Chanceragia...

After reading my post on Samsomnia, my sister sent me an email detailing her own issues with Chanceragia.  I thought you might enjoy her response.

First let me offer some background, several months ago my sister adopted a 5 month old puppy, Chance, for her son.  He was not housebroken.

Chance

This is the email she sent me.

Dear Dee,

I am so sorry to hear about your bout with Samsomnia.  It sounds quite awful and I hope I never go through it.  I on the other hand am going through something quite horrible myself...

Chanceragia (n): The extreme rage that hits a person when their dog looks at them, purposely pees right in front of them and then runs around through the pee attacking their owner even while the owner is screaming at the top of their lungs and telling the stupid dog to come to them.  The dog then tries to bite the owners thumb off and instead jams the thumb into the persons hand causing extreme pain and even further rage. The dog stupidly wags his tail the whole time like everyone is playing a fun game.

Chanceragia is extremely serious and drives a person to such a rage they feel like they are having a heart attack.

I'll pray for you and you pray for me.

Love you,
Heather 

Although I got a good laugh from her reply, I do have a lot of sympathy for her.  I reminded her about my dog, Michael, when she was 6 months old.  I was visiting my parents when I finally reached my breaking point.  I remember I was so frustrated that I tied her leash to the leg of the couch and left the room sobbing.

She then sent me another email...

Dear Dee,

Thanks for the sympathy.  It does help to know that someone else went through something similar and that they didn't go stark raving mad.

I've had two more bouts of Chanceragia since I last wrote you.  Pray for Chance...There is a new mutation of Chanceragia and it's called Homicidal Chanceragia.  It is extremely serious.  This happens when the dog pees in your son's room this morning and then when you are steam cleaning the carpet he jumps on your son's bottom bunk bed and pees all over it.  The dog is in solitary confinement for the rest of his life (or until I calm down).  He peed so much it went through the mattress and it is ruined.  He also wagged his tail as I went chasing him to lock him in his cage.  Keep praying...

So please pray for both her and Chance.

Until later...

"Father, everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine"

(Mark 14:36 (NLT).

Home sweet home...

I hope you had a wonderful long Labor Day weekend.  Gabriel and I have returned from our travels where we had a great time with family and were both thoroughly spoiled.

I don't know if I've mentioned before that Gabriel is not a world traveler and she's not very fond of the car either.  By that I mean, she hates to get in it and when I force her, she usually pays me back with copious amounts of puke all over the seats.  Unless Mr. Quilting Bug (aka her hero) is with us, then she's on her best behavior.  But for various reasons it's usually just the 2 of us, a bucket of vomit and a trunk full of cleaning supplies.

I hope I'm not being too graphic for you...

However she was really a perfect angel on the drive down this time.  Thank you Benadryl!  Until we actually arrived.  I brought her to play with my sister's new dog, but she was a pill to anything with a tail.  She was mean and cranky and generally out of sorts.  But with a lot of this...

Gabriel sleeping

and this...

Papa and Gabriel

she perked right up.  And by the next morning she was full of vip and vinegar and ready to take on this one...

Chance and his new collar

Chance was the reason I brought Gabriel down.  They played and played and then played some more.  My plan for Gabriel to drop a pound or two might have worked except I forgot to account for a certain someone's constant need to feed anything that breathes (aka my dad). 

 It's a hard place to be if you're looking to drop some weight.  Or even maintain your current weight.  In fact, it's always best to wear some stretchy pants when you visit.  Luckily, I know the score and packed appropriately.

So I spent the weekend visiting with my family, eating copious amounts of artery clogging food and I even spent a whole day with my mom cleaning out her sewing room.  I love organizing things.  And sewing.  And fabric.  And spending time with my mom.  (Not necessarily in that order.)  So I had a grand time.  And when we were done, we had even found room to hang a few of the wall hangings I've made her...

Mom's sewing room

It turned out to be one of those rare visits where I got to spend a lot of time one on one with each of my parents.  It doesn't happen that often and I really treasure those moments.  I know I'm so blessed to still have both of my parents with me and trust me, I don't take it for granted.

I'll leave you with one last picture from my trip.  This is my parent's cat, Cricket.  She's the momma to my Jack and Sam.

Cricket in the pantry

Until later...

"God is able to make all grace abound to you so that in all things at all times having all that you need you will abound in every good work."  

2 Corinthians 9:8 (NIV)

Plodding along...

I've managed to spend a few cycles in my sewing room the last several days.  This is what I've been working on...

 Blueberry tart

It's one of the pincushions I'm making for my guild's 25th anniversary.  They plan to give each of the charter members one at a party in November.

They don't take long to embroider and it's fairly monotonous work.  However, because there are several different steps, I really can't do anything else at the same time.

Unfilled blueberry pincushion

Except for snapping funny pictures of my dog...

Gabriel lunging at camera

Doesn't she look rabid or something?  So far, I've managed to get 6 tarts and 10 pies done in a mix of blueberry and cherry fabric.  I've also finished 3 sunflowers.  I'd like to embroider another 5 sunflowers - perhaps this afternoon.

Unstuffed pincushions

I'm going out of town for the holiday weekend and figure this will be a nice project to take with me.  I can stuff and sew them closed while visiting with family.  Perhaps when I return I can show you a finished one.

I'm bringing Gabriel with me when I travel so she can visit with her new best friend, Chance (aka mini-me).

My sister's dog Chance

After playing with him for 5 hours last time, she was passed out for 2 days.  Any bets on how long it will take to recover from a 3 day playfest?  Although Gabriel needs to lose some weight (about 10 lbs) so the activity will be good for her.

Until later...

"Take the time and trouble to keep yourself spiritually fit."  

1 Timothy 4:8(Phillips)

Welcome to the family!

My sister adopted a new puppy about a week ago.  His name is Chance and he's about 5 months old.  He's a cross between Gabriel and Yoda.

Gabriel and Yoda

He's an adorable bundle of energy.  Lots and lots of energy.  Welcome to the family Chance!

New puppy Chance

He came up for a visit yesterday.  And before he even made it into the house, Gabriel was all over him.  They played and played and played and then played some more.

Chance and Gabriel

It got to the point where they were both completely exhausted, but if one of them twitched, they were right back at it.  Once he left yesterday, Gabriel passed out and she's slept all day today as well.

Get a load of those ears!  Aren't they just the cutest things ever?

He's definitely a lover and a keeper.  Which is good considering he's not yet potty-trained.  I remember those days with my dogs and I have tons of sympathy for my sister.  And unfortunately her house is mostly carpet...

But it would be difficult to stay mad at that face - and those ears!

Gabriel is looking forward to another longer visit - hopefully in the next couple of weeks.  I understand that Chance was exhausted yesterday as well but full of energy again this  morning.

He's constantly on the go but if you start to rub his belly, he just stops whatever he's doing.  It was a real pleasure to meet you Chance and Gabriel's looking forward to many more playdates!

Until later...

"There is nothing I cannot master with the help of Christ who gives me strength."  

Phil 4:13 (JB)