Bookfield, Delivery Week - Part 2

Fortunately, that was the roughest delivery I had. We had been taught in sales school that we would have to enter the house, ripping the box of books open and dumping the books on the floor while saying, “Hey, Mrs. Jones, kids! Here are the books you ordered!” and making a big scene by unwrapping each book to intimidate them into paying the remainder of the tab. I hardly ever had to resort to this tactic. My sales were all very solid. Folks were happy to see me and the books they had bought. They had the cash ready and in hand to pay me. When I left, they were all smiles.

The end of the day was welcome after making deliveries. It was going really well; the woman with the shot gun was the only dissatisfied customer. Jeff turned down my street and as we approached the house he said in a somewhat incredulous tone, “Is that your boyfriend?”

I saw Evan on his motorcycle in the driveway, waiting for me. He really looked cool on that bike.

“Yup. That’s Evan.” I answered. “Why?”

“Did you know that he is the main pot dealer in the county? I mean, I sell to my high school, and he supplies me.”

“What? You’ve got to be joking. Evan?” I didn’t know what to think.

“Yeah, he’s the guy. You ought to be careful around him. I mean, not that he’s dangerous or anything. I guess I’m just surprised you’re hooked up with him.” With that last comment we pulled up to the house. I thanked Jeff and got out of the car. Jeff waved to Evan, and Evan seemed to make a connection as he waved back. Jeff drove off quickly.

“What are you doing with that guy?” Evan asked pointing in the direction Jeff left in.

“Oh, I hired Jeff to help deliver my books since I don’t have a car.” I answered as calmly as possible. I thought better of asking Evan if or how he knew Jeff, even though they had waved to each other. I wasn’t exactly sure whether or not to believe Jeff’s accusation about Evan, and I didn’t really have too much time to think about it. I certainly didn’t want to let it slip to Evan that I had any suspicions about him.

Evan said, “I dropped by to see if you wanted to go out tonight. A joint North of town is having a band; we could both go on my bike.”

“Sure, let me get a jacket and drop off my sales case.”

Moments later we rode off on Evan’s bike. When we got to the small bar it was packed with people. The air was smoky, which usually I detest, but I was thrilled to be there with Evan. Jeff’s accusations must have been at least overstated. Evan bought us some beers and we listened to the music. It was very loud, hard rocking, rock and roll. It was too crowded to dance, and no space had been cleared between the tables. Evan kept one hand on my waist and pulled me closely in front of him as we listened. He pressed my ass to his groin and we swayed to the music. I was really getting turned on as he breathed into my ear. I leaned my head back against his chest and closed my eyes. My god, I was falling for him.

Small Town News - Bluebird Box Trail & Updates

Land Trust Builds Bluebird Box Trail

Our town’s Land Trust is putting together an Eastern Bluebird box trail. The state has donated the wood for construction of nesting boxes. Twenty boxes have been built by our local Girl Scout Troop and more are planned. Land Trust members are assembling the posts and predator guards with materials they have donated, and installing them at proper locations around town. The one pictured is in our local cemetery.

Enlarge photo if you can't see it

Eleven have been installed so far. The next step is to begin a project where towns’ people, including children can adopt a box to monitor and clean throughout the year. That way we will know how many bluebirds we have nesting in our area.

Bluebirds are here in our town, we have all seen them. They visit the blackberry bushes in my yard and must live somewhere close by. We may even put a nesting box near our koi pond and see what happens. We also have other birds that may use the boxes such as tree swallows and wrens. Our neighbors have a box up and a pair of bluebirds nests in it.

Walgreens Pharmacy Update

Today, the First Selectman will break ground on the new Walgreens Pharmacy project with a shovel painted gold. Reportedly the contractor presented the citizens' group's reworked plan to the Planning & Zoning Commission and that is what will be built. I will post photographs of the finished building.

Cumberland Farms Gas Station Update

An impressive list of expert witnesses have been gathered by the citizen's group's lawyer. So much so that the depositions have been postponed by Cumberland Farms. The hearing date to challenge the appellants is in January.

