Sepia Stress Reliever

My days off are usually Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I work four 10-hour days, and having that extra day off is nice. I try to get all my honey-do stuff done by Friday and spend Saturday relaxing with friends and family. But then there are days like today when I wake up and realize that I have to work tomorrow -- and I've got several days' worth of errands to run beforehand. Add to that all the things I need to do to prep for next weekend's dog shows and . . . . ARGH! . . . . this morning's coffee is served with an extra shot of anxiety. (I know what you're thinking: "Hey Kelley, maybe you should switch to decaf." Yeah, not going to happen.) But before I totally freak out, I'm going to spend a few minutes with the world's best stress reliever:

Yep, this gorgeous (and extremely goofy) boy calms me down and cheers me up better than any pharmaceutical you can find. We should all take a few lessons from the dogs in our life. For example:

Thanks Life's Better With Freckles for the inspiring thoughts

Or this one:

Jedi is an expert at peeing on stuff. TMI?

So after I upload this post I'm going to spend some time playing silly games with Jedi before heading off to the bank, grocery store, dry cleaner, groomer, pet store, gas station and the American Legion. Sheesh, I'm tired already.

It's Sepia Saturday, where it's OK to freak out (lucky for me!) as long as it's done with a brownish tint. Thanks Ruckus, Ethel and Earl for hosting this hop. Now friends, click on the links below and see who else is sharing today. -- K

Alpharetta Bound

Well, we're going to try it again. Last week I sent in the entry form for two more conformation shows. This time we're going to Alpharetta, Georgia (just outside Atlanta). The German Shepherd Dog Club of North Georgia is hosting two Specially Shows in June. Just like German Shepherd Dog Club of North Florida shows last month, both shows are going to be held on one day, one AM and one PM. It's all German shepherds, all day! Cross your fingers we do well. Also, they're offering the temperament test that Jedi and I missed out on last year.

 

Dear Judge, Pick this one!

This will definitely be the farthest that we have ever traveled for a dog show. I'm a bit nervous. Jedi is not a fan of car rides (seriously, what's up with that?) and I'm worried that my old Expedition won't make it there and back. It's been kind of squirrely lately, and I haven't had the time (or money) to get it looked at. I had thought I was going with a friend but those plans fell through. So tomorrow -- in between errands, chores and various social obligations -- I need to check out hotels and rental cars and see if I can find Hubby's travelling mechanic friend. UGH. There are just not enough hours in the day.

So, wish us luck. I promise to keep you updated. And if any of you happen to be near the Wills Park Equestrian Center in Alpharetta on June 6th, come by and say hi. I'd love to see a friendly face. See you at the dog show! -- K

Hey, it's Thoughtless Thursday! (And yet Kelley can't stop thinking --typical.) Hop around below and see what others are thinking -- or not thinking -- about today.

 

Jedi's Private Joke

It seems that Jedi finds something amusing. Unfortunately, we have no idea what it is because he's not sharing. What do you think has tickled his fancy?
 

 

It's Wordless Wednesday! Hop around and see what others are sharing today. -- K

A Memorial Day Wish

I know this is Kelley's Dog Blog, and I always share fun dog-related stuff. But truth is, I have other aspects of my life too, and I feel the need to share. Please bear with me.

Today is Memorial Day. I'm not going to wish you a "Happy" Memorial Day, because today isn't suppose to be happy. Today is a solemn day, where we remember the service men and women who have died to protect the rights of all the BBQ grillmasters and drunk beachgoers that are enjoying their day off. I'm working today, but before I head out I wanted to share a story: 

Me and my M-14 on patrol in Italy, 1988

In late 1988 I was in the US Navy. I was on the fast track in the male-dominated field of weapons technology. In December of that year my naval career was derailed by a surprise pregnancy. At the same time my new husband (also a sailor) was offered his dream job as Turret Two Center Gun Gun Captain of the USS Iowa. The Navy was not friendly to dual-military families in the 80s so we had a hard decision to make: one of us had to quit to raise that baby.

