Petey and Pepper enjoying themselves

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A squirrel it is!

Yuki spots a squirrel on the "squirrel-proof" bird feeder.
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Every animal in the house...

Is napping. It's making me sleepy.
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Another lovely day

Pepper is enoying the nice weather. I wish my Blackberry took better pictures. It's so convenient to moblog. Alas, perhaps by the time I'm eligible for an upgrade they will have a model better than just 2.0 megapixels.

I need to do a massive clean-up in my studio but it's hard to relgate myself to the indoors when it's nice outside. It rained daily for so long I can't resist - plus who knows if I will ever have this "luxury" again? I actually have color in my face for once instead of my usual office pallor...
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Pepper enoying the sunshine

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Window boxes

The window boxes are looking nice. I cheated this year and got some healthy mixed hanging baskets, removed the flowers from the hanging pots, split open the root ball so they would be more rectangular and replanted them in the window boxes. I added some potting soil to fill in any holes - and voila! It looks like midsummer growth already. Sometimes cheating is good :-)
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Stella D'oro lillies

These lillies came from my father's house. After he died I dug some up and brought them to my garden. We talked about these lillies often - a very reliable variety. The begin blooming right before his birthday. It is a nice way to remember him.
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YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE YOUR PETS BEHIND IF YOU LOSE YOUR HOME

cha-ching

Mini's mishap with a dumbass driver translated into $3,400 worth of repairs. I will have to pay a $250 deductible, but it sucks to pay anything, considering all I was doing to was traveling down a turn lane.

I have been productive this morning as a newly unemployed person and did tons of weeding, trimming, and mowed the backyard with my new "green" lawnmower. I love it. It's not as precise as a smokin' loud mower, but it's really rather meditative as you whirr-r-r-r from one side of the yard to the other. It cuts regular grass great, but the longer, harder stemmed weeds usually bend under the cutter and pop back up after you pass by. I just go back and forth over one of those stubborn buggers until it catches in the cutters.

I just use it for the backyard where the dogs are - not as scary for them and you don't have the hassle of getting a big mower through the gates, etc. I just grab it and go whirrrrrrring. It's cute.

Waitin' for Papa to get home...

Now that my car is bashed and in the shop for who knows how long...it's me and the critters. And the to-do list.
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Murphy is after me...

Yesterday I went out for a 5 minute trip to the store and WHAM! I got hit by an old blue Mustang who promptly made a run for it. I wasn't hurt, but poor Smidget got sent to the shop again thanks to another dumbass driver. Obviously they didn't have insurance and apparently the tags weren't current and didn't belong to the car - didn't show up in any DMV records. This is the second time this year someone has hit me and wouldn't take responsibility for it. What is wrong with people these days? Gah. Sucks. Wonder what's next?
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cat nightmares...

(obviously I am bored and still not sleepy)...

...but I had to write this down. Peanut is asleep behind my head on the couch and he is having a kitty nightmare of sorts. He is growling and hissing in his sleep. Now, I have seen plenty of dogs dream, woof, and growl while dreaming, but I don't think I have ever seen a cat be than demonstrative while dreaming. I've seen paws twitch and such, but well, that was just funny. I moved and he startled awake, his big green eyes a little glazed from being ripped from his nocturnal adventures. He was fighting with someone - probably beating up Yuki - that's usually who is pouncing on his during the day.

I'm still hungry.

can't sleep...

It's late but I'm not sleepy. Pepper and I are watching some tube and I'm on the laptop writing drivel. Storming outside. More frickin' rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Pepper opens her eyes and looks at me when the thunder erupts..."everything okay mama? ok, back to sleep now." Fortunately neither of our dogs are scared of storms.

Pepper has a favorite chair...it's really her chair now. Petey just hops on top of the back cushion of the couch and makes a "beagle nest." The pillows are destroyed from all his daily "nesting." We never were the types to keep our animals off the furniture - we like to cuddle with them too much. Maybe that's a weakness or a bad habit, but I would hate it if they couldn't schoochie up to us for some special scratches and hugs.

*stares off into space* tick-tock...tick-tock...

Now I'm hungry.

stickin' it out...

