Bounced Around

Molly and I were in an automobile accident last night. It was deemed as my fault and I am just thankful it was not worse than it was. Everybody involved was alright and Molly just got bounced around a little bit and she seemed no worse for wear. After the police officer got through filling out all of the paper work, I had Maggie come pick us up so I could take Molly home and then go back and tend to my car.

Molly was amazingly calm through the whole process because we had to wait for about an hour. She sat in the front passenger's seat and she kept an eye on me to make sure I was OK. I would reach in and pet her once in a while and she would lay back down.

I got Molly loaded in Maggie's pickup and Molly has always preferred pickup trucks anyway. It was a king cab so she had room to move and she could look out both windows with the wind in her face.

After we were picked up, someone pulled out in front Maggie and she had to hit the brakes hard and Molly got tossed into the floorboard again. Molly may never get into another moving vehicle after tonight's experience. My first concern after I realized I had been hit was Molly's safety.

Change

Molly and I are due to go through a lot of changes over the course of the next couple of weeks. I have to make my return to work July 8th and it will be a sad day for both of us. I believe it may be sadder for Molly. She will be losing her nap buddy, she will not be able to take endless walks during the day any more, and she will not be getting random belly rubs and attention throughout the day. I believe she also enjoyed the security of having me at home. We have had a lot of long conversations and we have debated the meaning of life quite often over the course of the past two and a half months. Molly is quite the philosopher. Sometimes you just have to say "Woof!"

The biggest adjustment will probably be in her bathroom schedule. Molly is usually so regular you can set a sun dial by her and I kind of like that. If she needs to go out any other time, she will come and bark at me to express the urgency of the situation. Either that or she saw the neighbor's cat in our yard again. However, she does seem to need to go out more frequently when I am here. When I am not here, she just lays around and sleeps all day and barks at the occasional sound.

A Food Bowl In Every Room

During the 1928 Presidential race, Republican candidate Herbert Hoover Promised during his campaign that there would be "a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage." That became a huge deal because seven months later the Stock Market crash of 1929 occurred and the American people lost faith in Herbert Hoover and FDR and his New Deal was ushered in in 1932.

Now that Molly and I have the entire house to ourselves, Molly believes that while I am moving furniture around and trying to get it set up the way I want it, I should amend that campaign promise made by Herbert Hoover to "a food bowl in every room." She already has one in the kitchen and in our bedroom and if she walks by and one of them is empty, she slaps it to get my attention and then barks at me. That is her way of telling me to fill it. If I do not stop what I am doing to go fill it up, she turns the bowl over and comes and gets in my face and barks at me. At some point and time, I went from Molly's owner to her personal servant and wait staff.

My Morning Walk With Molly

I will never get tired of my morning walks with Molly. We are usually out there before the rest of the world wakes up. The rest of the world except for the other creatures in the animal kingdom. The world is nice and quiet and made new again by a night of rest. The dew is still on the grass, the sun has just started peeking through the trees, and it is a brand new day and full of possibilities.

I have to return to work in about a week-and-a-half now from my shoulder surgery. I do not know how Molly is going to handle my return to work added with the recent loss of my roommate. Dogs feels loss and notice changes maybe even more so than human beings do.

Nice And Cool

Molly is built for the cold weather and it has been unseasonably hot over the course of the past week. That is why I have the air conditioners going at full blast and Molly and I have been staying indoors as much as possible. The heat really takes a lot out of Molly and wears her out. We walked down to the creek this morning and it was all we could do to make it back. I thought we were going to have to call for oxygen masks and assistance getting back up the hill. We need to limit our walks to early in the morning and late in the afternoon.

The only reason we walked at lunchtime was because Molly was afraid I was getting ready to leave which I was. Anytime she thinks I am leaving, she starts these stall tactics in which she tries to delay me leaving. It always works for about an hour and then I have to go if I am going to get anything done.

Skills Going Away

As athletes, people, dogs, and even entertainers get older, whatever skills they have start eroding. In baseball, I think of Willie Mays. He stuck around a year or two longer than he should have. In football, it had to be Joe Namath playing on his wore out knees. I am not quite 50 years old yet, but I have the body of someone 20 years older. Elvis and Johnny Cash come to mind when I think of entertainers. Their skills were shot at the end of their careers.

As Molly has gotten older, her guard dog skills have eroded. Cars drive up to the house, the people knock on the door, and she sleeps right through it. Today a rather loud Harley Davidson motorcycle drove up in the driveway and I think the only thing louder than the Harley was the sound of Molly snoring. Molly can sleep on. She has watched over me for years now it is time for her to enjoy retirement. When my Father's bird dogs got to be about eight or nine years old, he would retire them from the field. They became big pets then the way it should be.

