Today at 12pm we said goodbye to Molly. This is the end of an era, really. David and I were married in July of 1997 and three months later we welcomed Molly into our home. Had we known what the next ten years had in store, we might have promptly booted her right back out. Be that as it may, those ten years were filled with loving (and sometimes loathing) a smelly, hairy, whiny hound who loved children, pirogies, the Christmas ham and anyone who was willing to touch her.
I could take this in a million directions. As many of you know, Molly has been sick for some time now and yesterday we realized it was time to end her suffering. But I don't want to focus on that. Instead, I want to celebrate her as the very special dog that she was. Everyone we know had a unique relationship with Molly and she was something of a Rutkowski family icon. She lived life on her terms and she never regretted a thing. She made friends everywhere she went. I mean everywhere she went. Miss Congeniality of the dog set.
So briefly, here are some of the greatest hits of the Decade of Decadence a la Molly.
Molly peed in the backseat of our Nissan Bluebird on our first Thanksgiving. The smell never did come out.
The next spring, Molly raced headlong into her very first wave. As she barreled down the beach, David and I just stared. When she hit the chilly spring water, waves crashing all around, she retreated sputtering and shivering. She never went in the ocean again.
Molly used to attack my toes when she was a puppy. Molly wasn't well known for attacking things. But my toes knew.
She used to love to chase crows on the beach in Japan. They would flutter away and land. And the game was on again, with Molly chasing down the beach.
Everyday, she rolled poor Olaf down the hill by our on-base house in Japan. That poor little dog didn't know what hit him. He finally got wise and would hide behind us when he saw her coming.
Molly once ate a rock to spite us. We discovered something was seriously wrong at the start of a long 4th of July weekend. The Japanese vet charged at least an arm to extract the offending stone. Molly, of course, lived happily ever after.
Molly was nearly killed by snow monkeys. Ask Josh about that story.
Molly was adept at scoring unsuspecting pirogies. This is particularly impressive given her height vs. the counter height.
I twice found Molly eating mac and cheese at the kitchen table when David left the bowl to answer the phone or tend to business.
Molly once got lost in the foothills of Albuquerque. She was gone for over two hours and we thought the coyotes got her. She was just checking stuff out.
Molly used to be a mad backpacker. Believe it or not. The dog hiked miles and miles uphill in foul weather. I have witnesses.
Molly loved New Mexico green chiles. I only gave her the mild ones, but still.
Two years running, Molly scored the Christmas ham. And the quiche. And some rolls. You get the idea.
Molly never spent a day in a kennel. I think that is both a testament to Molly and to our friends and family. Shouts out in particular to Dave & Gina, Josh & Carmen, Abe, Kyle and our neighbor Pam.
Molly told outlandish stories that usually involved her leading a country or shady business deals.
As an old woman, Molly wore crazy hats and bright red lipstick. She drove a crappy convertible Cadillac recklessly and she loved bluegrass.
In her twilight she still marauded the trash whenever she got a chance.
Until the day she died, I never could leave a loaf of bread unattended on the kitchen table.
Molly loved to smell the roses. And the poo. She especially loved to roll in the poo. To David's chagrine.
And she loved everyone she knew.
For my dead homie, Molly Ann. 4-20-97 to 5-24-07
Friday, May 25, 2007
Sunday, May 20, 2007
F*#k the USDA
We are in a vicious (at least from my perspective) battle with the incompetents (or downright malicious assholes) at the USDA whose good graces we are reliant upon to stamp a certificate that verifies Stella's health and fitness to enter Germany. The woman who we are forced to interact with is a surly termagent - a real beauracrat on the federal dole who doesn't think she needs to a) do her job or b) be nice. She has twice given us misinformation and has been abusive to the UI vets who have had the misfortune to deal with her. This absolute piece of work has done such a bang up job that we are either going to have to drive to Springfield to get her evil stamp or we are going to have to deal with this when we get to Pennsylvania. If we opt for the latter, I am hopeful that this grouch issue isn't a USDA pandemic. We'll see. Aaaaaaaack!
We have about 10 days left in Urbana and we are in the middle of packing our crap for the international move. We've decided since we have almost nothing fragile and very little stuff in general that we are going to pack it ourselves and save $350, which we can spend at Ikea! Right now we are deliberating about what kitchen stuff to pack. It won't be there for about 8 weeks and I am wondering if I want to be 8 weeks without a whisk. David and I have agreed to take the "good" stuff we own but can do without for a few weeks. For instance - the nice bread pan. I probably won't feel a compelling urge to make bread for at least 6 weeks and if I can't help myself and absolutely MUST make muffins, I'll just resign myself to picking up an extra tin in Germany and being the proud owner of 2 muffin tins when our shipment arrives. Otherwise, we are making a trip to the local "mart" to pick up spatulas and other basics.
