I'm sitting in my hostel in Anchorage - it's a nice little spot. Qupqugiaq Inn - I have no idea how to say it. Anyway, it's like a dorm, which is interesting. Fine with me. I'm just here for a night, then I'm off in the morning to Fairbanks (about a 6 hour drive, depending on the condition of the roads).
I picked my skis up this afternoon at the REI store, which is conveniently located only a few blocks from where my hostel is. I'll be up for a little while longer, however, though I'd like to go to bed. My luggage is still not here, and it won't arrive in Anchorage until between 9 & 9:30, so I just have to go to the airport and pick it up in baggage claim, which is pretty sweet.
Anyway, I will be posting a summary of last week's grand events in Indianapolis in the next week or so. It may be combined with my week here in Anchorage/Fairbanks. I'm not really sure when I'll get another chance to get online to do all of this. But it should be a great next few days.
NOTICE: Please check the brand new blog of Kelli Elizabeth. The link to her site is the first on my list of "people of note" in the right column. And enjoy. :)
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Significant Events, such as the Birth of Puppies
Last weekend was very eventful. Where do I begin?
Friday was probably the most eventful of these past few days. *Here is how it went:
*If you are queezy and weak in the stomach, and you do not want the detailed story of the puppy birthing process, please feel free to skip over the next few paragraphs (story is separated by lines) and move on to the abridged version which will be less detailed, i.e. less greusome. Otherwise, read on, and enjoy the narrative.
_____________________________
The Greusome Tale of the Dead Puppies
Except it is no tale. It is true to life, as true as you are sitting there reading this account of how the puppies came and went.
It was a calm evening, or well, it began that way. I was at Jake & Janelle's for an evening of easy and relaxing companionship. Adrianna, Dan, and I had gone to the big sale at the AC, at which I bought a puzzle (a new attempt at my ongoing search and journey to find a hobby of my own). We went on to the Snyder household where Janelle and I began working diligently on the 500 piece project. It still sits there, waiting to be put together, for just as we were concentrated into the work which we had endeavored to complete that very night, the phone rang. We thought nothing of it - although I always notice how strange the song sounds that the Snyders have programmed to be their ringer. I think it's a children's folk song... I always forget what it is until I hear it again. Anyway, the phone rang.
Adrianna and Dan had left early that night. When they returned to the 14-plex, our beloved turquoise apartment building, they found my loving black dog, Starr, in a state of distress. This is what they recounted to Jake, and then to me, over the telephone, "You're dog is in labor. She's bleeding, I think. Yeah, there's definitely blood. Just wanted to let you know." Immediately I freaked out. I made Jake rush me home in the truck. I left everything I had brought, including the undone puzzle, and a puzzled Janelle, and I halfway prepared to be in the out of doors. As soon as we pulled up in front of the building, I jumped out and rushed inside where A & D had already brought Starr inside the hallway by way of a large cardboard box. She was very much herself for a few moments, excited to see me, too energetic to stay inside the box. We kept her inside, however, to save ourselves from what could end up being a nasty clean-up job.
Eventually we took her inside my apartment where I added to her box 2 old shirts, a bath towel, and a nasty pillow case. I also cut an opening in the box for her to have easy in and out access. We thought it a joyous event, so to enjoy the show properly we made popcorn and brought cameras and put on a movie. Clearly, this was our first time witnessing a dog give birth. Pictures were taken, videos were made, popcorn was eaten, jokes were said. But nothing could prepare us for what was to come.
Starr was restless. She needed to walk. She needed to pee. I took her outside a few times to let her do so. The third time I took her outside I decided to let her walk it out on the long chain and just stand inside and wait for her because it was friggin cold. As I was chaining her up, I heard a familiar voice call out to me, "Hey!" It was none other than Carrie on her walk home. Upon noticing me, she walked over smiling and asked what was going on.
"My dog is in labor."
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah... crazy, huh?"
"She is pretty huge. Guess it's better now than when you're on break."
"For sure. I'm glad it's now."
