Misty Colored Memories Of The Way We Were

I'm really good @ coming up with catchy titles that have no actual bearing on my subject matter in any truly constructive way? In other words people aren't going to be looking for memories on the search engines to come up with a video of a bichon and a lab playing but....that's the way I roll.


BTW, I don't normally say or even think that's the way I roll, it just came out. Maybe I'm ill? This is sort of a tribute to Mugsey, I was looking for pictures of Dispatch and came across these. Sorry they are long.. enjoy.

Oh and I know I'm not supposed to let the bichon latch onto my arm growling but it's soooo much fun and I doubt he turns into killer dog but you never know. Plus he has been fixed and he has to get his jollies where he can.... don't cha think? My brother says the bichon thinks he's like dominating me and preparing to hump when he grabs me like that...I think bro is just trying to gross me out? Bro would love nothing better than to gross me out horribly. He will be 70 soon (he's old enough to be my dad) and he will NEVER GROW UP!! Maybe I should tell him he HAS to get a computer so he can see what nasty things I'm writing about him?

Dispatchs "New" Trick

Yes it's been airbrushed, Dispatch said he didn't want to get any girl dogs excited by the playboy pose. This isn't his new trick, it's not even an old trick.
Basically I was looking for a picture of Dispatch on a table but couldn't find one. Dispatch took to table sitting again last week when we stayed in the motel because the tire fell off the truck. Everytime I'd leave the room I'd come back and he would be on the table with the laptop, I was starting to think he was emailing SOS! Dispatch has always climbed like a cat, I've heard bichons do. Also they curl their claws around a bit somewhat like a cat. I tried to teach Dis to climb a ladder but he knew I wanted him to do it. If you lean a pallet against a porch without steps he can climb that to get to mama though!!

Here in the truck Dispatch has reached new heights in climbing though, I haven't been able to get a picture of it but he wedges his head between my husbands leg and the steering wheel. (we are in the middle of nowhere when we let him do this) and pulls himself up on my husbands lap by climbing and levering against the steering wheel with the back of his head. This is partly because he really isn't allowed on Daddies lap when Daddy is driving so Dispatch MUST get up there. Also Dispatches Daddy is supreme ruler of the world as far as Dispatch is concerned so when he is sitting on Daddies lap he is second ruler in command of the world. (according to Dispatch)

Dispatch looks pretty funny sitting on Daddies lap. Daddy is the baseball cap, levi's 501 jeans, cowboy boot wearing truck driver and used to look like the Marlboro man (if you squinted, maybe a hairy Marlboro man?) Anyway they are a bit amusing to see walking across a parking lot too. Dispatch tries REALLY hard to look Macho and tough but it's hard to pull off when you are white and fluffy? I'll try to get some more pictures soon.

A Wonderful Site For Animal Transport And Rescue

The name of this site is Operation Roger. From what I can gather it's a rescue operation that also transports animals free of cost for non profit animal rescue groups etc. From what I can gather the name comes from Roger a Toy Manchester Terrier who was a rescue. There is a small animal rescue listing page, rescue stories etc. Check out these good Samaritans and what they do.
This website was brought to my attention because Arrow Trucking in Tulsa Oklahoma went out of business. (I hate to go on ad nauseum but I'm truly talented @ it) Not only did they go out of business Arrow Trucking left it's drivers stranded out on the road with no fuel money. Damlier Finance is repossessing the trucks and from what I gather they are giving part of the drivers bus fare home. The problem? You can only take so much with you on a bus. We've only been in this truck for a couple months out on the road this time but I have probably $100 worth of groceries, 6 big suitcases, extra shoes and coats for both of us, laptop obviously, bedding, plus the usual frig, tv, microwave, some even have port a potties or carry small bar-b que grills and lawn chairs. This isn't going on a bus and no one is paying to get it home except for the truck drivers whose last paycheck and maybe the one before that one from Arrow bounced. Most ex-Arrow drivers are just abandoning their gear which is sad. What makes it doubly tragic is the season and probably not being paid for work done or even in some cases not having insurance the company was supposed to be paying for.

BUT to get to the point of my post what about the pets these drivers had? I don't know if they were allowed pets or not but if they were I'm sure there are several drivers stranded with pets since I know truck drivers and usually if they want a pet they put it in the truck regardless.

Topix suggested Operation Roger as a possible solution for these ex-Arrow drivers. I hope it is working out for everyone.

I know we would have to rent a car to get home if this situation arose with us but we own our own truck but they do break. Also I've heard of so many dogs lost @ truck stops and by travelers, this is why Dispatch is chipped and I try to keep his id on him too @ all times.

