If You Can't Run With The Big Dogs, Stay On The Porch

Poor Jack learned a lesson yesterday that had him sick, depressed and his "big dog in a small dog's body" attitude had been crushed. For the past several nights there has been a pack of stray dogs (large wild looking dogs) running the neighborhood where I live. This is not in town, so don't get all alarmed. When I let Jack out to do his business he would find the pack, join it and be gone for hours. Gypsy on the other hand lost her wanderlust and just stayed in my lap anytime I was home.

Yesterday when I got home from work I was surprised to find Jack at home since he had been staying out with the bad dogs until bedtime. His head was hanging, his eyes were drooping, he was sneezing, his belly was red and blotchy and he looked like he had been dragged through a briar patch. He looked worse than the day I rescued him two years ago.

He usually loves canned dog food but was too tired to even eat. After he slept, with his legs trembling and jerking, he got up and ate the dog food. Then I got out the trusty Benadryl and shoved that down his throat. By bedtime he was nearly himself again and I got a full nights sleep for the first time all week. Whatever happened cured him of scratching on the door, barking and begging to go outside which happened every time the wild dogs came into my yard.

It was quite a dilemma for me since I have been a dog lover all my life. How do I protect Jack and Gypsy from these dogs? I did not have the heart to shoot them and was too afraid of them to try and catch them. Also I was not sure if they all belonged to some of the neighbors and got together and decided to try the wild side of life. So I came up with the loud noise, scare them away solution which came in the shape of firecrackers. After three nights of throwing a firecracker into the yard, they seem to have gotten the hint that they are not welcome.

So the moral of this story is as the title says, "If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch." Jack did.

Home from Conference

Well, we had a wonderful conference and a good time to boot! After checking in Tuesday night, we were off to Ryan's. Of course, we over did it so the next stop was mini golf to work some of the food off. The only time it rained while we were gone was starting at the 13th hole. We were having such a good time that we just kept playing and giggling. I wonder if a stately hotel like the Arlington has ever had three drowned rats as guests? They have now!

The conference started Wednesday morning and we had a good opening session. It is always good to see the people I have met before and also to meet new friends. We got out early enough to get in a little shopping and then Red Lobster. Once again we were full so we went back to the hotel, rested a few minutes and then started streetwalking. Oops, I meant walking downtown to see the sights and shops and try to walk off supper.

During our excursion we came across Maxine's. For any of you who may be interested, it is on the south (I think) end of Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs and has a very colorful history. It was operated as a saloon, gambling hall and brothel in the 1900's. It also seems that Maxine died in Warren which is a neighboring town near home. We hit it lucky since the week before Maxine's had started a weekly local blues band session. I was in heaven! We got there just as they got started and stayed for three hours of very good entertainment for only a $2.00 cover charge. I may retire and start a blues club in downtown Monticello. We surely have some talent here also and it is too far to drive to Hot Springs each Wednesday night.

Thursday was very informational as we broke off into different small sessions. My favorite was the Sex Offender Registry class. The lady in charge of this department at ACIC is a retired police chief and she is very interesting in her presentations. I think I would enjoy working for her if I lived in Little Rock.

Friday morning was long since by then we were all about ready to go home. The last meal was at Cracker Barrel and then a flying trip home. Jack and Gypsy were overjoyed to see me and I was overjoyed to be home. Abby spent the night and we slept in until ten this morning.

Once again I have had a memorable week and am glad to be alive to enjoy the life that God has provided. Ain't life grand!!!

Conference Time at the Arlington

Tomorrow I am off to the wonderful city of Hot Springs for conference with two of my co-workers. We must be getting old because instead of looking forward to the night life we are looking forward to relaxing. But it is fun to keep the boss worried about whether we will "behave". He thinks we should wear shirts with another department's name on them if we decide to party. He doesn't want us to embarrass him in any way! And I don't intend to look like the dog in the picture.

So don't tell him that I packed two books, one a romance and the other "The God Chasers". I fully intend to spend part of the time lying around the room reading and taking naps. We get out one day at 3:30. Oh, the bliss! And Ryan's better look out too. The wildest we may get is playing mini golf. Maybe that won't be too vigorous.

