Sleep Deprived!

The human was home an extra day this week.  Usually we like it when she's home, but she was really messing with our schedule.  It is customary to nap from the time she leaves for work until she returns. Of course, there is the occasional barking at potential intruders (delivery men, dog walkers, leaves, etc.), but for the most part we sleep and dream of chasing rabbits.  Not Friday, every time we'd dose off another appliance would start up - dishwasher, washing machine, dryer and the worst of all - the vacuum cleaner!  If she keeps this up, we will destroy the coffee maker the next time she leaves the house. Keep an eye on Facebook, cause if we destroy it, that crazy human will snap a picture of it for all to see!

Pee-Mail Galore! by Kate

This morning the crazy human woke up and was in warp speed from the minute her feet hit the ground.  Not sure what got into her, but we're praying it stays with her a while.  For the first time since before "the move," we took our morning walk.  This "move" has confused us greatly.  How could something called a "move" cause the lack of movement from the human.

Missing so many days, we had pee-mail galore to read and then had to reply.  I, Kate, thought my nose was going to turn inside out from sniffing and to be truthful - I think I was dehydrated when we got home because I had so much to say!  Fondue, on the other hand, was so mesmerized by the rabbits that she didn't even drop any gifts for the human.  I was very giving and dropped two very nice gifts for her.  She loves those little bags, so I like to help her fill them up. I'm the good dog at Whitaker Manor!

Amazing Love, Part Two

This picture is hard to make out, but hang in there with me and I will explain.  After processing through my thoughts on scars yesterday, this morning I woke up and this is what I saw.  I was so moved and I had to snap a photo.  I gingerly reached over  to get my phone, carefully set up the shot and quickly snapped the photo.  It's almost a miracle that Kate didn't move because normally if I make the slightest move, she usually gets her eyes on me stat. 

She is sleeping in the wing back chair.  You can see the scar that goes from below her neck to just above her tail.  Besides the miracle of not getting her attention, it is unusual for her to sleep with her back to me.  She is usually facing the other direction.  My day started with the gentle (okay, maybe it was blaring) reminder about my own scars.  It also is a comfort knowing that Kate is comfortable and secure - just as I can be as well.   Not sure what all of this is about, but am enjoying the journey.  Of course, I must admit that I am ready for the next post to be from Fondue or Kate.  Maybe tomorrow's walk will be adventurous.

Amazing Love by The Crazy Human

We've all had crap in our lives. People we've loved and trusted made bad choices, which in turn negatively impacted us. These events in our lives placed scars on our souls and created fear in our hearts. And as humans will do, we allow those scars and fears to impact our choices and at times end up creating more scars and fears to handle. One of the biggest barriers to my believing there was a God that loved me so much that He became flesh and then suffered and died a horrible death as atonement for my sins were the events that created my scars and fears. When the barrier was broken and I believed, I decided to turn those ugly scars into tools that helped others deal with their scars. I went from being the one who covered everything with a scarf to the one who said, "Check this out. I got this scar because of this, but look how nicely it's healed. It is now simply a part of me."

As most of you know, my Kate has a huge scar down her back. She came to the rescue that way and we do not know what happened to her. A veterinary dermatologist told me it looks like a chemical burn. Whatever it is, it had to hurt like the dickens. No matter how it happened, my firm belief is that it was inflicted on her by a human. She was rescued underweight and flea and tick infested. Bottom line, she was not treated well in her previous life.

Fast forward to today. She gets two nutritious meals a day, sleeps on couches, has free reign of the backyard, gets walks when this crazy human isn't too lazy, has her extended adoptive family, and is loved on often every single day. This morning, she was in my lap and I was holding this 60lb dog like a baby, petting her head and talking sweetly to her. She was looking me directly in the eyes and had such a look of contentment married with a great sense of security. Then I pet her on her side and accidentally brushed against her scar - she jumped and her skin rolled. For a moment, she was insecure but quickly came back to contentment and security.

