Uno

It feels like, every other time I post on this blog anymore, it’s to write about the death of one my beloveds.  This post is no different and it’s tearing me up.  Every time I get comfortable and think that life has settled down for a while, something else happens and I guess this time was no different.

On July 11th, 2011.  My beloved gerbil, Uno, passed away.

The days before she died, I was away in Minnesota, so I don’t know if she was feeling unwell during the time I was gone or if it was just one of those things.  I had gotten back on the 11th and all seemed well, she greeted me in her usual fashion, though admittedly I wasn’t focusing on anyone in particular.  I was tired from the trip and was trying to get my things prepared for work.  I went to bed fairly late and fell asleep without hearing anything coming from her cage– however this was not unusual as she often went to bed and woke up with me.  Around 5:15 in the morning, I was awoken by a crack of thunder and the sounds of rain and hail beating against the house.  It took me a few moments to realize that not only was it storming, the warning sirens up the street from our house were also going off.  Without having a radio in my room and my weather updates telling me it was just a severe storm, I wasn’t sure what it was, but bundled Buddha and Dharma into their “storm carrier” and went to get Evie and Uno from their cages.  Although Evie was peering at me from her bed, I realized there was no movement from Uno’s, something that wasn’t typical, so I popped open the door of her house expecting her to shoot out and come stare at me.  It took a few moments of me feeling around the cage, before I realized that she was laying on top of her chew house and she wasn’t moving.

It took me completely by surprise and hit me very hard when I realized she was gone.  Of course it was the worst time to come to the conclusion and I was forced to rush Evie into her ball and wrap Uno in a towel so I could get everyone downstairs.  I sat downstairs, very upset about the storms, which I hate with a passion just because it causes a pile up of things that could go wrong and that my gerbil was gone but I couldn’t do much to mourn her at the moment because I still had to find out if the rest of us were needing to worry about our safety.  Finally we decided that the reports were telling us it was strong winds and rain but that we were not in danger of a tornado (doesn’t feel like it watching the news as many people’s homes and property were damaged) and decided to go back to bed.  I had to go upstairs minus one of my loves.

Even though it was almost 6am and I had work the next day I found it very hard to sleep.  I hadn’t put Buddha and Dharma back in their house yet, so I set the carrier on my bed and just let them come out at their own pace.  For once, they were cuddling and I made mention to them that I kind of would like some cuddling too.  I know it seems silly but when I said that, Dharma perked up and stepped a paw out on my comforter, wheeked at me softly and when I motioned for her attention she waddled (yes, they waddle, it’s normal) over to me and snuggled up with me, still wheeking as I pet her.  Buddha, not to be outdone by her younger sister came out to join us a few moments later, but was bold enough to climb up my tummy and stick her face under my chin.  I think we stayed like that for an hour, just cuddling.

Animals are perceptive and I think even the toughest critics would have a hard time denying that.  They both knew I was sad and I cried for a good long while.  I’m not ashamed to say it.  Faith knew too and stayed close to the bed, just watching us and knowing that it hurt me, whatever it was.  I went to work, where my kids were less perceptive to my depression and I spent a very long day trying not to think about there being one less fuzzy face waiting for me when I got home.  When I finally did get home from all of that, my Dad helped me bury my little friend in the backyard, next to some of our peony bushes.  Appropriate as peonies are my favorite flowers and she was one of my favorite gerbils.

I acknowledge that some people will think it’s dumb to be so attached to an animal.  I suppose if you don’t have any or you don’t have an interest in connecting with any, that would make sense.  I would like to think, even though I’m not a member of PETA or even vegetarian, that I do tend to connect with the animals I meet and especially the ones that have come to live with me.  Every single one of them has a personality and I’ve seen it in some way to the point I’ve wanted them to become a part of my family.  Uno was no different.

