At Least He’s Not Chewing My Shoes

Rocky’s been with us for three weeks now.

He and Luci are bonding rather nicely.  They go every where and do every thing together.  He even goes with us on our nightly walks through the neighborhood.  If I don’t take him, he sits at the front door and whines the entire time we are gone.  Drives Hubby crazy. 

Luci’s doing a great job helping us potty train him.  

They run and romp through the house.  Tonight they were playing in the living room and Rocky crashed into the entertainment center when he lunged at Luci.  I made sure he was okay before I started laughing hysterically.  It was the "I meant to do that" look he gave me that did me in.  

Rocky wants to eat Luci’s big dog food.  Luci wants to eat Rocky’s puppy chow.  

They both want to chase the cat.

Overall, he’s a pretty good little boy.  But there’s one thing that I can count on him to do 100% of the time if I leave him alone.  He will pull my dish towels off the rack in the kitchen.  He’ll pull my pajamas off the hook in the bedroom.  He’ll pull the belt off Hubby’s bathrobe.  He’ll pull the belt off my bathrobe.  He’s been known to drag the bathroom rug into the den.  He took one of my stuffed bears off the bench at the top of the stairs.  He didn’t hurt the bear – just took off all the bear’s clothes. 

I know that if the dogs are quiet, Rocky’s probably up to no good. 

But at least he’s not chewing my shoes . . . .

Bright Spot

I’m feeling better.  The cold is finally gone.  There’s still a little bit of a cough, but I’m finally off all the meds.  Yippee!!

 

While that makes me happy . . . today something happened that brightened up my day.  Something that I look forward to every year.  The fact that it happened when I was feeling whiny is a great blessing.

 

I got my first box of Girl Scout Cookies of the season.  Yes, the beautiful little girls were at *Krogers* last night when I was picking up something for supper.  They stopped me as I was going in and I promised that I would stop on my way out.  Oh, boy, did I ever.  I checked out their display.  I got the scoop on the newcookies from the girls and their mother.  (Even Dad was there to help sell the cookies!)  I debated over what to buy.  Then I bought two boxes of Thin Mints.  Very predictable I know, but there is no better was to ease the winter blahs than Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies.  The Mom told me that they would be at several local big stores from now through March.  Happy, happy.  Joy, joy.   I need to talk to Hubby about what kind of cookies he wants and make a few more trips to get my yearly supply.

 

I did notice that the box is slightly smaller and there aren’t quite as many cookies in each box.  But I don’t care.  They’re Girl Scout Cookies.  It’s a tradition to buy them every winter.  I even buy a box to put in the freezer to eat on my birthday in July.  There’s nothing better than eating those frozen cookies in July.  It’s especially important to support the local Girl Scouts with the economy so bad this year.  Yea, money is tight all over – even here at the Big Dog House – but there are somethings that you just have to do.  And Girl Scout cookies are one of those things.  I can always scrape up $3 for a box of cookies. 

 

And once you see the smile on those little girls faces when you buy a box, you’ll understand why. 

It’s A Boy

Hubby and I have added a new member to the family. 

 

Everyone, this is Rocky.  He’s a 3 month old boxer mix puppy that came to live with us about three weeks ago.  He weighs about 25 pounds and is 15 inches high at the shoulder.  At least he was last week when I took his measurements.  He doesn’t stay still for too long so it’s hard to get a good measurement of him.  Hubby named him Rocky because he thought it would be cute to have a boxer mix named Rocky (Rocky Balboa).  I wanted to call him Linus (Linus & Luci), but Hubby didn’t like that idea.  His nickname is Rocky J. Squirrel. 

His Mommy was very pregnant when she was dropped off at the local animal shelter.  He and his 12 siblings arrived shortly after Mommy arrived at the shelter.  As of today, all the siblings have found loving homes and Mommy is in foster care until she can find her forever home.  We met Mommy when we picked out Rocky and I can’t imagine why anyone would just leave her.  She had the sweetest face and dispositon I’ve ever seen in a dog.  Oh, and she looks a lot like Rocky.

It was love at first sight when Hubby saw Rocky . . . and when Rocky saw Hubby.  I wasn’t really ready for a new dog, but how could I resist that face?  And how could I resist Hubby’s face when he saw that cute little guy.

But most of all, I couldn’t stand to see Luci’s sad little face every day after Blacky passed away.  Even though it took a while for Blacky to warm up to her, Luci always loved Blacky.  She was moping around the house and I was starting to worry about her.  Luci loves her little brother and hasn’t left his side since the day he got here.  I don’t think she really understands what happened to Blacky and why he is gone, but she’s having a wonderful time playing with Rocky.  There are times when she looks at me like “isn’t it time for him to go away?” but overall she’s pretty happy with being the big sister.  Hubby said the house was entirely too quiet after Blacky passed away.  That’s not the case anymore.  I keep reminding myself that it will be spring soon and they’ll be outside romping.

The best part is . . . since it’s Hubby’s puppy . . . Hubby’s doing the potty training and the 3 am feedings.  Whoo hooo!!

Complaint Department

Okay, I’m whining. I admit it. I’ve had a rough couple of weeks and I deserve a whining session. Here’s a list of the top 10 things that I’m whining about today.

