RAMBLINGS

1. Spring is sprouting out all over, but the recent rains were very cold to me, but no frost. I am longing for a little sunlight.

2. I HAVE a physician's appointment April 8 in Little Rock with physician scheduled to do ablation procedure.

3. Disappointingly, this appointment points to a May procedure. This physioelectrologist cardiologist is in great demand.

4. I have linked up with some departments at Baylor Heart Institute, if this does not work out.

5. I encourage all of you not to ignore your heart. If high blood pressure is a problem, do what ever advised to get it down. For older persons it generally is below 120/80. I have found I have fewer spells when it is about 110/65, but there are no approved drugs that will get it that low on a regular basis....maybe more weight loss.

6. If you are too busy, learn to say NO. I still have not learned the lesson--SLOW learner, as this is not my normal mode operandi.

7. Read. Invest in your own spirituality.

8. Sit 10 minutes outside, preferably in sunlight, on warm days for relaxation and a dose of Vit. D. You might see a great photo opertunity, too.

9. Avoid persons who elevate your blood pressure. We are all different, and it does not mean the person is  bad. It is just they, in some way, are hard on your system. At my age it is too stressful to change me or them.

10. Iif you are lonely-bored-like to verbalize, I strongly suggest pets which offer unconditional love. I talk to mine all the time, as my husband has severe hearing problem--he really does, although it would help if he would wear at least one hearing aid during waking hours. I can't be too critical as my hearing is moderately diminished and I hate the hearing aids I have.

HAVE A PERFECT DAY -- THE SUN DOES NOT HAVE TO SHINE!

Luckie - Home Alone: Graze or Hunt?

This Thursday morning is a hazard zone at our household. Like Sundays, Luckie will be spending a lengthy time alone. We both have various appointments during the same time period of six hours.

Despite her usual congenial disposition, "home alone" provokes a different aspect of her personality. I think she suffers from separation anxiety complex or just plain boredom.

She empties trash and garbage cans, chews up the Kleenex tissue box or her soft, fuzzy toys, and steals/eats anything that might be construed as food, like half or whole loaves of bread, Parisian donuts, frozen meatloaf, candy, or anything left within her ability to grab.

She once emptied a trashcan we keep near our coffee makers for filters and grounds. I've never figured how she did that, as its cover is step lever actuated. She shook the filters with grinds in such a manner as to cover nearby cabinets, walls and floor with coffee grinds. It must have been a lot of fun...for her. It was no fun cleaning up for me!

Our vet has advised giving her sedatives; we bribe her with a heavy serving of her favorite dog treats before we leave. I think we have that backwards -doggy treats only if she leaves the house intact!

She instinctively knows when we are leaving; she goes and sits in front of the cabinet where her treats are stored. We are shamed into giving her treats--guilt complex in full mode.

Today I hope the chipmunks [ground squirrels] and red or gray squirrels attract her attention and occupy her time. They have made their spring appearance in reduced numbers as their habitats have been diminished. We have less trees and vegetation since the 100 year ice storm.

She loves to hunt and show us her trophies, sometimes bringing them through her doggy door into the house for display. YUCK!

However, it is raining; Luckie is deluded , thinking she is made of sugar - might melt and dislikes water. Maybe she will choose a long nap in her favorite lift recliner.

Foodaholics Anonymous - Membership of Two

Our household has two foodaholics, Luckie and me. From all indications we will always be members of our own Foodaholics Anonymous. We are insanely preoccupied and addicted with food of all kinds, but mostly those unhealthy, cholesterol ridden, waist-expanding varieties.

This addiction is why we're perennially "on a diet!"

Luckie doesn't know she is on a diet...but maybe she does.

This morning's feeding frenzy is one example: I decided to get up later, like 7 a.m., when a wet nose and quiet, impatient bark awakened me. Before I completed my coffee-making routine, my underweight husband arose. Accompanied by Luckie, he went out to smoke a cigarette (no smoking is allowed inside house or car) and retrieve the area morning newspaper.

Meanwhile, I completed the coffee routine, setting the ON button on the second coffee maker, the signal to Luckie, her breakfast will be served. I feed her a meager half cup of kibbles plus a tad of cheese wrapped meds.

On days like this, I tried to sneakily fool her by quietly preparing everything. However, to no avail yet, she hears the kibbles hit the bottom of her metal bowl. She impatiently paws the door until my husband lets her in; then it's a "hot to trot" to her bowl.

And I am contemplating what breakfast will be...a piece of fruit or more substantial fare. I favor the latter, but will probably choose the former. Ah, such is life in Foodaholics Anonymous!

Morning Coffee Routine Frustrations

It seems age makes simple tasks, originally automatic zombie functions, require more alertness... like the morning coffee-making duties and Luckie's breakfast.

