Here's to an okay Thanksgiving

I wasn't sure I had a Thanksgiving post in me. But I woke up this morning after spending the evening with my family and realized I do.

I am thankful for my family who love and support me no matter what. I have the best family I can imagine. And if I've learned anything in the last 107 days, its that some people do not have the family they deserve.

I am thankful for Rigel, my sanity. He's the best little pup there is.

I am thankful for my friends who had been there for me lately. Many have stepped up to make sure I'm okay. I will never forget that.

I am thankful for my job, co-workers, manager, and director. I work with such amazing, thoughtful, wonderful folks. I love my job and could not ask for a better group of people to work with every day.

I am thankful for my house. After renting for over a decade of my life, we had the ability to buy my dream house. I feel safe and comfortable there. It will be a great home for years to come.

Lazy Saturday

Well, its not been lazy for me, but Rigel has managed to do nothing all day long. Arlo had his dog house delivered today. Its huge! But so is he, so that's a good thing. Its gotten a bit chilly around these parts so he needs his house.

Traitor Puppy

So Rigel is still in bed with Joe this morning. Joe rolled into town from MO at about 11pm last night. It was interesting to see what Rigel would do. We call him the Alert Puppy because he's hyper sensitive to any noise, as I suspect most yorkies are. Rigel and I had gone to bed at 9pm to get some sleep before Joe woke me up in the middle of the night. Rigel was up barking before Joe was even in the house. This is pretty good to know. We've never had any intruder situation, but it's good to know he would wake me up in time to shoot them (ha!).

It's awesome to see how much Rigel missed and loves Joe. He slept next to him last night. And wanted to lay right on him. But with the exception of his potty break this morning, Rigel has been on that bed with Joe. Also, Rigel is the laziest boy ever and loves to lay in bed.

Puppy Trot

Why do dogs wall with their hind ends slightly to the side?

Rigel doesn't do it all the time, bit sometimes his rear is just slightly to the right. We had a husky when we were younger. This dog ran basically sideways.

Any scientific reason I don't know about? I just figure his back paws were too excited to get somewhere.

The one where I rant about the neighbor's "chaweenie"

We got new neighbors a few weeks back. They got a puppy this weekend -- A chaweenie... the husband says in his very Southern drawl.

Of course this is the first red flag (the chaweenie part, not the Southern drawl). Let me tell you the sad saga that is this dog's life.

This chihuahua/dachshund mix is from a place called "Pet City." I have never heard of this local pet store, but apparently they sell dogs. Lovely.

This dog weighs UNDER 1 and a half pounds. At first I gave them the benefit of the doubt, thinking the dog was maybe 7 to 8 weeks old. No. This lady told me this dog is 3 months old! No way. Just not even remotely plausible.

Oh, AND it wont eat food. She said she's tried everything, dry food, wet food, people food, chicken and rice. Tell me what healthy 3 month old dog wont eat chicken and rice! She's currently feeding it puppy formula from an eye dropper. I asked her if she had taken it to a vet yet, since it wouldn't eat and whatnot. Of course not. Her mom "raises" yorkies and told her what steps to take. Of course the dog has "low blood sugar," although I'm not sure how she knows exactly since the dog hasn't seen a vet. And she's feeding the dog nutra-cal like it's going out of style.

Now, let's compare my 4 year old, 6.5lb, papered, well-bred, pure-bred yorkie to that, shall we? When we got Rigel at 8 WEEKS old he was 2lbs. And ate like a little pig! He was all puppy belly.

Anyone with a small puppy knows what nutra-cal is and the dangers of low blood sugar with a small puppy. But Rigel never needed it.

So let's say you have a 3 month old puppy bought from a pet store that is seriously underweight and refuses to eat. Wouldn't you take the thing to the vet???

Am I completely off base here with the size and food thing?? Let me know. My mother in law has two miniature Dachshunds. We saw these dogs as puppies and they weren't this small. And they had hearty appetites too. They were fully grown by the time there were about 7 months old. Rigel was at his current full grown weight at about 6 months.

