So Much For Happy New Year

Right now I'm supposed to be finishing a fabulous dinner of Japanese food and then heading off to meet up with friends to ring in 2010. So why am I sitting here blogging? My sweetheart has the flu; headache, cough, sore throat, chills, fever-yeah, definitely the flu. She had to go to work for a few hours this morning and called to say her throat was sore and she had a terrible headache. She insisted we were still going to dinner at least. I knew better and cancelled our reservation. By the time she walked in the door she had the chills so bad I immediately put her in bed under the heating blanket.

• warm tea
• kleenex
• throat drops
• ibuprofen
• one old dog for comfort and cuddling

I'll be sleeping on the couch tonight. I wanted a stomach bug, not the flu.
It's cold but clear here in Minnesota tonight. At least I have a terrific view of the blue moon and can enjoy the Three Stooges marathon on AMC. I also have a bottle of champange so the dogs and I can toast at midnight.
Happy New Year to everyone!

Finally Meme

I was tagged by Ang over at "Grace Needs Freedom" to do this photo meme weeks ago. I decided I had to complete this mission before 2010 rolls in- I can't carry this anchor into the new year.

Rules:
1. Copy and paste meme from the person who tagged you.
2. Run a Google images search on your answer to the question.
3. Choose a relevant image that suits your taste and needs.
4. Add a description.
5. Tag four innocent bystanders to pass the damn thing on to and leave a comment on their blog so they know what's up.
6. Have fun!

1. The place where I was born:

My mother always refers to my birthday as the day I hatched. So there you have it!

2. The place I grew up:

I was hatched and raised in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.

3. The place I live now:

The flat frozen tundra they call Minnesota. Here they park their ass in the middle of a frozen lake four months out of the year.

4. My high school mascot:

The Hillbillies---not really but it should have been.

5. The university I attended:

Minnesota State University.

6. My favorite wild animal:

Since I can't choose my sweetheart, I will choose any of the big wild cats.

7. Favorite vacation spot:

                                           

Key West, Florida and the entire lower keys. When we plan a vacation we keep finding ourselves drawn back. It's really gay friendly and open there.

And our favorite beach at Bahia Honda State Park in located just a short drive away.

8. My favoite sport:

Is skydiving a sport?  I have jumped a few times and would love to do it more. Life just keeps getting in the way. I don't watch or enjoy any professional sports.                                                     

9. My favorite movie:

It is hard to pick one movie but I chose John Carpenter's 1978 original Halloween.

10. My age:

                                     

11. My hobby:

                                    

My work with rescue takes up a lot of my spare time and doesn't leave much for hobbies.

                                     

But I do love to read and collecting books (especially old ones).

12. My favorite color:

                                    

13. My favorite song:

Now this was an extremely hard one. What music I want to listen to varies daily and sometimes hourly depending on my mood. I chose one song I noticed I ususally never skip over when it comes across my Ipod.

                                  

"Don't Fear the Reaper" by Blue Oyster Cult

14. My favorite book:

                                       

This is one I find myself returning to over and over.

15. My favorite clothing brand:

                                 

"I feel good, I feel great, I feel wonderful" - Bill Murray in "What About Bob?"

I don't pay much attention to labels. I buy whatever I feel comfortable wearing and makes me feel good.

16. My job/career:

                                   

I do the job everyone loves to hate. I'm told on a daily basis how much I'm hated

17. My favorite TV show:

                                    

I LOVE Seinfeld and will watch it over and over and laugh everytime.

18. My addiction:

                                      

I think A is planning to stage an intervention. Watch for my episode on the A&E series.

19. My weakness:

                               

These cute little faces.

20. My favorite food:

                                

Most people would probably list chocolate or some other tasty snack but I have a weakness for breads, rolls and biscuits. I especially love them fresh from the bakery and slathered with butter (the real stuff). I'm such a carb whore!

So now I have completed my meme and since I hate rules and will break as many as I feel like, I say fuck it and I'm not tagging any other poor souls to carry this on. Pick it up at your own discretion because it took FOREVER to complete it!!

For Sarcastic Bastard

I Wish Santa Would Have Left A Bottle of Pepto Bismol in My Stocking

I feel disgusting, gross, bloated and generally foul! I'm going to have to fast and detox before I can feel like myself again; too much food, too many sweets and too much alcohol. I'm thankful the season for over-indulgence is over. I'm pulling my fat jeans out and looking at the calendar-30 days until I need to be in a swimsuit. I'm still holding out the hope I may contract a good stomach virus.

