Why am I surprised?

We've had our house decorated for Christmas for over a week now.  It was fun decorating a new house.

Isn't it pretty?  I even bought all new candles for the windows!  (Has anyone already figured out where this story is headed?!)

When I left for the grocery store today, this is what I left:

She LOVES her rawhides, but rarely chews them when I'm gone.

This is what I came home to:

They're battery operated, so strangely, they still light up.  With enough duct tape, they might still look pretty from the outside.  ;)  Good thing I'm not expecting any more company INSIDE the house!

CONTINUATION:

Several hours later, after my amazing husband came home from work.....

No duct tape needed, and from this distance, you can't even see the teeth marks!  :)

Irony, or just a waste of money?

I've always struggled with the definition of irony.  I know Alanis Morissette got it all wrong in her song, but I still struggle with what is right.

So, my question for the day is, does this picture demonstrate irony?

Do I really need to pay for ADT when I have this laying at my front door?

Zuzu says it's not irony, it's just a waste of money.  She says she's got us covered in the security arena.

Crazy Busy

One of the biggest problems with super busy months (like December) is that sooo many things happen, and there's no time to settle down and contemplate (or blog) any of it.

So, we're going to do a type of photo journal this morning, trying to get a couple of stories out there.

The first is called "Cooperation".

So, wait - WHY are we sitting here?

Shhhh....just be patient cat, and trust me.  They will come.

Dude!  How did she KNOW?  Hmmm...what else does she know?!  I could be in big trouble.

The cooperation continued, much to our dismay.  Their next group effort was a planned attack at 5am on a Saturday morning!  I don't know how they did it, but I'm convinced they counted to three together using animal ESP and both pounced on the bed at the same time.  Koshka jumped right onto Jim's chest and Zuzu slammed her nose into my face.  Jim grabbed the cat, threw her out of the bedroom, and slammed the door.  He gave Zuzu a glare, and crawled back into bed.  I just sat there and tried to breath again.  The house stayed quiet until almost 7:30 that morning!

"Another visit from Nana and Pop Pop"

If anyone in the world could come close to Tressa as one of Zuzu's favorites, it would have to be Pop Pop.  They returned last weekend for the Army/Navy game that was being held in D.C. this year.

Waiting for the school bus together.  (Yup - she can train more than just a cat!)

One of their favorite games is playing tag, running around the house in circles.  I happened to have my phone handy for this one, so we have a little low quality video to back it up.

"Torturing Animals"

This is how we torture the dog and squirrels at the same time.  It would be too easy to simply feed the wild animals, we have to make them work for it.  The dog is not allowed outside if the squirrel is eating, so it tortures poor Zuzu as well.

Yes.  It is indeed, corn, on a bungee!

"New Veterinarian"

Nana came with us to our new veterinarian.  It's right at the end of our street, so we got to walk there, which is super convenient.  It's big and clean and pretty, and they charge me too much money, but I really like it.  I had taken Koshka there before, but it was Zuzu's first time since I was waiting to use up everything I had already paid for at Banfield before I changed.  (I'm cheap like that!)

Zuzu is still afraid of the scale.  It took a lot of tugging and sweet-talking to get her onto the moving platform, but she weighed in at 85 lbs.

Her vet was Dr. Berkshire, who was really nice and really pretty and likes big dogs and just moved to DC from the west coast.  She spent a lot of time with Zuzu and even let her lean up against me while she was checking her out.  Eventually, she even got Zuzu to walk forward to her some.

She said that Zu's weight was perfect, because she thinks it's always better to keep dogs lean.  She didn't harass me about not getting her spayed and even talked about breeding and showing.  She recommended that I don't wait much longer to get Zuzu into her first conformation show because she said that Zu and I both need to learn how to behave in shows while she is still young.

She did say that she wanted me to watch one of her front ankles that seemed to bend in farther than the other.  She said it might have just been the way that she was standing, or it could just be some uneven growing, but to keep an eye on it.

Zuzu got her Bordetella shot and some more heartworm pills, and we headed out.  We go back in March.

