Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Excuses, Excuses

Excuses for why it's Thursday and I am just now blogging for the week. 

1) My dogs ate my homework. 

That's not true. However, I attempted to blog one evening and ended up having to hold my computer on a Beagle's body while it draped snoozed on my lap. This is not a good blogging position and certainly does not inspire creativity. 

2) I was invaded.

Kind of. My house was full of little human beings I love to death who came over to say "Hi!"including a precious little baby who required much eye contact, kissing and snuggling. 

3) Brain mush. 

This is a condition that happens when a 50+ year-old-woman is immersed in much change. Work = switcharoo from independent to corporate. Meetings. New everything. It's been almost a month. I think I understand my duties regarding the computer system. I am very likely deluding myself. 

Coming Up for Air

Can you teach an old dog new tricks? I think this is kind of a philosophical kind of question. Like "if a tree falls in the forest with no one around to hear it does it still make a sound?" Deep caca kind of thoughts, right? Or is an old dog = new tricks more like "what comes first, the chicken or the egg?" 

Regardless, my brain hurts. For so many reasons. Right now everything makes noise whether I'm standing near it or not. The entire universe is a whooshing ocean of white noise residing in my brain. And chickens/eggs. I so don't even care. 

I like to think I'm computer literate. I'd even go so far as to say computer functional. I blog, there's a certain skill set in that. I text and manage to do many things over my phone. I can operate Netflix and Hulu for my frequent mindless television binges. I can navigate FB including looking at other peoples posts and not getting confused about whether I share something on my page or a friends'. These are all signs of some level of "getting it." Right? 

Enter computer program changes at work. 

Enter like a stealth missile including the boom that shakes the foundations for miles around. 

Our medical records system has changed. Radically. And everything. I MEAN EVERYTHING we now do at work has shifted and turned upside down and inside out. We are now part of a huge machine. From an independent office of 15 people with two/three/five bosses to hundreds of bosses. Seriously. From clicking on a Staples link with pictures and descriptions to order toilet paper to an old school ordering system that has random and obscure clues so when I try to order date stickers for x-ray envelopes I get one choice. One that is 5 times the price and will require a cupboard instead of a file folder. And that's after I jump through 5 hoops to get them added to the system. 

My job involves adding information into a system that is accessed by thousands of people. The click this, click this, right click, left click, change the date or else, make sure you cosign required or else for this scenario to the opposite in another window in another scenario. My trainer told me, "You got this" and left. Two days later she was back in my office. Two days after that a second trainer was in my office making me a cheat sheet of my click choices. Two days after that I got an email saying I had not updated a date in one of the three places I was supposed to so I had to cancel it and put in a new whole order with the second date. Oh, and if I save but not sign in another field I'll get put on a list. Yes. I have new lists I can be put on. Isn't the simple one list, the POOP LIST enough? Really people? 

We'll see what tomorrow brings. 

All this to say why this old dog didn't do any tricks last week but burn neural pathways, deal with quivering chins, and juggling what was with what is. This old dog was dog tired. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Oh, The Fun!

Yes! This is on my agenda. We need practice. 

http://stories.barkpost.com/babushka-dogs/

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ A Hedgie Update

It's been a bit since I gave you an update on the ol hedgies. 

What I've learned thus far in my 6 months of hedgehog ownership...or cohabitation.  They are prone to grumpiness. As nocturnal animals they do their cruising after dark Most of our waking ours the hedgehogs are cuddled up inside their toasty little plush pineapple nests. Yes the live in plush pineapples kind of like SpongeBob SquarePants.

