Our Empty Life, 1 Year Later

My sweet Allie baby, I can't believe that this will be our first (of many) Halloweens without you. You LOVED Halloween, I did too. We went through our first summer without you, your birthday, daddy's birthday, Skoot & Max's birthdays, my birthday and our anniversary.....all without you. It's not right, and I don't like it, but this is the way things have to be.

Let me take everyone back.

November 4, 2009, late afternoon. It had been raining, still a little wet outside, cool but not cold. You'd been so sick, and we just couldn't get your medications and Cushings under control. Were we doing the right thing? How long could we all go on, you suffring and us knowing what was coming, but not wanting to face it? Daddy had to go out of town, so it was up to me to come stay with you as much as I could -starting a new job, that was hard, but they're "dog people", do they understood- and to send daddy pictures and keep him updated. You'd been given quite a bit of fluid, but you weren't swolen, and the fluid wasn't coming out...we knew we were in trouble. I held your head, kissed your bump on your nose (MY kissie spot!) and told you that you HAD to wait for daddy to come home. Eventhough you couldn't hear me, I knew you understood.
That was the longest day. We'd started working on Christmas items at the shop, so there I was, covered in glitter when daddy called, he'd come home & gone straight to Dr. Kapoor's office.....it was time.

Everyone hugged me as I left, offered love and prayers for us all, and I braced for whatever I would face when I got to you. That was the fastest I'd ever driven that tiny, winding road...yet it seemed the longest 8 minutes of my life. When I pulled in, the only cars there were mine, daddy's & everyone that works for Dr.K. Kind of eerie, surreal, and sad. They had your IV's done and brought us all into a small, cozy room with a tiny slit of a window. We sat on the futon, a small fountain trickled in the corner. I was determined that daddy was going to hold your head, you truly are/were his baby after all. They laid your pink towel down over daddy & me, then put you in our laps....your head in daddy's & your butt in mine. We talked, rubbed, kissed and cried. We ALL cried. two of the doctors were in there, and 3 or 4 of "the girls" who've been like family to us came in to say their goodbye's...and there wasn't enough tissue in the building.

They put the first injection in, and I wanted to scream "STOP!!!", but I knew how you were suffering, and I wanted that to stop, it ws just me being selfish, wanting just one more second with you. Daddy was SO sad, he cried like I've never seen before, or since. You took a deep sigh, they explained that was just you relaxing. They took a few seconds for us...then the final injection. I begged you to stay and get better, I knew I was fooling myself, but I just had to do it. Daddy was beside himself. You were his first love, and now we got to be there when you took your last breath, what a moment. They took you away, daddy & I were so shell shocked, we were hysterical & didn't know what to do after that...we didn't know where to go or where to turn. I started thinking in "funeral mode" & rattled off instructions to Ms. Ann. She was fabulous! "We want her cremated"....that was about all we could get out.

When we got home, I started making calls, e-mails and whatever I could think of, to let everyone know you were gone. We were numb, your brothers were sad & confused. Nobody slept well, if at all that night. The next few days were a blur. One day, I heard a sound I'd not heard in a long time...I was laughing...it was something funny someone said (not related to you), and I was laughing...and it was something normal, maybe the first normal thing I'd done in days. I tried to be there for daddy, I didn't know what to say or do for him. I feel like I failed him. He's never said.

Now here we are, just a few days shy from your 1 year "Rainbowversary". Daddy and I aren't together and I'm sad all over again, your brothers aren't doing well, and I feel like everything has fallen apart. I think that if you were here, things wouldn't be like this. You were the glue that held us together. Daddy lost you, he lost himself. You were SO much like him, so much a part of him. You were his "mini-me", you made each other. I lost you, and I didn't realize the hole you left in my life. You were my little girl, my "Allie-Baby". Sweet Angel, I know where you are, and I know you and Dolly are watching us, and waiting on your brothers, but what I don't know is this: why did you have to rip our hearts out when you left?

I love you my Angel!!! FOREVER!!!

