The Dackel Princess

Pets

Lili finished Puppy Class One last night. She failed! Not really, but let’s just say she is hyper active and probably needs medications for ADHD!

Again, kidding. She is a handful, and I am trying so hard to get her exercised enough, and also the classes so she learns how to be a proper doggy.

Her next class begins in two weeks. All the other pups, especially the other Shepherd who flunked, will be back.

On my way home last night I had to drive through a bad thunder and lightening storm. I do not like that. There were also torrential downpours that scared the daylights out of me. I slowed way down and took over an hour, but got home safely!

This morning I was up early, took a shower and dressed. I quickly made breakfast and jumped in the car with Lili and Anneliese for a trip to the Vets. Anneliese is having surgery on a growth on her teat. Lili needed her shots.

It is hot again, and the humidity is really bad. I think today I will kind of kick back a little. Tomorrow is a big day. Another Weight Watcher weigh in.

You Will Never Believe This!

I woke yesterday morning ready to face the day, and slipped into my slacks and top. I went out of the bedroom only to discover that Lili had terrible diarrhea in the puppy room in the night.

I have never seen her have this much! It was on the walls, on the tiles of the floor and on her bedding, and the only way to get her outside to wash her down was to carry her! So after that, I was also covered in her poop, with a back ache!

I worked hard to hose her off, and to wash her and she went crazy on me. I brought her in after I rinsed her and toweled her off. Then I washed down my hands and took off my poopy clothes and started the laundry.

About that time Hubby got up and asked what the horrible screaming was all about. I sat and drank one cup of coffee and then I got on my gloves and went into the puppy room (Oh my God the smell was so horrible!) to start the cleaning.

I cannot express how terrible it was. Just horrible liquid diarrhea everywhere. I thought I would throw up myself!

I spent over an hour washing and washing and washing. Then I closed the door again and turned on the air conditioner. After about 20 minutes I sprayed the disinfectant and now it smells wonderful again.

But my emotional scars linger on!

Once everything was clean, and I actually ate a small breakfast, I took a long hot shower. Even then all I could think of was the poop. I’m so glad I take Lili on Tuesday to the Vet.

13 Reasons Having 4 Dogs Is Great!

Thirteen Reasons It’s Great To Have Four Good Dogs

1. One of them is always happy to see you come home.
2. If you are feverish and feel cold, you can pack the pooches around your body and get warm.
3. There are no leftovers!
4. You never have to dry your feet after a shower.
5. You never have to worry about someone breaking into your home.
6. You never have to worry that the Veterinarian will be unhappy to see you. ($$)
7. You can leave your keys in the car when you go to the Post Office and no one would dare steal your car! (Not with ever growing Lili sitting there with all her big teeth!)
8. Your life is always full with the care and feeding of the dogs.
9. You are helping to keep the vacuum cleaner bag makers in business.
10. You are also keeping the dog food makers in business as well!
11. At the end of a bad day, seeing their little faces looking up at you is wonderful.
12. Feeling puppy breath on your arm when they are asleep is so sweet.
13. Oh yes, puppy breath! The best!!!

Bad Lobster

Janet and Dave came up to celebrate the 4th of July!

Today went very well. I had everything ready for us to sit down and eat by 1 PM, and you should have seen this one lobster! It was huge and ugly! I took it because I

was not sure how it would taste. The shell on it was so thick and hard! I swear it was horrible!

Well, I am 55 years old and I have to say this is the first bad lobster I have ever had! The meat was old tasting and tough and not sweet and lovely. I was so disappointed. Everyone else had a good tasting lobster.

I just never knew there was such a thing as a bad lobster!

Oh well, the corn was good, the potatoes were good and the fruit salad was great. I just should have had that!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Speaking of 180…when was the last time you ‘did a 180’ on something?

Tough question. It’s something very personal, and I’m not sure I want to share it here.

2. It’s Independence Week in the US of A! What’s your favorite thing about America right this very minute? Favorites only! Let’s hear what you love about America.

The “Real Americans” in this country! (And you know who you are.) These people are willing to join the military, serve in the communities as firefighters and police, they voluneer for communy events and do it with a smile on their faces.