The Wild Kingdom

We have seen more wildlife on our property in the past week than you would see on most nature shows. While we were out yesterday, we saw a groundhog who lives in the drainage pipes on the property and I am just glad he is not a Ninja. He is amazingly fast and agile for as big and fat as he is and we just watched him sprint by us and dive into the drainage pipe.

A few minutes later we ran into a turtle and I didn't even notice him until Molly was nose-to-nose with him. Most turtles will retreat into their shell but this turtle showed no fear. He probably was a Ninja. Since I did not want him to clamp down on Molly's nose, I quickly pulled her away. Last night I looked out the living room window and I saw a bear and her two cubs strolling down the driveway on a Midnight walk. I bade them goodnight and went to bed.

Copperhead

I knew it was just a matter of time where I now live but I saw my first poisonous snake the other afternoon. The snake and I sort of scared each other because he slithered under a stack of lumber and I ran the other way like my hair was on fire. I believe that fear on both of our parts is a good thing. Luckily Molly was not with me at the time. I was getting something out of my car or she would have been right there beside me. We have run across snakes before and as long as they are not moving, the really do not attract Molly's attention.

We had walked by the area where the stack of lumber is earlier in the morning when we were making our morning rounds. Molly has a nose like a bloodhound and she sensed something was there because she slammed on the brakes and started sniffing real hard. I quickly pulled her away because I knew it could not be anything good that was under there. There is so much animal life around here I never can tell what she has caught the scent of and if I can't immediately see the threat, it makes me really nervous.

A Great Day For A Tan

Molly does have certain advantages now that my roommate is gone. She has the run of the house. Whatever room she camps out in is hers. I can now leave the backdoor open. When my roommate was here, he was so afraid and paranoid of bees and everything else getting in the house, we had to keep it closed at all times. I just saw Molly out on the back deck sunning herself and working on her tan. The worst thing that will bother Molly is when he takes his bed. She has gotten used to sneaking in there for naps and getting herself some alone time. When she was a puppy Molly used to love to sun herself on the front deck at my old house. A little bit of Vitamin D can't be bad for a dog, either.

A Sense Of Loss

It has been scientifically proven that animals feel a sense of loss and mourn just like human beings do. Molly is feeling that sense of loss right now with my roommate being gone. My friend and I were talking today and we both believe she is depressed. My roommate has been a constant in Molly's life for 11 months and now he is suddenly not here. That is a big loss for Molly to deal with. He stopped by this morning to pick up some of his stuff and she was so happy to see him.

Molly Pays The Price

My roommate got kicked out of our apartment for good the other day. He could not come to terms with his alcoholism and it got the best of him. I liked the guy and tried to help him in every way that I could but when he threatened the safety of me and Molly, he had to go. I will protect Molly no matter what it takes. Molly liked the guy too and when he was sober, he was one of the few people on this earth that I could trust with her care. The key to that statement is "when he was sober."

Unfortunately when he got kicked out, Molly is the one that paid the price. She misses him because he had been a constant presence in her life for the past 11 months. She will go into his former room and just lay on the floor. For whatever reason, Molly liked him and she reserved her affection for very people. Every once in a great while she would tell him to back off by snapping at him over something he did, but that was very rare. She is laying on his bed right now and she is really depressed.

I have never really had to deal with an alcoholic before but I watched him slowly wreck his own life, the lives of those around him, but it also takes a toll on the lives of the animals that he lives with. My roommate indirectly caused the death of his own dog and over the past three weeks his behavior had gotten so erratic that I felt I could not trust him with Molly any more, not even if it was while I took a shot trip to the grocery store. None of that matters because all Molly realizes is that he is gone and the reasons really don't matter to her.

Location, Location, Location

Molly's eyesight and hearing have been going as she gets older so she has made adjustments to compensate for those losses. For Molly, it is all about the real estate and it is all about the location, location, location. In order to keep track of everything going on, she has to position herself in an area where she blocks the door way or a main traffic area in my house. That way she doesn't have to see or hear anything, she can sense our presence as we pass by. She tries to catch all of our movements while she is napping and there are times we trip over her no matter how hard we try not to. That is a price she is willing to play so she won't be left out.

A Card From Molly

My Gf's birthday and Molly's is one day apart but they each get the day in the spotlight. I got my Gf two birthday cards, one from me and one from Molly. I wrote Molly's out for her with my left hand and I printed it to make it look like she would have done it. Of course it was a dog themed birthday card and I had Molly step in something (and no, it wasn't doo doo) and then step on the card for her signature. I thought it added a touch of realism, my girlfriend thought it was cute, and Molly could have cared less. A good time was had by all but Molly doesn't wear party hats.

