Surgery Update

Yep, the long awaited left-foot surgery was this past Thursday. You may recall that in December 2006 I had reconstructive surgery on my right foot and the recovery was horrible, long, drawn out, painful, and I think I never even wore a regular shoe until April or May of the following year! This is NOTHING like that!! THANK GOD!!

The procedure included breaking the halex (big toe) bone about halfway between my toe and foot joints. Then he secured it with titanium brace, screwed it down to hold it in place. That will help to straighten out the bone thus the toe. Then my second toe bone and toe are too long, which is the source of these problems. He shortened my toe. He's counting on my foot readjusting itself. The procedure was less than 1 hr. I was home a little more than 2 hrs after the surgery started. Very Cool!

My honey is here taking good care of me. I'm so relieved, I couldn't have done any of these without his support and help. He's cooking for me, giving me moral support, helping me around the house, driving me crazy (but in a good way). He's sweet. The dogs have been really good too. Charlie, the wiener dog, is steering clear of me - maybe it's the surgical shoe, maybe it's the cane - but whatever it is, he's not getting in my way at all. Snicker has been great, he follows me around, makes sure I get where I'm going, sits and waits for me to get done or get in bed or get into the chair - it's more than cute. Then, he just hangs out and watches me.

Thursday was a breeze, in fact, they sent me home walking on my heel into the house. Instructions pretty simple: elevate foot, intermittent ice packs, only walk to go to the bathroom and wear the surgical shoe and walk on my heel. That all sounds pretty simple. Until Friday!!!! OMG! It was painful! My strategy for Friday was to stay in bed (close to the bathroom) and take enough drugs to sleep all day. It was a good strategy and I only came into the living room Friday night to watch the Presidential Debate.

Saturday, I saw a marked improvement, so I came into the living room and camped out all day. Stayed off the phone, took lots of drugs, ice packs, and just recouped all day. The best part, I really got good sleep when I went to bed - I actually slept from 11pm - 4am before I took more pain killers. The cool part, I woke up and listened to 2 hoot owls in my back yard calling to each other. It was sooooo sweet! I loved it. The dogs were quiet, and didn't react to them hooting out there.

And today, I'm feeling even better. Wow, I've been up since 7 and only taken 1 pain pill about an hr ago. But I'm still keeping it elevated, iced and only going to the bathroom and walking on the heel. I'm very hopeful that the rest of the week I will feel better and better. I think I'll take Monday and Tuesday off - but by Wednesday, I should be able to get involved some - just check in and read emails. Maybe I can have friends over by Wednesday night for wine night! Wouldn't that be good!

"...And in the end
The love you take
is equal to the love you make."
---The Beatles

Thanks for reading my Heavenly Thoughts

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!

How does snow and 20 mph winds and 8 degrees F (wind chill –12 degrees) grab ya? Brrrrr! It’s cold!

Poor little Snicker didn’t know what to think this morning. He went out when we first got up and just stood on the porch not wanting to venture down into the snow and wind. But I shut the door and he didn’t have a choice. He got down into the snow (a couple of inches at our house) and ran around it in, every once in a while stepping into a deep spot, finally found a suitable spot for his business, then ran back into the house. He was COLD when he came back in – his poor ears were frozen and he was only out there for a few minutes.

The thing that always gets me about Cincinnati is the traffic when it snows (and sometimes rains). I mean, people act like they have never seen snow and never driven in it. They crawl along even if the roads are ok. In fact, the roads were ok by the time we left and the traffic was still crawling. It took me a little longer than normal to get to work because we didn’t get on the Interstate. They were parking lots for miles and miles. Luckily, I can get to work on surface streets.