"Army Navy Football"

Our family has been a longtime supporter of Army football, no matter how bad the season.  It's pretty easy to understand that once you realize that five of us attended West Point.  In fact, my dad is so old that I'm pretty sure he's one of the first graduates ever!  ;)

So it should also be easy to understand that if the game is being played in Washington, DC, that some of us would gather to attend.

See, the buttons prove that he's been to a lot of games.

With all of that in mind, it should also be easy to understand that our animals MUST be fans as well.

Doesn't she look beautiful in her Army scarf?

I think she was more proud wearing that around than she was wearing her birthday scarf.  And she got even more compliments on it!  There are a few military people that live in our neighborhood and now they all want beautiful scarves for their doggies too.  (Of course, Zuzu's Golden Retriever friend's parents weren't agreeing with me that it had to say Army.  Some silly people think their dogs should wear scarves that say Navy.  Why would anyone do that to a harmless animal?  Oh, the shame, the SHAME!)

Zuzu had her biggest challenge ever that Saturday though.  She had to stay home alone for quite a long time.  The local high school football team made it to the State Championship game that weekend, so the neighbor girl that we were going to ask to let her out for us had to go perform in the band as a flag girl.  We left late so we missed the pregame activities, and took her on an extra long walk that morning, but she was still alone from noon until after 10pm.  Not that I will ever ask her to do that again for us, but she was perfect!  She got another long walk when we got home.

She paid me back the next day though.  As I was cleaning up the house, I put stuff on the stairs to bring up to the bedroom and left it there for a few minutes.  When I got back, she was in the dining room, happily eating my little black purse that I bring to formals.  It was DESTROYED!  :(  I guess she wasn't ready to forgive me after all.

"The Fire"

We had fireplaces in California, but it was never quite cold enough to light one.  So, when Jim stoked up our first fire on Sunday night, it was fun to watch Zuzu's reaction.  She watched it for quite a while before she settled down.

"What IS this sorcery?!"

It might be dark magic, but so far, I'm okay with it!

Happy 1st Birthday!

Today was my birthday.  I didn't know what that meant, but I knew it was something great, because Mommy kept singing to me and telling me about "presents".  I was excited and didn't want to wait until Daddy got home!

Mommy let me put my pretty birthday scarf on early, so that I could wear it all day.  I'm going to wear it tomorrow too, so the whole neighborhood can see how beautiful I am, now that I'm one.

Darby gave me a cake.  I love Darby!

It was weird.  And hard.  But, the yogurt icing was fun to lick.  Mommy said she got it at a special doggy bakery for me.  Next time, I want to go and pick my own cake.  (I'll pick something steak flavored, but don't tell Mommy.)

Tressa broke the cake into pieces for me so that I could actually eat some of it.  It wasn't bad after all.  I'll get more this weekend.  Mommy wouldn't let me have it all at once.  Something about their last dog having Di-just-ing problems with boutique treats from a different bakery, because he ate too much.  I don't know what those problems are, but they don't sound like fun.  Especially on my birthday.

Tressa gave me a pink tough chew toy!  It squeaked.  I heard it squeaking before when Daddy got home from work and I came to see and Darby and Tressa started yelling at him and told him to wait until after dinner.  I thought he was getting presents too!

Then, I got the best present of all!  I do so very much love Tressa!  Happy birthday to me.  Bye now.

From Kodi (Zuzu's brother):

 I got a new tug toy and am looking forward to a special chicken breast dinner tonight. Tomorrow I am going to Santa Paws for a photo with Santa followed by another special steak dinner. Then on Sunday my favorite of all, a long hike off lead in the High Sierras in the snow with Keiko and Mom and Dad. It is fun being a birthday boy.

I have a new fun thing to do. Every night before bed I get my favorite tug and play tug with mom. She says I beat her up but it is so much fun. Dad isn’t so much fun because he won’t let me win so he doesn’t get to play with me. After tug with mom, dad takes me and Keiko out for a “potty” walk and then we get to check out all my fenced territory and we all bark, bark bark to tell the bad guys we are watching. There is a jack rabbit that really makes me mad. Every night after 10 he comes and hops around then goes and drinks at our water trough. Dad doesn’t think he is a threat and doesn’t care for my barking at him but I know he just shouldn’t be there.