Spirit Journey & Manatees - Part 8

The next day was cool, sunny and beautiful and I felt terrific. We gathered all of our dive and snorkel gear into the trunk of the caddy and drove to the Silent World part of the dock at Key Largo. Many other dive boats were docked there also. It brought to mind the California couple who were left behind last year in Key Largo and were stranded overnight, clinging to a steel light tower. Fortunately they both lived and were only suffering from exposure when found. Unfortunately they were both lawyers. Yeah, I guess if you were going to leave divers behind, lawyers would be my last choice. We got on the boat and were glad to see that the boat captain was doing a head count. Step one in not leaving anyone behind; know how many folks are on your boat when you start.

With all passengers aboard we launched and headed out of the marina. As we were heading out the dive plans were explained by our dive master. We were going to see Christ of the Abyss, the most famous dive site in all of the Keys. The statue was an exact replica of one that stands in the Mediterranean off Genoa and was placed in 1961. Also, we would not be able to moor very close to it because the water is quite shallow all around it with “dry rock” brain coral formations that are feeding grounds for an amazing variety of fish.

As we were motoring out, everyone was donning their wetsuits and so did I. It was the first time I had done so in public. But, I had my Speedo workout suit on and I am hardly shy so it was okay. My wetsuit is flattering. Besides, I certainly had the best body in the boat, except for some of the professional dive staff who were in the hunk category. There was this one blond in particular… oh, don’t want to get side tracked here now do we? It was kind of cool out, so I was glad to get my rubber covering on to warm me up. We moored and there weren’t too many boats there yet. Famous dive sites like this one can get crowded very quickly.

I entered the water and immediately I was cold. But, I knew I had to swim to stay warm and get to the statue. So I focused on where I was and what there was to see. I was surrounded by beautiful brain corals and I had to be careful not to get swept up onto them by the waves as I swam ahead. I swam between them, in the valleys, if you will. What fish I saw! Sean drew my attention to a passing turtle and we followed it for a while.

We saw a large French angel fish (ohhhh pretty!) and pretty much all of the same common fish we saw on Grand Cayman.

Again, I was mesmerized. I could spend my whole life snorkeling. The water softly rippling causing soft shawdos and the fish swimming slowly or darting quickly, but always with grace and all of the beautiful colors: I just love being underwater.

Finally we reached the statue. It was a bit deeper than I was willing to dive with my recent sinusitis, but awesome nonetheless.

On my way back to the boat I started to get cold again. I could feel the water coming into my wetsuit through the collar which tended to gape open a bit as I moved forward. By the time I got back onto the boat my teeth were chattering. I put my towel on my shoulders and there was some hot coffee and that helped warm me up a bit. Our next dive site was the elbow and a visit to the wreck of the City of Washington. I had no idea how I was going to get back into that cold water again. Oh well.

It was not far from where we were, and before we knew it we were there and catching our mooring. The divers were setting up to go in again. I was ready. So, I got in and all I could see of the wreck were the ribs of the boat. Pretty boring if you ask me.

Sean and I met up and decided to follow a lone barracuda to a nearby light tower to see if there would be more fish there. Off we swam together, enjoying each others’ company in our little adventure together. Hey look over there! It’s another barracuda! And another! I thought to myself. Suddenly we were in the middle of a huge school of them. They were circling the tower. I came to a dead stop and do did Sean. We were hugely out numbered and every fish was a monster bigger than me! There must have been thousands of them. I felt very small and prey like, just like an intruder in their world.

Sean and I surfaced and I said, “Let’s get the fuck out of here!” He nodded and off we swam. I grabbed onto him just so that our mass would seem bigger to any barracuda even thinking of coming in for a taste. (I know that barracuda are not known for attacking humans, but I was really scared and you would have been too.) We swam as quickly as possible for the dive boat which was pretty quick. I got out of the water; thank god it was for the last time today.

I squirmed out of my wetsuit and dried off, put on my dry clothes and fleece jacket. Oh to be warm again; what a great feeling. I was a bit distracted by the blond dive master stripping off his wetsuit. Thoughts of ‘take it all off’ came to mind. He had these really neat little reddish blond body hairs on his tanned chest, legs and arms. Yummy! I wanted to see much more. Okay, focus Sue, focus.