 Sometimes we haven't gotten upstairs to turn the light on so it's already dark when we head up. We'll flip the switch and catch them out and about eating. Speaking of eating, it's as adorable as you might think. Tiny little crunch, crunch, crunches. Drinking from their water bowls, dang cute. Rare occurrence to catch these events, but adorbs when we do.  They poo in their running wheel every night, so every morning I put those bad boys in to soak. The bedding isn't too stinky though. So that's great. Mostly clean water, food and clean the bins every ten days or so. I totally recommend the big plastic bins. So easy to clean! Because hedgies aren't naturally social as in they'd love to have a servant provide food and water, keep the wheel clean, and then leave them the beep alone, we humans have to put the majority of the work into the relationship. Hence the cuddle bag. I made little hidey bags they can curl up in and hang out with me in. 

If they are running loose on a lap they will 1) just go and if that means fall on the floor, so be it. They have no fear of falling. 2) poop and pee indiscriminately on me or whatever else 3) climb and with the pooping and peeing, uhhhh, I've had a few unpleasant moments. The good news is that when they are first real active and running around they get most of the potty out of their system and once it's cleaned up its good to go and the risk of a caca covered shirt diminishes.  My girls also have a tell and since it's both of them I'm assuming this is a hedgie trait. If their little tail pops up they are going to be peeing real soon like. So towels are a surface they get to run on. 

But the bags are mostly sleeping bags so the ewww is way less. Plus they are getting handled, I may be able to do a few things while hanging with them, and they are reinforcing our scent with love and care. Or something like that. 

But the grumpies are just still there. Daffodil presents the most obvious of grump stances. The forehead grump. The quills kind of mohawk while the nose disappears. When the forehead is fully mohawked then the stabbing commences. Yes. Stabbing. They head butt with their sharp little quills. This is probably why you might hear about people's pet hedgehogs being jerks. 

But we love them anyway and fortunately think it's kind of funny that they try to stab us to death every night when we pick them up. Hmmm. Maybe hedgehogs are kind of like perpetual teenagers. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Enjoyin the Sunshine

Our Gladys is so homely cute. I know that sounds horrible to say that your dog is homely, right? But she's a cartoon. We got to bask outside in the sun for a bit today. I read, they explored. Glorious. Lots of squirrels to bark at, a few birds to chase. Smells, delicious (to them) smells to follow. And when they got tired, they both hopped up on my lap to chill. In the bottom picture you can see the aftermath of the kneading, pawing, repositioning on my lap. A high selfie where the only thing  you can see is a portion of my shirt and my dog covered lap. Yeah. That added a lot to my attempt to relax and read. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Oops

While I was out and about carrying on with fun and frivolity and vomiting and coughing I nearly missed the big dog pants debate.   If you have had a virus or have been out of the country, maybe you've missed this as well. Apparently, like the black/blue vs gold/white dress debate earlier in the year, the world is divided on what constitutes pants for dogs. 

There is the camp that believes dog pants cover all four "legs" the other group has decided that dog pants are for back legs only. 

Here is out decision. Gladys is modeling it. We prefer the version called Winnie-the-Poohing-it. Nuff Said. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Obnoxiously Sharing Cuteness

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Dog's Life

Yesterday we finally got a legitimate fall day. We had a few in August. Weird. Lovely. But super unusual.

 August in Iowa is almost always the pits. The Grant Woods rolling hills turn a crispy tan shade of monotone. The heat makes for seriously cranky folks. And I don't know about you but the heat is an energy sucker for me. Since we had two great weeks in August it stayed a little hotter than normal all the way to the end of September. Granted, I'm thrilled that the heat in September is nothing like July/August heat, but I really LOVE my autumn weather. I want cool, crisp and fragrant. 

So I think it's finally here. The girls must agree. While I was running around like a crazy woman doing cleaning and folding and spindling and mutilating they found a nice warm spot in front of the door. Sun dogs. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Pooped Pups...

Over the weekend we camped. 

The pups went along. 

And boy did they find it exhausting. 

For starters there were Gertrude and Gladys's nieces Lilly and Lola who were able to be off leash the whole time. And they flaunted that freedom. Next came the many children. Children hanging off trees, children screaming and running through deep weeds. Children playing hide and seek in the dark with lanterns. Even two babies who cried and squealed.

