Six Things No One Knows About Me....

OK, GreytBlackDog tagged me to spill the beans and tell everyone six things they don’t know about me. I found the exercise very difficult, but also kind of fun. Here goes:

1. I’m neurotic about planning. Whenever I do anything new or different, I read obsessively and plan every detail beforehand. For example, before any trip we take I buy at least 3 books about the area and obsess about where to stay etc. I know exactly how may miles lie between each destination, what activities are available everywhere, and where the best places to eat are located. My sister on the other hand, just wings it. She says I’m crazy and they have a good time too – without obsessive planning. She thinks part of the fun is figuring it out you go. Probably, but I’d be miserable if, for example, I went to Disney World and without planning the best order to hit each attraction in order to minimize line waiting time. OK, maybe I do suffer from a mild form of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder!!

2. My house is exploding with books. I love to read, which is a major contributor to the problem. Also, my obsessive planning is a big contributor. I love to haunt the aisles at The Book Nook. It’s a great place where, for just a few dollars, you can find used books about anything. It’s impossible for me to resist picking up books about places that I might just want to visit someday, or hobbies that interest me, but I’ve not tried. I can’t ever bring myself to get rid of any of them either. So, if you ever need a book on anything from travel, to photography, to growing roses, just ask me. I might have one. Problem is my collection is very poorly organized, so I might not be able to find it.

3. I read a lot of junk. Everything I read, in fact most of what I read, isn’t teaching me anything or expanding my mind. I love to read junk. Things like trashy romantic novels and suspenseful detective stories.

4. I’m really very, very, shy. Most people who’ve been around me much don’t believe it because, once you get me started talking, I don’t shut up. But it’s very hard for me to come into a new situation. I guess I always feel like everybody else knows more than I do about just about everything.

5. In my teens and early twenties, I did a lot of rock climbing, camping, and hiking. In recent years, my idea of camping out has been the Holiday Inn – but I think that’s about to change. My son has been bugging me to take him camping and we recently spent a week-end at a campsite in North Georgia. I had a blast. How many dogs can you fit in a tent?

6. I love liver and onions. OK, I know most of you are running for the barf bags, but I really do love it; it’s my dirty secret.

So there you go.

Now to pass the torch, I tag Scott and Maria.

And Then There Was One.....

Can we actually be a one dog house? It feels very strange here. Having only one dog bowl to be filled for breakfast and dinner does not seem right at all. I guess I have to get used to it though. It’s the norm now. No meds to be given to anyone, hound or human, before and after meals. It’s been at least 10 years since the critters in my house were totally med free. Starting with my now departed Casey cat and her tapazole for hyperthyroid, someone has always needed something. I’ve felt like a pusher for the last few years between Sugar’s pain meds and Speedy’s heart drugs. Although trying to get two dogs to take a handful of pills each, some before and some after meals, and at assorted times throughout the day was somewhat of an ordeal, I feel kind of lost and empty with out the routine. Maybe I just feel lost without my two pups!! Their bowls and beds have been put away, as well as the ex-pen that has been set up in the family room for Sugar for the last several months. The house looks much neater, and somehow very empty.

Rosie has missed her buddies really more than I thought she would. Speedy and Sugar were very much a bonded pair. Even though Rosie played with them, and seemed to like them, she really always thought they were oldsters who couldn’t keep up with her. She’s been very subdued for a couple of days, and still obviously looks for them at times. She must be as lonely for them as I am.

Two Much!!!

Sugar
racing name Golddust Sugar
3/21/98 - 7/30/08

Two good-byes in one day are really too much for me, but sometimes too much is what you get. I’m sad to record the passing of our other Greyhound, Sugar. As has been reported here, she's battled neck pain for years and I’ve been struggling with whether or not it was time for her to go for several days. Yesterday afternoon, I decided that Speedy was trying to tell me something. He went ahead to help her, her friend and comforter to the end. The two of them have been together for years and were truly devoted to one another. She was in a great deal of pain that no amount of drugs could seem to control. Keeping her here with me was clearly very selfish. We decided to let her go.