Why does it always seem like it takes so much longer to get back to the dock than it did to go out? Well eventually we got back, rinsed our gear in the fresh water troughs provided at the dock, and put it back in the trunk of the caddy. We were only out for two morning dives, but I felt as if I had been out for a whole day already I was so tired from being sick. Back we drove to the Hungry Pelican so I could report my successful dive to the owner. It’s nice to make someone proud and he was.

Next time – we go out in rough weather!

Sunday Comics - More Oliver Frey

This past October, Pete of Finland has treated his readers to more of the masterful drawings by Oliver Frey. You can see them here, here, here, here and here. Enjoy!

Friday Fantasy - Eric Balfour

[A note to my readers: A new installment of Bookfield was posted on Thursday, but you may have missed it because of the posting of the Verve Weblog Awards. Just keep scrolling down to read it if you missed it. And now, back to our regularly scheduled Friday Fantasy....]

* * * * * * *

The first time I laid eyes on him, he was Jesse in Buffy, of vampire slayer fame. Tall, and somewhat gawky, but cute as hell none-the-less when alive; he became suave and sexy once turned undead. Look at that tiny waist, those broad shoulders and mounded ass. Wow!


Next, he was Eddie, a rival of Ryan's on the OC. He was all violent and badass. Too hot for my blood? Nope. Just right. I love this shot, he's looking over his shoulder kind of devilishly, spanning his shoulders, and we can see the top of the crack of his ass.



Then it was Conviction and my soul was convicted that I had to have him. He played Brian, who never was defeated in court, or in the boudoir as the show led us to believe and one could so easily imagine. That piercing stare of brown eyes that says, "I hunger for you. Don't you want me too babe?"



In Lie with Me I got what I wanted: full frontal and erect. The movie kind of sucked, but so did his co-star, so it was worthwhile. Ta dum dum. The good news is that he was sultry, hot and gorgeous and fit my fantasy perfectly in that film. I highly recommend renting Lie with Me.


He is currently not starring in anything. Sigh. I guess he has a bit part on 24. I think producers are overlooking a big talent here. I would watch him in anything. I even watched him in Sex, Love & Secrets, where he played the horny hair dresser. I liked his hair back in a head band. Hey, it was a look.



I just want to make his eyes roll back in his head. Any ideas on how to do that? :)

Lone Star Verve Weblog Awards

Don't forget to vote.

Bookfield, Delivery Week - Part 1

Mary, Chris and I had cardboard boxes of all of the books we sold delivered to the Sanders’ house before delivery week. We stored them in the central hallway adjacent to the stairs. Mary still had more books coming. It was such a huge pile of books! It as like a wall of cardboard and the Sanders remarked that they were astounded that we had sold so many. We tried to separate them into which ones belonged to whom.

When Jeff arrived, we loaded up his Impala’s trunk with the boxes of books for our first delivery run.

Early during delivery week, I returned the bike I had borrowed. I had had to replace the tires and had it all tuned up at a local bike shop. It was, however, still stuck in third gear. The man who owned the bike was shocked to see me return it.

“I thought that when you rode off on it, that would be the last I ever saw of it or you.” he said. “You have restored my faith in humanity, little girl.” He was amazed at the work I had done on the bike and how far I had ridden it during the summer. “I’m sure it came to better use than sitting in my breezeway.” he noted.

As we drove off, I said to Jeff, “Well, we might as well deliver to the one house I sold to in the projects today. It is on our way.”

“You sold books in the projects? Wait, you mean to tell me you went into the projects, alone?”

“Yeah. The sale was easy, but the woman had no money for a deposit and gave me one of her old shoes.” I opened my sales case and pulled out the shoe to show Jeff. He glanced over from driving and shook his head.

“I can’t believe you went in there by your self. You’re lucky you weren’t shot! If she didn’t give you any money, why try to deliver there? She probably still doesn’t have the money.”

“Well, leastways I will return her shoe.”

“It’s not worth anything, so why bother?”

“We made a bargain, and I will keep my half and return this shoe. We’re going into the projects; it is only one house any how.”

“Okay, but I suggest that you deposit what you’ve collected so far today in the bank before we go in the projects.”

“Do you really think we need to do that?”

