Pound Puppy

For my entire life every pet I have every owned except for maybe 2 was either a stray or from someone who didn't want it and even the pound.

I've always liked pure bred animals, they are great but...we've never had much success with them. I've owned a basset hound and a britanny spaniel...both had health problems, maybe not serious but always something that wasn't much fun.

Now I have had health issues with our mix breeds as well...skin issues being the number one. But beside any health or behavorial problem I think an animals biggest issue is sometimes the owner.

Since I have been in Texas I have adopted a dog and she has slowly become my number one companion especially when my husband is at work.

But what I do not get is why so many military families adopt an animal and then as soon as the husband/wife deploys they become to much work or when you PCS to another base...there is no room for the pet any longer.

Animals are a huge commitment, and I don't think people realize that. It flusters the hell out of me to see people so easily give up their pet after so called "much consideration". I've been on craigslist and many shelters websites lately looking for a play mate for my new dog, considering the options and those words were used many times.

If you aren't fully committed to your pet, do not get one. It is not something that is going to stay small and baby like forever. They become adult dogs or cats very quickly. It is a shame to watch great pets being sent to the pound to look for new homes because someone didn't know what they were getting themselves into.

Especially to military families...you know what life you live! You can be in one place today and in another tomorrow. If you can't handle it why put a pet through the torture of having to shuffle it around to different homes? Would you enjoy that? I didn't think so. Neither do the animals...

Pets are like family to me...they are my family and I treat them as so. So if you cannot give an animal the right home or time...please don't get one.

"Are you already trying to burn down my house?!"

Well last night was eventful...or that may not even be the right word.

I was cooking dinner for myself before Daniel comes home Friday, something only I eat and I don't have to hear him whine about it, ( love you hunny). I was actually kind of excited about it because lets face it I haven't had a solid meal in a week or so just because I have been so busy.

Well I am half way done cooking and all of the sudden the fire smoke detector goes off...so I go try to fan it thinking its just mal functioning...well I see that a tiny red light where the carbon monoxide detector is, is blazing red...detecting carbon monoxide. So I freak out, go get my trustee neighbors, they don't know what to do.

So I call housing, line is consumed with "mass amount of callers" due to storm damage that happened...last Wednesday. So they suggested if serious enough call 911. So I debated...so 911 looked like my best choice. Because that alarm can mean serious business if accurate so I didn't want to mess around.

So hear comes the fire truck...all dressed up in uniform...sirens blazing...embarassing doesn't even touch it.

BUT to my defense there WAS a problem. I have a faulty oven that wasn't properly lighting (it's gas). So instead of lighting properly it was putting out unsafe amounts of carbon monoxide. So it was a good thing that I called, and I didn't feel like a total idiot after all.

So all is well this morning...my oven is fixed, I have a new smoke detector and carbon detector and I feel safe again.

I told my neighbor to send a picture of the fire trucks to Daniel....he calls me like any good husband and says" Are you already trying to burn down the house?!"

Well as I said all is well and my house is all in one piece and so am I :)

The Great Place

Well the trip has been made, we are officially in Fort Hood. People keep asking me how I am liking it..if I even like it all and my only response has been...it is hot...really hot. Heat has never really bothered me but I must say its a whole new breed of hot, and I know it will only get worse.

The guy that put my cable in today warned me that August is considered hell month around here because it is so hot. Joy.

But for the most part I do like it, this base is big, really big. My neighbor and I have done some exploring and errand running and I am slowly learning my way around here. What I do like is that everyone has been so nice. Anytime I have needed a question answered someone is always willing to answer it and in a positive helpful tone. You don't always find that. A lot of people don't want to bother with newbies like me...because I literally don't know a darn thing im doing. So patients is a virtue for me. So thank you Fort Hood for being so nice to me.

The housing is nice. The people before us have really taken care of the place, so we got lucky. I am trying to decorate, one thing at a time. We finally got internet and cable today, woo hoo! I have been missing my usuals..or my usual, Sex and the City.

Daniel is out in the field for 2 weeks so I am all by my lonesome...well not really I have my new puppy. Well she isnt really a puppy anymore. But I called my 12 year old dog a puppy until the day she died, so she's a puppy. She is part australian cattle dog and well we don't know what else. She has a heart of gold and she is house trained...winner! I went to do some research on the breed and supposedly they become your shadows, and I have had her since Saturday and she is definitely my little shadow. I like that. Makes me feel not so alone.

I have a lot of "new" going on, it is exciting...and scary. I know many people don't usually read this but I thought this would be a good way for people to keep up with me in some way, and feel like they have some insight.

But as they tell me at the gate everytime I come on base..." Welcome to the Great Place!"