Time Zones

I've finally figured it out. In retrospect it explains everything. Sophie lives in one time zone and we live in another. Her schedule is totally on Eastern Standard Time. Mine is on Central Standard Time.

It would have been helpful to figure this out months ago, or to at least apply that filter to her adoption profile. She always gets up before I want to, and goes to bed before I do. What else could it be?

She rests when I want to play and plays when I want to rest. I wonder if she's gone through life misunderstood because she should have lived on the East coast? Was she an over achiever as a puppy and her litter mates thought she was a nut case? She probably thinks the rest of us have a few screws loose and she's the sane one.

The challenge is she lives with one dog who must be on Mountain time and one who is on Central time. Poor girl, so many issues to deal with. Maybe she is a Bar Harbour girl at heart forced to live in the flatlands of NE. Life can be so cruel....

Maybe when she goes to her forever home next month I need to tell her she's moving back to her home zone. Maybe I need to remind her new owner how exquisitely adorable she is early in the day when she is at her spunkiest. Followed by how precious she is at night (which technically falls from 8pm-5:30am) when she's sleeping. Maybe I'll just let that one play out on it's own.

She's lovable no matter the time. I just need to learn to be more zonally flexible.

Is This Heaven??

How many times have you said......"ohhhhh, that would be heaven"? Once, twice, twenty times, too many to count? Chocolate is heaven, flowers are, dogs, of course go without saying. Long weekends are heaven. Bonus's, girl friends, bargains, good wine, laughter, kids, spouses, successes beyond our wildest dreams. Heaven is at once both enormous and minute.

If you asked Hank the would tell you his lives in heaven. He is not alone and hurting. He is loved, fed, sleeps in great comfort, purrs with content. He is adored and adores those around him. Sophie would say this is heaven too. She doesn't have to be afraid, she can be herself. Or, she can relax enough to figure out what "her self" really is. Mick would say this is heaven, except for having to share the bed and my affection with Hank and Sophie. Either way he knows there is more than enough love to go around and multiple beds to snooze on.

What if this is our heaven?? Well, our heaven on earth, that is. I have to think it is a personal choice. Maybe you can't find a whole lot of heaven in your life right now. Maybe you can find and honor just one tiny speck of it. One little giggle, one tiny moment of thanksgiving, one gift of the heart. Heaven grows from this.

Shopping....grrrrr

I must have been a man in another life time. I hate shopping. Maybe I was sick during every shopping class life ever offered. Perhaps God didn't assign enough shopping mentors to me. If so, is it too late to ask for a miracle?

My mission is to find window coverings for two rooms in the house. Ughhhhh!! It shouldn't be so hard. Women should know this stuff. I should enjoy the process. May I just say....ummmm, not. I do not, I could not, I did not, I should not. I sound like Dr. Seuss, but sorely lack his creative mentality when it comes to shopping.

Now, you and I both know if I was shopping for a dog, diamonds, or flowers for the yard I would be embracing the opportunity. Frankly, I think the dogs could do a better job shopping for home accessories. Maybe I'll just send them in and see what they drag back.

Yes, I realize there is professional help available for this problem. Someday, when my money tree is ready for picking I'll go that route. Until then I'll just labor my way through the process and hope I give birth to good choices. It's a painful, but I'll get through it.

Scratched, Dinged and Worn Smooth

I have to admit I love the clean look of new baseboards in a house. Or just plain the look of clean baseboards in any house. I've been looking at the doors and baseboards here and have come to the following conclusion. They have seen a lot of life and felt many paws.

Each mark could tell a story of curiosity, excitement, urgency. There are marks from naughty dogs, nosy dogs, dogs protecting the house from UPS men, garbage men and other passersby. There are scratches that shouldn't be there and appeared when no was was looking. Or when we were looking the other way. The front door is worn from paws of dogs looking out the window. To someone else it would look horrible. To me it looks well loved and worn smooth.

There has been a lot of living here in this house. Of course, the list of things we want to do, and were going to do is longer than the list of what we have done. No big deal. Better the house be full of life, love and dogs than lacking in the commotion those things provide.

