November 15th 2009 9:41 pm
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It started out as a regular, typical, run-of-the-mill, lazy-day Sunday here at The Tater Tot Ranch.
We were all just hangin' out, after our Sunday walk. We were busy answering pawmails and voting frantically in The World's Coolest Dog and Cat Show to earn our zealies, when our neighbor, Bud, came knockin' on the door.
Bud came to tell Momma that Sarah (she's our furless brofur's bestest girl. We loooove Sarah!) called him because she couldn't remember our phone number. Well, right then Momma knew she didn't wanna hear what Bud was going to tell her. (Sarah furgot our number, but she remembered our neighbor's??!)
Sure enough, Bud brought us the news that Austin had wrecked his motorcycle, riding it home from the repair shop, going 50 MPH on Highway 99. O M D!!! Mom's legs turned to jello but she kept her cool pretty well.
Bud didn't know many details, but he told Mom that the paramedics were checking Austin over and Sarah was going to send the ambulance away and drive him to the ER herself, in order to avoid a huge ambulance bill. It made Mom feel a teensy bit better to know that the paramedics didn't grab Austin up and scoot away with him lickety-split.
At this point, Mom was already thinking about what method she would use to beat the tar outta the bike mechanic who had just "repaired" the bike.
The same mechanic had been working on Austin's motorcycle for several months to get it all safe and ready for Austin to ride.
About 5 weeks ago, Austin went and picked the bike up from the shop and attempted to ride it home. Well, he made it almost home when he went to make a left turn and the brakes locked up. Austin and the bike went down on the pavement. Austin was scraped up pretty good, but didn't need to go to the hospital. Some antiseptic and bandages and some Advil and he was good to go.
Mom was furious with the mechanic, wondering how he could have had the bike for so many months and then the brakes lock up and cause Austin to wreck after being ridden for less than 3 miles. Austin wasn't upset with the mechanic. That's just the way Austin is. He always gives everyone the benefit of the doubt. He told Mom that the guy couldn't have known the brakes were going to lock up, it was just something that happened. Mom's thinking "Uh, yeah. Okay, Austin." But really she still blamed the stupid mechanic. Anyway, Austin took the motorcycle back to the same mechanic again to have him fix the brakes. Today is when Austin got it back. So you can see why our peace-loving Mom might just wanna throttle the You-Know-What outta that "mechanic"! bol
After the doctors examined and ex-rayed Austin, it was determined that he has a broken left index finger, a sprained wrist, 9 stitches in his left arm, lots of bruises, cuts, road rash and pain.
The bike is wrecked up pretty good. Mom says "YAY!" fur that. Any momma who is okay with her baby (no matter what his age) climbing on a motorcycle, has got to be lacking in maternal instincts. Oh, and Austin's new IPod is now toast. That didn't phase Mom a whole lot, but it sure seems to be a major bummer to Austin.
Now, this story gets even better! A few minutes after Mom's first call to Sarah, her cell phone rang again. It was Aunt Maggie. She had just put Uncle Doug in an ambulance because he "felt really strange" and his heart was racing. *YIKES*
The doctor gave Uncle Doug medicine to slow his heart and it worked. He's okay. Now just waiting for test results to find out why his heart rate was 197 instead of 70 like it should have been. *YIKES again*
So, it turned out to be anything but a regular, typical, run-of-the-mill, lazy-day Sunday for us!
When Mom catches herself thinking what a horrible day it was, she reminds herself how much worse it could have been.
Austin is hurting and bummed about his IPod, but the car that was driving directly behind him, at 50 MPH, didn't hit him, and he will be just fine.... in a couple of weeks or so. And he told Mom that it will be a long time - if ever - before he climbs back on a motorcycle. *high paw ;) *
And Uncle Doug is doing well. His medicine worked and he is on the track to finding out the cause for, and treatment for, whatever is wrong with his heart.
Instead of being all upset and sad about the very unfortunate and scary events of the day, we are thankful that angels were watching over Austin and Uncle Doug and that they are both resting safely in their homes tonight. :)
October 21st 2009 10:59 pm
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Another happy tail goes down in the annals of Tater Tot history! This is the happy tail of Tess, a 14 year old American Dingo who lives in our fair city, Eugene, Oregon.
It was Sunday afternoon and Momma was gathering our leashes and collars to get us ready for our walk. Penny Ann took a peek out into our back yard through the big glass door in our dining room. She started barking so, of course, the rest of us came running to see and join in the barking. We have a very important job keeping our home and family safe from intruders and, by golly, we do a mighty fine job! bol
With the four of us barking our little heads off, Momma came to see what all the excitement was about. She expected that, as usual, she would see either one of the many neighborhood cats roaming around or a squirrel sitting on the fence or the deck teasing us.
Well, what a surprise she got! It wasn't a cat or a squirrel at all, but an older looking, golden colored dog!
Daddy went out to investigate and the stray dog took off running out of our driveway and into the street, across the park and onto another street.
