The Spunky Bunny

Bunny has been decidedly spuky lately! She's running around like a puppy, chasing everyone around and hamming it up for attention (unlike her normal, sweet, old dog asking for attention routine that she's settled into the last couple years), and she takes every opportunity she can get to wrestle with her whipper snapper boy, Cosmo. I wish I'd gotten some video, but here's a blow by blow of breakfast this morning in pictures:Going down...

Gone!



The start of Round 2

Pinning him down by the throat while Lucky takes an opportunistic sniff (so rude)

At it again. Go granny, go granny, go granny go!

"I'm bored with this anyway." Cosmo darted behind the couch right before this shot to get away from her.

"I think I'll just roll around instead."

Goooooood back scratches!

I am struggling to keep up with the blog, wondering what I can say these days that people will actually find interesting, since I seriously don't get out much!

Cosmo's 5th birthday was on Thursday. We almost forgot it until Kate gave a big Happy Birthday to the "C" litter on her Facebook page. The funny thing is, Quinn I had been discussing Cosmo's birthday the night before and were feeling bad for missing it (we're all mixed up around here, since Texas schools start in August we think it's September). So thanks to Kate for saving the day! Cosmo got a big angel food cake, which all the dogs got a bite of, and then the humans got the rest. Stingy, I though, but Quinn won't let me give his dog anything that is unhealthy or would potentially shorten his life expectancy. Poor Mo. Then last night we had a Lumpia party (filipino eggrolls) with our friends Nam, Rachell and Lexie. They decided it was still Cosmo's birthday, so they gave him little bits of eggroll. Spoiled dog!

Speaking of eggrolls, Marcy/Bunny did something I had never, ever seen from her last night. I now leave just the Corgis out when we have get togethers, since my other dogs are insane, unpredictable monsters with each other during social gatherings (or, in Lily's case, just completely annoying). Lexie was our designated cook for the night, since she loves frying the eggrolls, and Marcy is her favorite dog of all time. This means, of course, that even though I told her not to, she gave Marcy little pieces of eggroll when nobody was looking. Well, we didn't have to see to find out what she had done, because pretty soon Marcy was CHASING Lexie around the kitchen. At her heels, harassing her, hopping, and her eyes were huge and frantic! This went on for a good half hour while Lexie finished cooking, then whenwe sat down to eat, guess who had dogs at her feet. We probably should have helped poor Lexie, but it served her right, so we tried to hunt for the video camera instead. Unfortunately we didn't get any video, but trust me, it was hilarious. Later, Cosmo joined in, with huge drool strings rolling down his chest.

I've been working on Marcy/Bunny's nails again. I realized that other day that I had been slacking on the job while not feeling good, and things were getting to a bad point (no pun intended). I figured out yesterday that if I put the Dremel at a 4 the noise doesn't scare her so much (and it is actually the perfect speed for sanding) and she will lay on the floor on her side while I do nails. That makes life MUCH easier for me, because I was having a really hard time supporting her long body while doing her nails. I also don't have to change into less hairly clothes afterwards, either, which means I could probably start making this an every other day event right now until her nails are where they need to be. Her quicks are ridiculously long and she's so sensitive. I womaned up last night, though, and took a lot more off than I usually do in one sitting. She was pretty calm about it. The only problem is that she's still a punk about her back feet for some reason. If she was the same size as Cosmo (aka: The Moose) I would just sit on her like I do to him, but I feel kind of bad since she's such a dainty girl, and lots of things startle her these days. Any tips on getting the backs without her tripping out? I am waiting for you all to say "Just sit on her!"

I'm a little bitter about missing fall this year. I am trying to remember what people have told me about choices, blah blah blah (as you can tell, I don't like hearing about dealing with my choices, which I sometimes find to be bad ones after the fact) and suffer through a HOT fall, which is just wrong. However, I am looking forward to winter here in Texas, when it is cold but still sunny. I have to admit, that is a little better than rainy and dark (at least for extended periods of time). I've decided that I just need a second home, so I can spend summer and fall in the northwest, and winter in Texas. Then of course I would have to do Christmas in the northwest because a sunny Christmas is just wrong- I am already dreading my first Christmas in Texas. Then Spring would be in Texas, and back to summer and fall in the northwest. It's similar to what I used to do when I still had the Washington house. I would save up all my vacations and spend 2 weeks there at Christmas, then close to a month or more there in the summer. I guess it's my own fault for not being a gazillionaire by now and having 2 homes. I'm definitely having Dorothy syndome... "There's no place like home, there's no place like home."