“Yup. It would be foolish to go in there with any cash on us, or without a weapon.”

“Weapon?” I asked.

“Yeah, see that baseball bat in the back. I always carry it. You never know when you’ll need it, and I’ll feel better knowing that its there when we go into the projects.”

I looked over the back of my seat, and sure enough there was a heavy wooden baseball bat on the floor of the car. It looked brand new.

Jeff and I drove to the Citizens’ and Southern Bank to deposit all of the money in my blue-black zippered vinyl money collection envelope before we went to deliver to the one house I sold to in the projects. We had collected about a thousand dollars so far. It felt good to put it safely in the bank, and the bank cashier was so happy to see me when I walked in with so much cash. Jeff suggested that we take a Family Bible Library set out of the trunk here, in the bank’s parking lot, rather than when we got to the projects. He looked pretty serious about it, and I figured I’d just trust his judgment.

We got the set out of the trunk, put it on the floor of the front seat and hopped back into the old green Impala. Off we drove to the projects. The house I had sold to was only a handful of blocks from the bank. We pulled up in front of the house. Even though it was mid afternoon, no one was about. Jeff put the car in park and looked over at me nervously.

“Make it quick.” he suggested.

“Don’t worry, it will be fine.” I picked up the FBL set and the shoe and walked up to the door of the house. I knocked. The door did not open, but I heard noises inside.

“Shhh, honey, get away from the door and be quiet.” It was a whispered voice of the woman I had sold to from inside of the house.

“Hi there Mrs. Jones.”, I said. “It’s Sue Fairview. Remember you ordered some books from me and I’m here to deliver them?” I tried to speak loudly enough that she could hear me, without yelling.

“Do you have my shoe? Did you bring my shoe with you?” Her voice seemed fearful and aggressive.

“Yes, Ma’am. I have it right here.” I held out the shoe in front of me as if she could see it through the still closed door.

“Now you listen to me! I have a shotgun pointed at you right through this door. You leave that shoe on the stoop right there, and get out of here, so no one gets hurt. You leave that shoe, or I’ll shoot!”

‘Yes ma’am. I’m leaving it right here, ma’am.” I said as quickly as I could. I put the shoe on the concrete stoop theatrically, in case some on was watching, and backed off immediately. I walked briskly back to the car. I did not run. I felt that running would escalate the situation. Jeff leaned over to my side and pushed the door open before I got there. I slid in, slammed the door and said, “Let’s get out of here!” He did not hesitate to follow this instruction, and even seemed to have his drive out of there planned. I took one more look as we drove away. I saw the door open slightly. A black woman’s hand darted out and grabbed the shoe, pulling it back into the house. The door closed as quickly as it had opened.

“What happened back there?” Jeff asked me as we reached safer neighborhoods.

“She told me she had a shotgun pointed at me through the door and to leave the shoe on the stoop.”

“Thank God nothing happened! I told you it was a mistake to go back there. You risked your life to return that stupid old shoe. That bitch would have shot you for that damn shoe.”

“You were right.” I said dejectedly. But still I felt that returning the shoe to its owner was very right. I never should have been there to take it. It was as if the world order that had been disturbed the day that I took the shoe, was now restored. The shame I felt in taking it was lifted, especially since I had risked my life to restore the order.

At first I had been afraid when the woman claimed to have a gun. But that fear passed when I left the shoe on the stoop.

Twin Ice Capade

This is what my twin did for Haloween. I am so proud of her!

Spirit Journey & Manatees - Part 7

The next day we decided to drive down to Key West and see how far we could get. So into the car we got, early in the morning, after our café Cubanos (yum!), we hit the road.

At mile marker 93.6 at Tavernier we saw the Wild Bird Center, were curious and stopped for a tour.

It turns out that the WBC works with a surgical center in Marathon Key to rescue sick and injured birds, and rest and cure them for return to the wild if possible. Many of the “ambulatory” (or maybe that should be “wingulatory”) birds roam free, such as pelicans, and others who are worse off are caged in huge enclosures.

We were able to enter some of the large cages and see the less severely injured and friendlier birds, like pelicans. We were told about raptors being treated, like owls and hawks, but were not allowed to see them as they were not to be disturbed.

