Happy Birthday Beefer!

The day started with a special happy birthday wake up song, belly rubs, a birthday card and a good walk. Now at the end of the day Beef is getting mini-marshmallows as an extra treat for my big boy (just a few). Beef is even forgetting his geriatric status and rolling around the floor. Every moment is cause for celebration but hitting another big birthday is a treasure. We are both blessed.

Beef's Incident on the Trail

Beef, the Center of my Universe, had an ugly incident on the trail last weekend. Every day with Beef is a reason to be grateful. A few weeks ago he injured his back left leg and watching an arthritic dog walk is bad enough, but it’s heart damaging to see Beef struggle on only 3 legs. We had been out walking and a German Sheppard lunged at him and Beef just can’t move quickly enough creating the first injury. Since then, we’ve only been going in the front of the house and I carry him up the stairs.
Last weekend Beef seemed strong enough to walk a little way on the trail, not far but enough so he could feel more normal. We were on the way back to the house, when a man with two beagles approached. They were on one those stupid two branch leashes. The dogs all were interested in each other but I asked the beagle boy to pull them back as my dog is infirmed. He didn’t. WTF? And then, just the thing I was worried about happened – one of the dogs jumped over on top of Beef and took him down. The short leash section was not long enough and that was what smashed Beef down, not the dog himself. Poor Beef fell back and dropped like a boulder on the dirt with his injured leg held up as if his hip was broken.
I practically went insane. Beef was my main focus and I dropped to his side trying to assess the damage all the while assailing this MF who allowed my Precious to get hurt. The guy backed off but kept calling back to me, “Can I help, is there anything I can do” while I yell “#^&*!!, you’ve done enough already”. At this point I’m absolutely sure that my baby is injured enough to be put down. I’ve never seen him hold his body in such a way. My heart was really breaking. I sit down next to Beef where he’s lying in the dirt, Kenzie comes rushing out of the house afraid for Beef. Son of a gun if Beef didn’t pop up - all that drama for nothing. Thankfully the guy I was berating was out of sight.
One week later Beef is still having severe mobility issues and I’m keenly aware that his days here will not be many.

Southern Living

A week ago today I was traveling back from Hootersville in a driving snowstorm after a brief weekend of business (monkey and not). I learned quite a lesson in Southern manners. Doing business up North especially in the cut throat world of the East Coast is a universe away from in the South. If you have a goal here, you make several contacts, directly explain your requirements, exchange information (yes I can, no I can’t, recommend an alternative, sign a contract, the end) which results in a completed transaction. It’s just business – it’s not personal. In the alternative universe (truly Whirldes Collide) of Mayberry RFD (my reference to the “bigger” local city down there), business is ALL personal and you better not let slip anything that won’t get repeated and repeated all around town and back again. We went to search for a potential facility and to also get an idea of the neighborhoods for me. By the end of the day we had 2 new life-long friends, a nearly perfect business location, a visit in my dream house, a good dinner and nothing was direct. It’s a new world with a new language that I need to learn. Coming out direct with your requirements can be seen as rude and aloof so take that offer of coffee, open with a few personal facts, don’t rush, ask questions about everyone’s “people” and chat. I’ll never learn to chit.

Introduction to Beef

Beef is a geriatric dog of mixed descent – lab and chow. Fortunately, he has the best assets of each breed – loyal, bright, smart and loving. He’s not now, nor has never been, what is considered a “normal” dog. Beef doesn’t play (an activity he gave up shortly after we adopted his brother), I’m not sure if he’s ever licked me (he’s a sniffer) and he prefers to be hugged rather than petted. He has a sensitive stomach with unattractive after effects which is much easier to manage now that the kids are out of the house and Doritos and popcorn are no longer a feast to discover spilled on the floor. Otherwise, his smell could peel the paint off the ceiling. I love this dog so much despite, maybe because of, his quirks, we are perfect for each other. I used to say he was a fat man in a dog suit but he recently started dieting and that description no longer applies. He used to outweigh me but now he’s smaller and I’m bigger so who knows.
Because Beef is ancient and was at one time very overweight, he developed arthritis (diagnosed while we live on Scandia – maybe 7/8 years ago). He has extreme mobility issues but he still loves life and is a happy boy. We may need a wheelchair ramp soon because he falls up the stairs and freaks out. Recently we’ve put his bowls up on a bench because he was having trouble reaching down. It works.
Beef will be a regular on these pages because he is the center of my universe. Here’s one detail before I go. Beef does not meet me at the door with unbridled enthusiasm as most dogs. Even if he’s awake, it’s hard to get up. But once he does, Beef likes to perform a full body hug, shoving his shoulder against my leg and pushing hard. And he’ll stay there until he decides otherwise. Back in his youth he would be at the door after dates and often pin some unsuspecting guy against the wall with his head in their crotch. The look on their faces was ... as you might expect. Maybe that’s how he tested them. If so, then he’s no judge of character because he absolutely adored a couple of my worst boyfriends.
Beef - MTF

WHY?

Despite a very public life, I intend this blog for my close friends and family only. To remain as anonymous as possible, I will refer to people, places, and businesses by code only. This way I can merge my need for privacy with the obligation to be forthright. I think the emerging story is of interest and want to be as honest as possible without risking the success of the effort.
I’ve been allowed to cram more into my life than is usually allowed and the next couple of years will put all that to shame in hyper mode. From an unhealthy childhood, overachieving teen years, to college dropout and single parenthood to international travel and my current law firm status, life thus far has been quite the challenge. The next step is revolutionary, risky and in many ways I’m scared shitless. But to have risked so much in the past to get this far, it would be a tragedy to not follow the journey through to the end and to put a human touch to the travels. There will be times I succeed and times I fall flat on my ass. But there will be times and together we will go down the road.