1. Why do my patients wait until they take their last dose of medicine before they call me in a panic that they need a refill NOW?
2. When I do move Heaven and Earth to get the meds for the patient, they decide it’s not such an emergency and don’t pick up the meds . . . for over a week!
3. Do they honestly think that they will get faster service if they give me a heart wrenching sob story as to why they need an appointment to see the doctor TODAY?
4. I spend all morning preparing for a regularly scheduled monthly meeting and the people who attend the meeting EVERY MONTH are always a half hour late!
5. Those meeting packets that I spent all morning preparing? Almost all of them end up in the shredding bin.
6. I’m still dealing with this cold and I’m still short of breath with the constricted airways. Makes for very interesting phone calls to patients.
7. I’m getting better slowly but surely. The key word here is slowly. The doc told me that it will be a full two weeks before I’m all better.
8. The only time we hear from Hubby’s Ex is when she wants something. This time she wants us to make a trip to visit Princess for her 35th birthday next month. I’m not even speaking to Princess, why would I drive 700 miles round trip to visit for her birthday?
9. I know that I should be grateful that Hubby cleans the house. But does he have to rearrange the knick knacks every time? I can’t find anything anymore. Most of the time he’s moved something to a totally different room or packed it away in storage.
10. I’m getting used to having Rocky around. I admit that he’s an adorable little guy and I’m glad that Luci loves him so much. So why do I keep calling him Blacky?

I know that I have a case of the mid-winter blahs and that’s what’s causing the whining session. I’ve had Seasonal Affectional Disorder for years so this isn’t anything new for me. I’m sick of the dreary cold weather. I’m sick of being stuck in the house. Losing Blacky last month didn’t help. Having a nasty head/chest cold that’s bordering on pneumonia isn’t helping. I’m remembering to do all the stuff that I need to do to help myself feel better. But sometimes I really just want to throw a temper tantrum and smack someone up side their head. But if I can’t do that, I’ll eat chocolate. Tonight’s choice is Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs.

Complaint Dept.

Okay, I’m whining.  I admit it.  I’ve had a rough couple of weeks and I deserve a whining session.  Here’s a list of the top 10 things that I’m whining about today. 

 

1. Why do my patients wait until they take their last dose of medicine before they call me in a panic that they need a refill NOW?
2. When I do move Heaven and Earth to get the meds for the patient, they decide it’s not such an emergency don’t pick up the meds . . . for over a week!
3. Do they honestly think that they will get faster service if they give me a heart wrenching sob story as to why they need an appointment to see the doctor TODAY?
4. I spend all morning preparing for a regularly scheduled monthly meeting and the people who attend the meeting EVERY MONTH are always a half hour late!
5. Those meeting packets that I spent all morning preparing?  Almost all of them end up in the shredding bin. 
6. I’m still dealing with this cold and I’m still short of breath with the constricted airways.  Makes for very interesting phone calls to patients. 
7. I’m getting better slowly but surely.  The key word here is slowly.  The doc told me that it will be a full two weeks before I’m all better. 
8. The only time we hear from Hubby’s Ex is when she wants something.  This time she wants us to make a trip to visit Princess for her 35th birthday next month.  I’m not even speaking to Princess, why would I drive 700 miles round trip to visit for her birthday?
9. I know that I should be grateful that Hubby cleans the house.  But does he have to rearrange the knick knacks every time?  I can’t find anything anymore.  Most of the time he’s moved something to a totally different room or packed it away in storage. 
10. I’m getting used to having Rocky around.  I admit that he’s an adorable little guy and I’m glad that Luci loves him so much.  So why do I keep calling him Blacky? 

I know that I have a case of the mid-winter blahs and that’s what’s causing the whining session.  I’ve had Seasonal Affectional Disorder for years so this isn’t anything new for me.  I’m sick of the dreary cold weather.  I’m sick of being stuck in the house.  Losing Blacky last month didn’t help.  Having a nasty head/chest cold that’s bordering on pneumonia isn’t helping.  I’m remembering to do all the stuff that I need to do to help myself feel better.  But sometimes I really just want to throw a temper tantrum and smack someone up side their head.  

But if I can’t do that, I’ll eat chocolate.  Tonight’s choice is Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs. 

Happy Valentine’s Day

I’m home alone on Valentine’s Day evening. 

 

Oh, don’t feel bad for me.  I’m actually enjoying a quiet evening home alone with Luci and Rocky.  I need to go out a little later to get some paper towels (raising a puppy requires lots of them) and something special for supper.  (Taco Bell here I come.)  I’m watching my favorite movie (Love Actually) on TV and I’ll be watching the weekly update of The Young and The Restless after that.  Oh, and Graham Norton on BBC America.  Trust me.  It’s way more fun here than you might think. 

 

Hubby is at a bowling tournament.  It’s here in town.  Not far away and I could have gone with him if I wanted.  I’ve done the Valentine’s Day evening at the bowling alley before and it’s not something that I care to repeat.  Besides, Hubby and I have already done the Valentine’s Day thing earlier today.  We did the present thing. We did some errands together.  Besides, we’ve been together for almost 27 years.  That alone is the best Valentine’s present.  Besides, he’s going to make it up to me in April for our 25th wedding anniversary . . . he just doesn’t know it yet. 

