Nala goes for a run

Posted by Karen Koehler on July 06, 2012

naladeck.jpgWe are running my favorite route.  The sun is shining.  Oh it is so fun to do this.  Love to do this.  Ooh I see you bird.  Wish could jump out of this harness thing She has strapped around me.  It fastens in front.  She thinks it will stop me from pulling her.  Don't know why She thinks that.  But it does feel better than being pulled by the neck.  Am not complaining.  Love being outside.  Even though She runs way too slow.  But am not complaining.

We get to Myrtle Edwards park.  Ooh I see you bird.  This is where the trouble starts.  Ooh that little boy wants to pet me.  She doesn't stop.  Nice try little boy. 

She has treats in her little pocket in the back of her top.  I know the drill.  It's really just a bribe.  I'm not dumb.   If I'm good I get a treat.  If She gets mad, I don't.    Usually this involves other dogs.  Can't help it.  If they ignore me and are far enough away and if I don't feel like instigating anything - then She gives me a treat.  But if they make eye contact with me.  Or make one slight move towards me.  Then forget about it.  I'm going after them.  This means no treat.  Which is a bit of a bummer.  But not enough to make me change my mind.  Ooh a seagull.

Today she is pretty upset with me.  There are too many cheeky dogs who need to be reminded that I am number one.  And then of course, there is the sparrow who is almost close enough for me to grab.  Except that I have to cross right in front of Her.  And She almost trips.  Oops. 

According to Her I have something called ADD.   Ooh a crow.  Nasty fellow.   Not sure what ADD is, but as soon as She's done scolding me - and I repent - well, something else comes along and it is a brand new day.  Like that black bumble bee that is flying right in front of my face. Am going to lunge for it with my snapping teeth.  Darn.  Almost had it.   Would have if She didn't run so slow.  Wonder what it would have tasted like.  Probably yummy like everything else that I eat.  Which is almost everything.  Which reminds me.

I want a drink.  It is coming up. Ooh another seagull.  There is a faucet in the park.  It pours into a bowl.  I'm not too interested in the bowl.  Doggie germs and all that.  Instead, I like to drink the water as it comes out of the faucet.  I'm really thirsty. Ooh a wierd leaf.   About to take a drink.  When out of the corner of my eye I sense something.  One of those labradoodles or cockerpoodles.   Not sure what the name is.  Is blond, big, curly and not on a leash.  No fair.  He's coming toward me. I'm going to lose it. This is going to be so great.  Getting ready to lunge.   Oh rats.  She's caught on and is pulling me away.  No water for me.  No jumping on the Poopydoodle.  No treat either apparently.

We go past the geese.  Papa goose hisses at me.  Ooh.  Would like to teach him a lesson.  Want to go tussle with him.  But She is passing them by.  She glares at me.  I was a little excited. When i get excited I go faster and faster and faster.  Which doesn't make her go faster.  Instead, the leash pulls tighter and tighter around her tummy.  Not my fault.  I was born with a bird fixation.

We are past the train tracks.  I stop to mark my territory.  She isn't impressed.  The glare is back on.  She thinks because I'm a girl, I don't need to do this.  But I am Alpha.  And She needs to accept that.

Now we are at the part where we go up the hill.  I don't have to drag her today.  She's doing good.  Ooh a little bitty sparrow.  If I can just get close enough...nope.  Blast.  We make it to the top of the hill.  Are at the home stretch.  Oh no is that a squirrell.  Yes it is yes it is yes it...sigh.  She's dragging me off again. 

A few more dogs to deal with.  Another patch of grass that deserves my blessing.  And we are approaching my sworn enemy.  The next door neighbor.   A punye white and black short haired terrier.  Thinks hes owns the block.  Approach his gate and he goes bonkers.  Barking and carrying on.  As If he could do something about it.  If this gate weren't here, I would go in there and remind him who the boss really is.  What a pest.

We reach our gate.  She opens it.  We are in the house.  I make a beeline for my dinner and a drink

Photo:  Nala on the deck wearing Cristina's glasses.  Before the run.

All dressed up and nowhere to go

Posted by Karen Koehler on May 29, 2012

nalz.jpgThe clerk sends an email on Thursday.  Our trial starts Monday.  Or it is supposed to.  This case has been scheduled for trial for over a year.  But SNAP!  Just like that.  A criminal case pushes its way past us.  This happens in November.

Fast forward.  We are now set to start the same trial June 4.  After a six month delay.  Everyone is ready to go.  Some of the witnesses have booked flights and hotels.  But wait.  SNAP!  Just like that.  We are bumped again.  By another criminal case.    We are now supposed to start this whole thing over again in October. Supposedly.

Now you may be wondering.  So what.  A little bit of inconvenience.  What's a year in the big scheme of things.  Well, let me tell you what has to be done everytime a very large case gets delayed like this.  In fact - keep this list.  In case this happens to you.

