A SAD UPDATE

This morning I heard Dip barking, and when I looked outside, Bill, our friend who had bought Ditka was at the door. He was coming back to return little Ditka. He and all his neighbors loved the puppy, but Ditka was just too much for this 66 year old man to take care of by himself. He had purchased all kind of food, treats and toys for Ditka, so I know he was really happy to have a puppy, but after almost a week of a little puppy needing undivided attention, he had grown tired and fearful that he couldn't do what was best for the puppy. He said he didn't want to yell or punish him, or keep him in a crate most of the day. I am very sad for both Bill and Ditka. Men just find it more difficult to be caregivers. For women, a puppy is no big thing, after raising a child! What they don't realize is that they need a strong voice, and a little swat on the butt to grow up and be a well behaved good dog. Poor Ditka had to go into the kennels at work, since he can climb out of the pen, so I'm sure he doesn't understand why he's back in the group of unwanted.
Steve has decided that since he wants to keep the puppies two to a run, I should bring Sally home. We both think she is sweet, and definitely has Dip's personality, so for now at least, we are keeping two girls. We have lowered the price on them, hoping to sell them sooner rather than later. The other sad thing is that many of Steve's GSHP clients that have seen the pups all think they are exceptional, but have just gotten a new pup (reason they are in to see Steve) or they breed themselves. Please, Lord, help these darling bundles of love and sharp little teeth find a good home soon. For now, I am just sad....................

A Big Illini Win, and Ditka finds a Home!

Today was one of those beautiful Indian summer days, with the temp reaching the high seventies. I was hoping two people who had been interested in the pups were going to come over to see them today, but to our surprise an old client and friend found out from his neighbor that we had pups, and came to see them. (The other two people didn't even call to say they weren't coming, #@X%!!!) But Bill came right over, and after carefully studying the pups, decided he wanted Ditka, the largest male, so he has a new wonderful home, and we will see him often. Bill and Ditka going home!

Bill is now retired, and he had been taking care of his sick sister, but she recently passed, and he needed someone to care for, and Ditka will be properly spoiled, as all good dogs deserve. My Mother always said that "If you can't spoil a dog, why have one!"
The owner of the sire of the litter came to see the pups, too, and took all the information to send to his friends, since he thought the pups looked fantastic. His male had just won another Grand Championship this week. I told him the least Bandit could do is find a good home for some of the pups. (Like doggie child support.) The others seem to know Ditka is gone, but they don't know where he went. However, they are all sleeping closer together right now. I hope we find other homes soon, since Serenity has learned how to climb out of the fence! And Sally is now trying to escape too.
The other exciting event that happened today is that for the first time in the history of U of I, they beat Penn State at Penn State, 33 to 13! The really sweet thing was that it was their Homecoming, and they had planned on killing us again! The team is coming together. Our defense is pretty good since we gave Ohio State a scare last weekend, and out new quarterback and our running backs are doing quite well, so the year doesn't look like it will be as bad as we thought it would be. How nice it would be to become bowl eligible Katy's senior year. We thought we would have to wait for basketball season to enjoy some Illini victories. Our b-ball team is suppose to be really good, and with some luck, we were wishing a Final Four appearance would be a nice finish to her Illinette career, but we good definitely take both with the help of God!
Tomorrow we head to the lake to put the boat and jet skis away. Rob is going up with us to help. I can't believe the summer season went by so quickly. I sure hope Anni and Evy will be able to be here next season.
Update on Bogie. He has liver cancer, and this week my parents were afraid they would have to put him down, but Steve gave him some medicine. He won't eat dog food, but he's hanging in there with seemingly no pain, so, so for so good. I started looking on line for a replacement, but they have decide to hold off for now. Mom keeps saying she wants him to lasts as long as she does, which is a little scary. She thinks if he goes, she should, and she has no health problems right now. She loves it when I take Maddie over for a visit. Bogie, not so much.
So this quick update must be interrupted to put the other five pups outside for the last time tonight, so I can get some sleep before tomorrow's big day at the lake.