 Then there was food. All those children guaranteed spilled food. And some children were short enough that a hot dog bun was an easy thing to grab. And the grabbing of food guaranteed child antics. 

Fire crackled throughout the day and night and into the next morning. A stream with a miniature waterfall burbled just beyond the camp area. And coyotes howled, not too far on the horizon, starting when the huge harvest moon began to climb into the sky. Tents full of sleeping humans that occasionally needed to be unzipped for one reason or another,  a child who startled and cried. The coyotes even yipped frantically in the distance, very late in the night, when they found something they liked. Gertrude and Gladys needed to be on their game, able to growl menacingly with each new noise. And if one of their humans didn't get on top of it, bark outright.  And best of all. During the light hours Gertrude and Gladys were able to run free. The grasses and weeds were so tall each step required leaping and bounding. And there were so many smells to investigate. Plus their humans kept testing their listening and obeying skills.  

When Rob and I hauled our stuff inside to begin the washing and repacking of our camping gear, two very sleepy pups took advantage of the creature comforts of home. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Ooops......Guess What

Yep. 

Dog story. 

So Tuesday morning dawned with just snippets of dog food. Just enough for half a serving for each of the poor, poor Beagles. I added a dollop of peanut butter, but alas, they went without. 

I purchased a new bag of kibble and some bits (treats) on my way home from seeing my daughters and grand baby. Gert and Gladys were glad to see me. I cut the corner off the dog food bag and loaded their bowls with the normal amount. 

Apparently they still felt a bit hollow. Gertie decided to try to sneak a few more nibbles. Then Gladys noticed and tried to jump on the gravy train. Gert defended the bag. 

No worries. I gave them a little more and then put the bag behind a closed door. 

Scribbles and Scrambles~ The Curious Case of the Mistaken Identity

A few weeks ago I spent a lovely day it with my little grandloves and we took a trip to the zoo. Oh, so many exciting things to see. We even saw a turtle giving another turtle a piggy back ride!  Those silly turtles.

My daughter loves bulldogs. I must admit I think they are pretty stinking cute too. While we were driving down the street with the kiddos a bulldog popped his cute little mooshface out the window. My daughter and I oohed and ahhed but she couldn't get her phone out quick enough to snap a picture. So I maneuvered through traffic to get close. We crept up, camera at the ready but the dog had apparently decided to lie down. Sigh.

Of note, this whole conversation and unfolding paparazzi drama was outloud and the children were kind of interacting. The bulldog car turned after we passed it and my daughter mentioned it. A few blocks later the 6 year old pipes up from the back seat, "Mom! I see the dog. Is that the dog?" My daughter looks around, I look around. She says" he turned a ways back. I don't see his car." The 6 year old points and says, "that car right there!"

My daughter started laughing. "Oh, Honey, that's not a dog. That's a little old lady with fluffy hair."

not a mooshface bulldog, not a little old lady either. just a beagle butt. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Officially Unique

According to BarkPost Gladys and Gertrude are not on the list of most popular dog names. 

However, the top 7 food inspired dog names were amusing. 

Olive. 

Snickers.

Nutmeg.

Sake.

Kahlua.

Pumpkin.

AND Kale!!!! 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ NDD Recap

Wednesday = National Dog Day. 

This photo = Gladys's reaction to her day.  Maybe I should've made cupcakes.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Ima Sucka

Though this is probably zero in the surprise department for y'all, I'm kind of a dog freak. 

Let me state that I'm way too cheap to indulge in matching ensembles for the three of us, and I'm way too practical to put cute clothes on Gertrude and Gladys,  (This is what would happen. Gladys would rip a hole in Gertie's outfit by clenching onto a ruffle and pulling. Gert would then get ticked and grab hold and pull the sweater over Gladys's head. Then one or both would find something to roll in, or at least need to dig a hole in the yard while wearing it. Cha-Ching!  $20.00 burnt right in front of my eyes. ) 

But I'm ridiculous none-the-less. 