Rainbow Bridge Crossing

5:30 PM, Wednesday November 4:

Al had been VERY sick, for a very short time. She was first diagnosed with cushings just a few weeks ago, then she crossed into Addisonians, then she started with the kidney failure yesterday. I'm glad she waited on her daddy to get home from a work trip.

Our hearts are broken, our home is a little emptier & sadder, but we are all the more rich for having known & loved her....and having been loved in return.

THESE People.....HUFF!

Can you beleive that "THESE people" who claim to love me haven't written about me, or even let ME write about MYSELF for.....well, it's been FAR too long! I've let my public down, and that's such a shame for a star like me. The humiliation of it all is almost too much to take!

Well, don't worry, I've not forgotten anyone! You are all still so special to me!

Where to start.....where to start..... Well, Grampie has been in the hopsital for a LONG time now. Daddy says that he's going to be OK, but that his heart needed to be bypassed 4 times, then he had LOTS of fluid that had to be taken care of. Daddy (well, Mother too) was mad 'cause he said the people at the human hospital almost shut down Grampie's kidneys and they've been fighting that now along with more heart things. Well, I don't know about you, but THAT'S why I go to Aunt Kate, she doesn't shut down anything and she knows what she's doing. Apparently human doctors aren't that bright! Puppy doctors are MUCH better! THANK YOU AUNT KATE!!!!! Eventhough we don't really like going to her hospital, she's very good to us and loves us and makes us better.....but could ya' get rid of the shots already? I'm NOT a pin cushion here!

We've not been hiking or on any adventures 'cause Grampie's been sick since May of 2007 and we've been afraid to go anywhere too far away, or get out in the woods where nobody could reach us. I really need to get out, I need to hike! There's a GREAT spot that's about 30 minutes away and it's only a mile hike in so it's not that far or that hard. We could do that one again......HINT-HINT DADDY!!!!!

I've had another birthday! now, a lady doesn't revel her age, but let's just say that if I were human.....I'd be getting one of those checks from that security office that says they are socialized! Oh, and speaking of being socialized, we've STILL not joined the Dog PArk! HELLOOOOOOO!!!!! MOTHER!!!!!! Well, our baby cousin Holly has joined, but she's only been able to go two times in a year 'cause she's Grampie & Grammie's furkid. Why don't Daddy & Mother take her? Well, they're busy too, and Uncle Robby isn't a dog person (yes, he's strange!) so he won't take her. Heck, the few times that Daddy & Mother have had to go away for one night they can't even get him to come over to feed us and let us out ONE time! They have to get Uncle Seffie (that's Max's REAL Uncle) to come from another town 30 mintues away to come take care of us......Uncle Robby lives ACROSS TOWN, 10 minutes away! I TOLD you he was strange! BOL!

Our Beagle cousins FINALLY got a new home! Mother and Aunt Jody looked for almost a YEAR! Can you beleive it?!?!??? In this sad economy and housing market nobody could take them or really wanted them. There were the 3 of them, and they didn't want to seperate the parents 'cause they'd been together for 3 years, then their daughter from the last litter 18 months ago. This REALLY nice man has 800 acres is taking them! they won't be hunting dogs, just loved! Heck, Daddy said HE'D like to run on 800 acres! I won't tell you the rest of what he said to Aunt Jody.....but it was REALLY funny! Oh, why didn't we put the Beagles on ehre for adoption? Again, it all falls to Gramie being sick. The few times that Mother thought of gonig to Aunt Jody's to take pictures she was so tired she couldn't get up, and when she was over there they forgot! (HUFF!) Humans can be SO lame-brained!!! If it were left up to me I would've had pictures the FIRST day and had them in a GREAT home by the SECOND day! NEVER leave a job to humans that can be done by a Dachshund! Humans can be SO unreliable, don't you find?

