tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35559467023690423512024-03-21T21:23:27.648-05:00life with claireLaurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12667800521167085430noreply@blogger.comBlogger273125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3555946702369042351.post-84154221246213136932014-06-06T20:21:00.000-05:002014-06-07T20:37:44.190-05:00a love letter to claire.Dear Claire,<br />
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It's been five years since I first went to the Nashville Humane Society and found you. Well, since you found me, really. You're the first friend I made in this city, and my life here (and in general) would be so different if we never met. Where did the past five years go?! We've been through a lot together during that time, both good times and bad. And while it's so wonderful to enjoy those good times together, I think it's even more of a blessing that you've been able to help me so much through the darker days. A stranger once told me that you're my guardian angel, and I have to say: I believe it!<br />
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My favorite memory over the past five years is from last summer when we were back home. We got up really early and went down to the beach before the lifeguards showed up. You'd never been to the ocean before and, at first, you were a little afraid of the waves. Soon enough, you were running as fast as you could up the dunes and then back down past me to jump into the water. I remember that there was a landscaping crew hanging out in the parking lot, having breakfast before starting their day, and they came over just to watch you. When you were done running in circles (showing off again!), you came over, covered in seaweed and sand, and jumped all over them. One of the guys said he'd never seen a happier dog.<br />
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Not a day goes by where I'm not laughing at something you've done. You are silly and mischievous and curious and <i>just so</i> <i>smart! </i>You love to show off for people - whether there's something in it for you or not. You love having your tummy rubbed and you get annoyed if there are people nearby who aren't doing so. You are the best squirrel/rabbit/cat hunter around, and I dread the day that you bring one back to me (so please don't). You love walking the neighborhood kids to school in the morning and saying hello to everyone on our typical route. Running is one of your favorite things to do, and I love watching you zoom by with your little baby ears flapping in the wind! Chase is still your favorite dog to have play-dates with, and I've honestly never seen two dogs love each other more. You sleep the best on Grandma Sue's Pier One blanket (that she so kindly parted with on your behalf), and you never go to bed without bringing Lambie and Moosie with you. You love coming with me to run errands on Saturday mornings, mainly because the people at the stores we go to always have a special treat for you. Fetching anything except the peanut butter jar is still beneath you, no matter how many different kinds of balls or frisbees I try to entice you with. You enjoy watching the Food Network, but you're not such a fan of Animal Planet. You hate when I'm on the phone and will go to great lengths to get me to stop using it - like the time you wedged your face between my ear and the phone over and over again until I hung up from my conversation. Whenever someone comes to our house, you always think you're the reason they're there, and you bring your toys to them immediately - but just to show them, not to play with them. And there is nothing that makes you more excited than when I come home from work!<br />
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Naturally, ClaireBear, I could go on and on. But the bottom line is: I love you more than anything! You are, by far, the biggest blessing in my life. I can't imagine spending my days without you, and I certainly don't want to! You are a huge part of our family, and even though you don't get to see your relatives very often, you can rest assured that they miss you and love you dearly. I know I say it a lot, but it's only because it's true: you are the MOST loved dog in the world!!<br />
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Happy Gotcha Day, little one!<br />
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<br /><!--3-->Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12667800521167085430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3555946702369042351.post-90127483595809843602014-04-21T20:54:00.003-05:002014-04-21T20:54:28.765-05:00peeves.A few friends and I were talking the other day about the things that really annoy us simply because they drive our dogs CRAZY. I've found that I can't really classify these things as "pet peeves", but I also can't classify them as "people peeves"... so I've settled on just calling them Peeves. Am I missing any?<br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Dogs in cars who bark out the window.</span> <i>Safety hazard</i> for me and Claire!! She gets so irritated and gets all jumpy, and then I have to shield her from bouncing off the sidewalk into the street. Roll up your windows, people, or leave your dog at home!</li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">People in cars who bark out the window. </span>Yup. You're an idiot. Show some respect.</li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Small animals with tails.</span> Squirrels. Cats. Chipmunks. Groundhogs (we saw one a few weeks ago). They should hibernate forever. Or at least exist in a wide open field so that Claire can chase them safely without me having to worry about all the traffic.</li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">All the traffic.</span> I'm sure y'all can agree, whether you have a dog or not.</li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">An inability to climb trees</span>. If she could, it would make #3 a lot easier. It would also be a huge help when the neighborhood kids play frisbee with her and get it stuck waaaay up in the branches.</li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">An inability to eat chocolate.</span> I <i>like</i> sharing snacks with Claire. And when I make delicious things like brownies and cookies, it hurts me to see her big brown eyes staring up at me when I know that she can't <i>have</i> the chocolate...</li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">The depth of the PB jar.</span> If it were short and stout like a teapot, her tongue could reach the bottom. But instead, she can only get a good half of what's left on the sides, and there's all that PB on the bottom that she <i>just can't reach.</i> It's such a tease.</li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Leashes.</span> Roaming free would be much more fun for Claire, but I just tell her that she's the one taking ME for a walk, and that I'd get lost finding our way back without her. Makes me feel better.</li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Loud people.</span> Calm the heck down!! Bring it from a 10 to a 2!! Claire is getting stressed out, and my ears are ringing!</li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Lack of personal space.</span> Claire and I hate this -- me with strange people (airplanes give me anxiety because of this), and Claire with other dogs (aka: most puppies). Back it on up and trust that yes, we can still see and hear you from an arms' length away.</li>
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There are, of course, more things that could be added to this list. Give me some time and you may see a Part 2 sooner or later. Did I miss any big ones?</div>
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Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12667800521167085430noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3555946702369042351.post-45321400958103732362014-03-17T22:35:00.002-05:002014-03-17T22:35:48.437-05:00the holistic dog.I started using doTerra essential oils about a month ago to help ease the symptoms of fibromyalgia and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Both illnesses can be hard to get under control, and sleep issues are not only a symptom but also a perpetuating cause of flares.<br />
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Because of this, I first dipped my toes into the doTerra waters by purchasing lavender and a blend called Serenity. Before bed each night, I apply Serenity to the bottoms of my feet (the oils are more quickly absorbed into the bloodstream that way) and lavender to my neck and wrists.</div>
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This stuff <i>works</i>, y'all. But that's a different story for a different time (<a href="mailto:LJFerzoco@gmail.com" target="_blank">email me</a> if you are interested in hearing more).</div>
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After a few nights, I noticed that, every time I opened the bottle of lavender, Claire's eyes would pop right open and her tail would start wagging. <i>Every time</i>. So, I began putting some lavender on her chest and behind her ears before putting her to bed. Since I started using it on her, I've noticed that she has a much easier time relaxing and falls asleep more quickly.</div>
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I started doing some research, and it turns out that you can use a number of oils on dogs for <i>so many different things.</i> Claire had another bout of acute pancreatitis last week and I rubbed marjoram and lemon on her tummy and between her paw pads to help with the pain. Lemongrass and peppermint combined makes a great insect repellent, as does the Purify blend. The combination of lemon, peppermint, and lavender provide great allergy relief (and I'll be starting both of us on this regimen early next week). Clary Sage treats dry skin. Digest Zen treats nausea and vomiting. Frankincense and lavender/Serenity calm stressed out dogs. THE OPTIONS ARE ENDLESS!!</div>
