I miss my Alex

I was so happy to see that an English Springer Spaniel won Best In Show at this year's Westminster Kennel Club. Springers will always have a special place in my heart.

Four years ago this week we lost Alex, just days shy of his 15th birthday. But Alex wasn't just a dog to me -- he was my best friend.

I still think about my darling Alex all the time. I was lucky enough to have him in my life from elementary school all the way through my last year of law school. He's the best study buddy a girl could ever ask for.

I clearly remember the day we drove up to Pennsylvania to pick him up. Alex was the last pup left in the litter. We saw his mother in the backyard of the house and then saw Alex, still not entirely steady on his rapidly growing legs, wobble out next to her.

At first my brothers and I weren't convinced this huge liver and white thing would be our new family member. We were still mourning the loss of Chad, the Cocker Spaniel, who even at full size was a little smaller than Alex at just 12 weeks.

My parents, smart enough to realize that the three of us kids were still growing ourselves, knew Alex would make the perfect-sized companion for us.

Puppyhood was quite the challenge. Alex soon took over half of the kitchen as we erected wooden barriers to keep him from wandering the house. Not happy to be confined, he registered his discontent by removing the moulding from along the wall, chewing up the kitchen table and chairs, and knocking over the television set.

As he grew, so did his curiosity. Alex loved the backyard, especially climbing atop the green turtle-shaped sandbox, where he could survey his territory. We also soon learned how springers came to be known as springers as Alex somehow managed to get himself perched inside the fence we put up to block him from chewing on the air conditioning cords. Silly boy got in easily enough but couldn't figure out how to extricate himself.

Always the charmer, when Alex was 3-years-old he fell in love with a stunning 2-year-old Springer Spaniel up the street. Alex and Roxy were a pair made in heaven. Whenever he let himself out of the house (he was particularly adept at opening the screen door) he would make a bee-line for Roxy's house. Roxy's family moved away a few years later and you could tell Alex still thought about her and their romps in the yard.

I think the one thing that made Alex so special was that he had the innate ability to make each member of the family feel we were the only one who really mattered. Alex was fiercely noble to my father, obeying his every command as long as he felt like it. Alex slept in bed with my parents, always cautious to make sure he afforded my dad enough space, all the while shoving my mom off the side.

But Alex loved mom too. He knew she was a sucker for his cute face and enormous ears. While he wasn't one for toys, Alex never turned down a treat. Alex plied many a treat from my mom.

Alex also had a special relationship with my twin brothers. One of only a few who could actually tell them apart from one another, he knew exactly how much he could manipulate each of them. He knew subtlety was lost on Danny and that he'd have to bark right in his face if he wanted something. Matt was generally a little quicker to respond to Alex's whims but unfortunately Alex only repaid him by leaving 'presents' on the floor of his bedroom. (The carpet has never been the same.)

Finally there was Alex and me. Always protective of me, as I got older and started spending more time away from home, Alex positioned himself between the front door and my bedroom so he knew when I came home. He wouldn't come upstairs and climb into bed until he knew I was home safe and sound.

The years passed and we all grew up and Alex outgrew his puppy exuberance. I went away to college and my parents brought Alex down to visit me at St. Mary's. Leave it to Alex to wander out of my dorm room into the hallway just as the assistant director of residence life came through. A new rule prohibiting "visiting pets" in the dorms appeared in the following year's student handbook.

When I returned home for law school, Alex was ready and waiting to help me study. With my brothers away at college, I had Alex all to myself.

But as Alex aged, we often wondered how much longer he would be around. His arthritis could usually be kept under control with the wonder drug Rimadyl, but his hearing and eyesight were not what they used to be.

As senile as he was, Alex still managed to put a scare into the mailman. One day I heard some barking coming from the front porch. The mail truck was already up the block but my poor old dog was covered in pepper spray. We tracked down the mailman who swore than Alex lunged at him but considering Alex's condition, I find that hard to believe.

The subsequent visit to the vet revealed the need for surgery, as Alex needed to have a fatty tumor and a toe removed. The weeks that followed were touch-and-go and we really didn't think Alex would last much longer. Somehow he recovered and made it another two years.

