Why I've Been Slacking...

The truth is, I just haven't felt like talking lately.  There's been a lot of things happening that have made me sad, scared, angry, and frustrated, so I've been spending my free time doing things that don't require thinking - things like reading, or playing computer games, or going on walks with Ziggy.  But I've slacked off for long enough, so it's time to start writing again!  Here are a few of the things that have made me so anti-social lately:

- My new foster puppy Allie got out of my yard and disappeared for two days.  She eventually turned up at a neighbor's house, but those were a very scary two days.

- I've started job searching, since I've been laid off at work as of the end of the year.  It's difficult to find a job that is going to be anywhere close to where I'm living now, which means a long commute and no one to help with the foster dogs while I'm gone for 11+ hours a day, so I'm dreading actually finding a new job.  Then again being out of work with two house payments doesn't seem like such a good idea either.

- My best friend was also just laid off from her job, effective in a few months.  She's been at her company for over 30 years, and the company decided to move her job to India, so they could save a few dollars.

- My foster dogs continue to find new ways to escape the fenced yard.  It is a temporary "hog wire" type of fence and the dogs are digging out underneath, or in some cases actually climbing or jumping it.  They then proceed to lead me on a merry chase around the neighborhood.

- After running through a field behind my house, they end up in the Bad subdivision.  I call it that because one of the residents there came and complained about the dogs and said her neighbors would shoot them on sight.  I understand complaining about the dogs - they shouldn't be allowed to run loose, although in all fairness I have spent many, many hours trying to keep them contained.  But threatening to shoot my dogs makes me angry.  I was told that they would shoot the pit bulls because they were afraid of them.  The sad part is the pitties I have would never hurt them - it's the Min-Pin/Puggle that they should be scared of!  Regardless, I am now going to have to get a regular wood privacy fence in order to keep my foster dogs safe.  I was hoping to put off this major purchase until I found a new job, but that's not going to be an option now.

In spite of these many stressful and scary events, I am still constantly reminded to be grateful for all that I have.  My family and friends, good  health, a place to live, food to eat, and the ability to help those less fortunate.  I am blessed and have not forgotten it.

There's one more recent "event" that made me want to throw up, but then it made me finally decide to write another blog post even if I wasn't feeling up to it.  Because when bad things happen, who better to share them with than friends right?  Good.  So fortunately for you I did not take any pictures.  But if you're easily grossed out, you may want to skip this next paragraph.  Especially if you've been considering fostering but haven't decided if you can handle it or not.

Today I was taking Allie to the vet because she has not been feeling well.  I was driving down the highway and feel something warm and look down to see I'm completely covered with partially digested puppy food, really gross digestive juices, and to top it off, two or three roundworms swimming around in the puddle.  Do you know what it's like to be frantically looking for somewhere to pull over while watching these long yellow worms swim around in a puddle that is quickly soaking through your jeans and onto your legs?  It easily qualifies as my most disgusting experience of 2011 - if not of my entire life!  Hopefully 2012 will be a better year!