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I'm really excited about this discovery of doTerra, and it's worked so well for me and Claire that I'm now a Wellness Advocate for them -- after only a few weeks of being introduced to their products. If you have any questions about what essential oils might work for you and/or your dog, let me know and I'm happy to help! It's worth a try, right?</div>
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Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12667800521167085430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3555946702369042351.post-52221590695460506982014-02-06T20:25:00.002-06:002014-02-06T20:25:49.637-06:00why TGIF means "thank God it's february"...I did not intend to disappear for the entire month of January. But sometimes life gets hard and it takes everything you've got to trudge through one more day.<br />
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That's how it was for me. And I'm so glad that the month is OVER!!</div>
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In addition to my health issues continuing to beat me down, I also found out - just a few days after Christmas - that Claire had a malignant tumor on her paw. She had surgery during the first week of January to remove it, and I was supposed to hear the pathology results a few days later, but the lab was closed for the holidays. During her recovery, she managed to rip her stitches out, despite wearing the Cone of Shame while I was at work. I came home and found little bits of her cast all over the house before realizing the bigger issue: ripping the stitches out had allowed the wound to gape open, exposing her bone. I rushed her to the hospital immediately and she underwent a second surgery to debride, flush, and pack the wound before stitching it up again. I didn't let her out of my sight for the next 12 days to give it time to heal. Of course, on Day 13, when I went into the office, I came home to find that she had managed to rip out the stitches again despite wearing TWO Cones of Shame at the same time. We rushed back to the vet, but thankfully the surgical site had healed enough where she didn't need to undergo a third surgery. By that point, the only open part was the top layer of skin, so that healed after a week of hydrotherapy and some good bandaging by yours truly.</div>
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Tough recovery, I'm telling you!</div>
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Additionally, I didn't get the pathology results back until just a week ago - exactly one month after the tumor was removed. Thankfully, they managed to get all of it and she does not need to undergo radiation or chemotherapy. I don't think I realized just how much the What Ifs were worrying me; when I heard the results, I literally felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders.</div>
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After all that, however, Princess Claire has a paw that is as good as new! The beginning of this week was a bit stressful for her as we got back into our normal routine. After being with her almost 24/7 for a month, she had a little separation anxiety for the first few days that she was left alone. She seems to be feeling a bit more confident now, but realistically, it may take a little longer for her to feel 100% while I'm at work.</div>
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My intent over the next few months is to get back to blogging on a regular basis. Of course, this all depends on how I'm feeling physically, but I'm finally feeling well enough to start doing other things rather than just work and sleep! Good thing that Claire is a snugglebug. I swear, even as I was taking care of her over the past month, she still managed to take care of me.</div>
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What a good dog :)</div>
Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12667800521167085430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3555946702369042351.post-19183828655859298222013-12-24T20:06:00.001-06:002013-12-24T20:06:48.044-06:00merry merry christmas!Despite the fact that Claire was less than enthused about posing for this picture, I can assure you that she is quite excited about Christmas!<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyQWWTUN3GzgWzC4WWyXSmp7PHTVStlru5h4YpYurQpCjZ82Vdt0WdkH_WD6jrGU325JXjdBTlzmErrJhWW-Nf4CMggPW0cFBQPj83q9HN84OqO91BXYrWkHxVnBYKrhe7DUobZmB-tQ/s640/blogger-image--2036192128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyQWWTUN3GzgWzC4WWyXSmp7PHTVStlru5h4YpYurQpCjZ82Vdt0WdkH_WD6jrGU325JXjdBTlzmErrJhWW-Nf4CMggPW0cFBQPj83q9HN84OqO91BXYrWkHxVnBYKrhe7DUobZmB-tQ/s640/blogger-image--2036192128.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">May your days be merry and bright, friends! See you in the new year!</div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12667800521167085430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3555946702369042351.post-27795383371845330812013-11-02T19:10:00.000-05:002013-11-02T19:17:51.307-05:00happiness is...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
...a sweet puppy playing on the beach!</div>
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We've been back in Nashville for a month and I'm JUST getting around to sharing this?! What's up with that?! Well, here it is: the video of Claire's first time at the beach back in August! Love seeing this girl so happy!</div>
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I apologize for the poor video quality. Blame the iPhone 4.</div>
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<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyIsss-KV6wZw3NOxo8wSlFmZaWjPoJzf1l1IbFtYWL56w0cIQGg3s4e_mIoIO3krNWC1Bu-WCPbHiCkeVAUg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12667800521167085430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3555946702369042351.post-29846016418296543252013-09-20T21:50:00.000-05:002013-09-20T21:50:30.549-05:00these are my confessions.My sister sent me a link to <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/dentastix/14-signs-you-treat-your-dog-better-than-yourself" target="_blank">this</a> yesterday - the signs that you treat your dog better than you treat yourself. If you haven't seen it yet, you MUST check it out because the pictures are awesome. Here's what I have to say about the whole thing:<br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">You shiver half the night because you let them steal all the blankets.</span> Truth. I also sleep curled up in a ball because she tends to sprawl out in the m<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">iddle of the bed.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">They have their own personal tablet to watch animal shows on.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111;"> Um, no, that would be weird. She uses the TV in our bedroom so she can get comfy and relax. Also, Animal Planet has some shows that are not age-appropriate for Claire, so she tends to watch The Food Network.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">More people show up to their birthday party than to yours.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Again, truth. People </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>and</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> dogs. The neighborhood pups aren't willing to come to mine...</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You take your job super seriously but you never get mad when they slack off at theirs.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Yes. I mean, how can you get mad at that sweet little face?!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">You sing them lullabies to help them get to sleep... every night.</span> Well, I sing along with the Spotify playlist that I made for her. She finds The Civil Wars very soothing.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">You pay top dollar for their groomer but you haven't been to a hairdresser in ten years.</span> She has short fur so she doesn't need a trim, but she does get "manicures" - and I haven't been to get my nails done in a really long time... Pretend you aren't looking the next time you see me.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">You took the time to teach them to surf, but you can barely swim. </span>Not true; I'm a Cape Cod girl, so I love the water! Though I did take up running because it's Claire's favorite thing to do.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">You take the day off work to make sure they don’t overheat on the hottest day of the year.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I have done this in the past. Thankfully I won't have to do this at the job I have now because I can work from home and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>personally</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> make sure that Claire is comfortable with the temperature set on the AC control.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You spend your life savings on emergency surgery for them and would definitely do it again.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> A few things about this: (a) I'm a social worker, therefore I don't make enough to <i>have</i> savings, and (b) I'd cash out the ol' 401K if I needed to. But praise God that she hasn't needed emergency surgery because my heart would break for her!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Your significant other is convinced you love them more.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I don't </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> have</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> a significant other. Probably because everyone knows that nobody puts Baby in the corner. No second place for my girl!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You take them to the dog park everyday after work instead of going out and having fun with human people.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I did this every day for the first three years of her life - and I met some of my good friends because of it (humans, not dogs). Now she tends to have more low-key afternoons since she's a mature 4-year-old.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">You sleep on the floor with them when they're not feeling well.</span> I have done this on the few occasions that Claire was too sick to come to bed. When she had pancreatitis, she couldn't get off the couch one night, so she slept there and I slept on the floor next to her.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">You spend more money on toys for them than your parents spent on you as a child.</span> Hahaha! When we were home on Cape Cod, even my mother commented on the endless supply of toys!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You spent more time stressing out about their doggy wedding to the neighbor’s dog than your own.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Not applicable, people! Besides, the neighbor's dog hates Claire. And Claire's many boyfriends would be jealous...</span><br />