Like his life, Alex's death became a legendary story in itself. Alex chose to die right in the middle of the President's Day Blizzard of 2003. We had no way of getting out of the house so we had a few extra days to spend with him. The vet advised us to put him outside in the snow until we could dig our way out.

The local pet cemetery said that because the ground was frozen, they wouldn't be able to bury him until spring. We didn't want to let our best friend sit around in a freezer somewhere all that time so we ultimately decided on cremation.

This turned out to be a very good choice. David Mason of Beloved Pet Cremation and Burial Service was an amazing help. He came to our house with his doggy hearse to pick up Alex's body. He sat down and talked with us for a while about Alex's life and what he meant to us.

It's such a comfort to have Alex in the living room at my parents' house. We still talk to him all the time. It's such a fitting final resting place considering he spent so much of his time trying to convince us that he should be allowed in the living room anyway.

It's never easy to know when it's the right time to put a pet down. Alex was kind enough to take that decision out of our hands. It's just one more reason that we love him so much and will never forget him.

Diabetic, epileptic, and cute as can be: A canine update

We finally have a little more information on the health of Buddy and Snoopy, the two family pups.

Snoopy's fourth birthday was yesterday so we'll begin the update with the birthday pooch. As you may recall from a previous blog entry, a few weeks back, while at my parents' house, Snoopy experienced what we thought was his first seizure.

Two nights ago, on Snoopy's birthday eve, he experienced two more seizures. (See my brother's blog for a detailed account of the trying night.) Off Snoopy went to the vet for observation and the vet concluded that he has canine epilepsy. While often difficult to diagnose, the vet said that beagles are prone to the condition and it usually strikes between the ages of three and five so he's right in the middle.

Thankfully the vet believes Snoopy's condition can be managed easily enough by phenobarbitol. Plus, the drug is relatively inexpensive (at least comparatively) so it won't break the bank.

We know a bit more about Buddy's condition as well. Buddy also experienced a seizure a few weeks ago. While that has not happened again, it was clear something was truly wrong when he stopped eating. Buddy has never refused food before. Plus, he was drinking a lot more water than normal. The vet said his body wasn't absorbing any of it so they had to put him on an IV to hydrate him again.

We ultimately learned that Buddy is diabetic. The vet thinks it's caused by the cortisone he was given for his allergies and skin condition. My parents have to give him insulin shots (in addition to his allergy shots) while weaning him off the cortisone.

Luckily they've determined the proper level of insulin for Buddy. Apparently too much can kill him and not enough will leave him in a stupor. My dad likes to give him a little less than the recommended dose so that Buddy stays calmer and doesn't bounce of the walls quite as much. I guess it's kind of like how he used to give us Benadryl before car trips.

I'm so glad it looks like we have both dogs' health situations under control. It's nice to have happy and healthy pups again. They've never been so cute and lovable.

Everything I need to know in life I learned dogsitting

Wow, what a weekend. Rich and I made our first true foray into canine companionship by dogsitting for Maverick, a friend's cockapoo.

Maverick is an adorable little guy and so full of energy. I'm completely in love with the little fluff ball. It took the first day for us all to get used to one another but by the time he left yesterday, I already missed him. The house just isn't the same without doggie toys to trip over, gates to block the stairs, and late night walks before bedtime.

Still, nothing feels quite as good as cuddling up on the couch to watch TV with a napping puppy on your lap.

Here are a few of the important things we learned:

1. Rich still has allergy issues, even with a cockapoo. His allergies didn't seem as bad as they might have been with other breeds but it was enough of a problem that we can't be dog owners right now.

2. A fenced yard is an absolutely necessity if we're going to have a dog. There are only so many walks we can take, especially when the weather is as cold as it has been. Being able to let him out into the backyard would have been much easier. Thank goodness for my brothers' fenced yard that's only a block away.

3. If we do get a dog, it needs to be an older dog without puppy exuberance. Even though we like taking walks, we're not cut out for a high-energy dog. We'd do much better with an older one that lays around the house. (Think Yellow Dog from Funny Farm.)