Look at your woodwork....and tell me the marks on it aren't inspired.

Eating for a Dog

Not to be confused with eating like a dog. No really, we had the distinct privilege of eating for a dog today. It doesn't get any better than that.

We attended a fund raiser for a family friend. Dustin in his 30's and recently had a major health crisis due to juvenile diabetes. It is a miracle he's still with us. Mobility and vision issues plague him from this crisis. So proceeds from today's dinner go towards getting him a diabetic alert dog. So we did, in fact, eat for a dog. The spaghetti and meatballs were wonderful. The community support and presence of love far exceeded the flavor of the menu!

This was a simple thing we could do for a man with a complicated health issue. I have no doubt that we nourished our body and soul by partaking. Hopefully, we brought him much closer to canine companionship and his alert dog. He has met his dog, and will train with him in earnest. Just as earnestly as we ate for a dog today. We did the dog proud.

Random Thots

If I didn't have dogs, part of me would be missing. Perhaps that is why God leads me to so many dogs - opportunities to be a more me. Me is good.

There is something so comforting about a dog, or dogs (animals), snoozing at your feet. Even when they break wind (thanks Hank) they bring comfort. And truthfully, is there anyone out there who couldn't use a little more comfort?

My daughter has informed me that her next pet will be a tortoise. At least she'll be able to catch it if it gets away from her. Quite unlike the pointers who have given us a run for our money several times.

Sophie wants you to know she's come so far she is bordering on normal. I don't think she'll completely cross over, but she's made so much progress it is amazing. It doesn't seem like we've done much, and yet we've done oodles. Or perhaps we were just the conduit to healing for her. What a blessing to be able to do that. Now, I must also give credit to Hank and Mickey for her transformation. They were/are role models for Sophie. I'm sure that headline would read "Two Dufus Boys Work Miracle".

And lastly, thank God for daylight savings time. For the extra light, the warmer weather, the dogs playing in the yard. Light, warmth, play - it's all good. Ahhhhh...

Pink Paisley

Awwww, that title just evokes thoughts of cute little girls, soft hair...errr, fur. Freckles, innocence, femininity. Ya, you just keep dreaming that dream.

Truth is, a certain foster dog will be pooping pink paisley flannel today. So much for cute and innocent. So much for my favorite flannel nightgown. Hello to my new favorite flannel dust rag. Thank you Sophie....you little nocturnal bitch.

For every mental scolding I've given her, and will give her every time I use my new favorite flannel rag, I'm giving myself one too. I know her, and I know better. But I couldn't release myself from the warm cozy covers, the magnetism of the comfy bed, the lure of the sand man. In my defense I barked out a few "go lay downs". Although the words may have been slurred and groggy. Perhaps she thought I said go get a cozy flannel blanket that smells just like Mommy, take a few chunks out of it and then lay down. Yep, I'm sure that's what she heard. That's exactly what she did.

It's Good to be King

Being King, I can only imagine, does have its perks. It's probably a pain in the patoot sometimes, but even little guys have to deal with that too. I have to laugh at Mr. Hanky. Obviously he aspires to new heights to survey his kingdom.

He is one of those dogs who enjoys his yard. He will settle there in the sun and absorb all that goes on around him. I have to admire this ability. He is not frantic, not running hither and yon. Maybe Sophie exhausts him I don't know. But, he is at peace and observant. Wow...I wish all of us more moments like this. Heck, let's string a bunch of them together and watch those stress levels drop!

Yesterday I was out tossing toys for the dogs. First for Sophie although she has no concept of retrieving and releasing. Yes, I know these are pointers we are talking about. Still I dig it when she plays uninhibited and forgets to be a scardy cat. Hank, however, has a very sweet retrieve and release. He also has a new card up his sleeve.

He decided to play keep away from Sophie. Sometimes possession is not enough. Hank added the element of elevation by taking the toy and climbing up on the air conditioning unit. This time of year, while the unit is covered, it works. During the summer when the unit kicks on I'm certain Mr. Hanky will be in for a rude awakening.

