Life Goes On

It’s a mantra people say all the time.  A week after a funeral; “I’m so sorry for your loss, life will go on though you know.”

Or after a bad break up; “He was a jackass anyway.  Life goes on.”

And it does. As evidenced today and last night.

I rescued Boone about 3 months ago now.  A cute little American Bulldog puppy.  Well, he was already 6 months old and he was 45 lbs, so I guesss little  and puppy are not entirely correct.  But he had een tied up out n a back yard and had gashes up and own his legs from getting himself tanled. 

A friend text me and asked if anyone wanted to rescue a puppy.  Kala needed a friend and I didn’t think it’d hurt.   So I brought him home and named him Boone, after Dan ‘Boone’ Herron from THE Ohio State Buckeyes.

But American Bulldogs have a trait termed ‘Aggressive Loyalty.’  If not trained and socialized right off the bat, the will fiercely protect their owner from everything and everyone.  Not to mention they are a very dominant breed.  Kala is a very Dominant dog as well. 

I should have reserched the breed more.  I should have waited till I was more financially stable.  And, maybe I should have waited until it’s not just me fighting the world.  But, once Boone settled in and was comfortable with his life here, and once he hit 6 months, his dominance began to show.

He and Kala would get into squabbles over bones or toys and he started fighting back, making it harder and harder  to break  the two of them up, and making each squabble a little more scary.  And then his protectiveness kicked on last week.  He would bark and snarl at anyone that came near me and even thogh he knew the ‘no bark’ command, he wouldn’t stop in these cases. 

And then, it took a turn for the worse yesterday and I just knew.  I had had the gut feeling for a while, but I knew I knew last night I had to act on it.  Right after the incident, I took him to the Dumb Friends League.  A no-kill shelter here.  I was bawling the whole time but managed to tell them wht was going on.  One hugged me and the others nodded and helped the process along, letting me know that this is common with American Bulldogs if a person didn’t know how to tain the breed.

I don’t.  I have never had or wanted a bulldog.  I just wanted to rescue him.  I don’t have the breed or training knowledge, I don’t have the money for private lessons he would need. 

And, what he did couldn’t be ignored.  So I left him there, shaking and scared and so sad looking.  And i cried myself sick last night till the only thing that would settle me down was a nice big gulp of Nyquil.  And then I layed o my couch, tears runnign down my eyes feeling like the worst person in the world.

And then Nick called.  He and a bunch of the work kids were out at a club in the city.  the phone passed between three or four different people asking me to come out, come drink come play.  Only Nick knew what had happened, and I just politely declined, trying to keep the tears out of my voice, and told them next time.  Next week.

And then this morning I get all the “Go Buckeyes!!” and “Fuck Michigan” texts from friends and family. 

So, even though my world was turned upside-down for a miserable day, and even though I am crying and upset and feeling like my apartment is drastically quiet and empty, life is happening around me.  People are out clubbing. People are out tail gating. The worst possible thing that people think is going on today is Michigan driving down the field looking like they might score again before half-time.   

Life goes on.  And so, today, I’ll pull my sorry self together, run a flat iron through my spent-the-night-on-the-couch-sobbing hair, and go get some lunch with Jake in the city. 

And I’ll throw another mantra out there: Everything happens for a reason.

Boone is a sweet, sweet, cute as hell puppy.  He has a lot of energy and a lot of love to give.  He deserves a house with someone that can turn him into that awesome dog he wants to and can be.  He deserves a place that at least has a yard, not a tiny, cramped apartment.  He may need surgery on his hip  in a few years and he deserves someone that can afford to give him what he needs when he needs it. 

And, now that it is apparent that the agresive loyalty does run through him, he will go to a rescue that knows just how to train him.  And he will go to a person or family that will be keen to the breed and all that it requires and likes and wants.   So, there it is.

 

 

A new one

So, uh, I got kicked out of the dog park this weekend.  Who does that?  Who serisously gets kicked out of a dog park?

I do.

Or, more accurately, Kala does.

I explain it simply as ’she’s a rescue.’     And it is mostly due to that, I honestly believe.  And, the fact that her and I share a common personality; we don’t like people in our faces or bothering us if we don’t want to be bothered.  Dosg just express it differently.  Like bared teeth and a nasty snarl…and maybe even a little more hostility if they don’t get the picture. 

And, that’s all she did.  She was getting along fine with another dog.  But one or two got in her face and she backed them off, but some lady freaked the fuck out.  She yelled at me to get my dog out of there.  ‘Goddamit, get our dog out of here!” is what she said word for word.  I just leashed Kala and Boone and left.  There was no point in turning around and telling her that maybe it was her dog that had the problem.  And maybe her dog should stay out of Kala’s face.

No. Not point in trying to talk sense to some senseless crazed woman. 

But, I do need to get a place with a yard.  now that I have to beasts of dogs, it would be ideal.  And, if i had a yard, I wouldn’t have to expose kala to such angry people.  that can’t be good for a rescued dog.

