Pity Party

This is a "poor me" post. I have a cold. I ache. I accidentally used the vicks-infused kleenex I had in my hand to wipe my bum while I was on the toilet (evidently I cannot blow my nose while peeing when I am on Thera-Flu!). There is a dead mouse somewhere in my house that only I (who cannot breathe) can smell. Lil man came home from school yesterday with lines to write.

And then there is my back. I have had a backache for the last couple of days.

Do you suppose this is why?

Every time I sit down, Buddy makes a flying leap from whatever perch he is on and LANDS right here, where he stays. I suppose I should just thank God that it's not Holly.

What to do, what to do - Part 3 and update

In part one of this ongoing saga, I threw myself upon your mercy for help with the problem of Mae, a nice young thing that is in the family way.

In part two, thanks in great part to your suggestions, help, and prayers a solution was arrived at.

In part three, I will tell y'all how it's going.

So far, in the dog trap that the Animal Control Officer lent to the Sheriff's Office and that the Deputy left at my house, we have captured the following:

Buddy

Maggie

Bunny(s)

Buddy

Buddy

Maggie

Notice who's not there?

Yep, that would be Mae. She will lie next to it.

She will play with the dog who is in it.

She will try and help me release the bunny.

She still will not be caught.

She will sidle up next to you as long as you are not looking at her.

She will touch your hand with her nose as long as you are not looking at her (and your finger does NOT flex).

She dances, she whimpers, she whines, she talks, she follows you around.

She still will not be touched.

I will keep trying.

On a side note, Maggie evidently thinks this is some kind of agility training. I reset the trap, she gets in, springs it, and then gives me her belly like a good dog!

***UPDATE***UPDATE***UPDATE***UPDATE***UPDATE***UPDATE

Juls just went to my house to forward the laundry and, praise God, Mae is in the crate. The vet will board her till Wednesday and then do all of the necessary procedures.

Hurray!!! and thank God that I get paid on Monday!

What to do, what to do (Update)

First of all, thank you all for your comments and sympathy.

I took my other dog, Holly, to the vet yesterday and, while we were there, spoke to him about Mae. He had no suggestions but his assistant suggested that I call the city's animal control officer (he does not handle animal problems in the county unless it is a vicious dog). She thought he could shoot Mae with a tranquilizer and then we could get her to the vet.

I called him. He cannot tranq a dog who is not vicious. He suggested calling the sheriff's office.

I did. They suggested calling the animal control officer.

This is all just so deja vu. Went thought this not too long ago with a neighbor's horse.

He did suggest trapping Mae and then the sheriff's could call him and he would dispose of her. He said to call the Sheriff's Office and get a trap. I called. They have no traps. They're not sure what happened to them. They are gonna try and borrow one from the Animal Control Officer and then call me so I can pick it up. No one has any suggestions on how to make sure it is Mae in the trap.

So, once I have Mae in the trap, I will not call Animal Control to dispose of her. I will take her to the vet. the puppies will be aborted, and she will be spayed.

I love dogs. I love puppies. You literally cannot give away a dog in this town or a puppy. I cannot keep the puppies.

I am certain in my heart that God has a special treat for the assholes who do this to dogs and to those of us who love them. Otherwise, I would hunt them down and do unspeakable things to them.

Update on the update: The Sheriff's Office called. They can borrow a trap from the ACO but a deputy has to do it and then the deputy and the ACO and I all have to meet so that this can be handled. There are no deputies available but when there is, they will call me, and if the ACO is available and I can get off work, this will work. Hurray!

What to do, what to do

I am distraught.

Last year, some ignorant coward dumped a litter of 5 puppies at the business next to my house. My house was not there at the time, but it is now. 3 of the puppies were run over in the street but 2 survived. The guys at the wrecking yard put out food for the dogs when they thought about it.

When we moved in, we started feeding Maggie and Mae. They hang out at the wrecking yard or in our front yard with our dogs.

Maggie is a sweetheart. She is very friendly and touchable.

Mae is not. She IS a sweetheart and she would like to be friendly and touchable. She just cannot make herself let us touch her. She will sidle up to you and whine and whimper and follow you around and just darn near break your heart. She just won't let you touch her.