In January of 1989 I returned to civilian life and started packing up our household to make the move from Mayport, Florida to Norfolk, Virginia. At the last minute my husband received a call from a Senior Chief Reginald Ziegler. The senior chief wanted Hubby to attend a school in San Diego, California for three months before reporting to the Iowa. This required us to put all our stuff in storage and drive across country (and back) in a Camaro as my belly got larger and larger. Hubby was to join the ship in June, a week before it left port for a 6-month Mediterranean cruise. This new plan left me to find a place to live and unpack, alone and 8 months pregnant. Yeah, I grumbled. In fact, I bitched at all the way to California.

The USS Iowa in all her glory

But then tragedy struck. On April 19, 1989, there was explosion on the USS Iowa inside the center gun of turret two. 47 people died, including Senior Chief Ziegler and the Turret Two Center Gun Gun Captain. Had it not been for that last minute change I would have been a 20 year old unemployed, pregnant widow.

The story doesn't end there! When the Iowa pulled back into Norfolk in December of 1989 families of the 47 victims visited the ship and laid a wreath upon the turret. Iowa sailors then gave tours to various family members. Can you guess who Hubby was assigned to escort? Mrs. Ziegler. (I'm not making this up!) She shared that she had MS and was having a hard time with her husband's death. Hubby shared the story of how her husband's arbitrary decision saved his life, and then showed her a picture of our newborn son. They both cried.



I have a large, framed copy of this on my office
wall. The Captain gave it to my husband when
the ship was decommissioned.

Several weeks later, Hubby was assigned to discreetly remove and dispose of the wreath. He did, but not before pocketing one of the iridescent plastic stars. It's chipped and it's ugly, yet I hang it on my Christmas tree every year in memory of the Iowa 47.

And on this day every year I say a prayer for the families, with an extra one for Mrs. Ziegler. The accident was pre-internet. I have no idea where she is or what became of her. If I did, I would tell her how sorry I am for her loss and how grateful I am for her husband. I would tell her that Hubby and I have been happily married for over 26 years and have two wonderful children. Her husband saved me from the unimaginable grief she had to go through. I feel so blessed, and at the same time I feel so guilty. I hope that Mrs. Ziegler eventually found peace and happiness.

I rarely tell this story because I can't share it without sobbing uncontrollably. Fortunately, I can cry and type at the same time. Thank you for reading this to the end. If you were touched please do a couple things for me:

1. Say a prayer for the families of the Iowa 47. I know it's been over a quarter century since the accident, but I doubt that the pain of their losses will ever completely go away.
2. Share this post. I would love nothing more than for it to reach the Ziegler family, wherever they are. I don't wish contact, but I would like them to know how indebted my family is to their husband/father/son/brother. He will always hold a special place in our hearts. I hope that brings them a small amount comfort.

OK, enough tears. Go back to your BBQ! Fun doggie stuff returns tomorrow. Promise. -- K

 

P.S. This was originally published on the 25th Anniversary of the Iowa explosion and was titled: 25 Years, 47 Dead, and 1 Personal Miracle. Kinda morbid, hunh?

Oh No, Jedi's Coughing!

Last Sunday night we noticed that Jedi was coughing. And since we had been at a dog show 10 days previously, I was little concerned. As I mentioned last month, there are a lot of potential cooties circling around a dog show. I spent all night Monday trying to analyze Jedi's cough. It wasn't a honking cough like kennel cough. And it wasn't a wet cough like pneumonia. It almost sounded like he had a tickle in his throat. I debated taking him to the vet. It was obviously irritating him and I was afraid I might be wrong -- what if was something serious? Even more pressing, we're headed to Atlanta in a couple of weeks for another dog show, and he needs to be healthy for that.

So I took Jedi to the vet on Tuesday, hoping I was overreacting. Dr. Hanson (my super-awesome GSD loving vet) asked a few questions about Jedi's appetite and demeanor. Neither had changed; he's still a bouncing chow-hound. The vet listened to Jedi's lungs and heart. Both sounded strong and healthy. His temperature was good and his throat was clear. And the vet said that Jedi was a perfect weight. (He's a lean 85 pounds, though everybody thinks he's bigger.) I think the word "gorgeous" was thrown in there a couple of times, but I may be a bit biased. So what's wrong with Jedi? The vet's best guess is post nasal drip. The pollen count is through the roof right now and apparently it's affecting dogs as well as people. We left with some allergy meds (think doggie Claritin).