More Puppies and Final Football Season

Is there anything cuter than an arm full of puppies? Maybe a new baby, but my grand daughters are half way around the world, so I have to settle for these lovable little faces, my grand puppies. They are already bigger than this picture shows, because now they have been weaned, so that means Dipity is done feeding and cleaning up after them, and believe me if someone could invent a puppy diaper that they wouldn't tear up, they would make a fortune!

The puppies have become chow hounds that are pooping machines, and little monsters with very sharp teeth. But they are sooooo sweet when they are asleep. There is definitely truth in the old adage, "Let sleeping dogs lie."

Here they are all crammed into the lid of a box. They love playing in, on, and chewing on boxes. It is like playground equipment for puppies. They also like running, sniffing wild outside.
This is Madison, or Maddie, the little girl that was lucky number seven to be born, and the one that looks the most like her Mother, Dipity, with the white stripe down her nose. We are pretty sure this is the little girl we will keep.
These sad sacks want their freedom to roam free too. Only when you put six puppies down, they go in six different directions. But it is really hard not to give these sad little blue eyes whatever they want.

Besides taking care of, cleaning up after, and playing with puppies, we have started the Illini football season. This is Katy's last year, and as a senior, she is now in the front row. The first game was the Arch Rivalry Game in St. Louis again against Missouri. And they once again, beat us, but it was closer that we thought, since we were ahead the first three quarters. Here is Katy at the game with one proud Dad.

After the game we drove like crazy to get home to pick up Dip and family, and head for the lake house for Labor Day Weekend. Last year Dip was a smashing success at the game shaking her tiger, but this year she had to stay home and feed the puppies, much to her disappointment. She was quite put out that she couldn't stay at the hotel. However, when Katy and Rich joined us at the lake, all was forgiven.

Last week we completely weaned the pups, so Dipity got to go to the first home game against SIU, which Illinois won big! This was the halftime score! ILL-INI! She strutted her jersey and collar to the tailgate, and loved sleeping in the motel bed without six puppies hanging on her. We had the chance to finally meet Rich's parents for the first time in almost a year of Katy and Rich dating. They were very nice, and we look forward to getting to know them better. As I was writing this, Katy called to say her new car just came in, so we will definitely see them again this weekend after the NIU game. Rich's father, ordered her new car.

Other things have happened, but I'd rather remember puppies and football, than the sadness of losing a dear, Aunt, or the worry of a very ill cousin. These and other little problems I will leave in God's hands, because there is nothing I can do but pray for those in need. There is nothing I can do about my parent's dog that is ill, or that my dear grand daughter had a worm! So I will put the dear little puppies that are in my care for a few more weeks to bed, and trust that God will care for the others that are beyond my control. I do love puppy breath when grand daughter kisses are just a memory......

The Big Apple and the Little Pups

We just returned from our annual trip to Broadway Monday afternoon. We saw eight shows and they were all wonderful in different ways. It was one of the best years for musicals and big name stars, that we've seen lately. Before we went, I was worried about leaving Dipity who would be due with her puppies while we were gone, so I hadn't gotten too excited about what we were seeing, but the shows were outstanding. We saw, "The Addams Family", "La Cage", "Memphis", "A Little Night Music", "Come Fly With Me", "Lend Me a Tenor", "Million Dollar Quartet", and "Promises, Promises." Sean Hayes, who is from Glen Ellyn, came out to talk to us, as well as many other stars, including the entire cast of "Lend Me a Tenor". Backstage tours after the show are great.

At home, Dipity went into labor, so during "Million Dollar Quartet" and "Promises, Promises" my phone would vibrate, but I couldn't answer the texts or see the pictures that were being sent to me until intermission or after the shows. Thanks to our wonderful tech Jennifer, and Katy and Kitty who came to hold her paw, Dip had seven healthy pups on Sunday. Three girls and four boys, and we were thrilled and couldn't wait to get home. Monday we flew home, and after the airlines getting us here a half an hour late, we rushed to the hospital to see our momma and her new pups, only to sadly find out that fifteen minutes before we got there, she had accidentally crushed one of the little boys. Dipity was thrilled to see us, and was very proud of her kids, in spite of losing one, which she didn't understand. We got them home safely, and have been on puppy watch non-stop ever since. She has been a very good momma, except she keeps trying to encircle her pups under her to keep them safe, thus why the one was crushed. They are getting bigger everyday, so I hope soon they will be able to fend for themselves once their eyes open. Now they just blindly climb over each other which is pretty funny to watch, but then I might just be slap happy from lack of sleep.Steve and I have been taking turns making sure she doesn't lay on another one. Getting only three hours a sleep a night is taking its tow for sure. They are all growing and today got their little tails cuts and dew claws removed. This was taken before they got their little tails cut.

