As you know, Ms Maddie Sue is noise phobic and really, really, really thunder and fireworks phobic.
Earlier on the day of the 4th, I was laying on the sofa talking with a friend on the phone and someone in the 'hood set off a firecracker -- within nano seconds, Maddie Sue was wrapped around my face so tightly I was mumbling into the phone and had to sit up or suffocate.
Anticipating this and knowing that the huge firework display would begin at 9 pm just blocks from our home, I put Maddie Sue in her crate. Nope, she rattled the door -- no WHACKING or warbling, just rattling.
Plan B: Lex was snoozing on the fleece bed -- more than snoozing, she was in one of those deep doggy sleeps, so I picked up her sleeping body and tossed her in the crate. Being the last one in, she blocked the door from Maddie's attempts to rattle it and being near Maddie, she gave her comfort.
That was my plan and it was a workable one. But Ruby decided to go over to the crate and lay as close to it as she could. Don't know if she was protecting the Littles, or needed their comfort for herself.
The three buddies spent the 4th cuddled together while the nation celebrated.
+++++++
The Naked Chihuahua is snoozing on my chair behind me -- don't want to wake her or she will start her "isn't time for breakfast dance" and I am about to leave for an early shift, so I will presume approval. Happy tails to you, until we meet again............
Monday, July 5, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
My pack is truly a pack! Love Abounds in the White House
Well, actually it is the White-Powers house, a name, not a political agenda.
My heart was warmed last night to see that I truly had a pack -- ie, the three pups had actually packed with each other.
Pups can get along. Mine did. When I had rescues, they would. But it takes special chemistry and time to make a pack. To me, a pack is a group that actually cares about the welfare of each other, and tends to each other, and in human terms, loves each other. This is different than just getting along -- it is enjoying each others company.
Here's how I learned that I have a pack of three.
I pulled into the driveway shortly after midnight last night and I heard the "WHACK" from Ms Maddie Sue. This is unusual because the dogs do not bark when Gordon or I enter the house.
Perhaps I surprised her or woke her from a dream.
I opened the back door and did my "pssst" thing to gather them for their midnight potty break and out yawned Ruby, and out trotted Lexi and no Maddie Sue.
I went in and looked in her favorite places, whispering her name -- still no Maddie Sue. My heart did not sink fearing that she was again, the naked chihuahua on the loose and lam because luckily, I had heard her voice.
When I went back to the porch, Lex was doing her "come quick, Timmy's in the well" dance and lead me to the laundry room door. Upon opening it, out came Maddie Sue.
Lex was beside herself licking Maddie Sue's face and Ruby was doing the happy dance. Ruby's happy dance (which is rare since she is truly a slug) is to lift one front paw and wave it in the air, and then the other, and continue alternating front paws. It is a cute and funny and truly a happy dance -- with the frequent downside that when that giant front paw hits the ground, you don't want to be a small dog or a human foot to get stomped.
The three we so glad to be reunited - and this was my evidence that I had a loving pack.
Now you might ask the obvious: "why was Ms Maddie Sue in the laundry room?"
And the answer is: that it was a dark and stormy night, and after trying to crate her and having her continually rattle the crate, and trying to let her loose, and having her attempt to shred the sheets trying to crawl in bed, Gordon finally tucked her, her bed and blankie in the laundry room and bid her good night. It must have been a good plan because she was quiet until the one WHACK when I pulled in the driveway.
For once, it was a WHACK that I was overjoyed and relieved to hear since I knew she was safe, somewhere.
+++++++
Approved by a wet Maddie Sue, banned from my chair, but laying on her fleece right by my feet, drying off from our walk in the rain. She needs goggles since she winks and blinks in the rain. She may be celebrating the 4 of July in the laundry room, but I think I will toss Lex in for company. Lex can sleep anywhere. Happy 4th to All Ya'alls.
My heart was warmed last night to see that I truly had a pack -- ie, the three pups had actually packed with each other.
Pups can get along. Mine did. When I had rescues, they would. But it takes special chemistry and time to make a pack. To me, a pack is a group that actually cares about the welfare of each other, and tends to each other, and in human terms, loves each other. This is different than just getting along -- it is enjoying each others company.
Here's how I learned that I have a pack of three.
I pulled into the driveway shortly after midnight last night and I heard the "WHACK" from Ms Maddie Sue. This is unusual because the dogs do not bark when Gordon or I enter the house.
Perhaps I surprised her or woke her from a dream.
I opened the back door and did my "pssst" thing to gather them for their midnight potty break and out yawned Ruby, and out trotted Lexi and no Maddie Sue.