"I'm so glad I'm not you right now."
"Thanks."
"What - what is that?" She pointed to a spot on the ground at which Starr was excessively interested.
"Oh, it's probably just poop." I had lost all hope that the puppies would be coming out before 2 a.m.
"No, I think it's a puppy."
"What??"
And so, as we got closer, we found that it was indeed a puppy. During our small talk, my dog had given birth. Carrie gently carried it inside with Starr following, leaking birthy watery stuff in the hallway of the apartmenet building (not my carpet, thank goodness). We put both mother and pup into the box where Starr proceeded to clean up the baby and do her mother dog thing. She's an experienced mother, so I was glad to let her do everything on her own. But as we watched the puppy lie there motionless, we began to feel the worst was true.
"I think..."
"Is it..."
"I think it's dead."
"Do you feel a heartbeat?"
"No. Yes... wait, no."
"It's dead."
"Odd."
"Is it a boy or a girl?"
"It's a little girl."
"What do I do with it?"
"Um, you could put it in the dump? Orr... the dump?"
"The dump."
Moments after we took from Starr her first puppy, we realized that she had in fact had a second pup. While watching her vigorously clean the small dog, we noticed her chewing on something. Suddenly Dan jerked back on the couch with a green-ish about-to-vomit expression on his face. Starr was eating her puppy.*
A & D looked sick to their stomachs. The event had just become less fun and more disturbing than anything we had ever seen in our short lives. Carrie said little, thinking it was just natural (which, as my note will tell you, it is). I found it funny - another moment of inappropriate laughter by Karis Koett, thank you very much - and began to laugh.
Eventually, after nothing was happening for quite some time, Carrie went home, and A & D left (after the movie had ended). I was left to deal with the dog and her pups alone. I wasn't worried. Soon, I fell asleep on the couch, watching and waiting. Once when I awoke in the middle of the night I found a strange stain on the floor that would not clean. It may have been the place she birthed a 3rd puppy and ate it, as well. I moved her bed into my room and slept the rest of the night there.
The next morning there were two more dead puppies in her bed. And on Sunday morning I found the 5th (possibly 6th) dead puppy in her cardboard box bed. The following reasons for these stillborn puppies have been proposed:
1. There was a mis-match in the compatability of mother and father dogs which caused the puppies to be sick inside of Starr, and her body forced them out.
2. There were too many puppies for her body to handle (she normally only has 3 - she is a small dog) and her body forced them out.
3. The puppies were born 2 weeks early, and none of them were ready to be out, and so they died immediately.
My belief is that it is a mix of numbers 2 and 3. There were too many, so her body forced them out, but it was too early, and so they died.
*The two reasons a mother dog might eat her puppy: 1) The puppy is sick and/or deformed anyway, so, as a part of natural selection, the mother will eat the puppy to save it from suffering. OR 2) The puppy is sick and contagious, so to save the rest of the litter from getting sick from the one puppy, the mother will eat that one sick puppy. Because of the stench of the puppy that was eaten, I tend to think the reasons that she ate it were of the nature of the second reason.
This is the end of the gross version of the dead puppy story.
___________________________
For those of you who chose to skip over the gross story, this is basically what happened:
All the puppies were born sick or dead. None of them survived puppy-birth. The end.
Starr has been very tired, but she is moving towards becoming herself again. Although she is still quite attached to me and insists on being close to me whenever possible, she is beginning to show signs of her old hyper-active self. What I have noticed most is that she is not eating or drinking much, she sleeps a lot more, and she is not waiting by the door for me the way she used to. Instead, she does not greet me until I have already come inside. Her sadness is still there, but she will soon be fine, I think.
