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http://pol.moveon.org/stopthesmears/o.pl?id=13009-8294195-21kJ4gx&t=5

Unreasonable fears

As you may or may not know, my beloved pitbull mix Lillith died on May 3rd. She was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma on April 29 while getting her teeth cleaned. My rottie mix Cixous really needs her teeth cleaned. They are gross. I don't want periodontal disease to kill her. However, I am a little gun shy about having her get her teeth cleaned. This is an unreasonable fear. I get those.
I know that the association between teeth cleaning and doggy diagnosis of death is tangential at best. There is a correlation of one and no causality. Unless of course Cixous reacts to the anesthesia and dies on the table. It does not help to tell myself this. I would hate an ironic death. So she is getting her teeth cleaned on Wednesday, July 2. It will be just fine.....

A Rut in the Road

I am a creature of habit. I embrace that part of me (generally). However, my routine is now being managed by my yellow lab. I don't spend enough time in front of a computer at work, so I try to spend some time honing my bubbletown skills (and currently my word play skills) in the evenings when my spouse is at work. This new practice has outraged my dog. He assures me that he needs me to return to my previous routine of playing with him outside and letting him curl up at my side while I veg out in front of Scooby Doo. Sigh. I realize he is a dog, and that I should not give in to his demands. I am being a very bad dog parent. However, as a concerned dog owner, I realize that spending quality time with him is vital to his sense of being in the pack. I just don't want him to think I am doing it cuz he said so.
As neither the vegging in front of the TV nor the busting of bubbles qualifies as exercise and in light of tight skirt today, I am committed to spending quality time with my dog while exercising. It is far too hot to go for a walk because I live in a swamp... a hot and humid swamp.He can watch me ride the stationery bike while he fetches the ball and he can continue to mess up my sit-ups with attempts to sit on my lap. I think this will work out well.

Word Games

So I have been attempting to play the various and sundry word games that are now available through Facebook. I figured I should curb my addiction to Bubbletown by playing something that would exercise the brain a bit more. I am on Word Play, Scramble, and Scrabulous. I have a single game going with a chemistry professor... he is currently in the lead.
That said, I am seriously doubting the quality and value of my education thus far. I have a degree in words (English and Speech Communications). I should be kicking ass in these word games. The fact that I am not is seriously bumming me out. In all fairness, I have several plausible excuses for my lack of success. Here they are so far:
1. I never learned to type properly.
2. I do not work well under time constraints
3. Most of the "words" in Scramble and Word Play are really not words.

I think they are fairly solid excuses. Your thoughts?

Stay Away

Someone thought it would be a good idea to scope out my property this morning at 6:30am. Not too smart. I have two large dogs and one soon to be large ferocious dog (he's still just a puppy) not to mention a shotgun that I am more that able to use. Whoever it was opened the gate to our backyard. Not cool. Thankfully the dogs were not outside and I caught the open gate before anyone went on an adventure.
I used to feel a lot safer in my house. It needed a paint job really badly for several years. The extended neighborhood thought the house was abandoned or at least haunted. It didn'y hurt that I had two pitbulls and a rottie mix. Last year we had a spring time rash of house robberies. Our house was spared. We had it painted (finally) by Ozuna's Painters (They do great work!!!!). The only down side is that now the house looks really good. It looks like people with money might live there now.
Our main guard dogs are now the rottie mix (she does look pretty scary), the yellow lab and then the doberman puppy. I think the yellow lab, while a good barker, lacks the street cred to scare off the would-be robber. Not sure though. Thoughts?

