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Phew

Jay

My last post of the weekend – I’m headed upstairs to fold the last batch of laundry and put my feet up for a bit. It’s been a busy few days: we cleaned out and reorganized the kid’s room, pulled everything out of the toy room and threw out even more plastic crap as well as generated another big box for donation, found a great new recipe for yeast-raised waffles, and Sam actually got caught up with the laundry so we can figure out which of our daughter’s socks should get tossed and which have mates. This afternoon I participated in our hospice’s memorial service for patients who died in the last six months. Oh, and we had friends over for dinner on Saturday and dealt with the dog, who appears to now have panic attacks on top of his previously diagnosed anxiety disorder (and yes, we’re working with a vet and a behaviorist and yes, he’s on meds and no, we didn’t get him from a breeder but are now starting to understand why his previous family couldn’t keep him). Plus it snowed here this morning and tonight will bring freezing rain and I haven’t found my gloves.

I’ll be back next weekend for more guest blogging, albeit at a reduced pace because next weekend is the performance day for our daughter’s dance program and our Chanukah party (same day) as well as the weekend we have tickets for a Cirque de Soleil performance with my mother (the next day). So those of you who find yourself in the mod queue next weekend will need to be patient with me!

It’s been a blast so far; thanks to Jill for inviting me and to all of your for being so interesting to hang around with.  If anyone’s seen my gloves, let me know.

4 thoughts on Phew

  1. Your dog sounds like my oldest cat. I adopted her from the shelter when she was about 3 years old and it took me over a year to completely gain her trust. To this day, when a stranger comes into the house, she will run and hide.

    When she is stressed she will claw herself and pull out her fur. The one time I attempted to her to the vet, she threw herself against the sides of the carrier so hard she ended up covered in cuts and bruises; the vet actually asked if I was abusing her! Now I carry her in my arms when we have to go anywhere and she cowers and shakes.

    I have to handle her ‘issues’ by myself because she is so afraid of strangers – especially men – that the experience leaves us both shaking and hurting. Thankfully, after five years together, she trusts me and rarely resorts to hurtful behavior. Someone once told me I should get rid of her, because she was so much trouble. I nearly took their head off. I took responsibility for her when I adopted her, I’m not going to abandon a sweet, loving animal like Rowan, just because once in a blue moon she has bad moments. I have bad moments myself and my folks still put up with me. 🙂

  2. Jay — please don’t take this as unsolicited, most likely inapplicable advice, but as encouragement that your situation will work out: I had a very anxious secondhand dog (frothed at the mouth when we were out for a walk, hated to be left alone) who was able to relax when I got another, self-confident dog to keep her company.

  4. Hector, believe it or not, that’s what cured my kitty Pablo. The addition of happy, active Doug gave him enough company to alleviate some of his bigger issues. Most of his anxieties have been cured through company, structure, and trust.

    Lovely to have you, Jay, and good luck with finding your gloves and dealing with your dog.

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