Summertime & the livin's easy

A little background:

I have two dogs, Jane is 10 and Dick is 8. Jane's arthritis has progressed to where she's very mobile and still causes trouble but doesn't want to go on walks. She takes vitamins and medication and we need to cook for her to try to keep her weight up and her digestion normal.

I have a bathroom that's currently under construction (by me, scary to think, I know) which, if I can't fix it, I can't take showers in there. The water leaks from the shower (no, not the pipes, we checked, scientifically I might add) and onto the 1st floor. I hope to be done by this weekend and back using my shower by the following weekend.

We just rebuilt (thankfully not by us, we hired actual professionals) our patio that was, uhm, super broken. It cost a bunch of money (totally reasonable and they did a incredible job) and well, yeah.

[work, ringing phone.]

"This is Jenna."

Mom: "We have a problem."

"Ok."

"So I was sitting outside on those new chaises we bought."

"Ok."

"Just enjoying the day and Jane comes out."

"Is she ok?"

"Yeah, she's limping a little but fine. That's not the problem."

"Ok."

"So I'm sitting there and she comes up next to me and curls around me on the chaise."

"So, that's the problem? The dog wants to sit on the chaise?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah, you've got a problem. Need anything at the market?"

"Nope, I just went."

"Ok, then I'll see you at home later."

Yeah, dog didn't need to be rushed to the vet. Ceiling didn't come crashing down. Patio is still as fabulous as the contractor left it. No, the problem is that the arthritic dog wants to sit on the new 50% off chaises we just bought at Target this weekend. (BTW, all of their patio stuff is 50% off...if you need anything, now is the time to buy.)

Yeah, nothing changes your priorities like having a summers off from work.

Maybe I need to rethink my career. I dig problems like that.

Happy Birthday Dick

No, really, it is Dick's birthday. Its tough to imagine that we've only had him for a little over three years. And yet, in those three years he's really changed. I know that might sound silly but for anyone who has rescued or adopted a dog that wasn't a puppy, you know what I mean.

As the years roll on their personality emerges. We didn't have this phenomenon when we adopted Hanna or Jane as they pretty much came out of their shells within a few weeks of moving into Chez Radomile. But, not Dick. Our shy loving little boy has earned his baddog#2 badge with great honor.

Dick version 2.0:

• He loves all people, large and small. He digs kids and babies and they get away with far more with him than I ever could.
• He's very conversational on walks as he feels the need to bark at every dog that we pass. Of course his tail is wagging, but that really isn't the point. He just needs to let them know he's there.
• He has learned how to counter surf. (Thanks, Jane.) So when something goes missing, we can no longer just blame Jane. We have two baddogs to contend with.
• He's really well-behaved at parties at the house. I mean, his head is at table level and yet no food disappears. But, if you're not a dog person, watch out. Jane has taught him the all-important guest lean whereas they both lean on the one guest that doesn't care for canine company.
• He loves to go for walks. When its time for his walk, he will push you towards his leash. If you're not careful, he'll push you down the stairs. However, I've taught him the all-important "go" command where he and Jane run full-speed down the stairs ahead of me. Sadly, I can't teach this to gramma and every morning I hear her outside my room telling him to stop pushing her as they walk down the stairs.
• He's become quite the digger. He can do both one paw and two paw digs, depending on the digging situation...quite the talent, let me tell you. Though, thankfully, he now likes to dig the hole and fill it back in.
• He's afraid of large treats he's never seen before. Seriously. Jane is happy to "help" him with the treats and show him how they are to be dealt with. I'm guessing the bully stick I left him is still in his food dish. Unless of course Jane figured out a way to move hers and his. She's crafty. She just might have.
• He likes A/C but hates fans. Even if its 100 degrees in my bedroom, he'll leave if I turn on the fan.
• He likes to "finish" Jane's breakfast, though, truth be told, Jane can move him out of his own food dish as well and he just lets her. Thankfully, no food agression has emerged.
• He's gone from a skinny ex-racer to a phatty chowhound who sticks by your side whenever you're in the kitchen, hoping for a tasty morsel to fall into his range. (We can thank grandma for this. She "drops" quite a bit.)
• And, lastly, he enjoys playing dress up. Jane would rather poke her own eyes out than have us put clothes on her. But, Dick just loves it. Maybe he's reminded of his racing silks.

Happy Birthday Dick!

Walk for the Animals!

Or jog, whatever, I'm not judging.

I've been to this event before and its quite fun. It raises money for all sorts of pup rescues, which is always good. I even brought the kids with me a few years ago and they were oddly well-behaved. I think Dick understood that *all* the dogs there were rescues like him so there was no reason to bark. And really, Jane just likes people, and dogs and good things to smell so she was happy.

Todd & I will be there....join us? Ain't no party like a dog party.*

*Whatever, it sounded good in my head.

Haven't see the Ark yet

but I can report there is water falling from the sky at a quick pace.