Sean and I wandered around the grounds and found lovely a dog cemetery for the center’s former pets and a really neat pristine little beach. We left a donation for the good work being done there before we left.

We would not have made it very far on this section of Route 1...

We continued with our drive on Route 1, a.k.a. the overseas highway, but only made it as far as Marathon Key, since we had spent so much time at the WBC.

We thought that we could drive there and back in one day since it was only 120 miles, but there is traffic at every island, er, key as well as things to do and see. And it got dark outside. So we stopped to have dinner at a fish place that had disposable plastic tablecloths. Sean had red snapper and I had tuna. We were both very impressed by the freshness of our fish and had a wonderful meal. Sean drove us back to the Hungry Pelican.

The next morning, I took my new wet suit for a test drive off the Pelican’s dock. The motel’s owner was cheering me on. Did I mention that it was a dive oriented Motel?

“You go girl! I told you you’d get into that water yet!” he cheered.

I did and man that water was fucking cold! I was so glad I bought a wet suit. I had my snorkel and fins on and paddled around the dock to see what I could. I could see some crabs and shy fish schooling, but that was all. I swam out a ways, but the larger fish seemed to elude me. It was like a tease. So, I came back to the dock and got out of the water. Tomorrow was our planned dive. I would rest until then. I managed to squirm and wriggle out of my wet suit, always a chore, and rinsed it and my other gear with a hose and hung it outside to dry.

Sean and I decided to take the Motel’s canoe and paddle out into the bay to look at the partially submerged wreck that was just visible from our dock. It turned out to be a tug boat and there were so many fish around it; we were amazed. We wished we had brought our snorkel gear. We hung around out there for a while, seeing what we could and then decided to check out the canals of Key Largo since that was where the manatees went. Maybe we would see one again there.

The canals were peaceful and beautiful. Most had houses and boats on both sides landscaped with tropical trees and shrubs that I just love. We also noticed lots of rental and for sale signs. So we began to talk about bringing our 36 foot motor boat (subject of another post – I promise) down and living on it part of the year and renting it out the rest of the year. The weather was gorgeous and we were alone together, peacefully paddling, dreaming of our happy future together; our own private bliss. We didn’t miss not seeing the manatee.

That evening, we found a sushi restaurant, Sushi Nami, within walking distance of the Hungry Pelican. Service was slow, but the fish was fresh and fabulous. I love eating sushi. I start with green tea. How civilized is that? Then I usually have miso or clear soup. Since I was recovering from sinusitis, hot fluids really were just what the doctor ordered. Then I will order what ever the sushi chef recommends as fresh (though I do not like octopus). The only cooked sushi I eat is unagi (freshwater eel), but I prefer anago (saltwater eel), because they cannot give you parasites. We ate there whenever we could.

Then, we would cross the street to the Baskins-Robbins 31 and get ice cream cones for desert. My favorite flavor was jamoca® almond fudge. Ah, vacation; the only way to live.

Stay tuned for the next post, when I will snorkel Key Largo!

Welcoming a New Link

Fair View would like to welcome Stephen from the blog "Geekslut" to our link list. Stephen is very brave, frank and candid in the way that he posts about dealing and living with AIDS (see old Geekslut - he has had it all and it is a worthwhile read) while still living his life to its fullest. He follows his bliss and we can all take a lesson from that.

His current post deals with how his viral level is currently undetectible and he does the right thing by disclosing his HIV status to his partners, but many of his negative partners still want unprotected sex with him, which I find rather alarming. The current comment thread on his post addresses this issue. Adults only please.

Friday Fantasy - Sculpture

Sometimes I imagine that I am a great sculptor with talents that rival Michelangelo. He had his David. Most artists work from life. Do we doubt for a moment that David was a real young man, or that Michelangelo didn't enjoy his model's body to some extent or other? The artist can gather so much more information with hands instead of eyes.


Meet my model, Adonis. Stratis introduced us only earlier this week. I will source my white marble for this work from Carrera in Italy; only the best for my Adonis. FirstI will shape out the block roughly, then get into the more painstaking details. I hope Adonis had lots of time on his hands, as this will take a while. I cannot wait until I get to the part where I need to tilt the head, separate the chin from the neck, carve each ear as if it were a shell, carve out those biceps and shelf-like pectorals, smooth flat that pelvis, make that little vein on his arm stand out. Carving out each abdominal muscle will be pure joy. Then there are his genitals. There I will pay special attention and maybe not just with my hands.



