A Leap of Faith

 

As much as Lizzie enjoys our walks, each time we walk by our mini-van she stops and looks up at it longingly. I let her know that it's time for a walk not for a ride, which she accepts after one or two more reminders.

This afternoon I took her out for a quick potty break, and at the last minute I decided to bring her with me to pick up my daughter from school. Normally she wears her harness for our walks and to secure her with the shoulder belt in the van. However, I did not go back in the house to get it.

When we arrived home I opened the sliding door and picked up her Flexi-Lead. Before I could attach it to her collar, she took a mad dive off of the seat landing several feet away on the ground. She's never attempted anything like that before and I have no idea what frightened her, but it nearly gave me a heart attack!

I don't think I'll be neglecting to put the harness on Lizzie again. Safety first, even for doggies!

A Traitor in Our Midst

 

I have been snubbed! Lizzie must have had enough of following me about the house, while I was doing chores this morning. She has left me and is keeping my husband company upstairs. I'm sure he will "rub it in" later, that she preferred staying with him. It's not like I'm going to be settled here for too long, but I want her with me! That is all. *pouts*

Flip Sides of the Same Corgi

This little dog who is now sound asleep on the sofa next to me. Seemingly, without a care in the world. The same little girl that has, for some unknown reason, developed a phobia about drinking water. I mentioned in this post that she seemed nervous about drinking out of her ceramic water bowl due to the ceiling fan reflecting in the water. Well, that doesn't seem to be the reason. I removed the place mats from under her bowls. Nope, she's still afraid. I exchanged the cobalt blue bowl for a white one. Nope, still no good. I've been moving her food bowl into the center of the room and sitting with her while she eats. She WILL eat out of her food bowl, but with some trepidation. The other day she would still drink out of the water bowl if I swished the water with a finger first. I'm concerned that she isn't drinking enough. She doesn't appear to be dehydrated yet, but let's avoid that, shall we? I have gotten her to drink several times from a plastic food storage bowl, if I hold it over something dark; like her bed or the carpeted floor. She does have Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (dry eye) in her left eye, which has to have affected her vision; but why would that all of a sudden cause this aversion to water?

She's had two extremely animated play sessions this morning. One with her Nylabone and one with her rope toy. I took her for a ride and for a walk this morning. Both times she was quite happy to go. Curious. Alert. Lots of "zoom-zooms" and wasn't particularly wary of anything. Hmmm. She ate her breakfast and a couple of treats. She drank a little water. She got some exercise. She's received lots of affection, and now she's napping. Sounds like a pretty good day for a doggy to me. I wonder what she's needing and not getting?

Book Review: Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs

Title: Devil Bones
Series: Temperance Brennan #11
Author: Kathy Reichs
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Published: 08/22/2008
Publisher: Scribner
Genre(s): Contemporary Mystery

DESCRIPTION

#1 international bestselling author Kathy Reichs returns to Charlotte, North Carolina with her eleventh riveting novel in which America’s favorite forensic anthropologist, Temperance Brennan, encounters voodoo, Santeria, Satanism, and a Wiccan in her quest to identify two young victims.

In a house under renovation, a plumber uncovers a cellar no one knew about, and makes a rather grisly discovery—a decapitated chicken, animal bones, and cauldrons containing beads, feathers, and other relics of religious ceremonies. In the center of the shrine, there is the skull of a teenage girl. Meanwhile, on a nearby lakeshore, the headless body of a teenage boy is found by a man walking his dog.

Nothing is clear—neither when the deaths occurred, nor where. Was the skull brought to the cellar or was the girl murdered there? Why is the boy’s body remarkably well preserved? Led by a preacher turned politician, citizen vigilantes blame devil worshippers and Wiccans. They begin a witch-hunt, intent on seeking revenge.

Forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan—“five-five, feisty, and forty-plus”—is called in to investigate, and a complex and gripping tale unfolds in this, Kathy Reichs’s eleventh taut, always surprising, scientifically fascinating mystery.

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MY THOUGHTS

I think that the title is somewhat misleading (like others mentioned who have reviewed the book). Although the author offers some background into satanism that isn't what's at work here. Temperance is brilliant at her work, that's evident. However, I like the way Temperance's thought process in conveyed. The way she thinks and talks things through. The way she uses input from other sources to fill in the gaps.

I also like the way the author adds descriptive comments after dialogue or a physical gesture to elaborate. I feel she mixes the science, mystery, cultural (pop culture), and personal parts of her books really well. I'm a sucker for her chapter endings, which offer great incentive to keep going onto the next one. That's probably why I've read all of her books and am such a fan of the television show!

Temperance temporarily loses a battle with her personal demon (alcohol). She also struggles with her feelings for Andrew Ryan and someone from her past. Her daughter and ex-husband add to her dismay beyond the case and the violent death of a longtime associate.

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Pecans From Heaven

Each day when Lizzie and I head out the door for our walk I try to instill confidence into my timid little girl. This morning she was on the lookout for anything that might fall from the sky and get her, as usual. Only this morning her feelings of dread were right on. Just as we set foot on the street a pecan fell from the heavens (okay, just a really tall tree) hitting a nearby car with a BANG! We were both startled, only I was okay with proceeding, while Lizzie did a 180 to head home!

They continued falling as we walked down our street, but mercifully we made it passed without getting conked ourselves.

Lizzie was very suspicious when we approached the trees on the way home. She couldn't be any more alert—her head jerking back and forth, and yes, UP. When we reached the door, I could almost hear her sigh of relief when she made it inside. Safe, at last.