The Skunk Saga Continues

As I left you in my last post, Charleigh-Girl was getting her second shampoo with the special potion to remove her skunk odor.  I told you how good I was getting with this.  WRONG.  My massaging of her hair left her with dreadlock type twists in her undercoat.  Of course, I had to pay for having those combed out while she was boarded during my trip.  I did get the odor out, though!  And it wasn't as expensive as when I trotted her stinky self into the emergency animal clinic!

I called a company which shall remain nameless and which specializes in trapping wild animals.   Their charge was: $399 (!) for setting the trap and catching one (1) (and only one (1)) animal.  Each additional animal they caught would be $149!!!  So...I called my "Sam of all trades."  He bought the exact same trap the nameless company uses for $70.  He set it with cat food.  Voila!  We've now caught 4 or 5 possums.

But...today I called him to tell him we had another possum.  This is a picture of the "possum."

For those of you who know as little about wild animals as I do, this is a raccoon, not a possum.  What's more, when Sam approached the trap, this was one very angry raccoon.  I have had to call animal control (a lengthy process in itself) to come take charge of this angry critter.

Sam and I are thinking we need to put a sign on the trap, "Only skunks allowed!"

Just Another Morning at My House

I got up nice and early this morning because it was Bible Study Fellowship day.  I turned on the coffee maker, fed Charleigh-Girl, let her outside, and looked at the clock.  It was 6:32.  Good, because I needed to be at BSF early.  I am assistant secretary for our class, and there was an instructional meeting for those in that position at 9:00.  And, I didn't really know what I was going to wear.  Oh, and I had a leetle bit of last minute touch-up to do on my lesson.

Within a very few minutes I smelled a skunk.  I thought, "Surely not again."  I looked out the back door, and there stood a forlorn looking little C-G with wet, slicked-down hair on her little head, neck, and front legs.  Sure enough, she must have once again tried to befriend a black and white creature.

For several reasons, this was not as bad as the first time the girl tangled with a skunk.  First, this is September.  The weather is good.  The first time it was very cold--maybe even icy.  Second, she was not shaking her head violently like she did the first time.  But that shaking and the strangeness of the odor the first time caused me to...you're not going to believe this...put her in my car and drive her to the 24-hour animal clinic at about 10:30 P.M.  Boy, were we popular in there!  They wanted us to leave, but they made the mistake of telling me her eyes might need washed out if the skunk had sprayed her directly in the face.  So, we waited for a vet.  It was ridiculous how we stunk up the place!  The vet dutifully washed out her eyes and sent me home with a recipe for an odor remover.

This time I knew what to do.  I just didn't have an unopened bottle of hydrogen peroxide, so I had to make an early morning run to CVS looking absolutely stunning.  I mixed up my potion, and she was so good while I rubbed it on her--outside.  At least I didn't have to pick the big lug up and put her in the bathtub!  When we got to the rinsing with a hose, however, she balked.  I had to chase, beg, and bribe to rinse her.  She finally just gave up and lay down in the grass submissively.

I didn't make the 9:00 meeting, but I was on time to the opening assembly!  Of course, I felt like I smelled like a skunk.  But at least my car didn't.  (And my friend Becky told me I didn't either.)  I deodorized my car last time with the same solution I used on Charleigh.  It's a wonder it didn't ruin the leather upholstery.  And it didn't work, so I drove around (alone) for weeks with baking soda in cake pans all around my car.


I'm really getting to be quite good at this.  If it happens again, I think I'll be composed enough to take a picture.  She really was hilariously pitiful looking.  Gotta go and use the potion on the girl again.  She's gonna want to sleep in my bed tonight!

An Unexpected Reason for Gratitude

I am proud to count among my friends a beautiful young mom named Shay Shull.  Shay is Darlene Mitchell's granddaughter.  Darlene told the bridge group about Shay's blog, and I have followed it faithfully ever since.  Her blog actually got me interested in blogging myself.

For 13 years Shay journaled in something called The Simple Abundance Journal of Gratitude.  Her mom, Sherry, bought her the first journal while Shay was still in high school.  She never missed a day for those 13 years--not a day!  The journal provides lines for 5 things for which one is thankful each day.  Now these are not intended to be big things like our family or the Bible, but small things like...finding a close parking place at the mall or having a nice Sunday nap.

Well, I just loved this idea.  It was "right down my alley," so I ordered the journal from Amazon.  To say I haven't been quite as faithful to the journal as Shay would be a gross understatement.  I journal for one day and skip five.  Let's just say my journal will be re-usable next year.

