AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: Hump day, dump day DATE: 10/14/2009 09:56:00 PM ----- BODY:
This was first thing this morning. The City of Raleigh said on our last bill, which was e-freaking-normous, that we were using 625 gallons of water a day. No way.

Kevin checked the meter while all the water was shut off in the house, and it wasn't spinning. There were no signs of water in our front yard. We assumed our meter was whacked and asked them to come check it.

They declared our meter to be working fine and then slapped us with a "leak notice" that came with 48 hours to fix it. Today, in the cold and rain, Kevin and Mr. Rob rented a backhoe and went at it. They replaced the main water line to the house, so there is no more leak. However, in the meantime, they also cut right through the AT&T trunk line for the street.

The "no cuts" people didn't mark that one. Oops.

Our yard, which had such lovely lovely grass, is now a mudhole. Our DIY plumbers are finished and the AT&T crew are finished. We have phone, internet, and water again. It's a trade off for the grass, but what are you going to do?

But wait, there's more.

Here's how happy Little Bird was all day. If it weren't for his big sister being here to play with him, this look would have permanently frozen on his face. His teeth are torturing him. He has top molars that have been coming in for MONTHS. Now, his bottom canines have stalled out in a position where they are close enough to be able to be seen right below the gum, but the gum hasn't broken yet. Add on some awful seasonal allergies that he inherited from both his daddy and his mama, and you have one miserable little boy this week.

Mama ain't happy either.

To top the whole day off, it turns out that the SPCA here is not a no-kill shelter after all. I talked the the adoption center today because a sweet old chihuahua has taken up residence in our kitchen, but he can't stay. If we can't find his family, we are going to have to take him somewhere.

Back to the SPCA though. The adoption center told me that they were no-kill, but that I would have to take the little guy to the lost and found pet center where he might get cleared to go to the adoption center. I feel really deceived, but perhaps I had just been misunderstanding all along. Either way, I can't take him there. He is so old; he will never get cleared for the adoption center.

Poor little dude. He's sleeping soundly on Kevin's lap right now. He can't stay here though. Bird has already tried to sit on him and pet him WAY too enthusiastically. Plus, Aja and Gibson are about 100 times bigger than him and are not excited about the possibility of a new pack member. Plus, plus, the little chihuahua has been growling at the big dogs as though he could take them on at the same time, when in reality, Gibson could eat him in one bite. We are not a good home for this little guy.

Besides, he has a home. It's pretty obvious. He wants to be with people. His fur is evident of long time collar wear. He doesn't stink. He isn't thin. And I don't know how to describe it, but you can tell that he really really wants to go home. It's breaking my heart.

Tomorrow doesn't have to be much better to beat out today. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

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----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Magpie DATE:Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 1:46:00 PM EDT Bummer about your yard, not to mention the expense.

Have you put up LOST DOG signs? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Mamma Pie DATE:Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 7:56:00 PM EDT Maybe Tyler Hansbrough can help you. Just kidding....maybe. But seriously, I will keep my ears open as we know a fair amount of people in Raleigh...also- that whole water business is crummy. Hope it only gets better! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Erika Jean DATE:Friday, October 16, 2009 at 3:34:00 PM EDT sounds like a crappy day! Hope things get better for ya! So you are keeping the dog then??

You son looks miserable, but cute at the same time ;-) ----- -------- AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: Best friends DATE: 8/18/2009 09:37:00 PM ----- BODY:
After my oldest dog, Chelsea, died in December, Bird seemed to lose interest in dogs for awhile. The other dogs are so much bigger than Chelsea was, and with Bird just learning to walk, he was leary of them.

I can't say that I blame him. Gibson and his big chocolate lab tail can still knock him down with one exuberant wag.

This summer, he has become inseparable from the two big dummies, as we affectionately call them. "Dog" is constantly coming out of his mouth.

He hears them in the backyard, barking, and he runs to the door to help let them in.

He likes to help feed them by carrying their bowls to the utility room where we keep their food.

He also like to help them eat by squatting next to their bowls and putting the little pieces of kibble that they drop back into the bowl for them.

This week, Bird learned how to give them cookies. Now, he will go into the kitchen and put both arms up towards the cookie jar and say "dogdogdogdogdog" until I get two dog biscuits for him to share with his best friends.

I think I love it best when he sits with them on the dog beds. Just one of the pups.

I think the Setter loves him too.

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----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Amo DATE:Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at 4:49:00 PM EDT What a beautiful dog! Those are some cute pictures!! What a sweetie! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous No Minimom DATE:Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at 7:08:00 PM EDT All together now: "Awwwwwwwwwwww..." :-) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Bubblewench DATE:Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at 1:07:00 PM EDT How freakin adorable! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: Snowed in. Figuratively. DATE: 3/02/2009 11:46:00 AM ----- BODY:
The posts lie unfinished in draft form. That is so not like me. I just can't seem to finish anything I start online lately. I owe someone a review, but it's going to be a bad review, so I can't get motivated to write it. I have posts about new mamas, posts about nursing, posts about reading, all in the hopper - unfinished.

Since I never got around to posting pictures of our snow day in January (at least, not that I can remember), I'm going to brighten this page with a few shots from today. Little Bird is a Snow Bird. He loves it. Poor old Gibson - it just made him nervous. He kept trying to nose Bird up out of the snow and clean off his little hands for him. That dog worries way too much about the baby.









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----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Convertible Girl DATE:Monday, March 2, 2009 at 5:29:00 PM EST Sorry we missed you today -- never made it outside, but actually got work done during naps. Little Bird looks so cute! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Susie DATE:Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at 8:05:00 PM EST He's just so edible!

I was procrastinating today and started to clean up some computer clutter only to find about a dozen posts started but never finished...

Perhaps we can publish an anthology of half-musings? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Shellie @Military_Mom DATE:Wednesday, March 4, 2009 at 4:48:00 PM EST WOW, snow. Here I was complaining about our chill, and it is nothing compaired to snow. :) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Bubblewench DATE:Friday, March 6, 2009 at 12:35:00 PM EST Awwwww.. that is just too damn cute! How adorable. I too love the snow! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Jenn DATE:Saturday, March 7, 2009 at 10:31:00 AM EST Adorable! Gibson seems a lot like Nana in Peter Pan...always on alert watching after the children. Good dog! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: Poop from Beyond DATE: 1/02/2009 09:38:00 PM ----- BODY:
I can't believe 2009 is here. It's the first year I finally feel grounded in a long time. Little Bird is here. Kevin has a job that he loves. Mallory is safely navigating her way through middle school. It feels like I finally might be able to move forward on some of my own goals that have been on the back burner. Songs. CD's. Music that has been playing in my head for only me.

That made me sound a little crazy. Which is probably pretty accurate.

We picked up the two big dummies from the kennel today. Aja, the English Setter, was aloof as usual. She had been given a bath today and was much more interested in being admired than she was showing us any hint that she had missed us.

Gibson, on the other hand, was a bouncing 90 pound bundle of nervous joy. Kevin said that when they removed his collar at the kennel last week, Gibson leaned into his leg and looked up as if to ask, "What did I do? I promise to be good." It was just a little over a year ago that we adopted him from the Wilson County Animal Shelter. A big beautiful Chocolate Lab, just sitting in a cage with no family. I might have been 36 weeks pregnant, but I didn't even consider saying "no" when Kevin suggested that Gibson come home with us.

The Setter has been Mallory's dog since the day they met. She loves that little girl. Or, perhaps she loves the little girl's bed. Either way, when Mallory comes home to us, the Setter actually gets off the couch to greet her. That's way more than me or Kevin ever get from her.

Gibson is Kevin's dog, although I'm working on staking a claim now too. For the first couple of months he lived with us, he would lay at the front door and whine when Kevin would leave for work. He has some pretty severe separation anxiety issues that we have finally worked through, but I still called the kennel multiple times to check on him while we were gone.

