And, in three more days I begin another attempt at 365 (well OK, this year 366) photos. We'll see how that all goes.
Also, the sockeye oil that I have been feeding Marly and Sadie seems to be really doing the trick with their flaky, winter skin. Especially Sadie, who has always had skin issues...even the tips of her ears look to be healing! Tomorrow is doggie bath day - photos to follow.
Anyone have tips on helping Marly get used to me clipping her nails. I do the playing with her feet and toes thing -even going so far as tapping on each nail with various objects. It all goes just fine unless it is with the actual clippers. She has never had a nail cut too low, so it hasn't ever actually hurt her, but she starts screaming and wriggling away like I am trying to murder her. I am not sure where to go from here...
OK really, nap time now.
I still have a monster of a cold...about half way through the seven days now and it is blazing full bore. Hopefully this means that it will all be getting easier from here on out. Today has consisted of fever, sinus pain like I haven't had in ages, and of course, it is moving right on into my chest. Lovely hacking...though, thankfully, no sore throat yet...just a nasty, awful cough. And wheezing to go with it - I feel like I have smoked six packs (and I don't smoke).
Marly isn't liking my lack of energy and has been particularly trying - she is back to trying to swim in the water dish, eating my Kleenex, mauling the cats, and chewing on the wall. Thankfully, I think she is getting close to being housebroken. She does tell me when she needs to go - however, once she tells me there is no grace period, she means NOW. I have learned that the hard way twice...now I know better. Sadie is her usual sweet self and has been snuggling with me on the couch.
All the cats are outside enjoying the 65 degree day we are having - especially after the rain most of the day yesterday. I am not complaining though, we desperately need the moisture and I hope more is on the way.
At least in my sluggishness I have managed to get some laundry done. Now I think I will got put in another load and try to take a nap...Marly insists on getting up at 7am (which really isn't bad, all things considered), but she does nap for great lengths during the day - so now is my chance, before the evening play session.
One quick shower and Bed Head will rinse right on down the drain. Cold Head, on the other hand, is just there. No matter how much blowing, sniffing, or cold medicine you take, it hangs on. Fuzzy, and sore, and swollen. First clogging things up to the point of near suffocation only to suddenly let go of rivers of mucus at the most inopportune moments. Jamming up ear canals so that everyone sounds a million miles away, but your own voice echos like you were in a vast chamber all alone. It creates such intense pressure you are absolutely positive your eyes will pop out of their sockets at any moment. Surely they must be visibly bulging for all to gape at in horror. Oh and the nose...Rudolph ain't got nothin' on a Cold Head nose! Raw, parched, and so red it can been seen clearly from space - all you need is a green hat and your holiday decorating is taken care of. Soon Bed Head will be joined by his brother Froggy Throat. I can already feel the Frogger knocking at the door - those first little tickles, teasing with the promise of impending doom that will soon reign down on the only path of nourishment. And then the wish will be made - if only starvation worked faster so that an end would come to the misery that is Cold Head.
Ugh.
Part of my grumpiness and irritability over the past couple days hasn't just been holiday stress...I got a cold for Christmas. It is all up in my sinuses and the top part of my throat - and I can feel that it is one of those that will eventually move into my chest. I can't wait.
The highlights of my Christmas:
- fabulous watch
- cool retro/art deco prints (they are spoof beer labels/advertisements - one with a black lab the other with a yellow lab. There will be photos soonish for those other lab lovers in my neighborhood!)
- Apple TV (OK, OK...I got that early because of cable issues - but I LOVE it)
- kitchen stuff - including a nifty magnetic knife bar that is veneered so it looks like a chunk of finished wood (no visible magnets!)
- excellent food!
- great company
Oh yeah, and my cool neighbors gave me a funky, hand-painted coffee pot that has a kitty face on each side, painted in bright colors. Of course there were also all sorts of odds and ends of thing. For instance, my mom actually listened to my suggestions and got me a Home Depot gift card - which is awesome because I can use the financial help with the home projects...but now I have no more excuses not to get the painting completed. *laugh* I guess it is good though since she and my sister are coming to visit in March and it would be really embarrassing if my house were in the same spot it was in a year ago with the half finished painting projects!
