Roxie's Out of a Job

The dishwasher repairman came today. As I write this the first load of dishes is going through a cycle! YAY!

Rox was too proud to get up out of her bed when the man came in, but she must have intuited the moment he leaned down to look in the dishwasher. Around the corner she came, running full speed and jumped up to kiss him. It was a full-on torpedo run. He did, after all, come to pet her.

Bob said the man stood up, wiped his face, and didn't say anything. Bob said quickly, "I'll take her in the other room." So what do we know here?

We know the repairman didn't seem to be a dog-lover. Or maybe he was, but was taken off guard by the 28 pound black nose hitting him at 100 feet per minute. We know he didn't lean over to pet her, saying "good doggie" or "she's so cute".......... sigh........

I tried to explain to her that not all people love her the way we do. She just kept raising and lowering her eyebrows and rolling her brown eye up to the ceiling.

But the best thing is that the dishwasher works now with its new motor. A motor which shouldn't have failed, but hey, that's life, right?!

And Roxie is out of a job - no need for a dishlicker anymore.......

Wirehair Dachshunds Shed

Everywhere. All the time. A lot.

Eats and Blows

One eats snow and the other blows snow.

Crossways in the Middle

So........ I go upstairs and what do I find?! Seems Mr. Daddy felt bad that Herself had to "go through a mani-pedi today" - Mr. Daddy has no clue...... sigh.....

Anyhoo, they were snuggled in bed, in the dark and snoring away, both of them. I find it curious that Herself got the whole middle while Daddy was clinging to the edge of the bed. What am I saying?! Of course she'd take the middle, and crossways too!

Off to the family room to find the camera, quick snap a couple of pics, and neither woke up from the flash. They were sleeping hard!

I was marginally annoyed because we (read: me) had decided that we'd have no more dogs in bed with us. Bob was of a different opinion. But Roxie likes her bed on the floor and very rarely asks for uppie-uppies, so this was the first time I went upstairs to find her there.

As I lay there in the dark thinking of the years to come of fighting for my space in my own bed, Roxie decided apparently that we move around too much for her. She asked to get down, went outside for a big poop and ran back upstairs and got right into her own bed. Under her own covers.

Yay! Dilemma solved.

Snow Day No. 9

What do ya mean "knock the snow off before I come in?" I'm licking as fast as I can!

Nails Done, No One Died

The groomer was wonderful - she was perfect with Roxie and very nice to me! I carried Rox in from the car and when I went in the little office area, Tammy said "come on back."

I put Rox on the table, Tammy hooked her up to the little noose-collar thingy and gave her some lovin...... then before Roxie could blink, she was having her nails dremeled. No clippers, just the sanding thingy.

Tammy held her in such a way that Roxie had to cooperate. No jumping off, no biting, no growling, but Lordy, what singing she did....

The people outside the glass at the register could hear her. Howling screams...... the other groomers started to laugh, because it WAS funny..... nothing hurt, nobody was pulling body parts off her, but Rox was not appreciating the opportunity. She did however, wag her tail through most of it.

Huh?! Screaming and wagging at the same time? A multi-tasking annoyed dachsie......

Bob left us in the groomer to go get a bag of food and a Booda Bimple Bone...... he missed the show. Turns out that I actually moved outside the gate instead of standing in front of Rox. Standing there wasn't helping and I think it might have been distracting to Rox actually. I tried the old treat bits to take her mind off things, and she REFUSED to even sniff them. She was totally engaged in disliking the moment!

So anyway, she's home with very nice short nails. Pretty. And she's still talking to us.

Sigh...... I guess I was a chump for worrying....... now Tammy is stuck with us forever!

Today's the Day - Cross Fingers Please

We had to postpone the groomer for some reason I don't remember, so today is going to be it....

I'm thinking (hoping) 1) that Rox will respect the experience of the groomer, 2) that she'll stand reasonably quietly to have her nails done, 3) that the groomer will be nice to me (in spite of my insisting on being there) and 4) that we'll all come home with our sanity.

Best case scenario, Roxie makes me look like a chump for worrying. Worst case scenario, she gets three nails clipped, and we have to leave....

I think the groomers must hate parents like us, but until we see how Roxie behaves and how they treat her, we'll be there.

Will update later today.

Thinking of Retirement to Warm Place

Running home to Mom....... another big snow for Michigan.

