Otis is a Funny Guy

The other day Otis had a visitor. Over the phone, it sounded like it could be a good match. I spoke with the daughter and she is a HUGE dog advocate/lover and she was helping her parents find another Schnauzer. I found out they were older but still active and their dog that passed was similar to Otis in nature. That is a very important piece of information -- experience. The Daughter lived only 3 miles away and was around often. I asked all the appropriate questions, all the answers were the right ones. BUT the picture in my head is not who I met. Don't get me wrong, very nice people that dote on their dogs. But, you can kind of tell Mom might not be ready when she comes in with a thick photo album of the dog she lost in May. She talked about her dog and asked all kinds of questions about .... BUG!! She wanted Little Bug I could tell. She didn't make much effort toward Otis and either Otis picked up on it or he really wasn't interested either.

Although the dog would be walked regularly, it sounds like it's Dad that keeps it on a regular 2 hours schedule, and she was not 'active' as I think of active. I have friends in their 70's and 80's that are out and about, etc., are full of energy, going to the gym and living life. So my view of the description is different than theirs. A higher energy than I realized this woman had. Yes, he is dedicated to walks every two hours -- but he didn't make it to the interview because he was still sleeping when they left (around 8:45am.)

I think the daughter is more interested in finding them a dog than it seems they really are. Otis loved her. From what I understand, she's one of those people that dogs go to that would never go to anyone. She's got the dog Kvorka. (Seinfeld, a concept introduced to me by Angela because I seem to have the 'older-men-are-attracted-to-me Kvorka) It's always been that way since I was very small. Anyway, I digress.

OTIS! he is too funny. If you watch your dog and learn to read him/her, they can be quite interesting. Otis went outside when they were here. It was a beautiful day and the back door was open. They had showered Otis and Bug with treats and then Otis was off. Now, you have to understand, Otis goes outside to pee, he doesn't hang out there roaming around. It's not his thing. He likes to be around me. I noticed he hadn't come in yet after a few minutes and I looked outside. He was just wandering around but the look on his face was different. Nonplussed, disinterested. He came back in after a few minutes and looked up at me with a very simple face, almost blank but his eyes told me, "Mom, we're not a match. I'm really not interested in going home with her." The Mom might have unknowingly felt the energy because she said, "I'm not sure if I'll take him."

Her daughter encouraged her to sit down and engage Otis, get to know him a little. She did sit, Otis went over to her, engaged her a little, and jumped off. Mom asked me if I would keep him if he didn't get adopted. I said, "I would not put him down, he will stay with me if no one wants him." and then I added, "but he's not going home with you. You are not connecting with him and are much more interested in Bug." I added that I wouldn't send a dog home with someone just for the sake of finding said dog a new home. She seemed a bit relieved. She agreed she was more interested in Bug. The daughter, on the other hand, Otis jumped on her while she sat on the floor and smothered her with kisses and happiness. Otis doesn't give kisses. The funny thing is...after that day, he started giving them to me once in awhile.

He's a funny guy. A smart guy and a great dog that on paper or with words his 2 faults might turn you away, but when you meet him, you generally want to take him home.

He thinks he is home.

ps: Cindi? don't even say it!! LOL

The Silhouette of Crazy Barking Dogs

Whenever I go outside whether it be day or night, Mr. Otis and Little Bug make their way to the window barking their heads off. In the daylight, it's cute (and annoying at the same time) because Otis's little head is peering over the top of the frame, as you've seen from this side.

Well, my neighbor gets such a kick out of it especially when it happens at night. Ed (he lives across the street) was going into his house when I was coming out of mine and he looked back to see these two crazy dogs because they were barking their heads off. He loves this silhouette, so he ran into his house for his camera, came out and took these shots.

It does make me laugh because it is innocent and cute but the barking drives me crazy and the fact that they scratch the heck out of my sofa and window sill -- but that's what paint is for, right?? Oh, and Bug can't really see anything but shadows but that's enough for her.