Lately I've awakened earlier than Luckie's wake-up clock. Today the coffee routine was filled with booby traps. We have different coffee preferences around here. My husband wants a 6-cup pot to drink all day--black with no additives. Ugh! By afternoon it is too bitter for me. I prefer coffee made one cup at a time with Splenda sweetener and 1/2 cup fat-free milk, or 3 tsp. Lite Carnation Coffee Mate.

The household has two coffee makers, a multi-cup and one cup. This morning I messed up the routines so both had grinds in the finished product-Yuck! I had to strain both brews.

Further, the carafe for the multi-cup coffee maker was not placed correctly under the drip basket, so it deposited part of the coffee and grinds on the warming burner and counter--a messy clean up.

Meanwhile Luckie is awake, pacing the room for morning buffet-doggy style. She has memorized my routine, and knows she is fed after I finish preparing and pressing the start button of the one-cup coffee maker.

Today, the mess of the multi-cup coffee maker required immediate attention. She went back to bed in frustration. As soon as I rattled her soft cheese bites bag (used to disguise her morning medicines) she came running, dancing and prancing for her buffet. All is forgiven. That's why I love dogs!

Catch-up Weekend and Luckie's Latest Sins

The week begins with well-laid plans but ends with items moved forward day by day, so Saturday, and to some degree, Sunday become the days these tasks are completed.

Earlier, I mentioned my window box house plants were root-bound and haven for ants. Saturday I destroyed every plant and applied ant killer to every seam around the box. I put my German Shepherd Dog statues of glass, brass and ceramics perched on a shelf and a scaled down collection of mortar and pestles.

The window box looks barren; the sun heat beats in since we lost seven beautiful shade trees in a recent, disastrous ice storm. The trees outdoors and the indoor plants shielded the kitchen from the southern exposure heat.

Then I prepared a Pot Luck Pasta Salad posted on WW, 12 servings (3 pts./serving), for my Sunday Life Group meeting. At least there would be one dish I could eat along with four meatballs sans sauce. Fortunately, among the lovely desserts was a strawberry, kiwi and apple salad I used for "dessert." I surely missed the taste of coconut pie, caramel iced bundt cake, and some tarts.

Meanwhile, while we attended Sunday services and Life Group afterward, back at the house, Luckie discovered my husband's stash of caloric goodies, he keeps out of my sight. He left the door open to the closet and the door to the room. She removed a box of six Parisian cinnamon rolls, eating them all, leaving the box in our pathway.

Quite content, she was at the gate, wagging her tail, when we arrived home. Somehow, I think she was smiling, thinking, "I foiled their attempts to keep me out of the food chain, again."

Digital Deliberations - One benefits Luckie's shelter home

Last Friday my best friend (BF) called me to visit her and wipe a desktop hard drive clean in exchange for a fried fish dinner. My husband was included in the invite, but not Luckie.

My BFs have multiple cats and presently only one dog. Over the nearly thirty years I've known them, they have only had one pure breed dog. However, I've lost count of the dogs and cats they've adopted, mostly strays, but some shelter animals, too.

The old computer was going to a local computer club which refurbishes them and gives them to the Humane Society or Salvation Army, whichever the donor chooses. Since BF selected the Humane Society, I was overjoyed to help the cause. It seems the economic downturn has spike sales of used computers, especially at these two charitable organizations.

I plan to add a box full of parts I've collected and no longer need in building or repairing (0ccasionally). I figured my helping prepare her unit for resale in the Humane Society's shop, in some small way may return the joy Luckie has brought into our lives.

The last few days a Silver Sneakers exercise friend tried to exorcise her desktop which she maintained was possessed by a demon. After several phone calls with e-mails with suggestions, and little improvement, I read the signs of having the Conficter worm which has been tormenting the computer world. I sent her a site to read about it and went fishing...hmm...better relabel that a windy boat ride on area lake.

Two phone messages were waiting for me, when I returned home: Send her the patches because she could not download them, nor access Microsoft website, two signs of the dastardly worm. I have not heard the end of this saga as of tonight. Stay tuned for the rest of the story.

Luckie's "forever" home.

After the final decision to keep Luckie, we took her home from the vet clinic to recuperate from spay surgery, before initiating heartworm therapy. Also, she was about five lbs. underweight.

We loaded her in the back seat of our station wagon on a small rug. She meekly, quietly, slept a few minutes of the 20-minute trip home. At some point, it seemed she felt she did not deserve to be on the seat, so she got on the floorboard behind the driver for the rest of the way home. Best traveling dog we've ever had.

Arriving home, we opened the front door, and let the leash go. She slowly crept in, and circled the furniture in our living room which consisted of four lift chairs, a church bench, Moroccan round table, small table between two lift chairs and one lamp. She circled several times and meekly chose the oldest and most dilapidated lift chair. That chair is hers to this day. I cover it with sheets. She rarely ever attempts to use another chair.

The second important step was introduction to the dog door. One trip in and out--no problem and no accidents to this day, even when we rebuilt the back door and changed the dog door model.

