Getting past 10:54

I laid in bed last night and watch the digital clock change from minute to minute actually counting the seconds in between, until it actually said 10:54. I breathed a sigh of relief. That would be one whole minute after the time my phone had rung a year ago, telling me Cathy (my daughter) had been in a motorcycle accident. The lady that called me was calm and precise... " Your daughter Cathy and her BF have been in an accident. Paramedics are on their way. We're at the 340 and 230 intersection." The whole time I could hear Cathy yelling and crying in the background. My heart stopped and for the next several hours I was on autopilot. I told Steve, told my Nephew Kyli to watch JR and was out the door. I actually followed the ambulance there and parked right behind it. There was my first born lying on the side of the highway with some strange man holding her head still. Bobby was laying on the opposite side of the road with a broken leg and only feet from the motorcycle that had thrown them and the deer that almost killed them and me as well. Bobby was taken off in the ambulance to Jefferson Memorial and Cathy was flown by helicopter to Winchester. The thoughts that race through your mind when something like this happens are a little overwhelming. I managed to get through the whole night without being too emotional. Bobby eventually was taken to Winchester as well for surgery on his leg, but Cathy was released to us later that night.... VERY skinned up and bruised and yes, cracked. She recouped at our house for a week and her mom came to pick her up. She's healed for the most part. Still with the BF that almost took her life, and hopefully never getting back on a motorcycle. I had my shining moment of emotions the day after the accident. While driving through the intersection on the way to the grocery store... I discovered I couldn't breath. My chest got so tight I knew it was a heart attack, but I managed through it. In the store however, I snapped at the guys with me (Steve, Kyli n JR), shoved a cart into a bread rack and had some kind of hissy fit next to frozen foods. It took about 6 weeks before that intersection didn't make me wince. It's been a year now and I can't begin to imagine what today would have been like had that day been worse. It's definitely a day for celebration!! I still have my beautiful Daughter and I can still hear her laughter whenever I want to. 10:54 won't be so important to me in 2011. I've gotten past that psychological trigger. Have a Happy 4th of July everyone.... I know mine will be.

RIP Senator Byrd

Far too many people tend to focus on the less colorful aspects of a politicians life rather than the achievements. I realize of course Senator Byrd once had ties with the KKK, but he since has apologized and I accept it. He's done great things not only for our beautiful State of West Virginia, but for our country.

We've lost a great man who dedicated his life to something he loved.

Rest in Peace Senator.

Steve took time off from his work day to head down to the Capitol to pay his respects.

I would have liked to join him, but had a difficult dog at home to deal with.

He told me it was done very nice.

This is the funeral card they had prepared.

Steve's ticket into the Senate Gallery.

WV mourns your passing.

Sleep sweetly with the angels.

Moses is Staying

On the 9th of November 2009, I found Moses on the cold concrete floor of the Berkeley County Humane Society. Dropped there by a woman who claimed she found him on her porch... lying bitch. He was so terribly matted he had to be shaved. His nails were over and inch long and one of them on his back right foot had grown through one of the mats of fur making it impossible for him to stand. He was covered in several thousand fleas... so thick I could scrape them off his frail little body. Too weak to even fight, Moses just laid there while I tended to all his trouble. The vet told me the next day that Moses most likely would not make it. His weakened, anemic, dehydrated, starved skeleton was most likely past the point of recovery. All I could do was make his last days his best. I carried Moses in a blanket for two weeks. His bladder was not under his control, so pretty much everything he laid on got wet... including me. He had tested positive for Lyme and so he needed to be treated right away. The drugs made him throw up several times a day which made it even more difficult to help him gain any weight. The poor boy weighed just 5lbs

It was a constant struggle. Almost a month went by and Moses had finished his med. Some of his fur had grown back and he was learning to run again. Since he was rescued and taken into foster care by me and I was working with A4TA, we put him up for adoption.

