The Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: dogs make everything better. They are like moms who can kiss any boo-boo and make the pain go away. When I was a kid, one of my favorite books (that I still have) was one by Judith Viorst entitled Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. It’s about a little boy who experiences a day where everything goes wrong. He wakes up with gum in his hair, he goes shopping with his family for shoes and gets stuck with plain white ones, instead of ones with red or blue stripes, his lunch bag is missing dessert, there are lima beans for dinner and he witnesses kissing on television--He resolves several times to move to Australia...Today I thought the same thing--It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day for me. I won’t go into all the details, but it began with our lights going out late last evening during a storm. Those of you who live in the country know that when this happens it's total darkness and you cannot see your hand in front of your face. I'll admit that I do find it a bit unsettling. However Tanner (pictured here) for some reason has developed what seems to be a fear of the dark. I don't know if it has to do with his being blind in his right eye and limited vision in the other, but he paces and pants and won't settle down in the darkness. We lit candles and a couple of lanterns in hopes it would help to calm him. I was also afraid that I might oversleep so I kept waking up and checking the time. The power was restored around 4 AM. And despite a restless night and a headache from it all, the day started off okay. But then it took a turn…

On my way to work I realized I’d forgotten my breakfast and lunch—Then I remembered something else I’d forgotten. We used to have set days when our dog-walker Lydia would come to let the dogs out. However, with Carl’s new work schedule, we now just call her several days ahead and are added to her schedule as needed. But I remembered that I’d forgotten to call her about coming today. Of course I called Lydia and couldn’t reach her so I left a message. I also called the business owner Christy and asked her if we could be added to the schedule—Again, I had to leave a message, and once more asked for a return call.

When I got to the office the air-conditioning in our office wasn’t working, and neither was our internet connection so there would be no blog reading or checking e-mails. Add to that a couple of grouchy patients, and the request from a co-worker asking if I could work for her on my day off. To summarize, my work day was miserable and I because I’d not heard from my dog-walker, I dreaded what destruction I would find when I came home. Would there be an “accident” or two in the house? Would Rudi have found something to get into? Would Carl have remembered to close the door of the spare-bedroom, pick up the soft-toys and make sure the cat was inside?


I couldn’t get home fast enough this evening. When I got home there was barking on the other side of the door, but I didn’t hear them all—so imagine my pleasant surprise when I opened the door and I was greeted with wagging tails and smiling faces. There was no destruction, there were no “presents” on the floor, the cat was inside, and Lydia the dog-walker had come. Once outside for the evening walk and romp, the dogs were very attentive and kept coming to me for pats and attention. I don’t know if they knew I’d had a bad day, but it doesn’t matter, they really did make everything better.

A Friday Fiasco!

Our day started off with a heart-stopping moment here at Golden Pines! The morning started off as usual. I let the dogs out, fed the cat (she'd not eaten since last night so she was starved!) and I sat down to read blogs and check e-mails. It was not unusual to have the dogs barking at something because there's almost always a rabbit having breakfast nearby. There was also a little barking inside the house, again it wasn't nothing unusual. Sheba did seem a little nervous because she came to me a couple of times and I noticed that she was a little wet around her neck, but I wasn't concerned since we'd had a some rain yesterday.

Promptly at 6 o'clock, just as he always does, Sam came into the office to announce that it was time to get moving and go for our morning walk. I walked into the living room, and in the darkness of the room, I stepped on something cold and wet. I quickly turned on the light saw the wet lifeless body of a young opossum and I had stepped on its tail!!! My screams of shock, surprise or whatever you'd like to call it were no doubt heard throughout the county! They also brought about bedlam and confusion as the dogs began running to me and away from me! I yelled at all the dogs to get outside. Knowing that it was probably safer to listen to a shrieking crazy woman most of the dogs did exactly as they were told. However, Sheba who is always compliant found herself torn between wanting to do what she was told and rolling on the poor lifeless body of the opossum, which in all the commotion she managed to do a couple of times. Carl emerged from the bedroom and told me to get a towel because it was moving its mouth and appeared to still be alive. I couldn't look, I'd already seen and felt enough of it. Carl said there were no visible injuries, and maybe it was "playing possum" (or pretending to be dead for those who don't know the phrase) We decided that we would put it in a small dog crate from our barn and find someone to care for it. I chose going to the barn to get the crate and chance the spotting of a mouse over staying with a possibly injured, wet and wild animal. Carl took it outside and laid it on the grass where it promptly "woke up" and casually walked into the tall grass and safety of the woods.......Well okay then.....Lets get this day started!


**Postscript to post--We both checked all the dogs thoroughly including their mouths and thankfully NO injuries were found on any of them. I however, have a little bit of a sore throat ***

Just another Day at the Office

This post comes to you from the front desk of the office where I work. My stint as the "front desk girl officially ends today around 5 PM. I have to give a lot of credit to our Office Manager for putting up with all she does from patients. Today is a classic example of what I know she deals with quite often....

We had a patient come in this morning that I didn't recognize. The conversation with her went like this:

ME: Can I have your name please so I can check you in.

Patient, "NO!" I don't want to tell you who I am.
I was a little taken back by this, and said to her, "Well, I can't check you in unless I know who you are." In which she loudly replied, "I don't want you to know who I am!" Okay, I have to admit, I was a tad bit irritated by the tone of her response, so I didn't say anything else to her. I knew that any patients that would be arriving would be early for their appointment, so I just let her sit in the waiting room while I did some filing. After about 10-15 minutes I walked over to the computer, checked the schedule and saw that we weren't expecting an older lady, but I noticed she had a boy with her, so I thought maybe it was for him--But the age didn't fit. So, I finally said to her, "You have to tell me your name because I don't think either of you are on the schedule for today." She had another snotty reply saying to me that she had an appointment at 12 o'clock! I told her she had to give me her name so I could check what time her appointment was, which she finally did. I looked her up in the computer and found that she has an appointment--But it's NEXT week!! At which she replied with a meek and a bit humble, "oh..." Of course I was very nice, but inside I was really smirking and gloating as I handed her another appointment card with next week's date and time--Maybe that'll teach her to not be sarcastic to the front desk girl!!

The Red-White and Blue of Golden Pines

Today is July 4, 2010 - On this day in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. As always, this most American of holidays will be marked by parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues across the country.

We've had a couple of invitations to view fireworks and come for dinner but have declined. I really just want to stay home. However, we are not without patriotism at Golden Pines. I have found that we have "Red, White and Blue" which symbolizes the American flag all around us to help us mark and celebrate the day...

To start, the red of the wine-berries that are all over our property. (By the way, does anyone know anything I can do with these?)

And in the Redwing Blackbirds -- I know, they look a bit orange...
We also have what are considered "red" Goldens like Sam
The white is symbolized in the Queen Anne Lace that's growing in several places
And on my daisies. It is can also be found in the sweet white faces of our senior Goldens like Tanner...
And our Cat "CC" as well--Yes, I know it's hard to believe that we have a cat amongst all the Goldens and Charlie! Finding blue at Golden Pines was a little a little trickier, but it was found on my hydrangea that is blooming. It has been the "crown jewel" in my flower garden this year as I've watched and enjoyed each bloom. I am so glad it forgave me my mistakes that I made with it last year.

There is also the blue sky that we saw this morning at the start of our day.

And finally the feeling of "blue" that comes from the pups like Sheba and myself when I have to leave them behind.

Whatever you are doing, if it's a day you do or don't celebrate, I hope you have a wonderful, fun and safe July 4th!!!