Monday, June 7, 2010

Dog Days of (late Spring)

I have not written here in months because my last semester at school was quite the ordeal. I kept rescheduling appointments and postponing hanging out with friends until I finally vowed to just catch up on my real life after I graduated. I have never been that busy, stressed and tired for such a long period of time before and I hope to never be again. I would fall asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. But as of May 8 I earned my bachelor's degree in Speech Communication. As soon as I find that pesky library book I will receive my diploma in the mail.

In March I gave Jon a puppy as an early birthday present. After an online poll among his friends he named the 7 week old pug (with 1/8 Jack Russell in him for funsies) Sammich, also known as Glen or more formally, (the) Sammich. He initially did not sleep through the night (horrible), loves to bite our faces and chew our shoes. He is wonderful.

Although Sammich was Jon's gift, it was also a gift to Spencer: he was lonely. He was spending long hours alone sleeping in the middle of Jon's pillow and even preferred to be up there alone when we were home. We thought a little brother would cheer him up. For the past three months Sammich has been biting his face and jumping onto his back from his puppy perch on Jon's lap. Although Spencer still spends a lot of time hiding out in our bedroom, now it is because he is hiding from curious, teething little Sammich.

When we take them on walks, Sammich smells everything Spencer smells. He will even put his face into Spencer's pee because he wants that badly to be a part of whatever Spencer is doing (believe me we have tried to stop this; and yes, it has happened more times than I can count). He barks when Spencer barks but just sits down to watch when Spencer tries (unsuccessfully) to chase a bunny. (The) Sammich has no need for such activities. Partly because he loves all creatures and partly because he is already panting from the exertion of the walk down the block.

Spencer has been coughing for about 24 hours. I am worried about him but do not want to take him to the vet yet for a number of reasons: 1. My job is unpaid for the next few months and I need to make my cash stretch MUCH longer than it usually does; 2. He had a similar cough last summer and Jon and I rushed him to the doggy ER and I paid $100 to learn that Spencer had something in his throat. Cough away, Spencer.

I Googled doggy cough remedies and read about a hundred horrible things that the cough could be a symptom of. But none that really matched his situation. Hang in there, Sir Spencer Rooney! Mommy loves you very much but is too poor to take you to the doctor if you are going to eventually dislodge whatever foreign body is in your throat. Perhaps I will take you to the doggy psychic and she will tell me where it hurts.

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