Thankfully, this pup seems to be full of energy. When I brought Rigel outside on his leash, this puppy, Cooper, bounced right over to us and wanted to sniff my little monster. Cooper wasn't fearful of this 6lb dog sniffing him either. I hope this little one is nursed back to health soon and starts to eat something. Joe thinks the dog is under 4 weeks old to still need puppy formula from an eye dropper. I dug Rigel's baby scrapbook out (yep, that's what I said) to do some comparison. We have pics of him at 2-3 weeks, when they still look like little rats, and 5 and 6 weeks when I went to visit Rigel when he was still with his mom. His baby book says he was weaned at about 4-5 weeks old. This whole situation makes me so sad and angry. I'm glad the puppy is out of the puppy mill, but super annoyed that these neighbors didnt know better. And still wont take him to the vet!

Almost ready

Joe made a comment that really made me laugh today.

Rigel and I were "fighting" with his toys. He ran over to get a drink of water then jumped on the back of the couch. Once in a while he will burp and spit up a little if he doesnt let the water settle in his tiny belly. As the tiny amount of clear dog spit slowly rolled down the back of our leather couch, I stopped it with my hand and told Joe to grab a towel. Joe's first reaction was to jump out of the way or stop it with a fairly nice blanket on the couch. While Joe was watching me wash my hands, he said that maybe I'm ready to be a mom since my first reaction wasn't to jump out of the way of the nastiness. I just had to laugh. Babies are FAR grosser than a little dog spit! :)

Where everyone knows your name

Rigel in my parents' house in AR. That is his very own wine box stair so he can look out the window.

I am so excited to say that we're going home to visit soon! Joe, Rigel, and I haven't been to Arkansas since November 2009. I have a cousin that's over a year old who I've never met. I never even saw my aunt's pregnant belly. I have to finish up this term and the moment Joe goes on block leave, we're hoping in the car and heading to Arkansas. I'm taking a week off of work. It's going to be a real vacation. With a little house hunting and a dentist appointment (I LOVE my dentist, I wont go to anyone else). Throw in 12 hours in a car with Rigel and Joe and this should be a blast!! :) But Rigel is very excited to see his Grandma Jo!!

Dog food snob

I am so happy to see Wellness finally advertised on tv! Finally a decent dog food reaching the masses!!

As many of you know, I got Rigel during the massive dog and cat food recall at the end of 2007. I went from a fairly sheltered pet owner to a pretty well informed dog food snob. Rigel came to me eating Pedigree. I promptly switched him to Nutro Ultra. It was the best thing I could find in my area. And it wasnt on the recall. Only months later, the store stopped carrying that particular brand. So I went back to my research. I found that I could now get something called Wellness in my area. And it's a GREAT food!! There are many good foods, just like Wellness, that dont cost an arm and a leg, especially if you have a small dog that doesn't eat much.

My problem with most of the dog and cat food commercials on tv is that they are fairly deceiving. As humans, we need a balanced diet, meat, dairy, grains, etc. But as dogs, they need a completely different food profile. And most people just dont think about it. I used to be one of those people that thought that of course dogs needed grains, wheat is good for us, why not for dogs?? Well, that is completely wrong! Dogs successfully thrive in a grain free diet. In fact, most dog foods are full of grains just as a low cost filler. And do absolutely nothing for the health of your pet.

For the life and health of your pet, I seriously suggest you look into your dog food. Just a little research could do wonders for your dog.

Dog groomers

No, I have never been a dog groomer. But I have had Rigel for almost 4 years now. And as a yorkie in a puppy cut, he needs a hair cut about every 4 months. I have one BIG problem with most dog groomers.

It does not take 4 hours to clip and bathe a 6lb yorkie.

Rigel has been to many different dog groomers, in my attempt to find a good one. And we had a GREAT one, but I will tell you about her in a sec.

