This has been quite a week. One to try my patience, and my overall sanity, and my ability to focus on good things.
Monday night, I made a decision to put Norma down. I have some guilt over bringing home a puppy and not raising her. I will say this though. I tried really hard. She was a dog who was just hard headed, defiant, and even vicious. I had her where she would follow some basic commands. But only for me. She didn't listen to anyone else. I had her where she didn't jump and bite - me. Everyone else was unwilling to do what I did - which was punish her. Is that a correct thing to do? No, but it was the only thing that worked. And even I couldn't do anything with her when she decided to be defiant. My view of the world is skewed from growing up on a farm, and especially a farm that was run by my father. Every animal had a job. If the animal couldn't do its job, or was dangerous, or got hurt, they either had to find a new place to live, or they were put down. Norma's only job was to be a family pet. She did not understand the assignment. She just did not mesh here. We tried everything I knew, including trying to find her a new home. She has attacked Mallory's dogs, (both of them), she has attacked our goats, which we were lucky enough to get stopped before it got really bad, and she was not trustworthy around any livestock really. I tried. Monday night, she attacked Blitz. It was absolutely unprovoked, as Blitz was just sitting beside me. It was a bad attack, and I really thought that Blitz was going to die. Which made me instantly angry. In the process of trying to get Norma off of Blitz, Norma then turned on me. She was completely vicious and out of control. I managed to get her outside. I then spent a few minutes making sure Blitz was ok. I started thinking - Harper had been home sick by herself almost all day. What if that happened when I wasn't home? What if the little girls were here? Someone was going to get hurt, and for me a hard line is owning an animal we can't trust, cannot handle when they are out of control, and an animal that could hurt some other person if I rehomed it. And so I made the decision without any real regret. Honesty, I expected some kick back from Jim or the girls, but they were all somewhat relieved and agreed with my decision.
This week, I decided to test my shoulder’s ability to handle fine motor activities. Jim had wood left from the tv mounting project, and so I made a porch leaner. I like how it turned out. And my fine motor is still the same - mediocre. Yes, I love arts and crafts and painting but I realize my skill is mediocre. And that’s totally ok, because it still brings me relaxation and happiness. Plus this project was using things we already had so it cost $0.
Tooth Fairy is currently at the vet getting neutered. He keeps trying to run out the door. This should help with that. He is Saige’s baby and she would be devastated if anything happened to him. He can smell the outside cats and wants to hang with them I think.
Carlos has been a little under the weather. When we pick the cat up, he has an appointment to get a physical. He has a random cough and has been lethargic. Hopefully it’s not anything major. Jim is on vet duty Friday because a co-worker needed to take off and so I am covering the liquor store.
I am also doing something new and driving a bus for the nursing home. They are taking the residents to see Christmas lights. It should be fun. No way it could be worse than driving 5-6 graders!
At this point we are all just counting down to the school break. It can’t get here quick enough. We are cooked.
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