4. Our lifestyle is a bit too busy to adequately care for a dog of our own. We can certainly adjust if we're dogsitting, but generally we're not home enough. It's just not fair to a dog to keep him crated so much on a regular basis.

I really learned a lot this weekend. I'm dissapointed that we're not getting a dog in the near future but I couldn't have asked for a more educational doggie experience. I'll just have to get my puppy fill through visiting other dogs. I'm so glad we had the opportunity to learn what we did so a big thank you to Maverick (and Mav's mommy and daddy) for giving us this chance.

Tell me where to go

This is the chance you've all been waiting for. It's time to tell me where to go -- on vacation, that is.

Rich has off of work for the first week of July so we're trying to plan a nice little trip. The problem? We have no idea what to do or where to go. And we don't want to spend much money either.

Our views on the perfect vacation tend to vary somewhat. He wants excitement and plush accommodations, while relaxation and site-seeing top my list. Cruises have been a wonderful way to combine all of those interests but they're really expensive that time of year, especially with the Fourth of July holiday.

Further, neither of us are really beach people. We're not big fans of hot weather so an island locale is probably not the way to go.

My first thought was that this would be the perfect time to visit some of my family in the Providence/Boston suburbs/southern coastal Maine region. (I haven't exactly discussed this with any of them though so it may not even be a possibility.)

But in order to make it fulfill the excitement aspect that Rich requires, we would have to find something to accompany the visits with relatives. (I've already nixed tornado chasing. There's not enough life insurance in the world to make that a good idea.)

Unfortunately the Orioles are not playing in Boston during that week. We also haven't seen any Broadway shows coming to the area that we'd be desperate to see.

This is why I need you help. I need you all to design me a vacation. The person who comes up with the winning idea will get a 2006 JCPenney snowglobe.

Something to believe in

It's a pretty exciting time to be a Marylander.

Cal Ripken Jr. is headed to the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Ravens are headed to the playoffs, and our tax-and-spend politicians are headed to Annapolis.

Yes, it's General Assembly season -- a time for back-stabbing, pork-barreling, and constituency-screwing. And judging by past elections, we Marylanders wouldn't have it any other way.

But it's also a time of delusional hope, for there's always a chance that one of our elected officials will do something purposeful and worthwhile and that it won't backfire.

I have just a few hopes for this year's session. First, I would like to see Maryland finally pass a law like the one proposed by Sen. Brian Frosh that would allow consumers to put a freeze on their credit reports before they fall victim to identity theft.

Now would also be a good time to legalize slots here in Maryland. Why should my husband and I have to leave the state to lose our money to silly machines? It's really not so different than the Maryland Lottery or those slot machines that aren't really slot machines at bingo parlors. Hopefully without the partisan name-calling we can actually make some progress on the slots issue this session.

I would also like to see the establishment of some agency responsible for the oversight of condominium and homeowner's associations. While I know this is very unlikely and I'm generally against bigger government anyway, it really is a needed addition. The Task Force on Common Ownership Communities is expected to report back this year so we'll have to wait and see where that takes us.

And that brings me to my most important wish for this year. Special note to legislators: Please, please, please don't pass any new laws unless you have some means of enacting and enforcing them. Otherwise the bill becomes nothing more than one of our other unenforced laws and will be treated as a joke.

Oh, yeah, and please don't raise taxes.

So as we sit back and hold onto our wallets through the next three months of the session, I can only hold my breath and hope for the best. It'll all be over soon enough.

Go Ravens!

Resolution time

Now that it's the start of 2007 I must adhere to the annual ritual of selecting resolutions for the new year. Here they are, in no particular order.

1. Lose weight by eating less and exercising more. (I go back to Weight Watchers tomorrow.)

2. Work on my memory so I don't lose it completely like my mom has. (Suggestions on how to do this are welcome.)

3. Finance an insurrection in a small country. (My finances are limited so I have to start small.)

4. Try to stop criticizing and talking so badly about people. (My heart isn't totally into this one. That's why I said try.)