Whew - next up is the international paperwork required for the move. I'm not really sure what this entails, but I'll find out next week.
What else?
Molly is in terrible shape. She is in constant pain and misery and we are just in knots about what to do. This has been going on for nearly 6 weeks and I just feel like we maybe aren't doing right by her. I think we are going to make an appointment the vet for Monday and get his opinion. God, what a year of the dog. More on this later. I hate emoticons - otherwise I would put a sad face here.
Ok, well, back to packing.
We have about 10 days left in Urbana and we are in the middle of packing our crap for the international move. We've decided since we have almost nothing fragile and very little stuff in general that we are going to pack it ourselves and save $350, which we can spend at Ikea! Right now we are deliberating about what kitchen stuff to pack. It won't be there for about 8 weeks and I am wondering if I want to be 8 weeks without a whisk. David and I have agreed to take the "good" stuff we own but can do without for a few weeks. For instance - the nice bread pan. I probably won't feel a compelling urge to make bread for at least 6 weeks and if I can't help myself and absolutely MUST make muffins, I'll just resign myself to picking up an extra tin in Germany and being the proud owner of 2 muffin tins when our shipment arrives. Otherwise, we are making a trip to the local "mart" to pick up spatulas and other basics.
Whew - next up is the international paperwork required for the move. I'm not really sure what this entails, but I'll find out next week.
What else?
Molly is in terrible shape. She is in constant pain and misery and we are just in knots about what to do. This has been going on for nearly 6 weeks and I just feel like we maybe aren't doing right by her. I think we are going to make an appointment the vet for Monday and get his opinion. God, what a year of the dog. More on this later. I hate emoticons - otherwise I would put a sad face here.
Ok, well, back to packing.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Diaper dog & moving
As some of you know, Molly isn't doing so hot. She has apparently herniated a disk in her back and walking is very difficult for her. She has been on steroids for nearly two weeks and there hasn't been much improvement. Fortunately, she does not seem to be in pain anymore and she is able to pee and poo on her own - although she has to be carried outside. The steroids are making her absurdly incontinent, which lends her a constant aroma of urine. This is on top of her already stinky state.
While Molly looks to be permanently disabled, I don't think we will have to take drastic measures (whew!). It looks like she will just be a bit slower and clumsier than before - so it's manageable. True to form, Molly is causing some difficulties during her illness. As I mentioned, she is incontinent so we have resorted to diapering her. I picked up some cheap diapers at the Dollar General and cut a whole for her tail and wrapped her up. This doesn't do much for the catastrophic accidents, but it does contain the frequent "leakage." Thank goodness the incontinence should abate as her steroid dose goes down - this dog is a raging mess when she wants to be.
At first I thought she would be humiliated by her diaper but, as Joshua puts it, a diaper is a modern convenience for Molly. It really frees up her time and allows her to conserve even more precious energy!
Molly also won't be able to fly with us to Germany. She will never pass German customs and no respectable vet would certify her to fly. So, for the near future, she is moving to Morgantown, WV - home of the Moutaineers and Pittsnogle! Neither the Mountaineers nor Pittsnogle are going to care for Molly, though. For this we are thankfully relying on Joshua and Carmen. Then, once Molly is able to fly, she will be escorted by her U.S. entourage to Hamburg. Is anyone surprised that Molly is doing this on her terms?
On a tangentially related note, the moving guy came this week and estimated our shipment at 2000 lbs. I think he's mad, but whatever. We are charged for the actual weight and volume and I guess it's better to over estimate than to totally low ball us. So, we are going ahead with this mover and they are scheduled to pick up our shipment on the 23rd of May.
On the 25th of May, we are meeting my brother is St. Louis. Roger is flying in with Marcia to pick up our old VW Beetle and tow it back to AZ with our truck for safekeeping. Then, the plan is to sell our truck in AZ. I don't think it will fetch a better price in the West, but everyone is happy and the Bug is going to someone who can appreciate its history. And we don't have to try to sell our truck at the very last minute before we move. This does leave us without a car for a week, but the bus system around here rocks and gas is so bloody expensive we've been avoiding driving anyway.
So, we've got a month left in the U.S. and we are defending our dissertation in 3 days (ack!). The countdown is on - standby for shit to get stupid.