Can you see her? Right front foot and right cheek.......... being out in the cold is followed by hours of sleeping in warm quilts..... and little grumbly snores.......

Grumpy Is as Grumpy Does

Man, oh man, is Rox ever g-r-u-m-p-y when she doesn't get her walks. And that's all I have to say on the subject.

Maaaannnn.................

Cabin Fever

Michigan, 7 degrees; -20 with wind chill factor.

Early evening, full moon.

Too cold for long walks today. Bob made it to the Far Corner (10 houses down) before he was frozen and made Rox turn around. She acted like it was 70 degrees.......... didn't show any awareness of the temp......... amazing!

As a result, Rox has been a Royal Pain today. Begging to go out for more walks, executing Fake-Out Potty Trips to the back yard for treats, insisting on More Food. She sits with us for a few minutes then off she bounces to do some attention-seeking dance or song. Restless....

She spent 30 minutes sniffing the family room in CIA mode. Every corner, under every chair, every pile of stuff...... she criss-crossed the carpet like she was looking for dead bodies. A bloodhound would have been proud of her........ and that adventure done, she jumped back up in Bob's lap to disrupt his studying. At sixes and sevens, as Agatha Christie would have said.

She's really being cute, and she has no idea she's as transparent as glass. We assume she is full of energy to burn and can't sit still. She's become addicted to her three loooooong walks a day and like a well trained athlete, she's chomping at the bit. We think. Could be she's just being a pain today.

At any rate, we all are looking forward to warmer temps. And the retirement house in Phoenix is looking better and better!

I tried to get some pictures today but she is so darned aware of the camera - everytime she sees me with it she runs over to my feet and rolls over. I could have 1000 pictures of her belly and feets. What a publicity hound!!!

Lazy Lovin' on a Saturday Afternoon

Bob is in class and Roxie and I are left to entertain ourselves... there is a Michigan law that prohibits housework on Saturdays (I'm sure I read it correctly...) so we decided to hunker down.

Roxie called me with a squeaky yawn, informing me that she was ready for her lovin'. She informs, I jump. As we settled into (what else?) the red chair and covered with the flannel quilt I began to wonder if anyone else was as lucky as me. Could life get any better?

It's been almost three months since Rox came to live with us. From the first days when I looked at her as a strange interloper, to the weeks when she began to seem like a real little person in a wirehair coat, I've grown to love her in a profound way. Bob loved her immediately. He drooled and fawned, rubbed and petted and basically accepted her immediately into his heart. He'd been waiting for a Roxie. He needed a Roxie. And for Bob, she didn't disappoint. How is it that she was so exactly, precisely what he needed and wanted? Life seems so peculiar and wondrous to me.

The two of them head off into the woods at least twice a day, sometimes three times. Since I'm not included I can only guess, but it seems almost mystical, the bond between them. They must both find something they need in the woods on those long walks. Bob never returns without a fun or dramatic story to amaze. Roxie never returns without needing something picked off her - ice, snow, picker balls, mud.... but she is most certainly smiling as she gets her post-walk drink.

Now that the winter is beating us all down, she returns to the warmed flannel quilt for Burrito Time. Wrapped snugly to warm her feets, she lets me hold her and tells me with her eyes all the wonderful things she saw and smelled. But story time is short, and after 10 minutes of warming, she's off to ask for her post-Burrito treat. Which comes after her post-walk, pre-Burrito treat. And then, after those long cold walks, she asks to go outside to the back yard. Roxie is an outdoor girl, a being who was probably a girl scout and hiker in her previous lives.

This morning as I held her, she rolled and turned, twisted and squirmed so as to get all her parts petted, rubbed, combed and tickled. Her beard and whiskers are growing back, albeit slowly. Her little mustache gets pulled right into her mouth each time she licks. I have to wonder how that feels?! It looks hilarious but I dare not laugh - she gives the most evil eye in the world.

So here I am, waxing philosophically about a dog who isn't really a dog but a beloved member of our family. How did this happen? When did she get so completely inside my heart?

We think she understands by now that she is here to stay. No more moving, no more foster homes. The little defensive behaviors have stopped and she seems firmly in charge of her new home and people. We've figured out her quirks and respect them.

There is simply no substitute for holding close a warm loving 4-legged being to induce an endorphin high, a feeling of peace in the world.

We feel incredibly lucky.