Vet School Update

The LSU Vet School has been very apologetic about their gross error. While I wish I could turn back time and have them undo their mistake, I know that such thinking is futile. Kudos to Kat and Jeff for their counsel and support. Kudos to me for letting go of the anger.
The Vet School is going to place a memorial brick in the Womack Serenity Garden for Lily. I get to suggest what it read. I settled on:
LILITH
BEST DOG EVER
1998 - 2008

Silence is golden

Somethings just cannot or at least should not be voiced. (Even in a mostly anonymous blog). I will not go into details of the situation as it involves someone other than myself. However, I want to express my feelings (which can and should be voiced). Here goes: angry, disappointed, hurt, sad, sorry, frustrated, worried, concerned, optimistic, helpless, and resolved

Wuv, twu wuv is what bwings us together today

Marriage is not easy under the best of circumstances, and we rarely live in the best of circumstances. My own marriage seems to be on pretty solid ground. Mostly because we have compatible expectations and life goals. Secondly, because we genuinely like and respect each other and take time to reiterate our mutual appreciation on a daily basis.
Marriages break down because of many issues, but I think at the heart of it is plain old resentment. Perceived sacrifices that involve expectations and life goals fester into resentment and the marriage breaks down. Sad, but true. Sometimes the resentment stems from lack of communication; other times from decisions that one person did not want to make - but did for the "good of the marriage." Decisions made that are regretted are never good for the relationship. To my mind, we are all adults in these relationships and have to take ownership of the decisions we make. It is a balancing act.... we must weigh our satisfaction with our existence based on the decisions we make and the perceived satisfaction we would have if the decision was not made. In my own case, the sticky point of our marriage involves progeny (our lack thereof). I weigh not having a child and maintaining my marriage "as is" against both the perceived satisfaction of having a little one and the potential destruction of my marriage. Some days my maternal needs seem to rule, but so far that is not the norm. I have to own these feelings and not resent my husband for his.

Wowzers

So, was it only yesterday that I voiced my ennui? my discontent with the lack of drama in my life? I should learn to shut the hell up. Really. I have had two crazy days in a row. First the Vet School threw away my beloved dog's ashes. Then today, I filed a police report because some university professor may or may not be criminally insane. I don't know, but I'm not taking any chances. Please, boredom return my way. I will try not to complain so loadly next time.

A Letter from Austin

As part of his pet therapy, I asked that Austin (my 4 year old yellow lab) write a letter expressing his feelings. This first one was a complete flop. He just wrote "throw the ball" over and over again. I asked him to dig a bit deeper. He added the words "now" and "hurry". He just wasn't getting it, so we tried again. I provided some more structure this time and requested that he write the letter to our new puppy, Kurzweil. As Kurzweil is not able to throw balls, the end result was much better. I am enclosing the letter in this blog. Austin spells really well for his age and species.

Dear Puppy:
I don't know your name or where you came from, but I think you need to understand a few basic rules here. Dude, you keep taking my spot on the bed. That is so uncool. Just stop, okay? And calm the fuck down. I mean, come on. I am a yellow lab and I think you are taking this puppy crazy thing too far. I don't appreciate the way you interfere with my cuddling time with the pretty lady. I was here first. I don't appreciate the way you bogart the tennis ball when I am trying to get my morning workout. Another thing... dude, give me some space. You are always like right there. Biting my face and crap. Not cool. I don't want to play with you all the time. I need some Austin time, man. Respect that. Oh, and quit peeing in my house.
There, I have said what I had to say. Got it off my chest. Now, lady throw the ball.
Peace out,
The Aus

Forgiving the Unforgivable

So let's say you had a wonderful loved one that suddenly passed away. Okay, now lets say that you had him or her put down.... humanely and by professionals. The loved one is a dog. Then the same professionals lost your beloved dog's ashes. Actually, they lost the paperwork that was attached to the corpse of said doggie and therefore disposed of her remains e.g., threw her away. Now the paperwork to bill for the private cremation remained and was properly processed. Hence the title of this blog.... so how do I forgive the unforgivable?

The Why and the How

So, I have been really bored lately. Not enough drama in my workplace for me. Yes, I know it just sounds so wrong. You have to understand, I used to work in a crazy place. Now I do not... in fact it has been 3 years. I keep waiting for the other shoe and to need to whip out my dealing with crazy skills. Now I am the only crazy.
I have decided that in lieu of crazy, I just need to vent publicly from time to time on the weirdness
that is my life. So now I have this vehicle and you have my words. Future blackmail materials I am sure.

They Pay Me for This

So I was asked by my boss (who is wonderful) to get a Twitter account so I could become just that much hipper. Apparently that is what I am paid for.... using hip tools. Gotta love my life