This was probably the worst thing I could have done. The new family that took Moses DID NOT listen to me when I told them NOT to crate him and that he still had issues with peeing inside. Dec 5th Moses was taken by a new family. Dec 8th Moses was back in my arms. He hasn't left them since.

The 22nd of March, the last puppy I would foster for A4TA, left my home. Mason was on his way to Minnesota. This was also the week I resigned as a foster for them. The distance to Woodbridge was just too far and I had driven it too many times in the last 15 months. This was also the week I made it final and permanently adopted Moses. He was MINE!!! YAY!!!!

We jump to June 2010. I have a houseful of fosters. Two Cresteds for CG... 1 - 10 and 1 - 2.5, One 10 yr old Cocker for OBG, One 7 yr old Schauzer, One 15 month old Chigi, One 17 month old Pit Mix (Kip) that was born here, and of course my three.... Dash, Roux and Moses. That's 9 dogs.... that's 8 tails smacking Moses in the face. 8 mouths trying to eat Moses's food. 8 dogs that Moses would rather have live somewhere else, since I'm positive he would prefer to be an only child. So, as difficult as it was I made the decision to place Moses for adoption through the CG Rescue. I posted his Bio and pics and made him an appt for the vet. June 29th, 2010. Moses has his vet appt and we discover that he's not 10yrs like we thought. but most likely 12 to 15. Dr Pierson is leaning more toward the 15yrs. She concluded that his frequent urinating is not and infection, but more likely caused by his age. She also told me he's going blind in both eyes. He was also losing weight. He had once plumped up to 12 lbs and was now back down to 10. He's still eating so the reason he's losing weight is a mystery. Moses is no longer available for adoption. He will stay with me and he will die in my arms. I will reduce the number of foster dogs I have and make his life as pleasant as possible. He's MY Little buddy and I'll not question that again.

This is a trip through Moses's recovery... Enjoy!

My Happy Little boy. He may not always remember where the door is, but he has no trouble finding his way to my heart!

A Funny Realization

June is truckin right along!!! JR n I got the chicken coop built and the hen house built and the nesting box built. Then we painted.... and painted and painted. The Chickens love their new home and love that they're in it and on their way to being good layers. Six weeks old now, they should start laying sometime the last week of Sept or the 1st week of Oct. Cathy n Bobby came up this weekend to retrieve my little helper so that he could return home in time for Camp. Seems like just yesterday he was learning how to sit up and now he's off to camp. I really am getting old. :-( A house full of dogs, four adults and a six yr old. What an awesome weekend!! Of course Ping turned out to be most everyones favorite. A dog that was supposed to be food, dog and human aggressive sure gets along well with everyone.

So Sat. we penned up all the critters and went to a cookout/retirement/graduation party at our friend Lisas. This party was held on their farm way the hell down in VA somewhere. I took a whole bag of bug spray and foggers and such. Initially we were going to take the tent and all the dogs and camp over night. 90+ degree heat put an end to that idea. I just made the hour n 1/2 drive and slept in my own dry cool home. Much nicer than a mosquito infested, humid, hot tent with 5 humans and 8 dogs. The party was great!! Great Music, Terrific Food, and interesting people to talk with. The kids, and there were plenty of them, had crafts to do and pools (cow troughs) to play in. JR was in heaven with all the little blond girls running about..... and he's 6 mind you. I found a really cool mushroom and shared my knowledge of it's medicinal properties, then i promptly took a picture of it using Steve as a backdrop for the photo.... LOL!! Mushroom Head... Mushroom Head!!!

Always worried that every one's having a good time, I could keep track of this through my camera lens. I only took about 100 pics.. 82 of which were worth keeping. This one definitely was.... I love her smile!