If I were able to be a fly on the wall and see my relationship with God, I think it would look a lot like what I saw this morning with Kate. I often experience contentment and security and then someone touches my scar and I jump. Most of the time I do not rebound as quickly as my canine companion did today. However, I hope that in the future I will since I have seen the situation from a different perspective. As I saw Kate's countenance change, my heart hurt a bit. I believe God must view me the same way at times. "Relax my child. Even though that scar is healed, I've allowed a little feeling to remain so that you won't forget where you came from and where you are now." I know that His love for me is so much greater than what I feel for Kate - and my friends that is unfathomable to me because I sure love that four legged child of mine. Unfathomable it may be, but it is a fact that I embrace and celebrate. Hope you do the same.

 

Pre-Morning Walk Conversation by Kate (with some Fondue interjections)

The human talks to us a lot.  Most of the time we have no clue what she is yammerin' on about.  Sometimes we watch her body language and listen for the word "bad" or "good" and that will help us out.  This morning, I was a bit clueless.  She's blabbering while she's getting ready for our walk.  Does she really think this is the time to have a convo?

I was sitting on the rug waiting for her to "get ready" for the walk.  I swear, why does it take so long for her to be ready for the walk.  I hop half way off the couch, get in a really good stretch and boom...I am ready to go.  Well, I would be if it wasn't followed by what feels like forever as I follow the human around the house.  I add a little happy dance and excited wiggles thinking that will make her move faster, but it doesn't work.  The thing that drives me crazy is watching her play with those things she put in her ears.  It resembles her tying her shoes, but the exact opposite.  She gets frustrated sometimes and I don't understand why.  Just put them in your ears so we can go - who cares if they are all waded up.  I know I don't.

So, back to this morning.  I had one of those moments that causes all kinds of emotions from the human.  Sometimes there is a sound and other times I am unaware until one of two things occur.  Either I get a wiff of a splendiferous aroma or the human gets very animated and here is what I hear.  "blaaaahhh, KATE, blah blah blah blah?  BLAH!" [human translation - Ugggghhhh, KATE, what did you eat?  GAG!]  This morning I hear Kate with a long string of words.  All I could think was, "please stop talking and let's go!" [human translation - Kate, don't just sit there and fart.  Go outside and go to the bathroom.  Don't wait until we get on the walk just so that I have to pick it up! Dang it, how come these earphones are always so tangled!]

We FINALLY went on the walk.  With the new leashes, I don't get to sniff as much as I would like and if I have to go to the bathroom, I have to signal the human so that she will stop.  Today, I didn't feel like stopping because she was so determined to walk.  I decided to wait until I got back to the house to do my business.  And, for some reason, I am picking up a vibe that the human is happy about that.  For the life of me, I cannot figure that one out.

She Says I Bit Her by Fondue

Yesterday the crazy human came home after abandoning us for the afternoon.  When she walked in the door, it took forever to take in all the smells.  My feelings were hurt that she had been with so many other dogs.  Doesn't she get enough attention here at home?  Is she not getting enough puppy love right here at Whitaker Manor?  Yet again, I just don't get that crazy human.

But, I will confess, it didn't take long to forgive her of her transgressions.  She brought a new bag in the house and put it on the counter.  Somehow I knew there was something in there for me. (okay, it was for Kate and me, but let me have this one moment, will ya?)  She reached in the bag and pulled out a new frisbee.  It didn't take long for me to make it to the backyard.

I love playing frisbee with the human - even though she really needs some throwing lessons.  I can never predict which way I need to run to catch that darn thing.  And, there is quite a dilemma for me as to whether I will need to jump or get really low to the ground.  There's no consistency, but it's fun nonetheless. 

Since we had been at the house alone for what felt like forever, I will admit I was a little wound up. What happens next is what is up for debate.  She was standing there about to throw the frisbee and for the life of me I don't know what was taking so long.  Seemed like she was just standing there holding the frisbee while making a grocery list in her head.  So, I did what any good dog would do.  I ran and leapt into the air, opened my mouth as wide as I could and clamped down on the frisbee.  So I thought.