If you’re playing along today, and you’re not an American but have been to America, what do/did you like best about this country? If you’ve never been to America, do you have any desire to visit? What’s the number one thing you’d like to see?

I would reccomend The Grand Canyon and Alaska! With Alaska, I would say take a cruise and get a land tour with a train! Alaska is simply stupendous!

3. Stars or stripes? Red, white, or blue? Watermelon, homemade vanilla ice cream, or blueberry pie?

We will have our flag flying on the 4th. I’m making a fruit salad with watermelon for dessert.

4. When did you last see stars, figuratively speaking?

Two night ago, while walking the puppy, I looked up and saw a shooting star and a second later a second one! I imagine that will never happen to me again!

5. ‘Clear as a bell’, ‘with bells on’, ‘lots of bells and whistles’, ‘saved by the bell’…which phrase ‘rings’ truest for you lately? Have you ever seen The Liberty Bell?

Yes, I have seen the Liberty Bell. I suppose with bells on. My cousin and I are celebrating the 4th of July together and I will do so with “bells on”!

6. Are you caught up in World Cup fever? Have you watched a lot or a little or none at all?

No. Sorry to say, I am not at all into soccer, AKA “Football”.

7. Bid farewell to June in 10 words or less.

Bye June, please help Lili be an easier puppy!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

It’s too hot! Today when I got up it was close to 80 degrees (F). Now at 3 PM it was 98 degrees! I’m not a big summer fan and I really dislike the heat!

Crazy Weekend!

I did all the weeding in the garden, on Sunday morning. I still have a bit left to do, but not too much. At the end, it was getting hot, and I figured that tomorrow was another day and I could finish then!

I showered and went to the Grand Opening of CruConCruiseOutlet which was very exciting. They started out just a few employees and now they have moved into their new building, where they will employ over 100 people! I’ve known the owner for a few years. I met her through my late hair stylist Margarita. I felt today, I needed to go and show my support. However, it was wild! The place was mobbed and although there was plenty of freebies to be had, the cake was gone! That was good, I didn’t have to make up my mind if I was going to have any or not.

I came back to vacuum and change sheets, when suddenly it hits me…my shoulders and back are a little bit sore! Made me laugh at myself! I’m not the sweet young thing I once was!

As I was preparing our dinner tonight, I also sat down and chopped up vegetables for my Cabbage Soup. Hubby loves this soup, and the link will take you to the recipe.

Dinner was good, Steak, baked potatoes and my favorite seasonal vegetable, Corn on the Cob!

Then I decided to take the pups up to see our neighbor. All was going well, although it’s rather crazy with 4 dogs, when I see a little boy running down the hill towards us. His name is Jack and he is 6 years old and although he loves dogs, he has no ideal how to act with a puppy.

I quickly got Lili, Greta and Arnie home, but that little bugger, Anneliese, headed to Jack’s family’s rental cottage!

Lately it seems I get to 9 PM and I am simply exhausted! So it is again tonight. Off to bed I go!

My Mom

Today my Mom would have turned 85 years old. Instead, my sister and I are mourning her loss, as she left us last August.

Her last days were brutal. Cancer is like that. You suffer and suffer and suffer to the point, where you see your loved one released into the next world and you thank God their battle is over.

So it was with Mom.

She was born Rosamond Ruth Prussman, to parents Frederick and Mary. She had a much loved older brother Robert and a cousin George, who grew up like a brother to her. In fact, until the day they passed, they really adored each other.

Mom’s brother, Robert and his wife Cynthia.

Aunt Betty, Larry, Janet and Uncle George.

She met my Dad when she was 13 and was dancing and my Dad played the piano. I asked Dad once what made him look twice at Mom and he said “It was a bright red sweater that she had! She looked so beautiful in it! I was hooked!”

A collage of their life together.

They married early on, and Dad finished getting his teaching degree. They moved to Monument Beach, Massachusetts ,

and lived in a little white cottage in the Burton-wood section, where my brother, Richard and my sister Melodie were born.

They moved to Falmouth, Massachusetts and shortly after, Mom had me. During my teenage years we fought like cats and dogs. Mom and I said some very cruel things to each other, including the fact that she wished I’d never been born.

But flash forward to Mom’s funeral. Her childhood, lifelong friend came over to me and told me that when Mom told her she was pregnant with me, she admonished her to “get rid of it!” But Mom didn’t.

