Allergies, back again. Grrr!

Its only been 2 weeks and Lucy moved into position last night. In my arms she went for reiki. She’s such a smart dog. If she’s feeling fine,  she’s with Daddy 24/7 playing, following him around everywhere. However I have now noticed, if she’s feeling not so well, she’s right up next to me. In fact, last night my arm was her cradle. The reiki calms her and puts her to sleep. What I’d like the reiki to do is to get rid of those allergies altogether! So we’ll keep working on that.  Her Vet gave us clemastine to take to Big Bear which I used for her which kept her feeling good there. I started her back on it. I found a great review of the medication here . http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=0&cat=1454&articleid=1390 Keeping my pharmacist hat on as well, have to check for any possible side effects.  Since the last bout we had with her was so bad, I started her on the prednisone today. I hope to slam these allergies every which way I can.  Sammy and Mochi seem to be fine. Poor Lucy. She’s saying Mom, help me!!

Refresh-Revive-Renew

Yes, even Reiki practitioners need a break from the stresses of their daily lives. Ming and I took a food journey to one of our favorite cities, San Francisco. It was bliss for four days. The weather gods were working over time to keep the temperatures in the high 70’s for our visit. We stayed at a favorite hotel, Campton Place (a Taj Hotel Resort) in Union Square. It was great to see that the hotel allowed dogs. We saw a beautiful black lab getting off the elevator. We did see a few dogs in the city but nothing like Venice. A pug in Neiman Marcus did excite the crowd. Ming did say “if I had Lucy here, I’d have everyone on their knees saying how cute she is.” Lucy does command a crowd.Well we were also up there to celebrate Ming’s birthday. We always try to go somewhere great to celebrate her birthday. We did some shopping which was fun. We had some fabulous dinners. Ming’s birthday was celebrated at the Farralon. Isn’t her birthday cake cute?  Mainly delicious seafood. We always eat lots of appetizers and then surprised us with a cake for Ming. Waddled back to the hotel and watched some goofy movie, don’t bother even knowing, fell asleep. Ready for another day. 

Another day of the same, fun, fun, fun! Weather was beautiful. Shopping was great. Everything went well.  These hearts were all over the city. The heart in the photo make us think of our dogs and how much we miss them. 

We decided to partake in the Chef’s 9 course tasting menu that evening. It was actually 12 courses if you counted the “free” courses.  By Chef Srijith Gopinatham:

Porcini Mushroom and Konbu Broth with Summer Truffles and Crispy Seaweed

Roasted Chiogga Beets, Beet Curd and Andante Dairy Minuet Cheese Snow

Artisan Foie Gras, Cocoa Nib Crust With Port Pebbles and Grape Gastrique

Barely Seared Scallops, Almond Soup Fig Compote and Prosciutto Ham Chips

Halibut en Papillotte, Carrot Hazelnut Puree Fresh Pound Herbs and Lemon Emulsion

Liberty Farms Duck Breast Artisan Foie Gras Slow Baked Peach and Charred Pedron Peppers

Roast Angus Beef Tenderloin Served with Truffled Potatoes Chanterelle, Haricots Verts and Veal Jus

Textures of Grapefruitj Lime Milk, Mango Sorbet, Blackberry Paper

Pure Chocolate Bergamot, Chocolate Toffee and Devil’s Food

If you animal lovers need a break, check into the Campton, even if you don’t need 9 courses, one will do. This is one of the best meals I have ever had in the world. Including Vietnam, Paris, New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, London. This Chef can cook. Presentation was gorgeous.

Now, what does this have to do with reiki? A happy pet owner is a good pet owner. You can see how happy we are. Smiles all around.

Writer’s Block

So I am searching my mind wondering what to blog about. Should it be funny, should it be serious. Should it be about Lucy, should it be about Sammy? Perhaps even Mochi? I come up with nothing. I think about who I have been giving reiki lately too and I come up with nothing. I wonder why I’m coming up with nothing.

