More Photos of Finn

Today Finn:

• started learning how to walk on a leash


• slept with his paws up in the air


• fell asleep in his mommy's arms


• had a little piece of leftover turkey


• played hardcore with his sister and brother (Maggie and Gus!)


• discovered mommy's new crocs...

Finn and Rory!!!!

Hello
My name is Finn---er---Finnegan Bach.
I am now officially a Bach Beagle. As you can see, I fit right it. I like to sleep on the couch, totally sprawled out like my brother and sister.

This is my REAL sister, Rory. She is going to live with Grandpa and Grandma in a place called Cape Cod. We like to snuggle together!

Of course, I hog the bed.

Grandpa put his Princeton hat on Rory...guess he is trying to get her to root for losers from the get go!

from KnittyD:

Hi all! Well, I did it! I'm a mommy again. Finn is sweet and silly. So far he's been a really good puppy. He slept THROUGH THE NIGHT and certainly has a clue about going potty outside. It is just a matter of DELIGENCE! He gives oddddddles of puppy kisses and has the sweetes little puppy teeth...albeit very sharp puppy teeth. He and his "brother" Gus get a long very well. Finn seems to take after Gus quite a bit. Maggie isn't quite so sure what this is all about yet.

My parents adopted Rory. She is tiny...maybe half of Finn's size...but she is "balls to the walls." She is not afraid of anything. They both love to chew rawhide and play with toys. And man, CAN THEY EAT!!!

We found out that their mother had been shot. Someone took her to the vet in West Virginia and the vet delivered the puppies. We are not sure if mom survived. There were 5 pups in all and I know the other three will find their forever homes very soon.

So that's the poop (haha) from here...more photos and adventure of Finn to follow. We will see how he does when Rory leaves...

Thanksgiving Carnage

Since my folks are in Florida celebrating the holiday with Grandma, I was invited to join Ellen and her folks for Ellen's Birthday/Thanksgiving Dinner at The Prime Rib.

The restaurant is typically a bit out of my league, but I'm telling you, from now on, if I want big meat, this is the place I'm going. No, I didn't miss the turkey either, since we are having it on Saturday over here at my house.

It is a lovely place, with perhaps the most interesting, leopard print carpeting you'll ever see.

I had butternut squash soup, ceasar salad, filet mignon (cooked perfectly!), mashed sweet potatoes, sauteed spinach and to top it all off, a hot fudge sundae. It was awesome.

El's dad got the Prime Rib and had his bone wrapped up for Jake. The bone was bigger than Jake's head. Sam was then nice enough to ask the waiter if they happened to have any other bones "laying around" since I had four beagles at home.

The next thing I know, our lovely waiter brings out a SLAB of Prime Rib End, a total of six juicy bones. When I got home, I weighed it...FOUR POUNDS!!!

The dogs went MAD. I managed to get a few photos...none of Mags as she took her bone outside and killed it in the back yard...but here are Gus and Harry loving their bones:

YUMMMMMMMMMMM!



I also NEED to thank my secret pal for her FABU spoiling of me over the last several months. I received my final package on Tuesday...THANK YOU BETSY!!! You were an awesome pal!!!

Here's a little peek at the goodies:






I wish the handknit dishcloth with a turkey design knitted into it would have photographed better! SO COOL. And these are now officially my favorite candy bar. I love the Christmas ornaments for the dogs...I'll just need another one for Finn!!!

Anyway, I'm off to Bed Bath and Beyond to cash in on a little black friday fun.

Tommorrow the pups come home...oh mom and dad are naming theirs "Rory."
And tomorrow is also the infamouse Saturday after Thanksgiving Dinner here...14 people, 6 dogs...should be awesome.

The therapeutic benefits of meltdowns

Clearly, letting some shit go is very helpful.

The blog post...tears shed during "sex and the city" reruns at 1am were very helpful and I'm going to do it...

Today I went and bought some things for the pup, including a tag, a bowl and a puppy kong.

Happy Thanksgiving to all...

Come Saturday, I will blog lots about my newest addition, Finnegan "Finn" Bach

Thanks for your thoughts!

Going Mental

Yes...me...I'm going mental.

I thought I had made the decision, finally, to get another dog.
Molly has been gone for 8 months now...and I know I can give another dog a wonderful, loving home.

I've picked him out. I've named him. I am supposed to pick him up Saturday. I've convinced my parents to adopt one of his sibs...just like we planned.

And I'm having second, third, fourth and fifth thoughts.
And above all, I have to ask myself,

Why can't I ever be happy with what I have?
Why must there always be "something else?"