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Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12667800521167085430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3555946702369042351.post-48658085562737019192013-09-04T21:24:00.000-05:002013-09-15T21:25:35.448-05:00human obedience class [a shared post]<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #373737; font-family: open-sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #373737; line-height: 18px;">"Welcome to human obedience class,</span>the class will meet every Tuesday night for four weeks,<br />do not bring humans who do not like other humans,<br />or cannot communicate in a civil way, this means<br />no Congressmen, people of the left or right, bankers,<br />tech support or customer service reps or<br />radio or TV talk show hosts.<br />We will teach basic obedience:<br />come when called, stay when told, feed when commanded.<br />The class will instruct you on basic obedience:<br />how to get humans to stop<br />when you want to sniff something, pee on a bush, growl at a squirrel<br />or a cat, walk in a crooked line, throw a ball when looked in the eye<br />and given the command of three barks. How to make a human take you into<br />bed, let you on a sofa, buy those gourmet bones.<br />In class two, we will learn how to maintain eye contact with humans,<br />triggering the "guilt response," where humans say "awww, puppy"<br />and offer a treat, a hug, walk or a meal.<br />In the third class, we shall learn to move pull humans along a path while<br />they curse and shout and make curious noises. We will<br />teach them to wait patiently while we sniff for food and sniff other dogs.<br />Class four is about learning to not emotionalize humans.<br />They are not like dogs,<br />they have poor instincts, are easily confused,<br />possess few natural hunting or survival skills,<br />and generally impaired senses of smell. It is impossible to train them<br />well if they are emotionalized, they are simple, elemental creatures,<br />very needy, with very short attention spans. They are not only<br />willing to be manipulated by dogs, they seem to love and need it.<br />Classes are important if you wish to live with humans.<br />Training is not about obedience, but communication.<br />We need to show them how to be safe in our world.<br />First, we will learn to read human body language,<br />how to read their posture, facial expressions, rear ends<br />when they move.<br />Humans make a wide variety of sounds, they are given to shouting,<br />waving their arms, making loud gutteral and whining noises,<br />especially when they are running after dogs, shouting commands.<br />They are nearly helpless when left alone, especially outside,<br />they have no instincts to speak of, speak too much and<br />need exercise several times a day.<br />Among the lesson topics: how to communicate with rescue humans<br />who have been abused – most humans seem to be – how to choose a human.<br />We all love humans here, and want to help them.<br />We believe the only way to choose a human is, in fact, to rescue one,<br />there are so many of them in desperate<br />need of a dog, it is almost immoral to choose a happy and healthy one.<br />Be prompt, bring leashes and some treats for training – humans call them donuts."</span></blockquote>
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For more incredible writing, visit Jon Katz at <a href="http://www.bedlamfarm.com/" target="_blank">Bedlam Farm.</a> His books are wonderful, as well!</div>
</span>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12667800521167085430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3555946702369042351.post-79728247659320740382013-08-26T20:28:00.000-05:002013-08-26T20:28:34.684-05:00a little of this and a little of that.First off, I apologize that I don't have any pictures to share with you all from the past week. As you may have read/seen on the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/lifewithclaire" target="_blank">Facebook page,</a> Claire injured her paw and therefore spent a few days gazing longingly outside and sighing with complete boredom. Just as I was about to take her to the vet, though, she bounced back and now it's like that paw is as good as new!<br />
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We've continued working on training and Claire is making excellent progress on the reactivity front. I know that it will take a lot of time, consistency, and positive reinforcement, but I'm really happy with how she's been doing since our session with <a href="http://fearfuldogs.com/" target="_blank">Debbie</a>. We BOTH learned a lot and are working very hard each day (I'll post more about our training session a little later for those who are interested). We're also working on <em>come when called</em>, which somewhere along the way became <em>come when you're done exploring</em>. This is a tough command for Claire, who is a hunter by nature and thus easily distracted by anything that moves. And when her options are (1) listen to me, obey, and get a liver treat, or (2) chase the rabbit and either outrun it and catch it or give it a heart attack and catch it, I usually come in second place. But hey, I'm used to taking on challenges, so we'll keep working at it!<br />
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An interesting shift in the dynamics around here is that my mom has been referring to Claire as <em>her</em> dog. She's cute, isn't she?! She even came home this afternoon with some raw beef marrow bones that she picked up while running errands. Claire's love languages are words of affirmation and receiving gifts of bones, so she was ecstatic and sat by the freezer door sniffing around for awhile. Mom also keeps telling me that it's going to be a long drive back to Nashville alone, since Claire will be staying up here on the Cape with her. Ha! I can counter that with, "So you're going to be redecorating by keeping the sheets on the furniture?" Aaaaand... checkmate!<br />
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My relatives are visiting the Cape this week and the place they rent is right down the street from our house. I took Claire for our usual early-morning walk/swim on the beach and then we swung by afterwards so she could say hi to everyone. We snuck her in, since dogs aren't even allowed on the premises, but of course the first thing she did was go up to the bay window, put her paws on the window sill, and look out over the pool area. Way to be inconspicuous, Claire! On another note, can I just mention how soft Claire's fur has been because of the salt water? She might smell like seaweed, but her coat looks beautiful and feels like down feathers!<br />
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I'll try to be better about taking pictures this week, and in the meantime, I hope you all are enjoying the last few weeks of summer!Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12667800521167085430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3555946702369042351.post-8908060858786061622013-08-19T20:05:00.001-05:002013-08-19T20:05:42.411-05:00last week's headlines.<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><strong>Headlines from the past week include:</strong></em></div>
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1. Claire meets the neighbors!</div>
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2. Claire gets beaten up by a cat!</div>
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3. Claire watches the Red Sox!</div>
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4. Claire takes over the car!</div>
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5. Claire continues to swim!</div>
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I've been letting Claire roam around the front yard over my lunch break because, well, she needs to be able to run and explore, and most people are at work during the day so there are even less cars running through our quiet neighborhood. Last week I attempted to play frisbee with her, but I'm apparently too boring, so she trotted over to my neighbors yard to sniff around their bushes for rabbits. As I called her to come to me, my neighbor opened the door to say hi and Claire just waltzed right in. My neighbor thought this was hysterical and didn't mind at all, so as we caught up, Claire explored her house. Every so often, she'd come back to the front door to check in with me, and then she'd run off to explore their house some more. At one point, I asked where she went and my neighbor found her snuggling on her daughter's bed among her stuffed animals...<br />
