Just By Reading

I went over to Lindsey's blog this morning to catch up. It's seems just by reading a meme over there, I've been tagged. It's another book meme, and I love those. Here we go:

[1] Name 5 of your favorite books

1. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee – Even though it was assigned reading in high school, I utterly love this book. It made such a strong statement to me at the time about tolerance, love, and sometimes life is ugly. Somehow it just said to me “try and make the world a better place”. I spent my time watching the movie, re-reading the book and finally seeing the live production.

2. The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon – As you all know, I’ve posted about this series for a while now. It was introduced to me by my co-worker, Kim. It’s about a time traveling nurse, Claire, who is thrown from the 1940’s back to 18th century Scotland. It has it all the sci-fi, romance, history, and adventure a reader needs. There are six books in the series: Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber,Voyager, Drums of Autumn, The Fiery Cross, and A Breath of Snow and Ashes. So far, the characters have been through the Battle of Culloden (the Jacobite uprising) and the following years to the eve of the American Revolution. I just love all of them and can’t put them down. I’m eagerly awaiting the seventh book in the series. My highlight was getting to meet the author with Kim last September.

Me and Kim with Diana Gabaldon, Sept.05.

3. You Are A Dog by Terry Bain – This book just makes me smile. It’s all written from a dog’s point of view. When I look at my dogs, I can just sometimes here them quoting the passage about the vaccuum cleaner!

4. The Bible - While I believe that religion is an individual’s personal choice, this book is the guideline of my life. I do my best to follow it’s teachings.

5. The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown – This was the first book that I read after I took a break from college last year. It surely was a page turner. I couldn’t put it down. It rekindled my love for reading, which had been squashed by so much required reading. Also since I’m a history major, I love all of the historical references and stories.

[2] What was the last book you bought?

Outbound Flight by Timothy Zahn

[3] What was the last book you read?

Tatooine Ghost by Troy Denning

[4] Name five books that have particular meaning for you.

1. Ice Cream Cone Coot by Arnold Lobel – A crazy book about everyday objects as exotic birds, i.e. Buttoneyed Bobolinks, Soup Ladle Larks, and the infamous Ice Cream Cone Coot. This was my absolute favorite book as a child. I could read this book myself, by the time I was 3. This is the one that started the whole thing. I still have it, and in the back is a date due slip that I drew complete with number stamps, where I played librarian as a child.

2. Me and My Flying Machine by Marianna and Mercer Mayer. It seems that books made an impression on me at a very early age. I always remember this book, when I’m having a hard day. This boy tries to build a flying machine out of scraps he finds in an old barn. He dreams and lives it, but everything in the world goes wrong. He doesn’t let it get him down though, and in the end he just says, “Tomorrow, I’ll build a rowboat.” I find myself saying that phrase a lot to keep myself going.

3. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury – Timeless tale of book burning and censorship. As a library worker, I try very hard to ensure that everyone has unrestricted access to the books they need and want.

4. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne – I read this the same year as To Kill A Mockingbird. Books really spoke to me that year. It’s another good lesson of how dangerous intolerance really is.

5. Splinter of the Mind’s Eye by Alan Dean Foster – Even as a young kid, I was a HUGE Star Wars fan. This was the first book published that went beyond the original stories by George Lucas. While reading, you have to keep in mind that Luke and Leia’s family relations weren’t known at the time Foster wrote it.

[5] Three books you are dying to read but just haven't yet.

1. Long Way Round: Chasing Shadows Across the World by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman.

2. Outbound Flight by Timothy Zahn.

3. Angels and Demons by Dan Brown

[6] Tag five people to go through this same ordeal

Anyone that wants to play along.

So Sad

How does drug running affect pets? I was shocked and outraged, when I came across this news story from MSNBC. Columbian drug runners used puppies to try and smuggle heroin into the United States. They did this by surgically implanting liquid heroin into the puppies!

At least three puppies died from having liquid heroin packets placed inside them and then being stitched back up, DEA spokesman David Ausiello said.

Luckily, these people have been arrested. I knew about the surgical implants in people, but didn't dream they ever used animals. At least the people involved had a choice. The animals DIDN'T. I can't begin to conceive a punishment that is fitting for these criminals!! It just angers and sickens me. I'm trying not to be hateful and spiteful, but it's really hard for me not to wish the same thing done to these people, against their will. I know that two wrongs do not make a right, but I'd really like to see these people punished! The street value of the heroin is estimated at over $20 million. To read the whole story click HERE.

I think I'll go home and give a LOT of extra hugs tonight!

Reuben Comes to Life!

A little while back, I posted about a wonderful book that Carlos Aleman was illustrating called The Life of Reuben. Yesterday, I opened my e-mail to find that I had a very special treat from Carlos. It seems that Reuben's story is finished. That wonderful book now has it's very own trailer, complete with it's own original score! It is absolutely beautiful! The trailer just makes the book come to life. I'm so excited. I can't wait to get my very own copy. To see the trailer, click HERE .

Chili Supper Wrap Up

All in all, the chili supper went really well. The cafe stayed packed for most of the night. Casey helped out in the kitchen, and I got some of my first waitressing experience. Believe it or not, I didn't spill anything on anybody! I got everybody's order right, but really, how hard was it? It was either chili or corndogs and drinks to remember. Kudos to all of servers out there!!! I have a WHOLE new respect for you. The folks that came to run the karaoke did a fantastic job. We made nearly $100 dollars in the tip jars alone! At one point, later in the night, the karaoke bunch and several tables went in together gathering funds up for the tip jar. They decided to bribe me to sing with a donation. I really took a long time deciding on my song choice. I secretly did this, so a lot of people wouldn't be there. I ended up singing 2 songs. I don't think I did too shabby. I counted back, and it has been 18 years, since I did a solo performance. I was a little rusty. We are still waiting for the final total. We should have it by the end of the week. It really was a fun night for a good cause. A very special thanks goes out to Pope's owners Debra Weaver and Russell Smith for hosting our benefit. If any of you ever get to Shelbyville, drop by Pope's and have a good meal. Tell them Cheryl and Casey sent you.

During the chili supper.

Humane volunteers enjoying a good meal.

Out front having fun with karaoke.

Pope's owners Russell Smith and Debra Weaver.

Back Online

Hey folks!! I think my template upgrade is complete. There may still be a little tweaking here and there. I have to send a HUGE thanks out to Lindsey who came up with the idea and created this uber cool template for me. She has got to be one of the best writers and one of the most talented people that I know. Thank you Lindsey!! I hope you all like the new look. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Oh, and pop on over to Lindsey's and let her know too.

Under construction

Richardson Zoo is under construction! Visit back soon!

A Little Nervous

My stomach is starting to wind into knots this morning. Why? Because it's fundraiser day. I always find myself like the little girl who invites everyone to the birthday party and thinks no one will show up. I'm always like this, when I've organized the whole thing. The others that I just work on, but not plan, not so much. I just have a fear of getting to Pope's Cafe tonight and it being dead empty. Last summer, I experienced my worst case of nerves with our Celebration Pet Day fundraiser. It had never been done before, in our area, and I HAD to volunteer to do it. I had such nightmares the night before. When the day finally came, all of my fears just melted away. Lots of people came, and everything turned out fine. I just hope tonight's outcome goes as well.

Casey and I dropped by Pope's last night for a quick dinner, and the place looks really good. We have lots of flyers up there, and several people that were eating last night said they'd be back tonight for the fundraiser. I've been on the phone this morning, getting last minute details worked out. I had to call Kitty, my humane association adoption coordinator (yes folks, her REAL name is Kitty) to make sure that she remembers the pictures of our adoptable pets for the tables. Debra, one of Pope's owners is going to add even more stuff tonight. There is a live Karaoke band that is going to be out on the sidewalk in front to help draw folks inside. I've got to run out and grab a big bag of dog biscuits for a number guess. Whoever guesses the closest number of biscuits in the treat jar, wins a homemade coconut cake! The day is closing in on me already!! Every time I start freaking out, I try to remember the reason I do this. It's all for These Guys!! I just hope that I don't let them down. I'll have lots of pictures to share with you all next week. Everyone have a good weekend.

Fat Cats and Dumpy Dogs

It seems that America not only has a problem with obese humans, but obese pets as well. I randomly googled a search on "fat cats", and the number of results were incredible. In under one minute, I read about the famous Russian fat cat, Katy.

Then I found a story about a fat cat in Berlin, Mikesch, that was turned into a shelter. He became fat, because his owner fed him a pound of mince meat a day! Cats are not the only fat pets either. Dogs are fast becoming dumpy in America as well.

