Boz: bulldog as blues healer
I am back among the living, breathing (in a Darth Vader kind of way), sniffling (as if paid by the tissue) and walking upright (albeit swaying) in pajamas destined for the fireplace (my gift to humanity). Cold, flu, crud…whatever I endured over the last week, left me a more grateful man for the times I am well.
Though I tend to whine a wee bit when I’m sick (no surprise here), my nonjudgmental bulldogs Boz and Gracie accept any level of waling if given a comfy spot to take it all in, namely the sofa or my bed. This pair of bulldog Florence Nightingales sacrifices exercise and outings for napping and nurturing. They are givers, devoted to the infirmed, channeling their canine instincts into curative powers. Gracie focuses on healing from the foot of the bed, while Boz sidles up to any available flank or lap, using his 65 pounds of brawn to crush the cough right out of you.
Who needs chicken soup when friends drop off chocolate cake?
As an active guy, I find being bedridden a curious and inconvenient form of torture. I pick up a book, but find reading and sneezing are a bad combination, at least for the recently read pages. I try to watch a little television (no cable here), but discover I don’t have the strength to endure its offerings, e.g. relentless Christmas commercials, Celtic Women and Celtic Thunder airings (please make it stop PBS, please), updates on Lindsay Lohan’s latest brawl, and talk show hosts sharing the hidden dangers of feeding dolphins by hand.
The healing paws of Boz
The good news is I’m better now and I’m here to share the secrets of my recovery and home remedies.
Results may vary based on ailments and patient.
- Borrow a bulldog or two to keep you company and convalesce with.
- Befriend kind souls who bring you chocolate cake when you’re under the weather.
- Listen to your mother and use Vick’s Vapor Rub.
- Try making your own cough medicine; recipe here.
- Phone friends and family regularly with status reports and to garner sympathy (though you may not remember conversations later).
- Keep hydrated and get plenty of sleep.
- Turn off your television.
- Purchase a sneeze guard for your books.
I guess it’s not rocket science, but these tips helped me outlast the viral aliens that took over my body for the last half week. While I’m not fully back to total Tom, I think one more followup nap and swig of cough syrup will do it.
Boz, Gracie…to the sofa!
Gracie: “How you feelin’?”
Bulldog Florence Nightingales…..Tom, I am glad you have not lost your sense of humor. Chicken soup helps also. Wish I could have brought you some. Distance, you know. Hugs to the nurses!!!
Susan, Boz and Gracie say they are available for hugs 24/7 and on demand, so let me know the next time you two are in the Seattle area.
Poor Tom! Yes, big puppies are the best- they sense your need.Since you have internet perhaps streaming Netflix? I love the old BBC detective series Frost, as well as good old Poirot . So glad you’re on the mend !
Kim what a great tip, I love detective stories, and have not seen Frost.
So glad you’re feeling better. It’s obvious the bulldog luv has made all the difference, never mind the magic elixir. Mmm, I wonder if I might be coming down with something. Off to try some of your magic 🙂
Ah June, I can count on you for a chuckle! Thanks for the well wishes and here’s to your Happy Holidays and your move back to God’s Country or would that be God’s Coastline!
Poor Tom
Glad you are better. We have a terrier who also loves to cuddle, especially on your tummy…nothing like quality company when you are feeling down. I always enjoy your blogs. As a resident of Eastern Washington, Colville area, it’s fun to see what’s going on on the west side, revel in our sunshine. etc.,
Wishing for a continuing recover for you and yours.
Helen W
Hi Helen, Thanks so much for the kind words, and I’m so glad you like the blog. I may call on you from time to time this winter to remind me what sun looks like. Take care!
Had it for two weeks myself. Ugh. I totally agree with the company of a good dog 🙂
Glad to hear you’re over your bout of the crud. Here’s to the flu-free holidays!
I’m happy to hear you are on the mend! But… what happens when you feed a dolphin by hand???