Saturday was actually quite a busy day. There was a craft fair in the morning at which I finally got a real laundry hamper. I had been using a cardboard box. I'm very happy with my update. Adrianna and I went to go see a sled dog race, but we did not know where it was, and we decided not to walk out into nothing to look for it. This was good, because on the way back home I realized that I needed to pee really badly. A little later a bunch of people joined together for a cookie exchange. I had made gingerbread cookies at Patty's house on Wednesday. It took like, 5 hours, seriously. This is why I do not bake. Although the results are quite yummy, it is not a hobby I am likely to pick up just because of the prep time and the long-term effects on my body, i.e. 10 pounds per cookie. Anyway, there were tons of yummy treats. Here are some for you:
I spent the rest of the day at Carrie's trying to work on crafty things - we both have projects that needed to get done. She was working on her beautiful mosaic (sp?). And yes, that is actually a ghost behind the table there.
And I was trying to work on my Christmas cards, but somehow I kept losing focus and motivation. So some people might be getting a Christmas card in July or something, just because I am determined to finish what I start, because I need to. It just might be late. Anyway, crossword puzzles, good company, and a fantastic movie are also good things, right?
At the end of the day, I mostly like to play with my Eskimo yo-yo, which I am becoming quite good at. Aren't they cute? Little seal skin mukluks. :)
It has been getting significantly colder here. Last night it was near -20 degrees, and this morning it was around -25. My kids told me today that windchill was at -43. The sun has been out, though, so I have been trying to walk. I need to suck it up and walk to the post office no matter what. I don't think everyone feels the same way.
Norton Sound is frozen. It's beautiful. But as I read in this fantastic book, "The Cruelest Miles" (a book about the diptheria epademic in Nome which led to the creation of the Iditarod), I learned that the Sound is not really safe when it's frozen, though some have crossed it by dogsled, which is a gigantic risk. It's really fascinating. I recommend it highly if you want to learn more about the area. :)
Well, I am hugely ready for break, along with the entirety of the school. I can barely stay on task myself, let alone keep THEM on task. I'm just ready for a change. Again. (Stick with it, Karis...)
Good night.
Friday was probably the most eventful of these past few days. *Here is how it went:
*If you are queezy and weak in the stomach, and you do not want the detailed story of the puppy birthing process, please feel free to skip over the next few paragraphs (story is separated by lines) and move on to the abridged version which will be less detailed, i.e. less greusome. Otherwise, read on, and enjoy the narrative.
_____________________________
The Greusome Tale of the Dead Puppies
Except it is no tale. It is true to life, as true as you are sitting there reading this account of how the puppies came and went.
It was a calm evening, or well, it began that way. I was at Jake & Janelle's for an evening of easy and relaxing companionship. Adrianna, Dan, and I had gone to the big sale at the AC, at which I bought a puzzle (a new attempt at my ongoing search and journey to find a hobby of my own). We went on to the Snyder household where Janelle and I began working diligently on the 500 piece project. It still sits there, waiting to be put together, for just as we were concentrated into the work which we had endeavored to complete that very night, the phone rang. We thought nothing of it - although I always notice how strange the song sounds that the Snyders have programmed to be their ringer. I think it's a children's folk song... I always forget what it is until I hear it again. Anyway, the phone rang.
Adrianna and Dan had left early that night. When they returned to the 14-plex, our beloved turquoise apartment building, they found my loving black dog, Starr, in a state of distress. This is what they recounted to Jake, and then to me, over the telephone, "You're dog is in labor. She's bleeding, I think. Yeah, there's definitely blood. Just wanted to let you know." Immediately I freaked out. I made Jake rush me home in the truck. I left everything I had brought, including the undone puzzle, and a puzzled Janelle, and I halfway prepared to be in the out of doors. As soon as we pulled up in front of the building, I jumped out and rushed inside where A & D had already brought Starr inside the hallway by way of a large cardboard box. She was very much herself for a few moments, excited to see me, too energetic to stay inside the box. We kept her inside, however, to save ourselves from what could end up being a nasty clean-up job.
Eventually we took her inside my apartment where I added to her box 2 old shirts, a bath towel, and a nasty pillow case. I also cut an opening in the box for her to have easy in and out access. We thought it a joyous event, so to enjoy the show properly we made popcorn and brought cameras and put on a movie. Clearly, this was our first time witnessing a dog give birth. Pictures were taken, videos were made, popcorn was eaten, jokes were said. But nothing could prepare us for what was to come.
