Around 8:30am I finally get into the shower and then I sit down on the computer to do a few quick write-ups for clients and notice that 9:30 is fast approaching. I brush my hair out quick, throw the leash on Bella and then walk towards the door. I forget my sun-glasses and quickly turn around, knowing there’s literally no time to spare. The three of us (Sean, Bella and myself respectively) hop in the car and take off towards the groomer.

Upon arrival, I walk in and notice very cute and beautifully groomed pooches laying around in the waiting area. From there, I walk up to the front desk and note that I’m here for my scheduled appointment. They thumb through the book and note that I’m not scheduled with them. I could have sworn I scheduled my appointment with Wizard of Paws – I was wrong. Thankfully it was the good kind of wrong when I saw their pricing – they’re abusing the “Best Groomer in Delaware” popularity by over charging for the smallest things. So they let me know of the two others in the area, asking if either name rings a “Bella”, I wasn’t amused because I knew I was late.

Walking back to the car, Sean notes “Uhm…don’t you need to leave the dog AT the groomer for this to work?” I note that we’re in the wrong place and there’s the possibility of two other groomers that I made my appointment at. Finally we pull into “Dirty Dog” this place sounds familiar, even if the owners at Wizard of Paws notes that they don’t think Dirty Dog is accepting new clients. The stores are labeled, respectively, so I head towards the door that says “Dog Grooming” it’s locked – I’m freaking out until I look down and see the arrow pointing towards the other door. Walking in I’m met by a sweet faced girl in her early twenties and ask if she has a scheduled appointment for Bella S. she gracefully replies “Yep, we’ve been expecting you.”

The rush of the morning has now subsided and I begin filling out all of my information on their new client cards. Bella, at this time, was already in the back room and I could hear her crying which is literally breaking my heart because I know how scared she is when she’s at the groomer. I tell her that I’d like a very short puppy cut, then continue to say that her tail and ears need to be taken care of as well. She notes that Lhasa’s look – strange – without their signature curly tail but I note that it’s one huge mat of fur. She let me know that if she can ‘save the tail’ she will. I’m thinking “as long as you don’t chop it off, just take the mats off it”. I then continue to note that she’s skiddish when a buzzer gets near her face but she will not bite, just make life very difficult. She notes that they’ve dealt with all kinds of temperments and will be fine.

I walk out the door knowing that my precious pooch will no longer be a fluffy puppy…but a bald bitch when I pick her up. Either way she won’t be so easily overheated and I know her hair will always grow back. If this place does well with her, they’re more than likely going to be my new establishment. I finally have a groomer for Bella, I just need to find a hair dresser for myself!

So we get back here and I’m in a rush to get all of the garbage to the curb. I know that the garbage men plus the landscapers will be around very soon and know the garbage men leave the cans in the middle of the yard. Since we all know that the landscapers around here don’t do SHIT – then naturally I’m going to make sure the cans are removed before they get here. Unfortunately it didn’t work out that way and there’s still a patch on the front lawn that’s over-grown, one they could have easily gotten to if the stupid teenager on the back of the garbage truck would just put the can on the curb instead of throwing it onto the grass. BASTARD. I rush off the stairs and put it on the side of the house but I was just too late. I do still hear them floating around so my only hope is that they do another pass in the front yard before they leave. :: crosses fingers ::