House and Home

This is going to sound funny, but I have some things to say to my house and home. First of all house - I love you. You have been very, very good to me. I love your rooms and halls, the fireplace, the garden, the laughter.

The new carpet and windows are the best, and paint, oh you look so pretty. You have been safe day in and out, and crazy too thanks to my kids and the multitude of paws that have run through here.

If you could tell stories you'd have some whoppers!! Nope, I'm not going to go into details! You got me through the early times of my divorce and the last years my kids lived at home. I know my one son wasn't impressed with you. He said you weren't a good party house. But, I beg to differ! You went through my empty nest days and into my newlywed days.

You've seen our struggles and our successes. If houses could cry I'm sure mine would have. If houses could laughed mine would have wet itself. If houses could roll eyes it would have each time a new dog came to reside here. If houses could self-clean like ovens I'd adore it even more!

And I know too, that there are house that are simply houses and houses that are homes. The difference being the investment of self into it. Just like the Beatles said, "And in the end
The love you take
Is equal to the love you make.

House, I shall miss you. Home, I won't leave you behind.

Lucky Dog, Lucky Patients, Lucky Me

I've been doing pet therapy visits with my dogs from many years now. First Abby, then Kobe, then Mick and sometimes Mr. Hanky. We've been regulars at the hospital on Tuesday afternoons. Next week will likely be our last visit at that facility.

It is probably the most selfless house of my week. Selfless, touching, amusing, heartbreaking, heartwarming and humorous. I've been asked a zillion things about my dogs and have pretty much taken it all in stride. Is that a Dalmatian? Oh, is that coon hound? Is that a greyhound? Is that a springer? Is that German shorthair? Is that great dane? Is that a dalmatian (we get this one a lot).

It tickles me pink when someone pops up with "now that's an English Pointer". I pretty much want to hug those people immediately! Today I had a patient give Mick the ultimate compliment. Yup, this guy rubbed him all over, said he wasn't a fatty, and that he had the teeth of a 6 yr old. Yes!!! Made my day!! I was happy the teeth passed muster. But truthfully, what a lovely compliment. Of course then the guy asked how much I wanted for him. I told him he couldn't afford him. He said, no really, how much would I sell him for. I told him I wouldn't sell him for love or all the money in the world. I think he was kidding, but I wasn't taken any chances.

Hell no I wouldn't sell a dog in top condition and with lovely teeth. One of us has to look this way, it might just as well be Mickey.

Gordon and Nancy's Excellent Adventure

So perhaps I've been dragging my feet some on this excellent adventure business. Most of you know it's been a big year, new jobs, marriage, moving, trying to sell a house. Lots of stressful challenges for us. It's time for me to embrace change, ask for help, and trust in an unknown outcome.

From here on out it's been renamed. G&N's Excellent Adventure. Positive thinking and all that jazz! It's very much like fostering. You don't know what your going to get, but you have to expect the best.

Our dilemma right now is housing. We need some rental property, or we need to win the lottery. Or we need a cash buyer for my house. It could happen! So I'm going to network right here and now. Do you know anyone in the Grand Island, NE area with rental property that accepts medium sized dogs?? If I dissected them into 10lb doggies we might be okay. I wouldn't do that, so Hank and Mick you can put the defibrillator away.

The dogs can provide references. I will even get references that aren't totally biased. I don't think the dogs understand this excellent adventure we are em'bark'ing on. If they did they'd be praying their little tails off.

Now, I hesitate to say it, but I have a plan "B" if we can't find housing that will take the dogs. They can stay temporarily here, with a family member. But I think it might break my heart. Excellent adventures aren't so much fun with a broken heart.

So, if you know anyone in Grand Island, have a business associate, a former business associate, a friend, an old friend, or the desire to buy property in the area and rent it to a lovely professional couple with good dogs. Now is the time. You too can partake in our Excellent Adventure.

MIA

Guess I have been MIA of late. Did you miss me?

