Little Girl's Legacy

I am slowly coming to terms with the loss of my sweet girl. The vet called yesterday, and they have a plaster cast of her paw prints for me as a memorial.

I will also be making donations to two organizations they support:

The Farley Foundation is named after Farley, the loveable sheepdog from the For Better Or Worse comic strip by Lynn Johnston.

"The name of the Foundation pays homage to Farley, who died in the strip while trying to save April Patterson when she fell into a ravine."

In 2007, the Farley Foundation expanded its mandate to partner with the OVMA's SafePet Program, which provides temporary or permanent foster families for animals whose owners have feld abusive relationships. I am considering offering my home and myself as a temporary foster home/safe haven ... but I am not quite there yet.

If you are an animal lover, then look in to similar organizations where you are, and see if there is a way you can help. Often, things like old blankets or towels can be used for bedding for an ill or freightened animal.

I have also been a foster mom over the years to a number of animals from the local shelter, while they were waiting for forever homes. When you know they are going to someone who will love them, it is not as hard as one would think to send them to their new homes.The Farley Foundation helps with non-elective veterinary care costs for individuals who cannot afford the services on their own, such as seniors and people with disabilities. The foundation recognizes the healing value of the human-animal bond.

Respect ...

This poem has been on my mind for a couple of months; I do not remember where I first found this; but I have had it for years. If anyone knows the source, please leave it as a comment below.

If I do not want what you want, please try not to tell me that my want is wrong.


Or if I believe other than you, at least pause before you correct my view.

Or if my emotion is less than yours, or more, given the same circumstances, try not to ask me to feel more strongly or weakly.

Or yet if I act, or fail to act, in the manner of your design for action, let me be.

I do not, for the moment at least, ask you to understand me. That will come only when you are willing to give up changing me into a copy of you.

I may be your spouse, your parent, your offspring, your friend, or your colleague.

If you will allow me any of my own wants, or emotions, or beliefs, or actions, then you open yourself, so that some day these ways of mine might not seem so wrong, and might finally appear to you as right ~ for me.

To put up with me is the first step to understanding me. Not that you embrace my ways as right for you, but that you are no longer irritated or disappointed with me for my seeming waywardness.

And in understanding me you might come to prize my differences from you, and, far from seeking to change me, preserve and even nurture those differences.

~~~~~~~~~

A sad goodbye ...

As some of you know, I said a tearful goodbye to little girl at 1:45 am on Friday.

She made it to almost 15 years with me, and was only "sick" for a couple of hours.  The vet figures she had a stroke around midnight, and there was nothing that could be done.

The last few days have been really hard.  She was a big part of my life, and in a couple of hard times was the only thing that got me out of bed.  I find myself thinking in terms of "After I walk her I'll .... oh, ya"   and "Oh, I'll just pop home and let the little one out ... oh, ya ... "

It is also quite strange to me how other dogs have reacted.  The Moose, I have been told, found a piece of little girl's fur Friday morning and was poking it around and worrying at it ... even before I texted TW, the Moose's person, to tell her what had happened.

A few other dogs I "know" have also instinctively known that something was wrong, and been much more gentle in their greetings to me, and much more attentive to me than normal. 



She was a sweet, sweet girl, and she will be missed.

Sweet Girl,

July 23, 1996 - April 15, 2011

Moved!

Howdy all.

I moved to a new house yesterday.  Just me and the dog, no room mates this time.  A cozy little place, wood cook stove upstairs, high efficiency wood stove down stairs (next black out - party at my house!).

I have no internet at home until (hopefully) sometime April 20th, so things might be a bit quiet here, but please don't give up on me!  Likewise, if I am not commenting on your posts, its not that I don't care, honestly!

Love you all.

Red Friday - Support the Troops

Man Candy Monday ...

Been quite a while since I did one of these, a gratuitous beefcake post, but is is dreary and depressing outside.  I need a silly grin.  Besides that, I just discovered this actor (thank you, Criminal Minds!).  I need to rent Apaloosa this weekend :o)

Folks, I give you Timothy V Murphy, aka Ian Doyle from Criminal Minds, or Vince from Apaloosa, or ... you get the idea.

There's just something about those eyes ...  I saw him described somewhere as an older, grittier version of Viggo Mortensen, with a touch of Ed Harris.  Whatever it is ... it works :o)

Sunday Silliness ...

Song Meme from Gaile at Deployment (Again)



DU HAST - Rammstein

1. Put Your iTunes on Shuffle.


2. For each question, press the 'next song' button to get your answer.


3. You must write down the name of the song no matter how silly it sounds!


4. Put any comments in brackets after the song name.


5. Tag at least 10 friends (this was originally a FaceBook Meme)
--------------------------

What do your friends think of you?

Scarlet Ribbons - Harry Belefonte
 If someone says, “Is this okay?” You say...

Deliver Me - INXS

How would you describe yourself?

Fight the Good Fight - Triumph (OK, I like this one ...)

What do you like in a guy/girl?

I'm Number 1 - Nelly, featuring Baby and DJ Khaled

How do you feel today?

Dark Horse - Amanda Marshall (Oh, food for thought ...)

What is your life’s purpose?

Peace of Me - Natasha Bedingfield (LMAO - one can hope ...)

What is your motto?

Follow You Home - Nickleback (snort.  In some ways, saldy, true ... )

What do you think about often?

Reaching - Carolyn Arends (sigh ... )

What is 2+2?

I'm Your Man - Particia O'Callaghan

What do you think of your best friend?

Now or Never - Mya

What do you think of the person you like?

Every Time I Turn Around - Joss Stone

What is your life story?

Skin - Rascal Flats  ( O_o )

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Middle Man - Jack Johnson
What do you think of when you see the person you like?

Fool For Love - Sandy Rogers  ( LMAO again!!! )

What will you dance to at your wedding?

Maria Maria - Santana (Ya, baby)

What will they play at your funeral?

Don't Listen to a Word You've Heard - Justin Nozuka

What is your hobby/interest?

Good Enough - Sarah McLachlan

What is your biggest fear?

A Gift of a Thistle - James Horner and the London Symphony Orchestra (Braveheart Soundtrack)

What is your biggest secret?

What Hurts the Most - Rascal Flats  (Ouch)

What do you think of your friends?

Sleep Through the Static - Jack Johnson (Hey!  LOL )

What will you post this as?

Du Hast - Rammstein