OK time to go slodge back into the normal life routine...at least until this weekend. One more long weekend and then we are off and running with the new year.
I guess it was alright...in fact, it was fine, even really enjoyable right up until everyone insisted I go get the dogs and bring them back over. No one wanted to hear that Marly is at a stage right now that makes her tough to have around - especially when there is a large-ish group of people in a setting where she can't really be let loose to run around on her own (the house is not at all puppy-proofed and with wrapping paper and gifts and ribbons and a myriad of other seasonal things to get into it would have been even worse than normal). So, I went and got the dogs...and Marly was fine for about the first hour while she gnawed on the prime rib bone that Neil gave to each of them. But then she got bored. She wanted to play with the kitties (who don't particularly like dogs, but have grown tolerant of Sadie). And then she wanted to be out to get into the pie everyone was eating. And then she just generally made a noisy nuisance of herself - and so I got to leave the party early. No movie night for me...because people wouldn't listen.
Instead, I got excuses made for her - some of which were valid points, but that still didn't change the fact that Marly was going to be a pain in ass. No, yesterday I wasn't home in the afternoon/evening because we did family dinner. And yes, she was really wound up after that from being couped up for awhile...but how is bringing her into a room full of people and then having to crate her again there going to change that? At least here she can make her noise and be obnoxious without disrupting everyone's movie or dinner or conversations. She is just a puppy, and someday (probably fairly soon at the wonderful rate she is maturing!) she can come hang out with the family and be respectful and fun to have around, but right now isn't that time in her life. _I_ am OK with that. I understand it and deal with it and know that as long as I continue to work with her and exercise her and train her she will grow up to be just fine, but that getting from here to there involves some seriously annoying and trying times and on special occasions like family Christmas dinner/night I can avoid subjecting everyone else to her puppiness.
*sigh* I am frustrated and tired and annoyed...and that really just scratches the surface of how I feel right now.
Bah humbug.
Marly just ate the nose off my childhood teddy bear. :(
She has finally hit her terrible tot stage...he has been a holy terror today. This is about the same age Sadie was when I got her, and this stage is about all I remember of Sadie's puppy-hood. In fact, the main memory I have is thinking that I was going to kill her. I hope that Marly gets through this stage faster than Sadie did...at least I do see signs of a very sweet, mellow dog beneath all the insanity. I don't remember seeing any of that in Sadie until she was almost 2 years old!
Mostly, today has just been a Bad Day and I am sure Marly hasn't been much worse than usual, it just feels that way.
Christmas is sneaking up mighty fast! I still have a couple more presents to get...just small stuff for the neighbors...and then I am done. Tonight I have to bake cookies. Hopefully, Neil will come over to help. I may do additional cookies tomorrow night depending on what we get done tonight. Then Saturday/Sunday we are headed up to Asheville with Beth and her mom...I am really looking forward to it! Good food and a show up there is planned, along with some shopping.
Monday I actually work...then in the evening I am off to hang out with Neil and the gang to much on tasty tidbits and watch movies. Tuesday is presents, prime rib, and movies - the pups will come with me since it is an all day affair over at Neil's house. Instead of hauling all the gifts from my family over to his place, we are going to cheat (sort of) and do a mini-Christmas here tonight while cookies are baking (assuming his schedule will allow him time to make it over here).
Next week Neil is off and I am jealous! I have to work all week, but it is going to be really nice to have the time to finally get caught up on all the administrative crap that I am behind in so I can start 2008 off fresh and on the right foot (I hope). Especially with our new, intensive travel schedule that will be in place...there won't be time to catch-up if I get behind.
Then new years is here...I have no plans which is normal for me. Maybe some champagne for me and treats for the dogs.
The Crocodile Cafe in Seattle closed its doors this weekend...
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004078691_webcroc17m.html
I saw some great shows there, it really sucks to see it go - but with the changes that have been taking place in Seattle and the current overall economy, I guess I am not all that surprised.
It was already only 29 degrees out at 10pm...Mr. M has been sick. So, I let him inside. We shall see how he does tonight, but it was simply too cold out to leave him there even with his little house and blankets and such. The low is expected to reach into the teens the last I looked.
So far he is a dear and has come right back to his favorite hangout...draped across the desk just between me and the keyboard.
