There's nothing warm & fuzzy about this what the heck was Obama thinking

Today I've read several news articles about President Obama calling the owner of the Phillidelphia Eagles and congratulating him on hiring Michael Vick, for giving someone getting out of prison a second chance...truly offensive is that one of these articles is accompanied by a picture of President Obama playing with his dog while carrying a football.

Michael Vick was convicted and sent to prison for running a dog fighting ring. There's nothing warm & fuzzy about dog fighting. He was raising dogs with the sole purpose of fighting other dogs, probably to the death. In the course of doing this he was torturing other dogs, the bait dogs. The bait dogs are used to train the fighting dogs, and are generally torn apart by the fighting dogs, only to be soon replaced with new bait dogs. Some of the tortures that all the dogs endure include:electrocution, having their teeth pulled out, being beaten, being hung, you get the idea.

Okay, the man served his time and is now out of prison. Apparently, he is a good athlete, so that excuses all his other actions? I don't hardly think so. People who torture animals are sociopaths, they have no regard for others. A couple of weeks ago, Michael Vick, said in an interview that he'd like to get another dog...ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME????? He continued on to say that he thought he'd be a good dog owner and his kids really want a dog. Really, doesn't anyone else see the problems with this? He's still on parole and not allowed to own a dog as a term of his release. Did I mention he RAN a dog fighting ring? And he thinks he'd make a good dog owner??? This hardly sounds like a rehabilitated man to me.

So, the impression I'm left with, is that if the sociopath is an exceptional athlete, then all can be forgiven. My co-worker's opinion is that President Obama is looking for a second chance with people himself. Personally, the whole thing leaves a sour taste in my mouth & I've got nothing for either of them. I would consider second chances for people who are truly repentant, but I'm not seeing that from either of them.

Merry Christmas!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas. Ours was good, and then I went to work. Above is our foster kitty, Pooky, who had a nice Christmas in our home, rather than at the shelter. He's a very sweet kitty, who gets along w/other cats, dogs, and people. All the dogs who could go to a foster home, went to a foster home for the holiday weekend, and I believe all the cats got out for the holiday also!

It all began June 13, 1985...a Thursday

Yeah, that's me at 18...about 6 weeks before I met Gregg. At the time I was so not looking for a relationship. I met Gregg four days after I graduated from high school. I was actually ambushed into the first date, the only blind date I've ever had. One of my best friends was dating his roommate and had been trying to convince me to meet him. I kept putting her off. She called at noon the day after we graduated & had our all night party. I'd just gotten up & I don't wake up quick, so she caught me off guard. Basically, she just confirmed that I wasn't seeing anyone seriously, and asked if I had plans Thursday night. I should have seen it coming, what with the lead up question & all, but I wasn't quite awake yet & was thinking "Cool, girls night out", so told her I had no plans. That was when she announced "Good, his name is Gregg & you two can double with Rick & me."

I tried to get out of it, but she wasn't having it & I didn't leave myself an out. So super nervous about what I was getting into, I got into the car with her in the early afternoon & went out to her house. Since I was so nervous she convinced me that we should have a glass of wine to settle my nerves. I'm not a drinker & this was basically the last time I drank anything alcoholic. Alcohol usually upsets my stomach & I end up throwing up after a swallow or two. I kept this down & basically we got the giggles. All my friend would tell me was that he looked like a football player, she thought he had lightish hair & possibly blue eyes.

When I heard the car pull up, I ran into her bedroom to see if I could get a sneak peek, while she went out to greet them. I saw her boyfriend get out of the car first & kind of panicked...he was cute, but soooo not my type. Then I saw her hug him & was so relieved that I just walked back out to the living room & sat down.

I still remember the first time I saw Gregg. He was wearing a light blue polo shirt and Levis. The first thing I noticed was his chest-it was pretty impressive. Then his eyes, they are REALLY blue. Then I realized he was gorgeous. I went back into ultra nervousness.

