All The Toys

4 Comments / Animal Issues, Family Funk, Pets /

I’ve written (bitched) extensively about Skeeter’s ability to destroy a dog toy in seconds flat. Even the ones touted to be INDESTRUCTIBLE are gone faster than it took us to buy them. We waiver between buying tough, “good” toys on sale and buying cheap toys for $1 at the dollar store.

Damned if we do, damned if we don’t.

And then Lola came along.

The folks at Wright-Way said she loves “babies”. She likes to carry them around. When they walked her through the building, she’d “steal” a toy out of the bin and take it with her. The toys in her kennel weren’t destroyed when we were there… though I knew that didn’t mean much. Plenty of new toys for them to toss in before the people came puppy shopping.

Still, I was hopeful.

But, either Skeeter has taught Lola how to destroy a toy or she knew it all along. She’s not as quick as Skeeter but she’s definitely good at it. And, since Skeeter believes she needs all of the toys, a lot of fighting over toys happens. Not mean fighting, just… that’s mine, I want it, I’m not giving it up, tug, tug, tug type of fighting.

Of course Skeeter also collapses on the floor/couch/bed and throws a tantrum a three year old would envy when Lola will just NOT give up the toy Skeeter wants. (Which, as I’ve mentioned, is all the toys.)

I was getting kind of tired of seeing shredded bits and pieces of toys all over the house so I figured what the hell. Petsmart was having a good sale on toys (and treats) — 50% off on a lot of things. I figured it was worth a visit. And, the pups need some exercise. Two birds, one stone and all that.

Off we went. Lola didn’t get car sick (yay!) — it was less than what we think is her 20 minute car ride limit, so I’m not sure that it really means anything that she didn’t.

They had fun. They barked madly at some sort of beagle/hound-like dog. They were petted a whole lots. They really want a guinea pig and enjoyed scaring the parakeets. Skeeter loves cockatiels but the birds in Petsmart aren’t in an ideal place for Skeeter to look at them, so she had to settle for parakeets. I think Lola wants a lizard.

We came home with 30 new dog toys, some prairie dog treats, a huge bag of prairie dog bedding, 4 bags of treats, and 2 of the very big logs of dog food (that we cut up into pieces to use as training treats.) We spent less than we normally spend on a trip to the pet store and came home with tons more stuff.

One hell of a sale, I’m telling you.

We’ve been home two hours. The dogs have destroyed five toys.

Hell.

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Open (puppy) Adoption

2 Comments / Animal Issues, Family Funk, Pets /

It wasn’t long after adopting Skeeter that we started talking a lot about finding her sister, “Abby”. It really became something we wanted to do after we had Skeeter’s DNA tested. We thought it would be cool to find out how alike (or different) Skeeter and “Abby” might be and maybe even find a way to let them get together to play. That would be fun, right?

So we started hanging out on the Wright-Way Rescue Reunions Facebook page but there was no sign of “Abby”. We started posting photos of Skeeter now, along with the photos of “Abby” and Skeeter (formerly Scottie) asking if “Abb”y was out there.

No luck, so far.

Then we adopted Lola (formerly Farrah) and we knew right away that we’d want to hear about her puppies — so we’ve continued to hang out on that Facebook page and I’ve been posting photos of Lola and Skeeter, in hopes of finding some of their family members.

Which is why it was super awesome when a comment appeared right after I posted a photo of Lola and Skeeter barking at raccoons while standing on the couch. The woman who fostered Lola when she was pregnant was asking if that was “Farrah”.

Yes! And then she went on to tell us things she knew about Lola.

… She’s an escape artist (we figured that out ourselves, lol.)
… Yes! She used to get car sick when she was with us!
… We used to call her Molly (which explains why she didn’t come to “Farrah” at all. lol)

It was so much fun to hear her talk about Lola and I’m looking forward to hearing more… she’s promised to tell us how Lola got the scar on her leg. Cool, right?