A and I hosted 2 Christmas dinners this year. Our original plan was to make a small dinner on Christmas Eve and go spend the evening with her dad then Christmas day here with my family. Of course the midwest was nailed with a massive snowstorm and here in Minnesota we were not spared. Dinner with her dad was rescheduled for Sunday. Christmas day my family's dinner went off without a hitch. Whew! Today we had our dinner with A's dad. Our small dinner for 3 or 4 mutated into dinner for 12 which left A and I scrambling a bit at the last minute to make sure we had enough food for everyone. I will admit I was a bit annoyed by the fact that some people invited themselves and didn't offer to help but just kept chanting, "It's the holiday and I will be generous to my GF's family."  It doesn't help that there has been underlying tension between some members of her family and I since the beginning. Those stories are best saved for another post.

A and I set a new record and lasted until December 23rd before we opened gifts. I have to make a confession: this is our 11th Christmas together and we have NEVER made it until the actual holiday. One year we actually opened our gifts on December 19th. Our rationale-we were flying out for vacation on December 26th and we needed time to play with our "toys". Another year we opened gifts before we were finished shopping. The next day we went shopping again, came home, wrapped gifts and immediately exchanged and opened them. Santa was good to me this year and in addition to my computer desk, I received books, movies, clothes and new PJs.

We spent our holiday shovelling and snowblowing. Thankfully the temperatures were pleasant and we could be out working and playing in the snow. I actually don't mind these days when it's the just the two of us with the dogs. The snow is higher than the dogs so there are paths that need to be dug in the backyard so they have an area to relieve themselves. A is such a good mama and actaully digs out mazes for them with little "rest areas" along the way. We had such a blast running the maze and having them chase us. This photo is what happens when you are standing on the deck taking pictures of your gf working and the snow blows off the roof into your face. That's what I get for not being helpful!

Part of the maze in our yard.

A and Timmy out for a run.

Our foster dog on the run in the snow.

Sia tries to help A make snow angels.

Our little girl, Sia, had snowballs in her fur but had an incredibly good time.

Merry Christmas From Our Family to Yours

(L to R) Orville, Gizzy, Sia, Popper and Timmy

For Jude

Save your voice-hand these out instead. :)

A Wonderful Day

A and I gave up another Saturday morning sleeping in to head out on the road to help with a dog transport. It was time for me to come out of my hiatus and get back in the saddle. I had backed out of rescue since my father's cancer diagnosis but have missed it, the dogs and the wonderful and somewhat quirky people I work with. We were transporting four dogs from Sioux Falls, South Dakota with new homes waiting in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois.

It is the most fun, rewarding experience to bring a dog to their new family. The adopters are so incredibly excited to finally meet the newest family member and it is such a joyful, up-lifting sight. I've met the most kind wonderful people. I've had complete strangers hug me with joy and a couple try to stuff a tip in my pocket. I always decline tips and my only request is to get a picture of the dog with their new family. I have a photo of every family I transported a dog to. I actually have pictures of every dog I have transported and everydog who stopped over at my home. Everyone of them is special to me, even if they only spent a few hours in the car or at the house with me. As far as tips, I encourage them to donate to the rescue. I always remember that someone transported my dogs many miles so I could bring them home. It's one small thing I can do to return the favor.

The adoptive family fron Minnesota drove to meet the rescuer from SD and pick up the newest member of their family. Then A and I took the other three with us. One little lady was so sweet  and calm we brought her in front with us. Her name is Delilah and first she rode on A's lap, then she rode on mine. She finally settled on A's coat between the front seats. Then we had the cute boys, Angus and Jimmy riding in the backseat. The two cuties just spooned and slept. They were all great riders. Once we crossed the Wisconsin border, we stopped so everyone could take a potty break.

This is Delilah riding between us.

Me and Jimmy

Me and Angus

We then headed on to meet the next rescuer near LaCrosse, WI. She was headed back to Madison, WI where two dogs would meet their adopters and another rescuer would pick up the third dog to deliver to its new home in Illinois. It is bittersweet to once again hand these sweet little bundles over to someone else, but I am satisfied tonight knowing they are sleeping in their forever homes. We drove over 400 miles today but got the most amazing puppy kisses and got to spend some much needed quality time together. When I got home there was a bonus too. While were were running across the southern part of the state, an adopter in the Twin Cities went to meet two dogs and decide which one they wanted to bring home. They couldn't decide so they adopted both. I think six adoptions in one day isn't too shabby!

There are such amazing people out there working; trying to make the lives of these dogs better. Some are a little unusual, some come across as bitchy or controlling but ultimately they have the animals' best interest at heart. I think some have become hardened and a bit callous from dealing with people who don't understand what they are trying to accomplish; those who expect them to just hand over a dog without checking anything out. I don't think I could deal with getting some of the hateful emails and phone calls from rejected adopters that I've heard about. I guess I enjoy the easy and fun part of rescue. My skin is just too thin!