Can I have some cheese with this whine or (wine) ???

[DeeDee and Sheila]

Hi guys. I have almost forgotten how to use this site in the last three weeks. We have now moved into our mostly but unfortunately not totally renovated house. This "renovation" took 1 yr. and three months, I kid you not. Meanwhile, I lived in a rented house and didn't unpack most of our belongings from our last move from NC. So I KNEW what was coming. I've moved-- ALOT. I have been married to my darling "tinkering" engineering husband for 34 yrs. so I knew I was in for it AGAIN. We've renovated 4 houses, each more extensively. Yet, knowing all this, I STILL GOT A PUPPY IN FEB. AND I LOVE THE PUPPY. TO DISTRACTION. But I am in moving hell. And I am losing the battle every day. Yesterday it was running by w/ a ski glove, a shoe, TV packing foam. Today it has been shower cap, not mine, underwear-a favorite, lip gloss,buttons off who knows where. Batting out of blankets, packing paper (I am surprised she is not pooping that paper), green packing tape all over her fur. I have shut doors, cleaned up the floor, play penned her, played w/ her, trained her (or vice versa). But she is too smart for me. One crack in the door, one potty break (me) and bam. My best friend came over to help me unpack my kitchen--I had just had surgery (not planned) seven days prior so could lift nothing. I refused to move for 1 week, staying in the old house w/ Sheila and a twin bed until I deemed the area safe enough for her. Still not long enough.

Workmen are still everywhere, every morning. Some days I don't even care if I'm in my bathrobe. AND SHEILA LOVES IT. She runs to them. She kisses them. She is the star, the darling, all the men goo goo and hold her and pet her. It is so cute. But they don't help. They are as bad as her. Coke cups, dirty bath towels, all their little droppings that I have to get to before Sheila.

Sheila now sits in the bay window watching for them every morning. My husband and Sheila are over the moon w/ happiness. They both LOVE dirt, noise and building materials. 3/4 of yard is totally destroyed. Sheila has one patch of grass to go in. None of the decks are done. Does she care? No, she has learned ladder jumping, flag grabbing, stone chewing, mud digging, tool robbery. She hasn't ingested anything yet, but I might soon!!

Anyway, at least most workers are now outside (my bedroom/bath is like a dark cave-men everywhere out there so all my shades drawn). Yes, I am grateful and it is turning out to be beautiful. But I swear it is my COFFIN! A longgggg ranch that I have told my husband I won't move out of until I die-- .

But my darling Sheila is doing fine, totally spoiled and now adreneline driven. What, another box to unpack Mom? Oh boy. Oh, a hamper full of the kids' stuff? Go get the loot quick before mom sees.

But then after a long day, she does her "cuddle" and "dead dog" routine when DH gets home. Oh, good Sheila, why is Mom in bed already??????????

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Sounds like you have your hands full. Gotta tell you if it were me, Sheila would be in an exercise pen in the middle of whatever room I was working in. She would have lots of toys, her food and water bowls, and some chews. From someone who has moved approximately 35 times in my life (no that wasn't a typo, I had a builder/remodeller father, and an active duty Air Force Husband), I can relate to the mess that you are in the middle of. It isn't safe for her to be running around free without eyes on her 24/7. She is small, the exercise pen would give her plenty of space to play. I'd take her on a few walks off and on throughout the day (trust me I'm sure you could use some fresh air too). We moved here 2.5 years ago and I said this is it ..... this one was exhausting! I feel for you!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I really enjoyed reading this and really enjoy that my doodles are past puppyhood - as adults they get into stuff but at least it is limited to trash.

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

OMG. I don't know how you do it! It sounds like it would be impossible to get anything done with Sheila and the renovation chaos. It is a good thing you have a sense of humor. My hat is off to you :-)

[cheryl & oliver]

Well that post made my day, lol, I feel for you, I know what it is too have them grab things, run and everything goes in the mouth...You still have a wonderful sense of humor, and you do see the light at the end of the tunnel, so that is wonderful, I would have been committed at this point for sure, lol...Poor Shelia is going to miss all those men and all the attention when they are gone...Hang in there,,,and keep us inforned...I am hoping that you are recovering from the surgery, just don't overdo...Take care of yourself too...

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Too funny and sooo real. I, too, have an "I will fix it" engineer husband. And he does -eventually - almost. We have rennovated three times. He once took two weeks off to repair, remold, repaint (including much wallpaper stripping) the whole entire 4 bedroom house. Plenty of time. I was soooo very glad to be at work. Needless to say it took much much much longer than two weeks. My heart goes out to you. Just remember - this too will pass.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

It's good to hear from you DeeDee. I've been missing those Sheila stories. It sounds like you've got your hands full right now...bet you're glad you canceled the second puppy! Can you even imagine that? I'm thinking that Sheila is getting some GREAT socialization exposure...you can bet she's not going to grow up fearing men. I'm sure that's absolutely no comfort. She sounds like a real "pistol". Things will be back to "normal" at some point, right? Any ETA on "normal"? You're still seeing the humor in all of this, and I think that's half the battle.