If I Didn't Have Dogs. . .

Someone sent this to me and I thought it was cute...and true! I don't know who wrote it, so I can't give anyone credit but I like it! Enjoy!

If I Didn't Have a Dog. . .

I could walk around the yard barefoot in safety.

My house could be carpeted instead of tiled and laminated.

All flat surfaces, clothing, furniture, and cars would be free of hair.

When the doorbell rings, it wouldn't sound like a kennel.

When the doorbell rings, I could get to the door without wading through fuzzy bodies who beat me there.

I could sit on the couch and my bed the way I want, without taking into consideration how much space several fur bodies would need to get comfortable.

I would have money and no guilt to go on a real vacation.

I would not be on a first-name basis with 6 veterinarians, as I put their yet unborn grandkids through college.

The most used words in my vocabulary would not be: out, sit, down, come, no, stay, and leave him/her/it ALONE.

My house would not be cordoned off into zones with baby gates or barriers.

I would not talk 'baby talk'. 'Eat your din din'. 'Yummy yummy for the tummy'..

My house would not look like a day care center, toys everywhere.

My pockets would not contain things like poop bags, treats and an extra leash.

I would no longer have to spell the words B-A-L-L, F-R-I-S-B-E- E, W-A-L-K, T-R-E-A-T, B-I-K-E, G-O, R-I-D-E.

I would not have as many leaves INSIDE my house as outside.

I would not look strangely at people who think having ONE dog/cat ties them down too much.

I'd look forward to spring and the rainy season instead of dreading 'mud' season.

I would not have to answer the question 'Why do you have so many animals?' from people who will never have the joy in their lives of knowing they are loved unconditionally by someone as close to an angel as they will ever get.

How very EMPTY my life would be!!

A Hotel for Dogs?

There is a new movie coming out next Friday called Hotel for Dogs. It is about a brother and sister who are in foster care and are not allowed to bring their dog Friday to their new home. So, they find an abandon hotel and make it in to a home for Friday and as many stray dogs as they can find around the city. This is totally something that I would have liked to have done! Except I am not smart enough to make all the gadgets the kids make. I was looking forward to taking my nieces to see this movie and then I came across this:

http://www.pedigree.com/03Adoption/Hotel%20For%20Dogs/Default.aspx?zjxj=01300004W100070W883W0

And now I am so EXCITED to take them! The Pedigree Foundation has done a lot to bring to light the plight of homeless dogs in this country. With their commercials (seriously, just thinking about the commercials make me cry…) and the money that is donated through their foundation, they have done so much to help homeless pets. Now, with every ticket to the movie that is purchased, Pedigree will make a donation up to $250,000. I think that is just amazing. Seriously, I really don’t have the extra money to be going to the movies but this is definitely an exception that I have to make! Even if the movie is dumb (which I highly doubt) I will be happy to have gone. I sort of feel like it is me giving my support to this cause-finding homes for homeless animals. And anyone who reads this blog knows how I feel about that!

You go Pedigree! (I wish I could feed my dogs your dog food but they are allergic to corn! Sorry!)

I am not sure what to title this as I am not sure what I am going to say. My gramma's funeral was yesterday and there is a lot I want to say but not sure how to say it. My brother did a eulogy for my gramma and it was perfect. Sincere, emotional and even funny in all the right places. It was a perfect testament to her. I am a terrible writer. I am not good at organizing my thoughts and things just come out and it goes all over the place. Funny, that is just like my life! Anyway...

My gramma, Loretta Helen Michna Kmak was a great lady. A fitting description of her would be "a fine southern lady" except my gramma wasn't southern. She was Polish and from the "region". That is what we call the area right outside of Chicago where all the steel mill and oil refineries are and where the people who work in them live and where I am from. I am not going to go into all of that because it would take hours. But my gramma was pretty amazing. She was always dressed like she was going to church. Not a hair out of place or a fuzz on her clothes. She always looked perfect. She could cook for just one or for 50. It didn't matter. Her house was always meticulous. Not a dish in the sink or a leaf on the carpet. My grmma was a strong person. Like no one I have ever met. She put up with so much and it just made her stronger. She went out and got a job and worked to make her own money so she did not have to ask my grandpa for any.

I remember when I was first separated from my ex. I used to go to my parent's house every Saturday night and spend it with my gramma so my parents could go out to a movie. I always picked up take out from somewhere and we ate and watched Lawrence Welk on PBS. On this particular night, my brother was not there it was just me and my gramma. She asked how I was doing and I remember telling her how I did not know how I was going to get through this. I remember she told me that I was a good girl and smart and that of course I would get through it. She also told me that I didn't need a man to take care of me, I could take care of myself. And she was right.
I still struggle every day with being alone, not having money for things like vacations, lunches out or new fancy clothes. But I have something so much more and that is my family. When we finally had to put her in to a facility we went to see her every Sunday. I treasure those times because no matter what, we were all together. The last thing my gramma said to me the night before she died was "Be good" and then she hugged me and wouldn't let me go. Like she knew that was the last time she would see me. I just hope that I make her proud.

Gramma, I am trying to be good. Thanks for all you taught me. I just wish your cleaning habits would have rubbed off on me more. :-) I love you. I hope you are in peace up there with your mom and dad and brother. I will never forget you. You were a great grandma.