Sandy and the Lion

Today was the 3rd time Sandy has been to a dog park. I finally found one in The Woodlands. Although it is quite a drive it really is worth it. Sandy loves it!!!!! I have never seen a dog go crazy with fun as her. She doesn’t seem to be able to run enough. When she gets back home, she has to sleep the rest of the day she is so worn out.

We took Tyke once, and anyone who knows Tyke would understand that he just wanted to be held. He has forgotten that he is a dog.

When we went today there was dog there called a Chewy (from the Star Wars movie). I have never seen a dog like this before, it was a Leonberger. This is what one website said of them.

This jumbo-sized breed is a mix of Newfie, longhaired Saint Bernard, and Great Pyrenees. He needs a good deal of exercise, attention, and space, but with the right owner, he can be a friend like no other. With his lion-like looks and deep bark, he makes an intimidating watch dog.

He was huge but very sweet. His owner (from Germany) said that it was a breed that originated in Germany. It seems that the mayor of Leonberger, Germany, wanted a dog that looked like a lion and with some cross breeding the Leonberger was born. I will have to say that when I first saw him, I told John that it looks like a lion. This dog was still a puppy and was 140 lbs and was at least 5 ft from tail to head. It was the biggest thing I have ever seen (even bigger then Buddy for those who knew him). The owner said that they usually get to be about 185 lbs full gown. He was also the sweetest dog out there.

Needless to say, Sandy feel in love, they played together much of the time. In this video you will see Sandy and Chewy playing. Keep in mind that Sandy is 65lbs and she dwarfs next to Chewy.

My Proust Questionnaire Answers

1. What is your greatest fear?
Something happening to one of my children.

2. What is your current state of mind?
Scary. Just ask John

3. What is your favorite occupation (way of spending time)?
Spending time with John. We usually have a really good time together – usually doing nothing of importance.

4. What historical figure do you most identify with?
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. I thing she did the best she could with what she was given with grace.

5. Which living person do you most admire?
Oprah – someone who has done amazing things and started from nothing.

6. Who is your favorite fictional hero?
Any woman action character. They are always kicking some guys butt.

7. Who are your real-life heroes?
Anyone who can be at their lowest and return even higher. I really appreciate people who can pick themselves up by their boot straps and continue.

8. What is your most treasured possession?
Don’t have one. Never have.

9. When and where were you happiest?
Having my children, marrying join and then raising my kids.

10. What is your most obvious characteristic/trait?
Never allowing anyone to really know me but still be social.

11. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
I hate crying when I get mad. That only makes me more mad.

12. What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Lying. Never do it to me.

13. What is your greatest extravagance?
John

14. What is your favorite journey?
Going thru my 40’s. I never knew how much I didn’t know when I was young.

15. What do you most dislike about your appearance?
My big butt.

16. What do you consider the most over-rated virtue?
I Googled the word just to make sure I knew what the definition was - goodness: the quality of being morally good or righteous. And based on this definition it would be everything virtuous. I really do not like ‘righteous’. Who is that?

17. On what occasion do you lie?
To spare someone unnecessary pain and if the subject I am lying about doesn’t really matter in the big picture of life.

18. Which words or phrases do you most over-use?
Sh_t.

19. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I would lose my WEIGHT.

20. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
My children.

21. Where would you like to live?
Not really, particular but it must be secluded but beautiful.

22. What is the quality you most admire in a man?
Humor and honor.

23. What is the quality you most admire in a woman?
Strength and empathy for others

24. What is it you most dislike?
Watching children suffer

25. What do you value most in your friends?
Loyalty

26. How would you like to die?
Happy

27. If you were to die and come back as a person or an animal, what do you think it would be?
An eagle – I could fly above the world and watch from afar but I would also be protected and not get shot.

28. If you could choose an object to come back as, what would you choose?
I don’t really like objects – so I would rather not because eventually I would end up in a landfill.

29. What is your motto (words you live by or that mean a lot to you)?
That which does not kill you will make you stronger.

30. Who has been the greatest influence on you?
John – he has taught me how to laugh again.

New Stuff

John and I have started working on getting the upstairs living area looking better. Sandy has almost grown out of her chewing stage and we felt new furniture was in order.

As cute as Sandy is and as much as we love her, she has cost us plenty because of those things she has chewed on and ruined. Just to name a few:

• Cell Phone
• At least 10 pairs of shoes (mostly mine)
• Coffee table
• Various clothes
• Hats
• Garden equipment (shovel)
• She has complete ruined my garden
• Pillows on couch
• Blankets

I am sure I am missing quit a few things, but if I think any longer about it I may explode. It is a good thing we are dog lovers!

The fun part of redecorating is looking but once you have to pay for it, I get slightly deflated and have to rethink the need. But, we went ahead with the plan. We are not done but this is a great start. Now the struggle will be is to make sure the dog does not ruin anything.

What Sandy has Learned

I am amazed what a dog can do and how much they can cost you. This morning, John and I were getting ready for work. Same old same old, nothing new. I leave about 6:45 for my wonderful drive to Houston. I had been on the road for less than 3 minutes and I received a phone call from John who tells me that Sandy has swallowed one of his pills. He said he had put his pills on the counter and as he was getting a glass, he turned around, the pill bottle is on the floor and one of the pills cannot be located.


I promptly turn around and head back home. My first thought was ‘no she didn’t, we will find the pill on the floor’. After I returned home and was quickly able to determine based on John’s demeanor and the fact that there was NO pill on the floor, that in fact Sandy had swallowed his blood pressure pill. While John is frantically surfing the internet, I am trying to get a hold of our vet, but because it was before their normal hours we were referred to an emergency clinic. Who I called immediately. I gave them the name of the medicine and dosage and they tell us that YES this dosage is lethal. They said we need to get her to them ASAP to have her stomach pumped.

WELL, I immediately get in the car with Sandy and we are on our way…..Yes, I hit every red light and could not get around all the slow cars but we finally made it. They were totally prepared to take her in and within 3 minutes she was throwing up. And what is the worst job in the world, ‘trying to locate a pill in dogs vomit‘. The dedicated staff at the vet clinic found it but did informed me that she did ingest some of the medication and I would need to take her to her regular doctor ASAP. She would need to be monitored all day.

Within 15 minutes of being there, I was on my way to her regular vet. After a quick phone call, they were ready to take her. This was a very well oiled machine, the regular vet already had received information from the emergency clinic via fax (who uses faxes anymore!!!!)

Well to make a long story very long, 6 hours later and $450.00 SANDY IS FINE!!!!!

I bring her home and start to make dinner and have about ½ lb of cheese on the counter, I walk away and magically it disappears. Everyone has 3 guess to figure out where it went. No she didn’t learn her lesson and obviously we did not either. She ate it all and was very efficient because it was gone quickly.

This is a picture of a dog who has had a hard day and has a full stomach.

Sweet Oliver

I have told everyone I know what a sweet child Oliver is and what a great disposition he has.  I think this video is a great example of what a cutie he is.  This was taken at Christmas.

My First Post

How do you blog successfully? That is my question. Since I have not been a blog fan (except for Tasha's), I am not sure what to expect, but I so enjoy Tasha's I thought I would try it. I am not certain I have anything to say that would interest anyone but myself.

I guess if it only entertains me that would be enough....