It’s cold at work. I need a heater! I am sitting next to some office space reconstruction. The workers are yakking, the heat doesn’t stay in this part of the building. I still have on my wool hat!! Could use gloves if I could type with them on, I would. Besides being cold, the construction workers are annoying. The foreman or supervisor (whatever he is) talks non-stop about politics, Iraq, George Bush, immigration and his views are ultra-liberal so he’s driving me crazy. He is advocating that Pres Bush should be tried in a global court for ‘crimes against humanity’. Believes that the Bush’s and the Bin Laden’s are good pals and their families talk all the time. Says that “terrorism” is just a distraction for the real reason we’re in Iraq – OIL.

You know the type; you hear them. I just don’t want to hear them while I’m trying to work without turning into an ice cube!! I know he totally believes what he’s saying. I don’t care to express an opinion right now, but I do know that he is at work to work, so he should just do that – work!

Happy New Year!

"...And in the end
The love you take
is equal to the love you make."
---The Beatles

Thanks for reading my Heavenly Thoughts

Tempur Pedic!! Bought one!

Went to San Diego Fair last weekend, it's really a blast. http://www.sdfair.com check it out!!

So while we were there, we bought some little stuff - new shower head, some sticky roller set to roll up dog hair, chammis, AND A NEW TEMPUR PEDIC QUEEN SIZE BED. I still can't believe we bought it. I've never gone to a fair and spent that much money before. They are delivering it on Thursday.....aahhh! Thursday night will be a good night of sleep!

Took Snicker to the dog park in Escondido today, he played with a maltese, couple yorkies, some dachshunds, pit bull, chihuahuas, a pug, rottweiler, greyhounds, and some HUGE dog- parinees or something. It was a fun day.

"No one travelling on a business trip would be missed if he failed to arrive."
--- Thorstein Veblen

Walking Snicker

This morning was the first time in 2 1/2 weeks of working that I felt guilty leaving the house. The morning went better than I had expected. I got ready for work in record time, had my lunch packed, coffee poured and the game plan was to take the dog for a walk before work- at least 30 minutes if I could squeeze it in. I tried, I think we got 20 or 25 minutes in - I walked him to the library and let him run in his favorite spots - the ground cover that he LEAPS through. I have to admit, I LOVE watching him leap through it! But it was a stressful walk - he was pulling, I was stressed, had to keep watching the time. I don't think it accomplished what I wanted. I kept reminding myself - CALM ASSERTIVE - but it wasn't working, it was more like STRESSED ASSERTIVE - not a good energy to share with the dog.

So, when we got back to the house, I had everything ready to go. My lunch was packed, the dog's food was ready, his treats were already outside and all I had to do was take him out. He didn't want to go out, he just got in and wanted to stay in. When I leave in the morning, I leave him in the backyard. The girls let him in when they get up. And then when they leave, they put him back out. He doesn't behave well in the house just yet and I am learning it's because he has too much energy. I've been reading and watching Cesar Millan's books and TV show, The Dog Whisperer. Everything comes down to some basic rules: EXERCISE, DISCIPLINE AND THEN AFFECTION and communication is based on NOSE, EYES AND THEN EARS. So our words mean NOTHING but our actions mean EVERYTHING!!

Everyday I will keep trying - I will keep trying to be the pack leader - 24x7 - CALM ASSERTIVE. I'm not that good at the calm part and maybe not that good at the assertive part. When I took my dog to see Leonard, he instructed me that I have to get myself in that state of mind first, then the dog will follow. So I can get this through meditation or yoga. I have never been able to meditate in my life, but I think I will have to try. OY! HELP! IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCED AT MEDITATION, PLEASE WRITE TO ME! I NEED HELP WITH THIS!!
Right now, I would say he is "better in the house" than on a walk, which tells me that he still doesn't respect me or see me as the pack leader. I instill consistent discipline in my house for him and all members of my household uphold it. So, we have followed the instruction of Leonard, I have put into practice the things that I have read and seen on the TV show. And I do see a difference in my dog. We both have a way to go, but that's what today is. The here and now.

