Top 10

Top 10 things to do after the Christmas chaos has died down.

1.  Undo all that you did the day after Thanksgiving (to get ready for Christmas).  If you are anything like me, it will take you a complete 8-10 hour day to accomplish this.  And repeat these words:  "I'm getting too old for this!"

2.  Now, vacuum.  It's a mess.

3.  Watch some television and comment on how dull your house looks without all the bright lights and Christmas bling.

4. Create possible New Year resolutions in your mind.   

5.  Finish up the cookies and curse the day you baked them and the extra pounds you added to your waistline.  Now, throw away the rest of that fudge...  it didn't turn out that good, anyway.  Time for a diet lifestyle change.

I'll take it from here...  (says Gracie)

6.  Vomit and poop all that anxiety and stress away (of the turning of your world upside down)...  do it on the floor and all through the house while everyone is asleep.  They will know better than to take away your peace next year. 

7.  Stay alert!  Don't let them slide meds down your throat for nothing!!!  Bite them if you have to.  

8.  Sleep

9.  Now that you've gotten their attention, hold out for the good stuff.  Chicken and rice are okay, but roast beef is better.  It's in the fridge.  Wait for it.  If you play your cards right, this will be offered to you along with the meds.  But be vigilant.  Spit the meds out!!  Let them suffer as you have.

10.  When you can no longer squeeze another runny, disgusting pity poop out - run and get a toy so they know you're feeling better.  They've suffered enough.  Maybe. Repeat next year if necessary. 

Evil

 Raise your paw ....

If you see the resemblance...

Gotta sleep with one eye opened...  or not sleep at all.  And if she sees that I spit a pill out onto the floor, she's that much more aggressive at pushing it down my throat.

 Nurse Ratched.

I'm pretty sure she is a descendant.

 daughter?  granddaughter?

 evil, I tell ya.  just plain evil.

.... Gracie

No Tears

 Have you ever buried your feelings so deep that you find yourself just going through the motions without showing emotion?  Well, if you have, then you know what I'm talking about.  Life, people, friends, family and goals just aren't measuring up to your expectations and things seem a little hopeless. But. No tears.

Our household has been lacking sleep lately due to a certain 15-year old cockapoo ....  yea, Gracie!  Up and down and in and out of the house all day and all night long.  Diarrhea  and vomiting.  Cleaning floors at 3AM.  Torn between feeling sorry for my girl Gracie and feeling sorry for myself. At this stage of her life,  I begin to think the worst.  Still.  No tears.

An emergency vet visit left my girl afraid, shaking and vomiting, waiting for almost an hour on the cold hospital floor for the vet to come back.  I watched her from the stool I sat on from above, cold, uncomfortable, emotionless and bitter to the fact that she was so sick.   My poor girl. But I stayed strong, cause there were still no tears.

But I knew of the possibilities and I trembled inside to think that this might be it for my Gracie.  And so I prayed.

Get down on the floor with her.

And so I did.

I kept praying.  Between being cold, sick and anxious, she was shaking badly.

Cover her with your coat.

 And so I did.  And I kissed her head and massaged her ears.

In that moment, as I let go of my strong matter-of-fact realistic, bitter demeanor and allowed myself to feel the hurt,  tears began streaming down my face.

"It's okay, girl.  Mommy's here..."

I felt better.  I'd released days of worry and exhaustion and confusion and now I was okay.  And so was Gracie.  Her blood test and x-ray showed nothing serious.  Probably a gastrointestinal flare-up from stress of the holidays.


Dear Diary,

Mom The NAG snagged this picture of me while I was resting and she shared it on Instagram and one of her friends offered condolences.  BOL!!!!!   I tell ya, I can still jump onto the highest chair in the living room and I can still poop and play and run and bark at the mailman.  #NotDeadYet

Gracie