5. Continue working to keep government accountable. (I've actually got a pretty good start on this one.) From today's Sun:

Bad lighting makes for scary commute
Originally published January 2, 2007

THE PROBLEM // AlisaBS, a state employee who commutes downtown from Owings Mills, reported that there is inadequate lighting in the courtyard leading to the Charles Center Metro stop, in the block bound by Fayette, Baltimore, Calvert and St. Paul streets.

THE BACKSTORY // AlisaBS wrote that, to enter the subway station from Fayette Street, "commuters must first make their way through a very dark section that is popular among panhandlers."

She said she feels uncomfortable walking alone to the subway when she gets out of work after dark.

On Wednesday night, a reporter found nine lampposts surrounding the station without working lights and, in less than five minutes, was twice approached by panhandlers.

After The Sun called about the situation Thursday, the city Department of Transportation immediately sent an employee to the scene to confirm that the lights were not working.

Spokeswoman Tia Waddy said the department would determine the source of the problem and make the needed repairs.

By late that afternoon, workers had brought out large portable lights to use in the meantime.

WHO CAN FIX THIS // Anthony Wallnofer, chief of the maintenance division at the Baltimore Department of Transportation, 410-396-1686.

6. Raise at least $1000 for the 2007 Owings Mills Relay For Life.

7. Stay cancer free.

8. International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991. (Oops, that's a U.N. Security Council Resolution, not a New Year's Resolution. And it's from 2006 so it wouldn't count anyway. Sorry. My bad.)

Yeah, I should probably stop now.

Happy New Year to everyone!

Doggie danger zone

I've long theorized that my parents' house is toxic but now the true danger is starting to manifest itself.

About two weeks ago our sweet chocolate lab, Buddy, an otherwise healthy dog if you ignore his allergies, skin problems, thyroid issues, and lyme disease, underwent what we believe was his first seizure.

Then over the weekend my brother's dog, Snoopy, was visiting Buddy and he had a seizure too. Snoopy's was worse than Buddy's, I'm told, and my parents really thought that was it for the little guy.

The only thing the two dogs have in common is the fact that they were at my parents' house. They have different diets and they're different breeds so I don't think it's genetic or something they ate. Yet, like I have experienced myself, the sheer fact of being at my parents' house sends them into a tizzy.

We had Buddy at the vet after his seizure where we began the process of ruling out potential causes. If we can't link it to anything else, we go with the default diagnosis which is canine epilepsy.

I'm starting to learn about canine epilepsy and it scares the crap out of me. There's really not much you can do for the dog while he's having a seizure. Some theorize that putting an ice pack on the dog's back will shorten the seizure but other people say to just let the dog alone and wait for the seizure to end.

Of course we don't even know if either dog will have another seizure. It could happen again today, a year from now, or never. You just don't know. All I know is that I watched Alex, the best dog ever, die during some sort of seizure and I never want to witness anything like that again.

At any rate, I'm convinced that the seizures Buddy and Snoopy had are due to some environmental cause. Lead is a possible toxin but my parents say there couldn't possibly be any lead in the house. Their house was built in the 1980s so I'm inclined to agree.

Still, I think there is enough junk in my parents' house to make anybody sick. Just look at my parents. Clearly there's something wrong there.

I think this health scare is the perfect opportunity for my parents to step up and clean their house, top to bottom, so that we can rule out any environmental causes. Buddy and Snoopy deserve that.

Plus, it would make visiting much nicer.

Hey Baltimore County: Don't mess with my grandparents

See that cute elderly couple to the left? Those are my grandparents. And Baltimore County is trying to make them miserable.

Earlier this week, my 91-year-old grandparents were very upset to receive a citation from the county stating that they must move their car from their driveway by Dec. 26, 2006 because it is not currently licensed. The vehicle is, however, fully operable and on their own property.

Failure to move the car by the specified date will result in a $200 per day fine.

The primary reason my grandparents keep their car, even though they don't drive it, is for safety. They believe that having a car outside is a signal that someone is home and will deter criminals from breaking in. I can't say whether this is actually a true crime deterrentt but if it makes my grandparents happy, then I'm all for it.

