Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
Wall II
Earl's no dummy. He knows that it's just when you think it's safe that something jumps out at you and he's taking no chances.
Under the Christmas tree...
Under the Christmas tree...
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Nap Time!
The hours between 10am-2pm are specifically dedicated to nap time. Want to come in the yard during that time. No problem. Want to rob the house? Randi and Earl will help by showing you where I keep the good silver. (Little do they know that I just told them where I keep the good silver. Like I'd trust those two with any national secrets.) They are completely useless. However when I come home and need a nap it takes nearly an act of congress to make it happen.
First, I arrive home. "Hi, pack of dogs," I say. Then I push my way through the gate and push my way through the bouncing mass of legs. "What did you do today? No, get down. Did you play? No, get down. Did you play you run around while Sarah barks game? No, get down." At some point I usually yell, "leave her alone! She doesn't like you!" Once I finally get into the house I usually make my way back to the bedroom and lay down. No one is ever satisfied with this and they always have to jump on me or try to lick me or try to lay on me. It's not very peaceful.
The other problem is that Sarah doesn't eat unless I'm home. I usually get home about the same time as all the other kids so there are LOTS of thing to bark out. Which means that I usually get home. Lay down on my bed. Try to go to sleep with fidgeting dogs around me. Sarah sits outside and barks at nothing. Earl whines in the hallway. Clark tries to get all my attention and Randi tries not to be unadopted. Nobody ever really gets a nap and I usually end up more stressed than not.
It's even worse if I lay on my "nap" bed because on there, there's not enough room for everyone to take a nap and I have to do a dance to see who is going to sleep the closest to me.
First, I arrive home. "Hi, pack of dogs," I say. Then I push my way through the gate and push my way through the bouncing mass of legs. "What did you do today? No, get down. Did you play? No, get down. Did you play you run around while Sarah barks game? No, get down." At some point I usually yell, "leave her alone! She doesn't like you!" Once I finally get into the house I usually make my way back to the bedroom and lay down. No one is ever satisfied with this and they always have to jump on me or try to lick me or try to lay on me. It's not very peaceful.
The other problem is that Sarah doesn't eat unless I'm home. I usually get home about the same time as all the other kids so there are LOTS of thing to bark out. Which means that I usually get home. Lay down on my bed. Try to go to sleep with fidgeting dogs around me. Sarah sits outside and barks at nothing. Earl whines in the hallway. Clark tries to get all my attention and Randi tries not to be unadopted. Nobody ever really gets a nap and I usually end up more stressed than not.
It's even worse if I lay on my "nap" bed because on there, there's not enough room for everyone to take a nap and I have to do a dance to see who is going to sleep the closest to me.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Reasons for Sarah to be Bitchy
1. Randi
2. Earl
3. Randi and Earl
4. There are no men at my house.
5. The quilt for "her" bed turned out too small.
6. She doesn't get cheese and tortillas like the Snickerdoodle.
7. Nobody appreciates the everyone runs around while she barks game.
8. She once lived with creepy Jose.
2. Earl
3. Randi and Earl
4. There are no men at my house.
5. The quilt for "her" bed turned out too small.
6. She doesn't get cheese and tortillas like the Snickerdoodle.
7. Nobody appreciates the everyone runs around while she barks game.
8. She once lived with creepy Jose.
Earl develops an irrational fear of the hallway
Lighting the pilot light in the wall heater is always a challenge. It usually takes me 2-3 days because I can't ever remember where exactly the pilot part of the wall heater is and I end up putting fire in place that are not going to help me light the pilot light.
And so, this is what happened last week, when on a cold day I tried to light the wall heater. I ended up laying on the ground for about 30 minutes moving fire around trying to somehow light the pilot light. It didn't work. What it did do is produce some kind of hysterical fear in Earl who now has to pull up all of his inner warrior strength to even look down the hallway.
