A bittersweet goodbye

I know I've posted about our doggy woes before.

When we moved into our new home, we adopted another dog. A very sweet boy named Ledger. For a month or so everything was perfect - the boys got along wonderfully and the house was coming along really well. Then one day out of the blue the dogs started fighting. I mean REALLY fighting. It was scary and awful.

The next few weeks were really hard. We separated the dogs completely, and spent a TON of money on fixing the situation. After the first ($700) thing didn't work, we met with a trainer and after lots of hard work, got things back on track. Or so we thought.

This past weekend my mom and I discussed the idea of her adopting a dog. She has room in her life for one, and we thought it would be nice for her to have a great companion. (I am starting to think everyone should have some doggy love in their lives!) While we were talking about it we said several times that Mom needed a dog like Ledger, sweet and snuggly, and super eager to please.


Without rehashing my entire horrible day yesterday, I will just say that the dogs started fighting again. I called my mom sobbing and she wondered aloud if she should adopt Ledger.

I thought on it (and cried on it) pretty much all day. I picked my best girl's brain and got the answer I sort of expected. Ledger IS the perfect dog for my mom. PERFECT. Maybe he came into our lives because my mom needed him.

It was hard for me to wrap my brain around because I love Ledger, and really felt like he was my dog.

I waited until Bobby got home to talk to him about it - assuming that even suggesting that my mom take Ledger would start a huge fight.


When Bobby came home he brought Hurley with him. As soon as they walked in the door Ledger started trembling. It really broke my heart, and it was the last sign I needed to make up my mind - it would not be fair to keep Ledger in a home where he was afraid. I tentatively broached the subject with Bobby (through tears and hiccups) and Bobby was immediately on board. He felt the same way I did - Ledger deserves better than to keep getting hurt and live in fear. And "Miz" would be great for him.

Bobby wanted to pull the band-aid off quickly, so we gathered Ledgie's things and took him to my Mom's.

My mom is an amazing parent (I should know) and she's going to be so good for Ledger. This transition is difficult for all of us, but I know in my heart that it was the best decision.

Although I am sad and missing him terribly, I have this great picture in my head of my mom coming home to this sweet little ray of sunshine everyday, and I can imagine how much better her life will be for having him in it. 

My first 5 k!

Yesterday I did my first ever 5k! It was the Change of Pace Foundation's Oktobrewfest 5k run/walk. I didn't go very fast, but dangit I finished! :-D

 This is me crossing the finish line! I won't post my time, but I will say that the next time I do this, I intend to beat it!

 This is me right after I finished. I was pretty happy to be done!

 

And this is me enjoying my free beer in my commemorative glass! Knowing this was waiting for me at the finish line helped a lot!

Another 48

For lack of bloggish inspiration lately - I've decided to post one of these fun little survey doo-dahs. I never know who's reading my blog so I won't call anybody out on doing it too... But you should! It's fun! :)



1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? My middle name Damascus, was the heroine in a trashy romance novel my mom was reading when she was pregnant

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? This afternoon -  it's been a rough week!

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? I think my handwriting is atrocious, but it's all I've got so what are you gonna do?

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? bacon

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? No kids yet, but two very spoiled dogs.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Actually I usually get along best with people who are (ALSO) bossy know-it-alls who talk a lot... So yeah, I would probably get a long swimmingly with myself!

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM? Maybe sometimes

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yup

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Eh... I don't see the point of jumping off of a perfectly good bridge.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? I'm super fond of multi-grain cheerios lately

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? If it were socially acceptable I would never even wear shoes. Laces are for chumps

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? vanilla with chocolate or caramel topping

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? their presence

16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? the creeping crud currently covering my body! (eeew)

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Lately I have been thinking a lot about (and missing) my pseudo-Dad, Troy.


18. WHAT'S SOMETHING ABOUT YOU MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW?  I loathe listening to recorded "live" versions of songs

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? gray sweats and no shoes

20. FAVORITE SOUNDS: waves, children laughing (especially if the laughter was inspired by me), my fiance singing to one of his favorite songs when he thinks I'm not listening,  the strange almost silent sound of being underwater

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Interpol

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Screamin' Green (it's a real color!)

23. FAVORITE SMELLS? The ocean, clean laundry, cooking food, lilies, lavender,  a man right out of the shower

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My mom

25. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW? There's only one show I watch weekly ON tv and that's Glee. But 30 Rock is probably my FAVORITE... I think I laugh out loud more watching that show than any other media-type comedy I've ever watched!

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? I'm not crazy about watching sports at all but I can watch a soccer game and occasionally hockey

27. HAIR COLOR? browny

28. EYE COLOR? brown

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? no

30. FAVORITE FOOD? Right now I'm craving Mongolian BBQ every single day!

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? happy

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Eagle Eye - and I was not incredibly impressed
 
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Blue with white letters

34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer. I would have summer all year long if I could

35. HUGS OR KISSES? Yes please

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?  I think these questions are for people making this into a chain letter deal.... Maybe Stacie will do it, too?

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? People who don't have a public blog? :)

39. BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? "Living Dead in Dallas", from the book series that inspired "True Blood". It's a girly-smutty kind of book and I like it! :)

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? no mouse pad

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? Nada - involved in the good books!

42. FAVORITE SONG(S): This changes every single day. Sometimes two or three times. Right now I'm going to say "Nosebleed Section" by Hilltop Hoods

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? I've never actually measured. Probably Okinawa though

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I don't know about "talent" but my superhero power is finding the "bright side" of everything

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Redding, california

47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? Anyone who does it

48. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE/SIGNIFICANT OTHER? Kheri introduced us over the interwebs