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In other news, my mother's forsythia is a hiding place for the neighborhood cats. Claire stumbled upon them one day and tried to engage them in playtime. She wasn't catching on that the hissing wasn't an invitation, and she was ignoring me as I told her to leave it. In an split second, one of the cats swiped her across the face and scared the hell out of her. I think it's safe to say that she's learned her lesson and gives the cats a wide berth when crossing their path now. We'll see how long this lasts before they have to teach her another lesson. In all fairness, she <em>did</em> get a variety of warnings...<br />
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Massachusetts is, of course, a state that mainly consists of Red Sox fans. If there's a game on, you can bet we're watching it in my mom's household. The Sox played the Yankees (boo) a few days ago and Claire joined my mom and her boyfriend to watch our team win. Please note that while she got to sit on the couch, I was relegated to the floor -- which is also where I am sitting currently as she snuggles with the fam once again. <em>Super!</em> (Also, check it out: the furniture is still covered haha!)<br />
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With the car trouble that I've had lately, a family friend offered to help out and fix what he could while I'm home -- especially before I make the 19-21 hour drive back to Nashville in a few weeks. In addition to installing new brakes, fixing a broken visor, rotating the tires, and completing a 60K check, he changed my cabin air filter. Now please, don't judge me -- think of who my main passenger is! Can you imagine what the inside of my car looks like if this is what the air filter looks like? Can you imagine what my LUNGS look like if this is what the air filter looks like? Good grief...<br />
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Claire and I took a very long walk on the beach over the weekend. It was the PERFECT day in terms of weather, I was feeling great, and Claire was ready to get moving. I drove down to the beach and we walked a few miles before stopping for a swim. It still takes her a little while to get used to the waves rolling in before she goes swimming, but after running along the shore for a few minutes, she's brave enough to bound in. Rumor has it that people have spotted some sharks off the coast, so hopefully neither of us will run into them over the next few weeks. I'm not a fan of JAWS reinactments -- though I'm sure Claire could take 'em, I don't want the chance to find out! Here's my happy girl walking along the jetty right before our swim:<br />
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Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12667800521167085430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3555946702369042351.post-55275902936899107082013-08-10T20:47:00.001-05:002013-08-10T20:48:41.075-05:00cape life.Here we are, a full <em>month</em> after our last post. Where does the time go?! Claire and I took a little road trip from Nashville to Cape Cod last weekend and we'll be here for the next month. Whenever I'm here, I feel like I can just <em>exhale.</em> I can't think of any other way to put it, so... that's that.<br />
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Can I just say that it is a VERY long drive from Tennessee to Massachusetts? It was quite eventful, too, as the air conditioner in my car broke halfway through the extremely large state of Virginia. If it hadn't been a sunny 90*F day, I would have tried to ride it out until we got here, but because it was just so hot, I had to stop and get it repaired. Thankfully it was an easy fix and we were able to get back on the road after three hours or so -- and I have to give Firestone a huge shout-out (the one in Nowheresville, VA) for being so awesome and letting Claire hang out in the lobby. They even gave her treats and water while we waited. Talk about service!<br />
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We finally made it to Harrisburg PA where we stayed in a hotel for the night. Claire got her own queen-sized bed, which she was quite excited about, as you can see by the blur of her wagging tail in this picture:<br />
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We made it to the Cape the next day without any hiccups, and I cannot emphasize enough how glad we both were to get out of the car. I actually have no recollection of what we did that night because my mind was blank from driving for so long. The one thing that I did <em>not </em>anticipate was how rough the drive would be on my body. My fibromyalgia flared up like mad and after a full week, I'm finally feeling better. Note to self for the next time: break up the drive into three days, not two.</div>
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The next morning, Claire and I woke up early and took a long walk on the beach. It was her first time there, and y'all, I can't <em>wait </em>to post the video of her reaction. But that will have to wait until I get back to Nashville, so hang tight in the meantime. At first she was afraid of the waves, but by the end of our walk, she was running straight into them. She tried to drink the water like she does when I take her to the river in Nashville, but the salt from the ocean made her sneeze. Puppy sneezes are the <em>cutest!</em> But she didn't try to drink it again, which was a safe bet. And hey, this is a picture that I took of the sunrise that morning. Can you tell that it was the perfect day?</div>
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Later that day, one of my besties came to visit and it was AMAZING to see her. It had been a year since we'd seen each other, and I fully intend for us to visit a lot over the next month!! We went out to lunch to catch up and then spent the afternoon hanging out on the beach. Claire was so tired after her morning romp in the waves, so I didn't feel bad leaving her for a few hours. She needed the rest!</div>
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I know some of y'all are connected with us on our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/lifewithclaire" target="_blank">Facebook page,</a> but for those of you who aren't, you need to know that part of my mother's preparation for our arrival included putting sheets all over the furniture to "protect" them from Claire's fur. Clearly, we never had dogs growing up. Anyway, Claire's new favorite lookout is the window behind the sheeted couch, which gives her a good view of one side of our neighborhood (and, more importantly, of the squirrels and rabbits), so she's been spending a lot of time here. Again, please note the happy tail.</div>
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Interestingly enough, my mom forgot to cover one chair in the house, which has become a great place for naps. Claire is smart enough to curl up here when my mom isn't home. I don't have the heart to tell her to get off, especially when she's as cute as she is. Who wants to disturb a comfortable dog, anyway? Not me. That's just mean!</div>
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Of course, I still have to work during the week (though I'm so thankful that I can work remotely!), but Claire and I have settled into a routine that seems to be working well. My "office" is in a room that I only go into while I'm working - I thought that would help Claire understand that I can't play when we're there. We get up in the morning and go for a long walk, eat breakfast, and do a little training, and then I get the work day started. Claire hangs out with me and naps until lunch, alternating between the floor, the couch, and this cozy little pallet that I've set up for her next to my desk.</div>
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I've got an hour break for lunch, so after grabbing some food, Claire and I spend some time playing frisbee, going running, and doing more training. After she's gotten out some energy, she's ready to lounge around while I finish up the second half of the work day. At night, we've been heading to the beach after most of the tourists have left, and we'll go for another long walk/run so I can unwind and Claire can get back outside for a bit. Then it's time for dinner and playtime (she likes to play tug with her stuffed animals, and four of them have already succombed to her destruction), and then we hang out with my mom and her boyfriend before calling it a night.</div>
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The other night we went for a walk at the Harbor instead of at the beach - mainly because I was feeling nostalgic for a place where my friends and I hung out a lot when we were in high school. There were a couple other dogs around and Claire did really well by not reacting to them. I was so proud of her! Anyway, while we were walking on the docks, Claire saw ducks for the first time EVER and was absolutely fascinated by them. She didn't cry or whine or bark, she just sat there transfixed. Birds in the water? Who would've thought!</div>
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So, now you know what we've been up to and where we've been lately! I'll be posting again next weekend, for sure. And of course I'll share more pictures too. Hope you all are well and have been enjoying your summer!</div>
