SCHIZ IS 7 ! ! ! !

Schiz is seven years old today! We've come a long way, baby. Schiz was more-or-less a puppy-mill dog. From an indiscriminate breeder. A skank!

I've kept a "baby book" on Schiz since the day I got her. She was 5 months and 1 day old when she came to me. I worked with a guy "whose mother raises show quality Shih tzus... but once in awhile if she had one that wasn't show quality she'd place it in a home." BS! The son told me that there were 21 dogs in her kitchen.

Schiz came to me "sight unseen" for $50 from Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. No pictures were ever sent, even though I had requested them several times. I knew she didn't have a full mask so I began to look in a psychology book for "split personality"..etc. A line from the book was something like "a lot of people confuse split personality with schizophrenia because the Greek verb 'schizo' means to split or separate." Thus she became Schizo.

She's "pet quality" at best. She still has front dewclaws and doesn't quite fit the AKC standard. She DOES have coat...she has three times what she needs. She can DO full Shih tzu look with hair! But don't you even think about no ugly topknot...won't happen!

Anyway..at five months, she'd never been held. Scared her to death to be picked up. She'd never been outside on grass...freaked her out. She was stained with urine and feces half way up on her body...with large chunks of hair cut out (assuming to remove clumps of ???.) She was in dire need of a lot of love and a lot of socialization. She didn't pick her tail up over her back for several days.

Day Two was a trip to my veterinarian. He saw no problem with the unmasked eye. No sign of parasites, worms, or fleas. He even commented that she was a "caged pup...needs lots of love."

Day Three was a bath. She did not like it at all. She hated the hair dryer even more and I wound up letting her pretty much air-dry because I was afraid she'd have a heart attack she was so panicky. She also hated the vacumn sweeper...anything that made noise scared her to pieces.

Great neighbors with a super little dog named Wally...and Schiz was socialized and IN LOVE! These two dogs played together everyday..sometimes all day long. Great buddies! Schiz became a completely different dog.

Today...just mention "sweeper" and she'll beat you to the closet. She loves it...well, what she actually loves is the yellow feather duster that hooks to the sweeper. While running the sweeper I have to say "move...move...move it" several times usually.

She the best, most perfect house-broken dog I've ever had. I think she decided she'd waded around in that stuff long enough and she is VERY good about getting the message to you when she needs to go out.

Schiz is super spoiled. Barks too much. Somewhat picky eater (wonder why?) She recognizes vehicles..just tell her who's expected and she'll watch for that person. She won't bark until the right car gets here...they don't have to be in the driveway..just on the street...she knows! She's still not tremendously fond of being picked up (but it happens several times a day...she just doesn't totally relax into it)...but she totally understands "smoochies"; however, she prefers I get down on the floor (or chair) to provide smoochies. She won't sleep on the bed. I think she gets too hot. She sleeps on the floor. Yes, she has a little bed....sometimes she'll even sleep fairly close to it. She sleeps on the floor.







But...she OWNS this chair and this window:











"Did you say candy for my birthday?"






Yeah...this is Schiz on her 7th birthday...happy, outgoing (OMG!), loves everybody and pretty much everything. She's even beginning to like Bandit...the little black/white mentioned in an earlier blog. She actually played with him a few days ago...it could happen!!! (Clairification: "It" means play...both dogs have been altered.)


Happy Birthday, Schizzy! You're my Sweetpea and I love you dearly!!! Happy, happy birthday!


Yeah...she IS one of my blessings. Don't forget to count yours!

TGIF...Oh Yeah...TGIF

TGIF - Thank God It's Friday! Thank God for good news on Friday!!!

I attended a class at our local library this morning and afterwards went by the post office to pick up my mail. In it was a form letter from Hutchinson Clinic stating the "Exam Date 2/23/2011.......we are happy to inform you that your mammogram showed no evidence of breast cancer." I will still be following up with my doctor to find out what or why more tests were necessary, but I'm very very happy to get this news today.