As for my guilt from this morning, I will just try to do something better for him tomorrow morning. Afterall, it was the first time that I heard him whine while I was locking the doors and bark as I walked down the driveway. If it means getting up a little earlier, so be it. It won't hurt me to get a walk in before work, it will clear my head, get my blood pumping, prepare me for a mentally challenging day on my new challenging job. Besides, today was the first time I walked him in the morning and plan to walk him after work just like every other day. Maybe tonight I'll take him an extra long walk - as long as my foot can stand it! It will help him sleep better and me too!!

As an additional note - I came home from work and took him for a walk - he was HAPPY!! He ran and played while we were walking. So all's well that ends well. Besides, my honey ended up coming home early today because he was not feeling well. So it really ended well today.

"No one travelling on a business trip would be missed if he failed to arrive."
--- Thorstein Veblen

Snicker Dog Training

So much has happened since I last wrote - my best friend came from Cincinnati to visit me in San Diego. We didn't have tons of plans, just to hang out, eat sushi, drink some wine and TALK!! I have not seen her since last October the weekend I went home for my son's wedding. We had time together then, but not like we planned for this weekend. Just us...no interruptions!

BUT she is allergic to dogs - not as bad as other allergies she has - but nevertheless the dog can't jump on her, can't have much direct contact with her and certainly can't bite at her. She won't put up with it and on last Thursday afternoon, I finally decided I wasn't going to take it either! So, I took the advice from one of my readers and found Leonard Ludovico. The best part is that he is only 35 minutes north of my house and had time available Thursday late afternoon.

So.....for the sake of my sanity, my family's, my friend's, we took Snicker up to see Leonard. He instructed me on the phone that I have to give up the "positive clicker training" for now. That those commands are BS and self-serving for the dog. That he will respond to the command when he wants to in order to just get the treat or the pet or the reward. Rewards are good, but they should not be the reason the dog sits, stays, walks right, etc. etc.

We got up there and within a few minutes Snicker was on his way to becoming a better behaved dog that ended up respecting me by the time we left. I learned how to be the leader of our pack. I'm still learning and will persevere every day. After just one hour and a half lesson I learned how to control him, how to walk him, how to keep him from biting, how to keep him from jumping AND like I said...I'm still pushing forward every day and 'practicing' how to be the LEADER OF THE PACK!!

And the entire weekend was a success because of the training. He tried to jump on Sherry just a couple of times, she pushed him down, told him no and he stayed down. He has virtually quit jumping on us and has quit biting us. He still walks terrible on the leash, but I was able to take him to Fiesta Island and let him run off his leash in a place where there are no distractions. It was really fun because he kept his eyes while we were walking around. I could tell when he was getting stressed and needed more structure. The leash went back on, I kept him by my side, he settled down and I was pleased.

Leonard gave me some parameters - no strangers petting him, no public dog parks, keep the leash on in the house for a while until he can be trusted to keep his eyes on me, no toys when he's alone except outside, toys in the house only when we are playing with him, and not to be emotional when training him - quit talking to the dog, use actions, not words.

All I can say is - so far....so good....so until I get a job, I will make lesson #1 last until I can afford lesson #2. Thanks Leonard!

"Women are like teabags. We don't know our true strength until we are in hot water!"
--- Eleanor Roosevelt

It's been a while

Thanks to all of my friends at MyBlogLog who checked on me to see how my job search was going. All I can say is that "IT'S GOING". I did get an offer, but it was a little low for my experience level, so I am still looking around. I've had lots of phone "screenings", then pretty many second interviews on the phone, then 4 companies that invited me for face-to-face interviews (so far), already been to 2 of them, have one today and one tomorrow, and got an offer from one. So, I guess I'm doing pretty good. Afterall, it is a process.

The thing is it is taxing. It takes alot of energy, time and positiveness to keep on the search. I can't give up because I need a job. Everyone is asking me if I am enjoying my time off and frankly, I'm not. I'd rather be fighting traffic, complaining about long commutes (it is Southern California ya know) and going to work dealing with issues and problems, than to be home searching jobs, cleaning, cooking, laundry, aaaagghh!!