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Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12667800521167085430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3555946702369042351.post-10195678958480957052013-07-11T19:21:00.001-05:002013-07-11T19:21:31.229-05:00a letter to nature.Dear birds, squirrels, rabbits, and other small creatures:<div> Thank you for putting up with Claire's constant harassment. I would like to think that she would stop chasing you if she could, but she has a high prey drive. Therefore, I imagine that it's kind of like an addiction. But I've decided that she needs to give back, somehow, to make up for her behavior. That is why we have moved our brushing sessions outside. Three times per week, you will find a lovely collection of fur next to the porch. Please take as much as you'd like to make your home cozy. I don't know where she gets all of her fur since she gets brushed so often, but all that matters is that you reap the benefits. It's the least she can do since she gives you minor heart attacks every time she sees one of you. It is my hope that you will accept her donation as an apology.</div><div><br></div><div>Love,</div><div>Lauren</div><div><br></div><div>PS: Here is a picture of today's collection. That's a size 7.5 furball. She shed that much during Tuesdays brushing and she will shed that much by Saturday. True story. So there's plenty to go around.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShPaFvQkfS-MfA8AZ5sq0mdhsvDIKLs2Xm3MLvCdoG2l69cMqnhrkm0TZ49xpYExC9ajwDvGoY6dB0VFjfoKh0HOKzP5q2QwNd5TrLII3s62f9mxOIgbAc9iNmI5ofkt3ghP8IpY6DbA/s640/blogger-image-1220257182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShPaFvQkfS-MfA8AZ5sq0mdhsvDIKLs2Xm3MLvCdoG2l69cMqnhrkm0TZ49xpYExC9ajwDvGoY6dB0VFjfoKh0HOKzP5q2QwNd5TrLII3s62f9mxOIgbAc9iNmI5ofkt3ghP8IpY6DbA/s640/blogger-image-1220257182.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12667800521167085430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3555946702369042351.post-55349159485111856142013-06-30T20:21:00.000-05:002013-06-30T20:21:12.938-05:00backyard dogs.Hey y'all! Apologies again for the posts being so scarce lately. I'm pretty sure things will be back to normal around here come August, so stick with us, k?<div>
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Since our last post, summer's come to Nashville in full force -- high humidity (which my hair does not appreciate) and excessive heat. It's been a bummer mainly because Claire and I can only go for long walks and hikes early in the morning and late at night. Claire does not understand, nor does she like this arrangement. But God forbid we try to go outside in the middle of the day -- she walks like fifty feet and then starts panting like crazy and looks at me like, <i>"Why would you ever take me out here in this heat?!"</i></div>
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As it's gotten hotter around here, I've been thinking more and more about the poor Backyard Dogs that are in our neighborhood. Backyard Dogs are the ones who live outside either in a fenced in area or tethered to a stake or a tree. I don't really understand this concept, nor do I like it. First of all, why would you get a dog (a <i>companion</i> animal) only to have them live a solitary life in the yard without any human or dog interaction? That's against all of their instincts! Secondly, dogs overheat really easily, and unless you live in San Diego where it's 70* all the time with low humidity, this is just unacceptable.</div>
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There's a couple living down the street from us who just got a 3-month-old pit bull puppy. At first they were letting her out off-leash in the morning to do her business, and then they'd call her back inside. When she started bounding across the busy street to say hi to us each morning, the girl must have realized just how dangerous that was; a few days later, as we walked by, I heard Sweet Puppy barking but I couldn't see her. I looked around the side of their house and saw that she was tethered outside with <i>no water, no food, and no shelter.</i> It was 95* that day. I brought her some water, and when I stooped down to pet her, I noticed that she had huge welts all over her stomach from bug bites. I think about the argument that people with Backyard Dogs often say: "They're animals! They are meant to be outside! They like it!" Well sure - a dog will love time outside if there are other dogs that they get along with, if they are with their people, if they aren't left alone, if they're given a mix of on-leash time and off-leash time, if they aren't too hot or too cold. But Sweet Puppy's situation is all too familiar, and it's extremely neglectful.</div>
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I said something about it to the girl the next time I saw her, and I haven't seen Sweet Puppy outside since then. I have to admit that I'm really concerned about how she's being treated, but I haven't seen her lately to assess how she's doing. You can be sure that I'm keeping an eye out for her, though.</div>
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If y'all have come across any Backyard Dogs, what have you done to help their situation? Have you said something to the owner or kept quiet? Are there any organizations in your area reaching out to these dogs? Are any reaching out to provide education to the owners?</div>
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Check out the following links for more information:</div>
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<a href="http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_BackyardDogs.php" target="_blank">Paw Rescue's Tips</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.michiganhumane.org/site/News2?id=9866" target="_blank">Backyard Dogs: No Way to Treat Man's Best Friend</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.thebackyarddogproject.com/" target="_blank">The Backyard Dog Project</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.peta.org/b/thepetafiles/archive/2008/03/12/peta-hearts-backyard-dogs.aspx" target="_blank">PETA Hearts Backyard Dogs</a></div>
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Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12667800521167085430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3555946702369042351.post-71629413225797674242013-06-10T20:17:00.000-05:002013-06-10T20:24:14.904-05:00sweetness.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My lovebug!</td></tr>
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I had to take advantage of Claire's obsession with squirrels in order for this photo op to happen. We've been super busy around here lately, but we'll soon be back to regular posts! For random (and shorter) updates, keep tabs on the happenings over at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/lifewithclaire" target="_blank">our Facebook page</a>, too!Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12667800521167085430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3555946702369042351.post-13128259119507997762013-05-20T21:36:00.003-05:002013-05-20T21:37:02.761-05:00projects and painting and planning, oh my!A title like that can only mean one thing: Mom was in town! She came for a visit this weekend and whipped our house into shape with nine million projects that were able to be completed in a mere 72 hours - and she still made sure that we had time to go out to eat with friends! I am jealous of her energy, especially since it takes me a solid five cups of coffee before I am even 25% as efficient as she is with her time! I don't know how she does it, but I'm hoping she'll share her secret with me someday!<br />
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The house projects were as follows:</div>
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-- hang up the kitchen curtains that have been sitting in storage for a year</div>
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-- hang up the guest room curtains that have been sitting in storage for two years</div>
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-- caulk and repair the corner of the cabinet that Claire destroyed from the act of busting out of her kennel when we first moved in... which took place back in 2010</div>
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-- caulk and repair the window frame in my bedroom that was damaged during the Break-In of 2011</div>
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-- buy new frames for pictures</div>
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-- hang up two pictures</div>
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-- touch up the paint on the walls in the kitchen</div>
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-- touch up the paint on the walls in the living room</div>
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-- touch up the paint on the walls in my bedroom</div>
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-- touch up the paint on the walls in the guest room <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">[which turned into repainting the whole room because we bought the wrong paint color and didn't realize until it was too late]</span></div>
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-- clean out the shed so my friend can store her things there while she's out of the country</div>
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-- search for the Missing Suitcase <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">[this was the one thing that was unsuccessful]</span></div>
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-- decorate the bathroom</div>
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Claire was a rockstar this weekend. I really wanted to be able to take her hiking with my mom and me, but as you can see from the aforementioned list <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">[which is not comprehensive, by the way]</span>, there wasn't enough time! It was also really hot and humid this weekend, so it wasn't the best hiking weather anyway. So Claire hung out with us while we worked on these projects, and she was happy doing just that: hanging out with us <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">[and getting some treats while doing so, like coconut milk ice cream and fresh strawberries]</span>. The paint made her sneeze, though, so she laid by the bedroom door while we worked in the guest room. That didn't stop her from trying to help out by rubbing up against the freshly painted wall...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, my dog? She's the one that's black and white with a gray butt.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Claire and Mumsies!</td></tr>