Rick's car was a 1978 (I think) Trans Am...Gregg & I were in the tiny backseat. Rick & Alecia were in the front seat having an argument. The whole thing was awkward to say the least. We got into town & went to a store. Gregg & I stayed in the car and made chit chat about how awkward we felt about "the argument". Then we all decided to see the movie "Fletch". Gregg had already seen it, but was willing to see it again. I told him then that I would ask him what was going to happen next, that I would really bug him about it, but don't tell me because I hate that. At the theater I proceeded to do exactly that...it's a small character flaw, I also usually read the last page of a book after completing the first chapter. I need to know how it ends in case something comes up & I can't finish the book...or just to make sure it has a happy ending before I get too invested in it.

After the movie we went out the beach...and Rick & Alecia promptly disappeared. Gregg & I found a driftwood log to sit on & talked for hours. I got his life story & he got mine. He didn't try to make a move, and I didn't know what to think of that. He was/is a good guy who was just figuring out, at 21, that he didn't want his life to turn out like his parents' or his siblings'. He'd been sober for 8 months and had done it with out any real family support. I had just graduated from high school, had plans to go to college in the fall & study Criminal Justice so that I could be a cop. At this point in the conversation most guys felt the need to talk me out of that, Gregg didn't. He was amazed that I knew what I wanted to do & had a plan to do it already in place. He fell asleep in my lap on the way home & asked permission to hold my hand while he walked me to the door. We made plans to see each other that weekend.

I told another friend the next day that I'd met the man I was going to marry. This was a revelation to everyone. I was the one who'd always said I'd never get married, that in my 30's I'd adopt a kid-probably an 8 year old one. My dad had taught me basic car repair, basic home repairs. My mom made sure that I knew how to do laundry & cleaning...no one could convince me to learn how to cook. All preparations because I was never going to get married. I was pretty sure I'd never find a male of the species who would accept me the way I was. EVERY time I started dating a guy they'd try to change me...I was too independent, I was too smart, I was too self reliant...all things that I believe had attracted them in the first place, but then I stayed that way.

Gregg took me to the races on Sunday, and then we went out to Laverne Park & just hung out. Again, he'd hold my hand, but that was it. That night we were at my house watching movies. I was leaning against him on the couch & not a move to be made by him. I finally took matters into my own hands & kissed him. Apparently, that was all I needed to do. He was a slow starter, but once he got going...

We'd been dating a couple of weeks when he told me he loved me. Shocked the hell out of me. But that's always been the thing about Gregg, he tells me what he thinks & he tells me the truth, and he doesn't hold back. I really love this about him, I tend to be blunt to the point of rude myself, but this took me off guard. I knew how I felt about him, but wasn't anywhere near the point of being ready to tell him, it was still my closely guarded secret, and now I needed to say something. It was a deep breath, put on your big girl panties and tell the truth type of moment. I told him I loved him too, it was the truth, and it was real, but it scared the hell out of me-now he could hurt me & I don't do vulnerable well.

Of course, obviously things worked out. We got married just over 4 years after we met. I insisted on finishing college & living together for at least 6 months first...over my parents' objections and Gregg's too. We lived together for about 18 months of this just over 4 years.
During this 4 years Gregg worked his way through a couple of jobs, learning his craft-he used to do body work & paint cars, until he got chemical asthma & had go to work as a service advisor at the dealership he worked for. I graduated from college, decided that I wanted to stay in dispatch rather than go out on patrol. While Gregg was going to AA meetings, I went with him. I figured if this was something he was going to live with, then I needed to know too. The people at the meetings were very supportive of my coming to meetings with him, for which I will always be grateful.

I took this picture of Gregg after we'd been dating a few months...was I right about that chest or what? And this was the car he was driving when I met him. Sweet right. He still has it & someday it will be back on the road.

And this is our wedding picture. From the left:Tami-my youngest sister, Kathy-my younger sister, me, Gregg, Ed-Gregg's best friend, Vern-Gregg's other best friend. We got married August 5th, 1989. I was 22, Gregg was 25...dude we were young. We'd always pretty much known we'd end up married. We broke up once...that lasted for four days. It was all Gregg's fault and he had to track me down-I was avoiding him for all I was worth-and he had to admit it was dumb to break up with me...he had to fix my heart. It was only fair, he was the one who'd broke it.

