Out With the Old...

Hewwwow!  Finn here.  One day, Momma and Pops were going about their regular going-to-work routine, and I heard a big truck pull up.  They had ordered a new fence for the back yard, and the company had a cancellation that day, and guess what?  We were getting that fence that day.

Momma said it's funny how things work, because on that same day, her commuter train line into the concrete jungle was suspended.

A train hit a car and killed a man earlier in the morning.  Trains were cancelled on her line until 3PM that day and delayed on the other lines around us.

So she got to work from home while the fence guys put up our new fence.

Out with the old.

Investigating...

More investigating

After my initial investigation, I decided it would be best if I just laid down and let Momma take some pictures and I would wait until it was all over.

There was a lot of grinding and banging and I didn't take so well to that.  I was sure glad Momma was home that day!

Adding the posts

We had to wait a day to let the cement dry before they added the...

Gates!  In with the new!  

Remember to start snapping away for your Olympic pictures!  Your Closing Ceremony pics can be sent to marianne(dot)d(dot)howard(at)gmail(dot)com.  You can start sending them July 9th!

And head on over to George and Tess' and watch me join them today for their steps!

More of Seein' the Sites

My final destination on the subway is beneath a building which has a cute plaza.  In the station, they've hung old photographs from when the plaza was being built.

I thought it would be nice one sunny day to eat my lunch in the plaza.  

I tried the stairs closest to where I worked.  It was blocked.

Then I tried to lap the building, and hopefully the plaza to get in there.  Nope.  I was stopped by "Security."  I was told I wasn't allowed admittance and I couldn't take a picture.  

Since I wanted to desperately to show you some art, I remembered right across from where I work is a little sculpture park.  Smile man in the blue shirt.

I love playing tourist.

We'll have some more sites next month!

Wildfires

Cold Nose

...and sleepy.

Now don't forget, starting July 9th, we'll be accepting pics for the Olympics - every event!  

Finn-Speak

This is Finn speak for "Give me the Bobble"

(...since it is filled with treats)

We say she learned this out of The Golden Handbook.

You guys have things you do out of your handbook?

Treat Pods

...A Silent Learning Toy...

(as the package says)

I gave this toy two VERY BIG thumbs up at first!

You hide a treat in between those plastic pods

(they slide over so you can squeeze one in).

And then the dog has to push them apart to take the treat out.

It kept her occupied for over an hour!  

Over and over and over again.

And then, one night, we noticed Finn was playing with this toy for an extremely long time.

She chewed through the knot and separated all the pods out so she could get in between them a little better.  

And now we give this toy two thumbs down!

Now, don't forget to start taking pics of your athletes for all the upcoming games, and remember to include a picture of them in the sitting position (or, if you can't sit, like the crabs, then you know, just get their picture taken!) for the Closing Ceremony too.  You can start sending your pictures on July 9th.  Send your closing ceremony pic to marianne(dot)d(dot)howard(at)gmail(dot)com

Jammies

First, I do believe we were awarded some honors this weekend while we had the sickies.  I have lost track of the comments, but I would like to thank everyone for thinking of us and passing along the awards to us!

Here is our post for the day:

I don't know why I am finding Finn's adeptness at retrieving so funny, but I do.

These are some sweats I was wearing for jammies.  

I left them on the bed when I went to work.

I came home from work and found them on the floor with her other toys.

This is a recurring phenomenon.  Sometimes my jammie shirt winds up by the front door, sometimes on our sofa, etc.  But not a day goes by where they don't find their way down the stairs and on the floor with the rest of her toys.

Oh Finn.

The Dog Walker

First, I'd like to say that Finn is doing much much better now.  She's eating normally and she has gone on a couple of 20 minute walks and seems to be more peppy.  Thank goodness!  We are unsure about how to proceed with finding a new vet.  But we are mulling it over, and of course, we shall let you know.  Thank you for all of your kind words!

Now, our regularly scheduled post for today was this:

We've hired a dog walker!...kind of.  She has come twice.  The first time, we asked her to give Finn a walk at about 2 in the afternoon.  When we got home that night, we thought Finn was ramped up a tad bit more than normal.  She had chewed her way into a cardboard box, behavior we hadn't seen in her for months and months.

The second time, we asked her to give Finn dinner and let her out, since we were at an evening family event on a weekend.  When we got home, we thought she would be asleep, but she wasn't.  I felt like she was waiting at the door for us.

I am sure this has nothing to do with the dog walker herself.  She came to us highly recommended, and Finn just adored her when we met with her before we hired her.

Do you use a dog walker?  How often do you use him or her?  Any behavioral side effects?  I feel like the more we use her, the more used to her/the situation/the midday walk she will be.  Any suggestions?

WTF Food Bowl?!?

We had a tough day yesterday.  Thank you to everyone who left such kind words.

Finn seems to be doing a bit better this morning. She slept really well yesterday and she took her meds just fine. I noticed a funny thing though. When I put her food in her bowl, I put a bit of water in there too, and she wouldn't eat it. So I gave her the food dry out of my hand, and she gobbled it down. WTF with the bowl? With the water? We shall continue with the experimenting of how to get her to eat.  I have washed out the bowl now and hopefully at the next meal this won't be a problem.

