The Spelzer Chronicles

An End of Year Note from Dad

Dear Isabel,

2007 has been a pretty good year for you my Shellies. I know it took a while to get used to life without your mom. You had trouble understanding why she wasn't with us anymore; why she would come to visit, but not stay. But you learned to accept it and move on as I did. Everything happens for a reason, though we don't always see the whyfors until further down the road, if ever.

Then Mama San came on the scene. You accepted her immediately with all the love and slobbery kisses you could muster. You weren't sure about the cats that ended up being part of the package, but you accepted them too, and still hold out hope that Mama Cat will learn to love you (don't count on it kid).

You got to visit Athens Georgia and gave the Five Points neighborhood a dose of mayhem Belzer style, escaping from Mama San's house taunting the neighbor's dogs, and then doing a meet and greet with every home in the neighborhood with a dog. Your escapes, and lack of desire to be recalled are your achilles heel, but Rosie does her best to help us track you down. You finally surrendered to Mama San, rolling over on your back in the gutter of the busy street. You don't seem to care about how much this terrifies me as you know that you will receive heaps of love and affection born out of the relief of knowing that you were not run over, dognapped, or lost. You were still a VERY NAUGHTY DOG!

Then you got the news that you were getting a new home, again. Your third in four years. We left the big fenced yard, and the park across the street, for a new home with Mama San. The yard is smaller, and the park visits require a drive, but again, you have accepted it all with grace. And the perks that come with it have been some compensation. The bedroom is no longer off limits, and you and your sister now get to reclinate on the super amazingly comfortable new queen size bed (contrary to Cesar Milan's theory of dog oppression this has not instilled in you or your sister the notion that you are the head of the house). There is also the fireplace which has already been the scene of comfort and joy this winter. Hopefully, in the not too distant future the backyard will be fenced and once again you will have further to fly.

The food front brought on more changes for you this year. Having relied on Timberwolf Organics for nearly 3 years as the basis of your diet, we found out that we had been betrayed. The company misrepresented their product and, rather than apologize and make it right, they decided to spew a laundry list of contradictory lies that left me with the unshakeable feeling that they could no longer be trusted with your health (the added crap ingredients made the change the real necessity). So once again we have changed foods. I turned to the Honest Kitchen. You have been enjoying the home cooked style meals, and are thriving. You've also been very happy about the added treats that have returned; Evanger's 100% meats, and the Nature's Variety medallions. As time goes on, and I feel more confident about it, you'll start getting more homecooked meals and snacks. I know you're not happy about the fact that The Honest Kitchen gave money to the HSUS this month, but as long as it was a one time only deal I think we can live with it. If it happens again I will seriously have to question the judgement of the company as it seems illogical to support a multimillion dollar lobbying group who ultimately wants them out of business and all their customers dead.

And of course there was our trip to Ocracoke. The house we stayed in was not as cozy as previous trips to the Outer Banks, but it did the job. Sadly you tore a nail very badly the second day we were there. Fortunately it was not really serious, and the visiting vet took care of you. Unfortunately it meant that you didn't get to go to the beach much at all the whole week, and your one visit was cut short due to the sudden arrival of cold blusteriness that drove us off the beach and back to the house. Though you were obviously disappointed, you still accepted what the defense gave you and enjoyed the long walks around the island, and copious belly rubbin's, and reveled in the uninterrupted time we got to spend together as a family.

As the year turns I want to tell you that I love you my muffin stuffins more than my words, toys, treats, hugs, kisses, and rubs will ever express. You are my angel dog, my companion, my friend, and I will love you eternally...even when you stubbornly refuse to take a dump and make me walk you around the neighborhood making me late for work just so you can find the perfect spot to drop your payload.

Happy New Year my Shellies!

Love,
Dad