kidneys... and there won't be anything to do for him at that point. But, hopefully we won't have to go down that road, and hopefully UK got it right. As Alpine says, we'll take it!

Here are a couple of websites that explain the difference, if you're interested:

http://www.acvs.org/AnimalOwners/HealthConditions/SmallAnimalTopics/SplenicMasse
sinDogs/

http://mail.alltel.net/do/redirect?url=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.marvistavet.com%252Fhtml%252Fbody_splenic_masses.html

Jefe is still doing well, and is now getting almost 3 meals a day, plus treats, and any snot rags, popcorn bags or peanut shells that are left within reach. He's becoming his old, obnoxious self - which is a good thing, right?!? =) I think the incision site is starting to bother him a little, as he was really licking at it today while I was home for lunch. I'll probably have to day-board them at the vet next Tuesday, so I'll be sure and weigh him them. My sister wants to take bets on his weight... any takers?!?

recent issues with my jefe

Jefe's been having issues lately... weight loss, low red cell counts, etc... and Friday the problem was found and removed. Alpine explains, so I won't rehash it, but I'm glad to report that now, Jefe seems to be doing much better. He's eating well, resting well, has bursts of energy and wants to follow us around, and the color has returned to his nose and gums. Who knows how long we have with him - but do we ever know how long we have with anyone? We'll just do our best keep him happy and healthy for as long as possible, and enjoy every minute of it!

memories of Christmas

I was looking through my pictures today while sending my brother-in-law a nice picture of Alpine in the snow (nice, haha!) when I came across some Christmas picture that I fully intended on posting. So, here goes...

My mom and I made some dog cookies - one batch peanut butter, the other batch pumpkin - for... let's see... my two dogs, my sister's two dogs, my brother-in-law's dog, my in-law's dog, and a friend's dog. I still owe another friend's dog some cookies, and since it's more economical to make them, I'll be making more again soon - so she she'll get some, too! It'll be pumkin again, since I have lots of pumpkin in the freezer from last summer's garden. I need some excuses to make treats of the human kind, too... so if you need any pumpkin pie, zucchini bread or anything else you can make with pumpkin or zucchini, let me know! I want to try some pumpkin bread, too... I bet that's good. Anyway... back on topic. Here are the cookies... one batch made this many!

My sister and I decided to torture the dogs a little with the santa hats. I've tried them before, and they just don't like wearing them, but I got some decent pictures of them this time.

I especially like this one... she's trying desperately to get the stupid hat off her head!

poopie puppy

So, if you were ever wondering how to give a dog Pepto, try this:

Yes, I realize this looks disgusting, but ... whatever works! My poor puppy has had runny poop (some was downright watery) for a week now. The vet recommended Pepto. If you want to see something funny, just put a little dab of Pepto on your finger and let your dog lick it. The face they make trying to get that crap out of their mouths is hilarious! Anyway, since we really needed our poor puppy to drink the Pepto, Alpine suggested mixing it in rice. She loves rice. I usually make it with chicken broth if she's got an upset belly. She smelled the rice and was really looking forward to eating it... what an unpleasant surprise she got! hahaha... I think her love for rice overcame her distaste for Pepto, since she got most of this awful-looking pink nightmare down. The verdict is still out on the poop, but we successfully got two doses in her!

a three dog night

While last night was a three dog night, we managed to survive with only two. Here are just pictures of some rotten dogs (the extra one does, indeed, make three!):

spotted terrors

Took the dogs to see the family a few weekends ago. My sister brought her Dalmatian over to play, and what a good time we had!



I think I'm about to get plowed!



Why are sticks so fun?



Luckily, there was no contact this time!



What's that they're all chasing?

Sticks and pinecones... nature really does provide the best toys...

... and the best entertainment!

Until the treats come out, that is. Sit, Booboo, sit! Good dog(s)!