Dan The Dog & His Sensitive Stomach

For about a week and a half now - in the mornings, we've been waking up to Dan's stomach just gurgling and churning.  Actually it's only been like 4 out of the last 10 days.  He doesn't eat and then I worry that when I come home at lunch, I'm going to find throw up all over the place.  We've had some of the special diet dog food from the vet for occasions such as these so usually about an hour after the other "boys" eat, Dan eats that.  And he's fine.  Annnnd - I have yet to find throw up when I come home.

But his gurgling and churning actually wake me up.  On top of that, he can't tell me what's wrong!  

Today was one of those days.  I don't much mind it on work days because - I have to get up to head to the club anyhow.  But on days I can "sleep in" until 630 or 7 - well those only come along twice a week.  The Dad can sleep through a sonic boom, an earthquake and even when a dog farts on the bed...  but I can't.  Today - I was not going to be bested by this - so I folded the pillow over my head as Dan The Dog and The Dad slept through the obnoxiously loud gurgling.  And it worked until the right arm holding the pillow over my ear fell asleep and I moved and hit myself in the face.  Not cool.  Followed by my request  to remove himself from my bed, being ignored.  <sigh>

We were out of the special food so after our workout this morning I ran to Petco for special food.  I searched and searched for just the right thing and found a "Sensitive Stomach" food for dogs BUT it was for ages 1-6.  There was not one for ages 7 and Up, or mature dogs, or Adult dogs with sensitive, gurgling stomachs...  I found dogfood specifically for boxers, dachsunds, german shepards and yorkshire terriers though.  

I settled on a chicken, rice and oatmeal dry food with four cans of canned food - just in case.  When I got home - we determined we'd put a little of the dry food in a bowl and mix it with a skoche of the canned food... and after Dan licked the bowl clean and smiled up at us, we knew then - we are screwed.  We'll be "mixing" his little entree up each night and morning and probably eventually cooking up some gravy and extra minute rice to throw in there.  And why stop there?  I mean - how can that  be fair to the other dogs?  Right?

Of course, the dog with the non-dog name is the dog with sensitivity issues...  I suppose that stands to reason.  

Little Dan.  Dan the Man.  Stinky Dan.  Dan the Dog.  Mingus...  This better work.

Now - I can see that Zach has found "Employee of the Month" on TV now and I just love Dax Shepard so I'm gonna go take in the rest of the movie with another one of my babies.  The kind with only 2 legs.  Until his stomach starts gurgling and I need to make dinner.  

~Whitney~ 8.9.63 - 2.11.12

***updated below***


For several years, The Dad ran a fantasy football league and I was a participant.  He was having his annual draft one year, at a time when there weren't wireless internet connections - so to be on the internet - you had to tie up your phone line.  The "drafts" lasted several hours and this particular draft had a member out of town, but who could "participate" through messaging/emails.  That particular draft was on August 31, 1997.

After the draft ended and things were cleaned up, boys put to bed - I remember turning on the TV... and on every single station was the unbelievable, shocking, saddening, maddening news that Lady Diana, Princess of Wales had been killed in a tragic car accident.  I was literally in shock.  Most people were - but I was really sad.  I had "grown up" admiring her and when I was in the 5th or 6th grade would cut out pictures in the paper of her (never the ones with her and Charles because I never found him attractive)... and I placed them in a book my Grandma got for me after the Royal Wedding.  I have newspaper photos of baby Will too. I still have the book. But my "time" with Diana dwindled as I grew up - but I always watched if she was in the news or in a magazine.  She was always stunning and she always seemed so kind and giving.

So today - The Dad and I were enjoying the rainy day and watching a movie.  The movie ended and he picked up his phone just as I was receiving a text from a friend needing a recipe for next weekend.  We were texting back and forth when my Twittering spouse announced that Whitney Houston had died.  I feel much the same as I did the day Diana was killed.