White Out

Denver has been hit by a crazy amount of snow these past few days.  It started yesterday morning.  I woke up, ran the dogs outs and realized I would need to leave for work several minutes early.  I heated up the car, brushed abou 2 inches of snow off and eventually made my way to work.

This morning was worse. I woke up around 5 and leashed the dogs.  I made my way down the steps down to the parking lot, and Boone took a leap, landing in snow up to his shoulders in snow.  “Awww fuck.” I groaned.  Several inches of white powder filled the parking lot, covered the cars and made walking the dogs – interesting.

The snow hasn’t stopped all day.   It’s been coming down at a constant pace.  So, I took the opportunity and left wok early.  I am gonna catch shit from the guys tomorrow.  “You’re from Chicago. You should be used to this.”  I hear them saying. (They say that everytime it snows ” so, do you feel like you’re back home?”) 

I already gor a text fro Madride.  ‘Slacker’ he said, jokingly.  And yeah, I am.  I admitted  it.  And I have the perfect answer for them all tomorrow.

Today was the perfect snowday, I’ll tell them.  And once in a while, you need to just leave work early to go romp in the snow with the dogs.  You need to allow yourself that.  You gotta work to live, not live to work. 

So, while they idle away at work (and i do mean idle, there was nothing to do there today, half the crew couldn’t make it in) I will be having a glas of wine in front of my fire place, I’ll pull on a coat and more boots and go run around like an idiot on the tennis courts with the furballs, and I’ll appreciate the day a little more. 

I love Colorado.

Silent Treatment…..still

Remeber when I went to that wedding with a friend an inapropriately slept with some random guy and my friend wouldn’t speak to me?

Well, he finally spoke to me last night.  Ok, not so much as spoke to me as texted me. And he wasn’t even looking for me, he was asking if my houseguest was around. 

When I told him I was out walking the dogs, i received radio silence in return.  For nearly a half hour I sat, a little irked that he would even bother talking to me at all if it was just to ask if my houseguest was around.  I couldn’t understand the logic behind that.  I get the silent treatment for 4 months and finally, when he does want to say something, it’s to ask where the houseguest is??

Then I considered the possibility that he was using that as an excuse to begin talking to me again.  You know, a litte small talk here, some chit chat there.  And finally, 30 minutes later he sent another text, saying he was sorry to bother me. 

I replied right away that it was no problem at all.  But then his last and final text got me. 

“why did you have to ruin shit?” it said.

I felt my face flush and snapped my phone shut right away.  The line caught in my head.  Ruin shit??  Ruin shit??

He and I have been through a hell of alot in 10 years.  A hell of a lot.  I have a hard time believing, and it actually makes me pretty damn angry, that he would think me sleeping with some guy at a wedding when he and I are both totally single would be what he thinks would ruin our friendship.

Please.  It took him 4 months to say that?  Really?  I think, eventually, he’ll talk to me again.  But it really is starting to irritate me now.   It took me less time to talk to him again when he took a 6 hour road trip to see me, left my party to sleep with some other girl, then came back to my apt, told me it wasn’t what I thought and had sex with me.

That was probably my mistake.  Because, according to his time line here, I really should have taken about 6 years to speak with him again.  Boys are silly.

Try this   http://kidogosdeal.wordpress.com

I updated….I didn’t know how to do it any other way.  I’m kinda blog inept.  Forgive me.

SOTD 10-22-09

I haven’t gotten alot of sleep this week.  I’ve had alot of weird dreams and the other night i had a horrible pain that i was terrified was a kidney stone.   So, yesterday after work I went right home, lit my fire place, poured myself a good glass of wine and sat in my eggshell chair to watch tv.

Only, the dogs didn’t cooperate.  They were wrestling and being noisy and then the puppy wanted out.   I walked him and Kala and we romped in the snow and I came beck in to settle down. 

Only, they didn’t want to.  They wrestled and played some more and I ignored them the best i could.  I sipped my wine and watched my show and waited for the sleepiness to settle in.

Only, it didn’t.  The glass of wine gone, I leapt up out of my eggshell chair and pranced ito the kitchen.  I finished off the bottle of wine (there was only half a glass left) and noticed the dogs were out of food and water. So, i filled the bowls and then called them over.

OK. I didn’t so much as call them over as I did yodel for them and then do a crazy dance while making even more weird noises.  Usually, my antics only last a few seconds, but the reaction from Boone cracked me up and I continued for another minute or two until I realized my house guest was cracking up laughing.

So i froze. and looked at him.

“You should have a camera follow you around all the time.” he advised.  “You do some of the weirdest shit.   Are you even aware that you’re doing it”

“Of course I’m aware.” I laughed.  “I am entertaining myself.  And, I have had cameras catch my moments…remember my dance down Michigan Ave…and the video from Rome where i fall over laughing?”

Yes, i literally fell over laughing…granted i had been roufied, but still. But ok.  I’ll share some of my odd moments.  It’s a good indicator of some of the weird things i do….

 

Enjoy….

