You Dirty Dog

This video is from about seven or eight years ago. Ham (the boxer) could still see and Charlie (the bulldog) still had a little pep in his step.

This is Charlie now...most of the time.

Of course he's twelve years old now, which is extremely old for an English Bulldog. He's goes out in the morning after he eats and is good to go until before we go to sleep at night. When you have three big dogs in a tiny temp rental house, you gotta appreciate that low maintenance one.

 It's been raining here a lot lately and haven't had a chance to bathe the dogs outside but Charlie started stinking so bad it was hard to be in a room with him. Then again, put him outside and this is the first thing he does...NOT helping with his smell.

 It was a dry winter here in central Florida. It wasn't cold but never rained so all the grass dried up and left us with a backyard full of black sand and dog poop. I try to do poop patrol at least once a week considering we have three big dogs in a backyard this size now...

instead of the one they had in Georgia...

Huge difference when all three are taking a couple of dumps a day. Back in Georgia they all went into the woods at the back to do their bidness.

We 've got really great neighbors on one side of us, and have become good friends with them. A young couple, mid twenties and also have three (smaller) dogs. I told Ashley (our neighbor) I was tired of picking up poop with my hand stuck in a plastic grocery and dropping it into another as I patrolled. It's disgusting carrying a eight pound bag of dooky out to the garbage can on the front of the house. She said she just picks hers up with a pooper scooper and tosses it over the back fence.

Guess who bought a pooper scooper yesterday at Big Lots?

I mean, guess if those fifty squawking flamingos (yes I know they aren't really flamingos) are pooping in the retention pond...what's a little (lot) more?

Problem solved!

I decided to break down today, hoist and shove Charlie into my bath tub for a scrub down. It was no easy feat...but that was no easy smell he had either. I pulled and Massey pushed him from behind. We looked like Lucy and Ethel. He did not want to get in that tub and was of no help at all, but amazingly enough had no problem hopping out on his own when we got through.

Two problems solved!

I knew when we made this move to Florida it would be hard for our pups making a huge transisiton, especially with Ham being totally blind.

Ham has probably adapted as well if not better than the two sighted pups. He walks with caution and that nose a twiching. It took him about one day to learn the layout of the new house and yard.

Little Houdini has done great as well...not one escape or even one attempt, and that's saying something considering the back fence is only about four feet high. He's even been to the beach with us!

Charlie wouldn't care where we moved unless it didn't have a couch.

I read a book recently and had a chapter on her dog. There was a quote that nailed how I feel about my pups on their three big heads.


"People seem to love their dogs with an unabashed acceptance that they rarely demonstrate with family or friends. The dogs do not disappoint them, or if they do, the owners manage to forget about it quickly. I want to learn to love people like this, the way I love my dog, with pride and enthusiasm and a complete amnesia for faults. In short, to love others the way my dog loves me."

                                                                                               Ann Patchett




I think dogs actually make us better people. I know I'm happier when I own one (or three).

We only have twelve weeks left on our rental lease and will moving the pups one more time. Every house we look at has the stipulation of having to have a nice big fenced in yard for Larry, Curly and Moe to live out their remaining years with us in style. We're even getting one with a cement pond for them to swim in. I'm not even worried about Ham. The pool will be screened in with an outer yard fenced in but do look forward to easing him in at some point. Fat as Charlie is, he'll float like a buoy and pretty sure Ziggy will at least be extremely curious.

I am so not looking forward to packing up again but at least will be a thirty minute drive and the last move of our lifetime.

I've also discovered that being brave enough to say goodbye to Georgia has indeed rewarded me with a pretty nice hello and life Florida. Tim's doing great with his job and Massey's making friends. It took me a minute to get my new job down (always does when you're a perfectionist) but am consistently making more money each and every week. I've got my confidence back, once again am a selling machine and have a handful of new friends. It's gonna be just fine.

Til next time...COTTON

Sweating Like an Oldie (old woman that is)

The new mattress store I work at doesn't run the A/C either. It's just to keep overhead down hence prices too, which is a good thing for customers....for hot flashing female employees, not so much. At least it's a much  smaller store and I have two huge double doors I keep propped open in the front and two huge cargo doors directly across from them in the back. It's no where near as hot as the furniture store was and  mattresses are a lot easier to load than couches, especially when you  weigh 99 pounds. It's started off slow being the first week  they've been open seven days as opposed to just Friday  through Monday. I sold a queen size mattress and two queen size box springs today so at least I'm on the boards.

Last night when I went to leave and lock the front door, my key the other manager had given me didn't fit the lock.  I guess I should have tried the key  the day he gave it to me but I'm not much of a thinker. I called him at  home and he told me to use a spare key he had made for the owner in the lock box.

Tonight after we closed I wiped the greasy film of oil off my face with  a paper towel, clocked out and went to lock the door. I noticed I had TWO extra keys on my key ring. My sweet sis and her hubs have loaned us their spare car to use and when they gave me the key on a ring I guess their house key was on it too. Last night I was trying to lock the store with their house key, not the store key. Am I a dope or what?

Came home to a whole other issue. Suddenly and out of nowhere, the last couple of weeks Ziggy has decided he wants to go after Ham every time he sees him. The problem (well the main one) is that Ham can't see and instinctively goes in to defense mode...which added together equals a dog fight. Ham and Zig used to curl up every night together and seemingly out of nowhere there seems to be a dominance struggle. The last dog fight happened when I was home alone and absolutely terrified me. I got two busted knees just pulling them apart. Charlie has opted out of the last few fights, he used to get in fights with Ham when Ham could see and got his butt whipped so much we used to call him Scarface. I want to get all  three neutered and think it will help. Zach is all opposed to it, but of course his vote doesn't really count unless he wants to start paying for dog food , shots and heart worm preventative.

My  sister used to have two male boxers who started doing the same thing and they bought an electric  prod. They would just zap  them quickly on the hip and it broke the dogs up.  They haven't used it in a few years but loaned it to me. I bought new batteries for it but how do I know it's still working unless I zap somebody (it doesn't make any noise)? Tim very strongly  declined to be the test dummy and Zach looked at me like I was crazy when I asked him. It's gotten to the point that if Ziggy even sees Ham in the house he goes after him, therefore we have to leave Ziggy out back in the yard most of the day. Ziggy and Charlie still get along great, they can be out back together or in the house together but for some unknown canine reason, Ziggy just wants to go after Ham. Ham weighs almost as much  as me and Ziggy's getting close.

