Friday - Follow Up

So - I posted about my fear of possibly being the subject of an April Fools joke and then I thought of all my other fears.. and I thought I should consider sharing some more; that were related to Friday only.

I have a fear of Dog Poop. Not a handy fear to have when one is the proud owner of a rather large dog. I should probably explain this more fully, because I'm fine with the poopin' and the scoopin' as long as it's going on in the out of doors... its the possibility of poopin' in my house that leaves me with terror. More explanation is needed...Scooter is a pretty regular guy... we know when to expect him to ummm....poop (I really pondered all the ways to say that and I decided that term was the least offensive and graphic - you are welcome)... FINE...drop some kids off at the pool but hes a dog so he's dropping them off at the park. Anyway - despite his schedule he is easily thrown off if in the act of finding the right place to ... park.. he gets distracted. ANYTHING can distract him, birds chirping, a school bus, wind, my futzing with the leash, air. So, when he gets distracted in the morning and does not make his scheduled delivery and I know that there will be nobody home to bring him out to try and make that delivery I FEAR all day long that he's going to deliver on the living room carpet.

I have a fear of Baseballs. I think at some point we established that I'm not super coordinated and as a result have been hit in the head multiple times in so called sporting contests with white balls. Naturally I am now afraid of white balls (Remember I have to tell you the story of the time Mr. Motorcycle announced that I was afraid of white balls and my girl friend who bats for the same team as Mr.M. told him to watch his back! Oh... kinda told it). I have no problem sorta playing games that involve these things.. but most of my ball (sports kind) activity is rooting from the sidelines. EXCEPT Baseball. Don't like it, never have...thought I never would. (the season of baseball that Gameboy played nearly killed me) And then... I decided on Friday afternoon that I might be up for watching the Twins Home Opener....No Idea Why. It took some searching, but I finally found the game on a channel way up in the 600's (I never get past the low 300's) and sat down with a glass of wine & a bowl of cereal to watch...

This is where Mr.Motorcycle gets scared. I can be a bit obsessive when it comes to watching sports, if I happen to become enamored with a sport there is a good chance I will become obsessive about watching it (see Timberwolves Kevin Garnett Era - or MN Vikings All Era's - or Gopher Hockey pre-wedding era) (there are more, that's just a sampling)

I was less than impressed... all the standing around doing nothing drives me a wee bit insane. I like a lot of movement and I really like it when people run into each other; neither of those things happened so I changed the channel.

This does not mean that I was not subjected to an April Fools Joke... nope, we have Gameboy coming in at the tail end of the evening with a whopper. Although he (a) is very good directionally and (b) has a gps device for his car - Friday found him in an area of the cities he is neither familiar with and without his gps because that is exactly the kind of thing he takes out of the car for no good reason. (see teenage boy - lack of common sense). To ensure he was going where he needed to go he called me, I gave him very good directions for main freeways (I494 East - turns magically into I694 at I94 interchange - stay on I694 until you know where you are at!) and was sure that he would eventually arrive home safely. As the evening passed I didn't really think to much about it, after all Gameboy is technically an adult (in only the technical sense) so he can pretty much do what he wants when he wants as long as it is legal and doesn't disturb my sleep (basic rule of living at home).

Then the phone rang...

Gameboy: I don't know what happened, but I'm halfway to Duluth!

You can see where this is going - you know that I'm about to be Punk'd - I however had totally forgotten that Gameboy has been diligently studying at the feet of Ashton Kutcher for some time.....

Cursingmama: What?!?! Turn around!!! Whats your closest exit. I'm not paying for your lost gas for stupidity and not reading signs! GAH! BLARP! SUGAR!

Gameboy: April Fools! I'm in the driveway!

If he hadn't gotten in the house so damn fast I would have changed all the locks.

Puppy Dog Eyes

I feel like I'm starting to repeat myself.....It was another busy weekend.

We didn't do the same things that we did the weekend before, and we won't be repeating anything this coming weekend...but yet every weekend seems to be just filled to capacity.

We left the great state of Minnesota for high school shenanigans on Saturday..... went to our neighbor to the east....

It took me far to long to realize that there was a reason why a large portion of those around me were dressed head to toe in green with yellow trim. For a while I thought that the citizens of Wisconsin were having their own fashion trend thing.... then I remembered.

I don't really recommend going to Wisconsin the day before they are to play in the Super Bowl.... they get a little excited & your eyes get offended by the fashion.