For example, I have been reading quite a bit lately. Why? Because it's beautiful outside and the girls like to be outside but they like me to be with them. Yep. If I go in to do chores during outside time it usually results in barking at the door. To be let back in. And ringing at the door because they really, really want to bark at...well....anything and really like the echo they get outdoors.  So I do some reading time and more often than not have some furbaby sitting in my lap while I do so. 

I also give way too many treats. I've begun buying smaller and breaking them into tiny pieces because, well, I don't want paint can dogs. (You know the ones who's bodies look like a gallon paint can turned on its side with a tiny peg head and teensy peg legs?) I also talk to them a lot. And feel bad that they are in their room while I'm away. The kennel that they often choose to sleep in. On days I'm home during the day, they nap. So it's not like they miss me. After a weekend where I'm home a lot, they seem kind of relieved come Monday. Like they are thinking "finally, we get to chill and not have to entertain her ALL DAY!" 

I have cut down on computer time as well. Because they prefer to bookend me and since the computer is on my lap, bookending just doesn't feel comfortable what with the cords and sharp angles. And one or both of them might want to get on my lap or use it at a springboard. 

Finally, the pictures. You see a lot of them, but, seriously. I take so many pictures of these dogs. And I used to not even like dogs. Wha?!? 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ What's Your Type?

I don't think Beagle fully fits my personality. But, I like so many breeds. Can I plead eclectic?  

http://barkpost.com/what-does-your-breed-say-about-you/

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Restating the Obvious

Lately, I've had a few opportunities to try to help people tell the difference between Gladys and Gertrude. It's so obvious to me that sometimes I'm like whaaaa? Seriously? 

But I get it. They share the same coloring. Red, white and blue errr black with polka dots. Of course. And they are both Beagles. There's that.

So here are a few random snapshots of them living their lives. 

Gertrude is kind of a classic Beagle. 

 And Gladys is kind of a cartoon Beagle. Am I right? 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Good Dogs...

Spending so much time at the hospital while Rob is recovering has given me a peek into my dogs's maturity level. 

They get lonely and bored when alone for hours at a time. As much as I hate it, I've been dropping in for an hour after work, to let them burn off energy (SQUIRREL), get some cuddle and potty time in. Then I leave for another six or so hours. They've done a good job being minimally crazed even though they are really glad to see me. The boredom issues have been no biggie, they got hold of a couple wood shims and made toothpicks. A dog bed took a beating but they had already begun unstuffing it. 

They get lots of outdoor time when I am home where they run and chase and bark. Last night they ate dinner on the back patio. It was a late dinner. After the mosquitos made their appearance we went in and snuggled. And watched Tiny House videos on Youtube. Yes. I said Tiny House. They are so cute. And I can't even begin to imagine downsizing to that level. But it's fascinating. 

He comes home this afternoon. So the experiment is over. We are all relieved. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Dog Toy Ideas...

So my Gladys/Gert girls are real content to steal recyclable items from the bin and confettize whatever they grab hold of. We've also got toys that are mere bits and pieces of their former glory. So I'm guessing both those are signs we could use some more dog toys.

I found some great hints here....

Cool ideas....Going to put some old t-shirts to work for me. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Ooops. Decision Made.

I have been debating whether or not to get rid of a pair of sandals. They are cuteish. Red. Win. Win. Right? 

Well. The faux red leather is flaking off a bit. The strap over my pinkie toes doesn't keep my pinkies contained. (This is not a new problem. My pinky toes are rebellious and squatty.) And the sandals are NOT comfortable. 

So I wore them yesterday and was annoyed at how unpleasant they are so I took them off and kicked them under the table. 

Today, this happened. 

Decision made. And the additional decision whether to toss them or donate them if I chose to give them the boot. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Dog Tired