Why are America's pet becoming obese? Experts say, it's because pet owners are "humanizing" their pets. We tend to treat them often, and much like our own workouts, become lax in walking and exercising routines. For a short list of calories per treat, click HERE. An overweight pet faces many of the same risks as overweight humans. Risks such as diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, and hip dysplasia are all common in obese pets. For a complete list of risks, click HERE. How do we conqueor this problem? Experts say, we can stop feeding table scraps, cut back on their regular food, and exercise, exercise, exercise!! For some good diet tips, click HERE. For a weight reduction program, click HERE.

I have a fat cat and a couple of dumpy dogs at my house. I'm hoping to start a new routine. Fergie is a larger dog prone to hip dysplasia. She weighs more than she should, especially at a young age. My goal is to teach her to walk in the neighborhood for exercise (she can sleep more than any dog I've ever seen for age 4!). She is trained to walk on lead, but is really frightened out in the neighborhood. Casey said that he'd work with me to help her. She tends to do better, when she buddies up with Bear. With Casey's help, we can take them both at the same time. I'm going to try to cut back the treats to once a week too. I think everybody could benefit from that, even my pocketbook. I'm going to TRY to cut out any yummies off of my plate as well. Remember don't confuse treating with love. I keep trying to say that over and over to myself.

Hopefully by following these tips, we all will have happier, healthier pets that stay with us for a long, long time. Everyone have a great day!

Blah and Busy

Wow, it's taken an awful long time for me to post today. I've been so busy, that I haven't even had time to look up. In my spare moments, I managed to grab lunch and get a few more details taken care of for the chili supper. Also, I've been busy passing the word about the TN Spay/Neuter bill today. Between all of those errands and work it's been busy, busy, busy. It doens't help that my eye is bothering me again today. It's given me the worst headache, so I don't feel creative at all. I've been trying to decide what to post about today, when I realized with the head pounding, it was useless. So, here I am. I promise to be back tomorrow with a more thoughtful, informative post. Everyone have a great evening!

Getting Chili This Weekend

This week just seems like it is flying by. Maybe it's because it's the week of my humane's next fundraising event. It seems like I'm always busy during those weeks. Casey and I are busy getting the last minute details taken care of for the Have a Heart for Animals Chili Supper. Debra, one of the owners of Pope's Cafe, wants to feature pictures of our adoptable animals. So, I'm trying to get that accomplished today and tomorrow. She's going to have an adoptable pet framed on every table and on the counter. I really think it's going to be cute. Also, as of last week, we have a lady coming to run karaoke. I think it's going to be a really good event. I just hope that the weather cooperates this weekend. NO SNOW AND NO ICE PLEASEEEEEE!!!!

Pope's Cafe is a historic icon in Shelbyville. It's been operating since 1945. They are known for the country ham biscuits and their wonderful pies. The new owners, Debra Weaver and Russell Smith are working really hard to serve authentic Pope's food. Believe me I eat there once a week, and it's GOOOOOOD!!

I would love for anyone that's close enough in the area to come on out and share a great meal with us. Casey is going to help serve, and since I'm not the most graceful person in the world, I'll be filling drinks. Even if you only have a few minutes, come on out. We have takeout orders available. I promise you that it's going to a really worthy cause. If anyone is interested, just shout out in the comments, or shoot me an e-mail. I'll be glad to send you directions. Here's more information:

Oh and just a secret hint....those oh so fabulous desserts will be on the premises for your eating pleasure too!! Hope to see you all there!

Back In The Thick of It

After a fairly annoying afternoon with the cable company, I spent all weekend stuck at home from the ice. I got to the cable company on Friday afternoon with time to spare. I had digital box and remote in hand. I explained the situation to the desk woman: that I had talked with the tech line the night before, and they told me to come and exchange the box. When I finished, she (in her oh so condescending way) told me, "we don't have the boxes in the office. The techs carry them on the trucks." I politely told her that I didn't have time to take off from work to blow a whole day waiting on the tech. Casey was with me, and she must have sensed our anger. She scheduled an ememergency visit for Saturday morning. Afterwards, I explained to her that I wanted the missing 3 days of digital service removed from my bill: I wasn't paying for a service I wasn't getting!!! So, I went home grumbling, quite loudly, about how useless cable companies are. Casey hooked the cable back into the t.v., so we could at least have some form of television.

I got up Saturday morning to the sound of solid ice plinking on the kitchen air conditioner. It was about 5:45 a.m. and still dark. I opened the back door to find that everything was covered in a solid sheet of ice. No work for me on Saturday. I was grounded. Casey and I had gone to the grocery, just in case, the night before, and he cooked up a fantastic waffle and sausage breakfast. After breakfast, I decided to clean the house. I had nothing else to do. I was half way done, when the cable guy got there. It took him about 10 mintues to hook a new box back up, and we were in business. That's when we discovered that there's crap on t.v. during the day on Saturday. There we were with all of this digital cable and nothing to watch. I finished up with the house around 11:00 a.m. It was nice to be able to lounge the rest of the weekend with the house clean. Casey cooked all weekend. He made homemade soup, a pot roast dinner, and homemade chicken stock to use later. He was a very busy boy.

By Sunday afternoon, we were stir crazy. The streets were passable enough for me to run to the movie rental place and pick up a few movies. We watched a couple of fluff movies. My real find this weekend was the Long Way Round documentary. It's the documentary of Ewan McGregor (Star Wars, Trainspotting, Big Fish, Stay, etc.)and Charley Boorman's motorcycle trip around the world. Here's where they went:

"they rode through France, Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Siberia, Alaska, Canada before arriving 115 days later at their final destination, New York City, USA."

What they went through was incredible. They went places that people NEVER travel. The had to cross rivers, hire trucks, and use their ingenuity. The DVD is 2 discs long packed full of excitement. The also worked with UNICEF on their journey, and visited many of their sites. This documentary shows you things the Travel Channel doesn't. It also gives a good insight of different cultures around the world. If you are interested in watching, be sure to set aside plenty of time. The whole thing kept me on the edge of my seat. I sure think luck was on their side. I HIGHLY recommend watching. To see some clips, you can go to Amazon. Now, I just have to get my own copy, along with the book. It made a really boring weekend interesting.

Freezing Friday

Could our weather BE any crazier? I really don't think so. Yesterday, it was 70 degrees; wonderful spring weather. Today, we will stuggle to reach 40. The weather forcast is gloomy. We are supposed to get more snow all weekend long. The really icky part? In southern middle Tennessee, where I live, it's supposed to be a lot of sleet and freezing rain. Now, I don't mind the snow, but freezing rain concerns me. You see, I like things like...oh, I don't know... ELECTRICITY and CABLE and HEAT and being able to get the places I want to go. So, it looks like I'll be stuck at home all weekend again.

The real travesty of the weekend? Casey and I came home last night to find that our antique (and I mean really big, huge, and bulky) digital cable box had given up the ghost. We'd been having problems all week. We'd be sitting there watching something, and the picture would gradually just fade away, go to white, and then the cable would go completely off. Sometimes this would just last for a minute or two, and sometimes it would be several hours. It would eventually come back. We knew something was screwy, because our bedroom t.v., which isn't on the digital service had cable coming through perfectly. We did what most everyone does: BLAME THE POOR QUALITY OF THE CABLE COMPANY!! So, last night after checking connections, rebooting the box, holding our mouths right, and a few other words I won't mention here, I gave up and gave the tech line a call. They went through the same motions again, and finally decided that the cable box had gone to the great cable box rewiring center in the sky. They made a note on our account and said they could schedule a visit from a tech. That's when I politely told them I couldn't take a day off work to watch a cable technician pronounce my digital box dead. So, they made another note that I'd be going to the local office today to get a new box. After work I'll be racing home to grab the box and make it to the office, before they close up for the weekend. Wheeeeeeeeee!! Hopefully, we'll have a nice new signal coming in strong by tonight. This must work people! I just have to see The Dog Whisperer on National Geographic tonight!! Cesar is one of my heroes!

As I said, the weekend is a bust. We have nothing planned, because of the weather. I do think we are going to try and rent a bunch of DVDs to keep us busy. I hope you all have a nice, warm weekend wherever you are!

Things to Think On

I heard this morning about the missing Westminster Whippet. The Whippet who had shown in the dog show earlier this week, somehow escaped from her crate, while being loaded onto a plane. As of today there is still no sign of her, and the search continues. To read the full story, click HERE.

When I heard about this, it just made me sick. A lost dog is one of my biggest fears. As anyone that owns a schipperke knows, most of the time a "loose schipperke is a lost schipperke". I'll have to attest to that sentiment. Bear is very obedient, but highly stimulated by his surrounding environment. His recall command is good...MOST of the time. But he's still not 100%. We never go out without a leash..EVER!! Since my backyard isn't fenced, I'm too afraid to take the chance. I don't need that kind of excitement in my life. One night, not too long ago, I was settling in for the night and missed Bear. I asked Casey if he'd seen him. We started calling and whistling inside the house. We got no response. We knew then, that Bear was not inside. I started quickly thinking back to the last time I'd seen him. I had gone over nextdoor earlier to visit my mom. He was in the house, when I left. That was the only time he could have gotten out. Casey and I threw our clothes back on and got ready to start searching. As I opened the door to head outside, there sat Bear at the back door, waiting to be let inside. I couldn't believe it. He'd been outside at least an hour and a half, if not two hours!! Usually, if he darted out the door (which is rarely, luckily), we've had to catch him with the car. He just hops right in, since he loves to ride. Luck was with us that night. I guess he'd been out wandering, got bored, and came back home, before we missed him. I was so happy to see him there on the landing safe and sound. I got so lucky that night.

