hatamaran says please spay and neuter, mmmk?

Pics of Princess Sadie

2009-11-23T17:39:00.002-05:00

Now she's called Princess Amy, but she was all doll. And she wasn't even stinky!

Thanks Ma!

2009-11-21T12:30:00.000-05:00

Thanks for blowing the leaves off the deck so I can sun myself...now if you get Papa to quit giving me so many treats I could run around a little more...just sayin'.

My poor mom now has pneumonia. I swear she can't get a break. At least she's on antibiotics now. I am really feeling badly for her. Hoping she is better soon!

Today I will be transporting a wonderfully stinky bloodhound pup from Kentucky to Tennessee. I'll be leaving shortly to pick her up. I'll be sure to post some pics!! Tata for now.
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Pet Assistance Network and Brown Dog Foundation help families struggling to care for their pets

2009-11-18T15:23:00.003-05:00

Know of someone who is struggling to keep their pet despite rough financial times? A new organization called Pet Assistance Network may be able to help.

For those in Nashville and selected other areas (hopefully in Knoxville soon), Brown Dog Foundation can help those in need of emergency life-saving veterinary services for their pets but who are unable to afford it.

a little gratitude spreads like warm butter...

2009-11-18T15:11:00.001-05:00

while sitting on the deck today I got this nice little reminder to be grateful for the smallest of treats...

The ears have it...

2009-11-17T10:32:00.000-05:00

An infection that is. Feelin' a bit on thew yucky side today, but manageable.

Still nothing on the job front and no prospects. I have tried to reach the unemployment office nearly 100 times and STILL have yet to get through to a person OR a voice mail box. There's not even a call queue, just a message saying you have to try your call later due to the "high call volume." Great.

On the positive side I am painting a lot and will be exhibiting at Wilde Thyme Art at their grand opening in early December. Check them out at http://wildethymeart.net. I believe the art will be for sale online as well.

I am looking forward also to seeing my friend Jan from Canada tonight. She will be celebrating the defense of her dissertation, which is today, and has really worked hard to get her PhD in social work. I know she will be relieved and happy to have gotten through the day. Go Jan!

All the pups and kitties are doing well but Pepper has been suffering with a grumbly tummy recently. She threw up on the bed last night and looked so pitiful as is to say "I'm sorry...I couldn't help it!" She is such a sensitive little soul.

Gonna lay down for a few minutes before getting back to making more art for the show. I need to have 20 to 30 pieces so I need to busta move!
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Tweet from Twitterrific

2009-11-04T08:38:00.001-05:00

The APDT's position statement on "dominance" & dog training http://bit.ly/27t8yq
(via @NicoleWilde)

http://twitter.com/PetWriter/status/1124991643

Sent from Teresa's iPod :-)

Well, that was quick...

2009-11-03T15:59:00.003-05:00

I showed up at my new job after a little training, and found that I had no office, no phone, no computer, and no place to sit. Huh? Couldn't they have stuffed a desk in the corner of one of the meeting rooms or something?

It's a growing company and they do NOT have any of their processes down yet. Look, I'll be 45 friggin' years old in January. I know I'm not a seasoned social worker as of yet, but maybe a chair? Maybe a desk that could be shared that is not piled high with papers and charts? I was so disappointed. Constant interruptions in clinical work would have been the norm. I have never quit a job without staying a while, but at this age, I know the score and I was going to be taking Xanax by the end of the week. The gals there were sweet, but it was really going to be miserable for me as a professional.

I've always worked in very mature and professional offices and this was like being in someone's house with people yelling back and forth from the kitchen to the living room. Yes, I know I am spoiled, but I'm too old to be going that far backward. Perhaps my first clue was when I threw up in the middle of the night after my first day. I DO NOT throw up and have NEVER in my life vomited from being emotionally overwrought.

Apparently when I got laid off I had the only good social work job in the city. Maybe I'll just go back to marketing, be bored, and draw an easy paycheck.

Check out this LOLCat!

2009-11-01T19:17:00.001-05:00

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Download Today!

