My blog is intended to help me remember. I can't remember every thing but I can keep a record to help me and my hubby look back fondly at our journey as a pack with Chief. I expect one day in the future, the far distant future I hope, I will not remember the past. We all forget details of our lives as nature takes it toll, and I've noticed this past year it has become more frequent for me.
My biggest fear is that I will be a victim of Alzheimer's which runs in my mother's family. If that is the case, this blog will not matter at all, but, if old age starts to dampen my memory, I will be able to read this blog and have my Chief right by my side once again. I will be able to laugh at his quirks and sweet personality while marveling at what an awesome dog he was (is). His facial expressions, fondness for food and treats, joy from being with his J, and his affectionate leaning into me are so tangible, I just can't imagine a time without him. But I know sadly there will be. The pictures are of the greatest value to me, and I'm sure J as well.
What I have here is the chronicling of a faithful, loving friend who will forever occupy a large space in my heart.

A Good Time Was Had By All

Our pack enjoyed a three-day weekend thanks to America's Independence day. We're pretty low-key so playing in the pool and grilling out was the height of our excitement. And the fireworks. Fireworks set puppy off just like thunder, only worse if that's possible. 

So we are all together, tuckered out and bedded down. My favorite place to be.

I'm just doin' my job, ma'am.

I sometimes grow impatient when my sweet but fierce dog is simply doing his job. Living in Texas, we are fortunate enough to have a pool. A salt water pool. It was built in 1999 and is in remarkably good condition, but a milky white ring has formed around the pebble-tech finish along with calcium deposits around some of the rocks. After researching solutions and calling several pool companies, I found someone to come out and solve the problem. Surprisingly, it wasn't easy either.
I contemplated taking Boy for a play day at Benny's because I knew he would be on high alert watching some stranger lurking in the backyard for a few hours. BARKING continuously, running around in the house announcing the intruder until finally the intruder leaves. Over the years, I like to think I've build up a tolerance to it, but if I'm being honest, I'm not able to shut out the barking and mayhem for very long.  And I do want anyone working in our yard or around our house to know that I have a large, tightly-wound dog that is willing and able to protect me. But the barking!
So this morning, as I calmed Chief when the pool technician walked around the yard, moving this and that, bringing in equipment and generally working, I reminded myself Chief is just doing his job. I chant it to myself: he's just doing his job, he's just doing his job. And he is very good at his job. As I sit on the couch, he hops up and stands over me, leaning in close, watching Tate - the pool tech - out the back windows. Chief growls and watches closely. To me this feels very good, very comforting. I love this dog. Saying those simple words sounds so common, but I can't express how much I feel for this dog who looms so protectively over my lap. I watch him just as closely as he watches outside. He is a breath-taking beautiful animal. I never doubt him. Never.

Our good neighbors recently adopted a puppy from Operation Kindness here in Texas. Holly, a mixed breed, is such a sweet soul. She took to me so fast, it was puppy love at first sight. We visit whenever time, and the heat, permits. While I love to take Chief for our visits, I secretly wish for time with Holly-girl and me only.

She's got such a sweet face. 

Holly grows every day and will soon be the same size, if not bigger than Chief.  As of right now, our boy sees Holly as a bit of a nuisance but one day soon I suspect he will be dumb-struck with either love or friendship for the girl next door.

A play-date between friends.

There is no "Over the Hill" in this house.

Another birthday has cheerfully come and gone, celebrated and honored by my pack. The day started with a fantastic breakfast made by my sweet hubby and was followed by a day of relaxing, swimming, eating and laughing. I've always enjoyed my birthdays, especially after I met and married J. When it comes to wishing me a happy birthday, he truly "gets" it. He has always wanted to mark the day to make it special for me. Love that man.
This year, Chief did his part by giving me a gift and card. Very sweet. His gift was a practical, yet bejeweled purse hook. For those of you who have never heard of such a thing, it's a literally a hook to hang your purse off a table in a restaurant. I have to say, I was a bit surprised he'd had the time to order my gift and pick up a card. He's a very busy guy. Plus, wrapping it without thumbs had to be complicated.
Now that I am 42 and our boy is four - he shares my birthday - we are embarking on another year of chasing our happiness. We will delight in every opportunity to play and work while looking with wonder at those experiences which fascinate us. Don't we all want to wallow in the delight of a sunny day, look for new challenges close by or far away, or just take a lazy afternoon nap? Of course there will be rainy days and slower, more thoughtful days when we will might struggle, but we will forever be together as a pack.
The Boy is stretched out on the couch napping beside me. Once I get up, it's game-on! A new year has begun so let the adventures begin!

Managed to capture these images of a storm as it approached us in Carrollton.

 Going from bad to worse.

 No photoshop here. Spring and summer here are volatile and destructive. We made it thru this one!

I swear it almost looks like a scene out of a science fiction movie where aliens invade our atmosphere. Did I just tell on myself a little?

Summer arrives and the Thundershirt makes an appearance.

Did you hear it thunder last night? Chief heard it, oh man did he hear it. Many pets tend to fear thunderstorms to the point of shaking, whimpering, hiding, and worse. As J and I have learned about our dear dog, he doesn't fear it whatsoever. Instead he interprets thunder as an intruder trying to get in the house and since he is trained to protect us from such a threat, thunderstorms are dreadful for us all. 

I used to enjoy thunderstorms. The smell and sound of rainfall, the flashes of lightening and the darkness a storm brings always made me feel safe which sounds ironic but it is what it is. I like the feeling of safety that comes from being warm and dry in my home while the weather rages outside. However, now I know if it storms at night, which it almost always does here in Texas, sleep will take a distant second to Boy's wild barking and running around the house with his hackles up. And he literally runs around in the house - the floor plan of our house is a circle. His mighty "back off or I'll kill you" bark keeps us up until the storm has entirely passed. The thunder is bad enough but just imagine when it hails! 

To find a solution, I researched non-medicated methods of relief for those poor animals who are traumatized by violent weather. I came up with (play Superman music here) "THE THUNDERSHIRT!" 

The Thundershirt is a soft wrap with velcro that you wrap snugly around the body of a dog. This type of swaddling is similar to what comforts newborns when they are tightly wrapped in a blanket. So last night, the Thundershirt was produced and Boy was wrapped. So can you guess what happened? Here's a hint: J and I are exhausted because from 2:30 - 6 a.m. our dog was running around our house in his mighty Thundershirt barking his heart out trying to keep the storm from breaking into our home. I'm not saying the product doesn't work or wouldn't work for many dogs who suffer from fear of thunder. But think twice if your dog is already a super hero that needs no fashionable accessories. 

Nevertheless, summer has arrived without subtlety and we're in line for another round of storms this evening. At this very moment you wouldn't know our pup gets so very fierce. He is sacked out beside me on our couch, his long deer-like legs stretched fully out for maximum comfort. He is safe and sound, relaxed after a long day of playing, walking, and generally just being my best furry buddy. We're happy and we're home.