The Big Muddy

Yesterday was kinda interesting.

The Human Assistant has the same disease/problem/whatever as Alizé. He says they're too sweet.  ::GAG::  Sure. Whatever.

H.A. started a new medicine Wednesday night. Thursday morning he was not sweet enough. More so than usual. So he was stumbling around being too slow getting our breakfast.

While waiting for the "pink grapefruit slices in light syrup" to kick in.

But first he had to stick things in Alizé's pee. While watching a clock on the computer because it's the only one in the house that shows seconds as well as firsts.

While trying hard not to spill pee on the keyboard.

Though I don't know what that would hurt. He has to make sure that the pee doesn't have keytones in it anymore. If it did, and it got spilled into the keyboard, I guess it would make music while he typed.

But it doesn't. So what's the big deal?

So that was the morning's excitement.

Must. Dry. Fur.

Mmmmphff

In the afternoon the H.A. decided to give Alizé a bath in the bathtub.

She didn't scream or try to jump out. But she stood sideways as far from the sprayer as she could. H.A. had to bend all this way and that. And soap her twice and rinse her off twice. His muscles hurt today! Heh.

The tub wasn't draining very fast. So it looked like Alizé was standing in a shallow pool of the Misi-ziibi. Ol' Man River. The Big Greasy.

What?

white, white, white, black tips

Alizé got fairly clean on her top and sides. But her tummy and back end need more cleaning. But not today. H.A. wants to buy more tub laxative first.

He says the faster the water leaves the tub, the more dirt it takes with it. It's like rivers. Mountain streams run run run and take dirt away.

By the time they get to the ocean, they're big and tired and lazy. They can't carry the dirt anymore. So they just drop it. Like in the bottom of our tub now.

So that was the afternoon's excitement.

You're new!

Me me me go!

Then Zot came for a quick visit. She was actually pretty happy. Zot really hates living with other dogs. She's lots happier living with just her mom.

So of course Zot was happy yesterday! Her mom got home from work and took her for a drive and came to see us. What doggy wouldn't be happy with all that?

When her mom headed for the door, Zot figured she was going too. So did Alizé! For a blind little lady, she sure knows where the front door is! And how to push open the screen door! (H.A. says that one of these days he'll fix that.)

Zot's polite when she's not all stressed out. So she stood back to see what her mom would do. Eventually Zot and her mom were in their car and Alizé was in the house.

And that was the evening's excitement.

Nothing much is going on today. Oh well.

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More uncooperation

First of all, uncooperation from the Human Assistant! It's been almost a whole week since he helped me write anything here!

Okay, he was working on a boatload of photos. Not photos that I'd pick. (And it is my blog!) But since he took 'em, we might as well use 'em.

Here's a Beagle that lives two yards away. Two back yards. Things wouldn't be very pleasant if he only lived two yardsticks away!

Bark!  Bark!  Bark!

What's goin' on?

Hey!

The Beagle was rolling around in the grass. And it wasn't the happy-​to-​be-​alive rolling that Lucy and Zot do. It was roll-​in-​stinkies rolling.

I know because it stood up and peed on that spot and then rolled some more! Now, the H.A. is an artiste in the fine art of photography. So he said,

mr_ed:  Hoooee!  I gotta get me a pitcher of that there doggie!

So he did. Whoop. Dee. Doodoo. But the Beagle wouldn't cooperate and roll around any more.

Then there was the uncooperation of our lilacs. All bent over. Probably from one of our rainstorms.



They're doing better now. But I'll bite the H.A. if he takes another picture before we get this posted. So no views of standing-up lilacs for now.

At least, not our standing-up lilacs.

I mentioned that I went to see Diane Doggroomer, right? On that trip H.A. took 75 pictures of lilacs and only 4 of me!!!

H.A. says if I knew military talk I could say it was definitely Whiskey Tango Foxtrot time. But I don't, so I guess I won't.

Lovely front yard ...

... and a closer look!

This is where our trip home started. It should've taken 15 minutes to get from here to MaxFund. Where we got some stuff. But it took much longer. Like a certain three-hour cruise.

These pictures embarrass me! The lilacs all look really crummy up close. H.A. says that's another uncooperation. His old digital camera.

Here's a house with two lilac bushes:

One in the side yard ...

... and one in the front yard!

H.A. wants to buy a camera that costs more than two years' worth of kibble‽‽‽

Here's another house with bushes in two places plus one peeking over from their neighbors:

At the back of the back yard ...

... and the front of the back yard!

