¡Mi Casa no es Su Baño!

Bailey is in remedial housetraining mode. Since he's an intact male, he developed the marking habit when doggy puberty kicked in. Before that, he was totally reliable in the house. Since, he has shown that he can't be trusted - he sneaks into the bedrooms (where there is carpet on the floors) and marks the corners of furniture.

I have been using a belly band with a medium-sized incontinence pad on him to keep from having to clean constantly. But lately, he sees it as his portable potty - he no longer asks to go out to relieve himself, but just fills the pads up. That's not marking!

So now I have removed the belly band (except at night, because I can't watch him while I'm asleep, of course) and restricted his access to most of the house - especially the carpeted areas. At times, I even keep him leashed & attached to me, so he can't get out of my sight. I really hope I can get him to understand that the inside is a 100% No-Pee Zone, not even in spirit!

Cue The Clash...

If I still lived on my own, I grant you that I'd still have to fix myself meals, clean up after myself, take care of the dog, etc, even with a fever, headache, sore throat, congestion, etc. BUT...at least there wouldn't be another human being hanging around, waiting to leech off my efforts, adding to the messes, etc.

Yes, this is just a variation on the common theme of "why it sucks to be treated like the hired help AND have to pay for the 'privilege.'" Just puttin' it down in writing because I conveniently forget the bad stuff when thinking about leaving. No, now is not the time. But it could be coming in 2010.

The usual

Been another long while since I blogged. I decided I would like to say things without putting them on Facebook, where they intrude on my friends' pages. If you are my friend and want to read my daily minutiae, here's the place to come.

For instance, I came down with a raging case of bronchitis the day after Christmas. Still suffering, but at least the body aches are gone. I'm doing everything I know that is supposed to help: getting lots of Vitamins D & C, flushing my nasal passages and gargling with warm salt water, drinking lots of herbal tea and water, avoiding alcohol (gasp!), sleeping and resting a lot, etc. Judging from the expectorations, though, it's not going to be over soon.

I've been hoping to get a call to interview for a job that I applied for a little while back, that sent me a reply stating I met their criteria and would be in the running. Now would be a really bad time for an interview, though. I hope they wait until after the first. At least by then, I should be upright and ambulatory.

There are a lot of things on my mind regarding what to do about my future. I feel unable to make a decision right now, though, and I think that means it's not time to do so yet. But I have conflicting thoughts on the matter on a daily basis. Sometimes, I just wait for something to happen that makes up my mind for me, because whenever I take action on my own initiative, it all goes to shit.