Rain, Rain and Poop!

These are the days that people think about when someone says "we are going to get a dog".

These are the days that people remember what happened to make them re-think there decision of getting a dog

These are the days you want to throw up your hands and say "I surrender!"

...

So what is my "day"?

Well this morning at 5am (as per usual) the cat came and tried to stir Dave and I from our sleep. We would usual ignore him until 6am but now with Blondie - she starts to whine, we assume she is whining about the cat being up and playful and not her but to teach her that she will be taken immediately outside from the crate we get up and do just that. Actually since Dave is up with her at 6 - I have the midnight shift so anything in between the time we fall asleep and the 6am alarm clock is my job.

So I get up and take her outside - it is POURING rain - she cowers under my legs, I walk to encourage her to go, then she whimpers and finally cries really loudly as she attempts to run back to the house. I make her sit, follow my commands and then we go back inside. I am tired - she pees almost instantly on the front runner. (Oh, that's why I don't have carpets) I say NO! and take her right back outside to repeat the before mention outside events.

As I am coming back inside for the second time, Jack Sparrow runs outside and into the dark morning rain. I yell to Dave "Jack Sparrow ran out and I can't see!". I can hear him yell something but it's too late, I am already back out in the pouring rain looking for Jack Sparrow. I call to him as I make my way to the backyard. He must be scared, so I figure he can't go far. I notice him in the neighbours bushes on the side of the house, pick him up and cart him back inside to a waiting Dave and Blondie. I tell Dave to go back to sleep, I got it now. He retreats back upstairs but not before he can tell both Jack Sparrow and Blondie "be good! Don't kill your mother!"

Defeated, I think of what plan B could be to train Blondie to pee in the rain- I search online and think - maybe open the garage? let her pee there so it feels like we are outside. Just then I see her searching to poop. Before I can get over to her, I yell "NO!" and pick her up to bring her outside. From upstairs I can hear Dave say "what happened!?" A nugget drops from her behind onto the floor...it was all slow-motion...I step in it, almost falling, I hold her to protect her should I fall (mother instincts), foot in poop I make my way to the door. By now Dave and I have had a short conversation in loud yelps.

"What happened!?!"

"She pooped!"

"take her outside!"

"I am - I stepped in the poop!"

"are you okay?"

"I stepped in poop!!!!"

* note - the word poop was actually used - I tend to prefer to use that term over "shit" when talking about actual bowel movements. Although in retrospect I think SHIT would have been much more apropos.

Dave rushes to my aide, takes her outside as I clean her poop from my foot, and the trail left from her initial accident. We attempt to bring her outside together to show her it's not scary. We make an excellent team - a sight to see really. Two of us in matching rain coats, and flip flops, standing an inch apart with a trembling puppy in between our arms as we gently repeat "it's okay...it's okay". Despite our best efforts she still whimpers and cries, once she sits and becomes somewhat calm I give her a treat but still nothing.

Back inside she chases Jack Sparrow, Dave returns to bed, I return to minding the "children at play". I take a few seconds to run upstairs to get some paperwork I need to do on the computer downstairs - I'm up, I might as well get something done! I knock over things on my desk, making a clatter I throw my hands up and say "I give up!" I come back downstairs to some poop on the floor, and a confused Jack Sparrow trying to clean it up with imaginary litter and his paw.

Now 6 am, I feed the two monsters, the rain lets up enough that Blondie can go outside and pee, I praise her like her urine was a magical elixir to cure all the evil in the world. She whimpers and tried to run back to the house as the thunder rolls. I laugh to myself and say "you have appeased the Gods Blondie, you may return inside."

Now 6:30am, the cat has made his way back to daddy in a warm bed, with a full belly. Blondie, full and tired sleeps on my lap as I type this.

Yes. this morning was frustrating. Yes, I wanted to cry more than once. Yes, I wish I was sleeping.

BUT

These are the days that happen.

These are the days of bitter in exchange for the sweet.

This was just a morning - the day could get better.

I orginally wrote this as an e-mail to my parents and sister (which they are probably re-reading here) however my momma responded with an amazing e-mail that made me tear up - so I would like to share that here...

***

My darling daughter - things do get better - repeat this mantra because it is true. Although I only had one dog to train our beloved Roccy - and it was difficult - early mornings, chewed shoes, barking, running away. I still look back and realized there is so much reward in the unconditional love they return to you. Training a dog is soooo much shorter than training a baby.

First you have to train yourself to trust that the baby will be ok in its own bed...then you need to train your husband not to panic and yes the baby is breathing yet when he leaves the room you gently put your hand on your precious child's chest just to make sure she is indeed breathing.