I can distinctly remember leaving the Coliseum (now the Arena) after GSL basketball games and belting out Whitney as we all drove back up to the hill.  I absolutely LOVE at Christmas  - the movie, "The Preachers Wife".   Whitney Houston... naw.  Can't be.

But as I process this - I'm conflicted.  Number one - I was shocked that she was only 48.  I felt like I grew up listening to her music - but sadly, more than that, photos over the past several years as she battled back and forth with cocaine addiction - made her appear older than that.  I was thinking more like mid to late 50's.

And then just as sad - my first thought was - overdose.  Beverly Hills, the night before the Grammy Awards, getting ready for the annual party thrown by Clive Davis...  and Whitney, a weaker-than-she-seemed being - probably decided to help herself "relax" before heading to the party where facing that particular guest list - was too much stress.  

Unfortunately, be it drugs or a freak accident or even murder - that doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things, does it?  Because no matter what happened, it won't bring  her back.  

Addiction to drugs and alcohol can kill and perhaps has just claimed yet another victim.  Though sometimes, the addicted just can't kick the habit even after trying over and over again.  But if they've admitted there was a problem and tried to get well, well...  that's something.  I guess.

Awe Whitney... this just sucks.  But know...  You were loved.




***Updated***
Still lots of questions unanswered, which is to be expected - but prescription pill bottles found in the room and her family stating she's been taking xanax for anxiety pretty much begin to paint the picture.  I know anybody can add anything to Wikipedia - and it's not a great source for facts but... there's this with regards to Alprazolam - or xanax:


- At a particularly high risk for misuse and dependence are people with a history of alcoholism or drug abuse and/or dependence^[93][94] and people with borderline personality disorder. 


- In a study of deaths in Palm Beach County where the drug alprazolam was detected, approx. 50% of cases were attributed to poly-drug use (the combined toxicity of two or more drugs). The majority of these cases included either cocaine or methadone

I have to question any doctor that would prescribe his (or her) patient with known chemical dependency problems an assortment of narcotics (tho we don't know what the other pill bottles were.) to help aid her with her anxiety or stress.  I have to believe that in rehab the lesson is:  Don't put yourself in a position where you feel you NEED to use in order to withstand the "event" and/or - if you find yourself in that very position, get out.  Call someone.  Leave.  


Sadly, we probably all know someone who is addicted to prescription drugs - though you wouldn't know it to look at them.  I'm sure "most people" weren't aware of the cocktail of drugs Whitney had with her, possibly in her the entire week.  But if they had, would they have stopped her from living it up at the clubs during the week?  Likely not.  People are afraid to get involved anymore.  It's sad - because this doesn't only happen to celebrities. 


Would you ask the tough questions of your friend/family member if they were addicted to narcotics?  Or take the "Whitney" chance and hope that because "he/she" seems normal and fine - it's OK?!?

8 Hours... (Kind of Like "8 Seconds", But Not Really

Today I got up early, went to work out at the same time, had a good workout, got home and got ready for work.  Same ole' same ole.  But somehow I left about 8 minutes later than normal and still had to go to Starbucks and then travel all 1 minute of time to work.

So I got to work a little later than usual and had just an inkling of a thought that my "Thank God It's Friday" might really have turned into "Get me the heck outta here, NOW" Friday.  

And it only took logging on and printing off the first order of the day to know that's exactly what today was going to be.

I did not pass "Go", nor did I collect $200 during my time with account #00933093 (not a real #).  I did not take a lunch break and I did not leave at 4 when my boss asked me if I'd gone to lunch and then told me I could leave since I had not.  I stayed until just after 5.  I spent 8 hours reconciling a silly amount of spots and I'm not sure it's entirely "spot on" - but it's gotta be close.  Check that - I spent NINE hours reconciling that damn thing.  

It's hard to take over contracts that my predecessor started because, as the quarter goes on, the contract (and continuous changes and printouts) keep building up.  I went through 31 versions of back and forth between the station and rep and found things that needed some attention.  And christ on a crutch, if they didn't take it.  