I went in and looked in her favorite places, whispering her name -- still no Maddie Sue. My heart did not sink fearing that she was again, the naked chihuahua on the loose and lam because luckily, I had heard her voice.
When I went back to the porch, Lex was doing her "come quick, Timmy's in the well" dance and lead me to the laundry room door. Upon opening it, out came Maddie Sue.
Lex was beside herself licking Maddie Sue's face and Ruby was doing the happy dance. Ruby's happy dance (which is rare since she is truly a slug) is to lift one front paw and wave it in the air, and then the other, and continue alternating front paws. It is a cute and funny and truly a happy dance -- with the frequent downside that when that giant front paw hits the ground, you don't want to be a small dog or a human foot to get stomped.
The three we so glad to be reunited - and this was my evidence that I had a loving pack.
Now you might ask the obvious: "why was Ms Maddie Sue in the laundry room?"
And the answer is: that it was a dark and stormy night, and after trying to crate her and having her continually rattle the crate, and trying to let her loose, and having her attempt to shred the sheets trying to crawl in bed, Gordon finally tucked her, her bed and blankie in the laundry room and bid her good night. It must have been a good plan because she was quiet until the one WHACK when I pulled in the driveway.
For once, it was a WHACK that I was overjoyed and relieved to hear since I knew she was safe, somewhere.
+++++++
Approved by a wet Maddie Sue, banned from my chair, but laying on her fleece right by my feet, drying off from our walk in the rain. She needs goggles since she winks and blinks in the rain. She may be celebrating the 4 of July in the laundry room, but I think I will toss Lex in for company. Lex can sleep anywhere. Happy 4th to All Ya'alls.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
The Ever Talented Maddie Sue
Once again, another new employment opportunity for the Naked Chihuahua presents itself:
She could work for NOAA: the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to predict the weather. Heck with all of that fancy equipment they spend tax payers dollars to purchase and maintain -- One storm phobic chihuahua is all they need.
I spoke with my two legged beloved, Gordon, tonight and he said, "Maddie Sue has been following me around all day. Wonder what she wants? And boy does my shoulder hurt -- worse than usual."
To which I replied, "Duh -- (ever brilliant and pithy) -- it's going to storm."
pregnant pause.....
And I continued, "She is following you because somewhere in this hemisphere there is thunder that only she can hear, and your shoulder is hurting because the barometer is changing."
If only he knew -- he just spent money on a barometer for the house, when all along, we had one that would even follow him around and announce the weather!
Approval disclaimer -- Maddie Sue, who wants literary approval of all blog posts is currently sleeping in preparation for her nocturnal naughtiness -- but I bet she would approve, so I am posting on her behalf.
She could work for NOAA: the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to predict the weather. Heck with all of that fancy equipment they spend tax payers dollars to purchase and maintain -- One storm phobic chihuahua is all they need.
I spoke with my two legged beloved, Gordon, tonight and he said, "Maddie Sue has been following me around all day. Wonder what she wants? And boy does my shoulder hurt -- worse than usual."
To which I replied, "Duh -- (ever brilliant and pithy) -- it's going to storm."
pregnant pause.....
And I continued, "She is following you because somewhere in this hemisphere there is thunder that only she can hear, and your shoulder is hurting because the barometer is changing."
If only he knew -- he just spent money on a barometer for the house, when all along, we had one that would even follow him around and announce the weather!
Approval disclaimer -- Maddie Sue, who wants literary approval of all blog posts is currently sleeping in preparation for her nocturnal naughtiness -- but I bet she would approve, so I am posting on her behalf.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Another Noctural Moment with The Naked Chihuahua
I had finished my shift. It was 2 a.m. Ms Maddie Sue and I crawled into our respective beds - hers of choice at this moment was the pillow on the floor by my bed.
As I was in the process of getting comfortable, I heard on her pillow:
scratchscratchscratch, FLUFF, fluff, scratch, FLUFF, scratchscratchscratch
And I looked down to watch her flitting around, fluffy and scratching and plumping and pawing her pillow. I called her name and she paused giving me the, "What chu talkin' 'bout Willis?" look and went back to her fluffing and scratching.
Since Gordon was happily snoring, I knew she wasn't disturbing him, and since I was still fluffing and pawing my own sleep area to find just the perfect sleep spot myself, I decided to let her be.
Just as I was about to doze, I had a sensation of quiet movement in the room. I opened one eye and here at the foot of the bed, traipsing to the bedroom door, pausing and wagging her little piggy tail, then about face and traipsing back behind the foot of the bed, and then an about face and back to the bedroom door, pausing and wagging her little piggy tail, and......
you get the idea -- like the floating duck in a shooting gallery at the fairground. If I had a pea-shooter I could have beaned her. But she was quiet so I let her be.
