Jesus crying over not getting any blue cheese dip

Yesterday I was emotionally wiped out. I am so numb now from talking about it and talking to people about Lula.

I saw some neighbors yesterday who at first thought Jesus was Lula and then go "Oh thats not Lula". I then say. "This is Jesus" and then they play and say Hi to Jesus, and then I go on to explain very monotone "You wont be seeing Lula anymore she died" with I feel a very blank dead look in my eye. Like yeah uh-huh my dog died. And then they look uncomfortable, say the thing you are supposed to say "oh im so sorry" looking a little confused about my bluntness about the whole thing (which I usually am anyway) on top of my monotone matter of factness. Im really tired.

I love Jesus and his name. Its perfect for him. Jesus will heal my pain. I have the love of Jesus in my heart. WWJD I found Jesus. It all has a new meaning, and for once I can feel ok with those statements.

Jesus has very sick poop. Its like a yellowish paste, and he swirls it real pretty like a soft serve ice cream cone. I discussed that with an uncomfortable neighbor too.

I can make some people uncomfortable but most people just "Oh Sheri" me, especially the ones I like best.

good

We went to PAWS yesterday. I had no intention of getting a dog, just filling out an app to get one, and walk around and look at dogs.

Then I saw Reese, who we renamed Jesus.
1 year old boy Chihuahua mix.

Cute bulbous head for kissing, but he is very different from Lula. He is curious, nosey, he seems to like most people instead of just one (me), brave, demanding, pushy. A little imp, that isnt scared of anything.

Brent went with us. Brent is a part of our family so Im glad he was there.



Jesus is very skinny, I need to put weight on him. He was emaciated, and due to that had digestive issues but is better now.

Yeah, I thought maybe it could be too soon, but I dont think it is. I want to have a little buddy with me at home during the day.

Bad

I am very sad and mad about Lula.

I think the people at the place are nice good people but it was wrong the way she was handled, and killed her.

They have a fenced in outdoor area. I assumed thats where she would go outside. I didnt think to ask of she would be walked, where and how. They walked her near a very busy intersection, knowing she is scared and timid, not using her collar but a lead that every dog and dog owner knows all you have to do is back out of it, there was no grass, no nearby grassy park areas just busy street. She had no business being there!!!

Their corp claims they did nothing wrong however they have now changed their policy to harness dogs under 25 lbs, and the place I took her to is doing even more by not walking dogs at all anymore and just using the fenced in area.

I am happy these changes are happening to protect other dogs.

But Im really unhappy with Illinois law. Dogs are property like a cell phone. I spoke to several attorneys yesterday and they told me that they could actually throw a dog off a roof and then just offer to give you money for a new dog and then be done with it. If they are negligent or not, it doesnt matter...just get a new one.

Remember that dog food that was killing dogs? On average people got $65 for their loss. I mean how traumatic is it to poison your own dog and then just get money for a replacement?!?!

I cried everyday on vacation and these last few days at home has been really rough.

We went to go say goodbye to Lula on Monday. They were holding her in the freezer for me at the vet place before they cremated her. That was hard. Even though she was frozen, her fur was soft so I could pet her, hug her, and still kiss her little bulbous head.

They are putting her ashes in a box that has a place for a picture on the front. We thought we would put a close up of her face on it and put it under the sofa, where she liked to hide and peak out. She spent a lot of evenings under the sofa.

I miss her so much.
(but a good post coming up next)

Thank you everyone for the emails, calls, texts and messages.
You guys are so sweet it gets me all weepy

Vacation in Florida

I cried several times each day about Lula but I still had a good time in Florida with my family.
Im glad I had this last week off, time on the beach, in the pool, eating, soaking up sun and surrounded by people I love.

There were lots of jellyfish in the water the last half of my stay. I think they are pretty but dont like to be in the water with them. Got stung a couple of times and that was it for me. We would catch some in nets and then bury them to try and clear out the waters.

Our first day out in the water we saw like 3 or 4 groups of dolphins and one group came real close to us. We were so excited to be so close to them.