Chelsea, my sweet girl, was of course my dog. For 14 years, she and I were completely inseparable. This Christmas, there were so many times when I looked for her. I couldn't be in the kitchen without looking down to see if Chelsea just "cleaned the floor" for me. The stocking for the pups was missing the annual pink spikey football toy that I always found for Chelsea. It was all just a little sad for me.

Today, we were taking down the tree in the dining room. If just for a moment, my Chelsea was right back with me. For in the corner of the dining room, behind the tree, where only Chelsea could have squeezed, was a little pile of dried up dog poop.

I wasn't sure if I should be completely grossed out or so very sad that I would never clean up after Chelsea ever again. So I cried as I picked up the pile of shit.

That's my girl. Sending little gifts from beyond, just to let me know she's alright. Or, I suppose you could just look at it as a pile of petrified poo. Poo from across the Rainbow Bridge.

Someone is going to think this is funny with me. At least one person. I hope.

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----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Daily Verses DATE:Friday, January 2, 2009 at 11:11:00 PM EST I think it very sweet and also very funny. I would have cried, too. Welcome home! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Nita DATE:Friday, January 2, 2009 at 11:34:00 PM EST Oh wow, I would have gotten weepy (and a little grossed out) too. FWIW, I totally giggled. *snicker*

Welcome Home! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Amy DATE:Saturday, January 3, 2009 at 12:35:00 PM EST I totally giggled. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous pastormargaret DATE:Saturday, January 3, 2009 at 1:18:00 PM EST I probably would have bagged the poop and kept it in an out of the way place for a while anyway. We still have Sugar's collars and in Antelope they hung in a glass fronted cabinet in the garage--Dad will not part with them. Then there are the slobber stains on furniture----I guess you come by your "craziness" honestly. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Candygirlflies DATE:Saturday, January 3, 2009 at 3:28:00 PM EST "Somewheeeeeeere, over the rainbow...."

(Come on. You KNOW you want to sing it with me.)

You?

Are hilarious!

Welcome home.

xoxo CGF ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Becki DATE:Sunday, January 4, 2009 at 2:12:00 PM EST Awww!! I thought that was cute and amusing. Glad you got a late little Christmas 'present' ;) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous myrelish DATE:Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 12:59:00 AM EST I never thought a post about poop would make we want to cry and giggle at the same time. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Bubblewench DATE:Friday, January 9, 2009 at 12:19:00 PM EST I think its very sweet he left you a little present. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: Little stitches DATE: 12/18/2008 09:14:00 PM ----- BODY:
Kevin is very understanding of my "online friends." He doesn't give me any crap about going to BlogHer. He doesn't bat an eye when I run off to the Post Office to send a package to a NMD friend. When I quote Girl eighteen times in one day, he doesn't let out a single sigh. He knows they have supported me and carried me through some of my darkest times.

Last Saturday, the doorbell rang. We were in the bedroom getting dressed. I am pretty sure I was crying. I did a lot of that last weekend.

Kevin came back upstairs with a box from ProFlowers. I have to be honest; I assumed it was from my parents, but it wasn't.

The card read, "I'm sorry for your loss," and it was from my friend Amy. My online friend, Amy. A woman who I haven't even been so lucky to sit down with in person managed to wrap her arms around me from miles and miles away and put the first stitch in my broken heart. Amazing.

This is what they look like today. Everyday this week, this is what I see when I leave the house. I put them by the front door on purpose. It used to be that the last thing I would see when I left the house was Chelsea. She would follow me to the front door and look up at me as I said, every time, "I'll be back soon. Be a sweet girl." Every time. Until the past couple of months, when she stopped getting up to follow me to the door.

Nonetheless, the last thing I saw leaving the house were these flowers. Reminding me that I'm a lucky woman to have friends like Amy.

Little stitches in a broken heart. I bet she has no idea how much she helped, but Kevin and I do. Now you do too.

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----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous gail DATE:Thursday, December 18, 2008 at 9:40:00 PM EST Amazing. The both of you. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Daily Verses DATE:Thursday, December 18, 2008 at 10:03:00 PM EST Oh how sweet. She's a doll. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Barry DATE:Friday, December 19, 2008 at 9:49:00 AM EST Beautiful post, Marty. It's truly amazing how much we can bless each other's lives with "little stitches". Lord help us all to seize opportunities to do so.

Love,

BD ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Amy DATE:Friday, December 19, 2008 at 2:43:00 PM EST Oh wow. Thank you.

I wish I could have done more. It hurts my heart to read about the pain you were/are in. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Beth DATE:Friday, December 19, 2008 at 3:57:00 PM EST I'm so sorry for your loss. ((HUGS))
and I'm so glad you're blogging again! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous toddlerplanet DATE:Saturday, December 20, 2008 at 12:17:00 PM EST Hey. Stimey just told me about your loss. I am so, so sorry to hear about Chelsea. I tried to read the post -- and it just broke my heart into little pieces.

My heart (what's left of it) is with you guys these days. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: Complete lack of human compassion DATE: 12/12/2008 10:45:00 PM ----- BODY:
Chelsea and I were at peace with each other when she left this past Friday. Although I miss her more than you possibly want to hear about, I know that it was time for her to go, and it was my responsibility to help her leave this life. I promised to be her guardian and caretaker, and I was for 14 years. All the way up to the very end.

There was a part of the story I didn't tell on Friday. I didn't want to mar saying goodbye to my pup anymore than had been done for me that day. The experience we had at the vet was unbelievable, and I wavered on whether to share it at all. However, if anyone is searching for this vet online, I think it is important that they hear how we were treated.

Quail Corners Animal Hospital, where I had trusted the care of my dogs for close to eight years now, will no longer be our vet. There was a girl who was supposed to be scheduling it to be done at home for us. Two days went by without her calling me back, only to find out that the vet who was supposed to do it had gone into labor. While I certainly understood that labor and birth took priority, I didn't understand why I hadn't been extended the courtesy of a phone call to give me this information. Instead I had to keep calling back, trying to find out what time I would say goodbye to my pup. I needed to find someone to watch Bird and really wanted Kevin to be off work to be with us. I needed to prepare myself mentally and emotionally.

After two days of not letting me know anything except how little she knew, I finally told her that I would just bring Chelsea in to have it done. She told me the vets who were available, and after I chose one, she asked me if I wanted morning or afternoon. I told her afternoon. She offered me 1:30, and I said that would be fine. I repeated back the time to her, and she said yes 1:30 was the time.

I called Kevin and let him know. Then I called Boo who had offered to be with me, and I asked her to watch Little Bird. I set the whole thing up for 1:30. I did not get the time wrong of the death of my dog.

When we arrived at the vet, we were told by the front desk that our appointment wasn't until 4:30. The woman at the front told us there was nothing she could do to change it.

Seriously?

I'm sitting there in the waiting room, bawling already. Chelsea is just standing there because she can't lay down without just falling over anymore. Kevin is standing with his mouth agape. It was all I could do to get there once. There was no way I could go home and bring her back again.

Seriously? Nothing she could do?

I told her through my tears that she didn't need to change anything; that our appointment was at 1:30, and we were there at the right time. I wasn't going to even entertain this discussion.

She just repeated herself.

I start sobbing. I can't help it. I tell her that I had been working with Rachel for three days to get this taken care of, and that I had been extremely patient with her. I told her that our appointment was at 1:30.

She went to get Rachel.

We have to believe that something else was going on in the office because Rachel approached us swinging. She came out and immediately told me we were wrong. I was wrong. Our appointment was at 4:30 and that she had confirmed it on the phone with me for 4:00. Um, okay. I'm not sure how that made any sense, but whatever.

I have to admit. I lost it. I actually yelled. In public. At that girl. I yelled at her and told her she was incompetent. I yelled at her and told her that she was completely unable to engage another adult in an intelligent conversation that resulted in effective communication. I yelled at her and told her to quit talking to me and just get me all of my dogs' records so I could get out of there and never have to see her again.

The whole time, she was yelling back at me, telling me that I was wrong. Telling me that the circumstances were out of her control. I'm not sure what circumstances kept her from inputting the correct time of my appointment into the computer, but whatever.

