Who's the Boss?

Nope, this isn't about who's in charge in this home. I think we all know the Missaroo wins hands down.

Growing up as a kid, I don't know there were a whole lot of things my brother and I loved more than watching television. Whether it was cartoons in the wee hours of the morning, game shows in the afternoon, or comedies at night, we loved and watched it all. We each have our favorites, his: Speed Racer, Transformers; mine: Mary Tyler Moore, The Cosby Show ((I really, really wanted to be a Cosby kid))and ours: Quantum Leap, the Commish. And these are really just a few.

But recently, I have re-discovered one of my all time favorites, Who's the Boss? It's on for a couple of hours everyday on the Hallmark channel and there I sit laughing out loud at the antics of Tony and Angela. And then the other day it occurred to me, this is where the idea for my life came from.

My whole life I have pictured myself with a career and a kid. There are no real go-it-alone career women in my family. Sure I have some unbelievably great women role models ((my mom of course)) but no one that's been too focused on her career to have a man. Turns out I got the idea from Angela Bower. She was president of one of the world's largest ad firms. And that was in 1984! What a concept. I ran the idea by my mom and she said, "yeah her or Mary Tyler Moore." Hmm... another personal favorite of mine. Uh, she was a news producer after all.

TV I think was always a comfort. I've found it easier to laugh and cry with someone else than to do it about my own life. Don't get me wrong, my brother and I had a great childhood but just like any kids it was sometimes nice to escape, if only for a half an hour at a time. And just think, would I even know how to live this life without the help of Angela and Tony? If nothing else it gives me hope that someone, someday will fall for this quirky, straight laced career gal just like it happened on Who's the Boss?

Are You Dying Shmoo?

If there's anything we've learned by now through this blog it's these three things: 1. I love the Missaroo as though she were the child I'll never get to have. 2. She's a sickly little thing. and 3. I am a dog mom worry wart. With that, I begin our latest adventure.

Today I took Miss out to go potty and number two around two. About three minutes into the walk, she threw up, hardcore. My first thought was, it can't be the heat it's only been a few minutes. Last summer Missy had heatstroke. And being a not so good dog mom I didn't realize it until this summer. What I also didn't realize is that she is more susceptible to the heat now because of it. Today it was about 90 degrees outside when we went for our mini walk. She threw up as I petted her little head and began to panic inside. What is wrong with her? I wondered. We returned home 14 minutes after our journey began. By this time, I am convinced my little puparoo is dying.

It wasn't just three weeks ago that we were at the vet bright and early after a few days of throwing up that I didn't panic over. Turned out she had a gastric-intestinal bacteria. "Is this related?" I wondered.  "Maybe she has something else?" I even thought maybe she is allergic to one of my many cleaning products. I threw that last one my mom's way. She very calmly reminded me that I use all-natural, environmentally friendly cleaning products. "Except for the Comet!" I replied. To which she then again reminded me, "dear to clean the bottom of your tub, is she licking the bottom of your tub?" Well no, but what then?

After a chat with my mom, I called the vet. Told them what happened. They weren't so much concerned about the throw up as they were her not eating and sluggish movement. OK now I am really certain she is dying. I wish she could just tell me, say something, anything! Like, mom its from the heat. Or mom its when I eat a certain something. Or mom I have cancer. Even that last one might be better than the unknown.

I do OK for myself, but recently I've been struggling to survive. I'm penny pinching like I did to get through college and back then I barely made it without the sick dog. I would spend my last dollar on the Missaroo, but sometimes I already do. Running tests to just find out if my worry wart status is valid just isn't an option. The other day I was talking over my financial situation with my mom and she told me it was "that damn dog" that's using up all my money. I reminder her that argument will work as well on me as it would on a welfare recipient told to lose a kid to save money. NOT AN OPTION.

So I'm hoping today's throw up is unrelated to all the other throw up I've blogged about in the past six months. I'm hoping this was just from the heat. I will take it even more easy on her. I even froze in my own apartment in order to keep her cool. It did seem to help. Because right as I was getting ready to blog, I heard the most wonderful noise in the world. The sound of the Missaroo eating!

Bored with a Capital B

Missaroo has been pretty darn bored lately. The whole computer fiasco left her waiting around for a mom that was entirely too pre-occupied to entertain her. And she's still adjusting to life without daycare. She's being laying around the apartment a lot lately. And although I haven't had all the time in the world to play with her, like any good 21st century dog mom, I did have time to snap a few pictures. She might be bored, but she sure looks good doing nothing! Love you Shmooie!

Technology Hates the Missaroo

I hate technology. I know that sounds like an unbelievable statement coming from a news producer with a blog, but it's true. Now don't get me wrong, I love my crackberry, and I'm addicted to twitter but I also own the cheapest TV Target sells and I have basic cable. And when it comes to computers, I don't have the slightest clue outside the Internet.

Yesterday, my six year old computer made it's way into technology heaven. I was told at Best Buy today a 6 year old computer is the equivalent of 126 years in people life. I took good care of it and we had a good run. I knew yesterday was coming. I had been buying it time by taking off all of my pictures and important documents. But alas, it succumb to the abuse I put it through on an everyday basis with my blogging, tweeting and facebook updating. I was sad to pack it up and put it in my closet. What do you with a dead computer anyway?

