foggy day

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Alex Uya

Sherri Friesen, some of you know her from the horse forum, posted a picture on FB with an awesome, heart wrenching poem about a dog that was rescued and found a loving family and it made me want to share Alex Uya's story.

Alex is about 2 years old and is a Dalmation, Boxer (or pit) mix who we adopted after my Hubby ( wonderful Hubby) saw him at a local Tractor Supply at an adoption event.

Hubby came home that day and told me about 'Wingnut', as he was called then. He had been in a rescue (I use this term very loosley, I'll explain why later) since he was a puppy because the people who got him as a puppy abandoned him at the vet after they found out he was deaf and the vet didn't put him down because of it.  Hubby showed me a couple of pics of him that he took on his cell phone and I knew in that instant that he needed us.

So a week later we are meeting the lady and meeting 'Wingnut' and my gut says "Bring him home".

Wingnut quickly became Alex, because he has a ring around one eye that looks like mascara, just like the character, Alex, from 'A Clockwork Orange'.  Thank god he isn't like the Alex from the movie.... Ever seen it?

A short while later his last name of Uya gets pinned on him.  Partly because we have a habit of giving our babies last names, partly because we realize that he just loves to be Up Your Ass.

Life with Alex has been, shall we say, never a dull moment.  He had never had any training and never seemed to have much socialization.  I got the feeling he spent a lot of time in a crate and when he did get to socialize with other dogs he was the alpha.  Life with Scootch ( our 140 pound Lab/Mastiff/Boxer) was eye (and sometimes skin) opening for Alex.  He just couldn't seem to fathom backing down from a dog much larger than he.

And to be fair with Scootch it was always Alex causing the commotion.  Scootch is a pretty patient dog.  I think it was part Alex being an aggresive dog and part Alex never having learned the signs another dog would give him saying "That is enough" and having the size to back it up. 

Two emergency room visits totaling 1500.00 dollars and various other scrapes later and Alex has finally learned the signals.  A lot of finger wagging in his direction helps when we see he is getting too worked up.

Alex also went to PETCO and took training classes with my most awesome Bestie, Toni Nash.  Hubby had taken Scootch through the whole series of classes up to the Good Citizen class and we felt that this would help Alex.  And it has.  He sits, stays, comes, lays, and shakes, all with hand signals.

He is super attached to my Hubby and gets very jealous of Scootch, loves staring at and making noises to all of our cats and will guard the property very well.  He barks at cars, people, dogs, horses, wind, air, sky...

In fact he is a very vocal dog and makes the most variety of noises that I had ever heard from a dog.  Now that he has found his niche in our family he really is the sweetest, funniest, loving dog.

Alex and Scootch get along really well now, Alex has learned how he fits in and they are quite funny to watch when they are at play, they are both about the same age and get lots of excercise running around the property together.

We had heard through the grapevine that the 'rescue' which I think of as more of a hoarding situation, was going to have Alex put down shortly because she couldn't find an appropriate home for him (although training and proper socialization would have done wonders) and I am so thankful that we found him when we did.  To think of him being put down.... It just makes me shudder.  And it makes me so sad for the others that are out there, just wanting to be part of a family.... Some of them not even knowing how great it can be to be with humans who will love them, forever.

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Very nice Monday.

I spent a very nice Holiday with my Hubby.  We got up fairly early and went to the range with a stop at Margeret's on the way for breakfast.

Margeret's is a country place that all the locals in the Eastover area go to.  They make a very good breakfast and lunch.  It's the typical place where you get a Meat and three sides and there is so much food on the plate it practically flows over the sides.  All the Sweet Tea that you want.

We usually stop there on the way to the range.  Hubby will get the eggs, country hot sausage, grits and wheat toast.  I will usually get a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich and we both like the bottomless coffee.  One can also get fried fish with their eggs.  Like I said, it's country!

The range was fun.  It was cold at first but got warmer as the day progressed.  We started off with my M4 style AR.  It seems Hubby got the fail to eject problem fixed and we spent time sighting in both the scope and the iron sights.  160 rounds and the gun worked like a champ.  Now all he has to do is get Arnie, my other AR-15 running like that.

Then we went to another bay and worked with my 9mm Ruger SR9C, the 9mm Beretta and my little pink Ruger 10-22.  By then it was after 2 pm so we packed up and went to Maurices for a late lunch/early dinner.