Then comes try to train them to sleep more than two or three hours, then when you have succeed to sleep three hours - one morning you sleep for five hours and awake startled that something dreadful has happened and you did not hear you baby! You jump up only to see her sleeping in the small cradle next to you and sigh with pride that she slept that long. Once you have her in a routine -then teething starts and you try to calm your poor baby but nothing helps - you can't take that pain away and with every tear - your heart breaks and you pray that those darn teeth come in so she will be happy again. So many nights spend awake worrying if she make it through the night without the pain waking her...

Then come the nights of stomach pains or cramps, or colic and more sleepless nights....
Then you have some wonderful years where they sleep through the night and you rest well....but it is short lived because if you have a child like mine who has this bright inquisitive mind and imagination there are nights when they will wake you because they had a bad dream....you survive.

Then come the teenage years when they test their limits with their curfew and you spend hours on the couch waiting for them....you survive. Off to University - calm again, yet it is like the quiet storm....you still worry.

......I am only halfway thru and although I have just realized that we were talking about pets - I am talking about you....the moral of the story is that you survive, you make it through at the bumps and this my darling daughter is just the beginning for you...pets are an easy training ground there will be many little bumps but the reward is 100 fold better. I think of you and a smile immediately comes to my face!! WOW I raised an little baby and she grew into this amazing woman!!!

I would have like to continue my journey of raising you but I found myself crying softly, because truly we have had an incredible journey until now and I can't wait for Act Two!!

Love you darling xoxox

***

How can something this cute...

turn into this...

Summer days, drifting away...

Oh Grease - Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong era, I dream of a world where everything is musically represented with choreographed moves, not the High School Musical type, but rather more the Bye Bye Birdie, or West Side Story type.

But I digress...

With the arrival of Blondie I have completely forgot to mention all the other fun summer activities/plans that have been underway.

If you remember, I had created some what of a summer wish list - now although "get and train a puppy" was not visible, it was definitely apart of our planning but left out to avoid the obvious focus that a puppy brings. I can hear my father's voice "no, no dogs, they are hard to train" yet I know he is thinking "YES PLEASE!!"

So now in mid July (I refuse to admit that it is close to being over) here is my small update.

1. Beach Volleyball: we had our first meet last Thursday and our team was pumped. I joined this team of 8 knowing only 3 people and this seemed to be the case with the entire team. I enjoy meeting new people but was beyond nervous to play a team sport with them. Especially one that I play so very rarely and have minimal skills in. Regardless we were fast with jokes and full of laughter in just a few short moments that would last the entire 2 hours. By the end I was covered in sweat and sand but felt elated. I missed being on a team.

2. Rowing: Twice a week since the beginning of July I have made my way of the usual 45 minute drive into the city (in traffic, an hour or more) to sit in a boat with 7 other people and have very little control on how the boat moves. This team sport requires all 8 rowers to move in synchronized time in order to keep the boat balanced and moving. It is an incredible feeling when it happens, you swiftly move through the water almost parallel to it, however the opposite is not just choppy, it's terrifying as you tilt toward the water or your blade gets stuck and the end of your oar jabs into your chest. My position is bow or number 1, and along with number 2 we make bow pair - the toughest positions. This is the worst position for someone with control issues. I can see the drunken caterpillar before me as I hear "in 5 strokes, bow join in". I know I need to follow 8, the stroke seat, but there are 6 seats between us that distract and change the boats movements. Once I join in it's full mayhem, my boat rocks and I begin to accept that I will be going into Lake Ontario- an act that not only I fear, but actually deters from my focus of trying to row. I grow furious as the coxswain points out "bow you are not feathering!" - really!? this is what you want to point out. I begin to list out in my head what every other person is doing incorrectly - this is probably what is throwing off my "perfect" stroke.

If anything, learning to row has taught me I need to give up my control, I can only control what I do - and in focusing on everyone else I am not even doing that.

3. House changes (painting, shelving, general decorating): Dave is taking a week stay-cation in August - our plans to go away were gladly pushed aside once we got Blondie and instead we are going to work on making those small (I use that term lightly) changes in the house. However I think we will readdress what "must be done" and what is actually feasible.

4. Recipes: Dave is mastering bread making, and added bagels to his repertoire! I am focusing on the BBQ - it may not be once a week but we are trying! I want to tackle one from Mario Batali. His orange book calls to me even as I sit here.

5. Books: stay tuned for my reviews at the end of the month for widely talked about The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - Steig Larson and Generation A - Douglas Coupland.

As for the rest...well...there is still a month or so to go !

The adventures of Blondie

They say that caring for a new puppy is like having a baby, and while this may be true I will not be able to verify until having a child of my own. All I know for sure is that so much has changed and yet made so much better.