I met Uno in January of 2010 in the quiet area of the pet store I work at on the weekends.  She had fallen after escaping from a tote in the quarantine area of the store for new animals and was thought to have lost her left eye.  Her eye required daily cleaning and would most likely have to be adopted out because she was no longer in “prime condition”.  In the few weeks I had to get to know her, I knew she needed to join my family of furry friends.  Earning the moniker, Uno.  When I brought her home, her eye hadn’t gotten any better and I was told that likely it never would– it just didn’t seem normal that it would need to be cleaned out everyday with the kind discharge it had.  I took her to the vet and for the first time in my life, spent $66 for an appointment for a gerbil.  There, I was told she not only still had her eye, it was viable and the only reason it was still swollen was because she had Ringworm.  Had I not adopted her and brought her to the vet, she most likely would have died from lack of proper treatment.

Uno brought me a lot of joy.  I had never had a gerbil and had to learn how to care for them very soon after bringing her home.  Did you know, when you have a gerbil, you either get a chewer, a runner, or both?  And you don’t know which one it is until you buy them lots of toys only to find out they don’t want them?  I found out fairly quickly, Uno was a chewer– a beaver in gerbil clothing.  I had gotten her a lovely two-story home, with a “fun ramp” and a nice, quiet wheel.  Only much to my dismay, the wheel was turned to plastic chips and the ramp could no longer be qualified as a ramp after 24 hours.  To which she had to learn to jump up to the second story and decided the nice new *metal* wheel I bought her, was much more fun for sleeping in than running in.  She did however, adore the Nut Knots I brought home from work, where the prize for chewing through a maze of wood chews was a little nut in the middle.  She went through several small ones in a very short amount of time.  Usually two or three to Evie’s one and she always wanted them.  Finally, I just bought the size that was meant for Guinea Pigs and rabbits in the hopes they would last longer.  They did and Uno’s eyes would always get wide when I set one in her house, like I had just given her the grail of chewy toys.

She was an excellent doorman, always greeting people when they walked in.  I positioned her cage just so she could see who walked in.  Even if she was in her bed, if she heard the door open, she would (as my Dad calls it) “up periscope” to see if she knew the newcomer.  She hated running in her exercise ball and if I put her in it and set her on the floor, she would sit there, wringing her paws, wondering when she would ever get back home to her Nut Knot.  Her dislike of running and maybe my being a softie when it comes to treats, led her to be a bit overweight and although I cut down on her treats and fed her no more than anyone else, she still was a little chunky for a gerbil.  I always joked, I was the only person in the U.S. who had a gerbil with a thyroid condition and that if chewing on things counted for exercise, she would be tiny.

She was a messy roommate to be sure– I would clean her house and make everything nice, just in time for her to kick everything out onto my floor.  I went through three birdcage covers just to staunch the mess, but I would buy a million if it meant she was still here.  I can’t even think about cleaning out her cage right now, for fear of starting to cry again.  I miss her so much already.  I think this will always be the worst part of being a pet owner.  Losing one of your loves and getting over it.  I will always remember my little Uno and I wish upon wish that she is happy wherever she is now.

Uno

I love you, Uno.  I always will and I hope you’re happy and that someday we’ll see each other again.  Miss you.

-Mom

There’s this thing… Called an Update….

I do that.  Occasionally.

A conversation I had on Facebook made me realize I’ve neglected updating in about a million years.  Whiiiich of course I remembered, AFTER I had already given them a link to the site.  That’s never embarrassing.  We haven’t had any recent adventures here at Chez Lotta Pets, but then again, Mom of Lotta Pets hasn’t had a day off in a while.  Well.  That’s not true, I went to Disney for a week, but despite it being a vacation, still didn’t get to adventure with the pets.  Which may have been a good thing, because as much as I adore all of them.  I have days I need to not think about medication,  chopping cucumbers or if there’s enough chewsticks in the house to keep Uno satisfied.

Summer camp started for my work two weeks ago, so I’ve been a little busy with that, getting into my schedule and trying to not to burn to a crisp every time we go to the pool, which is twice a week and several times for field trips over the next few weeks.  Although it doesn’t require me to get up at 5am every morning now, I do have 8 hour days at the park, pool and whatever adventures the kids have planned for them, and I must admit it’s definitely exhausted me and put a bit of a damper on me doing anything of the things I normally do.  I get off work in the afternoon tomorrow and I have Sunday off, so I’m hoping to be slightly more productive.  Creatively, housework-idly and of course pet care-idly.

