Every day, before leaving for work, mom examines the counters and decides whether anything is too much of a temptation for Eva and I throughout the day. As such, she makes sure that Dad's chocolate cake is shut in the microwave. Those bagels on the counter? They get stashed in the oven. And the bananas? Oh, I love bananas! They get put on top of the top cupboards next to the potted plants.

But today mom left out her basket of kale. She probably thought "It's kale. Who's going to mess with it?"

Guess who??? LOL! But I didn't really like it and Eva was all "Chlorophyll? More like bore-ophyll" (because she watches too many Adam Sandler movies) and so we just decided to scatter it festively all over the house.

Mom loves nature and green things so I think she appreciated our decorating efforts.

I haven't posted much as of late and it isn't that I do not want to do so. Sometimes it just seems cumbersome. The August light is waning and I am facing another winter. Do you know I will be seven come December? Seven!!! Where do the years go?

It is like I met my mother and was sucked into a black hole by aliens. I know I've been happy. I know that life has been good. Still, I look back on a multitude of fosters and flowrers and vegetables and years and I think, "so long but so short". Still, so long? 

My mom adopted me when I was about nine months old. She knew I was the one. She knew from the first glance at my petfinder.com posting. Then we met. We met and it was to be! We've been so happy and we will continue to be happy as long as we are allowed. 

Life is funny. I could live beyond the allotted time of a big dog or be taken tomorrow. Mom could be 108 one day, touting a kale smoothie each morining as the key to longevity, or she could be taken on the way to work by a careless driver.

Not to be a downer. Just... cherish, won't you? Cherish and love and appreciate. So that you won't regret. You can sorrow but that is not the same thing. Don't regret.

I mean eventually. Eventually, Winter will be here. So Eva is taking the opportunity to soak up the sun. Oh, she's loving that vitamin D. That nutrient of positivity! Just remember, dogs can get sunburn and even melanoma cancers! It seems to be reported more regularly in light haired breeds. Don't let your pet sun too long. Just like you, a little is good but there can be overmuch, too!

The sun did shine and it was too hot to play so we stayed in the house on that humid, hot day. I sat there with Eva. We sat there, we two and I said "How I wish there was something to do!"

Then we remembered that we have a foster baby. Michonne is doing great! She had been very sick but now she seems mostly in recovery. She is a little delayed as far as motor skills but we think she is coming along. At about 10 weeks old she is late in learning to navigate stairs. She is at the 7 - 8 week old point of sitting on the landing and watching any of us well-schooled stair navigators come and go.

Michonne got to hang out with some of our cousins from North Carolina. A nice group they are! She spent a lot of time with cousin Kerry who seems to have a knack for making friends with cats. Dogs, too, since I think he's pretty groovy.

Michonne will soon be on the fast track to health. As soon as the vet gives us the A-OK she will get to be vaccinated and spayed. As soon as all of that is done she can find a new home. 

She's the best baby. She makes uncomfortable days in to happy days. We'll be sad when she goes even though she'll need her own space and we'll need space for new babies who need to grow.

My newest foster sister is named Michonne. She is an ityy bitty kitty with numerous bald spots. Those bald spots are due to ringworm. As you can see, she trys to snuggle up to me. And I don't wanna. Sorry but she looks a little gross.

Mom got ring worm, Eva got ring worm and even Gabriel got ringworm. I thought I was safe. 

Nope. Mom found an itchy spot today. So we ALL get baths. I had better get hot dogs. That is my bathtime requirement.

I do like Michonne, though. She has the most bouyant, trilling and loud purr that I have ever heard. She loves cuddles. I am happy that she is here.

Mom has long felt like she's fighting a losing battle to Gabriel, the furry little bastard that urinates on everything soft.

Mom and Dad were so happy to finally cast away the family hand-me-down furniture and invest in a brand new sectional sofa. It didn't take long for Gabriel to discover how soft and absorbent it is.
Gabriel actually had left it alone for well over a year. When the couch had to be moved to replace the floors it was pressed into odd configurations that offered Gabe a measure of privacy of which he took willful advantage. Luckily, Mom found that the couch cleans up well if enough time is taken. Oh, and if she uses enough enzyme cleaner. (Really, she should buy stock in the company that makes Nature's Miracle.)

The problem  is how does one keep up with the constant messes? They tried putting carpet runners on the couch, spiney side up, but I discovered I could just knock them off to have a lie-about. I couldn't figure out how to put them back on when my nap was over. Mom turned to the inernet (ah, that glowing resource of infinite knowledge!) and guess what she found out? That's right, cats are jerks. Seriously, lots of cats urinate on couches! (Some dogs, too, oddly enough.) During Mom's research she found that many people swore by these mylar blankets that crinkle and crumble unpleasantly when touched. She doesn't mind that it looks like a UFO crashed in the living room. She just wants to save her sanity... and the couch, too.