Starr was restless. She needed to walk. She needed to pee. I took her outside a few times to let her do so. The third time I took her outside I decided to let her walk it out on the long chain and just stand inside and wait for her because it was friggin cold. As I was chaining her up, I heard a familiar voice call out to me, "Hey!" It was none other than Carrie on her walk home. Upon noticing me, she walked over smiling and asked what was going on.
"My dog is in labor."
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah... crazy, huh?"
"She is pretty huge. Guess it's better now than when you're on break."
"For sure. I'm glad it's now."
"I'm so glad I'm not you right now."
"Thanks."
"What - what is that?" She pointed to a spot on the ground at which Starr was excessively interested.
"Oh, it's probably just poop." I had lost all hope that the puppies would be coming out before 2 a.m.
"No, I think it's a puppy."
"What??"
And so, as we got closer, we found that it was indeed a puppy. During our small talk, my dog had given birth. Carrie gently carried it inside with Starr following, leaking birthy watery stuff in the hallway of the apartmenet building (not my carpet, thank goodness). We put both mother and pup into the box where Starr proceeded to clean up the baby and do her mother dog thing. She's an experienced mother, so I was glad to let her do everything on her own. But as we watched the puppy lie there motionless, we began to feel the worst was true.
"I think..."
"Is it..."
"I think it's dead."
"Do you feel a heartbeat?"
"No. Yes... wait, no."
"It's dead."
"Odd."
"Is it a boy or a girl?"
"It's a little girl."
"What do I do with it?"
"Um, you could put it in the dump? Orr... the dump?"
"The dump."
Moments after we took from Starr her first puppy, we realized that she had in fact had a second pup. While watching her vigorously clean the small dog, we noticed her chewing on something. Suddenly Dan jerked back on the couch with a green-ish about-to-vomit expression on his face. Starr was eating her puppy.*
A & D looked sick to their stomachs. The event had just become less fun and more disturbing than anything we had ever seen in our short lives. Carrie said little, thinking it was just natural (which, as my note will tell you, it is). I found it funny - another moment of inappropriate laughter by Karis Koett, thank you very much - and began to laugh.
Eventually, after nothing was happening for quite some time, Carrie went home, and A & D left (after the movie had ended). I was left to deal with the dog and her pups alone. I wasn't worried. Soon, I fell asleep on the couch, watching and waiting. Once when I awoke in the middle of the night I found a strange stain on the floor that would not clean. It may have been the place she birthed a 3rd puppy and ate it, as well. I moved her bed into my room and slept the rest of the night there.
The next morning there were two more dead puppies in her bed. And on Sunday morning I found the 5th (possibly 6th) dead puppy in her cardboard box bed. The following reasons for these stillborn puppies have been proposed:
1. There was a mis-match in the compatability of mother and father dogs which caused the puppies to be sick inside of Starr, and her body forced them out.
2. There were too many puppies for her body to handle (she normally only has 3 - she is a small dog) and her body forced them out.
3. The puppies were born 2 weeks early, and none of them were ready to be out, and so they died immediately.
My belief is that it is a mix of numbers 2 and 3. There were too many, so her body forced them out, but it was too early, and so they died.
*The two reasons a mother dog might eat her puppy: 1) The puppy is sick and/or deformed anyway, so, as a part of natural selection, the mother will eat the puppy to save it from suffering. OR 2) The puppy is sick and contagious, so to save the rest of the litter from getting sick from the one puppy, the mother will eat that one sick puppy. Because of the stench of the puppy that was eaten, I tend to think the reasons that she ate it were of the nature of the second reason.
This is the end of the gross version of the dead puppy story.
___________________________
For those of you who chose to skip over the gross story, this is basically what happened:
All the puppies were born sick or dead. None of them survived puppy-birth. The end.
