RIP Travis Montgomery...3/1/91 to 4/13/06

On Thursday April 13, 2006 I was faced with the decision that no one who loves their pet ever wants to make...the decision to let their pet go when there is nothing more that can be done...the decision to euthanize their faithful friend...

Travis had been having health problems lately that I talked about in previous posts...he had increasing weakness in his back legs and some back pain and muscle atrophy...he was doing good otherwise though...eating, drinking and still dragging us down the street when he would beg to be taken on "walks on the leash."

Last Tuesday I took him on the last walk that we would take together...it was a very long walk that took us down the street past our old house...I am so glad that I took him on this walk, he really enjoyed himself...then on Wednesday my dad & i went to the Sabres game (a great game against Montreal btw)...and on Thursday (my day off) my parents woke me up at 8am b/c they could not pick Travis up, he tried to bite them b/c he seemed painful...so I picked him up and put him in the family room...he seemed ok so I went back to bed...but when I woke up at 11am I found Travis in the kitchen trying to drag himself across the kitchen...his back legs were all folded under him and he could not stand up, even with assistance from me...I fed him some food which he woofed down like always and gave him some water...so I called the clinic...Jeanne talked to me and I said that I was going to bring him in...

it was weird though...it was like Travis waited to show his weakness and pain until everyone was together...it was my day off of work, my mom was off of work b/c she has mouth surgery, my dad was off of work b/c it is school spring break, and my brother was off from school for a short Easter break...also...if my grandma hadn't had a surgery scheduled for this week I probably would have been in Florida, but instead I went to Florida earlier...in March...my brother also hardly ever comes home for weekends or breaks...but he did this time...weird...I truly think that dogs know what is going on and when the right time to do things is and that everything happens for a reason...call me crazy, but i truly believe these things now...

My mom, brother & I went to the clinic with Travis...Jeanne said that she could give him some Buprenex and see how he does...but that there were no gurantees of course...I knew in the back of my mind that when Travis had his surgeries and I have him Buprenex it knocked him on his ass...so I knew that it would not help him walk...he would probably just fall over or fall asleep...so we made a very difficult decision...

Jeanne gave him an injection of Domitor to sedate him since she knows how he can be with injections...I knew that that moment that I made the right decision...Travis normally cries and squirms with injections...and he did nothing when he was given the Domitor, which is a stinging injection :(....she gave us some time with him, during which some of my friends who were working like Holly, Jessica, Gretchen, Rachel, Jayd & MR came in and hugged me and gave their condolences...then my mom said she couldnt watch and my brother and I stayed in as Jeanne gave him the Sleepaway....it was very peaceful...I was actually at a loss for words...I told him to go chase some cats and to find his doggie mom & dad and that I would see him someday....

my mom came back in after he was gone and then my dad also showed up...I cut a few pieces of his hair from his beard as a keepsake and stayed with him for a while...it was strange and kind of surreal...the whole thing is still sinking in...Jayd came in before we left and she stayed with Travis so that he wouldn't be alone after we left...after it was over Jessica had offered to drive Travis to the pet cemetary so that he could be cremated...so she did...I will get his ashes back sometime this week...

I am soooo lucky to have such great friends at work...they really made my day more bearable...I had to go back to work later that day for a meeting and the support of my friends really meant so much to me...we even went to the bar afterwards and hung out...I really needed it after the day that I had...Amber & Sarah even got me a card with a very cute Scottie keychain, Ellen sent me a card and so did Holly...I really couldn't have asked for better friend support on such a difficult day.

I am taking things day by day...I miss my Travis terribly (aka: Wiggy, Fuzzy Man, Furry Boy, Iggy, Wiggle, Twiggle, Eeyore, Three Claw, Bony Man, Bony Critter...and the list can go on and on...he had MANY nicknames)...he was my child...and he will never be replaced...I will get another dog, most likely a Scottie, when the time is right...and I trust that I will know when that is and which dog to choose...after all...everything happens for a reason...

the last picture ever taken of my travis :...(

bachelorette party...

so yeah i know this post is kind of delayed, but pam's bachelorette party on april 1st was a blast. we started out at cecilia's and then ended up at coles at the end of the night. it was a mix of canisius girls and pam's med school friends, but everyone had a great time! the martinis at cecilia's were awesome! i had a number of different martinis which i can't remember the names of one was tropical and had malibu coconut rum in it...yum, another had chambourd (a raspberry liquor) and another had kaluha and coffee flavors...i could have sampled them all.

i will definately go back there in the near future! i also saw "Little Shop of Horrors" at Shea's with Jeanne a few weeks ago. we were talking oe day at work and she asked if i wanted to go and of course i said yes b/c i was OBSESSED with that movie when I was a kid...i used to watch it over & over when it used to be on HBO...lol...anyway the musical was wonderful...it's funny that after all these years i still knew all of the words to the songs!! i am going to see "Movin' Out," this week, which is the musical based on the music of BILLY JOEL...I <3 his stuff so I am sooooo excited...I hope that it's good!!

that is all of the happy news for now...

pam, her med school girls and i at coles

pam sampling tina's martini

the canisius girls @ cecilia's: maggie, kim, pam, stephanie & me!

i hope the scalpel is sharp...

so i'm going under the knife on may 4th to get rid of my damn plica...wish me luck...i'm scared...

pick me, choose me, love me...

so i read somewhere that the first letter of your first name is a clue into your love life...mine is pretty accurate:

-C-
You are a very social individual; you must be able to talk to your sex partner before. You want the object of your affectionto be socially acceptable and good looking. You see your lover as a friend and companion. You are very sexual and sensual, needing someone to appreciate and almost worship you. When this cannot be achieved, you have the ability to go for long periods without sexual activity. You are an expert at controlling your desires and doing without.