I called a good friend (a GREAT friend) and we went to the Yoder Bakery for a cinnamon roll. There's a lot of good cinnamon rolls in this area: Dutch Kitchen, Carriage Crossing, Allie's Deli...lots of good cinnamon rolls. But Mary and I agreed, Yoder Bakery has the BEST....and today they were just especially good!!!

While I kept telling everyone that I wasn't really worried about the results of these tests, I was still "concerned." I don't think I was worried, but I was definitely relieved to get this letter today. I would have liked a phone call from one of the two doctors the radiology department sent the report to, but that evidently wasn't to be. Hopefully Monday....hmmmmm......

Count your blessings...remember your health, your friends, your happiness...and on and on.

Today's News

Well....so last Wednesday I went for my annual mammogram. This morning (Monday) I was on my way to meet some friends for coffee and felt a "need" for a few swallows of Diet Coke. I was about ten minutes early anyway, so I swung into the 4th Street McDonald's. The van ahead of me pretty much blocked my view of everything as I waited my turn.

And, as I waited my turn, my phone rang. The woman identified herself as being from the radiology department at the Hutch Clinic. The result of last week's mammogram were given to my doctor to view and she's wanting an additional view and a sonagram (later she said ultrasound) of my right side. No clue. I need to talk to my doctor for further information. So I scheduled the additional stuff for Wednesday morning of this week.

And then the van in front of me was moving forward to place their order. And this sign came into my view. (I went back later and took the photo.) I'm a believer. I'm not a church-goer, but I'm a very definite believer! He speaks to me! And this was this morning's message. I'm gonna take it and run with it!!!!!!

Count your blessings...I do...and I pray that by Wednesday afternoon I'll be counting them even more and thanking God for how fortunate I am.

Tired Pup

Yesterday was "groomer day" for Schiz. After we got home, she crashed. She's normally on the back of a chair by the window, watching for walkers...but not yesterday. I was upstairs in the loft, looked over to see where she was, and this was my view. She's clear over on her side...sound asleep! And this morning, she's "full of it"...clearly rested and ready to roar! She's got a birthday coming up next Sunday, the 27th. She'll be 7 years old...oops, not supposed to tell a lady's age, I guess.

Beautiful weather here..especially for February. Can only hope it'll be kind throughout the rest of the winter months. Last Wednesday the weather people were telling we'd had a 95 degree temperature swing in 7 days....from -17 to 78 in one week! Like they say here in Kansas...if you don't like the weather, wait a minute! How true!

Count your blessings...I do...and I think probably even Schiz does!! She's a happy girl!

Snowin' and Blowin'

It's snowy. It's cold. Probably I should forewarn you...this is a rant!

The tv stations are all reporting that Hutchinson has had 19" of snow. It's lovely. Temperature is currently -1. It's lovely. Supposed to get down to -5 tonight...actual, not wind chill. It's lovely.

The guys came to clear driveways and sidewalks. Got everyone's done except 1/2 of mine...and their 4-wheeler broke down. They still had shovels but evidently they don't use those...so half my drive way is still covered with snow...and by the attitude they copped when I asked about it, I'm assuming they won't be coming back to clear it. (They should hope that I'm never in the position of being the person that writes their check...my pen would probably break or something.) Maybe I'll clear it tomorrow afternoon when the temperature gets up a little...no biggie! It's lovely!

Newspaper didn't get thrown until about 10 am this morning....clear out by the street on top the snow...so I decided (at that point the snow removers hadn't been here yet) to go shovel the front walk so I could get my paper. As I did I thought I could smell natural gas. After I came back in I called the gas company and they sent a guy out...very pleasant individual. Nope, no gas leak here...he'd check around though. Pretty soon he came back up to the door and said he'd found the problem. My neighbor's gas meter just east of me was "bubbling". He corrected the problem and said they'd contact her to come back out and turn her furnace, etc. back on. Nosy neighbors are STILL the best insurance policy!

