Thursday, February 24, 2011

XL

Ever since September I have been putting on the ole feed bag with real gusto and as a result I can barely zip up my pants. Seriously, the few pants that I can get on are so tight that I really can't breath. So now I'm paying the price and it's back to being "careful" with food and getting back on the treadmill etc............GREAT.
Last night was my first workout and you can just imagine what I feel like today. The boys took it all in stride until I got on the treadmill. They were all on the bed and when I first started walking their little heads turned from side to side ............so curious. Each time I changed the speed or incline they all sat up and moved their heads from side to side....they were sooooo cute and it made the time fly. Brogie was the first to give it up, followed shortly by Zeke.............but Gummie sat up each time for the entire 45 minutes and we talked each time.
Tonight............as soon as I started walking all three boys got on the bed, got comfortable, and went to sleep. I walked as fast as I could, I sweated and I huffed and puffed for 45 minutes...........they SNORED. To them, the treadmill is old news now ............guess I'm going to have to do this on my own. No fun.
e

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

BIGBIRD

Having a resident comedian is always fun....and occasionally it's hilarious. Occasionally happened this morning.
I slept in because I didn't have anything until the afternoon....didn't go downstairs until 7:30. It was so balmy that after I got the boys fed I took my paper and coffee to the patio and we enjoyed a truly beautiful morning. Steve has all sorts of bird feeders and bird baths in the backyard and the birds and squirrels have a buffet that would rival The Bellagio. There is almost always a squirrel or some birds out there and Zeke loves to charge out the door and chase them off. It is one of his favorite things to do and it gets his day off to a good start.....today it was two fat squirrels and he loved it. He speeds out and they run off and he trots back to the patio and sits down. We lounged out there for an hour and I finally took the boys in and was starting up the stairs when Zeke started barking and growling and having a fit to go back out. I went on up the stairs but soon all three were barking and Gummie ran up to my bathroom barking and begging so I trudged back down and looked out and could hardly believe what I was seeing........a buzzard! Yes the exact same ugly bird you see eating road kill........the one that only flies off at the last possible second.......often making you slow down or brake because they are so slow to get out of the way. If you have never seen one you would never believe how big and ugly they really are............the boys were freaked out.
Zeke was almost foaming at the mouth and so I thought I'd let him out and he could chase the buzzard off and then trot back and we'd get on with it...........sounds like a plan to me. I got Gummie and Brogie back from the door and cracked the door open just enough for Zeke to catapult himself across the patio and zip right over to the bird...........but the buzzard didn't get the memo and instead of flying off it spread it's enormous wings and stood it's ground. How big do you think that bird must have looked to little Zeke...........he tried to slam on the brakes... but it was too late and he stumbled and rolled all over himself as he veered off to the right and skidded finally to a stop on the other side of the buzzard. It is impossible for me to tell you how funny it was. I was laughing so hard, but at the same time Zeke was trapped on the other side and his big eyes were fixed on me.........and the buzzard had his eyes fixed on Zeke. So I walked over to the side of the yard and knelt down and Zeke took off running to me and he ran faster than I thought he could run ......he jumped up into my arms and buried his face in my armpit. As I was walking back to the patio the buzzard started flapping it's wings and eventually got off the ground.
The whole thing was so funny and then I felt a little sad for him.............but when we went inside, I put him down and he ran over to the pantry..........so obviously he was over it and I had had a great laugh ....treat time for sure.
e

Monday, February 7, 2011

STANDOFF

It has been so cold and wet this winter and, of course, I whine about it ............exactly the way I whine in the summer about the oppressive heat and humidity. But there was no complaining yesterday.......glorious sunshine and 65 degrees. I was out and about all day long ..........had a gift certificate that I enjoyed using and had a late lunch with friends....good times.
When I got home and opened the front door I walked into the middle of a standoff. Our stair goes up to a landing then turns 90 degrees another half flight so you can't see the top of the stair from the front door. Our cat, Kissie, was perched on the landing and had that classic cheshire cat grin and I could hear the boys at the top of the stair. Gummie was whimpering, Brogie was barking, and Zeke was jumping around and grunting. Now there is no question that I am the leader of the pack but no matter how much those boys wanted to come running down the stairs to greet me they were totally at the mercy of the Queen Bee, Miss Kissie Carson. Even though all four of them often sleep together, Kissie occasionally has the need to show all of us exactly who is in charge and I don't know what she says to them .........but they listen.
I scolded her and she looked at me like I had lost my mind.........then she gave me a little meow. I sat down beside her and she rubbed all over me, purred, and rolled on her back.
Gummie crept down two steps and waited.............he was so nervous that his tail was spinning around like a propeller........but he inched his way closer and just as he stepped on the landing Kissie slapped him on his leg three quick times, rolled over and rubbed her face on his. The standoff was over........they all ran down the stairs........but we all knew who won.
e

Sunday, February 6, 2011

TOUGH ENOUGH

Yesterday Zeke surprised me ...no, shocked would be the right word.........as a matter of fact it reminded me of a famous line from an old movie, NETWORK, I think. It went something like ....I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!!!!!!!!!
We were on a short walk and a man and his dog were coming towards us and all of a sudden Zeke started growling and then barking. Gummie and Brogie were looking around and both got closer to Zeke and started sniffing him......I felt like doing the same thing just to make sure we had the real Zeke. After the dog passed Zeke put on the brakes and turned around to keep his eye on the dog.....all the while with a low growl. I couldn't get him to budge........so I knelt down and we all loved on him ............he was so happy.........and we went on.
Zeke may have a new philosophy on things but he's no fool.............he knew that dog was on a leash ......maybe he even knew it was a very old boy...........or maybe just maybe he thinks he's tough enough now to take on a CHIHUAHUA.
e