Without a foster dog around to keep things lively it's been kind of quiet. Quiet, if you don't take into account a wedding, listing a house, job hunting, having a daughter get married, and a pending move. Ya, it's been so quiet.

Here is where we are. House hasn't sold, but I have employment. Employment is good. I'll start my new job October 10th. So between now and then we need to find housing. Frankly, we need a miracle, a money tree, and a fairy God Mother. Is there an APP for that?

I should be packing things instead blogging. But, what would be the fun in that. I like to think I'm a an easily adaptable kinda gal. I can dream can't I? I like to think I am faith filled. I am, but still I worry. I worry about moving, leaving the kids, making new friends, being homesick, getting lost, being lonely. I'm not afraid to own that I am afraid. Pulling up roots is probably easier when you are younger. Should have done that 30 years ago.

But, and there is always a but, this too shall pass. Just praying it's a semi-smooth ride into our new life together. And, that I'm not a blubbering mess through the whole process. In the meantime somebody please send the link to that APP, I think I might need it.

Happy Feet On the Path of Life

I am sometimes, okay, most times one of the lazy dog owners that just lets her dogs out in the yard to play. I don't walk them. Tsk, tsking myself on that. Walks would do us both good.

So this morning Hank and I did just that. Now Hank and I have done a lot of things together, but recreational walking is not one of them. He wasn't quite sure what to make of it. Wait? We're just going to walk? Huh? Really?? He was uncertain. Cars driving by made him skittish. So walking on leash for any distance must not have been a life experience for him either.

He did very good. It wasn't a mark every post, pole and blade of grass event. Though he did find the one mud puddle and immediately drop to rub his face and shoulder in it. I didn't see that one coming. Then to share his bliss he walked right next to me and rubbed it on my leg. He has such a giving nature.

On the return trip we used the sidewalk to avoid the mud puddle. The netted me $1.56in spare change from someone's pocket. What a windfall that was. To think I might have missed out on that! Thank God for Mr. Hanky.

Without the walk there would be no mud. Without the mud there would be no $1.56. Without Hank, there would be no fullness of love that only his silly self can provide.

It was a walk to remember.

Belly Flops

I love this concept. Jelly Belly's - the Jelly Bean we all know and love is packaging their slightly imperfect jelly beans as Belly Flops.

Whoever thought that up is a genius. I will never buy a bag another bag of perfect beans again. We need to embrace the imperfect. The slightly off shape, the stuck together, the over sized, the undersized, the odd beans of the world. The same goes with people.

Life is full of surprises, why would we want our jelly beans uniform. Now that I've seen the character of the irregulars, they are distinctly more appealing.

Try them, you'll like them.

sign me - celebrating the flops of the world, now pass me the beans please....

Random Thots - September

First of all, September??? Holy Hannah I can't believe it's September. A new page turned on the Pointer Rescue calender. And in all fairness a new page turned on the German Shorthair calendar too.

Hank gave me a look of total disgust today. I had the audacity to ask him to walk away from a bowl that still had kibble in it. It wasn't his bowl. But, in his eyes any unattended bowl of food is his bowl. I thought his head was gonna spin 180 degrees when I told him to leave it. Walk away from the bowl Hank.....what?? what?? what??? No, no, no....that is just wrong! He probably thinks his owner has a screw loose. Would he be wrong?

Another news flash...homes sales suck. Wish I could write the ad this way: Lovely, three bedroom home for sale. Dog friendly yard, full of laughter and good karma. New furnace (okay after next week that will be true), home warranty package, new carpet, some new windows. Nose prints at no extra charge. Owner serves cookies at open houses, eager to sell.

Along that same line, I'd like to encourage St. Joseph to get to work on bringing me a buyer. Hellloooo Joe - are you sleeping?? No disrespect meant, but St. Joe - you have some pretty high up contacts could you work a miracle for me?? I'll be sure the dogs don't pee where you are buried in the yard.

There you have it, a September wish and a prayer... I truly believe if Hank can walk way from a bowl of kibble that St. Joe can find me a buyer. Miracles do happen.