Momma ran outside with the car keys and yelled to Daddy, "Come on! She's old and she's limping! She's headed for River Road!" River Road is a great, big 40 mph (but most do 50), 5 lane, busy road. It is definitely not where a doggie should be out running off leash.
So Mom and Dad drove and caught up with the dog. Mom jumped out of the car, dog biscuits in hand, and tried to coax the dog to let her get close enough to give her a cookie. No way! That ol' girl wanted nothing to do with letting a stranger get near her and she took off running again, with Momma huffing and puffing along behind her.
Finally the dog crawled under a motor home in someone's yard and she collapsed from exhaustion. When Momma started to crawl under and reach her hand out, the dog growled, so Momma decided not to push it with her. A neighbor lady brought out a big bowl of cold water and a little dish of cooked chicken breast pieces and placed them under the edge of the motor home. The dog wouldn't budge to go over and get a drink or eat. She was very, very tired and very, very scared. So, after a few minutes, Momma tossed a piece of the chicken over near the dog. And what a perfect aim Momma has! The chicken landed right under the dog's nose and she gobbled it up like there was no tomorrow. So, Momma threw a bunch more pieces and the old girl ate 'em all right up. She was hungry!
So, now there's the dog under the motor home in a yard of someone who wasn't home, Momma and Daddy and some other neighbors- a lady named Amy and her husband. The dog had no collar on and the people were thinking that maybe someone had dumped her off in our neighborhood. That was a sad thought. So now it was time for the people to decide what to do.
The ol' girl would have to have someplace safe and warm to stay while the people tried to find out if there was a family looking for her. When the lady who owned the motor home got home it was decided that she would let the dog stay at her house until this coming Friday at the longest. If nobody had claimed the dog by then, she would have to go..... somewhere. None of the people could bear the thought of taking the old girl to Animal Regulation Authority (The Pound ) so everyone was ready to do whatever they could to find the owner or to find a good home for the dog.
Today when Momma got home from work and checked Craigslist again, she saw a very familiar face! Yup! There was an ad saying that "Josh" was looking for "Tess" who had wandered out of their yard on Saturday. The ad said that Tess was a beloved family pet and that she was greatly missed.
Well, Momma just about jumped for joy! She was about 98% sure that the dog in the picture was the old, stray girl who was under the motor home! So, Momma called Josh and he came right away to see if it was indeed his Tess. And it was! And she was one happy, little girl when Josh drove up in his pickup truck! Josh was happy and Momma was happy. Amy wasn't home and neither was Motor Home Lady, so Momma wrote notes and left them on their doors letting them know that "Tess" was safe and happy back home with her daddy, and thanking them for helping to look after Tess and not being too quick to take her to The Pound.
The amazing part of this whole story is how far Tess was from her home. She was clear across town. Not only was it a long way, but she had to have crossed several very, very busy, multi-lane roads and even a bridge. She was out running for over 24 hours before she ended up under the motor home. She is deaf, also, and somehow managed to avoid getting hit by a car. That was quite the adventure for any dog, let alone a 14 year-old, deaf, limping dog who was very scared.
So, we missed our walk this past Sunday, but we'd give up our walk every day if we could trade it for helping a lost or hurt furiend.
Tonight we all sleep happily and soundly in our own home, with our own people, in our own beds! And so does Tess! :D
Tonight we'll remember, as we do each night, to include all the lost and homeless furs in our prayers.
Woofs, wuf 'n Taterwags, Penny, Zeldy, Teddi Sue, Link & Rosie ♥
October 4th 2009 1:41 am
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Our pawsome pal Ebony Tagged us! Those little Schipperkes are quick! BOL So, it looks like more fun for us! *tails wagging furiously*
Here's how it works: We list 7 facts about us, then we go Tag 5 of our furiends and they do the same, etc... Oh! Don't furget to let your furiends know they're being Tagged by sending them a pawmail or a rosette telling them.
Okay, here are our seven facts:
1. Of the 5 of us, one is a kitty (Rosie) and three (Zelda Marie, Link & Teddi Sue) are real full fur siblings.
2. Each of us pups has our own little trick that Momma makes us do before we get our treat....
Penny "whispers".
Zelda "sits".
Link gives her a "high five".
Teddi Sue "shakes" her hand.
3. We all love to swim and play in the water.
4. According to Daddy, we can make enough noise to "wake the dead" when someone rings our door bell.
5. We all missed Teddi Sue when she was stolen away from home for 8 weeks and we remembered her and ran around like crazy and had a big pawty when she came back home!
6. During the days when Momma and Daddy work, Teddi Sue goes with them and Penny, Link & Zeldy stay home with Rosie.
7. We all love to nap on the floor near the woodstove when it's cold outside. At night we all sleep under the covers with Momma. (Yes, she and Daddy have a king-sized bed! bol)
That's all about us! Here are the furiends we're going to Tag.....
Sammy
Ravan NPC
The Barkett's
Edie
Lalo (Therapy Dog in training)
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