We have dual adjustable king-size beds with additional back wedges. Since I sleep in a lift-chair she quickly began to adjust to her new found luxuries by claiming the vacant adjustable bed AND wedge.

However, she doesn't care for motion, heat and vibration. She quickly exits the room if you use these features. She often lays by my lift chair which has these three features. The controls hang down the side. She accidentally turns them on, and out of the room she goes. Not sure why she is afraid of these things. The beds also has vibration.

She is fed a good grade of dog food, but never seems full. I believe she would eat 40 lbs. of Pedigree if we free-fed her. It wasn't long before I was having to watch her weight!

Despite being abused by a man, she loves and seems to prefers my husband. This is wonderful for them both, because the three German Shepherds, who are known to be one-person dogs, tolerated my husband, and preferred me. Luckie learns that all men are NOT abusive.

Luckie did not know how to play with toys. but now she has a boxful, which are in various stages of destruction. In her other life, she probably just had litters of puppies and not much interaction with people.

Next: Luckie: toys, tricks and treats

Luckie's nickname: Meatloaf

One comment requested I regale the tale how Luckie acquired her nickname, MEATLOAF.

Luckie's life before becoming a shelter dog is mostly unknown: she had a least two litters of puppies, one of which accompanied her to the shelter; she was approximately 2.5 years old; she had been abused by a man, according to the woman surrendering her and her litter to the shelter. I think she may have run loose, hunting, perhaps a need to provide for her litters.

She was somewhat underweight when we brought her home, but that soon was remedied!

One day when I was particularly busy, I put half a frozen aluminum-wrapped meatloaf on the kitchen counter to thaw for supper. My husband and I went somewhere for only a brief period of time and returned. I did not turn my attention to preparing supper until some time later.

When I went to the kitchen to reheat the meatloaf, there was nary a piece of aluminum foil, much less meatloaf to be found!

We had to go out for supper. Either my husband is in cahoots with the dog, as he dislikes meatloaf from his Navy days, or local restaurants want more of our business.

A friend tabbed her MEATLOAF, and she responds---maybe a guilty conscience?

Since this early event in her career with us, we have found she is the worst sneaky food snitch we've ever had. When we leave home we put loaves of bread at least six feet high, clear all counters, tables, and ensure the pantry doors are closed, including where her dog treats are stored. Nothing happens when one of us is home, and that may be a clue.

If we forget or overlook something, we pay. Half loaves of bread including wrapper have regularly disappeared. She ate a whole package of diet Russell Stover chocolate candy (fortunately with no ill effects).

She empties wastebaskets and unlatched garbage bins. She once emptied a trashcan of coffee grinds and filters, slinging the wet filters with grinds everywhere, cabinets, chairs and floor of one room. She must have had a great time.

We can live with the snitching, but I draw the line to her hunting skills of chipmunks and rabbits, especially her bringing them in the house to share with us.

Luckie and all our dogs

Having married late in life, and only once, my husband and I led a 10-year nomadic military life, where we observed families coping, or not, with normal family responsibilities. I also had health issues not conducive to healthy birth. With this brief description of our background we turned to dogs for extended family.

Our 40+ years of marriage include three female German Shepherds, all registered and spayed, all dearly loved, and much grieved when the end of life good byes were needed. Our first black and tan Shepherd puppy, Snoopy (but female) was European with European registration, small in stature, and sweet in temperament. Her life was a fun-filled nearly 11 years. There are many humorous stories related to her as she was our "military child."

Perhaps these stories will be regaled another time.

We obtained our second black and tan Shepherd puppy, Cassie, in Missouri. Belatedly, we came to believe this was possibly a "puppy mill" and AKC papers contained false information. We still loved her, but I made the worst mistake of my life by protection training her, also with an unlicensed backyard trainer. Upon realizing the mistake, I quit the training but always had to be extremely careful with her. However, she had severe hip dysplasia and relieving her of crying 24/7 at seven years was easiest of all goodbyes.

We waited a few months and obtained Gabby, a sable Shepherd puppy in Arkansas, after researching blood lines. She was our Romaine lettuce, broccoli stalk eater. She gave us much joy for nearly 13 years. Parting was sweet sorrow.

By now we were older (in our 60s), had our own infirmities, and figured our dog days were over, despite the fact I kept a picture of Gabby by my computer for three years (and still do). My husband and friends knew I was in perpetual mourning.

One day, my dear friend, a newspaper employee, called to say a photo of a 2.5 year old small mixed breed dog with German Shepherd looks, weighing only 35 lbs had been submitted by the Humane Society. I pleaded with my husband to look at her. It was love at first sight, and our first adoption! We are now sold on shelter adoptions, where dogs are tested for adaptability. I did not have the joy of a puppy, but at my age I was, and am, just happy to hear four little feet running through the house and enjoy a dog's natural forgiveness and love for their owners' inadequacies.

Luckie answers our recorder as "Luckie, the hound from the pound."



Next post: How Luckie got her name and maybe a picture