After spending months on that Facebook group and seeing just how hard it is for people to find the other dogs/families they are looking for, I just keep thinking there should be a better way. Those of us who want to meet or just chat or share info should be able to find each other, if both parties are open to it. But how can that be made easier, when the rescue group is already low on funds and their staff/dollars need to be focused on saving animals?

I don’t know. I just think it’s cool and technology should make it so much easier than it is. Right?

Abby… we’re still looking for you. (Born in April 2012, adopted in August/September 2012)

We’d also love to hear from “Farrah’s” puppies … the “D” Litter born in March 2013 and adopted in May 2013!
(This one is Dionne)

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My Month in Numbers July 2013

1 Comment / Daily Dose, My Month In Numbers /

For the last (insert time period) I’ve been sharing a monthly to do list over on BlogHer.com. It’s helped me get things done, it’s been fun seeing other people’s lists and learning new things from those. But, I think it’s time for me to try something new so I’m going to join My Month in Numbers. This will combine the art journaling that I’ve been enjoying + my compulsive need to create lists. It might even make my life look a little pretty… which would be nice for months that have been anything BUT pretty. Hell, at the very least it will make my life look interesting.

I haven’t figured out exactly how I’m going to do this so the first month is definitely going to be a work in progress. I will probably post updated or update my post as I go along, particularly if I learn something big or make some drastic change to my process.

This first month, I’m going to try using tags because I have a bunch of tags leftover from JMPs tag book and it seems like a good exercise for the first month — and a month that will be really hectic from day one til day 31. I’m also not sure how the photograph part will work for me — it will probably be all dogs, all food, all dogs, maybe a JMP or two and then BlogHer photos. Maybe this will help me do more with a camera than just take puppy/food photos? We shall see, eh?

Now I’m off to surf some My Month in Numbers posts to get some inspiration and some ideas for my posts (and journaling.)

You can join My Month in Numbers, too. If you like. Or you can just heckle me from the sidelines. Whichever… You can also throw in a Ten To Dos in July 2013, in the comments, if you like. I’m still totally interested in those lists! In fact…. take a peek at mine!

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Reading in June

2013, Books in Bed /

An event month + puppes x weird work stuff = not many books were read this month. It was nice to be able to catch up on some e-books, (I’ll probably be doing that in July, as well.)

– I read 20 books.
– Only 3 were YA.
– One was From the Stacks.
– 7 were from the Cybils Challenge (all poetry)
– 6 were non-fiction (four of those were art journaling books.)
– 4 were ebooks on my kindle app.

July will probably look a lot like this… assuming I get some books downloaded and I reserve some Cybils short list children’s non-fiction next week.

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Tired

Daily Dose, Day to Day /

Man I’m tired today and I don’t think it has much to do with the power being off for seven hours last night (or having Lola wake me up a little before midnight to tell me there were a lot of big loud trucks on our street.)

We’re heading into the city tonight to see Melissa — which will make me even more tired, but it will be fun. As long as it doesn’t storm. Please let it not storm. Please.

I’m thinking I need to sleep all weekend. If only that were possible.

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Fang Chronicles: Zenya’s Story

1 Comment / 2013, Books in Bed, Fiction, Sci Fi and Fantasy, Women /

I’m playing catch up with a bunch of series I’ve read on my Kindle — most of them written by BlogHer community members. Hmmm, all of them written by BlogHer community members — cool!

The latest is Fang Chronicles: Zenya’s Story — I’m torn by this one. I couldn’t put it down, literally, but I’m not sure I liked Zenya as much as I did in the previous book. Or even early in the story. She got kind of wishy washy there in the middle and it felt not quite right.

But, it all worked out in the end and I’m pretty pleased with how things are progressing. I’m especially excited about the next one. I could not figure out why Honey would do THAT… so the first chapter of the next book cleared things right up. I should have guessed. It’s gonna be a good one!

PS. The edit on this one was outstanding. OUTSTANDING.

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Swine Not?

