Random Stuff

I saw a bumper sticker on the drive into work this morning. It said: Bush’s 3rd Term = John McCain.

I just used the restroom at work and someone was puking. I hope it was because they were sick and not because they have an eating disorder. Not that I hope someone is sick either.  

Last night after dinner, I was craving something sweet. I let all the dogs outside and followed behind them with a glass of Estancia Sauvignon Blanc. I was inspecting my garden and realized that my sugar snap peas are ready. So I proceeded to snap several off and have those as dessert. I’ve never had more sweet, round, flavorful and full sugar snap peas as I did last night.

Bella Bear’s allergies are getting bad again. Really bad. She does not have food allergies like Jo - B’s are  seasonal like mine and every spring and fall they get bad. For example sometimes if we walk though freshly cut grass in the park she will get all sneezy. She gets post-nasal drip that makes her tummy upset. I try and control it with homeopathic remedies (calcium sulfate and allium cepa for allergies and ginger tonic for tummy) and salmon oil for itchiness but she is getting 2 bad hotspots that she won’t leave alone again. So I started her on Benedryl last night. I hate doing that because Benedryl affects her like everyone - she just sleeps all the time. Fortunately, she is due for her yearly checkup each July so we are seeing Dr. Wiggers at Downtown Vet this Thursday (we left the Paw Patch and I could not be happier with the care my babies have received so far at Downtown Vet. Plus it’s way closer to home). I know they will likely put her on steroids and antibiotics to clear up her hotspots which I hate but I just want her to feel good again. I think I’m going to add local honey into her food now and see if that helps.

I’m excited to be visiting Jen et all over the 4th of July holiday. The only not so exciting aspect is what it will cost me in gas to get there and home. Door-to-door roundtrip it’s 328 miles. I have a horribly fuel-inefficient SUV that gets about 14-15 mpg on the highway. And at $4.19 a gallon? You do the math.

I’m getting a haircut today. I’m way overdue. And I’m ready for another change. I’m thinking Ellen Barkin’s character (Abigail Sponder) from Ocean’s 13?

The Revolving Door

It’s been a revolving door of fosters in my house this past week. I usually never “give up” on a foster dog unless it’s not a good fit with one of my girls but had to trade Serengeti/Truman (foster number eight) in finally this past Saturday.  He is an anxious guy which was making Bella a disaster - Bella is a big, white furry sponge walking around taking on board the emotions of those around her - good, bad and ugly.  If Momma is not happy, B is not happy. If there is an anxious dog in the house, Bella’s going to do some destruction Bella-style. The final straw though was I didn’t have a fence that could contain Truman. I’ve never known a pyrthat was so hell-bent on getting out.  He could barely focus to potty when in the yard because he was plotting his escape. He either didn’t want to live with us or just was panicky and thinking he needed to get back home - not an uncommon thing we see in rescue dogs. When Bella first came to live with me she would try and go to all the houses when we would walk as if looking for her family. I have a 4 foot chain link fence with a weak point back by the garage. Truman I think got out a total of 9 times over the course of the 9 days I had him - whether gazelling over the fence or forcing his way out by the weak spot. More than one of these times involved me running after him in my pajamas and bad dog-chasing footwear. I had resorted to taking him out on a leash, and then we had 2 days where he was fine in the backyard not trying to leave. So I stopped using the leash (big mistake but he would not go potty on it) and Saturday morning he got out 4 times - 2 times from the yard and 2 times loitering by the door to run out when I got home. This was the sign I needed - in addition to making Bella a mess I could just not deal with the chasing.  On Saturday afternoon Truman was taken to be fostered where there is a tall wood privacy fence - a much better fit.  We swapped Truman out for sweetie pie Brady who lasted all of 12 hours - not for a bad reason - Brady was adopted early Sunday morning.  Levi will be coming to stay with us sometime this week (note the trend - the big, goofy boy dogs are the ones Bella likes having around) . Fostering is so very rewarding, and good for all of us, but I would be lying if I said that over the last couple of foster-less days the girls were not enjoying the uncompromised attention of their mommy and each other. The house is less chaotic when the animal to person ratio is 4 to 1 instead of 5 to 1.  Bella and Jo are playing a lot more. And Bella is simply easier to manage - she’s not anxious when it’s just she and her sister Jo, is not protective of her food and is not on patrol.  I wonder too if she does not miss Benny a little bit. Despite his turd-esque behavior when I have guests, I do miss him. Each time I’ve seen him he’s been so happy to see all of us. And I can say with a good degree of certainly that the feeling is mutual - when we were trading Truman in Bella ran right over to the van where Benny was and jumped up to greet him and they bumped noses. She bossed and policed Benny but I secretly think she enjoys doing that.  