I did move into my townhome a couple of months ago and I still had a few things to unpack and setup and/or decorate. I have taken a little time to do that and even today, I'm going to start setting up my stereo. Need my music for my sun room and my upstairs. I spend most of my time in my office, so music maestro PLEASE!!

The BEST part is being able to spend time with Snicker. He is learning sooooo much. We've been going to positive training (clicker-type) and it's been really good. He can 'watch me', 'sit', 'down', 'take it', 'leave it', 'drop it' (sometimes), 'stay' (kind of), 'come' (most of the time), learning loose leash walking with sits and watch me's while walking. I have been taking him everywhere I can - he's fun to take places because he's so cute.
He is pretty good MOST of the time.....

Then it happens..........the transformation from good BOY to HOLY TERROR!!! (Remember, he was a rescue, he's about 1 yr old and has some bad habits that I'm trying to break) He BITES at us and nips us to get us to play with him, but he doesn't just want to play, he wants to play rough. He includes biting as part of the play, he jumps up on us, bites, if we stand and turn (to ignore him) then he bites our heels or the backs of our legs. I have tried everything the trainer suggested, I have tried everything I see online by the 'experts'. But nothing seems to work. We aren't giving up, but it's taxing. Could use some advice is anyone out there reading this is an expert or has overcome this with their dog. He is fixed, only about a month now, so I know that will help at some point.

"Women are like teabags. We don't know our true strength until we are in hot water!"
--- Eleanor Roosevelt

The waiting game.......

tick-tock....TICK-TOCK....wait....wait....wait some more :)

I don't mind the wait, really, especially when I have other options in the wings. In fact, it's a test in patience, something that we ALL need MORE of!! PATIENCE.

In fact, I had already decided not to do anything on my job search today...which has already been blown out of the water. I've already talked to a recruiter, have another one that I need to return a call to, and am looking in my email in case there's anything in there important enough to give some of my attention.


Besides, it's COLD here today. Supposed to rain later, so I am going to take Snicker for a nice walk in a bit. I kept hoping for some sunshine, but it's not happening. Bundle up baby!! Brrr, it's probably 58 degress or even a little colder.........Alright, alright, I know that is NOT cold, but it is for me now !! OMG - How will I ever handle Cincinnati weather again???????? EEEECCCKKK!

Tick-Tock....off I go.

"Women are like teabags. We don't know our true strength until we are in hot water!"
--- Eleanor Roosevelt

Snicker at the vet

I took Snicker to see Dr. Pyne at Fallbrook Veternary Hospital. First off, I can't say enough about how GREAT this vet is! He is wonderful with the animals and the owners. I just love going there and so does Snicker. He knows everyone and is happy to see all of them, especially Brian! So thanks to them for being so wonderful.

Dr. Pyne gave Snicker a 'clean bill of health", which is SUPER FANTASTIC!! He has been through so much and to come out of it so quickly is amazing. Dr. Pyne was very pleased with how well he is, how healthy he is and how the mites that caused him tons of issues are GONE!! YIPPEE!!

Plus, I found out that Snicker is a Pug/Chihuahua mix or they called him a CHUG!! That fits him so perfectly ;) He weights 17.3 lbs, up .8 lbs from 2 weeks ago. He is such a good boy and he really showed off at the vet that he knows how to 'sit', 'down', 'watch me', 'take it', 'drop it', 'leave it', 'loose leash walk', and be really, really good. He showed off as much as he could, kissing and wagging all over everyone that works there.

So, Snicker is happy, healthy, smart and doing excellent. I'm a happy owner and will keep on teaching him as much as I can learn. Thanks to Critter Crossings for finding him for me. It certainly is a match made in HEAVEN!

"Women are like teabags. We don't know our true strength until we are in hot water!"
--- Eleanor Roosevelt

Pics of Snicker

The most spoiled pup in SoCal!! We have fun every day :)

Been out of it

I have been sick since Monday, so haven't felt like posting. Just a cold I guess, but it's made me so tired, sleeping alot, still working as much as I can. So, if I'm not responding to your comments or emails, it's because I'm really trying to rest.