Well, as usual time has slipped away and it is VERY late and I'm needed to keep Daddy company. It's bedtime and I think he gets afraid of the dark, he lieks haing me clsoe to him. I curl up next to his belly, sometimes on his chest to make him happy, and I make him feel safe. The boys? (YUCK!!!) The boys curl up on Mother. Skooter has his spotS, he starts out under the covers with his head on her chest, laying his body down her left side, then when she's good and asleep (and he's too hot) he gets up and moves down to her left calf and puts his head on her foot, he's ontop of the covers at this point. Max makes sure he's between Daddy & Mother.....big chicken that he is! He FLOPS, "POOF", full force onto Mother's right side, with a great "FLOOMP", he huffs and she howls in pain.....tee-hee-hee, I think it's funny. He flops and flops all night making it tough for anyone to sleep, but espcially her, and I kind of like that 'cause if she's home she lays down for a nap in the late afternoon and I curl up with her. Don't tell Mother, but I think it's nice. I'll never let her know, but I'm really growing fond of her. I've realized that she's been with Daddy for 20 years now, and she's not going away any time soon, and she's not ALL that bad all the time......now let's not forget she IS human and can be as lame-brained as the rest of the lot.....but she loves me SO very much, and worships me, and tells me how special and important I am.....so she can't be ALL bad, right? I guess the most important thing is she loves Daddy and makes him happy.

NEVER a dull moment.....

Well, Christmas has come an gone, so has many other holidays, and you think they igmored me? Nosiree! Mother took a job at Aunt Kate's, but it was too hard for her (see, I told you she's stupid!) so she went back to work at her first job.....so she's home a lot now.....and I'm not happy. Why? I can't get into things like I want! I can't torture her the way I want! Uncle T is suppsoed to be working on another job deal for them so maybe Mother can take me to work at the enw place.....but we don't know anything yet.

You all know that I think my Father is KING, right? Well, he is! He proved it on Saturday night (March 29th). Daddy was up watching a movie at 2AM (he couldn't sleep), Mother, Skooter & I were asleep in the bedroom in the back of the house.....oh yes, "he" was back there too. Max. UGH! Anyhow, Daddy came in & woke us up telling Mother to keep us in the bedroom, the Police were coming! Daddy heard something and caught someone parking next to Mother's car and someone else getting out of the car and creeping up the walkway to the house. Oh, there's SO much more to it, but sufice it to say Daddy scared them and they escaped before the Police got tehre, but Daddy kows what they drive and what they look like. Daddy protected ME.....Ok, us.....but he's SUCH a hero! I love my Daddy!

I hope that Uncle T gets the new job to work, that way I can go somewhre else & get away from "the boys" for a while....Ok, yes, I'll be with "HER", but at least we"ll be out out of the house, right? I mean that way MORE people will get to know and love (and feed?) me! Oh, see, I keep telling you, it really is ALL about MEEEE!!!!!! Oh, the world is MINE!

**Princess Wishes For Everyone!**

I've been a Baaaaaaad girl!

I keep teling you that some day Father and Mother will be sad, right? Well, I did it to them last Saturday! See, they were cleaning the house instead of catering to my every whim......the nerve of those people! Well, Mother had some papers for Father and on top of those papers was Max's Remadyl (sp?) from last year when he had his eye surgery. There were about 6 pills left. Mother asked Father to call Aunt Kate to see when they should be thrown out, but they got busy and Father forgot. He left the small baggie on top of his papers and moved them to the dining room table. Well, I'll never tell when, but Max came by and whacked the pills off the table with his tail while Father and Mother were moving the stove and fridge. I decided that the Remadyl had such a nice, beefy aroma that I should take care of them so nobody would have to throw them out. Mother looked up to see the half eaten baggie in front of my room, with vomit all round. They panicked and called Aunt Kate. She told them to do the peroxide treatment, and I threw up things from 1978.....and I wasn't even thought of then!
Aunt Kate closes at noon on Saturdays, so there it was about 3 minutes till when she called and said to bring me in, that she was worried about kidney failure and other things. HA-HA! I SHOWED THEM! They just THOUGHT they were finally geting our $1500.00 bill paid down! The laugh's on them! I cost them another $300.00! I'm worth SO much more, but that's all I could do that day. Ok, no, they don't have it, and things are VERY tight right now, but I should have every last cent spent on me, right?

