Oh my gosh, I'm soooo sore. I was working on pure adrenaline, and I ran over to him, then I was apparently kneeling down next to him...under 'normal' circumstances, due to my really bad knee, running and kneeling are not part of my daily routine. I think I am pretty good under pressure, and I guess I'm just a 'take action' kind of gal. Maybe that is the reason I live this interesting life? All I know is that I kept thinking of the time I was badly hurt in a car accident and how scared I was. I was worried about my husband and kids, and I didn't know what was wrong with me, how badly I was hurt, would I live, etc...and I just knew I couldn't live with myself if I stood around while that poor man laid in the street. I took a first aid course over 15 years ago, but I don't remember the protocols. I guess this is one of my talents I didn't list before...I'm a cool cucumber and a take charge person under extreme circumstances, but then I break down when it's all over. I just don't know how my brother did it for all the years he was an EMT. I'm going to check in with the hospital, I don't know his last name, and I'm sure I won't be told who he is, but at least I can leave a message to tell him I hope he's going to be ok. And I hope that my actions will inspire others who were standing around to 'pay it forward' so to speak.

I've read through many of the messages posted here and am so glad I found this site. On August 1 (yes, just a few weeks ago), me and my girlfriend had to put our beloved Siberian Husky, Cinnamon, to sleep. She was 15 and a half years old. We had found her in a pet shop when she was eight weeks old and it was love at first sight. We both cried like babies when we had to say goodbye to her. We knew she was old (especially for a dog her size) and I thought I was prepared because she had been showing many signs of advanced age in her final months. Then about a week before we had to put her to sleep, we discovered she had cancer. I knew the time was coming so I tried to be ready for the inevitable. But I found that this was not the case. I still think of her almost constantly and the tears have not stopped. I have gone through the deaths of my parents and others I have known and loved but dealing with the death of my dog has been much harder. I really didn't know why until I started looking for answers on the internet. True dog lovers, as many people have stated, love their dogs as part of the family. Cinnamon was definitely part of the family. She became our second child. One incident that cemented that fact occurred when she was two years old. We had gone to a friend's reception (he had his wedding overseas but came back to the States to have his reception so family and friend could attend). We stayed at his parents house and they had told us that it was okay to bring Cinnamon. They all loved Cinnamon and showered tons of attention on her. For anyone that has had a Siberian Husky, they know that huskies cannot be watch dogs as they love everyone, including strangers. Because of this, I tended to believe that she didn't care who she was with as long as they gave her attention. She proved me wrong. After the reception, we were preparing to drive home and we were packing the car for the trip home. My son, my girlfriend and I were all outside while Cinnamon was waiting inside. She started howling because she thought we were going to leave her behind and wouldn't stop howling until we brought her outside with us. We knew then that we were her family and she wanted to be with us. Through the years, she has always been here. Now that she is gone, I just feel a huge hole in my life. All the routines we had with her are gone. Daily walks, which she loved and pretty much demanded are no more. Watching her sleep always comforted us. Now, that is gone. Stroking her beautiful coat and hugging her, gone. Seeing her 'husky' smile which in turn made us smile, gone. Just a few of the things that made her who she was. I felt so guilty at first because I could hear what some people would say, "She's just a dog. How can you miss her more than your parents?" And being a man, I have to go hide somewhere and cry when thoughts of Cinnamon overwhelm me. But after reading through many of these posts, I realize that I am definitely not alone in my feelings. I know it's going to take a long time before the tears stop flowing and the hurt diminishes. I know that right now, it is way too soon to have another pet in my life and not really sure I want to go through the agony of a pet's death again. I know life goes on and I am trying to find things to fill the emptiness of not having my dog around. She can't ever be replaced but we made a small shrine where her urn, a plaster paw print, some of her soft fur, and pictures of her are kept. Just like bobbyprior posted above, I know that huge hole that exists now with the passing of Cinnamon. Everyone, that came here to find words of comfort, I empathize with you. Posting here really helps with the grief. I pray for all of you and know that even though your beautiful pet is gone, they will always be in your heart and mind. Dwell on the happy memories and try to remember that if your pet was still here and they could talk, they would tell you that you still need to live your life and try to be happy and good toward others. Thanks to all of you that have read my ramblings and I wish you comfort in your loss.

fishpants- I remember you from the BAF forum, and if it's any consolation, we've been in our house 5 years and the kitchen color has changed twice, and will change again before the good weather is back. Sometimes we just have to live in the spaces to know what really works and sometimes some of are a wee bit obsessive about paint (that would be me). I also think a green would work, but nothing minty or too evergreen, IMO a strong, rich color is needed to hold its own against the strong wood hues and the tall ceilings. We have BM Medieval Times, a rich, kinda/sorta acid green in our hallway and it's paired with black trim and cherry stairs (similar to the lyptus). From the monitor on my laptop the green in your stone counter pulls slightly acid, the Medieval Times or the next one up, Folklore, might work well in your space. WRT backsplash, that always seems like such a personal decision, why, I don't know. Anyway, FWIW I could see some mini bricks (not squares or the more mod elongated rectangles) of some metal finish, depending on your preference I can see stainless, pewter, brass or copper all working in your space. You could also go with glass bricks, again not the super modern ones, just solid color (ahem, green) mini bricks. You could even go with solid color Mexican Talavera, thick, handmade looking tiles, maybe creamy white with accents of green and/or red, tying into your FP accent tiles (not screeching "Merry @#$%^&* Xmas") or a more moorish look (think beekeeperswife's backsplash, in a cream or even green if they make one). I would also look at Pratt and Larson's website, they have stunning tiles with rich, strong colors that would work in your space (IMO of course). It's dreary and dark here still, but when it brightens up I'll take a pic of the Medieval Green and post it. Good luck- sandyponder

What types of evergreens? If they are close to the neighbors side, are they ok with that? Some evergreens shed their needles and can be messy. Some grow quickly, some grow very slow, most grow in width as well as up and will quickly spread into the space there...and most are likely to give a lot of shade, meaning that you will be limited on what you can plant around them if there is not much sun. Pachysandra is a nice ground cover, very low maintainence and stays green all year. But, it does spread fast. I wouldn't put any ground cover if you have any desire to grow flower there at any point. If it were me, I would put up a hedge type shrub to act as a fence along the neighbors side, look for one that is pretty tame and grows fast - then you won't have to look at that boat. Gotta love people who park boats in their yard. We have neighbors with a boat the size of Rhode Island in their back yard. They got it cheap after Hurricane Katrina, took a flat bed truck and a crane to get it up here to the northeast, they put it in the yard, and there it has sat for the last several years - they worked on it for one summer and then just forgot about it, not even bothering to cover it in the winter...slowly it is turning into the world's largest birdhouse and the neighborhood's biggest eyesore...but what the heck. I digress... Anyway, hedges. Yes. And then something pretty and fast growing, centered in that space there. Like a Bradford Pear or a Wheeping Cherry. Plant pachysandra around it, or make a nice little flower bed with decorative rocks or whatever your husband wants. That's what I would do! Good luck!