I stressed about the thought of purchasing a new computer for two reasons. One, a new computer means I won't be eating for the next three weeks and next quarter's tuition money is in jeopardy. And two, because I don't know where to begin when it comes to buying a computer. I had to ask someone at work where to even go to shop for one. I took a poll as to what to get, desktop or laptop. Then I had one of the production assistants help me out with what it was to look for when shopping. But the scariest part was entering the store alone and making the decision by myself. I wished I could have taken the Missaroo in with me for moral support. I think I would have felt better buying a brand new car on my own then a brand new computer. It was another "I really wish I had a man" moments for me. Who knew bees and computers had something in common?

Really, the bottom line is I hate going through this kind of thing alone. I find myself at work often saying things like, "don't worry, I got this" or "I'll make it work." That's how my mom raised me, to survive, get through things, and essentially carry the world on my back. But it would be nice to hear the words said my way for once. "Don't worry Brittany, I got this for you." It's never happened and it seems to be getting farther and farther away from becoming a reality. It came close once, the time I walked all the way from the South Hill to Downtown, but he went away and I started a blog.

I did buy a computer today so I'm a little hungry. I almost had a panic attack at Best Buy, but I didn't. I'm just about done setting everything up. I also got the laundry done and cleaned my entire apartment. I can get through things, I guess this was another lesson for me on that front. But I don't know if that thought of "why, WHY do I always HAVE to do it alone?" will ever go away.

Oh and by the way, technology fails and cleaning equals a bored Missaroo. She hates technology but likes the extra space underneath the desk. I bought a laptop.

Missy's Favorite Toy

Missy is one lucky duck. Did you know that this dog hasn't gone a single day without a bone? Not one day! She always has a toy, a bone, and food. Not to mention all the other perks. In my personal opinion, she's living the good life. And Petsmart is living the good life too. We spend a lot of money there buying all of these toys, bones, and treats. Dont' forget the treats! But right now her favorite toy didn't come from Petsmart or any other pet store. It came from my dresser drawer, thanks to Grams.

When my mom was here visiting she bought me new socks. I had several with holes in them, including a thick gray pair. You know, my winter socks. They had holes in the heals and it was time for them to go. But instead of trashing them, Grams simply tied them in a knot and threw them in Missaroo's crate. More than a month later and the socks are still the first toy Missy pulls out to play with. Think of all the money I could have been saving. A pair of old gray socks is the Missaroo's favorite toy.

Adventures in Micro Chipping

I just keep stealing titles for my blog posts don't I? But let's face it, "Adventures in Babysiting" equals 1980's amazingness! Elizabeth Shue was my favorite actress for a long time, until she never made another movie worth watching that is. But I still love her.

Anyway, yesterday I finally took the Missaroo to get micro chipped. Pet Over Population Prevention had offered to micro chip her when I first got her, but I couldn't afford it. It was just recently that I was able to finally finish purchasing everything I've wanted to get Missy. For the longest time, she was eating out of my good bowls, sleeping on a blanket in her crate, and didn't have a real dog bed. All of that has changed, so it was time to save up for the micro chipping.

I've been teaming up with the local animal shelter SpokAnimal on a few projects and they mentioned they do micro chipping for $15! No need to save up. In the words of my dad, "we were there dude!"

I think it was a strange experience for Missaroo. She hasn't been in a shelter type atmopshere since the day I took her home. Needless to say there wasn't an ounce of aggressiveness in her. She had her tail down as soon as we got out of the car and the whole time in the waiting room. She could hear the other dogs barking who aren't as lucky yet to have a forever home. I gave her lots of love and told her "don't worry, you're my bud for life and you'll never be stuck in a place like this again".

When we got back to the exam room, I had to put Miss on the table. She tried to escape more than once but was unsuccessful. She also didn't like the vet trying to stick her in the neck. The first time the vet tried to stick her, Missy almost fell off the table! I had to catch her, thank goodness! When the vet spun her around to try again she almost fell of the table a second time! Oh the Missaroo. I finally held her head and the vet inserted the micro chip. Mission accomplished.

In case you were wondering about the benefits of micro chipping here it is: If Missy were to get away from me and was found and turned in at a shelter or vet, she can be scanned for her micro chip. Then my name, address, and phone number pops up as her owner. Considering Missy has gotten out of her collar a few times and nearly jumped out the car window once, it never hurts to have an added layer of ID she can't ditch.

So there you have it, adventures in micro chipping.

I Miss Daycare

It's only been a week, and I'm already missing daycare. OK, WE are missing daycare. Missy would not leave me alone last night. I was trying to watch the White Sox ((which is a rare thing these days but they were in Seattle playing the Mariners)) and every time I would yell at the TV, talk to our guys, or clap she was in my face. ((I love the White Sox about as much as I love the Missaroo)) She even stepped on the control and turned the channel! AH! We can't have that. But the poor thing has been wearing her sad face non-stop. We walked A LOT yesterday and she still wanted to come home and play. I wanted to come home and pass out. Even right now she's laying on the floor holding onto her rope waiting for me to get up and talk her for a walk. I hate that sad face. It makes me feel like the worst dog mom in the world! I just don't know how else to tucker her out and still get everything I need done. Today we'll walk, maybe head for the park, plus she's getting micro chipped. Hopefully all of the new places will help. We'll see. But one thing is for sure. WE miss daycare!