It's RAINING!

I'm so HAPPY that I don't care that I just watered my whole garden a few hours ago!

Hopefully it will cool things off a little bit!

YIKES! I'm getting OFF the computer!

Dogs can NOT handle THIS HEAT!

I worked a half day today. Just before I left a puppy had died, from heat stroke.
That morning we were also told about another client who had "forgotten" their dog was outside. He was 6 years old and he didn't make it.
Just yesterday, another client rushed in with their Great Dane who had been outside all morning. When they brought him inside their house, he drank some water and then fell over. He was rushed to our clinic and luckily the staff was able to bring down his temperature and he was able to go home later that afternoon.
I just don't understand. I let my own dogs outside and stand at the door and watch as they go "potty" and then I let them right back inside. I leave the air-conditioners going all day while I'm gone.

I also don't understand why people go "running" in this weather. But even more, why they run their dogs with them. Maybe they should take off their running shoes and run barefoot on the blistering pavement with a fur coat on.

There are several articles on the Internet concerning pets and HOT WEATHER.
Here is one of the better ones. I found it here: http://www.petside.com/article/how-keep-your-dog-safe-summer and it was written by Caroline Coile :
Summer is the season most of us look forward to for outdoor activities, but dogs don't do as well in hot weather as people do. Read on for hot weather tips that may save your dog's life.Summer is the season most of us look forward to for outdoor activities, but dogs don't do as well in hot weather as people do. Sometimes it's kinder, and far safer, to keep your dog at home. But whatever you do and wherever you go, keep these tips in mind:
Be aware that not all dogs handle heat in the same way. Dogs build up heat as a function of volume and lose it as a function of surface area. This means that larger dogs with rounder bodies have less surface area for their size, and build up heat faster.
In addition, dogs lose heat through evaporation from their nasal passages and tongue. This means that dogs with flat faces are less able to lose heat. As a rule, the bigger the dog and the flatter the face, the more prone they are to overheating. Overweight and old dogs have an even greater risk, as do dogs with thick fur.
Fur coats can be hot. Fur provides some amount of protection from the sun, but thick fur prevents body heat from escaping and promotes overheating. It's a myth that shaving a dog's coat makes him hotter. Shaving it to the skin can make him vulnerable to sunburn, but cutting the fur to about one inch can help him stay cooler. If you don't want to shave him, brush as much undercoat as you can out, and be sure no solid mats are there to trap heat and moisture.
Don't exercise your dog when it's warm. He wanted to run, so you took him jogging. You only noticed he was in trouble when he started to stagger, then fell. His breathing is rapid, his gums red, and he has thick, profuse saliva. He's in full blown heat stroke, and you must act fast to save his life. See later in the article for instructions.
Unfortunately, veterinarians see far too many dogs in this situation every year, many of which succumb. Dogs overheat before people do, so even though you may be just a little warm, your dog can be lethally overheated. On warm days, exercise your dog first thing in the morning, late at night, or only where he can cool off in water. And beware of hot asphalt!
Keep your dog out of parked cars. You only meant to be gone a minute. But once in the store, you got distracted, you forgot just how hot it was outside, and by the time you came back, a crowd was around your car. This time you were lucky. A broken window, the scowls of onlookers, but your dog is alive. Next time he might not be.
Studies show that the temperature inside cars can heat to lethal temperatures within 30 minutes even if the weather outside is relatively cool. Regardless of outside air temperature, cars heat up at a similar rate - gaining 80 percent of their final temperature within 30 minutes. Cars that start at a comfortable 72 degrees F (22 degrees C), for example, soar to a deadly 117 degrees F (47 degrees C) after 60 minutes in the sun. Cracking the windows scarcely affects the temperature inside.
Nobody keeps statistics on dog deaths from being left in cars, but about 30 to 40 children die in parked cars each year. Considering that dogs aren't allowed in most places children are, and that dogs overheat more quickly than children, it's likely that hundreds of dogs die in closed cars every year.
Be prepared for travel emergencies. You're driving with your dog on a hot day, enjoying the air conditioning. Suddenly the car dies. As you wait for help, the temperature is rising, and your dog is starting to get overheated. If you have water, offer some to him, and pour some over him. Next time, prepare by bringing a cooler with ice and a small car-battery-powered fan. Soak your dog and a towel in ice water, have him sit on the towel, and aim the fan at him. Air blowing over your dog's wet skin and fur cools him just as your sweat in a breeze cools you.
Provide for comfort at homekiddy pool and fill it with water so he can soak in it and cool off. If possible, aim a fan at him from a sheltered place so he has a breeze. If your dog is left inside, you may need to run the air conditioning, or at least a fan. If the weather is very hot, you may need to find a way to guard against electrical outages while you're away. Some pets have died when the electricity, and thus air conditioning, unexpectedly went off during the day.
Spring can be just as hot. Just because it's spring (or fall) don't be lulled into a false sense of security. Many people who are aware of summer heat hazards fail to take the same precautions in spring, when their dogs may still be wearing their thick winter coats. Don't be caught off guard!
Cooling a Hot Dog. Don't plunge an overheated dog into ice water. This causes the peripheral blood vessels to contract, actually trapping the overheated blood at the body's core -- just where it does most harm. Instead, cool the dog slowly by placing him in cool water, or by draping him with wet towels and aiming a fan at him. Offer him plenty of cool water.
If you have a thermometer, cool him until his temperature reaches 103 degrees F (39 degrees C), then stop, as it will continue to decline. As soon as you have him cooling, race him to the veterinarian. Even if he appears to have recovered, he needs to go to the veterinarian because some delayed but deadly effects can still occur even days later.
Not All Dogs Can Swim! Although swimming is a great exercise in warm weather, make sure your dog can swim first! Some breeds, such as bulldogs, French bulldogs and Pekingese, have the swimming ability of cinderblocks. And even good swimmers can drown in backyard pools if they don't know where the steps are to climb out.
Dogs and UV Rays. Dogs, especially light-skinned dogs, can get sunburn and melanoma. If you dog likes to sun worship, rub a sunblock on his belly and the top of his nose, the most common sites for sunburn.