Anyway check out these kind souls @ operation Roger and what they do for animal rescue.
And I"ve been doing well @ posting (not so well on reading and commenting) but Happy Holidays to all once again, we might have a white Christmas in the midwest but we will be home before that!!!

Merry Christmas, Tiger Woods, Web, and Dispatch of course!

On Animals that give pause.com I have a post about Dispatch pawing frantically @ my arm and wanting to be held CLOSE, it's called assume the position because I spend much of my day now riding in the truck holding him if he weasels his way on my lap.
This picture is not Dispatch sitting on my lap. It's what he does as an alternative. He stares into a black hole in the dash of the truck. There is nothing there? It's actually a drawer you can throw stuff into from above. The truck makes noises with it's motor and road noises sound like they are coming from the motor. Read the other blog and you will get the drift. The motor is sort of there and he is....?
Call me Polyanna and stupid but I wrote a post on Tresa's Blog about Tiger Woods and how he's a dog but most men are dogs.....I said MOST, ok it should have been SOME?
Also my daughter has her website up about her pet care business. Check it out and if you are in KS? The kid rescued a opossum and tried to keep it as a pet. What more can I say other than her nickname was Elly Mae for all her "critters"..... See if you can find the Charlie and Mugsey pictures, the yorkiepoo and the golden lab.
AND Happy Holidays, we are alive and well. We've been living healthier lives (no smoking, almost no sweets, husband now knows how to look for carbs on food labels, he's mildly diabetic, we both need to loose weight) Anyway I haven't done much for a month but ride with him in the truck, solve sudoku avidly, and I did clean a bit before I left home, I have 5 garbage sacks of clothes for charity and relatives and Christy's shorts from high school cheerleading are no longer with us. It's been 15 years and I still had the shorts.. I could wear them too!! LOL
That is my excuse for not blogging or keeping in touch. We also aren't heating the computer room @ home all the time so that cuts down on computer time. But I've been thinking of you all and feeling bad about not blogging or commenting and I want to wish everyone the happiest, most peaceful holiday season ever. And we might even eat a piece of candy then too!! ;-)

Happy Turkey Day Amigos!

We are back from our trip, see previous post, and the "other" animals blog. I was starting to feel like the crew of the faithful minnow who took a three hour trip, a three hour trip....sorry, it seemed funny to me. We had to stay in a motel for a couple days to get a load back but we did get one back, thanks Tony. BTW I do have my CDL and I will probably be working with my husband a great deal now. (I weighed the pros and cons did I want to ride with him on ice or drive myself to work on ice, ride with him won). Oh and BTW did I ever tell you how I went on this trip? We were cleaning the truck since husband had used it for hauling construction stuff around for 6 months (read dust over everything) and I was playing with the passenger seat, he said it's air ride and I'll fix it if you'll go with me. Anyway I thought husband would have to put a new seat in the truck or @ least take the innards out of this one. Nope, it MIGHT have taken him 5 minutes to fix it. So I'm a truck driver again or a truck passenger part of the time.

I also posted about Thanksgiving and forgiveness on Tresa's Blog if you wish to be more unimpressed with my mental facilities. I'm so tired I was wandering from room to room forgetting what I came into each one for, bathrooom....... check mousetrap, bedroom.........get dog food (I put it in a suitcase, you think I keep the dogfood in the bedroom?)

The picture above? It's an aceo (colored pencil, 2.5"x3.5" painting) I did of Dispatch the Bichon when he was a baby puppy. I'm not sure why I put it on here and the other blog but it's one of my favorite pictures of him. He was a baby on my blue jeaned lap. I'm pretty sure my legs were skinny then?

All the animals are fine. Skeeter is much better. She yodeled when we got home Dispatch screeched like a banshee when she yodeled.

Highlights of the trip?
1. Dispatch tried to take out a border patrol when he stepped up on the truck when the door was open. I told the officer Dispatch was a citizen too. For those of you that haven't been to S TX or other places close to the border they look in trucks @ various inspection stations.

2. Dispatch is convinced the noise the rumble bars on the side of the road make is a monster trying to come through the floor of the truck to get him. This will keep him occupied staring @ the floor from the safety of my lap for about 1/2 hour. Also Dispatch is NOT happy on the dash of the truck but he fits quite nicely when we are sitting still if he's being annoying. He's not sure what the jake brake is but it's not nearly as scary as the rumble bars and if he watches his daddy much more I'm pretty sure he will know the gear pattern.

3. Remember how Dispatch is the terror of the car trip? Rides in a truck like he's been doing it all his life, sleeps on the floor most of the time, looks out whatever window is available, braces for curves etc. Of course he can touch mommy @ all times IF he wants to so that makes a difference. And of course everyone thinks he is so cute and well behaved @ the truck stops and even point and wave as we go down the road, @ least I think they are pointing and waving @ him or I'm having a REALLY bad hair day?

