How Often Do You Go To the Groomers?

Kingsley before...

 JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Yesterday, my Shih Tzu Kingsley went to the groomers. One of the facts of life about having certain breeds is the standing date with the groomer, who will take in your pup looking like a Victorian street urchin and return him ready for the Westminster Kennel Club show.

 

Kingsley needs this service more often than Rocky, as the former seems determined to shed (no pun intended) the Shih Tzu's history of pampered imperial pet for something more akin to one of Jack London's wilderness dogs. Kingsley comes back from foraging around my three acres with a staggering amount of twigs, leaves, and most damnably, burrs embedded in his coat. This wouldn't be TOO awful if he, like Rocky, would sit obediently while I pick out everything (usually while cuddling on the sofa.) No, burr removal is an activity up with which Kingsley will not put! 

 

...and after.

Therefore, he needs more frequent grooming, and has a different result than his more biddable pal. Rocky runs out shiny and fluffed, neatly trimmed and very photogenic. Kingsley comes out shaved, like fresh meat entering maximum security. (I could also use the metaphor of a new recruit at boot camp, but Kingsley's personality is much more "commit crimes" than "serve country."

 

All this has me thinking about my own grooming, i.e., visiting the salon. Dear readers, will you be shocked when I tell you I can't recall the last time I went? My regular gal left the state during Covid, and I just started to... let it grow. I've trimmed off the ends myself a few times, but since I've gone with my natural color and I wear it up in a bun or a twist, I don't see the need. I admit, I do miss the luxury of leaning back and having someone else shampoo my hair, and I occasionally look at others' shiny, keratin-treated locks, but, eh. Not enough to fine someone new.

 

How often do you go to the groomers? 

Too bad hair salons don't give us theme bandanas.

Gratitude for a Busy Busy Week

 JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: It's been a whirlwind of a week for me, what with my travel and Virginia's travel and other stuff, so I thought it would be good to start into the weekend with a little round of gratitude journaling. If you've been with us for a few years, you'll know all of the Reds, in one form or another, make it a habit to be mindful of the things we're grateful for - the little stuff like homemade chocolate chip cookies and big things like bestselling books and globetrotting travel.

So what am I grateful for this week? Several things, many of them linked like a chain of happiness.

 

I got a good bill of health from my dentist! I'm old enough to have friends who are dealing with implants and bridges and the dreaded periodontal disease, so Dr. Feinberg (who is about 25 years old and much, much nicer than Dr. Del Debbio) admire my teeth feels like a big win.

Natural-colored teeth look weird!

I'm thankful Virginia and the $15,000 Cat are safe and sound in The Hague. Despite some suggestions on my part, the cat is not being charged with crimes against humanity. We had a lovely 24 hours between me arriving back in Portland and leaving Virginia at the international terminal at Logan. And now she had best successfully finish her grad degree and stay in Europe, because I never want to deal with that cat again. 

 

Going through Dutch customs, zonked on Gabapetine

Our trip to Boston was courtesy of our own Celia Wakefield, who loaned me her extremely comfy RAV4 because my own vehicle had a broken exhaust pipe, nearly bald tires, rusted-through rockers (I don't know what they are but it doesn't sound good) and various other ailments. Also, way overdue on inspection and should have been registered in February! Celia, thank you for keeping me out of the clutches of the Massachusetts State Police.

 

However, I no longer have to worry about that, because yesterday, I picked up my new (to me) Honda Accord EX-L! Yes, my previous car, also a Honda EX-L, went to a nice farm upstate, where she will have a happy retirement frolicking in the fields with other good cars.

Like a lot of New Englanders, I drive my cars into the dirt, and in the last few years, you get so used to the wipers that only work at one speed or the door you have to jiggle to open that having a new(er) vehicle with NO PROBLEMS feels like winning some sort of luxury cruise.

It's dark blue with toasty beige seats - very snazzy!

 

On a serious note, I'm very aware of how privileged I am to have good dental and health insurance, and the funds to pay for vet bills and airline tickets and cars. (And when I'm temporarily out of pocket, I have good friends and supportive family to help me out.) There are so many people in this country who have to worry about the one big bill that might wipe them out. 

 

Finally: Shih Tzus. No further explanation needed.

 How about you, dear readers? What are you grateful for?