Aren't they adorable? Tomorrow they make their first trip to the lake where many of the neighbors want to see them. Our friend, John, is coming for the weekend, and Rob and Katy are coming too, so I hope I can get some sleep so we can enjoy the weekend. And it could get cooler, too. 100 degree heat index outside, with a heat lamp on the pups inside is too much heat for me!

Father's Day, the Fourth of July, and America

We have been working all week, and playing on the weekends at the lake. Katy was up three weekends and Rich came up twice. My parents were up for Father's Day, and here is my Dad sporting his new outfit.
My Dad's was doing better, thus his smile. Unfortunately, my cousin's husband died before Father's Day, and our prayers are with her and her daughters. It was much too sudden for them all.

Rich and Katy tried out the new double tube, went jet skiing, and we got Rich skiing really well. They also went to a Dave Mathews concert on July 3rd. They are such a cute and happy couple "in love". I think they are perfect for each other. This weekend was their 9 month anniversary. I can't even remember how many years I've been married, but they are counting months. Hopefully, they will share their love for years too.
We also saw our good friends Mickey and Chris one weekend, and our friends/builders, Audrey and Fred. And on the fourth, Eric, Steve's brother, introduced us to his new girlfriend, Vickie that he has been dating for about a month. Steve's youngest sister, Kathy and her husband came by on their scooters on the fifth. Rob and a crowd of people who work with him at Harry Carey's came up then too, just before we all left to go back to the boring reality of work. Rob and his friends all had to work on the fourth, and were making jokes about the "Uninvited" that end up in a bar on a holiday, because no one invited them to a barbecue or picnic. It is pretty sad when you think about it, but it made for some funny stories. All of these young adults have college degrees, but can't find jobs in their area of study. So much for "hope and change".

Our little neighborhood always has its own golf cart Fourth of July parade. I so wish Anni and Evy could have been apart of it. Little kids get all dressed up, and throw candy to the onlookers. So sweet and patriotic. I could really go on a rant about how scared I am that soon our great country will no longer be free. I think that our president, who grew up in Indonesia, has never felt how exceptional our country is because he never had the feeling of pride celebrating our country's birth as a child. Instead, he was raised by Marxist parents, and searched out Marxist professors while in college, all according to his own writings. Thus, he and his radical left progressives are trying to destroy the greatest country that has ever existed.

Our history has not been taught as it occurred, but has been changed to blame America for the world's ills. I'm not saying we have been perfect, but we have grown and changed because of the liberty that was given us in our Constitution. I just finished reading "The Help", which is a book about the black maids that raised the white rich children in Mississippi. It is an eye opening book, that shows how those who were courageous stood for liberty, and changed what was wrong in the South. And at the same time this would have been going on, Sen. Bryd, the oldest serving senator was filibustering the civil rights bills that the Republicans were trying to pass in the sixties. Yet when this pass KKK leader died this week, both President Clinton and Obama praised this man???? Blacks today vote Democratic over 90% of the time. Why? King was a Republican. As a teenager, I listened to his "I have a dream" speech, and have always tried to judge people by the content of their character, yet the two New Black Panther members who were terrorizing voters last election, were just let go of all charges. And one of them is on tape saying he "hates all white people, and all the crackers should be killed".

Besides what is purposefully being done to destroy the economy in this country, our freedoms are under attack. I only pray that people are waking up, and that this will not be the last Fourth of July little children celebrate the freedoms their country has given them. Unless something is done to turn this around soon, these little children will be slaves to the debt that this generation is creating for unions and entitlement programs, all for the sake of power, not liberty! I guess I ranted anyway, but I can't help it that I feel we are living in a very scary time. Before the election, I felt like we were living through the rise of Hitler all over again, and people were just not paying attention to what was really being said. I think many are waking up, but I just hope it is not too late. Pretty soon, more than half of all Americans and illegal aliens will not be paying any taxes, while those who make the economy work will be paying for everything. They will settle for an entitlement instead of freedom. "1984" and "Animal Farm"should be taught in every English class, but it is not. "Atlas Shrugged" again.