Bear is really our only flight risk. The littles (Slate and Shiloh) go out in the yard with me on their own. They never leave my area. Fergie is usually on a leash and always refuses to leave my side. She has a FANTASTIC recall too! But Bear, Bear is my little worrywort. So much so, that he's going to the vet to be microchipped soon. I just couldn't imagine him getting lost. The very thought just sickens me. I know that things do happen to even the most careful pet owners, but that's one thing I pray that I'm never faced with. That's why the story about the Whippet just worries me. I can't imagine what her poor owner must be going through. I hope that they find her safe and sound soon. It just makes me want to go home and hug all of my bunch. Ya'll give your furries hugs for me too! May they always be safe at home.

Wonderful Evening

I hope that everyone had as wonderful Valentine's Day as I did. Yesterday seemed to really fly by, and it was soon time to head off for a fantastic evening. Casey and I realized a long time ago, that we "march to the beat of a different drum", so to speak. So when I asked him for something other than flowers, he wasn't suprised. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE beautiful roses, but you can't keep them. It's an awful lot of money just to throw in the trash can later. Instead, he gifted me with quite a few of my long sought after Star Wars collectibles. I won't bore you all with the exact details, but I will tell you that I've been hunting these for a long time.

Afterwards, it was off to Marina's. Since it's always a mad house there on Valentine's Day, Casey had made our reservations weeks ago. What a stroke of luck that was. It seems that it's gotten so crazy in the past couple of years, that dinner at Marina's last night was by reservation only. I'll have to admit that it made the atmosphere so much more relaxing. I'm sure that the cooks and wait staff appreciated the more relaxed atmosphere as well. Marina's is located in an old building on the square in Murfreesboro. I believe it was built about 1869, so it's naturally charming inside. They always have the place decorated, beautifully, for any holiday, and last night was no exception. They had heart lights all over the place (very tastefully) and candles lit in the windows and on every table. It was a very romantic setting and at the same time relaxing. And the food...the food was fantastic. We had the spinach and artichoke dip for an appetizer and tomato florentine soup. We both had a glass of wine. Casey had the Pinot Noir and I had the German one beginning with the g (no I can't spell it or say it). Then Casey had the Baked Salmon and I had the Chicken Parmesan. Casey was impressed with his meal. And my chicken was so good, that it just melted in your mouth. We were ready to be rolled to the car, by the time it was over. We were happy and full, when all was said and done.

Then, it was off for home. We had to tend to the furries and get them let out and fed. Casey and I got settled on the couch to watch the finale of the Westminster Dog Show. (They had a wonderful tribute to the dogs of Katrina and the many volunteers that rescued them on Monday night. It was beautiful, and I wish that they would post it on their website, but you can read about their contribution HERE.) Before we both knew it, we were sound asleep. Man, it's rough getting older. So much for the days of staying up until dawn. I just remember the dogs entering for the Best in Show class. I had to hear who took the top honor on the news this morning. At least, I got plenty of sleep and feel fine today. Still, it was a great evening out.

I have nothing big planned for today. I'm just going through the usual routine. I hope everyone has a great day.

****AND...don't forget, if you live in Tennessee, please write to your representatives and urge his/her support on SB 2626 Spay/Neuter. This bill could really make a difference for the homeless animals in Tennessee****

Tennessee Animal Bill In Legislature

I'm urging everyone who lives in the State of Tennessee to vote for Senate Bill 2626 Spay/Neuter. Here's the overall jist of the bill:

*SB2626 by *Burchett.

Animal Control - Establishes assistance program to reimburse eligible counties and municipalities for direct costs incurred in making available spay/neuter surgeries for cats and dogs to low-income persons; establishes statewide education program relative to benefits of spaying and neutering dogs and cats; creates spay/neuter fund to fund such programs and establishes revenue stream for such fund. - Amends TCA Title 44,

Chapter 17

and Title 55, Chapter 4, Part 2.

Summary for

No Amendments for SB2626

Fiscal Note for

No Fiscal Note for this Bill!

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

Bill History Section

Actions Taken on SB2626

Action Date

Intro., P1C. 2/8/2006

Filed for intro. 2/7/2006

To see the entire bill click HERE

I am asking all of you to write to your representatives urging them to support this bill. This would be a HUGE step in reducing the number of homeless animals in our state. Not sure what to say? Below is an example/form letter you can use.

Dear Honorable Senator [Insert last name]:

I ask that you please vote in favor of SB 2626. Passing this spay/neuter bill would help our state move into a proactive position in line with so many other states who are a step ahead of us. This will also result in enormous cost savings by helping to alleviate pet overpopulation and the necessary animal control to keep it in check.

By including a statewide education program, SB 2626 will turn the tide for the treatment of animals in our state. It will bring up the next generations realizing that pets are more than property.

Please vote Yes to SB 2626. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Regards,

[Sign with your name, address, phone #]

To find your representatives, along with their information, click HERE for the Senate, and HERE for the House of Representatives. Together we CAN make a difference!

Starving for Dinner

The weekend was pretty dull around my neck of the woods. We continued to see snow flurries up until yesterday morning. Casey and I just lounged on the couch all day Sunday, like hibernating bears. We couldn't get motivated to do one thing! So, we just watched movies all day. Yesterday, I finally got everything left back in order from the water heater malfunction. So, we are back to normal, for now....

Casey is taking me out for a really nice Valentine's dinner tonight. We are going to a little local Italian place called Marina's. They always have something extra special going for Valentine's. They have a special tonight that includes appetizers, entrees, and dessert or wine. I'm sure I'll have to get someone to wheel me to the car afterwards. That's why I'm trying to eat really light all day today. I really want to enjoy tonight. Casey was so sweet and made reservations for this weeks ago. It was nice to know that he wants me to enjoy my night. I'll let you all know how it goes tomorrow. Everyone have a great day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

It's that time of year again. Valentine's Day. Please remember safety tips, if you are giving your dogs and cats a sweet treat this Valentine's Day.

Sugar free candy can be toxic to your pet. Many sugar free candies contain xylitol, which is dangerous to animals. Here's some tips from the ASPCA on treating your pets for Valentine's.

PET HEALTH ALERT: NO SWEETS FOR THE SWEET ON FEBRUARY 14

For many people, overindulging in Valentine’s goodies may result in a few extra pounds—but the consequences for our animal companions are much greater if they accidentally ingest cookies, candy or baked goods containing chocolate. In any form ranging from one-ounce baking squares to hand-dipped truffles, chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, both methylxanthines that can cause stimulation of the central nervous system, an increase in heart rate and tremors. Clinical signs—vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, hyperactivity, and increased thirst, urination and heart rate—can be seen with the ingestion of as little as two ounces of baking chocolate by a 10-pound dog.

And while sugar-free sweets may be a healthier choice for you, gum or candies made with xylitol can make your pets ill. Dogs who’ve ingested significant amounts may develop a sudden drop in blood sugar, resulting in depression, loss of coordination and seizures. Data from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center also appears to point to a link between xylitol ingestion and liver failure in dogs.

Please take care this upcoming Valentine’s Day to keep all candy out of your pets' reach—and don't let them in the kitchen unsupervised if you’re baking with chocolate. If you suspect your pet may have eaten chocolate or candies containing xylitol—or any other potentially poisonous substance—call your veterinarian or the APCC's emergency hotline at (888) 426-4435 for round-the-clock telephone assistance. For more information on poison prevention, visit APCC online.

Snowy Day

The snow never materialized quite the way the weather forcasters predicted. Seems we had some warm air, unexpectedly, push up from the south. Our snow that was supposed to equal 4"-6", ended up only a dusting. It did snow throughout the night but every once in a while, it would just start raining. A lot of the snow that we did get melted. It would have been a lot more significant, if it could have just piled up. When I left this morning, it had started snowing again, and it was starting to stick to the trees and grassy areas. It was the best kind of snow, because it did not affect the roadways. I saw some beautiful scenery coming in today. The whole drive I kept wishing that I could snap pictures, but I didn't really have the time to pull over. I finally got the idea that I would turn the little movie option on my camera on and get pictures that way. The following videos were made about 7:30 a.m. this morning on Hwy. 231 N. from Shelbyville, TN to Murfreesboro, TN. They turned out pretty good. Unfortunately they don't really do justice to the beautiful scenes I witnessed, but they'll have to do. Enjoy! Everyone have a great weekend!