Seems like everytime I sit down, I fall asleep...can't be because I'm sleepy because like I said, every time I sit down, I fall asleep. I'm bored!!!!

Today I've made some Zatarain's Jamalaya with cheese (started out to be chili and realized I had only kidney beans or green beans, found the Zatarain's and decided that would be good..and it was.) Also made a pan of brownies. Finished off the last of the cherry bordeaux ice cream...and had some raisins. Finished off some crackers with the Zatarain's. Think all this may explain why I'm sleepy too! Oh, yeah...in my "food" paragraph...and tonight on tv they're telling that Diet Coke is bad for me. Something like 58% more apt to have a heart attack or stroke. Guess I'll have to look into that clear stuff...what's it called??? Water, I think. They'll probably figure out something wrong with it before long.

I don't think I like winter any more. Yeah....I know...it's SOOOOO pretty!!!! It's lovely! I hate it...it's cold and confining and stifling! Well...I feel better. Think I'll quit now and maybe...oh, I don't know..maybe I'll go to bed. I can surely use a good night's rest!!! Tomorrow's another day...and temperatures are supposed to be better every day for the next 5 or 6....up to 52 on Sunday I hear.

Count your blessings...even in the snow there's way worse things than the life I have and I know that. Life is good. Good night.

Garage Salin'

Tis the season...well, almost! Needing a garage sale fix I went to an estate sale yesterday. And this is what I wound up with:

For $1.50 I was pretty pleased. I'm needing house plants and Stutzman's isn't quite into that yet, so this fills the need..for now. I think this is an Hawaiian Schefflera. But I'm not sure of that at all...I don't really care...it's GREEN (for now!)

I also bought a couple of Sonoma coffee cups 2/$1 ... but my photo looks "squatty". Just nice big cups with moose and bear and pine trees on them....just what I needed to go with the other dozen or so cups that I think I just have to have! Duh!

Rode 17.5 miles with Carol yesterday and plan to go again today if the weather holds.

Count your blessings...get out and get some of this gorgeous sunshine....live, laugh, love!!!!

Bandit & Schizo

So how could you NOT just love this little guy? He's the sweetest, mushiest, softest little cutie you can imagine...and Schiz doesn't like him even a little bit!!!! This is Bandit and he owns the people next door. I'm dogsitting this weekend.

Schiz and Bandit has known each other since September. This is NOT a new acquaintance. And Bandit would just do anything to be buddies with her....but she's just not interested. Schiz likes everyone. I've always said you couldn't MAKE her bite....until we met Bandit. She growls and snaps and makes it very clear that he's not her friend.

The two pictures below will give you an idea of the dynamics between them. Remember these are still shots and it never ends well. There's never been any damage but they both know their limits.

Wouldn't you think she'd be nuts about him? He's adorable. He's mushy. He's just the sweetest little guy you can imagine! My theory: he's about year old; she's almost 7. She likes older men obviously!

60 Degrees & a Bank Robbery !

And people say Kansas is DULL!!!! Ha!

Yesterday was gorgeous (and today's supposed to be even better!!)....60 degrees, sunshine, no snow left, very little breeze...really lovely. I went for a short bicycle ride - up to the bike path, down and back (and sorry, counted 45...yes, 45!!!...dog piles...people, you're there for exercise...if your dog goes, bend over and pick up the poop!!!!...Oh well, that's maybe an editorial for the Hutch News)...anyway, all in all a wonderful afternoon.

After I got home I took Schiz for a walk down to the soccer park (about 1/2 mile maybe) and all of a sudden there were cops everywhere..going this way and that. One stopped and asked me if I'd seen a two-toned tan car. "No...not that I remember...." Then my neighbor was out and they asked him too. Thinking someone was probably drag-racing or something, I continued my walk and was happy as a clam.