I talked to myself a lot, used a ton of sticky notes... and I realized at the end of the day that I didn't even finish my latte from this morning.  That's a cryin shame!  

I'm too tired to even pour myself a glass of wine.  Or blink.

Gonna be a rockin' time at our house tonight.  When The Dad gets home tonight and asks what's for dinner - I'm going to practice my best impression of "Samantha" from "Bewitched" and winkle my nose and see what happens.  Chances are, he's going to go hungry tonight.  

In other news - Zach shaved his head all the way!  Due to his fun hair "style" at Rubber Chicken, this was the only option.  But it looks good.  Fortunately Zach will not go hungry tonight because he warmed up the leftover chicken alfredo from the other night.  Yay Zach.  

That's all.  I might be hearing things, but I'm pretty sure the couch and blanket are calling my name.  

Na Na Na Na... Na Na Na Na.... Hey hey hey...

So the Ferris Saxons came out of the Rubber Chicken contest - winners - all the way around. Girls basketball team won, boys team won, and all of the kids involved in the "spirit competition" won.  There were three really great parts to the eventful night at the Arena.

1 - The girls basketball team led the entire game.  This is a big feat as the girls program has been rebuilding for a few years now and many of their losses were winnable.  But to win "this" game, for them, their coaches, the parents, the coaches spouses... this is a huge win.  And it made me very happy to watch it happen.

2 - The work that the guy "cheerers" put in starting back in late November or early December until last night is... well, it's amazing.  These "macho" boys spend Monday nights for 10 weeks and really the last two weeks a few early mornings and a few extra after school practices, learning how to support, toss, catch the girls with their acrobatics and routines and even learn their own little routine - and as a parent, I was proud.  It's not how or where I envisioned Zach would be for his senior rubber chicken - what with being a great athlete and tough basketball player, but it all worked out great.  And as I was telling my friend this morning - I have come to believe that the kids who suffer disappointment now (not referring to Zach, but sadly, another unfortunate casualty last night), early on in their lives, when they want something so bad they can taste it and get disappointed, or are treated unfairly... Those kids, post high school, are sure to find great success because they will have learned to deal with disappointment and know what they need to do in other, new avenues of life, to NOT have to feel like "that" again.  And so it was that Zach was a Rubber Chicken cheer "dude" and he did really well.  All of the boys did.

3 - This marked the 3rd Minn boy who was a part of winning "Chuck" during his senior year.  I can't tell you during all of these years when Ferris had "Chuck" or not - but I can tell you that all three of our boys get to leave high school with that fun accomplishment from their senior year.  I don't know if they will be able to tell you they won it in 23 years - and I say that because, I don't know if my class won it in 1988 or not.  I don't know if The Dad knows if his class won it in 86...  So for now, it's just fun trivia.

Last night marked the end of us seeing Ferris basketball games.  That's it.  Poof.  It's over.  Yes, Ferris has another game or two in the playoffs coming to them - but now that it's districts and my GSL card won't get me in the door - I'm not as likely to attend them.  And next year - I have no need to buy the GSL cards.  So, last night marked the end of 8 years of buying that card.  Poof - again.  

I'm feeling a bit nostalgic at this moment, knowing that it's gone, what it's all been like - good and bad and am a touch saddened.  But it's only a moment before I think...

"Right on!  Move on!  Let's Goooooo!"  

Buk buk buk - Bugawk!

Okay before I get into the last "Rubber Chicken" for the Minnerlys - I am going to announce to my lady readers (all 8 of you) that apparently, if you write on a blog about how your husband does "this" and "this" while YOU do a multitude of things - it appears to bring about positive results.  My dishwasher was loaded last night AND unloaded this morning while I was getting ready for work.  No, not by me and not by Zach.  I suppose it shouldn't count that he taught the dogs how to load the dishwasher, but...  <kidding>.  Thank you gaggy!