Quick note on fostering - our rescue - IGPR  - is in desperate need of foster homes and it’s to the point where we will have to star turning dogs away - which usually results in euthanasia. The rescue does not have a kennel and relies 100% on a foster network.  If you would be interested in helping save the lives of some of these homeless dogs, please contact me here or go to www.igpr.org.

News Headline: Consumer Confidence Skids More than Expected

Duh. Gas prices are over $4/gallon in Indianapolis and I would bet money we see $5 before the summer is over. The article cites several reasons.  I was talking to someone the other day about the oil thing (the day I took the commuter bus into work) and they remarked that the Europeans are laughing at us because they’ve been paying $8 a gallon for years. Sure they are laughing and it’s not at our shock on the gas price tag - they drive far less than Americans do and have a way more robust public transportation network. I’m certainly changing my habits. I also drive a gas-guzzling SUV (hey it’s old and paid off) but as prices inch up on the broad spectrum I’m altering vacation plans from a trip to Europe to Fort Myers instead.  I stay on my side of town on the weekends and run errands at lunch. I am postponing some major house projects I had hoped to do this summer and fall. I am carpooling with coworkers and taking the aforementioned commuter bus sometimes. I avoid multiple extravagant dinners on the weekends. I’m cutting back (not cutting out) unnecessary purchases (pedicures, clothes, lattes, shoes).  Cutting back on costs was was not my original motive for the garden but I planted a rather large garden in the spring that is now producing a decent amount of produce - produce like lettuce and spinach that I use regularly and don’t have to absorb the upcharge on at the grocery store now.  And while the garden size is a tad crazy I am spending less and eating better - I don’t use chemicals at all on my garden. And actually it’s all ok. I feel secure in my job because I work for a responsible company. And it’s kind of nice cutting back because it forces a degree of simplification into the picture that I am finding myself enjoying and am thinking I might continue.

Thank You Martha Boden

For finally alleviating The Human Society of Indianapolis of the burden of your $100,000 salary.  Perhaps now that money can be redirected towards what HSI should be doing - sheltering and finding homes for homeless animals.

The Things I Do For Dogs (Many of Whom Aren’t Even Mine)

It’s been an interesting week on the foster/rescue dog front. Actually, there are 2 good stories and one not so good. One of the good stories is about Jag. Jag’s an English Sheepdog. His mom has cancer. He needed to find a foster home while she gets better.  Courtney and Charlie (among others) volunteered to take him which was incredible and he was dropped off at Courtney and Charlie’s Sunday night.  As is the case with many of these situations, the information can get garbled and be unclear. He unfortunately despite being 8 years old is quite rambunctious and kept knocking their poor girl Trinity down repeatedly and she is having hip issues from an earlier spill down the steps. Who would have guessed an 8-year old would be so energetic?   So now Jag is at the Barkalounge with many playmates, and Trinity is resting without worry of being slammed into There is one good moral of the story here though. For anyone thinking of fostering, it’s very rewarding and a noble cause but the golden rule is you can’t jeopardize your own dog or cat’s health to keep a foster. I know Courtney *really* struggled with the decision to find a different foster home for Jag and felt badly especially given the circumstances with his mom, but it was the right decision to move him because first and foremost you have to care for your own fur babies - it’s not going to do anyone any good if a foster is causing issues for an existing fur baby. I’ve declined or swapped out fosters before who didn’t work well with my own dogs.