I realize its grief I feel. The dog that I had been sending reiki to every day died last week. I don’t think I have even dealt with my own sadness. I had been sending him reiki for several months.The last several weeks, I was sending every day. Many days it was just him on my docket.   The dog belonged to one of my closest friends. In fact, I knew that dog as a puppy before I even liked dogs myself, before I even heard of the word “reiki”. It’s because of my friend that I even got a dog. I watched her grow up with dogs. She has always had a dog in her life. I have thought about my friend every day since the day she called me at work to tell me Bailey was gone. I had sent reiki to him that morning. Two days ago, I had seen a light.  A day later, a smaller light.  All I will say is that Bailey wanted to know that his Mommy was going to be ok. He was worried about her and wouldn’t let go until he knew SHE was going to be ok. Is that not the ultimate in unconditional love.  Afterall he had been with her 13 years. I remember the puppy classes he would fail out of and get all the other pupppies to follow him. The times where he would eat her underwear (shhh!) and her panty hose. And off to the Vet they want.  But he was the highlight of her life. He got her through everything. Now, as I said before,  dogs give us such a great joy, they give us back more than people that don’t have pets will ever realize. They truly are God’s gift to us humans.  I know, that with reiki as Bailey got older, he was able to run up the stairs again. With reiki, Bailey was able to bark at his Mommy in the end weeks. Mommy said she wanted him to talk to him, so when I sent Bailey reiki, I told Bailey Mommy wants to hear you talk. Well, then he started barking again.  All we all wanted is for Bailey to not be in pain.  Would you not say this is God’s best plan, the day Bailey was to move on, he was with his Daddy and Mommy.  Because they were on vacation, and they took their dog with them. When I heard that I felt good. We all knew time was coming close. At least they were together.

Many reiki blessings to Bailey and his family. To my friend Heather. This blog is for Bailey.

Scoop your Poop

I have a real pain in my butt from all the lazy dog owners out there who don’t pick up after their dogs. They treat the world like it’s their personal toilet, and they don’t bother to flush. On the weekends Ming, and I walk through different neighborhoods with our dogs, and cannot believe the amount of dog poop that is littering the landscape. People who walk their dogs, and don’t have the courtesy,or respect for their neighbors to pick up the messes their pooches are leaving in everybody’s yard are just rude, idiots. That is not to say that we all haven’t been out with out pups, and reached for a bag, and came up empty handed. I’m complaining about the guy who does this ALL the time. He/She gives all dog owners a bad rap in the neighborhoods because of their swine ways. 

These are the same people who decided that their dogs do not need to be on leashes. It makes it easier for them to come running at you and your leashed pet. That exact thing happen again this morning to Ming, and I on a walk. We were walking Star, and Kc when a very large (huge) ridge-back dog came charging at us. The dog was barking, growling, with his fangs out ready to pounce on the boxers. Ming froze in fear. Kc, and Star stopped, and were still. I just kept still also, but was prepared to kill some dog ass if I had to. Finally after the barking, and charging, the unleashed dog sauntered back home.. Ming started to breath again, and both of my sweet puppies just put one foot in front of another, and never looked back.

We run into a lot of dogs off leash at the beach because the owners like the freedom for them and their dogs. Free to crap, and no one picks it up. Feel to jump on all passing people, and dogs. Feel to annoy any/everyone passing by. Those signs “No Dogs on the Beach” are not for them, just for the rest of us. Of course it’s because of them that the signs were ever posted in the first place.

If you hear someone yelling to pick up after your dog, chances are it’s me. I don’t mind picking up after my dogs, and even sometimes yours, but not All the time.

Let’s all do our share to keep the neighborhoods clean for ALL of the dogs passing through.

Tick – Tock

This is one of those fun stories that turns into a bit of a nightmare. Let’s begin in the living room of our home, where my husband Gordon does his work outs. He is lucky enough to have a wife who arranges for him to have a personal trainer work with him in our home twice a week. It was during one of these work out sessions that Doug Brignole, his trainer was stretching him on the floor, and there it was….. A brown speck. Doug picks it up, and shows it to Gordon so he can see what a “Tick” looks like close up. A tick in our home? Our clean, spotless, scrubbed house is now home to a tick. You know what it means when you find one tick, there of course must be 2,000 (thousand) more close by. They boys alert me to the tick. My skin starts to crawl as I look at the little creature. I’m sure I have an infestation in my once clean home. 