As it has been explained to me by many groomers, they work on many dogs at once. So while one is drying from a bath, another is being clipped. Plus many groomers I have tried do the dog drop off before the groomer even gets to work. So if I drop Rigel off at 8:30, and the groomer doesnt show up until 9am (which, lets face it, she doesnt come in and get right to work. She needs coffee and to chat with her co-workers, then she gets the first dog), Rigel could be in a cage for a good 45 minutes. Rigel is not a cage dog. He doesnt have a kennel with bars at home. He has a soft sided mesh box and he's usually left in a room when I'm gone. Sure, I'm a snob when it comes to Rigel, I'd be the first one to tell you that. But I'm paying for a service and I should get what I pay for. There have been many times I pick up a terrified anxious dog 4 hours later. And that just doesnt cut it folks.

So my parents have a neighbor that is a former dog groomer. She is a single mother and my parents help her out a lot, fixing her sons' bikes, mowing her lawn, etc. So she would clip Rigel for free. I would take him over and while we chatted, she would cut Rigel and bathe him. Even while talking and laughing, tending to her sons, and answering her home phone, she would STILL have Rigel done in about an hour.

So Rigel goes to the groomer next Wednesday. He has been to this place before. They did an okay job with his actual hair cut, but we're going back to them because he came out of the back room acting like my Rigel, not the tail-tucked scared pup I usually get back. I'll let you know how it ends.

Small dogs

As if I need to tell you, small dogs are not the same as big dogs. Anyone with small dogs can back me up here. As much as Rigel acts like a big dog, when your 90lb black lab starts tossing him around trying to sniff his bits, Rigel is going to snap at your dog. It's one thing to play, Rigel is all about chasing a ball or barking and running around. But when they decide to stand over him and mess with him, he will snap at your dog. Small dogs can feel overwhelmed by hyper big dogs fairly easily. Maybe not all small dogs, but Rigel gets anxious when big dogs start tossing him with their big noses.

There is an older man that lives in our apartment complex. He has 3 big dogs that he tries to walk all at once on stretchy leashes. He never has control of them. And one of them is a very young lab puppy. The guy does not listen to me, and when I think he has, he doesn't comprehend much. I have started being very rude to this man hoping he gets the hint that I don't want him to come talk to me and have the puppy rush Rigel. Rigel is almost 4 and is very stuck in his ways. He has already bit this puppy on the nose once. The puppy hit Rigel so hard it rolled him over. So Rigel hopped up and bit the puppy. I felt so bad. But the old guy didn't seem to care. So last week this guy sees us outside on my lunch break. I'm trying to get Rigel to use the bathroom quickly so I can get back inside for lunch. And this guy starts heading towards us. So I promptly turn the other way and start walking away. I go so far out of my way to avoid this guy. But here he comes up behind me. And the dogs are all the way out on their leashes, 15 to 18 feet. The leashes are all tangled and the dogs are pulling to get to Rigel. I'm on my way back towards my apartment and he cuts across the lawn so his dogs can get to Rigel. The puppy is getting pretty close. The puppy is pulling so hard, it's gasping for air because the collar is choking him. And the amazing part of all of this, Rigel is trying his hardest to get away from these dogs. He's doing his best to avoid the situation. He's such a good boy!! So I pick up my dog and turn around to the old man and ask him again to keep his dogs away from my dog. And without even missing a beat he starts telling me how his dog has a tumor and is being put down this week. Well, he's been telling me this since I moved here in December. So now I think he's also a compulsive lyer too. He got the new puppy and tells some people that it's his, but others that he's dog sitting for his sister. He's told me both stories.

I feel really bad about complaining about this guy. He's just some dumb old man. But if Rigel hurts his dogs, it's my fault, even if his dog starts it. So it's my responsibility to keep his dogs safe?