Ok, so it was a trip to the vet, and I did puke my guts up, and I did have to have that NASTY "activated charcoal", but at least I got EVERYTHING I wanted for the next few days! Father was SO grouchy to Mother (serves that b**ch right!) for the next couple of days. I got to go to Aunt Jody's that night and hang out with them, I sat on the couch and was hand fed chicken and rice and anything I wanted. Aunt Kate said to keep feeding me small "junk food" meals of the boiled chicken and rice so my organs would continue to function correctly. I LOVED IT!!!!! Ok yes, Mother had to take me back to Aunt Kate's on Monday and they took TONS of blood from me (those vampires!) but it was ALL worth it 'cause I was the center of attention, I was the apple of everyone's eye, it was ME, ME, ME, ME, ME and ONLY ME!!!!!!!! I AM the center of the universe after all.....right?

So, how am I now? Perfect, as usual! Would you expect anything less from one so perfect? Puh-leeze! Mother has to take me back again on Monday the 12th for yet another blood check, but I know that I'm fine and that's all that matters.....right? OK, I will admit that I didn't like all the barfing and I was scared for a while too,b ut I knwe that as long as Daddyw as there then I'd be OK. I didn't really want to scare Daddy like that, but I really couldn't help myeself, those pills were so beefy smelling! And it is true, Daddy can't MAKE me take a pill when I have to, but if it's something I'm not supposed to have, then I'll eat it in a heartbeat! Hey, don't tell me you're not like that too! I know better, heck we're all too nosey for our own good! Lol! Daddy is still feeling guilty so he tooke me with him to the auto parts store today. Now, he's putting brakes on his car and won't let me out there with him, something about not being able to "watch me", but I'm 13, who needs a baby sitter? I'm a big girl now!

Well, he's off again, they gave him the wrong parts, but this time he left me here with "that woman", so I'm going to see what ways I can torment her. She wasn't upset enought when Iw as sick. She knows me too well. She kept telling Daddy that I was strong and that noghtin would happen to me.....and she was right, but I want her to suffer too! Let's see what else I can do to her. Heck, I've bitten her twice this week when she was giving me a treat! How much more can I do to tell her that I'm mad? I drew blood last night too, that was great! She screamed, and I got a spanking 'cause I know better, but I didn't want to DO better. Ah, my life.....I live to torture her!

*~*~*~*~*PRINCESS WISHES*~*~*~*~*

Where is the justice?

I tried to show my displeasure at being punished (for getting into the treats) by leaving the house the other day.....and I was brought home, in TRUE Princess style, in a neighbor's PORCHE! Ok, so Mother was VERY upset and angry at me running off.....but I think I showed her! You see, she let us all out for our morning "look around". Skooter and I were walking together, Max was leashed and walking the other direction. Skooter and I saw the neighbor's cat (GGGGGRRRRRR!!!!!!!!) in the ditch where I go to "do my thing". We both knew that the cat HAD to go, so we went running. Skooter came back immediately when Mother called (stupid idiot!), but I went on doing my own thing and let her suffer for a while. She drove up and down the street.....silly hag! She thought that I'd gone UP the hill either to Mr. Don's house (where that cat lives) or into Mr. Charles' yard. Boy, I fooled her! I doubled back, so when Mr. Charles found me I was the OTHER direction coming out of the brush at "the poodle people's house"! We can't remember their names, but they are VERY nice and have a tiny black poodle.

Mr. Charles has a nice silver Porche that he drives when it's pretty.....and guess what? It was pretty the day I decided to walk away. Oh, Mr. Charles, you don't know how happy you made me, putting me in the kind of car that I deserve! It scared Mother that I would just jump into "any" car, but truth be told, I know Mr. Charles and I like him.....and he was driving the right kind of car! I mean had it been anything less, I don't think I would've gotten in!