What to do? For me I go straight to the real estate section, ready to move immediately. My husband thinks I am over reacting. You think? Maybe we should check for more. Gordon is on his hands, and knees looking all over the floors for more. After several hours, he did find 1 more small one. 

That’s it! Action is needed for sure. I head out to the pet store, and get some powder you shake all over the rugs, and the floors. The dogs are headed to the groomers for a flea, and tick bath. All eggs to be killed too. Now the house is covered in a carpet of white waiting for Gordon to vacuum it all up. Gordon got a little carried away when he was sprinkling the flea, and tick pesticide all over he covered the chairs, the couches, and anything that came in his path. 

We all survived the tick crisis here at lovely home. My skin did eventually stop itching, and it’s been several weeks without a tick in sight. 

Our fur babies have never had a tick on them, so we hope it stays that way forever.

Woof and Wine

Just picked up this postcard and wanted/needed to share this with you. This is an amazing event. Wine, food, silent auction and more. And yes, Ming and I will be there.

 

Star came from Boxer OC Rescue. This is another Boxer Rescue Organization, non profit, volunteer based called Boxer BRLA. Last year Boxer placed nearly 800 boxers in new homes. Hallelujah, Praise the Lord, I’m sure you are impressed! So am I ! C’mon, donations are tax deductible. Such a worthy worthwhile cause. 

I hope to see you there. Looking forward to meeting as many of you as I can. Here is the link for the event, if you can’t make it, you can always donate!

http://www.boxer-rescue-la.com/winetasting08.html

 

Sammy Diva in Big Bear, CA

Sammy Diva loves vacations. Why? She gets to be with her family 24/7. What joy, her Mama didn’t leave her side for 4 straight days. Can you just see the smiles? I have food, I have toys. I have with me the people I love and for some reason they don’t have to work. I love Big Bear!!  My Mama is always around petting me, playing with me and talking to me. I wish we could go on more vacations!

There is one thing I have learned, if we bring Sammy’s bed, it doesn’t matter where we are. She knows that is her bed and she is safe.

One thing that wasn’t so fun though, is that I was so afraid of the fleas and ticks because of the previous week, I was very careful to not let them outside too long or too much. They were already out more than I had planned. But after all, we’re in the wilderness, they have to get out some. The morning the boys were out fishing I took the girls out and about. Sammy came home chewing on her paw frantically. I grabbed her paw and found thorns stuck in it along with some sap! It was difficult but Sammy was good in letting me help her pull the thorns out of her paw.  Back in the cabin!!

Big Bear, here we come!

Lucy’s first family vacation! Sammy had gone with us on a houseboat last year but this year was Lucy’s turn. She had never left home before.  She always been good in the car. Candy and I had taken her to Arizona before, and not a peep out of her for 5 hours.  Our drive up to Big Bear was fine until we got closer into the windy roads. Lucy was not happy and was saying, are we there yet?!

But once we got to our cabin, there was lots of time for exploring. Lucy was unsure of why were here. Did we move? Why did we bring so much stuff? I see that Sammy’s bed is here, our bowls are here. Even some of my toys are here! I’m not so sure of this!

The first night was pretty easy, unpack, grill some burgers for dinner and relax. Lucy was still on her antibiotics from last week, but all was good.  Lucy stayed close to Daddy. Unsure of why Daddy brought her here but if Daddy left the cabin, Lucy was not happy if she could not go too. Just in unloading the car, Lucy stood at the door and cried! I was shocked. She had not cried like that since she was under one years old and it was being separated from Candy.  Mark was sure to bring Lucy almost everywhere he could (except when they left for the day to go fishing)

But all in all, it was a great trip. Daddy was only gone one long morning and was at the cabin the rest of the time. Lots of running back and forth from the cabin to the dock, the dock to the cabin.  Chasing flashlights at night, trying to lick the fish that were caught to see what the hubbub was about… Standing guard at the door.. and hanging with Sammy and Mommy.  Was just starting to adjust by the 4th day, but then all of a sudden, Mama said, Lucy, want to go home?! Forgetting about Daddy, Lucy SHOT like a bullet up the hill and to the car!! We are CITY GIRLS!!!!

Allergies- itching and scratching. Misery!