Kodi

From Echo (one of Zuzu's other brothers):

kodi, do you think anyone would know if i ran away and lived in your basement,,,wait, do you have a basement? you could sneak me food and stuff.

i didn't get anything special for my birthday, she grabbed my cheeks this morning and called me a big boy, but she still laughs at the way I go potty, because it's like our mom, I guess. I don't see any difference in it. She won't let me bark bark bark, i just get going good and she ruins all my fun. what is a jack rabbit? i am sure i would love to chase one. i can help you guard, it sounds like you're busy.

your brother echo

Zuzu's First Thanksgiving

Zuzu had so many firsts this weekend and so much fun!

It all began with the arrival of visitors.  Not a first - but exciting just the same.  Nana and Pop Pop arrived on Wednesday morning.  Zuzu remembered them immediately and didn’t waste a second trying to get Pop Pop to chase her around the house.  Then, the girls had a half day AND Daddy got home from work early.  Nothing makes her happier than a house full of people to play with her.

The cooking began on Wednesday evening.  So many smells!  The kids’ favorite thing is making the turkeys for dessert.  Zuzu didn’t understand why she didn’t get one.

On Thanksgiving morning, Daddy woke up and took Zuzu on her first real run.  He said she did great!  Her only problem was that she figured that since she was running anyway, she must be allowed to chase stuff, so it took her a little bit to settle into a doggy jog.  In the beginning, any time she saw another dog, squirrel, or bird, she tried to run in that direction rather than straight down the sidewalk.  He ran two miles with her, and we thought she’d be tired when she got home.  Not so.  Pop Pop!  Tressa!  Play with me!  Bark Bark BARK!!

She settled down during the Macy’s parade and even cuddled with Tressa some.  Then, we watched the dog show.  She ignored the whole thing, except for the Leonberger.  When he came on the TV she jumped up and started barking and wagging her tail!  I’m not sure if she wanted to play with him, or wanted him out of her house, but she was quite vocal about it.

She behaved during dinner and patiently waited for hers.  Maybe she knew that if she was good, she’d get turkey too.  Daddy made her a bowl full of turkey with some mashed yams.  She LOVED it, of course!  So far, Thanksgiving is her favorite holiday.

The weekend was gorgeous, so she got lots of walks.  Some with Mommy and Daddy, some with Mommy and Daddy and Darby, and some with Mommy and Nana.  (Mommy needed to work off lots of turkey!)

Nana and Pop Pop left on Sunday, but again it was a gorgeous day, so it was time for yard work.  Zuzu got to hang out in the front yard for the first time (tied up, of course), while leaves were raked.  At first she wasn’t sure about the cable tying her to the ground, but soon she realized its limits and just sat in the yard, guarding the world that is hers.  She loved sitting outside, being able to watch everything in the neighborhood.  The funny thing was, she barked less than she does when she’s inside looking out the front door.  Even when other dogs walked by, she just watched!

I thought this morning would be rough for her after everyone left again and the house was quiet.  But Daddy got up early and they went for another run.  He dropped her off halfway through, because she’s not ready for his normal 4-5 miles yet and if she’s like me, she never will be.  She loved it, and it wore her out.  She only cried for a little bit this morning after everyone left, and now she is sound asleep in the front entryway.

Long weekends are exhausting!

ROFL - It's NOT just me!!!

I fell out of my chair laughing, and Jim laughed out loud as well.

This is the message we got from Ron yesterday (Kodi's dad):

The “no-pull harness and 4 point leash” are fantastic. He has become a joy to walk. Even when startled by deer he is in total control, so much so that Joan is no longer afraid to walk him. The connection at the front coupled with the tensioning on the back connection is a wonderful training aid without any yanking on his neck. Having had a compression fracture of my neck from wrestling and the resulting fusion I am very sensitive about yanking a dog around by the neck especially when they are in a full force lunge. He has learned “hold, stay, around, sit, heel and go,go,go free dog” so well that – here is the good part:  Now that I have such a well-trained obedient dog, why not just walk him on a regular harness?

