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Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Let me tell you!....It was awful!

This is not my best summer, not by any means, but it has been eventful. It seems my body is in for it this year. That photo of me that you see above this post.....doesn't even look like me anymore. I have since lost more than 30 pounds and my hair is much different now....but that is not the part that I am going to tell you about. What I am going to tell you about is much different than the way I now look.....and there is some talk of the garden in here too! In fact, it is the scene of the crime!
It was Wednesday Sept 10, 2008. It had been a long and very trying day, and I was trying to unwind so that I could go to sleep. I read the newest blogs, but had not enough energy to comment, and was very tired. I look over to see my trusty guard dog standing at the back door and waiting patiently for her mom to let her out for her late night potty run. I gather myself up, open the door and do the usual wait for her on the top step. (my dog does not like to be out in the dark alone- yes I KNOW)....she is pathetic...but we love her still.
I hear what I think is hissing, and strain my eyes to see if it is that black and white cat that sometimes comes and beats my silly "Miss Poo Poo" up if she tries to play with him. It IS Jerry the cat....so I run down the stairs....more "hissing" sounds....I run over to my dog, and try to shoo the "cat" away....still "hissing"......I bend down to grab my dog and rescue her ridiculous self from the kitty....just in time to realize....IT IS NOT JERRY THE BLACK AND WHITE CAT!
In fact...it is not a cat AT ALL!
Yes ladies and gentlemen....it was indeed a SKUNK! And YES it did spray me AND my dog!
Oh the smell! Let me tell you!


What the heck it was doing in my garden, I have no idea...maybe it was smelling the flowers...but it certainly caught me off guard. I did not smell it until it was too late!
I grabbed my dog, but not before I kicked the skunk square in his big stinking spraying bum! We ran up the stairs...and then it happened....


Miss Poo Poo got away from me. She ran through the house, rubbing her skunk oil filled eyes and face all over the sofa upstairs, the sofa down stairs, and my entire bed!

Now, if you have never had the opportunity to smell the oil of a skunk up close and personal....keep it that way. I know of one beautiful girl that loves the smell of skunk, but I am POSITIVE that she would change her mind in a hurry if she smelled it in it's concentrated form....My house, my dog, and of course me....we all reeked to high heaven!

I grabbed the dog, threw her into the tub and the two of us had a nice long shower...but it was not making the smell go away! THINK TOOTSIE.....THINK!!!!
The smell was so bad, I could taste it in my mouth when I would breathe...my eyes were burning and it was making me throw up....what the heck was I going to do?

I head for the internet. What can I use? there are several formulas out there that you can use, and I chose dish soap and baking soda....The soap cuts the oil of the skunk and the baking soda de-odorizes....to a point. The old myth about tomato juice is just that...a myth. The tomato juice will actually make the smell stronger and will not help...so don't waste your time.

It got most of the smell out....but her eyes and ears were full of it too. But for the night, I was tired, crying , throwing up and stressed even worse than I had been to begin with. I could not handle any more that night and I went to bed....not that the smell would let me sleep. I cried almost all night again that night.

The next morning, I got up, got ready to go and had the next door neighbor do a smell test on my kids to ensure they did not smell like the rest of my house. They were good, no smell, and I dropped them off at school. I headed for the vet's office for some Skunk Off shampoo. Raced home and bathed the dog two more times. Finally she smelled wonderful again...and so did I. The only issue I had now, was the rest of my house and the palms of my hands. They still smelled. It smelled BAD.

I opened ALL the windows, doors and vents full speed ahead. I cleaned every inch of my house, threw the bedding away , and sprayed sprinkled and steamed pretty much anything and anything I could get my hands on....

For two solid days, my hands smelled like skunk and I had to clean the area of the yard where the skunk had been...yes...I was outside cleaning the yard... Have you ever had to wash a petunia pot, some grass and a sidewalk? It was a huge job and a nightmare to say the least.