Our day there ended just after this beautiful sunset. This is NOT a postcard. This is their view from their home. So peaceful...... We returned home to a house full of happy doggies, did the walk thing and we all went to bed. Sunday would bring us another hot but beautiful day and a couple guests. Paul n Keith came to visit and pick out the kitten they would be adopting. They chose the little gray n white girlie that looks most like the mama. She'll have to stay here for at least two more weeks since none of them are weaned yet and there's so much the mama still needs to teach them. Paul n Keith left for home, then soon after the kids packed up and were gone too. Steve and I sat in the house and listened to the silence.... ahhh the silence. Doggies piled everywhere and silent. Monday I placed Moses on the adoption list with Crested Guardians. I love the little guy to death. I would give my life for him. I would also give him a different life because I care that much. Moses hates sharing the house with other dogs. He either stays in his bed behind the chair in the corner or he's barking constantly at the dogs and their tails that are smacking him in his face. As hard as it has been to make the decision to give him up, I know he'll be happier in a home as either an only child or with only one other dog. My keeping him here because of how my bond with him was selfish logic. Maybe he'll never get adopted and if that happens, then fate will have shown me he was meant to stay, but at least I tried to set him free. Speaking of setting something free..... Kip came home this week as well. Kip was one of Maggie's litter that were born here on Inauguration Day 2008. He was the tiniest of the litter and surely would have died if Steve and I had not been here to tie off the vein that was pumping blood out of his 12 oz body. Maggie in her enthusiasm to be a Great mother.... pulled his cord from his body. I pinched off the vein and Steve tied it with dental floss. Problem solved! Now 17 months later, he's a well trained and very healthy young boy. If only his separation anxiety were as easy to fix as that vein. Apparently Kai, as he is now called, suffers from extreme anxiety and must be medicated. We'll see how he does with the pack for now and assess him later. It was a difficult decision for his humans to give him up. Kai was a big part of their lives, both physically and emotionally. Just like what I am doing for Moses though, these decisions have to be made and no matter how hard the decision was, dealing with the outcome of that decision will always be harder. Kai slept well last night and he,s been fine this morning. Well he was fine until I took the little dogs for their walk. That's when he decided to pop out the cat door and come try to find me. When I returned home he was sitting on the front porch with a Park Ranger (not the cute one either). She just knew he was mine... apparently I have a reputation and besides some park employees had seen me out with him. I guess I'll take him with me this afternoon when I take Moses and Echo to the vet. Wish me luck and patience. I'm his last hope. I guess that was the same for all the doggies that have come to me. LOL... me... the last hope... How funny is THAT!! Some realization for a tues.

Three Hot Days!!

Six weeks ago this coming Monday the ladies came to live with us. Of course I'm talking about our chickens Ally, Josey and Sheila. ANy of you that actually read my babble will know there were originally 4 girls. We still never found that missing chick.

Anyhow, this week it's been in the 90's and JR (my grandson) and I decided we would build a Chicken Coop, Hen House and Nesting Box up in the back yard. Those poor little ladies have been living in a large dog crate for over a month now and it's time they got their legs stretched.

Day one (Tues) we had the frame finished. I literally lost 5 lbs this afternoon. It all washed down hill.

JR and I couldn't drink enough water to stay hydrated.

Day two (wed) we got all the chicken wire in place. That was it for my fingers. I have more holes in my hands now than I care to.

Finally, Day three (Thurs) we got the chicken house and the nesting box built.

Our goal was to have the hens in the chicken yard by the 1st day of summer. Three days late ain't so bad.

I told JR we had to wait for Doc, so that he could be a part of it. That poor kid was beside himself impatient. Then when I told him we had to finish dinner first... that nearly caused him a shutdown!! LOL!!!

The girls made it!! They immediately strutted off in search of bugs and goodies. I'll lock them in their house tonight and release them in the morning. Once they get the hang of sleeping inside, I won't have to shut the hen house door each night.

Meanwhile, back in the air-conditioned house.......

Roux, Moses, Echo, Nemo, Emma, Ping and Muffin.

Left to right/back to front.

Dash DOES NOT lay with all the little dogs. He was on his own bed and not in the photo.

Ping May go to her new family this friday and Muffin the same. We'll see, I reckon!!

I had to add this special note to my week......

Two years ago we also had JR staying with us.... and I recorded a conversation I had with him one of those mornings.