Until WHACK! "I'm thirsty."
I hauled myself up and out of bed and gave her a quiet personal drink. (If I open the door to the water bowls, or even touch a bowl for water, the other two beasts come running to see who is getting water -- so I took Maddie Sue into the bath room, shut the door, and quietly gave her a drink out of Gordon's cup. No, forget the last part, that was mere literary license. honest
As we got back to our sleep spots, I realized that Maddie Sue lays quietly as long as I am looking at her. I tried sleeping with one eye open. This is very hard to do, maybe impossible. I think I will look for those gag glasses with eyeballs showing, or just paint eyeballs on my eyelids so she will think I am looking at her.
off to a nap zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
As I was in the process of getting comfortable, I heard on her pillow:
scratchscratchscratch, FLUFF, fluff, scratch, FLUFF, scratchscratchscratch
And I looked down to watch her flitting around, fluffy and scratching and plumping and pawing her pillow. I called her name and she paused giving me the, "What chu talkin' 'bout Willis?" look and went back to her fluffing and scratching.
Since Gordon was happily snoring, I knew she wasn't disturbing him, and since I was still fluffing and pawing my own sleep area to find just the perfect sleep spot myself, I decided to let her be.
Just as I was about to doze, I had a sensation of quiet movement in the room. I opened one eye and here at the foot of the bed, traipsing to the bedroom door, pausing and wagging her little piggy tail, then about face and traipsing back behind the foot of the bed, and then an about face and back to the bedroom door, pausing and wagging her little piggy tail, and......
you get the idea -- like the floating duck in a shooting gallery at the fairground. If I had a pea-shooter I could have beaned her. But she was quiet so I let her be.
Until WHACK! "I'm thirsty."
I hauled myself up and out of bed and gave her a quiet personal drink. (If I open the door to the water bowls, or even touch a bowl for water, the other two beasts come running to see who is getting water -- so I took Maddie Sue into the bath room, shut the door, and quietly gave her a drink out of Gordon's cup. No, forget the last part, that was mere literary license. honest
As we got back to our sleep spots, I realized that Maddie Sue lays quietly as long as I am looking at her. I tried sleeping with one eye open. This is very hard to do, maybe impossible. I think I will look for those gag glasses with eyeballs showing, or just paint eyeballs on my eyelids so she will think I am looking at her.
off to a nap zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Monday, June 21, 2010
A New Job Idea for the Naked Chihuahua
I got my Aha moment during one of my 20 minute sleep intervals last night. I need to hire Ms Maddie Sue to the government or those folks using waterboards and whatever else to interrogate bad guys to glean information and confessions.
They don't need all of these fancy shmancy devices that give bad press, not to mention torture. No!
They just need Maddie Sue -- one night with Maddie Sue and folks will confess to anything!
You see, this all starts with the category of "be careful for what you wish for." I always wanted a dog that would tell me when she had to go out and go potty. That's all. A modest wish. Just let me know before you go that you have to go. Easy peasy.
Along comes Maddie Sue. The moment she has to go potty, "WHACK" (this is the bark she makes -- I know, weird, but she is after all a chihuahua.) And out we go, business done, and in we come.
But Maddie Sue not only lets me know when she has to go potty -- she lets me know her every wish, demand and desire. And she wishes, demands and desires mostly when I crawl into bed.
You think I jest?
Here is a typical evening with Maddie Sue.
I get home from work at 1 a.m. and sit up talking to her until about 2 a.m. (hmm, maybe what follows is actually her revenge for having to talk with me at this inane time.)
At 2: I crawl into bed.
2:30: " WHACK - I have to go potty." So out we go.
2:40: I crawl back into bed.
2:45: "WHACK - you forgot my post-potty treat." I get up and give it to her.
2:50: I crawl back into bed and begin a glorious dreamy sleep.
3:15: "WHACK - I'm thirsty." I get up and put down a bowl of water.
3:20: I crawl back into bed and quickly fall asleep.
4:05: " WHACK -- Lex is sleeping in the bed I want to sleep on." Since Lex is truly sleeping, I get up and move her to an alternate bed. We do have 4 beds for 3 dogs, you would think this could work.
4:10: I crawl back into bed and once again, I sleep.
4:30: " WHACK - I am stuck in the kitchen and afraid go any further, I need a ride to the bed in the living room." I get up and taxi her to the living room as she kisses my face in admiration.