Pics

I just found these on Beth's facebook page last night. She did a great photoshoot for us with Marcy and Cosmo last Spring before we left for Houston. She took some really amazing pictures. I don't have the rest yet, but I know Beth has them, so they will get put up at some point for all to enjoy!

If anyone is wondering why Cosmo is leaning forward eagerly with his tongue hanging out, Beth had a pizza crust bribe in her hand and he was VERY happy to see her.

I forgot how beautiful Marcy/Bunny can look in mild weather conditions when she isn't tufting uncontrollably. I don't think she's looked like that since we crossed through Arizona, and no amount of grooming can get her there.

Random Updates on Life

Today I had a job interview, which went really well! I know a few blogs ago I mentioned starting my own business. It went really well at first, but then summer hit and people started being on constant vacation, and then I ended up getting pregnant and spending all my time exhausted and puking. Not to say that the business wouldn't work out, because if I don't get this job I'll keep on with it. This was something I had applied to a couple months back, though, and had assumed was filled when I didn't get a call (not to be cocky- it is just beyond a perfect fit for my experience). Then I got a call Wednesday asking me to come in for an interview! They just barely got around to interviewing for it and the recruiter said I was top of their list of people to bring in! It's in the same industry I've been in for 8 years, but the company is by far the largest (they are involved in probably 90% of the electronic transactions in the world) with so many different opportunities and departments, and it would be a really sweet gig if I got it. I have a friend who works there and she passed my resume along. The position is basically very high end customer service. They don't want their large customers (they process for major retail chains and huge stores like that) calling an 800 number customer service line, so they assign them their own team of people to cater to their every servicing need. It would be really stressful just because the accounts I'd be working with are intimidatingly huge names, but it would be an AWESOME job and a great step in my career. Not to mention terrific benefits, which I really, really need right now- not only medical, dental and vision, but tuition reimbursement, as well. The interview went really well today and as I was walking out the interviewer said that I would definitely be hearing from them in the next couple weeks about a second interview. So cross your fingers for me! This would be absolutely perfect. Oh yeah, the other perk- the door to the office faces the door to my friend Cheska's office, which would be so beyond great for my mental health and happiness! We live so far out that socializing is a big production!

Earlier this week I thought that Cosmo had sprained his ankle because he was limping badly on one foot, and when I went to touch it (to see if he had something stuck in his pad) he pulled away from me and seemed to be in a lot of pain. Since nothing was in his foot, Mandy and I talked about just crate resting him and seeing if he improved (she said sprains in the ankle are pretty uncommon, so he probably just did something to cause himself some pain). So he has been taking it easy and seems to be doing much better. He had a minor lapse the other day when I let him out of his crate and he hopped up and down frantically to see me. He is so chesty and heavy that I think he must hurt himself when he lands. He also plays way too hard with the big dogs when he goes outside- I frequently see him running and think he is going way faster than his legs! So now he, Bunny and Bud go out together now, and Lily and Lucky go out seperately. Cosmo doesn't like this arrangement but, like I said, his foot is doing a lot better!

