My fat dog...

This is a picture of Diz and one half of her babysitting team. John loves my dog so much and I think he and his wife, Essie, are going to be very sad when we move. I've been very fortunate to have them here when we travel. Never have to worry one ounce.

Took Diz and Sammie in for their pedicures and anal gland squeezing (Diz, not Sammie) and it seems both of them have gained weight. I think my Vet is frustrated with me. So, they are both on strict diets and Diz needs to lose about 10 lbs. That's a lot for a dog her size but you are supposed to see her ribcage and it sure can't be seen right now. She is not very happy with me!

When we get moved to AZ, she will have her own back yard to explore so that should help exercise wise. It's cold here and she refuses to go outside. Today, it is 27 degrees and the entire building has been without heat since last night so she isn't exactly warm inside either! My hands are cold as ice as I type this.

My poor dog!

Maybe I should say my poor husband. We had quite a night last week. The smoke detector low battery alarm began to beep in the middle of the night (why doesn't it happen during the day? Have you ever asked that question?) Diz begins to shake out of her skin. I tried covering her with a pillow, you name it, the dog was scared to death!

We have 10 foot high ceilings and no really long ladder but the husband thought he could manage on a bar stool. However, as he was walking around in the dark, he caught his leg on a table, which made him fall and he hit his chest and then, his chin. What a noise!

I turned on the light and it looked like the St. Valentines Day Massacre had taken place. Blood everywhere! His chin was just gushing. We managed to get the blood flow down a bit and then, tried to remove the battery but could only get the thing unscrewed. It eventually went dead sometime during the night. And no, he didn't go for stitches and it looks awful.

If this wasn't bad enough, Sammie learned to imitate the alarm. Diz wasn't able to figure out that it was the bird and not the actual alarm so she spent four days hiding under the office desk or running for the bedroom, shaking like crazy. What a nightmare and it's not like you can "spank" a parrot! Saying bad bird doesn't work either. Diz finally figured it out after a near nervous breakdown!

And, other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

Dr.Henry

Henry is a beautiful Macaw that belongs to my former neighbor, Sue, in Nashville. He is now being used for "Pet Therapy" at St. Thomas Hospital.

In just a few short months, Henry has become a beloved member of the hospital family as visitors and associates find comfort and joy in his lively character.

He sits on a large perch in the middle of a atrium and responds and interacts with people in the waiting area. A visitor walked up to the glass and placed their open hand against the glass in front of Henry. He reached over and placed his foot against the glass on his side matching their gesture. Another visitor did a similar thing but leaning their forehead against the glass, so did Henry.

Many employees also shared that when they are having a tough day, they stop by to visit Henry for a little while and they go back to work refreshed and the day seems better.

I think this is an amazing story of how pets can help heal. Bravo to Henry and Sue for this valuable service!

I'm back...

Life gets in the way sometimes! I've been to TX, CA and AZ and I'm tired. We're going to WA for Thanksgiving and stopping in AZ on our way home to check on the remodel. It's been a slow process. I'm posting a pic of the guest bathroom shower. I told the builder I was moving in on top of him whether he was finished or not the first week of January. Didn't seem to scare him too much though.

Our builder is Polish so it's difficult to understand him at times. I was talking to him on the phone and he asked me if I wanted lotion paint. What in the world is lotion paint? He's trying to describe it and I finally figured out he was saying low sheen. I've been teasing him about it ever since.

So here are my Christmas plans. We are trying to arrange to have all of our stuff in storage delivered the week of Dec. 20th so we can get most of it put away. We'll return home and I will have our gas-eating-hog of an SUV packed and my oldest son will fly to MN and make the traveling zoo road trip with me. Crazy guy actually enjoys this type of thing! I am NOT looking forward to it one ounce.

January 22nd I will begin attending school for Esthetics. I'm a skin freak and am fascinated by it so why not? I want to eventually work with a doctor who will help skin conditions of battered women. Things that have kept them down and feeling bad about themselves. Just furthering the cause, ya know? Plus, it might keep me from choking the husband when he retires. He actually asks me what's for lunch? Geesh! Whatever you can fix for yourself! When do I get to retire?

Got to see my precious Landin in AZ. Isn't he getting huge? His mommie is trying to get him to take a nap. He loves his thumb!

We're Mourning

Alex, the African Grey, and probably the most famous parrot in the world, passed away at the age of 31 last Friday. The cause of his death is unknown but he hadn't been ill and his autopsy didn't show anything unusual.

Alex could count to seven, spell and identify materials. He was an amazing bird and showed just how intelligent this species really is.

Sammie is very sad and depressed, just like I am. We bought a t-shirt from the Alex Foundation this morning to help pay for the continued study of this amazing parrot.

RIP Alex.

Well, here is a picture of me taken 7 years ago for the back book cover of Whose Face is in the Mirror? As you can see, I was a redhead at that time.

Okay, here is the sad news. This Saturday I turn 60! Ouch, ouch, and ouch! I cannot believe I am going to be this old. It seems impossible. I mean, I'm an antique! Stick a fork in me, I'm done! How did this happen?

I was talking to my sister who is 18-months older than me and we're both in shock at how quickly time passes and how we're too old broads. It seems like yesterday when we were having babies, not worried about our weight or wrinkles and life seemed like it would go on forever. Geesh Louise!

I don't know if my husband has anything special planned (he better!). He's always been very good about my birthdays in the past. We are leaving tomorrow for AZ so I'll at least get to see my oldest daughter. It helps to be traveling when you're having a birthday because you can just pretend it isn't happening. Whatever works!

Red--Blonde?

My husband never knows what he's going to come home to...a redhead, a blonde, an in-between? Right now, I'm more blonde than anything but that's from getting highlights. I believe I take my boredom or frustrations out on my hair.

My stylist said I had the strongest hair she'd ever seen and trust me, that's a miracle because I'm always having her put something new and different on my poor hair. I had thought of getting the Victoria Beckham hair cut but my husband put the big "NO!" on that idea. He's never done that before but he must really hate that hair do. So, I settled for a long bob. Who knows what I'll have next month.