Let's also say what brought the journal to mind this morning is highly unusual.  It is coffee.  Yes, this morning I am thankful that God made coffee.  It is the first cool morning after a torturously, miserably hot summer.  It is amazing how many Facebook entries mention coffee drinking in this beautiful, cool weather, including mine.  I said,  "I sat out on the swing and drank my coffee this morning." 

Just think...without coffee we wouldn't have Starbucks!  We would probably be far less social, less perky creatures.  Life without my Keurig?  I don't think so!  

So raise your cup of whatever flavor or unflavor of joe you prefer and toast with me to the coming of fall to Texas!  And be thankful, oh so thankful!

A Bumpy August

What a summer!  Or maybe, what an August!  Do you want to hear about it?  Probably not, but here goes anyway!  (My therapy, remember.)

First, there was the burglar alarm problem.  After the 4th visit from an ADT service man, I pitched a fit!  It was not one of my proudest moments, but it worked.  I was switched from talking to Florida (where my alarm is monitored) to talking to Fort Worth (which actually dispatches the repairmen.)  The manager there finally sent a lead technician out.  After showing me the multiple mistakes of the other servicemen, he fixed my problem(s) in a permanent manner!  Hallelujah!  I have a much improved smoke detection system, which is a biggie.

Mingled in with those service calls was a sprinkler head problem.  The sprinklers are set to run in the early morning hours, so when one malfunctions it is not evident until the next morning.  By that time there was a lake in front of my house and my neighbor's house.  This actually happened twice.  And, yes, you should see my water bill!  (I do have an excellent sprinkler guy--Kevin Jones.)

A co-conspirator on my water bill is my pool.  One day I noticed that my pool guy (neighbor Scott Bradley) had the water running to fill up the pool.  But...it ran and ran and the pool was not filling up.  I suspected right away that I had another crack.  It is a fiberglass pool which had sustained a crack once before.  Sure enough here was Scott tapping at my back door to give me the bad news.  I had saved the name of the excellent repair company from the prior incident.  The man who fixed it before finally got here to look at it Friday and was supposed to be here to attempt the repair today.  Unfortunately, he couldn't come, but I did get a call nice and early this morning informing me of that.

Then there's my electricity situation.  Jack and I always patted ourselves and each other on the back for our loyalty to good old Texas Electric, or whatever name it's going by now.  We had stuck with them for 50 plus years.  I suppose you know how they rewarded us for our loyalty.  Yes, they overcharged us!  Fortunately, a 24 month contract I had signed with them expired, and I heard about another carrier charging less, at about the same time.  So...bye, bye old "friend."  Wish I'd booted you two years ago.

In an unrelated problem, I was sitting having lunch a couple of Saturdays ago, and I got a call from my credit card company.  While I was using my credit card for an inexpensive lunch in Arlington, someone was using an actual card with my name and number on it in Orlando, Florida, buying very expensive items.   Now how in the world could that happen?  Well, I think it's something called "skimming," but I have no idea how it would be possible.  I spent mucho time on the phone that weekend trying to find out what I needed to do, much of it to the Philippines.  (Out-sourcing has to be one of my pet peeves.)  They forwarded forms which my computer couldn't download properly, gave me contradictory information, etc., etc., etc.  I now have a new card but still face the hassle of changing any automatic charges to the new number.

So, how was your August?  I'm definitely kidding.  I am still blessed beyond measure, and WAY beyond what I deserve. 

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say Rejoice.  Let all men know your gentleness.  (Sorry, ADT in Florida.)  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything (certainly not a pool), but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will be granted your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:4-7

A Progress Report

I know you are all waiting eagerly to hear how the "new" Charleigh-Girl is doing!  It is pretty hard to believe.  She has been rigorously tested by repeated visits from the ADT Security repair guy.  He has been here Thursday, Friday, and twice today.  (And it's still not fixed.)  Charleigh-Girl has not jumped on him one single time!  That has never happened before in 6 years! 

I have also been able to put a stop to her idiosyncrasies--going crazy over the icemaker, the popping open of canned drinks, taking off my shoes, my answering the phone, etc., etc., etc.!

I'm not sure, however, just exactly who has been busted.  I fear it might me moi.  I have to really stay on my toes to be consistent.  It is not permissible for me to pet her every time she requests.  I have to initiate the petting, and she has to sit first, since I'm now the boss!  It may be easier to teach an old dog new tricks than to teach an old owner new tricks.