 

So while Hubby is bonding with the guys, I’m here with my puppies, my soaps, my cough drops, my inhaler, and my Kleenex. 

 

Happy Valentine’s Day!!

Exhausted

Believe or not, Rocky’s not the cause of my exhaustion.  It’s a stupid cold that won’t get better.  I’ve had a stuffy nose and a cough for a few days, but now it’s been joined by a sore throat.  That’s where I give in and go to the doctor.  It’s probably strep.  It’s always strep.  I hate that test. 

 

Rocky is doing well adapting to life here at the Big Dog House.  Hubby has been the one getting up with him in the middle of the night.  We’re not having any luck with the crate training, but we are getting along well with the potty training.  Rocky had his first visit to the vet on Wednesday.  Another task that Hubby has stepped up to the plate on.  What a big help that is!  Rocky is a healthy boy although he has a bit of an ear infection that requires drops twice a day.  The third set of shots and his neuter surgery is scheduled for next month.  I’m not looking forward to Rocky running through the house for a week or two with a lampshade on his head. 

 

Luci is adapting nicely to her role as big sister.  Poor little thing was scared to pieces that Rocky wasn’t coming back after his vet visit.  They didn’t leave each other’s sight all day yesterday. 

 

Right now, I have a date with some Nyquil and a warm blanket.  Oh, and a puppy or two on my feet.  The only good part of this cold . . .

Rocky

He’s 11 weeks old, weighs 25 lbs., and is 15 inches high at the shoulder.  His mommy is a beautiful Boxer mix with the sweetest face and disposition I’ve ever seen in a dog.  We have no idea who his daddy is.  We’re pretty sure there’s some St. Bernard in there somewhere but we aren’t sure how much . . . and we’re not sure what else he’s mixed with.  Mommy was dropped off at the shelter very pregnant and delivered 13 puppies within days after her arrival.  

 

He has Hubby and Luci wrapped around his little paw.  He is a cute little guy – aren’t all puppies that age cute? – and he’s certainly brought a lot of excitement into the house the last couple of days.  I’m not saying that I don’t like him . . . I’m just saying that it might be a little too early for me to give my heart over to him.  Every day my heart heals more over the loss of Blacky and there’s more room for Rocky. 

 

He snores louder than Luci.  He would rather eat Luci’s big dog food than his puppy chow.  Luci would rather eat his puppy chow instead of her big dog food.  But when she was a puppy I couldn’t get her to eat the puppy chow to save my life.  Just yesterday we heard him growl and bark for the first time.  If his growl and bark is this loud at 11 weeks, I can’t wait to hear what it is when he’s full grown.  He gets hiccups after eating.  We’re doing okay on the potty training issue, although he’s not too confident in his ability to go down the stairs on the deck and has gone potty on the deck if we aren’t there to help him.  At least he’s not making messes in the house. 

 

He loves Luci and Luci seems to love him.  They chase each other through the house and in the yard.  He steals toys from her, she steals them back.  When they get tired they sleep together on the same doggie bed.  He’s not happy unless he’s touching her.  She seems very happy to have him there next to her.  There are times when I can tell that she’s wondering where Blacky is, but she’s not as lost as she was right after Blacky died.  There are still moments when she’ll sit on the deck or under the pine tree by herself, but mostly she’s right there next to Rocky.   If she’s out of his sight for too long, he’ll sit at my feet and whine at me to help him find her. 

 

We’re trying to crate train him, but he isn’t having any part of it.  Every time we put him in the crate, he whines and howls at the top of his lungs until we let him out.  Hubby is a softer touch than I am with this.  Hubby lets him out every time.  Since Hubby is the one responsible for the 3 a.m. potty breaks, I have no problem with that. 

 

The cat isn’t too sure about the latest addition to the family.  Fluff will sneak into the house at night when he knows that the dogs aren’t around and then sneak back out in the morning.  Yes, I know it’s strange to have a boy cat named Fluff.  All I can say is that neither Hubby or I named the cat.  He came to us a year or so ago with that name and we didn’t see any reason to change it.  

 

So there you have it . . . all the details of the newest addition to the Big Dog Family.  If you thought the Blacky and Luci stories were something, wait for the Luci and Rocky stories.  Fasten your seatbelts.  I think we’re in for a fun ride.  

Ch-ch-ch-changes

We’re slowly adapting to the new normal here at the Big Dog House.  Poor Luci is lost without Blacky.  Hubby said the house is entirely too quiet.  I’m still dealing with a little bit of guilt over the fact that I was the one that made "the decision".  

 

Hubby told me he wants to get a companion for Luci.  He wants a boy puppy.  He found an 11 week old boxer/St. Bernard puppy at a local animal shelter.  A puppy?  I’m not so sure this a good idea.  Hubby wants me to think about it and at least look the little guy.  It can’t hurt to look, right?

 

Famous last words.

 

Rocky joined the family on Wednesday. 

 

I hate it when Hubby’s right.