Kevin stepped in between us and told us both to stop. He looked at Rachel and asked her what she was going to do to fix this. She said that she couldn't do anything right then, that we could be worked in at 2:30.

I told her to get our records and she yelled over Kevin's shoulder that she would be glad to do that and then stormed out of the little office cubby.

After she was gone, another office worker came out into the waiting room and leaned over to me. She said that there was a vet who could help us then. Kevin took my arm and nodded at me to get up and go back. He knew that this was the one chance we had at my strength. It was sapped, and if we took Chelsea back home again, I would never let her go.

There were mumbled apologies at the "mix-up." I ignored them. There was no "mix-up." It was a major mistake on their part.

The thing is, even if I had gotten the time wrong, which I didn't, they should have ignored it. Obviously, I wasn't in some sort of hurry that I deceptively came in with my dog and tried to get them to put her to sleep 3 hours before my scheduled time. That's freaking absurd.

Any ounce of compassion would have caused the very first woman in the office to ignore the discrepancy between the time we arrived and the time that Rachel the genius entered in the computer. She would have quietly slipped into the back and found the vet who helped us in the end, and made everything work out without subjecting us to the drama that their incompetency created.

This isn't a rant, it is simply what happened that day. In the event that someone Googles this vet, it is the chance for them to see how they might be treated if they choose to go there.

It was hard enough to make the decision. It was hard enough to get in the car with my pup. It was hard enough to get out of the car and take her inside for the very last time. To say goodbye.

I will never understand how they could possibly treat someone in so much obvious pain as badly as they treated me.

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----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Anonymous DATE:Monday, December 15, 2008 at 10:15:00 PM EST So sorry to hear about your loss.
I would just like to point out Im totally backing you on this one. This animal hospital closes at 5pm. Would they really schedule this for 4:30? Good for you for standing up for yourself! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Stimey DATE:Monday, December 15, 2008 at 11:15:00 PM EST I'm so sorry to hear that this was so horrible for you. I used to be a veterinary receptionist and we never would have treated someone like this.

We did try to schedule these sorts of things at the end of the day so that people could spend as much time in a room with their animal as they wanted to, but if we had made the mistake of scheduling such a thing at a different time we would have done what you said that vet should have done. I believe you when you say you wouldn't have mistaken the time you scheduled the appointment, but as you say, even if you did, they should have treated you differently.

Any veterinary receptionist who yells at a client who is having to go through this—especially over something like an appointment time—should be fired.

Our policy was to deal with payment and arrangements first, then put the client and pet in a room to let them have as much time as they need. And then let them stay as long as they need to afterwards. If they looked like they needed it before they left, we tried to offer hugs.

Your pup was a member of your family. I'm so sorry this marred the end for her. I hope that now that it is down on the page, you can put it out of your mind and just remember the rest of it.

I am so sorry. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Two Lines On a Stick DATE:Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 12:37:00 AM EST Well the asshats working there shouldn't be allowed to deal with animals OR people. So sorry that you had to deal with them and also about Chelsea :( ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Candygirlflies DATE:Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 7:28:00 AM EST Unbelievable.

I'm agape.

I sincerely hope that the second office worker, and the vet who eventually helped you, were considerably more professional and compassionate.

What a terrible time this must have been-- made worse by unfeeling, incompetent people.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Canape.

xoxo CGF ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous @sweetbabboo DATE:Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 10:37:00 AM EST That is appalling. My father-in-law is a vet and would have never have allowed staff to treat you this way. He believes that a vet should be there as much for the owners (if not more) as for the pets.

Rachel should be fired plain and simple. She should not be working in a business that involves competency much less compassion.

I am so sorry you had to go through this at the worst of times. Chelsea is in a better place now with the energy of a puppy now. I'm sorry you've been left with the pain. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous @sweetbabboo DATE:Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 10:39:00 AM EST Oh, and I think you should crosspost this and tweet it on Triangle Mamas. It needs to be shared with other Triangle families. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Bubblewench DATE:Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 10:53:00 AM EST That is bad. Especially for the state of mind. I am sorry they did not give you or Chelsea the respect you deserved. I'm glad you are not going to use them anymore. I hope that the 'owner' sees this and knows that his employees are real jerks. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Chelsea + Jonathan DATE:Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 1:06:00 PM EST Wow, that made me cry. I'm appalled that anyone working in a service position (i.e. receptionist!) would behave so poorly, and especially when you were clearly there for something that is really difficult and emotional.

I will not be taking our pup there. Thanks for the warning! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Susie DATE:Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 1:47:00 PM EST Even if I were to entertain the ridiculous notion that you got the time wrong, why on earth would they argue that with you?! And to yell at you and continue to fight with you?! That's just wrong. I'm so sorry that they made it even harder for you. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous The Daily Wit DATE:Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 4:59:00 PM EST There's nothing I can say that's not already been said. Just let this comment serve as further outrage (at the vet) and empathy (for you). ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous nikki DATE:Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 5:31:00 PM EST I am so sorry, Marty. I know how painful it is to lose a beloved pet - there's no excuse for that horrible behavior when you were already grieving, and it was THEIR mixup. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Becki DATE:Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at 12:13:00 AM EST How appalling. I hope people considering this vet do find your experience. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Clifford DATE:Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at 2:20:00 AM EST Weez thinkin of you, M.

(although it might have rocked somewhat if Kevin would have Pete Townshend-post-concert-smashed a guitar over Rachel's head and walked out of the hospital with his hands raised in the air. to the sound of amplifier feedback, no less.) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Bethany DATE:Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at 3:11:00 PM EST Reading that had me all fired up, and then crying. How dare they create so much chaos at such a sensitive time. I'm so sorry you had to deal with such idiots, and go through all the emotions of putting Chelsea down.

I'm sorry for all of it, and I want to whoop some butt too. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Brenda F DATE:Monday, December 22, 2008 at 8:35:00 PM EST My heart goes out to you. My answer. You did the right thing,let everybody know. Good customer service goes a long way. Poor customer service goes .even farther. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: Long goodbye DATE: 12/12/2008 09:25:00 PM ----- BODY:
It's done. Chelsea left us today around 2:00 PM. She died with her head in my hands, and me telling her how much I loved her.

I have spent the day swinging wildly between knowing I was doing the right thing and doubting that I could ever have the wisdom to end her life.

One bite of yogurt spooned into Little Bird's mouth, and I'm smiling at Kevin, telling him that I'm relieved that my sweet pup isn't in pain anymore. By the time I'm catching what Bird spit out on the spoon, I'm sobbing that she didn't want to leave me and I miss her so much.

I'm basically a wreck.

The thing is, logically I know it was right. They gave her a little Valium before the big drugs, and she was finally able to bend her back legs and lie down again. Finally, she lay with her head in my lap again; something she hadn't done for over a year.

Only after the Valium, I wanted to scoop her up and take her home. I wanted to say, "Thanks! That was just what she needed!" and run away with her.

But it was time.

The front office at vet handled it horribly, but I need to think about how to write about it before I put it out there. I knew that it was going to be hard to do, but the incompetence of the office workers made it so much harder, I don't even know what to think tonight.

For tonight, I'm just going to stay in the place where I miss her, I love her, and I pray that I did the best thing for her. It's tenuous enough to stay in the confidence that I did right by her.

Fourteen years, my best girl. My most consistent companion through all of the biggest changes in my life.

I love you, Chels.

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----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Candygirlflies DATE:Saturday, December 13, 2008 at 8:10:00 AM EST Oh, my dear, I am so very sorry for your loss... You will feel it keenly-- SHOULD feel it keenly-- she was such a good, loyal friend to you.

Be kind to yourself, and cut yourself lots of "slack" over the next few weeks. The loss of a family member is so terribly hard.