Tim said we needed to get rid of one of them but that's not an option to me. I love all three of the goofs and when I ended up with three dogs, vowed to take care of three dogs. I've read all Caesar Milan's articles on stopping dog fights but unless he comes to my house to show me how...it ain't working.

I'm thinking chopping nuts is the best route. I wouldn't mind leaving Ziggy out back  all day but he is an escaper and we have to keep him on a cable run. Granted it runs from the top of one fence to the other but doesn't let him have full range of the entire back yard.

Here's what I'm gonna do since I'm the momma. I'm taking one dog a week to the mobile vet,  getting them neutered, and once all three have healed keeping the prod handy but electrifying the back fence where if the neutering doesn't work at least Ziggy can run and enjoy a half acre fenced in yard.

GVS turned us down for Ham's eye surgery saying it wasn't necessary surgery. They have given me four other organizations who help fund surgery for dogs and contacting all of them. If Ham could see, I truly believe it would be a different ball game. He gets so nervous now when anything out of the ordinary happens and I can't blame him...being blind is a tough nut to swallow. (small pun intended)

Here's my question, why don't vets do any "Pro Bono" surgery? If they read Ham's story and the situation we are in, shouldn't they WANT to help? Isn't there some kind of canine Hippocratic oath they take? Thanks to so many friends all  three of my pups are up to date on their shots, all heart worm free and all on preventative.

We need a miracle here because I have no intention of  getting rid of any of my precious pups, I simply need some help. They are part of my family and my family sticks together.

This is the way I want to see  them all together again...copacetic.Maybe the world can't get along, but these three pups surely and somehow can, or should  I have named them Iran, Syria and Afghanistan?

Til next  time...COTTON

I Am Pig Pen

I've been off for the last three days, which is highly unusual for me. Not having a car makes it difficult to pick up shifts because I not only have to pick up a shift but a ride to it as well. I had two nice days off with  Massey though and spent some much needed Momma/Daughter time with her before she leaves for college next  week. Today she decided we had had enough  time together and left around three with her college room mate to spend the night at her house. They are going shopping for cheap text books tomorrow, trying to get a peek inside their dorm and having lunch at  The Cheesecake Factory in Atlanta.

I was fine with that. Zach's helping a friend move, Tim's off hunting jobs and I have the house to myself.

I gave myself a much needed manicure. I even got all crazy and trimmed my cuticles. Then I decided to paint my toe nails too. I took  off my flip flops and was disgusted by  the dirt between my toes.

I'm not a clean freak, whether it be my house OR me. I normally work six days a week and shower six days a week. I clean house about every other week but keep it liveable in between and Tim  and the kids kick in to help every once in a while. I mainly concentrate on the kitchen and baths, the rest is window dressing  to me. When you have two kids still at  home and three dogs, keeping the house immaculate is pretty much impossible unless it is your full time job. I get my spurts and will  attack a  room with Mr. Clean (Febreze scent) windex and Murphy's oil soap. (my three favorite cleaning products) I am always amazed when I get through  how little time it actually takes and how wonderful the results can be.

I basically haven't left the house since bumming a ride home from work Monday night. I get up in the morning, brush my teeth, run a washcloth over my face and call myself clean (enough). I like to think of myself as being very European. When we used to go to Florida every summer for vacation with my family, as long as we had the ocean and a pool to swim in I was good for the week. I might shower once if we went out to eat.

Tonight I'm going to have to break down and take a nice long hot bath...I'm beginning to get a bit rank. Even the dogs quit licking me.

Speaking of dogs...

These aren't my dogs but may  as well be. Dog fights are horrifying to me. They escalate from growling to a full out fight in less  than two seconds. I have big dogs and weigh less than two of the smallest ones put together.  Used to be it was always Charlie and Ham battling for the Alpha Male spot. Charlie got his butt whooped time after time after time and has finally learned his pecking order.

Ziggy is an extremely slow learner. He loves Ham, that's his buddy and sleep spooning each other. Ziggy just doesn't understand  that Ham is totally blind now and when he jumps on Ham in the back yard trying  to play, it takes Ham by  surprise and of course Ham's reaction is to defend himself. Ham could kill Ziggy if he wanted to, he's a massive dog. I couldn't imagine being totally  blind and having others jumping on me not knowing if they were friends or foes. Ham has gotten grumpier after losing all his sight and Ziggy is still a playful pup. We had another dog fight day before yesterday and luckily Massey was there  to help me break it up. Ziggy has a couple of superficial scars but Ham wasn't letting go being in the dark so  to speak and came out with several wounds from Ziggy's sharp  young teeth. I simply can't take it anymore and have to keep Ziggy out back all day, which isn't like a prison. He has a huge yard to  play in, or at least fifty yards of it when he is on his "Escapee" run. I go out back several times a day and let him off  the  run to let him romp. As soon as I get a vehicle we are starting the chop shop for all three. The local mobile vet does neutering on Thursday's. We once  thought about breeding Charlie because he is so spectacular  and looks just like UGA. Then we thought about breeding Ziggy because he is AKC and the most beautiful boxer I have ever seen with his perfect markings.

Then I started thinking about how many dogs are neglected, mistreated and  abandoned. Yeah, we're broke and studding out a male dog would bring in some money but I need to maintain some sanity around here and it's not like studding them out will entirely fix our economic debacle and the world certainly doesn't need more dogs, there are plenty out there who need a good home first.

The person I am in contact with at  the foundation that offered to help Ham is out of town until next  Monday. I am formulating my letter from  Ham to them. Ham's a great dog, didn't ask to be part of our family we adopted him. He's gone blind and  it's become an issue having two other rescue males here. I've become afraid of letting all  three in the house at once until Tim or Zach  get home and that's not the way I (or the pups) want it.

People have helped Ham get so far. Ham would be dead by  now if they hadn't pitched in to not only send him for eye evaluation but pay for his shots, gas to and from vet visits and even dog food. Then they paid for his heart worm treatment. The boy has come so far  thanks to so many and I simply want Ham to go the final mile and be able to see again, and limited vision is all we ask for.

