Sick Days

After High School, and for 2 1/2 years before I became a groomer, I worked at a Bank as a Reconciler, the person who finds the tellers mistakes.

I enjoyed that job, and liked most of the people that I worked with.

I could not stand the interoffice politics.

Give me dogs any day.

It is days like today that I miss working for the Bank, and wish that I did not  own my own business.

Why?

I miss paid sick days.

I am working on my second head cold in a month.

I have never had one cold follow right behind another.

It is not the same cold, because both colds have been different.

Today was a fully booked day of dogs.

We are booked for the next couple of weeks, so there was no place to move anyone.

And, I don't get paid sick days.  :(

Have you ever had one of those days when you feel like you take three times longer than usual to finish a dog.

I would swear that the hair grows right back the second you cut it.

My first dog was a Wheaten, that gets a scissor cut.

She also likes to lay down every chance she gets.

It took me 5 hours to finish her.

Not really, it just felt that way.

My next dog was a Shih-Tzu that got a Lamb clip.

I felt like he took me 6 hours, and that was just scissoring one leg.

Waiting for me while I groomed these two dogs was...

'Dooley'

'Dooley' is the biggest Standard that I have ever groomed.

I have been grooming him ever since he was a puppy.

He is a sweet, nervous, goof.

I mean that lovingly.

'Dooley' is a huger.

He loves to have his face rubbed, and loves to bury his face into your neck.

I like grooming 'Dooley'.

Just not today.

It already took me 11 hours to groom the first two.

Oh, it didn't?

Well, it sure felt like it did!

'Dooley's' mom and Dad only wanted about 1/4" off of 'Dooley' today.

That worked for me.

I actually groom faster when I scissor a whole dog, then when I clip and scissor.

Don't ask me why.

I guess it is because I love scissoring so much.

 'Dooley' is a good dog to groom, he just fights a little for his face.

He does not like it held down.

He always wants to point his nose in the air.

When I have to look up, I can't breath.

'Dooley' is one of those Poodles that like to constantly pull his feet backwards while you are trying to clip them.

He acts like I am tickling his feet.

First he tucks his head in my neck trying to get me to stop and rub his face.

All the while slowly oozing lower and lower...

...and lower, until we have both oozed to the bottom of the table.

My hands are so cramped by the time I finish one foot that I have to stop and shake my hands out for a minute before I start the next foot.

 After clipping all four feet, which only take me a couple minutes per foot, my nose has run so much that I have gone through a whole box of Kleenex.

Not really, but it sure felt like it.

This dog is so tall, that his head touches the ceiling in my bathing room.

Bathed and blow dried

.

Half way there.

It is now 11pm.

It isn't?

Well, it sure feels like it.

Scissor, scissor, scissor.

And scissor some more.

It is now Friday.

It isn't?

It's still Thursday?

My head feels like it is going to explode.

All done!

And it only took 12 hours.

It didn't?

Oh, I give up.

Only three dogs left to groom.

I need meds.

Oh, that's right, I don't like meds.

I think I'll make an exception today.

Somebody go get me some Tylenol Cold Medicine.

 Does anyone want to buy a business?

I want paid sick days.

Tomorrow will be better..tomorrow will be better..tomorrow will be better.

I am going to keep telling myself that.

Positive thinking, right?

It better work.

I am going to bed now.

Cough, cough, sneeze.

Night!

Happy Grooming, MFF