Four More Paws in Heaven

R.I.P. Montana.

Trips to Ireland for my family have brought sad tidings. Last time they came back to Ireland we had to put Kiowa down. This time we had to put Montana down. Lung Cancer.

This picture is one of my favorite memories of her. I don't remember exactly how she ended up with the underwear stuck in her collar, but I do remember her running around for about 15 minutes trying to get it unstuck.

Many days have come and gone.
Running 'round the fresh cut lawn.
But all we can now is look back
Remember paws go clickity clack
On the tile or hardwood floors.
Knowing those days will be no more.
Because there are four more paws in heaven.

Goodbye Montana, we'll miss you.

R.I.P. Kiowa

All dogs go to heaven and today, Kiowa joined their ranks. It was his last day on earth. Beth took him to the vet to put him to rest earlier today. He was a good dog.

In the end, arthritis in his back kept him in constant pain and hardly able to stand. We made the decision to put him to sleep, hoping that his suffering in this world would end.

We knew that it was getting close to the end for Kiowa. With my constant traveling, I was hoping that he'd make it through to my next trip home. We couldn't put it off any longer though.

I wish I could have said my last goodbyes. I wish I could have been there to see him through it.

Instead I'm raising a glass from half a world away to remember the dog who loved snow so much that you'd find it piled an inch thick on top of him; the dog who knew that my father always had one more treat in his pocket, the dog who loved attention and was a gentle giant; the dog who was my companion and friend.

Goodbye, Kiowa Snowbear Secora.

Rest In Peace.

Project Team Mascots

Last night my the Global VP of HR took our project team out to dinner at the local Chinese Restaurant - Mandalay. It's got good food, but is very overpriced. Luckily, I was not paying. It also happens to be the only decent restaurant around. There's an Italian joint around the corner, but I've been warned more than once not to go there.

Anyway, back to the Mandalay. We had the usual table discussion: War, Politics, Tiger Woods, Family, Pets, etc. However, near the end of the meal, the VP made the suggestion that we should liven up the conference room that we are using at the hotel. Then she went on to suggest that we should do something funny to it. Of course I was ready to oblige with a few jibes at the Project Management Office's deadline bullying. But it seemed like an odd suggestion to get from a Global VP.

Anyhow, a course of action was sorted and one of my project team members now has the task of creating a mascot for the HR subteam. His puppy (a Jack Russell Terrier) and another team member's dog (a Miniature Jack Russell Terrier) will be pictured and posted on our door with the saying "My dog ate my documentation."

Not exactly clever, but the VP liked it, so it's happening.