The June 2008 post titles "Sometimes I think I'm not"

Well, today was the 2 yr anniversary of that conversation.

For the past three days I've been keeping track of some of his current sayings and comments so that I could add them to this post.

Here they are...

There was this time that me and doc walked to the train I mean to the bridge where the train goes sort of like beside the path that the troll lives on There was a train that had like 13 trains I mean cars Not real cars but train cars and it was loud like the one that’s going by right now. What time is docs train again? I know you told me not to ask again, but I forgot. --------------------------------------------------------------

Gramps, may I go take a bath or something. No. we have to go clean up the tools in the back yard .

Can I take that thing like a bath after we’re done? You mean a shower? Yeah, but you told me not to say that word again or I could never take another one here EVER. JR.. I was kidding, but you had asked me like 10 times and it was getting tiresome. ---------------------------------------------------------

Gramps I’ll be right back… my butt is leaking poop… I think. --------------------------------------------------------

Hey Doc, I mean Pop Pop, I mean Daddy.. I mean Gramps LOL I forgot who I was workin with. -------------------------------------------------------

Gramps, I love you, because you gave me Food. ------------------------------------------------------

Hey Gramps !!!!Splash!!!! Did that water I just threw on you feel good?? LOL It sure is hot out here!

------------------------------------------------------

That was My week so far.

Tomorrow we're painting the hen house. Something tells me to crate up the chickens while we do this, but I'm going to leave them out. I just know I'll have black n Red hens by the end of the day!! This coming weekend we're taking all 8 dogs camping with us... YAY!! Cathy, JR and Bobby are coming with us... at least I'll have someone else to help catch the pups when they get loose.

Update on the camping thing. We're only going for the day... No Dogs!!! YAY!! I get a break!! We were invited to a retirement/graduation party at a new rescue farm way down in VA. The invite included Camping and we thought what the hell... it's a rescue farm... why not take all the rescues. Now we're just going for the party part and coming home late. My idea of camping DOES NOT involve setting up a tent in 90+degree heat and then having to sleep in it without AC. I'll make the 90minute drive home and sleep in my dry and cool home. on my comfortable bed. That's the upside of being 46 with common sense.