2013, Books in Bed, Fiction /

TW loves Jimmy Buffet and I kind of make fun of her for it. Because she doesn’t just like him, she LOVES HIM!!! Because I make fun of her for LOVING Jimmy Buffet, she thinks I don’t like him or his books. Not true. I like his music ok and I’ve enjoyed his novels. I have never read A Pirate Looks at Fifty which is the book I’m most likely to make fun of TW about… she calls reading it a “transformative book”. I can’t even type that without cackling.

I know, I haven’t read it — maybe it IS? hahahahahaha

Anyway, she thinks I don’t like his books so when I held Swine Not? back from the back to the library bag, she questioned me (again.)

I like his fiction, damn it.

Swine Not wasn’t the best of the bunch but it was a cute story. I do kind of wish Helen, whose story inspired this book, would have written her own darn book because I’d really like to know about THAT — more than a made up story about the family, the big and the four-start hotel in NYC.

Cute enough.

Not transformative, though.

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Errr, Seven Cybils: Children’s Poetry (Most, Excellent)

2013, Books in Bed, Children's Literature, Cybil Challenge, Favorites, Poetry /

I have a love/hate with children’s poetry, so it makes sense that I have a love/hate with the Cybils shortlist books in the poetry category. I’m pleased to say that the first six I’ve read are mostly winners.

Let’s start with the “meh” books.

This is probably mostly me and my love/hate thing but it’s become clear that I just don’t love ocean/water animal poetry for kids. It makes me roll my eyes more often than not. So, while I didn’t hate these, I don’t love them either except for one. One of these puts it slightly above the others:

Water Sings Blue was fine. Ho hum. Seen one book of children’s ocean poetry, seen ’em a..

In the Sea‘s poetry tried a little too hard but OMG the illustrations make up for it. Fabulous. I’d read this one again — just for the illustrations.

Moving onto the books I loved, some of them I was really surprised to love. OK most of them I was surprised to love (see my love/hate issues above.)

Last Laughs: Animal Epitaphs — hahahah, laugh out loud funny. If you have kids who love puns or want to teach them puns (and have no problems with death humor) this is THE BOOK. I must own this myself to read to JMP when he visits. hahaha.

UnBEElievables — I’m getting a little tired of books about bees but as soon as I feel that way or say that or type that, I feel guilty because … people, our bees are in trouble! I’d be tempted to put this in the same category with the ocean/water poetry above except… the poetry is pretty good, the tidbits about bees are just right and the illustrations are truly a work of art. *Love* I’d buy this one.

Book Speak — probably just me (and other bookaholics) but I loved it. I suspect most kids won’t love it. Librarians, teachers, parents who are avid readers will want them to but most… won’t. This is a book that has to hit exactly the right person or it falls flat. And kids are tough audiences for poetry.

Now, for the king of kings. Queen of queens. Best book of poetry in the world and everyone should drop what they’re doing and buy this because it means you’ll never have to buy, look at, read, pretend to like another book of animal poetry again. You also won’t have to buy a zillion non-fiction photo books about animals. This one does double duty and will save you money, time, and space on the shelf. I also can’t believe I’m saying this because this is the one I expected to really hate, hate, hate. National Geographic: Book of Animal Poetry. Amazing. Frost, Prelutsky, Dickinson, Lawrence are in here. The photos are National Geographic quality. It’s a high quality book. Best in breed, for sure.

Oops, overlooked Lies, Knives and Girls in Red Dresses on my library cart — it was excellent. Retold fairy tales, most definitely for older, mature teens. One of the best of the retold anthologies (and I’ve read a lot of them.)

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The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

1 Comment / 2013, Books in Bed, Favorites, Fiction /

Sassymonkey sent me an ARC copy of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry …. so long ago that I can’t remember. Years. YEARS!

I’ve had it on my TBR THIS MONTH< DARN IT, list a good half dozen times and never managed to read it. What the hell took me so long? It was a great book. Really great book with an awesome ending. I wouldn't have changed a single thing.

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