Second good story is Serengeti or Truman. Or Spaghetti, Geti, New Dog, Buddy (whatever comes out) arrived last Thursday from Kentucky. He’s one of the more challenging fosters I have had in awhile. He is difficult and a lot of work because he’s basically never been allowed to be a dog. His past is fuzzy at best, but we know he never was taken for walks, and was fed an exclusive diet of fried chicken and whatever else from the table. So leash walking? Nightmare. Going up and down steps? Steps? What are steps? Toys? What in the heck do I do with those? Staying in the yard? Hell no - I need to get back home where they don’t feed me this crappy dog food (I chased him all through Garfield Park Saturday morning during our neighborhood yard sale and in my pjs and flip flops…quite the site). Begging? Like you’ve never seen. Sleeping through the night? Whatever. Eating regular dog food? Forget it. Which is an issue because he has crystals in his pee which is an indication of bad nutrition so I’ve got to get him eating a more well-rounded doggie diet.  Anyway, he’s making great strides each day. Baby steps for sure but this boy has an incredible - absolutely incredible -  disposition. So sweet - so loving. Just wants to be with his people and dog siblings. He is very excited to meet all people and dogs. His ”bad habits” aren’t even really bad - just things that developed because of an owner who lacked patience. They are all things that can be corrected with patience,  routine and work and his anxiety from being uprooted seems to be getting better each day and I feel so excited at the prospect of the amazing dog he is going to be in another month. Last night we took a ride over to Jane and John’s, and today Truman (I think his new name…) is at the Barkalounge with his sisters and Jag and Piper and a bunch of other dogs learning to play. I’m going to be very picky about this boy’s home. He deserves an amazing family and will find it.

I’m headed to the doctor this afternoon. Benny decided he wanted to eat Serengeti last night while we were visiting at Jane and John’s. My theory is he must have realized that Serengeti had taken his place and got mad. Anyway, Jane and John are inside so I’m in charge of the motley crew outside.  I am holding Benny and Jo’s leashes. Serengeti and Bella are on leads in the front yard. And then then chaos ensues.  Benny decides to lunge for Serengeti. Benny’s big and wearing a regular collar so he drags me across a sidewalk. WARNING - it’s about to get gross complete with photo. My second toe catches the edge of the walk and bends backwards and then I trip so it gets drug across the concrete sidewalk. In the melee from the pain I accidentally let go of Jo’s leash focusing on keeping Big Ben from eating Spaghetti. The Gestapo (Bella) is within reach and decides she needs to not let this all go unchecked so she gets involved to let Benny know that eating Spaghetti is not really acceptable. So to recap I’ve got Spaghetti peeing himself from fear, 130 pounds of Benny lunging for him and 90 pounds of Mean Bella lunging at Benny to try and stop Benny.  Meanwhile I am laying on the ground clinging to Ben’s leash when I happen notice Jo standing there way beyond where she should be if I was holding her leash. I jump up and step on her leash quickly.  It’s at this point I realize my foot is freaking hurting and covered in blood. My initial thought process is oh no I’ve got a pedi appointment this week with a friend I might have to miss and I bet based on the pain I’ve lost a toenail. It’s not off but my toe’s all bloody. So now I’m thinking wow now I’ve got a gross toe and will likely have to cancel my pedi appointment.  Little did I know that a gross toe or lost toenail would be the least of my problems. When I got up this morning, my toe looks like I have gangrene.   And I can’t walk on it. So it’s probably broken. Thanks a lot Benny.  I’m headed to the doc today to get it checked out.

You Can’t Make This Sh!t Up

My new foster arrived tonight. He came from Kentucky. His name is Serengeti. And his previous owner fed him a diet of fried chicken and Vienna Sausages.