Well, Mother was happy that I was back, but I STILL didn't get a treat! The nerve! Father was VERY upset and had a 30 minute talk with me. I ignored him. All I really heard was "blah, blah, blah, blah" and my name a few times. I hate to upset Father like that, but he didn't repremand Mother for fussing at me over the treats OR for running off, so I HAD to put him in his place too, it was only right! Right?

Oh, that hag is calling for me now, so I must go. Ugh, the things I do for her! Maybe if I'm nice she'll take me somewhere.

Princess Wishes To EVERYONE!!!!!

My EVIL Family!

UGH! I'm so totally disgusted with THOSE people!

Why?

They're traitors, that's why!

They went out and got themselves.....I shudder to say it.....a puppy! OH, I think I'm going to be sick! Her name is Holly Golightly. Yes, after Audrey Hepburn's character in "Breakfast At Tiffany's". Why didn't they call her "Tiffany"? Well, Mother was the one that chose Holly (yes, I'll get her for that later!) from a friend's litter. Holly is black with a white stripe from shoulder to shoulder, so it looks like a black dress with a white strand of pearls. Grandmother was going to name her something awful, Mother had chosen "Josephine", which we all liked but Grandmother and Uncle Robby hated. When they got to talking about Holly's coloring Mother suggested the whole "movie themed" thing. Grandmother said "OH, and we can call her TIFF!" Mother nearly had a heart attack, she snatched Holly back and said, "You call her TIFF, and she's going back! It's TIFFANY or nothing!" Well, Grandmother and Grandfather seemed to think that "Tiffany" was a bit too much to say, so after many discussions "Holly" was reached and agreed upon.

Mother brought her over here one night......we were not amused. She was tiny, and silent and smelled funny (not like us!) and really, just a bore to be around! Mother ate dinner and Holly lay asleep in her lap the whole time. As for Skooter and Max they sniffed her silly until she woke up. Mother picked Holly up so Max could see her better.....the idiot ran away! HE'S AFRAID OF HER! Big dummy! Skooter didn't know what to make of her, so at first he tried to play, but she didn't play back, so he ignored her. Now for some strange reason, all those little annoying puppies want to play with me. Um, I'm sorry, but I'm SO much better than you.....I really don't think so! But nnnooooo, she wouldn't listen, and she tried to sniff and jump on me. I let her have it. She left me alone.

Mother and father have been gone a lot lately. First it was something about going to some friend's house on Sunday nights, then a wedding far away, and now a funeral far away too. They assure me that they will only be gone a few hours for this funeral, not like days for the wedding. It seems to me that weddings must take a long time, and funerals are fast.....and both must be out of town to happen.....but that's only my guess.

OH! I forgot to tell you! Father *gasp!* punished me the other night! Why? Well, I can assure you that it was nothing (he was supposed to find out about) I did! You see, I was just showimg my displeasure at their leaving, so when they went to the grocery store I coaxed Max into getting some TREATS for all of us! Mother seems to think that Skooter and I have a "weight problem". I think that my silly Aunt Kate put that in her head. So what if she has a degree and the letters "DVM" after her name?!?!??? What, you have to listen to ALL she says? Well, Mother bought Skooter and I these TINY treats, about the size of: -------------- that line. She bought Max HUGE-MONGEOUS, Dane size treats.....and I don't think that is fair at all! Soooooo, like I said, I told Max that we ALL deserved SOME treatS, and would he be kind enough to turn the treat box over for us? He did, and we ate until I was sick. Everything was OK until Mother walked thru the dining room and saw the container overturned.....with the lid missing.....and Skooter eating one of Max's treats.....and the pile of "sick" that I'd left; but other than that she never would've known!
She checked the bag that the small treats were in, and there was only about an inch of treats left in the bag, it was full! And Max's? Well, they're so big and took up so much room in the treat bin that she's not sure. We didn't get fed that night and I can't imagine why?!?!??? Well, Mother checked the bag and somehow determined that it was MY teeth on the bag. I don't know how, I mean they don't leave a distinctive shape because of a misshapen tooth or anything.....OOPS! So THAT'S how she did it. Well, I'll have to coax Skooter to do my dirty work the next time, now won't I?
As I said, I was punished! Father saw what WE had done (see, it wasn't ONLY me?!?!!!) and put in in time out for 5 mintues!!!!! Can you believe that?!?!??? His only baby girl, the light of his life, the center of his heart and soul! ME?!?!!!!
Oh, I am SO disgusted with him! Whatever is a girl to do?