We have another big dog in the neighborhood, her name is Roxy. Her owner's name is Beth. Roxy is calm and very gentle. She sniffs Rigel, lets Rigel sniff her, then they roll around in the grass together. I dont worry about Rigel or Roxy. This is what happens when you train and socialize your animals. Rigel was raised with big dogs, in fact, one of them was a 110lb German Shepherd. He's fine around big dogs, unless the dog wants to toss him around.

I know many of you are great responsible dog owners and dont need to hear this from me. But I needed to just put it out here for the people that have only owned big dogs and dont know about the small dog anxiety.

Neighbors

***WARNING***
I use some very harsh language about a child. I don't want anyone complaining about my language. If you don't like it, stop reading. Yes, I understand I want to be a developmental psychologist, but that doesn't mean I cant think a child is a stupid fucking moron. I'm pissed and I'm blogging to get it out of my system. Now on to the original blog:


It seems like a have a definite love/hate relationship with my neighbors. Even in college, they either loved me or hated me and the feelings were mutual. I lived in apartments all through college and it's a GREAT way to make new friends!

But I managed to make another enemy tonight.

I really consider myself a friendly person. I try to smile at everyone and say hello when I pass them in the courtyard. Rigel is a great icebreaker. And most people here are very friendly in return.

But the lady that lives next to me is a serious bitch, not just to me either. She hates all dogs, all old people, all children, all people that park next to her car. It's absurd. I can hear her yelling at her husband all the time. Maybe she's just an unhappy person in general. But I've stopped trying to be nice to her.

I love most of the kids that run around here with their siblings and their dogs. Great way to meet their parents and get to know new people. But there is this little boy that rides his scooter on the sidewalks around the courtyard. Last week when the weather started to warm up, my doors and windows were open. The moment he found out there was a dog in my apartment, he decided to stand next to my window and bark into my house at Rigel. I kindly asked him to stop and he did... for about an hour. It REALLY pissed me off. Then the weather got kinda nasty again and he wasn't a problem. The last two days have been beautiful outside, and the barking kid is back. This kid has to be about 12 and should know better. He really works Rigel up. I try everything I can to calm Rigel back down. But this retarded kid stands at the edge of the sidewalk and barks into my house!! So I close all of the windows and blinds and that pisses me off. It's pretty outside, I shouldnt have to do that.

So tonight was the same story. I waited until he was gone to take Rigel outside to potty. We were out there for 30 seconds when he comes speeding towards us on the sidewalk SCREAMING at the top of his lungs. Rigel went crazy. So I scold Rigel and walk down a different sidewalk, avoiding this stupid child. And here he comes. So I turn around and ask him to please leave us alone. And walk down a different sidewalk. Maybe he's truly mentally retarded because he just followed us. So again, I asked him to LEAVE US ALONE!! GO AWAY!!! But nothing. So Rigel and I went inside. He walked to the porch doors and waved at me. I made a 'go away' hand gesture. A few minutes later Rigel is barking his head off in the bedroom. This stupid fucking moron has his face pressed against the screen of my bedroom window. Well, that was it. I started screaming at this retard. He ran off. Five minutes later, here he comes again... with his mother. She doesn't knock at my front door. She comes to the porch doors and... yells into my house, so I just assume that she's retarded too. I put Rigel in his room and step out on my porch. Very politely the mother asks me if I yelled at her son. I'm honest. I told her exactly what I said. But then I asked her if her son told her what he did to piss me off. She said it was because I didnt like the noise his scooter made. I just shook my head and told her the whole story. And she didnt believe me!! She scolded me for yelling at her son. I told her that I would stop yelling if she kept better tabs on her kid. And that if I found him next to my window ever again I was filing a complaint with the office.

Am I totally off base here (minus the lovely choice words)? Am I expected to just sit there while some dumbass barks at my dog? I've worked with kids (I've worked with SPED kids!!) and I know they can understand what is asked of them. Maybe I have really high expectations of others' children.

Please dont let your children be retarded.

My furry alarm

It's absurd to think that a 6lb yorkie can make you feel safer when you're alone, but time and time again, that seems to be the case.