Losing an entire day to high school shenanigans left me with a single day to do all the things I typically do ~ laundry, cleaning, groceries, lying about and moaning because the weekend is too short ~ so I had to sacrifice and didn't do any real cleaning.

We did watch the Super Bowl... the commercials were fine, although nothing really stood out as a winner in my mind, and the game was at least a contest although I couldn't really root for either team so not having a vested interest in the outcome made it less than exciting.

Scooter pouted - he didn't get to participate in shenanigans on Saturday, we wouldn't let him have any of the good Super Bowl snacks, AND we didn't watch the Puppy Bowl.


I have a feeling Mr. Motorcycle is making it up to him today.

Jack the Mentor

Recently I received the following video via email from Mr. Motorcycle

To which I responded:

Scooter would NEVER do that to Jack....and Benny wouldn't let him.

HOWEVER - Scooter & Jack would work together to make Benny take the heat if they shared the sandwich.

Mr. M totally agreed and we went on our merry ways.


When Scooter first came to live with us last spring we quickly learned two things:

1. He had allergies which were undisclosed by the family that surrendered him
2. He didn't really know a lot about being a dog or a pet

The allergy thing will always be a part of who Scooter is. Although he would probably rather not get itchy, I have a feeling if his allergies were magically cured and he lost his special allergy medicine laden peanut butter sandwiches he'd be pissed.

(Jack has been trying to pretend he needs the special allergy medicine so he too can get peanut butter sandwiches. It's hard to fake that level of itch though)

Beyond the itching we also realized that Scooter didn't really know how to play with toys. Balls were pondered but not picked up, fluffy things were passed by (Jack was thankful for this), and really the only appealing things to carry around were..well...underthings (I did not appreciate this).

Then Jack took scooter under his wing and things have never been the same.

Scooter began to bat balls around not unlike Jack bats his little furry mice around. Then little quirky things started to emerge, hauling toys out to show us, hauling toys out so the basket could be empty...all Jack'isms.

We were happy when Scooter started to really play with his toys. Benny was not pleased when Scooter learned how to make things squeak.

This week we discovered that Jack is not done teaching things to Scooter...

How you sit on the steps when your butt is too big for one step ~Jack

How you sit on the steps when your butt is too big for one step ~Scooter

Watch out world (and Benny), Jack is taking this mentor thing way too seriously.

Scooter

I finally figured out what would be appropriate online name for my doggie. Actually I had picked this name out weeks and weeks ago, but then I forgot to do this part of the name thing.

Scooter

Then, if you can believe it, we spent 12 million dollars in veterinarian bills for him in less than a month and I thought about calling him bankruptcy.

I'll stick with Scooter, and it has nothing to do with that thing that some dogs do when their back ends need special attention. Instead it has everything to do with what happens when you tell him to sit, lay, stay - and then you go sit down for dinner. Slowly, in small little bursts he will scoot his way (in army crawl position) across the room so he is eventually laying nicely beneath the table where crumbs can be gotten before Jack gets to them.

Jack is not amused!

He is also feeling blury

Dog Park Edition

I know I haven't told you too much about the newest member of the Motorcycle household. There is a lot to tell, and I will hopefully soonish get around to giving a full low-down, but until then here are the vitals:

Name: He has a IRL one, but I haven't determined his online alias yet.
Age: Just under 2 years...so totally a puppy
Sex: He's a little young for that don't you think...
Loved: To BITS!



Even though he's been part of the family for about 2 months we are still getting to know him and his quirks. We're pretty sure he likes the dog park...what do you think?

He thinks EVERY city needs some of these off leash dog parks....

Going For A Walk

Same song, same verse, I must be a broken record...
It's been a busy. I've been busy. I've hardly read a single book. I've been behind on laundry and cleaning more than I've been ahead.

What I haven't been too busy for is to take a walk every single night before bed. Sometimes Mr.Motorcycle and I get out the door before 9, but it's usually closer to 10. In the last 2 weeks we've missed only one night and that was because we were at a fancy dress party.

We've had some motivation to get out, move around, and the motivation is bigger than my waist and heavier than those extra pounds the two of us are carrying around...

Meet the newest member of the Motorcycle family!

The Definition of Doginality

When I began pondering the idea of a column I never thought that this is how I would begin. I really thought that I'd start off with something less emotional, less heartbreaking, with fewer tears and certainly a happy or at least satisfying ending. Unfortunately, every time I sit down with the intention to write about the other things that present themselves I know that I am ignoring that which shouldn't, couldn't be ignored.