Sometimes humans put bushes where there's not enough room for them. Not when the bushes are grown up, anyway.

Crowded against a side fence.

Room to grow.

But lilac bushes can look scraggly until then. And they're probably hard to groom.

Except for sitting still. Heh.

Here's a house with seven lilac bushes! If I counted them right. I'll bet they'll look great when they're all grown up. I don't know if you can tell from the pictures. But each one looks like it's a different color. To me.

Bushes # 1 & 2 ...	... # 3 ...
... #s 4, 5, 6 ...	... and bush # 7!

Lilacs tucked away:

Hidden away?

Peek-a-boo!

And lilacs you can't miss! Huge ones:

Big bush!

Bigger bush!

And lilacs in the front yard:

Lilacs right out front.

On show for everybody!

I told H.A. he needs to pick his photo subjects better. (More pictures of me would be good!) So he doesn't have to worry about a new camera.

But maybe he'll decide to stop buying me food. In which case I could use some help. And the rest of us, of course.

I'll let you know!

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Giving thanks

It's hard to even know where to start being thankful!

There are so many humans and animals who have to struggle just to live from day to day.

Timber was an old gal who lived here before I came.

She had been dumped in the hills.

But somebody caught her and brought her to town. The Human Assistant got her from the rescue group.

Timber didn't ask for much. In fact, she didn't ask for anything.

But she was grateful to be part of a pack that got food in their bowls.

Sometimes she would eat from somedoggy else's bowl, but Gremlin and Zot would let her.

For sure she lined up with them when it was time for treats! And she loved walks. Like we all do, of course. But the H.A. says she was very well-mannered. Never pulled on the leash! Can you imagine?

And when he took all of them out together, Timber picked a spot beside Gremlin and would walk right there. Until Gremlin would head to one side or the other to sniff things. Timber kept going straight ahead. But when Gremlin got back in line, Timber lined up with her again.

H.A. says it made him sad to think of such a pack-loving sweetie being out on her own, all alone.

He is thankful for the basics. We're so lucky to have food and a home! Then he is very, very grateful for his family and friends. Some have four legs, but some have only two.

He took this picture of his family about 12 years ago.

Mutzger and Gremlin were buddies, sorta.

They did like grooming each other.

It looks like Mutzger doesn't want her ear licked, but actually she loved the attention.

And she loved giving it back to Gremlin. Who is the one with touchy ears she didn't really want licked.

As for me ... I am grateful for cars and clothes and collars and leashes.

If H.A. didn't have those things, he would stay in the house all the time! And I would never be able to get out and see the world!

And we would run out of food and treats! That would be terrible!

I'm thankful that humans think Siberian Huskies are handsome and beautiful.

[Especially fluffy Meeshka. Whose picture is on Wikipedia. Which Amber noticed!]

And that hardly anyone thinks I'm a wolf.

So people are nice to me.

And I almost never hear that I can't be a Sibe because I'm red instead of black or gray. ::SNORT!::

I mean, shouldn't an "Irish coat" be red? How many leprechauns have you seen with black hair? Heh.

Anyway. I hope you all are having a good day! A good Thanksgiving holiday if you're in the U.S. A very good other kind of day if it's not an official holiday where you are!

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-- photo of bi-eyed, red Siberian Husky our friend Meeshka from Wikipedia Penny Blankenship's flickr page via Wikipedia

-- edited 23/11/07 to credit Penny Blankenship for Meeshka's photo

DNF list

You may know about DNC lists and DNA lists.

"DNC" makes the Human Assistant think of Democratic National Conventions. Especially the 1968 DNC. And of the Chicago Eight.

There will be a Denver DNC. But that's next year. He has trouble thinking about next week!

And DNA lists, well.... Try Wikipedia for lists of projects that sequence genes.​¹  Animals are toward the bottom of the page. In case you want to check up on what it takes to make a cat or a nematode or a puffer fish.

But for most humans a DNC list is where you put your name saying DO NOT CALL !

And a DNA list is names of people where an animal shelter or rescue group says ≡ DO NOT ADOPT ≡ to these poor excuses for humans.

They may be irresponsible backyard breeders or animal abusers or sell animals for experiments. Rescue groups share these names because the people go to lots of different places to get animals.

I am starting a DNF list. But it's just for the Human Assistant.

Now that Shu Shu is gone he thinks he should bring more poor doggies here to take care of. And get in my way. And make me guard my apples.

I am strongly opposed to this idea!  No more!  We have had five foster dogs this year! That's about six too many (when you count his daughter's dog Zot)!