You see, there can be great joy in being a sculptor if one has the right model. Don't you think?

The very best thing is that when your stone sculpture is complete, it will be around for the ages, for you to touch and fondle, as well as for others. It will feel exactly like the model did.

Bookfield, Nowhere Road - Part 2

Further down the road I came to two women weeding a large vegetable garden. They resembled each other closely in the nose and jaw line, both had blue eyes with light brown hair, and as it turned out they were mother and daughter. They were clad in house dresses with light floral patterns. The daughter, who looked to be in her twenties, gave me a sideways look and excused herself, saying she had someplace else to be. The mother had graying hair and was as fair of face as her daughter. I gave my approach and the mother dismissed me out of hand. She had no small children or relatives with children and had no interest in the Bible Dictionary. She did tell me that there were folks down the road that desperately needed the bible books to save their wicked souls.

So on I rode. I had a memory of a story that had circled Parchment sales training school of an African-American man who was told he could make a sale for sure at the end of the road. So on he went, and when he got to the end, it was a set up, and they were racists and shot him dead. I didn’t know why African-Americans would be brave enough to sell books; there was only one in our class. It was so racist here in the South, even I was nervous. Everybody had guns, and I had met people who had been shot. One such man was in bed in a trailer; he had been shot in the stomach during a disagreement in a bar.

When I got to the end there was only a two storey white farmhouse. I knocked on the door and there was no answer. So, I went around the back. There was a huge pond out there, and far off in the distance I could see several people lazily tubing on it in the summer sun. I called to them and they turned and saw me and called out and waved for me to join them. I shook my head “no” and they slowly and reluctantly started paddling over. As they came closer I could make out that it was two guys and two women. The man getting closer first seemed to own the place and as he stood to get out of the water, I could see that he was naked.

Then I noticed that they were all naked. The place was so remote, skinny dipping would be private, just as it was for Evan and me. This man had long scraggly hair and a beard. He had to be in his late twenties. It struck me suddenly that they were all hippies. I felt safe then. Hippies usually preached peace and were typically anti-violence, so there is no way they would hurt me. My worst fears were for naught.


“Come and join us!” the lead man said. “It’s beautiful on the pond, and it’s such a hot day.”

“Not this time, thanks.” I think they hoped to shock me, but really, it was tempting to join them. It was really hot. I didn’t need to school my face at all. I was a bit concerned that since they were naked and I was comfortable with it, they would expect sex, but then I noticed one of the women was from the house I just left, the daughter of the woman gardening. I made eye contact with her and she blushed.

“Please don’t tell my Mom that I was here. She’d kill me, or it would kill her.”

“I won’t.” I replied.

“You guys know each other?” the lead man said.

“We met at the house down the street.” I did my approach and here also and there was no interest what-so-ever in the books. But, it was time for lunch. Maybe I could get some interest there. Most folks who don’t buy books feel like they should do something else for you. I mentioned my quarter for a peanut butter sandwich line and the women responded immediately that we should have a picnic. It was a lovely day for it. Everyone else seemed comfortable naked, but I kept my clothes on.

The picnic was lovely; we had cheese and bread and fruit on a blanket which lay on the grass. They offered wine, but I stuck to water because of the heat. They offered me a ride back in their van, but it was way too early to knock off selling. So off I rode and continued my adventures.

Dogfight

Laila playing with Gus, the neighbors beagle/basset mix

Jenny on her favorite chair

MORAL: Never get two female dogs.

I learned this the hard way. I got Laila and Jenny, and Lili before them, because I prefer female shepherd dogs for smaller size, more even and loyal temperament, and prettier looks. But, never again will I get two female dogs.

It all started innocently enough when Laila was 2.5 years old and we got Jenny as a little puppy. Jenny was our little princess. She was a little upstart because she was half Belgian Malinois and that breed is known for being aggressive and needing to be number one. But since Laila was so much bigger and older, she was able to put Jenny down with no problem. We have never been able to feed them in the same room as Laila is food aggressive and we have always supported Laila as our alpha female.