Sent from Teresa's iPod :-)

2009-11-01T19:12:00.001-05:00

Starting a new job tomorrow! Finally I am employed after being laid off in April!! Pay is terrible, but it will get better with licensure.

-- Post From My iTouch

Leroy the English Setter

2009-10-31T17:01:00.000-04:00

Today I got the pleasure of meeting Leroy today on a rescue transport. My leg took me into Kentucky but pretty Leroy is going all the way to New York! The people who organize these all volunteer transports are just amazing. They make it so easy to help and make a difference. If you'd like to see more go to http://www.rogerrover.aimoo.com. I drive almost every week and have met so many nice people and fantastic, deserving dogs. It's really fun.
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giddy-up!!

2009-10-29T16:33:00.001-04:00

I was offered a job today!! More later!

keep it in perspective...

2009-10-27T15:05:00.005-04:00

My mom continues to recover nicely from her mastectomy. She is a real trooper and jokes about stuffing her bra. She is starting to miss all the attention (that she said was annoying)she was getting when she was going through the operation and initial recovery.

I tried to take her over to Asheville for a quick trip to the Southeastern Animal and Fiber Festival http://saffsite.org, but alas, a huge rock slide happened about 40 miles out of Asheville that closed down the interstate. We had to scrap our mission. At least I got her out for a trip of sorts. She is very allergic to boredom.

I am still looking for a freakin' job and can't believe I am not working. I got laid off in April! My severance package has ended and the money is gone. Thank goodness my "moonlighting" at the vet school is helping, but I need a real job soon. My motivation has melted into a puddle. You would think I would be all revved up to be Martha Stewart around here, but I just get lazier and lazier...kinda smacks of depression, though I am trying to fend off that dreaded beast. I'm struggling to keep my confidence at a healthy level.

To my credit, I have not smoked a single cigarette since October 6 (I think that's the date...)--a week before my mom's surgery. I still want one and get pretty antsy when I see my husband sneak out with a cigar, but I don't want to have to go through the "quitter's flu" again. I really felt awful for several days.

Poor little Grayson's ashes are finally here at home with us. I miss him and dreamed of him last night. He was so pretty and so sweet. The folks who did the cremation didn't have an urn available with an integrated picture frame, so I took a plain one and will have to figure out how to do that myself.

So, that's where I am at: still unemployed, but thankful my mom is coming along nicely. I could comment on a lot of current events right now, but I think there will be enough of that going on elsewhere. I must remember to have perspective and to remember we have all the time we have.

Ha...redneck cat carrier

2009-10-20T23:57:00.001-04:00

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Download Today!

Sent from Teresa's iPod :-)

Fancy dog tricks

2009-10-15T10:23:00.000-04:00

Little doodles drawn at my mom's. I've been experimenting with scratchboard, too. I think Fancy Dog Tricks might wind up as a scratchboard piece-it's fun.

My mom did great with surgery and her lymph nodes were clear of additional cancer. I have been staying with her since Sunday night. She is tough as nails and never ceases to amaze me. Already talking my ear off ;-)
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Whew...

2009-10-13T00:50:00.002-04:00

My mom's surgery went great. She's the definition of "trooper." I am now "attempting" to sleep in a vinyl recliner that extends into a "bed" in her room. It's not all that bad but I am still wide awake as per usual. I am turning into a vampire.

It has been one heck of a stressful day starting at 6 this morning. Her pain is managed fairly well, but my God, what an incision. She is going to wish she could rent that pain pump at discharge. I am actually very thankful to be unemployed right now, because she is going to need some help for a while. Recovery is not going to be fun. She will have one drain removed after about three days and the other will stay in from 2 to 3 weeks. Pretty yucky.
Well, I guess I will get back to thrashing about in this "bed" and stare at the ceiling for a while. Before you know it, it'll be morning and I'll want to scoot over to my mom's house to get a shower before coming back.
I am just so VERY thankful today. Lots of friends and family have provided wonderful support.

Tomorrow is the day...

