Meet my enemy, waiting for me around every corner, tempting me:
The King Size Drumstick available at my neighborhood 7-11. He tempted me today as I sat here on my sofa like a slug…I could hear his voice calling to me. He used a clever ruse. He knew I had absolutely no exercise today and whispered in my ear that the several-city-blocks-long walk to 7 -11 would be good for me. Then he said that while I was there I could get money from the ATM so that I could get more quarters from the bank tomorrow for my laundry. Oh, and I could get an A & W Root Beer.
I gave in. There are now 2 of these in my freezer. These may be the reason I have not lost weight here in San Diego even though I am walking most every day. But they’re so good.
Now I want you to meet my new neighbor, Ralphie:
Look at that face. Look at those eyes. My next door neighbor here at the apartments is my husband’s friend of many, many years Adrian. He is part of the acting company this summer. Adrian lives in Los Angeles and is wonderful with dogs. He has been part of a program where dogs that really need training and rehabilitation live with foster parents for a while so that they can eventually be eligible for adoption.
Ralphie is ten years old and for most of his life he was ignored, isolated and had no social skills at all. He didn’t know what it felt like to be loved. Adrian took him in and rehabilitated him but when he proved to be a little difficult the agency wanted to put him down. My friend would have none of it. He knows it takes time to try to erase ten years of neglect. So he adopted him.
I must tell you he is the sweetest boy. He laps up any and all attention. It is as if he is making up for the past ten years. When I’m in my apartment with the door open and the screen door closed, he comes and stands there…staring. He wants to play. Today he had a tour of my apartment. I’m crazy about him.
I tell you it makes my blood boil when I hear what is done to innocent animals. I don’t understand doing that to an animal who only wants to love and be loved. Ralphie’s story reminds me of my Riley’s story. Although Riley was much younger when we adopted him, he suffered the same neglect and has issues because of it. I call him our boy with special needs. Riley, like Ralphie, just wants to be loved. And we do love him.
Thank goodness Ralphie found his loving home.
Claudia honey, I hate to tell ya, chick, but he’s lookin’ at the Drumstick with all the intensity we can muster! ;-)
xoxo,
Connie
I meant HE could muster. Sheeeeesh….
C
He’s so handsome! I believe with my whole heart and soul that rescued animals love and appreciate us. They make the best pets of all.
That Ralphie is sweet. People who hurt animals will do anything to anybody. It is a very bad sign. On another note your sweet craving is similar to mine. I have fallen for those Mocha Frappe’s at McD’s. it is so hot here…all that frozen coffee and mocha is yummy. Plus they were one dollar for about a week. You are much closer now to going home. Yes?
XO,
olive
What a great neighbor- Ralphie has such an expressive face.
I share your struggle with drumsticks. My husband brought home a box “because they were on sale”- and you’re right- they really do call your name.
A sweet hello from Frog Hollow Farm! Boy do I know what you mean, it’s the Choco-Tacos that call to me from the ice cream vendors at the beach and the freezers at the 7-11. Ralphie looks like a sweetheart – we adopted a little poodle a few years ago from Small Dog Rescue in Princeton. Brinkley was 15 years old – his family got divorced and no one wanted him. He had cataracts and arthritis but lived for 3 happy years with us. Brinkley loved to stalk, I mean watch, FHFB carve the turkey on Thanksgiving, licking up anything and everything that fell to the floor.
Glad to hear you have two more of those ice cream goodies in your freezer – go for it!!
Hi Claudia:
Ralphie is a handsome guy! I’m so glad your friend adopted him and is rehabilitating to be a confident dog.
I have such a soft spot for ice cream (especially Drumsticks). Looooove ’em!
xoxo
Donna
Thank you for visiting me. Hope you will come again.
That Ralphie is a handsome fellow. And that drumstick sure looks good. Right now I’m stuck on banana popsicles. I could eat the whole bag.LOL But I won’t!!
Hugs, Pat
I’m glad Ralphie has a good home now. We adopted a stray cat that seemed to come from an abusive background as well; she would run and hide at the sight of a broom. It took a while for her to warm up and be touched, but after 2 years she is the sweetest kitty ever. PS i love your blog!
Claudia, I will never understand why people neglect animals. I have lots of friends who work in rescue, and I think they are all angels on this earth. I’m with you. Do something to a child, an animal, or an old person, and my blood boils, too. I’m so glad you introduced us to Ralphie, and I’m so glad your friend adopted him. What a cutie!
Thank you for sharing his story with us. I’m delighted it had a happy ending, just like Riley’s!
XO,
Sheila :-)
P.S. I love Nutty Buddies! But I have been sneaking Hershey Kisses. I can’t stop, either. ;-)
I am in love with Ralphie too! We have two adopted rotties, Handsome and Missy. We are their forever home. One of our daughters has a Boxer named Roxy. Ralphie reminds me of her…. such a wonderful breed.
Di
Oh my gosh, I love Ralphie and I love Adrian for loving Ralphie and giving him his forever home! That is the sweetest face I’ve ever seen :) How lucky to have a neighbor like that!!!… Donna
That is one of the sweetest faces I’ve ever seen– I’m so glad Ralphie has found a loving home.
Hugs,
Jill
And now Ralphie has you to love him too. He is a lucky pup! My daughter would be right there with you for that drumstick. I think she might be addicted too! :) Maybe we could get a group intervention rate.
Oh I just love that Ralphie. Is he named after the A Christmas Story Ralphie? Thank goodness for kind people that work so hard with animals and teach them to trust and love, love, love them to bits. Oh Claudia, I wish I had tons of land so I could adopt many animals. I’m so happy Riley found a loving home too. Way to go Riley and Ralphie!!