It took almost three full days for that smell to completely go away inside the house....and the slightest whiff of anything even remotely skunky ....makes me paranoid. The sweet young man that lives next door laughed so hard at me, and now has started calling me Stinky. (boy is he lucky that I like him and that I was too tired to kick his butt)

My dog is no longer allowed to go outside at night unless I scan the area first...and even then, she is only allowed to do her business and come inside...no exploring after dark....

hey do you blame me?

My pride was hurt most of all in this entire situation. I had more people laugh at me than I would like to admit. It was not a welcome situation, but it did manage to keep my mind off the other nightmare that has taken over my life for at least a little while....and for that I was glad.

Now that you are all laughing at me...have a great day.

22 comments:

Coloradolady said...

Bless your heart. I have to confess, I did not even chuckle when I read this. I kept shaking my head, saying "bless your heart." What a mess.
My youngest dog likes to "hunt" at night for anything that moves. I can so imagine the same thing happening here if a skunk happened upon the dog.
Get some rest.....you need it.

artis1111 said...

Oh Tootsie, remember I had one in a trailor I wrote about. I know your pain!!!I think mom and dad used charcoal around to help absorb the oder.LOL Kathy

imjacobsmom said...

Oh Tootsie, I feel for you. How awful - and to think that your dog got into the house and ran all over, yeah, I would be just sobbing, too. I would be beside myself. But you got through it! Like I Knew you would, 'cuz you rock, Girl! ~ Robyn

Unknown said...

Poooo I'd like to string that thing up by its stinking back feet . Oh girl I hurt for you . We had a mom and babys under our bathroom many years ago . We got a whif of it a few times . I was so glad to see mom and 6 babys walking down the street so I could block the enterance mom was getting in and out of .
I'm praying for you sweet girl and will continue to pray .
Alway wishing you the best of every thing .

Betty said...

Sorry I don't mean to be laughing honest! My son came home a while back. He had been over to his Sunday School teacher house with the rest of the class for get together. Their dog got sprayed and came in the house. But the worse for my son was yet to come, apparently the dog had been out by the car my son had driven there (my husband's by the way) My son comes home walks straight through the house ooooh! Son, is there something you want to tell us??? Don't want to talk about then of course he does as I am pointing him toward the bathroom! Then of course my husband ends up having to go take care of the car. At least it was only an indirect hit to my son!
Definitely got to watch out for those striped kitty cats!
Have a great day Tootsie.

Lisa (aka) French said...

Ahhh Tootsie~~~we have been through that years ago with our family dog a sheppard no less! It was hell I tell you! We read that tomato juice was the only fix so there she sat in a bathtub filled with tomato juice and the cleaning took weeks~~~I am so sorry about that I can only imagine! Hugs my friend French;)

Buffie said...

Noooooo, I'm NOT laughing because I know how bad it was for you Stinky!!!!! lol! Oops, was that a little laugh, I'm sorry!!!!! : ) Glad it's gone now and thank GOD too!!!!!!! Now post a new photo of you and show the girls how gorgeous you look..TODAY!

Bridget said...

Good Morning Toots, You know I was not laughing at you. I was up till midnight trying to find cures for the wretched smell!
Please got to Artie's blog and vote for me in his contest... http://niagaranovice.blogspot.com/
I won't win but I'd like a respectable amount of votes! lol
Love ya, Bridget

Salmagundi said...

Oh, my - that is just awful, terrible; and you certainly didn't need that! Take care of yourself and get some rest. Sally

squawmama said...

What a time to visit your site & I am so glad I did. It did sound like an awful event however I can help but admit it brought on a giggle or two. My husband was out walking our dog one night and barely missed the exploits of the infamous skunk episode. Thank goodness.. I am adding you to my favorites.. your writing is very interesting and I only wish I had the talent for putting things down in words so well.. I'll be back

Donna

SG said...

LMAO! Oh my poor Toots. I'm sorry that I was one of the people laughing at you in your time of distress. I loved hearing you retell that story and I'm so glad I was around for your initial reaction.

