Not! Although he is a really good boy, Chip has had NO training, and he still puppy bites very hard. Also, the destruction tally is currently at one shoe, and one glass jar.
Training is going pretty well, except trying to get him to stay in his crate while I leave the house was a disaster yesterday. So we are going back to very basics. Also, we need to stop this incipient separation anxiety before it starts.
At least I have something to do! He at least knows his name now.
Saw the podiatrist yesterday. I am now officially out of the boot, and he's pretty happy with my progress. I am making a point to do all my physical therapy at home, otherwise I will be in a world of hurt when I go back to work.
Finally heard Chip bark yesterday. He desperately wants to play with grouchy old Dinah, and thinks that barking at her while she stares him down will do the trick. He'll probably end up with a nice scar on his nose for his troubles.
I just need to remember my patience, and that it's not his fault he's a big dumb puppy. He'll grow out of it.
Thursday, February 28, 2019
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
I'm in love
with my husband. And also my new dog. DOG!!! We went on Saturday to go find a new canine companion, since it's been lonely without a dog in the house any more. It's been 3 months since Kota died, and I've been ready for a couple weeks.
Despite having a list of at least 4 shelters to go look at, we adopted the first dog we saw.
Meet Chip! He's almost perfect.
His first few minutes home.
He's listed as a heeler mix. His original shelter in eastern WA listed him as a bully/heeler mix, but the local shelter just put heeler mix. I think I see some lab and/or mastiff in him. He's currently about 6 mos old, and 45 pounds. His paws and head are gigantic! For some reason, I was picturing a small, female dog as my next pick, but this guy is wonderful! He needs training, of course. He is a bit younger than I really wanted, but he'll grow out of that! (Ha!) Most of his minor behavior issues are just because he's young. And he was just neutered.
I've spent more time outside in the backyard in the last 3 days than I have since November.
I am over the moon.
Despite having a list of at least 4 shelters to go look at, we adopted the first dog we saw.
Meet Chip! He's almost perfect.
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| Learning to chew on a rawhide. |
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| Shelby seems to like him. |
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| Attempting to fit into Kota's old bed. Tight squeeze! |
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| Directly after his first bath! |
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| I don't think he likes it here, doesn't look comfortable! |
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| The shelter said he wasn't snuggly. |
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| "Watching TV" zzzzzzzzz |
He's listed as a heeler mix. His original shelter in eastern WA listed him as a bully/heeler mix, but the local shelter just put heeler mix. I think I see some lab and/or mastiff in him. He's currently about 6 mos old, and 45 pounds. His paws and head are gigantic! For some reason, I was picturing a small, female dog as my next pick, but this guy is wonderful! He needs training, of course. He is a bit younger than I really wanted, but he'll grow out of that! (Ha!) Most of his minor behavior issues are just because he's young. And he was just neutered.
I've spent more time outside in the backyard in the last 3 days than I have since November.
I am over the moon.
Saturday, February 16, 2019
Friday, February 15, 2019
I escaped!
Actually left the house by myself today for the first time in a month. Driving was fine. Getting in and out of the truck, negotiating icy parking lots and wearing shoes were not so great. Managed 3 of my 4 planned stops, though, so I guess I did ok.
My truck is now titled and in the correct name, too.
Foot hurt badly enough when I got home that I haven't done anything else today that I wanted to do. Except put the extra support back under the sagging patio roof.
Ah, well.
My truck is now titled and in the correct name, too.
Foot hurt badly enough when I got home that I haven't done anything else today that I wanted to do. Except put the extra support back under the sagging patio roof.
Ah, well.
Thursday, February 14, 2019
FREEDOM!!!
I can finally drive! Which means I am no longer trapped in the house. I am definitely starting to go stir crazy. It doesn't help that yesterday and today the damn bird has been screaming his head off like a banshee. Yesterday was just a complete shit day, for many reasons, but that was one of them. Had to go take a nap with earplugs and a pillow over my head just for some relief from the noise.
I have my first PT appointment on Monday. I waited until I knew whether I could drive or not before making an appointment, but it wouldn't have mattered, because getting out of the driveway before yesterday wasn't happening. It's still a mess of several inches of slush and ice in our cul de sac. Once you get out to the main road, everything's fine, but getting there is questionable. I'd be tempted to call a private plow in just for our short little road, if I even knew where to call.
I have a long list of errands to run, but don't feel like going out today. Just getting paperwork ready for now.
I've been feeling very unfocused the last few days. Don't know if it's boredom or a side effect of the Lexapro. Can't keep my attention on anything for very long. I've tried reading, movies, games. Did a little bit of house cleaning yesterday; that made me feel a little better. I keep making a list of things to do at night while I'm going to sleep, then when I get up my motivation vanishes like smoke. Some of it is that I just can't follow through on things because my foot starts really hurting halfway through.
