I haven’t been posting regularly lately. I’m sorry! Professor was very sick and Mom was spending a lot of time with him. He used to growl at me so I couldn’t go in with him. He went to the Rainbow Bridge on November 20. Mom says his ashes will be home soon to join the three doggies she had before I came to live here. Nobody will growl at me anymore. I have to give him credit, he was very brave! He didn’t run from me and I was MUCH bigger than him. Mom misses him. I guess I do too.
Professor succumbed to anemia caused by Feline Leukemia Virus. He was about 4 years old. He lived with us for just a little over one year. Medical science knows nothing about viruses.
Anyway, Mom is taking a class. Night school for divorced ladies as Elizabeth Gilbert might call it.
Yeah, Mom reads these books. She always has. This picture is a few years old. The wine is a random one she had that day. She went through a phase where she tried every wine on the shelf.
But I digress, Mom is taking a class. And her assignment was to fall in love. She said, “Nothin’ doin’!” So she’s falling in love with me. Can you tell Mom is an introvert? Not a people person at all. I’m the outgoing fun one! So I am going to help her do these 36 questions. I’m going to answer some and she’s going to answer the others. It is HER assignment, after all. I refuse to do ALL the work for her. Plus she sometimes can tell what I’m thinking so occasionally I let her talk for me. But only when she’s a good girl.
1. Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?
Probably one of her former owners. I’m sure she misses some very much. Dogs remember. One in particular I know she would share fries from Wendy’s. And yes, I do bring her fries from Wendy’s once in a while. After her metabolism kicked in, I started letting her snack. We just take an extra walk or cut some calories elsewhere. Dieting is an ongoing process not a punishment. She gets people food now!
2. Would you like to be famous? In what way?
I already am! Look how much my public loves me! I know you all want to meet me too!
3. Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say? Why?
Dogs don’t make telephone calls, silly!
4. What would constitute a “perfect” day for you?
It would definitely involve a car ride, lots of food, a walk, pets from everybody, stealing all the cat food in the house, and curling up with someone she loves. And maybe catching a ups truck or a squirrel. If she wasn’t sleeping when it went by.
5. When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?
We “sing” to each other every night! I like to sing with Mom. Even though she is completely off key.
We do. And yes, I know I’m off key. It’s a ritual we have developed since she was left with me. Every night, Sammie gets a few treats and a bone to chew. Then she gets her midnight snack (which is usually around 1 or 2 AM), she gets a massage, and we growl and howl together and wake up the neighborhood! And then it’s bedtime. Usually that ends up being 4 AM-ish.
6. If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?
Definitely body. My answer would be the same as Sammie’s. The mind is shaped by experience. Why would you want to give that up? No matter what the outcome. And also, see next question.
7. Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?
Two different vets think she might have Cushing’s disease. Her cortisol levels are off the charts, her liver values have been high since last year’s annual checkup and just this year her kidney values were elevated. She got an infection. She gets them occasionally. That’s a sign of Cushing’s. So was her ballooning up to 158#. Although the vet is surprised she is keeping the weight off. That is difficult with Cushing’s. We work at it.
I’m not going to put her through the treatment for Cushing’s. She’s 8, maybe 9 years old. It’s a manageable condition. And the possible gains from treating her with chemotherapy drugs aren’t that much. I’m mostly afraid of the kidney values. That’s what I fear will do her in. I had a dog before her who had chronic kidney failure. You can smell it on their breath. Its terrible. I did everything right to keep his organs functioning as best I could.
I had to sign his execution orders because nobody told me the mineral deposits his kidneys couldn’t clear out were building up in his brain. There’s nothing to be done for that because nothing crosses the blood brain barrier to flush those. He got really weak and woozy. He had a seizure. Almost bit his tongue off. I stuck my hands in his mouth against veterinarian express orders; but he flailed around so much, I couldn’t stop it.
I really don’t want to make that decision for Sammie. Like our intro says, I’m not “her person”, I’m just a person who loves her. Dogs pick their person. But she’s my responsibility now and that comes with the territory. It just came with the territory with Professor.
8. Name three things you and your partner appear to have in common.
We like food! And naps. And cuddles.
9. For what in your life do you feel most grateful?
She would say everything! She’s very grateful.
Having a home. She came from a shelter to her last owner. While she was in lock up, she was attacked by another dog they put with her. She has scars and is wary of dogs bigger than her. She used to suck her toe when she first came, a comfort thing. Somewhere, on an old memory card from a flip phone, I should have a video of her doing that. She doesn’t do it anymore. She finally relaxed. She finally knows shes safe. Forever. In HER home. Please Rescue!
10. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?
I would have a forever home from the start. No pound. All dogs and cats should.
