11 posts tagged “cute”
This is a post all about how much I love my dog.
We have had Eva for six months now, give or take. Even in that small amount of time, she's changed a lot, and so have we.
The most obvious change with her is that she's bigger. We knew that while the dachshund in her would keep her stumpy, she would still be bulkier due to the shepherd; but compared side by side with other dachies, she's a bit of a giant and it's strange to see. She's doubled in weight since we got her, and is clearly big enough for her paws now.
Her personality has also been refined a little. Not changed - she was always really well behaved - but due to us being yuppie scum and taking her to doggy daycare, she's very well adjusted and great around adults, children and dogs alike. When a dog is approaching on the street, she will lay down to either let them pass or make the first move. People think we trained her to do that, ha!
Jess has trained her to do tricks, though. She has the basic repertoire - sit, lay down, shake paws, go in a circle, go under your legs - but somehow Jess has her responding to silent gestures as well as verbal commands. I put it all down to food: she also knows which way to drag me to get treats from local dog-friendly businesses. Sneaky.
Her only real issue is that playing with great danes and labradors all day has made her a little rough with smaller dogs. Toilet accidents are few and far between, we weened her off of gnawing things she shouldn't by buying her own toys, and she almost never barks. We definitely lucked out.
We've also changed. At first, every slight sniffle or irregularity with her toilet habits would make me panic (you're welcome for that money, local veterinary clinic), but you soon get used to it and work out what's causing things. We've had to stop feeding her lamb-based food, and know to keep her away from grass. Other than that, we tweaked our schedule to include her toilet and meal needs, and all is dandy.
It annoys Jess, but a pleasant side effect for me is that all of my jeans are now loose, I've effectively gone down a size and a half. I get up around 6.30am to take her out for her first toilet break of the day, bring her in so I can get ready for work, then walk her for 20-30 minutes to day care every morning. At night, when it's my turn to take her out, we usually walk a bit longer so she can get all of her sniffing out of the way. I've never been the type for exercise, so this was a covert way to get me off of my backside.
Dogs have other strange side effects. I've met more people as a result of Eva than I would have ever met of my own accord. Even if I don't know them by name, I'm on friendly terms with a lot of people around our neighbourhood and can at least name their dogs (because dog people all have ninja memories for dog names). It's amazing how many you notice when you have one of your own.
I would recommend dog ownership to anyone, and if you're considering a new pet, I strongly recommend you find a local shelter or rescue centre rather than funding puppy mills. The American Humane Society has some great advice for would-be dog owners, and can even help you find a place near you.
Share your favorite winter photograph.
Because Eva's in it. <3
29 is the atomic number of copper. 29 is also the age I have been since Saturday.
Eva got spayed on Thursday last week, so I took Friday off to stay home and care for her. We spent all day playing Street Fighter IV (yes, she played... maybe), cuddling and napping. It was great. Other than the scar on her stomach, which they sealed with surgical glue rather than stitches, she was in great shape from day one. Her behaviour hadn't changed a bit - she wasn't feeling sorry for herself or moping, she was just as happy and excitable as ever. This cheered me up, because I had read a ton of spaying horror stories before we took her in.
I had a great, but quiet, birthday. On top of all the cards and messages from friends and family, I was spoiled and received...
- Lots of money to spend on nice things
- Saints Row 2: Collector's Edition for Xbox 360 (it's the game, a USB stick shaped like a bullet, a money clip, a poster and an art book in an embossed tin)
- New jeans
- An awesome t-shirt: www.isteamphone.com
I felt very spoiled and very loved. Today, I came into work to find chocolate from my friends Jason and Brad, too.
Jess was very good to me. On top of my presents, I got a tasty breakfast in bed (biscuits and gravy) and she suffered Indian food with me that night. The place we went to was shockingly good, I would say the best Indian I have had in the US so far.