Our original plan was to live together for six months, after I'd lived on my own for a little bit (just to make sure I could do it-I lived on my own for about 6 weeks before Gregg moved in with me), and then go to Reno or Vegas and get married by an Elvis impersonator. I loved this plan, but our families had other plans. After Gregg moved in we started ring hunting. This proved to be problematic and ended up taking a year...during this year we also both lost our jobs, got new jobs and had to move-twice. Our argument over the ring was this:Gregg wanted to get a "traditional" wedding set. This meant one of those Love Story sets that were all the rage in the 80's. I hated them, they were cookie cutter rings. I wanted a simple gold band and a solitary ruby engagement ring. Gregg hated this idea, he wanted traditional, to him that meant a diamond. I tried to explain that traditional was really a colored stone, that the diamond industry had made diamonds "traditional", but they really weren't. He didn't buy it. So we'd hit the jewelry stores. I'd pick out what I liked, he'd pick out what he liked & never the two did meet. Then one night we weren't looking, just walking by the store & I saw the perfect set in the window. I grabbed Gregg, showed him & he liked it too! We went into the store and it was far too expensive for us to afford. We were devastated, the first set we both could agree on in a year and we couldn't get it. Then the clouds parted and the salesman told us that the rings in that window went on sale for half price tomorrow and if we opened an account with the store it would be another 10% off...we could afford it! I was there when the store opened the next day getting my rings.

We were so excited & called everyone. This was in February. We told everyone we'd get married in the summer and invited them all to come with us to Reno or Vegas. Then something unprecedented happened. Our two families got together and decided that they really wanted us to have a church wedding, figured out what date was best for everyone on both sides, reserved the church and then told us when & where we were getting married. I was ready to revolt, but Gregg wanted to go along & make everyone happy & talked me into it. Suddenly I had to plan this wedding that I'd never planned on having & I didn't have a clue what to do. I got it done, but it wasn't pretty. Then the disasters happened. The priest who was going to marry us was in a fairly serious car accident two weeks before the wedding...right after that the flower girl broke her little leg. The priest was determined to marry us, and the flower girl demanded to still be included...so the flower girl came down the aisle wearing her pink cast (after telling the hilarious story of how she broke it, complete with a spin & throwing herself to the ground in the lobby of the church just before the ceremony), and the priest married us while a little stoned on pain killers. This included him initially trying to marry Gregg off to my sister Kathy, until his wee error was pointed out to him. Then of course the ring bearer, after bringing the ring to his dad perfectly, decided to sprint around the alter with his mom in full pursuit. It was actually a pretty entertaining wedding.

So here we are 25 years later. Gregg is still gorgeous. I now have long hair. We've grown up together. We're raising two pretty good kids. We're not wealthy, but we're comfortable. We've had our problems, we stuck them out, we stayed together. I think probably no one else would have either of us, but that's okay, I can't think of anyone else I'd want. Not too bad for someone who never thought she'd get married.

And when you live on the coast you gotta have a dog named Rusty

Okay, the last month has been busy, but not really much new...until this week. Pictured above is Rusty, a 3 yr old male Pomeranian, that is "orange sable". He was very nervous at the shelter so we took him home overnight to see how he would do in a home. That was Wednesday. Thursday, we helped out in the morning just doing some cleaning & letting the dogs in & out to play. We brought Rusty & all the little dogs ran amok inside. We took Rusty home Thursday night too (shelter was closed). Brought him back out Friday & took him home Friday night. I'm working this weekend, so Doug & Riley were going to bring him back to the shelter on Saturday at noon. This dog is wonderful...great manners, not neutered and yet hasn't marked anything inside the house, very sweet, very cuddly, and VERY cute. No one out there has looked twice at him. His owner surrendered him after only having him a couple of months because she works 10 hour days and was upset that he'd had accidents after being cooped up inside for 10 hours straight. He apparently has been passed around quite a bit prior to the last owner. I don't get it, I really don't, he's wonderful! Friday night Gregg told me that Riley wanted to keep him and asked how I felt about it. It should be pointed out here that I'm his obvious favorite in the family & it's really quite flattering. He gets beyond excited when I come home, he fawns all over me. He likes everyone else as well & gets along really well with the other dogs. But, do we really need four dogs? Saturday morning before I left for work I told Gregg that if we're not taking the dog out to the shelter to let me know so I could call and let them know. At 9:30am I got the call to see if we could keep him for a couple more days just to make sure. Nicole was more than fine with that, and had apparently been expecting it ;-)

Last night we were watching a movie, Riley & I sitting on the couch, Rusty between us stretched out so that he's touching both of us-I got his head, he he he. Today Riley and her friends and their dogs were all out walking in the mist & playing having a grand old time. I think Rusty has found his forever home.