Sometime ago I developed a habit of playing with my earrings; I suspect it started when ThePrincess had her ears pierced (like 9 years ago) and we used to twist them together for better healing or why ever it is they tell you to twist them. At any rate, I am an earring fiddler.

Several weeks ago while driving across town to retrieve a child from some child activity I reached for my left ear out of habit and realized that I had no earring, I immediately felt my right ear and discovered that I hadn't just forgotten to put some in my, left earring was missing. I was heartsick, a gift from Mr.Motorcycle for Christmas several years ago, these diamond studs were the perfect, go anywhere, just right for me earrings.

Of course I felt around in my hair, on my coat, I even checked the seats of the car when I got a chance, but the earring was not to be found. That didn't stop me from continually reaching for the ear, and getting the sharp reminder that I had lost something I treasured.


The last time I had to write an emotionally painful post I called on the Official Blog Spokescat to fill in and release the news, but this time even Jack is sad. You see, losing that precious, treasured jewel was nothing compared to what else was lost that weekend and like my repeated attempts to fiddle with my earring not a day has gone by without a jarring reminder of what is really gone.



It is with my heart in my throat and tears in my eyes that I must tell you about the passing of the dearest, sweetest, best dog in the world.


Even though Harley was with us for less than a year our love for him feels like a lifetime, he was that special. He did a wonderful job of making himself at home in the hearts of everyone he met and even though we've had a few weeks of healing time there is still a giant hole where Harley used to sit.

I miss so much about him the thought of trying to put into words what we've lost is overwhelming, but a memorial needs to include as many special moments as possible and that is what I'm going to try to do.

I said he had personality,

he called it DOGINALITY.

I miss the thump of his tail when I walk past the places where he used to wait for us to come and pet him.

I miss his enthusiastic greeting every time I come in the house, and how excited he was to see me even if I'd only been out for a minute.

I miss watching him throw his ball up in the air to catch it over and over; I miss stepping on his beloved duck toy, listening to it quack, and having him race to it so I stop playing with it.


He LOVED his toys - but balls, particularly a little orange squeaky basketball looking thing, were his favorite. He tolerated toy stealing by Jack, and never once when Benny scolded him for squeaking that basketball too much (by whopping Harley in the head with his thankfully claw free paw) did he give Benny a piece of his mind.

I miss hearing about his daily adventures, the walks he took Mr. Motorcycle on, the parks they visited, and the places he saw from his perch in the back seat of the car.


He loved to ride in the car with his head out the window, even when it was below zero. Mr. Motorcycle made sure he got as many car rides as possible.

I miss being asked if he can go with every single time I pick up my car keys and put on my shoes.

I miss his excitement when we head outside to do chores. I miss his positive reaction to his leash and I can't believe I won't get to take him for another walk in the snow.

He loved to play in the snow, it may have been partly because he looked so good in his boots. I liked the way he pranced in them.

I'll miss seeing him get antsy when we pack to go to the cabin, whispering the word "cabin" because he knew what it meant.

All trips to the cabin start with a great car ride (note the smile)


And include a lot time hanging out at the lake

I miss that he ignored the turkeys in our the backyard but thought the deer were his mortal enemy. Well, deer and people on bicycles.

This is how he felt about people on bicycles when seen from the back seat.


He was always ready to have his belly rubbed -

and he had no shame when it came to his larger than life, louder than a trombone, stinkier than a manure farm (or skunk) farts.


I still reach over the side of the chair to rub his velvety soft ears while I read, I miss him telling me it's time for petting with a gentle nudge, and I still check to make sure he isn't sitting on the floor under my feet before I climb out of the couch.

We loved him fiercely and miss him like I just can't describe.

Good-bye dear, sweet, puppy. You will never be forgotten.

TroubleMaker

Do you remember Harley?

He's pretty cute.

Harley LOVES his toys. He knows exactly which toys are his, where they are and what sounds they make. If you squeak one of his toys in the basement and he is all the way upstairs, you can expect him to arrive in 3.6 seconds to retrieve his toy which you have squeaked without permission. His two favorite toys are an ugly yellow rubber cat & his red kong frisbee.

Do you remember Jack?

He's hard to forget.

Jack LOVES to start "stuff". Jack knows how much Harley loves his toys and Jack likes to remind Harley that despite appearances he is Large & In Charge.

This is Jack "starting somthin"

Busted!

This Is Benny, he has something to say too

"Jack may not be officially in charge, but he is officially large.
I think it's time he did that 30 Day Shred with Mom."

This is Mom

Hey! That's, ME!

officially pissed at Benny for bringing up that fucking DVD.