1:58 p.m. - 2007-11-26
Lighting the Lights, Trimming the Tree
Ok, so much for being more current with my blog. But two weeks is a great improvement over the last lag in entries. At some point, I need to write about my latest misery. But I cried pretty much all of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday over it already. And I don't want to start off the week with the same. And I don't think my eyelids can puff up anymore without exploding. So I'm going to keep today's entry on the positive side, as I would like to keep my baby blues intact.
The one time I did leave the apartment this weekend was on Saturday night, for about an hour. Erik and I took Charlie and Harry out for one of our many new holiday traditions we've started since moving to Maryland. This particular one is a 3.5 mile drive-thru Christmas light display in the woods of our suburban D.C. town. I don't think the displays were any different from last year, but it still perked my spirits up. We always roll down the windows, no matter how cold it is, and slowly creep through, the radio station tuned to a 24-hour holiday music channel.
This was the third year we've gone to this, but it was the first year where Harry had to share my lap in the car. He was none too thrilled. And while Mommy's lap is extra-large, it was still a tight squeeze for both little doggies. About halfway through, though, they found positions in which they could both be happy. Harry loves to stare out the window on rides, and stare curiously at the people and the action. I was saddened to look at Charlie, who would never see all that his brother so enjoys. I hardly ever think about Charlie being blind anymore, as he does so well in our apartment and it doesn't affect his love of toys, snacks, belly rubs, and long naps. But sometimes it suddenly hits me and I feel sad for him.
We've already got our (fake) tree up. Martha Stewart collection. Nazi Amish Milkmaid. Anyway, Erik put the tree together and strung the lights. I put up the ornaments and garlands. All in all, over the span of 3 days, it took about 8 hours. Oy!
But it looks great, I think. Charlie already pulled off a wooden Santa ornament that I had hand-painted a couple of years ago and destroyed his face. We've been lucky to have it so easy with Harry. He's never been the kind of dog that goes through trash, attacks the tree, chews anything in his path... but Charlie sure is! He's a handful, to be sure. But he's brought a lot of joy and laughter to our home, and he's damn worth the extra effort.
But to make sure that he doesn't wind up needing freakin' emergency stomach surgery from ingesting a glass ornament or something, we checked out the internet for advice on how to keep your dog away from your Christmas tree. It was suggested that we buy this "Bitter Apple" spray, which supposedly is just abhorrent to most dogs. We did, and we sprayed it on the tree skirt, lower branches and ornaments. We have still seen him approach the tree, but he hasn't done anything else destructive. Yet. To be on the safe side, when we go out, we use a baby gate to keep him in the other half of the apartment, with the office and the bedroom- and no tree.
Ok, pain coming, so I'll be back another day! Hope you all had a happy thanksgiving! And hey, I didn't swear once! Hoo-hah!