*gasp!* I'm Dog Of The Day?!?!???

HOLY DOG!!!!! How? Why? I'm.....I'm.....totally speechless! Ok, yes, I am quite stunning, if I do say so myself, but Mother and I have seen many more dogs that are better looking, or do more.....but for ME to be chosen! WOW!!!!! What does a girl say to that?

You realize this means that it just intensifies my belief that I am the Queen of the Universe, right? Remember, me short, "Napoleon complex" and all? Well, this is just SUCH a true honor, and I can't tell everyone what it means. Father jsut called Nan and Pop to tell them, and Mother is calling Maw and Paw to tell them that their favorite "granddogter" is being honored today. They MUST treat me even MORE royally than usual......right? That is what this means, right? PLEASE tell me that this honor is what I'm thinking......

I do have to tell you all of my latest health crisis. It seems that about 5 weeks ago I started feeling quite bad, so Father panicked and called the "bad vet" because they could get me in on Tuesday. Mother caleld our new vet (that would be our Aunt Kate) and she could see me on Wednesday. Mother took me to BOTH appointments! Let me rant for a second, OK? Now, taking a girl to not 1, but 2 doctors appointments in 2 days time.....the nerve of them!
OK, done ranting.
The "bad vet" wouldn't listen to Mother, they were VERY rude to the both of us, and when Mother asked a question about a medication (that she knows ALL about and didn't let on like she did) the "bad vet" lied and told Mother that the medication in question wasn't used to treat what she said I had. Mother was even MORE angry at them and had even less faith in them than the last time she took me. Why did we go there? Like I said, Father panicked and knew that they knew me and still had my records.

Wednesday Mother took me to Aunt Kate, and she just about went thru the roof when Mother showed her the "meds" I'd been given. One was not even refrenced since 1978, and the other, well, one more dose would've KILLED ME!!!!! Aunt Kate did several X-Rays, blood work and then she took me all day on Thursday and did a Barium study on me. That was pretty yucky. Well, she said that my intestinal lining was thicker than what she liked and she had some ideas but didn't want to give them away until we got the blood work back on Monday. She put me on some STRONG antibiotics twice a day and sent me home. I was pretty yuckie that day, but by Saturday I was acting like I was 2 again! I've been doing REALLY well on the "anti's", and just as Aunt Kate thought, the part of the blood test that tell about TICKS came back positive!!!!! No, I do not HAVE lyme disease, but I was EXPOSED to it, probably within the last month! My brothers are doing well, and Aunt Kate said to just watch everyone.
What's the long-term prognosis? Well, Father and Mother need to watch for possible joint problems, heart, and behavioral issues. These are worst case, but they are things that we all need to know about.

Well, I'm going to go and let Father, Mother and the boys bathe in the glory which is ME!!!!!

Princess wishes to you all!!!!!

Birthdays and Crazy Days!

Oh my goodness! I just can't tell you people what's been going on around here! You know how deeply I believe that these two people that claim to be my parents are really crazed psychopaths that are just trying to make me crazy too? Well, they've almost succeeded! You just read on and tell me if I'm not right!

Ok, so that stinky half-brother of mine came to stay one night. I've not seen Riley in a few years, but he and Skooter fell right back into their silly little "playing" thing that they used to do when he (Riley) lived here before. Playing....isn't that SO undignified? UGH! These silly DOGS that I have to endure! WHY ME?!?!?!?!? Oh well, we all have our burdens, don't we?
I did have to laugh though, Ri did NOT like Max one little bit, and he even barked, growled and nipped at Max! What did Max do? Well, nothing really 'cause he knew that Father and Mother would be very angry if he hurt Riley. I later found out that Riley had to leave his home that Mother placed him in, and go live with his new Father. It seems that in his first home they had a young child that was not too good for Ri, and they were going to have another baby so they thought it would be best to give Ri a better chance to grow old. He now lives with my......well, it's a complicated family tree, but let's just say that Ri now lives with my REAL uncle and is TOTALLY loving it! He drives a big truck and gets to go everywhere and he even runs and plays now! I think it's great for him....but I know that I wouldn't like it because that would meant hat I would have to be a (gag) dog! HEAVEN FORBID!