11. Take four minutes and tell your partner your life story in as much detail as possible.
I wish she could.
12. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?
Shes already perfect!
What mom said! Only add psychokinesis. So I can will food to come to me.
Set II
13. If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know?
Dogs don’t worry about the future. They are a wonderful reminder to be present and be happy.
14. Is there something that you’ve dreamed of doing for a long time? Why haven’t you done it?
Catching that darn ups truck! Mom stops me every time I try to chase it. It’s her fault, really. I could catch it. I know I could. Or a squirrel. I could catch one of those too!
15. What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?
Sammie went from 158# to 134# on her diet!
I can walk around the block! I couldn’t walk around the house when I first started.
16. What do you value most in a friendship?
Treats and pet me! But bring me treats!
17. What is your most treasured memory?
Laying outside by the fire at night when I was first sprung from the pound. Next to…
18. What is your most terrible memory?
Being afraid/ being alone. She cowers. Something bad happened to her at some time in her life. I can tell when things remind her of it.
19. If you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are now living? Why?
Eat more! Of course!
20. What does friendship mean to you?
Pets and hugs!
21. What roles do love and affection play in your life?
Love and affection are everything to a dog!
22. Alternate sharing something you consider a positive characteristic of your partner. Share a total of five items.
Sammie is loving, stubborn, funny, smart, and protective (not of me but I’ve seen her protect. She’d let the axe murderer get me as long as he petted her or had a treat. She hides behind me when she’s scared. Guess I’m the bigger badass.)
23. How close and warm is your family? Do you feel your childhood was happier than most other people’s?
Mom is always cold and cuddling up to me to warm up. And I nuzzle her anyway because cuddles make me happy.
24. How do you feel about your relationship with your mother?
Mom’s ok, I guess.
Set III
25. Make three true “we” statements each. For instance, “We are both in this room feeling … “
Happy to be home together.
Happy the kitties are all sleeping.
Wondering if there’s any good food out in the kitchen.
26. Complete this sentence: “I wish I had someone with whom I could share … “
More love. And maybe their dinner. Theirs. Not mine. Mine is mine. But I’ll be happy to share theirs.
27. If you were going to become a close friend with your partner, please share what would be important for him or her to know.
I’m a rottweiler. We fart. A lot. You’ll have to deal with it.
Also, if you are so privileged as to have me “growl” at you, I am not growling. I am purring. It is called the Rottie Rumble. It’s a thing. Don’t be scared.
28. Tell your partner what you like about them; be very honest this time, saying things that you might not say to someone you’ve just met.
Mom, you keep me safe. That’s why I know I can hide behind you if I’m scared.
29. Share with your partner an embarrassing moment in your life.
Ok. Best “Sammie is really dumb sometimes” story. We started going to Pet Valu for baths. They have 2 glass doors. I opened one for her to go out and she merrily walked right into the other door. It took a minute to sort her out. She still has the occasional disagreement with glass doors and which one is actually open.
Second impressively dumb story: The first night I brought her to my house, I left her alone for 2 hours. She went upstairs and somehow managed to get stuck behind the organ in my daughters room. The organ was flanked by 2 floor to ceiling cube stacks filled with stuffed animals. Fat rottweilers can fly. That’s the only way I can figure she got back there! She did not move the furniture. I wish I would’ve taken a picture. But I panicked. She could’ve been hurt.
30. When did you last cry in front of another person? By yourself?
I remember, about 3 years ago, a house burned down a few blocks from us. That was the last time I heard Sammie’s mournful cry. The dog that lived there survived. I think he was the reason she cried like that, though.
31. Tell your partner something that you like about them already.
Mom, you feed me. Not enough but at least you try.
32. What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?
Food. Never joke about food.
33. If you were to die this evening with no opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would you most regret not having told someone? Why haven’t you told them yet?
Goodbye, I love you. He just never came back for me.
I waited for you.
34. Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire. After saving your loved ones and pets, you have time to safely make a final dash to save any one item. What would it be? Why?
My treats! Or my bowl! Or my cases of food! Or my big bag of kibble! My blankie! My toys! Oh crap! Squirrel!
35. Of all the people in your family, whose death would you find most disturbing? Why?
Mom. I don’t know who would walk me at 12am and 2am and 4am and 7 am. Although somebody else might feed me more.
36. Share a personal problem and ask your partner’s advice on how he or she might handle it. Also, ask your partner to reflect back to you how you seem to be feeling about the problem you have chosen.
Mom, you are the problem. You wont feed me as much as I like. It’s a real problem! Especially since the cats get food left all over the house for them all the time and it’s just out of my reach.
But I love you.
Ok, those are the 36 questions that Mom wanted me to answer.
Have you fallen in love with me yet?
