January 2012
1 post
Link: Get off your arse and play →
Images of George Lucas improving in a studio office are the best reminder to do the one thing that makes life fun: play.
December 2011
3 posts
Me: You can’t come up on the couch.
Oscar: I’m not on the couch; I’m just coming up to kiss you.
M: Keep your back feet on the floor.
O: How can I when I’m now in your lap?
M: Dog.
O: I’m not on the couch; I’m in your lap. Sleeping.
2 tags
August 2011
6 posts
Seriously, Dog.
Me: Why is there a half-eaten pizza box on the floor?
Maddy: 'Cuz you forgot to take it out to the garbage. Duh.
Me: ...
Maddy: What?
Me: You win this round.
Hooray for therapy dogs! →
A regular therapy dog is given honorary nurse certificate. :)
July 2011
2 posts
WatchOscar being a dog: head out window.
April 2011
1 post
The Porch
The tulips are straightening up through the soil! Hooray! This means soon, we can hang out on the front porch and watch the world go by. It’s one of Oscar’s and Maddy’s favorite things to do.
March 2011
2 posts
WatchUs: let’s block the couch so dogs can’t get on it when we’re gone. Oscar: oh look! Meh hoomanz put pilloz on couch fer me!
February 2011
2 posts
WatchWatch carefully: Maddy’s nub is an indicator of how psyched up she is.
WatchOur Maddy girl loves this blizzard.
December 2010
1 post
Dogs with purpose
A big thanks to Bonnie and her staff at Central Bark Doggie Daycare in Chicago. Our pups, who have play dates every Tuesday, came home carrying a goody bag. Inside we found theses little guys. Look at those cute faces. It’s when you turn them around that hilarity ensures:
They’re actually poop bag dispensers. Suddenly, their faces have…purpose. This is seriously the best...
August 2010
5 posts
Sacrificing a Venture Bros. for my own creativity.
My summer goal: create a habit of getting up every Mon-Fri morning and working out. How am I doing? Out of the past 26 work days, I have worked out for 25 of them, and I’m still paying for that day off. I was sooooo tired that entire day.
So now, will I not only continue my work out goal, I’m adding a goal: create a habit of getting home every Mon-Fri evening and writing for 30...
May 2010
1 post
Oscar has a Hypothyroid
Turns out Oscar has a hypothyroid. Not uncommon in middle-aged dogs; still was a bit of a shock to us.
After two weeks on medicine, he’s like a young pup again: springing and glassy-eyed and all. Not to mention the weight he’s lost. He’s now down to a respectable 49 lbs. *I will call him Slim.*
The hypothyroid is not lethal, and neither it nor the medication should affect his...
April 2010
2 posts
Vet ~ n. (greek) necessary evil
Today, the heartworms die! Well, at least, they would if our pups had any.
Annual exams for our pups were today. For those who care, Oscar’s got a pound or two to lose, Maddy is in great health. And like most other vets we’ve seen at Family Pet Animal Hospital, the doctor we met with today (Dr. Kathi Berman) fell in love with Oscar and subsequently Maddy.
“I could just stay...
March 2010
10 posts
Maddy: A BFF
Brynn, our six-month-old niece, was baptized this past weekend, and as such, the family—husband, Oscar, Maddy, and I—drove up to partake in the festivities. As always, the pups did their car dance while we packed. Ironically, the dance is not that dissimilar to a traditional rain dance: circling, singing, hoping the “higher ups” heed our calls.
We had a full weekend, especially Maddy....
WatchAs promised, here’s our pup making his first jumps. Look how happy he is!
Skoolz Day Three
Tonight, Oscar learned the art of jumping and the design of the shoot. Although a bit wary, Oscar conquered the dark tunnel to push his way out of loose fabirc. Stinky treats helped, of course. The jumps were a bit hilarious: he always sits for treats, so trying to get him to leap over a low bar is confusing for him. Many times, he cheated by sneaking under the bar (silly puppy). But he had a...
7 tags
I can has Spring?
Maddy: Outside!!!
Oscar: What is this goo all over the ground?
Maddy: Freedom!
Oscar: Eewww, and it's sticking to my paws.
Maddy: Who cares? It's slippery and slidy. Look how far I can slide!
Oscar: Oh, how horrible: your entire underbelly is covered in it.
Maddy: It smells awesome! I'm gonna roll in it!
Oscar: You are really quite dim, aren't you? This is why you get gunk in your ears.
Maddy: What?
Oscar: Well, at least you're amusing.
Maddy: I has to pee.
Oscar: The corner over there is always a safe spot.
Maddy: Ok!
Oscar: I suppose I should find a spot myself.
Maddy: All done!
Oscar: I do enjoy this patch of grass over h - wait, where is the grass? Let me check my back up.
Maddy: At least all that nasty cold frozen stuff is gone.
Oscar: Yes. But where is the brown, flat grass that was just here yesterday?
Maddy: I'll find it!
Oscar: I can smell it, but I can't see it. How odd.
Maddy: I'll run around this earthy goo and find it. Ooh! I bet it's underground. I should dig.
*I come walking out*
Me: What's going on out here? Maddy! Stop digging in the yard. Oh dear lord, you're covered in mud.
Maddy: What?
Oscar: I warned her.
Me: Would you just pick a spot and go potty, Oscar. We don't have all day. Especially now.
Maddy: I love mud!
Oscar: Alright, alright.
