Soak Up The Sun

Molly's theme song for the day was Sheryl Crow's "Soak Up The Sun." From about 9 AM to about 2 PM the sun shines directly in my balcony door. Molly believes in the healing power of the sun (and a good tan) so she stretches out to soak in a few rays as often as she can. This morning was a good time for it because it was kind of chilly up until about lunch time and the sun shining through the windowsd and doors felt really good. I think Molly can be asleep in under three seconds and when her eyes roll back in her head, she is down for the count. There is nothing wrong with that and I could learn a lot from her in that regard.

Molly's Thanksgiving

Most people use Thanksgiving as a way of giving thanks for the bounty in their life but normally nobody asks the dog what they are thankful for. Molly is thankful for a warm apartment, a nice human bed to sleep on, someone who is there to take me out when she need it and lets her stop and smell the roses, and takes her to the vet when she am sick (although Molly appreciates it, I think the vet thing would be near the very bottom of her list), that she gets her daily treats, and I sneak her a little bit of bacon from under my table, and her food or water bowl is never empty, and that she gets a belly rub and attention whenever she needs it. If there is such thing as reincarnation, I want to come back as a dog with somebody like me as an owner.

Playing In The Snow

The first snow of the year brings out the young pup in both me and Molly but we usually pay for it for the next couple of days but it is fun while it lasts. We took a nice walk in the snow this morning and then when it warmed up a little bit this afternoon, we got to play in a little bit. Molly chased a few leaves that were blowing across the snow, I got to take a few pics of the ice covered mountain tops and then we crawled back upstairs and took a nap. It was a good couple of hours and a couple of hours well spent with my dog.

The Big Blueberry

We were supposed to have an ice storm last night but that never really materialized but we had a real steady rain when I woke up this morning, the kind of rain that Molly really hates. I didn't take her out until about 7 AM because I am pretty sure she knew what was going on. I kind of like taking walks in the rain. I got all dressed up in my rainsuit which is dark blue in color (I even put on the pants), my Indiana Jones hat, and I looked like a huge blueberry. At least I was going to be a dry blueberry. I do want everyone to know up front that Molly's leash and my rainsuit matched so I at least had that going for me. This morning Molly wasn't thrilled about going out and she balked as soon as we got to the top of the steps. I was not going to make a day of trying to get her to go to the bathroom so I dragged a less than willing Molly down the steps. Luckily, she did her business rather quickly and the part Molly enjoys the most is getting dried off. I put a big towel around her and give her a good rub down.

The Treat Hound

There are certain breeds of dogs that are very rare but distinctive because of their background and their limited bloodlines. The Plott Hound, the state dog of North Carolina, is one of those. Historians say that the Plott Hound was introduced to North Carolina around 1750 and definitely by 1800. If Molly had not been spayed as a puppy I could have bred her and introduced a new line of pure bred dog, the Treat Hound. This breed would be part Bloodhound and part Cookie Monster. Molly has the nose of a Bloodhound as she is able to sniff out deep burrowing moles and other rodents and wildlife but she also attacks treats with the fervor of the Cookie Monster of Sesame Street fame. Her favorite is the Ol' Roy Munchy Bones from Wal-Mart and she has a distinctive eating style that would also set her apart from other breeds. She carries the Munchy Bone around in her mouth like a cigar until she finds a corner of the room off to herself to where she can eat in peace. She props the Munchy Bone in between her paws to where it is standing straight up until she gets to the last bite. The Treat Hound would also be fiercely loyal to only one owner and a very small circle of the owner's friends.

A Cold Morning

It always seems that on those bitterly cold mornings like it was this morning, Molly wants to stop and smell every leaf and blade of grass in my apartment complex. I am sorry Molly, but I do not have one of those thick fur coats on that you have and the only thing I can smell is the dump that you just took. Those also seem to be especially fragrant when it is really cold and you always seem to manage to get down wind of me so I can get a really good whiff. If I didn't know any better I would have to believe you do that on purpose. Not to worry, I am having tacos for dinner and revenge will be mine! Molly will suffer the wrath of my homemade game day tacos.

