You Are My Sunshine

Kaylee called me the other evening. It was late for her--9:30 pm Philly time. She needed to tell me something.

Kaylee "Grandma I need you".

Grandma(trying to maintain) "Well Kaylee I need you too".

Kaylee "No Grandma!! I NEED you, you are way way far away and I need you!"

Now just WHAT am I to say to that?? I'm afraid I wasn't too comforting with my reply--I tried to explain that she needed her mom and her dad, needed to be with them and that I would see her soon. I asked her if we should sing one of "OUR" songs--you know the ones--oldies that you change the words to be about our grandkids. Kaylee didn't want to sing over the phone she wanted me there. How come it hurts to be wanted I wondered.

I miss my little Kaylee girl. I hum our songs and sign them to myself. But ya know----it just isn't the same. So if you find me humming "You Are My Sunshine" or "My Grandfather's Clock" with tears in my eyes, just remember that I'm misisng my little Kaylee.

Bribes--Grandpa Style

One of the draw backs of working for a living is not being able to take off on a whim to visit the grand kids. I visit my grand kids every 3 months or so. Grandpa on the other hand has a J-O-B that curtails his traveling a little more than mine does. September is my birthday month, so I decreed it was visit the Twins in Florida time and Grandpa got to go!! He hadn't seen them since Christmas Time and they did not warm up to him. He was an entertaining stranger to them. They would cry if he tried to pick them up, if they were upset they didn't want him to comfort them.

After several days of this I informed him it was time to get out the big guns. We headed out to the local grocery store "Publix" to lay in some supplies. Up and down we wandered looking for just the right loot. Then back to the house we went.

Now look carefully---see that little bowl--the clear one with the mini marshmallows and M & M's???? The sippy cups with a full load of Chocolate Milk????

Now that is the foundation of a strong family bond--eating junk food with Grandpa!!

Ashley and Alexis followed Grandpa around like a couple of little puppy dogs begging for a treat after this little feast.

And just for a refresher course we have a very large bag of mini marshmallows all ready for the carry-on bag for our next trip in December.

The how and why's of Wookie Wonkeye

I'm looking at the Wonkeye and shaking my head. He is 18#'s of weirdness. He is a HIM/IT. He is an ankle biter, groomer required, LITTLE DOG.

Maybe it's time to review my list of important qualities in a dog/my dog.

1) Big

2) Wash and Wear

3) GSD

4) Long Legs (must have for walking partner)

5) A Bark and Growl that will put the fear of God in a non-believer.

6) GSD

7) GSD

8) Well behaved

9) Female/spayed

10) GSD

(GSD=German Shepherd Dog)

After my old GSD Sara Screwloose went to her great reward I was pretty heart broken.

I said I couldn't do this again. I was out of the dog business. No more. It hurt too much, too gut wrenching when they died.

I stood by that for many months. Then Laura and Phil moved to Texas. (So it's all their fault!)

That left me with no kids closer than Texas, the grandkids in Florida and PA and me only working parttime. My house was big, empty and quiet. Too quiet.

I began searching for a small dog that could travel with me. A sturdy little dog. No yapper, no leg humping, no pony tails in the hair crap. My goal was a shelter dog, adult please, no puppy training.

If you haven't looked lately, the shelter here is full of Pit Bulls and Labs. I like both breeds but they wouldn't be very comfortable stuffed under an airline seat. I looked for 3 months. Zip, nada, zilch, zero.

My next move was to check out Craig's List. By the time I saw the listing, the dog was long gone. I didn't think I was going to find a dog. I didn't want a pure breed, I was looking for a little mutt.

Finally one day at work-- I was diligently working (yeah right!) online and just happened to jump over to Craig's List and wha-laa a litter of 7 or 8 pups--little mom, little dad--Shih Tzu-Lhasa-Apso. I scrambled for my cellphone and called. I got Voice Mail. I left my "very interested" message and hung up.

Long story short I got the last pup, who eventually got named Wookie Wonkeye.

Now could someone please answer this:

How did that 3# puppy grow into this 18 # dog???