I have to laugh at this silly pointer boy, and admire his ingenuity. I'm certain I heard him saying na-na-na-boo-boo. I'm the King, I'm higher than you! You make a good King Hanky, and I'm honored to be your servant.

Adoption Pending

Our little Sophie has an adoption pending. Did you ever think we'd see the day? In all honesty, after a foster has been with us for a year (or more) I begin to wonder if they were meant to be a permanent resident. And yet, we always knew she would be moving on.

Now, a part of me worries I will jinx it by sharing this news. But another part of me is presenting due diligence to Sophie. Big changes - good changes - are coming your way. It will be okay, I promise. Her potential adopter knows she's a bit of a nutcase and loves her anyway. Alright, alright, she knows she's a total nutcase sometimes, but finds it adorable. They have great plans for the future, broken off into little tiny baby steps.

The nice thing is we have a couple more months with her, and will have visiting privileges. During this time I plan a subliminal message campaign with Sophie to prepare her for her new adventure. It will go something like this...."You have a wonderful new adventure coming your way....Moving is Fun.....Change is Good.....Think of it this way - you have a new person to train!.....She is a softy and you'll wrap her around your paw in no time......It's really all about you Sophie!

Big changes coming for a little pocket pointer. Almost as big as the changes we've seen in her.

If Wishes Were Doggies Then Tails Would Wag

I caught myself wishing something for Sophie tonight. Well, maybe I was wishing it for me, but I think it was for her. I was wishing we had a revolving door for her. Yup, I'm pretty sure I've let her out about 10 times in the last 2 hours. She wants to go out (and in) because she's been home all day, about as much as I want to sit because I've been at work all day. Naturally she gets out, realizes how blasted cold and windy it is and decides to come back in. That is where the revolving door would be a blessing. Or a doggy door, but I think she'd be adorable trotting around a revolving one.

Now, ever since she arrived she's been revolving and evolving. Over the year I've wished for many things for her. For her to pee (that was days 1 & 2 with her). For her to pee outside without being startled by any little noise or gust of wind. For her to eat treats, to be touched, to take food from the Scarey Man. I'm still wishing she wouldn't take giant craps when we go anywhere in public. Hope springs as eternally as her nervous mega-poo's do. I've wished she'd learn the comforts of laying on the bed in the sun - and she has! Hank wishes she would quit barking at him until he gives up the toy he was playing with. And, Mick wishes she would just be a slug like he is. Not bloody likely that.

It seems our lives are filled with wishes. Sometimes we say we wish our life away, or to be careful what we wish for. I say I wish I could give the dogs 1/2 the love they give me. And if I have to open the door to let the love in or out, then so be it.

Mommy Growls

I have to say that Sophie is the first dog we've ever fostered that did not adjust to day light savings time. When we fell back an hour in the Fall, she did too. I can't tell you how excited I am to know that in a couple weeks we Spring forward. Hopefully I'll at least think I'm getting to sleep an extra hour. 5am is for the birds, and of course, a silly pointer named Sophie.

As I tried to steal a wee bit more sleep this morning, I noticed something. I had raced back to bed, followed in suit by Hank and Mick. Every one did the equivalent of circling three times and settling. Then in came Sophie. I will say her launch on to the bed is as light as a butterfly. But then she has no qualms about barging right in. Mick will usually rumble a little and make his way to the spare bedroom. Hank will grumble louder and hold his ground. They discovered today that Mommy has the loudest growl of all when she says "go lay down"!!

I growled, and they responded. Even Sophie parked her butt and laid down. It was impressive. Of course, it only lasted about 5 minutes...but hey, it is a start. This is a girl who only used to know hide in the crate, hide under the desk, watch out for Scary Man. Now she sleeps in the sun and doesn't care if anyone is looking. She lays on the bed with the one who growls loudest. And, seriously, I'd celebrate this achievement if I could just have another hour of sleep.