Once again harassing the foundation tomorrow with yet another email but at least they have so far responded every time. To people who don't have dogs, I know I sound crazy. To people who DO have dogs, thanks for loving my Ham and helping him get to this critical point.

Back to the  real world tomorrow, working all weekend and only have to bum a ride on Friday!

Soaking in a hot tub, washing away three day's worth of grime and waking up tomorrow to do it all again.

"It's not about what it is, it's about what it can become."  (Dr. Seuss)

Til next  time, a stinky dirty but extremely lucky and grateful COTTON.

Just Another Day

I had to go into  work at 3:30 today. It was so hot outside it felt suffocating. Somehow, someway, Ziggy chewed through  the rubber coated wire cable that attaches to his fifty foot run across the back yard. I had two cables but loaned one to a neighbor two doors down when I saw them chasing their little dog  down the street one day. I went down to their house to "borrow back" the cable line but they weren't home. I walked around back and saw the cable...well it IS mine and I needed it so I unhooked it from  the corkscrew anchor in  the ground (which I had loaned them too) and went back to my house to hook on our line which runs from fence to fence. I should have left a note but it was a billion degrees outside and I had one hour left to get ready and be standing out front of the house for  the fellow server who  was giving me a ride to work. I hooked Ziggy  back up and went inside to iron my work shirt. I went back downstairs  to let the other two dogs out and Ziggy  got all excited to see his buddy, Ham. They really ARE close, they cuddle together all  the time and sleep side by side every night. Ham walked out into  his blind world and Ziggy pounced on him, trying to play. Ham didn't know what was going on and reacted just like a blind dog would...fight. Charlie simply walked past them both  and seemed to say "No Thank You"  to the ensuing and quickly escalating fight. Of course I freaked (the totally wrong thing to do) and they fed off my reaction and screaming. No one was home but me and luckily Ziggy  was hooked to the line. I pulled and pulled on Ziggy's line and Ham's collar when Ham's collar slipped off and suddenly was grabbing them neck by  neck. I was knocked to my knees  and just started screaming (another wrong thing to do ) "Somebody help me!" I thought maybe Zach  was next door at  the neighbor's. It took me about a full minute to get them apart which in dog fight time seems an eternity. I shoved Ziggy  back into  the kitchen door and slammed it. I thought I was having a heart  attack if not a stroke. Dog fights absolutely terrify me.  What scares me most is that it will happen when no one is home and they will fight to the death. I love all three of my pups and know they love each other, they just don't understand Ham is  blind and  Ham doesn't understand what's  going on around him. Ziggy is still a playful pup and his good intentions are sometimes misinterpreted by  Ham.

So I got them apart, crated Ziggy upstairs and left Ham and Charlie out back. Both my knees were bloody  and bruised but  still had three dogs and none of them were bleeding or hurt. Yes I am an avid/stupid dog lover and that  was my first concern. I finished getting ready for work and took Ziggy out of  the crate on a leash and put him out back on  the run with two bowls of water filled with ice cubes and left Ham and Charlie inside. I was exhausted by  the time I got to work and my heart was still pounding.  So I started me a pot of coffee...misery loves company.

It was busy at work but at least I knew Zig was out back and Ham and Charlie were inside. Bummed another ride home from work at  ten thirty. Ziggy was peering out his peep hole in the fence. I shut Ham up in a bedroom and let Ziggy in. Then I crated Ziggy and let Ham and Charlie out back.

This is getting too crazy  for me. I'm going back  to the GVS for Ham's surgery. The  foundation who  offered to sponsor the surgery only works with GVS so...GVS it shall be and the sooner the better. I weigh ninety nine pounds soaking wet, Ham weighs over eighty pounds, Ziggy weighs sixty. I'm no match for their fights. They have never turned on me and the fights aren't about dominance, just Ham's reacting to  not being  able to see or know what's going on around him. I can't blame him one bit.

They are both laying behind me now like besties, stupid idiots. It's not like I had good looking knees anyway and when I came home from work tonight, Ham licked both my knees for five minutes then Ziggy  took over for ten.

Dogs...you either love them or hate them. I love all three of my pups,  just want Ham  to see again and everything will be  right with our world...at least the canine side of it!

Til next  time...COTTON

Pretty Great Day!

My day started off with trying to clock in this morning but the computer was down. Took a couple of phone calls with our IT guy at  corporate and twenty minutes of me squatting on  the floor reading off numbers and verifying which lights were and were NOT on the router and modem. No fifty three year old woman likes to squat, I don't know how hot flashing Ethiopian women do it? Most of them don't even have a house much less a chair, it's brutally hot and they seem to always be squatting...not to mention all  those pesky flies.God bless 'em and Thank You Lord for letting me be an American.

Computer issues were finally fixed and I waited to hear from a friend of mine who was in town to call.

It's a crazy story (as most all of my stories are) so I'll back track a little for you.

Last year around this same time I did a blog about our dog Ham following my other two idiot dogs out of a hole in the fence at  the back of the yard one night. One of the idiots ran around and into  the garage to wait by  the kitchen door. The other one ran around to the front of the house and waited by  the front door. Ham simply got lost. Ham is blind and once out of the comfort zone of his back yard  wandered off. It took me a good bit of time to find him but finally did, a half mile from our house wandering down the middle of a busy road. I had to get out of my car and physically help him into the car because he couldn't see it but at least I found him. This was at  a time when we were barely scraping by. Tim had been out of work for well over a year and was working again but we were playing a tough game of "Catch up."

A guy who  reads my blog, who I have never met and lives in Miami contacted me and said my blog about Ham touched him and his wife as well.  His birthday was coming up and told his family all he wanted was money for his present. He sent me his birthday  money, kicking in some of his own to take Ham for an evaluation with a veterinary ophthalmologist. How nice was that?

Long story short (kinda) we got Ham up there to be seen, with several other people helping us with money  for dog food and gas to get us up to  the north side of Atlanta to see the vet.

Zach went with me and  the vet even had a picture of Ham's daddy in her office...she had done lens implants for Ham's dad a few years back.

All systems were go and had a foundation who would back us because we had been actively fund raising for Ham. The bad news is I  took Ham to our local low cost mobile vet to get his shots updated for surgery and he tested positive for heart worms. Not good.