I'm thinking of you-- and your Chelsea, running freely up there in that big leash-free park in the sky!!

xoxoxo CGF ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Brenda DATE:Saturday, December 13, 2008 at 3:05:00 PM EST First I want to say how happy I am that you are back. I am a Arizona reader and missed you and Bird terriably. Then I want to tell you how sorry I am. I had to do the same thing to my beloved Klide. He had a tumor in his stomach that in 2 weeks had grown to the size of a large watermelon. There was nothing I could do. I tried, and spent a lot of money trying to make myself happy but seeing him suffer. Finally I just told them, I could only say it once so listen now. If he needs to go tell me now. They said there was nothing else that could be done. So like you I had to make the right decision and just be there for him. It was so hard, I cried like a baby for hours. But it was the right thing to do. You are a really strong woman that has been through hell and more. You will be alright. It will just take some time. I promise. Your Arizona fan.
Brenda ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Mrs. Chicken DATE:Saturday, December 13, 2008 at 7:30:00 PM EST I'm so sorry. It is terrible to put your dog down. I've been through it twice. Thinking of you. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Michelle Lynn DATE:Saturday, December 13, 2008 at 9:14:00 PM EST I'm so sorry. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Stimey DATE:Saturday, December 13, 2008 at 11:05:00 PM EST You did the right thing, but that doesn't make it any easier. I'm so sorry. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Clifford DATE:Saturday, December 13, 2008 at 11:48:00 PM EST and she is totally covered in Sugar-slobber right about now. :D ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Stella DATE:Sunday, December 14, 2008 at 10:59:00 PM EST I am so very sorry for your loss. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous J from Ireland DATE:Monday, December 15, 2008 at 7:17:00 AM EST By the way, I'm so glad your back!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous J from Ireland DATE:Monday, December 15, 2008 at 7:17:00 AM EST I am so sorry for your loss. I certainly think you did the right thing. Best wishes to you. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Bubblewench DATE:Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 10:48:00 AM EST I am so very sorry. Lots of hugs. I'm glad you had 14 years with such a loving pup. She will be missed. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Becki DATE:Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at 12:14:00 AM EST So sorry for the loss of your longtime companion :( ----- -------- AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: Not quite yet DATE: 12/04/2008 10:37:00 AM ----- BODY:
It's almost time.

Chelsea, otherwise known as "Pupstar" here, is 14. She has kidney failure. Her back legs frequently give out on her, as does her bladder - whenever and where ever. She has sores that won't heal, and is on antibiotics for a tooth abscess.

In fact, she is on five medications at every meal and eats prescription dog food. The money spent on my dog would be embarrassing compared to what some families can spend on a child each month.

But she has been my constant companion for 14 years.

Ashley found her for me. A girl we were in school with found this tiny white puppy wandering along the side of the road. Ashley went to see it before they took it to the pound, and called me when she got there.
"Bird, you have got to come see this pup."

"I can't do that. If I come over and see the pup, you know it's coming home with us."

"Bird, you have got to come see this pup."

Chelsea came back to the apartment with us and proceeded to terrorize Ashley's cats, Tess and Todd; pee on her notes, biology; and basically win the hearts of everyone who met her. Except possibly Farrar, whose eggnog she simply wouldn't give up drinking.

Fourteen years later, Chelsea is still with me. We've moved five times. We've lived with six different people. We've had five different dogs join our family, and countless fosters come and go. We've been married and divorced and married again. She's tolerated Little Bird taking her place as the baby, but not without climbing into the Moses basket for a nap more than once.

But she is worse now. Even with the Pepcid, she is vomiting again. She isn't as excited about dinner time as she once was. I often have to lift her up the two steps in from the backyard. She lays at my feet, but doesn't stir when I get up.

It's almost time.

But it's not time.

I told her this morning, whispered in her ear, that she could go now. That I loved her and that she was a good dog. I looked into her eyes and kissed her little snoot. Of course, she's deaf, and a dog, so I don't know what good that did, but it made me feel a little better.

I'm hoping she goes in her sleep. I don't want to make that call to the vet. I will if I have too, but I just don't want to.

She is the best dog ever.















Chelsea with her Christmas elf moments before gutting it.

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----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Kendra DATE:Thursday, December 4, 2008 at 12:28:00 PM EST I'm so sorry for you. I'm sure she has a wonderful life with you and your family. My heart goes out to you. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Ashley DATE:Thursday, December 4, 2008 at 11:20:00 PM EST ok. now i'm crying again over chelsea. stop it bird! I'm just a ridiculous flurry of emotions here. that picture is ripping my heart. sweet baby girl. tell her i love her. kiss her for me every day, ok? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Nita DATE:Friday, December 5, 2008 at 12:04:00 AM EST I love you. I love that you love her so much. I know you will know the right thing to do. Remember, you have to be strong and make the right decisions for her, no matter how much it hurts.

Gah - I'm about to start bawling. Damn you woman! This is TWICE in one day you got me all teary of your dog. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Beautifully Unique DATE:Friday, December 5, 2008 at 11:25:00 AM EST I'm so sorry girlfriend! I can't even imagine how hard it must be for you.
I'm praying for you both! **smooches** ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Topaz DATE:Friday, December 5, 2008 at 12:30:00 PM EST (((hugs))) This is such a tough situation to go through. Do remember all the awesome times you had together but do think of her. I waited too long with one of my cats and ended up bringing him to the vet howling (he had cancer). I so wish I would have gone earlier to save him and I that awful pain.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Susie DATE:Friday, December 5, 2008 at 2:30:00 PM EST Oh, I am so sorry. It's so hard to know what to do - to know what your canine companion needs more from you. I hope for a sleep-filled, peaceful passing. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Stimey DATE:Friday, December 5, 2008 at 10:57:00 PM EST I'm so sorry. Hugs to you and Chelsea. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous @sweetbabboo DATE:Saturday, December 6, 2008 at 4:01:00 PM EST I'm so sorry. It's the worst kind of pain knowing you're about to lose a best friend and constant companion. I'm crying for your hurt and hoping for a peaceful passing whatever form it takes. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Clifford DATE:Monday, December 8, 2008 at 2:50:00 AM EST Think of it this way...Sugar gets a new playmate / object of slobber. Like a lot of slobber. Tons. The Splashwater Falls of doggie slobber. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Bubblewench DATE:Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 10:46:00 AM EST I'm so sorry. Catching up here. Glad you are posting again, but you're ripping my heart out! Poor puppy. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: Pups 3 DATE: 9/08/2008 04:04:00 PM ----- BODY:
Yesterday, we took our dogs to the off leash dog park by our house.

Chelsea, otherwise known as Pupstar, is my old lady. She tottered around behind us, looking for shade, taking a drink from every bucket, and hoping that someone forgot to clean up a pile of delicious poo.

Gibson, our chocolate lab, ran his fool head off for about five minutes. He was chasing a ball that Kevin threw when another dog ran after him and nipped at his heels. Without a struggle, Gibson turned and ran back to us sans ball. It just wasn't worth the struggle. There will be more balls, and he knows it. Within 10 minutes, he too was close to us, seeking shade and laying in the cool mulch.

Aja, the Setter Princess, was in rare form. She roamed the park, going from person to person like she was interviewing applicants for a new family. She would approach a possible sucker, let them pet her head and then sit down like a statue right next to their chair. If they didn't continue petting her or proclaiming her beauty, she would move on quickly to the next person. Much to her shagrin, she had to return home with her current family who has stopped appreciating the fine art that is the Setter. At least she still has her leather sofa.

What a trio.

We're thinking about letting the Setter convey with the house if she doesn't get her act together.

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----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Susie DATE:Monday, September 8, 2008 at 4:41:00 PM EDT And how is the house selling going? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous katy DATE:Friday, September 12, 2008 at 10:26:00 PM EDT My dog has turned into a lazy, fat grump. I love her anyway.
Somehow I have gotten attached to a kitten. I am not a cat person at all. I went to work a few weeks ago and a person in the apartment next to my patients apartment found a baby kitten, about 3 or 4 weeks old and they couldn't find anyone to take her so they were going to put her in a bag and throw her in the river... I now have a kitten. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: You could call me gullible DATE: 5/30/2008 09:37:00 AM ----- BODY:
I trust people. Sometimes that is one of my good traits. Sometimes it is one of my downfalls.

