• Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

    Join 78 other subscribers

  • “Writing, to me, is simply thinking through my fingers” — Isaac Asimov

  • Recent Posts

  • Pages

  • Categories

  • Archives

  • Blog Stats

    • 195,699 hits

A Night of Excitement

Posted on January 26, 2009 by auburnchick

No, it’s not what you think, so get your mind out of the gutter.

You know that my life is very rarely, if ever, calm.  Tonight was no exception.

First of all, let me start out by saying that Soccer Chick’s “new” coach generously released her from the obligation to his team.  The Mr. and I were shocked.  We had braced ourselves for a stronger response.  What a huge relief.

You’d think the rest of the day would be easy, but this is the AuburnChick household.  There is no easy button.

I was sitting around this evening, knitting on my newest project (to be posted soon, I hope) when I got up to let the dogs in.  Molly and Aubie were patiently waiting at the door for me.

All of a sudden, Molly turned on Aubie and attacked her.  Apparently, Aubie was too close to her.

And the evening went downhill from there.

Aubie had to defend herself and got hold of Molly.  Neither would let go.

The Mr. and I tried desperately to pull them apart without getting bitten in the process.  At one point, we each had the back legs of the dogs, trying to pull them apart.  Aubie had a fierce grip on what appeared to be one of Molly’s eyes.  I was standing behind Molly and was dreading what I would have to face later.  We have no idea how Aubie held on so strongly because all of her front teeth are gone.  She’s old.

Don’t ask me how we got them separated, but when we did, I dragged Molly backward into the house and straight to the bathroom.  She was limping again, this time on the other foot.  This was the third fight in a week and a half, and the second in one day.

Molly has a very deep gash in one leg.  We think it went to the muscle.  She has another puncture wound right below the gash.  Her ear was torn up.  Fortunately, her eye is okay.  Aubie got her ear instead.

Aubie has gashes across her back, but it appears she suffered the least physical of the two.  Emotionally, she’s a wreck…shaking like a leaf.  I guess you could compare her to an elderly person being mugged.  In shock.

We decided we better call a vet, but of course all of the offices were already closed.  After a bit of discussion, we decided to page one of the doctors.  Molly’s gash looked like it needed attention.  The vet seemed a bit hesitant but finally agreed to meet us.

Thank goodness.  One look at Molly was all he needed to understand that my concerns had not been for nothing.  This was much more serious than a scrape.  I tried to explain that I had seen children through many bumps, bruises, and cuts during their young lives, and rarely had I taken them to the emergency room.  This time was different.

He put Molly under and got her sewn up.  I cried when I saw Molly trying to sleep off the anesthesia.  She seemed so helpless.

I think I cried because of the love I feel so deeply for my furry babies (remember what I went through with the rat).  We rescued Molly from our local animal shelter.  We suspect that she was younger than eight weeks old…living on the streets when someone found her and turned her over to the  animal authorities.  We nursed her back to health through a severe case of worms and kennel cough.  The vet, at that time, couldn’t assure me that she would live.

I’m worried that I might have to give her up.  All to preserve two lives.

Aubie has been with our family for nine years…ever since Rooster was in kindergarten and wrote in his journal (yes, they were writing that early on), “I loved my dog, and my dog loved me.”  He was referring to a dog we had previously owned but given to a friend due to Soccer Chick’s allergies.  Aubie filled a need inside of Rooster.  She, too, was rescued from an animal shelter.

She’s old now…has gray hair around her face.

None of us can fathom the thought of losing her to a dog fight.  In fact, the thought of her passing, regardless of the “how” brings us all to tears as we know the time will come one day.

For now, we’re going to keep them separated.  Molly will stay in a crate during the day when I’m at work, and the other dogs will stay out.  We’ll work to ensure that they spend as little time together until things cool down.  The vet suggested obedience training to teach Molly to be submissive.  She clearly wants to be the alpha dog and tries to intimidate Aubie.  Poor Aubie gives off an air of fear, which feeds Molly’s sense of power.

The kids are very upset, as am I.  I know that God cares about every facet of our lives, so I’m asking that you pray for us.  Please pray that I would be receptive to whatever solution He deems best, and, if possible, that a way be found to keep our feisty sweetheart (Molly) with us.

Filed under: Pets | Tagged: , , | Leave a comment »

An Interesting Video

Posted on January 26, 2009 by auburnchick

I have long been a fan of the Way of the Master ministry.  It is a ministry dedicated to presenting the Gospel to people through the use of God’s Commandments (the Law).  This method is simply fascinating.

Today, I got this video clip in their weekly email.  Take special note of how Ray Comfort (the man holding the microphone) deals with the questions that are thrown at him.

