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[Lindsey]

Yup, that's how I'm feeling.

This year, the World Junior Hockey Championships are being held in my city. My dad is such a big hockey fan. He has played his whole life, taught my brother to play, coached and managed my brother's team in our small town, and watches it religiously on tv. At Christmas time, he watches every single game of the World Juniors. Previously, they were only selling complete game packages for over $1000 per seat. This morning they announced that they are now releasing 5-game ticket packages for $200 per seat, and I got the presale code in my inbox! After looking at the packages I called my brother and we decided that for my dad's Christmas present, we'd get him two seats to 5 games the week after Christmas, including the always anticipated Canada-USA game on New Years Eve! Aren't I just the best daughter ever???

It took me a half hour at work trying to get tickets through the website, another 10 minutes at home, and about 10 calls to the busy phone line. I finally got through and got the tickets.

But while I was trying to get the tickets, I also had a Layla catastrophe on my hands! I could hear her yelping from the stairwell in my building, and when I finally got in my condo it was deafening. She had chewed right through her baby gate and there were wood shavings and blood everywhere. I took the gates down, checked her over to make sure she was okay and not bleeding anymore, and put her straight outside on the deck. She kept yelping out there. I just cried a little. This was when I was still trying to get the tickets.

After I composed myself I let her in and she walked around like nothing was wrong. I was so stressed my whole body felt like jello!

Tonight I have to go across town to look at some second-hand kitchen cabinets that someone is selling for cheap (they are renovating) and I really need to change mine in the kitchen (they smell so bad, it's hard to even drink water out of a glass that's been sitting in there). I think I can paint them and make them look okay. But it's just more money and more stress at the moment.

This weekend is Thanksgiving up here and I am really looking forward to the week being over so I can go home and visit with my parents and relax.

Right now I'm sitting at work with NOTHING to do and I just know Layla is at home, yelping, and trying to get out of the other giant gate I put up.

[gja1000]

Oh Lindsay! You had a schizophrenic day - one part was GREAT the other part HORRIBLE! I know you felt so bad for Layla - but I read about the deoderant on FB, so maybe that will do the trick.

Let me tell you a story. We had a Jack Russell terrier. We kept him in a kennel while we were gone, because he tried to destroy everything in the house while unattended. One day I came home and the neighbor met me outside. He said that my dog had been crying all day! I ran inside and Jack (yes, his name was Jack) had gotten two bottom teeth wedged between the wires on the kennel door, and he couldn't get them out. So, he was standing up all day with his teeth stuck in the door. I nearly died. It was very hard to get them out, but I had so much adrenalin going that I was able to bend out the wires. I felt so bad, but it wasn't my fault and it wasn't anything I could have predicted.

So, you couldn't have predicted that Layla would chew through the gate, you were trying to keep everything in the house safe and protected. Things like this happen, and we just have to try to get through them.

I bet the deoderant trick will work! I put ground chili pepper in places that I don't want critters to go. I've put vaseline on things and then sprinkled chili pepper onto the vaseline. It works pretty well!

Good luck!

[Blueyes]

Just try to think about how happy your dad will be

[DianaB]

You had mentioned on FB about this but I didn't realize that it was so bad. Sorry. I know that I've told you before that I have Jazzi tied out in the kitchen. She can get around both sides of the bar and not get on the carpet. I keep either a soft blanket or her kennel and lots of toys where she can reach them. I worried about her chewing on the cabinets but I put deodorant on the corners and I haven't had any problems. I haven't had any problems with her pottying here either. If you want I can get some pictures for you.

[Lindsey]

Diana, I have looked at doing that with Layla as well, but the only place I'd be able to attach her leash would be to the table leg, and I'd have to take all of the chairs away or she'd get tangled, and it's only a couple of feet to the carpet from there anyway. On top of that, if she DID get rowdy trying to get out of her leash or harness, I have a kind of unsturdy shelf in the corner full of martini and wine glasses. But if I had a bigger kitchen I think it would work well!

Wow Gayle that's my biggest fear that I'm going to come home and Layla will be stuck from trying to get out!

