All Pinked Out

Hello

I don’t know if you have been wondering where I have been, or what I have been doing, but I know I have.  My memory seems to have some kind of faulty wiring.

My latest update starts on  March 3rd when we went through US customs at the Calgary Airport. Not one of the humoursless agents asked me to clarify if  I was indeed half of  the famous smuggling team (which started in the late 50’s) of Christine The Cocker Spaniel and Poodela. No, all they wanted to know was if I had any artificial body parts. When I looked a bit stunned they proceeded to explain hips, knees, etc. When  I told them no, but that I was missing part of a body part, and to guess which part it was, and then no one laughed. After that comment, when they or rather he, looked at my passport he gave me the good news.  My birthday next year  will change my status to shoes on, not off, when going through customs in the airport. Something to live for. Throw out those slip ons.

Our intention/plan was to stay in California for the month of March, but the world changed and we had to hustle ourselves out of there before our travel medical insurance was going to be cancelled on March 23rd. I recall we received the email from the carrier telling us of this around the 15th of March. Westjet advised passengers not to attempt to change their bookings on-line, not to come to the airport and disrupt service, but to call. My Telus service was not working in the desert and even if I could get a dial tone, it was my understanding that the wait time on hold would be up to 9 hours to reach an agent. Whats a Poodle to do ? Well….when we flew to Palm Springs Senor’s suitcase arrived missing one of its wheelies. We did not stop to take care of the damage problem at the time.  For some reason , even though we purchased a new suitcase in San Diego, I held on to the broken one(good for storing snacks). There was nothing on the Westjet website which indicated that you cannot bring your broken suitcase to the airport to seek compensation for damage! So, off we went on the Sunday to the PS Airport, and after the claim was filed for the broken suitcase( which we cheerfully left with the ticket agent) I inquired if  help was available for a poor old poodle to change her flight home. Yes they did ! and we came home on the Friday. That suitcase and my penchant for holding on to things for reasons that I will never understand, saved our Canadian Bacon. We did have to endure 4 days in Palm Springs with no restaurants(a few places provided take out), no food in the grocery stores(not even cereal or dog biscuits),most retail stores closed, and all events cancelled where we were staying.  When we returned to Vancouver and were in the airport Senor fell coming off the walking sidewalk and there was lots of blood coming out of one leg (of course he still had the other three) , and he had a very sore rib . I must tell you that he covers a lot of space when splayed out on a floor.  We needed band aids and ice, and when we were escorted(we got to ride in the golf cart!) onto the connecting 15 minute flight to Victoria, Senor and the pilot had a stare down/chat about a bleeding standard poodle with a bag of ice staying on a flight…It was something to behold, but Senor remained on the plane and we arrived home to our new reality in a house that had no food.

So we entered into self isolation. “Yes, Senor, that means no going to Costco to get diet Pepsi” squeaked Poodela, then murmured, then shouted. Our kind neighbours, past and present helped us replenish our supplies.

One of the many things which I never noticed or thought about before the virus, was that I, Poodela aka Tiger Queen, is a member of an  endangered species. I am also an elder, a senior, a baby boomer who ruined the environment and should not receive medical attention, an older person to be cherished and given the opportunity to get up at 6:00am for the seniors shopping hour at Costco. I like the idea of seniors happy hours at 3ish but those type of activities seem to be on hold for now. Social distancing they call it. Being pretty well confined to my kennel 24/7 with Senor  is what I call it.

The look in this picture is a Covid no makeup presentation topped off with a hairband which my friend Brenda The Bichon sent me to brighten my day.  We have been watching Tiger King. You see, on day 15 of self isolation our dishwasher sprung a leak and damaged most of our hardwood floors. For days the restoration company had a dehumidifier in here and it had to be a dogs equivalent of waterboarding.There is the insurance deductible, and a new dishwasher yada, yada, yada.That drama is still unfolding as we speak.

PS – I am wearing pants in the picture and a tiger print camisole  under my t-shirt.