This morning I watched Teddy as he made a valiant effort to jump up onto the couch, finally succeeding on his third try. He was frustrated after the first two, voicing his displeasure with a few snorts and a shake of his collar. The varying array of jingles of his id and microchip tag often signal to me that he is frustrated, hungry or wants to go outside.

I realized as I watched him scratch and arrange his blanket to his liking that my Tedster is getting old. He’ll be 12 years old this July. Twelve?

Wasn’t he just this little fuzzy faced pup ?

I cried a little then, looking at him sleeping. I remember what it was like having to put Gizzy to sleep when he was 18, and the guilt, the pain, the “I’ll never love another dog like this” proclamations.

I was wrong, I do love another dog like that, and he’s sleeping on the couch in my office now, snoring away as I cry at the thought that one day, he won’t be there. I hate this part, the part where I think of having to lose another dog, when I start having to count up the years and know that the ones we’ve had are more than the ones we have left.

And what of Beaux? Teddy has always been in his life, what will happen when he’s gone? Will he grieve? Will he know that his little nemesis won’t be coming back? Will he miss Teddy nipping at his heels as he chases him through the office, around the media room and finally out the door to the pool where they drop all of their treasured toys? What of me?

I know it’s sad and ridiculous to look towards something that I hope is not even close to happening, but I’m  unwillingly doing it. Watching him struggle to jump when just minutes earlier he was running around like a puppy is sobering and put me in this frame of mind.

I just hope he knows how much I love him, and what a treasure he has been in my life. I’m so thankful for 12 years of Teddy kisses and smiles, and I hope for many more.

Love you Mr. President.

This year I’ve finally gotten back into the holiday spirit. I’ve decorated, I’ve baked and I am even sending out Christmas cards ! Thanks so very much to Tiny Prints for making such cool cards and giving me the opportunity to share them with y’all !

What?! You think it’s too late to send out cards? WRONG. Go to Tiny Prints now and order your Christmas, Holiday, and New Year cards and they’ll get them out to you in a flash and you too can impress your friends and relatives.

Just look at the fabulousness that will soon be arriving in mailboxes across the country, unless you are reading this, and well, here you are. Heh.

Happy Holidays from me, the crazy terriers and Tiny Prints !

Disclaimer : I was provided with complimentary holiday cards by Tiny Prints in exchange for this post, which is a fabulous company and one you need to check out!

Do you ever find yourself cutting corners to save a few pennies?

For instance, you have an oh so amazing trip to New Orleans in a month to see friends and surely lots of adventures will abound and OMG my daiquiri budget alone is $500?

Like that?

Yesterday I found myself in just that situation. Both of the dogs were badly in need of a haircut, and I didn’t think they could wait until next month’s boarding/grooming appointment. And I love love love my vet, whose wife is my groomer, but every time the boys go there I get a call a few minutes after I leave….

“Hello?”

“Miss Kim?”

“Yes.”

“We were just looking over the boys records and Beaux and Teddy need their shots for this and that and while they are here they might as well get their kennel cough and heart worm treatment and by the way we are running 20% off teeth cleaning want me to put them down for that too?”

“Uh, yea I guess so.”

“OK thank you!!!”

Click.

I swear I hear the sound of cash registers ringing in my head the entire time.

My mother recently gave me a pretty much new Wahl hair cut kit, with all of the attachments and everything. She used it to cut my dad’s hair a few times when he got too weak to go to town.

I figured hell, how hard can it be to just trim their hair? They are fuzzy little messes and every groomer that has ever seen them tells me how well behaved they are. Surely this can’t be that difficult?

A bag of cheetos for bait…….because frankly I get their trepidation. I’m not a fan of pointy sharp things near my nether regions either…….

The aftermath ……

Beaux turned out pretty well……

But oh poor Teddy…even Beaux doesn’t want to show his face around you….

Good thing you’ve got a great personality …..

Sorry dude. It’ll grow back.