Wordless Wednesday

Surviving the apocalypse

When we returned home from the Apocalyptic birthday party last weekend, we were preparing for a hot night spent reading by candlelight until we could somehow feel comfortable enough to get some fitful sleep. 

As it turned out, the power was restored in our house by the time we got home, though there was such incredible damage near my sister's house it took longer for her. 






We were so happy to have our air conditioning and our refrigerator back, but I couldn't help thinking, won't be long before it happens again. And a time after that, and a time at some point where blackouts are pretty common because we've extracted all the oil and natural gas we can easily get to, and the rest is being rationed, or is so expensive that we can only use it sparingly.










Or we get powerful storms so regularly that being without power becomes a way of life.  

Is it just me, or does it feel like that time is coming? That a fundamental shift is occurring--in weather patterns, and also in the forms and amount of energy that are available to us--and that we are lucky to have at least a little bit of time to prepare. 


It was hard to imagine, while we had no power, a week or more without it. It has been just so bloody hot, and it's hard to think or do anything--especially the busy things we're used to doing, the social engagements the house to refinance the music to practice the writing to do--without the comforts we're used to. 





I also hate to think of the dogs being so uncomfortable, as they love to lie right in front of the fan or the AC when its like this.

But in other parts of the world, discomforts like heat and a lack of appliances with which to make it more bearable are a way of life.  

 
People live with it, because that's just the way it is. And despite the discomfort, there were certain things about the power outage that were enjoyable.











At the birthday party, people had a bemused and relaxed attitude and there was less pressure, somehow, to make it a perfect experience. 

I've gotten to spend more time with my sister, as she came over a couple of times to use my computer and cool off once my power was restored. 


















We even got to have a cookout in my sister's backyard, and Florian got a huge kick out of cooking up everything in our freezer to save it from going bad.

There were stories about food stores doing the same thing--barbecuing up all their perishables in the parking lot and feeding people for free.  

Disaster often brings out the best in us, and people--like dogs--are amazingly adaptable. 

I don't mean to sound like a survivalist wingnut with prophecies of doom and gloom. I just can't help thinking that things are going to change.

How about you? Do you and your dogs keep a basement stocked with barrels of drinking water, canned food, and firearms? Or do you think our ingenuity will get us through, no matter what?

Stormy weather

The derecho--the fast-moving, straight-line windstorm associated with powerful thunderstorms--that was responsible for all the power outages throughout my area was not the first instance of intense weather we've had this season. 

A few weeks before that was another tornado. I love extreme weather events while they are taking place and try to be out in them, or at least close to them, as much as possible. I don't love so much being without power afterward, but its a small price to pay. 








I guess if I lived in a tent or a treehouse, I wouldn't love it so much. But a porch or a deck is perfect for safe storm viewing for me and the dogs. 

The dogs definitely get worried with intense storms and thunder, as with any loud noises. 

 
They don't seem to be terrified, but they do seek out a place to be that feels safe. On the Fourth, everyone huddled in the bathroom--the smallest, darkest, most confined place they could find. 







 

The fireworks in Takoma Park seemed louder this year than in the past. It really felt like a war zone, and I could understand how it would be terrifying to a dog. I thought Pager was going to be irreversibly traumatized, but she bounced back soon enough.

 
Not sure if the anxiety wrap helped or not!  I wanted to give her some melatonin, which supposedly has great effects with some noise-phobic dogs. But she was too stressed to eat a peanut butter-covered pill (happily, she has gotten to the point where under normal circumstances I can give her pills smothered in peanut butter) and I definitely didn't want to make her more stressed by shoving a pill down her throat.
 
Fortunately, by the next day she seemed back to her old self.


How did YOUR dogs cope with the fireworks?

Happy Fourth of July!