13th Birthday

Today is Molly's 13th Birthday and in dog years, that is about 91. Molly pretty much acts like a 90 year old woman. She is grouchy, sleeps a lot, and she is more likely to nod off while she is sitting there than she is to jump up and run to the door. I would have a party for her but Molly does not do party hats. It is hard for me to believe that she has been with me this long. She has been through a lot of major life changes with me, through several location moves, and has been there for me for all of my ups and downs. I wouldn't trade her for any other dog in the world.

Back On Schedule

I only have a little over three weeks before I have to go back to work and the worst part about going back to work is leaving Molly behind. I would love to take her to work with me and let her straighten out some of the management team but it is against the rules. I have enjoyed being able to spend all of this time with her when I am fairly mobile and we can go on long walks and do some exploring.

I am going to have to start getting her up early again or at least before the sun comes up and that is going to be hard on both of us. I think my place of business should have a bring a dog to work day. I really do not think that would last past my first break but it is the thought that counts.

The Bed Thief

My girlfriend stayed over at my place last night after we went to see the movie San Andreas. This is only about the second or third time she has stayed over at my place in the eight months that we have dated. That is not a big deal but when you stay at my house, you are staying at Molly's house. This is her domain where she is the supreme ruler.

Molly took control over her half of the bed and left us two human to the other half. Molly must have got up sometime in the middle of the night and could not get back up on the bed. She woke Maggie up who in turn woke me up and she said "I think Molly needs out." That was unusual for her because since I have been out with my shoulder, Molly has been sleeping through the whole night until I get up.

I staggered up out of my deep slumber, put some clothes on, and grabbed Molly's leash. Molly saw the opening on the bed and quickly jumped up on the bed and took my spot. She didn't need out, she just needed enough room to get back on the bed. Molly is wise in her old age. I ended up not taking her out until I got up at almost 8 PM.

Nose To The Ground

I took Molly out for her early morning walk and as soon as we got out into the field beside the house, her nose was glued to the ground. Molly has a very keen nose anyway and something of the animal persuasion had been out in that field. I am hoping it was a rabbit because she could follow their scent for days. I am hoping it was not something that could smack all of the ass off of us like some of the bear that has been spotted in the neighborhood. There was a bear mauling in the Great Smokies Mountain National Park about a week ago. I am hoping Molly and I cannot be snuck up on like that but there is always that chance.

The young man that got mauled is lucky to be alive and I would rather not have to rely on luck when it comes to dealing with the animal kingdom.

Rule # 1

Molly seems to have forgotten rule # 1 among pet owners and their pets, "don't bite the hands that feed you." I was trying to clean up some of Molly's dog food that she had spilled on the floor and evidently she believed I was trying to take if for myself. As soon as I started cleaning up, she started eating it as fast as she could. When I got to the pile that was closest to her, she leaned over and snapped at my hand.

That little move surprised me and pissed me off at the same time and I had to sit her down and explain to her if she did not make messes like that I would not have to clean up after her. I also had to explain to her that although I bought her the best food I could, I had no interest at all in eating it.

A Rough Night

Molly had a rough night last night. Those are getting more and more frequent for her. She laid in the same spot all night long and barely lifted her head up when I leaned down to pet her. She didn't follow me into the living room like she normally does when I pace in there and if I was ever going to find the mythical Fountain of Youth, I would find it for Molly. I would not even use it for myself. I would let her lap it all up.

A Candle Lit Dinner

I went on one of my historical explorations this morning and I had to leave Molly at home. I could hear her voicing her displeasure that I was leaving her behind as I pulled out of the driveway. I knew the throwing of the food bowl was going to be next. Molly decided to put a different twist this time around. When I got back home, I had to dig her food bowl out from behind my door and she had thrown a candle in her bowl for a more classic touch. I have always heard that ambiance is better for the digestion and Molly is wanting to put that theory to a test.

Time To Go Out

When it is time for Molly to go out, I like taking her on a walk. I have lived in apartments in Asheville and Gastonia but I still took Molly for a walk. Luckily we live on a larger property now where there is plenty of woods, lots of trails, and lots to sniff. There is also a lot of wildlife to try to navigate around and get to know. Some are friendly, some are not so friendly. When Molly and I go on a walk, we also seem to attract a rather large audience but as long as they are just there to observe, we can live with that.

Invited To Dinner

Molly and I got an invitation to dinner last night which we quickly accepted. An invite to a taco dinner is much better than Chef Boyardee and Kibbles and Bits any day. Molly likes going out on the town once in a while (she actually likes going out a lot but sometimes her social graces leave a lot to be desired). Molly loves to ride but the rides are getting tougher and tougher on her. She should be able to enjoy herself as much as possible.

We sat in the sun room and enjoyed our dinner and Molly had a special place set just for her. She also got to eat a few leftovers for flavor. She got to nap in between so she had a great night out.

Get, Get, Get On Up!!