Matters became more serious when Jenny turned 2 years old. Jenny made a serious play for dominance (read: they fought) and Laila gave Jenny a serious gash about 2 inches long that required stitches on her foreleg ($329). Our usually obedient dogs had turned into uncontrollable monsters overnight.

The veterinarian told us that some people had to give one dog away to solve this problem, but this was never an option for us. But then we spoke about our dog containment system. We use a radio fence that sends a beeping noise and a vibration to the dogs’ collars at a certain distance, and if they proceed, actually gives them a little (or not so little) electronic jolt. One of the options the system offers is a remote that the owner can use to modify a dog’s behavior. So, we bought one. Now, when I took them outside, I had the option of beeping Jenny or zapping her if she was bothering Laila. (Laila did not need to wear her collar any more as she was fully trained to stay in the yard and never would have bitten Jenny if not attacked.)

But, then I saw that Laila was taking advantage of Jenny’s being unable to come at her by pestering Jenny. So, I ended up putting collars on both of them.

However, Sean did not keep up with the program. He had both of the dogs out with him in the garage and they began to fight. Laila gave Jenny a gash on her abdomen near her flank and it was back to the vet for more stitches ($410). Oh well. At least that made him into a believer.

Time went by and all was peaceful. We were lulled by the peace and had stopped using the remote. Jenny mounted another attack and I was completely caught off guard, as was Laila. Laila lost that one and suffered a small gash on her foreleg. Back to the vet for more stitches (only $183!). Mind you, each time we go to the vet it costs us cash as the “losing” dog has to undergo anesthesia, receive antibiotics and then have the staples removed.

We went back to using the collars. By now the dogs are 7 and 5 years old. I would have thought that this entire struggle for dominance crap was over. But NO. I was wrong. I was on my way out to feed the koi; a very exciting time for the dogs. For some reason they got into it. I didn’t have the remote on me, just the friggin fish food, which I dropped. All you can really do is command the dogs to stop by saying, “No!” and pull on their tails to part them. But with only one person it is just an exercise in futility. That is just what I did. I tried to pull on the aggressor dog’s tail. Then that dog would fall down and the other dog would become the aggressor. I would run around to the other side and pull on that dog’s tail. Meanwhile I screamed for Sean’s help. But, we had just put up the storm windows and he was in the house watching a loud program on TV. I screamed at the top of my lungs to no avail. Ever have one of those dreams where something horrible is happening and you are screaming for help and no one can hear you? That is what it was like.

I thought the dogs were going to kill each other. Thank god they have thick fur around their necks because that is where they were biting at each other. Jenny would be on top of Laila worrying Laila’s throat, but only getting a mouthful of fur. I remember seeing Laila's snarling snout, her nose soaked in her own blood. Meanwhile I pulled on Jenny’s tail and managed to pull both dogs along the lawn, straining the muscles in my legs at the same time. They only stopped fighting when they were tired. I know I was exhausted.

Jenny had a puncture wound on her left lower foreleg, large canine hole outside, and small canine inside. Her face was smeared with Laila’s blood. Laila must have had a cut inside her nose, because it was bleeding fairly profusely from there, but she also had a deep scratch on top of her nose and a swollen left lower foreleg. Her nose stopped bleeding almost immediately. Five minutes later, we were all sitting in the office peacefully licking our wounds as if nothing had happened. At least we didn’t have to go to the vet again. My nerves were jangled to say the least.

Sean and I checked all of the batteries in the remote and collars and the dogs are wearing them today. This morning I had to beep them once. Guess I’m going to have to warm up to the idea of having a male dog in the future.

Thanks for the Link!

Hotguy has granted Fair View a link with his site, Guypaper. He features a new wallpaper everyday with a gorgeous hot man or men! For example, there are the Carlson Twins.



To see the full wallpaper, go here. If you are into twins, it really is a must see. But, not all of his wallpapers are nudes. He also has action shots, celebrities, and portraits.

Daniel Henny

So, update your wallpaper with Guypaper or at least drop by and visit. He has only been blogging for a month, so let's show him some support.