But as another volunteer at the MaxFund shelter said when H.A. brought home Shu Shu, I don't have that much control over what he does.

So at the very least I have a ≣ DO NOT FOSTER ! ≣ list.

It's okay for other people to foster these dogs. Just not the Human Assistant. (And probably not Minky's mom and dad. For sure not until we can get foster dog Tippy outta there!

There are two dogs on the DNF list so far. One is an Alaskan Malamute. (Like Hollybollybananafofanaboo!)

In the first place, Payton is a large male. We have one of those already thankyouverymuch.

In the second place, he is fraidy of the H.A.  Dog-dog issues are more than enough fear and loathing in Colorado.

I don't know which annoys me more. The happy face or the sad face. Both of them can just stay away!

Payton by mr_ed	Payton's MaxFund photo
Braxton's MaxFund photo	Daughter's dog Zot

The second dog who can just stay away! is Braxton. He's male too. So that's a problem.

But look at his disturbing resemblance to Zot!

We finally figured out that Zot really wanted to be an only dog. It only took three trips to emergency rooms. Two of them for me.

[If you've never been in the middle of a dog fight inside a car, well, you just don't know what you're missing!  -- mr_ed]

So no more Braxton-Zots here.

Actually, the whole MaxFund zoo should just stay away. Especially now. They have kennel cough going around. A 13-year-old Gremlin and a 9-year-old former new monia patient don't need that!

But that's my ≣ Do Not Foster ! ≣ list for now.

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​¹ That doesn't seem to mean that you wear Levis one day, Wranglers the next, and like that.

-- MaxFund photos by Nicole Howard

Adopted! Adopted!

HOORAY !!!

The family that had Mystique on trial adoption from MaxFund finished adopting her yesterday!  YAAAAYYY !

I was very worried that she would come back here! The trial was supposed to be for two weeks. ("More or less," says the Human Assistant.) Today is three weeks. And H.A. emailed them a few days ago to ask how things were going, and he never heard back from them.

H.A. and the shelter people say the family is very nice. The one thing was that they don't have another dog for Mystique to play with. And she loves to play! H.A. put 16 pictures on her dogster page. In 14 she's with another dog. In 12 she's trying to play with that dog!

This is my favorite picture of Mystique. It looks like Jaeger is being fierce and the puppy is scared. Heh! But she loved for him to chase her. She would bug him and then run. Again and again.

Anyway, the family said that they know lots of people with dogs, and Mystique will be able to play with them.

And now it's all official and everything!

Also, a few days ago the lady that trial-adopted der Jägermeister made his adoption final too!  YAAAAYYY !

(H.A. says he'll put more pictures of Jaeger on his dogster page, but it's too late tonight. He also better work on my dogster page! He has pictures of me now besides that one my foster mom took. And I've been here nearly a whole year!)

Jaeger is the dog that H.A. thought might come back. He's giving his new mom trouble about escaping from her back yard. H.A. thought Jaeger didn't escape from our yard except right at the last. Two days in a row Jaeger jumped the fence and ran around front when H.A. left the house. Jaeger wanted to go for a ride!

But a couple of days ago the next-door neighbor said he had seen Jaeger get out, too. I don't know how many times he did this. But neighbor said Jaeger jumped our fence to go from our back yard to the side yard between our houses. Then he jumped their fence to get in their back yard.

(There are lots of bushes in the way, so he didn't just go over the fence between our yards.)

Neighbor said then Jaeger ran laps around their back yard. Ran and ran and ran. They watched him. H.A. was very embarrassed! But neighbor said it was okay. They liked watching him. Then they told Jaeger to go home. And back he came! Over one fence. Over a second fence. Back in the back yard, with H.A. none the wiser!

Heh. He could almost have qualified as a Siberian Husky with that trick! Except for the obedience thing. I would have had to work with him on that. Labs!

But anyway. Jaeger's new mom wanted a friend for her dog Lila. She (the dog) is mostly a Treeing Walker Coonhound. I never heard of it either.

And I haven't met her. But H.A. says she's a pretty good size match for Jaeger. He's very tall! Taller than me.

H.A. says Jaeger stands 26" at the withers (at the base of his neck). Lila isn't as tall, he says. But not a shrimp. Which is good. Who wants shrimpy dogs?

(Just kidding, Princess Minky!  ::big Husky grin::)

Early on the mom said Lila adored Jaeger and followed him around. But Jaeger just wanted to explore and stuff.  [Sounds like an average guy and gal.  -- mr_ed]  After some time passed, the mom said she found them snuggling on the couch, snuggling on the bed.... Ish!