Welcome To My Home

When it comes to Molly, she would say "Welcome to MY home." I had a guest over for a few hours last night and I must say I was proud of Molly. She came out to greet my guest and she didn't growl or snarl or show her teeth and she was almost civil. I told my or I should say I warned my guest about Molly's territorial nature when it comes to my apartment (and me). She didn't do any of that. I was afraid Molly would try to assert her dominance by showing her teeth and snapping at her. Molly didn't exactly greet her with open arms but she also did not assert her dominance. Molly did do her "crawdad on a hot rock" routine but she wanted to garner all of the attention. Molly is demanding of her attention.

Sleeping Beauty

Molly decided to turn in early last night while I was one the phone and Sleeping Beauty should have it so good. She hops up one the bed, arranges her pillows just so, wraps her paws around the pillow, and she is out like a light. I was on the phone for almost three hours and Molly slept the entire time. When I got off the phone, it took me about 15-20 minutes to get her up so I could try to take her for her last walk of the evening. It was after Midnight and she was not happy about having to get up. It had been misting all night long, one of those real heavy mists that was going to soak me and Molly, and she walked to the top of the steps, looked out at the mist, and turned around and went back to my apartment door. Molly was telling me, "I believe I'll wait. I don't have to go that bad." I was expecting an early wake up call from her but she let me sleep in until 6:30. Molly needed her beauty sleep.

A Crawdad On A Hot Rock

Molly has developed an interesting new method for getting attention. That attention comes in the form of a belly rub. She lays on her back on the floor and starts twisting back and forth and flailing her back legs up in the air and growling the whole time. It must feel pretty good because she seems to enjoy it. It also accomplishes its goal when I give her a belly rub. She flails around like a crawdad on a hot rock and it is really kind of funny. I heard that figure of speech used by Granny on the Beverly Hillbillies one time and it fits her movements her perfectly.

Unconditional Love

One of the bad things about having Rheumatoid Arthritis is that it can sneak up and kick you in the ass at anytime like a summer thunderstorm. Since it is just me and Molly now we have to look out for each other. I was sitting in my easy chair this afternoon trying to find some kind of relief from the pain and I noticed Molly had crawled up on the bed and crawled over beside and she stretched out on the pillow and was laying there looking at me with the utmost concern on her face. That was a look of unconditional love and that is the essence of man's best friend.

Shutup And Pass The Pizza

If it is two delivery people that Molly know before they get here it is the pizza guy (and it doesn't matter which one), and the UPS guy and his little brown truck. Today I decided to order pizza and Molly alerted me when he had arrived in our parking lot and helped me share the pizza. She loves the pan crust from Pizza Hut and I always give her more than her fair share. I always have to lock her up when I am paying the delivery guy or he may not get out of there alive.

On The Mend

Molly is finally on the mend with her leg and almost back to normal. She can move around reasonably well enough, at least well enough to get up and down the steps. Before she gets up on my bed, however, I have to get out of the bed so she can jump up on it. I have noticed that she can only jump on the bed from the side of the bed. I wanted her to use as much of her bad leg as possible because I was afraid that some muscle atrophy would set in. She is much better now.

Molly's Rescue Story

I saw something the other day on Facebook about telling your dog's rescue story. I love telling Molly's. It happened at the Henderson County Animal Shelter. It was late on a Saturday morning and my wife thought I needed a dog to cheer me up and we couldn't afford to pay for a Pure breed dog (nor would I) so the logical choice was the animal shelter. We showed up and they took us around to the back and there must have been about 30 dogs in a big cage. There were only a few puppies and Molly was diving over the tops of dogs much bigger than her to get to the side of the cage we were on so she could get some attention. I told the guy she is the one I want. My father always tyold me when it came to picking out a dog, to let them pick you out and you would never be disappointed. The guy told us when we were paying her fee that she was actually on her 6th day and should have been put to sleep the day before. I think fate intervened for both of us that day and she has been by my side ever since.

The Electric Blanket

Molly appreciates the value of a good electric blanket and now that it is the first really cold night of the year, she says it si time to break it out. She snuggles way down deep and I have to drag her off of it in the mornings. Molly is really not much of a snuggler unless we are having a bad thunderstorm outside, but she can snuggle way down in that electric blanket. Molly has always loved the cold weather but the electric blanket is something to be treasured.