Well, here are several reasons why not to. Wet pavement covered in pine needles, walking downhill on wet pavement covered in pine needles, wet grass covered in pine needles on hill next to road covered in pine needles, person on road walking a Chihuahua with a bright red coat that starts barking at us. Estrela Mountain Dog named “Kodi the obedient one” explodes and launches into the air and master,  sensing the fact that “the obedient one” is much faster than he is and is heading toward a serious face plant tries the anchor approach of dropping to the ground on his knees to slow “the obedient one”. End result, the master is flipped over on his back and is drug across the hill for about 10 yards before “the obedient one” stops and looks back wondering why the master was on his back shouting nasty words at him.

Back to the “no-pull harness and 4 point leash”.

The Cold

Last week, it was cold.  Really cold for November.  Now granted, all of us have lived in the cold before; we lived in New York and Zuzu was born in North Carolina and has even seen snow.  One year in California, however, made all of our blood thin!  Now we are whiny, cold fearing babies.

Zuzu hates the heat, and loves cool weather, but she didn’t seem to remember cold.  In the morning, I would let her outside where she would run with glee, but then five minutes later, ask to come back inside.  She’d come inside for five minutes, then ask to go out again.  This went on for about twenty minutes before I had had enough and didn’t let her back out until the afternoon.

Another new thing that Zuzu had not seen, was our winter coats.  She LOVES my winter coat.  Or should I say, my hood?  It has a black, fake fur rim, that looks and feels just like the cat.  At first I could not figure out why she was following me around the house, until she started jumping up, trying to bite my hood that was hanging on my back.  We had to have a little discussion that that was not okay, and the hood was not Koshka.  

We’ll have to wait and see if she remembers our talk, since all of the winter coats have been put away again for now, waiting for winter to actually arrive.

Puppy Cuddles

I’m probably delusional, but sometimes I think she loves me soooo much, and just doesn’t know what to do about it!  

She has the sweetest expression that I’ve ever seen, looking up at me, all full of love, then LEAPS into my lap!  Then, paws on shoulders, hugging.  Then, gnawing on my head and licking my ears.

Someday, this dog has really got to learn how to just cuddle.

Santa is GOOD!!

Walking

Our challenge lately has been walking.  And, though I will regret saying this later, things are getting SO much better.

Her biggest problem is still her desire to meet every other dog on the street, so one of the things that I have started to do is put her citronella collar on when we walk.  As soon as she tugs, I give her a warning ‘beep’.  Only twice in the past two weeks have I had to actually give her a spray of citronella.  And those were during the first two days.

Lately, she has been learning to self-correct.  If she gets to where the leash pulls, she comes right back to me, unless there is something that she really really wants to get to or get away from.

Luckily, the raccoon wandering down the middle of the street was down wind, so she didn’t smell it.  She was curious, but under control.

Unfortunately, the garbage truck heading up the street towards us yesterday was faster than we could walk, and pulled up right next to us with men jumping out towards us.  Zuzu panicked!  Luckily, she tried to run away, not towards the chaos.  Beeper and choke chain ready, I was able to get her a little bit away and have her sit, until she calmed down enough to switch walking directions.

She was prepared today though.  Anytime any vehicle passed us, she placed herself between it and me, trotting along, daring it to attack.  None of them were as big as a garbage truck, but I’m sure she would have faced anything down today, just to earn back her status as a guardian.

Then, I had to chuckle at the lady walking her dog in the rain this morning, with her pretty raincoat and umbrella.  Her tiny little terrier had a rain coat and hat too!  Zuzu and I walked by, proudly dripping.  Hey, we didn’t have our makeup or princess ballerina costumes on today, so we didn’t mind being soaking wet.  And my cute, giant puppy had a nice loose leash as she walked, unlike the well-dressed adorable creature trying unsuccessfully to pull her owner down the street!

Autumn

There are so many new experiences with new seasons.