Too Hotz for Husky Puppies! Need Freezer!

I’ve also been battling a sinus infection since Tuesday, it was ugly for a day, now I’m just trying to stop hacking near anyone I like.

Ah needz a Kleenex

It’s been warm around here, to the point of being yucky. and so has the room with all the animals.  I have two fans going and most of the lights are off, but I don’t know if it’s helping.  The Pigs have been flattened out like little piggy rugs to keep from sweltering, both Evie and Uno seem to have gone into summer hibernation and my tanks have warmed up enough I was greeted to an algae bloom in Winston’s tank.  Turned off the heaters until I feel like they aren’t going to boil and I don’t have oddly colored algae crawling all over the glass.

Is Gud!

I think the only ones that have been staying reasonably cool are the rabbits.  The weathermen have been crying rain for the entire week and although it’s rained, sort of, it hasn’t been the thunderstorm special I was expecting.  Plus with the heat, I was afraid they’d get overheated and I wouldn’t be home to prevent them from getting sick, so they’ve had to stay in their indoor hutch.  I think it’s time to just get the outdoor hutch and figure out how to stabilize it from The Tank AKA Mystic doesn’t knock it over in her haste to see them.  I want them to enjoy the outdoors without risking them getting hurt or overheated.  Any of the hutches I’ve looked at have nesting boxes that a few frozen bottles of water won’t cool down.

Regardless of all this chatter, I should get to sleep.  Still have to get up for work even if I have the afternoon off.  Maybe I’ll end up being more consistent.

…..

Who am I kidding?

Until then,

Jaina

P.S. I’m not sure when I’ll get the actual button, but I recently decided to participate in a little blog program in conjunction with a company called Ears of Experience.  It’s a Travel Agency that I assume works fairly independently sending people to Disney, which, as you know, is one of the greatest places in the world in my opinion.  If you decide to go on a trip, you can get their information from me, just let them know I referred you and it looks like we both benefit.  The TA I set this up with is an independent contractor and her little business is called Wonders Dreams and Wishes.  I have her card if you need it, just let me know!

You'll always have a blast

Buddha’s Spa Day

You know what’s really hard?  Giving a Guinea Pig a bath…  I know I’ve commented on it before, but I think it merits repeating.

Giving a Guinea Pig a bath is very hard.

And anyone who attempts it and survives should be awarded a medal.

<.<

>.>

Thanks to school and work and just general laziness I suppose, the fuzzy upstairs pets have been a little on the neglected side in terms of cleaning out bedding and trimming nails and such.  I like to try to clean everyone’s home out every week or week and a half, but alas, as stated above, it didn’t quite happen that way.  It’s actually been more like two weeks and it’s definitely shown.  So today, since I’m still on break and wasn’t scheduled to work at either of my jobs, I took the time to clean my room and everyone else’s too.

Evie and Uno rejoiced at the opportunity to take a spin in their exercise balls around the room, Faith watching them protectively from her new orthopedic bed:

Dog Not Included

It even has that stupid little tag in the corner that I’m itching to cut off.  So stupid– Like a dog is going to look at that and exclaim excitement over the type of foam.  I digress.

She got it for Christmas and loves it, I think she’s starting to prefer sleeping on that compared to jumping on my bed.  Good and bad for me I guess, as I’m glad she’s comfortable, but sometimes miss her being on the bed with me.

So while those two puttered around in their balls, I cleaned up, cursing Uno and her aim, for so effectively getting her bedding on EVERYTHING on my cabinet.  I do not understand why she does it and how she gets it over the netting I have around her two story condo, but it never fails.  Finally got those two cleaned up and moved on to my favorite little Guinea Pig and realized what a mess she was.  I felt really bad too, thanks to me her fur was in a state and her toenails needed clipping in the worst way.  So I cleaned up her house and then bundled her into the sink for bath time:

You. Are a horrible person....