Filed under: Christian | 2 Comments »

Mama is on a Tear

Posted on January 26, 2009 by auburnchick

Continuing the dramatic theme from my last post (and having not checked the PMS calendar yet), I continue.

First, look at this:

What is it, you wonder.

Well, it’s my way of trying to avoid nagging while teaching the kids responsibility and accountability.

I devised this chart a couple of summers ago when the kids were home all day and I was working.  Might as well put them to work instead of letting them sit in front of the Boob Tube all day.

I have always been a firm believer in teaching the kids how to be responsible.  I think that completing chores is a fair thing to ask of family members and should not be compensated for via payment (i.e. allowances).  We’re a family, and we should all help out.

That said, it can be hard for the kids to remember exactly everything that needs to be done.  There are, as you can see, quite a few things on the list.  This list doesn’t even include such things as washing the floor, cleaning the refrigerator, or washing baseboards.   It’s a fair list, I think.

Since the kids went back to school, we’ve forgone the list.  And I’ve nagged, and nagged, and nagged.  With little success.  In fact, all that has been developed is resentment, on the part of all sides.

So, I’m bringing back the list.

I fully expect the kids to be mad.

I don’t care.  The list will speak for me.  It gives them leeway in deciding what day to do 1x/week and 2x/week chores.  However, I will make it clear that outside activities will not be allowed until said items are completed.  And, if chores are not completed properly, they will redo said tasks (the kids are old enough to know and do better, unlike young children where more leeway should be given).  Play is the reward to a hard day’s work.  Or, in this case, maybe an hour to an hour and a half is all that is required to get the job(s) done.

If you are interested in obtaining this chart, let me know.  I’ll be more than happy to send it to you via email.  It’s an Excel file.

Filed under: children | Tagged: , , | 1 Comment »

Drama Llama

Posted on January 26, 2009 by auburnchick

The above term was used in a recent Ravelry thread I read.  I love it!  It totally fits me today.

First, picture Your’s Truly, poised dramatically with the back of her hand placed carefully across the top of her forehead in the “Whoa is me” look…

Ok…now that the scene has been set, please proceed in your reading (I told you that I am all about drama today)…

My Monday has started off in a very stressful way.

Aubie and Molly, my female dogs, had another fight this morning! Right off the bat too! I think that Molly is waking up in a bad mood because Aubie has been sleeping with Rooster. Aubie ran in and jumped on my bed to say good morning. Molly stood on the floor and wouldn’t let her get off.

Standoff.

I’m not sure who struck first, but they went at it…in a very small room.

Mr. AuburnChick threw water on them…to no avail. He finally used a clothes hamper to separate them. Aubie has a couple of puncture wounds…nothing major…and Molly…well, I can’t tell. Poor Aubie, though. She’s nine years old and is scared stiff…shaking like a leaf.

Aubie has an appointment with the vet tomorrow for yearly shots. I’m going to ask them what they suggest. I’ve also got, in the back of my mind, the idea that I might need to find Molly a new home. This totally breaks my heart as she is really a sweetheart. She just refuses to submit to Aubie’s place in the clan. I wish the Dog Whisperer could come to my house.

On another note…

The Mr. and Soccer Chick’s former coach have been sending emails back and forth since a Disney tournament. Daughter played with her new team (which is actually her team from two years ago). This is the team she went back to after quitting the really good team, which said coach led. I’m sure you remember my hysterical posting that weekend.

Anyhow, her “new” team had a TERRIBLE showing at Disney, which is a college showcase. It’s important because a lot of college coaches attend to recruit the best for their teams. Ugh. Chicky didn’t get a lot of attention…a disaster.

She and the Mr. (remember that Rooster was sick during Christmas, so we stayed home to allow him to recover) went to watch her old team play…they wound up winning the entire thing! They are one of the best teams in her age group in Florida.

She realized that she misses the competition and the girls. We really, really miss everyone too. The parents do everything together, and there’s a lot of team bonding stuff going on during the tournaments. Unlike the “new” team, where nobody did anything together. So sad.

So, Chick’s former coach wants her back. We discussed it with her and let her make the decision. We’re under the gun because the old team is going to a tournament in Vegas, and we have to make hotel and plane reservations TODAY.

Chicky walked in this morning and told dh that she had decided to play for the old team.

So now, we have a new dilemma…getting her “new” coach to release her from the team. He was quick to accept her after the switch before. We have no idea what he’s going to do now. He’s a nice guy, but I cannot imagine what this is going to do to him.

Ugh.

So, that’s my Monday, in a not-so-nutshell.

Oh, and I am not working today. Sigh.

In true drama fashion, AuburnChick faints from the sheer volume of emotions running through her today.

She’ll later check her calendar to see if PMS had anything to do with today’s emotional response.

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: , , | Leave a comment »