Days That Break Your Heart

So, yesterday, Riley & I got to spend basically the whole day at the shelter, since Riley was out of school. We hung out with the dogs and everybody got good long walks and we had a blast. Good news is that my buddy Bear is going to a foster home & getting some "rehab" training to help deal with his fear of men. When he is done w/rehab, he will be re-homed. Great news for Bear! Two really great dogs were reclaimed by their owners...both surprisingly enough were Rotties. The rest of the good news is that all but two dogs are going to go to OHS on Tuesday morning...meaning that I would've only had two dogs to walk Tuesday if no more dogs were taken in. About that time a little red car pulled up. A woman got out who was obviously nervous & shaken. While she was a gas station in town a LARGE black dog got into her car & wouldn't get out. Poor guy is huge, but also obviously starving. Nicole had to remove him from the car w/a catch pole. She got him into a kennel & he inhaled a whole bowl of food, ate all the dog biscuits we were handing him, and then devoured the 2nd (half) bowl that Riley brought him. He probably would've eaten more, but we didn't want to make him sick. Poor guy has sore paws too. I've seen other dogs come in this way. They've been walking on concrete for several days usually & they've rubbed the pads of their feet raw. Right now he probably weighs between 60-70 lbs...he should probably weigh closer to 1oo-125 lbs. He's got a big Mastiff head, but he's so skinny it's hard to tell what else he might be, possibly lab. I'm hoping that when I go back on Tuesday he's got a new lease on life. Right now he's not sure if he should trust us or not & was scared & confused. I'm hoping he realizes now that he's safe, and I'm hoping that his owners don't come looking for him. Right now he's WAY better off at the shelter & we'll find him a great new home with people who will take care of him.

Gracie Lou Update

Six days post surgery, we've been back to the vet twice. Friday was unscheduled, but even with the cone on her head she was managing to get to her thigh incision & had opened up part of it. They added some staples and antibiotics. Today was the scheduled appointment. Everything is healing up just great, but there's still issues with the thigh incision. And the reason for that came back with the lab results. The lump on her belly was just a fatty deposit. The lump on her thigh is cancer and apparently she has what's called a "dirty incision" meaning they didn't get all of it. So the vet is calling the lab back today to get more information and then will call me & doing some research on exactly how to treat. It may mean going back in & removing some of the muscle. She just scraped along the muscle & didn't cut into it with the first surgery. The antibiotics are helping, but they've put her back on the anti-inflamatory, and added Benedryl. It seems that these cells make the body produce histamine and this is probably why it's still inflamed. Four days on the Benedryl and hopefully this will correct itself and she can get her stitches out Thursday.

Again, if everyone could just say a prayer for our little dog that the cancer hasn't spread-it seems to be local at this point-and hope for a treatment that doesn't involve another surgery it would be appreciated.

Gracie Lou

Pictured above is our cat Tottie & her best buddy in crime, Gracie Lou. Gracie is going in for surgery tomorrow. You can see one of the lumps in this picture on the back of her thigh. This one she's had for awhile & it's all squishy like it's filled with water, and it's not the one that scares me. The one that scares me is on her lower belly...about where you'd expect to find her ovaries. Two weeks ago this second lump showed up & we took her to the vet. They are concerned it might be ovarian cancer. Tomorrow morning at 8:30am I'm taking her back to the vet and she's getting both lumps removed & getting spayed, since even if it's not cancer, I don't think it will be safe for her to have anymore puppies.

Needless to say we're all a little scared about tomorrow's outcome. Her blood tests all came back normal, her heart, lungs, and stomach all sounded fine & she doesn't seem to be in any pain...we poke & prod at both lumps regularly just to make sure they aren't changing size & it doesn't even phase her, so we're hoping it's just nothing serious.

So tomorrow morning, or even tonight, if you could say a little prayer for the safety & health of a little dog that would be greatly appreciated...you see she's not just a little dog, she's the best friend of my daughter, mother of four, buddy to a very sweet kitty, and beloved family member.

Letter to the Editor

There's been a lot of complaints in the Letter to Editor section of our local paper The World, here is my response:

Coos County Animal Shelter Does A lot for the Community

There have been a lot of letters lately complaining about the Coos County Animal Shelter and the staff. I have an opinion of CCAS that I’d like to share.

My daughter and I have been volunteering at the animal shelter since last spring. We started as part of my daughter’s Girl Scout’s Bronze Award, but after we’d completed the necessary hours, we realized that we didn’t want to stop. We go out several days a week and walk dogs, socialize with the cats, and recently have been bathing Beagle puppies.

People need to realize that the job that the Shelter Operator and the Animal Control Officers do is not easy. Basically, they spend a lot of time cleaning up other people’s messes. Probably 90% of the animals that end up at the shelter are there through no fault of their own, it comes down to people not taking care of their pets. You want something to complain about? How about complaining about the people that don’t spay or neuter their pets, or about the ones that let them run around at large? Or my favorite, the ones that are physically abusive or neglect their animals to the point that they are starving and dehydrated?

We are fortunate that our shelter is “low kill” for the dogs…well, the dogs are fortunate. But, this also means that the Shelter Operator has to be creative, because the shelter gets full fast. Our Shelter Operator has set up programs for our dogs, and some of our cats, to go to the Oregon Humane Society in Portland. She also has had dogs taken in by rescue groups, FOCCAS, and even by other shelters occasionally. This gives these dogs and cats a second chance at adoption if they don’t get adopted here.

It should also be pointed out that the reason that Oregon Humane Society is a “no kill” is because they can pick and choose what animals they will take, while municipal and county animal shelter have to take everything brought in…including animals that are very ill and injured and can’t be saved. But our shelter does try to save even the ill/injured animals. I can think of several right off the top of my head that received veterinary services for injuries or illnesses…in fact I fostered one of these dogs. Often when the shelter is full, people will be asked to wait a few days or a week for space to open up before leaving their animal. Some people will do this, some won’t.

Unfortunately, our shelter is not yet “low kill” for the cats. Conditions have improved a lot. The new programs have insured that some cats go to rescue groups or to the Oregon Humane Society in Portland, but there are still cats that will get euthanized when the shelter runs out of room. When 27 cats are brought in to the shelter in one day-as happens more often than it ever should-and there’s not enough room, some are unfortunately euthanized. No one who works or volunteers at the shelter wants this to happen, and EVERYONE out there works hard to try to prevent it, but the “pet owners” have to do their part too.

In order to get the shelter to low kill status for the cats everyone in the community has to play their part. Get your cats spayed or neutered. S/nipped will be up and running soon and will offer low cost spay/neuters. They are already out there working on several feral cat colonies making sure that they don’t get any larger. Also, if you get your cat micro-chipped you will save its life. They check for microchips when any animal is brought out in the hopes of reuniting it with its owner.

Another way to help-volunteer. The shelter can always use loving people to foster cats or dogs, or just animals that don’t do well in a shelter situation. Some animals just find the shelter too overwhelming and get stressed. Fostering also gives the animals some extra time to not only find homes, but sometimes just to be socialized. There’s lots of other ways to volunteer if fostering isn’t an option.

Also, if you can’t afford to get your animal spayed or neutered, you can volunteer at the shelter to get it done. It varies for males/females and cats/dogs, but there’s lots of ways to volunteer. You can help clean kennels, walk dogs, laundry, bathing, grounds upkeep…there’s never an end to the work that needs to be done.

Bottom line, before you point your finger at the employees of the animal shelter for something unfortunate happening to your pet, remember that there are three other fingers pointing right back at you. Take responsibility for your pet and then someone else won’t have to.

Michelle Kirby

Gidgett goes home

So, yesterday was the day that I delivered Gidgett to Kristi in Eugene. The day didn't start off well, Riley came immediately home from school sick, so my mom, who was going to go to Eugene with me, picked up Riley instead.