Starr has been very tired, but she is moving towards becoming herself again. Although she is still quite attached to me and insists on being close to me whenever possible, she is beginning to show signs of her old hyper-active self. What I have noticed most is that she is not eating or drinking much, she sleeps a lot more, and she is not waiting by the door for me the way she used to. Instead, she does not greet me until I have already come inside. Her sadness is still there, but she will soon be fine, I think.
Saturday was actually quite a busy day. There was a craft fair in the morning at which I finally got a real laundry hamper. I had been using a cardboard box. I'm very happy with my update. Adrianna and I went to go see a sled dog race, but we did not know where it was, and we decided not to walk out into nothing to look for it. This was good, because on the way back home I realized that I needed to pee really badly. A little later a bunch of people joined together for a cookie exchange. I had made gingerbread cookies at Patty's house on Wednesday. It took like, 5 hours, seriously. This is why I do not bake. Although the results are quite yummy, it is not a hobby I am likely to pick up just because of the prep time and the long-term effects on my body, i.e. 10 pounds per cookie. Anyway, there were tons of yummy treats. Here are some for you:
I spent the rest of the day at Carrie's trying to work on crafty things - we both have projects that needed to get done. She was working on her beautiful mosaic (sp?). And yes, that is actually a ghost behind the table there.
And I was trying to work on my Christmas cards, but somehow I kept losing focus and motivation. So some people might be getting a Christmas card in July or something, just because I am determined to finish what I start, because I need to. It just might be late. Anyway, crossword puzzles, good company, and a fantastic movie are also good things, right?
At the end of the day, I mostly like to play with my Eskimo yo-yo, which I am becoming quite good at. Aren't they cute? Little seal skin mukluks. :)
It has been getting significantly colder here. Last night it was near -20 degrees, and this morning it was around -25. My kids told me today that windchill was at -43. The sun has been out, though, so I have been trying to walk. I need to suck it up and walk to the post office no matter what. I don't think everyone feels the same way.
Norton Sound is frozen. It's beautiful. But as I read in this fantastic book, "The Cruelest Miles" (a book about the diptheria epademic in Nome which led to the creation of the Iditarod), I learned that the Sound is not really safe when it's frozen, though some have crossed it by dogsled, which is a gigantic risk. It's really fascinating. I recommend it highly if you want to learn more about the area. :)
Well, I am hugely ready for break, along with the entirety of the school. I can barely stay on task myself, let alone keep THEM on task. I'm just ready for a change. Again. (Stick with it, Karis...)
Good night.
Monday, December 10, 2007
A Season for Firsts
This weekend I decided to try a 3-day body cleanse fast, just because I've never done it before, wanted to try it to see. Not so bad. I started eating ice cream too soon after the fast, however, which is unfortunate. It's a sad, sad addiction that unfortunately I will never be over. Oh well. Anyway, it was quite an experience, the fast - very telling, really. The last supper was Thursday (including crackers and hummus, cheese and crackers, and carrot sticks and dip, and water). Only water on Friday (Day 1), and then orange juice and water on the last 2 days. I ended up eating a couple hours before the 5 o'clock 3-day mark, just because I could not concentrate on my work on Sunday while I was trying to plan for school. So I had rice and veggies, and I felt completely energized, unbelievably so. So now I am feeling how careful I have to be about what I eat and what it does to my body. The ice cream, however, that will just be something my body has to deal with.
Anyway, other grand events this weekend included the glorious tundra. It was nice out, so we 4-wheelered it out of town for a little walk in the hills.
I must have had my camera on some sort of bizarre setting, because the background looks like a sort of realistic wall paper that we were just posing in front of for a photo shoot. But really, that background is for real.
You may also notice that we are dressed somewhat like a winter in the lower 48. That's how nice it was. :) Without the wind, it's pretty great weather here.
And yes, by the time we were out there, around 4ish, it was dusk. The sun is rising around 11:00am and is setting somewhere around 4:00. However, the sunrises and sunsets are quite long, so although it seems to most of the world to be a very short day (which, I guess it is), it isn't that bad, really. There is still sunlight, if it isn't cloudy, and you can't beat an Alaskan sunrise. The best part - I'm actually awake for it, and I don't have to get up early to see it. :)
The coolest thing that I've done recently, among other firsts, is learn how to do the Eskimo Yo-Yo. So cool!!! Someday I'll have my own, and I can show you how neat it is.