Someone you know likes the smell of skunk?!?!?! tee hee hee

Sweetie said...

Oh, Dear Tootsie! I am not laughing at you. We have been there - with our 120 pound Shiloh shepherd. I know what you mean about the smell. It permeates your body. We used Dawn, peroxide,and baking soda several times on the dog but we could smell it for weeks. I can remember being in the basement bathing the dog for the third time and crying. At the time I remembered how I laughed at a boy in seventh grade that got sprayed (and you could smell it on him for days). I thought that I was being paid back. I really feel bad for you!
Hugs
Sweetie

Anonymous said...

Ohh Tootsie,

I feel so bad for you. And yes, I know how bad that smell can be and how long it can last.
A girlfriend was out walking her two dogs, the night before her son's wedding. All three of them were sprayed by a skunk and she had a night somewhat like you, only she had to face all the wedding guest the next day, and believe me, she still had an odor. Her hairdresser That odor stayed with her for days, I could smell it when she came shopping in the store where I worked and saw people looking at her when they passed her.

I pray that your days ahead will be better.

(((((HUGS)))))

'D'

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness. I'm not laughing about this either. It does not in the least sound funny. I can only imagine how I would be in a situation like this. It must have been awful! YOU and the dog. Oh dear. I'm glad things are better and hope that skunk stays clear away from your place!

Hope all else is well with you.
Thank you for your all tips.

Have a lovely day
Judi

Justine said...

OMG, I reliving the whole thing again and I can't stop laughing! I know, WE hurt your pride because we laughed, but girl, it was so damn funny! I know in your shoes I would have been bawling my eyes out too, but when you're way down here, just reading about it? Frickin' frackin' funny!

Love you girl!

Justine :o )

Anonymous said...

So sorry for your perfumery. I know how you feel.I came home once to find my then 6 year old daughter holding a shunk in mu living room. She smiled and said "Look mommy what I found in our back yard,a baby kitten" A black shunk! We still laugh about it!

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

OH TOOTS, I think I like this story better than the email one you gave me haha!!!Girl that Pit bull that Len has killed 2 skunks in 1 week and was so kind to even bring home a skunk butt to Len and that one I did laugh my butt off over..when he dropped that at Lens feet Ooooh girl I started laughing and could't stop..I was crying then he wants to bring the dog into the house to bathe him???NO stinky Pit Bulls allowed in my house !!! Sorry about what smell girl...do wish things would be better for you. Hugs and smiles.Miss you. Gloria

Anonymous said...

Hi there tootsie. I don't visit often but do from time to time to get your awesome garden tips. Glad to see your back, love your tips on planting, etc.... Hope your ok. I think you look wonderful in that "new" pic at the top of your blog.

Take care!
cathy from the North East :)
ctatcat2 on RMS.

Terrie's Lil' Piece of Serenity said...

OMG!! I feel so bad for you. I hope our dogs never find a skunk. They do stink. That's for sure. I would be crying, too!! Believe me I did not laugh at this story.

Anonymous said...

Tootsie, Something drew the skunk to your yard, and you're right to keep your dog from wandering after he's let out at night. No repeats! I'm reading this week's entries backwards, so I'm aware of the fiberglas itch. I think being sprayed by a skunk would be worse, but you didn't need either one of these to happen. Hope that you've now recovered from both of these mishaps. I see that your sense of humor is intact with your choice of skunk pictures! Fieldstone/Pam

Allgrins said...

Girl I would freak out if that happened to me...I just can't stand the thought of it.
The entire time I read this I kept thinking of the skunk in the movie Bambi, Flower. He always said "you can call me flower if you want to"
Your pictures are very pretty.
Jamie

The JR said...

Poor Tootsie, I don't know if you will get this on this old post, but I had also posted about a skunking on my blog.

The story is of my friend and his dog.

http://msredneck.blogspot.com/2008/12/lavender-potpourri-skunk-scented-dog.html

Ramona