Well, the day that Ri leaves Father and Mother go away for a while and come back with my cousin, Cookie. She lives with my Uncle Mike, he went away for a long trip to someplace called "England". We kept Cookie for about 3 weeks. She's a very beautiful mini-Dachshund, and for being the correct breed, I cut her some slack. She's still quite ill from her former life in a horrible place that Father called a "puppy mill". It sounds just horrid, so I won't go into it here. Now, yes, I said I cut her some slack, but I'm not easy on her! She MUST learn the proper way to live in a house. Sadly, she still uses the bathroom where ever she pleases.....and she NEVER will "go" when she's outside! It's just awful! I hate that Father, Mother and even poor Aunt Stella had to clean up after her, but she did make some progress before she went back home. Even Uncle Mike commented on how she'd changed! I think I did some good.

While all of this was going on Mother was forced to travel by that evil place she calls "work". I don't know what "work" is, or where it is, but all I know is I DON'T LIKE IT!!!!! She went somewhere close for 2 days, so that meant she drove back and forth, then she went into this whirlwind cleaning spree and suddenly disappeared for about 5 days, The night she got home everyone was in a tizzy, and then she left again, but this time it was something about an "election", you know, it was the one that Max was helping Uncle Vance with? Well, Mother came home in the afternoon and was very ill from the heat. We were all bad......we just wanted her attention, so we didn't let her nap or rest at all. I think this made her mad......but that's OK, she's a big girl and she'll get over it!

OH! I had to laugh at Max one of those days that Mother was driving back and forth! See, Mother told her co-worker that was going with her how to get to our house. Aunt Shelley is a "dog person", and she wanted to see Skooter and Max....well, me too, but since I'm not dog.......you get the idea. Anyhow, Max and Mother were outside on the front porch. Max was on his front yard lead and Mother had hold of his collar. He wasn't doing his usual "booger bark", he sounded angry when Aunt Shelley drove up. Mother used her best "Cesar Milan" and kept trying to reassure Max that Aunt Shelley was Ok. WELL, Max wasn't hearing it and he broke free of Mother and WENT AFTER AUNT SHELLEY!!!!! This not only terrified them both, but it ENRAGED Mother. All Max did was give Aunt Shelley a half -hop toward her, then he kind of....well....."mouthed" her. He didn't try to bite or do anything angry, he just.......well, I think he lost his marbles! But you shoulda' seen Mother! She saw what was going on, did this "flying squirrel" leap OFF the porch and DIVE TACKLED Max! She had him in a choke hold and was ON TOP of him! It was THE funniest thing I've ever seen!!!! She was fussing at him, but it was in a low, calm voice. I heard her tell him "Yeah stupid, keep growling at me, that's REAL smart". Guess what? He wasn't growling! The way she had hold of his head she was choking him.......it was TOTALLY by accident on her part, but I was laughing my butt off! Hey, don't judge me, what else is a sister for but to torment her brothers?

Aunt Shelley was BEYOND fine, it didn't even leave a scratch or bruise on her forearm! Father went off the deep end saying that Shelley's family would sue and we'd loose the house and....well, he painted a VERY grim picture for us. He was angry at Mother for having Max outside.
YES! IT's ALL Mother's fault! GET HER OUT OF HERE!!! (Here's the way I can finally get Daddy ALL to myself!) Father, you MUST banish Mother, THIS INSTANT! GET HER OUT OF HERE! She's a danger to us all! You know about her choking poor Max, so if she'd choke a dog his size, just imagine what she'd do to poor little, tiny, itty-bitty me! YOUR BABY!
Hey, can you have parents "put to sleep"?