The connection has been made in the lack of sleep, the responsibility for another life, the frustration in lack of control. However, there should be a larger focus on the sweet cuddling, the sense of accomplishment when they learn, and of course the amount of time spent watching them sleep.

After an unusually difficult morning of chasing our cat, demanding him to play when he clearly did not want to - eating EVERYTHING possible outside and having TWO accidents in the house, it all seemed to melt away when I found her like this...

On the weekend, Blondie received her last shots and was cleared to meet other dogs, travel to new environments and interact with new people.

First stop - a lunch time BBQ at Dave's brother's and our sister-in-law's. We were excited to bring Blondie because she would be able to meet her not only her fur cousin Maurice, but also our nephew, Ivan.

Brother and sister-in-law, R and E respectively, are pro dog owners - they have fostered animals for over 5 years and have been lucky to adopt two wonderful dogs, the current being Maurice the poodle. Mau is perhaps the most well behaved balanced dog I have ever encountered and this was the first/best choice of dog to meet our Blondie. Not only would Mau be able to help Blondie understand how to play and behave at another dog's house but R and E would be able to help Dave and I as new dog parents.

The meet and rest of the afternoon was amazing. Maurice and Blondie became fast friends. Providing us with ample photo session time and entertainment.

and of course, it would not be complete until Dave or I made a video...

This one was put together by Dave

Being used to dogs, Ivan was happy to see another one and laughed as the two dogs ran and played. At the end of the video, you can some bystanders - Ivan and myself - happy to take in the puppy session.

My budding photographer husband got our money's worth in this candid photo

and here...

At the end of the afternoon we all were filled with delicious food and more importantly - love.

Blondie

After years of talks and dreaming followed by months of research and preparing, it only took one look to say...yes.

Faithful readers - I am pleased to introduce, Blondie.

Some info on Blondie:

- She is an 8 week old Shorkie (Shih-tu, Yorkie mix) currently about 4 pounds and will grow to be 8 pounds.

- She is named for her blonde hair and Debbie Harry

- Her older brother , Jack Sparrow, a cat - is still not sure how to react to her vivacious nature.

- she is adapting quite well to sleeping in a crate at night, but does not like when her older brother taunts her by strolling back and forth in front of her.

- she goes to the washroom outside, and has few accidents because her "I have to pee" nose to the ground looks exactly like her "where is that other 'puppy'" nose to the ground.

I think she looks similar to Valcor the luck dragon from "Never-ending Story" when she is all tuckered out.

Here is a little video I made of Blondie and Jack Sparrow's first meet

I need a summer camp

First week of my summer and I have to say I am finding it difficult...pick up your jaw from the floor and let me explain.

Ever since I could remember my summers have been scheduled.

I was given a choice of camps, but the only stipulations were that

- I could not be inside the majority of the day

- It had to be a full day program with early drop off and late pick up

- I could go to as many camps as I wanted BUT in total it had to span the entire summer (with some time off for family holidays etc)

So I would scour the town summer guide for the best camps, offering the best programs - pool days, field trips to the zoo, water parks and the clincher - the "end of session shows".

At a young age I joined the camps my friends attended - one of the fondest memories being of Mrs. Lee's art camp. For one week (if I remember correctly) 10 girls would take over Mrs. Lee's art basement and backyard to paint t-shirts, jean jackets (all the rage) among other things. Art was not my strong suit - but since a lot of my friends including my still best friend Jennie were signed up, so I was compelled to go. I would pout and beg Jennie to help me with my painting, and if i could find these masterpieces you would be able to see a clear difference between my work and the young budding artist in Jennie (or at this time in our life - Jenny). I put up with the art for the small theatre we did - for the session Mrs. Lee would create a lunch murder mystery - featuring a royal family, costumes and even an afternoon of etiquette lessons. To this day, I still maintain excellent table manners and I am usually the first to instruct others of which fork does what or what each glass is for.

Paired with this I joined a camp on Seneca campus and often did two back to back sessions of two weeks. After one summer made a good circle of friends that I would go on to spend 4 consecutive summers with - and later meet two of them 8 years later in University. It was here that I found my love of the stage and writing.

Summer to me was not about cottages, or sleeping in, or pool play dates. It was about making new friends, spending the day laughing, rolling in the grass, group games with a much needed popsicle break. It was about team sports, tie-dyed shirts, baseball hats and backpacks with a extra shoes, a lunch I often swapped or shared and loads of sunscreen that I never applied.

The day would end and I would spend dinner regaling about the day's event, who's who and maybe even who I had a crush on.

Now, years later I approach my first "summer off" and I have no scheduled job to attend, I have 2 teams that I am apart of - occupying 3 nights of my week - and I still miss the steady schedule of a summer camp.