Hiatus

Not that there are many readers of this blog, but I've decided to take a break from blogging on this page for a while. With Oliver back at Chez Glazener and vacation and other things pending I just don't have the time and it should never feel like a chore to blog. See you later perhaps!

Oliver pics by Jeni

My great friend Jeni of Jeni Dwyer Creative took these photos of my boy on Wednesday night. I don't think I could ever thank her enough - her work is amazing!

Oliver back at Chez Glazener

Yes, Oliver is back home with me as of last Friday. He's a much larger dog now, but still the same puppy I remember. He gives me the same look when I call his name, he has the same warm greenish-brown eyes and the same sweet as pie demeanor as always (hence why I always call him "sweet pie").

His last cardiology appointment was encouraging, too. His heart has changed very little since his initial diagnosis (severe pulmonic stenosis and a ventricular septal defect) and according to the discharge summary his "defects" are helping  his heart to harmoniously function efficiently.

Oliver also thankfully remains a relatively polite puppy - he only mildly harasses poor Zoe and did pretty well tonight with his old pal Cody (his beloved Aunt Jenni's cat). Thank you Cody and Jenni for allowing Oliver's intrusion!

Oliver and Lucas were fast bffs and pretty much play non-stop. I wish I had a yard for them to romp in, but for now the living room does just fine as long as I move the coffee table out of their way.

Cross your fingers that I find this sweet boy a loving home. If I could afford it and had the room I would keep him myself in a heartbeat. That said, he will stay here with us until we find him the perfect family. We love you Oliver!

Quote of the day

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."

~Dr. Seuss

Operation Oliver

I'm still unsure about when Oliver will be returning to Chez Glazener, but I've spoken with Michelle and preparations have begun! Thanks to awesome friend Kerry, I have TWO hard core wire, large and in charge crates (one for Oliver and one for Lucas). Both are set up close to each other.

Bedding is being washed, food and toys organized, and foster mama is determined to doggie-proof her house in time for the new addition.

Next on the list is having Oliver rechecked at the NCSU cardiology office, updating his meds and making sure I've got the supplies I need to keep him happy.

I've missed him so much and it will be wonderful to have him home again, but I'm still sad that things didn't work out for him with the Smith's. Again I say, not his fault - or anyone else's for that matter. Just bad timing. Stay tuned for updates!

Quote of the day

"Chance has never yet satisfied the hope of a suffering people. Action, self-reliance, the vision of self and the future have been the only means by which the oppressed have seen and realized the light of their own freedom."

~Marcus Garvey

Another iphone saver

I came across Griffin's Armored Survivor case the other day and looked it up online. This case is hard core! Check out the video linked above for an educational, thorough and pretty funny demonstration of how protective the Survivor case really is.

After trying one out I must say that I think I prefer Griffin to Otterbox. The silicone casing of the Griffin case is far less "sticky" than the Otterbox case  - it is easier to slip it in and out of a pocket or phone holder - and it also snaps into place more securely. The same goes for the port covers - Griffin's stay put while the charging port cover on my Otterbox case constantly pried itself opened.

Although I don't use the belt clip, Griffin's is far more practical than the bulky clip that comes with Otterbox's Defender case. The added size to one's iphone appears to be slightly greater with Griffin's case, but the aforementioned lack of "stickiness" of the silicone casing makes that a non-issue for me.

If you watch the video you'll see that Griffin's case will not make your iphone indestructible (you can't run it over with your SUV and expect it to be unmarred), but it will certainly protect it from drops, fits of anger, impromptu hockey matches and other everyday whoopsies.

While certainly worth the $49.99 price tag, Griffin's Armored Survivor cases can be found in many discount stores for at least $15 less. But seriously, even with insurance a replacement iphone is likely to cost you at least $150 so a fabulously protective $50 case pays for itself almost immediately!

Never without my OtterBox

On the recommendation of a friend, I bought an OtterBox defender case for my new iphone back in October of 2011.

I didn't use it long before I found it a little bulky and that it made it difficult to get my phone out of my phone holder or my back pocket.

Therefore, I started using a Body Glove case that was slimmer and appeared to offer good protection. For example, I drove off with my iphone on the hood of my car and after crashing to the asphalt it came away without a single scratch or defect. After that I was convinced that my defender case was not necessary to keep my iphone in pristine condition.

