This story is pretty embarrassing, and it takes a lot to embarrass me. I’m always the first person to make a goofball of myself or laugh at myself when I do something “stupid.” Especially working on live television, I’ve learned to “just go with it.”

I wasn’t sure I would share this, but one of the points of this blog is to share my adventures with Cubbie. So, here goes.

Since I’m dressed up almost everyday for work, the first thing I do when I get home is put on some comfy clothes (sweat pants and a sweatshirt). Most of my dress clothes aren’t in my main bedroom where I sleep but in the spare room. I’ll admit, I’ve been pretty lazy this week about cleaning up. I’m sure you’ve been there. It starts with leaving one article of clothing on the ground and before you know it the floor is covered.

The other day I came home from work, got Cubbie out of my room and then went into the spare room to change. Well, Cubbie is ready to play when I get home. Since apparently he thought I wasn’t moving fast enough, he decided to grab one of my bras from the floor and run with it. I yelled, “Hey!” All that did was reinforce play time! I knew he needed to go out so I offered, “Let’s go outside!” I assumed he’d drop the bra and run to the door. He did the second part of this, but not the first part. He was sitting at the door, waiting to go out, with my bra still in his mouth. I said, “There is no way you are taking that outside with you!” He looked at me, looked at the door and then dropped it. I quickly grabbed it before opening the door so he couldn’t sneakily grab it again on his way out!

That was a close call! I didn’t need my neighbors seeing that OR Cubbie trying to bury it in the snow! Sometimes I just have to say he’s a typical boy. haha!

Posted under Cubbie stories

The puppies are in a great foster home! Thanks for your help.

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The Cedar Bend Humane Society in Waterloo needs someone willing to foster ASAP!

The shelter has a mom and her four puppies. The pups are only three weeks old. We need someone willing to take mom and the pups until they are seven weeks old.

If you have the space and are able… please email or call me at work as soon as possible. My work phone is 319-240-3047. The dogs are all right for tonight, but it would be great to have something set up for tomorrow (Saturday).

You would need to fill out a paper to foster, but all the food and everything else will be provided by the humane society.

As a last resort, I will take them. But because of Cubbie, they would need to stay in my basement in a pen, and it’s cold down there! I’d prefer they be more comfortable.

Thanks for your help!

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Ava forwarded me another email. It’s definitely a tear jerker.

—————————————
 
 It is not known who replied, but there is a beautiful soul working in the dead letter office of the US Postal Service.

Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4-year-old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:
 
 Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith
 
We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.
 
Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, ‘To Meredith’ in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, ‘When a Pet Dies’. Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey &Meredith and this note:
 
Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away. Abbey isn’t sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don’t need our bodies in heaven, I don’t have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by. Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I’m easy to find, I am wherever there is love.
 
 Love,
 God

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Not every morning is a good morning. Many times I don’t want to get out of bed because I’m tired or cold. I hate waking up to the sound of my buzzing alarm clock. Usually Cubbie doesn’t want to cooperate in the mornings. He either wakes me up way early to go out, or he doesn’t want to go out before I have to go to work. Then of course, there’s his crawling under the bed to avoid going downstairs.

Mondays are typically rough for me because I had to get up early all weekend, and my body is craving more sleep!

This morning, though, was a good morning. I set my alarm for 7:45 a.m. on Mondays. Today, I woke up on my own around 7:15. Sometimes I’d be thinking I need that extra half hour! But it’s nice to wake up on your own and feel awake as opposed to getting taken out of my dreams by my loud alarm clock.

Cubbie was curled up at the bottom of the bed, but when he saw me open my eyes, he immediately crawled up right next and put his head on my chest. I pet him, and we both curled up together until I was “supposed” to get up and start getting ready. That was the greatest half hour, just relaxing with my dog. It would be great to start every morning that way!

I guess it reminds me I need to find at least 30 minutes everyday just to cuddle up with Cubbie. It’s good for both of us.

Posted under Cubbie stories

I got another deer and pet email. This time from Karen. Take a look at these pictures!

The email said, “A cat in Harrisburg has a special friend that visits every day. The owner finally took pictures.”

Posted under In the News

Sometimes you just have to let dogs play, and for Cubbie, that means ripping stuff up.

Both of us are getting cabin fever. We both would prefer to take more walks, but the weather just doesn’t always cooperate. So, Cubbie has a lot of extra energy.

When I got home from work he was ready to play. Apparently, he couldn’t wait long enough for me to put on sweats because he grabbed my Merry Christmas wrapping paper (which was rolled up nicely and stashed in the corner of the spare bedroom) and began unraveling it and ripping it up. At first I said, “Hey!” But he was running and running and ripping and ripping, so instead I just got out the camera. I guess I won’t be saving that paper for next Christmas!

Once Cub successfully unraveled the paper, he went back into the bedroom for a plastic sack I was using to store some clothes I want to take to a charity. As soon as he ripped a giant hole in the sack, there was no use stopping him. He ripped, tossed the part he’d just torn to the side and ripped again. (Thankfully he doesn’t eat it, he just likes to destroy it).

It must have been exhausting because now he’s on the couch snoring.

Posted under Cubbie stories

Ava sent this email to me. It’s one of the oddest, yet sweetest things I’ve ever seen!

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WATCH THAT DOGGY DOOR

Could you imagine coming home from work to find this tiny creature napping on your
couch with your dog?

Guess who came home for dinner?

It followed this beagle home, right through the doggy door.  This happened in Maryland
recently.  The owner came home to find the visitor had made himself right at home.

Ava asked me what I thought Cubbie would do. Honestly, I think Cubbie would let the fawn in, they would play and then also fall asleep. Cubbie might even share some of his food! I think he would do anything for a playmate.