10-16-09

so, I never thought things would get so stupidly crazy, but marcus hit a crazy new low. He made me feel unsafe in my own apt; my own life.  wow, that’s a real friend.

How does that somg go?  “I’m gonna go home load my shot gun…..something about he ain’t seen me crazy yet. He;s gonna see what real girls are made of…gun powder and lead

SOTD 10-10-09

So, Against all better judgement I got that new puppy.  That cute little American bulldog.  A friend for Kala.  

Sometimes you ought to listen to those little voice in your head that say “maybe this isn’t  good idea.”  I tend to ignore them and end up asking myself “Why is there a 50 lb 5 month old puppy romping around my apartment?”

I don’t know why I do these things sometimes.  I mean, money gets tight sometimes and now i am taking on the financial resposibilities of another dog.   One time when i was still in chicago, I was so broke that I had to make a choice.  Kala and I both needed food, and i wouldn’t have a pay check for another week.  I looked at the dog food choices, wondering if it would be possible to just add milk and eat it like cereal.  Coming to my senses, though,I bough a large box of cheerios and kala and I ate those for the next week. 

But things are a little better for me now.I have a better paying job that supports me withought the need to have a bar job on top of it, and Colorado is a bit cheaper then te city life of Chicago.  And a second dog was needed, even if he comes with problems.

After a week here, I took Boone to the vet and asked alot of questions; he had bad scarring on his front legs, he was so thin his ribs poked out horribly and he was sick to his stomach.   The vet gave him a thorough look over and then gave me his opinion.  The dog had been tied up outside and gotten his legs tangled in the rope or chain which aused those gashes and scars across his legs.  He and his brother were probably left fairly unattended out there which is why he ws so thin and he had also probably eaten some rodent feces conatining some type of bacteria which caused the diaherra.

Basically, puppy had  rough start.

But he is good now.   Oh, so good.  Yup.  Uh,huh.  He romps around and collides with things, he chews and botes and jumps and has crazy spurt of energy.  He wrestles with kala when i try to wtch TV after work and he whinees constantly if he is ignored.  Not to mention the aray of other noises that come out of his mouth that i have never in life heard a dog make; he almost sounds like a bird sometimes.

I get tired of it pretty quickly, and get frustrated and wish i hadn’t gotten another dog.  But then, he does something so stupid or soo cute, i forget that i’m angry and crak up laughing.

I also have to remember that he is a great dog.   he learned right away to go to the door when he wants out, he knows his commands; sit, lay down, no bite, off and stop, although he gets too excited ot listen completely sometimes. And, I also have to remember that just because he is big, he is still a baby.  he will be great when he’s older…i just wish he’d get older quickly.

For whatever reason, I like to make my life harder…or, as I explain to the guys at work when they shake their heads at me, I like to keep it interesting.

SOTD: mom’s know everything…

..and my god works in odd ways.

My mom called me tonight around 8 PM my time.  That’s like 10 PM her time.  I typically expect her to be in bed by then (she’s a teacher and has school early)  and am always surprised when she calls at that time.  Or on a weekday.  We usually talk once a week on weekend days. 

But she called to night.  And, wide eyed and breathless, I looked at marcus.  “She knows!!”  I whispered.

“Did you tell her or your brothers?” 

I shook my head.  I hadn’t told much of anyone yet.  I grabbed my phone and ran out to the balcony where  it would be quiet.  And we chit chatted and it was nice.  But then I swear she asked me how the dogs were.  dogs.  Plural.  I just brought home the puppy today.  And maybe it was my imagination, but I almost stuttered.  Thankfully I kept my cool and said simply that she was fine.  But it think she knows. Somehow.

Growing up she always said mothers know everything.  I believe that now.  The day after i got my tatoo, she called.  Now she calls after i get my dog…..weird.

And fucking Loki (my god)  somehow figured this all out. Apparently, the Akita wasn’t te right dog for kala and I.  So, he breaks my car down for 4 weeks and has this dog picture posted on the break room wall to get me in dog mood.  Then the akita is adopted.  But, just a few days later a friend at work’s wife finds out about two american bulldogs that need a home.   It’a all a little more detailed than that, but i’m exhausted and am going to bed.

SOTD 9-13-09

They did it again.  My stupid Buckeyes.   The got me so excited and so pumped up and then just deflated my hopes and dreams in 2 final minutes.

Every year.  Every year they get somewherre and have a big game and they blow it.  They choke.  And I end up curled in a ball on my couch puting and bleeding scarlett and grey.

In my drunken anger last night, I called for the resignation of  Tressle.  I told Marcus I was tired of praising him and reciting that In Tressle I Trust, only to have ot go to work the next Monday with my tail tucked and head down. I talk a big game for weeks and I spit out info and tell them Tressle has got his players primed and ready..and then we lose.

So, today, I will lay on my couch, watch my Fantasy Football points and the games that go along with them and nurse my pride.  By Thursday I will be ready to get back on the Ohio State horse and cheer them through the next game.  Maybe, maybe, we can do something better than last season.