Well frankly, it was a really lazy weekend. And I mean really lazy. It's been pointed out to me that I need a hobby. So I am now on a hunt for something to fill my time. These are the things I already do: violin (inconsistently), read, blog, I will be skiing starting in January, lesson planning, cook, and go to work. There hasn't been much to write about lately - I've been thinking of doing my own self-directed research paper to try to submit to a literary journal of some kind, just to start getting my name out there. But that would be WAY nerdy. Maybe I should start making myself enjoy scrapbooking. Or something. Any ideas would be much appreciated.
Another view of Unalakleet from up the hills - this is sunset-eque-ish time, in the spirit of suffixes (Janelle). :)
Anyway, other grand events this weekend included the glorious tundra. It was nice out, so we 4-wheelered it out of town for a little walk in the hills.
I must have had my camera on some sort of bizarre setting, because the background looks like a sort of realistic wall paper that we were just posing in front of for a photo shoot. But really, that background is for real.
You may also notice that we are dressed somewhat like a winter in the lower 48. That's how nice it was. :) Without the wind, it's pretty great weather here.
And yes, by the time we were out there, around 4ish, it was dusk. The sun is rising around 11:00am and is setting somewhere around 4:00. However, the sunrises and sunsets are quite long, so although it seems to most of the world to be a very short day (which, I guess it is), it isn't that bad, really. There is still sunlight, if it isn't cloudy, and you can't beat an Alaskan sunrise. The best part - I'm actually awake for it, and I don't have to get up early to see it. :)
The coolest thing that I've done recently, among other firsts, is learn how to do the Eskimo Yo-Yo. So cool!!! Someday I'll have my own, and I can show you how neat it is.
Well frankly, it was a really lazy weekend. And I mean really lazy. It's been pointed out to me that I need a hobby. So I am now on a hunt for something to fill my time. These are the things I already do: violin (inconsistently), read, blog, I will be skiing starting in January, lesson planning, cook, and go to work. There hasn't been much to write about lately - I've been thinking of doing my own self-directed research paper to try to submit to a literary journal of some kind, just to start getting my name out there. But that would be WAY nerdy. Maybe I should start making myself enjoy scrapbooking. Or something. Any ideas would be much appreciated.
Another view of Unalakleet from up the hills - this is sunset-eque-ish time, in the spirit of suffixes (Janelle). :)
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Daily Adventures
It's too bad I can't take pictures of the wind - it's really something to see. I'll try to get a video sometime of the daily (or not so daily...) adventure we take down to the post office. Oh, the things we do for mail, and to get outside for a walk. It's all worth it. It's becoming a daily routine now: before I leave the house in the morning for my 5 minute walking commute to school, I put on the whole winter gear. First, the poofy snow pants over my regular pants (under which are some long johns). Then, the scarf (currently I am using my own homemade one - it may change next week, as I have about 7 scarves) wrapped twice around my face. Over top of my regular clothes goes my big blue Canada Goose "parka" (not a real Native parka, unfortunately). Zip that up, and then put on my amazing beaver hat, tied over my scarf to keep both hat and scarf in place. Next come the snow boots, snow pants zipped down over them. Then I put on my hood over my hat and string it up so it doesn't blow off my head. Gloves last, tucked under my coat sleeves for optimum warmth. Then I walk to school, or rather, skate slash get blown to school, and take it all off again. It sounds worse than it is. It's really not that bad at all - I don't mind it so much. :)
Not a whole lot to say about how things are. They are how they are, which is just grand, as always. I enjoy the company of good people. I get as much work done as I possibly can pull myself to do. We are watching the movie "A Raisin in the Sun" in class. It's an old movie - they really need to re-make it, especially with all the other re-makes they are doing. Ach so. Mostly I have been feeling like I am constantly rebuilding the wheel. There has got to be more out there for me. But I've also had a lot of energy during the day lately, which is great.