There used to be a morning radio show on several years ago called "the Love and Hudson Show" named after the DJ's. They had a character on the show modeled after the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. One of this character's signature sayings was "Get, get, get on up! Get down when you get up!" It was a catch phrase designed to get you out of bed and get you to moving to the music.

Molly's catch phrase is a little bit different but it has the same type of effect. If I oversleep, especially if it is well past her time to go out, she wakes me with a hearty "Woof! Woof! Wooofff!" That means "Get your ass out of bed, I have to go!" It has it's intended affect. It does get me out of bed and get my feet moving towards the door.

Where are you?

This morning I was standing in the doorway to my bedroom and Molly was laying on the carpet in the living room. I called her name out a couple of times and she could hear me but she couldn't see me. She got home and looked around the corner into the kitchen and then she walked down the short hallway into the bathroom. It was really kind of sad to watch. She knew she could hear my voice but she could not see me and she could not find me. She started to get a little bit frantic when she couldn't find me. I walked up behind her and all was right in Molly's World. That was a great feeling for both of us.

The Ground Hog Round II

Molly and I had Round II with the Ground Hog yesterday afternoon and I would have to declare that round even. I really should give the Ground Hog a name. I believe I will call him "Larry".

Molly smelled that something was up before we ever got there and I am always worried about snakes more than anything. Whatever Molly smelled was in the culvert near the cottage and right as she started to stick her head into the culvert the Ground Hog decided to stick his head out. I think it just about scared the pee out of both of them.

Molly, always the aggressor, tried chasing the Ground Hog back in there but I pulled her back out. I have always found it better to battle a ground burrowing animal in the wide open rather than it's hole. Larry preferred the "hide and seek" battle plan so he escaped out the back end of the culvert and made a break for it. To be a hog, Larry is pretty quick on his feet. The moral of the story is that Larry lived to fight another day.

A Writer And His Muse

Most writer's muses are their partners or someone else important in their life. Mine happens to be a dog who has not been that inspirational as she gets older. She doesn't do anything but nap and you can only write so much about naps. Naps are great but they are not that exciting. She doesn't get into any trouble unless she decides to take a nip out of somebody. I would attribute that to old age grouchiness but she has been that way for almost her whole life.

Now I am trying to channel the spirit of Molly and use her essence as my muse. Molly has always been a very intelligent dog and also very stubborn. She wants to do and go wherever she wants to go whenever she wants to do it. The other day, I was trying to coax her back into the house because I was getting ready to go somewhere. I had her on her leash and she set her feet in the ground and became more like an old mule. She wasn't budging. We walked around a little bit more until she was satisfied that she had made me pay for my sin of leaving.

A Bear Family In The Woods

Evidently a bear family has taken up residence on the property I live on (a mama bear and two cubs) and that makes morning walks for Molly and me a little bit dicey. Molly is going to defend me and the mama bear is going to defend her cubs and I am going to defend Molly. The real loser in this "battle royale" would be me so my goal is to avoid confrontation at all costs. Molly does not quite see it that way so we will just stay out of the woods so maybe we will never find out the answers to any of these questions. I love seeing all of the different animals on the property (except for copperheads, rattlesnakes, spiders, and water moccasins) and I believe we can all co-exist.

Dogs In The Movies

I have been watching Texas Rising on The History Channel with great interest over the course of the past week and it has been really good so far. I do not know how historically accurate it is and I am sure they have taken artistic license with some of the facts and added a little bit of Hollywood to them.

There was one scene in last night's movie that really bothered me. A homesteading family had taken over a ranch and it was a father, a wife, and two children and they had a little puppy that looked like an Australian Shepherd. The family gets attacked by a party of Comanche Indians early one morning. A brutal struggle for the family's lives breaks out. The father is shot with an arrow and the mother is gored with a spear as the father tries to heard them all into the root cellar to try to hide. The Comanche set the house on fire and the little girl realizes the puppy is still in the house. She comes out of hiding and goes back into the burning house to save the puppy.

That action gets her, her little brother, and her father all killed by the Comanche and the little puppy takes off running through the woods for it's life. A Comanche arrow ends it's life and the last scene of that sequence shows the puppy laying there dead with an arrow through it and the rain pouring down on it's lifeless body.

I thought the scene with the puppy getting killed was completely unnecessary and I would have been happier if the Comanche would have taken the puppy back to the Comanche village with them. I realize that living on the Plains was often a life and death struggle and I guess the director wanted to show that even dogs were not isolated from this struggle. That scene took a lot of enjoyment out of Texas Rising for me. The dog should never die in such a brutal fashion.

The Cold, Wet Nose

The nose serves many functions for a dog. Their sense of smell is second to none, they can find anything with it, but Molly likes to use hers to get attention. There is nothing like a cold, wet nose straight up the shorts to get your attention. Molly either wants a treat, needs some water, wants to go outside, or just wants to be petted but she knows how to get my attention.