Being laid off - sucks. Being laid off with endless days of rain - sucks even more. The dogs are couped up. I am couped up. We all need some sunshine and time to play in the yard.

It's hard to stay motivated when there are no new opportunities on the horizon. Mental health jobs are being cut left and right and being a social worker just short of being eligible for licensure really hurts because there are plenty of licensed people who've been laid off. It's an employer's market when it comes to getting good employees. A lot of people; not so many jobs.

You would think this would be a welcome vacation after 21 years of working, but it's more a battle against worry and uncertainty. I am to keep recreating myself, readjusting the plan, revitalizing...

The goal for this week is to clean up and reorganize my studio. It's truly a disaster.

Turn that damn light off...

Are you trying to tell me something Peanut?
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Are you sure you're comfortable?

Peanut sleeping away a rainy morning.
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Pretty Pepper

Here's my pretty girl. We're going to a Canine Confidence class next week. Woof.  

Ugh.

Being.unemployed is no fun, even with a severance package. Mental health services are being cut everywhere and there are precious few jobs to be had. Everyday I check for job listings and check leads to no avail. I am just short of being eligible for licensure which knocks me out of qualifying for 75 percent of jobs that are listed or available. It's been a week now and the first few days were nice but the worry is creeping in...

On a brighter note I am looking forward to next Saturday because I am taking Pepper to a Canine Confidence class. She is a very nervous shepherd and I really want to work on her socialization and confidence. She is such a smart dog - I hate not getting to share her wonderful personality with other people. She's only comfortable around close family and a very few friends. Our vet said German Shepherds have been so overbred that many of them now have fearful temperaments - yet another reason to avoid all backyard breeders and all "pet shops" who buy from puppy mills. Don't get me started on that!!

All for now...basically because I am already tired of QWERTYing on my Blackberry.

Woof.
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More Yuki

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Hello Yuki

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Yuki loves my closet - meow!

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Naptime already!?
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Naughty Peanut

Kitty on the counter beggin' for treats! Papa taught him that habit ;-)
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Countdown

As the days whiz by I get closer to being unemployed-being laid off after 20 years of service at my company. I have never been without a job and it sure does make me nervous. I have some severance if I can't be placed elsewhere in the company. Unfortunately, the jobs I qualified for have also been cut. And then there's the fact that really I have received zero assistance anyway.

Perhaps it's simply time to move on and start over with a new company.
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Hooray first clematis blooms!

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As soon as I sit up...

My little boy beagle Petey grabs my spot. I just went ahead and covered him up - he likes to be warm!
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Goodbye Sweet Atticus...1992-2009

We had to let go of our first kitty, Atticus. Heartache and misery to let go of my little guy. He was not a cat...he was a feline entity...so much personality. The house is empty without him.

Laid off...

For the past two years I have loved my job as a clinical social worker with older adults. We had a really unique program that helped older folks with mild cognitive impairment or mental health issues such as depression get their lives back. We saw so many people regain their resiliency and make new meaning and purpose for themselves.

But this year's Medicare cuts drove the final nail in our coffin. Our program was cut and the entire staff laid off. We will finish out treatment for our current patients and then we are off to hinterlands of unemployment, or even worse, forced into a job we are not suited for. It's all really depressing and the patients are angry and upset because there's no other program we can refer them to that's like ours.

It's been the best two years of employment I've ever had. It's a bad time to be jobless. I hope things turn out okay. It's definitely an anxiety-producing time.

Wasting away

It's hard to watch Atticus in his final days, but he continues to have an appetite and acts like he wants to be here. If he snows pain or misery beyond what he is showing now I'll have to make the decision.

But right now he's cuddled up beside me and climbed up on the couch on his own. I sure do hate to lose my old guy.

Off for the day and the weather is fine!

Grayson keeps Atticus warm

Atticus is still hanging in there ... Little grayson is cuddled up with him on the couch- poor baby.

Atticus in the balcony window...

 

Atticus joined Grayson on the ledge. You can see where his lip is tucked under...that's because he lost one of his "feline fangs" when he was about 15...he's well through his 16th year. I'm surprised he keeps on ticking...but am glad he does! In his old age he's lost more than half his highest body weight. He was a very big cat in his day...rrrraaaaawwwwwrrrrrr!

