Monday, June 29, 2015

Where is Tootsie?

 
Is that Tootsie?
 

Oh my dog. It's Tootsie!


Mom's new hat is pawsome. It provides shade while hiking and during naps.

Hike to Lake Salei, Ticino, Switzerland

Sunday, June 28, 2015

#LoveisLove #Equality #LoveWins #Pride2015


Celebrating America.
After pain and tragedy and senseless racial violence, she shines brightly.
So much more work to do. And we are proud of how far we've come.
Plus, Mom and Dad's marriage is a little more real -- now that all can legally marry 
in the United States of America, in all fifty states.


Love is Love and Love is Fine.
#LoveisLove #Equality #LoveWins #Pride2015



Thursday, June 25, 2015

Adhesive Capsulitis - Shoulder Update

Tootsie's Mom here. I am so relieved to report that my shoulder is doing much better. If you know anyone who has adhesive capsulitis,

DO NOT HUG HER! DO NOT SQUEEZE HER! DO NOT BUMP HER!

For the original post about my challenges with adhesive capsulitis, including information about my treatment(s), please see here.


I am long out of the acute phase, which was debilitating and exceedingly painful. It's actually okay if I'm bumped now. Just a few months ago, a simple nudge would fell me to my knees.

I still have work to do! I need to regain about 15% of my range of motion, to continue going to physical therapy (in an adorable pool located inside a hospital with a view of a vineyard), to continue going to acupuncture, to begin rebuilding my strength, and to continue Tootsie's schedule of unlimited fur therapy.

But just look at my arms raised in the air! Look at that hike!


In addition, I am trying to address my bum R knee and regain overall health. I've had the flu multiple times this past year, and I just had a strep infection. Yikes! Can you say two rounds of heavy-duty antibiotics? Poor body. Poor me.

Not really.

The Husband has been incredible--supportive, loving, patient. I've started doing QiGong (see a cool YouTube video here by Chris Pei). (Please don't tell me to try yoga; I don't like yoga. Tootsie loves downward dog!) And Tootsie... well, you know. It's all about our Tube of Fur.


Thanks for all your good thoughts over this past year. It's been a challenge. There is light.

Love,
Renee

P.s. During the acute pain phase, no pain killers worked--not even morphine derivatives--but an online course on "Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction" (MBSR), run by Dave Potter of Palouse Mindfulness, really helped manage my attitude toward my pain, and thus my pain. Potter's free eight-week online course is available here at MBSR online. You may have seen Anderson Cooper's super 60 Minutes coverage of "MBSR," which was started years ago by Jon Kabat-Zinn. Along with acupuncture, MBSR has made all the difference in my recovery, particularly Dave Potter's fantastic course. Thank you, Dave!

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Happy Father's Day

Dear Dachshund Daddy and Grandpa:

Happy Father's Day!


Love,
Tootsie and Mom




Saturday, June 13, 2015

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Now Boarding

Dear Now Boarding,

Thank you so much for taking care of our Tootsie in April while I attended the Associated Writers Program conference in Minneapolis. Tootsie and I had just flown from our home in Switzerland to Minneapolis, and we had never boarded Tootsie, so I was nervous and upset. You were super kind to me when I burst into tears walking down the hallway away from our sweet girl.

Tootsie did great because of your care! Your staff was compassionate, skilled, and professional. We love her "Report Card"; we call it an "Accomplishment Card"!



We really appreciate your care of our Tube of Fur. Thank you.


Much gratitude,
Renee (Tootsie's Mom) & Dachshund Daddy
& Tootsie, too


Monday, June 8, 2015

We Love Oscars Creations - Dachshund Handbags by Cathy

We are so excited about our new travel wallet-purse specially designed and handmade by Cathy Skinner through her Etsy story called Oscars Creations. It is a special order Cathy designed to carry my official Swiss Pet Passport, Mom's passport, and credit cards & cash.

During our international trip last week, it worked beautifully.
Thank you, Cathy.

It was way past time to upgrade from a series of Ziploc baggies Mom had been using as wallets for over seven years!


The design is perfect, so Mom can open it with one hand, which is super imPAWtent when she is using the other arm to manage my travel house (with me inside), keeping me from being bumped by anxious travelers, all while retrieving documents for passport control or to go through security.

We love Cathy's designs. Here's another Handbag by Cathy that Mom owns. Have you noticed all the doxies yet?!


She found this purse through the amazing Dachshund Delights who make the original Hug-a-Dog Harness. I wear the "Hold-a-Dog Harness," which has a handy strap on top -- kind of like a purse!


Cathy also makes a Cross Body Handbag Purse with adorable designs. You can request a special order, like we did, and Cathy will make something just for you.

Please take a look at her fabulous and fun Etsy store, Oscars Creations.

You can also find her on Dachshund Handbags by Cathy on Facebook.

I think Mom is becoming a doxie fashionista!

Love,
Tootsie

Friday, June 5, 2015

Return to Switzerland: Please Send Cawwots

Mom and I are back in Switzerland with Dachshund Daddy! We had a great trip to the United States, our country of origin. Mom did lots of writing events. Thanks to Grandpa for making everything so seamless. Dachshund Daddy loves his homemade banana bread, which Grandpa specially made for him.

Here I am with Grandpa in our gorgeous Idaho woods the day before we caught our flight. Look at the moss! Super soft on my paws.


And here I am all ready to burrow into my bicontinental travel house. Mom says I did awesome in the air! Her seatmates didn't even believe I was there -- all tucked up under the seat in front of Mom. But, oops, I pee'd on Astroturf in the "Small Terrace" roof garden in Amsterdam's Schiphol airport. Sorry! I don't like Astroturf, but I really had to go, and by the way, I think it is terrible that the women soccer players have to play on it instead of real grass during the Women's World Cup in Canada. Another stupid bozo move by those duds who run FIFA.


Dachshund Daddy took us for gelato tonight... across the border in Italy. Well... we all went, but only Mom and Dad were allowed to eat ice cream. And pizza. They had pizza, too!

Would someone send me some cawwots, please? And would someone send Mom and me a cure for jet lag, please? (Nine hour time difference, so for me, breakfast is dinner and dinner is breakfast.)

We miss you, Grandpa!

Love,
Tootsie
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