So it appears that ALL you have to do if you want your husband/significant other to do something, anything to help out - you JUST have to write on a blog about it.  There you have it.  You heard it here first.

Now - on to our last Rubber Chicken.  I'm feeling pretty torn today.  Zach came home with his new "haircut" last night but wouldn't show it to me.  I just know that he said to me "I'm going to school with a completely shaved head on Thursday."  That being said, I don't think it can be worse than Ryan's.  I love Ryan - but his "cheer boy/rubber chicken" haircut was wrong.  It was just plain wrong.  All those that saw it - remember  just how not right it was.  So if there are lines or swirls or colors in Zach's - that's all fine.  Ryan set the bar for bad and I'm pretty certain Zach won't beat it.  Lord... please don't let him beat it.

After he cleaned up he went out with "the guys" and thought he'd be home around 11.  You see - the people highly involved with the production pretty much aren't in school today.  They do the con, they load up vans, they drop off and set up the arena, they go to lunch, they go back to the arena and finish setting it up.  It's a friggin' production.  After the "Chuck" is awarded - they clean up, pick up, return and unload at the school and THEN come home.  I'll be giving a haircut long after I'll have gone to bed...  

All for this:

And South Hill bragging rights.  

One.  Last.  Time.

<sigh>

Bon Bons for Lunch?

Okay.  Here it is.  Gripe-fest 2012.  I'll start it out with:  "I love my husband... buuuuut..."

I come home for lunch each day and this is what I do:

- Turn up the heat

- Let the dogs outside

- Go fill up their water dish

- Let them in

- Give them a dog treat (carefully... because by this time of the day, if Jack hasn't had even a breadcrumb, he begins to act as though he's being starved by us.)

- Start a load of laundry

- Fold a load of laundry

- Sort laundry - usually every other day

- Come upstairs and unload the dishwasher OR load it.  Always load it.

- Determine and usually proceed to figure out what dinner I'll be making, and often times start it in the crockpot.

- Determine "There's nothing good to eat in this house" for my break.

- Find something that's not worth eating and warm it up.  

- Watch it cool down as I sit down to write this entry

- Do my dishes

- Say goodbye to the starving canines

- Back to work

THENNNNNN.... I come home after several more hours of busy busy work, usually don't get my coat off until I've started making dinner, made sure Zach has fed the dogs, I let the dogs in, pick up whatever they've pulled throughout the house, empty bathroom garbages (because Dan really likes to pull garbage out of the bathrooms and carry it around.  Neat. O.), back to the kitchen to finish making dinner, take off my coat, empty kitchen garbages and usually empty the now clean, should have been run last night, dishes out of the dishwasher - again.  

I work out at 6 in the morning and often times have to fold laundry after dinner.  I'm kind of busy.

So today - Jeff calls me whilst I'm doing all of the downstairs things and it just so happens that this evening I have some gals coming over around 6... so I have to have food, wine, etc prepped by then and I get off work at 5.  (Yes, it usually only takes a minute and 34 seconds to get home, assuming I can turn on to Regal)  Therefore today, amongst all of the usual stuff I do, I had to do the wood floors.  He asked what I was doing?  I told him the same stuff I do every day at lunch.  It doesn't sink in.  It. Does. Not. Sink. In.  PERIOD.  

Yes - he makes Zach's lunch in the morning and yes, he cleans up dinner - because thanks to my sister Tami - she instilled the "You cook, you don't clean" motto here.  Though it did take him several years to pick it up and run with it.  And even now, dinner might sit on the counter from 6:30 p until 9:00 before it gets cleaned up.  Double neato.  

But it's not like I come home at lunch and just wait for his call.  It's not like I'm sitting here - eating bon bons.  

I told someone earlier - it sure would be nice to be a man.  And he said "Yah, sometimes we have to lift heavy things."

Okay.  Gripe-fest, February 7, 2012 is officially over.

After I do the second half of the list above.

Anyone got anything heavy that needs lifting?  I know someone who's available from about 6:30 - 9:30 nightly.  :)