When I made it back to the ground, much to my surprise, I didn't have a frisbee in my mouth.  What I did have was the familiar taste of the human's skin.  Okay, I guess I need to be honest here.  I also detected a slight hint of blood, but it was only slight.  I looked at the human who was holding her arm and speaking in a frantic tone.  I did my best to look apologetic, but I just wasn't feeling it.  After all, had she thrown the dang frisbee when she was supposed to none of this would have happened.  I am happy to report the she got over feeling bad about making me bite her and she threw the frisbee for a while.  We had lots of fun.

Single and Living Alone

When I tell people that I am single and that I live alone, I guess I am not really being honest.  There is great beauty in being able to do what you want when you want. And, one of my favorites, having what you want for dinner - whether that's a frozen dinner, a bowl of cereal, or nothing at all.  There are no other humans to plan around and most of the time that's really nice.  So why am I being dishonest?  It's because I live with two dogs.  Here's a perfect example....

It's Friday night and it's been a long week.  No particular reason why it was a long week, it just was.  I think about what I would like to have for dinner and of course my first thought is "I think I'll hit a drive-thru."  And then, I remember a promise I made to myself after my last drive thru experience - no more eating food obtained while driving up to a speaker and sitting on my fat butt ordering an unhealthy meal only to drive forward and receive my food thru my car window.  If I can't be physical enough to get out of the car and walk to get my food, then I don't need it. 

If I have to get out of the car, I'm going to go for something that taste better than fast food, and then it hits me - I want to make some hummus and have it with these new pita chips I bought at the store earlier this week along with a Bocca burger.  I call a friend and we discuss hummus recipes and then the mission begins.  But, as I walk in the grocery store they have piped the smell of rotisserie chicken thru the air conditioner vent and like a zombie, I end up standing in front of them staring at them like I have just reunited with an old lover.  I decide to walk away and go find the chickpeas and then again, like a zombie, I am in front of those dang chickens staring at them again.  Somehow I mustered up the strength to find my way to the chickpeas and Bocca burgers and leave the store.  Victory is mine and I am so proud and excited about my hummus adventure.

As I pull in the drive, I see the little white face and the little brown face peeking under the blinds.  Both of their heads are vibrating back and forth because the other end is wiggling out of control.  This particular sight is one of the best parts of my day.  I am very excited about seeing the girls and being greeted with such enthusiasm.  I put the key in the door, make my way in, great the girls and proceed to the kitchen counter with the grocery bags.   I set them on the counter and look down and see the note.

Susan, the dog walker extraordinaire, left me the following, "found an empty bag of pita chips on the living room floor."  By the look on Kate's face, I believe this would be her interpretation...

The crazy human walked in and the mood was so fun.  She was smiling and laughing and I know she was impressed by my wild wiggling.  Fondue was trying to out cute me by using her little "woo woo" voice, but I know that the crazy human loves my wiggles just as much.  And then it happened.  I am no scientist, but I am not sure how the temperature can get so chilly in a room while fire is coming of the human's nostrils, but it can happen.  I immediately assumed the "I am so sorry, I won't do it again (even though she knows that I will) pose."  Then there wasn't just fire from the nostrils, there was smoke from the ears, at this point I begin to shake uncontrollably.  She picked up the thing on the wall and began talking into it and she was very animated, I shook a little more.  Then I sensed the human's mood change and she left the room.  I stayed away from her because I was a bit afraid.  It didn't last long and to be honest - I'd do it all over again.  I am after all, just a dog and I don't have the ability to understand that she was pissed about the pita chips.  Oh, guess I just confessed that I did understand, oh well, they sure were good!

So, yes, I am single and live alone.  And, for the most part I don't have to worry about someone eating the last one of something.  If it's gone, I was that "someone."  Unless, I forget to put the pita chips in the pantry and have the audacity to leave them out on the counter. 

BTW...I made the hummus anyway and it was delish.  Would have been better on pita chips, but because of this situation, I discovered that cherry tomatoes are good dipped in a cilantro jalapeno hummus.