Mindless Chatter, Monday

Forgot to mention.....we bathed the dogs yesterday since they've been really digging at themselves.  Mostly ANTS, but a few fleas, so if anyone has a spare 6 pack of large dog frontline laying around, we'd love to have it!

Glenda, I have 5 tubes of 45-88lb Frontline, & 2 tubes of 89-132lbs that you are more than welcome to.  PM me your addy & I'll send it out tomorrow.

I hope everyone had a great weekend and is enjoying having a Monday off!

We had the best weekend.  A good friend of mine (we figured out this weekend that we've known each other for almost 20 years, eep!) came down from NC to visit.  She brought her BF and her sweet, adorable dog Bella.  Sammy was instantly in love with her.

Saturday we took the dogs to the river, and they all had a great time.  After we came home, showered, then hit our favorite Cuban restaurant to sit on the patio and have some amazing food and the best margaritas.  Then we went over to some friends' house to watch the UFC fight, and had a good time there as well.

Yesterday we hit the river again, this time brought a few more people, and in total, 8 dogs!  People and dogs all had a great time.  Some friends came over yesterday evening and we all cooked the most amazing dinner.  Grilled some ribs and chicken, potato salad, grilled zucchini, squash, and red peppers marinated in balsamic vinagrette, grilled corn on the cob, and steamed some king crab legs.  O. M. G.  It was awesome!  Thankfully, we have tons of leftovers for dinner tonight!

But of course the best part was seeing my friend and she said she had a great time.  Also, the dogs are still tired today, so added bonus, lol.

Done!  Thanks so much Amanda!

I guess I overdid my outside cleaning yesterday. I woke up feeling fine but as I was puttering around, I started have back spasms in the middle of my back. They were so strong that they'd take my breath away. I took motrin and managed to get my grocery shopping done. Came home and took one of DH's flexerils and that knocked me out for an hour or so. Still sore but better.

DH called earlier to let me know that there'd been a gas explosion in a house and 4 firefighters were injured but he was ok. He was too busy to talk long, but I appreciated him letting me know. Right after his call, I saw the breaking news and would've been really worried about him. Please send good thoughts for the 4 that were injured.

Good thots winging their way.  That actually happened in my hometown.  Dad and Mom were on the way out of town when the trucks went screaming by, so Dad followed (assistant fire chief) since it was a Sunday.  They had no more than stepped out of the car when the house exploded.  The homeowner had been installing a water heater and when he tried to shut off the gas, or turn it back on, the shut off valve broke.  He was killed and several fire fighters were injured.  Dad, luckily, rolled under the firetruck when it happened and Mother ducked back into the car.  There were so many homes damaged that a police officer had mother going into homes with him looking for folks who might need medical help.

I just got told off royally by the great and gracious Miss Corky.  There is an oldish saying, errmmm, "cook a duck".  I used it.  She tore into me like I'd actually said "cook"!!!  Yikes!

I am still dizzy. I tried benedryl yesterday and dramomine today. I think the benedryl worked the best. I hope this is gone by tomorrow or at least wed because I have some really long days coming at work this week.

I took abbie to the vet behaviorist today. What a cool appt. I actually took all 3 dogs so the vet could see them interact. They had puzzle toys in a toy basket and the dogs went right at them.

Anyway, the vet agrees with me about abbies severe anxiety issues. We got her on some meds and a dap collar (which I'm skeptical about). She also wants me to do some classical conditioning (I've been doing operant) as well as use the head halter. I've used the head halter before and wasn't happy with the results but I will give it another shot.

Anyway, it was a 3 hour appt. Time well spent. We will see where it goes!

 The DAP spray works incredibly well, and I've heard good things about the collars chilling out an anxious dog. I actually bought one, and decided against it, since I was only needing "spot" treatment, LOL. Gave it to a friend, and it was FABULOUS on her dog! I hope Abby does well, with her new program!

I am nauseous with all this decision-making....  *barf*...

 had to work today!

boo! but amazingly I scored Friday off cuz out State comp agreement had to be rewriteen and it wasn't in effect until they were paid (i.e. you can't have employees working w/o coverage) , so I got to stay home while the boss had to make a beeline down to their offices. It was awesome, I never get 3 day weekends!! EVER!!

my sis and her BF who lives far away came over this weekend, it was great having them here. of course there was lots of beer, swimming in the pool, ribs and music! and dogs!! haha. Good thing her BF loves animals!! Cuz as soon as they rolled into bed there was 3 dogs in there with them!!

 overall a nice relaxing weekend, didn't really do any thing yesterday besides chores and 'attempted' landscaping! didn't get to see any fireworks or nothing like that. I dunno why, just didn't.

Its hot today, the dogs have the misters on, so do the donkeys. lol 

 Julie I'd love to hear a full report on the visit to the behaviorist!

I merged the Monday MC with the 5th of July MC in case anyone is wondering what happened

Mr Social Butterfly bugsy has been comatose all day

So I decided to go to my PO box today and drumroll please........................ I finally got word that the proposal I submitted in April was successful.  This MAY mean a lot of work and very good compensation.............any vibes you have spare that it starts slow but that I get work out of this would be GREATLY appreciated.