She wasn’t happy.  And I wasn’t thrilled to see how brown the water got just from setting her in it.

Is that shampoo? It better stay there.

I SAID LEAVE IT IN THE BOTTLE! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!?!

After what seemed like ages, I finally felt she was clean and squeegeed out the rest of the water, wrapping her up in a towel.  Her hootin’ and hollerin’ all the way.

Stop taking pictures and get me OUT OF HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I took her downstairs wrapped up in her little “robe” where I did a bang up job of making my mom think she had died (holy cow) and then got her ridiculously long nails trimmed.

I REALLY WISH THIS WAS YOUR FACE!!!!

This was all too much for her and by the time I got back up to our room, the only way to calm her was to give her an orange.  All that work and she got orange all over her face.  Oy.

And to wrap it all up– You know what else is hard?

Giving a Guinea Pig a haircut.

It’s harder than it looks, nerve-wracking and really just reaffirms how much of a hair stylist I’m not.

You call this a cut and curl? Please. I want my money back.

At least she can see now, before she looked like a calico sheepdog.  She still has plenty of fur, don’t get me wrong.  I just trimmed her around the eyes, screamed once when she bobbed her head when I was perilously close to her ears and scolded twice when she nibbled the hand with the scissors.  She didn’t take me very seriously.  I’m sure it’ll all grow back in about two seconds, but at least I made the effort.

All I know is that I need to sleep now, because this whoooole ordeal exhausted me.  I do know for sure that one of her favorite movies is Superman, because she didn’t take her eyes off the TV the whole time I was drying her.

I understand Buddha.  Christopher Reeve was a hunk and one of the best versions of Superman ever.

Time for Superman III just for laughs?  I think soooo.

Until then!

~Jaina G.P.S. (AKA: Guinea Pig Stylist)

Luka’s First Christmas and Other Assortedness

Well, we had another Christmas come and go today.  It was also Luka’s very fist Christmas extravaganza and let me tell you– He handled it like he knew what it was all along.

We started the celebration yesterday, by making Snickerdoodles and Banana Bread, both of which turned out quite nicely.  Surprisingly enough, Luka actually acted like a little gentleman and didn’t need to be kicked out but once– simply because he has a tendency to lay down right behind you.  Good for knowing where he is, bad for not tripping on your face.

Can you... Just. Dwop whatever dat is pwease?

He was very interested in what we were doing and was also pleased with the scents that were being emitted by our oven.

 

Lemme jus check de wecipe, 2 cups sugew, 16 cups cookees...

He was very helpful.  Not.

 

Yes, I was.

He really wasn’t.

He was also helping me wrap presents.  Sort of.

 

I was on twash dutee!

He really was.  Not.

 

Faith was just waiting for anything at all...

And then the big day came–

 

All of these were our presents, but there were probably twice as many dog presents earlier.

Yeah, Faith is going in for the kill...

Faith waits for no one apparently and went immediately for the smelliest present she could find.

 

And then try to open them before anyone else can have some.

But Luka learned quickly...

 

And learned effectively...

And voila-- Happy Puppy...

Verrrrry Happy.

Faith-- Meet Faith...

You can’t really tell in the photo, but the toy does look like Faith, in a tug toy kind of way.

 

HALP! SHE HAZ DE PWESENTS!

So he got a monkey.

Sharing???

Nahhhh.

It was a good Christmas– The puppies were happy, the other assorted animals were happy and all of the presents I gave seemed to go over well.  I love Christmas and I’m always sad to see it go– but, there’s always next year to look forward to and more shopping to stress over :0)  I can listen to Christmas music for little while longer and then it’s off to whatever holiday comes next… Easter?  President’s Day?  Who knows.

Anyway, all of us here at the Doggy Bloggy wish you the best of the rest of this beautiful holiday and the happiest of New Years (I actually have plans!  Wha-whut-whut?!).  Also, whatever weather occurs, we hope it isn’t overwhelming, as winter weather often is!

Off for leftover turkey!

 

Merry Christmas!!!

~Jaina & Faith & Luka and all the rest!

