Desktop Capture and our American Eskimo

Mike at Rambling Stuff challenged everyone to take a photo of their desktop. Now I had taken up a challenge from Hootin' Anni some time ago and she taught me how to do a screen capture.

This is what is on my computer screen at this time. I change frequently. If you would like to see the first screen capture that I took part in, go HERE! It is a photo we took a Disney's Animal Kingdom when we were there earlier this year. But I like to change my desktop frequently - about once a month, and since I like old steam engines, I saw this one and added it to my desktop. If anyone would like to give a screen capture a try, here is how you do it:

1. View desktop and press the Print Scrn key (located in the upper right corner of your keyboard on the same row as the F12 key).

2. Open a graphics program (like Picture Manager, Paint, or Photoshop) and do a Paste (CTRL + V).

3. If you wish, you can “edit” the image, before saving it, but it is best that no icons be deleted before the screen capture so as to add to the element of fun.

If you decide to give it a try, please let me know in the comments. I would certainly enjoy seeing what is on your desktop.

In 1987, my daughter and I purchased an American Eskimo puppy from a pet shop. He stole our hearts immediately upon seeing him. When we walked out of the mall, it was snowing so hard we could only see a few feet in front of us. As soon as Michelle saw the snow, she named this little white ball of fluff Snowball.

Snowball was born on September 1, 1987. He had a few problems when we first took him home and I soon realized that he'd probably come from a puppy mill. It cost us a few hundred dollars to get him in optimum health but once we did he had very few health problems. We took him for his annual vaccinations, rabie shots and heartworm tests.

Snowball was a wonderful companion once we taught him that puppies are not allowed to eat shoes, slippers and legs of furniture. The vet told me that in order to cure him of his chewing problem, to put tabasco sauce on items we knew he was going to chew. Snowball was a smart dog and soon learned that lesson.

For 13 years, Snowball was a loyal companion. He had two bad habits - he liked to bark at everyone and everything in the neighborhood. For some reason he thought that the entire place was his to protect. Any stranger walking by would have thought he was going to be eaten alive. The other bad habit was not his fault. When we first got him, he was about 8 weeks old and we tied him out in the front one day. The mailman came along and Snowball barked at him. Now he was only tiny and weighed about 7 pounds if that. The mailman was frightened of him and kicked him. I saw it and ran up and down that mailman's back like a cat's claws on a scratching post. But the damage had been done. Snowball always hated the mail person whether they were male or female.

In the spring of 2000, Snowball began urinating in the house. He had never done this in his entire life, no matter how long he had to wait for someone to get home to let him out. I phoned the Vet and he asked me to bring Snowball in for some tests. When they came back the news wasn't good. Blood had been found in Snowball's urine. (Try to get a dog to pee in a margarine container.)

The Vet gave him antibiotics and this seemed to clear it up. We got another urine sample when the antibiotics were finished and everything was fine. That summer I realized that Snowball was going deaf and blind. I was saddened to know that he was entering the autumn years of his life. Then in September the urinating in the house began again. Another urine sample and more tests. Not good news. There was once again blood in Snowball's urine. He was diagnosed with Renal Kidney Disease and the Vet told us to enjoy his companionship until Snowball could no longer cope. We did just that and pampered him and paid a lot of attention to him.

Late in October, Snowball began to self-mutilate. He dug his backend until it was open. As November approached, I knew it was just a matter of days. I phoned Michelle and told her to come to see him and so she came with the boys to say goodbye.

Snowball passed over Rainbow Bridge on November 1, 2000. We still miss him and every once in a while I still call Meeko by Snowball's name. He has a special place in my heart. The above graphics were made from a photo I had of him just after he passed. Snowball will always be a part of our memories, just as he was a part of our family. Remember to treat your pets with kindness. They are an integral part of the family unit and deserve to be treated with dignity, love and respect. ~Blessings, Mary~