No one has been on the couch in almost two whole weeks now. Mom is going to initiate what she calls "Stage 2 of the Assault on Stench" this weekend which should have the couch looking and smelling like new again... except where Eva chewed those holes in the back cushion. 

Last night I had a horrible nightmare.

I was back at a shelter. There were other dogs and it was loud with their crying. People walked back and forth but no one looked at us... no kind glance or gentle smile. They didn't feed us. I felt so hungry.

Then it became dark. I was still in the shelter but no lights ever came on. The shelter grew quiet... no more barks or whines were reverberating off of the cold concrete floors and unforgiving steel kenneling. The shadows of people seemed to glide by in the darkness but there were no footsteps. The silence was deafening. There I remained cold, hungry and in the blackness... alone.

In my sleep I began crying loud enough to wake both Mom and Dad. They sat up in bed and touched me. Mom cradled my head and woke me with gentle caresses while Dad tuggged my tail in his funny-joke way to tell me that I was okay. It was just a dream. I am at home where I will always and forever be.

When I first was adopted I had nightmares all of the time. Sometimes I would wake the house several times a night in my dream panic. There are some people who say that animals can't think or can't reason. Some people think that we only have rudimentary emotions but it isn't true. I can tell you for a fact that things hurt us and scare us. Even with the best homes and the greatest rehabilitiation these things stay with us. We remember. We know the darkness from whence we came. 

If you adopt a pet with an uncertain back ground or one that you know contained cruelty please be gentle. Be patient. We heal but we can still be affected years later.

As for me, I was able to get back to sleep. I made sure that I rested my head on Mom's feet and draped my tail over Dad's legs. With them I am safe from everything. Even the darkness.

I wanted to write one of my awesome posts but mom say it is HER turn. She said I need to share a poem that SHE wrote (psssht, yeah, like she can write!) so that everyone would know what they could be getting into adopting a dog.

Ode to Jerk Dog

The paper towel is shredded
While I'm away at work
I know at once who did it
Because my dog's a jerk

Though his loyalty
Should be something of a perk
I'd trade it in a minute
Because my dog's a jerk

The couch cushions are shredded
And strange dustbunnies lurk
I'd better start the Hoover
Because my dog's a jerk

He's got a wagging tail
And his face in is a smirk
I guess that I will keep him
I really love this jerk

I'd like to go on record to say I AM NOT a jerk. I'm an artist. I'm an entrepreneur! She doesn't understand my genius!

But I do like the last line of her poem. Mom's still alright with me.

I am standing on my soapbox to bring you an important message!!! 

Springtime is almost here which means many exciting things! We will have flowers and new gardens full of promise of summer fruit; we will have birds nesting and singing; we will have chilled refreshing mornings followed by warm, snoozy evenings.

Springtime also brings the Easter Bunny. You know, I love that guy. He leaves Eva and I a basket full of new toys, jerky treats and jelly beans. But sometimes human parents want to augment the Easter Bunny's largess and decide to add a life to the basket. 

I know, it is odd to play with a little soul, but people do! Chicks, ducklings and baby bunnies are so adorable that they are almost irresistable. So much so that I think people forget that, after a child's excitement of finding a basket filled with goodies and a new pet, the pet will need care! And the care is no joke, my friend. Bunnies, chickens and ducks can all live to ten years or more! They need to be provided with species appropriate environments, feed, care (including veterinary) and plenty of enrichment in the form of human interaction as well as natural enrichment. It is a lot to think about! The unfortunate statistic is that due to lack of proper care most of these little gifts die before attaining their first year.

I'd like to ask anyone who has thought of buying one of these "basket-filler" pets to think long and hard before doing so. If you can commit yourself to them for years then perhaps you are ready. If you honestly cannot see yourself going to great lengths to provide for the chosen animal's needs then please do not obtain one. Your child will be just as happy with a chocolate rabbit. Or maybe and iPod. I don't know, I'm just a dog.

And remember to check rescues if you decide you really do want the pet!!!

Not anymore!!!!

Here's a riddle for you. What do you get when you leave a big, white dog with access to a dirty litter box? A whole day full of fun, that's what.

When Mom came home she knew something was wrong. Dad had sequestered himself in the bedroom. He clawed at the closed window, a cloth over his nose and mouth, and mom knew that inside she would be faced with...

Well, it was a river because the house slopes. And because I drank the entire gallon bowl of water. And as much water was in the toilet. I tried to turn on the bath faucets but only got a trickle. Also because I ate not only the leavings in the litter box but also a lot of the litter. It is made of corn. And it is YUMMY.

Remember that post about the bamboo flors? They are still hard to stand on. But, guess what??? They don't soak and stink! You can clean them right up with a little multi-surface cleaner and a paper towel.

I've learned my lesson for today. Don't raid the litter box and drink all of the water... unless the 'rents are home to let me out when I feel pukey!