Leaves:  Zuzu does not understand why they fall off trees, but then just lay still on the ground.  She'll bark and jump at them as they fall, then paw them on the ground and bark more, trying to get them to play.

Cooler Weather:   NOTHING wears this dog out when it's cool.  I can walk her for over an hour and she'll still come home and run and run and jump and chew her toys and toss them in the air and chase them to chew them some more.  She is so happy!

Fog:  I've never seen her walk so strangely as in fog.  She walks slower, but right next to me, tail up, nose up, ears perked, smelling everything and hopping at every noise and smell!  That walk actually did wear her out, probably because she was on high alert for an hour.  She came home and crashed as soon as she was sure we were safe.

Why?

Alright, PEOPLE....I know that Daddy spent two weeks in Las Vegas, but I don't think this was what I needed to see in my bedroom when it was time for me to go to sleep.

How am I supposed to fit on my own bed?

Again, calm puppies and children are great, but MUST nap time occur in the middle of the living room floor, right in front of my computer?

I can't even open the doors to my computer armoire this way, so how do I check e-mail?

And finally, I'm sure in a doggy mind, chewing your rawhide ON my lap is a way of sharing and showing affection, but I don't need soggy jeans.  This is close enough for me!

Back Off, Dog!

Lacrosse

On Sunday, Zuzu got to go watch two lacrosse games out in Fairfax.  It was a gorgeous, sunny day, and she behaved really well.

Hey...wait....is that TRESSA out there?  Can I go too?!!!!

Between the two games, Tressa walked her around the field to meet the team.  Jim followed closely behind....just in case there were any antics, but she did great!

Zuzu LOVES love!

Tressa is still her favorite.

Walking back to the fan section with Daddy.

Playtime with Austin, the Pomeranian puppy.  Austin had to stand on his hind legs while Zuzu was laying down, for them to touch noses.

Zuzu got a short walk during the second game, but other than that and the visit with Tressa's teammates, she just hung out with Jim and me by the chairs.  She did get a little excited anytime she saw another dog, and sometimes barked at them or at Tressa, but other than that was a perfect doggy angel.

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

As it is not too early to start planning for Christmas, I thought I would go ahead and send you a letter.

First, I would like to thank you again for last year's present. My puppy is amazing!  She is not only a giant furball of love, but is also keeping me physically fit and intellectually stimulated.

With last year's gift in mind, this year could you please bring me a Dyson DC23 Animal Canister? And a steam mop? (One for all hard surfaces, to include hard wood floors, of course.)

Much appreciated.

Now, may I offer you a suggestion?

Have you ever considered having the elves merge with the Dyson and/or Oreck Corporations so that with every gift of a pet, they could also make and include an appropriate cleaning appliance? Just a thought.

Along those same lines, my gift requests for the next few years are as follows:

- 2012:  a boyfriend to visit Zuzu and a carpet steamer
- 2013:  another kitten and a Dyson cordless
- 2014:  another Estrela and a new Dyson upright
- 2015:  a tortoise
- 2016:  another kitten and a lifetime supply of swiffer sheets


Thank you again, and enjoy the holidays!

v/r,

Penny

Zuzu saves a Pumpkin

The pumpkin thieves came back again last night.  Zuzu did a scary scary bark/howl as soon as she heard them.  She sounded sort of like a ghostly giant monster!  We turned lights on and went outside after we knew it was all clear, and they had dropped the pumpkin and the stem had fallen off it, but everything was lying right on the front porch.

We put the pumpkins inside for the night, so that the poor puppy could get some sleep.

Halloween has gone well so far tonight.  Zuzu is very alert, and barks when she hears the doorbell, but is not overreacting in any way.  Maybe next year I'll let her sit on the front porch or walk around with us.

Here she is, watching Darby, Alex, and Tressa sitting on the front porch, waiting for more kids.  It was a really slow night, so that probably helped some.

Getting Ready for Halloween

Zuzu is a beautiful princess ballerina!

Isn't she pretty?

Koshka is a scary black cat.  Oh, wait....

That's not a costume!