I'm babysitting for my neighbor's little Shih tzu, Bandit....who's a doll but Schiz does NOT like him AT ALL....so about 6pm I went down to take him for a short walk. As we wandered around the yards I noticed two people in similar uniforms walk across the intersection a block south of me. I thought they looked like cops. ??? No biggie.....

After taking Bandit back home and coming inside, I heard car doors slamming. It was dark by then so I just peeked out my kitchen blinds. Two cop cars and two officers walking across the lawn right across the street from me. They went to Dwight's door, talked with him, and then he opened his garage door for them. Then they continued around the cul de sac having everyone do the same thing..opening their garage doors.

I'm a firm believer a nosy neighbor is the best insurance policy you can have so I continued to watch...not even trying to hide the fact that I was watching. I had turned on all my outside lights (and living on the corner that's quite a few). Shortly they got to my place and I found out what was going on: there had been a robbery up on 30th street (I found out later it was an armed robbery at the drive-up window to a bank) and they thought the vehicle was still in the area. I opened my garage door, then my neighbor's who I'm dogsitting for, then back across the cul de sac circle to open one where they didn't receive an answer and I had the code for the door. Nope, none of us robbed the bank! Guess we're all in the clear!

When I found out details later, I heard that it was a woman who had robbed the bank....and those cops didn't even frisk me or anything!

My big question now is: how does one hold-up a bank from a drive-up window????? Isn't that bullet-proof glass???? Couldn't the teller just duck and ring an alarm or something? What's wrong with this picture???

Well...so today's supposed to be near 70 degrees with very little wind. I already have a bicycle ride scheduled with a friend, so I'd better get busy around here so I can play hard later. Count your blessings....and your money if you robbed the bank!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Before and After

I've redone my ironing room...well, in real life, it's supposed to be a bedroom. But I didn't need it for another bedroom, so it's my ironing room...and my bicycle/trainer room. It was, in my opinion, U-G-L-Y!!!! This is the old way...complete with the previous owner's really poor job of covering up nail holes. And truly, it was worse than this looks...it's was a southwest peachy-orange color.

Below is the new way. I'm pretty sure this is a "love it or hate thing"...no middle ground. Since I'm pretty much the only person that spends any time in there, that's ok...'cause I love it!!!

The wall with the window is a darker shade of green, as well as the area around the closets and bathroom doorway. The wall with the mirror on it is the same color as the wall with the clothes rack ... except that the wall with the mirror has a faux treatment of bronze ragged onto it. (You should be able to double click on these and see them better.)

So...that's how I spent my Saturday evening and most of the day Sunday. I also put about an hour into it today (Monday) to apply the bronze glaze. Hope you like it...I do.

Now....about that bathroom........I was happy with it until I used that darker shade of green...hmmmmmmmmm

Round-Soled Shoes

Love 'em!!!! Love 'em so much that I bought a second pair. The white ones are Filas and I bought those first at Kohl's in Wichita for $29.99....in fact, they were a little less than that because I got a senior discount too!

After wearing the white Filas for a few days, I decided I wanted some Skecher Shape Ups. They'd had those at Kohl's too. $109.99, on sale for $69.99. But you know, I really love Ebay...so I went shopping. I had copied down the style numbers, etc. when I was at Kohl's so I knew exactly what I wanted. I found this black pair - absolutely brand new - and paid WITH shipping charges, $31.98!!!!!

I've worn the white ones quite a bit, but today decided to wear the black ones. The black Skechers do have quite a lot more padding, but as far as comfort, I really didn't notice a difference. I love the way they feel. Very, very comfortable.


I had some people tell me that I'd have trouble getting used to walking in them, especially on stairs, but I really didn't. I could feel a difference for a few days (the rounded sole) but was never uncomfortable or felt "off balance" (well...at least not in my feet!)


Monday I had an appointment with my chiropractor (who I openly adore!) and asked him what he thought of them. He stuck his foot up and said, "I like 'em too!!" as he showed me the pair he had on. He believes that they not only work your leg muscles, but he said that you stand straighter in them! That your back is straighter. Great, huh?