*wanders*
Me: Go potty!
Oscar: Fine. (pause) Happy?
Me: Good boy. Inside you two. I'll get the tub running.
*Maddy prancing into the house*
Maddy: Run?! Hooray!
Me: Did you have fun outside, Oscar?
Oscar: I hate Spring.
5 tags
WatchMaddy lounging on the ottoman. Apparently she thinks this is her chair.
4 tags
Doggie Zen
Like many Americans these days, life can seem a bit overwhelming. Although life can be a bit scary and daunting, I am confident it will be alright. Why? Because my four-legged youngings have the right attitude about life: relax, it will all be fine ‘cuz the whole pack is home and I have a toy.
They are my Zen Masters.
Dug would be proud
At about 5 pm, our upstairs neighbors knocked on our backdoor. Apparently, a squirrel had gotten into the building and was last seen wreaking havoc in the basement. Although mildly amusing, I realized that a single squirrel can damage all of our property very easily. We did what any renter would do: called the landlord.
After we left a message, we settled back in to our Sunday evening rest....
WatchOscar’s second day at agility class proved to be a success. Without the teeter there to send him shaking into a corner, he warmed up to the idea of playing on equipment and snacking on tasty treats all night. Here’s proof of Oscar’s bravery.
February 2010
12 posts
Facebook | Videos Posted by Joe Selkey: Feb 23,... →
Friends joined puppysavers.com and are fostering pups in their house. I have NO idea how they do this without owning dozens of pups.
Girls Night In
Mad Dog Maddy and I got to play all weekend when her and I went to visit a friend and her dog in Wisconsin. My little black-fur bundle of fire chased my friend’s five year old Short Haired German Pointer - Berta - literally around the house.
Thankfully both Berta and Maddy enjoyed each other’s company - they even went so far to share a bed. It was great: my friend and I got to catch...
A Note from Oscar
I gots lots of simpathee notes on Twitter from u alls. Tanks fer da support. Iz not lookin forwerd to skool next week, but I noes dat wif all u out der cheering mee on dat I will be okays.
Meh Hoomanz r werking wif mee to get over noizez. Like playing thunder storm musik during da day.
I will let u noes how it goez next week. Maybee I can work wif door open!
~ Oscar
Oscar v. the Teeter: Vol. 1
So, we took our lovely Oscar to his first agility class last night. All three of us bounced around inside the car as we drove, excitedly picturing jumps, tunnels, and a happy time. We got to our center, For Your Canine, and gawked at all the dogs running around colorful equipment on soft floors. Oscar’s tail was wagging non-stop.
Like any first day at school, we sat and filled out...
Retraining: life with a dog
MacWorld 2010 stole my husband away for four days this past week, and we now are realizing how true Cesar Millan’s ideas are.
Both Oscar and Maddy slept on the bed while my husband was off in San Francisco, and today, Oscar growled at my husband during feeding time. So now we’re taking a few steps.
1. Reasserting pack leader: Oscar will remain on floor for everything. No couch, no...
Snow Ball
Maddy: Throw the ball, throw the ball, throw the ball!
Me: You're just going to lose it in the snow.
Maddy: No I wont. Throw the ball, throwtheball, THROWTHEBALL!
Me: Alright.
*toss*
*sail*
*SPLAT!*
Maddy: Where'd it go?
*dig, dig, dig*
Me: Maddy! Don't dig up the lawn!
*dig,dig,dig*
Maddy: Gotta find the ball, gotta find the ball, gotta find the ball.
I walk over and find the ball and pick it up.
Me: Alright, we're done. This is stupid: you keep losing the ball.
Maddy: Throw the ball, throw the ball, throw the ball!
*sigh*
Me: I hate how cute you are.
Mutts
As I watch the Eukanuba’s AKC’s show, I always look forward to the herding group. Those beautifully brushed dogs run across the screen, prancing with pride. I remark how awesome it would be if people realize how great our mutts are because, let’s face it, mutts make great dogs. I look glowingly at our dogs who are asleep on the couch after a long day of play.
And then, as if on...
Home from school
I love how every Tuesday, I open the door at 5pm and there Maddy, home from school (our daycare offers shuttle service). She runs into the house with this look of “I learned so much!” and grabs her favorite ball.
But within five minutes, she’s passed out, exhausted on her bed dreaming.
Poor Pup's Punctured Paw
Oscar has stitches in his paw. : (
On Monday last week, he frolicked in the backyard, chasing balls. When we came in, so did bloody foot prints. He sliced his paw open on something outside (still unsure as to what), so off to the vet we went.
First, they superglued him shut, which I expected. However, when the wound started bleeding again on Friday, the vet made the call to use sutures. I...
January 2010
2 posts
Mama's got a brand new power tool
Ok, so I’ve heard about these things all over the place but never really thought they were worth a hoot. It’s the Dremel’s Pet Nail Grooming Tool, a nail trimmer. Yes, Dremel made a Dremel for dog nails, and I was convinced it would a waste of money because, really, dogs hate getting their nails cut and having a fast-spinning cylindar of sandpaper run across their nails was not...
Paws and salt don't mix
The youngest in our family suffers from an identity complex: she thinks she’s a Siberian Husky. The girl won’t get out of the snow, even after the cold has cracked her paws raw. However, I think we’ve found a solution: disposable rubber booties.
Unlike the regular booties that slip right off because velcro doesn’t stand a chance against a spastastic cattle dog, these...