Whether you look with some cynicism on this day we celebrate the birth of our nation--this nation that is among the last developed nations to embrace capital punishment, that ranks 37th in a World Health Organization ranking of health care systems (below Columbia and Malta), 

this nation where we are actually still debating whether the use of birth control is acceptable, where the inexorable rightward shift of the past few decades has got us carrying guns in national parks and allowing unprecedented amounts of corporate money to flow toward whichever political candidate pledges to most generously reward the investment--

or whether you see something still to celebrate in America's vast open spaces that enjoy at least some degree of protection, in the highly politicized Supreme Court's upholding of Obamacare, which represents a small step toward the health care sanity that prevails in most other industrialized nations, in the growing number of Americans who are waking up to the scientific consensus that global warming is upon us,

enjoy your day off! Use the day to celebrate with friends, enjoy some healthy, rich, all-American barbecued tempeh or fried tofu in peanut sauce, and give your pups some extra love and a safe place to ride out the explosions. 

If your dog is afraid of fireworks, take a look at the helpful suggestions at fearfuldogs.com for getting through the day. Remember, there is no harm in comforting a scared dog. If your dog is afraid of loud noises, make sure she has a safe, comforting space where she can be while the fireworks go on. Try using a Thundershirt or anxiety wrap, some TTouch, and ask her for tricks and other enjoyable behaviors if she is calm enough to do them. 

And if you are one of those most patriotic of Americans who believes that constructive dissent is at the very foundation of our country, don't be afraid to show your independence by rocking the boat a bit!

The beautiful princess and the apocalypse

This weekend was my niece's 5th birthday. We were supposed to have a party at my sister's house with a theme of the Beautiful Princess, complete with an original theatrical production featuring Florian as the Handsome Prince and me as Queen Angry, 
 

but the night before there was a huge storm, power outages everywhere, 

a huge tree came down in my sister's back yard,














and we just didn't have it in us to do a Beautiful Princess-themed shindig. 

So we went with it and had a post-apocalyptic theme instead.  

All the kiddies seemed to have fun despite the smashed trampoline, and they loved it when a certain super hero made an appearance. 












 
The really neat thing was to see how great Pager was with about 15 overheated kids running around, screaming, and blasting Spider man with silly string, 

and as many adults sitting around and wondering what they did to deserve the experience of a toddler birthday party in the 94 degree heat with no AC or fans. 





 


She's not gregarious like Collette or Sandy--not to mention Fozzie--but she does seem to like kids and to be incredibly tolerant of them.  

Very good to know!


For a dog who was almost labeled incurably shy, she did so well.







She was definitely a little more comfortable once the kiddies left and there was just her family, including everyone's favorite--Uncle Johnny!


 



I've never had a dog who just climbed up on the chairs around the table with the humans, to check out the food offerings. 

Hmm--not much here besides Veggie Booty and really cheap beer!











Bring me back to the shelter!
 

No such luck Pager, you're stuck with us for at least a little while. It's for your own good! It's a wacky world out there, so you better get used to it.

Exposing a shy dog to new experiences

Since I know my duty as a foster parent is to expose my foster dogs to as many new, different, mildly challenging but mostly fun situations as possible, I didn't object when Florian recently had an idea for a bit of an adventure involving Pager.

Although we all know Florian can go a bit overboard in the adventure department, the idea of going kayaking, and not having to leave poor Pager in her terrible crate, was too appealing to pass up.  


Florian has been in heaven since our friend Francine left her kayaks in our backyard, and has been using them every chance he gets.














I've only been a couple of times, because of course when I have time for an outing I'd rather it be one that includes the dogs. 


And the idea of going kayaking with Fozzie in my lap, or Lamar, just doesn't sound like a relaxing way to spend an afternoon. Not even Florian's that crazy.

But with Pager, the idea didn't seem that far-fetched. 


Now a really together foster mom would have had a doggie life jacket all ready, but since I am not that foster mom I resolved to just go really slow, hold her tight, and stay mostly in shallow water. 




She was a bit nervous at first, and paced around trying to find a comfortable position just like in the car.










Except every time she paced around in the kayak, the boat lurched and we nearly capsized. Exciting!


Pretty soon though, she seemed to relax and have a good time.

She just looked out over the water, and found she was pretty comfy out in the open air and close to her foster mom. 


No vomiting or peeing!





That was WAY more fun than the car ride.

I don't know if going kayaking is on any official lists of recommended activities for shy foster dogs. But it sure was a fun way to spend the day with Pager.

Wordless Wednesday