Crazy kids!

Hey Mom! I Can See Outside!

A few weeks ago Otis discovered that if he stands tippy-toe on the top of the sofa and puts his front paws in a death grip on the top rail of the window pane, he can see the outside world.

And proceed to bark at it.

Meanwhile the top wood edge of the sofa gets scratched to bits. He also discovered that if he just sits on the sofa and looks out the frosted part of the window, he can see movement, so he sits there in wait.

Damn Dogs.

:)

Vintage MCM Coffee Table

I've been keeping an eye out for a vintage coffee table the past couple years. I like the Castro Convertible that I have but I'm thinking it's a bit too wide, I especially think that when I clock my knee on the sharp corner.

Finally, while looking for hutch tops on Craigslist, there it was, in an ad for a hutch top, looking dingy and forgotten. I called, it was still available, I went.

It's been traveling around in my storage mobile (aka, my Rav4) for a couple weeks now and I had to get it out of there for sanity purposes. So I pulled it into the living room, used some Restor-a-finish on it, and voila! .... but I wasn't feeling it. Maybe because I am used to the yellow/beige of the CC, maybe because I am used to the size of the CC, but I couldn't make myself feel that it was working.

It looks good to me in the photo, but when looking at the whole room, it's off balance. It feels heavy to the right side with the majority of the furniture there. I put the first one back. Maybe I'll just take something else out of the room to 'lighten' it up. Or maybe I'll keep looking and try this again.

Of course, this is not a new occurrence in my house. Thank goodness I get things at thrift stores, Craigslist and tag sales, and therefore, don't spend hundreds of dollars. I change my mind so much. Although I am a very visual person, I have to see items in my space to 'feel' if it's right....and I ain't feeling it. 

Yes, Otis Is Still Here

I've not written a lot about Otis. He just became part of the scenery around here. Good natured, well behaved, a bit silly, happy and oh yeah, he still likes to try to eat other dogs upon initial meet-ups. Hmmmm, can't have everything, right?

Otis has been with me since March. I was thinking he might never get adopted. Although I had some inquiries and conversations with those interested...they just weren't the right fit for him. Three of the applications I received were from young couples, all were very interested. Sounds great, right? Well, Otis can't be placed with young children. I was told by each couple that they don't have children. I surmised that they probably would one day before Otis died and then he'd end up back here with me. I don't get it that they didn't get it. But after talking with them, it made sense, although they were disappointed.

I had some good news that Otis would be meeting his possible new owners on Thursday. I was so excited for him. But, I received a phone call this morning that said differently. The couple that was coming, have decided that it might not be the right fit. There's reasons I won't go into, but I was disappointed, and the husband of the couple, was as well. I've always said, 'when it's right it will happen.' and the same goes here, but it is disappointing. Better to find out now.

I've been waiting for the day that Otis would be adopted so that Hanzie could get a break for awhile from having foster dogs here. Otis especially, has been his nemesis. I found it hard to wrap my head around the fact that Hanz should die right before Otis was adopted. It made no sense to me. But apparently the picture is bigger than I can predict. So, Otis will be here until another day when it is right for him to go to a new home. 

Thank You

I received many kind words and warm thoughts about the passing of Hanzie, through my blog, my facebook page, personal phone calls, and text messages. 

I hadn't realized how many people knew Hanzie, and those that knew him best, had a story to tell and it usually included some laughter. He could be a little character. 

It is quieter around here without him -- and I mean that literally. But also, quieter in that his presence is not there when I look on the sofa, or the dog bed, or outside where he'd like to lay in the warmth of the sun. 

I don't fully understand why it happened, but do we ever? One minute he was barking and running around and then not too long after, he was gone. 

I think I've stopped questioning myself and what I could have done differently. I think we all do that when a loved one passes, whether it be a human or an animal friend. The task is to get through it. 

A friend wrote these words to me that she remembered a saying she saw...."Don't cry because it's over, Smile because it happened." I feel my smile beginning to return.