When I got home after work yesterday, Layla wasn't crying at all, just wagging her tail at me from behind the big gate. Oh did she ever get a lot of praise! After I opened the gate she had no problem going in and out of the room. When I left last night for an hour I put her back in and she was fine. This morning she was crying and barking when I left, but we'll see how she is by noon. I hope she doesn't continue all morning.

Unfortunately, those kitchen cabinets I looked at will not fit in my kitchen. I think I'm just going to save my money and buy new cabinets. It will look better anyway, and push up the resale value of my condo.

When I got home last night I had a bubble bath and a glass of wine It was a good end to the day

And for some more bad news.... I hate being a girl in a guy's field of work. That job I applied for, I was very qualified for. They were looking for a drafter using the same program I have used for 3 years. I have three years of experience, plus I've taken 2 courses on the program. Scott has less than one year experience and hasn't gone to any courses. Scott got an interview. I was pretty sure I'd be almost a shoe-in for the job, and 100% certain I'd at least get the interview. I got an email this morning saying they've decided to persue other candidates Without an interview or anything! But the silver lining is I'll get a 2 week holiday for Christmas and my holiday in February. I'll also get a raise in January and hopefully a bonus. So I guess it's not ALL bad. I'm rooting for Scott to get the job now.

[Lindsey]

Originally Posted by Blueyes

Just try to think about how happy your dad will be

I am so excited to see him get the tickets on Christmas day. I almost spilled last night when I was talking to him on the phone lol. I'll have to try really hard to keep it a secret for another 2 months!

[DianaB]

I totally overlooked the fact that you bought tickets for your Dad. I'm sure he'll be over joyed!! What a wonderful and thoughtful gift!!!

Sorry that the idea of tying Lyla out in the house won't work because it works so well for me but it sounds like she's doing much better with being left alone. I hope that she continues to do well. Yorkies can be such stinkers to contain. I used to tell Reuger that I should have named him Houdini!!

That's just awful about the job!!! It sounds like you're more than qualified for this job. I hope that your job makes up for it with the raise and vacation time. Hugs!!

[Lindsey]

Scott and I call Layla our little Houdini!

I came across another job ad this morning for the city. As a city employee, I'd be part of a union. The benefits are great too. However, the pay scale is noted and the maximum salary is what I'm making now So maybe it's best that I just stay put. But I'm not working these long nights anymore. I looked up the labor laws for my province and it is illegal for them to have me working so many hours. In a 24 hour period, it's the law that every worker needs 8 hours of consecutive rest time. That means if I start work at 8 am, I can't work past midnight. I will bring that to my boss's attention.

[judy]

The good thing about the government job might be a pension, if they give a decent amount. Thats how I am living now, and it has more than paid off. Teachers were highly underpaid, but could retire on a reasonable amount of money.

Anyway, the job you end up in will be the exact right one for you.

Excellent Christmas present for Dad!!!

Max was also a Houdini. I finally put him in the bathroom with a huge, heavy gate. Gracie was in there too when I got her. They couldn't get out and a bathroom is good because it's pretty much all smooth surfaces, with nowhere to get stuck or caught on.

[Lindsey]

Judy, I also have a pension plan with my workplace now, and the company matches my contributions. The benefits tend to be better though with either a city or provincial job. Right now I have dental and 80% of prescription medications, plus travel insurance, but no eye care. With most government jobs, eye care is also included.

The gate my grandma brought over on the weekend seems to be doing its job so far! Her husband used it to contain his old beagle back in the day. It's huge in my place and I'll get Scott to cut it down when he's home, and I'll paint it too. It has wooden slats all the way up, but the spaces between are about 2 inches wide so Layla has a better view of the outside world lol. She can't climb up it, can't jump over it, and can't knock it over. It's wonderful!

[gja1000]

Originally Posted by Lindsey

Judy, I also have a pension plan with my workplace now, and the company matches my contributions. The benefits tend to be better though with either a city or provincial job. Right now I have dental and 80% of prescription medications, plus travel insurance, but no eye care. With most government jobs, eye care is also included.

One thing to consider is that the private company you are working for now could go bankrupt, be sold, or do away with their pension plan, and you might lose your pension. With the City, you might be making less money, but it is unlikely that you would lose your pension. I'm not necessarily advocating for the City job, just pointing out some benefits to it.

[Lindsey]

That's true Gayle. Something else to think about!