(Kat, I forgot to answer your question. No, I don't snuggle with H.A. Not even when he's feeling icky. Especially not when he's feeling icky! Who wants to be around people who feel icky?)

So now the alpha girl dog (according to her mom) has an alpha boy dog to keep her company while the mom's at work. That's much better than him being here and acting like he's afraid of me and not walk past me to get outside to do his business. And then standing next to me when we're all outside and getting me annoyed and stuff when I'm not feeling good.

So that's five doggies I've gotten out of the house:

• an Aussie Cattle Dog mix (H.A.'s daughter's dog);
• a Mini Poodle H.A. felt bad for and pulled from a county pound;
• a yellow Lab/Retriever that wandered down our street;
• Jaeger; and now
• Mystique.

One every other month or so? Not bad work, I'd say! But the Human Assistant better not bring home any more!

-- photo of Treeing Walker Coonhound from Wikipedia

Five questions

The Human Insistant says I have to announce that October 9 is officially Leif Erikson Day in the U.S. (But not because of anything Leif Ericson actually did on October 9.) You can probably read more about it on his blog. (H.A.'s blog, not Leif Erikson's.)

If for some strange reason you want a Viking name for the day, try here. I am Jörund the Clumsy. Hmmpf. I don't have thumbs, you know! Gremlin is Þóra the Comedy Sidekick. (Pronounced like Thora.) That doesn't sound like a Viking name to me.

The Human Assistant cheated and tried different things. The one I like best is Eirík the Berserker (for mr_ed).

I wonder if Vikings had dogs. They must have. Don't you think? But you never hear about them. Something else dog related ... October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. The ASPCA is having a photo contest you can check out.

There are interviews going around! After Sky was interviewed on his blog, he kindly agreed to ask me five questions:

Sky:  1. You recently told us about strange pets that people keep. If you have any pet, what would it be and why?

Tucker:  Oh, that's a hard question! I do like stuffed toys! But I don't think a little furry pet would be as good. I'm sure H.A. would take it away forever after I chewed on it a while. Maybe a monkey that would find the dog food and treats and bring them to me. But it better not try to ride on my back!

Sky:  2. You've mentioned a lot of countries in your blog, i.e. China, Brazil, Egypt, Australia, and Russia to name a few. Have you ever traveled? If so, where and if not, where would you like to go?

Tucker:  I've had six different homes. But I've never traveled otherwise. It would be interesting to see where Siberian Huskies came from! Too bad people don't agree on where that was. Most of all I would like to visit Turkey to see if it tastes as good there as it does here!

Sky:  3. Your profile tells us that 4 poster dogs have lived with you at Mr. Ed's. Which one was yor favorite?

Tucker:  Fooey. Jägermeister, Mystique, Poo-Poo, and Sally. Plus his daughter's dog Zot. They were all nuisances! You can see them on Mystique's dogster page.   [Links to their own dogster pages, and to Gremlin's, added Oct. 14  -- mr_ed]   Well, Poo-Poo the Miniature Poodle mix was okay. She was very quiet and didn't bother me. Maybe Poo-Poo is as old as Gremlin, thirteen years.

She was a stray and got stuck in a crummy shelter all filthy and everything. It took her a while to liven up. Actually she was kinda cute when she started dancing on her hind legs for treats! Just when her personality started to come through, she got adopted to a good home. Good that it wasn't my home so she couldn't bug me!

Sky:  4. If you were human what profession would you choose?

Tucker:  I would be a taste tester in a meat factory! Somebody has to make sure those cans of meat are okay! I'll bet there are lots of people who want those jobs, though. So I could also be a ride checker to make sure that cars ride okay after they're built or fixed.

Sky:  5. With all the grapes in the garden, we can't help but wonder if H. A. will make wine from them. If he does and serves it with cheese--Which will you beg for? Wine or Cheese?

Tucker:  Sometimes H.A. tells Gremlin not to wine. And I like water okay. So it would be cheese for me!

Thank you Sky! If you hadn't asked, I wouldn't have thought of these things. Maybe somedoggy would like me to interview them. There are rules. Many of us have trouble with rules. But it's a game! Even Sibe games have rules. And I didn't make them up:

• 1. If you are interested in being interviewed, leave me a comment saying, 'interview me.'
• 2. I will respond by posting five questions for you. I get to pick the questions.
• 3. You will update your blog with a post containing your answers to the questions.
• 4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview somedoggy else in the same post.
• 5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

It sounds easier than it is! Try it!