Yesterday I had a face to face with the boy who was supposed to take care of my dogs last weekend. I explained to him how I didn't understand how he could have been in the house and not smelled anything. I explained to him how if the dogs were being fed then there should have been no food left in their containers - that was why I left instructions how to pick up more just in case he needed it.

I told him how the floors could be replaced, but that my heart was broken thinking about how hungry and neglected my dogs were last weekend. I told him how disappointed I was that he had let me down.

At that point, I thought that he was going to cry. He looked straight at me, never glanced away, and said with very watery eyes, that he promised he had fed them and played with them. He promised that they got let out and got their medicines. He said he was really sorry about the floors. Very very sorry.

I believe him. Guy doesn't.

It doesn't mean I'm not still upset about the mess, and it doesn't mean that I don't still have some doubts. But I have always trusted him. It feels completely unnatural not to at this point.

Besides, I think that the only way to make him want to be honest with me is to believe what he says. If I don't, then why would he bother telling me the truth? I think you get back from people what you expect of them most of the time.

I hope from now on, he understands that I expect much more from him than he gave this time.

Not that he'll be watching my dogs again. . .

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----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Bubblewench DATE:Friday, May 30, 2008 at 12:33:00 PM EDT Hate to say it, I'm with Guy.. There is no way those dogs could have done that much damage.

But you are right.. you have to trust him.

Tough spot. I don't believe him, but I do believe in trusting people's word. Even a kid. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Marty, a.k.a. canape DATE:Friday, May 30, 2008 at 12:59:00 PM EDT That is such a good way to put it, BW. I think that deep down I don't believe him either, but I do believe in trusting his word.

You should write my blog for me from now on :) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous MB DATE:Friday, May 30, 2008 at 2:24:00 PM EDT I WOULD believe that a teenage boy would not smell dog excrement. Have you smelled a teenage boy's bedroom lately? Not much difference. And if your dogs are like mine, when they are mad or don't have a lot of interaction they may pee inside just to get even.

But I am having trouble believing him on the food thing. I guess MAYBE the dogs were so upset to be alone that they just didn't eat much and he didn't refill it accordingly, but that seems a bit of a stretch... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous HeatherK DATE:Friday, May 30, 2008 at 3:29:00 PM EDT Not sure I believe him either, but letting it sit on his conscience is a better lesson for him I think. So sorry you had to come home to such a mess. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Jessica DATE:Friday, May 30, 2008 at 3:29:00 PM EDT my heart breaks for your pups...it also breaks for you & guy. What a horrible situation to be in...I'm so so sorry that you had to deal with any of that. ::hugs:: ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Candygirlflies DATE:Friday, May 30, 2008 at 9:46:00 PM EDT Oh, dear... I read Guy's blog the other day, and was so sorry to hear you came home to such a sad state of affairs. The poor dogs, and poor you guys, for having to deal with the fall-out.

Thank goodness you were only gone for a weekend, and not longer...

xo CGF ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Jenn DATE:Saturday, May 31, 2008 at 12:10:00 AM EDT I'm so sorry you are having to deal with any of this...if only we lived in that perfect world.

Hopefully he learned a huge lesson from all of this.

Hopefully you and Guy will be able to trust someone to dogsit again one day. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Gerbil DATE:Saturday, May 31, 2008 at 6:15:00 PM EDT Well, personally? Certainly you can forgive him. But he ought to help Guy sand and refinish the floors. (And then watch 15 hours of Animal Cops.)

He knew. He just felt too guilty to admit it, sez the mother of an occasionally dimwitted teenager. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Redneck Mommy DATE:Monday, June 2, 2008 at 8:07:00 PM EDT Ack. I'm such a softie, I don't know if I'd be able to NOT believe him.

Chalk it up as a lesson for the both of you.

Hopefully, your next dog sitter will be much more reliable. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: Stupid rotten weekend end DATE: 5/26/2008 09:16:00 PM ----- BODY:
Mastitis is mean.

Now that Bird and I are finally nursing like a team, we've switched our nighttime feedings to the side lying position. I was getting more sleep at night, he was enjoying sleeping right up next to me, and all seemed to be good.

Unfortunately, the side lying position leaves me with clogged ducts by the morning. Twice now, these clogged ducts have developed into mastitis before I can get them unclogged.

It hurts. I get a fever. It feels like the flu, and it feels like someone kicked me in the boob really hard. I don't like it.

That was the first half of the weekend. The second half of the weekend consisted of Guy getting a ticket in my Jeep because I totally forgot to renew the registration. It was due in January. I was a little preoccupied and never got around to it. It couldn't be me that got the ticket though, it had to be him. Fair.

Topping it all off? I got one of my high school students to come take care of the dogs while we were away a few nights. I was paying him to come over four times a day. He was to let them out, feed them, play with them, and clean up any messes that poor old Pupstar might have made. She's older and has a bladder issue. It's mostly controlled with medication, but she still has the occasional accident.

I don't know what he did, but it wasn't what we agreed on. We came home to a total disaster. The dining room floors are ruined because dog pee soaked into them. There were days of dog mess all over the floors. We could tell by how much food was left that he hadn't been feeding them. How we knew he had been there at all was because the door to the music studio was open when we had left it closed, thereby allowing the dogs to pee and poop in that room as well.

When I called him, he said that he had been here that morning and there was no mess.

I don't know what to do about that. He isn't being honest. I've taught him for almost 10 years, and I love him dearly, and now he isn't being honest with me. There were days of mess in the house. Days.

It's so very disappointing.

And Guy's floor? Ruined.

I will have to talk to the boy more about this. I haven't paid him yet, and I'm waiting for him to tell me how many times he came over until I do. I think I'm going to pay him based on his word even though I'm pretty sure he is going to lie to me again.

I expected so much more from him. I've always gotten so much more from him. It could just be a stupid teenager mistake.

But Guy's floors. And my poor dogs who missed I don't know how many meals, missed their medication, and were relegated to pee and poop where they knew they shouldn't. They tried. It was all up next to the back wall of the house - as close to the backyard as they could get without being able to be there.

So disappointing.

In a way, I'm really glad this weekend is over. Another post is due about the wonderful parts of the weekend. There were many wonderful parts. But tonight is just for the whining.

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----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous gail DATE:Monday, May 26, 2008 at 11:08:00 PM EDT Bummer.. I am sorry there was anything to whine about but am anxious to hear the good. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Two Lines On a Stick DATE:Monday, May 26, 2008 at 11:49:00 PM EDT Dude, I wouldn't freaking pay him for that. That's just cruel to the dogs, and shows a lack of respect for you. He doesn't deserve the benefit of the doubt on this one :( ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Jenn DATE:Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 3:51:00 AM EDT I don't think I'd pay him the full agreed upon amount. He didn't do the full job, so he should be paid accordingly. I'd make it a point to talk to him with his parent there though. So that they know WHY you aren't paying him the full fee. I'd bet that they will realize that your right, especially when you show them the ruined floors, etc. Poor pups and poor you. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous katy DATE:Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 7:02:00 AM EDT I have a friend who paid someone to take care of her lab and her labs puppies while they were on vacation. The puppies were starved half to death (one actually died) when they got home because he didn't bother to take care of them either. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Bubblewench DATE:Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 8:02:00 AM EDT I am so sory that he did that! I wouldn't pay him the full amount. I hope he fesses up. Those poor puppies! Damn him!

Glad there was some fun in there though! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Patience DATE:Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 8:35:00 AM EDT Don't pay him! He didn't do the job, he knows he didn't do the job! He should be over cleaning up the mess!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous the new girl DATE:Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 8:36:00 PM EDT Oh Canape,
That's so terrible. I don't think I'd pay him either, really.

Horrible. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous whymommy DATE:Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at 4:47:00 PM EDT Oh, NO! I feel so horribly guilty for taking you away from the dogs this weekend. Poor babies. It must have been just awful to come home to that.

Are they recovered?