Next, Gidget, who'd always ridden just fine in the car, decided that she didn't like being in the car. I didn't bring a kennel because it'd never been an issue before, but had to stop in Reedsport & get a box from some friends. She didn't like the box either, but it was safer for everyone. It didn't last the whole trip, she finally wore herself out & settled down in my lap.

We arrived at the airport about the same time as Kristi, so that worked out well. We went to Valley River Mall for lunch and sat out on the patio at Chili's with Gidg...she proceeded to ignore poor Kristi. At this point I gotta tell you, this whole family already adores this dog. Kristi's mom had visited them over the weekend and brought her outfits! After lunch we went over to PetCo since Gidg could go there. We walked around the store and then went out to see if she needed to potty.

After this I took Kristi back to the airport. I'm sure that Gidgett will just love this family once she gets over being a little insecure. Kristi texted me later that Gidgett spent the first 20 minutes ignoring her & then slept on her for an hour, so I think we're already on the way there.

I got lost for half an hour after leaving the airport. Everyone who knows me will not be surprised, I always get lost in Eugene, but this time it was because I was trying so hard not to cry, not because I was turned around. I knew I was attached to Gidgett, I didn't realize how attached. I really miss her already. I know she's in a great home with people who want her so much. I know that a very special little girl will love and adore this dog. Plus, there will almost always be someone home with her and she will be beyond spoiled rotten. I just didn't know I'd miss her this much. So while I'm happy she's in such a great home, and I couldn't have chosen a more perfect family for her, I'm a little sad for me. Don't misunderstand me, and Kristi if you're reading this don't feel bad, I always knew she wasn't staying and that she was just ours for a short time & for specific reasons, I just didn't expect it to hit so hard. I'm sure I'll feel better as soon as I get pictures showing how wonderful things are for her & how happy everyone, including her.

And then the vacation was over.

Yesterday was my first day back at work after my vacation...41 minutes into my shift I was ready to go back on vacation. For some reason everyone felt the need to call and do stuff the second I sat down. Today has been better, but still.

I had planned to do all this stuff while on vacation. I got some of it done, but life got in the way of most of it. The house got a good start on the spring cleaning...just a few months late. The back patio got cleaned up...by Gregg & the kids.

I'm so far behind on projects it's not even funny. I've got a blankie bear that has been partially finished for over a month...I'm going to finish it this week come heck or high water. I haven't even started my September Mother Bear Project Bear, so that's gotta get started soon. I have been keeping up w/my Angels for Hope angels, but that's only because they only take about half an hour to do.

This weekend I'm off. Riley & I will probably go out to the animal shelter for a few hours on Saturday. Monday my mom & I are taking the Gidg to Eugene to meet up with Kristi Vega, who will then assume ownership of the little sweetie pie & bring her SoCal for a few days before their exodus back to Arizona. I'm so happy for Gidg & Gabriella. BTW, Gidgett's new name will be Minnie.

I HATE Shopping!

The back to school shopping was finished this week when I finally got both the kids in one place on the same day & took them shoe shopping. I really dread this time of year...I hate shopping. I know that some will think that there's something genetically wrong with me, but I've never enjoyed it.

First you've gotta cruz the ads & find coupons and specials. This is time consuming, but can really be worth it. I got 80% of Doug's back to school clothes in one store and with the sales, in store coupons, and coupon that I got at home, only paid $60. Riley got two pairs of shoes for $16.49. My best was actually shoes for me:I got a pair of $52 Nikes for $21.60...this was after three coupons, one for 20% off any shoe purchase, a $10 off in store coupon for Nikes, and a $10 off any purchase over $50. Bragging aside, I still don't enjoy shopping.

Christmas would pose a special problem, but I figured out YEARS ago how to avoid that...I start Christmas shopping about May, and I make a lot of the Christmas presents we give. This means minimal shopping in the crowds during the holiday season.

Shopping with my husband can be a learning experience also. I have a list when I go shopping, I get the stuff on the list & get out. Gregg must go down every isle & look at every item. Sometimes interesting things are found doing this, but I still haven't changed my shopping style.