I didn't notice at first that Early was terrified of the hall. But the next morning when I got up and he still hadn't left the bathroom I got a clue. I ended up grabbing him the collar and dragging him down the hallway. He might have stayed in there for the rest of his life. He stayed in the living room for 3 days, crying pathetically when the rest of us were in the back rooms. Then, Earl made a break for it last week and scrambled down the hallway. Now, it takes him several minutes of courage gathering, some whining, some cajoling on my part and he will make a bolt for the backroom.
I can't figure out what it was that terrified him. The rest of us walk by the wall heater at least twenty times a day without any mishaps. He's gone by it a bazillion times, but for whatever reason, he has decided that it is the most horrific thing in the world and should only be braved once or twice a week. I thought he'd forget about it and return to normal, but he has shown no sign that he's willing to let his guard down and let the wall heater get the best of him. Poor Earl.
And so, this is what happened last week, when on a cold day I tried to light the wall heater. I ended up laying on the ground for about 30 minutes moving fire around trying to somehow light the pilot light. It didn't work. What it did do is produce some kind of hysterical fear in Earl who now has to pull up all of his inner warrior strength to even look down the hallway.
I didn't notice at first that Early was terrified of the hall. But the next morning when I got up and he still hadn't left the bathroom I got a clue. I ended up grabbing him the collar and dragging him down the hallway. He might have stayed in there for the rest of his life. He stayed in the living room for 3 days, crying pathetically when the rest of us were in the back rooms. Then, Earl made a break for it last week and scrambled down the hallway. Now, it takes him several minutes of courage gathering, some whining, some cajoling on my part and he will make a bolt for the backroom.
I can't figure out what it was that terrified him. The rest of us walk by the wall heater at least twenty times a day without any mishaps. He's gone by it a bazillion times, but for whatever reason, he has decided that it is the most horrific thing in the world and should only be braved once or twice a week. I thought he'd forget about it and return to normal, but he has shown no sign that he's willing to let his guard down and let the wall heater get the best of him. Poor Earl.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
One Year Anniversary Celebration
Forget the cake, gifts of paper or anything else. Here at the Saratoga Animal Shelter we're celebrating the one year anniversary of Randi and Earl with 24 Hours of Mischief. I felt it was appropriate to have a mischief theme as that is what Randi and Earl do best.
It's hard to believe that it's only been one year since Randi and Earl showed up at my gate. Since that time they've committed uncountable acts of mischief, resulting in the loss of socks, underware, sports bras, Clark's toys, sandpaper, three or four dog beds and most of Sarah's patience. And so for the 24 Hours of Mischief they've been quite reserved. Maybe they're maturing. Maybe they're out of the "terrible two's"; I'm not really sure, but they are quite calm.
I on the other hand, have managed my own mischief. Accidentally, I drained half of the pool yesterday. I didn't want to drain the pool, if I had, why would I have just put chemicals in it? So I was surprised when I saw that half of my pool water was in the backyard and not in the pool. I created more mischief when I tried to fill the pool back up and the hose fell out and for who knows how long, it watered my backyard. Brilliant.
However, the 24 Hours of Mischief are not over.
It's hard to believe that it's only been one year since Randi and Earl showed up at my gate. Since that time they've committed uncountable acts of mischief, resulting in the loss of socks, underware, sports bras, Clark's toys, sandpaper, three or four dog beds and most of Sarah's patience. And so for the 24 Hours of Mischief they've been quite reserved. Maybe they're maturing. Maybe they're out of the "terrible two's"; I'm not really sure, but they are quite calm.
I on the other hand, have managed my own mischief. Accidentally, I drained half of the pool yesterday. I didn't want to drain the pool, if I had, why would I have just put chemicals in it? So I was surprised when I saw that half of my pool water was in the backyard and not in the pool. I created more mischief when I tried to fill the pool back up and the hose fell out and for who knows how long, it watered my backyard. Brilliant.
However, the 24 Hours of Mischief are not over.
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