Claudia, I ate a whole bag of peanut butter M&Ms tonight while watching TV, I forgot I told myself if I’m going to watch TV I’m at least going to use my arm weights, they are still sitting on the floor next to the couch. Too bad dogs can’t have Drumsticks, I know Ralpie would help while he’s over visiting.
xo~Tracie
Also…. Whatever you do, do not buy Haagen Dazs salted caramel ice cream or the sesame brittle w/coconut and ginger. Hope I can forget about it now… grocery shopping day is tomorrow.
Very cute! What a fun place you have here. I will be back for more. Thank-you for the visit. I am drawing a winner today so check back.
What a great post and reminder about how loving animals are-
Ralphie has been rescued!
That is amazing-
Laura
Claudia,
So glad that your friend adopted Ralphie.
I have never had or seen a drumstick. Uh oh. Now I will have to do research.
Carol
What a wonderful post! First of all those large ice creams have been on my mind too. I saw something similar advertised on tv only it had small peanut butter cups on top! Ouuu lala! I don’t blame you for stuffing two of them in the freezer. I would not have stopped at 2. Now…the story about Ralphie boy…my heart just melted. For some reason, I almost see the face of an old man with a lazy eye, who lived life on the edge? Thank God for people like you and your neighbor who give animals a second chance in life. They are like our children….and when they get older, it is like taking care of our elderly parents. My dog is ten and has diabetes. I give him 2 injections of insulin a day. His bladder has gotten weak and he has begun to pee in the house. It’s really hard somedays because i don’t get a lot of sleep…trying to “catch” him to let him out. But…he is not sick enough to put him down so we deal with it. It breaks my heart just thinking about doing that! I know it’s coming but meanwhile, we bleach the floors a lot! You are such a great story teller…wonderful writing…you made me want to meet Ralphie!
Ohhh he is so so beautiful and adorable. I’m soooooooooo happy he found a forever home and is cherished now. His eyes say it all don’t they??? great post!!! xoxo
Betzie
Oh, he’s wonderful. I’m not sure there is a cuter dog than a boxer w/ uncropped ears. I know exactly what he must have been like, because that is what our neighbor’s poor dog is like. She is so neglected and lonely. I had designs on making her my own, but I tell you, when I began showing her some affection, she became totally out of control and almost hurt me a few times — so excited and desperate. I knew, with my little kids, this would not be the place for her. She breaks my heart.
Thank God for people like your friend. He is truly a hero. I believe in rescuing dogs and shelter dogs. It is all I will ever have. Despite pining away for certain kinds of dogs (based on looks), I know I will never choose my dogs, they will choose me . . . by needing me.
As for the drumsticks, I say go for it and indulge. Be gentle with yourself right now.
Hi Claudia,
Those darn drumsticks get us every time, don’t they?!
Ohhh…Ralphie is a cutie! I’m glad he found a loving home. :)
Thanks for your sweet comment about my teeny, tiny bathroom! It seems there are lots of us out there with the same dilemma! :)
Have a wonderful day!
Hugs ~ Jo :-)
OMG Claudia, he’s adorable! I can’t stop looking at that face, I might just have to do something with him…..would you mind if I copy the images?
Hugs,
Meri
Beautiful dog Claudia.
I love those ice creams as well :-)
HI CLAUDIA,
THOSE DRUMSTICKS ARE GOOD, AND NOW THEY ARE BIG ENOUGH FOR A GIANT. RALPHIE IS ADORABLE, I FEEL THE SAME WAY, WHY ARE PEOPLE SO MEAN TO ANIMALS. I LOVE MY DOG
REILLY HE MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME. HE IS 14 YRS. OLD, AND GOING BLIND, BUT LOVE HIM WITH ALL MY HEART.
RIZZI
Ralphie needs to be in commercials!
Ralphie is the sweetest thing…his story is wonderful too, thanks for sharing it Claudia…ooooooh, i love me some drumsticks too…yummy!!!
Well shake that man Adrian’s hand for me, will you? Ralphie is positively adorable. He already stole my heart with his eyes. I’d probably walk on black coals for him now. I wish some of this money they spend on war would go to no kill animal shelters. Love not war, right?
Brenda
He is completely adorable!!!
I love Ralphie!!! And I love Adrian! Tell him he’s wonderful.
Ralphie is one lucky dog and I’d say Adrian, as well as being an incredible human, is a lucky person. How great that Ralphie’s second half of life will be filled with the love and attention he so deserved during the first half. Love your posts! Always!
Oh, Drumsticks are one of the treats that I would choose as a child. It has been years since I’ve had one! I remember how much I loved them though.
That sweet pup. I rescued Luna from a shelter, but I think she had just been lost. She was starving and almost dead, and I had to nurse her back to health. It took a long time to gain her trust, but boy, it sure was worth it. I think these animals can be such loyal friends, maybe even more so, because they truly know the difference that being loved brings.
Oh yummy and too cute!! He is very handsome!!!
I am glad you got to meet Ralphie!
Hugs, Lisa
awww, he is sooo cute!!
That Ralphie is so cute!
I splurged on a few pints of Ben and Jerry’s last night. We’ll see how long they last ;-)
Oh, Claudia, Ralphie is such a sweetie and you know I much I love Boxers. I love all animals but have a special place for boxers. He is such a LUCKY boy to have found his forever home. Shame on the people who had him before.
Hmmmm, I’m thinking I need to send our Sophie down there to be rehabilitated, LOL, she has NO MANNERS and is so STUBBORN!!
I have to take her by myself Saturday for obedience class . . I hope I survive, LOL
Hmmm, a drumstick sounds GOOD right about now!!!
xxoo
Ralphie is sooooo sweet! I am with you… I think dogs are MUCH MORE ‘human’ that many people out there!
Glad your friend found him.
Hugs,
Monicax.
great story about ralphie-lucky him and lucky adrian.