Bailey completed her first 5k on May 10th.
It has been months since I really ran any distance so this was a challenge for both of us. We ran and walked off and on throughout and we probably ended up running about half the time...
The funniest part was about a half mile before the finish line and Bailey decided she was done. She stopped to poop and then I thought she was looking for a place to potty when she just laid down... She got up again pretty easily and finished okay but we were both pretty tired.
After the run, they had contests for Best Trick, Best Kisser, Biggest/Smallest Dog, Best Costume, and Owner/Dog Look-a-Like. I was so proud... Bailey won the Best Kisser contest!!! She got this huge prize pack with treats and a nice bowl and a gift certificate for an embroidered collar and leash.
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On the 18th, we went to another event where they had agility clinics, microchipping, and other dog related activities. We did the agility clinic but Bailey wanted to lay down in the tunnel instead of running through it.
After we played in the make-shift off-leash dog park area for a while, I took Bailey to see what all was involved in earning the AKC Canine Good Citizen award. Again, my blogging skills are lacking so you'll have to Google it to see what it's really all about. Basically, it's the first step to becoming a therapy dog, but you don't have to take it that far. And you know what? My little over achiever passed the test and earned her CGC on the first try! She is just 6 months old...
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My husband insisted a couple weeks ago that Bailey wouldn't break 60 pounds. I told him he was nuts... she was not yet 6 months old and she was 54 lbs already.
She weighed in at 58.8 lbs on the 18th at 6 months-1 week. My guess is that she will be around 75 lbs when she's done growing.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Friday, May 9, 2008
When It Rains It Pours Part Two
To catch you up:
My job is being contrated out so I am losing my job and waiting to hear if the new folks are going to hire me to do the job I am currently doing or not.
Frig/freezer and stove die on the same day.
Car is hit in a parking lot after purchsing a mini-frig to tide us over.
Update:
Still waiting to hear about the job.
Frig/freezer came back on. I still won't use it for anything other than a pantry until we can get someone to come look at it. However, half the places I tried said that since it is currently working, they could only guess what was wrong. They suggested I wait til it dies again, then call them. Wonderful... it could be months.
Girl that hit me in the parking lot? No current insurance coverage. And I only have her name and (incorrect)insurance contact info. I have her license plate, too, but since it happend on private property, the local police will not pursue her. They said it was my insurance company's job to track her down. Which means my insurance will go up...
I am on a roll:
I got a flat tire yesterday. Sucks, but no big deal... just had to change it. Except that the spare tire was also flat. I just drove it to the nearest gas station and aired it up there...
We had our neighborhood garage sale last weekend and when it was over, we donated what was left to a local charity who provides our neighborhood with a drop-off spot each year. After we loaded our 7 trash bags full of clothes, a couch, a queen-sized head board, a shelving unit, and 2 boxes of other stuff, they refused to give us a receipt.
Signs of the light ahead:
After 5 days and multiple phone calls to the local charity and our neighborhood association, the charity finally agreed to give us a receipt after my husband threatened to go to their wearhouse and go through all 20+ trucks, one by one, to find our stuff so we could take it to someplace who would issue us a receipt.
In spite of all this, I am still smiling. When the spare tire was flat, I just laughed... because what else could I do?
I have decided God is defeinately testing me. I just wish I knew what it was that I had to do to pass.
My job is being contrated out so I am losing my job and waiting to hear if the new folks are going to hire me to do the job I am currently doing or not.
Frig/freezer and stove die on the same day.
Car is hit in a parking lot after purchsing a mini-frig to tide us over.
Update:
Still waiting to hear about the job.
Frig/freezer came back on. I still won't use it for anything other than a pantry until we can get someone to come look at it. However, half the places I tried said that since it is currently working, they could only guess what was wrong. They suggested I wait til it dies again, then call them. Wonderful... it could be months.