(I think you should come back here immediately to recuperate. Oh, wait. That won't help. Maybe we should all get away WITH the dogs and kids. Ahhh, I'm dreaming of that already.)

Miss you! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Clifford DATE:Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at 6:35:00 PM EDT Kick him squarely in the jimmies. SQUARELY. Dog poop and pee in hardwood floors. Ugh. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous annie DATE:Sunday, June 1, 2008 at 5:47:00 PM EDT I feel for your pain (mastitis). It's always been a barometer for me. Clogged ducts. They're a sign I've reached a bit too far and need to spend some time in bed with the baby. My husband has learned to take them as a form of marital communication. ;) ----- -------- AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: Everyone is ready DATE: 1/19/2008 03:34:00 PM ----- BODY:

Pupstar is just as ready for Bird to go ahead and come as I am.

She's been hanging in the nursery today.

Maybe it's a sign.

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----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Mamma DATE:Saturday, January 19, 2008 at 9:29:00 PM EST I have no doubt she knows. Dogs are so sensitive that way. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Steph DATE:Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 9:34:00 AM EST Id bet it's a sign! We're all ready to "meet" Bird! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Ally DATE:Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 11:01:00 PM EST Seriously. Listen to that dog. Hope you have your bag all packed. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: Haiku holiday DATE: 1/04/2008 07:44:00 PM ----- BODY:
I was a bad girl and skipped haiku-ing over the holidays. You all kept up so well, and I enjoyed reading them. Now, I will join you again.


******
Gibson, you poor boy
We are always coming back
You are safe at home.

Rescue Remedy
Isn't really helping you
Separation angst.

Gibson, you sweet boy
You're in your forever home
I wish you knew that.

********

Poor big love. Gibson has severe separation anxiety. He has to stay in his crate when we are gone. We can't trust him in the house, and supposedly, he is "crate trained." We don't know what the foster family thought that meant.

But when we leave him, he panics. Shelter nightmares? Fear of family leaving him forever? I don't know, but I wish we could make it go away.

We are trying. Safe word to put him in the crate. Leave for only 10 minutes. Come back and let him out only if he's quiet. Don't make a big deal out of leaving or returning. But in the meantime, we still have to leave him sometimes. Guy has to work. I have errands to run. And poor Gibson doesn't think we are ever coming back.

********

For more Haiku, go follow this link. For a haiku that will make you cry, go visit Labugga. She wrote a very special haiku for me today.

For me and Bird.

Because today, we are at term.

Thank you, LA.

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----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous suchsimplepleasures DATE:Friday, January 4, 2008 at 9:37:00 PM EST poor pup!
have a great weekend! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous AnGlOpHiLe FoOtBaLl FaNaTiC DATE:Friday, January 4, 2008 at 10:52:00 PM EST We had similar issues when we got ours. It really just takes time for them to adjust. You are doing right by him. Good luck. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous the planet of janet DATE:Saturday, January 5, 2008 at 5:37:00 AM EST poor thing. keep trying, though. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Steph DATE:Saturday, January 5, 2008 at 6:12:00 AM EST Poor Gibson! I hope things get better!

Happy Term Day! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous bird DATE:Saturday, January 5, 2008 at 12:23:00 PM EST I had the same problem with my dog. I put on classical music when I'm gone. I also take a hot dog and stuff it in a kong and freeze it, so he gets the best treat when I'm gone. There are also Dog Appeasement Pheromone Collars. They last about a month.
By the way, I love that you've nicknamed your baby bird. It's a good name. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Jenn DATE:Saturday, January 5, 2008 at 1:56:00 PM EST If only we knew the troubles they've seen....

"Gibson"?

As in, Kirk Gibson?

As in, my first love? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Kathy's Surprise Party DATE:Saturday, January 5, 2008 at 9:27:00 PM EST Well, I just knew LB was going to stick around.

And, pups...I know! We adopted a big greyhound who shook uncontrollably when he was crated and couldn't see us. Time. It just takes time. He'll trust that you won't leave him. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Imstell DATE:Saturday, January 5, 2008 at 10:13:00 PM EST I'll think slickery, open thoughts for you and baby bird. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Bubblewench DATE:Monday, January 7, 2008 at 7:55:00 AM EST poor gibson. I feel so bad for him! I hope he eventually gets it. I think it will just take time.

Happy Term day!! Oh Little Bird! We are all waiting for you to appear.. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Becki DATE:Monday, January 7, 2008 at 9:43:00 PM EST Poor puppy!! He'll figure it out...eventually :)
Happy term day!! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: Letters to the world DATE: 12/20/2007 10:57:00 PM ----- BODY:
Dear woman in the Camry,

I'm sorry that you had a hard time making up your mind whether or not you were going through the light. As you stopped and started and stopped and started again, you will be pleased to know that you made it through the legally yellow light. Unfortunately, the rest of us did not. And I had to sit there for another five minutes. I hope you had to park way far away from where you were going and have corns on your feet.

~canape


Dear Postal customers,

Wrap your own damn packages and be ready to send them when you get to the counter. It's December 20, people. It doesn't matter how you send it. It's not getting there in time. Plan ahead next year.

~canape


Dear Gibson,

You are a sweet dog and I already love you. When you jump into the passenger seat from the back it frightens me. It is also very annoying to have you riding there because you weigh more than enough to set off the seatbelt sensors. The constant dinging was driving me crazy.

And you drool a lot.

~your momma


Dear Vet that I loved so much,

I'm totally pissed at you for retiring yesterday and not telling anyone. When I called to make an appointment this morning, I never expected to be told that I should have come yesterday since now you are gone.

Just because you didn't want a big hoopla doesn't mean you shouldn't have told your clients that you were leaving. That's just wrong.

~unhappy canape


Dear nice people at Lovely's band concert,

Thank you so much for offering me your seats. It was refreshing to have multiple people want to give up their seat for the pregnant woman.

I hope you didn't find me ungrateful for not taking it. Quite frankly, Bird fits better and is happier when I'm standing up. Sitting down cramps the little dude's style.

You were all so kind though.

~tall preggo on the wall


Dear numbers of random stores,

Mason jars are not a seasonal item. I need them now. I needed them days ago. There are other things that need canning besides jelly and jam. Damn.

~mustard making canape


Dear friends of all the people that used to live here,

I am tired of getting more Christmas cards for the Smith family than we do for our own family. I am now throwing them away instead of writing "return to sender" on them. If you really know them well enough to send a card, you should also know that they moved over 2 years ago. That goes double for you, Aunt Mary. Your nephew has left the building.

~the lady of the house


Dear Guy,

I know I'm crazy all over the place right now. I know the vet thing made me cry. And a bunch of other stuff too.

Tears don't mean I'm not happy though. I still love my life with you. Hopefully I have told you that enough. Just in case I haven't though, it's true.

~shamoopie, your crazy hormonal wife

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----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Paige Jennifer DATE:Friday, December 21, 2007 at 12:55:00 AM EST How is it you live there and I live here and that Camry fuckwit was in both places at the same time? Maybe an evil twin? Mine stuttered at green lights and made turns from the farthest correct lane - in the far right? Let's go left! It took all power to refrain from following her into the parking lot, getting out, tapping on the window and saying, "All I want for Christmas is for you to get the fuck off the road, you shitty ass driver. Happy Holidays!" ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous toddlerplanet DATE:Friday, December 21, 2007 at 6:00:00 AM EST What an awful day! But how nice that people offered you their seats ... so nice! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous airmydirtylaundry DATE:Friday, December 21, 2007 at 7:26:00 AM EST hysterical. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Steph DATE:Friday, December 21, 2007 at 11:53:00 AM EST Im sorry for your rough day, I think Id have cried too and Im not pregnant. That's nice that people gave up their seats (or tried to). ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Clifford DATE:Friday, December 21, 2007 at 4:54:00 PM EST Dear Canape-

I'll lock up the brakes @ a yellow light, text-message my friends doing 55 in the left-hand lane while in rush hour traffic, read the newspaper over my steering wheel during my commute, and refuse to enter a two-lane road unless both lanes are clear whenever I want to. Piss off.