I don't know what to do. I am so afraid that Gus and Mag will not react well to a new pup...that over the last eight months, they have become so accustomed to being a pair instead of a pack, that they won't be happy with triangulating the situation.

Or maybe this will be the best thing ever. The ambiguity is killing me.

I saw a client yesterday who is struggling with ambiguity too...and I've decided that it is really a challenge to the psyche because it keeps you from taking the next step...it is what makes you stuck.

So I'm stuck and I've got three days to decide what I'm going to do...yes I know there will always be an opportunity for other dogs who need homes...I just wish someone or something would give me a sign...(hint hint hint)

On another note, I'll blog tomorrow about my final package from my secret pal...

Any advice about the situation would be appreciated...

OYE!

I know I haven't been writing much lately...but quite frankly SO much has been going on I can barely keep my head on straight.

So...Congrats to

Heather and Serge who eloped to Lake Placid a couple of weeks ago!
Trish and Arthur who got engaged &
Robin and Ronnen who ALSO got engaged and are moving to San Francisco this week!

But with all the good, the sad as well...
A dear family friend, Kathy, has been diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. Kathy and her family lived next door to us in Willoughby. I've known them since I was 13 (whoa) and babysat all the kids (who are now in their 20's). Above all, Kathy was a big sister to me and Allison. We spent lots of time at her house after school, eating oreo's and talking about how stupid our parents were. Kathy is strong; a marathon runner. I'm channeling lots of energy into knitting her a very special chemo cap. Think good thoughts for Kath!

On top of all of this:
I'm dog sitting Harry and Luther---I've missed sleeping in bed surrounded my beagles...its very safe and cozy. Although there is LOTS of snoring.

And this was the weekend to set up my home office. Saturday night, 5 hours or so into the project, I started to panic that is was not going to get done and that I was having 14 people over for dinner in a week and the house was TRASHED. But somehow...it got done and the downstairs looks amazing and is ready to welcome the masses for the "After Thanksgiving" bash.

So between being focused on knitting Kathy's hat and finishing the holiday knitting, I'm STILL not allowed to start anything new...So far, I'm sticking to this.

Visiting the 'burgh

Yeah I've been a little MIA...but I have really good reasons.

I gave my first talk/training as a Veterinary Social Worker and I was GOING BONKERS getting myself together, finishing power point slides and lamenting leaving Gus and Mags for three days.

But the best part was that the talk was in Pittsburgh so I got to spend some quality time with two of my closest pals in the world, and also fellow Woosterites, Annie and Connie.

Annie and I visited the Andy Warhol museum Friday night in Pittsburgh. It's an interesting place. We both decided there wasn't a whole lot of actual Andy Warhol stuff there. But, the place does provide great space for artists "inspired" by Warhol to be seen. Let's just say there was lots of pieces featuring penis' and boobs.

My favorite Warhol piece, the Cow/Cow Wall Paper:

What is super great about the Warhol; you can take photos of all of Andy's works. Here's a few more:

Saturday brought breakfast and awesome pancakes at Pamela's followed by shopping in Shadyside. Then we were off to visit Connie and her family, including new arrival (3 1/2 week old Amaya).

Connie also has a six year love muffin, Isabela, who met her match in her Auntie Bach. We became fast friends...I hadn't seen Isabela since she was 10 months old. Here are a few photos of our visit:

The GORGEOUS, SUPER SMART, BI-LINGUAL ISABELA

Amaya says, "Talk to the hand."

I snuggle with Amaya

Annie, Me, Connie and the girls

Angel and Amaya

So, it was an awesome trip-I'm still super tired and Maggie is acting out through destruction to show me that I shouldn't be leaving her again.

In regards to knitting-this is my pact:

I'm only knitting the stuff in my knitting bag from now until the Christmas projects are finished. In the bag: 1) The Hunter's Safety Stole 2) The Dragon Scarves (3) Allison's gift (4) My So Called Scarf and 5) Brooks Farm Ribbed Scarf

Mom and I have plans to have our own knit-a-long over the Holidays; we are going to make "Kimono" shawl. We both purchased Blue Moon Fiber Arts "Laci" and mom is really feeling like she wants to make the leap to lace. So, I've got a lot to get done between now and December 22nd when my Christmas break starts. On that note, must get knitting.

Spook-tacular!

Yes, the Wynne's and I did our annual Halloween extravaganza; this year we went as the characters from Scooby Doo!
Starring
Samanatha as Daphne
Alex as Freddy
Timmy as "The Monster" who always chases us
Jen as Velma
Bob as Schaggy
Auntie Bach as Scooby

and Maggie, in homage to Cousin Harry, as a Vampire Beagle!

Happy Fall!