Sugar was my second greyhound. She came to us as a foster – just for one night - until the family that was supposed to become her forever home could pick her up. That was in the old days when SEGA didn’t have a kennel. She was a bounce returned for some reason I can’t remember now. Well, she never left our house. Her intended family got cold feet about her and she became a member of our family. Their loss was our gain. Sugar is one of the nicest dogs I’ve ever met. She was a bit on the shy side, but loved kids. She would seek out a child in a crowd and nuzzle their hand until the petted her. She loved being petted more than food and relished snuggling up with her stuffies. I'm going to miss her more than anyone can imagine.

I love you Sugar Lump!! Run fast, free from pain.

Sometimes Things Just Come out of Left Field.

Speedy
Racing Name Santas Clipper
8/18/97 - 7/30/08

I’ve spent the last month, and in some ways the lat several years, worrying about Sugar. She’s been the one with all the health problems.

I’m sad to record the passing of my precious Speedy just 19 days short of his 11th birthday. He had a catastrophic cardiac event in the middle of the night last night. A trip to the emergency vet was to no avail, and Rob and I let him go. He was apparently ready. He was diagnosed with a heart murmur a couple of years ago, but has gotten along quite nicely with drugs to manage his condition. His heart issue never really slowed him down. He loved his walks, playing with Rosie and Sugar (especially tug of war with Rosie), being strong for Sugar, and mostly being my shadow. He was the quintessential momma’s boy, the only remaining vestige of the separation anxiety he suffered from in the first year or so he lived with us. He was my first dog as an adult and my heart.

Yesterday was a normal day for him in all respects. He felt good, ate well, and mostly just hung out with me. I guess he wasn't the sort for lingering. Maybe he wants to be there to help Sugar when it's her turn. I'll never forget you my Speedy Boo! You taught me so much and gave me much more than you got in return over the years. I still remember the first day we got you. You've been my friend and my rock and I already miss you terribly.

Is it Time???

If it's not time now, it will be soon unless Sugar's pain improves.

Pain is a terrible thing…especially when no one knows its source. Sugar continues to fight neck pain and I’m about to give up on its resolving itself as it has in the past. We added yet another drug to her pain med arsenal last week, but it hasn’t helped much. She had a very bad night last night, and I’m wondering if it’s time. I don’t want to give up on her too soon, but I don’t want her to suffer unnecessarily. It would be easier if I knew why she hurts, but I don't. It would be easier if I knew whether and how soon she might feel better, but I don't.

The last month has been a rough for her and for us. Some days she seems better - not great mind you - but better. Those days give me hope that she is beginning to improve. Then there are the bad days, we're having one of those today, when I wonder if there is really any hope of true improvement. Am I just being selfish - wanting to keep her with me?

Surprise!!!.....Go, dog. Go!!!

Wheeler and I went on a mini trip last week. I call it that because Rob wasn't with us. We went to the beach for a week. We had a good time, but it would have been better if Rob had been there.

I learned an important lesson on the trip though. Forty something moms should not ride a banana boat with teen age boys. One afternoon, Wheeler and I decided to pony up a little money and take such a ride. On the banana were Wheeler and I as well as two boys about Wheeler's age. Now just think about the dynamics of this for a minute. The object of the game as far as the boys were concerned was to fall off as many times as possible. Forty something moms want to stay on said banana to avoid the embarrassment of having the others watch her struggle back on. Somehow, teen age boys can simply hop back on.... a little harder for mom. Also, they took great delight in helping mom fall off...all in good fun of course...:-)!! Sorry, no pics of me hoisting myself onto the banana!!

After my banana adventure, Rob forwarded me an email with this picture of Rosie attached. A friend, who is a graphics artist, worked his magic on a picture taken of Rosie when she got one of the legs of her JC last spring. He's really very talented and I'll treasure it. Thanks Kirby!!!

Behind Bars Again.....

Sugar is back in jail. That is to say, back in her ex-pen on crate rest. Her struggle with neck pain continues in spite of a very aggressive drug campaign. I'm considering trying acupuncture again. It did help before, but unfortunately the effects only lasted a few days and it took a couple of treatments a week to keep her comfortable. She hates going to the vet so much that I was never really sure the reward was worth the stress going for acupuncture put her through...not to mention the cost. If I was convinced it would help, the cost wouldn't matter. I'm just not sure it really helps on balance. Whatever this is, seems to be aggravated by stress. The ex-pen really just helps her to feel protected. When just resting on her bed, she jumps and cries out when someone walks past her bed. They don't even need to pass particularly close to her, just in the vicinity. I guess she's afraid someone will run into her and hurt her already sore neck. The ex-pen convinces her that she's protected. She feels safe, and can rest better. We still let her come upstairs to bed at night.

