DOG GONE BAD VET

I chose our veterinary clinic because it was AAHA certified. I wasn’t impressed with the facilities but the owner/vet seemed competent enough and he was supposed to be available at all times for emergencies. Not only was he not available when we needed him this weekend (See UPDATE), he NEVER RETURNED OUR CALL!

I don’t think that there is anything left to say. He promised a standard of care that was not there. I will not take that risk again. He’s history.

ADDENDUM- I think Little-Bit is O.K., but I will be following up with our new vet.

ADDENDUM AGAIN- The vet and his staff called me numerous times on Monday and Tuesday.  Awkward. The excuse given was that the answering service had taken down my number incorrectly. Don’t most answering services have caller ID? I am not changing my mind. Choosing a new vet is never easy, though…

HAPPY ENDING-Well, the answering service sent a transcript of their recording and they had written my number incorrectly as well as my name. I also received an written apology from the operator who had made the error. So I have rescheduled Black Cat’s check-up for this week and we will continue with this practice. Let you know how that goes.

WELL, NOT SO MUCH- Black Cat got carsick in every possible way on the short drive over and then almost escaped. They made me sign something agreeing to pay $25.00 if I cancel an appointment. Then we spent over $300 for a yearly checkup for a healthy cat. We were there almost two hours but part of that was B.C.’s fault as they had to clean her up. I’m sure, if I look closely at my itemized bill, that I was charged for that.

Himself met the vet and didn’t like him either. We really can’t put our finger on why that is. Something about his demeanor.

I don’t see this relationship working out long term, do you?

BRAVE BEBE

I always say that Cotons de Tulears are not great guard dogs but they make wonderful watchdogs. Bebe has proved me wrong.

This is especially amazing when you consider her history. Before she came to us she was not treated well and, unlike most Cotons, is not social. She is afraid of men. She is a one-woman dog.

I was going to my garage (unlocked and not attached to the house) through my back garden (locked gates). It was the middle of the day. The dogs were behind me but are not allowed in the garage as Little-Bit always feels compelled to baptize the floor. Usually they just sit outside the door and wait for me.

Not this day! Bebe climbed over Little-Bit and scratched my sandaled feet in her haste to attack a closed door that leads to a small room in the corner of the garage. She was jumping as high as the doorknob and literally throwing herself at the door. She went what I call “Coton Crazy” and not in a good way. She sounded like a garage full of junk yard dogs.

I thought there might be a rat in the little room and beat a hasty retreat. Bebe would not come away from the door and I had to drag her out of the garage. Even then, she stayed between me and the garage- walking backwards, barking and growling until we were safely back in the house.

I made a mental note to call the exterminator and paid scant attention to the little dog who stationed herself by the back door. She was pacing and hyper-vigilant.

An hour or so later, the animals and I went out to do our “business” (my business was deadheading my roses) and I noticed that things were awry on the deck. Someone had been in the back yard. I think that someone was also in my garage.

The policeman told me that I should have listened to my dog. I agree.

I thought about putting a sign in my back window that says, “BEWARE OF BOA CONSTRICTOR”. That would stop me if I were a burglar. But perhaps my sign should say, “BEWARE OF BEBE”.

My 15 pound, white, not-so-young fluffball is all heart. She is also my hero.

ADDENDUM- I will be locking all my doors all the time from now on. And I will listen to my dog.

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

My dog food recipes are rather like a Chinese menu-one from column A, two from column B and so on. I focus on what is in season, what is on sale and the percentages for each category that I have decided on.

PROTEIN 40%

Boneless, skinless chicken breast or

Turkey or

Lamb

This is usually poached in salt-free chicken stock, removed and shredded.

I reserve the liquid for the:

VEGETABLES, FRUITS, BERRIES-30% any or all of the below:

Carrots

Celery

Green beans (B.B. used to pick these out but now I saute them in olive oil to make them a little mushier and she doesn’t even notice.)

Green peas

Zucchini

Squash

Apple

Cranberries-few

Blueberries-few

Broccoli tops

Parsley-fresh

STARCH-30%-any or all of the below

White rice

Sweet potatoes

Yams

Potatoes

Pumpkin

TO MAKE:

Don’t cook anything longer than you need to.