This is week 10 of being pregnant (yuck) and I still feel like barfing. In fact, I have been fighting it back since dinner! I keep hearing that in 2 more weeks I'll be in the clear, though, so I am counting down to that. This whole getting bigger thing is really gross. I crammed myself into figure shaper pantyhose today because, let's face it, nobody wants to hire the pregnant gal, and gave myself a giant belly ache! I looked really good in my power suit, and got tons of compliments, and almost cried because I am not going to be able to dress like that for much longer... well, and also, because I haven't dressed like that in a long time and it felt really good. As it was today, I had to take my skirt off before I could bend over to unbuckle my shoes when I got home! Yuck. Plus when I'm not sucking it in, everyone pays a ton of attention to my stomach and I find it really offensive. I don't like having all that attention, and I don't like people touching it. My awesome mother in law took me out shopping a few days ago and we found some really pretty maternity clothes. I'm just not ready for this, though, especially after today. This isn't what I do. I miss who I used to be and who I am. I get dressed, I go to work, I make money. That's my deal and I miss it. I haven't done much of it since my mom died. In fact, darn it, I'm independent, people don't touch my belly and tell me I am cute, and they don't look at me and say things like "Aw." I'm not liking life very much right now at all. I think it's mostly self esteem over the job thing. I didn't realize how really terrible I feel about myself when I sit at home all day and do nothing. Even when I sit at home all day and make sales, I feel bad about myself, because sales is so mundane and mind numbing. No offense to anyone who is in sales, it's just not my thing. I know I can make a ton of money at it, but I am not making a ton of money at it because I hate it. I think I'll make more money doing something I really enjoy and can get into. So maybe that's my epiphany. Even if I don't get THIS job, maybe I really need to start looking for other jobs so I can start feeling ok about myself again. I have a lot of goals, like paying off my bills and getting a better car, and helping Quinn with college, and getting a house in Washington... I really need a reliable way to get myself there.

Wow maybe that turned into a gripe fest. I'm trying to think about whether anything else has gone on. Not really, I guess. Quinn starts school Monday, but he hates when I blog about him- though I will say I am impressed that he got terrific grades this summer and took summer school really seriously. He's all caught up to where he needs to be now, and seems really happy, and has a much better attitude. He's making friends and is really determined to make this school year a success. I'd say that's the happiest thing in my life right now, is watching him do so well! It makes me more glad that we moved here, because I guess maybe he really did need a change after thngs went to hell back home.

Oh, and we have all sorts of cool animals. Like lazards that crawl on our windows at night and we can watch them eat bugs. There is also a frog living under my hanging sunshine on the porch. Oh, and while we were outside trying to watch a Cicada molt the other night, Lily ran by and ate it, WHOLE! Nasty dawg. She looked very unhappy. I think it probably kept kicking for a while. Ew.

Oh yeah, and the other thing is that I am back to square one on therapy work for Bunny. I really wanted to volunteer with her, but the lady who does the testing out here is a total TOOL! She has been putting us off for 3 months. She told me to contact her at the beginning of August, and then when I did, she told me that she was putting together her August schedule and would email it to me. Guess what... today is the 21st and still nothing. I think she can "f" off. Seriously, don't run a volunteer organization if you don't want people to come and volunteer. It's very disappointing. I can go online and find another tester, but the group she runs is the only one that is a convenient distance from the house. I think there is another one near downtown, though, and even though that is about 45 minutes away, if that group actually wants volunteers it wouldn't be too bad for Bunny and I to drive a couple times a month. So I'll keepo everyone posted on our efforts. I have kind of put off researching and starting the contact making process again, but I want to get going on that in the next couple weeks. Bunny's not getting any younger, and I think it would be a great way to spend some time with her. It sounds dumb, but I love sharing my dogs with other people- especially people who may not have their own dogs around. Bunny, especially, has such an amazing impact on people. They can just sit with her for hours, and she is so comforting to everyone.

I like to follow our dogs around and take pictures. I hope nobody ever buys me a camcorder. I'll get accused of being Asian (for those of you who don't have tons of Asian friends, all of my Asian friends will openly admit and joke that they document everything). What can I say? I'm addicted to documenting my Corgis every move.

Cute discovery: Jeff has been feeding the dogs ice cubes as treats and every time we get into the freezer for something they run and mooch cubes. Well, tonight I didn't give them one because my hands were full, and Marcy/Bunny chased me around the room with a string of drool to the floor!!!! I had to go back to the freezer and give her a cube. I've never seen a dog produce drool for frozen water before. I guess we're saving money by not having to pupperoni and biscuits anymore.

Quinn says that I am not allowed to blog, because if you don't have anything to say, you shouldn't say anything. The conversation went something like this:

Me (starting at blank screen): "How do you know I don't have anything to say?"

Quinn: "Because you haven't done ANYTHING today. I came out at noon and you were sleeping on the couch, you made one call, then you went back to sleep, now it's 8 o clock, we haven't even eaten yet, and you haven't done ANYTHING today."