Once again my (and Ham's) friends rallied around us and paid for the quick kill method of treatment which isn't cheap but Ham could live being blind but wouldn't survive with heart worms.

Three months and tons of love and help later he tested negative for heart  worms! We called  the vet back but they told us at this point considered eye surgery elective because they were worried he may not be able to survive the anesthesia required.

I called Auburn and we were on the board again when they suddenly lost their ophthalmologist.  I waited a month, no change. Then a friend of mine (another I've never met) told me about an ophthalmologist not twenty minutes away.  So  we are back in business. They may not be able to totally restore his vision but give him limited, blurry sight.  I am sure Ham would be as thrilled as me for that blessing.

I got an email the other day from my friend in Miami, he was coming to Atlanta for work and wanted to meet with me if he could. "Hell Yes" is what I should have written back. He and his wife had these awesome Thank You notes made up for me to mail to all the many people who have helped Ham on his journey. It had this picture on the front of them...

 This guy and his wife who I have never met have been so sweet to us and our pup. When I blogged about my feet freezing in the furniture store during the winter (we don't run heat) they mailed me a package of "Toasty Toes" for my shoes.  At Christmas they mailed us an adorable boxer ornament for our tree.( the one Ziggy tore down but the ornament survived!) You know...us dog lovers are pretty cray-cray about our pups. The out pouring of love for Ham has blown me away.  I sent out over twenty  Thank You notes to peeps who helped my pup and had to buy more. We truly wanted to help Ham and did what we could but sometimes you have to draw the line when it's the mortgage payment or vet bills. We  were threatened with foreclosure and only had five years and our house would be paid off.

These friends, some from high school, some from college, some from the church where I grew up, some from my blog and some who I didn't know at all, pulled my Ham through this and will always be eternally grateful for each and every one of them.

Back to today...Massey  thought it was creepy (she thinks a lot of things I do are creepy) I was meeting up with someone I had never met but knew he had helped Ham so she agreed to bring Ham up  to the furniture store for the meet and greet. My friend called to say he was on the way around elevenish this morning. It was a good day to come, Tuesday is the slowest retail day of the week. Let me also say this  guy  drove almost thirty minutes just to meet my dog!

Massey  arrived with Ham, took him out of the car  and he promptly took a dump on the wood chip covered island in front of the store. Good dog! I wish he could teach Ziggy  that trick.

My friend pulled in not ten minutes later. I told him I almost didn't recognize  him without his floral print shirt on and said he could go back to the car and get it if I wanted!  I knew immediately I loved this guy! We shared a long tight hug, the kind that means something.

He met Massey and he met Ham. We sat outside for a good thirty minutes. Massey was smart enough to bring Ham a water bowl and he loved all the attention. We chatted for a while, I left a couple of times to make a sale, had one customer comment on how handsome my boy was. While I was inside working the peeps, Massey and Jerry sat outside with Ham talking. When Massey went to take Ham home she turned  to Jerry and said "I'm going home and adding you  to my friends list!"

We took a couple of pics, this first one I took of the two new BFFL'S

Then I had Massey take a pic of me and him with  the Hammer...

After Massey and Ham left we went inside and talked for over a hour.  I told him a lot of stories about my struggling  debut as a furniture store manager and we had a few laughs. (I do  lot of things to laugh about) The time flew by and felt as if I was talking with a life long friend...which he is now!

He started to leave and we walked out front of the store. He told me he admired me for all we had been through and all we had accomplished. I told him it was because of people like him, friends and family. If he hadn't started the ball rolling, I wouldn't even know Ham had heart worms and by  now Ham would most probably be dead. Thanks to Jerry and his wife Dee Dee I have a huge network of people who love my pup and have given him his life back.

I got kinda emotional when Jerry  went to leave and just wanted him to know how much their kindness and generosity has meant. We hugged , I grabbed his bearded face and kissed him on the lips! He cracked up when I said "Don't tell your wife I kissed you on the lips but if you do tell her I will kiss her on her lips too when I finally meet her!"

We took a "Selfie" as Massey calls it when he left and the rest of my flew by.

I produced some numbers, sold and loaded out a lot of product but the thing I was most proud of was being able to thank someone in person for loving not only me but my family...which always includes my pups!

Look forward to someday getting down to Miami and meeting his sweet wife too.  Shout out to Dee Dee...Your husband made my day, and Ham's too!

Life is a journey. There's no map, simply guidelines. Live right, help others, love others and it will all be okay.

Today was the perfect example of how  true that last sentence was.

Til next time...COTTON

The Comfort Zone

So it was back to the restaurant tonight for me. Waiting tables is NOT easy work but something I've been doing for  thirty four years, hence it's my "Comfort Zone."

I had a good night's sleep and got lots of errands run today. Got my Hurr Did, groceries bought, bills paid and yard cut. Work was great, it was busy and I had four different tables come in and ask for my section.(always a good thing) No hunting and pecking at computer  spread sheets or Excel, just talking and putting in orders and giving good service. It's so much easier now that I'm not doing it seven days a week, I actually enjoy it much more. I went in tonight and one of the managers said "Hey Ms. Cotton! I sure miss you around here."

I've stepped out of my comfort zone with this new part time job and sometimes feel totally overwhelmed, which is a good thing. You have to push yourself to get ahead. I sold a mattress and box springs to one of my restaurant coworker's boyfriend yesterday and when I went into work tonight she said he really liked the new mattress and slept like a baby last night. She also made the comment that he said I was going to do great at  this job. I hope he's right!

Life is closing in on me fast. In less than a month my youngest  graduates from high school (with honors) my oldest is living on the other side of the world and my middle one is turning out to make me pretty dang proud too!

What more can a girl ask for? I have two jobs I really like, three kids I absolutely adore and one husband who deserves a gold medal for putting up with the likes of me. Tim and I are a combination of Ralph and Alice, Al and Peg and Ricky and Lucy with a touch of  Archie and Edith except that I wouldn't be caught dead in one of Edith's dresses or Peg's heels and hair dos.

On top of it all I have three pups who I love too. One's blind, one's deaf (or just extremely stubborn) and one's just BAD. I wouldn't trade any one of the three, I love my pups and they are all crazy about me! I have three kids who are all different and unique in their own way....the pups followed suit.