Weather people have been forecasting the second coming of Noah for the last few days. He was supposed to be here yesterday in the first of three storms that were all supposed to meet up together. But, Noah's late to his own party. Instead, sadly, we had all these newscasters scattered all around the city in rain gear with no rain. So, they all had to cover the Britney meltdown. I'm sure that's why they all went to journalism school and put in the long days they have over the years.

But I digress, RAIN RAIN RAIN. Most people, those not from L.A., don't think we have seasons. But, we do. Spring, Summer, Fire, Flood. Obviously, right now we're starting flood. Once everything burns then it gets wet and falls down and that's not good. Then you have people who can't drive on a good day but put some WATER in their way and all hell breaks loose.

But, the rain also brings drama to Chez Radomile. When you live in a house built in 1927, it has its quirks. But, more importantly, when you have two greyhounds accustomed to dry weather and a large backyard at their beck and call, its an even bigger issue. Jane feels the same way I do about restrooms, they should be clean, private and warm. So yeah, her little wet square of grass in the backyard isn't doing it for her right now. As luck would have it, I'm only out of the house for a few hours a day so I can talk her through how to be a dog and actually use the little girls room when its wet out. A mother's work is never done.

So for all the SoCal kids, I hope you're keeping dry and warm.

So for all the non-SoCal kids, I hope you're keeping dry and warm. I guess there is weather in places other than L.A., eh?

'nite Molly

Happy Birthday Dick

Seven never looked so cute.

Rollin' with the homies...

Seriously, you'd never know that these two had just suffered the trauma of standing at the vet's office for 2 WHOLE minutes to have 3 stiches removed from Dick's head. They were the ONLY dogs there and Jane's only purpose was to keep Dick calm and yet she was shaking like they were going to take a kidney.



Drama queen...no idea where she gets that from.

Maybe I'm feeling better

'cause everything was interesting today. Of course, I also planned a trip to Vegas & the Grand Canyon so that might have something to do with my mood.

Today I saw something that I also saw yesterday.


Yeah, that's right. Recognise the mad photoshop skillz...no, I didn't see the same truck both days; they had different license plates.

Do you remember the Blackwood? Its a cool looking but utterly useless pickup. I remember seeing this at the L.A. auto show years ago. (s.ly has the pics to prove it.) The truck didn't sell too well which is why I'm surprised to see two of them in two days. If I remember correctly, the bed liner doesn't allow for actual use since it scratches so easily. And why have a truck this pinstriped-pretty if you're just going to scratch it up.

I have Phoenix shopping tips, ramblings about L.A. traffic and the announcement of a new drug (to me), but I'll save those nuggets for another day.

Instead, I bring you the gratuitous puppy shot. Seriously, she is just the cutest thing ever.

So NOT cool

Ok, first of all, for the record, you haven't fed me. So, taking pictures of me from outside of the house is just not cool. I don't care how cute I look up here. Second of all, taking me to the vet and then leaving me there for HOURS is so not acceptable.

Now that we've done the crazy lady who types for her dog routine...

On Friday I was told that a specific vet was working at my beloved BHSAH on Monday. Apparently there was a miscommunication (i.e. someone didn't read the schedule when talking to me) and that doctor wasn't taking patients Monday morning. But, because BHSAH rocks, they offered to sit on Dick for a few hours so the doctor could look at him when he was available. We took them up on their offer. And, when I say we, I mean me with no agreement from a very annoyed greyhound.

After a few hours and a couple of in depth exams, it was decided that Dick's 5th toe and 3rd eye need to go. And when I say 5th toe and 3rd eye I mean two growths that need to be removed before they get dangerous. We've been watching the 5th toe (located on his leg) for about a year now. Its behaving badly these days so after 2 rounds of antibiotics, its time to say goodbye. As for the 3rd eye...it appeared last week and has been growing pretty rapidly. So, that's going to run away as well.

Think happy thoughts for baddog #2 on Monday 'cause he'll be back at BHSAH for his procedures.

A Picture is Worth 11 Words

Ok, so that covers work.

Fast forward to dinner time...its about 6:30pm and Dick & Jane and I are out for our nightly walk. Its quiet out. Eerie quiet. Weird quiet. Dick is on high alert, I'm a little freaked out and Jane is just fine, limping along sticking her nose everywhere it shouldn't be. It was like a scene out of a Stephen King novel. Here we are in the middle of this HUGE city and its just silent out, no movement, no noise. Either the world is ending or everyone is out to dinner. Jane, as taught by the zen-master Hanna, knows everyone is out to dinner. Dick & I still aren't so sure.

Happy Valentine's Day - - - hope yours was filled with pretty flowers, yummy treats and lots of people and/or dogs and/or cats to love and torment.

Oh the Horror!

So, I could write about the unmarked parking lot behind Jack Sprat that you would never know was there unless you were told, in a speakeasy sort of way, since that's how parking in L.A. works....rumors and innuendo.