Come On Get Happy

Last night's birthday party trooping went great! It ended up that I didn't actually get into costume, but that's o.k. Casey and I were needed as handlers and photographers. Those little kids were just so excited! It was contagious as the guys entered the room in costume. We ended up having an R2D2 unit, Chewbacca, Plo Koon (a jedi), and 2 Stormtroopers. I think there was over 20 kids at that party, and they were just all cute as little buttons. I can't wait to do it again. It's one of those things that just makes you feel good all over. These memories will keep me warm all weekend under all the snow that is forcast! And now....for the pictures. To see all of the pictures from last night, click the photobucket slide show in the sidebar.

Just look at all of their little faces. They were SO excited!!

Chewbacca's entrance.

Group shot.

With R2.

Stormtroopers.

Tiny Darth!!

Sooooo much fun!

Secret Agent Cat

I started my day slipping and sliding on icy roads. The further north I traveled the better they got, but I saw some really horrendous wrecks along the way. Now, I hear the weather report for tomorrow predicting up to 4 inches of snow on Friday night. Where's that lovely spring weather, when you need it? I'm a classic example of never being satisfied with what you have. Last year I wanted snow and got none. This year I want spring weather and get snow. Oh well.

Casey and I are planning to help troop our very first 501st event tonight. It's going to be a really cool, rocking Star Wars theme birthday party for an 8 year old. It's going to be such fun. I'm sure that I'll have a slew of pictures to share with you all tomorrow.

Here's today's pet nugget. Fred, a former shelter cat from New York, helped to break an undercover case. Fred helped a police detective uncover a fake vet. The suspect in question, had apparently been an assistant at a veterinary clinic before and was practicing veterinary medicine without a license. Fred played a major part in an undercover sting. Fred posed as the detective's cat and as a prospective patient that needed neutering. As the suspect exited the apartment with Fred in tow, he was arrested by authorities. Right now, they have no idea how many pet owners this guy has scammed. Fred, the once homeless cat, is now quite a celebrity and has appeared at a press conference. To read the whole story and to see some cutie pie pictures of Fred, click HERE.

Everyone have a great day!

Hey There, Chicken Lips!!

Saw a couple of interesting stories today that I wanted to share with you all. A woman in Arkansas performed mouth to beak on her brother's exotic chicken. The former nurse found it floating in a pond. The chicken, Boo Boo, is alive and kicking. The story itself is pretty hysterical. Click HERE for the full story.

The second, I first read about over on You Are A Dog. Washington state is mourning the loss of it's first dog, Franz. Franz was immensely popular with his constituents. He had his own webpage, trading cards, and wine. He even endorsed the state'sPet Friendly license plates with his pawprint. Franz was hit and killed by a passing car earlier this week. Franz certainly sounded like a charismatic little dog. My thoughts are with his family. For the full story, click HERE. To learn more about Franz on the governor's website, click HERE.

Parade of Pooches

Well, almost everything is back to normal at the house. I spent most of the weekend trying to get the last bit of carpet dry. It's a really stubborn part. I left a fan running this morning. I just hope that we don't get a case of the dreaded black mold!! Since we spent most of the weekend getting the house back in order, I have little to report. We did venture out to the bookstore on Sunday. I got my book of the month. Since that's the whole report, I'll continue the parade of pooches today. These are more pictures we made for the portrait artist. Enjoy!

Fergie, pretending to be a lapdog. (The strange look on my face is from lack of oxygen!

Slate is very attentive, while he waits for treats.

Shiloh, hanging out waiting for dropped bits of heaven...mmm..I mean food.

Slate, Fergie, and Bear. Aren't they attentive, when food's involved?

Updates On The Homefront

Things are slowly getting back to normal at my house. Things are back in place, and the carpet is slowly drying. Casey and I don't have plans for the weekend. We are going to try to get the last traces of the water heater leak under control.

Our unusual, springlike weather has come to an abrupt end. It's spitting snow outside, as I'm typing this. So, I have some great doggie pics of my bunch to warm you guys up. Also, for everyone keeping up with Nick the Sharpei's story, click HERE for an update and new pictures.

Fergie

Slate

Bear

Shiloh

Slate and Fergie

Waiting for a treat.

Doing tricks for treats.

Everyone have a great weekend!

Water, Water Everywhere!

Or at least that's what it seemed like at my house Tuesday night. Everything seemed fine until Casey discovered that we had no water pressure anywhere in the house. The same thing had happened about 3 weeks ago, when the city was doing some water line work. We casually shrugged it off as the same. Then, as I was getting ready for bed in the bathroom, I heard some very strange sounds on the other side of the wall. I figured that I had better go out and investigate. I went into the bedroom and opened my closet door. That's when I quickly discovered that the water heater had rusted through and busted. Now the drunken idiots that designed my old house many years ago, had put a gas water heater in my closet without emergency turnoffs. Water was spraying like a garden hose on everything in my closet!! The first thing we had to do was make sure to do was to cut the gas off. Not only was the pilot light on, but the water heater was constantly on heating up, since it was losing water. We thought we were going to have an explosion, before we could get it shut off. Then, we kept trying to find the water cutoffs, only to discover there were none. So, we had to call the water company to shut the water off at the street. Meanwhile.... my clothes, floor, and everything else was getting sprayed with water. Casey ran to the kitchen and the bathroom and threw every faucet we have wide open to divert some of the water from the water heater. Finally, the water was shut off. The next thing was to get everything out of the closet. Everything ended up on the bed, so Casey and I slept on the couches after finally getting settled about 2 a.m. Meanwhile.....water continued to leak out of the rusted hole all night and all day Wednesday.

Casey and I headed out to Lowe's early Wednesday morning to get a new water heater. Unfortunately, they wouldn't deliver it until the next day. So, we waited and the water heater kept dripping. After we got home from Lowe's, (who by the way, didn't mention that we had to buy the drain pan separately. They were so bothered they had to help us that morning) we called our plumber/electrician. Since codes wouldn't let us replace the gas water heater with gas without MAJOR modifications to our bedroom, we had to replace it with electric. This required some major rewiring. Our regular plumber was out of town (isn't that always the way?), so we had to go through the list in the phone book. By late Wednesday afternoon, it wasn't looking good. Everyone kept telling us, it would be late NEXT week. I just wanted to scream, "I CAN'T EVEN GO TO THE BATHROOM PEOPLE!!! I HAVE NO WATER AT ALL!!!" Finally, my neighbors across the street recommended someone. They said to call, when the water heater was delivered, and they'd come right out. FINALLY! Around 5 p.m. yesterday afternoon, we had water, hot and cold, at last. Now we are battling with the wet carpet. We keep sucking the water up every hour. Tonight, we are putting a big de-humidifier in there with a box fan. Hopefully, that will get the last of it. We are certainly not ready to replace the carpet yet. That's been my week, how about ya'll?

What to Write???

Hmmmm...I seem to have a bit of writer's block today. Life was fairly uneventful over the weekend. My eye felt so nasty by the end of the day Saturday, I just ended up staying home. I did feel better Sunday. So, Casey and I were off to Franklin to meet my friend Pattie. She's going to do a lovely watercolor of my 4 dogs. So, Sunday's meeting was fun. I took a bunch of pictures for her to pick her subject references. I also got to choose the color of my paper. I'm really excited to have the ball rolling on this project. It's something I've wanted to do for such a long time. My next project is a painting of Bear from Melanie. She does absolutely beautiful work!! Go and visit her blog to see some of her fantastic work. Monday was the usual cleaning day.

The work for the humane association chili supper is coming along well. I really feel like this is going to be a great event for us. The wine tasting is also starting to come together. I have a couple of themes in mind, so I'm going to let you all vote. Just leave your vote in the comments:

1. A Toast to Spring and Spirits

2. (Picture of a big wine glass with a little begging dog looking at it) "Whining for Spring.

3. (A lot of local restaurants are coming in to have food tables) A Toast to the Taste of Shelbyville.

Any one of these or none at all could be used. The big vote will come at the Thursday night meeting. Let me know what you all think.

Details are even coming together for our 2nd Annual Celebration Pet Day. We've gotten our place booked and our date set. It's on Saturday, October 14, 2006. We are going to have a kick off brunch, a dog show, agility competition, and hopefully a canine act that night. Now I just have to set up meetings with my committee.

That's the first of the week rundown for me. Everyone have a great afternoon!

Challenger....20 Years Ago

I'd like to take a moment to remember the astronauts that lost their lives in the Challenger explosion 20 years ago today. I'd also like to remember their families. The Challenger explosion was one of the first, jarring "where were you?" moments of my generation. The very first memory that I have of the Challenger isn't the terrible explosion that day. It was the day that I visited the White House in Washington D.C. on an 8th grade school trip. As we were touring through, I remember the tour guide telling us that President Reagan was going to announce which school teacher would be going into space on Challenger in the very room I was standing, later that night. I remember crews hanging a HUGE picture of the space shuttle behind the podium. From that day on, I kept up with all Challenger news. I would have never dreamed how the ending would go.