Went out with Jeff and the boys and took pictures of them parasailing. I did it last year, so I just took pics this year. It was their first time, and Jeff doesnt like heights. They all loved it. They almost got dipped in the water right on top of some sting rays! I didnt see any, but they said thye could see some while up in the air.

Jeff and I rented a waverunner for 2 hours. We saw lots and lots of jellyfish. I told him not to tip us cause then all he would hear is me going "OW OW OW OW OW OW OW!!!" We saw a couple schools of splashy fish, we saw some dolphins.

There was one scary part. We saw sharks. We were going by a military building (air force base nearby) on our way to go by our condo and wave to family from the ocean. We saw a really big shadow under us by that building. We stopped and looked again, Jeff thinks it was 10 or 11 feet I think I heard him say. He went slower away from there just to make sure we didnt tip or lose control. Then on the way back...the same area...we saw 2 or 3 that were about 6 feet. Again we stopped to look, and then we started tipping. We werent doing anything to tip. I wondered if one was pushing us but we didnt feel a bump. Jeff thinks there was a weird current that was tipping us. He was scared too. I told him I was scared and to get us out of there. He did.
After and before that everything was fine.

Im still white, but I think I got more color this last week then I ever have, and lots of new freckles.

There were about 25 of us all together, it was cool. Everyone opening their condos to everyone and helping out with the kids. More people joined this year and plan on making it out again next year.

My Lula is dead.

I am in Florida, landed yesterday in Ft Walton Beach for a weeklong family vacation and got a call from the dog boarding place. She was out on a walk, heard a loud noise and got spooked, got off the lead they had her on and took off running. Ran into the street and got hit by a car. They said she died immediately, like maybe even had a heart attack. I had tightened her collar when I dropped her off just for that reason, but they must have slipped a different lead around her neck. I can just imagine her spooked and scared like that, she would get scared and panic. But I wasnt there, she wasnt near home and what she knew, and scared.

They cried on the phone as they told me about it.

I felt bad for them too.

I want my Lula, I didnt have enough time with her. She was my baby. My little funny dog. I had so many summer plans for us, so many years left with her. I wont have her little bulbous head to kiss anymore. Her little funny faces she would make at me. Our playtimes. Her sweet soft kisses. Our car rides and trips together. Im not gonna to have my little buddy at home with me.

I was supposed to have many many more years with her.

Work has been busy, which had a hand in me getting sick and losing my voice for a bit...That and the majorly fluctuating weather...

Just a bad sinus infection, Im still getting over it and now woke up with my left eye swollen and gross. EW!! and that irratating cough starting up I get after I get any cold that seems to take months to get rid of. I get grumpy having to cough so much.

I slept all day Saturday so we could go out that night and see the Smoking Popes at Metro with Tracy and Missy. Great show, go to go back stage and sound room and all that!

Went to Blues Fest Sunday night (too sick on Friday to go see Koko Taylor on Fri) to see BB King with Brent and Jeff.

A friend I worked with in Columbus (he now lives in Texas) is in town for work and brought his wife with him. We are having dinner with them tonight and then later this week they are staying with us for a few days and we all go to the airport on Saturday. Them to go home and us to go on my family trip to Florida! Im so excited. Think about it everyday. Beach and swimming!!

Forgot to post pics from last weekend at the dog beach!!

Took Brent and Jeff's boys with us. Brent and the boys splashed around in the water. Lots of happy dogs running around.

I waded out in the water and Lula came in after me, got her to swim some too, except everytime she would catch up to me she would try to climb me and scratch the crap outta my legs.

I did get her in a little dog playgroup and she came out of her shell in a big way and then started chasing and barking at all the big dogs that went by, even scared a few of em!!


Friday night Jeff and I saw La Scala and Firewater at Empty Bottle with Jeffany (Jeff & Tiffany). Had 4 voicemails from Brent on the way home about cops in armor and big guns all over Fullerton and emptying some building next to him one person at a time. So we did a drive by to see how it was, still half the street blocked, cops and people all standing around. Brent gave me updates by voicemail as he watched from his window with cops shining their flashlights in at him.

Today is the local farmers market. Meeting up with some people there. Then the free Flobots show at Subteranean tonight, and then follow up with ten cent wings at Estelle's.


Pics from dog beach: