Everything Sven

10/22/2025

The laundry nightmare continues... we found a place that allows for rugs, comforters and heavy items in very large machines. Perfect, but it's $14.50 base price per load, add on any extra cycles and it's even more. Turned out to be worth it, the new machines are very sophisticated and can handle it. After a bit of a learning curve with the electronic laundry cards you have to pre-load and some help from the patrons we were off and washing. Phew!

Sven was a bit wary, wanted to do a lot more blocking than usual, then again I was very exhausted and there were so many new sights, sounds and different types of clientele than the place we normally go to, a much busier atmosphere - it will take some getting used to for the both of us, but we'll probably go back there again, everything was cleaner and more efficient drying times.

It's also close to all our other chores and I was able to pick up the tins, cheese and dairy to make homemade . I was in the mood for a casserole, and well it's got all the creamy-cheesey-noodley goodness a casserole has so it counts in our playbook. LOL

Pretty wiped out from 4+ days of laundry and not enough recovery time for my muscles, glad it's done although. Next up is cleaning out the car. Figuring out what day to spray it with shampoo, let it dry and then go vacuum it up and put the car seat covers back on and so forth. Always amazes me how much dog fur still gets under the seat covers. OMGs.

Just waiting on Amazon to ship part of Sven's Halloween costume before we post some pics. With any luck it should be here this weekend, (inflatable rock guitar)

10/20/2025

Rinse & Repeat.

This week we finally, finally made it out of the house to do laundry. Not one of our most favorite chores, made worse by the fact that we had a fire in the laundry room over the summer and I just let things pile up on us while waiting for the repairs. With the colder weather and the upcoming holidays we just couldn't wait any longer. I split this up into a few days, of my things, Sven's things and then all the blankets and towels. And even then it was murderous, a lot of lugging and tugging the wheely cart to load and unload the car, and then into machines and dryers. In the meantime the laundromat we opt to use got new machines, new rules and something things just aren't allowed in the machines anymore. I still have to find another place to go for all Sven's mats, my bathmats and the car seat covers. On top of that, some of the things I thought were dried, were just hot and sweated in the bags and are actually damp. I had to drape things over the furniture or hang on the shower rod when we got home. One load just doesn't feel or smell clean to me, maybe because I forgot the fabric softener or the burnt smell from the dryers, but we'll probably drag that one bag out for a rewash sometime this week when we go to do the rugs. I'm already wiped out again and barely able to move, down a $120 and really wishing for a better way of doing all this, aside from waiting so long and letting it build up too much, it's still a pain in the arse no matter how you slice it. At least it's done for a while.



Picture of Sven chillin' out on his mat while I'm folding our things.

10/16/2025

“Things people say to service dog teams (and what we wish we could say back)”

🐶 “Can I pet your dog?”
→ We get it - our service dogs are adorable. But they’re also doing serious work! Think of them like fuzzy medical equipment. Cute, but off-limits.

🧠 “What’s the dog for?”
→ Service dogs can do everything from alerting to seizures to helping with PTSD. It's okay to be curious - but it’s also okay not to ask.

🦮 “My dog wants to say hi!”
→ We love friendly pups, but service dogs need to stay laser-focused. A quick “hello” from your dog can actually derail important tasks.

👀 “You don’t look disabled…”
→ Invisible disabilities are real. Let’s not judge a leash by its cover.

📲 “I saw a video that said people fake service dogs.”
→ Unfortunately, it happens. But real teams go through a lot of training - and it’s best not to assume who’s real and who isn’t based on vibes.

We believe curiosity is great - but respect is even better.
Service dog teams rely on the public to help them stay safe, focused, and supported. The best way to help? A smile and some space. 💙

What’s the funniest or weirdest thing you’ve heard someone say to a service dog team?
We’re all ears (and floppy tails).👇😂

10/13/2025

Come check out our holiday merch... proceeds go into general fund for upkeep and medical care of service dog.

https://www.bonfire.com/store/everythingsven/

Buy merchandise from "Menorah Paws" Holiday themed pull-over. Featuring Black Softstyle Crewneck Sweatshirts, professionally printed in the USA.

10/13/2025

Hi everyone, here's a few pics from some of this week's outings. Sorry it's not more, the behind-the-scenes stuff has been downright murderous lately. I had another massive migraine and just not able to keep up with all of it as much as I used to. And that's the way it goes sometimes with disability.

We took Grammy to breakfast and then headed to Michael's and Walmart, looking for some crafting supplies, each trip was a bit of a bust, we didn't find what we were looking for and will have to take a trip to NH in the near future.

10/05/2025

After the Sunday morning battle to trim the nails (his least favorite thing to do)... Sven posed for a pic in part of his costume. Oh the personality on him. He obliged of course, but look at that glare... he's got attitude eh?

He doesn't need the steer on the band but came with the hat. I like the adjustable straps to keep it on and of course. It fit the budget.

10/03/2025

09/26/2025

Well... so much for peace, quiet and relaxation... didn't last long.

We went to get my vaccine shots, Walgreens makes the appointment knowing nothing is in stock, doesn't call or tell me, I drive over and up to basically for nothing. I was so pi**ed I didn't stay for the other shots. Why bother if I only have to make the appointment again.

Anyway... we drive to the shoreline for a bit of a dog walk, get a few photos and realize it's actually a hot day for Sven in the sun, tourists and dog walkers getting in our space so we decided to leave.

Coming home, we get into a fender-bender on 1A Beverly with a road-raging mass-hole that's in a turning lane, he never turns and then tries to force me out of my left lane into oncoming traffic. OMGs

I honked and honked, he pauses for a split second and then steps on the gas, cutting in at an angle trying to overtake us and totally side swiped us. Sigh. What a flipping egomaniac idiot. I didn't slow down because for one I'm in my rightful lane and two didn't want to break check anyone behind me or we'd surely get hit or hurt. A side swipe was actually a safer impact.

We're both ok, just royally pi**ed off.

Then as if that wasn't enough... the other driver is more pi**ed off that the office that came to the scene didn't, wouldn't, couldn't take a statement or make a police report because legally he didn't have to, it was low-impact, not enough damage, no air bags or no injuries. I'm standing there looking at the driver take a fit and I'm thinking dude be glad you're getting away with road rage right now. He simply couldn't stand that he couldn't win over a female or whatever the frig his woman hater issues were. He wasn't going to le it go and starts challenging the officer. Wow. The driver was lucky we had an officer with a really good personality and disposition with the public. Eventually we all got in our cars and off we went.

Anybody know a good dealership? Might be high time for a trade-in, although I don't think mine is worth all that much anymore with all its bumps and bangs and ground in dog smell. It served us well, but I think its turning out to be a red flag for more bad luck. It was pristine for years until we moved to Salem and out of Salem, in 4 years it's been hit by someone or something on every side. From trash trucks, plow trucks, vandals, criminals, cars and crazy drivers.

Ah well, at least I got few a nice keepsake photos of Sven at the shore. Sven's still holding out for a pic with the gang one day, but I'm sure on a nice day like today they were all out to sea trying for the big ones before the season closes.

Off to do more paperwork and call the insurance company. Ugh.

09/24/2025

We took a day off yesterday to decompress after our court appeal deal on Monday. I binged watched one of those trainwreck reality shows that ironically made me feel a bit better about our own chaotic lives. Every family has one or two of those relatives in the mix.

Then today we took Grammy off Grampy's hands for a few hours so he could go to an appointment. I forgot my shopping list for all the odds and ends, it was still at home on the table. Ugh. It was also going to rain, so we had to save some of it for another day, too hard to manage Grammy under an umbrella, as one of use would surely lose an eye and a wet dog in tow. And we ended up going to Target and the Grocery store to start some of the holiday shopping early this year, so that Grammy won't be out during slip and fall season and sitting in traffic after taking some of her fluid medications. Anyway... we zoomed around doing some of that today, and even managed to get the holiday relish super early too.

We even managed to run into my niece & nephew's dad while out an about. He just became a grandfather last month. Which makes Grammy & Grampy great-grandparents now too.

Below are a few pictures from our travels and Sven working double time between myself and Grammy - she kept leaning on the carriage which started to drift and he kept going to lean on her before she tripped or fell. He used his own discernment and ended up doing "six" so he could lean on her and watch me at the same time and face all the people that kept wanting to take pics of him while working and despite the ignore me patches and so forth. So, while grammy went to use the rest room we held court off to the side and out of the way of checkout lines for a few pictures with the admirers.

I picked up some magnesium glycinate which is rumored to help with sleep, anxiety, blood pressure, blood sugar and a host of other things. Hopefully it'll help me sleep because Tylenol has a side effect that causes insomnia, so all the PM meds, Nyquil, Benadryl, etc. have been keeping me awake.

It's going to rain harder tomorrow, so no laundry and no cleaning the car out until the weekend. And boy does the car ever need it. Might be paw pedicure day if our energy holds up.

09/22/2025

Just an update - For anyone that was following along with the health insurance Drama. I won the state appeal today. Phew !!!

They are going to reinstate my insurance with no gaps, penalty waiting period or payback fees.

Thank goodness that's over with. We can get back on to doing things that need doing and making health appointments again.

Thank you to everyone for the support and interest during a really stressful and trying time. It helped us to get through it, stay strong and not give up or give in. It truly made a difference. 💕

09/20/2025

Today is National Service Dog Day in 2025 will be on Saturday, September 20th, as it is recognized every year. The day serves to honor the remarkable contributions of service dogs in assisting people with disabilities and promoting awareness about their important work. September is also

To celebrate, Mom's going to have a relaxing weekend enjoying Joey Ramp-Adams new book about service dog in science.

09/16/2025

We're still here but... Mom's taken ill and in bed far more than usual with extreme fatigue, migraines and the sort. State suspended her health insurance pending a hearing (next week) lot of paperwork, also had to cancel some much-needed appointments further impacting the health situation. Seems to be problems with thyroid. Updates when she can. For now, I'm keeping a good eye on her.