The only reason this is a problem is because puppies grow up to become dogs.

A little over a month ago, my daughter took Maggie to the vet and had her spayed. She would have had Mae done at the same time, but Mae will not come to anyone.

Mae came into heat, every male dog within 10 miles was at the wrecking yard (their Saint Bernard came into heat at the same time), and Mae is "with puppies".

Hence the quandary. What do I do?

I already own 3 dogs. I take care of 3 others. The county in which I reside does not have a shelter or an Animal Control Officer. I cannot get hold (literally) of Mae to take her to the vet. I cannot imagine, OK, unfortunately, yes, I can imagine, what will happen to the pups.

Any suggestions?

The most obvious, the one that sounds the worst but is probably the most humane, is to put her down. Given her refusal to let us touch her, this would entail shooting her. My heart is breaking and I can no longer think clearly.

Any suggestions?

Butt Prints in the Sand

I have been feeling sorry for myself this week - broken car, broken a/c, huge electric bill, etc. Then I came across this in my files and I feel much better. I think I'll just wipe the sand off of my arse and keep on keepin' on:

Butt Prints in the Sand

One night I had a wondrous dream,
One set of footprints there were seen.
The footprints of my precious Lord,
But mine were not along the shore.
But then some stranger’s prints appeared
And I asked the Lord, “Where have we been?
Those prints are large and round and neat
But Lord, they are too big for feet.”

“My child”, He said in somber tones,
“For miles I carried you alone.
I challenged you to walk in faith,
But you refused and made Me wait.
You disobeyed, and you would not grow.
The walk of faith you would not know.

And there I dropped you on your butt
Because in life there comes a time
When one must fight, and one must climb,
When one must rise and take a stand
Or leave their butt prints in the sand.”

Author unknown.

"Nuff Said

It's a crying shame...

Courtesy of Webster's online:



Main Entry: 1shame

Pronunciation: 'shAm

Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English scamu; akin to Old High German scama

shame1 a : a painful emotion caused by consciousness of guilt, shortcoming, or impropriety b : the susceptibility to such emotion

2 : a condition of humiliating disgrace or disrepute : IGNOMINY

3 a : something that brings censure or reproach; also : something to be regretted : PITY b : a cause of feeling shame



2 weeks ago, my grandson, who is 7, did something shameful.



His babysitter called me and I called his mom and then his grampits. We all talked to him. I was not privy to what his mom said but I can tell you that his grampits and I both said, at different times, that we were disappointed, sad, hurt, confused, angry, upset and mad. We both said, at different times, that we did not understand but that he needed to know that his actions affected not just himself, but everyone who loves him. We did not seem to be getting through.



My daughter, an excellent mom, took him to visit with our priest. My grandson has known our priest for almost 1/2 of his life and loves him. Father John told the little man that when he acts in that way it makes Fr. John ashamed to be his friend. Father John got through.



This got me to thinking. Am I so afraid of scarring the child's psyche that I forgot about shame? and guilt? and sin? Shame is an honorable emotion. Guilt is an honorable consequence. Sin is a dishonorable separation from God. Maybe by being so conscious of the baby's (yes, I know he's 7 - he will always be the baby) ego and self-esteem, I have been neglecting his conscience and his soul.



I know that I am not his mother. I am not solely responsible for his upbringing. I am, however, family, and as grandma, at least as responsible as my Mom was for my kids. Thank God, and I do, for such a wonderful example.

Boredom

I got into a conversation the other day about boredom. I know that boredom existed when I was a child because I remember saying that I was bored. I also remember painting pickets, dusting furniture legs, and chopping firewood - all my parents' remedies for my boredom.


I know people who, while needing money, will turn down a job - a good, honest job - because it is "boring".


I know children in school who consistently get into trouble because they are "bored". This child's parents think it is the school's responsibility to make sure their child is not bored. I think it is the child's responsibility to learn to sit still and listen. This child is bright - so bright - but I am afraid that if the adults in his world constantly shape the world to suit him, he will have even more difficulties when he gets older.


This child is not independantly wealthy and will have to work. I know of very few jobs whose sole function is to keep the employee entertained.




I am concerned (but not bored).