Sorry, Charleigh, You've Been BUSTED

I'm sure anyone reading this knows I have a problem dog.  For the 6 years I've had Charleigh-Girl she has run me ragged.  Even Monday of this week I put her on her leash and tried with all my might to keep her off the two nice people who came to service my air conditioning units.  She pulled so hard that my poor back is wrenched and resting on the heating pad as I type.  Nearly killed me.

Rob's mother, Shirley, had an angel come into her life during Zane's illness.  His name is Dan Strickland, and he is a professional dog trainer.  I was so impressed with what Dan did with Shirley's Sam that I asked him if he could come help me with C-G.  He told me that I was out of his territory, but that his firm, Bark Busters, had a great trainer for my area.  I finally got on line and checked it out.  Turns out, the Bark Buster for my area lives 2 minutes from me.  His name is Michael Hoskinson.

Michael had great recommendations on line.  People who seemed to think their dogs were as bad as Charleigh said that within 10 minutes of Michael's arrival their dog was no longer rushing the front door!  Several folks who will remain nameless actually snickered when I suggested that might happen with you-know-who.

Well, Michael came to my house this morning.  Guess what?  Before he left,  Charleigh wasn't even approaching the front door when he went out and rang the bell!   She is, however, rather morose this afternoon.  She's been fired as my boss!  She no longer owns a house!  She is no longer allowed to bark at everything that moves on the street in front of the house she formerly owned.  It's a lot for a girl to handle in one day.  But...Michael says she will be a happier, more relaxed dog now that she isn't in charge of me.  I know I will be happier and more relaxed!

I took "before and after" videos.  They are just mahvelous, but I can't get them to copy.  Stand by--I have proof!

It Was Such a Great Idea

In 1998 I requested a blank journal for my birthday.  Its purpose was to record clever, funny things that Madeline, 4 1/2, and Susannah, 2 1/2, had been saying almost since the day they were born--knowing that I would not be able to remember them.  So...here is the journal today.

Yes, I got it.  No, I didn't write in it.  I did, however, jot down notes on various pieces of paper--just not nearly enough!  I got it out today and reveled in the memories it contains.  So, after all these years, I will transfer all notes to the journal.

I know you all have treasured memories like these....

I wrote, "Today, on the way home from Fielder Road preschool, the girls were discussing their upcoming birthdays.  Madeline said she wanted to have boys, as well as girls, at her party.  Susannah said she didn't want any boys.  Madeline then told her if she didn't invite boys she couldn't invite Gaga (Jack), because he was a boy.  Susannah said, "I don't care if Gaga is a boy!  Mommy, can I invite Gaga?  I wanta invite Gaga.  I don't care..."  Susan called and left us a message relating this incident, and at the end we could actually hear Susannah saying, "I don't care if Gaga is a boy!"

When Madeline was 5 we took a family trip to Disneyworld.  There was a wonderful pianist who played nightly at the Grand Floridian where we stayed.  One night Madeline said to Rob, "Daddy, he grew up to be a fine musician!"  At age 5!

There were tears when I read this one.  In August of 2002 when Susannah was almost 7, we were playing with my beautiful childhood dollhouse.  She began giving me a demonstration of breakable vs. unbreakable using various plastic and ceramic items from the dollhouse.  She would pick up a plastic dog and throw it down on the carpet saying, "I can throw this one down and it won't break."  Then she would pick up a breakable item and say she couldn't throw it down.  Suddenly she picked up the "Mimi" plastic figure we had bought.  She said, "I could throw this one down," and she turned toward me with the most earnest look in those beautiful blue eyes, and said, "but I wouldn't want to."

Susan and Madeline were driving Rob's Jeep.  Madeline was in her carseat and saw a pair of Rob's boots in the floor of the back seat.  She asked Susan what they were doing there.  Susan said, "Well, this is his car, you know."  And Madeline said, "Well, it's not his closet!"  (This from someone who usually had numerous pairs of dance shoes, etc. in the car.)

At age 5 Susannah asked Susan why dogs have 4 legs and people just 2.  Susan tried to explain about that being the way God created them and balanced them, etc.  Susannah said, "I know another reason.  If I walked on 4 legs you couldn't see the front of my outfit!"

There are many stories about how much the girls liked to come spend time at our house.  I realize now that there is nothing better to remember, and having specifics is priceless.  Even without the ravages of Alzheimer's disease, our memories definitely do not get better as we get older.  I would encourage all of you grandmothers and future grandmothers to take my great idea and develop it more fully than I did.