I can’t undo previous diet infractions but I can undo the name. Any suggestions? He’s about 90 pounds, shy, super-sweet, a smidge playful, a little needy of attention and tall and lean (despite diet). I’ll try and get a picture posted soon. Any name help is much appreciated!

“The Beard is Where it’s At”

Is now inscribed in the front cover of Lindsey’s copy of “When You Are Engulfed in Flames” by David Sedaris himself. Along witha sketch of Abraham Lincoln. As David was drawing and writing in Lindsey’s book, he told her that Abe sometimes communicates through him and that his message for last night was “the beard is where it’s at”. I left the book signing clutching my signed copy (34th birthday wishes) and a bar of Gilchrest and Soames soap taken from The Canterbury Hotel by and gifted to me by David as a birthday present. Rick left with a signed copy that is going to make his writer friend quite happy - he purchased the book as a gift and asked David to sign “Mike - Keep writing.” David instead wrote “Mike- I can’t wait to read your book.” My mouth still hurts today from laughing all during the reading. He read a story from his new book, some essays he had done for Esquire and perhaps the most enjoyable a series of random journal entries.  I found last night to be so fabulous for several reasons. First it’s evident that David is committed to his readers and loves what he does. He committed to signing each and every person’s book even if he was there until 3 in the morning. And this is not an author just scrawling something random and herding us through quickly. He takes time to talk to each person. So while that was certainly trying when I was at the end of the very long line, it made the 5 minute chat we had worth the wait. He also talked about cropdusting - hilarious because I had never heard that term in reference to broad-spectrum, anonymous farting until this past weekend and then David brings it up. All in all, it was a completely delightful evening.

I only have one gripe really. I wholeheartedly support independent bookstores and was thrilled that David had chosen one in Indianapolis to conduct his reading - Big Hat Books. That being said, the event was completely mismanaged given the volume of people and the awareness of how many were coming before the day of the event due to preorders. If you preordered, you preregistered and had an assigned seat supposedly.  Granted the soggy weather had a lot to do with thwarting the plan to have all seats marked with names and overall organization.  Still, there was an apparent lack of interest on the part of the owner to direct traffic, tell people where to go, what to do and really get in and lead the crowd which resulted in long lines, long delays, waiting in places where you didn’t need to wait and general clusterfu#$ery in very tight quarters.  Simple posted signs would have gone a long way in pointing you to where anything was.  Case in point we stood in line forever until someone finally said you don’t need to be in this line if you already have your books.  There were some staff trying to herd people in the right direction, but 2 hours nearly passed before anyone got on the PA system and did anything remotely resembling direction so the signing started very late.

In any case, David was so delightful that the disorder didn’t even begin to ruin my evening. If you’ve not gone out and picked up a copy of his new book, I would do it now. I’m only a few stories in but it’s already my new favorite from him.

My Safety Net

I simply never tire of making Sex and the City references in terms of my own life. Remember the episode where Carrie is trying out the trapeze for an article but can’t muster up the trust and gumption to let go?  This is also the episode where Charlotte marries Harry. Anyway, the episode ends with Carrie trying and missing a catch but feeling good because her girls are on the sidelines watching and she realizes she has a real-life safety net in them. It’s ok to let go.  I am so thankful and lucky to have more safety nets than a girl deserves. And they are all there in their own ways whether one block away or 200+ miles whether I ask for the help or not.  I don’t want this to sound as though I am tooting my own horn because truly I am not but I have to share this gratitude in some way. I felt so lucky and thankful when I walked into Brigitte and Brian’s house last night for what was supposed to be a cheesy 70s-themed girl’s night to celebrate my birthday and much to my surprise several of my beloved Indianapolis friends start pouring out of the kitchen to surprise both Vanessa and I for our June birthdays - orchestrated by Melody, Brigitte, Eric and Vanessa  - who unknowingly was planning her own surprise party.  The theme was 70s (because that’s when we were born) and the creativity poured into making that theme work was impressive. They even used all 1970s recipes but adapted:  A cheese log but with crab instead of chipped beef, pigs in blankets but with turkey sausages, deviled eggs, and a lemon bundt cake that was ridiculously fabulous. And if anyone still thinks I knew but didn’t act like I did, I can assure you I would not have worn the crazy pink caftan and head scarf had I known people other than the girls would have been there :) 

In any case, I could go on for pages about how wonderful it was - seeing folks I had not seen in awhile, spending the last precious moments with Matt and Kristin who are off to St. Louis tomorrow morning, and being surrounded by people I love. Friends like this make the 6 inches of water back in my basement again all ok - it’s ok to let go.  

