Midnight Superbowl

After the Game

So, thanks to those pesky time zones the Superbowl didn't air live here til 12:30am.  Jack wore his Eli Manning jersey all day and stocked up on game food for his own private party.  I didn't make even make it til 10:00.  Abigail begged to be invited and made a honorable attempt.  Tobi was bribed to stay awake by said game food.

Jack found out that:  Tobi likes jalapeno poppers better than Cool Ranch Doritos.

I found out that Tobi's stomach can't handle either.

Yep.  Puke.  Puke on New Rug.

Tobi vs. Feral Dogs

We took Tobi to Carney Park for his weekly jaunt in the dog park.

Ironic that after his attack on Zoe the Beagle last week karma decided to deal him a blow.

As we pulled up to the dog park parking spot we saw five LARGE dogs all snoozing in the field around the park.  After a quick glance around for their people.  We quickly surmised that this was a pack of feral dogs.  I was nervous but Jack boldly went ahead.  I stayed in the car with a (finally) sleeping Abigail plotting how I would grab the broken log that was conveniently laying nearby and valiantly defend my husband and dog against them.

Three of them followed Tobi and Jack barking at their heels the entire way to the fenced-in dog park.  The fourth and biggest growled at them from about ten feet away.  Scary!

They watch Tobi as he played and then sauntered off.  Jack and Tobi made a bee line for the car.

We reported that there were prowling to the guard at the gate.  Hopefully they moved on before anyone (them or someone else) got hurt.

Another day, another load of laundry

It is pouring out today.

I am sitting here trying to convince myself that the workers who are drilling away at something under my feet are not going to bring the floor, ME and Abigail down on top of them.  Last week they took out the wall of our garage and rebuilt it about four or five feet over.  I KNOW it was a load bearing wall.  I mean, don't load bearing walls go under load bearing beams?

You can just feel my faith in Napolitanos screaming out from that last paragraph, can't you?

Tobi is outside at his post guarding the guys who I believe are putting in our new garage door.  I guess that is one of the joys of renting.  Presto!  We have a bigger garage and a new door!  We didn't even ask for it.  I know that the 42 year old man-child has something to do with it.  Now if he could just fix our faulty wiring that shuts of half the electricity in the house if I choose to run the washer, dryer and dehumidifier all at once.

Tobi has been ostracized (that means he had to go live at the end of town...literary reference) because I caught him drying his smelly-wet-doggie-self against the quilt on my bed.  He usually settles for rubbing himself at top speed against the stretch of no-longer-white wall in the hallway.  We call it our Tobi racing stripe.  I usually go at it every couple of weeks with a Magic Eraser (it really is magic!)  

Abigail is sitting in her swing next to me fussing.  She is scowling and wants something.  I am not sure what.  Probably to get out of the swing and be held.  I don't really believe her protests though.  When I look at her and smile she smiles back.  I am trying to see if she might be convinced to fall asleep in her swing.  I don't think it is working.

Ok.  Enough blather.  I am going to try to put this tired baby down for a nap.  I believe I spend an average of two hours trying to get her to sleep for every hour that she does sleep.

My dream is to be able to say, "Abigail, it is time for your nap."  and have her fall asleep. Don't scoff.  This is a true story.  My niece does this-- in the middle of New York City no less.  "Addison, get into the stroller it is nap time."  "Ok, Mommy."  Asleep. Granted she is two, but I can have a long term goal (errr-dream), can't I?

Motherhood.

She is lucky she is so cute.

 

Pacifier? Pacify Her.

 When Little Abigail was littler I was nervous about giving her a pacifier.  I guess it was that all natural crunchy, hippiness again.  She took one for a few months. Now she prefers me.  Hmmmm.

A fun (sarcastic) family outing to the dog park today.  Abigail slept the entire time!

We met a really nice couple there who had a little boy.  I was looking forward to possibly making a new friend.  We were chatting while our dogs played.  Then out of nowhere, Tobi went crazy and attacked their little beagle.  OH MY!  Shame.

Granted she snapped at him.  But really.  Fortunately, after being picked up by the scruff of the neck and shaken, yes, SHAKEN, she didn't appear worse for the wear.  Unfortunately, her person is a lawyer, who works with Jack.

Gah!

Tobi!

What do you do after your dog attacks another dog at the dog park?  

Well, I gave her my phone number and invited her out to lunch with my friends.  

Joy of JOYS

This is ME.  Why?

A Dyson DC33, Multi Floor Vacuum with Cyclone Technology!!

Joy of Joys!!  Cyclone Technology!  Tobi-Fur-Monsters lurking in the corner, threatening my nearly crawling daughter, BEWARE! The Dyson is coming!  There is no place to hide....  Evil Laugh...

Tobi Regresses

Tobi is becoming a very good four-legged brother to Baby Girl, but sometimes it is just too much for him.

Tobi and The Killer Green Fluff

 Once there was a loyal and valiant dog.  He was strong and lean with sleek, black fur and a long tail.  He was vigilant and dedicated.  Tobi held the high honors of Protector of House and Keeper of Treasure. Tobi's appointment was the most important in the House.  There was Feeder of Food and Thrower of Frisbee also Maker of Dirty Diapers--all very important, but Tobi knew (though he would never admit it so as not to make the others feel bad) that HIS was the most important job.
Tobi performed his duties willingly and thoroughly.  His favorite job was Protector of House.  Each morning, after the Persian blinds were raised, he would assume his post at the wide, glass balcony door and watch as the people of Lucrino went about their business.
Now, Tobi had heard that the people of Lucrino had many faces.  At times they could be friendly and generous but they could also be devious thieves.  He had his beloved people and the addition of a new baby to protect.  He made sure to scare away all people who came too close.
Tobi, in his infinite doggy wisdom, had decided that it was safer and perhaps more effective to just scare ALL passersby away instead of wasting time discerning their motives.
Tobi made a spy hole in the screening that covered the garden gate. Then with hackles raised and voice booming he would ambush the unsuspecting pedestrians. Truly dedicated and willing to go the extra mile for his people, Tobi would follow the now terrified passersby up to the edge of the balcony--leaping over the step in between and finally, front feet up on the railing he would shout warnings to their backs (now on the opposite side of the street) to always be wary, Tobi was on watch!  
It was a State Secret that Tobi had one more job.  It was Killer of Killer Green Fluff!  He knew that this fluffly, scrunchy, green matter lurked on the inside of most of his soft toys.  Tobi was not sure why his People kept on bringing Green Fluff into the house but they did.  (He loved his People, even though they were pretty dense sometimes.)
 Each time that Tobi detected fluff inside one of his beds or his toys, he would begin the process of planning its demise.
You see, Green Fluff is a devious matter.  It lurks deep inside a doggy bed collecting all the lovely scents, providing warmth and comfort until one day it will snap and...Tobi never was sure what it would actually do, but he was sure it was something bad!
Tobi would pretend to love the Fluff.  For weeks he would pretend that he didn't know the hidden dangers.  He would occasionally thrash and throw the dog bed about as he gathered important intelligence about it.  Then one day, totally unsuspected by the Fluff (or his People) he would make his move.  

REPORT: This morning, after nearly nine months of gathering intelligence on the Killer Green Fluff in his dog bed, Tobi made his move.

Killer Green Fluff conquered once more! and the home front is safe... for now.  He has noticed some mysterious noises coming from that canvas duck...