OK, So...TODAY is my BIRTHDAY!

I tend to re-evaluate my life more on this day than any other, New Years included.
I remember being really depressed when I turned 47. 46 was OK but suddenly 47 was a whole lot closer to 50.
When I turned 49, in the wee hours of morning, actually just after midnight, I was awoken by my dog Ruby barking furiously. I sat up in bed and looked blurry-eyed at my window. (I probably should get Lasik surgery, but that's SO scary!) and instead of seeing the top of my Weeping Willow tree, all I could see was ORANGE.

I grabbed my glasses and leaned forward. Down below us was a thundering ball of flames. The neighbors garage which is just feet from my house was on fire! I jumped up and pulled on my shorts and screamed to the dogs and ran downstairs. I grabbed the phone and mis-dialed in panic. I tried again and got 911. Then police operator said they were already there. What?!
I clicked Blue's collar on, put Ruby under one arm and Claude under the other and yelled to Griffin -"Come on!" We ran to the front door. Outside there were fire-trucks and police cars. On my front stoop was a woman. She had been pounding on my door. As I ran down the steps, she helped by scooping up Griffin. She said she lived around the corner and would put him in her yard. Blue pulled on his lead and in my frenzy I hadn't snapped it correctly and he broke free and ran to a fireman. A woman from the crowd that was gathering ran up and got him. I rushed up to my car and put my little ones inside. The woman came up with Blue as a policeman asked me if I had anyone else inside. I said YES! my cats. The woman said to go ahead she had Blue, so me and the cop went back inside. I always tell myself I don't have favorites but at that moment I instantly made my Sophie's Choice.
My Boo was at the door and I scooped her up and screamed "HARRY!"

Out of the darkness from the top of the banister, he "flew" to me and wrapped his front legs around my neck. I ran back outside and the policeman asked if that was it. Nope, back in we went and I found Levi, Ivy and Ghost. Then upstairs I ran for Kanga. She doesn't have front legs so she wasn't able to make the stairs. The policeman asked if I needed to go back in for anything else. I stood there in my flip flops, my handbag inside, all my carefully collected "treasures" left behind and said "Nope, I have what's important with me now."  Whoa, five years have gone by and Boo, Levi and Ivy are all in Heaven now...
but I've added a few more doggies since then!
So, we stood outside as neighbors gathered in the darkness. I called my sister on the neighbors cell and she and 2 of my nieces came. My neighbors new electrical work apparently started the fire. Her brand new car destroyed and the back of her house severely damaged. I had a chainlink fence woven with plastic and that was now melted. Posts that I had just put up for my privacy fence were charred and all the branches on the south side of my Weeping Willow were burnt and dead. The ivy on the side and back of my house was burnt to a crisp and I think that the fact that I still have the old aluminum siding saved my house, while my neighbors vinyl was gone.
So, my 49th... I was just happy that we were all safe and sound.
My 50th was uneventful.
Same for 51.
52 didn't exist for me. (here for more details) - http://oldblackcatboo.blogspot.com/2010/05/52.html
You know ALL about 53 if you've been reading my blog.
So here I am 54. Wow, I don't FEEL 54. I'm told that I don't LOOK 54 but I AM 54.
Also my innards are 54. So now as I reflect on my future, I'm thinking that....I need to start riding that bike again.