Karma

OK... So this past friday, I was on my way home after going to the grocery store and meeting Bev from Oldies but Goodies Cocker Rescue in order to pick up Nemo, when I was accosted by Fat Cow number one at the HF Daycare Center. Driving down the hill I see this cow strapping her genetic discharge into the cattle car. She turns around to look directly at my Jeep and starts lumbering slowly toward the road not taking her eyes off me. I figure she either thinks I'm food or she thinks she knows me, so I slow down even more than the posted 25 mph speed limit. Right as I reach this crazy ass bovine, she steps in front of me and yells, "Slow Down"!! Now she must have a radar gun built into her fat ass, because that's all I saw when I first spotted her, was ass. I slammed on the brakes, backed up and furiously yelled that she better NEVER step in front of me EVER again. Well that's when she started yelling how I was speeding, because obviously this particular breed of WV cow has this ability. Next thing ya know there's some asshole taping at my window telling me to move... I promptly told him to go "violate" himself and closed the window. Then the rest of the herd arrived, all 10 or so, (I'm guessing someone left a gate open) and proceeded to strut about saying stupid things like, "We Gots Witnesses". To WHAT I asked... me trying to find out why someone deliberately stepped in front of my Jeep? "You was speedin", "We All Seen It". Now my blood was boiling. For ten years I've lived in this town. For ten years, numerous complaints have been made about being yelled at by Daycare Heifers and the spawn they care for. I had reached my tolerance level. That's when I yelled, "I am tired of you Fat Fucking Bitches thinking you can control traffic on a public street". You would have thought I turned a nest of bees loose on them..... LOL They started yelling and threatening me and saying, "They was callin' the Police"! I informed them I was already on the phone with them and would have this kind of harassment stopped, if it meant sending all of them to California. The police didn't answer... of course. It was already after 4:30 on a 3 day weekend. So, I RACED away from the riled herd and as soon as I got home made my call to another police number. The kind officer called me back asap and of course told me there was nothing he could do which was the same thing he told them. He did inform them that enforcing what they thought was a speeding violation, was NOT their job. We all know, obesity/bratty kids/high temps and PMS are a recipe for most cows to claim High Bitch Status and that day the air was ripe with estrogen. I'll make my official complaint to the Mayor and the Town Council. We can't have some minimum wage bovine misrepresenting the town by yelling at visitors and residents from within their corral, and if they insist on trying to step onto the street, we will need to install cattle grates. So all of this leads to my ultimate frustration of living in a world dominated by women. Well not really dominated, but definitely overly influenced. It would be different if the level of drama was less than half of what it is. I work for rescues run and operated by women who can't get along. Women who feel the need to back stab and exercise their imaginary authority. Rescue who appoint female dictators who are rude... especially to men. I'm tired.... I'm really tired of women. I have no use for women in general. There are a select few who actually are fun to know, but overall..... most of them could go back to Venus... really. I believe my frustration with rescue work is due to women. Hell, the dogs could crap in the house every day and I wouldn't be so irritated. So ultimately, until I can either start or find a dog rescue owned and operated by MEN, that only deals WITH Men, I may have to stop what I'm doing. Time to find homes for the ones I have and take a rest..... on an all male island. Ladies.... don't take this personal. I didn't mention any names. Most of my contacts on a daily basis are with women I've never physically met, yet they still possess the ability to confuse professional with bitchy. I think I've just reached my limit. If this post, on MY blog, where I vent my own feelings has struck a nerve with you, then remember this, "Karma's only a Bitch, when YOU are!" PS. Don't try and redirect my anger. Don't tell me that women are better at dog rescue, because we ALL know the deep seated self worth issues that lie there. Of course it's not always women who cause this feeling of rage inside me, but unfortunately for me... I'm not blessed with dealing with men in this line of work. Well at least any that aren't whipped. Just take a deep breath and know that after I've had my "rest" (may take a few years) I'll be back to the everyday acceptance and high tolerance of what annoys me the most...... Self Importance.

Is there an Echo in here?

Yesterday started like any other around here. I got up and before I got my first taste of coffee I had walked 6 dogs, cleaned the chicken pen, cleaned the litter box and fed all 6 dogs, the cat and her kittens and the 3 ladies. Well this is where the day went horribly wrong. While I was drinking my coffee and watching the humidity level rise by 3 degree increments, I looked over and saw Dash stretched out on the floor and panting heavily. Poor fella, he HAD to be so hot already with that heavy fur coat. We brush him at least once a week if not more, but his thick undercoat was relentless and never seemed to stop growing. That's when it hit me that Dash too, could be groomed. It wasn't as if he needed all that fur to begin with. For the most part he lives in a climate controlled environment. Yes... I was going to shear Dash. Who would have thought he was white under all that fur!!! OMG!! Steve says he now looks like he's wearing long underwear. All I know is there was a crap load of fur on the patio that I had to clean up and Dash is cooler. I gave him a really good bath afterwards, so now, he not only doesn't shed while walking, but he also smells good. While I was doing this , Steve was finishing a window frame in the stairwell. We have TWO windows left and we're done with all 15. YAY!!! I'll get the glazing on this one done today and then painted and back in. A slow slow process, but all the windows look so good and they all work!!! At 10am we left for Marlo Heights where we were to Meet with our daughter Cathy so we could pick up our grandson JR who will be staying the week with us. Had lunch at Taco Hell, said our goodbyes and headed off to the GW Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, VA. I had never been to the memorial. Steve had once, but it was many years ago. OK... It was like 94 degrees outside... we got there to discover the parking lot FULL and the place swarming with 100 5 yr old Ballerinas and their snooty northern va families, all of which were carrying flowers. ACCCCCKKKKK!!!!! Even JR was afraid and he likes girls!! Fortunately none of them were in the part of the building that required a real reason to be there. We walked about for an hour and discovered wwe had missed the 1:30 tour and didn't want to wait for the 3pm tour, so we took pics and left. Oh wait... I forgot to tell you the reason we went. Steve's grandfather, Herbert Sherry was a mason as his his dad. Well, his grandfather has his name on a plaque inside the building. Truthfully, I thought it would be larger than 5 mil by 10 centimeters. There's still a dispute as to whether or not the pilgrimage there was worth it. Steve wanted to wait for the 3pm tour, but I promised him we would go back and sometime in the next year, not the next ten.

