LOVE LOVE LOVE

I don't understand much about love these days it seems, but I do know this:

My sunshine doesn't come from the skies...

it comes from the LOVE in my dog's eye(s).

(wo)MAN'S BEST FRIEND

The right man will love you unconditionally, be loyal, and always be happy to see you.

Oh wait...that's my dog.

My dog does that.

Happy #nationalpuppyday

Whoever said a girl's best friend is diamonds obviously never owned a dog.

(I'll still take diamonds if offered though.)

BIRTHDAY DOG

 Words that get her tail wagging are: go, walk, treat, outside, park, and gift card. I'm not sure why she loves the last one, but here is a birthday "gift card" made of raw hide for the coolest dog who stole my heart 2 years ago.

WW - THE DOG AND THE SEWER

My dog has a love/hate relationship with all sewer grates we walk past. She is so intrigued by them, but there is not way she will walk across one on her own. In fact, she makes sure she has her feet planted to keep as far away as she can. It's like she knows there is a creepy, killer clown living down there.

TRUE MEANING OF EASTER

We had our fair share of eggs, ham, and Easter bunny baskets at my house.

But we didn't forget the true meaning of the day.

#BecauseOfHim

Jesus is the Son of God, our Savior, and Redeemer. Because of Him, death is not the end, and life takes on new meaning. He paid the price for our sins, died on the cross, and rose from the dead—providing a way for each one of us to return and live with God someday.

FIND OUT MORE HERE.

SHAMROCKS

Show off your Shamrocks!

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

CUPID

My dog...the kidder

Hope you had a happy Valentine's Day!

BUNNY EARS

Nothing says Easter like egg hunts and bunny ears...

STITCHES OUT

Day-Z had her stitches taken out today. She did fantastic and the doctor said everything is healing and looking great. After the doctor visit, we went for a ride up the canyon. 

I let her run around off-leash after 2 weeks and Dayz couldn't have been happier!

She came home and fell asleep with a smile on her face.

She is doing so much better. She finished her medication, has her stitched out, and can finally play.

A few more days and hopefully all of her energy will return.

DON'T JUDGE ME

First of all, I want to apologize for a previous post. I normally don't show much emotion on this blog. But I did the other day...so there you have it...I have emotions (don't tell anybody else). This car accident event was a little tough for me, but Dayz has been doing much better. Her happy attitude is showing through the stitches.

Here is Day-Z:

(She is very camera shy)

I have had several people offer kind words, giving support and letting me know things will be ok. One comment stood out the most saying she might LOOK different, but she will still BE the same dog and we'll LOVE each other just the same. I've realized this is true since her surgery medications have worn off and she is back to her super happy (sometimes stubborn) dog self.

After answering the door and having the UPS guy pet her and ask, "What happened? Did her eye get ripped out or something?" and a 7 year-old girl comment, "She's weirding me out. I'm not coming over any more because of her," I was a little nervous. I am aware Day-Z is a dog. She doesn't care who you are, she'll wag her tail and sniff your hand for a scratch behind the ear. I know that I love her and I think Day-Z is beautiful - inside and out. She is the sweetest, most gentle, funniest dog I have met. I just hope others can see that too.

Mother Teresa said, "If you judge people, you have no time to love them." That statement is so simple yet so profound. It is much easier to find the faults in others instead of looking inward and finding what it is that we are seeing in this person we are judging. We need to be fair. 

Those Depeche Mode guys sang (from the song People Are People):

So we're different colours

And we're different creeds

And different people have different needs.

It's obvious you hate me 

Though I've done nothing wrong.

I never even met you

So what could I have done.

I can't understand

What makes a man

Hate another man.

Help me understand.

At Powell's City of Books in Portland, there is a section where they ask you to actually judge the books by their ridiculously awesome covers, but I think most other times - especially with people *and pets* - I'd say we should keep the judging to a minimum. 

GETTING....BETTER

Day-Z has improved so much the last two days. If I look past the not being able to sleep at night because she hits me in the face with her cone, the fact that I have to put bologna in her water dish to trick her into drinking water so she stays hydrated (don't most dogs love to drink water?), and 30 minute wrestles to get her daily eye drop in her eye, I'd say she is closer to being back to her normal self. She longs to run outside and play with her neighborhood animal friends, to jump and play, and do her really big yawns. However, she needs to stay calm so she doesn't rip out her stitches and to avoid infection. She is great at giving kisses, cuddling, and just being her super happy dog self already.

DAY-Z POST-OP

Yesterday was the car accident and eye surgery for Day-Z. She was still a little groggy and disoriented from her medicine today. We took it easy and watched some movies and snuggled on the couch. She is being very clingy or needy for me and I understand that. I'm sure it is hard for her and she doesn't know why her eye is not opening, why she has to wear a cone around her neck, or why she is so woozy.

She did eat some soft food and drink water finally.

I phoned the dog trainer to tell her that Dayz and I won't be making it to the next few classes. I cried when she asked me questions about the incident.

Bed time was really hard for me. Day-Z HATES having the cone around her neck (I had it off during the day when she was around me and I could make sure she didn't scratch at the stitches). I obviously can't watch her while I'm sleeping, so she has to wear it. She was protesting wearing it by trying to fall asleep standing up. She leaned against me and her head was bobbing up and down as she tried to fight off sleeping. Whenever I thought I could get her to lay down, she'd make her legs stiff and wouldn't move.

I'm not one who normally has regrets because I know there is no reason to since there is no way to change the past (especially since I don't have a time machine). But for some reason, I just feel so guilty about the accident. I kept seeing it over in my mind and think: 

*what if I had parked the other way with the car facing the park instead of the road so she wouldn't have seen the kitty and run towards it

*what if I had wrapped her leash around something in the car to tether her in until I was fully ready to get out and go

*what if I hadn't even taken her to the park that morning or

*what if we had gone earlier or later

*was that person watching where they were going or were they looking at their cell phone

*should I have run across the road and made the first passing truck stop

*why didn't the vet I took her to visit 2 months earlier for her physical notice the ligament fibers in her eye were weak and give her medicine to strengthen them

*could this have been prevented in ANY way

*what if, why, could've, should've....the list goes on

I cried myself to sleep. Goodnight.

SOMEBODY THINKS SHE'S HUMAN

I thought there was a new pooch in the house, but sometimes it seems like somebody thinks she's human.

I wake up to find her on the bed, under the covers, with her head on the pillow.

 She likes to sit by for daily hot chocolate and reading of the newspaper.

 She's most comfortable sitting like this.

She always calls "shotgun" in the car.

And sometimes I walk into the front room to find we're wearing the same thing.

NEW POOCH

I decided to adopt a dog from the Utah Humane Shelter. 

She came with the name Dasie, but I decided to change the spelling to Day-Z (it's more thuggish). 

She's the sweetest dog - She even smiles in her sleep (and sometimes sleeps with 1 eye partially open which is kinda creepy).

She is a 4 year old Jack Russell (Parson) Terrier.

And I swear she has a paw print on her ear just like her TV cousin Wishbone. Am I the only one who sees it?

Everyone loves the new pooch...except the kitty. He's not impressed (for now).