American Idol Voting

This mornings news show (on I can't remember which TV channel) stated that over 63 million people voted on American Idol last night which is more people than have ever voted in any presidential election in America. I want to say something deep and profound about what this implies about our society but all I can say is OH MY GOSH! We should start an immediate search for our priorities because we have definitely misplaced them.

It's Back to Work I Go

Nothing like five days in a row off from work to make you happy to be back. Especially if it was not vacation time off. I was even glad to see that rascally rabbit, my boss! Of course, my desk was piled high but I just started with one thing at a time and really got a lot done today. And I never got my panties in a wad, even once. Mark it down as a red letter day when nothing irritated me at all. Ah, the joys of time off!

Good News!

Well, I have been sliced and diced once again and the outcome was great! The melanoma was confined to the site and Dr. Dinehart cut all of it out. From now on I will watch closely all moles and use stronggggggggg sunscreen while mowing the yard. Nothing like a cancer scare to get my attention. I had already learned the hard way nine years ago how short and precious life can be but a reminder now and then gets me back on track to the important things in life.

My spiritual life has been moldy of late so it is time to clean out the cobwebs and get back to pursuing a better relationship with Christ. Sometimes I get so caught up in the operations and business of religious life that I forget to spend personal time with the One who matters the most. So I will dust off my study Bible and get to it. This picture from an email which has made the rounds several times says it all.

Thanks to everyone who prayed for me this past week and encouraged me with your cards, notes, calls and love. I love you all.

The Speed of Life

Sometimes things in life come at you so fast that you are flung between the seats. That seems to be what happened to me last week. It came time for a check up at the doctor so that I could get my blood pressure medicine refilled. So while there, why not take care of everything? A mole on my shoulder had been bothering me for several months so I asked Dr. Simon to go ahead and take it off.

And the results knocked my props out from under me for a few days...malignant melanoma. I go Thursday to have a re-excision of the site. The first lab results seem to lean toward the cancer being confined to the site. And lots of people are praying for me so I feel confident that it will be all right Thursday.

Best of all I know that no matter what, God is in control and has taken care of me all my life even when I pulled away from Him for a season. So once again I choose to put my trust in God and fully expect to be around bugging my friends and family for many more years to come. So don't any of you start ironing your funeral clothes yet!

Results to follow in a few days.

Introducing Gypsy and Jack

Finally got my camera working again so here are pictures of Gypsy and Jack. What a pair!

Gypsy It Is

Thanks for all the suggestions for a dog name. I think I have it now if she will start answering to it - Gypsy. Every time I open the car door she jumps in and I have to drag her out. Some friends came out last night and while they were getting out of their car she jumped in. It took us about 10 minutes to corner her up and get her out of the car. She loves to go so I may have the traveling companion I have been wishing for.

Also now that she is feeling better she has become the queen of the roost around the house. She even has Jack under her thumb. He is so in love that he is crazy. They play together so much that it wears me out to watch. I finally drew the line last night and locked both of them out of my room so I could sleep. They were both on the living room couch when I woke up this morning.

Aren't all God's creatures just a joy?

How Do I Get Myself Into These Things?

Well, it has been three weeks since my wonderful Maggie died and here I go again. At the police department where I work I am in charge of dog adoptions. This week a man called wanting to return a dog he adopted about a week ago. After explaining that we did not repossess, my mouth opened one more time (seemingly of its own accord) and said that I would come by after work and take a look at her for myself. I looked and she won my heart.

On the way home I stopped to show her off and while there we discovered much to my chagrin that she was in heat (now I know why he wanted to return her and that is not the story I got). So I put her in the friend's dog pen overnight since I could not bring her home to Jack, my Jack Russell Terrier. Yesterday, I took her to the vet to get her "fixed". Then it was off to her new home this afternoon.

Well, even though she is fixed, Jack does not seem to understand. He has begged on his knees and she will not let him near her. Tonight is stretching out before my eyes as the longest night in history. The sound of whining and yelping may last an eternity. I'm thinking of drugging Jack with a Benadryl so we can all sleep.

The next delimma is what to name her. The rascal I got her from was calling her Sweetie but I can't seem to take to that name. My granddaughter, Abby votes for Snickers. She is solid black and does have a sweet personality, at least she did before Jack started pestering her. If any of you have a name suggestion, please share it with me. When I get her named I will post a new blog.

So the name game is on. Help!!!!!