Grayson

 

Grayson is feeling much better...and is back in his favorite spot at the balcony window...

drinking from the magic well

 

I got this wonderful parent-approved toilet bowl for the dogs and cats for Christmas. Now they can drink from the toilet all they want without getting into trouble. They love it!! Atticus is getting a slurp in this photo.

Grayson

 

Grayson has been feeling icky from a skin infection, but since he got a steroid shot, he's been pretty spry. It's good to see him being obnoxious again.

I can't figure out...

Why my pillow smells like a beagle.

Petey immediately roosts on my pillow as soon as I get up. Naughty dog!

Petition Against Vick

For anyone out there that are as disgusted as I am with Michael Vick's actions, and minimal sentence, there is a petition to ban him from the NFL.

Michael Vick has openly admitted to the fighting, torture, and murder of many pit bulls on his land in Virginia. These dogs were not only fought but murdered in some of the most brutal ways-beating, drowning, hanging, and even electrocution.
For the horrible crimes that Michael Vick has committed, he was sentenced to a mere 23 months in prison, and now his lawyers are announcing that he should be out of prison and in a halfway house by Jan. 20, 2009.

This petition is to encourage the NFL to not reinstate Michael Vick into the NFL EVER! As we all know, famous athletes are supposed to be role models, setting a good example for America and its youth. Michael Vick should never be allowed to play professional football again.

If you agree with this, please sign the petition. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-NFL-from-reinstating-MichaelVick

For more information on how the dogs lives have been affected please visit http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/02/07/vick.dogs.rehab/index.html

Dog's nose for danger saves lives--Scout rocks!!

Dog's nose for danger saves lives

http://knoxnews.com/news/2008/dec/22/a-nose-for-danger/

Knoxville News Sentinel

Mesmer-eyezd

Yuki tries to get Svengali on me...

You have to see this video of a dog plowing through the snow....

http://www.dogwork.com/dogsnow/

St. Francis, protect my paws...

The pups got their St. Francis medals today...hey, everyone needs an angel...

THE most patient cat alive today...

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I just adore the Shibas

Free TV Show from Ustream

Old Man Atticus

Atticus is a little bag of bones at 16 years old, so he enjoys warmth more than ever. Here he is snuggled up in a blanket I wrapped around him as we both enjoyed the heat from the fireplace. I wish I could keep him forever...he has the personality of 10 cats...and still manages to be obnoxious and bossy with liver, kidney, and heart problems. He gets daily fluids and meds and seems to be pretty happy for now...and I am grateful.

Not so Happy Tails...

This is an email that was forwarded to me from the owners who lost their dog at Happy Tails... (if you're in the Knoxville area you know the story...if not, read HERE...)


Friends:

Although this is difficult to write, I wanted to go ahead and share
the story of our beagle's death. Our dog, Moxie, was a healthy five
year old Beagle; she loved to bark at walkers, lie on our front porch
and have her belly rubbed by any and all visitors. She loved our
three children and just enjoyed her life. On Tuesday before
Thanksgiving, I called Happy Tails (a grooming and boarding business
located on old Ebenezer) to see if they could give her a bath. We
were planning on lots of family on Thanksgiving at our house and knew
Moxie would be in the middle of it. She has been boarded and bathed
there when needed for over five years. I dropped her off at 12:30 PM
and paid in advance because my 16 year old son was picking her up on
his way home from Bearden High School . He arrived at around 4 PM
and was told that she would be ready in a few minutes. After waiting
around 10-15 minutes, the owner, Eric Webb came running through the
lobby with our dog in his arms and told my son to follow him to his
father's office. My son, a licensed driver of two weeks, followed
Eric from their business, past our vet's office and traveled another
10 minutes to his father's office, Dr. Carlos Webb, Rocky Hill Animal
Clinic. They traveled at a high rate of speed and our son was
distraught and confused as to what was occurring. After arriving at
the office, our beagle was pronounced dead by Dr. Webb. The
explanation was that she had a seizure and died after being dried
from her bath. Our son called my husband and me on our cell phones
and we arrived as soon as possible (about 20 minutes). The owner's
wife, Sarah, did not call us even though she had all our
information. They also did not use our vet listed on our emergency
form. The owner, Eric, said he did not call because he was "busy,
trying to save your dog's life". The only discussion at the vet's
office while we were all still in a state of shock was whether to
cremate or have the city pick up our dog. They also discussed the
associated costs. We agreed to cremation around 5 when we left the
office.