I wasn't watching live coverage that day in 1986. I was a freshman in high school. I can remember it so vividly. It's a cliche thing to say I know, but it's true. I was on my way from drama class to my French I class, when my friend Pam told us the news. I remember thinking, "she MUST be exaggerating". As soon as I got into class, I knew it was no exaggeration. Every classroom television was broadcasting and rebroadcasting the tragedy as it unfolded. It was one of those moments, much like the assasination of President Kennedy, and 9/11, where the United States and the rest of the world stopped to watch in horror. It was one of the very first national tragedies my generation had known. Even though the Vietnam war wasn't over until 1973, my generation grew up in a time of relative peace. We had witnessed many happy endings as a generation: the assasination attempt on Reagan - who lived, the freedom of the Iran hostages, and a time of a fairly good economic boom. The Challenger disaster was the one instance were no happy ending was to come. As we all watched the explosion streak through the sky, my generation learned to mourn with the nation and to feel for fellow citizens that we didn't even know. Many of us were faced with our own mortality for the first time. Our dreams of regular citizens in space dashed. We were left to wonder if we'd ever fly into space again, and how we could go on. What was next?

Unfortunately, space travel has always been a risky business. This weekend also marks the anniversary of the Apollo I accident. Then in 2003, we relieved the shuttle disaster all over again, when the Space Shuttle Columbia exploded on reentry. I just feel it's necessary to remember all of those folks that gave their lives to expand OUR horizons - that gave the kids like me a reason to look to the stars and wonder what is out there.

Happy New Year....Again!!

Astrological Clip Art provided by Astrology.ca Free Astrological Clip-Art, Horoscopes and Zodiac Gifts

No, I'm not completely off of my nut. It's the Chinese New Year. 2006 is the Year of the Dog. I definitely feel that it is in more ways than one!!

This weekend promises to be a mish mash of things. If I'm up to it, (I have yet ANOTHER nasty eye infection. This one is a bit more painful and harder to treat. Yes, my eyes are my achilles heel!) Casey and I will probably head up to Clarksville tonight. A few of us from the 501st are headed up for a prop party. Casey and I are going up to learn how to build armor and various other things for our costumes. Yes...we are the biggest nerds we know! Tomorow, I'm meeting a friend of mine, Patti, in Franklin. She is doing a watercolor of my 4 dogs for me. I'm meeting her to pick out my paper medium and to give her pictures of the wild bunch. I've wanted to do this for such a long time. I'm so excited to finally have it done. I have no idea what to expect or what my choices will be. I've seen her finished work, and it is beautiful. I'll keep you all posted as work progresses.

Monday will probably be a typical cleaning day. While I was off work yesterday, Casey really got into high gear cleaning. He cleaned out the refrigerator and also started on the spare room that is "no man's land" So to spur him on, I have to keep the momentum going on Monday.

Everyone have a great weekend!

Rarities

My brother received this little bit from one of his very good friends, Sherry. The pictures and story are so unique and animal related, that I thought I'd share it here:

Albino Fawn, from folks who live on Bolivar Peninsula, Texas

A very eventful day around here... A once in many lifetimes experience! Mark saw this lil' feller run out in front of a car, thought it was a lost baby goat. Stopped to get it, and WOW. A real Albino Whitetail Deer. Just hours old, but doing fine. No Moma deer around. Another car nearly hit it in front of Mark...

Well... he is THE neatest thing any of us ever saw. And such a 'freak of nature', that only 1 in more than a million are even born. He took his bottle of food, followed us around the house, doing great. So, we called the Zoo & Fossil Rim, who were both interested, but going to send him to a Rehab farm, at a vet that we have never gotten along with... So, one of Dad's best friends is our Game Warden. Kinda reluctantly, I called him and told him the deal. He came right over, of course, and assured me that he wouldn't take it to that vet, that he was going to 'go to higher levels' than that with him. So, he is gone now. We got a lot of pix, and something we will never see again probably, so it was very cool. Maybe he will make it in captivity somewhere and be appreciated. So rare... Sure wanted to keep him tho. but, not the thing to do. And not LEGAL either ; But, here are a couple of pix to show ya. He was snow white, pink eyes, ears, nose and hooves. Kids called him POWDER. He was SO small. That is my shoe lying beside him... WOW..how cool is that??

Another rare thing. I've been tagged for a meme by Barb over at BloggoChicago. So here goes. 99.9% of this is already done by Casey!!

Target Partner: male

8 qualities of my perfect partner (not necessarily in order)

1. Loving

2. Loyal

3. Supportive

4. Funny

5. Responsible

6. Rational

7. Honest

8. Helpful

I think that I'm supposed to tag a few people: Jennifer, Katherine,Lindsey,Chissy, Pennie, and Yvonne. Gotcha!!

Everyone have a great day!

Adventures of Reuben

I've got an extra special treat for dog and book lovers today. I was contacted yesterday by Carlos Aleman asking me to visit his blog. Little did I know, a wonderful treat was waiting. Carolos and his wife, Jean, are writing a book called The Life of Reuben.

Copyright 2004-2006 Carlos Alemanused by permission It's about the world adventures of a little dog named Reuben. Each day, you get a peek into Reuben's personal diary. Carlos also does the fantastic artwork for the book himself. Beautiful illustrations. It's a book that I just can't resist. It hasn't been published yet, but please go have a look at the e-version HERE. For updates visit Carlos' website and his blog, for even more illustrations, stories, and even t-shirts about Reuben. He's been blogging Reuben's adventures, since 2004. There's so much material that Carlos suggests, "If you want a starting place for Reuben's most recent series of adventures, I would pick his trip to China:" HERE. I've added his site to my blogroll on the sidebar, so we can all keep up with his adventure. Happy reading everyone!

Everything But The Kitchen Sink

I think that I'm finally back to my old self. It took a couple of days to adjust to Nick being gone, but I'm finally on the mend. I pretty much spent all weekend relaxing. Casey cooked some fabulous dinners, and we just kicked back to watch DVDs. We watched Hustle & Flow and The Wedding Crashers, both of which I enjoyed. Casey's movie choice was top notch, this past weekend. It poured rain all weekend, so in between, I got lots of reading done. I'm a bit anal when it comes to reading, so I always have a book stash to keep me occupied. Yesterday, I spent the whole day cleaning. I'm just about to get all of that deep cleaning done.

I have several things on the agenda for the humane association. I've got several big fundraisers to plan for in the coming months. Our first is a chili supper that I arranged. The arrangements are firm. The restaurant is doing everything for us. All we have to do is advertise. Here's the details:

The next event up is the annual wine tasting. It's been moved to the spring this year, so we are having it April 29th. I've been picked to come up with a theme. EEEEEK!! I have NO idea. Since our event was in the fall, it was called "Taste Around the Holidays". The most pitiful best I've come up with so far is "A Toast to Spring and Spirits" or something like that. Anyone have any good suggestions?

Then in October, I'm organizing our 2nd annual Celebration Pet Day. I've got a date nailed down now, Ocotober 14, so the real planning can start. I've got lots more help than last year. I have a whole committee this year!! We've got the Bedford County Ag Center all booked. I think it will be a great place to hold our event: two rings and plenty of space to hold all of our events. Here's the plan so far. We are holding a kickoff brunch for the kids (and any adults that want to attend). I'm hoping to get some of my 501st Legion friends to troop the event and be available for pictures. We have a dog show planned, an agility competition planned, and I'm hoping for a performing canine act for that night. Does anyone know of any canine acts in the middle Tennessee area? So, I have LOTS of planning to do. Any and all suggetions are welcome. Everyone have a great day!

Saying Goodbye

The time finally came for me to say goodbye and let go of Nick last night. I ended up crying at one point or another nearly all night. He's in good hands with a bright future in front of him. So, why do I feel so crappy? I feel like I've finished a long, exhaustive trip. I'm just in a blue funk. I guess our gloomy weather today is not helping either. I am looking forward to getting frequent updates on him and hearing a happy adoption story. Keep checking HERE for updates on Nick.

Casey has rented Wedding Crashers to watch tonight in an attempt to cheer me up. I sure hope it works. I'm not sure what else we'll get into this weekend. We are both so tired this week, it may be a veg on the couch weekend. I do hope to get some more cleaning and organizing done on Monday. Well, I'm going to go and get some work done. Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!