Sincerely-

Every driver in America ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Clifford DATE:Friday, December 21, 2007 at 5:07:00 PM EST Camry fu*kwit? Wow. I think that made my nipples hard.

YM, girlfriend. You holdeth back. We both know you'd have a pimp slap queued up for such a situation. Senior citizens in Jackson still cringe at the sight of slate blue Chevys scorching the waterworks curve on I-55, ne pas? Jennifer Warren was never the same after high school because of you. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous ladybugsnlizards DATE:Friday, December 21, 2007 at 6:50:00 PM EST Sorry about the vet. I hate when people just leave without saying a word. So unfair to the rest of us. They suck.

Oh, and I apologize. But *I* am one of those Postal Customers. I'll be more prepared next time. lol

And I can finally look at your blog without it freezing up my POS computer! Yay! And it looks lovely too! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Jen DATE:Saturday, December 22, 2007 at 9:42:00 AM EST ahhh, the ups and downs of a single day in the life of a pregnant woman ;) i got a good laugh from this post, thanks!

i love how you are always so plugged in to making sure Guy knows how much u love him, i can tell u have a real love story together.

merry christmas, m ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Bubblewench DATE:Sunday, December 23, 2007 at 9:10:00 AM EST I would have cried and been pissed over the vet too. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous tulipmom DATE:Thursday, December 27, 2007 at 4:29:00 PM EST At least you're making sure your husband knows it's just the hormones.

I might want to follow your example :) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Sudiegirl DATE:Friday, December 28, 2007 at 7:35:00 AM EST I haven't been here in a while - I'm a lousy blogfriend.

but you are on my blogroll and it's my new year's resolution to visit all my blogfriends at least once a week.

I hope I can keep up.

Happy New Year, and good luck with your impending blessed event! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: Rewrapping presents today DATE: 12/19/2007 10:34:00 AM ----- BODY:
When you are housebreaking a dog, and he pees on a tree, that should be a good thing, right?

Exception to that rule: Christmas time.

Guy's new dog peed on my blue Christmas tree. I suppose it belongs to him now. Gibson's tree. He claimed it.

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----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Bubblewench DATE:Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 10:50:00 AM EST He had to claim something! I guess the blue tree was good enough.

I am trying not to laugh too hard. It's not working. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous gail DATE:Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 10:51:00 AM EST Oh dear gawd. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Stella DATE:Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 10:55:00 AM EST It's not funny...but it is a little bit! Poor blue Christmas tree! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Stimey DATE:Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 10:59:00 AM EST Oh no. That's unfortunate. Funny. But unfortunate. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Sarah DATE:Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 11:53:00 AM EST Ewww...my pup pooped under my Christmas tree once. And it was not a little pup, so not a little poop. I wrapped it up in the tree skirt and threw the whole thing out! (I know my comments have been infrequent lately--funny the one I choose to finally speak up on!) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Tiffany DATE:Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 12:02:00 PM EST I guess he showed you! :) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous FENICLE DATE:Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 3:33:00 PM EST Yum-o!!! Yeah he has certainly claimed that tree!!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Redneck Mommy DATE:Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 3:39:00 PM EST I shouldn't laugh, but I can't help it.

That is hilarious. Wrong on so many levels but funny nonetheless.

(And ya, I know it's only funny because it's not my tree he peed on...) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous T with Honey DATE:Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 4:22:00 PM EST Hahaha! That brings back a memory.

We had to spray my mom's down with pepper spray to keep her male Irish Setter rescue from marking it his first Christmas in the house! Between that and the water gun he learned quickly and didn't try it again the following years.

I also had a cat that insisted on trying to climb the tree every year. She stopped when the tree fell over with her in it.

Animals + Christmas decorations = funny stories ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Nita DATE:Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 5:12:00 PM EST Boys will be boys! I can laugh since it isn't my tree. I love dogs, but I would have been livid! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous labugga DATE:Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 9:27:00 PM EST I, um...

Well, I'll still come see you, but I might have to take back the part about lovin' up some Gibson.

Bad puppy!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Steph DATE:Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 9:50:00 PM EST Id have been a little miffed. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Anonymous DATE:Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 10:58:00 PM EST Gosh, I hope there weren't any cookies under that tree. If there were, they're probably the size of frisbees by now. *reminds self to be on the lookout for huuuuge cookies turning up soon*

Bach ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Chick DATE:Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 7:04:00 AM EST somewhat related...my dog peed on the giant blowup Snoopy-Dressed-As-Santa I bought at Walgreens. The very first time I inflated it, Gus walked right over and peed on Snoopy's puffy foot

Can't blame him really. this thing is awful. (what I will end up doing when I start 'negotiating' with Little Chick) ----- -------- AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: More puppy to love DATE: 12/17/2007 10:07:00 AM ----- BODY:
This morning, I'm typing this while sharing the couch with a 90 pound chocolate lab named Gibson.

On Saturday, Guy and I went to PetSmart to buy guinea pig food and came home with a chocolate lab. As CGF said in an email, "That was one hungry guinea pig!" She cracks me up.

It's a simple story of boy meets dog, boy falls for dog, dog comes home with boy. I couldn't stand in the way of that.

After all the fostering I have done for English Setter rescue, it never dawned on me how important the work really was. In my mind, I was just providing a home for a dog until he could be adopted. Saving a life.

I never realized that the family getting the dog was getting much more than just the dog. They were getting a dog that had learned to live indoors. Learned to live with other dogs. Been tested with children. Been trained to walk on a leash. Been housebroken.

That's a pretty good deal, people.

Gibson is an older dog. His paperwork says 3-4, but we are thinking more 4-5 at least. He is neutered, been through heartworm treatment, crate trained, good with other dogs, and his foster home had children there that he absolutely adored.

To top it all off, his foster mom called us Saturday night just to see how he was doing. I just can't say enough about how awesome it is to bring your pets home through a rescue program.

What started off as a "meet our new dog" post has obviously turned into a "please adopt your dog before you haul off and buy a puppy" post.

Many county animal shelters are moving towards using foster homes, giving you that head start on training your new pet. There are also rescues if you have your heart set on a specific breed. You really can find the right pet through adoption.

If you want the story of Gibson and Guy, you can go read his words. They are so incredibly cute together. Gibson is Guy's little, make that really big and slobbery, Christmas miracle.

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----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous MamaGeek @ Works For Us DATE:Monday, December 17, 2007 at 11:14:00 AM EST Oh Canape, just when I thought I couldn't puffy heart you any MORE.

He is awesome. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Jessica DATE:Monday, December 17, 2007 at 11:30:00 AM EST awwww! Good for guy! Now HE has a pup of his very own! :) Yay Guy! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Steph DATE:Monday, December 17, 2007 at 4:40:00 PM EST Yay for you guys!! We really want to rescue a Dane once we get into a house and get more settled! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Stella DATE:Monday, December 17, 2007 at 5:03:00 PM EST I couldn't agree more about rescue dogs! I've been dying for a dog- just what we need in our two kid household. If we do ever get one, I would like an older one from a rescue group. What a wonderful thing!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous No Minimom DATE:Monday, December 17, 2007 at 6:06:00 PM EST What a pretty puppy! Glad Guy found a furry friend of his own. ;-) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Stimey DATE:Monday, December 17, 2007 at 8:22:00 PM EST Congratulations! Your new pup-baby is adorable! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Melissa DATE:Tuesday, December 18, 2007 at 12:30:00 AM EST Congrats on the new addition! All of my furbabies are hand-me-downs :-) They are the best! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Chick DATE:Tuesday, December 18, 2007 at 9:54:00 AM EST congratulations! I am a big fan of doggie rescue. I got my precious Gus - a basset hound - as a rescue dog about 9 years ago and he's a true prince ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Kendra DATE:Tuesday, December 18, 2007 at 10:43:00 AM EST Congratulations! I'm glad someone else feels the same way about rescue dogs that I do. We love our rescue dog! I can't see myself ever getting dog anyplace else. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Bubblewench DATE:Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 10:47:00 AM EST That's adorable! A super nice Christmas pressie for Guy! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: Grown ups moved in DATE: 11/18/2007 11:51:00 AM ----- BODY:
Our bedroom now has furniture. We looked for over a year for something that we both liked that didn't cost 80 million dollars, and of course we ended up back at one of the first places we looked.