Poor Lucy. Well, the day after the flea bath at Petco, we thought things would get better.  But that evening, Lucy was even worse. Almost screaming out at night with no relief from us.  Getting just about no sleep all night.  As I laid there trying to comfort Lucy, what to do was running through my head. I had to make sure Lucy was ok before I could take her to the cabin. I had already told my husband and everyone at work, Lucy was staying in the cabin with me. Didn’t want to expose her to any of the little buggers out there.  I sent Candy a text message before 5am. Are you up? TM came back, yes.  I told her my predicament and said I was going to beg the Vet to see her.  I wanted to call in sick to work to take care of my little Lucy.  At 6am I brought Lucy to see her mommy Candy.  What misery she said Lucy was in. She had some Lidocaine spray and was able to rub some of it on her tummy, pelvic region where it was so “warm” and “red”.  We stayed till 7am discussing our plan of action. Since Mark didn’t have to leave for work later, I thought best for Lucy to stay with Daddy as long as she could before being dropped off for a long day at the Vet. If no appt, your pet gets seen in between visits. Thank God they still get seen. Pick up would be around 2pm. Long day ahead for Lucy.

Candy picked up Lucy for us, brought her home, fed her lunch and gave her some much needed TLC.

The Vet then called me. She said it was POLLEN! Not so much the fleas really. She said maybe some component but mainly pollen.  She got a shot, antibiotics and some antihistamines. Ok, another $120 but I was just so happy she got some relief.  And I must admit I am relieved it wasn’t so much fleas.

Last night was the first night Lucy did not need reiki in the middle of the night. How do I know that? She slept at the foot of the bed again. Not next to me.  We’re all set for the cabin!

OMG, FLEAS, nasty!!!

So its been a very busy Sunday morning.  A few days ago, Lucy started scratching and biting her paws. I thought oh no, her allergies are back again. We are heading to a cabin next weekend and was trying to time her baths. I know after we get back from the cabin, Sammy and Lucy will be dirty little dogs.  A day or so went on and Lucy seemed ok. But at night she was itching fiercely. She woke me up and I actually did reiki her and we both fell into slumber. However this morning, I awoke and looked at her belly and I saw them, yes, at least one. YUCK!!!! Horrified, I was in a scramble to find a groomer. Our groomer is off on Sunday and Monday and I needed one ASAP. The one thing I do not understand is that Sammy is fine, Mochi is fine. Why in the heck do these ^&%$ fleas like Lucy. Poor Lucy. I got on the internet looking for a groomer in the LA area. I found one and at 7am he actually answered his phone. His service is the kind that comes to you home. Well, after he asks me a zillion questions, tells me Lucy not responding to Frontline may need weekly bathes, says for $100 he’ll come out. $100??!! No way, there has to be someone else. I do a search for groomers open on Sundays. I find one in Culver City. I leave a msg but decide I better just be at her door and when she sees how cute Lucy is, she’ll take pity and give her a flea bath, flea dip, whatever it is that “they” do. I head out at 830am asking Mark to wish me luck. We get to the groomer 15 min early. As we walk around, Lucy senses that is the place to go, she throws herself at the door as if pleading, let me in and help me. We wait 10 more min, by now, its past opening time and I’m thinking they’re not coming!! I call Centinela Pet and Feed, they have no groomer. Alas, Mark gives me the number for Petco and they have an opening at 1030am. We rush home.  I would prefer a groomer for Lucy and felt bad that she has to go to one of those establishments, but the girl seemed nice. I took Lucy’s collar off and handed her off.  I found this website, http://www.dogchatforum.com/get_rid_of_fleas.htm which had all kinds of information. We have now sprayed, powdered the house. Thank you Gordon for the powder and thank you Mark for vacuuming the whole house!! Exchanged and cleaned all the bedding for us, for the dogs.  Candy on her walk this morning called to tell me people are digging up the earth right behind our houses. This must be the reason for these fleas. The moving of the earth probably has released all kinds of buggers. GROSS! I’ve never had a problem with Mochi or Sammy and they  have been with me for 8-11 years. Never ever once have I had to deal with fleas. EVER. What a nightmare. I think I am itching just writing this.