HAPPY HOLIDAYS

It’s been a hell of a year.

We got to see a real live literal dumpster fire! I feel as though that was appropriate for the year’s overall feel. I honestly did not know dumpster fires were a real thing that happened! They are. No one was hurt, so it was only entertaining. Did Russ start the discussion about whether the male firefighters who saved the day were cute? Who can tell when it was so long ago? I can, and YES, yes he did. I believe that we all agreed that he has pretty good taste.

In November of 2022 Russ and I rushed home from Colorado because Joy the Puppy had fallen and hurt her shoulder badly, and the kids needed help caring for her. We thought it was the beginning of the end for Joy. We mourned. She recovered.

We took Joy to Lake Zorinsky. She rallied and lived 6 more months. I love that Joy always did what she wanted. I will always miss her.

New Year’s Day 2023 Blue was admitted to UNMC with a ruptured esophagus secondary to vomiting. They spent four days in the ICU. My previous boss (I know you hate to hear it but…thank you) and Russ’s boss :) let us be off work so we could stay with Blue. We were shaken to the core and so sad to see them so sick. We are so very grateful that they made a full recovery.

Back home with Periwinkle! I’m not saying the bulk of Blue’s healing was not because of the great medical care - it was. But it was also in part thanks to this amazing blanket from Dr. Neubertt.

April 2023 I felt a little bit tired. Then I nosedived.

We planned Periwinkle’s dental work for when I would be at work. Little did we know that this was the beginning of a long, strange summer. Russ dropped her off and picked her up that day. It felt weird to be the “client,” but he reported great customer service! Truly, everyone took wonderful care of our little Pug. 18 extractions!

After three months of being off work and mostly in bed - much of it at Mom and Dad’s house - and after life saving surgery, I recovered fully. I am so grateful to all of you for walking me through such a scary and difficult time.

Dave and the kids got me flowers - twice! I kept rearranging the survivors into smaller vases, and they lasted for weeks!

Meet the MVP of this year’s shit show - Travis Finch! Travis is our nephew who works with Russ. When Blue was sick for 4 days and when I was sick all summer, Travis was there to step in and keep the business running. I felt badly that so much fell on his and Russ’s shoulders, but we could not have made it without them and did not worry a minute knowing all was in good hands. Thank you Travis. You are the best, and I love you and your family so much.

Abby and Oscar. And Grandpa! What a great guy! Mom and Dad took such great care of me when I was sick. The kids visited. Russ did ALL the things for me. He was right by my side the whole time.

Abby has had a rough year too. And has a great guy. And a super cute kitten. Things are better.

Max and Abby with our friend’s beautiful Hound Dog <3

Jesse the Kitten deciding between modeling and a life of crime. You can do anything you put your mind to Jesse!

I had to say goodbye to work friends and clients I love and start over. I miss them terribly.

This photo is in full color because…sunrise! I had to get in early to sneak candy to the candy drawer.

Russ and I attended a Taysia Blue Husky and Malamute Rescue dinner. We had so much fun, and it was wonderful to see Jackie and Mike and the gang again! And now I get to work with all my rescue friends once more!

I love my new job and teammates so much.

In November 2023 I started a new position at Westgate Animal Clinic. It has been so great.

We got two live potted Christmas trees this year that were as beautiful as The Purple Flocked Christmas Trees of Christmases Past. Then one died two days in! Well that’s fun, as they say. The last tree standing is tiny and perfect.

Also full color because…Christmas. Can you find the Christmas Llama? Thank you Joneses! Love you - and our family - so much.

Periwinkle Pug had to have surgery. Doug has gotten all the pretend aftercare that Periwinkle has gotten In Real Life. He takes fear of missing out to a whole new level!

We took out his pretend sutures recently. He did great! Periwinkle too.

Come to think of it, Doug has kinda skated through this year unscathed, as he tends to do. He did get bitten at his very own birthday party at Omaha Dog Bar this past fall. He was having too much fun to notice. If you asked him about the other guy, he would absolutely say they are best friends. That’s what he says about everybody! That party was one of my favorite days with some of my favorite people. Doug agrees. That’s also what he says about every day.

Russ and I went to KC with our friends Cindy and Tae Choi and got to see Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith and Michael Tate (surprise guest!) in concert! I cried the whole time. It’s been a hell of a year. They were happy tears though. Those songs bring up good memories. Of college and meeting Russ and…Christmas…which I suppose was the actual goal of the concert tour. Still. Such a great night. One of my favorite trips with some of our very favorite people.

Last night Periwinkle (who has what we suspect to be idiopathic epilepsy with seizures that are usually few and far between) had two seizures. She doesn’t know - please do not tell her! She is resting under the tree now, as beautiful and content as ever.

We do not have a damn thing wrapped. As I was finishing writing this, Russ broke his favorite Golden Retriever mug and spilled coffee on his feet. (Wet feet are the WORST!) I had to erase “Today is a good day - we have coffee” to write that!

Mom has this photo of the three of us on the fridge! Dave is on the left, I am in the middle and Bill is on the right. We were at Grandma and Grandpa Kunold’s house, as was often the case growing up.

Truly though, today is so good. My brother Bill and his family arrive from Ohio TODAY. My brother Dave is spending his first full day in his and the kids’ new apartment TODAY. And starting today, we get to spend most of this next week at Mom and Dad’s home, my favorite place on earth. The whole Table Rock group from this past summer will be there. And also Cara, so, even better!