When I spoke to the vet about our lab results, I did mention the off-putting feeling I received from the reception staff.  He did say they are aware of it, and they are looking to hire another person to join their practice.  Thank goodness.

On a lighter note, head on over to the Blogville Chronicles today. Our column should be going up! Any more loooooove doctor questions you need answered, feel free to let us know!

My Effing Morning

Allow me to rant.

Now, I don't have any human children, but I do recall, as a child, when I told my Momma that I didn't feel well and she established that I was sick enough to stay home form school, she called the pediatrician and made an appointment for me to go see him THAT DAY.  Every time.  Every friggin time.

Why does this concept not apply to my vet??  I love my vet, I really do, but getting in to see him is becoming a problem.

Finn had been a little blue all week.  Just not her peppy self.  We chalked it up to it getting hotter, us being gone for long days, just missing us.  Well, this morning she didn't eat her breakfast AND she wouldn't get up for her walk, so I decided this was an emergency and she needed to see the vet.

The vet opens at 8am.  I called (well first at 7:45, 7:52, 7:55, and 7:59 - doesn't ANYONE GET THERE ONE MINUTE EARLY?!) and then at 8:01.

"Levittown Animal Hospital (this is my vet - he is one of two guys we see here) please hold."  I held for 5 minutes.  Still holding, I call with my cell phone.  "Levittown Animal Hospital, please hold."

"Wait," I interrupt.  "I have an emergency."  I break into tears.  "My dog..." explanation follows with gobs of tears.  "Please, I beg you, can I come in today?"

"Please hold."

She comes back 3 minutes later.

"You can come in at 9:15."  Can you be here at 9:15?"

"Well, I live an hour away" (and thinking to myself, IT IS RUSH HOUR IN ONE OF THE MOST MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREAS OF THE COUNTRY) "So I am leaving now."

"If you can't make it by 9:15, don't bother coming because we are booked all day."

Now, I think to myself.  If I called at 8:10 and someone else got this appointment before me, would they not allow me in?  You betcha.  Remember last time they wouldn't make me an appointment?

We made it to the office on time.  I was told by the front desk I made great time.  Huh, really b*tch, I wonder why.  And it turns out Finn has a fever and got a little infection from another dog.  This week, we had taken her to both the groomer and the dog park, so she could have gotten it anywhere.

My point is, what can I do about my little situation at the vet?  Are all vets like this?  Only available for scheduled rabies shots and surgeries?  Am I destined to bend over for the emergency vet (which is a lot closer to us, but just super shady) every time Finn gets sick and we need some advice??

She's on antibiotics and sleeping soundly now, so I am sure she will be fine.  Me however - completely different story.  What gives?!

And the worst part of it all is, I THANKED the woman at the desk "for squeezing us in today."

Ugh, I hate myself.

Calling All Athletes, Closing Ceremony Pics Needed!

That's right, my Momma has decided to host the closing ceremony of Blogville's own Olympics.  Now, all she needs you to do is to send her a picture of your athlete animal.  It can be any animal who will participate in the Olympics - dogs, cats, horses, turtles, crabs, whomever!!! She needs pictures of the athlete sitting down.

Now, you know in the human Olympics, some of the athletes think they are just too cool for school after they win all of the medals, and they leave the Olympics early and don't stick around to watch the closing show.  But that won't happen here, right?  My Momma will be accepting pictures from July 9th through July 18th.   SHE WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY PICTURES BEFORE THE 9TH AND AFTER THE 18TH!  You don't like those rules?  Complain to the Olympic Committee (Frankie)!

She will tell you where to send the pics as the time draws nearer.  Just start snapping away and hold on to them.

And of course you want to be including your athlete in the actual events, so check out all of the competitions happening!  Check on individual blog to get the info on each event and how you should be training now for them!

Posey   Parade of Athletes    http://posiedorg.blogspot.com

Roo OPENING Extravaganza    http://www.roosdoins.com

Frankie Olympic Committee...     http://frankiefurterprice.blogspot.com

Jazzi  Window Nose Art    http://jazzis-world.blogspot.com

Sarge   Swimming     http://sargespeaksout.blogspot.com

Oscar  Crazy Sleeping Singles   and  Synchronized Sleepers     www.oskarsblog.com

Bertie    Bouncing   http://bouncingbertie.blogspot.com

WHN     Cross Neighborhood Walkabout   and   Catch me IF you Can    http://dachsieswithmoxie.blogspot.com

Benny and Lily    Beach Ball     http://www.twofrenchbulldogs.com

Madi   Gymnastics   http://downhomeinnc.blogspot.com  

Lily Bell and Muffin    Couch Potato Peeling   http://lovablelily.blogspot.com

Mona and Weenie    Tongue Curling/Raspberry  and   Critter Stalking    http://justustexasdachsies.blogspot.com