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Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12667800521167085430noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3555946702369042351.post-16420601271370611482013-05-15T21:48:00.000-05:002013-05-15T21:48:18.597-05:00what we're looking forward to.So. After doing a lot of thinking and planning and talking things through, I have decided that Claire and I are going to go home to Cape Cod for a few weeks this summer. Like... for a whole five of them. It'll take two days to drive there and two days to drive back, but Claire did great on the trip home in 2011, so I think she'll be great this time too. I'll be working remotely, so I won't have to use any vacation days or anything. And when I'm not working, I plan on taking Claire for lots of early morning and twilight runs at the beach, lunch time swimming breaks down at the pond by my house, weekend walks on the bike path in Woods Hole, and play dates for Claire with my brother's dog Lexie (and maybe Brianna and Asya if she's lucky!). And a <i>whole lot</i> of quality time with family. I think it's going to be really good rest for my soul, and it'll all just be so exciting for Claire. I'm really <i>really</i> looking forward to it.<div>
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In the meantime, I've been creating a wish list of things to buy before we head up north. I'm sure that there's a whole bunch of things that I haven't even thought of, so share your suggestions in the comments section if I need to add things! As for what I have so far...</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">This <a href="http://www.target.com/p/boots-barkley-large-dot-pet-bed-cover/-/A-14138184?reco=Rec%7Cpdp%7C14138184%7CClickCP%7Citem_page.vertical_1&lnk=Rec%7Cpdp%7CClickCP%7Citem_page.vertical_1" target="_blank">dog bed and bed cover</a> by Boots&Barkley</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">which is perfect for lounging while I'm busy working.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">This <a href="http://www.ruffwear.com/-9-float-coat?sc=2&category=694" target="_blank">life jacket</a> from Ruffwear</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">to keep Claire safe while treading salt water.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitvm_f2kwUl9FyboSr27a7t2N1uXOKmLNTw-l7UlnM6wIMfQ4KWeuXvvgnPRz94oeKT40ifffJWbeVvyUj8Ih8gXJpX-pdC7YiSSA2FMMRnG85UUEOiivR2dVANMWPQ812aeXMxsaCr9U/s1600/light.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitvm_f2kwUl9FyboSr27a7t2N1uXOKmLNTw-l7UlnM6wIMfQ4KWeuXvvgnPRz94oeKT40ifffJWbeVvyUj8Ih8gXJpX-pdC7YiSSA2FMMRnG85UUEOiivR2dVANMWPQ812aeXMxsaCr9U/s320/light.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This <a href="http://www.genuinedoggear.com/GDL-LGHT-30.html" target="_blank">30-foot leash</a> so Claire can roam in the yard<br />while I enjoy some quiet time in the mornings on the porch.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQBrqaEliJ7SONXEbcsFGOVsu1go3lgmoavKdSWSjHumEXSPp3slDsIws0-gFWAyxG4VjuUFBWsbYw_O_aUVfEA0VO_OwRZsSEdHO12Phyphenhyphen5dER0mrvuiANNp0je8vkyW6mXNaDz09Obg/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQBrqaEliJ7SONXEbcsFGOVsu1go3lgmoavKdSWSjHumEXSPp3slDsIws0-gFWAyxG4VjuUFBWsbYw_O_aUVfEA0VO_OwRZsSEdHO12Phyphenhyphen5dER0mrvuiANNp0je8vkyW6mXNaDz09Obg/s320/images.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An extra set of <a href="http://www.chewy.com/dog/popware-pets-brown-pink-adjustable/dp/47382" target="_blank">elevated dog bowls</a> by Popware;<br />they're so great that I think I need to keep a set back home too for future visits.</td></tr>
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<b>Any other ideas of things to buy for our trip home?</b></div>
Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12667800521167085430noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3555946702369042351.post-85260821740586494122013-05-06T19:34:00.000-05:002013-05-06T19:34:16.657-05:00the mess of a monday morning.Sorry about our unexpected hiatus from the blogging world - I've been sick for the past few weeks (so typical) and so Little One spent a bit more time at Bark-O-Lounge than usual. I'd like to think that I'm on the mend now, however, so we're getting back into our groove. And of course we had to come back with a bang...<div>
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I was running late for work this morning, so while I rushed around the kitchen throwing together breakfast <i>and</i> lunch, I let Claire into the backyard for a few minutes. I was keeping an eye on her out the kitchen window, and I saw her start digging by the shed. It's rained for the past million days, so I ran outside to tell her to stop playing in the mud and come inside so I could clean her up before I left for work. As I ran outside, however, I saw Claire wagging her tail like crazy and puppy-bow at something. I looked around the corner to see who/what she had befriended <i>juuuust</i> in time to see her get sprayed by a skunk. She yelped and then began rolling around in the mud - possibly to get the smell off? or to get it further embedded in her fur? I'm not sure what the purpose of that was, but she was a hot mess.</div>
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When I finally managed to wrangle her inside, I put her in the bathroom while I tried to find some tomato sauce. Does anyone even own plain boring tomato sauce? I mean, I had a variety of name-brand options. Four cheese, sweet basil marinara, vodka sauce, spicy red pepper, etc. I grabbed a jar of the sweet basil and dumped it all over her. For a girl who isn't a fan of the bath in general, why would she like getting scrubbed with tomato sauce? Before I knew it, she <i>leapt</i> into me, covering me with marinara, and then started running around the house. I ran after her and tried to grab her, but she thought we were playing a game of chase, so she took off just as I got close enough to catch her. Then she stopped in the dead center of the kitchen and shook sauce and mud all over the place. I managed to get ahold of her mid-shake and carried her back to the tub so I could finish giving her a bath.</div>
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At this point, I was ridiculously late for work but I was a disaster - as was my house. I managed to take a quick shower, change clothes, clean up the kitchen, throw all of the towels into the washing machine, and run out the door in less than 15 minutes. Claire was sulking on the couch when I left, likely for ruining her fun with a bath, but hey, at least she was clean and smelling like an Italian side dish.</div>
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Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12667800521167085430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3555946702369042351.post-22361150280987315352013-04-21T21:50:00.003-05:002013-04-21T21:51:21.062-05:00claire-friendly peach muffins.Okay, so I'm about 3.5 months into this vegan thing, and so far so good. Interestingly enough, I've found that Claire and I now have a similar diet which is excellent for my grocery budget! Winning, all around!<br />
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I made some fantastic vegan peach muffins last weekend - for both of us - and they were so delicious that it's worth sharing with you all <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">[and your dogs, of course]</span>. Let me know how you like them!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlmSTJa5LDiPizdAcudUxB3DpaL1YNrT7is_26KcFzXt-6rWHR3d1nfAbdqwc9yGkFECCmLhHkxHpvaEuH68DSNC6Uyb1hDZZ7YDjGCW4ekvbkmpr0a6_iV-Ef4AXYvbbGhuPiypvSk8/s1600/Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlmSTJa5LDiPizdAcudUxB3DpaL1YNrT7is_26KcFzXt-6rWHR3d1nfAbdqwc9yGkFECCmLhHkxHpvaEuH68DSNC6Uyb1hDZZ7YDjGCW4ekvbkmpr0a6_iV-Ef4AXYvbbGhuPiypvSk8/s400/Image.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<u><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Claire-Friendly Peach Muffins</span></b></u></div>
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1-1/2 cups all-purpose rice flour</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">(or whole wheat flour if your dog can have gluten)</span></div>
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2 tsp baking powder</div>
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1/2 tsp baking soda</div>
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1/2 tsp cinnamon</div>
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1/2 tsp salt</div>
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1/4 cup olive oil or canola oil</div>
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3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk</div>
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1 tsp vanilla extract</div>
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1/4 to 1/3 cup of organic peach jam</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Preheat the oven to 400*F.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Coat muffin tin with non-stick spray, or use liners.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Scoop batter into muffin tins.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There should be enough for 12 muffins.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bake for about 24 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let cool and enjoy!</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Do you have a favorite recipe that both you and your dog love?</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Share it in the comments section below!</b></span></span></div>
<br />Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12667800521167085430noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3555946702369042351.post-46843020435676901292013-04-15T21:39:00.000-05:002013-04-15T21:40:41.431-05:00praying for boston and planning for the just-in-case's.I had a very different post planned for this evening.<br />
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That changed when I was at the gym after work and saw the news about the explosions at the Boston Marathon. Thankfully my family and friends are all okay. Obviously shaken, but safe at home now. I am absolutely stunned by today's tragedy. I can't even put how I'm feeling into words. I had to turn off the news because they don't have any new information, and they are replaying video clips over and over again. Watching that on repeat isn't good for <i>anyone.</i><br />