Friday Mish Mash and Flying Dogs

Casey had to be at work an hour early this morning, so here I am, killing time. My post today will probably be as disjointed as my foggy brain. My goal is to get a list together of all of Nick's things that I need to remember to send with him to rescue. I need to remember all of the meds he's still on, his food, his vaccination records, medical records, and various other things. I'm dreading the exchange tonight, even more so than I thought I would. I actually said to Casey last night, that I wish I could just send them both without me. I KNOW in my heart of hearts that this is the very best thing for him. He deserves so much more than I can give him. It wouldn't be fair to my animals or him to just keep him. BUT....goodbyes are REALLY horrible for me. I dread saying goodbye tonight. I dread tonight, because I know that I'll be upset. I'm just trying to focus on the positive. He'll be able to have his eye surgery. He'll have a nice, luxurious indoor place to live, and hopefully, he'll have his very own loving family one day. Goodbye Nick, and good luck!!

There was also cool dog news on my local morning broadcast today. Nashville is having a flyball racing tournament this weekend. I thought I was pretty up on dog sports, but this is the first I've heard of this. According to the Music City Road Dogs website this is the definition:

What is Flyball?

Flyball is a relay race with 4 dogs on a team. The course consists of a starting line, 4 hurdles spaced 10 feet apart and a box. The dogs jump the hurdles and steps on a spring loaded box that shoots out a tennis ball. The dog catches the tennis ball and then runs back over the 4 hurdles.

I saw a demonstration of this on the news this morning, and it was incredible. There are teams and events all across the country. This weekend, the event is called Wired for Sound. It's at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds this Saturday and Sunday and is free and open to the public. I'm working on Saturday, but I'm planning to get by on Sunday to see some of this competition. For more information on the sport of Flyball and the tournaments, click HERE. Everyone have a great day!!

Rescue Update

I have some very happy news to report this morning. Nick, the Sharpei that we are fostering, is being placed in a Sharpei rescue. I was informed of a possible spot late last week. He is going to Sharpei Rescue of Tennessee, located in Decherd, TN tomorrow night. They will be finishing up his medical needs, such as his neutering and his necessary eye surgery. Apparently the eye condition is common in the Sharpei breed. After his medical procedures are finished, they will concentrate on placing him with a loving family that wants a Sharpei.

I'm a little sad that he's leaving me and Casey. I've grown quite attached to him, in the month he's been with us. BUT, I know that he's going to a place that specializes in helping dogs like him. They love the breed, and they find homes and families that love the breed. I just hope he finds a family as fabulous as he is.

I just want to say a special "THANK YOU!!!!" to the people who have helped us and Nick along his journey:

Thanks to Dr. Charles G. Kinard at Kinard Animal Hospital, who took Nick in and nursed him back to health.

Cindy Sherrill of Tennessee Sharpei Rescue who is giving Nick the chance he deserves.

Mary Hord of Almost Home Animal Rescue of Rutherford County who has searched for a place for Nick to go with me, since we found him.

And last but not least, Mrs. Kitty Graham and the Shelbyville-Bedford County Humane Association who has brought Nick in from the cold, and provided for his medical care so he can have a better life.

Hopefully, soon, I'll have a very happy ending and new pictures to share with all of you.

Post Birthday Fodder

Yesterday, when I got home from work, I had a nice package waiting for me. It certainly was a bright spot for a dreary, gloomy day. It was a birthday present for me from Casey's aunt. That box was packed with all kinds of goodies. The contents were as follows: designer makeup bag with one of a kind artwork, 2 pairs of socks, 2 REALLY cute dog frames, 3 snowman candles (I collect snowmen to display December and January), and one fat envelope of Christmas/Birthday money for Casey and me. She really does send the coolest boxes!! Needless to say, I was in post birthday meltdown! After all of the agonizing I did over my mom's monetary birthday gift, it only took me a split second to decide what I wanted to do with this birthday money. By 9 p.m., I was the proud owner of my very own Master Replicas Force FX Anakin Skywalker Lightsaber. Say that over again, 10 times fast. I know that it was probably wasteful and childish to purchase one of these in the middle of January, but I just couldn't help myself. THIS ladies and gentlemen, THIS is the lightsaber I've been waiting for since I was 12 years old! I first saw one of these back in the early spring, before Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith was released. I was instantly and totally in love. It was just one of the coolest things that I had ever seen. I finally walked away from it. I thought that it was just something that I could get over wanting , but it just didn't go away. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted it. So now, after many months of waiting, I have my very own complete with its own special display stand.

I got it home and unpacked it. That thing was packed more carefully than a Waterford crystal vase! I fired it up in all of its beautiful glory. Poor Fergie, who isn't a fan of the lightsaber sound, ended up spending about a half hour hiding in the bathroom. I, of course, had to take it and show it to my mom (who lives next door). Then I just had one of those nights again, because my brother and I were out in the front yard battling with it. It certainly made an interesting sight for the neighbors. Last night was officially the first snowfall of the season for my neck of the woods. Big, white, fluffy, wet flakes that looked beautiful falling. And there I was, out in the yard, fighting my force battles. I'm really worried that I might be going through a second childhood or something. Anyway all of this is to say, I had a fantastic night last night. It's not often those days come around, and I like to take full advantage of enjoying them.

I really wanted to get some pictures last night, but my camera battery is still not charging for some reason. I guess it's just time to get a new one. It's charging up today, so hopefully, I'll have some new pictures for the blog soon. I think I'll just keep my fingers crossed that today will be just as much fun!

The Cat Pianist?

Thanks to Andrea over at Modern Pooch, I now know that there is a special Animal Academy over in Germany that is teaching dogs, cats, chickens, and other animals how to play musical instruments. They say it is a method of using positive reinforcement. I know that I do better with positive reinforcement. I do MUCH better when rewarded with a cookie, instead of a whack over the head. It is a REALLY interesting article though, very thought provoking. Makes me wonder if I could try something like that at home. To read the full article and see a video demonstration, click HERE.

Back To Normal

I can't tell ya'll how happy I am to be back on my regular schedule. I'm really not sure how today will go, since classes start today. It's raining, so that always makes the first day interesting.

Casey and I really had a nice 3 day weekend. On Saturday, we went into Nashville to do a little shopping. We stopped into the now liquidating Media Plays around the area to look for bargains. We picked up a couple of DVDs and CDs cheap. There were a few other things I looked at but decided against. We also stopped by Old Navy . They were having a fantastic 75% off sale. I picked up a sweater and a purse. Casey grabbed a couple of polar fleece water proof pullovers. We got out of there for under $20!! Then, we were off to downtown for Casabona Italian Restaurant to spend one of our gift certificates. I was really looking forward to it. I have to say that I was a bit disappointed. The atmosphere was pleasing, but I was hoping for Italian music, instead of Van Halen. The hostess seemed a bit out of it. It took a while just to get our name on the waiting list. The wait was 30-45 minutes, even though there were many tables empty at 5:30-6:00 p.m. I'm suspecting a shortage of wait staff. I was also disappointed, since I don't eat salad, that there were no soup offerings. I love a good Italian soup. Our waitress was great, but it took a long time to get our food. I had the Spinach Tortellini in the reggiano cream sauce. Casey had the Pomodoro Penne pasta with italian sausage (It had a name, but I can't remember it). Both of our dishes were really tasty but very rich. I don't know. It just wasn't as fabulous as I expected. We are going to try it again. Maybe they were just having an off night. Thank goodness we have another gift certificate.

Casey and I had a very relaxing Sunday. We got up and had a tasty breakfast of link sausages and waffles. Then we got ready and went to see a Sunday matinee of Hoodwinked. It was a very cute movie indeed!! I really enjoyed it. Afterwards, we came home and puttered around. We had our italian leftovers for dinner and watched Lords of Dogtown on DVD. I enjoyed that movie as well. Yesterday, Casey and I did what we call, "Operation Organize". Casey reorganized all of the cabinets in the kitchen, while I organized the chest of drawers in the bedroom and cleaned house. We got a lot accomplished, and I'm so proud of us! Little by little, we're getting everything together. I also got Nick to the groomer's for his medicated bath. He looked so nice afterwards. He's scheduled again next week. Hopefully, I'll know something more concrete from the rescues, by the end of the week.

Gotta get moving now. I hope everyone has a great day!!

Rainy Day Friday

It looks like our unseasonably warm January weather may come to an end. I woke up this morning to pouring rain and the temperature dropping. I hear by tonight, we have a chance of seeing snow. A little farther to the east, they are expecting 2-4 inches. I know whatever we see here won't stick around, because it's supposed to be back in the low 50's tomorrow. It still would be nice to at least see a little of the white, fluffy stuff this year.

Not much is going on today. We are expecting the students back to move in sometime this afternoon. So, we should stop looking like the land of the dead soon. I'm anxious for everything to get back into full swing. The break is nice, but it does seem to drag at the end. I really miss my regular routine.