While Molly looks to be permanently disabled, I don't think we will have to take drastic measures (whew!). It looks like she will just be a bit slower and clumsier than before - so it's manageable. True to form, Molly is causing some difficulties during her illness. As I mentioned, she is incontinent so we have resorted to diapering her. I picked up some cheap diapers at the Dollar General and cut a whole for her tail and wrapped her up. This doesn't do much for the catastrophic accidents, but it does contain the frequent "leakage." Thank goodness the incontinence should abate as her steroid dose goes down - this dog is a raging mess when she wants to be.
At first I thought she would be humiliated by her diaper but, as Joshua puts it, a diaper is a modern convenience for Molly. It really frees up her time and allows her to conserve even more precious energy!
Molly also won't be able to fly with us to Germany. She will never pass German customs and no respectable vet would certify her to fly. So, for the near future, she is moving to Morgantown, WV - home of the Moutaineers and Pittsnogle! Neither the Mountaineers nor Pittsnogle are going to care for Molly, though. For this we are thankfully relying on Joshua and Carmen. Then, once Molly is able to fly, she will be escorted by her U.S. entourage to Hamburg. Is anyone surprised that Molly is doing this on her terms?
On a tangentially related note, the moving guy came this week and estimated our shipment at 2000 lbs. I think he's mad, but whatever. We are charged for the actual weight and volume and I guess it's better to over estimate than to totally low ball us. So, we are going ahead with this mover and they are scheduled to pick up our shipment on the 23rd of May.
On the 25th of May, we are meeting my brother is St. Louis. Roger is flying in with Marcia to pick up our old VW Beetle and tow it back to AZ with our truck for safekeeping. Then, the plan is to sell our truck in AZ. I don't think it will fetch a better price in the West, but everyone is happy and the Bug is going to someone who can appreciate its history. And we don't have to try to sell our truck at the very last minute before we move. This does leave us without a car for a week, but the bus system around here rocks and gas is so bloody expensive we've been avoiding driving anyway.
So, we've got a month left in the U.S. and we are defending our dissertation in 3 days (ack!). The countdown is on - standby for shit to get stupid.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Apartment!
Ok, so after a long virtual hunt (and a number of virtual rejections), we found a place to call home.
This is the Wohnbereich
A view from the Kuche
The Essbereich
The Schlafzimmer (isn't that a funny word?)
All for the bargain price of 770 euros a month. This includes heat (yay, me!) and parking - but we don't have a car, so we can put our bikes on some sort of parking spot that has been described to me as a metal cage lift. I am imagining a car elevator - I don't know.
It is in a cool neighborhood close to the university, shops, bars, restaurants and coffee shops. We are also fairly close to the Volkspark, although I have no idea what this means. We are also near to the Repperbahn (read "Red Light District," baby!). Apparently, this is not what we might imagine. The prostitutes have health insurance and the whole thing is regulated. Kooky socialists.
Anyway, it comes with appliances, hard wood and tile floors and big giant French doors that completely open. I am hoping there is some sort of guard rail. Otherwise, I am pretty sure Molly will try her hand at base jumping. I have been told it is about a 30 minute commute to work. If this becomes a pain, I guess we'll move. Just like we did in Albuquerque and Urbana. You get the idea, right? This will likely be home sweet home for as long as we are in Germany because we are so desperately adverse to moving. Let's hope Molly doesn't get us kicked out with her shenanigans.
This is the Wohnbereich
A view from the Kuche
The Essbereich
The Schlafzimmer (isn't that a funny word?)
All for the bargain price of 770 euros a month. This includes heat (yay, me!) and parking - but we don't have a car, so we can put our bikes on some sort of parking spot that has been described to me as a metal cage lift. I am imagining a car elevator - I don't know.
It is in a cool neighborhood close to the university, shops, bars, restaurants and coffee shops. We are also fairly close to the Volkspark, although I have no idea what this means. We are also near to the Repperbahn (read "Red Light District," baby!). Apparently, this is not what we might imagine. The prostitutes have health insurance and the whole thing is regulated. Kooky socialists.
Anyway, it comes with appliances, hard wood and tile floors and big giant French doors that completely open. I am hoping there is some sort of guard rail. Otherwise, I am pretty sure Molly will try her hand at base jumping. I have been told it is about a 30 minute commute to work. If this becomes a pain, I guess we'll move. Just like we did in Albuquerque and Urbana. You get the idea, right? This will likely be home sweet home for as long as we are in Germany because we are so desperately adverse to moving. Let's hope Molly doesn't get us kicked out with her shenanigans.
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