The next morning, I visited our veterinarian to discuss the
situation. She immediately requested the body be released to her
staff. After first denying that they had Moxie they called back to
confirm that they were mistaken and she could be picked up. Dr.
Frazier, Northshore Animal Clinic, delivered her to UT for an
autopsy. She confirmed that Moxie had no history that would indicate
a seizure, etc. It was only after being notified by Dr. Webb that we
had her picked up, that we received a call from Eric to see how we
were. He assured me repeatedly that there was no foul play and that
she died of natural causes. He also offered to pay to buy us a new
dog, any breed we wanted. < /SPAN>The results of the autopsy were a
shock to us all. The cause of death was determined to be heat stroke
and blunt injury trauma. She had three cracked ribs and her liver
was lacerated and had bled into her stomach in an amount that would
cause death. Until we can investigate further, we will not know
exactly what occurred at Happy Tails. All I know is that we miss her
terribly and find it hard to understand why she had to endure such a
horrible death. It is a difficult situation to explain to our
children.

I have promised our children that her death will not be in vain and
that we will do all we can to share her story and hopefully prevent
others from suffering a similar loss. After our tragedy I researched
on the computer about Happy Tails and was shocked at the other
stories. You can google it and read those for yourself. I can only
ask that you do not utilize Happy Tails for any services for your
pets, even something as simple as a bath. Also, please check out and
ask for recommendations for any services for your pets. I never
thought this would happen and always felt safe leaving my pet in
their care. If you have any questions, or if you have a similar
story, please call or email me.

Please forward to your friends. Thanks for listening and give your
pets an extra hug today! They deserve our protection!

Kim Ramsey

(Tom, Ryan, Reid, and Abby Ann)

(address and number removed for this blog)

Pepper in the snow

The dogs don't get to see much snow. It takes them a little while to get over the confusion of it all.

Great dog for adoption...

Someone please adopt or foster this dog! I've already asked the spousal unit with no success. He just looks like a fantastic companion. He can even lounge with a ferret with no temptation. My heart just melts when I see this guy...SEE HIM ON PET FINDER...HE NEEDS HELP!

puppy cam...

I hope you've seen the puppy cam...5 adorable Shiba Inus snoozing, playing...being puppies. Puppy Cam

Sunday with cats

Peanut (looking up) and Yuki...

Pepper and her mama...

She loves to tuck her head under my chin while I rub her sides...

Pepper

Peanut meditating...

Peanut demonstrates child pose kitty-style

Once again...

I am wondering what in the hell is going on with this blog. It needs to transform somehow because I have somehow transformed. Being a therapist means you can't talk about work, though I suppose I can talk about issues. But I do that all day. All day.

I think I have temporarily lost my sense of humor--excised--the removal of a humor tumor. The wound hasn't healed and my comic equilibrium is still face-down on the floor--drunk with reality and change. And ridiculous analogies. Desperate attempts to regrow the humor tumor.

I'm bored.

Maybe I won't be bored later.

But it's true that I might be.

I guess I'll deal with it then.

Atty

Atticus hanging out with mama today...he's been pulling out his fur since Rooney died, but it's getting better.

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Petey is enjoying this beautiful weather...it's been so hot and humid lately, but today was in the mid 80's with low humidity...ahhhhhhhh. Pepper is running around so much I can't get a good picture of her! I can always count on the hound to hang out for a photo-op.

Too hot

Smidget says it's too hot! Sheesh!

over-the-shoulder-beagle-holder...

I took this picture by holding my phone over my shoulder. Petey is such a mess! He was running upthe stairs this morning with a cat poo in his mouth. He smells like Fritos too...guess it's bathtime...