SBWF Seeks Canine Buddy

Single Boar Wirehair Female seeks a canine buddy for play and hiking. Loves long hikes in the woods, the more mud, leaves, trees and scents the better!, tiger prawns, steak bits and broiled salmon, long massages and cuddling by the fire. Dislikes possums and cats (cat lovers need not reply), interruptions during sleeping, manicures/pedicures, short walks and riding in the back seat of cars. Also dislikes lettuce. All replies considered, except cat lovers and possums. They will be eaten.

Huh?

We have two red Pottery Barn chairs in the family room. Yes, the ones you always see Bob sitting in......... can't help it -they're very very comfy!

After dinner tonight, Bob went to watch TV and I stayed at the table, thinking about a second helping of the pasta and spaghetti sauce dinner. I heard the funniest sound and turned because I couldn't figure what it was.

Roxie was sitting in one of the red chairs. I had watched a couple of minutes earlier as she circled, scratched the seat for comfort then lay down. She had put her head down, settling in.

The next thing I heard was Rox JUMPING off the chair and RUNNING over to the other one, where she JUMPED in, circled, scratched and lay down. I was looking at her. She was looking at me.

Then she JUMPED down, RAN over to the first chair, JUMPED up, circled, scratched and lay down. She was looking at me. I was dumbfounded. She lay her head down and stayed there for a couple of minutes. Long enough for me to decide to pass on the second helping.

Then off she JUMPED, RAN to the second chair for the second time, JUMPED up, circled, scratched and lay down. This time she stayed, and as I write this she is covered with the familiar plaid flannel quilt.

I have no idea what she was doing running back and forth between chairs. They're both lit the same, both are equally warm. Both afford good views of the kitchen and computer. She seemed to be looking at me for my reaction. Honest and truly!

I really, really think she's reincarnated.

Won't Look at Me

This is one of those "I won't look at you" moments. Not sure what I did, but she wouldn't turn to look at me. Usually when she sees the camera she gets all excited and rolls over to pose............ I've missed more cute shots like that, she must know what the camera is...

I think she is reincarnated. She knows too much...............

Oh, and notice her whiskers and beard - slowly growing back. So pretty.

Our sweet, smart, pretty girl.

Dishwasher Man Came to Pet Roxie

Of course. Why else would he come to the house?

This was the first time we've had anyone in the house since we got her (yes, we live a spartan, isolated life!) and she was wonderful. There were a few "rah rooooooos" and a much rolling over to expose the belly. Such a harlot.

Bob had to bring her upstairs because every time the Dishwasher Man knelt down to work on the dishwasher, Rox pushed her way in to roll over at his feet. He liked her, laughed and petted. We were paying him by the hour. To evaluate the dishwasher, not pet the dog. Sheesh.......

She is confused why we invited the Man in and wouldn't let him pet her....

Rains Came, Hair Went

Twelve inches of snow. Then the rains came. Bye-bye snow....... which was good for Rox but the rains, well, any girl knows what rain and humidity does to hair.......

Rox has always had a Mohawk strip of thick hair down the middle of her back. Mostly it lays flat, but walks in the rain with daddy invited a wild, stand-up rebel look. This picture does not do justice to the hilarity. Rox knows too, and somehow she adapts her personality to match her hairstyle. She's been freaky-feisty with Bob, "play wrestling", growling and humping. Fun for a minute, but then Miss Bossy needs a reminder who's alpha.

Her response to this reminder is to sulk. She has that down to a science: walk away proudly, a couple of backward glances, then pointed avoidance of eye contact. She ignores any call; any mention of her name elicits a silent, pissy blink of her eyes, and refusal to turn her head toward us.

We respect her for a few minutes, then rattle a bag of treats or open the fridge door, and magically all is forgiven.

She's easy.

Running Free in a World of White

Dogs' Eye View from the Front Door Today....

Didn't pay attention to the weather last night. We had 12 very cold, very white, very intimidating inches of the white stuff. I was surprised. Roxie was surprised. The kids next door were ecstatic! We opened the front door and Roxie actually backed up.... shaking her head. Didn't do her business until after 10, when she decided she absolutely must do a doody in the neighbors shoveled driveway. Huge pile of brown on a freshly shoveled white driveway. Rather stood out - neighbor couldn't miss it as he looked out from his front window.

Bob tottled over in his snowsuit, with his little plastic baggie. We're good neighbors........ uh huh, we are too..........