  1. Have melt down holy cow moment
  2. Ask the clerk to ask the court if there's anyway to save the date
  3. Hear that there's no way because criminal settings go first
  4. Talk to the other attorneys and paralegals and assistants for all the parties and whine and try to come up with a solution for the court
  5. Give a solution to the court
  6. Have the solution rejected by the court
  7. Have paralegals stall the witnesses who are getting ready to come to town until there's final confirmation that the date is completely gone
  8. Ask for a hearing with the court to discuss possibilities, probabilities and logistics
  9. Be told by the clerk that the court is in trial and cannot have a hearing for a week
  10. Continue to stall witnesses who have scheduling questions
  11. Read email from the clerk giving possible future court dates
  12. Read emails from defense attorneys saying they cannot do the earlier date, they can only do the later date
  13. Gnash teeth, whine, groan, moan and continue to have holy cow fit
  14. Ask the court why we can't start the trial a week late to accommodate the criminal trial
  15. Be told that another criminal trial is set for the first week of July.  Our trial is too long and would cause the criminal trial to start late (Oh poor them.  Join the crowd).
  16. Realize we are trapped at both ends by criminal trials
  17. Field worried messages from paralegals that witnesses want to know what is happening
  18. Finally tell paralegals to tell witnesses we are being bumped again
  19. Try to have zen calm yoga like moment.  And fail
  20. Eat an entire costco cinnamon roll as a snack
  21. Push papers around on desk
  22. Look at our trial flow chart of all the witnesses we spent weeks scheduling.  It will now have to be completely redone.
  23. Take Nala potty
  24. Call my three girls - Alysha put on yogapalooza at the UW today.
  25. Stew
  26. Have paralegal cancel three weeks worth of hotel reservations (trial is out of the area)
  27. Decide can now go to visit Noelle's new college.  Book last minute flight.
  28. Look at box of three exhibit binders in the corner of my office.  Decide they need to be moved.  Don't move them
  29. Send email to opposing counsel to finish his edits on depositions so we can have the films finalized.  Not that it matters now.
  30. Have lunch with friend Jeff Donchez who reminds me that plaintiff lawyers are "glass is half full kind of people."
  31. Email with friend Pat LePley - book lunch for June 4 which is when we would have been in trial.
  32. Walk past our "war room" filled with our trial exhibits, blow ups, and equipment.  Seethe.
  33. Come to the house to meet Cristina and Noelle.  Move two chairs (they moved them) to my office.  Kiss them goodbye
  34. Give Catherine my other two office chairs.
  35. Take Nala potty.
  36. Commisserate with Anne (my wonderful paralegal)
  37. Buy 5 dark chocolate with almonds candy bars to support Paul Whelan's son's crew team
  38. Meet with John (my other wonderful paralegal) about getting things done on another case
  39. Realize there are two other trials set earlier in October.  I will be log jammed
  40. Hear wierd noise.

Nala is retching.  Grab garbage can to put under her mouth.  This does not go well.  She's running.  I'm chasing her around the office with the garbage can.  Trying to be nice but not wanting bad stuff on the carpet.  Finally corner her.  Substitute her water bowl for the can.  Hold it in front of her face.  She is heaving.  But I'm shocking her at the same time.  Tell her - it's okay.  Keep waiting for the moment.  But just like with the hiccups - I appear to have scared her out of them.  The moment passes.

For both of us.

Photo:  Nala's face says it all.

 

 

The bone

Posted by Karen Koehler on August 22, 2011

DSCN1930.JPGShe's been on quite good behavior.  For Nala.  Probably because she ran and swam at the dog park yesterday and then went on a run with me. 

Meet Alysha at Whole Foods for lunch (salad bar heaven) and pick up a bone for Nala.  It is pre-wrapped but don't want to touch it.  Get little baggy from bulk foods and use that to scoop it up. 

Nala is quite delighted when presented with the tasty morsel.  She starts in on it.  Smells too bone-ish so open the door and put up the little wooden child proof gate to air things out.  Oh.  She is going to town. 

Brad comes over to see what the racket is.  Nala is no longer on good behavior.  She barks and lunges protecting the bone.  Off goes laughing Brad as she gets a scolding.

An hour or so passes.  Bark bark, lunge and she hits the gate which is a shoddy little thing.  It falls down with a bang.  Ron has come to pay me a visit.  What a nice greeting he gets.  She is so loud John comes down the stairs to make sure everything is okay.

Ron says bye.  Nala gets scolded some more.  Which probably does no good.  Need to consult with the dog whisperer one of these days.  Am hopeless dog non-discipliner.

Finally the bone has been chewed to Nala's satisfaction.  And she is passed out waiting for me to leave.