The Business of Love

I don't know if I've mentioned this before or not, but I co-own another horse with a good friend. She hasn't ridden much in the past few years so it only makes sense that she shouldn't pay board anymore.

My friend called me and told me that she wanted to sell Tantra and her tack. My first response was, "Sell your tack...it's worth plenty of money. Let me find Tantra a home." At the time, I thought I would place her just like I do my rescue dogs. I'd find the perfect home and make the people sign a contract that stated she would come back to me if they ever decided they didn't want her.

My second thought was: I love Tantra. My granddaughter loves Tantra. The best place for Tantra is with us! My friend totally agreed. She wants the best thing for Tantra too.

So now, I'm in the business of finding someone to lease Tantra to pay for her board. That lease will demand that Tantra stays with me at the farm where I have Tango. I will start to ride Tantra more and my granddaughter will continue to ride her (along with the person who leases).

We've decided we're going to ride Tantra western....rather my granddaughter decided that. I'm up for it too. What the heck. I can ride Tango one way and Tantra the other. Maybe it will work different muscle groups! I have my first western lesson on Monday.

Meanwhile, please wish us well. We need to find someone else to love Tantra as much as we do. I promised Chuck that the board for two horses would be covered by my business plan. Imagine that...me with a business plan!!!

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She Didn't Mean to Do it and Neither Did I!

Poor Maddie. On Saturday, she stayed in her crate all day. Since I keep Maddie's crate opened and just feed her in there, when Maddie's in her crate, something is wrong. We soon found out what. She began to throw-up Saturday evening...all night...and into Sunday. Since our vet doesn't have weekend hours, we had to take her to the emergency vet.

To the tune of $250 Maddie received IV fluids, anti-nausea medications, and more. We took her home with strict instructions to feed her soft foods for the next few days.

Long story short, Maddie got better. Night before last, she was bugging me to get up and let her out. I told her to lay back down because sometimes Maddie tricks me in hopes of getting a middle-of -the-night treat.

Well, this time, Maddie wasn't tricking. When I got up the next morning there were (not to be gross) seven soft piles of doo doo on the bedroom carpet. The soft diet worked well.

I decided to have my morning coffee before I got to the mess. Chuck was gone, so it wasn't bothering him any. As I sipped my coffee, I thought about ways to clean up Maddie's massive explosions. I noticed a small cardboard box on the kitchen table. I'll just use a trough and shovel the mess into the box I thought to myself. And that's what I did.

Then I threw the entire box into the garbage and got out the Spot Shot to finish the job.

Flash forward to last night. I was meeting with my sister-in-law (who provides bags and bags of crocheted scarves and hats for the homeless) and another friend who actually delivers the items. Anyway, my cell rang. The call went something like this:

Chuck: "Where is the cardboard box that was on the table."
Me: " Why do you need it?"
Chuck: " Because I have to resend it to Pfizer (where he works) tomorrow."
Me: "I dumped everything out of the box and put lots of poop in it."
Chuck: "YOU DID WHAT? That box included a special coded label and a memory stick"
Me: "I didn't see any label or memory stick in the box. All I left in was the bubble wrap."

That was our conversation. I was gone. Chuck was home....up to his elbows sifting through poop coated bubble wrap. Chuck was not happy.

He found his memory stick. He found his special coded label. Maddie's not in the doghouse. I am.

Pfizer's getting a box back that has a very special label on the front. The label has a strange color and new design. Fabreeze took care of the smell I hope. We won't talk about the smears.
Let's just say that Chuck is very creative and I'm sure future Pfizer labels will be designed with his "new look" in mind.

"Someday you'll see the humor in this," I told Chuck.

Chuck didn't laugh.

This is right up there with the time I accidentally gave away all Chuck's good clothes (and dirty underwear) to the Kidney Foundation. That's another story for another time. Suffice it to say I got piles of clothes confused.

HEY! Did you notice that PILES seems to be a common thread in my tales?

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Picture This!

Well, you're just going to have to believe this story because my daughter-in-law, Heather didn't have a camera. We could have made some money on Funniest Home Video if she had....trust me.

It all started just fine. The snowfall was massive, but my friend Anita and I like our horses outside no matter what. Because the barn folks were busy plowing Anita said, "I'll go put Rocky and Tango in the front field this morning if you can take them in this afternoon."

"No problem," I told Anita.

Anita had said that she just pushed the snow away from the gate when she put Rocky and Tango outside. I had planned to do the same when I went to lead them back inside.

Heather had dropped by my house at about 4:30 that afternoon and being the great girl she is, offered to ride to the barn with me while I took the horses inside. She wasn't wearing boots. "Don't worry," I told Heather, "You can just wait while I grab the horses."

Ha.