Don't get so upset, it's just a question!

OK, so this leads me to today, Thursday, August 17, 2006. Mother has been home for about a week or more and has refused to go anywhere else to work for a bit. Today is her birthday AND her and Father's 10th wedding anniversary. To be honest I didn't think they'd make it 10 years......and when they first got married I didn't want them to. I was 2 years old and the entire center of Father's heart, soul and life. Ok, so yes, Mother was the one that picked me out, but she was horning in on MY territory! I wanted Daddy ALL to myself! When they first got married I tried to eat all of Mother's hair and makeup things, but that didn't work, she just went out and got new ones and put them up where I couldn't get to them.
THEN, I tried to intimidate her by growling and snarling at her. OK, so it wasn't me at my prettiest, but I was desperate. I thought if I could just scare her away then I'd have Daddy ALL to myself again. One night she was changing the bed and I wouldn't move. She was REAL sweet about it, first asking me to move, then begging me, then bribing me with everything from a dry treat to CHICKEN. Trust me, it wasn't easy me giving up chicken....but if I wanted to stand my ground and make that woman leave MY house and leave MY Daddy alone then I would have to do to. About that time Daddy walked in and I knew I had to make my move, so when Mother asked me to move again she went to pet me on the head......so I snapped at her......and guess what? I drew blood! (YEA ME!) Mother screamed in fear and pain (it worked!) but Father was VERY angry. Not only did he spank me, but he put me in my room......ALL NIGHT! Well that backfired, now didn't it?
He took me to work with him the next day, and I heard him talking to lots of people. Grammie said to give me to someone else. Another person told Father that since I'd drawn blood that I would now be violent all the time and the only answer was to put me to sleep! HELLOOOO????? My doctor gave Daddy the phone number of some "training man" who could help someone in my situation. I started going to therapy just a day or 2 later. I don't remember his name, but he was a really nice man who explained that I didn't know my place anymore and I was trying to get ahead of Mother. Well, I guess he was right and after about 6 weeks I was.....well, I won't say that I was cured, but I didn't want to kill Mother anymore.

You've read her "Tail Of Devotion" to me......she loves and worships me now......I tolerate her. I have to keep telling myself that she loves me and Daddy, and if Daddy loves her back, then she's (just) OK with me.

Dogs, dogs EVERYWHERE....what's a girl to do?

WHEN did *MY* home become a flop house for........dogs? HELLO, FATHER, MOTHER, are you listening? Well, NOW HEAR THIS, you WILL remove EVERY dog from this house NOW and you will NOT be taking in any new ones.....IS THAT CLEAR?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
I've had it up to here (ok, yes, I'm short, but you get the idea!) with you taking in people's pets so they can go somewhere! I'm suck here all day with those dogs when you go to work.....and you know what? I DON'T LIKE IT!!!!! You know I'm NOT a dog and I don't like being classified as one, nor do I appreciate being left with dogs at all!

When you brought Riley home I just about died because he wanted to (huff with an eye roll) play! Excuse me, but I DON'T PLAY! THEN, he and Skooter started that infernal hopping and yapping......what a disgrace! Yes, it was funny how he tried to put Max in his place......but *I'M* the only one who can do that! Next thing I know you leave, thankfully WITH Riley, and you come home with one of those wonderful baked chickens.......and don't give me any *huff*. THEN, you take off and leave again and come home with.......her. Oh, don't get me wrong, Cookie is alright....if you like dogs that is, but remember, I don't like dogs! She's SO needy, and that whole peeing inside thing is just TOO much for me to take! Then YOU, Father......YOU pick her up and carry her up and down the stairs like SHE'S your baby.........guess what? SHE'S NOT, I AM, or have you forgotten that? Why does SHE get carried up and down the stairs? Oh, the worst thing? She's taken over MY bed......*MY* bed, thankyouverymuch!!!!! You've not done a thing about it either! It's just not fair! She'd better be gone, and SOON I tell you......or you'll have "H" to pay!!!!!