Puppy Has a Cold

Dog snot.

It's one of those things you don't think about, until it's practically the only thing you can think about.

Poor puppy has had a stuffed up nose all week long. She's drinking water like it's going out of style, and having trouble finishing her breakfast (although dinner never seems to be an issue.) We thought it was allergies, but now it really seems more like a cold.

Her nose and throat have been rattling with - forgive the phrase - Dog Boogers. Thick, nasty boogery mucous.

She's finally started blowing them out - gross, and quite different than the drool she copiously wipes on the other dogs and anyone who stops to say hello to her when we're out walking. Drool is a Saint Bernard hazard. I'm hoping dog snot isn't a Usual Thing.

She still insists on jumping in the car with me whenever I do my mom-taxi gigs, and it's getting hard to get out of the front door without her, even with her not feeling 100%. She may be the only dog I know who needs to learn the command "Not Going."

She will accept this new command at certain times of the day. Not for the early morning trip to the bus. She likes that one. Won't let us leave the house without her. And certainly not for the afternoon trip to pick up after soccer. She likes to take her 3:00 nap on the backseat during that long, round trip drive. But "Not Going" is becoming more imperative to learn than "Sit" or "Come."

Maybe a new command to learn this weekend will be "Blow," to see if we can get the rest of those dog boogers out of there.

A 5-Star Review for Unfolding the Shadows!

Received one of those great emails last night, to alert me of a new review for my book.

Siren Review Site gave me 5 "siren stones," their equivalent of stars! I was afraid they wouldn't like the book so much, seeing as how most of the romances they review are much, much steamier than my PG-13 offering. But the reviewer loved it. "couldn't put it down," she said.

*yea*

To read the complete review, go here: http://sirenbookreviews.blogspot.com/2010/09/katie-osullivan-unfolding-shadows.html?zx=216fca8172ecf203

...and don't forget to do a happy dance with me! I'll be dancing in the rain today, but dancing nonetheless!

Sunday Reading

What have you been reading lately?

While my kids are reading fun stuff (the new Heather Brewer book is in the house!) I've been putting together a holiday gift article for CapeWomenOnline and looking through books that might make fun gifts. I found a winner in Chuck Sambuchino's HOW TO SURVIVE A GARDEN GNOME ATTACK. Two thumbs way up - If you know anyone with garden gnomes or a history with garden gnomes (Liam, I'm thinking of you...) this book makes a perfect gift!

Here's an excerpt from the article that will appear in the Holiday Issue of the magazine, including links to buy the book from the publisher:

How to Survive a GARDEN GNOME ATTACK by Chuck Sambuchino is a tongue-firmly-in-cheek book detailing home defense against deadly gnomes. Yes, the red-hatted, white-bearded garden variety. Filled with faux serious advice and wonderful action photographs by Andrew Parsons, the book begins with the line: “Keep reading if you want to live.”

The slim 112-page hardcover gives the reader “vital” information on assessing risk, gnome-proofing homes and gardens, and instructions for hand-to-hand combat, including a section entitled “Ten Tips that Could Save Your Life.” It’s a fast, funny romp of a read that’s guaranteed to make a reader smile if not laugh out loud.

While seed catalogs are usually all a gardener wants to read during the long winter months, this little “How To” guide makes a wonderful counterpoint to the more serious business of farming and gardening. Because, really. What good is picking out the right seeds from Johnny’s Selected Seeds or the right tools from Gardener’s Supply if in the end the gnomes take over your garden?

Puppy Passes Another Milestone

Then.

Now.

The passage of time is a wondrous thing. It can drag on forever or snap by in the blink of an eye. Children and puppies keep growing, whether time is in a slow curve or a fast spiral.

April Puppy.

September Puppy.

Now granted, she's big. But she won't even be 8 months old until next week. Next Monday. It's not her un-birthday quite yet. So what's the milestone? Well...

I took Big Dog to the vet yesterday for her annual physical (which, by the way, has gotten way pricey in the last few years, yowza!) Puppy loves car rides and insisted on tagging along. She waited patiently in the parking lot.

When Big Dog was done, I asked if I could bring my Puppy in for a weight check. The tech laughed a lot when she got a load of "Puppy." It took forever to get her on the scale - she refused to be bribed, so I ended up lifting her, piece by piece.

17 pounds in April.

105 pounds in September.

She officially weighs more than Big Dog now. Outweighs her by 10 pounds. I still had 200 pounds of dog on the leash when we left, but in my mind the balance had definitely shifted.

What's your milestone for the week?