Still training Snicker, in between sleeping and working. He's responding well to the clicker/treat training - positive training. I'm reading a book and been to a class. I have alot to learn, but I'm willing and trying to help him be a well-behaved companion. He has alot to learn and so do I.

The one thing that I wish I could find a place where I could take him to run and run and run. But where I wouldn't have to worry about him running away or getting lost. Maybe when I'm feeling better I'll take him out to the desert or something and find some place for him to have some fun. He needs to get out some energy and get extra exercise.

I've been reading The Dog Whisperer website and he says 45 min of exercise in the morning and 45 min in the afternoon. On the weekends, I can do that, but during the week I've not been able to do that. I guess I have to get up earlier, but that's hard for me. I do get up early, but not up early enough to get out and take him for a long walk! YIKES! I would have to get up around 5am. Too early.......

"The best way to keep children home is to make the home atmosphere pleasant--and let the air out of the tires."

-- Dorothy Parker

I made up my mind.....Snicker

After visiting shelters, talking to vet techs, asking lots of questions about behavior, socialization and so on, I made up my mind. Even though I was hell bent on getting a purebred chihuahua, the more I asked about the older ones (which is what I wanted from the rescues and shelters) the more I realized that they are not so nice with other dogs or children - even though we don't have either right now, this is a dog for life and we want another dog later and we might have grandchildren one of these days!

So, I went up to meet Snicker. He was so sweet right from the start. He has been living part time at the vet hospital and part time with the woman that runs the rescue. He's had some health problems - 2 surgeries (one cherry eye and one ruptured umbilical hernia) plus he had the red mange - not contagious - just means that his immune system needs some help. He's taking meds and is much better now that he was in January. AND HE'S SO SWEET! I needed a sweet loving dog. Not one that is so hyper that he drives you crazy, but one that has a normal activity level, is socialized with other dogs, cats, humans, and is curious about his surroundings - AND is housebroken.

Snicker is all of these things. The first thing he did was reach up for me to pet him, then he stayed right by my side. We went out in the yard to play and he was having so much fun. He barked to get the other dogs attention and wanted them to come and play.

The vet tech there was telling me all about him. He's so sweet, so loving, they all loved him and he was one of their all time favorites. Coming from a vets office, I have to say that I am impressed. I saw how many files were on their walls. They have TONS of patients. And of all of those files, a good number had to be dogs.

Then I brought him through the vets office and he was fine with the other dogs, didn't bother the cats, was happy-go-lucky and off we went!!

We got into the truck and just sat in the cab for a little while. He and I were hugging and petting and he was so happy to be going home with me. NO issues with separation anxiety, hostility or any other psychological problems. All he wanted to do was sit on my lap.

He's about 15 lbs, I think a little over weight. He's a chihuahua mixed with something.....we're not sure. Some people said pug, it could be dachshund, I'm not sure and really I don't care. In fact, whatever he's mixed with, he's very smart.

I'm reading about positive dog training - using clickers and treats. He's a nibbler, so I might have a tough time with the treat part because he's not so hip to the treats. I will have to find something that is irresistible to him. Petco here I come. I did already buy him a little bandana and a little outfit for colder days. The girls laughed at him in his outfit and he wouldn't come out from under the table - so I don't think he liked it too much :)

So far, he only marked one spot in my bedroom where Rusty had marked alot..........I've cleaned, baking soda'd the carpet, Pet Odor Febrezed it and have tried everything to help him get past the Rusty smell. So far, that's all he's done. He's found a spot in my bed to sleep in between us at our feet, we don't have a problem with it. He sleeps all night, even snores!! It's hilarious!

We're off, going to take him to the dog park: http://www.nchumane.org/about/home.php in Oceanside. It's new as of last September. I've never been, but I heard it's nice. I'll let you know.

"The best way to keep children home is to make the home atmosphere pleasant--and let the air out of the tires."

-- Dorothy Parker