I suppose that is a fairly accurate assessment of my day. I am being sort of a baby about this whole baby thing. I get that it's my own fault and that babies are cute and this too shall pass and all of that good stuff... but I am a complainer and whiner. Have been my whole life.

Quinn breaks in again, after looking at my screen:

"How are you coming up with that much to WRITE about? You haven't removed your butt from the couch the whole day and you're coming up with that much to write about it?"

So anyway, I am exhausted all of the time and it sucks. If I have a second child ever, I will forfeit my right to complain about that one, because I will know exactly what I am getting into. For some reason I thought this would be a piece of cake, though. Wow, I really should get over the whole learning things for myself trait that I have.

Quinn: "I hope you know I'm going to delete that later."

Apparently he doesn't like being quoted. I am playing around with raw meat to feed him, though, so I think he can just be quiet.

Jeff has been gone for 2 weeks in Shreveport, Louisiana for work (poor thing) and he will be home on Friday. I am really excited to see him, and so is his dog, who has been an utter pain in the butt this whole time. He freaks out whenever Jeff is gone, and all he has done the entire two weeks is bark at us and be needy. Quinn is excited to see him, too, because Jeff is hilarious, and he also cooks much better than I do. I'm pretty sure Quinn thinks he is dying of starvation, minus the time Jeff's parents brought us dinner, and minus last night when they invited us over for dinner. Oooh, they had another really awesome game of Uno, too. It's called Uno Stacko. It gets your adrenaline going and it's really fun.

Quinn: "Tubberware! That's what you call maternity clothes!"

Sigh.

I actually enjoy his obnoxious teenage boy banter. Probably more than I should, but this is just our typical conversation. I'll miss it when he eventually either grows up (not likely judging from the men in our family) or moves away because I'm uncool.

Quinn: "We should do something. I hear sitting around doing nothing gives you cancer."

I guess I'll go eat and do something because, as Quinn says: "Tavs, your laziness makes me sad face."

Oh yeah, has anyone been anemic when they were pregnant? I am wondering if that's my problem. It's abnormal to be tired this much- I slept 9 hours last night then took 6 hours worth of naps today, and am still tired. Plus I am really cold all the time.

Ode to the Cicadas Outside

Texas is definitely the land of the bugs, and I've discovered a new one, worthy of a Blog. It's called a Cicada. Many of you probably know exactly what they are, but I'd never seen or heard of them before.

Cicadas pop out of their shells and leave them discarded (like the top picture) in odd places like my porch posts. I have to hose them off almost every day. They leave a big hole in the back of the shell. It reminds me of a scene from the movie Alien.

What pops out is this really pretty creature, which we never see. We hear them, though. They sit in the trees and sing their creepy song constantly. I decided to hop online and do a very small bit of research on them, and here is what I found out:

• After mating, the female cuts slits into the bark of a twig, and into these she deposits her eggs. She may do so repeatedly, until she has laid several hundred eggs. When the eggs hatch, the newborn nymphs drop to the ground, where they burrow. Most cicadas go through a life cycle that lasts from two to five years. Some species have much longer life cycles, e.g., such as the North American genus, Magicicada, which has a number of distinct "broods" that go through either a 17-year or, in the American South, a 13-year life cycle. These long life cycles both happen to be prime numbers, perhaps developed as a response to predators such as the cicada killer wasp and praying mantis.^[9][10][11]. A predator with a shorter life cycle of at least 2 years could not reliably prey upon the cicadas.^[12]

So this would explain the holes in the dirt that I have been finding all summer!

• There is a fable called The Cicada and the Ant where the ant stores food all summer while the Cicada sings its summer away (they only come out in the summer and they sing and sing and sing in the trees), and the Cicada finds itself unprepared when the cold weather comes in the winter.
  

• The song comes from loud noise makers called timbals on their abdomen. As they expand and contract their abdomens, the song is created. It gets amplified (these guys are REALLY loud) by enlarged chambers derived from the tracheae (sorry for the plagiarism, but didn't know a better way to put that).
• Cicadas are also EATEN in some parts of the world!! :

Cicadas have been eaten in China, Malaysia, Burma, Latin America, the Congo and even in the United States. Fried Cicadas is a popular treat in the Chicago, Illinois area. In North China, cicadas are skewered or stir fried as a delicacy.