Round 2

For those of you who have missed the background story, I will try to relay it as briefly and succinctly as possible (for me).

We adopted Pepsi, our beagle /Jack Russell mix, when she was about 8 weeks old. When she was approximately thirteen weeks of age, my daughter Alaina (who was 9 at the time), was walking her (on a leash), when a neighbor's Shepherd mix got loose, ran across the street, and attacked Pepsi - injuring her badly enough to require surgery. The day before the stitches were due to come out,we finally gave Alaina the all clear to take her for a SHORT walk- (say down to the corner and back), when the SAME dog got loose and attacked Pepsi again. (the result of the second attack was only a few torn exterior stitches).

Now, Alaina was not harmed in either attack, and the neighbor did pay all the vet bills. (We reported the attacks to animal control anyway, because while no action was ever taken, we thought that they should at least have the attacks on record). The offending neighbors (and their dog) moved away soon after. The problem is that both Alaina and Pepsi were permanently "scarred" by the attacks. Alaina has been much better at overcoming her fear of other dogs than Pepsi. Whom we have spent untold time and money trying to rehabilitate- to no avail.

So why this rehashing of ancient history?

Today, Alaina (now 14) was out walking Hero, when another neighbor's dog, a boxer this time, charged right through their electric "fence" and attacked Hero. Once again, Alaina was not harmed, and to be truthful I think it was a more even fight this time (Hero was not muzzled) and he seems to have come away with only one small tooth mark (it hardly bled at all- and seems more like a scrape/bruise- than a puncture) on his chest near his front leg. We will be watching it carefully for infection/ additional tearing, but it seems fine. The owner did come out to pull the dog away and apologise, (and to make sure that everyone was "O.K.")-, NO actually, it is NOT OK!!

Alaina spent most of the afternoon in tears. More trauma- more drama.

I don't even know how to end this post.

Why does this keep happening? Is this corner of Virginia especially backwards when it comes to it's canines or does this sort of thing really happen everywhere? How do I keep Alaina from being permanently traumatized? Should I really never let her walk her dogs again?

How do I keep Hero from being traumatized and ending up as psychotic and anti-social as the rest of these dogs (my beautiful Pepsi included)? How long can my luck hold out before one of these Cujos actually attacks Alaina? I am sure one or more of you kind and wise bloggers, have some sage advice for me.....(help)

Alphabet soup and some whine.

I believe this post may best be taken with alcohol.
The same post has remained on my blog for just about a week.

I have been M.I.A.

Missing In Action?

No, More like:

Managing Interior Anarchy

This is what my living room usually looks like:




This is what my living room currently looks like:

Yup, you guessed it, that wonderful, magical, time of the year, of decorating for Christmas.

A time when my DH pulls dozens of dusty cardboard boxes containing tangled Christmas lights, garlands, wreaths, ornaments, etc. out of the attic, And then leaves them all in the middle of the living room, Waiting I believe, for the Christmas elves.

( Who, as everyone knows- are related to the sock fairy, who picks his dirty socks off the floor , washes them, and puts them back in his drawer)

Anyway, these Christmas elves, it seems, come in the middle of the night, empty all those boxes, put up all those garlands, wreaths, and the tree, and stack the boxes, to be stored in the garage.

My Christmas elves were the victims of downsizing apparently.

I have been waiting to blog till I have an AFTER picture to post. I do have some pride (not much, but some...)

One small problem
I have 2 kids home sick

I don't know which is the more difficult patient , the two year old or the 14 year old. But needless to say my decorating is going more slowly this year.

More alphabet soup

H.O. A.

I leave it to you to come up with a witty phrase the best I could come up with was

Highly Opinionated a$$#*les

We received a "courtesy" letter today. Requesting :

1) that parents be at the bus stop with their children to supervise them and keep them quiet, because they are being too noisy. There is 1 neighbor who works nights in the neighborhood, and she has been complaining to the HOA because: when the 15 elementary school aged children stand on the corner (for no more than 15 minutes) they wake her up.

Now bus pick up time is 8:30 AM., not exactly falling during the time for any legal noise ordinance. ( And yes, I can see the bus stop from my window). Yet I am still supposed to bundle up my sick 2 year old and stand out in the cold with my 8 & 10 year old (these are not kindergartners we are talking about) to assure that she is not bothered for 15 minutes?!

(I wonder if the garbage men received a similar letter?)

And 2)the letter is a complaint because there are toys in our front yard. I kid you not. 2 toy dump trucks, a trike and a scooter at the time of the complaint. Goodness, obviously "Sanford and Son" have nothing on us. Good thing they can't see my living room.