After getting home while we were unpacking the Hubby's little 'trucklet' I got a picture of Scootch and Alex sitting in it.  They love that little truck!  Love to ride around in it with their BFF.

It's nice to be home now relaxing.  In just a short bit it will be time to go outside and take care of the horses.  I think a fire in the fire place is on the agenda for tonight.

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Sometimes.....

I feel like my life is spinning out of control.  Work keeps me insane, especially with the upcoming deployment.  There is so much to prepare for and being an assistant flight chief to a flight chief who has been gone from work so much due to his wife's illness means I am shouldering almost two jobs.  My husband is very understanding and picks up so much of my slack at home.... but that only adds to my stress.  How much can he/will he take?  I spend 12 to 13 hours at work almost everyday...  I know others do more.  How do they do it or are they not maintaining a balance at all?  All work and no play.  I constantly worry that, no, I know that I am not balancing things out.  But with the deployment and my desire to move up in the organization I feel I have to put in those extra hours.  I can retire in two years but if I want to retire with more than a MSgt's retirement pay I have to put on SMSgt and then spend two more years in before I can retire with that pay.  Do I want to do this?  That means I have to possibly do 4 more years (at least).

Home destresses me, thank god.  Watching the horses eat as the last of the daylight leaves the property is very peaceful.  Listening to the dogs snore right now also helps.  Getting to sleep in a bit this morning was wonderful and I am looking forward to cooking some spaghetti sauce in the slow cooker in a bit... maybe catch a movie on Netflix.  But it always seems like it's too little, never enough downtime.

My hubby says something to me a lot.  And I do hear what he is saying.. but if the stuff doesn't get done then it's a failure on my part, or at least that is the way I feel.  He says "When you are on your deathbed are you going to agonize over not cleaning the house enough or are you going to agonize over not having ridden your horses more?"

Well, I do know what the answer to that is but it seems like I cannot get over my OCD and just let things go. But when I sit down and think about it I do feel like I have let too much go.  Because of work this house isn't as clean as I like.  There is always something dirty or stuffed in a closet to get it out out sight.  The property hasn't been work with.  No flower beds.  No Garden.  Certainly no more pasture's than the one.  I have not ridden a horse since early fall and then only 2 rides.  Max has not been worked with hardly at all. 

What is the answer?  Work and bring home bacon or let it go, ride out my 2 years and bring home a measly retirement check possibly forcing me to go find work elsewhere anyway to make ends meet?

This is really sucking.

Blankets

The horses have blankets when its cold out. And so does Alex!

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Always busy.

Seems like I never have enough time.  Had drill this weekend, am catching up on house cleaning and have the farrier coming in the afternoon.   It's a cloudy, drizzly day today.  Quiet though and that is really nice.  After 2 days of 60 plus people and plus  having 10 jets launch out and then get recovered both in the morning and then the afternoon makes for a noisy, busy day.  Coming home to the peace and quiet of the property is so nice after a day like that.

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a New Year

Alex napping on New Years day.

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Round pen!!

My hubby picked up the panels from Tractor supply to make my round pen.  I've been wanting one so that I can start working Max.  Our Tractor supply just opened last Saturday and the  grand opening started on Thursday.  10% off!!

I worked both Des and Max a little bit in it today (minus the trailer).  I really like it!

Below are pics of about 10 years worth of horse magazines.  I spent last Sunday sorting through them.  I am so OCD that I can't even give them away without them being sorted by specific magazine and in order.

I gave them to the lady that I have been taking lessons with to get my confidence back.

It's working too because today is the second time I've ridden Des without turning myself into a basket case.  The first time was last weekend.

Here is Scootch who has turned one year old two days ago and had his first basic training class at PetCo today.  He was the star pupil!!!



Yay!

  On Valentine's Day I got this beautiful bouquet of flowers.......

But today this was in the back yard when I got home from work!!!



I've been wanting a half stock trailer and my most handsome hubby bargained for this one for me.

I found it a couple of weeks ago and really wanted it. 

My Hubby gives me the most awesome Valentine's day gifts!!!

Sweet Girlie girl

We helped Heidi over the rainbow bridge today....

She had to be over 16 years old as near as we can figure. 

I will miss her.

She is resting peacefully near the Ash tree in the back yard.