Wheeler and I are going to the beach next week, but Rob is going to stay home and dog sit. If she's still this painful when we get back, it will be time to make some hard decisions. Problem is, this neck pain has disappeared in the past as mysteriously as it appeared. How long do I give it to get better before I give up? I really don't want to let her suffer unnecessarily, but I don't want to give up on her too soon!! The good news is , she's eating better (not great mind you) and she seems more relaxed. But then she's still taking enough pain meds to stop a train.

The Monster is Back!!!

Sugar’s neck pain is back. If you think you hear a deep sigh of fear and frustration coming from me, you’re right. She’s felt good since late January and I guess I thought we’d hit on a regimen of drugs that had her pain controlled. We switched her from Rimadyl to meloxicam about a month and a half ago since meloxicam is on the $4 list at Wal-Mart. The hope was that it wouldn’t make a difference and would save me a little money. She takes a boat load of pain drugs – enough to stop a train as her vet says – so any cost break is welcome. Don’t know if that switch has anything to do with her increased pain now, but we are switching back. She seemed fine after the switch until last Thursday when she started showing some signs of discomfort. Unfortunately we have to endure a 5 day wash out period before we can start the Rimadyl so I guess it is going to get worse before it gets better.

We’re not talking about a little of discomfort. She cries a lot and isn’t eating well, if at all and isn’t resting comfortably at night. Last night she paced and cried all night. I know that if we can’t control her pain, I have a difficult decision to make. I’ll make the best one for her, not for me. What makes this hard, is that her pain comes and goes. She has periods of extreme, difficult to control pain, followed by months of feeling really good. Was her pain level lower anyway when we made the switch to meloxicam so we couldn't tell whether it worked as well as the Rimadyl? Would she be hurting this much anyway even if we hadn't made the switch? I guess this will teach me to leave well enough alone. If I had my way, she wouldn't be taking a NSAID at all. I know there is risk associated with this drug class. But for her, the Rimadyl was working and my choice was euthanasia. I don’t want to give up on her too soon; because, well, I love her and when I look in her eyes I don’t think she’s ready to give up.

What a Morning!!

This morning I tried to poison Rosemary! With two senior Greyhounds in the house, one with chronic neck pain, medication time is a big event in our house. They don’t know they’re taking pills, they just think they get lots of peanut butter treats. FYI crunchy peanut butter makes a great pill delivery system – they can’t tell the pills from the peanuts. Anyway, as I already mentioned, Sugar has chronic neck pain. She had disc surgery two years ago and was pain free until last fall. When she began showing signs of neck pain again, we thought she had ruptured another disc and returned to the neurology docs at Auburn. After an MRI, a spinal tap, and countless blood tests and x-rays, no one could find the source of her neck pain. They did help us with a pain management program that seems to be working. In order to be comfortable, she needs a combination of several pain meds. Add to this mix, Speedy has a heart murmur and is low thyroid. Some days I feel like their pusher.

The morning routine is to get up and immediately give Sugar a pepcid and a Tylenol 4 w/ codeine. That takes the edge off the neck pain so she will eat breakfast, and protects her tummy for the meloxicam that follows breakfast. All three pups line up for their morning peanut butter treat. This morning, somehow, I managed to give Rosie Sugar’s treat, including the Tylenol with codeine. Now remember that Sugar at 65 lbs outweighs little 38 lb Rosie. After a self flagellation session, I dosed her with hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting and called the emergency vet – of course these things never happen during business hours. It looks like all will be well. Still don’t know how I managed to confuse a 65 lb white greyhound with a 38 lb red pharaoh hound. Obviously I was still asleep at the time!!

Speedy and Sugar Go Lure Coursing...Well sort of!!

Memorial Day Week-end had a little something for everyone this year. Saturday the whole family went lure coursing. OK, in reality only Rosie coursed, but the whole family went along for the ride. Friday, I packed the van with Rosie’s crate and the ex-pen for Speedy and Sugar. I also packed a tarp for shade as well as shade screen, water bowls, lots of water, snacks for human and hound, extra beds and blankets, and a battery operated fan to assure hound comfort. By the time the van was loaded with three hounds and all the necessary gear, Rob and Wheeler had to follow me in another car. Jeez, talk about taking everything but the kitchen sink!! In reality, they didn’t want to get up and leave as early as I needed to make 8:00 roll call in Calhoun anyway, so the extra gas would have been wasted in any case.

