Jackie & Angel Visit Their Old Stomping Grounds

We had quite a day, Jackie, Angel, and I.

It sort of started yesterday when Jackie let me know she wasn't feeling very well. Unlike Papa, Jackie will actually tell me in her own little doggy way when she is sickie, or hurt. She accomplishes this by following me around, and pawing at me when I am in my chair so I will pick her up. What she was trying to tell me yesterday was that her little foot hurt, or more specifically, her toe.

I took a look at it for her, and I immediately saw she did indeed have a problem. Her toe nail was about 45 degrees from where it should be, and right away I suspected she had a broken toe. I felt her foot gently with my fingers, and when I got to the toe in question she yelped and pulled her paw back. Still, while it looked broken, other than when I but a small amount of pressure on her toe directly, she didn't seem to be in much pain, nor was she limping, but I thought it would be a good idea to have a professional look at it so I called a vet.

Our regular vet doesn't work weekends, so I called one that does, our secondary vet that we use when our regular vet isn't available. Unfortunately they couldn't see us yesterday, but gave us an appointment for first thing in the morning. Because Jackie wasn't showing any signs of discomfort or pain, I decided we could wait until the morning and forgo a trip to the pet emergency hospital.

As it turned out, Jackie's toe wasn't broken at all. Jackie's biggest problem with her foot this morning was a broken toenail. I am not sure how that caused her to yelp when I felt it before, but all that the vet did was to give her a pedicure. A $65.00 pedicure. But, at least my precious baby was OK.

After we got home, I got a call from not one, but two different Realtors who each wanted to show my house to some prospective buyers. One said they wanted to come by at around 1:30, and the other by 2:30. While we were at the vet we discovered that Jackie has gained one pound over the past year, and I figured that was partially due to my no longer taking her and Angel on walks like I had before we moved. The Realtors needing to show my house provided me with the proper motivation to take my two little dogs on a walk, so guess where I took them?

Yep... that's the park just across the street from where we used to live. It's a short drive from my new house, and I thought the dogs would enjoy a walk they are familiar with.

Jackie remembered the place well. Right away she started looking for her favorite flowers. Dandelions. She just forgot what sort of plant dandelions come from is all.

Papa found his favorite flowers as well, only he doesn't eat the flowers her likes, he uses them for other things.

The other plant my little man enjoys is grass. He loves a roll in the grass.

After the walk we had to wait for the last Realtor to leave the house, so we kicked back in the back of the truck.

All in all, we had a very good day, as you can tell by that big goofy smile on my Papa's face.

Now that my wife has left, Jackie, Angel and I feel more and more like our own little pack. Today really brought that home for me. We went out for the first time without her, and I honestly felt like I was going forward and living my new life as a single man. A single man, with two little doggies. (Doesn't that sound like it would make a great name for a blog?)

Before I close this post, I would like to thank all the regulars that drop by for your continuing words of encouragement during these rough times. I appreciate it, and so does Jackie and Angel. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Jackie Finds a Moth

Jackie loves her backyard. Even after I come home from work, and she and Angel have spent the entire day there, Jackie's daily evening routine is to have her supper, play a rousing came of fetch-and-tug-o'-war with her brother and daddy, and then return to the backyard for a little nap.

When she has decided to come back inside, Jackie typically scratches at the back door.

But what this?

Jackie spies a new friend who accompanies her by the door...

Why, it's Mothra! Jackie spotted this rather large moth sitting my the door, but she didn't know what to make of it. She just stared at it for a while, and then carefully stepped around it when I let her in.

A tender heart has she. Should the poor, hapless creature had been unfortunate enough to cross paths with Thalia, you can bet your bottom dollar that it would have never lived to see that night's moon.

Motherless Dogs

I have hinted around about the decline of my marriage here on good ol' Athenamama, but haven't spoken directly about it much. That's mainly because there isn't much to tell, and because I don't feel it would be all that interesting to anyone outside of our marriage.

However, two weeks ago my former wife moved out of our house, and so now Jackie, Angel and I are all on our own, (well, not exactly on our own. Mariah, Thalia, Salem, and Ebby are still in the house with me as is my eldest stepson, but other than that it's pretty desolate around here,) and I thought of this great title for a post so I decided to run with it.

We're getting along fine. I have taken the break-up of my marriage in stride; things like this happen, and the way I see it you can either role with the punches, or make your own life, and that of everyone around you, miserable. I have no animosity towards my former wife, and wish her no ill at all, and that not only makes her happy, but it makes me happy as well. It also makes for a smooth transition in the dynamics of our household.

As for Jackie and Angel, and the question of who will enjoy primary custody, I am happy to announce they will remain with their daddy. My former wife and I talked about it several months ago, and we decided that despite the fact that both of them came into our lives as pets for my wife, I have taken care of them, and bonded with them ever since they came to live with us, so our pack will remain intact. That also means the Official Angel and Jackie Webcam will continue to be on the air for many years to come.

In addition to Jackie and Angel, I also will be keeping Thalia and Ebby. Ebby came to us one night long ago as a stray, and she and Athena became very close. After Athena died, Ebby went into a sort of permanent state of grouchiness, but she still likes to occasionally spend time with me, so I haven't the heart to send her off to live with anyone else. Thalia of course is mine to begin with. Although I wasn't looking for another cat after Athena died, I did find Thali, and I love her dearly. I couldn't let her go anymore than I could Jackie and Angel, so she will stay with us as well, wherever we all end up.

Mariah and Salem belong to my stepson and stepdaughter respectively, and they will be responsible for where those two will live. It truly breaks my heart that I cannot take Mariah and Salem along with the rest of the pets, but I will have a hard enough time finding someone who will rent to a person with four animals already, much less six.

At some point my little menagerie and I will be moving into smaller digs, but for now we are having a great time adjusting to our new environment.

Please also check out all the other critters at Friday Ark at The Modulator.