4:35: I crawl back to bed and pray that she sleeps soundly until morning.
5:07: "WHACK - I decided I want to sleep back in the bedroom but am afraid of the dark, come get me." I get up, fetch her from the living room and taxi her back to the bedroom and put her on her favorite pillow.
5:10: I quickly jump into bed and try to fall asleep before:
5:12: " WHACK -- I would rather sleep in my kennel, but Ruby is blocking the way." I switch dog beds once again. Ruby just opens one eye mid-snore and carries on.
5:13: Oh, please God, please let Maddie Sue sleep so I can sleep.
6:45: "WHACK, WHACK, WHACK -- Its MORNING -- time to potty, treat, drink, eat and play, come on everybody -- let's get up. The day's a wasting. WHACK, WHACK, WHACK! A new day awaits. Hurry, everybody up and at 'em."
Maddie Sue's Dad, Mr. Paul, is in the military. I suggest he get her a job interrogating our enemies. Truly, a night with Maddie Sue could bring brave men to their knees. Don't you think?
I looked up bats online after a sleepless night last week to see if by chance she was part bat and therefore nocturnal. Not a good resemblance and Ms Maddie does not like hanging upside down. So I am ruling this one out.
We had company last week, the Foy's who raise llamas in Michigan. To the above evening ritual, there were other WHACKS when she decided that they must want her to sleep with them and she would go to the gate (which blocked her from doing so) and call to them during the night, wagging her tail oh so cutely, encouraging them to rise and play (in the middle of the night).
Dave Foy told me that when llamas have to go to the bathroom, they hum. Maybe my wish is that Maddie Sue will learn how to hum.
As I write this post, I understand part of the nocturnal problem -- Ms Maddie Sue is snoozing behind me on the chair. I need to tie her to a treadmill during the day to keep her up so she will sleep at night.
*************
As is our agreement, Maddie Sue wants to edit and approve all posts, since this is, after all, her blog. She asked me if I wasn't being just a little harsh. NO.
So we agreed to the truth of the above -- but with the caveat that she is a very special lady in my life and she gets more lovable and playful each and every day, and that I am blessed to have her in my life. (what else Maddie Sue.....speak up) Oh yes, and that I love to taxi her and snuggle with her even if it is in the middle of the night, because she is so cute. (did I get it right, Maddie Sue?) Yep -- this post has been approved by The Naked Chihuahua.
They don't need all of these fancy shmancy devices that give bad press, not to mention torture. No!
They just need Maddie Sue -- one night with Maddie Sue and folks will confess to anything!
You see, this all starts with the category of "be careful for what you wish for." I always wanted a dog that would tell me when she had to go out and go potty. That's all. A modest wish. Just let me know before you go that you have to go. Easy peasy.
Along comes Maddie Sue. The moment she has to go potty, "WHACK" (this is the bark she makes -- I know, weird, but she is after all a chihuahua.) And out we go, business done, and in we come.
But Maddie Sue not only lets me know when she has to go potty -- she lets me know her every wish, demand and desire. And she wishes, demands and desires mostly when I crawl into bed.
You think I jest?
Here is a typical evening with Maddie Sue.
I get home from work at 1 a.m. and sit up talking to her until about 2 a.m. (hmm, maybe what follows is actually her revenge for having to talk with me at this inane time.)
At 2: I crawl into bed.
2:30: " WHACK - I have to go potty." So out we go.
2:40: I crawl back into bed.
2:45: "WHACK - you forgot my post-potty treat." I get up and give it to her.
2:50: I crawl back into bed and begin a glorious dreamy sleep.
3:15: "WHACK - I'm thirsty." I get up and put down a bowl of water.
3:20: I crawl back into bed and quickly fall asleep.
4:05: " WHACK -- Lex is sleeping in the bed I want to sleep on." Since Lex is truly sleeping, I get up and move her to an alternate bed. We do have 4 beds for 3 dogs, you would think this could work.
4:10: I crawl back into bed and once again, I sleep.
4:30: " WHACK - I am stuck in the kitchen and afraid go any further, I need a ride to the bed in the living room." I get up and taxi her to the living room as she kisses my face in admiration.
4:35: I crawl back to bed and pray that she sleeps soundly until morning.
5:07: "WHACK - I decided I want to sleep back in the bedroom but am afraid of the dark, come get me." I get up, fetch her from the living room and taxi her back to the bedroom and put her on her favorite pillow.
5:10: I quickly jump into bed and try to fall asleep before:
5:12: " WHACK -- I would rather sleep in my kennel, but Ruby is blocking the way." I switch dog beds once again. Ruby just opens one eye mid-snore and carries on.