Casey and I are going to get some shopping done this weekend. Tomorrow, we are driving into Nashville. I think we are probably going to spend the day in town and use one of our gift certificates for dinner. It will be a nice way to break the monotony. We figure that it will be a nice way to spend a 3 day weekend. I'm not too sure what we'll do on Sunday. We may just hang around the house and watch movies or something. Maybe we can go to a matinee. It's been a few weeks, since we've been. On Monday, I'm taking Nick to the groomer's to have another one of his medicated baths. I'd do it myself, but he's gained so much weight. He's now officially strong as an ox too. It's just too hard to do in my teeny bathroom. The shampoo has to soak on him for at least 10 minutes, and I don't believe that dog is EVER still for 10 minutes. He's so boisterious now that he's feeling better, I couldn't even begin to imagine it. Well, that's the Zoo report for the day. I hope everyone has a nice holiday weekend!!

Amazing Penguins

Casey and I watched March of the Penguins last night. It is a truly wonderful film. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend that you go to your video store and get it. This movie follows Emperor Penguins for a year of their lives, particularly their over 70 mile march to the breeding ground every year. I was amazed at the life habits of these animals. Their ability to not only exist in Antartica, but to flourish and raise their young is incredible. To me it is amazing that anything could survive their living conditions. Did you know that the average Emperor Penguin is 3ft. tall and weighs approximately 60 lbs, and that the males while hatching the young go without food for nearly 4 months! On the DVD, there are also 2 really wonderful additional documentaries with further information. This film really drove home how VERY important it is that we conserve our environment. Everything we do, affects a living creature somewhere on this earth. We must learn to conserve and instill in our children the same thing, or our earth will lose some of its most precious inhabitants.

For another incredible penguin story, click HERE.

Purely Genetic

Today is going to be rather busy. I've got a big work meeting this morning that promises to take up my day until after lunch. I have nothing big or exciting to report, so I'll leave you guys with this news tidbit. It's about a kitten that was born with only one, large rather cycloptic looking eye and no nose. Many people said the photo was a hoax, but according to an AP photo expert, the photos had NOT been retouched or altered. It's an interesting case of science, but sad. For the full story and photos, click HERE.

Success!

This nice little piece of artwork will soon hang on my living room wall. Yes, I won the auction. I can't believe it. I thought the bids would go much higher. So, my day has started on an upbeat note. I just received a shipping notice that it is going out today priority mail. Hopefully by the weekend, it will be in my hot little hands. I'm really looking forward to getting it.

I seem to be in better spirits today. I think it has something to do with the fact that Casey and I started our workout program yesterday. Excercising ALWAYS makes me feel better, even if I never lose a pound. I guess that I just feel better mentally. I could tell a difference by the time we got home last night. Also, our unseasonably warm weather is giving me spring fever. I'm looking forward to the warmer weather and being outside. I think I miss Bear's walks as much as he does. No big plans for today. Just the usual.

I found this article online today. It concerns a case of a lady whose cat was killed by a dog. Since she wasn't home at the time, she's used DNA evidence and identified a neighbor's dog as the culprit. I thought that it was a pretty interesting read. For the full story, click HERE. I hope everyone has a terrific day!

Decisions

My mother gave me $25 to do with what I like for my birthday. Now I know that's not a lot of money, but I've agonized over that $25 like I haven't agonized in years. I do really well with gift cards. I also do really well with gift certificates. It just seems that I have problems with gift money that has no designated place to go. Since it's January, for a few nano-seconds, I opted just to keep it to help pay the bills. That thought quickly evaporated for the "me, me, me" contigent. This is my money, and really, I do want to spend it on me. I've gone over various purchases like, that lipstick gift set that I want, underwear, the few Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith action figures I need to finish my collection (yep, I'm a nerd AND I have a COLLECTION!), Star Wars: Clone Wars Volume 1, and various other items. I had forgotten that several days ago I perused that wonderful entity known as Ebay. I had forgotten that I had placed a piece of Schipperke artwork on my watchlist. Just a little bit ago, I got a notice that bids are ending on my item soon. So in a flurry of impulsiveness, I hit the bid key. Now, I'll just have to wait it out. But if I get lucky, THIS is what I'll get. The more I think about it now, the more I really do want it. Everyone keep your fingers crossed. I'll let you know that outcome tomorrow.

More Information

Since my post last week, ramifications of the Diamond Pet Food recall continue to be felt. Now, as many as 76 dogs have lost their lives due to this food's contamination with aflatoxin. Now it is believed that the contaminated dog food is not only found in the U.S. but abroad as well. The Diamond company says it's determined to help pet owners whose pets have been affected by the contaminated food. They are saying that they would like to take care of veterinary bills and medical costs. If your pet has been affected go HERE to get the pertinent information about the recall and HERE to fill out a form and get the company's phone number to report your pet.

For more information on the latest story, click HERE.

Remember, this recall affects 19 varieties of dog AND cat food in the following areas:Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Vermont, Virginia and other overseas markets.

Yick, Monday!

During the holidays, where I work is only open Monday through Friday. This means, instead of working Tuesday through Saturday, I find myself working a more conventional Monday through Friday schedule. Even though I get a few Saturdays off, it still irks me to actually be here on a Monday. Monday is my play day. It's my get things done around the house day. It's laundry day. It's my I need this day to prepare properly for my week!! It just throws me off to work on a Monday. It also doesn't help that today is Monday and it's my birthday, which makes me REALLY not want to be here. Luckily, this is my last Monday here for a while. We'll be returning to our normal schedule next week. You all can probably hear me exhaling that sigh of relief through your monitors. I'll be glad to get back to my normal routine. I just don't seem to take change well. It upsets my apple cart. I'm really trying to do better with it. I'd really like to be more spontaneous, but I'm a planner by nature: but I still try.

The weekend ended up being rather quiet. I really just wanted to hang around the house and get things done. Casey and I ended up running around Nashville after work on Friday. I was in search of my schipperke calendar at a discounted price. Yeah I'm a cheapskate, when it comes to calendars. Three malls and four hours later, I happily had it in my hands. We did a little shopping and had a cheap dinner in between. Because of this, we decided to just kick around the house. Casey did fix me a fabulous steak dinner in celebration of my birthday. My mom is having me to dinner tonight, and my office mates are treating me to a fantastic lunch today. One of my office mates made me some really yummy chocolate raspberry brownies today too! I certainly won't be hungry!

Today I informed Casey that I had officially declared it THE BIRTHDAY PRINCESS DAY!! I just wanted him to be prepared. I've decided that today, when something doesn't suit me, I'm going to play THE BIRTHDAY PRINCESS card. All should be right with the world. Things shouldn't trouble me today. I should get my way today. I think spritely elves should bring me yummy treats on a satin pillow, and I should get to watch as much Star Wars as I want. I also think that the world should bend to my will today. You guys don't think I'm over doing this do you? I think that everyone should have one day out of the year that they are the most special person around. Try it (it's not an option...I'm the Birthday Princess you know). It's fun. Even if you have to declare it yourself.

So Attached

Since I've gone back to my regular routine this week, I've realized just HOW attached I am to my animals. After having 2 weeks off to lounge and recover with them 24/7, I've realized my bond is even stronger. I spent a lot of time thinking last night how much I think of them and miss them, when I'm away. The past week's illnesses have given me some appreciation of what a parent goes through, when a child is sick. While Slate was so very sick, it nearly killed me to leave him alone to go to work. So much so, that I had my mother (who lives next door) check on him twice a day. Luckily, everyone (except Slate) finished up their medicine yesterday. I think we're on the mend now. My animals are as much a part of my life as the food I eat and the air I breathe. Even though we've only had Nick a couple of weeks, that little boy has wormed his way into my heart as well. I'll be so sad to see him leave (when it happens), but also glad that he'll be on his way to a good home. I have no idea why this concept has just now occurred to me. Maybe it's because it seems I've been holed up at home for the winter. We'll just refer to it as my little hibernation period. Am I the only one that feels like this?

The work week is finally winding down. We don't really heave plans for the weekend, even though it's my birthday. We do have a couple of sweet gift certificates to Casa Bono (is it still in business?) and Jimmy Kelly's Steakhouse in Nashville. We are still undecided at this point where to go. Any suggestions? I have no idea what I'm in the mood to eat anyway. Any and all suggestions would be welcome. I hope that everyone has a great weekend!

Dog Health Alerts

Two dog health alerts have been brought to my attention. The first has been around a week or so, but it's extremely important that dog owners in the affected areas be aware. Diamond Pet Food announces a recall. It seems that the product that was manufactured in Gaston, South Carolina was tainted with aflatoxin, which is a mold that is toxic to animals. This toxin can cause major blood clotting disorders, many other symptoms, and can be fatal. The following states are affected by the recall: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Vermont and Virginia. I just spoke to a friend of mine yesterday who runs a large breed rescue here. One of her weimaraner's got poisoned by a bag of this recalled food. It was just a stroke of luck she and the vet figured it out, before it was too late. This dog and another got into a scuffle, and she had taken him in for just a couple of stitches. As the vet began to work on him, he started bleeding out. The vet thought he'd been poisoned, and notified my friend. She immediately pinpointed the problem as the recalled Diamond Pet Food. So, if you are feeding Diamond Pet Food and live in these areas, please stop feeding from this food source and watch for symptoms!! For recall information and symptoms click HERE. For a full story, click HERE.