I got Rigel when I was in college. My mother told me that I needed another heartbeat in the house. I got Rigel a month before I was even engaged, but lets not forget that Joe was in Germany until we were married for 6 months. I lived alone. And Rigel was just a little pup.

But now he's a grown dog of 3. And he knows what sounds normal and what doesn't. When Joe is home, Rigel goes to sleep with me. He snuggles under the covers and starts snoring. All is right with the world. But if Joe's not here when I go to bed, Rigel acts completely different. He sits at the edge of the bed and doesn't fall asleep fast. He's my alert pup!

Last night I went to bed fairly early, but Joe was out with a buddy of his. About 1:30am, my furry alarm goes off. I grab him and listen. I cant hear anything, not even the normal sound of a key in the lock. Many suppressed breathes later, I heard Joe's key unlocking the door. And Rigel sounds off again. Relentlessly. This is not normal, and Rigel understands that. Joe announces his normal greeting to Rigel, but there is another voice, a very different male voice. Rigel is off the bed. Barking and hopping. Joe and I both get Rigel to calm down. All of his people are home. All is right with the world. Rigel can go to sleep, under the covers, curled up by my side.

As most of my friends know, Joe is leaving soon. And it worries me on many levels. I've always been fairly paranoid. But now I have a trained alarm, always set to loud. He's not going to attack any intruders, but he's going to make sure I know about it. And I have my own fun surprise for these intruders. But on some level, I feel safer knowing that I can go to sleep at night and know I have a little furry alarm by my side.

Goals for 2010

I personally never make resolutions for New Years. I never stick to them. But this year will be new and different so I'm going to set some long term goals to better my life and marriage.

Goal #1: Get healthy. Its not a weight loss plan. Its not a diet. Its a live-it! We plan on trying to get pregnant in about a year so I need to be fit and healthy for the baby and myself through a pregnancy.

Goal #2: Use Rigel to the best of his ability. He's an amazing dog and has done wonders for my lazy reclusive personality. He makes me get out, even if its just out the door. We've already met two neighbors and their dogs. Rigel was in training in Arkansas and his trainer thought he would be an amazing therapy dog (in spite the fact that she wasn't even a fan of yorkies- but she loved Rigel all the same!). I will get him back in training and will follow through with CGC certification and therapy dog certification (if I can afford the $$$ it takes). He will be amazing to work with when I become a psychologist.

Goal #3: Become independent again. It sounds weird, but I've become increasingly more dependent on my husband and his way of life. I guess its a good thing to a point. But if he's deploying soon, I need to get back to my independent roots. When I was in college, even at 17 years old, I wasn't afraid to do anything by myself. I think my Psychology background will help me out in this area. We were forced to be alone in situations: go to dinner alone, go see a movie alone, go walk in the park alone (or with Rigel), etc. I lived alone in an apartment all by myself for 3 years and wasn't afraid of the dark or creaks. I wasn't afraid to be places alone or meet new people. I need to find that brave girl again. Don't get me wrong, I love being part of a marriage and a partnership, but in this very unique situation my husband has put me in, I need to retain my brave independence. Joe has told me he married me because he knew I could handle this Army wife life. I know I can do it. I just need to find that fearless attitude I had in college. Its in me. I know it is.

Goal #4: Read more. I know it sounds simple. But I used to read all the time. I've let my brain atrophy. I've begun reading again and it's actually hard. It the world of TV and internet, I've become impatient. So I'm going to slow my world down and curl up with a good book and read. You'd be surprised how much it will do for you. I need to read for my brain, but also for my GRE. This will help me read for information but also read for vocabulary.

So here's to 2010!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone is having a great holiday. I cant help but think about the couples and families that are separated for whatever reason; wars, careers, school. I hope you can find some joy in this holiday season in spite of the distance between you and your loved ones.

I am thankful for...

... my loving husband who means the world to me.