Farewell Benny

Well farewell unless something goes terribly wrong tomorrow but I don’t think it will. Benny’s been a tough guy to find a home for, and one of the more challenging pyrs I have fostered.  Benny is a paradox.  He is great with people out and about. He is playful, goofy, and loves loving on me and getting patted and getting general attention all the time. Benny has a huge personality. But if he feels anxious, or is in “his” home,  that strong Great Pyrenees protection instinct becomes amplified. He also has a poker face meaning I can’t read what’s about to happen with him until it happens. Through my own experiences with Bella’s issues with other dogs and doing research, I’ve become pretty good at reading a dog’s body language and expressions as signs - good and bad - so dealing with Benny’s unpredictability has been a frustration.  And let’s just say Bella won’t ever become a millionaire playing poker - she wears it all on her face all the time  :) Benny also has that great pyr willfulness so we needed to find a home for Ben where his new pyrent had owned a Great Pyrenees before, preferably owned female dog(s) and a home where Benny could have a job. And it appears we have!  Benny will be going to live on a large farm in West Virginia where there are ponies and other animals. About 6-7 acres are fenced in. Benny will have 4 female German Shepherd siblings (he does love being bossed around by the alpha females). And he gets the best of both worlds - he’s going to the farm to be a working dog to protect the farm but he will sleep in bed with his pyrent at night  - perfect for Benny.   His new owner is making the trek over here this weekend which I think is a telling sign of her dedication and commitment. She’s had pyrs before, and 2 of her shepherds are special German Shepherds that came directly from Germany so she knows how to handle smart, willful, protective dogs. Her son is going off to college and her husband travels so she wants a dog like Benny who will protect her since they live in the middle of nowhere. I know Bella and Jobear will miss him (Bella will miss bossing him around and Jo will miss playing with him) but I am happy the right person has come along for Benny.  Big goofy boy Levi (all 160 pounds of him) will be joining us as our 9th foster once my AC comes back on - no need to make him suffer in the heat :) 

Misery

UPDATE: Plumber arrived this afternoon, inspected the basement, snaked the drain (and the water all drained away and out - yeah!) and informed me that this was a sewer backup into my basement. Sewer - as in the system that carries waste out of our homes. Waste as in poo, pee and who knows what else. He did tell me that there was so much rain that the sewage was diluted - fabulous.  He also mentioned that this was most likely a freak thing and that a sump pump would not have helped since it came in fast through the sewer and up through my floor drain. The fix is an expensive dig-up and installation of a flap in the pipe in the front yard to prevent the backflow - I was advised to see if this happens again before I invest the $5000+ on the pipe flap. Eric came over and helped me remove stuff from the basement and sort through what needed to be tossed and kept - poo-contaminated versus not. I purchased and installed a window AC unit (yes all by myself) and will retrieve my babies from the cool environment of the Barkalounge today. Rather than try and bleach the entire basement myself, I’m going to call someone to come sanitize the entire thing. And instead of getting mani-pedis, drinking wine and spending the weekend with my friends to celebrate my birthday, I’ll be dealing with all the crap (ha - crap - get it?) in my house. But I will still do some of all of the above -just not as much :(     

 

I am living in a bog right now.

Non-working AC (repair company waiting on part) + 6 inches of standing water in my basement from storms + 90 degree humid heat = torture.

Jo’s coping pretty well, Bella is lethargic and Benny is downright miserable.  And I can’t dry my hair. It just won’t dry it’s so hot and humid.