 

We Wish you a Merry Christmas…

AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Merry Christmas one and all.  Faith, the gang and I hope everyone has a pleasant and spirited holiday and that 2011 starts out wonderfully.

I’ll post photos later about our own celebration and what and alllll the toys the fuzzy faces got.  Because, frankly– They got way more than the rest of us.

Until then!

Jaina

Maybe You Can Tell Me…

What in the *everloving* world this is?

I bought the girls some squeakies on Sunday before I left work–  Typically, because no one is happy if they don’t get their own toy, I paw (get it? Haha, I crack myself up) through the clearance bin until I find things I think they’d get a kick out of.  They actually can be quite picky sometimes, so I try to choose wisely.  I saw this thing and had to buy it simply because it’s ridiculous.

I get that it’s supposed to be a camel– But is it a species of camel that has ice cream cones for legs, rather than the regular knobbly-kneed kind?  I have no idea and that’s why I’m coming to you, blogging community.  Any suggestions?  New species name?

"I haz an ice cream legs!"

Of course, it couldn’t be any more strange than this little beauty:

"I don't know what I am either."

It’s a pig.  Sure.  But it looks like it ate a carnival and a Fuzzy Wuzzy flip mop (Google it, I dare you).

Judge me not by my oddly fabric'd face lest ye be judged, sayth the Lord Squeaky

I’m definitely putting more thought into this than is probably healthy.  I’m really glad I went to college– I’m going to do big things, BIG things!

Anyway, thought I’d post a few photos of the new addition and some of the oldies– My room is now completely girls.  Ianto was the unfortunate man out before he passed, but now with Evie here, it’s kind of like having an all girls dorm rather than co-ed.  It’s kind of fun, instant sleep overs, without the pillow fights.  Unless you count Uno CONSTANTLY CHUCKING HER BEDDING ONTO MY FLOOR RIGHT AFTER I’VE VACUUMED!!!

<.<

>.>

>.<

*cough*

Yeah–

Hai!!!! I iz a Movee Star!!!

Oooh, yes! I LUVZ de Stwahbewee yogurtz!

Iz don' need you to hold et! ... STOP HOLDING DE YOGURTZ!

She really didn’t want me holding it anymore– She turned into a teeny version of He-Man and ripped it out of my fingers.  About a second later she shoved it into her cheek pouches with the other one I gave her.  Good thing she didn’t have any doorways to go through.  Her face kind of looked like this: ( O.0 ) (use your imagination).

See? I holdz et myself!

I getz dem outta de bag too...

I’m really going to have to keep an eye on her– She really isn’t so shy anymore…

Uno on the other hand, decided she didn’t want anything to do with “teh Yogurtz” and therefore wouldn’t sit still for pictures.  I don’t know why this frustrates me anymore–  She’s a Gerbil, they’re born to take blurry photos.

*Squish*

Still– It’s sad I have to put her in a headlock just to get a semi-decent picture.  I’m probably lucky I didn’t lose any of my fingers with this one.

I hatez you.

Of course, if I didn’t, all you’d get to see is:

"Oh look! Black Blobs are legal to have as pets now!"

"Oh man, soooo jealous. I've always wanted a Black Blob!"

I’ve also come to the conclusion Uno needs to go on a diet.  I play with her and all, but I get more exercise chasing her when she’s out of her ball, then she does.  And when she’s in her ball, she just sits there and wrings her paws wondering what she did to deserve to be put in the Bubble of Badness.  It’s a Gerbil version of the Cone of Shame.  I try to feed her right, she gets her seed mix and I make sure she eats more than just Sunflower Seeds (they’re like Oreos to a Gerbil!) and I give her Timothy Hay from time to time… I try NOT to give her too many Yogurt drops…

Though, I may fail a little on that…

They’re just too cute some nights!  So shoot me!

I’ll try to be better.  I don’t want her to die an early death because she has clogged arteries or something.

OH!  Hey!

Here's that spider I was telling you about! Yay! GROSSNESS!

Um... Crumply?

