Dog problems suck

Okay, well not really dog problems per se, more like slight issues that will take a lot of work and patience and me not doing things I normally want to do.

When it comes to my animals (that I absolutely adore) I am like that Looney tunes character... Elvira, is it? ("I'll hold you and love you and squeeze you..." and then you see the animal freaking out.)

Okay, I want to baby Marley. I want to hold her and pet her all the time.

But she's starting to show signs of separation anxiety, and also, we have been having issues around the house where she's afraid.

Of what, you ask? Good question. We're stumped on that. There are so many things that it could be, from the wind, to Chris having pressure washed the outside of the house in one spot, to surround sound, to potential ghosts/spirits/entities to lamps/shadows/light reflections... SOOO MANY!!!

We've kind of settled on the fact that it's probably a combination of most of them, and it sort of explains the most recent new behaviour: Staying within 2 feet of me, AT ALL TIMES.

Right now is kind of different, she is sleeping on the couch and I am in the computer room. But during wakeful hours, she follows me everywhere. When I have a bath, she lays on a towel on the floor. When I am cooking, or cleaning, she's underfoot. When I stand in one spot for awhile, particularily in the corner of the kitchen, she sits in between me and the cupboards, ON my feet.

She's even hesitant to go to Chris when he's offering to pet her, and stares at me while she's being petted.

And, after looking all of it up online and reading several pages (I don't trust the potential b.s. that could be some, so I read several and make my own conclusions) I decided that we have some work to do.

Not only do we have to change a lot that we've been doing, <i>I</i> have to change almost everything I do.

Before I leave the house, I cuddle her and give her lots of attention. That's a no-no.

When I get home, I get all excited to see her like she does me. That's a no-no.

When she started military-style crawling under the bed any time we were in the bedroom and staying there all night, my reaction to block off under the bed and try to force her to stay on the bed is a no-no.

Our constantly trying to reassure her when she is sitting on the couch vibrating, looking over her shoulder towards a speaker... that's right, a no-no.

Basically, we've been conditioning her already sensitive mind into being much more nervous. So, I am trying to work backwards. They suggest 'ignoring' the dog when it shows signs of nervousness. Do not coddle. (It's like they knew.)

It says to start leaving the dog alone for a few seconds, in the house, and then come back. When the dog can tolerate that, gradually move to minutes, and get up to 1.5 hours.

I'm not really into leaving the house for 3 seconds at a time, but I guess you have to start somewhere.

So, I am going to (reluctantly) let Marley sleep under the bed, if that's where she feels safe. Eventually, we'll work up to her feeling safe in the whole bedroom/house and not wanting to hide. (We tried moving her kennel into the bedroom so she had a familiar (comfortable) safe place, but she refused to go into it in the bedroom. I guess it's only safe in the living room.)
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In non-dog related news...

Got a promotion. Or a few.

Sort of.

Going to be Night Supervisor one or two shifts a week, going to be the Head Cashier's 2nd slash 'night head cashier', going to be president of the social fund (which means I have signing authority on a current balance of $3000+ for parties and BBQ's?!?!), and I am a backup for one of the office girls. The one who takes care of pricing issues, entering new products, putting up new sales (a lot of f#ck!ng signs) and generally everything else from writing Happy birthday "whoever' on cakes to everyone else's job, to cashing in busy spurts of 'where the hell did all of these people come from?' moments...

So, a little of everything, and a lot to do, and still no raise.

Wrote up a nice little letter to my boss, about this fact, and giving it to him tomorrow. 10 to 1 odds say he gets defensive again.

Oh well.

I am a lot more comfortable talking to the bosses now, and even joke around with them about all kinds of stuff.

I am also a lot more confident than I thought I might be, about asking about the wage increase I was told I would get at three months, which was 2 months ago.

(and that promise was made when I was only supposed to be a cashier, let alone all the other stuff I do now- the list is a long one!)

So, yeah. Not taking no for an answer.
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The weather here has been very decent, haven't seen snow in like three weeks (I mean AT ALL!)... until about 2 hours ago.

Freak storm, supposed to get up to 50 cm overnight. Most of which will most likely melt by 9 a.m., but still.

It was raining earlier, which turned into snow that melted instantly when it touched anything else, which turned into tiny, new blades of grass covered in snow, again.

I can just imagine what everyone in town will be saying tomorrow as they go through my till. I hear a lot of bitching about the snow. I am fine with it, but it feels like I am having the same conversation over and over all day long. (Groundhog Day?)
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Still no freaking news from CN.

I am sure they have bigger things on their plates right now, like, say, maybe the strike. But, still! You'd think the hiring department that just sends people into training would still be operating. The strike would affect neither the current staff in charge of hiring/training, nor the employees to be going into five week trainng courses. They aren't covered by the strike until after their classroom training is finished.

... not sure what else to say there.

Just send Chris lots of positive energy and patience.

Actually, while you're doing that, send some to Marley and myself, too, please.

:)

Lots of love,

Lots of Homesickness.

Can't wait to see everyone.

Love ya, miss ya. I'm going to bed.

(If you need Marley, she'll be under it.)

Blaine