Doug is a lot like me about shopping, get in, get what you want, get out. You would think this would make shopping with Doug nice...it's not. For some reason he's a pain to shop with...mostly I think it's a 17 year old boy thing.

Riley is a lot like her dad when it comes to shopping...plus she loves shopping, has a total disregard for sales & coupons, and wants one, possibly two of everything. Shopping with Riley is a special type of hell, and will leave you broke upon leaving the store.

New Day/New Dogs

This is my buddy Bear...he's a Rott/Shepard mix about 18mos old. He's a little on the shy side, but once he decides he likes you, he's your best friend.

His bestest friend, Cissy, went to OHS today w/16 other dogs. Bear didn't qualify because of his breed mix. So here he is playing in the creek w/his new friend a female dog that came in as a stray recently.

Here she is with Riley. She's a sweet girl & hopefully her owners will come looking for her soon.

Told you Bear was my buddy...here he is giving me some loves.

This goofy girl is Josie. She's a total sweetheart & pretty much gets along with everyone.

This cute brindle puppy wouldn't hold still & wanted to play with Riley rather than pose for the camera.

This sweet little Border Collie is Suzie & I'm hoping my niece will adopt her as her therapy dog.

Introducing Charlie...I'm really behind so sorry for the multiple blogs

So this sweet boy was a stray brought into the shelter last week. He didn't have a name, but he's a good man, so I named him Charlie. He's got excellent manners & Riley can walk him with no problems...but I saw him first.

Look at that sweet face. I hope that someone comes for him soon.

The Kids Are Back in Town

So, my niece, Nicole, and her family are back in town for the week. L-R:Lakin-niece, Treasure-Rose-great niece, and Nicole-niece. Nicole & Lakin are sisters. T-Rose is Nicole's daughter.

Nicole & David got married just a couple of weeks ago, so at the family BBQ there was an impromptu wedding reception also. L-R:Great nephew Skylar, David, and Nicole.

My great-nephew Skylar is a ham-bone. We were playing peek-a-boo & I got him. He almost fell over he was laughing so hard.

Here's Lakin and her nephew Skylar...you would also know Skylar by the nickname I have for him which is Booger.

Here's Booger & T-Rose playing together.

Here's Booger with his Grandma Kym blowing bubbles.

And here he is playing soccer & making faces for me.

T-Rose and Riley...Riley adores her little cousins.

T-Rose and Great Uncle Gregg...T-Rose found him hilarious for some reason & Gregg wasn't even doing anything.

And then when she conked out, I stole her...I love sleepy babies, it's one thing I really miss w/my kids being as old as they are now.

I wish Nicole & her family lived closer, I really miss them, even though we text & email several times a week...sometimes a day. I understand why they can't be here, I just wish circumstances were different.

And now for your moment of Zen

This was last night's sunset as seen from our street. Sometimes nature is just so awesome...in the literal sense.

This could be a scene from my house...either kid

National Night Out at Ferry Road Park

This event is hosted by public safety, mostly police & fire, but the Coast Guard did a fly by. We have fun stuff for the kids, a magician, live band, jump for fun, some other similar type inflatable equipment, free hot dogs, free ice cream...and face painting. My boss (thank you Tia) signed me up to do face painting. She thought that since I do crafty stuff that meant I could draw/paint. She is wrong, but what the heck I'm game for most stuff, or so I thought. I probably painted about 100 kids' faces in the 2.5 hrs I was there. Mostly it was butterflies, kitty faces, lady bugs, suns, moons & stars...I did one set of cherries that didn't turn out awful-on Riley, did one clown face, did a couple of kids that I'm not sure what they were aiming for, but they looked silly when they were finished, one flower, a couple of tiger faces, several dogs, had a request for a unicorn, but felt that was well beyond my capabilities. I even did one babies face-at the parent's request and a couple of adults...whatever.

Clean up was the fun part. Getting the garbage up was easy...collapsing & folding up the jump for fun was another story. How many cops & dispatchers does it take to do this you may ask? Well, I don't know for sure. We had three dispatchers, 5 cops, 1 records personnel, and a couple of at large citizens helping & I'm pretty sure we didn't get done right...but we did get it loaded onto the trailer in a bundle of sorts.