 

Jedi also got a Bordetella booster. Since Jedi is on the show circuit and exposed to a multitude of unfamiliar dogs, we want to be extra cautious. The vet also warned about Canine Influenza. He said that it's dangerous and spreading. Dr. Hanson hasn't heard of any cases in our area yet, but he has heard that it's in Atlanta. Yikes. Dr. Hanson said not to panic, but I should watch Jedi for:

• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Fever
• Nasal discharge, especially if it's thick, yellowish-green mucus
• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy

And things I can do to keep him safe include:

• Wash my hands frequently
• Avoid touching other dogs
• Keep Jedi away from other dogs as much as possible
• Keep his crate covered and wash the sheet when we get home
• Don't allow Jedi to use public water bowls
• Keep Jedi from licking/sniffing the ground and things that aren't his

Two days after our vet visit, this report from CNN was posted to my Facebook wall. And it even mentioned canine influenza in Atlanta. I'm a bit concerned, but I'm also glad that Dr. Hanson knows his stuff! We're not cancelling our plans to head to Atlanta, but we are going to be cautious. Wish us luck. -- K

Jedi Goes to St. Augustine

Pepper and Jedi taking a break

It was a difficult week. Jedi and I needed some down time, so when my dear friend D said "Let's take the dogs to St. Augustine" I just had to say yes! I packed some water and a travel bowl in to Jedi's backpack and met D and her old girl, Pepper, at their place. We took the scenic route, driving along the coastline. The view was breathtaking! 30 minutes later we ended up in St. Augustine's historical district. The weather was warm and clear, with low humidity and a nice breeze. We couldn't have planned for a nicer day.

Unfortunately, there aren't many dog-friendly shops along St. George Street, so much of the day was spent window shopping and strolling the cobble stone roads. (I'm not complaining!) One notable exception is Faux Paws near the City Gate. This store has recently changed owners and the new place is fun and dog friendly. Stop in and say hi! And if you take your dog to the historic district, go hungry. Unlike the shops, many of the restaurants welcome dogs. In fact, Faux Paws gave us a 10% discount to Pizzalley's Chianti Room. How cool is that?

Across from the historic district is Castillo de San Marcos -- the country's oldest masonry fort and one of my favorite places to go when travelling dog-free. In front of the fort is a large, grassy park. D brought a sheet and we just laid under a tree in the park and daydreamed with the pups before heading home. What a great way to decompress. Who wants to go with us next time? -- K

Jedi with the Castillo de San Marcos in the background

Dogs Bite

The third week of May has been designated National Dog Bite Prevention Week. The American Veterinary Medical Association, the Humane Society of the United States and even the US Postal Service have all jumped on the bandwagon. I'm sure you've seen dog bite prevention stuff all over Facebook and Google+ this past week. I've seen some great blog posts lately too, so be sure to check them out.

This one always makes me giggle.

Ironically, my week started with a dangerous dog hearing. I'm not going to share the details -- just know that it was ugly and exhausting. No matter how the Magistrate rules (we don't get an immediate decision) nobody's going to be happy. All the court room bullying was just to see who could hurt who more. It was a disgusting display. If I believed in voodoo I would be jamming pins into two lawyer-shaped dolls about now. . . Did I mention the hearing was ugly?

My week ended with two Dog Bite Prevention presentations to 50 elementary school kids. FYI, Be A Tree from Doggone Safe is a nice, age appropriate program to use. I spoke to the afterschool groups at two local community centers. Regardless of the center, the kids were loud and unfocused (and I suspect, sugar-laden). I came home with a major headache. It reinforced the fact that I would rather deal with other people's dogs then with other people's children. True story: One year I was an educational assistant at a middle school in a poor Washington D.C. suburb. I worked with children who had learning and behavioral issues. It was the worst year of my life! Children are not my calling -- I would much rather work with angry pit bulls.

It was a long, draining week for me, hence no blogging. Sorry. I'll try to make it up to you next week. Until then, get outside with your dog and stay safe! -- K

P.S. Below is the official Dog Bite infographic for this year. Don't be a statistic!