Making Hay

On what could very well be the last pretty weekend of fall before the snow hits (its forecast for this week), a friend and I took our dogs on an epic trail run on Saturday.  We set out to do maybe 7 or 8 miles up at Happy Jack...and ended up doing somewhere between 10 and 11 (my NikeSportBand, which I think tends to be high, said 11 and her GPS phone said 10.6...).

Here I am at mile 8 or so, stopping to enjoy the view.  I definitely look like I've been running for a while.  Heh.

It was beautiful day.  Brisk enough that I never felt overheated but warm enough to run in a tank and capris.  The dogs had a great time, too:

We couldn't believe that 8 miles in, they still had the energy for these kind of shenanigans.  Although later that night, Ruby was dead. to. the. world. and I physically had to pry her off the couch and make her go outside to pee before bed.

To tell the truth, I was pretty tired myself.  But in a good, feeling like a total badass kind of way.  :)


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AND!!  Omg!  I just saw that the freaking Coen brothers are remaking one of my favorite movies  from when I was young.  My husband it excited because this one doesn't have John Wayne in it.  (He HATES John Wayne.  I sort of totally love him.  Opposites attract, I guess.)

So. Excited.  Take a look:

Today is the day!

Well, I hope it is. Otto has an appointment with the orthopaedist this morning to hopefully get his splint off. I'm sick of dealing with it so I can only imagine how he must feel. Although, come to think of it, he really doesn't seem that bothered. He just kind of gets by using his left hand for most things and never complains. Wow. My kid is kind of awesome.

(I'm sure I would be bitching and moaning and pitching a general fit pretty much every day if I wasn't allowed to use my right arm. However, I guess I am called upon to do things he isn't like type, cook, clean, wash my own hair, wipe my own ass, etc. But then again, he DOES do things like put toys in my purse, pull the cat's tail and clap wildly after singing the ABC's and/or repeating the "F" word*...so I guess its a tie.)

Anyhoo, we're ready for the damn thing to come off regardless. And a mid-morning's doctor appointment for something like this is a great excuse to get out into the sunshine and just maybe stop at the good coffee place on the way. :)

Us in the ER after being fixed up. You can't see it but his shirt said "I do my own stunts". Yeah.

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In other news, it feels like things are beginning to equalize a little bit. The puppy is starting to get into the swing of things- she still has puppy moments, of course- but she is generally calmer and better behaved than she was 2 weeks ago. Also, she starts puppy kindergarten tonight (I KNOW! OMG THE CUTE!!) which should just further our obedience training efforts.

After a bout of illness this weekend, the Husband seems to be returning to his normal, pithy self which I am glad to see. It's no small thing either that we have had nice weather for the past week: Sunshine and temps into the 60's. We are getting a teensy tiny taste of fall after having all that snow and we likes it, precious.




*Yeah, Otto repeats a swear word from time to time and thinks he is pretty funny doing it. We're trying to be better about the sailor language in his presence but it is HARD, folks.

The Cat Did It

Just checking in to say:

WHAT THE HELL WERE WE THINKING?!?!

Really. A toddler and a puppy? Why didn't any of you try to talk me out of it??? I hold you personally responsible for the chaos now underway in our previously semi-peaceful houshold. Heh.

Actually? It's not all bad. Ruby is too freakin' cute. And she's learning a lot. And fast. I'm convinced that the chaotic element will lessen significantly very soon. For realsies.

She has had a great start with house training...only 2 accidents since we got her on Saturday and both of those were Monday. She's already learning not to jump up and nip at us. This is the behavior that scares Otto the most and makes our lives hell when the two of them are in the same space. If Ruby is in the room, Otto is like a rat on a sinking ship- climbing to whatever high ground he can find- usually up into our arms.

Each day has been better than the last and I really do think that we will all adjust to the new family dynamic pretty soon.

Except for the cat who I am certain is plotting horrible, bloody revenge scenarios from her self-imposed exile in the basement.

(I'll try to post puppy pics soon...she's nothing if not completely, exasperatingly adorable. :-)

McHann

As a person who grew up with pets, I feel like I have a special appreciation for their place in a home. In fact, I can confidently say that a house is not a home for me at all without pets. Growing up, we had several cats, fish, birds, gerbils, hamsters and Doc. Dr. Tubbs, or Doc for short, was a cute little black dog (1/2 cocker spaniel and 1/2 dachsund) who was with us for 17 years. He grew up along side us- there through all the growing pains, school dances, make-ups and break-ups, departures for college. I never thought I'd love another dog the way I loved Doc.


But then I got married. And with the Husband came McHann. A 2 year old German Shepherd with the sweetest disposition I have ever witnessed in a dog. Plagued by health problems her whole life, McHann has seen more of the vet than any animal ever should. When she developed a benign tumor in her ear, we actually took out a loan to pay for the surgery to fix it before it began pushing on her brain, slowly killing her. She has had an absess in her neck and once ate a dishtowel (I said she was sweet- not particularly bright ;-) and had to have her stomach cut open in 3 places to remove all the fibers. Through it all, she remained sweet, devoted, gentle and relentlessly loyal. She has never growled, snapped, bitten or been at all aggressive towards anyone- not even the Dr. who cut her head open to save her life. Now with only one ear, she has a cock-eyed goofiness that is impossible not to love.

Fast forward to the present-at 10 years old, McHann is starting to show her age. Her hips are stiff and seem painful at times, in spite of the glucosamine supplements prescribed by the vet. She moves slower and has less stamina for long walks or hikes. She sleeps more and her muzzle is gray.

But one thing has not changed: her relentless optimism and love. Each day when we walk through the door, its like Christmas- as though she has not seen us in days and days and is just SO HAPPY we have come back to her. Her big, brown eyes look up at us with the absolute love and trust that seems to be unique to her species. It may sound silly, but we feel truly blessed to have her in our lives.

When the baby comes, I know she will be wonderful. I hope we can continue to provide her with the love and attention she deserves. And as she gets older, I hope we can give her the things she has given us during the 7 years of our marriage: comfort, companionship, friendship, and unconditional love.