I found this advertisement for biking. I LOVE it.

I guess some people are offended by it. I DON'T see why. It's just fat. It doesn't define me. I've been up and down and all around with that stupid fat. I used to keep it under control because of peer pressure. But then I just got tired. Tired of worrying and fretting and depriving myself. But now I need to worry about my health. And I'd like to have my clothes look nice on me again. Fat is like hair. You can change it. You can make it look  completely different. It's just HOW much work do you want to do? One thing I've learned is if you THINK about it all the time and restrict yourself, you are going to be a cranky bitter person. Or maybe that's just me.
So, I'm thinking about that. That and about where I want to be in ANOTHER 5 years.
I've been Googling. I REALLY liked this idea.
Biking with dogs.

I liked the IDEA of it but not the reality. But it's an interesting read:
http://www.bikeradar.com/fitness/article/-a-certain-kind-of-madness-a-bicycle-odyssey-with-dogs-24478/

Ultimately too much work for me. And that bit about going for 12 days with a bath? Um, NO! Personally I think this couple is SUPER cool and they also have a blog.
http://cyclinggypsies.wordpress.com/
Now if I was "24", I'd think about it.
But what else? Hmmm.
Then I remembered the other day at work the guy that used to work for me stopped in. He was talking about his custom built "motor-bike" and was showing me a website (that I can NOT remember now! darn it!) but we got to talking and he showed me some sites with Vespa type scooters. I said I liked the idea but where would I put BLUE? So then he showed me SIDE-CARS!

He also told me about free day long training courses. So that might be something to think about for the future. Maybe the distant future, like when I retire and get the house paid off.

The other day as I was outside in the front yard gardening, down the avenue comes this scooter thing. A girl is driving and some guy is in the side-car. I watch them turn onto the street and motor down the road. Later she comes back and turns down the avenue again. She must live down that way. Hmmm...might be a "sign". I never see those things and then BAM! there's one.
So, what do I see for myself? I will try to focus more on what makes me Happy and try not to stress about finances so much. (which is hard not to do) but just enjoy my animals, gardening and CREATING. I NEED to make time for ART.
I get on the computer and stare in awe of SO MANY of my BLOG friends and their CREATIONS.
I hesitate to list them, in fear of missing someone... Sandy, Robin, Pam, Abi, Catherine, Yasmin, Jennifer, Georgina, Nita, Denise, Colleen, Magaly....
just a few who INSPIRE me in so many different ways....so many styles, so many wonderful friends. So on this birthday, I'm HAPPY.
Happy to have my FABULOUS BLOGGER friends.
Happy to have my little house.
Happy to have my critters.
Happy to have my garden.
HOT! but Happy with lots of plans!

SPRINKLER

SPENT

1. (adj) spent
exhausted; worn out; having lost energy or motive force

It is SO HOT. I've been working outside at my job and outside at home after work.
I've been working inside, scrubbing, cleaning, sorting, throwing away....
I can't think.
I've been reading my favorite blogs but I can't seem to put words together to make comments.
I've had a headache for 2 days and I never get headaches.
I need to get some sleep and regroup.
I'll be back.
See ya when I see ya.

A REALIZATION and a DECISION

I'm sure you have all probably seen this kitty video several times.
I know that Gillian has posted it on her blog
http://lookmamaloves.wordpress.com/
But I just think this is something that I will never tire off.
I also want to THANK EVERYONE again for all your kind comments left to me on the loss of Little Bug.
I am grieving but also trying to work through my guilt.
Some of my pets are SO in my face that I notice every little thing about them.

But she was a bit aloof, not a cuddler and only came around to demand dinner or a door to be opened.

I didn't realize that she actually needed HELP until it was too late.
This has been a HARSH and HORRIBLE wake-up call to me. In my attempt to rescue those in need, I have failed. I will not adopting anymore kitties. Horton is picked on and chased by my dogs, so I have talked with my boss and he's agreed to let him become a "clinic cat".

We already have 2 cats at the vet clinic who walk around and visit the clients and sleep on the counters and do whatever they please. Plus they get full medical attention and quality food.

Horton should fit in well because he knows when and how to avoid rowdy dogs but he also knows where to go for a belly-rub.
My Dewey is only two years old

and Charlie is four.

And I expect them to be with me for years and years. Everyone else is older and when they go to Heaven, I will not be bringing anyone else home to fill their "spot".

R I. P. Little Bug

Last night my Little Bug went to Heaven.

Her time here was much too short.

I will miss her little screaming MEOW when she wanted dinner.

When she wanted a door opened for her
or when she heard the can opener.
Goodbye my Little Bug.