We don’t know what happened.  One minute it was being grotesque and spidery, the next it curled into a little ball and was carried off by ants while Mom serenaded it with the well-known funeral dirge “Circle of Life”…  I have it on video if you don’t believe me.

I just thought I’d creep y’all out too, it is getting close to Halloween and what better way to share than with a picture of a spider that could probably suck your face clean off?!

What would you do without me?

Well, I gotta get up in the morning!

Until then,

Jaina & Faith & Paisley & Uno & Baxter & Watson & Buddha & Evie & All De Bebe Fish

My Joys

I’ve always been one to say that pets are truly the answer to one’s depression, whether it be a short-lived sadness, or chronic.  I have never been more sure of that statement until recently.

In the last few months, my family and myself have faced soul-hardening heart-ache.  The death of my Grandfather, the loss of Yuri and other hurts.  More recently, I, myself have endured a heartbreak I would readily sell my soul to never go through again.

Although my pain is not physical, the drain has often left me exhausted and not wanting to do much.  I’ve been disappointed in myself for letting it bring me to this point, but I imagine others who have felt as I have, know it isn’t easy to drag yourself up by your bootstraps, like it’s no big deal.

However, because of this, I have been privy to the joys that are my pets.  I’m sure there are plenty of people who would roll their eyes and plenty of those who would agree.  Either way, I have found myself admiring how perceptive they all are, even the little ones, (I’m looking at you, Ianto) that seem to know that I haven’t been feeling well about life and have been sweeter than I could have ever asked for.

Faith has always been empathic to my feelings and since day one has been there to snuggle and provide me with supportive kisses throughout the last few weeks.  And, well, life.  The day she’s gone, I will mourn the greatest friend I’ve ever had– I hope, upon hope that isn’t for a very long time.

Faith is just one example, as she is closest to me in everything– She has seen me scream, mull, rage and cry.  The others, though not as easily privy to my emotional state, still provide me with a comfort I cannot express through words.

I had a customer come into work and explain how having a dog (or pet) is cheaper than paying a therapist and I can only agree with that.  I find myself seeing that every time my emotional state is less than stellar– Snuggling with Buddha while watching a movie, letting Uno run around on my shoulders, Ianto kick-boxing my fingers when I feed him, my bunnies coming to bump my hand with their noses when I leave them treats, even Paisley and her crazy antics, just to make someone react.

No matter how I’m feeling, no matter how alone I feel or am– I know I have them.  They might just seem like balls of fur, but really, they’re little counselors and they don’t even know it.  I highly recommend their services if ever you find yourself alone and sad.

I owe them so much:

:0}

Watson

Baxter

Uno

Naht hehlping.

Life may change, I may change, the people I love may change– But I don’t think my babies will ever change.  They’re my constants (Well, and I suppose my parents too :0) and I would not give them up for anything.  Maybe I’m weird, maybe people think that means I need a life– Maybe I do, but I’m happy that I have the love I have with them in my life.

Until the troubles fade,

~Jaina

In Which There Are Lazy Hamsters and ADD Gerbils

I have probably the laziest hamster on the planet.  You want to know how I know he’s the laziest hamster on the planet?  I’m glad you do, because I’m going to tell you.  I was cleaning he and Uno’s cages yesterday afternoon and I discovered something– A few weeks ago, I purchased he and Uno those honey sticks, the ones with the seeds and everything is stuck together with honey, you know?

Anyway, when I first put it in his cage, he came over, sniffed it, tried to pull off a few seeds and when he realized it was going to take a little more effort than just half-hamsterdly gnawing at it, he got angry– Like, really angry.  If you never thought a hamster could literally have a temper tantrum…  Come talk to Ianto sometime… So he stares at this chew stick really hard, like maybe his Jedi Hamster powers will miraculously make it NOT require using his teeth and when that didn’t work, he actually started kicking it.  I kid you not, he got his little hamster boxing gloves on and started beating the crap out of this honey stick.  I was laughing so hard at the ridiculousness of what I was seeing, I almost missed him huffing back to his little house.  Had it had a door on it, he would have been slamming it.