There were lots of Pharaoh Hounds in attendance. Eight running in open – it’s rare to have so many; often there are only two or three open Pharaohs and we’ve even run alone more than once. Rosie didn’t have a very good day as far as the judges were concerned though. She came in 5^th and got zero points. Rosie’s problem is that she is too smart for her own good - she cheats!! Why run the whole course behind the lure, if you can see where the line is going. She figures she might as well cut a loop off and head the lure off at the pass. This strategy is very effective if the goal is to get to the lure first, but not if you’re being judged on follow. She out smarted herself. All in all, she had a blast and came home tired and satisfied. She doesn’t care how many points she got or how she placed. She just thinks she had fun!! I'm not telling her she wasn't the star.

Sunday, we cooked out at a friend’s house where Wheeler enjoyed hanging out with the other teens. On Monday, we did nothing. Also a very good thing.

Memorial Day Weekend Plans

Speedy, Sugar, and I are going coursing Saturday, probably for the last time before next fall. It just gets too hot for the hounds in the dead of summer – especially in Georgia!! In reality, only Rosie will be running, but Speedy and Sugar already have their duds packed; they are planning a nice day in the country. Sugar plans to nap in the expen, in the shade, in front of her fan. Speedy will do the same, only he will be wistfully watching the festivities while staring at me with those big eyes designed to make me feel guilty. You see, I never took him coursing when he was young enough to safely run. Unfortunately, at almost 11, he has a heart murmur and some sort of orthopedic issue with his hips. Even absent those issues, he’s really to old to run a course of around 900 yards at top speed. He is very interested in the lure though and I truly wish I’d discovered how much fun lure coursing is for both hound and human when he was young enough.

Sugar on the other hand, shows absolutely no interest in chasing a plastic bag. She’s much too smart for such things. She does enjoy reclining on her soft bed in the shade though while the others “play their silly games!”

Sugar’s pain is now pretty well controlled and she is eating well. She feels good has even joined in a play session or two with Speedy and Rosie. I’m felling pretty good about her now.

Sunday we'll cook out at my friend Jenny's house to celebrate all of our birthdays. Can you believe Wheeler, Rob, and I all have May birthdays. Here's a couple of pics from Wheeler's birthday. He turned 14 on the 8th and will be in high school next fall. Wow!!

The Winner of the Old Mill Stakes and Recipient of the Old Mill Cup is........the Pharaoh Hound - Rosemary!!!!!

Rosie and I had an awesome weekend. The Old Mill Stakes is an ASFA lure coursing event and has been run the first weekend in May for the past twelve years. There is no daily Best in Field, but each day's Best of Breed is eligible to run in Best in Event on Sunday if they run both Saturday and Sunday. Rosie won Best of Breed Saturday and came in second on Sunday for the Pharaohs. Her run in Best in Event was spectacular. She soundly beat the competition and is the first Pharaoh to have won the Old Mill Stakes. The perpetual trophy is a huge. It's a fancy silver cup on a large wooden base with the names of all the previous winners engraved on the base.

I was so proud of my little rescue hound I almost cried. Goofy I know, but she's come a long way from the county animal control.

Speedy and Sugar were both along for the ride and I think enjoyed themselves. Speedy clearly wanted to chase the bunny too! He went nuts when the lure zipped by. I'm sorry I never coursed him when he was young enough.

Catch Up!!

I haven't updated here in a while. Rosie got both legs of her AKC JC back in February. Here are a few pictures. I was so proud of her. She then went on to earn BOB in an ASFA trail in March.

Sugar is out of jail and feeling much better - though still not pain free. Speedy is well...Speedy :-)!! Always with momma!! Gotta love it!

Pecking Order

Sugar had always been the lead hound at our house. Since he's been under the weather, Rosie has been challenging her authority. What kind of respect is that? Dogs clearly don't subscribe to the golden rule.

Sugar is beginning to feel some better, or at least we've found a pain control regime that works pretty well. Since she's felt better, she's set about re-estblishing order, with her as leader. Go my old girl!!

Six Weeks in Jail, Grrr!!!