I have my first PT appointment on Monday. I waited until I knew whether I could drive or not before making an appointment, but it wouldn't have mattered, because getting out of the driveway before yesterday wasn't happening. It's still a mess of several inches of slush and ice in our cul de sac. Once you get out to the main road, everything's fine, but getting there is questionable. I'd be tempted to call a private plow in just for our short little road, if I even knew where to call.
I have a long list of errands to run, but don't feel like going out today. Just getting paperwork ready for now.
I've been feeling very unfocused the last few days. Don't know if it's boredom or a side effect of the Lexapro. Can't keep my attention on anything for very long. I've tried reading, movies, games. Did a little bit of house cleaning yesterday; that made me feel a little better. I keep making a list of things to do at night while I'm going to sleep, then when I get up my motivation vanishes like smoke. Some of it is that I just can't follow through on things because my foot starts really hurting halfway through.
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Snowmageddon 2019 continues
When we moved into the house last year, we saw that the patio roof was missing a support. No big deal, it's a light metal roof. I looked for supports, but couldn't find one that matched, and let the matter drop. Well, that was a bad decision. Big D woke me up today by telling me that if I heard a loud crash, it was the patio roof collapsing.
Took the pics after we had put the wood post supporting the missing section. The aluminum I-beam completely folded, so will likely have to remove and replace instead of just repairing. There's a LOT of snow on it, and now it's started raining, so it's super wet and heavy. The entire region has just been shut down for nearly a week now. Thankfully, we haven't lost power at all, yet, because if we do for any length of time, we are pretty screwed. No heat, no cooking, no WATER, because our well pump won't work.
Here's a pic Big D took as he was braving the ladder to try and get as much snow off the roof as possible:
My hero! I'm pretty much useless right now. Although I am able to walk around the house without my boot on pretty well, I can't stay on the foot for long. My stitches came out last week, but the incision isn't healing all that well and looks nasty. It's not closing up. I think I'll be able to drive now, except that I can't even try and start the truck until most of the snow is gone. I'm supposed to be going to physical therapy, but I don't want to make appointments until I know how mobile I'll be. And since I have to do PT, it looks like I won't be able to make a trip to IL. I'm disappointed, because it would be fun to hang around with crazy auntie for a week or so.
Mentally, I'm doing pretty well. The Lexapro is definitely working, and I told the doctor that I'd like to stay on the 10 mg for now. Once I'm back at work, we'll see if I need to up the dosage, but I should give the 10 mg some time to fully kick in before I start tweaking dosage. I feel more like myself than I have in almost a year, so that's something. It's not all roses, but it's enough for now.
Took the pics after we had put the wood post supporting the missing section. The aluminum I-beam completely folded, so will likely have to remove and replace instead of just repairing. There's a LOT of snow on it, and now it's started raining, so it's super wet and heavy. The entire region has just been shut down for nearly a week now. Thankfully, we haven't lost power at all, yet, because if we do for any length of time, we are pretty screwed. No heat, no cooking, no WATER, because our well pump won't work.
Here's a pic Big D took as he was braving the ladder to try and get as much snow off the roof as possible:
My hero! I'm pretty much useless right now. Although I am able to walk around the house without my boot on pretty well, I can't stay on the foot for long. My stitches came out last week, but the incision isn't healing all that well and looks nasty. It's not closing up. I think I'll be able to drive now, except that I can't even try and start the truck until most of the snow is gone. I'm supposed to be going to physical therapy, but I don't want to make appointments until I know how mobile I'll be. And since I have to do PT, it looks like I won't be able to make a trip to IL. I'm disappointed, because it would be fun to hang around with crazy auntie for a week or so.
Mentally, I'm doing pretty well. The Lexapro is definitely working, and I told the doctor that I'd like to stay on the 10 mg for now. Once I'm back at work, we'll see if I need to up the dosage, but I should give the 10 mg some time to fully kick in before I start tweaking dosage. I feel more like myself than I have in almost a year, so that's something. It's not all roses, but it's enough for now.
Monday, February 4, 2019
Snow!!
And I get to enjoy it, because I don't have to step foot out in it! :)
I was supposed to go get my stitches out today, but the office called to reschedule. So hopefully we'll be able to get out of the driveway by Wednesday afternoon.
I would still like to go to IL for at least a week or two. The polar vortex crap is over, so I shouldn't regret a visit to Chicago in the middle of winter too badly...
Not being able to leave the house when I want is seriously starting to get on my nerves. There's a lot of errands I could be running, but since I can't drive yet, I'm stuck. And Big D's schedule sucks green donkey dick.
Also, the period finally showed up, about 8 days late. I'm very confused.
I was supposed to go get my stitches out today, but the office called to reschedule. So hopefully we'll be able to get out of the driveway by Wednesday afternoon.
I would still like to go to IL for at least a week or two. The polar vortex crap is over, so I shouldn't regret a visit to Chicago in the middle of winter too badly...
Not being able to leave the house when I want is seriously starting to get on my nerves. There's a lot of errands I could be running, but since I can't drive yet, I'm stuck. And Big D's schedule sucks green donkey dick.
Also, the period finally showed up, about 8 days late. I'm very confused.