It isn't fancy, but it is handmade. It wasn't expensive, but it does look nice. Very simple and plain. Very functional. We love it. I won't be sad to see my Rubbermaid dressers go.

And, it is one more thing in my house that looks like what my mother has. It's getting a little creepy really. Every time I have a hand in picking out something, it ends up looking a lot like my mother's things. Thank goodness she has good taste.

The only thing I don't like about it is that the bed is incredibly tall. As I type this, perched like some sort of princess perched up high, Pupstar is whining by the side of the bed. She cannot in any way, shape, or form, begin to jump on this bed.

I'm thinking we might have to invest in some doggie steps. As seen on TV.

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----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous slouchy DATE:Sunday, November 18, 2007 at 12:18:00 PM EST I like a tall bed! Somehow it dresses up the act of going to bed. Because it takes more effort, perhaps. ;) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Stella DATE:Sunday, November 18, 2007 at 12:44:00 PM EST I love high beds!
Congrats on the new furniture! I find the same thing..many of the things we own look just like things from my parents. Interesting... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Jenn DATE:Sunday, November 18, 2007 at 1:39:00 PM EST LOL at the high bed...I will never forget hauling myself over the side of the high converted waterbed. Good Times.

New furniture.....what a lovely foreign concept. Enjoy it sounds lovely.

Jenn - NMD ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Steph DATE:Sunday, November 18, 2007 at 4:16:00 PM EST We have a high bed as well. Be careful going to the restroom at night.. I fell a few times. Im glad you have new furniture!! :) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Paige Jennifer DATE:Sunday, November 18, 2007 at 6:29:00 PM EST A past beau had a ridiculously high bed. No matter what I did, I couldn't mount that thing sexily. I'd start with a sassy purr and end with an 'umph' and splat. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous FENICLE DATE:Sunday, November 18, 2007 at 6:34:00 PM EST I thought we were the only married couple living out of Rubbermaid. Now we are.... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous WhyMommy DATE:Sunday, November 18, 2007 at 9:28:00 PM EST I love high beds too ... but they are a challenge for older dogs. We always had to pick up our senior fosters and put them on the bed ourselves! Or "forget" to put away a footstool or rubbermaid container at the foot of the bed for a few weeks. That works too.

So ... is she up? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Mutha Mae DATE:Sunday, November 18, 2007 at 9:29:00 PM EST I've seen those doggie steps commercial. I kept thinking they seemed to be priced well, considering you get two of them. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: Haiku Friday for the girl DATE: 11/02/2007 01:26:00 PM ----- BODY:
Lovely and her dog
Dressed up for trick-or-treating
Honey's kimono.

Grandmother's old frock,
Crazy dog in a tutu,
Not man's. Girl's best friend.

Award day at school
Social studies shining star
On honor roll too.


Happy Haiku Friday. More here.

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----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous WhyMommy DATE:Friday, November 2, 2007 at 1:55:00 PM EDT Too darling! I'm so proud of her for being on the honor roll! Whoo-hoo! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Steph DATE:Friday, November 2, 2007 at 7:46:00 PM EDT She is too cute! YAY for honor roll! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Andria DATE:Friday, November 2, 2007 at 9:36:00 PM EDT Aww, I love this picture of your two kiddos! (Yes, I count doggie as a kid... ;) ) So... camera working now?! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Oh, The Joys DATE:Friday, November 2, 2007 at 10:30:00 PM EDT Lovely IS so lovely! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Beautifully Unique DATE:Saturday, November 3, 2007 at 3:05:00 PM EDT Too too cute!
Honor roll rocks! ----- -------- AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: "I will receive unexpected morsels of food from above" DATE: 10/25/2007 10:39:00 AM ----- BODY:
This past weekend, Lovely and I were in the kitchen making dinner and had the undivided attention of Pupstar. She is there at the ready, waiting to clean up any mess you might make or crumb that might spill.

When we put the meal on the table, Pupstar moved her position to lay down by the table and stare holes into each of us. Again, waiting on that bite to fall off your fork and onto the floor.

Lovely says, with a straight face, "I think Pupstar is using the secret to get us to drop food."

Perfectly timed silence. Then she grins.

Rounds of food spewing laughter all around. Man, it was funny.

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----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous gail DATE:Thursday, October 25, 2007 at 10:49:00 AM EDT Snort, she's fabulous. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Andria DATE:Thursday, October 25, 2007 at 11:03:00 AM EDT Your house is full of all kinds of intelligence! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous MamaGeek @ Works For Us DATE:Thursday, October 25, 2007 at 12:29:00 PM EDT Adorable! But just WAIT until little bird arrives. Dogs ALWAYS find the weak link (near the high chair) immediately. :) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous T with Honey DATE:Thursday, October 25, 2007 at 1:55:00 PM EDT Pupstar is a professional begger to be sure! And it is so nice to have an automatic organic vacuum in the house. ;) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Steph DATE:Thursday, October 25, 2007 at 3:51:00 PM EDT Thats great! She's adorable! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Magpie DATE:Thursday, October 25, 2007 at 7:40:00 PM EDT cleaning up after the small people is one good reason to have a dog. alas, i have none. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous slouchy DATE:Thursday, October 25, 2007 at 7:41:00 PM EDT That is RICH. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous WhyMommy DATE:Friday, October 26, 2007 at 2:50:00 AM EDT The secret. Harumph. But beautiful sense of timing!

What would her mother say about that?

(Never mind.) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Bubblewench DATE:Friday, October 26, 2007 at 8:11:00 AM EDT good one ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Beautifully Unique DATE:Friday, October 26, 2007 at 12:35:00 PM EDT Awesome! hehe ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Anonymous DATE:Friday, December 4, 2009 at 2:28:00 AM EST Sites that I Like :


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----- -------- AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: Haiku Friday, doggie style DATE: 10/19/2007 09:04:00 PM ----- BODY:


Downward facing dog
Doesn't hold a candle to
Shivasina dog.






Haiku Friday. More here.

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----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous AnGlOpHiLe FoOtBaLl FaNaTiC DATE:Friday, October 19, 2007 at 9:15:00 PM EDT Is that a Dane? She's beautiful. And, looks like she's a mommy's girl. That looks like a really comfy position. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Marty, a.k.a. canape DATE:Friday, October 19, 2007 at 10:48:00 PM EDT Heh. She was a mommy's girl. Now she my stepdaughter's girl. She loves that kid more than anything!

She's an English Setter actually. It's hard to tell all upside down like that :) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Whymommy DATE:Saturday, October 20, 2007 at 3:40:00 PM EDT She does that SO well! (And now I finally know what you're talking about when you talk all yoga and stuff -- did you see tiv's comment on my recent post, by the way? It might explain why yoga is such a release. I learned something!) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous FENICLE DATE:Sunday, October 21, 2007 at 9:33:00 PM EDT Too cute!!!!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Bubblewench DATE:Monday, October 22, 2007 at 7:14:00 AM EDT Oh that is funny! and cute! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Jennifer, Playgroups Are No Place For Children DATE:Monday, October 22, 2007 at 11:26:00 AM EDT What a gorgeous puppy dog!

And like JJ, I have a dirty mind, too! I was pleasantly surprised by this very clean Haiku! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous VDog DATE:Monday, October 22, 2007 at 1:22:00 PM EDT OMG, that is hilarious! Nice work!

Personally, shivasana is ALWAYS my favorite pose! (Like, can't I just lie here and get all the yogi benefits?) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Clifford DATE:Monday, October 22, 2007 at 7:11:00 PM EDT Indecent doggie picture! Indecent doggie picture!

*shields virgin eyes* ----- --------