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As many of you know, I'm from Cape Cod, went to college on the North Shore of Massachusetts, and went to grad school at Boston University. I moved to Colorado for a few years before settling down here in Nashville <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">[4 years ago this June - crazy how time flies]</span>. My family still lives on the Cape and most of my friends still live in New England. Because of that, my family and I have put an unofficial emergency plan in place. I got to thinking about how that's really great for information purposes, but if there was any kind of emergency in Nashville (whether it be weather-related, a national crisis, etc), they are a bit too far away to really be of any immediate help, you know?<br />
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It's just me and Claire here in the south, so my emergency plan for the past four years has been somewhat vague and really simple: (1) get to Claire, (2) get us both in a safe place, then (3) call and update the family. But then I thought this terrible thing: what if I couldn't physically <i>get</i> to Claire? <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">[Of course I laughed after I thought of that because - <i>let's be honest</i> - I'd walk on a bed of nails to get to Claire]</span>. After compiling a list of things that I hadn't yet considered in my quest to be prepared, I found <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.ready.gov/caring-animals" target="_blank">this</a> site, which is a great resource in pointing out some key things to think about when putting together an emergency plan that includes your pets.</span><br />
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<ol>
<li>Put together a kit of pet emergency supplies - at least 3 days worth of food and water, medications, medical records, a first aid kit, collar with ID tag and harness/leash, a picture of you with your pet with detailed information about them (breed, color, age, sex, distinguishing characteristics, etc), and favorite treats/toys/bedding.</li>
<li>Make a plan for what you will do in an emergency <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">[and no, "freaking out" is not on that list]</span>. Plan where you and your pet will go if you need to evacuate. Develop a buddy system so that if you can't get to your pets, someone you trust can help you. Talk to your vet about emergency planning. Gather contact information for emergency animal treatment.</li>
<li>Be prepared for what might happen. Stay informed about what types of emergencies are likely to affect your region. Be prepared to adapt this information to your circumstances.</li>
</ol>
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And hey, while you and your family are making <i>your</i> emergency plan, do me a favor and pray for Boston, okay? They could really use it right about now.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZDNOiUFY-WF2QwkakVF-c3iy85YnpKQy_oQT5PsCVk1YWnndBu_whTRpRhLP7tQr_BABDRIpoAMBNROLbShq-unFLFGW-ZQd6Lhk-61E-Co87PtZpwbdhtjMRwchu-DS0kHz4AQTr9U/s1600/537269_553618134676754_1481335343_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZDNOiUFY-WF2QwkakVF-c3iy85YnpKQy_oQT5PsCVk1YWnndBu_whTRpRhLP7tQr_BABDRIpoAMBNROLbShq-unFLFGW-ZQd6Lhk-61E-Co87PtZpwbdhtjMRwchu-DS0kHz4AQTr9U/s400/537269_553618134676754_1481335343_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12667800521167085430noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3555946702369042351.post-50707955954427058762013-04-06T21:57:00.001-05:002013-04-06T21:57:28.327-05:00happy 4th birthday to claire!My sweet girl turned four today - making the next six months the only time in our lives that we will be the same age (if you're counting her age in dog years, that is).<br />
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She could feel the excitement in the air, which was evident at 730am when she forced me to wake up to begin the celebration! We started the day by going for an early morning hike at a new place, and we will definitely be going there again! It was a perfect day for a perfect hike that included a dip in the creek, a run through some cornfields, and a romp with some horses. We both loved it and will be hiking this trail a lot over the next few months!<br />
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On our way back home, we stopped by my dear friend Shannon's house and Claire had a great time hanging out with Shannon's adorable kids! Lindsay Miller and Brooke played fetch with her and chased her around their backyard - two of her favorite games. Claire couldn't get enough of the kids and would've been quite content to follow them around for the whole day.<br />
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Next, we went to See Spot Eat to get Claire some special birthday treats. Her day wouldn't be complete without some fresh salmon ice cream! Of course, it didn't make it out the door, so we grabbed some other snacks for the next few days too!<br />
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Claire was completely exhausted at that point, so we went back home for a little nap. Because it was such a beautiful day, I opened all the doors to get some fresh air in the house while we napped, and it was nothing short of amazing!<br />
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When we woke up, Claire was ready to go back outside, so we went on another long walk and stopped by Rebel's house so she could see him and play for a bit before we continued on our way. He is such a good boy, and he was just as excited as she was to get a chance to play. He is so sweet to her and kept kissing her baby face. It just melted my heart!<br />
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Once we got home, Claire was just about ready for bed. So much excitement will do that to a girl, you know. But she had to have "cake" first, so I made her one that was made of dog food and mashed pumpkin, and topped with a pumpkin and rice flour biscotti dipped in carob and yogurt. And after that? Well, she's been fast asleep for the past few hours already, which can only mean that her birthday was a success!<br />
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Enjoy some Instagram pics from Claire's 4th birthday!<br />
<br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcefeIytmT-pMESkZv9MEk4vWanV1n1xwPrKRSVhrmUDp7CSRtNpYVgT_JG_jCbolJTe4Lnussd9M_s853ntVQvpcOmPZWBd2fvCj3Fs3az_8wnH3mm5RV7QKp3vvx0UQCGvSqQqwk6c/s640/blogger-image-142988036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcefeIytmT-pMESkZv9MEk4vWanV1n1xwPrKRSVhrmUDp7CSRtNpYVgT_JG_jCbolJTe4Lnussd9M_s853ntVQvpcOmPZWBd2fvCj3Fs3az_8wnH3mm5RV7QKp3vvx0UQCGvSqQqwk6c/s640/blogger-image-142988036.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWMPW4w9lzZ-14IFauE31KGOhEeoeusvWcWZ4952KRQTqyiZlo0hGTEntxKk8ims5FvKKcZN8PoA4DQwTYUXBFOCw4SHA-neN3LGN669WourlzF2ylIe87jO5fx9_dnSvFFRgKEMCr3uI/s640/blogger-image--323156186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWMPW4w9lzZ-14IFauE31KGOhEeoeusvWcWZ4952KRQTqyiZlo0hGTEntxKk8ims5FvKKcZN8PoA4DQwTYUXBFOCw4SHA-neN3LGN669WourlzF2ylIe87jO5fx9_dnSvFFRgKEMCr3uI/s640/blogger-image--323156186.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGAuWf2ZU4IrQlkQEx-RgEjRQCG6a4ZPIIEk_pF02GdqzIjL_knX18RAx0wLI5Wv0GEOC7ppVrQH8vKzyTtCaEPqnPv1pLQxhh_9mKS5cfMUeqrWs4Gm-HNbJV8qxf-DxMyASO3RS_6FQ/s640/blogger-image-1047895280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGAuWf2ZU4IrQlkQEx-RgEjRQCG6a4ZPIIEk_pF02GdqzIjL_knX18RAx0wLI5Wv0GEOC7ppVrQH8vKzyTtCaEPqnPv1pLQxhh_9mKS5cfMUeqrWs4Gm-HNbJV8qxf-DxMyASO3RS_6FQ/s640/blogger-image-1047895280.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6FPaS5BiPsFPA1Ed3XWAy18U5m3fLyBW6L_NuTXYrU_3_kpek8M2Cc1Dp4ZLtBTCeHHniPxDAksDA9hDNL47NGeeouOYgU90zWRj9YfdUBDHS46wA-h7n8-C4jvz4pYsNPeEj7IWzMI/s640/blogger-image-1505005436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6FPaS5BiPsFPA1Ed3XWAy18U5m3fLyBW6L_NuTXYrU_3_kpek8M2Cc1Dp4ZLtBTCeHHniPxDAksDA9hDNL47NGeeouOYgU90zWRj9YfdUBDHS46wA-h7n8-C4jvz4pYsNPeEj7IWzMI/s640/blogger-image-1505005436.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHHb2zcsbKi9PLOGLwcjVgwAv0PZAsrS4cG7UkwSc6KBKboTDHfUPXp-FVqAju7eWg55BEndfcUsGYHX_Q4Ag9ft65qJzeMto_bgfwaNYiOB9BlUIaA_baduz7Vrzab6fEDQyPg3UolU/s640/blogger-image-161027350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHHb2zcsbKi9PLOGLwcjVgwAv0PZAsrS4cG7UkwSc6KBKboTDHfUPXp-FVqAju7eWg55BEndfcUsGYHX_Q4Ag9ft65qJzeMto_bgfwaNYiOB9BlUIaA_baduz7Vrzab6fEDQyPg3UolU/s640/blogger-image-161027350.jpg" /></a></div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12667800521167085430noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3555946702369042351.post-83133079258054073012013-04-02T20:10:00.001-05:002013-04-02T20:10:13.110-05:00saved by mr. chewy.Want to know what really sucks? When one of the only kinds of food that your dog isn't allergic to has a massive nationwide recall juuuust after you received a 30-pound shipment of it that was special-ordered. AHHH. California Naturals, get it together!!<br />
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I spent most of Saturday researching different kinds of limited-ingredient high-quality dog food in the hope that there might be something out there that Claire could eat in place of California Naturals. Hope (and patience) was fading so I went to a local pet boutique to discuss the situation with them. They suggested Natural Balance - which is actually what I fed Claire for awhile when she was a puppy, though not the limited ingredient line. Unfortunately, they didn't have any in stock, but they said they could order it for me. The problem was that I needed to find something to give her immediately since I only had 30 pounds of potentially contaminated dog food sitting in my kitchen. The boutique did have a medium-quality brand available that would suffice in the meantime (which is basically like taking someone to Uno's while waiting for a table to open up at Lou Malnati's - but hey, it's better than the options at Pizza Hut).<br />