We got to the barn and Rocky and Tango were at the gate waiting for me. Good boys! I said out loud.

I soon found out that the good boys had packed the snow down in front of the gate. As hard as I pushed, I could only manage to get the gate opened enough to squeeze by body inside the steel prison.

No problem. There was a gate at the other side of the field with just fresh snow. My plan was to lead Tango to the other end, push away the fresh snow, open the gate and get Tango out and come back for Rocky.

Ha again.

I started to lead Tango to the other end of the field but before I knew it I was butt deep in snow. Somehow, Tango stepped on the toe of my boot and I fell down. By now I was up to my shoulders in the snow because that's what happens when you're butt deep when you're standing. I kept trying to pull my boot out from underneath Tango's foot, but every time I pulled my foot started to come out of my boot. Not good.

Now I started yelling, "Back Tango...back!"

Heather didn't know what was going on and neither did Tango. After all, any horse with good sense would not venture into such deep snow and Tango was scared out of his wits. He didn't want to back up and I truly understand why.

Finally after me contorting my body sideways and pushing Tango while yelling at him to back up, he did. I pulled my boot away quickly and stood up.

Then as fast as I stood up, I turned around and fell down again. This time face first. I looked like a gigantic snow angel. Tango was standing above me looking down. Heather was on the outside looking in. I was humiliated but did manage to find some humor as I used Tango to help me get to my feet again.

By now the people at the barn were at the stuck fence. They managed to get it opened. I managed to get Tango out and over a snow drift on the driveway. I handed Rocky to Heather and all was well.

The next day I was trying to figure out why my waist hurt. Duh.

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Snow...Really?

We'd really like to run and play but the snow keeps pulling us under!

I looked and looked for a place to use the bathroom but the snow dad shoveled piled up again. My poo poo turned into a piece of art...just ask Mom!

I've had just about enough...how about you Annabelle?

Maybe if we looke sweet and desperate enough they'll let us inside. Stick up a paw Maddie
And then sit very still while they yank the snowballs off your feet!

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Great News!

It was a happy day and a sad day for Alexa.

My granddaughter got attached to Tipper very quickly.

Networking surely pays off! Today Tipper went home with a family who has one calm child and a fenced yard. Thanks to all of you who helped to spread the word for me and wished us good luck.

Better yet...there are three other families waiting in line if Tipper doesn't work out for the first family. One of the families wants me to email them all the dog postings that come through my email. What an awesome thing to have loving people waiting for homeless dogs. Having Tipper with us was good in more ways than one.

I'm smiling from ear to ear. Three cheers for Tipper!

P.S. I had Tipper's new owners sign a contract stating that they would provide a loving home and vet care. In addition, if it doesn't work out with them, the contract states that Tipper will come back here. I don't want Tipper to ever be in the sad situation that she was before. Do you think I'm obsessed?

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Meet Tipper and Help!

You know, everyday brings new challenges when you love animals. On Monday my barn manager told me about her neighbor who had a great dog that she was taking to the Newark Animal Shelter on Wednesday. It's a horrible facility with a high kill rate. I could tell you other things about this place but I don't want to ruin your day.

At any rate, I asked Becky (barn manager) to ask her neighbor to give me until Friday to try to find this sweet girl a home. Well, of course, Friday came and I had a couple prospects but nothing grained in stone so...I brought Tipper home with me.

Tipper is a great dog...terrific. She seems to be mostly collie. Tipper's fantastic with my dogs, wonderful with kids, housebroken, and gentle with food. Why on earth would anyone take this dog to a shelter without even knowing the facts? It makes me physically ill.

Long story short, I need to place Tipper in the home she deserves before Monday. If you live in Ohio and are interested in the least, please email me today or tomorrow. My email address is jmader@netwalk.com Tipper doesn't deserve to be in a cage. She deserves a loving home.

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Dog Days of Winter

Wouldn't you think that I could get some peace and quiet? The dog days aren't just for the hot summer! I was okay with the computer keys clicking away, in fact I was just about to doze off
when the blender shocked the beejebers out of me.

After the blender went off the dishwasher went on. The phone rang. The door slammed. What next? I wondered. Then I heard Maddie sneezing. She sneezes to get what she wants. First one sneeze. Nothing. Then two sneezes. Still nothing. THREE SNEEZES! Will someone please get Maddie her treats?

Finally! Mom caved. I heard the pantry door open and the tasty package crinkle. What took you so long? I thought to myself.

Normally I'd be right in there waiting for my treats. In fact, I'd be sitting up like a groundhog...or at least that's what mom says I do. Today I just want my nap. I deserve my nap. I NEED MY NAP!

I got my nap. The sound of Maddie crunching on her dog biscuits lulled me to sleep. I wonder if everyone needs naps like me?

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