... my supportive parents who are always there for me and my family.
... my wonderful pup, Rigel, who is my complete sanity at some moments.

... the good health of my family who have to stick around for a very long time.

... my friend Mandy, who has become like the sister I've never had. I will miss her so much.

... the internet. I got this idea from a different blog, but it's so totally true! It keeps us all connected and informed.

... my Twitter friends and military family.

... my Blackberry. Along the same lines as the internet, keeps me in touch with all the important people in my life.

... the move we're preparing for. It has come at a perfect time.

... the life we've made for ourselves and the great future we have ahead of us. I cant wait to see what the future has in store for us.

Home

Rigel and I drove back to Paris, Arkansas, this weekend to visit the family. And while I'm in my parents' house, it feels like home. It feels the same as when I lived here. My mom hugs me good night. My dad falls asleep in his chair and snores. Although we've been banished into the back room for bed. The other bedroom is made up within an inch of it's life. Neither my brother nor I sleep there when we come home. But all in all, it feels like home.

Until I leave the house. So much of this little town has changed. The stores have come and gone. The roads have changed. There are stop signs where there weren't stop signs. The tiny Wal-Mart sells beer now! Old houses have come down. Doughnut shops have gone up in their place. The middle school is now the high school.

I drove through my old college town, Fayetteville, on the way here, just for fun. A lot of it has changed. They finally put a stop sign up at Leverett and Razorback. There are huge tall cranes building more and more around campus. More classrooms. More dorms housing the students that will walk the same paths I did for 6 years.

Nothing stays the same. Change is good. But there's a part of me that wants something to stay the same. With the life Joe and I have chosen, everything will change on a regular basis. Houses. Duty stations. Jobs. Bosses. Towns. Doctors. Vets. Scenery. Mountains. Plains. Trees. We'll soon trade in our field and sandals for snow capped mountains and snow boots.

But I guess it is what it is, right? Change IS good. And we can see the nation one PCS at a time. And I can always come home to this odd little town and my nice little house. And my crazy parents. Who will never change.

Until that one awful day that it does change, Rigel's wine box will always be in the window to greet us.

Did you hear the bird??

Rigel, did you hear that? Is there a bird?

Maybe it's a terrier thing, but Rigel hates birds. Well, I guess he hates anything "up there;" planes, helicopters, butterflies, falling leaves, etc. But birds are our favorite thing. We go for walks and these huge crows start to circle us. Rigel starts barking like mad. The birds just circle lower. I'm sure one of them will eventually swoop down and try to pick him up. He's only 6lbs, I'm sure he looks like a tasty snack to these huge birds! So I pull him in close on his flexy leash and watch the birds close. I have only had to throw a rock at two birds. I hit one. So anyone that knows me at all knows that this bird had to be REALLY CLOSE because I throw like a girl! I was yelling and throwing rocks, but this bird just didnt care. I had to protect my little man! He is always getting himself in situations that I have to save him from. Must also be a terrier trait. He just doesnt realize that he's only 6lbs! Honestly, I think he thinks he's a GSD!

Scrapbook

Here are just a few of my favorite pics of Rigel. He's staring at a rabbit in the backyard in that first pic. He wasn't sure he liked the bunny in "his yard." He gets so serious about some things.



I love the sleeping baby pics! This one was taken at my parents' house in Paris, AR. That's my dad in the background.




I love the bed head he has early in the morning. He's my sanity. I wake up in the morning and give him a big puppy kiss.

What's in a name?

Rigel Orion Wallace


Rigel is pronounced like Nigel with a R. He's named after a star in the Orion constellation. Rigel is the brightest star as seen from Earth. It's actually only the second brightest star in the constellation though. His name means "foot of the great hunter."

He gets the Wallace surname from my brother. As young boys, my brother Stephen and his buddies made up fake British names to prank call people. Stephen was Nigel Wallace. Since Rigel is a Yorkshire Terrier, I thought this was a fairly fitting name. Stephen agreed.