No Wonder We Are So Compatible.

My brother and some of his goats.

Wow, I feel so refreshed and renewed after my 36-hour respite from blogging. Like a virgin! Posting for the very first time!

I kid, of course. I intended to NEVER USE A COMPUTER AGAIN GODDAMMIT. But the blue light pulled me back in.

Anyways. Josh and I had a spat in which he accused me of IGNORING HIM and I accused him of being MEAN. I behaved in a very rational and mature manner and said FINE, I'LL JUST THROW AWAY MY LAPTOP AND HOVER IN YOUR VICINITY AT ALL TIMES.

You didn't know that I could be hostile and manipulative, did you? Try and put a positive spin on that in my comments section, okay?

Later we whimpered "I'm sorry" at each other and agreed that we are both assholes, which is maybe the secret to happy married life.

I think it was my obsession with Snood that pushed him over the edge. Snood is evil, I tells ya. I uninstalled it, and now I feel as free as a bird. I was this close to being sent to the Betty Ford Center.

In other news, I think I am a little depressed and I have no idea why. A smart person that I know pointed out that this crops up every summer probably because my self-esteem is all wrapped up in my job, or I just don't know what I should be doing  without a schedule, or whatever. And it's strange, because I adore summer. Who the hell knows. I realize more and more that I have no clarity at all when it comes to me and my own issues. YOUR issues, on the other hand, are quite simple and easily solved and I would adore to give you some advice.

Speaking of issues, April is getting worse and worse about thunder/fireworks/weird noises. She was a train wreck at the farm over the 4th of July. We went out to the movies on Tuesday evening (Knocked-Up, 2nd time for Evangeline and me, it's fucking hilarious and oddly sweet), and we left April and Rosie locked in a bedroom. We returned 3 hours later to find that April had tried to dig, claw, and bite her way through the door because some neighbors had been setting off pre-holiday fireworks. She was agitated, her paws and gums were swollen, and there were little pieces of paint and wood in her toenails and mouth and fur. It was so sad.

Oh, and Rosie crapped on the floor. I guess when she saw April trying to break through the door she just figured that dogs can do whatever they want around here.

The picture doesn't really convey how deep the gouges were. We had to sand and paint the door the next day before we left.  

 

Josh made a soothing Epsom Salts bath for April and made her stand in it for 15 minutes. We also gave her Benadryl (to make her sleepy) and an aspirin for her painful feet and mouth. 

Comments

[Kathryn]

Oh, how sad. I'm glad April has such a loving family to take care of her after such a scary event.

I'm glad you're back to posting. Funny, your "breaks" are shorter than my normal lags in posting. Maybe I should work on that?

[Hope]

I think the older a dog gets the more they freak out over loud sounds. Our dog did a LOT of damage during a thunderstorm, we finally had to drug him. Made me more sad than mad.
I didn't know threatening to hover in the vacinity was hostile. Wouldn't offering to be smoothering a little more scary?

[Dawn]

Regarding the first section - the little spat, and "throwing your laptop away... hovering in his vicinity at all times..." if I didn't already idolize you, I definitely would now. Glad you guys made up, but that bit was classic. I'm also glad you're back, that gave me a quite a scare!

[Karen]

April, dear old girl. Your hearing is supposed to be failing. One of our schnauzer relatives was similarly afflicted -- shaking like Martin Short doing his Katherine Hepburn impression -- and slobbering to soak towels, etc. Then, at 14, she lost her hearing! Woila! No more problem.

[Wende]

Oh, that April in the tub breaks my heart. That face. I hope she's feeling better.

Sophie was just put out to be stuck inside while we were outside doing our own fireworks. We finally let her out when we settled on the porch to watch the town's display. She promptly stopped her howling racket and took a snooze on her gigantic pillow through the whole thing.