In addition, we use the trunk of the vehicle for storage of a wheelchair and walker. Because we no longer permit my grandparents to drive, it is incumbent upon the children and grandchildren to transport them to doctor's appointments. Keeping their medical aids in the car eases the process significantly.

None of this seems to matter to the people at Baltimore County code enforcement who received a complaint and found my grandparents in violation of Section 428:

Section 428, Outside Storage of Unlicensed or Inoperative Motor Vehicles on Residential Property [Bill No. 135-1986]

A. An inoperative motor vehicle may not be stored outside on a residential lot.

B. An unlicensed motor vehicle may not be stored outside on a residential lot except under the following conditions:

1. Outside storage (i.e., not within a fully enclosed structure) for a period not exceeding 15 days, unless extended by the Zoning Commissioner, in any calendar year is permitted for no more than one such vehicle per dwelling unit per year.

2. The vehicle may not be stored in a front or side yard unless placed in a driveway or other off-street parking area, and the vehicle may not be stored in a rear yard unless placed at least 8 feet from any property line.

3. The owner of the vehicle must reside on the lot upon which the vehicle is stored.

4. The vehicle may not be used or dismantled for parts.

C. Nothing contained in Subsection B shall be construed to prohibit the outside storage of unlicensed but operative farm tractors or farm equipment actually and regularly used on a farm, farmette or satellite farm.

I'm not entirely sure where to channel my anger. I know I'm annoyed with the County Council which, 20 years ago, passed the legislation telling people what they can and can't do on their own private property. I know I'm mad at whoever it was that reported my grandparents to the county. I suppose I really can't blame the inspector who issued the citation because he was just doing his job.

The good news is that I convinced the aforementioned inspector to grant a 30-day extension so at least my grandparents don't have to rush to do something in the next few days. I asked him about what it takes for the zoning commission to issue a special exception and he said no exception has ever been granted.

I just can't forgive anyone who gives my grandparents a hard time. It's their car and their property. Why does the county get to tell them they can't keep something there that gives them a sense of security?

Perhaps in the alternative, Baltimore County would be willing to put a marked police car on the driveway 24/7. Too expensive? Then let my grandparents keep their car. They're 91 and never done a thing wrong in their lives. They've earned it.

It's my birthday... still

I've recently been chastised for not providing a timely account of my birthday for readers of my blog. Please note that the reason I have not yet given such a summary is that I don't actually consider my birthday to be over yet.

Still, to appease the masses, I hereby present a quick run-down of how my birthday season has gone so far.

The birthday season has thus far included three Broadway shows (Les Miserables, RENT, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) as well as the great Baltimore area gastro-entertainment tour, featuring Sotto Sopra, Copra, Cazbar, Baldwin's Station (for both brunch and dinner), Artful Gourmet Bistro, Liberatore's, Don Pablo's, and Fuddruckers.

I am also pleased to once again share my birthday month with Hanukkah and Christmas, which generally serve to increase the dessert available. Over the weekend we dined on latkes at Rich's dad and stepmom's place and then glorious rainbow cake at my aunt and uncle's house.

Starting this year, I now share my birthday month with my cousin's son, Gabriel, who was born last Sunday. As long as the little guy doesn't try to move in on my birthday turf, I think things should be okay. Due to the birth of the aforementioned child, we also attended a bris with spectacular bris food. If you haven't had bris food, you don't know what you're missing. I would highly recommend befriending a nearby pregnant Jewish woman in the immediate future so as to increase your chances of a bris invite. If you cannot locate one on your own, just head over to Park Heights Avenue and you're sure to find one ready to pop. Happy bagels, lox, and whitefish!

The rest of my birthday month shall showcase a trip to Hershey, PA and a short jaunt to Atlantic City, with the month culminating in a New Year's Eve celebration that will certainly include multiple forms of dessert.

By the time I finally awake from my food-induced coma we'll be safely into January and that can only mean one thing -- it's Weight Watchers time baby!

Um, when did I become Cathy?

Or maybe more appropriately, when did Cathy become me?

I know I'm married and chubby too but it's really scaring me that I relate more and more to Cathy each day.

If she starts hoarding JCPenney snowglobes, just shoot me.