Walking to and from school is more of a chore these days with the wind and the cold being as it is. I guess I should let the secret out. I'm going to be a grandma. That's right, my dog is pregnant - really pregnant. Poor girl is about to pop. I thought that she was due during Christmas break, while I'll be gone, during which time she'll be living outside in a dog house. Currently I am chaining her outside so she can get used to the life of a chain dog in the cold. Loose dogs don't work any more - $20 fine if they catch her, or they could just shoot her. With people starting their dog sled training around the village, nobody wants a crazy little black dog chasing the team. So anyway, she's getting chain trained. Need to get her doghouse ready, and need to make her a bed in case she decides to give birth before she's an outside dog, which is very, very possible.
She is a cuddle bug, and we are very happy together. I think I'll keep her. :) I should warn you ahead of time, however, just so all of you non-villagers are prepared. I do plan on getting rid of the puppies, unless someone here really wants a small dog (which I doubt). By "get rid of," I do mean "dispose of." Now, just hang on, animal rights activists of the world. I am on your side. One, I don't necessarily have the extra money to mail puppies off to the pound in Anchorage. Two, the odds of one of those puppies getting adopted are fairly slim, and frankly, I'd rather not commit a dog to a life in a cage. And three, I don't have the time or energy to properly care for puppies. Don't worry, the proper way to do the whole thing is to get rid of all but one puppy immediately (so I don't break the momma dog, i.e. Starr, in this case), and after about 8 weeks when the puppy is ready to be weaned, I will get rid of that one, village style, unless someone wants to adopt it. I understand your reservations, and your anger, and your shock, but really, it's all for the best. There are TONS of dogs in this village - we don't need any more. This way really is humane. I promise.
More to come.
Not a whole lot to say about how things are. They are how they are, which is just grand, as always. I enjoy the company of good people. I get as much work done as I possibly can pull myself to do. We are watching the movie "A Raisin in the Sun" in class. It's an old movie - they really need to re-make it, especially with all the other re-makes they are doing. Ach so. Mostly I have been feeling like I am constantly rebuilding the wheel. There has got to be more out there for me. But I've also had a lot of energy during the day lately, which is great.
Walking to and from school is more of a chore these days with the wind and the cold being as it is. I guess I should let the secret out. I'm going to be a grandma. That's right, my dog is pregnant - really pregnant. Poor girl is about to pop. I thought that she was due during Christmas break, while I'll be gone, during which time she'll be living outside in a dog house. Currently I am chaining her outside so she can get used to the life of a chain dog in the cold. Loose dogs don't work any more - $20 fine if they catch her, or they could just shoot her. With people starting their dog sled training around the village, nobody wants a crazy little black dog chasing the team. So anyway, she's getting chain trained. Need to get her doghouse ready, and need to make her a bed in case she decides to give birth before she's an outside dog, which is very, very possible.
She is a cuddle bug, and we are very happy together. I think I'll keep her. :) I should warn you ahead of time, however, just so all of you non-villagers are prepared. I do plan on getting rid of the puppies, unless someone here really wants a small dog (which I doubt). By "get rid of," I do mean "dispose of." Now, just hang on, animal rights activists of the world. I am on your side. One, I don't necessarily have the extra money to mail puppies off to the pound in Anchorage. Two, the odds of one of those puppies getting adopted are fairly slim, and frankly, I'd rather not commit a dog to a life in a cage. And three, I don't have the time or energy to properly care for puppies. Don't worry, the proper way to do the whole thing is to get rid of all but one puppy immediately (so I don't break the momma dog, i.e. Starr, in this case), and after about 8 weeks when the puppy is ready to be weaned, I will get rid of that one, village style, unless someone wants to adopt it. I understand your reservations, and your anger, and your shock, but really, it's all for the best. There are TONS of dogs in this village - we don't need any more. This way really is humane. I promise.
More to come.
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