Girl that hit me in the parking lot? No current insurance coverage. And I only have her name and (incorrect)insurance contact info. I have her license plate, too, but since it happend on private property, the local police will not pursue her. They said it was my insurance company's job to track her down. Which means my insurance will go up...
I am on a roll:
I got a flat tire yesterday. Sucks, but no big deal... just had to change it. Except that the spare tire was also flat. I just drove it to the nearest gas station and aired it up there...
We had our neighborhood garage sale last weekend and when it was over, we donated what was left to a local charity who provides our neighborhood with a drop-off spot each year. After we loaded our 7 trash bags full of clothes, a couch, a queen-sized head board, a shelving unit, and 2 boxes of other stuff, they refused to give us a receipt.
Signs of the light ahead:
After 5 days and multiple phone calls to the local charity and our neighborhood association, the charity finally agreed to give us a receipt after my husband threatened to go to their wearhouse and go through all 20+ trucks, one by one, to find our stuff so we could take it to someplace who would issue us a receipt.
In spite of all this, I am still smiling. When the spare tire was flat, I just laughed... because what else could I do?
I have decided God is defeinately testing me. I just wish I knew what it was that I had to do to pass.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
"Night Of The Twisters"
Do any of you remember that book from childhood? I think I read it 3 times.
Anyway, we had some severe weather come through a few days ago. I was watching TV and all my fave shows were broken into because of all the tornadoes and severe t-storms that were making their way through our area.
Most everything was way north of us but I told one of my neighbors that if the sirens went off, I was coming over. We don't have a basement and the closet that had been designated the "tornado closet" the day we moved into the house was now full of items for the care of my husband's 450 gallon fish tank, including a smaller "frag" tank.
So about 9:30 I was laying in bed watching the reports and the storm was looking like it might clip our little community. All of a sudden, the TV screen went blue (like the "blue screen of death" that you get on computers) and a voice came over the air that said "This is the (local) fire department. Please take cover immediately." So I jumped up and threw on some slippers and headed toward the door. By the time I grabbed Bailey's leash, my neighbor was banging on my door. The sirens were going off as we walked out the door.
I sent my husband a text message to let him know where I was since he was at work. I got a text from a girlfriend who lives 45 minutes southwest of us saying "Tornado heading your way!" My neighbors still had power so we kept watching the weather reports for about 3o minutes. Then all of a sudden everything was over. The sirens went off, the weather people were like "its over, see you later" and the regular programming resumed. So Bailey and I went home.
With a fish tank as large as ours, there is a lot of background noise in our house. Since I knew we were in for some more severe stuff later that night, I left my bedroom window open so I could hear the sirens if they went off again. Our house is semi-subterranean so my husband told me to take shelter in the bathroom that is mostly under ground if we had anymore warnings. I left the TV on in the bedroom and Bailey and I went to sleep.
About 2am, I awoke to a soft growl from Bailey. I wasn't sure what she was growling at until I realized the window was still open and the roar coming from outside was just like the "freight train" I hear folks describe after they have been through a tornado. I pulled Bailey up next to me and covered us with the blankets. There was no way I was gonna walk through our living room with the large glass fish tank if there was a tornado about to hit. The TV folks were not reporting any rotation at the time but they said they had reports of 70-80 mph straight line winds.
I laid there with my dog and waited for the storm to pass. There was lightening and thunder and rain that went sideways, but no sirens or actual tornado warnings. But the sound of that roaring, steady-state wind will be with me for a long time.
Here are some pics of the damage 4 blocks from the home of a co-worker:
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52.1 lbs on 5/4
Anyway, we had some severe weather come through a few days ago. I was watching TV and all my fave shows were broken into because of all the tornadoes and severe t-storms that were making their way through our area.
Most everything was way north of us but I told one of my neighbors that if the sirens went off, I was coming over. We don't have a basement and the closet that had been designated the "tornado closet" the day we moved into the house was now full of items for the care of my husband's 450 gallon fish tank, including a smaller "frag" tank.
