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Sheila is a dog-lover who works to support her two great danes.
By day she is a technical writer, by night she slaves to make sure
her danes are comfortable and happy. She lives well beyond her means
and struggles to find ways to return to the reality of her paycheck.
Her dogs are unfazed by her heroic fight and continue to insist
that only the best will do, with extra treats weekly to top off
a luxurious existence.
Sheila adores gadgets and fun techy stuffs but, in an ironic twist
of fate, insists that she shouldn't need to read a manual to figure
out how to work these things (until this year, she was employed writing
user manuals!). She maintains that E-Z-Pass and the apple-peeler-corer-slicer
are two of the best inventions ever.
Sheila's danes, Panda and Tonka, are the best, most beautiful great
danes ever to grace the earth. Although completely opposite in temperament
and looks, they remain united in their devotion to the woman who
feeds and pampers them, and in their hatred of the neighbor's cats.
Panda, a gorgeous fawn with cropped ears, is a princess of the
highest order, and her favorite story is, in fact, The Princess
and the Pea. She weighs in at a modest 145 lbs with a height of
32 inches (to shoulder). Panda adores those she's known since puppyhood,
and would love to get to know new friends slowly and cautiously.
She's a worrier who thinks that everyone adores her and wants to
take her home. In her own environment, she is a sweet loving girl
who greets you with furious tail wags and wrrooo-wrrooos to express
her delight. She is often found with stuffie in mouth asking for
a game of catch me if you can or wriggling on her back begging for
tummy rubs.
Tonka is just the opposite: a fun-loving, people-crazy overgrown
goofy pup. He's a majestically silly black dane with four white
paws a splash of white on his chest. Weighing in at almost 170 lbs
and close to 36 inches high, he's a big boy who loves to be loved.
Tonka has not a clue in the world that he's as big as a horse, and
insists on sitting on guests' laps and sucking up to them in his
enthusiastic quest for new friends. Tonka does not appreciate Sheila's
singing (she has, after all, no talent whatsoever), and leaves the
room quickly when she inevitably begins crooning tunelessly. Nevertheless,
Sheila tortured him at Christmas with a Tonka-inspired rendition
of Frosty the Snowman (a preview: Tonka the Wonka was a jolly, happy
soul, with four white paws and a big long nose...).
Note: Panda died of osteosarcoma in late 2006, and Tonka of
lumbar sacral disease in early 2008. A third adoptee, Sera, died
in early 2008 from oral melanoma as well.
Sheila occasionally travels. Several times a year, she takes short
trips to Annapolis, MD, where she meets with friends who live relatively
close by. She is drawn to Sedona, AZ, where she owns a time share
(oops, that would be vacation rental or some such phrase). Sheila
plans to someday visit Rhode Island, Maine, Alaska, Aruba, New Zealand.
Meantime, she'll keep spending that vacation money on dog seminars
and short trips.
In 2007, Sheila made the change from a Technical Writer to a Business
Analyst. It's a similar field with many of the same goals (clarity,
communication). It's been an excellent transition and she's enjoying
the work quite a bit!
Fortunately for Sheila, she has a lovely circle of wonderful friends
who are interesting and intelligent, sympathetic and downright nice!
She treasures them and all that they are. She also has a very endearing
mother who, in her 80s, is a feisty clean machine.
So that's all ABOUT US. We've got dogs and work and friends and
family and vacation. So far, so good. Stay tuned.
Sheila
Panda, Tonka & Sera (always in my heart)
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