Pip     Discus / Frisbee   http://pipinthegame.blogspot.com

Goose   Stick(s)    http://gospelofgoose.blogspot.com

Bert   Pole Jumping   http://fourleggedviews.blogspot.com

Murphy and Stanley   Marathon Chewing   http://murphyandstanley.blogspot.com

Puddles    Digging     http://wethreedoxies.blogspot.com

Declan   Tuneful Farting   http://www.declansdogsblog.co.uk

Casey   Keep Away    http://savetheboxers.blogspot.com

Rubie and Poots    Equestrian   http://rubieadventures.blogspot.com

Mayzie   Camera Avoidance Kae Kwon Do    http://mayziegal.wordpress.com

Shasta and Shiloh    Synchronized Peeing    http://beagle-home.blogspot.com

Ruthie    DE-Stuffing    http://k-9katastrophie.blogspot.com

Susie and Sidebite   Free Style Zoomies      http://susieandsidebite.blogspot.com

Ruby and Penny   Roaching and Rolling   http://agenuineruby.blogspot.com

Bailey and Katy    Squirrel Hurdles    http://sheltietimes.blogspot.com

Indigo      DRAW your Peeple    http://cheshiredanes.blogspot.co.uk

Lulu   Snack Sack Race    http://www.thefogcitylu.blogspot.com

Sasha    Boxing    http://chicamom85-sassyshasha.blogspot.com

Frank the Tank    EXTREME Weather Sports    http://theadventuresofthetank.blogspot.com

Max       Turbo Track      www.maxthequiltcat.com

Luna and Cynder    Snoopendous SniffAthon    http://lunadogslife.blogspot.com

Mollie Jo     The Great Tennis Ball Tournament   http://kwing-dogeared.blogspot.com

Uji and Izzy..    Bathtub Wrestling     http://ro-uj-iz.blogspot.com

Finn      CLOSING CEREMONY    http://finnhoward.blogspot.com

Dear Finnackles...

Have you been over to the new Blogville Chronicles?  You have to go and check it out!

The Chronicles is looking for guest writers!  Ahem, so I, Finnackles Howard, will be writing a love column for all your Blogville residents out there.  Now, I know you have a lot of questions - so please let me know what I can help you with.  I am looking forward to it, because at my tender age of 19 months, I have much advice to share with you all, like how to carry on a long distance relationship with dogs in Asia when you are in the USA, how to sniff out the best invitations for parties through peemail, and what color to stamp your paw in those Valentine's cards.  So come on then, get to askin'!

And, if you'd like to help out with the Chronicles, be sure to drop by and let Ruthie know!

Sleeping Beauties

Enjoying The Belmont Stakes

Some just get really into it...

The Babble Ball

A couple of weeks ago, I bought the Babble Ball.

This picture was taken after Finn had her paws on it for like 5 minutes.

Piece of crap.  We even had it in a sock for some added protection.  Don't get me wrong, Finn loved it, but it's definitely not appropriate for dogs who actually, you know, want to play with it.  We did superglue it back together, but now I am wondering how we will ever get it open if we want to change the batteries.

And FYI, this ball was the "large" size.  You see my car key there for comparison.  Stay away fellow doggie toy shoppers, stay away.

Now, I want to thank everyone who responded to my post yesterday!  We have donations from the folks at CANIDAE and Max because of it!  Thank you!

Feeling Philanthropic?

One day, a lightbulb went off in my head!

I work for a non-profit with a wonderful cause, and every year, there is a fundraiser to benefit our mission - which is to research cures for and eradicate a disease (I am being vague for any online psycho stalkers).  I am soliciting donations for our silent auction, and I recently received a large donation of doggie clothes and accessories from The Doggie Couture Shop.  Perhaps with all of the folks in Blogville who are authors of books, who make collars, who create doggie portraits, who work in food and treat companies, who provide a doggie service  - - perhaps if folks donated an item or two, I would I have a nice package for doggie owners for my silent auction.  It's a great way to get your name out there as I list all donors on the organization's website and in the journal for our fundraiser.  What do you think?

If you are one of these folks, and would like to donate an item, you can email me at marianne(dot)d(dot)howard(at)gmail(dot)com and I can tell you more about our organization and we can talk about your possible donation.

Thank you!  Normal Finn mischief resumes next time.  Promise!

Wordless Wednesday

Let's Go Friars!

One morning, we took Finn for a drive to one of my husband's friends houses.  He was going to work on my car for me.  Imagine my surprise when we drove right past my old high school, St. Anthony's, home of the Friar, to get there!

I hadn't been there in about seven years, so we got out to take a walk around.  All over, all I saw were signs that said, "No Pets" so we just let Finn pose by one of the banners.  Of course she picked the smelliest and dirtiest one!  Glad she got to be a Friar for two minutes!

Spring Cleaning

Hewwwow!  Finn here! 

I don't get it.  Sometimes, we are all just hanging around the house.

And Momma and Pops will be cleaning or dusting or whatever.

And then they come out and say that I am CRAZY when I start acting like this!

But I get sooooooo excited and I want to help!

I mean LOOK at this duster!

It's nice and fluffy!!

And Pops it just waving it around in my face!!

It's almost like it can be a toy!

Or something I can...RETRIEVE!

I think it's Momma and Pops who are CRAZY!