This week, I'm back to work. Rather than sending her to daycare, where she might over-exert herself and mess with her scar, Eva is staying with her aunty Lindsay every day. This kills two birds with one stone - Eva gets one on one care, Lindsay gets all the puppy kisses she wants. WIN!
You see a dog wearing this coat.
You think...
a) Girl
b) Boy
If you answered b), you have something wrong with your face. Or you're colourblind.
Show us an ugly animal.
No. I only like cute animals. Like my baby, Eva.
Oh, yes, we adopted her in the end! She has been with us exactly one week, and in that time we have managed to get her walking on a leash, going to the bathroom outside, sleeping when we sleep, playing nicely with other dogs (she goes to doggy daycare, which is a god send), and have totally fallen head over heels with her.
Her name was inspired by WALL-E and not Longoria-Parker or Mendes.
Show us why you're excited for this weekend.
We're really hoping we're successful in our attempt to adopt this little sweetheart:
If we are, she moves in tonight. That's why I'm excited.
But it is. Bo. At least it's been a fun, productive weekend.
After the cable was installed yesterday, we got some lunch, set up the various boxes in our lounge how we wanted them then headed out to a nearby-ish bar to meet some of my co-workers - Jason, Laura, Kristian, Lindsay, Mike, Peter and various spouses/friends/partners. Jason turned 33 so we all got him tipsy enough to slap people:
There are more photos of the mild debauchery, but I'm only sharing a cute one:
Being the lightweights we are, we ducked out early (but then, we had started drinking before 5pm). Jess ended up watching Bridget Jones while I passed out.
I felt very manly.
We got that home, and then spent the day tidying up the apartment, going on a huge grocery shop (in which more than 50% of the items we bought were vegetables or fruit), watching the hilarigross reunion special of Rock Of Love With Bret Michaels and generally bumming around.
It's a shame it's over already.
Jess has just left for work (at 7.30am!) so I am alone in the hotel room. I thought this was a good time to talk about some of the things we've seen since we got here.
Saturday was our most action-packed day. Our hotel is a fairly short walk from a building you may recognise...
There was no sign of anyone inside, but outside, an old hippy was singing some rambling a cappella protest song.
We also saw the Treasury building, which again makes use of the columns:
We headed south at this point, squaring up to the impressive Washington monument. The surrounding fields were full of people flying kites. I thought this was a reference to Benjamin Franklin, Jess said something about a festival - which confused me, as this weekend is the weekend of the Cherry Blossom Festival, as Jess demonstrates:
That's right, while Chicago is still fucking freezing, apparently it's spring time:
I'm not lion!
We decided the best view of the Washington Monument would be from the Lincoln monument, so we trekked over thataway, past the reflecting pool. We were right about the view:
But I was more enamoured with the Lincoln memorial:
We also spent time reading the names on the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Wall. It was extremely depressing to see so many names in one place, many of whom died. I didn't feel right taking photos of this or the World War II memorial.
Then we made an even longer trek down to the Jefferson memorial:
After that, we wandered around for what seemed like forever. We wanted to go to the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum, but when we got there, the lines were long and filled with kids so we thought better of it. Instead, we went to the National Gallery Of Art:
All walked out, we went back to the hotel room for a while before getting pizza at a place called Ella's on, I think, 8th and G.
Yesterday was even less productive. After breaking our fast, we were going to go in the Spy Museum but as Jess wasn't that fussed, the $18 entrance fee seemed a bit excessive. Instead, we walked to the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait gallery, which share a building. This one:
I did like the National Portrait Gallery side of the building, though. There was a huge area dedicated to the people involved in America gaining its independence and remaining a union despite the very different views of the north and south. There was also a great exhibition of all of the different presidents from Washington to Bush Jr.
They also had a painting of the greatest American president who never was: Stephen Colbert. Fittingly, it was hung in the toilets:
What have you changed your mind about?
Submitted by chitoes.
Barbara Bush. FAP FAP FAP.
Jess thinks I'm even more retarded than usual.