There has also been some safety concerns with the favorite dog pet treat, Greenies. Now, my dogs absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE greenies!! So much so, that I refer to them as, "crack for dogs". Just like my dogs know what "out, outside, O-U-T, and potty" mean, they also know the words, "greenies, and G-R-E-E-N-I-E-S" mean. So I sat up and listened, when I heard the blurb on the local news last night. The concern is, "...the larger pieces can get stuck in the intestine," says Dr. Bruce Graves, Murphy Road Animal Hospital." This is apparantly done when the dogs swallow a bite that is too large. A law suit has even been filed against the Greenies manufacturer. My opinion? I think it is good to be concerned about it, but I don't think I'll stop using them. I mean, the same thing can happen with regular food. Bear and Fergie love to crunch ice cubes for goodness sake. However, I don't think they should be given to dogs, when they are alone. The manufacturer warns against giving multiple greenies during a short amount of time and suggest using the size that is appropriate for your dog. For now until I hear otherwise, I'm going to keep using them. For more information on the story, click HERE.

These are just a couple of things I thought you all should know. Everyone have a great day!

Where Did The Holidays Go

Man! I'm moving ever so sluglike through the day today. Being off from work for 2 weeks really messed up my circadian rythm. I did really well yesterday. Popped right out of bed for work, fresh and ready for the world. Today, I think that I could have done with 14 more hours of sleep. I just can't seem to wake up. I've already downed a Coke and a cup of coffee and still feel like I could just nap.

I guess that it doesn't help that I'm nursing sick dogs at home. I did talk to the vet again for Slate yesterday. He told me not to worry. He also gave me another medicine to give to him, along with his antibiotic and cough medicine. After a round of new meds, he seems to be a little better this morning. He got a good nights rest last night, finally. I had been up the previous 2 nights with him. I didn't realize that I had been so stressed over his health, until I got home and found him better yesterday. Maybe, I've finally relaxed and the lack of sleep is catching up with me. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that Shiloh and Fergie stay nice and healthy. Just sick boys for now.

Nick will finish his meds up tomorrow. He's as strong as an ox and very rambunctious now. I got another e-mail this morning that a local Sharpei rescue may be able to take him next week. We'll see. I think I'm gonna run and get a few things accomplished for the day. Hope everyone has a great afternoon!

Return To Life

I'm slowly slipping back into real life. I'm back to blogging regularly again. I've put up the winter design. So drop a comment and let me know what you guys think.

I'm happy to report that most of the brood is feeling better. Slate is still very snotty and still coughing. I'm probably going to call the vet back this afternoon, just to be sure. All of us are due to finish our anitbiotics on Thursday. Isn't it always the way. I feel better, just in time to go back to work! It sure is hard getting back into the swing of things. I hope that everyone had a good holiday season.

Since I'm so busy catching up today, I thought that I'd share this story that I received in an e-mail. I got it right before Christmas. I'm not sure of the source. So if anyone knows please leave me a comment, so I can credit it properly. Everyone have a great day!

Rescued: Dog Frozen On Tracks

Chippewa Falls - He's missing a lot of hair, but a Siberian husky has a new name and a new life - thanks to the men who rescued him when he was frozen to train tracks in Wisconsin, United States, just minutes before the train came.

Construction worker Jeremy Majorowicz said he thought it a little strange that the dog had been sitting on the train track for an hour-and-a-half in the cold.

Stranger still that he wouldn't accept a bite of muffin.

Majorowicz then called police.

Police officer Tim Strand said the dog was "shivering unmercifully" when he arrived. The dog would not come to him, so he called animal control officer Al Heyde, who also couldn't get the dog to budge.

Strand realised the dog was frozen to the tracks when he "lifted its tail and hind quarters".

Strand pulled hard on the dog's tail and was able to release him, but the dog lost a lot of hair.

"He gave a heck of a whelp," said Strand.

Just 10 minutes later, a train came down the track.

The dog was taken to the Chippewa County Humane Association, where workers have named him "Ice Train".

Happy New Year 2006!

I would like to wish everyone a VERY Happy, Healthy, and Wealthy New Year 2006! I have a few spare minutes online tonight, so I thought I'd post an update. After my last post on Christmas Eve, I completely lost my voice. I walked around for 3 more days just thinking I had a case of laryngitis. Last Monday, I finally gave up and went to the walk-in clinic. As it turned out, I had a major case of strep throat. That was the reason that I drug around for the last 2 weeks. After most of a prescription of antibiotics, I'm finally feeling like myself again. Just in time to go back to work, huh? Casey is feeling better too. He finally started feeling human again last Wednesday. That respirtory bug he had was so bad, that 2 of our dogs actually caught it!! I had Bear into the vet early yesterday morning. He kept us both awake all night on Thursday night coughing. Slate has it too. I didn't think that was possible, but the vet confirmed as much. So now, Slate, Bear, Nick, and I are all on antibiotics. Nick is the good news case to report. We still don't have a new home for him yet, but he's recovering from all of infections. He's gained a little over 10 pounds in the past week. He's in really good spirits and wants to play all of the time.

I'm over at my Mom's right now. Me, Casey, Mom and my brother are all getting ready to ring in the new year. We are waiting for Dick Clark's return. We've got a bottle of champagne ready. So here's a toast to all of my friends (furry and otherwise) and family this New Year!! I'll be back online with regular updates on Tuesday!!

Merry Christmas

I just wanted to take a quick minute to pop in and tell everyone Merry Christmas. I hope that you all get exactly what you want, and that you all have a very Happy New Year. Casey and I have both been off from work this week, but it has been totally wasted. We've both been sick as dogs this week. We did finally manage to get Nick picked up from the vet on Thursday. He's putting on weight really fast and is a world better in just a week. I have him a nice, big Jumbone for a Christmas treat. I'll have new pictures for everyone soon.

Today is the first day that we've felt like doing anything. I drug all around town yesterday, trying to get the last of what little shopping I needed done. It was an absolute mad house. Casey went out today on his own, and I tell you, I didn't envy him at all! We have managed to get all of our gift wrapping done. I've even gotten the dog and cat presents all wrapped and their stockings stuffed as well. They'll be a lot of new woobie love in the house tomorrow.

Again, I hope that everyone has a very Merry Christmas!!

Animal Christmas Carols

Well, my time of work for the year is nearly over. After today, I'll be off celebrating and making merry until the New Year. So, I guess this will be my last official big post for the year. I'll be in and out from now on, but I'll try to get by and blog some. I'm sure there'll be lots of AudioBlogger posts too!

Casey and I are going to stop by the vet's this afternoon to check on Nick. We've got lots of feelers out for rescues, and lots of folks are helping us. Today he's having a full physical to give us a better idea of his age and his health condition. The next thing on the agenda is a full round of shots and a neutering. I'm sure poor Nick had something else in mind for Christmas than that! Anyway after all that, he'll be coming to Shelbyville to live with Casey and me for a while. He'll stay with us, until a spot comes open in one of the rescues. I really have a good feeling, it won't take us long to find him a good home. Everyone send good Christmas pixie dust our way!!

I hope that everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. Like I said, I'll be dropping by every once in a while to keep you all updated. I'm going to leave you all today with a cute little doggie Christmas parody. I first saw this song's lyrics posted over on Casper D. Dog's blog. I did a little research and found that you can actually hear it over at Twisted Tunes. Here's the lyrics first:

Yellow Snow! Yellow Snow! Yellow Snow!

(Parody of Let it Snow)

Oh, the weather outside was whitening

‘Til the dog did something frightening

He’s got no other place to go

Yellow snow, yellow snow, yellow snow

And he doesn’t show signs of stopping

As he sniffs around his dropping

You see him everywhere you go

In the snow, yellow snow, yellow snow

When he finally goes outside

He’ll be frolicking ‘round in the storm

He’ll be marking our yard with pride

You can tell by the steam that it’s warm

When the snow begins it’s thawing

It reveals those puppy drawings

He’s a frisky little pooch van Gogh

Yellow snow, yellow snow, yellow snow

Come here, Yeller. Come on boy. Good doggie.

Oh, not on Frosty.

He’ll be marking our yard with pride

You can tell by the steam that it’s warm

Well, he’s happy and his tail starts waggin’

But the snowman’s left side is saggin’

There’s a little puddle right below

Yellow snow, yellow snow, yellow snow

Yellow snow, yellow snow

Yellow snow

Little patches of yellow snow

Yellow snow

Little patches of where Fido goes

To hear the Mp3 click HERE

It's the first song on the list! Enjoy!