I reached a stand still with  the Vet specialist I took my blind dog to. I'm going another avenue, contacting the Auburn Veterinary Program about having his sight restored. My vet thinks he is healthy enough for eye surgery and since he saved my Ham from heart worms, I'm going with his vote. It may sound uncaring or cruel but I am willing to take  the chance on his eye surgery.  He never runs anymore, he never jumps anymore, he simply bumps and bumbles his way though every  day. Click on this link to see Ham, being Ham!

http://youtu.be/xsKUECBVTCw

This is a video of him in his prime, just a few short years ago. I'm willing to take the gamble. He doesn't want to be a doddering old man, he wants to be HAM again!

So I worry  about my dogs  almost as much as I worry about my kids....I think that makes me a pretty caring person. That's not such a bad thing to be is it?

Swinging back to selling furniture tomorrow and swinging back to being a server on Sunday. I'm a lucky wife, a lucky mom and pretty satisfied person.

There's always room for improvement!

Til next  time...COTTON

Gotta Stay Positive

I've been really bummed this week about my pup, Ham.They won't schedule eye surgery til he has a complete heart work up done. They are worried the heart worms may have damaged his heart and that he isn't strong enough for surgery.

I may not be a vet but I know my pup! He's a massive 80 pounds of  muscle and I just know in my OWN heart  that he is good to go! He's had no complications from the heart worm treatment, no coughing (one side effect) and poops nice solid stools. I think the specialist's are more concerned about liability issues and I understand  that,  but  have enough faith in  this dog who has proven to be a fighter that I am prepared to sign a waiver. I just want him to SEE again, even if just out of one eye. I want to see him leaping six feet into  the air again and chasing his tennis ball across the yard.

I talked to my sister last night and we agreed that either way, Ham's "Bowl" is half full. If Ham hadn't melted two of my blog reader's hearts, I would have never been able to  take him to be evaluated for eye surgery  to begin with. Once we had him evaluated and got  the go ahead I had to have all his shots updated. When I  took him to the low cost "Vet in a Van" for his exam and shots, they discovered he tested positive for heart worms.

Had the ball (small pun) never started rolling, Ham would more than likely be deathly ill by now, if not dead. Instead we caught it early,  had him treated after  many more of his human friends came to his rescue, providing for the expense of the quick kill method. The quick kill took thirty days versus the two year method of the slow kill treatment. It wasn't easy and took lot's of effort keeping him calm for thirty days with  two other dogs wanting to play  with their buddy but we did it...and Ham survived.

Here's the thing...I don't give up easily. In fact I can't ever remember giving up. If you  give up you never know what MAY happen.

They tell me the cardio work up is pretty costly. That's okay with me, Ham is worth millions to our family.

I'm emailing the foundation tomorrow that offered to help with his surgery before the heart worm  debacle. If they can't help...I'll simply make it happen. Worst case scenario, I'll be out some money to find out how strong or weak his Ticker is.

When you have and love dogs, you have four legged children. When you are a loving mother you will do anything for your children no matter how many legs they have.

I sit here well after midnight typing this blog. My other two pups have drifted to other parts of the house to sleep but Ham is three feet  away  from  me snoozing away. I think he WANTS me to keep on keeping on, and I will.

He beat the heart worms and as they say,  what doesn't kill you  makes you  stronger. He is only  six years old.  I think I want to roll the dice and try and let him have his vision back rather  than him  stumble blindly through seven more years of total darkness not being able to play and run with the other two pups without giving him the chance at seeing again.

If something happened during the surgery it would devastate me, but then again...he would only be gone from OUR world yet still be jumping high in Heaven chasing his tennis ball through the pearly gates.

And if the surgery is a success...I get  to watch him chase  his tennis ball in our own back yard for seven more years.

Half empty / Half full.

Looks like I need some help and input.

I noticed  tonight when I logged in that my  blog has reached over the 65,000 view mark. Okay readers...let me hear from you!

My car's still sitting broke as a joke in the garage and I'm still bumming rides from my daughter ... yet I am more concerned about this marvelous, beautiful loving pup snoozing away next  to me. A car is a car but my pup is the child who has never ever  asked for anything yet grateful for everything.

Although I have asked for your input, I know what I MUST do. Even if Ham's glass is half empty that  means mine is half full.

What I need now is your support and prayers.

I just feel like Ham is up to the task. I feel that if I don't try, I'd be letting Ham down.

Til next  time...A Dog Loving COTTON.

Still Truckin'

It's been a rough week. We've had  rougher so maybe that's an overstatement but it's still been  a doozy.

Talked to the doctor from GVS today about my pup's eye surgery. I was extremely bummed. They are concerned about putting Ham under anesthesia for cataract surgery, which is considered cosmetic/ elective surgery. They  feel he could live a healthy life being blind but the risk is too great for having him put under for the surgery. She said he would have to undergo a full cardio / pulmonary exam to see if his heart was healthy enough and mentioned it was pretty costly.

Ham has had so many humans (I call them humans instead of people because of the humanity they have shown Ham) help get to this point I just don't feel like giving up on the sweet boy. She is  going to work up an estimate on the cost of the full  exam and get back to me. It's been a  blessing having so many  love my pup and get him through all these exams, shots, vaccinations and heart worm treatments,  not to mention the gas they have bought me for trips to and from the vet and even supplying dog food. I could have never EVER done it on my own and will be eternally grateful for  the tremendous support Ham has received. It's been none of my own money and  have no qualms about admitting  that. My money has been spent on bills and helping to keep a roof over ALL our heads.

My husband just came home from work after picking up Zach from work since my car is sick too, sitting in the garage refusing to run. Tim's feeling is "Ham's happy and healthy thanks to all these people. Let's just let him be."

I'm a mother of three kids and three pups. "Just let 'em be" has never been an option for me, whether it relates to my kids OR pups. Maybe it should this time..I just don't know.

I'm contacting the foundation tomorrow which offered to help with the surgery to see if maybe they would be interested in helping with the cardio/pulmonary testing. You never know until you ask.

On a different note, Massey leaves on Friday for Disney World. It's spring break and a friend from school's family has offered to take her along with them and even has her a ticket for the parks. Needless to say there will be no souvenir money and she'll be going on a shoe string budget but with my car sick will be nice to have her car home and at my disposal.  At least she will have a nice Spring Break in Disney, drinking from water fountains when she gets thirsty. I think she's pretty lucky!