Unfortunately last week my phone fell out of my holder (hip height) and the whole screen cracked from the upper right corner to the lower left corner. There was also a horrible spider-web type cluster of cracks in the upper right corner. On the bright side, my phone still worked and I had insurance on it so I wasn't ever without a phone and I was able to get a replacement quickly (ordered Friday afternoon and received today).

Needless to say, I learned my lesson. I know the screen would've been fine had I been using my OtterBox case so I'll never complain about the bulkiness or lack of sophistication of my OtterBox ever again. 

Another plus about the defender case is that all the buttons and ports are protected by the silicone outer shell. (Charging port, mute button and earphone ports are covered by flaps that can be opened and resealed).  Having unwittingly silenced my phone on numerous occasions when it proved to be quite inconvenient, I find the flaps very handy!

OtterBox defenders are a bit pricey unless you find them on Amazon or in your local Wal-mart (still a little pricey even at Wal-mart) but the expense is well worth it. If you care about your iphone, get an OtterBox!

Have you ever felt the need to make a case for someone - no matter how hopeless it might seem to the layman? If not, I'll introduce you to it now, as I proclaim again what a wonderful dog Oliver is.

He has a heart condition, yes. But he's still a vibrant, lovely dog at this point and has a good chance of surviving through to adulthood.

In my mind (which I know is biased) I keep thinking about how wonderful he is.

As his intermediate caregiver, I plan to give Oliver my undivided attention - all my love that he could ever want or deserve - and everything else coming his way as the cutest, most loving puppy ever.

Been a while!

I've been very preoccupied lately with Zoe's health, Oliver's care, and travel. I know I have very few readers so I don't feel that bad about my hiatus - haha!
The good news: Zoe is doing well - very well. She's seizure-free, keeping food down and acting like her normal bitchy self.

The bad news: Oliver's future is up in the air. I'm trying to be optimistic, but it is a hard thing to do.

Oliver is a WONDERFUL dog and deserves nothing less than the most loving home. I wish I could give it to him myself but I've already got my hands full and I would never regret adopting Lucas.

I'm trying to keep a positive outlook in favor of my sweet Oliver. I want nothing more than for him to find a loving caregiver. Should he find one said person(s) will be the luckiest pet owner(s) in Durham!

My girl is sick

Holding on to hope here, but Miss Zoe is not on the up and up. Poor girl had a seizure Monday morning and hasn't been anywhere near herself since. I'm wishing (hard) for some kind of recovery. I can't let her go just yet.

All Zoe fans please point your thoughts our way!

Favorite pen

This is my new favorite pen! It's a 7 year pen made by Seltzer Goods. Provided I hold on to it that long, it will write 1.7 meters a day for 7 years. I love the way it writes (very smooth) and I really love the "Need Coffee" message since I always need coffee! Lots of other designs are available.

Like they say on the web site, this pen is "Eco-Friendly, Swiss-Made, 7-Year Ink Supply, Lots of Fun." I concur!

If you live in the Raleigh/Chapel Hill/Durham area, you can find these pens at Parker and Otis in downtown Durham.

Quote of the day

"Bringing out your own unique brand of creativity into your life and the world can be the most significant thing you'll ever do."

~Lorna Catford

This one is a given, but I've found it to be very relevant lately.

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again."

~T.H. Palmer

Auto update

As of Friday April 13th I am the proud owner of a 2010 Kia Soul and I LOVE it! The photo attached here is a stock photo - mine actually has "privacy glass" (mild tinting) and came loaded with some fine features (bluetooth, upgraded safety, etc).

I do miss my CR-V but I'm a happy girl. It's surely nice to not have to pull up my "power" windows by hand; to not have to double-click the locking mechanism on the glove box every time I want it to close; to actually have power locks and an alarm; and an integrated ipod connection is pretty darn sweet!



Gas mileage thus far is on target despite the trips being almost completely limited to "city" driving - I don't do a great deal of "highway" driving anymore. Lucas and Zoe also completely approve of the new ride (this is an important fact).

I remember way back when I first brought home my beloved Honda CR-V - how I noticed an increasing number of them on the roads - and I'm noticing the same thing now with the Soul. It's a great car and I can also highly recommend Fred Anderson Toyota in this pitch. I got a great deal and an even more amazing deal on an extended warranty. Check them out if you're in the market for a new car: Fred Anderson Toyota.