That’s when it hit me. Sometimes we say things we really don’t mean. Because obviously, Mom wanted me very much, because here I am!

Thanks Mom!

My parent’s stayed married for well over 60 years.

Mom was with him until the end. She never remarried. I think in her mind and her heart she was always Jimmie’s girl!

Her last days were spent, not in fear of dying, no, Mom knew Christ and she knew she would see Dad again. She just worried about Mel and me.

Me, Mel & Janet with Mom.

The last time we were together before Mom was diagnosed with Liver Cancer. It was at the wedding of my neice Jin and her husband, Ian. Mom was so happy. I almost didn’t go because of my facial surgery, but I am so glad I did now.

The last time I saw her, we sat there, with Janet and the four of us were talking quietly. I asked Mom how we would know if she was with us. She smiled and said “You will see butterflies, and that will be me.”

And you know what? We see beautiful butterflies all the time. And we smile!

Family Party June 26, 2010 027

Happy Birthday, Mom!

The Impossible

Hubby and I watched a movie the other day. It was called “The Impossible”.

It was the true story about a regular family – Maria (Naomi Watts), Henry (Ewan McGregor) and their three kids – who travel to Thailand to spend Christmas. They get an upgrade to a villa on the coastline. After settling in and exchanging gifts, they go to the pool, like so many other tourists. A perfect paradise vacation until a distant noise becomes a roar. There is no time to escape from the tsunami; Maria and her eldest are swept one way, Henry and the youngest children another. Who will survive, and what will become of them?

I’m not a big Naomi Watts fan, but her acting was really good. The special effects were also great. As I sat here watching, I felt like I was right there with these poor people.

So many died. So many children became orphans that day. And yet, in this movie, as in the real life of this family, all went well.

If you are looking for something to do one night, rent this movie. Currently Showtime is showing this movie. Truly, it’s worth the watch.

Feeling Good!

Well folks, I went back to Weight Watchers and after 10 days being strict with myself, I have lost two and a half pounds! Okay, this is great, and the first step. Now I have to follow up again this week and be just as strict and hopefully fall into a routine that will help me to change the way I view food.

I feel very good about these developments. My ultimate goal right now, is to lose 25 pounds by my birthday in November. It’s possible, but I will have to stick to the plan, and increase my exercise.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What summer activity most takes you back to your own childhood?

The cookouts. Our family loved to cook-out or picnic and those make me vividly recall my childhood.

2. What’s your favorite summer smell?

The salty beaches. I could stand by the sea shore all day just smelling the ocean salt!

3. It’s beach season in the US of A…so how do you feel about sand?

Love it, but not under my bathing suit! I love to walk beaches along the shore on warm, wet sand.

4. Sun tea, SunChips, sunflower seeds, Capri Sun, Sunny Delight, Sun-Maid raisins, sun-dried tomatoes…your favorite food or beverage with sun in its name?

Sunflower Seeds I guess, although there are uses for sun-dried tomatoes.

5. What’s your favorite way to cool off on a hot summer day?

A dip in the ocean. This is really funny because I live across the street from a lake. Somehow lakes just don’t do it for me.

6. Share a favorite song with the word sun or sunshine in it’s title.

Here Comes the Sun. First by the Beatles, but I found this clip done by George Harrison at a Charity (I think it was the Concert For The Prince’s Trust in England) show. So many famous, familiar faces. I loved George. He was the mostly quiet, Beatle, who wrote tender love songs.

7. Tell us about a time you had an exceedingly good or truly awful customer service experience. If it was awful, did you report it? Ever go back there again?

Back in 1989 I lived in West Berlin. I have to say almost all my experiences were good ones, but one day after a French Press coffee pot broke (It was glass and just snapped shattering and scalding me) I took all the pieces back and I wanted a new one. The Clerk said too bad. No returns. I stood for a moment, open mouthed, then I said quite loudly, “I want to see your superior!”. Well that did it. The clerk became very nice and in no time I had a new pot!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Oh wow, the big news is that Lili is doing very well in school! She is listening to my words and following my directions. I am so happy I remembered the name of Fritz’s teacher. She is a remarkable woman who really knows how to train dogs!