So about 9:30 I was laying in bed watching the reports and the storm was looking like it might clip our little community. All of a sudden, the TV screen went blue (like the "blue screen of death" that you get on computers) and a voice came over the air that said "This is the (local) fire department. Please take cover immediately." So I jumped up and threw on some slippers and headed toward the door. By the time I grabbed Bailey's leash, my neighbor was banging on my door. The sirens were going off as we walked out the door.
I sent my husband a text message to let him know where I was since he was at work. I got a text from a girlfriend who lives 45 minutes southwest of us saying "Tornado heading your way!" My neighbors still had power so we kept watching the weather reports for about 3o minutes. Then all of a sudden everything was over. The sirens went off, the weather people were like "its over, see you later" and the regular programming resumed. So Bailey and I went home.
With a fish tank as large as ours, there is a lot of background noise in our house. Since I knew we were in for some more severe stuff later that night, I left my bedroom window open so I could hear the sirens if they went off again. Our house is semi-subterranean so my husband told me to take shelter in the bathroom that is mostly under ground if we had anymore warnings. I left the TV on in the bedroom and Bailey and I went to sleep.
About 2am, I awoke to a soft growl from Bailey. I wasn't sure what she was growling at until I realized the window was still open and the roar coming from outside was just like the "freight train" I hear folks describe after they have been through a tornado. I pulled Bailey up next to me and covered us with the blankets. There was no way I was gonna walk through our living room with the large glass fish tank if there was a tornado about to hit. The TV folks were not reporting any rotation at the time but they said they had reports of 70-80 mph straight line winds.
I laid there with my dog and waited for the storm to pass. There was lightening and thunder and rain that went sideways, but no sirens or actual tornado warnings. But the sound of that roaring, steady-state wind will be with me for a long time.
Here are some pics of the damage 4 blocks from the home of a co-worker:
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52.1 lbs on 5/4
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Cabin Fever
Things Bailey has eaten in the past 30 days:
3 pairs of Victoria's Secret underwear
$45 in cash
1 state ID card
1 credit card
1 TV remote
4 tennis balls
1 "tuff" toy
1 dog bed pillow
1 dog bed pillow case
1 set of directions for Amish Friendship Bread
When I say "eaten" I don't necessarily mean ingested. I just mean that they were broken, destroyed, and/or shredded beyond recognition.
In spite of my cycling her toys, I can only guess that she is just bored and needs some quality time at the dog park, which, due to rainy weather and recovery from her surgery, we have not been to since the 2nd week of April.
Don't get me wrong, we have played outside with her ball and Frisbee almost daily. But it just isn't enough for a growing, large-breed puppy.
Coupled with the fact that it's difficult to supervise her when we are asleep, we are just asking for trouble. And with her being in the kennel all day while we are at work, it's hard to put her in there at night.
We have an appointment with the vet tomorrow afternoon. I plan to beg to be released for some dog-park play.
3 pairs of Victoria's Secret underwear
$45 in cash
1 state ID card
1 credit card
1 TV remote
4 tennis balls
1 "tuff" toy
1 dog bed pillow
1 dog bed pillow case
1 set of directions for Amish Friendship Bread
When I say "eaten" I don't necessarily mean ingested. I just mean that they were broken, destroyed, and/or shredded beyond recognition.
In spite of my cycling her toys, I can only guess that she is just bored and needs some quality time at the dog park, which, due to rainy weather and recovery from her surgery, we have not been to since the 2nd week of April.
Don't get me wrong, we have played outside with her ball and Frisbee almost daily. But it just isn't enough for a growing, large-breed puppy.
Coupled with the fact that it's difficult to supervise her when we are asleep, we are just asking for trouble. And with her being in the kennel all day while we are at work, it's hard to put her in there at night.
We have an appointment with the vet tomorrow afternoon. I plan to beg to be released for some dog-park play.