I could write about my new expensive take-out habit (see Jack Sprat reference above). I could talk about my knitting or my new Ott Lamp. No, what truly motivates me is my dog being bratty about putting on her pj's. Yes, I did just put dog and pj's into the same sentence. See, I have very skinny, very fur challenged animals (a.k.a. greyhounds). So, when the temperature dips down, they get light coats to wear. My room is mostly windows so we're a little insulation-challenged around here. And, since they won't sleep under blankets and I've caught Jane on more than one occasion tucked into a little ball shivering, they kids get coats.

Now, Dick is a weird one. He likes to wear stuff. So he isn't my issue. Jane, the gimpy old girl who finds all clothing offensive no matter what the purpose, is my drama queen. I wish I could have gotten a picture of the look she gives while I put the coat on her. But, this will have to do.


Oh the torment this one must endure. And yes, please note that princess sleeps on top of two beds since one does not do for the princess. She had hamburger mixed into her kibble and has her own custom covered ottomans to lounge on during the day thanks to gramma. Also, please note her lovely coat courtesy of the raffle at the NGLA picnic. If you have the means, I highly recommend you attend....a good time was had by all. I'm hoping to go stalk the Giley Girls again this year.

New Babies

The shower was good...lots of baby stuff for the mom'n'dad to be. But, as people took pics of people at the party and the happy parents opening gifts, I was very busy taking pictures of myself holding the newest baby in the family.

Isn't she cute? She's going to be huge, seriously.

On a Lighter Note

Enjoying the newly elevated temperatures...


But not amused at me taking pictures of him enjoying the newly elevated temperatures...

That doesn't look very comfortable

but Jane's happy.

A little fuzz goes a long way

Yeah, she's fuzzy but I just couldn't resist taking a picture of Jane with that odd look on her face.

I was sitting on the other dog bed reading through the Sunday coupons eating dinner. Don't look at me like that. Its totally normal to sit on a dog bed eating dinner and reading through a paper from 3 days ago. Yes, we have tables and chairs. I was talking to Mom. Whatever, it makes sense. Stop looking at me like that.

Anyways, so I'm sitting there with Dick sticking his head under my arm reminding me in his oh so subtle way that his dinner is late. I mean, obviously I forgot since I'm eating and he isn't. In walks Jane, plops down on her bed and just gives me a series of the oddest looks. I think she was just basking in the glow that it is to be Jane since she's had a good Jane day. In her amazing Houdini-esque way, she was able to not only steal a box of croutons but also get out her coat. The croutons fit her usual M.O. so that's not really anything to write home about. The coat, however, is another accomplishment. I mean, we're talking a double strip of velcro and a hood. And this is with a bad leg that's really bothering her in this weather. So, despite the leg, it was a good day to be Jane.

Warning: Vicious Attack Dog

If you go to the ranch, you'll be facing this. I know. I feel the fear through the net. You shake just looking at this wild creature. And then there's the dog holding that odd red & blue tennis-ball-for-feet creature.

Yup, upon our arrival, Laslo was at his appointed back gate station guarding the ranch from evil. When your home is gated you must bark to let all that pass know you are in charge of the property and all neighboring properties. As we all know, bicyclists and construction workers are very threatening.

Love Muffin

Yes, this is the original love muffin. Isn't he cute? He has lots of ribbons and trophies and even won a chair...seriously. I don't know why he won a chair since its like a director's chair and its not like he can sit in it. I mean, why win something you can't even use. This dog show business is an odd one.

But yeah, the muffin of love doesn't like to stand still to have his picture taken so I'll try to get a better pic of him up. I mean, for a champion, he should have the best.

This is his sister...


Super cute and a total ball o' terror when she's excited to see you. Let me tell you, 150lbs of excited to see you can be a wee bit bruising. There are no two better guard dogs on the planet. You could put me into an unlocked house in any neighborhood and I'd sleep through the night.

But yeah, love the puppies...

I don't get it...

Where did Christmas go?


Sorry Dick, we had to put Christmas away.

Tonight we took down the tree. Yes, I know, its like a week later than everyone else. But, you have to have a pretty-much-dead-Christmas tree to have a regifting-post-holiday-nothing-homemade potluck. I mean, duh. Where would you put the presents?

But yeah, the regifting-post-holiday-nothing-homemade potluck is over so its time to get the fire hazard, eh, tree out of the house. Gramma was kind enough to help. So, that was cool. Tomorrow I put everything else away and the holidays are officially over.

But remember, the season isn't over until Mother's day. And with Michele back in town, who knows if we'll even end the season there. I foresee much change; I think 2007 will be an interesting year.

And if you understood that last paragraph, you know me WAY too well. And if you don't, stick around. This could get interesting.

The Many Faces of Jane

She looks like she's sleeping. She's not. But, she does want you, dear viewer, to think that. This is her f-you face. Its not cold. There's no reason for her to be curled up like this. But, if you ask her its a whole other story.


Stupid mom. She works all week and then disappears ALL WEEKEND. Yeah, she feeds us and we played yesterday. BUT SHE LEFT...FOR HOURS. And then nice people were petting us for about an hour last night. But she's been GONE ALL DAY TODAY. When gramma's gone, mom's supposed to be HERE. And she wasn't. So piss off. I'm not even going to look at you.