 That gives me a week to work and save up money. My little car, that I love dearly has a bad bearing(sp?) in the back wheel. It has four shocks that are shot, two tires almost bald and the  rear end needs to be replaced. The  radio hasn't worked in over a year (I've enjoyed many a silent ride) and neither does the air  conditioner but is a money pit  which seems to have no depth or end and one I can't afford.

The guy Tim traded in his Mercedes to for his older Volvo and Massey's  older Focus has yet another older Volvo for me! He's gonna give us $500 for my little totally broken down car and when I can scrape together another $500 (while Massey is gone for a week and I can work every day)  let me pay weekly. (or as I like to call it Weakly)

Work has been funky too. I did great at  the furniture store three weeks in a row but bombed out this past weekend. Seems sales are the same, whether selling food or furniture. You have good weeks and bad weeks. So I have to kick in fifty bucks to send Massey to Florida. I get to use her car for a week and work like a demon to make enough to get me a new , used car.

It's crazy how life seems to work out. If you continually work hard, somehow, someway it somehow happens.

I've been doing it for over three years and have lived to tell the story. That's a success story in itself.

I think my new Mantra will be "Somehow, someway...it will happen if you work like a Mo Fo."

Glad to have two jobs. Glad to be able to give my kids some kind happiness, not that they earned it totally but are pretty good kids and if I can give them a little glimpse of the good life maybe it will make them all strive for more.

Still in a quandary about my Ham, but  just glad he is alive thanks to so many!

Til next time...COTTON

Great Day to Be a Dog!

Today was the day my pup went back to be tested to see if he was heart worm free. When we took him to the vet specialist back in November about having his cataracts removed and getting lens implants, thanks to generous benefactor's who are dog lovers (thanks Jerry and Dee Dee) we discovered he had heart worms and not a candidate for the surgery.

Once his story got out, the help flooded in. Other blog readers and friends on social networking pitched in and provided the funds for the quick kill which consists of three treatments over a thirty day period. The vet I normally used (when we had money) wanted over $1100.00 for the quick kill.

 The mobile vet I had recently discovered who visits our county once a week (we call him the "Vet in a Van") said he could do the slow kill (a two year process) for forty bucks but the quick kill could cost $500.00. Ham's eyesight had deteriorated rapidly and only being five years old just wanted to let him have sight again as soon as possible.

Then the blessings really started to flow. People sent us money with notes saying to use the money  for dog food, the heart worm treatment or gas to get him to and from appointments.

I mean, who could resist THIS face? Obviously not many. My sister posted my blog about Ham on her Facebook page and the word spread rapidly.I know I am leaving someone off this list but a few of Ham's benefactors have been Jerry, Dee Dee, Elaine, Kathy, Rhonda, Terri, Dennis, David, Ellen, Paulette, Tim, Kristal, Margaret, Kim, Denise and Jill. None of these people have ever met my dog but came to his rescue. He also had 72 friends on HIS Facebook page praying for and encouraging him. I had all the names written down but once I sent out thank you notes seem to have lost the list in the hovel I call my house.

The quick kill wasn't pretty and very painful for Ham. (and me) The first treatment seemed to almost kill HIM and didn't get up from his bed for almost two days. The second treatment was a bit better but still difficult.  Shout out to my younger son, Zach who  went to every treatment with us and babied Ham every step of the way.

The third treatment was a mere shot in  the hip and the "Vet in a Van" said we had to wait three months before having him retested to see if it worked.

Technically I should have waited until next  Thursday but just couldn't.  I woke up this morning and let Ham out back to pee before we loaded him up for the "Vet in a Van." I sat out back and noticed a beautiful red cardinal perched high up in a barren  tree. I don't know if I am right or just wishing but think I remember from when I was younger that if you see a red bird you  make a wish, shut your eyes and if the bird is still  there when you  open them, the wish  will come true. I wished like crazy for a good outcome and the little red bird was still there when I opened my eyes. I took that as a good sign.

Zach and I loaded up Ham and with fingers crossed went to see the "Vet in a Van." As usual we kept Ham in the car...the Vet comes to your car. Have I mentioned he is incredibly nice, not bad on the eyes and seems to genuinely love animals?  He drew blood and said to give him ten or fifteen minutes for the results.

It was a long fifteen minutes that stretched into over thirty.  He went back in his "Van" and didn't reappear. Of  course I am a worrier and kept thinking maybe the test came back positive and he was running it again to make sure.  Zach let Ham out of the car and walked him around to pee. I sat in the car praying.

Forty minutes later the van door opened and as he saw us sitting there, shook his head and turned back around. He  came back out with a piece of paper and me being the worried mom thought, "Okay, here it comes, bad news."

He came over to the car and apologized, twice. He had been spaying a cat and forgot about us. He handed me a piece of paper saying Ham tested negative and was good to go  for eye surgery!

I haven't been this thrilled in quite a while. He patted Ham and said to us in his Moroccan accent "He's a strong, sweet boy."

So  thanks to many, my boy is headed back to the specialist.  I went into work tonight (my day off but  picked up a shift) and although it was slow (Damn you  March  Madness) made enough to put gas in Tim's car for work and give  Massey  some money for gas  too.

We are a struggling family but  a blessed family.  We work hard, pray hard and are blessed beyond belief.
 
I have 100 pounds of dog food sitting in my garage  another friend brought us. I have a heart worm free pup who is good to go for eye surgery.

Life is good!

"To the world you may be one person; but to one person you may be the world." (Dr. Seuss)

The gratitude I (and Ham) feel is quite simply "Immense and overwhelming."

Well the dryer just buzzed so I guess I gotta go for now. It's been a good day here. It's been an excellent day here. It's been  a fantastic day here!

Thank you each and everyone for loving me, reading me and living my life with me!

Hang on ...Hopefully it will only get better!

Til next  time...Contented and Grateful COTTON

Heaven Must Be Popping at the Seams

It's been a "Ruff" day around here. My sister's boxer (above) who happens to be my dog's father and sister to our beloved  Rosie, who we lost last year went to Heaven today. He's out of pain and I can just see him scrambling around the pearly gates with Rosie, Maggie and Bear. (the other boxers we have lost over the past few years)

Then I come home from work and find out dear friends of mine lost their Jack Russell today. They don't have children...wait a minute, yes they do. They had two Jack's for fifteen years and they ARE their children.