4. Oh yes, the refrigerator in the truck is @ floor level, it didn't take Dispatch long to learn this. He REALLY likes cold cold bottled water. He started telling me he was thirsty or his water was warm (horrors) by going and sitting by the frig.

Anyway I hope everyone has a happy and safe Thanksgiving without gaining a pound. We are going to my in laws tomorrow along with my sis in law and her family and their families and my daughter and her family and four of husbands kids with their families, intendeds, or intended with families. Anyway I just counted and it's 35 people, I think we had close to 50 here two years ago. Mostly immediate family. I got off lucky this year as far as cooking, my SIL was a caterer (she does everything perfectly, did I say that? hey Elenor, just kidding if you read this) and her two daughters are helping. My daughter is picking up canned sweet potatoes because no one was brining any and we have to have some even if no one eats them and I will fix them over there. She's also bringing dirt cake which is some outrageously rich crumbled oreo concoction or that's usually what she brings. I'm dumping canned fruit in a bowl and calling it good. Only two kids won't be there, my youngest and husbands youngest. One is house/dog sitting and the other is spending the holiday with her mother and her husbands family.

Anyway I'm full of good cheer but need to sleep again, Happy Holidays!!!

Daily Dispatch or Bicho Frise says I WILL GO!

No this isn't a picture of the unfinished door trim in the family room or my dirty old flip flops (I have it planned when I'm in the truck with husband, I have on jogging clothes @ night and put on flip flops and a hoodie and stumble in to bathroom and breakfast covering head with hoodie, sounds like a plan to me?). Dispatch got up on the bench by himself which is no small feat considering his water dish and food dish were in his way when he jumped!! So he is better, much better, read the previous few posts, he had anal gland problems and then limped. The Bichon is laying on top of my coats because he knows something is up and he does NOT want to be left out. My husband is taking short trips in the truck and I will be with him some. The "junk" is piled up so I can take it to truck. See whole grain club crackers? Water instead of Mountain Dew? we are living healthy now! Anyway the dog will be with us obviously. Kids and other relatives are here to take care of Skeeter. She's not doing too well. Here's a picture of her and the "posse"or our small dog collection in our yard. She's got to be 13 and she could be 18 or more years old. Did you ever try to get 4 dogs, 2 of whom aren't yours to stand still?

I have new posts on Tresa's Blog about the grandkids and on the "other" Animals That Give Pause about big cats. I don't mean overweight house cats that make up Dispatch's nightmares either. I mean like large dog killing cats in Missouri.

I haven't had time to go to other blogs or comment lately. I haven't forgotten and think of you all every day, Rae, Judy, Lilly, AL, Anne, Cindy, Jan........ and all the others who have wonderful blogs and whose links are below to the right if YOU perhaps would want to go read their wonderful blogs I wouldn't feel so guilty about not going there? Not exactly subliminal messaging, how's this? go to my other blogs and clicky clicky and then go to the blog list @ the bottom right and clicky clicky and comment nicely. How's that for subliminal? You would really help me assuage my extreme feelings of guilt that could lead to anxiety and depression and paranoia. Better subliminal? Too much?

If you are still reading this perhaps you have masochistic tendencies, did you ever look into that? I'M KIDDING!! OK??

Bulldog Puppies Among Other Things.......

Remember Opal the Bulldog whom I took care of this summer while her parents my daughter and family were gone?
Well as I reported earlier in October Opal had puppies.
Now they are almost ready to leave their homes, they will be over two months old and ready to go after the 7th of December. When I went over there the other night my daughter had been @ work and we had to get the puppies out and socialize them for awhile. The puppies also had their own nursemaid who is a vet tech, other daughter. The puppies are spoiled and they are loved as my daughter says in her webpage about her English Bulldogs.
If you are not careful they will turn out like this though. This is Newman my nephews dog from the last bunch of puppies. Opal also got the idea while I was taking care of her that any piece of furniture could support her and since Dispatch laid on tables so could she. Newman also has a bowling ball for a toy. Does that tell you anything? He skateboards also but I can't find the video on youtube, it might just be on facebook.
Here are two of the puppies that will be available in December, they are located in Central Missouri if you are interested in Christmas puppies, go to her English Bulldog website for further information. BTW Moto the white one loves me.
Marlene is @ the top of the page. She loves me too. I think maybe I smell and sound like their "grandma"?
If you are a glutton for punishment I have a dog book review about Cesar Millans newest book A Memeber of the Family on Missouri Books.
I also have some new posts on Tresa's Blog and my "other" animals that give pause blog. Next I'm putting more Yorkie Poo pictures up of Charlie on the animals blog, before Grey's anatomy that is.