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As I drove home, I called my pals at Mr. Chewy's, which is where I had ordered the recalled food from. I have never had such an amazing experience with customer service before. I had the most wonderful representative in the history of customer service (her name was Andrea, so if you call to place an order, you must request her assistance). I explained my situation and she was so understanding. I listed Claire's many allergies and asked her opinion on the best food to try, and Andrea also suggested Natural Balance. She helped me place the order, gave me a discount, and fully refunded the cost of the bag of California Naturals. Oh, and my order arrived today, making Mr. Chewy the fastest delivering company in history. And hey, they did not ask me to post this or compensate me in any way for this informal review of their services. I'm telling y'all about this because I was stressing out and they were a HUGE help for me and my sweet special-needs pup, so take it for what it's worth!<br />
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I am going to try giving Claire the Natural Balance tomorrow morning, so I'll let you know how she likes it! She can hardly stand to be picky with the few options out there, but she obviously doesn't realize that - nor does she care! ;)<br />
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Also, I sincerely hope that all of your pets are okay and didn't get sick on any food made by the Evo company before the recall.<br />
Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12667800521167085430noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3555946702369042351.post-65686220096950379212013-03-28T20:21:00.001-05:002013-03-28T20:21:39.266-05:00why my neighbor hates me.It only started the other day when I was walking Claire. He was leaving for work and happened to come outside while she was peeing in his front yard. He just lit into me and started railing about how dog owners need to pick up the poop and all that, and every time I tried to interject that IT WAS PEE, he just got louder and louder! I have this bad habit of being sarcastic when I get upset (seriously, sometimes it's just the wrong timing), so when he took a breath to continue his diatribe, I said, "I'm sorry sir, but I haven't been instructed on how to adequately pick up dog pee." He got really quiet and then said, "Oh. It was just pee?" Right.<br />
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Then on Tuesday, we went for a walk when I got home from work. All of a sudden, I had this horrible tickle in my throat (maybe I inhaled a bug?) that was just at that spot where you can't exactly breathe but if you cough, you're going to gag. Well. I just happen to be unfortunate enough to have an extremely sensitive gag reflex. I didn't have a choice but to cough, but when I did, I immediately started gagging - and it was so awful that tears actually started running down my face as I sputtered and choked. Of course, it wasn't long before I was actually throwing up. In the midst of all this, I looked over at Claire and she was just sitting there on the sidewalk watching birds and pretending that she didn't know me. Then I heard someone yell, and I realized that I was puking in Angry Man's front yard. And he was home. And he saw me. And he was pissed. I offered to borrow his garden hose and spray down his yard, but nope, that didn't help the situation...<br />
<br />
But thaaaaat's not all. On today's walk, As we passed Angry Man's house, Claire saw an Angry Cat in his yard. So she spent a solid 15 minutes planted on the sidewalk in front of his house having a staring contest with Angry Cat. Believe me, I tried to move her along (though halfheartedly because it was a gorgeous day and I really didn't mind stopping for a bit). But then I noticed that Angry Man was peeking through the blinds watching as Claire tried to befriend/eat/play (I'm not really sure about her motives when it comes to cats) with Angry Cat. So when I caught his eye, adrenaline kicked in and I half carried and half dragged Claire away.<br />
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I think we need to change our walking route.<br />
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Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12667800521167085430noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3555946702369042351.post-81537415269904089422013-03-24T19:17:00.001-05:002013-03-24T19:17:34.562-05:00when dating a dog owner.Petside recently published an article on the top 5 reasons to date a dog owner. As a dog owner myself who has dated other dog owners, I wanted to reply to the Petside article with a few things to be aware of...<br />
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1. Your new guy may think it's acceptable to take you and the dogs to the dog park for a date. Or, even worse, for EVERY date.<br />
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2. Also, regarding the dog park, if y'all met there, one of you will essentially have to stop going once the relationship is over. Because otherwise it's just awkward for the broken-hearted party to run into the heartbreaker time and time again - especially when they've moved on and started bringing their new love on dates to the park.<br />
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3. Petside commented that owning a dog shows that a guy can commit. But who wouldn't be able to commit to a cuddly, nonverbal, playful companion who naps for 12 hours of the day? Committing to a dog and committing to a human are totally separate things that really have no correlation to each other.<br />
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4. Two things really say a lot about a person: (a) the type of dog that they own, and (b) how they treat their dog.<br />
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5. Make sure that the love is mutual. For things to work, you have to like each other's dogs, the other person's dog has to like you and your dog has to like them, and your dogs have to like each other. If you miss out on even one of those key pieces, it's a recipe for disaster - even if everything else seems perfect.<br />
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Anything that I forgot? Add to the list below!<br />
Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12667800521167085430noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3555946702369042351.post-24570411104212762552013-03-20T08:08:00.001-05:002013-03-20T08:08:44.457-05:00lapdog.Sometimes I think the "Poppy the Lapdog" cartoon was modeled after Claire. I mean, check this out (and thanks to our friend Carrie for letting me share this picture of the mutual love that you two have for one another!): <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpX1stXH23L8sF9UW7qomCY2uMDl0NL1G3ETyzDJneNG-CIUSZln7KdrxSd70Pr1kjBXrVgs4LCN1sHyNN-6a1Tda4JPWM6qkmHOcz7VI_TcBvUuDzAWPx3sJud2EiLzQg2y7D1DOH-s/s640/blogger-image-48513116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpX1stXH23L8sF9UW7qomCY2uMDl0NL1G3ETyzDJneNG-CIUSZln7KdrxSd70Pr1kjBXrVgs4LCN1sHyNN-6a1Tda4JPWM6qkmHOcz7VI_TcBvUuDzAWPx3sJud2EiLzQg2y7D1DOH-s/s640/blogger-image-48513116.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAV8KkJhqEUbrO_xZXZjSvUHZ3UjGEi7ZGl96-w-AopwAxpOKAJGWXd1lLL13y7O14DVAzt1V_FlzI4FGL90Ig2JAUCiz_qtgnAHrgOTpJMm0YGngIVVlKeQG9XBYWyFuHh7sCHJettsg/s640/blogger-image-1160494151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAV8KkJhqEUbrO_xZXZjSvUHZ3UjGEi7ZGl96-w-AopwAxpOKAJGWXd1lLL13y7O14DVAzt1V_FlzI4FGL90Ig2JAUCiz_qtgnAHrgOTpJMm0YGngIVVlKeQG9XBYWyFuHh7sCHJettsg/s640/blogger-image-1160494151.jpg" /></a></div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12667800521167085430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3555946702369042351.post-30495901762554964842013-03-13T19:43:00.001-05:002013-03-13T19:43:39.852-05:00if my car wasn't already enough of a mess...It started with the drool. I should've known right then and there what was in store - especially since Claire is NOT a drooler. Even had I missed that clue, I should have picked up on the fact that right when she got into the car, she laid down immediately. And had I missed THAT sign, I should have noticed that she was more tired than usual after being at Bark-O-Lounge all day with her friends. But some days, hell freezes over, and the planets stop their orbit around the sun, and pigs fly - all at once - and I miss every single clue that I'd normally be attuned to. Today was one of those days.<br />
<br />
By the time I realized what was happening, it was too late: she was already hurling ALL over the backseat of my car. Poor girl and that upset tummy of hers... When we got home, she didn't even scan the yard for squirrels or rabbits, she just went straight to the door. And as soon as I let her inside, she put herself right to bed - on the couch. She didn't even walk the extra ten steps to our bed. She just curled up in the closest comfy spot.<br />
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Hopefully this is just a bug that will run its course quickly, but she has her annual physical at the vet's on Saturday as it is. That's a nice coincidence, I suppose. Though my prayer is that after a good night's sleep, she'll wake up feeling better in the morning...<br />
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<br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1PQKv0NaO8s1Y49FyqsApszOy9FPwmh4kx-S20YdaV95MQmuweTyOwIGT3XsJc62TecLtQOeibowxRcSlSK_Q2c_zKzLoUQJgrb5gG1AGo3D0ZFX6zudHIHy7aNYdqJwy62Mehsv0aA/s640/blogger-image-1763581262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1PQKv0NaO8s1Y49FyqsApszOy9FPwmh4kx-S20YdaV95MQmuweTyOwIGT3XsJc62TecLtQOeibowxRcSlSK_Q2c_zKzLoUQJgrb5gG1AGo3D0ZFX6zudHIHy7aNYdqJwy62Mehsv0aA/s640/blogger-image-1763581262.jpg" /></a></div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12667800521167085430noreply@blogger.com2