2009-10-11T18:32:00.004-04:00

If you're the praying sort, please send good energy, prayers, or whatever you do to make good things (hopefully) happen. Mom's mastectomy for breast cancer is tomorrow...it's a pretty long surgery (3 hours). I am super nervous and she is nervous, too. Trying to NOT act nervous though. I don't want to make it any worse for her. I'll be heading over to her house tonight and spending several days with her to help her while she's in the hospital and at home afterward. I'll try to update via BBerry if I can. She's strong and healthy otherwise, so we don't expect complications, but my really long streak of bad luck has made me more nervous than usual. It's actually a blessing to be unemployed right now so I can take care of her. Now if *I* could just CALM DOWN!! ARGH.

October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month...

2009-10-11T18:30:00.001-04:00

how about adopting a human? This is a cute video:

Petey is pretty sure...

2009-10-09T16:39:00.000-04:00

that he is a person. His pleading eyes are saying, "I need a steak dinner. Make it a filet."

Sitting on the deck. I am thinking about the just-issued tornado watch as I observe a cloudless blue sky. Maybe someone hit the wrong button on the computer. .
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Little Girl Can't Let go as Sergeant Daddy Leaves For Iraq - ParentDish

2009-10-08T19:09:00.001-04:00

Little Girl Can't Let go as Sergeant Daddy Leaves For Iraq - ParentDish

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Billionaire Offers $75 Million to End Pet Overpopulation - Paw Nation

2009-10-07T08:41:00.001-04:00

Billionaire Offers $75 Million to End Pet Overpopulation - Paw Nation

Shared via AddThis

Today was a beautiful day...

2009-10-03T23:22:00.001-04:00

When I got up today it was beautiful. I had reaolved to "think positive." Unfortunately I let troubled relationships ruin the day. With everything that has been happening lately it didn't take much to be elicit the "straw that broke the camel's back." The day has been pure misery. I knew all the emotions from recent happenings would eventually come to a head and it looks like today was the day. Sometimes life sucks-and then you deal with it.

Mom's surgery for a unilateral mastectomy is scheduled for Oct. 12. Please send good energy, prayers, and any other good stuff in whatever format you choose our way. It will be much appreciated.

On a lighter note, I am going to be posting a whole bunch of yarn on Ebay in the next day or two, so if you are a knitter, stay tuned. I will post notices of listings here when as soon as I get them up.

Hoping you are all well and in good spirits.
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garden things...

2009-09-28T19:45:00.000-04:00

I don't consider myself a green thumb by any means, but I'm a better gardener than I ever thought I could be. Last year I planted Silver Lace Clematis to run over the pergola my mom built for us. It's already up and over the top and halfway across. It blooms in September and smells delicious.

The daisy-looking plant (I can't remember the name of it) has been a nice surprise. It is still in full bloom and brightens up the garden for fall. These plants are about 2 years old. This year has been the first year it has looked mature. It can tolerate some shade as well. I just love seeing things grow and change in the garden--every year is a surprise. :-)

Baxter says "Arrrrooooooooo!"

2009-09-27T23:21:00.000-04:00

Baxter was the cutest little beagle with honey-colored eyes. For some reason he was completely enamoured with my mother. This little video is him getting all wound up when my mom went into a gas station for a potty break. Baxter is saying "Come back!" Actually, he got pretty excited every time the car stopped. He was a real character.

Rescue Transport Yesterday

2009-09-27T23:20:00.000-04:00

Here's our buddies going to rescue yesterday. Three hound dogs in a car in torrential rain means STINK. But it was fun. The 3 hour trip turned into about 4 1/2 because the rain was so horrible. We saw three cars wrecked in ditches because there was so much water standing on the interstate. Baxter is the little beagle and the two elderly bassetts are Jiminy and Cricket. They will be excellent pets for someone very soon. Baxter insisted on sitting on my mother's lap.

Tweet from Twitterrific

2009-09-26T23:42:00.000-04:00

A national bill (not just Florida) Tax deduction for pet care costs http://bit.ly/Evmpb

http://twitter.com/PetWriter/status/97912468

Sent from Teresa's iPod :-)