Indy's Birthday

There is a celebration today at the Rainbow Bridge. Today would have been Indy's third birthday. In honor of his life I put together Indy's Life in Pictures

I love you Indy

Road Trips and Old Friends

I was listening to the radio and a song came on that reminded me of the trip to Washington, DC Joe and I took in November 1998. We were sitting around one evening and he wanted to take a road trip. I had never done something so spontaneous. At the time we didn't have any dogs, just a cat who would be fine by himself for a day or so.

I made a few phone calls, one to my friend Jason who lived in DC and let him know we were coming down. Then we jumped in the car, stopped at Stewart's for gas and coffee. I remember I also got a chocolate and cream cheese muffin. Since then, whenever I have a chocolate and cream cheese muffin, I think of our trip.

I will save the details of the trip, my first time in the nation's Capital for another time. Really, that is almost like a footnote anyway. While it was exciting to see things I had only heard about, the journey was really more important than the destination.

I was always the kind of person who had to plan everything in advance...way in advance, until that night. Even a trip to Buffalo or Niagara Falls, which is much shorter was something I would plan for weeks, if not months. Yet here I was driving through states I had never been through with my new husband.

A sad part of this trip is it was the last time I ever saw my friend Jason. Jason is a friend I made working on Clinton/Gore. When we met he was just a high school kid. We had remained friends through his college days even though he was in Florida. We kept in touch via snail mail and phone calls. When Joe and I got married 3 months earlier, Jason came up for the wedding and even caught the garter.

Jason had a silliness about him that always made me laugh. We both had the same twisted sense of humor. I have to say that seeing him was the best sight that I saw while in Washington. Only at that time I had no idea it would be the last time. I called him about a month later and his phone was disconnected. I always thought he would pop up again, but he never did.

A few months later is when Joe started truck driving, and I went on the road with him. So, for almost two years Jason wouldn't have had a way to contact me if he wanted to. I think of him often, and I called his Mom once I returned home for good, leaving a message that I was trying to get in touch with him, but my call was never returned. The last time I was him he had been working for a Congressman, but mentioned that he was thinking of moving to California and becoming a bartender. I remember being surprised when he mentioned it because it was so *not* Jason.

We had only known each other for 6 years, which I suppose in the grand scheme of life isn't a long time, but he was a dear friend and I really wonder what became of him.

Random Thoughts

My puppy has very sharp teeth. He is learning to temper his bite with the other dogs, but he still cuts me like a razor and nothing I put on my hands seems to discourage him. My skin is very dry, so that might make it easier to cut, but I look like I have taken a razor blade to my finger. We can be laying in bed, him happily chewing on his bear, and out of the blue he decides my fingers need to be in his mouth.

This might sound a bit odd, but...

I still have a mark on my hand from when Indy bit me on his last day. I really wanted to have a scar of his tooth mark. I can't really explain it, but it would be like always having a part of him with me. Because of the dry skin and Bailey's bites, I have been putting cocoa butter on my hands, and it seems to be removing the scar. I am probably the only person who wants a scar.

This weather is crazy! It is the warmest it has been in days (8 degrees). We had several days of well below zero. Now that it has warmed up the skies have opened, and the snow just won't stop. Joe had to go in to plow tonight at 10 PM and he was told to stay out until the snow stops. They say it is supposed to snow until at least noon. I went out today and cleaned off the roof, and there is another 18 inches there! I won't even mention how many times I had to shovel the dog path.

Old Man Winter

It is currently -10 degrees outside, and with the wind-chill they say it is -35. Yes, 35 degrees below zero. Living in a mobile home, water pipes freezing is always a concern when the mercury starts to drop. With these temperatures, the possibility is very real even for those that live in stick built homes. To try to combat what old man winter is tossing my way, I am up doing laundry. The idea is to keep the water running, and it won't freeze. We do have heat running under our home, and heat tape on the pipes, but only where the water comes out of the ground. The tape is rated for -40, but 5 degrees is just a little too close to the cut off point for my comfort.

-35 is really hard to wrap one's mind around. I took the dogs out at 11:30, and I think that will be our last potty for the night. If they have to go bad enough and have an accident, I will just clean it up. I rather clean up after them than risk frost bite.

I think about all the wild animals and wonder how many will die in this sustained cold. It has been below zero for several days now, and this bitter cold is supposed to last through tomorrow. I know some will lose the battle with the cold. Yet, they have survived many NY winters, so I really should put it out of my mind.

It isn't only the wild animals that I think of. I think of all the strays, hungry and cold. I wish they could all have a warm place for the night. I wish that at the very least.

Tennis Balls

I wonder what it is about tennis balls that make dogs think they are so wonderful. My neighbor's dogs would chase tennis balls 24 hours a day if someone would toss it for them. It seems to be the tennis balls themselves and not the need to retrieve. If you toss a stick, they don't appear as interested.

Some dogs just want the ball, and don't really want to give it back to be toss again. The neighbor's cocker spaniel will get the ball after you toss it, and bring it back to you, but he won't release it to be tossed again. Part of that might be his beagle sister who beats him to a tossed ball 95% of the time. He might think if he gives it up, he won't get it again for a while.

My own dogs have mixed feelings. They go through stages where the tennis ball seems to be the best invention ever. Then there are times when tennis balls sit at the bottom of the toy box for months.

They also have different ways of playing with them. Max likes to skin them. Indy used to like to collect them. If I had several balls, I would toss them and he would go pick them up one by one and bring them to a spot where he would protect them as his own.


Bailey has discovered tennis balls. Although he isn't as obsessive at the dogs across the road, he does love to chase the ball and bring it back to be tossed again. He will usually do this for 10 minutes, or until he is distracted by a new discovery...such as a piece of lint on the carpet. Life must be so interesting and exciting for him, discovering everything for the first time.


Indy collects tennis balls 6/6/04

Bailey Discovers a Tennis Ball

One Month Has Passed

A month has passed since I last held my little Indy. I feel like I should be focusing on other things, but regardless of what I did today that thought was in the back of my mind.

***One month without Indy***

Things are getting better. When I cry now, it is just for short times. Still mostly daily, but not all day. I don't think the emptiness his absence has left in my heart will ever be filled.

Rest well my little one. Mama misses you and loves you more than I can say.



My Sweet Indy