Thank Margaret. About the dolphins…every news agency carried this story of a little girl who had her plate of herring snatched by a hungry dolphin at the dolphin enclosure at SeaWorld. News? Really? The little girl was great; she was worried about the dolphin. The parents…um…well they got their 15 minutes.
Hi TOM! I’m sorry you’re not well, and I have ONE WORD for YOU! KOMBUCHA!!! A fellow shopper in Whole Foods, Orange County, CA, turned me on to this a year ago when I was suffering with a terrible bout of the flu/cold/whatever it was! I am now convinced because it works! Whenever I feel something coming on, like a sore throat or whatever, I go right to the store and buy a couple bottles of G.T’s Organic Raw Kombucha, and it nips my cold in the bud! Haven’t been sick in a year, and I’m a teacher who’s around lots of sniffly noses and sneezes all year! Give it a try! I guarantee you will see results! Lots of yummy flavors………..my favs are the Hibiscus and the Guava. Good luck, try Kombucha and feel better real soon Tom!
Great tip Nancy, I have some pals on the island who make Kombucha tea. I’ll give it a try, if not I’ll pick up some G.T.’s at the store. Thanks!
Funny, this just arrived in an email link: DIY KOMBUCHA, http://grist.org/food/mother-load-the-secret-to-diy-kombucha/
Happy to hear you are feeling better Tom! Wow..chocolate cake? You have some great neighbours, and four legged buddies!
Thanks Ina, perhaps some Green Thai Curry would seal my deal on better health, or at least sweat it out!
Hahahhahahahaha! I hope you will be feeling better soon! The dog too!
The green thai curry and the chocolate cake photo almost make me wish I was the one who was sick…ALMOST.
UGH! I know about two years ago when I had a flu – my dogs did the same thing! My minature donkey, Cecil [he’s a Doberman/G. Dane mix] made his spot at my legs and Charlotte [my pitbull baby] decided that my suffering chest was the right spot to lie. I hear you on the whole “crush the cough out of you”. >D
But they sure are great nurses… I’m happy to hear you are feeling better! When ANY of my garden/life bloggers stop posting for awhile I want to call their local police and send search warrants out to make sure they’re all okay… hehehe.
and umm… that’s some delicious looking cake…. ♥
Donna, I had to chuckle, thanks for keeping tabs on me. I need someone to alert the local authorities should I remain silent for longer than a few days. 😉
Poor Tom – I was wondering why we hadn’t heard from you. I’m so glad you are starting to feel better. Critter cuddles and chocolate cake will make me feel better any time 🙂 XO
I’m so sorry you were down and out with this flu. I’ve had people falling down around me with this, but I’ve been (knock-on-wood) able to avoid it so far; however, the thought of someone bringing me chocolate cake while in bed is almost worth feigning the illness. I was briefly bedridden for a knee problem and my (French) bulldog would have none of my being in (her) bed during the day. She kept getting up and demanding that I follow her downstairs to the kitchen — over and over! I think she was trying to tell me that’s where I need to be. Glad you’re feeling better!
Thanks Eileen, and sorry to hear about your knee problem. Boz, like Pipi, does the same thing, but I admit it was my doing. I used to reward him with a treat when he barked at the deer dining on my flower beds. I created a barking monster and the deer are still here.
I’m going to try your cough syrup next time around (love ginger!) but I have to say a hot toddy is the go-to around here: half a lemon, juiced; a shot of brandy; about 1 T organic maple syrup, in a mug. Top with hot water and enjoy. Feel free to repeat. 😉
Now Bebe, that is a recipe worth trying in sickness and in health!
You have some very special friends if they brought you chocolate cake from Bakery Nouveau. Ooh la la! Glad you are feeling better!
Thanks Anne and you are so right, Bakery Nouveau is quick and delicious trip to Paris. And if that wasn’t enough, I also received a slice of homemade Devil’s Food a day earlier.
I have to tell you how much I enjoy the pics of your bulldogs. We had two who have since passed on, and I still miss them every day. They were great comforters and also great comedians. I hope you are fully recovered now and enjoying “the season”.