She's getting bigger...

I decided to name her Echo. Two reasons. She looks just like her mom. And her mom's name is Angora. Angora is a lake here and so is Echo Lake. So I wanted to stick with tradition. She's so, so cute. And she loves attention. I'm so excited!!

I started to buy her things. This is dangerous but oh so fun. I got her two green ceramic bowls for her food and water. I wanted pink but they didn't have it. I got her a cute little green fleece blanket that she loves. She chews on it when she's up and sleeps in it when I take her places. And she has this tiny little green collar. So adorable. And I'm perpetually buying her toys. She's going to be a very spoiled dog. My favorite is this miniature kitty stuffed animal. She loves it because it doesn't weigh much and she can drag it around with her. The other toys are still kind of big for her. But she tries.

I also went to the bookstore to read about her breed and how to care for her. I got a couple of Australian Cattledog books and one called "The Complete Holistic Dog Book". It's very interesting. Talking about things like what kinds of supplements to give your dog after they have shots to help them counteract the negative affects. I wanted to buy more books but I tried to exercise at least some restraint.

She sleeps a lot and pees a lot. But I think this is normal puppy behavior. It's kind of nice when she sleeps, because then she's not whining and she's cute when she's sleeping. Today she played so hard that she crawled up into my lap and fell asleep. I love that.

Four weeks

Whiners

You know how when you're by yourself and you get hurt, you tend to be tougher than you would be if you were with someone you know? Or if you're with people you know won't be sympathetic you're tough and sort of just pretend not to be hurt?



Since I've been sick I noticed I'm way more whiney when other people are around. But when it's just me, I sort of just plow ahead and deal. I once was mountain biking and did a header over the handlebars and busted myself up pretty good. But I was alone with nobody to whine to. So I pealed myself off the ground, got back on, and kept riding.

Weird.

Moments of weakness

I've been sick for two and a half weeks now and I'm really starting to get frustrated with it. I think I have a sinus infection, first one I've ever had. I'm supposed to be in Florida next week for a conference and I really don't want to be sick while I'm there. Also, the usual remedy of sleep, vitamin C, echinacea, zinc, and chlorophyl aren't working. I mean, maybe they are, but I can't really tell. And there doesn't really seem to be an end in sight.

On Sunday around 5am when the coughing wouldn't stop and I was seriously fed up with the whole thing, I decided I would go to the doctor when they opened. This was not an easy decision, but I really didn't know what more to do. I sort of pride myself on being in control of my body and knowing how to care for it without the intervention of much in the way of pharmaceuticals.

So I break down and go to the doctor, and of course, there was an hour wait. But an hour turned into four and as I'm still sitting there the manager, who I know through work, comes in to tell me about the people ahead of me with some rather serious injuries. I completely understand, my little cold will not kill me, but lacerations and chest pain might kill those in front of me. But the four hours leading up to this point could have just as easily been spent in bed. So I leave, and to my surprise I'm fairly exasperated with the whole situation, thus the uncontrollable tears being excreted from my tear ducts. I hate crying. Seriously, lots of passion and dislike. Unfortunately I do it with rather annoying frequency. What can I say, I'm a girl.

H'enyway. Monday, I felt better. My mom told me about some other vitamins I could take that I happened to have, so I took those and kept up with the rest of the vitamins. And I went to my chiropractor and he made me feel quite a bit better. Did you know they can adjust your head? My sinuses have been draining all day. It is truly awesome. I mean, God or whomever must have been trying really hard to tell me not to go to the doctor. I think I'll listen.

Today I went to the healthfood store in search of a Neti Pot. My dad recommended it and I am up for just about anything at this point. A Neti Pot is pretty much the strangest thing I have ever experienced, but it is awesome. It's this little ceramic teapot that holds about a cup of warm salt water. You literally pour the salt water in one nostril while tilting your head to one side, fill up your sinus, and it runs out the other nostril simultaneously. It's totally bizarre, but feels absolutely wonderful when you're done. It's the coolest.

I had a moment of weakness but was saved at the last moment. I am happy to say I am "through the woods" and on my way to good health. :) No doctors, and no drugs.

Good times...

I've been in this super bad mood lately. And it's really starting to annoy me. I'm not really much fun when I'm in a bad mood. I'm kind of quiet and I sort of slump around. I've been doing a truly insane amount of shoveling. That could potentially have something to do with it. Although, the mega snowboarding I've been doing should more than make up for it. Maybe it's the winter blues? Can you have winter blues when you live in Tahoe? I sort of have this nasty headache too. Blech..

I'm getting a puppy, that should be good. Oh man are they cute. I think I might be switching puppies. Can you do that?? My little girl is the one always brawling with the other pups. That doesn't seem cool. And she's not so fond of being held on her back. Supposedly that's not a good sign. She's also going to be red, and I kind of had my heart set on a blue heeler. "Sorry honey, but you just weren't quite what we had in mind so we're taking you back.." Poor little thing.


So I think I'm going to try to shake this whole bad mood thing. I'm going to Florida in a couple weeks for a conference. The beach has got to cure some of this right? A little sun? Time with the family? I have been supplementing my diet with hot cocoa which makes me happy. Warm chocolatey goodness.. yum! And my cold is wearing off. What else could a girl ask for? I think this is the new baby..

Pupster!

At long last I am getting a puppy!! She's an Australian Cattledog. Just about 10 days old in these pictures. She was born four days before my birthday. Aww...

She has this cute little black spot on her right eye. And all but one of her brothers and sisters are getting their color in. She's staying pretty light. Apparently that means she might be a red heeler. Her dad is a red and her mom is a blue heeler.

I was there the night they were born. They looked like little rats. And then a few days later they looked like piglets with cute little tails. Now they're like cute little polar bears. Mostly they just lay around and nurse. They are so sweet. Truly, there are not words.

Their eyes are open now and their little claws are coming in. They're actually pretty sharp. I have been reading all about raising a pup. This breed is really high energy and I live a stone throw away from the forest so she's going to be a mountain dog!! I can't wait! The mama is the coolest dog I have ever met. If this dog is half as cool as her mom she's going to rock!

I just have to figure out what I'm going to name her. Ideas? One of her sister's is named River. My sister suggested an "R" name, but I'm not sure yet.