I use the reserve stock to cook everything. If I have any left over, I freeze it for next time.

Mush it all together.

I might add olive oil and/or molasses before I freeze the food.

TO FEED:

After I defrost the frozen food to, I may add some Belgian yogurt, cottage cheese or Eggland eggs to the mix before I feed them.

ADDENDUM- They do get supplements. Everyday they get salmon oil, vitamins, and Kraft cheese with Angel Eyes hidden inside. (The Angel Eyes goes in cheese rather than their food so that I know each gets the correct dosage.

For training (the never ending story) I use the Kraft, home made meatballs, or chicken chews.

For chewing (I think their teeth must grow like rabbits.) I use bully sticks ( Don’t ask. It is SO gross!) and dental chews from the vet. I will leave a p-nut butter Kong but they are messy to clean. We do not use Greenies because of articles like this.

DOGGIE TREAT FOR HUMANS

ihasahotdog

A little post holiday pick-me-up.

ADDENDUM- BlackCat prefers icanhascheezeburger. I like them both.

COUNTDOWN

Deviled eggs                 Assorted olives                      Slab of Gouda                Shrimp

Stuffed celery                Gherkins                                 Crackers

*****

Three mushroom soup-Dinner

*****

Ambrosia in orange cups

Spinach salad-Dinner

*****

Croissants

*****

Carrot coins-ginger,honey

Asparagus

New potatoes-rosemary

*****

Quiche-(for vegetarian) surrounded by tiny tomatoes, parsley

Lamb chops with mint jelly

Ham-cloves, pineapple-Dinner

*****

Birds nest cupcakes

Jordan almonds

*****

Iced tea

Wine-Dinner

Coffee

It’s all about the leftovers. Next organize shopping. Leaf in table? Set out serving dishes. Polish silver. TIny bird nests/placecards. Flowers. Dye eggs , Guest room. Bathe dogs…

ADDENDUM-In the interest of full disclosure, we didn’t have Easter at my house this year due to dental drama.

WHILED AWAY A WHOLE AFTERNOON

at the White House.

Fascinating, educational and a little scary from a security standpoint.

ADDENDUM-Of course, being me, I found some errors and had lots of questions about wastefulness.

Might be some nice lateral learning for the summer holidays when combined with the Government site and this Historical Association one.

NIXON AND ME

I read once that while he was in the White House, Richard Nixon ran the air conditioning and had the fireplaces going at the same time.

I can relate.

One last cold front came through and I started begging Himself to fire that thing up.

If I didn’t have an actual conscience and character, I could curl up by that cozy hearth all year long.

Just like Nixon.

ADDENDUM- You know, the way that man sweated, he should have just stuck with the air-conditioning.

A NEW DAY FOR ME

I tend to over-think things, over-analyze and worry.

I am taking a break.

Today, March 13th, I will not fret or obsess or worry for 24 hours.

I am going for a sense of peace and well being.

Just for today.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

Two minutes later- Of course, this means people who have no idea what they are doing are on their own.

OK.

Starting over.

ADDENDUM- I would say this was a semi-success. I am going to try it more frequently.

Practice makes perfect.

SHAZAM, YOU AMAZE ME

when you work.

And I really like your tag cloud.

I even understand why you don’t identify a lot of classical music.

Probably not your demographic.

But Grateful Dead?

Come on.

ADDENDUM- 5/8/09-SHAZAM keeps freezing up on me. Is anyone else having this problem?

THE TRAIL RIDERS ARE HEADING TO TOWN

for the rodeo.

So, although it was 80 degrees today, we are in for one more cold front.

Usually with freezing rain.

It happens every year.

Welcome, y’all!

And you thought New York City was tough on it’s out-of-towners…

UPDATE- We got a norther (33 degrees) but no freezing rain.

I think this is a first.

Global warming?

ADDENDUM-Even more incredible-we had temperatures in the thirties in April! Not in my memory has this ever happened and I’m as old as dirt.