Glen Beck has written a new fictional novel called, "The Overton Window", which he actually calls a factional novel, since there are many real facts in it. It is not the best written book, but it does detail what has been happening to our country. The Overton window is an advertising term that explains how propaganda is used to sway public opinion on certain things. You won't accept things on either side of the window, but you can be nudged one way or another until you accept something you never would have before, as the window moves to "their" end. It is very interesting to see how the window has certainly moved by the media and politicians in my lifetime! He has special "Founders Fridays" to teach the truth about this country's founders as described in their own words. He does this all in an attempt to change the window back were it should be, smaller government and more freedom! And where Sen Byrd was a racist KKK leader, not a great supporter of freedom in the Senate! My how history is constantly being rewritten by those in power, and we will be reliving history if we have not learned the lessons from our past.

I just hope I can leave my children and grandchildren the great country that my parents left me. A country where we accept the help of other countries on day three to clean up an oil disaster, instead of pandering to unions and letting the oil ruin our economy and environment so we can pass an outrageous tax and trade bill! A country where our immigration laws are upheld, not sued. Where all of our Supreme Court justices uphold the Second Amendment, and not a country where four of them think we can't have guns to protect us from their tyranny. (Our next justice doesn't even think it is her job to protect the Declaration of Independence! Are you kidding me????)

Enough, I have said my piece. I enjoyed my holidays with friends, missed family members who could not be there, and lose much sleep that our country is slipping away, but I pray every night because I do trust in God! And I do think this country was formed by religious men who felt that God had helped them win their liberty to show the rest of the world His power and grace. If we can keep God in our country, He will not forsake us. If we can't pray in our schools, or post the Ten Commandments in our courts, how do we expect God to hear us when we have shut Him out. I say lets start inviting Him back, and fast! And Mr. President, we are a Christan nation as formed. We tolerate others' religious rights, but don't deny ours! God bless us who still love you...

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Blessings

Once again I have been constantly reminded how blessed I am. Why did this become so evident? Here are a few things that have made me aware of God's goodness in my life in comparison to some of my dear friends and relatives.

1. Last weekend two of my dear friends and I went to see "Over the River and Through the Woods", a wonderful play that I directed a few years back for WDI. Both of these women helped me. One was my Production Manager, the other my star. We went to dinner before the play. My star has had a terrible two years. Her wonderful husband fell the same month my Mother did when she still lived in Collinsville. My Mother had a concussion, but was fine. She truly is a hard headed German, since she has fallen and hit her head many times since then. But my star's husband hit his head once, and has never been the same. He has had to live in a convalescent home ever since. She goes to feed him every day, even though he can't really understand time, or follow a conversation. He has fallen and broke his hip since he has been there, too. Her final speech in the play about taking care of her husband took an entirely different meaning since the time we had done the show. I don't know if I would have the strength to be the woman she is. My other friend, had lost her husband many years ago to cancer. I am so lucky.

2. Just last week, my office manager and I were discussing how much we have to do to deal with our parents. About two days later, her Father died suddenly. I couldn't go to the funeral because my Father called and thought he was passing a kidney stone. I couldn't get him in to see the doctor before the weekend, so he said he would just try to pass it. On Monday, he called me to take him to the ER. While we were there, another woman my age was in the room next to us with her Father who was having great trouble breathing, and he had pnemonia. After four hours of tests, my Father had a simple UTI, and with antibiotics would be fine. So now we are looking forward to taking him to the lake for Father's Day on Sunday. What will these other women be doing?