Bogie lost his fight today too. It's a sad day.

I have three kids who I love so much it makes my heart seem too tiny to handle all I feel for them. Add in my pups  and my heart is so full it should have popped years ago.

“Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.” 
― Mark Twain

My sister's dog has been declining rapidly. Just like I did with Rosie (his sister) she kept telling herself he was okay when in fact she was keeping him alive to just be able to have him.

Sometimes you  have to step back and say "Is this good for them or am I just making excuses so I don't  lose them?"

Well she lost her boy today and I can tell you she was pretty upset. My sister is a rock and seldom gets emotional  whereas I am an emotional wreck twenty four seven.

Us Leach kids love our boxers. Let's count them all. We had Sampson before I was born. Then we had Punch (I still  think that name rocks for a boxer) Then we had Smokey. Then we rescued a Scottie named Angus who was an escaper like Ziggy. My sister had Champ and  Spunky, then Maggie. Next came Rosie and Boss. Then Ham.

Long story short...we are dog lovers.  What's NOT to love about a dog?

They never ask for anything and are  grateful for everything. They make your day, they love you unconditionally and keep you warm on a cold night.

They lick your face and are thrilled when you pet them or simply say their name.

I have a life  which hangs on by a thread. Family, friends and pups  make it all worth while.

One year when we went on vacation after my momma died, Diddy  decided to stay home and watch Cindy's boxer, Maggie. Maggie was a good dog but was never leashed walked. My Diddy didn't know that and tried to take her on a walk one day. He called us that night in Florida and said "I tried to take Maggie on a walk today. I put a leash on her and she acted like she had lost her mind." We still laugh about that.

At least I hopefully have a few more years with my three idiots. Ham is just six, Charlie is five and Ziggy is not quite a year old.

I told my friends today who lost their beloved Jack Russell, The ONLY bad thing about having a dog is losing one.

It breaks my heart Sandy Par has lost her lifelong friend, Bogie. I know my friends are devastated but at least they understand why he is gone.

My sister lost another boxer a couple of years ago and Boss felt lost as well when his buddy, Bear was suddenly gone.

A good friend told me one time ..."There is a reason DOG is GOD spelled backwards." He was right.  Both are all accepting, forgiving and love unconditionally with no questions asked.

The above photo is Rosie who we lost over a year ago. Boss was her brother. Now we have Ham, who was Rosie's nephew. Charlie was TJ's to begin with and now ours by default. Ziggy's just our way of helping  the mentally challenged. It's like a canine soap opera around here! Let's just hope Ziggy's evil twin doesn't show up on our doorstep.

Dogs are great pets, companions and members of your family. They just don't live long enough, even when they live to be fifteen.

I'll still stick by "It is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all."

Heartfelt condolences to my sister, Del and Ellen for their horrible losses.

I bet my Momma and Diddy are up there walking them both around and maybe even letting them pee on the Pearly Gates!

Til next  time  Canine Loving COTTON







 

The Happiest Bad Dog in the World

This was Ziggy  the first day we  brought him home. He was so little and cute!  He learned his pecking order quickly and still knows it.

He has grown into a lanky jumping gazelle with a Tasmanian Devil twist. Who needs a garbage disposal with Ziggy around? Not us! He's eaten flip flops and shoes. He's eaten tubes of  tooth paste,  at least a dozen potatoes three onions and at least three loaves of bread. Three remote controls, two razors and my sewing kit full of pins and needles (and lived to tell  the story). He's eaten at least three books...the latest was one my sister loaned me.

My sister came by  tonight while I was at work to pick up her book and posted this picture of it on her Facebook with  the caption "Got the book back I loaned my sister, if anyone wants to read or chew on 'The Chaperone' just let me know."

I called her when I got home from work and said not to be mad at Ziggy, I think he read it to Ham because Ham can't see. Ziggy's just a helper, plain and simple!

When we all have to leave the house for more than ten minutes, we now leave him in a crate we borrowed from a friend. It's saved what is LEFT of my house.

He's not crazy about it yet but doesn't go bonkers. We put his dog bed in it and he caught on quickly. He hasn't peed or messed in it, which is more than I can say for the rest of my house and as you  can see the crate is big enough to leave Zach in there with him too!

Ziggy is a pest, especially to Ham and Charlie.  I know it's just because he is still a puppy but keep waiting for  the day I walk upstairs to the spare bedroom where we keep  the crate and find Ham and Charlie have crawled inside the crate and pulled the door shut just to get away from Ziggy.

Then there is the fence issue at  the back of our yard. In the summer the woods grow through the hog wire staked up at the back of the yard. In the winter, the brush dies and Ziggy discovered the hog wire fence. It's only about four feet high and Ziggy can easily jump over six feet with little effort and amazing agility. A creek runs behind the fence and sixty  acres of woods beyond that. Squirrels, rabbits, foxes and deer are constantly on the other side of the fence just begging Ziggy  to come and get them...and he's all for it!

Zach and I spent over an hour today reinforcing the escape route. It lasted thirty minutes before Ziggy  found a weak link.

So he's a bad inside dog and he's a bad outside dog... and I still love the the little sh*t. Even my sister, who came by  to pick up her destroyed book told me "That's the softest, cutest, happiest bad dog I  ever met."

My nephew taught the little dummy how to shake on Christmas Day and now he shakes every time he wants something or simply wants attention. I was eating a grilled cheese sandwich today Massey made me. I was sitting on the couch in the living room and Ziggy came up to me , sat and lifted his paw and placed it on my knee as he sat drooling at my sandwich. I was getting  ready for work and had a glass of iced tea on the floor beside me while putting on make up...looked down and Ziggy  was lapping out of my glass. I popped him on the head and he sat and shakes his paw at  me...like he had forgotten to ask and felt bad about it.

Call me crazy, you certainly won't be the first but I love my pups.  I love the deaf one, I love the blind one and I even love the bad one. As bad as Ziggy can be...he loves me. I come in the door from work  and he is the first  one there! Ham comes next because he's slower now that he has to navigate his way.  Charlie is always last because the dummy can't hear or maybe like my kids simply refuses to listen.