Monday, April 28, 2008
When It Rains It Pours
So the hospital has decided to contract out my job. The company is going to take over all three hospitals I am currently responsible for. This new company is in need of someone to do the job I am currently doing. So on 4/24, I interviewed for my job. How sick and twisted is that? Now I have to wait to see if they will hire me or go with someone completely new. I should know by 5/15 what they decide to do.
Meanwhile, I am trying to keep myself busy. I am not domestic in any way, but I planned to make browines for a neighborhood gathering on 4/25. But when I pulled them out of the oven, they were still batter... my oven no longer works. So I run to the frig to see what else I could throw together to take to the gathering. When I opened the frig, it was warm inside... so was the freezer. So 2 of my major appliances just decided to die on me on the same day. And no, there was not a power surge or anything... it's just my luck.
So I went pricing on the 26th... HOLY STICKER SHOCK, BATMAN!!!! Here I was thinking I was gonna have to spend around $1500 to $2000 to replace both and it turns out that's about what the frig/freezer is by itself...
So on the 27th I went to purchase a dorm sized frig to put under our bar (which we had already planned to do anyway) so I could at least keep milk in the house until we purchased the new frig. While I was trying to exit the parking lot, another patron backed into me while pulling out of their parking spot... The dent popped out on it's own but the paint is totally cracked and chipping all along the bumper now.
I am tired. I need a vacation away from work and social obligations. I need a day at a spa or on a beach... but I can't afford any of those because I might lose my job and I need a new frig/freezer and stove.
If this is a test from God, I sure hope I pass.
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Bailey was 51.5 lbs on 4/27.
Meanwhile, I am trying to keep myself busy. I am not domestic in any way, but I planned to make browines for a neighborhood gathering on 4/25. But when I pulled them out of the oven, they were still batter... my oven no longer works. So I run to the frig to see what else I could throw together to take to the gathering. When I opened the frig, it was warm inside... so was the freezer. So 2 of my major appliances just decided to die on me on the same day. And no, there was not a power surge or anything... it's just my luck.
So I went pricing on the 26th... HOLY STICKER SHOCK, BATMAN!!!! Here I was thinking I was gonna have to spend around $1500 to $2000 to replace both and it turns out that's about what the frig/freezer is by itself...
So on the 27th I went to purchase a dorm sized frig to put under our bar (which we had already planned to do anyway) so I could at least keep milk in the house until we purchased the new frig. While I was trying to exit the parking lot, another patron backed into me while pulling out of their parking spot... The dent popped out on it's own but the paint is totally cracked and chipping all along the bumper now.
I am tired. I need a vacation away from work and social obligations. I need a day at a spa or on a beach... but I can't afford any of those because I might lose my job and I need a new frig/freezer and stove.
If this is a test from God, I sure hope I pass.
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Bailey was 51.5 lbs on 4/27.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Complications
Bailey was spayed on 4/17/2008. I picked her up the afternoon of the 18th. They told me to keep her as calm as possible (have any of these people ever owned a puppy?) and to call if I noticed any swelling or redness. She wasn't phased a bit... she still wanted to play and jump and we did our best to distract her to more sedintary activities.
But by the evening of the 19th, she had some minor brusing and some swelling. She was still acting fine, though, so we just kept an eye on her. I took her for a walk the morning of the 20th and we ran into a neighboor who is pretty dog-knowledgeable. She said she thought the swelling was a bit more than it should be and suggested I call our vet... it was Sunday so I called the ER vet and asked them what the charge would be to just look at her. Since it could be considered a "complication of surgery" there would be no charge even if the DVM had to examine her.
So we went in and the DVM felt her belly and said everything was still where it was supposed to be. There was, however, a build up of fluid, which is sometimes just a normal part of the healing process. But since fluid that just sits there can be a nice environment to foster infection, he wanted to put her on a profolactic antibiotic. I, being in the ear business and knowing doctors do the same for children with fluid in their ears, agreed that it was a good idea. They sent us on our way with a bottle of meds and said to call if the swelling got worse or if the area became more discolored.