Hushpuppies

I "accidentally" discovered a new comfort food for Molly, like she needed another one. It is hushpuppies from Dickey's Barbecue. Every time I go now I have to buy her an order but she only gets a few of them. She does have to watch her figure. It is getting so bad now she will just lay beside my chair and open her mouth while I gently drop them in. Can you say beyond spoiled rotten?

Remembrances

I was doing my laundry this morning and I started folding up my socks. Molly, of course, is laying right at my feet wanting a belly rub and it made me remember back when she was a young pup and she used to love getting a hold of my socks. I would be sitting in my computer room and she would grab one and walk by the door, stand in the door way, and just shake my sock as hard as she could and run like hell. If I didn't get up and chase her the first time, she would come by and shake it with more emphasis until I finally got up and chased her. Who says dogs do not have an imagination? With my wife, it was tissues. My wife always had to have one in her hand so she could shove it up her nostril and she would leave them on the couch or laying in the bed with her except with my wife, Molly would go one step further. She would grab the tissue and tear it to shreds and leave the scraps laying all over the house. Molly did it all with a smile on her face.

Rrrooowwwwrrrr!!!

Molly has a very distinctive method of getting my attention whenever she wants attention. She can't come to me and swat me on the leg or something. She will sit across the room and growl and woof at me until I come over and give her a belly rub. My favorite move is when she rolls over on her back and starts growling and kicking her legs up in the air and she starts flopping all over the place. She seems to be having a good time when she is doing and I am sure it acts as a back scratcher on this coarse carpet of mine. She also gets such a huge joy out of it.

Molly Knows

I have been getting sick all week long and this morning, getting became is sick. Molly knew I didn't feel well because she has refused to leave my side all day long. While I was napping all day long, Molly slept right by my side and if I was awake or moved, she was right there with me. Molly has always known when I was sick or injured and she is more in tune with my feelings than any human I have ever known. Dogs are indeed man's best friend and Molly has been mine since day one.

Sing Along

I was sitting here thinking about what I was going to write about tonight and Molly is usually able to come through for me again. I usually have music of some kind on my computer or my old boombox (I can't believe it still works) and Molly starts growling along to Mmm Bop by Hanson, the acoustic version, and most dogs love music. The first music I ever really noticed Molly paying any attention to was the theme song to MASH. She would just sit there and watch the TV until the song was over. Heavy Metal usually gets her too wound up, Rap is definitely out, and Molly loves the '80's.

Milking It Like Bessie The Cow

There is no doubt in my mind that Molly hurt her leg but now she is milking it just a little bit. If we run into other dogs while we are out walking or I crack open a box of vanilla wafers, her leg becomes suddenly completely healthy. She is milking because deep down, she knows I want to go out of town this weekend and I will not go if her leg is still bothering her. She is a dog but also a female and she knows how to play the game.

My Fur-Child

I am going to borrow another term from Giant George and that is "fur-child." That is exactly what Molly is and she can sometimes be as aggravating as a child. Her leg injury is slowly healing and she is now able to make it up the steps with assistance from me from behind. This is mainly because she does not like me carrying her up the steps. She would rather walk up them by herself than have any assistance from me. I am still there to give her a boost and she would rather sleep on the floor than me lift her onto the bed. My fur-child has never been a lap dog.

Molly Channels Richard Pryor

Watching Molly "interact" with the two dogs from upstirs, Emma and Molly, the other night reminded me of an old Richard Pryor routine. Molly has had a bum left rear leg and she has been hobbling around on it for at least a week now. She has been hopping around on three legs the entire time. That is until she saw Emma and Molly. Then she was ready to rumble, bad leg or not. That is what made me think of the Richard Pryor routine. The punchline in the routine was "If I catch you around here any more, I am going to take this bad leg off and wear your ass out with it!" That is Molly made over. Once the doggie adrenalin kicked in, Molly forgot all about her leg. Then after the doggie adrenalin wore off, of course, I had to pick her up and carry her back upstairs.

The Rainbow Bridge

I had never heard the term "Rainbow Bridge" before I read about the death of Giant George. When it comes to your beloved pet passing away, I could not think of a more perfect phrase either. As I watch Molly struggle with her latest leg injury, I can't help but think that she is getting closer and closer to crossing over to the other side. I am hoping that she will be able to make that decision on her own but if she can't, I will know when the time is right. Molly deserves all of the dignity and respect that I can possibly give her when it comes time.