Here's the  thing. If I am wiped out from working weeks in a row they will all climb in bed with me and not move til I do. They know when to lick my face and they know when to keep  my feet warm. They know when I am depressed and never leave my side. They never ask questions ...heck they never ask for anything but always seem grateful just for a pat on the head or scratch on the belly. They are my buddies, worth every penny I spend on them and worth every thing I have to fix (Mainly Ziggy on this one.)

My sister is having to  put her male boxer down soon ...like hours away. It's killing her and I remember feeling the same way with my boxer Rosie. (his sister)

If I'm lucky,  all my kids will live longer  than me. My pups won't. They may have wrecked my house but they never wrecked my car. They never ask for one thing but always seem  grateful for ANYTHING.

When we had to put Rosie down it was horrible. The only thing good about it was she went peacefully in our home, thanks to a friend from the humane society. My sister called my friend and are going to do the same with their boxer. Let him stay home and drift off in a familiar environment.

So I am a crazy dog loving person. I can think of a lot worse things to be.

When I totally lose my mind  and bodily functions... when the end is near, I want someone to come to my house  and simply give me a shot. I'm gonna save this woman's number. So what she does it for dogs? If I'm gonna go anyway, what do I care the shot was meant for dogs? Sounds easier than the Kevorkian way and cuts down on the legal battles.

How come people who can be so rotten live to be ninety plus and dogs who are great even when they are bad like Ziggy only live to be thirteen if they are lucky?

That's messed  up if you ask me.

This is Boss, Bear is on the left and also left us way too early. Yep, my sister's dogs were escapees too.

I am pretty low maintenance. I don't want to be in a nursing home but would prefer to GO at home.

Til next  time...feeling for my sister and her loss of the wonderful "Boss Man"  COTTON

A Dog's Life

This is a pic of me when I still had my peepers. I've lived with the Cotton's since they rescued me from being chained to a tree. I moved in  with them and my Aunt Rosie...

It was swell, til the "Bully" moved in with us.

Charlie came to live with us when his Baby Daddy moved back home. Baby Daddy moved out but left Charlie. He just never got the pecking order memo. It was Rosie, me and THEN him.

We had a few dog fights and let me tell you, a fight between an English Bulldog and a Boxer / Old English Bulldog mix is not a pretty one. Charlie never won a fight, always started them and refused to ever give up. My family used to call him "Scar Face" because he was always seeming to heal from the wounds he insisted I inflict. He spent the first year of his life alone with baby Daddy and never learned how to play well with others. It took him about a year and a couple of tough butt whoopings but he finally learned. I am "Ham the Man." Rosie was never involved in one fight...at least we both knew who was the "Lady of the House."

Rosie was a sweet girl. Her hips started getting bad and after about a year momma decided we were just keeping her so we wouldn't miss her. She could barely walk, her legs splayed out from under her and had to be helped outside. A nice lady from Animal Control came over to our house and administered the lethal shot. Rosie went peacefully as Charlie and I were locked up in separate bedrooms. We both pawed and scratched, howled and whined. We may just be dogs but somehow knew what was happening. Zach and his buddy had dug her a grave at the back of the yard and she was gently lowered to her final resting place. Momma told me the day Rosie died, Zach  posted on his Facebook wall "RIP Crazy Legs."

A year went by. Charlie got his butt handed to him a few more times but we finally agreed...He's just a brat.

Then a friend of Momma's at work, who owns two Boxers had a litter of unplanned pups. They already had a six month old little girl, two Boxers and seven pups. The female pups sold quickly but the males went slower. Massey and Momma made a Craig's List ad to help her sell them but by week nine she said "Please take one" so we did. We let her pick out the pup and paid her twenty bucks for gas since she brought the pup to us from Paulding County. It's AKC registered and a beautiful black Boxer. It's also an idiot.

So now we have Ziggy too. We are three rescued pups and all happy as can be! My one eye started going bad around the time Rosie died. Over the past year my one eye went totally blind and the other seemed to be racing to catch  up.

All the while, my family had hit the skids. I don't know anything about money but  heard them talking about going from over six figures to welfare and didn't sound happy about it.

Then my Momma did a blog about me. It was an amazing response. People actually helped me. People actually cared about me. People actually saved my life.

A man my Momma has never met but who reads her blog sent us the money to go see a specialist about my eyes. They were really nice and even remembered my daddy who also suffered from juvenile cataracts and had implants from the very  same clinic.

Then I was dealt another blow. Momma took me straight from the specialist to have my shots all updated at a mobile Vet here in our county. They barely had enough money to feed us and certainly didn't have money  for shots or heart worm preventative. This mobile vet was low cost (extremely low cost) and simply gave me an exam and my shots in the parking lot beside our car. The only bad thing is, I tested positive for Heart Worms. You can't have eye surgery and be put to sleep when you have heart problems.

 Momma took me back  to our own Vet and they said it would be over $1,145.00 to do the quick kill. The next  week Momma took me back to my mobile Vet and he said he could do it for $500.00.

People...humans who have never met me sent us check after check. Some were tagged "Dog Food" Some were tagged "Gas Money" and some simply said "Get better buddy."

Thanks to you all I had three quick kill treatments from my Doc in a Box. The first one almost killed me, I didn't move and didn't eat. The next  one was about the same, and my Momma worried the Heart Worms had won. We had three weeks between  the second and third shot and I felt a  lot better. When I went for my third shot  the mobile Vet (shout out to Dr. Marseli)  said my prognosis was good because I am such a strong and muscular dog.

Momma still has money donated to get me back to the eye specialist once I test negative for Heart Worms in February. (Paws crossed)

It's crazy how people love me...although I have to say I am pretty  adorable!

I have had a great life here. I'm loved and loved and loved. My momma has been even luckier. People read about my plight and helped me when Momma simply couldn't.

I start my preventative  tomorrow and go back in a few short weeks to be retested. Once cleared I am headed back to the eye Doc.

Once again I am just a dog, but a very lucky one. Charlie and Ziggy even seem to know I've been sick. I have over seventy friends on something Momma calls Facebook. Ziggy and Charlie helped me write this . Momma just came in and kicked us off the computer...gotta go!

Thanks for loving me ! I want to lick every one of your faces.

Ham Cotton