The Alarm

We never had ADT before, nor any alarm on our house, so this is a first.  I suppose we've never considered it because we normally live on post, where bad guys would have to get through a gate with armed guards to get to our home.

We probably don't need it here either, but the house came with it, so I had it hooked up.  It seemed like a great idea until about midnight last night when the evil acorn throwing squirrels decided to attack.

House alarms are LOUD!  Even louder though, is the barking of an Estrela over the alarm.  Jim and I haven't jumped out of bed that quickly since well, ever.

Once all was calm and everything was reset and ADT had called, we all wandered back to bed.  It was funny hearing Jim admit how nice it was to have Zuzu as he ran down the basement stairs (because that's the door that set the alarm off) to make sure no one had actually broken into the house.  He said Zuzu tore down the stairs ahead of him and he knew by her reaction alone when she reached the basement, that he wasn't going to encounter anything out of order.  I've never heard my big, strong, Army dude of a husband appreciate the large, protectiveness of our puppy.  I thought he just liked playing with her and was happy that she was here to protect his family when he heads out of town, not to protect him too.  And I loved her instinct to run down first, helping out with home security.

Zuzu never did calm down last night.  She stayed upstairs with us and constantly paced, briefly laying down near each family member, then moving on.  Several more acorns hit the roof and windows during the night, but the alarm did not go off again.  If it had, I'm sure she would have busted through a door to protect us from the squirrel or tree that was threatening us!

The Rug

What do you mean, you don't like the corners rounded?  I think it softens up the room considerably.

Letter to Tenants

September 23, 2011

Dog and Cat

My House on My Street

My Town, VA

My Zip Code

Dear Pets,

My bedroom is not the middle ring of a three ring circus at 2:00 am.  I do not need you running around and over my bed in circles, showing off all of your tricks together.

The stairs are not a racetrack.  Just because I step onto them does not mean that a gun was shot into the air and everyone must immediately bolt down them directly in front of me.

The bathroom is not Google Chat.  We do not all need to be social around the toilet every time I sit down.

Dog, just because you have stuck your tongue into your water bowl, that does not mean I now need to wash the bowl and give you fresh water.  You drink out of mud puddles.  Get over it!

Cat, your water bowl was not placed there for you to wash your paws after using the litter box, nor is it a collection bowl for your toys.  Drink.

Dog, the leash is not a sling-shot.  Remember that “loose-leash walking” thing we learned months ago?  Let’s try that again.

Cat, my bed is not a pin cushion, nor is it a nail file.  Leave it alone.

Dog, my rugs are not your chew toys.  Speaking of chew toys, just because I sit, does not mean it’s time to play catch.  And, if you want me to play catch, LET GO OF YOUR TOY!  I can’t throw it, if you don’t let me have it.  And enough with the slobber already!

Dog and Cat, you will both get fed.  It does not speed up the process when you bark and claw at each other, running into me while pushing each other away from me when I’m preparing breakfast.  You don't have to be touching me to get food. I will feed you in the order that I choose, and not until you leave me alone.

Cat, it is cheating when you are playing tag, to hide on the other side of the cat door and occasionally stick your paw through it to swipe at the dog.  Eventually, the dog will get lucky and instead of backing away, you will lose a toe.

Thank you for your consideration.

The Management

Tidbits

So, here we are.  We're back.  It's been a while and I apologize for that.  Life sort of got in the way.

In my defense, like a week ago, I did write a really long blog with pictures and everything and then I hit this "delete" key thing and, oops, blog all gone.  Bummer.  So here we go again.

THE CRATE

The crate training is continuing, and Zuzu's doing fine.  I keep her toys and rawhides in it and she will wander in to grab them without looking like it's going to eat her.  She has even been closed in it occasionally, but not yet left unattended.  We stay in the living room with her and let her out after 5 or 10 minutes.  The goal is to have her be comfortable in it in the event that we board her or bring her to a show.  I doubt we will ever leave her in it when we are gone again.  She has even been given free roam of the house at night now, and usually chooses to sleep on the main floor in the entryway, guarding us well.

THE WATER

Zuzu is still not a fan of the water.  She loves walking and will go around the lake and down by the water, but even when Jim took her off the leash and threw a stick they had been playing with into the lake, she just looked up at him like WTF did you just do that for?  And watched longingly as the stick floated away.  Silly puppy!  She needs another dog to jump into the water, to see that it's okay.

 

RAINY DAYS AND BOREDOM

Towards the end of summer, we had a week where it did nothing but rain.  Zuzu still got her morning walks, but the backyard turned into a river and was closed to dogs.  She was NOT a happy pooch.

SCHOOL

The rain stopped and she was so happy!  Then the worst thing ever happened.  Big loud yellow things started driving by and stealing all of the children.  It was horrible!  She didn't know what to do with herself.  She quickly learned though, that later in the day when the big loud yellow things started driving by again, that they would give all of the children back.  Happy Happy Joy Joy!!

THE CAT DOOR

I swear I used to fit through these darn things.  When did they shrink?  Hello?  Is anyone there?  Let me in!!!!!