Sunday, August 25, 2013

What is a Haircut?

I was so confused. This past Friday morning began like all Fridays.  We had breakfast at 5, waited for Mommy to get ready for work, and then had our walks.  When we got home, Mommy put up gates to confine us to the living room and dining room.  She always does that when she will be away for a long time. I think she wants to keep us out of the kitchen; not to keep us in the living and dining rooms.

Mommy comes home from work early on Fridays.  She always reminds us right before she leaves the house. Not this past Friday.  Mommy said, "Bye, girls.  I am sorry but I won't be home early today.  I am going to a get a haircut right after work.  Then I have to go to the store before I come home.  I will give you an extra treat so you won't get too hungry. Please take good care of the house. I love you!"

Out the door she went.  My little sisters, LuLu and Izzy, and I started talking as soon as Mommy left.  We were trying to figure out what a haircut is and where do you get one.  I am pretty smart, but I only know two things about hair.  One is that Mommy is forever sweeping and vacuuming our hair (which is really fur) because we shed a lot.  The other is that Mommy is always talking about how her hair looks. The only things I know about cuts are they hurt and they bleed..

My sisters and I couldn't figure out what Mommy was talking about.  We decided to take a nap until Mommy got home.  When Mommy finally did get home, she was very late.  She took us out to pee and started unpacking the bags she brought home.  LuLu, Izzy, and I went in the kitchen and stared at Mommy. We noticed that her hair looked shorter.  How did that happen?  Did someone actually cut her hair?  Did it hurt?  Did it bleed?  Who did it?

Since we can't talk, it is hard to ask Mommy questions.  We did figure out that if we cock our heads to the side and draw our eyebrows together, Mommy knows we don't understand something.  So that's what we all did..  It took Mommy a minute or two to notice us, but when she did she started to laugh.  "Oh, my girls! What is wrong?  Why are you staring at me like that?  What is it that you don't understand?  I so wish that you could talk!"

Usually I can get my thoughts across to Mommy with facial expressions, whines, barks, growls, and tail wagging; but, not this time.  All I can say is whatever happened to Mommy's hair must not have hurt. Mommy was very happy.  She bent down to give us kisses and when she stood up she said, "So girls, do you like the way my hair looks now?  I got a haircut today and I am very happy with how it looks."

We all looked at each other and smiled.  Then we looked at Mommy and wagged our tails as fast as we could so she would know that we liked her hair, too.  I guess we will never really know what a haircut is and where you go to get one.

I try to learn something new everyday.  Today I learned that haircuts don't hurt!

Monday, August 19, 2013

We Took Turns

I had the best day today.  Mommy and I went to the Home to visit my friends.  We went to Sophie's room first.  Mommy knocked on the door.  We heard Anita tell us to come in, so Mommy opened the door a little bit.  Valentina opened it the rest of the way to let us in.  And what a greeting we got!

Valentina is so cute.  Most dogs I know wag their tails when they are happy or excited.  Valentina wags her whole body.  The wagging starts at the tip of her tail and she wags all they up her back to her neck.  And that's what she did when I went into Sophie's room.

The people were happy to see each other, too, but they don't wag.  They just hug.  What a boring way to express happiness!  Valentina and I like to chase each other.  We ran circles around Sophie.  Valentina likes to pull my ears and I like to pull her legs.  We are careful not to hurt each other.  While we were running wild, Valentina and I heard Sophie say the word banana.  We stopped running, hoping that banana was for us.

Anita said, "I will give them the banana."  Oh boy!  Valentina and I looked at each other, smiled, and ran to sit right smack in front of Anita.  While she was peeling the banana, I was drooling.  I tried not to, but I couldn't stop the drool from pouring out of my mouth.  It got all over Anita's skirt.  It was gross, but she didn't seem to mind.  Anita broke off a small piece of banana and gave it to Valentina first.  I sat and drooled while waiting for my turn.  As soon as Valentina had her piece of banana, Anita gave me a piece.  Anita fed us pieces of banana until it was all gone.

Mommy and Anita both said they were so proud of us because we sat nicely, waiting for our turn.  Neither one of us tried to grab the banana out of Anita's hand.  All of a sudden, I heard the crinkle sound of someone opening a cup of yogurt.  I looked at Mommy and Anita. They had no food.  So I looked at Sophie and saw her opening yogurt.  I love yogurt and Valentina does, too.  This time we ran and sat in front of Sophie.  She handed to top of the yogurt cup to Mommy and Mommy held it out for Valentina and me. We took turns licking the top and when Sophie ate all she wanted, we took turns licking the cup.

Sophie, Anita, and Mommy were laughing a lot.  They thought we were funny.  Valentina and I talked about that.  At first, our feelings were hurt because people were laughing at us.  Then we realized that they weren't laughing at us.  They were laughing because they were enjoying watching us.  We made them happy! Valentina and I agreed that we are lucky we are are friends and happy that we have each other to talk to.  Valentina is my best friend.  I hope you have a best friend, too.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Mommy's Day Off

July 31 did not start out very happy, but I am glad to report that it had a happy ending. The day started like all the other days. We got up at 5 a.m. and had breakfast and then Mommy got ready to walk us. I have two sisters. LuLu is a Rottweiler/Border Collie mix and Isabel Victoria (we call her Izzy most of the time) is a Jack Russell Terrier. Mommy always takes LuLu first, then me, and then Izzy.