This, however, was not was I was speaking of that made me realize just how lazy he is.  While I was cleaning out their cages I found his chew stick and although he had clearly decided to put some effort into eating it, he did in his typical Ianto sort of way:

He's so lazy, he won't even try to get the whole seed off... He just eats out the middle and leaves the rest. *insert eyeroll here*

I would get the hamster that does that.  In any case.  He wasn’t particularly thrilled I cleaned his cage out– he never really is, but I figured he’d get over it eventually.  I put he and Uno in their balls to run around, Uno didn’t know what to do with herself, as usual.  I try to show her every time I put her in, that pushing on the sides of the ball will lead to it rolling and then she can explore, but I think she still has concerns with this, so she just sat in it, wringing her paws and wondering when she’d be allowed to return home– She almost rolled, without intending too, when she saw me dumping out her old litter and realized I was destroying the giant nest she’d created.

I think she got over it though, she spent the majority of last night scraping up a new one.  <sarcasm> Nahhhhh, she totally didn’t do that until 2am, she’s too nice for that </sarcasm>.  Ianto on the other hand, had another temper tantrum abut me getting rid of his “Apocalypse Tomorrow” stash, as per his usual style, but at least was brave enough to roll around the room until I was done defiling his food pantry.  However, he wasn’t so adventurous when he heard me refilling his food dish.  Typically I dump out whatever is in there and replace it once I’m done with the rest of the cage and today was no different– except when I was putting the food in the dish, he heard it and all of sudden I hear “clickityclickityclickty” as he comes flying around the corner of my bed from where he had been hanging out for a while, smacking straight into his cage and staring at the food dish in my hand.  If that isn’t a one track mind, I don’t have a clue what is.

Aht leasht Ah'm weadhy fowh the end!

Sure, let’s all head over to Ianto’s place so we can survive on a couple of sunflower seeds and a dried out Wheatie…

Shaddup... Ah'm dun tahking to youah.

Awwww…. Don’t be that way, doesn’t mean I don’t love him…  He’s just a weirdo…

Naht hehlping.

Well, at least Uno loves me– Just doesn’t stay in one spot long enough to believe it.

I get that a lot... Actually.

Sometimes it gets better.

Hai-- Whatchya doin'?

I dunno what you're doing... But it's beginning to annoy me...

I just pretend this is your face-- That'll make me feel better.

How ’bout that in live action?

Just so you know, she’d had that tube for about 2.5 seconds… 3.5 seconds later it was decimated and in the process of becoming somebody’s new bed– that I had so rudely thrown out…

She gets a little carried away, but she’s still pretty cute–  And theeeen something happened!

HALP!!! I haz a... CEDAR CHIP IN MEH EYEEEEEEEE!!!!

And then all of a sudden, Mom was good enough to come to for help…  Kids these days, have to be dying or in trouble to visit their mommies…

But that's ok... She's still my favorite Gurbil

In other news, a few days ago the family and I were at Target and I wandered (of course I wandered) down the Dog aisle annnnnd found THESE!!!!

Paisley for Paisley!

And pink and purple polky dots for Faithers... That Paisley got mud on less than 48 hours after Faith got it...

Despite the mud, I think they like their collars– I know Faith for a fact loves dressing up and getting new collars.  She has to run through the house to show everyone, because she’s got a new “dress” as it were.  For being a Tomboy, she’s still very girly.

Well, that’s all for now.  I’ll try to keep things updated as we get our new Etsy shop open (see previous entry if you’re not sure what I’m talking about).  We’ve gotten good reviews about the cookies we made so far and we FINALLY got the cookie cutters we need– Yeah, the ones that were supposed to get here like, LAST WEEKEND, finally showed up today.  And all mom got for her troubles was an “Oh… Sorry, we’ll ship it priority.”– Sure, MY questions are totally answered, thank you very much, useless cookie cutter people!  Don’t you know the doggies and kitties of the world are waiting for these delicious gourmet cookies that are only delicious and gourmet if shaped like fire hydrants and dog bones!  Seriously.

Anyway, until then!

~Jaina