JR was playing around at the entrance. I guess that's old town behind him. Alexandria has always been a place I either drove through or avoided all together, so I don't know it that well.

On our way home, we had a small detour. A lady on Craigslist was giving away ALL her dogs because of some impending divorce. Yeah right lady... blame your failures on your husband, that's how it's been done historically and although most of the world knows the truth, we men would rather agree than have to keep listening.

Anyhow, I went to meet and pick up the hairless crested that she advertised as a Lhasa/crested mix.

2.5 yr old Echo. Not spayed, no shots and OMF'nG.... she had fleas.

A Hairless Dog with fleas. No wonder she didn't invite me in but came outside with the dog.

I fear her home is full of dogs and filthy.

I got her to fill out the release form and told her I would also take the 7yr old Mini Schnauzer.

So she went back in and came out with Muffin.

She told me she had recently clipped Muffin, because she needed grooming, but that she really didn't know how to groom, so THIS is what she looks like.

ABSOLUTELY covered with fleas. I bathed her immediately after getting home. UGH!!

Poor girlie, she had flea farms on her belly.

I got them both clean and bathed and medicated for fleas n ticks.

I also groomed Miss Echo!!

In the middle of all this, I received a phone call from a guy who adopted Kip, one of Maggies pups. Apparently a yr and a half later, he's decided that he can't spend anymore money on therapy and training for the dog. Kip has been diagnosed as some sort of serious anxiety case by some "leading" dog trainer. WHATEVER!!

He informed me that if he couldn't find a suitable home for Kip he would have to put him down.

I asked him to give me a week to reduce my numbers here and I would take him. If he truly is a lost cause, then I will put him down, since I was here when he entered this world.

I get Kip next monday. Wish me LOTS of luck!!

Last night was a little tiresome, because JR decided he wanted to sleep in the basement with us, which meant pumping up his inflatable sleeping bag (took forever) and arranging him a spot on the floor that wouldn't have a dog on it when I brought them down.

Finally I decided that only Dash Roux and Moses would go down. The remaining 5 dogs would sleep in the Dining/Dog room overnight.

Around 1am it was decided for me that I would sleep on the sofa, because that's where I fell after walking some nervous doggies who woke me up. 5:30 am.... I release the 5 little hounds outside. I went back downstairs, turned off the alarm that hadn't yet sounded, brought Dash, Roux n Moses back upstairs after a quick morning walk and then all the doggies back in for breakfast.

6:30 am Woke Steve up, fixed his breakfast, got him out the door to work by 7am.

Now all has fallen peaceful yet again.

Eight wonderful doggies all resting quietly around my feet. Well, all but Moses who won't dare allow another dog to touch his highness.

Here's one side of the room with

Emma, Echo, Dash n Moses

Here's the other side of the room with

Moses, Roux, Nemo, Ping and Muffin.

It's going on 8am. Time to take all the doggies back outside and get started on my day.

I've got a window to finish and then JR and I are gonna start building the chicken coop up in the back yard.

It'll be nice to finally have them there instead of the back patio.

I love my chickens, but I could do without the chicken poop smell wafting in the house.

Not sure if I've posted this pic already, but here it is again.

The kittens are three weeks old now and I saw one of them use the litter box yesterday... YAY!!

Such beautiful little furballs. They Love human hands... I made sure of that!

I hope I can find good homes for them all.

Have a wonderful day everyone.... I know I will!!!