Dancing in the Changing Room

Stay tuned for the news of the week...

First on today's news - supposedly PetSmart Obedience School is going to help us teach Katie to ring a bell when she has to pee. How cool would that be? But I'm a little dubious, if only because Katie does really well with her lessons - when she wants to. But it sure would beat cleaning the carpet over and over while I try to get a handle on whatever signal she's sending. So far though, she's getting pretty good at her name and sit.

Coming up next, silly grad student dances in the Old Navy dressing room - find out why. But first a word from our corporate sponsors.

(Wait... I don't have any sponsors!?!? Bummer! Alright then, back to the news.)

Saturday afternoon found one silly grad student (that'd be me...) dancing around the dressing room at Old Navy. Why? After working all summer to be able to eat a balanced diet, and working out three times a week with my trainer for several weeks, I am now a size 16!!!! I can honestly say I don't remember the last time I was a size 16, but the last time I went clothes shopping, back in March, I was a 22! I was so stoked, that I didn't care if anyone saw me dancing like an idiot. Plus, this puts me one step closer to riding around town on a brand new Honda Shadow! Only 35 more pounds to go! So hopefully, by the time winter is over here (February or something, I think), I'll be saddled up and ready to go!

In other news, stock prices in the sleep industry are now sky high, as it becomes an increasingly rare and precious commodity. But I found out that the Grad School has a tradition called Cease Fire Weekend, where teachers don't hand out homework to be done that weekend! It's the first weekend in October, and I can't wait.

Well, I guess that's about all the news for now. We're going to take Katie to the dog park tonight (Lexington has 3 public dog parks with fenced in areas... super cool), so I'd better get some homework done.

More pee-ing issues

Hmmm... so Katie started school today, and she did really well. Actually, she was, by far, the best behaved dog in her class (except for the teachers dog, of course). So we were all excited and proud and such...

... then I got ready to go to the store to get something for dinner, and out of the blue, Katie pees. Right in the middle of the living room floor. I'm hoping I'm not seeing the beginning of a BAD pattern here (she had an accident on Thursday morning, but that one was more my fault). This time she didn't even act like she had to go out or anything though. One minute she was laying on the couch, and then I walked into my office, shut the door so I could change, and I hear Steve saying BAD (which is our new correction word, courtesy of training class)! I don't know what was behind this at all!

And besides that, she still won't eat! I think she's had about a cup total since the Thursday a.m. accident-incident. We keep putting it out there (and I even tried leaving it out longer this morning, in case her pills had upset her stomach), but she won't touch it. I really don't know what to do there.

As for me, I'm dog tired (pardon the pun). Steve and I walked Katie about 3 miles this morning, then we had doggie school. After that, I met with my trainer at the gym and worked out for an hour. And when Katie peed (and Steve was on the verge of murdering her), I took her for another 3 miles and then we went to the park and played "Chase Mom while Mom Chases Frisbee" (we don't quite have the idea of fetch down yet... lol). So I'm not sure if Katie got tired out, but I sure did! =)

Anyhow, dinner is finally ready, and I'm starved, so that's all the news I've got for today.

Just a short one tonight...

...because I'm beat! Went for the walk of the century with Katie tonight, at an arboretum that my trainer told me about. Katie really loved it (except I'm not quick enough for her to catch any squirrels while she's on the leash).

But the funny (only because she didn't get away with it) thing she tried to eat today... the diamond off my engagement ring! Yep, I reached down to pet her, and she, very gently mind you, put her teeth around the setting for the diamond. Lol... what's next?

As for me, I'm doing really well. I'm glad it's the weekend though (and my teachers were all nice enough to make sure I wouldn't be bored this weekend, three shiny new homework assignments). Mostly, I just want to sleep... a lot. But since Katie is now becoming acustomed to waking up at 5:30 with me, I'm assuming she won't understand that Saturday is a great day for sleeping in. So I guess I'd better get to bed. =)

No really... my dog did eat my homework!

Okay, so actually she ate my course notes for Linear Algebra, but close enough. Really though, I was lucky, because my students' homework was right underneath my notebook waiting to be graded and recorded. Imagine having to explain that to them...

No really... my dog ate your homework...

Hee hee hee.

So Malibu (who still needs a new name), finally went potty outside tonight! Steve and I were so proud... it's like the first time your kid uses the toilet or something. =) I was beginning to think it would never happen, since we must have walked her almost 4 miles at various points today with only one itty bitty tinkle. But she did it (perhaps it was Steve's demonstration that made the difference?).

And tonight I got to tell my parents that they have their first grand-puppy now. They're pretty excited (although not too surprised she ate my schoolwork... I got an "I told you so" for that one).

Well, I guess I'd better cut this short, before I start sounding like a parent whose kid just made the honor roll. Nighty-night!

So how do you make a dog pee?

Today we got a new family member. For the moment, her name is Malibu (the name they gave her at the pound), but only until I decide on a name that doesn't remind me of Barbie dolls. This is her:She's an incredibly sweet dog, and the coolest shade of red (she and Steve have matching hair!), but she's still a little unsure about people and pretty shy. We knew about this when we picked her up, so it's not really a big deal... The only problem is, she won't pee when we take her outside. I think maybe she's too nervous or overwhelmed or something, but we took her to the field behind our house when she first got here, took her for a long walk a couple of hours later, and just spent about 45 minutes outside trying to let her roam the yard and get acquainted with it... and still... no pee. I'd be fit to burst by now if I were her!

Other than that, it's been really fun watching her exploring our apartment. The walk was a little hairy at a couple of points when there were loose dogs around. It wasn't like she was aggressive, more just skittish or a little afraid. And she also gets a little nervous around people who move too fast (she laid down and wouldn't get up when a runner ran by, but she got up fine afterwards).

So, I think we all have a ways to go in the getting comfortable department, but we're working on it (if anyone has any hints, lemme know). I already signed her up for an obedience class that starts in a couple of weeks. And there's a doggy daycare (yes, Maria, I could possibly be turning into one of "those people") just down the road, and I'm thinking about sending her once or twice a week on the days I have to stay all day on campus, so she can socialize and learn a little more about being dog-ish (I mean, she's the only dog I've ever met who will take a Milk-bone or a Snausage from you and then set it on the floor and walk away!).

Anyhow, I'm lovin' it, finally having a dog in the house! (Megan does the happy dance) And that's pretty much all the news I've got for today.