My husband had been gone since the evening of the 19th so when he called the evening of the 20th on his way home, he was quite upset that I had taken her to the ER vet. He told me it didn't make sense that we weren't charged for the exam and that Bailey should be take to our vet sometime this week so they could look at her. Even after I explaimed that the 2 vets were linked, he still wasn't comfortable. So I called our vet this morning and they told me the same thing the ER vet did: try to keep her calm, give her the meds til they were gone, and let them know if there were any changes... and they did not need to see her since the ER vet just had.
So we wait and try to keep her from jumping onto and off of the bed and away from other dogs so she doesn't play too rough. I can't even imagine what my husband will be like when we have kids :-)
She weighed 49.1 on 4/20.
But by the evening of the 19th, she had some minor brusing and some swelling. She was still acting fine, though, so we just kept an eye on her. I took her for a walk the morning of the 20th and we ran into a neighboor who is pretty dog-knowledgeable. She said she thought the swelling was a bit more than it should be and suggested I call our vet... it was Sunday so I called the ER vet and asked them what the charge would be to just look at her. Since it could be considered a "complication of surgery" there would be no charge even if the DVM had to examine her.
So we went in and the DVM felt her belly and said everything was still where it was supposed to be. There was, however, a build up of fluid, which is sometimes just a normal part of the healing process. But since fluid that just sits there can be a nice environment to foster infection, he wanted to put her on a profolactic antibiotic. I, being in the ear business and knowing doctors do the same for children with fluid in their ears, agreed that it was a good idea. They sent us on our way with a bottle of meds and said to call if the swelling got worse or if the area became more discolored.
My husband had been gone since the evening of the 19th so when he called the evening of the 20th on his way home, he was quite upset that I had taken her to the ER vet. He told me it didn't make sense that we weren't charged for the exam and that Bailey should be take to our vet sometime this week so they could look at her. Even after I explaimed that the 2 vets were linked, he still wasn't comfortable. So I called our vet this morning and they told me the same thing the ER vet did: try to keep her calm, give her the meds til they were gone, and let them know if there were any changes... and they did not need to see her since the ER vet just had.
So we wait and try to keep her from jumping onto and off of the bed and away from other dogs so she doesn't play too rough. I can't even imagine what my husband will be like when we have kids :-)
She weighed 49.1 on 4/20.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Never Fear...Super Girl Is Here!!!
Friday afternoon when I got home from work, my husband opened the front door to let Bailey out to greet me in the driveway. I, being the rocket scientist that I am, thought it would be fun to run up the driveway and get her to chase me (I know you aren't supposed to teach them to chase you but it had been so cold and rainy lately that she hasn't had a whole lot of time to really run outside). So I turn and take off running full speed up the driveway. I was watching where I was running, not where Bailey was running so I didn't see her when she abruptly changed directions and ran right in front of my feet... I flew through the air and landed head first in the grass. As I mentioned before, it had been pretty rainy lately so luckily the ground was pretty soft. I wish I could have seen it... I bet if I had been wearing a cape I would have looked just like Superman. I rolled onto my back and laughed (because what else can you do when you fall like that) and Bailey came running back and licked my face and tried to get me to wrestle with her... I finally got up, and with the exception of a headache and some grass stains on my knees, I was unscathed... although, the sore muscles came later that night and stayed for the rest of the weekend...
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Bailey weighed 48.4 lbs at the vet on Friday April 11th. She can now jump onto the bed (thank God because she was too heavy to lift anymore) and her collar will need to be replaced soon... We already replaced her harness last week. She's getting spayed on the 17th... my little girl is growing up...
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Bailey weighed 48.4 lbs at the vet on Friday April 11th. She can now jump onto the bed (thank God because she was too heavy to lift anymore) and her collar will need to be replaced soon... We already replaced her harness last week. She's getting spayed on the 17th... my little girl is growing up...
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