 It was my turn and I was excited because I love going for walks with Mommy, especially when I have her all to myself. So out the door we went. I had a bounce to my step and my tail was wagging very fast. I was sniffing around while I was walking and all of a sudden I heard my mommy's voice. It was not a happy sound. In fact, she was growling. I couldn't believe it. What was wrong on such a beautiful day? "Come on, Ethel Frances! Hurry up, Ethel Frances! What's your problem, Ethel Frances?"

What is my problem? What was Mommy's problem? Unfortunately, I can't talk so I couldn't try to talk to Mommy and ask her these questions. Mommy acted grumpy the whole time. While we were walking, I was wondering if Mommy knew that she ruined my time with her.  The grumpier Mommy sounded, the more upset I got. I started thinking that Mommy was going to ruin my whole day!  Then I got kind of worried because Mommy loves going on walks with me. Maybe Mommy was grumpy because she was sick.

I started to tell LuLu and Izzy about the walk, but before I could, I heard Mommy's voice again. Sometimes Mommy talks to herself because it makes her feel better to say her problems out loud. I heard her say, "What a rotten way to start a day off. I don't have to go to work today, but I have to leave early in the morning anyway to take my car to get an oil change. Grrrrrrrrrr."

When I realized why Mommy was grumpy, I wanted to help her feel better. "Hmmm. What could I do?" I knew exactly what to do. I ran over to Mommy and did a little dance in front of her and wagged my tail as hard as I could." I knew Mommy would understand me even though I don't have words and I was right!

Mommy leaned down and hugged all 90 pounds of me. She hugged me and kissed and scratched my back. She said, "Thank you, Ethel Frances! You always make me feel good. I was grumpy because I have to take the car in early on my day off. I am not grumpy anymore because you showed me that I should be happy.  Now I realize how lucky I am to have a job and to have a day off. I will be home much earlier today than when I work. I will have the whole afternoon to be with you and LuLu and Izzy."

And that's exactly what happened. It is almost time for dinner now. Mommy got home a long time ago and she took us for walks and played with us.  We even took naps together! So my day today was a good one. I hope yours was, too.

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Ditched Again?

Last Sunday, Mommy took me to visit my friends at the Home.  When we got to the door, I started sniffing around and wagging my tail as fast as it would go.  Mommy looked at me and smiled. "Ethel Frances, is Valentina here already?" she asked.  I can't talk so I couldn't say yes.

Instead, I started walking as fast as I could, remembering that I am not allowed to pull Mommy. We got in the elevator and my tail was wagging like crazy.  Mommy started laughing.  "Ethel Frances, I can tell from your tail that Valentina is here.  Isn't it great that you can tell me things even though you can't talk!"

We got off the elevator and went right to Sophie's (Anita's mommy) door.  Mommy knocked gently and I heard Anita (Valentina's mommy) say, "Come in."  Mommy opened the door and I pushed past her.  "Valentina, I'm here and I am so happy to see you."

"Ethel Frances!  I am happy, too.  I have been looking for you since we got here."  I can't talk to Mommy, but I can talk to Valentina.  We both speak Dog Language and we totally understand each other.  We started chasing each other, running circles around Sophie.  I like to bark when I play, but I try to remember that sometimes when I bark Valentina gets scared.  Anita said that since Valentina is a guide dog, she was taught not to bark. Isn't that interesting.

Valentina and I played while Anita, Sophie, and Mommy talked.  After a while, Valentina's' Daddy, Frank, showed up.  When it was time for Sophie to go eat lunch, it was time for the rest of us to go home.  Frank, Anita, Mommy, Valentina, and I all rode in the elevator together.  When we got outside, Frank said to Mommy, "I am going to take Valentina to go Potty.  I can take Ethel Frances, too."  Mommy said thank you to Frank because she has good manners and I trotted off with them.

At first I was happy to be going for a walk with Valentina and Frank.  Then I remembered something.  Last time Mommy gave my leash to someone, she left me with that person for a long time --four days!  I got scared and started to whine.  I love Valentina.  She is my best friend.  But I love my mommy more.  Was she ditching me again?  I took two steps back to give me room to pull and I pulled Frank has hard as I could.

I know I am not supposed to do that, but I just had to know if Mommy was ditching me or if she was waiting to take me home.  All of a sudden I heard Mommy call out, "Frank!  Just drop the leash before she hurts you."  Just when Frank dropped my leash, Mommy knelt down on the sidewalk.  I ran as fast as I could, right into her arms.  She threw her arms around me and gave me a tight hug and lots of kisses.  I kissed her whole face.

"Ethel Frances, I am sorry you were scared.  I bet you thought I was going to leave you again. Right?  I am sorry you were upset.  I love you so much and I just want you to be happy."

I wagged my tail and kissed Mommy's face again so she would know that I am happy and I love her, too!

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