Sugar is beginning week six in jail. OK, not real doggie jail...she was put on crate rest by the wonderful vets at Auburn Vet School. Sugar has been suffering with neck/back pain since September. We thought she had slipped another disc - she had surgery to correct two herniated discs in her neck a year and a half ago. After a MRI, spinal tap, and a bunch of blood tests, no slipped discs. No cancer either. Yeah!!

OK, then why is my dog screaming in pain. I mean don't get me wrong, I'm very, very happy that my dog doesn't have cancer, or some exotic infectious disease, but we've got to do something about the pain. I don't mean an occasional whimper, I mean screaming. The only thing they turned up was an elevated titer to neospora which is apparently a parasite associated with cows. Now how did my dog, a city dweller, pick up a cow parasite? Anyway, it can cause spinal pain so maybe that is her problem. Unfortunately, the pundits at the afore mentioned vet school are unsure as she only showed a very low positive titer. Suggested crate rest and some antibiotics to see what happens.

Five weeks later the pain is better, but only if she stays in the expen and takes a bunch of pain meds. Waiting to see if new blood tests show any change in her neosposa titers after the round of antibiotics.

Meanwhile, Sugar wants to know where she can pick up a get out of jail free card. She does see certain advantages. Rosie can't steal her stuffies and she gets extra treats and scritches, but enough is enough already!!!!

OK. Getting old sucks!!

Or rather, watching your mom get old sucks. My mom is wonderful, I really like spending time with her, but recently noticed that although I call her almost daily, I don't see her all that much. We live in the same town, but it seems like life gets in the way. Don't get me wrong, she keeps herself busy. She's a Bridge addict and plays in games and tournaments all over the place. She's recently started playing online. I feel bad for her because since my dad died a few year back, she can't always fine a regular, reliable partner. I'm no help because I don't know Bridge the card game from the kind of bridge you drive over.

She's having some mobility problems lately that I'm afraid will eventually make getting out on her own hard. She has no endurance, and she's begun using a rascal to scoot around the grocery store. Although she never complains, she really needs a knee replacement and foot surgery, but is putting it off. I know she gets lonely at home at night. She always accepts any invitation for dinner or a visit quickly.

New Years Resolution - spend more time with my mother....

Why a blog???

A very good question. Didn't think I ever would. I want a place to write my thoughts and feelings as well as the triumphs and frustrations around trying to train....ah tame...Rosemary the Pharaoh Hound we adopted a little over a year ago. She's come a long way since then. Now she can be walked on a leash without having to wrap the leash around my back. She took leash pulling to Olympic proportions. She still lunges and barks when we pass other dogs walking in the park. Don't know why...If I introduce them, she's fine.

She went lure coursing for the first time a couple of weeks ago and I think we have both discovered that it's lots of fun. We've taken a pet store obedience class, but I think we may want to do more training and see where it takes us. She'll do about anything for a treat, so she should do well!!

I don't know what else may turn up here. Just a place to put random thoughts and ideas!!

A Rescue poem I like...

I posted this here because it made me cry....but then my husband and son say everything makes me cry!

A Rescue Dog's Story

Here in this house...
I will never know the loneliness I hear in the barks of the other
dogs 'out there'.
I can sleep soundly, assured that when I wake, my needs will be met.
I will never know hunger, or the fear of not knowing if I'll eat.
I will not shiver in the cold, or grow weary from the heat.
My fur will shine, and never be dirty or matted.

Here in this house...
There will be an effort to communicate with me on my level.
I will be talked to, and even if I don't understand,
I can enjoy the warmth of the words.
I will be given a name so that I may know who I am.
My name will be used in joy, and I will love the sound of it!

Here in this house...
I will never suffer for someone's anger, impatience, or stupidity.
I will be taught all the things I need to know to be loved by all.
If I do not learn my lessons well, they will look to my teacher
for blame.

Here in this house...
I can trust arms that hold and hands that touch...
knowing that, no matter what they do, they do it for the good of me.
If I am ill, I will be doctored.
If scared, I will be calmed.
If sad, I will be cheered.

Here in this house.....
No matter what I look like, I will be considered beautiful and valuable.
I will never be cast out because I am too old, too ill or not cute enough.
My life is a responsibility...... not an afterthought.
I will learn that humans can be kind and fair.

Here in this house...
I am finally home.

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