More heat and no rain scheduled for ages - thank goodness we are on a private well and can try to keep some plants alive without going into debt.

cakana

DH called earlier to let me know that there'd been a gas explosion in a house and 4 firefighters were injured but he was ok. He was too busy to talk long, but I appreciated him letting me know. Right after his call, I saw the breaking news and would've been really worried about him. Please send good thoughts for the 4 that were injured.

Cathy, I saw that on the news.  They said the property manager called the owner and said someone had smelled gas and the owner called PG&E to ask them to turn it off.  It must have scared the bejeebers out of all the neighbors.  You just don't expect a house to explode. It was very quiet here last night.  Nobody was setting anything off earlier in the week and nobody was setting anything off after the regular fireworks ended. The police here are really vigilant about that here though.  They drive up and down streets looking for people with sparklers. Apparently those innocent sparklers that we all played with as kids have been responsible for some pretty bad fires over the years.

Joyce

After filling out a million papers we sat in the waiting room. Another dog came in and abbie reacted, then immediatly went in to her "sit" and "look at that" routine from our control unleashed class. The tech guy (more like girl) at the counter made a comment that I was rewarding abbie for reacting. *sigh*. I responded by saying that it is all about training new behaviors and the way she feels about other dogs. To which he responded "well, the doctor will give you some really great tips." So, not a very good first impression and I wanted to smack the guy upside the head. I really didn't need the peanut gallery at that point.

After a few mins we were taken back to our room, which was the size of my living room. It had a couch, couple of big loungy chairs, desk, fish tank, your typical vet counter and drawers, doggy toy box etc. Now I understand why the vet appt is so expensive. Heh. Anyway, I met the vet, tech and a vet student from canada who was studying animal behavior.

We talked about how there are so few vet behaviorists and how its generally not taught at vet schools. The vet gave me her philosophy on behavior modification. We talked about punishment, corrections, and cesar milan type training. I had filled out a super long questionaire prior to going to the appt, so the vet knew ahead of time how I feel about punishment, etc. She agreed with me and we joked how the detroit area is probably the dog beater capital of the world.

I got the feeling that this conversation usually takes up most of the docs vet visits, but she kept it brief with me because I already understand that you can't fix fear and anxiety with punishment.

We talked about what I feed my dogs (typically grain free with a bag or 2 of grain type stuff every now and again). I said I'm ok with just about anything so long as it does not have corn or a lot of non-meat protien in it. She didn't have much to say about this.

We went in to depth about when I first noticed her high anxiety (as a puppy), what I've done so far to work with her on behavior mods (regular obedience classes, one on one with trainer, control unleashed classes). What trainers I've seen, books I've read, what vets have had to say about abbie (current vet doesn't think abbie is that bad).

I gave examples of when abbie goes over the top in to super anxiety mode, scanning the area around her for perceived threats and so forth.

The vet commented how she usually ranks a dogs anxiety by how the dogs react and observe stimuli in the room. For example, a dog that notices the fish in the tank may have some anxiety but a dog who notices the fish in the tank, the noises outside of the room, and the doggy figurines on top of the highest shelves has severe anxiety. This was abbie of course. Apparently the vet noticed that abbie was hyper vigilent about everything in the room. Interesting that the fish tank was there for this purpose. I originally thought it was just eye candy.

More coming....

(((Paige))) 

Julie, I have DAP difusers around the house.  Both Chyna & Brutus are terrified by thunder, & the difusers have made a world of difference.  They both still get anxious, but Chyna doesn't try to eat through doors, & Brutus doesn't try to hide under the couch anymore. 

Cathy, I hope that your back is feeling better.  Glad that your DH is ok.

kpwlee

I finally got word that the proposal I submitted in April was successful.  This MAY mean a lot of work and very good compensation.............any vibes you have spare that it starts slow but that I get work out of this would be GREATLY appreciated.

Fingers crossed that you get work  out of it, Karen!

My stomach is still not right, but I am feeling more alive now.  After DH & the kids headed for the airport, I took the dogs for a walk.  The walk turned in to a swim, and, eventually, baths for everyone.  Now, everyone is clean, & tired. 

I need to start getting instructions together for the petsitter.  Brutus's stuff is complicated, & Cher's isn't really easy either, but I have no doubt that she can handle it.  I feel guilty that we aren't taking everyone, but I don't think that I can keep up with everyone & still spend time with family as well.

 Well my weekend has been good I'm dreading going back tomorrow there is talk we will be working 7 days starting this week. Ugh

BF hasn't moved out he gave me a hug, told me he was sorry, and give him another chance that I need to give him a kick in the a$$ when he doesn't help me clean or treat me like poop. I thought about it this weekend and I'm standing my ground I'm done it's going to be more broken promises nothing will change. I'm not going to stand anymore of his poop he has to go besides he gets on my nerves too bad. IWe are done and over he's just a scared little boy that has no where to go and is trying everything to stay here with me.