And seriously, you can solve my problems? That's good news. :D

[Margaret]

I am not a big fan of fireworks for many reasons; animals can't tolerate them well either, even our cats. The insanity is only supposed to last ONE day anyway. It was crazy in our neighborhood both before AND after the 4th. As for the depression, I can count on a feeling of melancholy every summer. I think it's my lack of routine, and having to set my own schedule. (which I'm not particularly good at) I have a lot more alone time, which I think I will LOVE, but really don't.

[Pam L]

Aww, poor April, thunderstorms and fireworks are hard on dogs. Some jerk brought his husky/malamute type dog TO the fireworks display the other night,ringside seat, poor dog suffered with his ears all back trying to hide under the jerks leg.

I would guess the depression is schedule related too, or lack thereof. I work at home all the time but it's still a schedule and if I'm on vacation for a week, out of town, I'm fine, but if I'm home doing nothing for more that 2 days I go nuts. Luckily, this time of year, I can work outside and feel like I've done something, otherwise I climb the walls and feel like I've never done anything worthwhile and I should have gotten that bachelors degree with a teaching certificate darn it, instead of lollygagging around in art school for 4 years, I should know how to set up that darn Peachtree accounting program by myself that I've been putting off and it's my fault my kids aren't perfect and all that. My own worst enemy I am. Give yourself a break and permission to lollygag yourself. It's OK, cuz come September you'll be wishing it were July again. Sorry.

[babette]

Thanks for sharing the secret to happy married life, Mary. Having met you and your beloved, I think I can safely add that politeness and spark-filled chemistry might be part of the mix.

Dhanurasana and Urdhva Dhanurasana are excellent poses for mild depression. They open the heart chakras, also good for marriages. ;~)

[the bee]

Come on Miz S, you know it's his butt that makes you weak in the knees. My parents have been married so long that my dad is grateful to be left alone with the paper and dessert. They make me laugh.
I love how you promised to hover.
In future perhaps you could take a page from MIss Joan Crawford and yell " I will always win Christina, I will always be bigger and faster". Then laugh like she does in that evil way ...bwah,ha, ha.
( if you have never seen the movie Mommy Dearest then run out and get this camp classic ). Now, since you are able to solve problems ... here is mine.
I accidently came into contact with nature on July 4th. I now have huge welts where bugs bit me and they itch a lot. Cannot do benadryl and work. Any ideas? Don't worry, I will be like the boy in the plastic bubble for the rest of the summer. When we do have our lunch you can be assured we will be eating inside in air conditioned bliss. Also, pls tell me why brother raises goats as I am very curious. It is way cool .
The bee

[Heidi]

Your new anthem can be, "Snood-free, as free as the wind blows..." Heh. Now you'll have that tune in your head all day. Serves you right for trying to lure the rest of us in.

Poor sweet April. I haven't read the other comments yet, but if it hasn't already been mentioned, you might want to consider getting some Doggy Downers from your vet for her next fireworks season.

The normal high here is 81 this time of year, but we had to overachieve and reach and ALL TIME record high of 107 yesterday. Blech.

[cazza]

Welcome back!! I missed you.

Isn't it funny how we strange human beans yearn for holidays and then get all antsy and not-quite-right when we lose our daily routine? You are not alone.

May I suggest some gentle exercise. Some of Babette's contortions or maybe a long walk in the country?

And as for April, isn't it time someone invented doggy headphones to play soothing doggy Enya music when loud noises are happening?

[maddy]

I feel the same way about my issues (hidden and complex) vs. other people's (easy!). Exercise does help, as another poster mentioned. You have to do it regularly and it has to be vigorous enough to tire you out a bit. At least that's my experience.

Poor April. Hope she is feeling better.

[Angie]

I want 2 milk goats, Mary. Where is this brother of yours? I am having a hell of a time finding people with well cared for goats.

[Xila]

Wow. I get depressed when I have to go to work. I guess that means I'm totally centered rather than lazy. Heh. No such luck probably.

[Xila]

Wow. I get depressed when I have to go to work. I guess that means I'm totally centered rather than lazy. Heh. No such luck probably.