Grossout Factor

WARNING! This really IS a gross post. Don't read if you are eating.
Why I am sharing this is something I haven't figured out yet; but I just feel the need so here it is:
While out for a late afternoon potty, Moto had some mild diahrrea. It was about the consistency of wet cement. Moto's poop has been the source of lots of discussion between hubby and I, simply because of the size and amount of it. Maybe that extra long back of his has made room for more intestinal tracts, but whatever it is, it's simply mind-boggling.
And so it was with this pile, quite literally the size of a mole hill.
I certainly didn't want any dog to run through THAT, so I got my trusty poop-scooper. As I've written previously my dogs celebrate the Picking Up of Poop. Pinch leapt and darted about as I rapidly walked towards the enormous pile.
I managed to scrape it into the scooper and was walking to the poop bucket to make my deposit when....bad things seem to happen in slow motion....
...Pinch went darting by, too close for comfort....
...he wasn't looking...
when WHAM! He hit the scooper, broad-side.
Again, in slow motion....
...the scooper turned sideways...
...Pinch continued to run....
...spraying the entire disgusting mess on Pinch.
We both stopped, horrified.
Well, I was horrified. I think Pinch just stopped because he hit something.
I looked at him, and he at me.
He had a thick brown smear from ear to flank, and boy did he stink.
Cleaning him up was quite a challenge as the garden hose has been disconnected because of freezing weather. I said lots of bad words. Pinch is now clean(er) but certainly won't win any Beauty Points. I don't know what it is with him and winter weather, keeping him clean under normal conditions has been challenging. Hopefully I'll find time to brush him one more time as we have class tonight and it would be embarassing to see people sniff, check their shoes, then look at Pinch and I with dismay.
There, I shared my story. I apologize if you were grossed out. But I bet if you are a dog person, you have your own gross poop story.

Merry Christmas; Now Get Back to Work.

Yet another holiday has come and gone; it's an expensive week for my husband. First there's Christmas, then a few days later it's our anniversary, and a few days after that it's my birthday. How did I GET so old? I still feel like a kid so I can't complain.
I weighed myself and almost fainted. All the weight I'd worked so hard to lose is back. Dag nabbit!
Pinch is unkempt-looking and wild in his behavior. This is a dog that NEEDS a job; since I hadn't trained him in weeks he created his own job, which was relocating the firewood pile from the patio downstairs to the deck upstairs.
Well heck, I was getting bored myself.
Got my pudgy self to try my new Zumba with Wii game. It said I burned a couple hundred calories in a short time - yay!
Got Pinch out and did some pivot drills, heeling and articles. He was so excited when he saw the article bag he jumped on the couch where it was, pulled out the gloves and actually brought me his collar. It was if he was saying "hurry UP - I'm dyin' here!"
After a training session where he hasn't missed a beat all the dogs had a nice long run and are now happily snoozing throughout the house.
I need to do this, at least six days a week. It's not that hard, it's just sticking to the schedule.
And that's my New Years' resolution.

Wet Dogs

It's been a very strange winter, weather-wise. We should've had our first few inches of snow on the ground, and instead it's been a cold, miserable rain.
I've been in sunny California for the past week or two and came home to temps in the 40's and 50's, and rain.
And more rain.
Oh, and mud.
Today has been extremely rainy. As my sister would say, "it's vomiting rain". Sorry if you're reading this and eating.
My five dogs have different opinions of rain. Some act like cats when it comes to water. I have some that are this way, and others that don't care if it rains, or they DO care, too much so.
It's bedtime, so all five dogs must do their evening potty. In the dark. In the pouring rain. And yes, I've spoiled them. I go outside with them as they do their evening potty. It's raining so much I've donned mud boots and a waterproof jacket. Here's how it went:

I carry Dusty out as he walks too slowly and I want to minimize his discomfort. I plunk him in the middle of the yard so he can select prime pottying spots.

Dusty: I am melting. I will just curl up in a ball here and maybe it will all go away.
Me (giving him a gentle nudge): You HAVE to potty. Otherwise you will wake me up in a few hours, you'll still get wet, and I'll have to towel and blow-dry you in the middle of the night.
Dusty trudges off in misery to do his business.

Daisy: I am a BC. I am invincible and water proof. The rain has no effect on me. I will potty proudly and in a carefree manner.

Blitz: This sucks. I will tread on this wet ground as if it were the ickiest, most disgusting thing I have ever touched. I will glare as you as I potty.

Moto: I love my Mommy so I will potty, but not before I make her feel bad for letting me get so wet. I will make sure to rub my soaking fur against her to make her feel as miserable as I do.

Pinch: WAHOO! RAIN! Look everyone, it's raining! I will snap at the rain! I will run in the rain! I will play in the rain! Mom keeps saying something to me but I can't hear her! I will run and run until I have mud balls in my fur! The secret is to ignore Mom as long as possible, as when I potty I have to come in out of this GREAT weather!

Me: *sigh*
All I can say is, I'm glad for mud rooms.