5:13: Oh, please God, please let Maddie Sue sleep so I can sleep.
6:45: "WHACK, WHACK, WHACK -- Its MORNING -- time to potty, treat, drink, eat and play, come on everybody -- let's get up. The day's a wasting. WHACK, WHACK, WHACK! A new day awaits. Hurry, everybody up and at 'em."
Maddie Sue's Dad, Mr. Paul, is in the military. I suggest he get her a job interrogating our enemies. Truly, a night with Maddie Sue could bring brave men to their knees. Don't you think?
I looked up bats online after a sleepless night last week to see if by chance she was part bat and therefore nocturnal. Not a good resemblance and Ms Maddie does not like hanging upside down. So I am ruling this one out.
We had company last week, the Foy's who raise llamas in Michigan. To the above evening ritual, there were other WHACKS when she decided that they must want her to sleep with them and she would go to the gate (which blocked her from doing so) and call to them during the night, wagging her tail oh so cutely, encouraging them to rise and play (in the middle of the night).
Dave Foy told me that when llamas have to go to the bathroom, they hum. Maybe my wish is that Maddie Sue will learn how to hum.
As I write this post, I understand part of the nocturnal problem -- Ms Maddie Sue is snoozing behind me on the chair. I need to tie her to a treadmill during the day to keep her up so she will sleep at night.
*************
As is our agreement, Maddie Sue wants to edit and approve all posts, since this is, after all, her blog. She asked me if I wasn't being just a little harsh. NO.
So we agreed to the truth of the above -- but with the caveat that she is a very special lady in my life and she gets more lovable and playful each and every day, and that I am blessed to have her in my life. (what else Maddie Sue.....speak up) Oh yes, and that I love to taxi her and snuggle with her even if it is in the middle of the night, because she is so cute. (did I get it right, Maddie Sue?) Yep -- this post has been approved by The Naked Chihuahua.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
A delightful day for a roll in the hay, I mean, grass
I was working at my desk and the bossy Ms Maddie Sue started barking at me to take her outside. I tried to cajole her into sitting in my lap, but she was hot to trot.
Not one to be ignored, she happily ran to the door to await her leash and then ran down her ramp to join me for a walk. I assumed she had to go potty -- why else was she so insistent that I drop everything and hurry outside with her?
As soon as we hit the lawn, Ms Maddie Sue flopped over on her back and started fishtailing around. Rolling in the grass is one of her favorite activities -- the first being eating.
At first I felt duped. "You mean you stopped my work, interrupted my chain of thought, just so you could come out here and roll around in the grass?"
"Yep," she said, "its a beautiful day for a roll in the hay....so to speak." (fresh one she is)
And it was.
I had spent several hours at the beach today. Why not let Ms Maddie Sue have a few minutes of bliss herself. And as I stood there watching her wiggle back and forth -- it made me feel happy to watch her happiness. She has a smile that is truly a smile.
After about five minutes, I asked if she was ready to go in and up onto her feet she jumped, quickly trotting on the hot brick drive to reach her carpeted ramp. With a hop, skip and a jump, we were back in my office and she was satisfied.
(Had I tried to bring her in before she was ready, she would have resisted to the point of getting road rash on her back by not getting to her feet.)
I think we are the same, Ms Maddie and I - two independent cusses, just trying to enjoy life's offerings. And why not?
Not one to be ignored, she happily ran to the door to await her leash and then ran down her ramp to join me for a walk. I assumed she had to go potty -- why else was she so insistent that I drop everything and hurry outside with her?
As soon as we hit the lawn, Ms Maddie Sue flopped over on her back and started fishtailing around. Rolling in the grass is one of her favorite activities -- the first being eating.
At first I felt duped. "You mean you stopped my work, interrupted my chain of thought, just so you could come out here and roll around in the grass?"
"Yep," she said, "its a beautiful day for a roll in the hay....so to speak." (fresh one she is)
And it was.
I had spent several hours at the beach today. Why not let Ms Maddie Sue have a few minutes of bliss herself. And as I stood there watching her wiggle back and forth -- it made me feel happy to watch her happiness. She has a smile that is truly a smile.
After about five minutes, I asked if she was ready to go in and up onto her feet she jumped, quickly trotting on the hot brick drive to reach her carpeted ramp. With a hop, skip and a jump, we were back in my office and she was satisfied.
(Had I tried to bring her in before she was ready, she would have resisted to the point of getting road rash on her back by not getting to her feet.)
I think we are the same, Ms Maddie and I - two independent cusses, just trying to enjoy life's offerings. And why not?
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