3. When I was growing up, one set of my cousins were favored by my Grandmother. Their Father was her favorite son. They lived in Texas and for awhile in England, which makes for a very strange accent! The few times they visited Grandma, she lavished her love on them, and the cousins who lived here always felt slighted. Now with the wisdom of age, I realize it was because she never saw them, and there was no Internet to connect with them. Anyway, my girl cousin that was my age, was my arch rival as a child, but now we have become email buddies, and have even met up in New York and Chicago for some great visits. I really love her now, ironically. And now, I pray for her. Over the years, she has lost both of her parents to cancer, and now her brave husband has been battling bladder cancer for a couple of years. He is a neurosurgeon himself, and has saved many people, I'm sure, but just this week, we found out that modern medicine can't save him. The cancer has moved to his liver, and the doctors told her point blank, that there is nothing they can do but put him into hospice! Today I received an email from her saying he is no longer receiving guests. Steve and I had a similar scare when he was first diagnosed with MS. They told us they weren't sure if it was ALS or MS. One is certain death, and the other was manageable. Again, I was blessed to have the husband that was saved. She has a few hours or days left with her husband.

4. Whenever I turn on the news, we see the suffering of the people who live in the Gulf that have lost their livelihoods, or the people whose homes have been flooded from all the storms. I have two beautiful homes. Our only problem this week is some water in the basement and a family of raccoons in the attic that had to be caught. The other home is perfect.

5. I have three wonderful children that I often worry about, but they are all healthy and alive. Many of my friends have already lost a child.

I know there are many other things I should be down on my knees in gratitude for, but these are the blessings that have become very obvious to me in the last two weeks. And besides the personal blessings, we are all thrilled that the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup after 49 years! (Some comic relief). In reality, I feel like the lyrics of the "Sound of Music" song again. "I must have done something right"....., but I don't know what. However, I am very grateful that God has chosen me for some reason to be so blessed......thank you, Lord!

Sisters

This past weekend my Aunt Jerry flew up from Florida to visit my Mother, her sister. We all went up to the lake house for a nice family bonding weekend. My Mother had been looking forward to seeing her little sis for months. I'm sure they both realize that Mom can't make it to Florida again, as we had some difficulty just getting her up to the lake. There is about 14 years difference in their ages, I believe. Rob, Katy and Rich all came up to spend the weekend too, which made it a really special visit. We played pool on the new table, we played the name game, a family favorite invented by Jason, and ate great food.

I am an only child, and always thought I would love to have a sister. I know when you are younger, jealousy occurs between siblings, but as you reach adulthood, the closeness of having a sister is a bond I will never have, even though I have had some great friends I wish were my sisters. Roxi and Katy have that special bond, and even Anni and Evy will have shared memories of a life in Africa together, that others can never completely understand. My Mom and Aunt Jerry have a bond of a long life in St. Louis before they each moved to new cities far away from each other.

My Aunt Jerry is one of the greatest people I know. She is witty, beautiful, kind, and just plain fun to be with. Even at my wedding, Steve's groomsmen wanted to pickup my aunt in her long, sexy purple dress. I do see her every January when we go to Florida for a DVM convention, and about every other year, she has joined us in NYC for our Broadway trip. My Mother use to be able to go to NYC, too, but no more. Thus, I was thrilled when Aunt Jerry said she would come visit us, and I was grateful that we could entertain her and my Mom at the lake. I don't know if this will be their last visit together, I certainly hope not. Hopefully they can both come to a future wedding for Rob or Katy, or come see Roxi return from Africa. But for now, we made some great memories for two great sisters.

We also celebrated Rich fantastic score of 34 on his test for medical school. Now he just has to hope the health care bill gets repealed so he doesn't have to work for the government.

We had Data for two weeks so she could get groomed, and Dip was thrilled that Rob came to take her home again. They are step-sisters in the dog world, but there is no love shared between them. In fact, they have a hate relationship! And they proceeded to fight when Steve yelled after the overtime score of the Blackhawk game Friday night. Of course on Sunday, the Blackhawks won again, thus for the first time since the 1960's have a chance to win the Stanley Cup this next week.

I just want to thank everyone who took the time to come for the sister reunion. Wonderful memories were made by all. We even tried to skype with Roxi again, so she and Katy could visit too. They could see us, but we could only hear them which again was disappointing, yet amazing that we could even hear them half a world away. Sure wish I had a sister though, so if someone wants to be my sister, let me know.