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I realized I may win a small battle here and there, but in the end, Cubbie always wins the war.

Most of it is my fault. I’ve spoiled him so much, he’s used to getting his way. But, at the end of the day, I wouldn’t want it any other way.

This morning I was getting ready for work, and Cubbie was under the covers sleeping. (He had gone outside about 45 minutes prior to that). I thought to myself, “Perfect! I will finish getting ready and then grab him while he’s still asleep to take him downstairs.”

Seriously, Cubbie must have some weird sense about exactly when I’m going to take him downstairs. Not even 30 seconds before I was ready to grab him, I hear his collar jingle. I thought, “Oh no! I’ve missed my chance.” Sure enough, Cubbie jumps off the bed and I see him just barely peek his head out into the hallway. He sees me and turns right back around. I try to coax him into the hallway with a treat, but he’s not having it. He darts under the bed. I’m already running a few minutes late so I don’t have time to force him out.

I shut the bedroom door and head to work. Point Cubbie. I think the score is about 1,000 to 2 in favor of Cubbie.

Posted under Cubbie stories

It’s been a rough couple of days.

I left for Des Moines Monday morning to cover the opening day of the Iowa Legislature and Governor Culver’s Condition of the State Address Tuesday.

On Monday, Matt (my photographer) and I left around 7 a.m. for Des Moines, and my dad came to my house to pick up Cubbie around 9 a.m. It’s so nice having my parents around when I do need to leave town so I know Cubbie is in good hands.

The day was very busy in Des Moines. The legislature convened at 10 a.m. and then I had two live hits at Noon, plus lots of interviews with local legislators and more live hits at 5 and 6 p.m. By 6:30, we were hungry and tired, but it was a productive day.

We ate with two former KWWL employees who now work at WHO Channel 13 in Des Moines (Randy Schumacher and Jimmy Vowel–both were photogs). It was great catching up! We ate at Quiznos. I was very hungry and very cold. I got a sandwich and some soup. After dinner, Matt and I went to the hotel. I went to my room and got everything ready for Tuesday, knowing it would be another busy day with the Governor’s speech.

Around 3 a.m. I woke up extremely dizzy and in a ton of pain. I was stuck to the floor of the bathroom from 3 to about 8 a.m. Not to be too disgusting, I’ve never thrown up so many times in my life, and I can’t ever remember being this sick. I called my mom in the middle of the night. Both of us believe I had food poisoning. Luckily, no one else ate what I did. I think around 6 a.m. I tried calling my boss. I just remember thinking there’s no way I can go hear the speech. I felt horrible not being able to cover the story, but I could hardly move, my body was shaking uncontrollably.

We worked it out for our sister station in Sioux City to do a Noon live hit on the speech in my place, but they still needed our satellite truck. Matt and I stayed at the hotel as long as possible for my sake, then we headed to the capitol around 11 to get set up for the Noon hit. (Well, Matt set up, I sat in the truck). I have to give much thanks to Matt. He carried all of my luggage for me, got ice chips for me and was really patient when I had to sit down a couple times on the way out of the hotel. I also owe Matt Breen with KTIV a huge favor. I can’t thank him enough for taking care of my live shot for me on Tuesday. After the live shot, they loaded the truck back up and we headed back to Waterloo. On the drive back I asked my friend Michelle to drop off some 7UP at my house.

The two hour drive back was horrible. My stomach felt better with my legs curled up, but I couldn’t get comfortable in the seat of the satellite truck. I was in so much pain. My entire body ached. I think partially from being so dehydrated and partially from shaking so badly the night before every muscle in my body was sore. After almost needing to pull over a couple times, we made it back, and I made it home. I remember crawling into bed, my mom calling and then I was out until my mom called again later that night. At that point my legs hurt so badly. I couldn’t find any comfortable position without throbbing pain. Thankfully, some co-workers (Nate and Maria) brought me some Gatorade because my mom thought if I got electrolytes my legs would feel better. I sipped the Gatorade as slowly as possible for fear of what might happen. After more than an hour I started to feel a little less pain.

I tried to get out of bed a couple times, I wanted to shower, but I couldn’t. Getting up made me want to throw up or pass out. I fell asleep around 10 p.m. and woke up at 10 a.m. Wednesday morning. I didn’t check my work email at all on Tuesday, and I was waiting to hear back from a couple people on stories. I did feel better, but not great. I checked my email, got a few things squared away and then went back to bed and slept until 5 p.m. when my mom called to say she and my brother were on their way down.

I still felt pretty bad Wednesday night, but much better than Tuesday. I was ready to have my little Cubbie home. During the time I was at my worst, part of me really wanted Cubbie there because I knew just having him next to me would make me feel better, but at the same time, it was probably best he was at my parent’s. I was in no condition to get up and let him out or make sure he had plenty of food and water. It was better for him to stay an extra day with Grammy and Grampy. Plus, my youngest brother is still on break from college, so he was home and took Cubbie on walks.

A little at 6 Wednesday evening, Cubbie was home! I was so happy to see him. He jumped right up on my lap, and gave me lots of kisses. Despite still feeling sick, just knowing he was glad to be home made me feel so much better. My mom basically said I looked awful (thanks Mom), and then she and brother ran a few errands for me (or my mom shopping for what she thought I needed).

Cubbie and I were both tired Wednesday night. Neither of us woke up before 10 Thursday morning. I woke up a little queasy. I still haven’t eaten anything but a few saltines since Monday, but it’s definitely better. Maybe by this evening I’ll be up for a little soup. Cubbie is a little cuddle bug right now, and my best medicine.

Posted under Cubbie stories