The worst part was I had to park very far away from the park proper over by the frisbee golf course. I cut through the woods on my way to the park, but since it was getting dark when I was leaving I decided to stick to the lighted streets. I couldn't find my car! I called Gregg whining that I'd be home as soon as I found my car & he said he knew where it was & would come get me & take me to it. No way in heck was I going to do that. I told him I'd find the damn thing or walk home...as I was walking home 10 minutes later, I hit the alarm on my key fob...fortunately the thing has good range & I was able to determine the direction of my car from the couple of beeps I allowed it & find it. Next time, I will just keep driving until I can find something closer.

The Return of Gidgett the Foster Chihuahua

Gidgett's trial home didn't work out, they brought her back over the weekend while I was busy w/my class reunion. She was obviously a little nervous at the shelter, has lost a little of the weight we got on her & has some hair loss by her tail on her back. As you can see, she's making up for lost time on the grocery front & tomorrow will be an oatmeal bath & flea treatment to take care of the skin irritation.

Best news of all is that it looks like she will be getting a new forever home soon with the Vega's! You may remember Gabriella, the little girl who got a sparkly new heart a few months ago, if not the link to her mother's blog is at the right. Well, unknown to me but Kristi, Gabriella's mom, has been following my blog too & they all fell in love w/little Gidgett. Arrangements are being made & hopefully all will go well for everyone & Gabriella will get a sparkly new dog & Gidgett will get a sparkly new home!

25th Class Reunion

Lisa, Mark & Sonya, night 2 at The Mill...night 1 was Denny's Pizzza, but I forgot my camera.

This is from night 3...the big dinner. Our class cheerleaders from l-r:Denise, Kim, Danelle, Angie, and Alecia-the person who set up Gregg & I on our first date!

Also from night 3:Alecia, Me, and Dan. Dan & I actually started kindergarten together...there are several of us that started kindergarten together.

Here is everyone that showed up for night three...there were a few more people that had showed up for other gatherings that didn't show for this one.

From the picnic:Brenda, Brian (not from our class, there w/David), Mindy, David, and Laura. At the picnic Gregg had a fall & badly sprained his shoulder, so we missed part of it. Thank you Coquille Valley Hospital for the quick and great service! We were in & out in about an hour, and that included having xrays done, since we all thought he either broke or dislocated something at first. Gregg was a trooper & made it to the dinner later that night...just in his sling & on Vicadin!

Wildflowers & Views from South Port Road

Just some of the great views & pretty flowers we get to see when we walk dogs at the shelter.

Summer Flowers

Some of the flowers in my front planter.

Gidgett the Foster Chihuahua part 2

Gidgett is still at our house. She's put on a about 1.5 lbs(I even had to let her collar out), has been flea treated & has had a couple of baths. Here she is taking over Riley's comforter. She is doing very well on her house breaking & hasn't had an inside accident in days. She likes having the freedome to go outside whenever she wants so we just leave the back door open for her.

Here she is begging...she loves pork and pizza. She is learning how to be a dog. She follows Gracie Lou around & mimics her, it's really cute. Gregg got home the other night & Gracie is dancing all around him & jumping up for attention & Gidgett was running circles around the two of them...she knew she was supposed to be doing something, but you could tell she didn't get quite what. But, when I came home for lunch yesterday, she had figured it out & ran to the door to greet me just like Gracie did. We've only heard her bark three times. The first time was her 2nd day at our house...she barked at Gregg when he came home, while she was sitting on the recliner with me. 2nd time was when she came in from the backyard & there was a neighbor she hadn't met yet in our house. 3rd time was last night when one of Doug's friends she hadn't met yet came over. It's just two barks, kinda just a warning of stranger danger & that's it, so it's good she's not a yippy little dog.

And while I was at work, Riley was in charge & dressed her & Gracie. Gracie puts up with it, but can't you tell by this look that poor little Gidgett wants out of this thing! I rescued her from it later when Riley wasn't looking. They've got her picture up on Facebook for the Shelter & there's been lots of talk about her under it, so I'm betting she gets adopted soon. I'm hoping for a nice older couple who will be patient with her while she continues learning how to be a dog.