Maisie Loves Fall (aka Raking is Overrated)

As in most of New England, there are lots of trees in our area.  The wind from Hurricane Sandy blew a ton of leaves to the ground all at once, and plenty of sticks came down with 'em.  Judging from the bags of leaves at the curb for garbage pick up, most of my neighbors have already addressed the situation in their respective backyards.  However, I don't own a rake.  Also, I am lazy.  As you can see, Maisie doesn't seem to mind.

 p.s.  for more frequent Maisie updates and pics, please "like" our Facebook page if you haven't yet!

Hell Yeah!!!

Bill S.2192 went into effect today.

Thank you Gov. Patrick, for signing this truly progressive bill.  First, it outlaws BSL in Massachusetts.  OUTLAWS it.

The legislation updates the state’s dangerous dog law so that it now nullifies existing city and town ordinances that focus on particular breeds, such ones that ban pit bulls or require them to be muzzled. Breed-discriminatory legislation has never proven effective at reducing dog bites, and it punishes all citizens living with a particular breed, whether they act as responsible owners or not. The new law requires municipalities to focus on the behavior of misbehaving dogs and their owners, regardless of the breed involved—for example, enforcing existing leash laws for all free-roaming dogs, which are the animals responsible for most reported bites.
-  Linda Huebner, Deputy Director of the MSPCA

Second, it requires training for all animal control officers.  I had no idea that was not already mandatory!

Third, it creates a statewide program to encourage everyone to spay/neuter their pets.

Finally, it allows restraining orders for domestic violence cases to include not just humans, but also pets.

We are so so proud of our adopted state and hope others are inspired and able to pass similar legislation!

This face will never, ever be muzzled.

 p.s.  for more frequent Maisie updates and pics, please "like" our Facebook page if you haven't yet!

 

Hey Kelly Ripa...

Does this look like a dangerous dog to you?

Although we are Chicago natives, Maisie and I currently live in the town ranked #4 on Money Magazine's 2012 "100 Best Places to Live" list.  No gangsters here...

It's been a tough week for us responsible pit bull owners, especially in the Boston area.  Will the negative perception of our beloved breed ever end when those stereotypes are constantly reinforced in the media?  The fight against ignorance continues.

p.s.  for more frequent Maisie updates and pics, please "like" our Facebook page if you haven't yet!

Slacker

Yes, I have been slacking on blog entries.  I promise I will try to get back to it soon!  In the meantime, you are really missing out on some adorable Maisie-ness if you haven't yet liked our Facebook page.  You wouldn't have seen her snoozing in a backyard sunbeam.

 

Or trying to figure out how to get back inside after jumping through a screen-less living room window.  It took some coaxing, but she eventually jumped back inside...I figured if she can jump over the baby gate to escape kitchen confinement, the window should be a piece of cake!

 

Or Maisie's happy crazy eyes during a puppy play date at my house (the tan blur is her lightning quick new friend Sadie).

Or Maisie forgetting what "boundaries" and "personal space" mean after taking Xanax before being crated since her separation anxiety has gotten worse...though the Xanax really helps, thinking of taking some myself!  ;)

Or unmaking my bed once again, without remorse.

Or resting peacefully on one of her dog beds.

 

Hopefully these pics (and the many others on FB) will tide you over for just a bit.  Happy fall!  :)

Snooze & Stretch

Maisie spends many a lazy Sunday snoozing the day away, and today was no different.

Once she wakes, she doesn't just get up.  There's a process.  First...the big yawn.

She takes a look around, and notices that I am there.

"oh hey.  hi."

Then she starts to think about her next move.

And the stretching sequence begins with a modified downward dog.

Then Maisie's back half gets a good stretch, while her front legs support the effort.

Finally, just one leg needs an additional stretch.

And she's off!  

Does your dog have a post-sleep stretching routine too?  Or is this just another example of Crazy Maisie?

p.s.  for more frequent Maisie updates and pics, please "like" our Facebook page if you haven't yet!

Disappearing Act

I haven't been posting much lately and I don't want you to think I've disappeared for no good reason.  So I'll share what's been going on...meaning this will be one of the few posts that's more about Me than Maisie!

This year has been tough for me, health-wise.  As I've mentioned, my MS started going crazy a couple months after Maisie and I made the big move from Chicago and it hasn't let up.  I've had two major flare ups thus far.  The first rendered my left arm and hand useless, the second gave me horrible vertigo followed by loss of hearing in one ear.  While there have been major improvements, some symptoms still linger and may be with me forever.  And there's always the fear of another flare up coming on at any time.

I was admitted to the hospital for the vertigo and was so grateful that the owner of Maisie's daycare was willing to come pick her up and also drop me off at the ER.  I was an inpatient for five days (one of which was the 4th of July), and being there without my usual support network of family and friends was very difficult.  Luckily, my brother had already planned a visit and was here for a few days right after I was released.  Hard to say who was happier to see him, me or Maisie.  She made sure to get in as much cuddle time with him as possible.

After my brother left, I was on short term disability for a week.  Although the vertigo was somewhat better once a week of resting at home had passed, I was still too dizzy to drive so I had to hire a driver to take me to/from the office and Maisie back and forth to daycare for a few days.  Two weeks later, I went on a vacation that I'd planned months ago with a group of friends from Chicago.  Even though it meant leaving Maisie again, I really needed to get away and relax...and the gorgeous view of the Atlantic we had in Maine certainly helped!

I will actually be leaving Maisie once again this week, as I am going back to Chicago for a few days.  It will be my first visit home since moving to MA and I'm super excited to see my friends and family.  I am feeling better now, but I know that this unpredictable disease can always surprise me with another episode without warning.  So I'm working really hard to reduce my stress and accept the fact that some things are beyond my control.

Maisie gave me a purpose when I felt helpless and hopeless.  There were days when I might not have gotten out of bed if I didn't have to feed her or let her out in the yard.  She kissed me when I was sad, snuggled up to me when I was afraid and stayed close to me when I couldn't do much more than wait for my brain to heal itself.  I value her companionship now even more than I did before.

"is this close enough?  want me closer?"

p.s.  for more frequent Maisie updates and pics, please "like" our Facebook page if you haven't yet!

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - What a View

I've been sick with another MS flare up, this one caused severe vertigo and landed me in the hospital.  I spent another week recovering at home and though I'm still not 100%, I am appreciating small things like having espresso on the deck before work while Maisie gazes out at the trees and early morning sun.