Thank you for teaching me how to drive like a maniac drive in the city traffic. Seattle drivers and traffic have nothing on you.
Just this afternoon while I was driving my husband to the airport, we saw a whole mess of traffic that I knew I would be driving into the midst of on my way home. A little less than a year ago and this thought would have scared the bgeezus out of me, but not anymore! I have faced the Devil himself when it comes to driving with the crazies!
Well, maybe that is an exaggeration, but close enough since you, The Holy City, have some of the worst drivers I have ever seen. I may come from a little town, on a little island, in a large state that has some very strict cops, but I do know crazy when I see it. Yes, there was some culture shock when I traveled to the South and found out that the rules of the road are quite different than in the hoity toity Pacific North West, but that was quickly overcome for the need of survival! Survival of the fittest, indeed!
But I digress. Charleston, I would like to thank you for teaching me to be a more gutsy driver when it comes to multiple lanes of traffic, for teaching me it is okay to use my horn on people if they have not moved after three seconds at a green light, and for letting me know that my car can indeed fit in that space if I will it!
Only today in the midst of a huge cluster of traffic did I say (whilst using my bluetooth handsfree device!), “I don’t have any room [to get over into the other lane]!” When my darling husband replied, “Then you have learned nothing in Charleston!” Upon hearing this I promptly urged my huge metal beast (my little truck) into the gap in the traffic next to me. I received no less than one honk! Upon successfully merging into the moving lane of traffic and receiving what I assume was an indignant or irate honk, I gave myself a congratulatory pat on the back and went back to navigating my metal steed through very heavy traffic.
Once again, dearest Charleston, I thank thee for teaching me the city ways. I hope to once again grace your streets with my fast car and tiny truck, but for now I must stay here in this place devoid of any nastydisgustinghorrifying Palmetto bugs which you seem so abundantly endowed with, for a place that has trees so thick, tall and green that they choke out all radio station signals.
My fondest regards,
Me, the new and “improved” driver
NOTE: I mean no offense to my Chucktown friends, I am sure that they drive like normal people. I mean all the other crazy people out there are the bad drivers!
Today is Mudder’s Day! My momma sez I am supposed to say “Mother’s,” pronounced “Muh-th-erz,” but I’m just a little corgikins and that is too hard to say! Oh yeah, this post is brought to you today by ME, Gwen! My momma found an article thingy the other day and I think I am going to share it with you. You should really read it! Click HERE to read this pawsome thing about pet parents on mudder’s day! They should get presents, like baconz and chew toys, on Mudder’s Day too! I think I’ll give my momma an antler, she’ll like that, right??
So for all those Mudder’s and Grand-Mudder’s out there…
It is strange to think that I have not posted anything in about a week since I had been posting almost everyday during the month of April for the A-to-Z Challenge. Honestly, I needed to take a break even though there were so many things that I could have been writing about! Though the Challenge was fun it was also somewhat stressful trying to get things written and posted during the proper day, it was like having to submit homework assignments again!
We got up here to WA on about the 26th, got our keys and then headed to my parents house where we spent a couple days. Before we headed to our new house, we left Gwen with my parents where she got to spend a whole week being spoiled! She got to go to the beach everyday, sleep in the human bed with my parents, sleep in their room, stick her head into coffee cups, lick plates (I am assuming since Dayzee does it), get a “cookie ball” every night, ride in the truck, and bark at things that went by their big windows. Undoubtably she got spoiled!
Gwen at the beach with my dad on his morning walk.
Gwen was left with my parents since we figured it would be less stressful for her there and it would also keep her from being underfoot while we unpacked all of our stuff and got the house cleaned up. By the time we got Gwen back we had most of the house unpacked and cleaned, but not quite all of it. We did end up buying some new furniture for our living room which we had to haul and get it inside and set up on our own…Gwen was forced to stay in her crate for that whole ordeal. She did take quite nicely to the new furniture, though.
Gwen has taken a liking to this arm chair. Even has her own blankie on it — just don’t tell her that it is really to keep the new stuff clean, she just thinks it’s to make her feel special.
We received all of our household goods (furniture, clothes, etc.) on the 30th and have been working pretty hard at turning this house into our home. Andrew even mowed the lawn for the first time yesterday. It looks so much better too! The back yard still needs to be done…It’s like a jungle out there! We are trying to do the dog blanket on the couch thing (again), you know where if there is a blanket then you, the dog, can sit on the couch if not then you, the dog, get thrown off. Gwen hates this but is being a little more cooperative than she was in Charleston. It might be because there are so many places to sit now! She also has her nice big doggie bed by the window which she likes. She also likes sitting on the back of the chair to look out the window.
Owen’s Cinco de Mayo picture…
This past Saturday Andrew and I went back to the Island to go with my parents to bring Owen, my horse, out here. We went over early, walked onto the ferry, and my dad picked us up on the other side. We went to our storage locker, picked some stuff up, stopped by my parents house to see the dogs and then went to start getting Owen ready to travel. I started off by lunging him (basically letting him run around for a few min) to get some excess energy out. Then we went for a walk to the mailbox and back to cool off, when we got back he got a good brushing before I was to wrap up his little leggies for the trip in the trailer. Owen is normally a good boy, nothing fazes him, he rarely acts up. Not sure what got his knickers in a knot but he was beyond obnoxious! The lady that has been taking care of him said “he knows something is up!” That may have been true but I have never known him to act so stupid before I moved him or took him to a show, and especially not when I tried to put him in cross-ties (a way to tie the horse up in the middle of the aisle so you can still move around them). He threw a fit, wouldn’t stand still, and wouldn’t let me wrap his legs. It took F-O-R-E-V-E-R to get his leg wraps on because he kept fidgeting and picking up his feet. He even stepped on Andrew! Once we got everything packed into the trailer and Owen secured in his spot in the trailer, he was perfectly fine. Figures,right?
My mom, dad, Dayzee, Gwen, Andrew and I were all packed into the truck on the ferry when my mom decided it was lunch time. I got my sandwich and ate it while Dayzee drooled all over me, so being the good “sister” that I am, she got to eat my crusts. My mom handed a sandwich to Andrew, who just so happened to have the Corgi on his lap…Gwen jumped up and latched onto that “ham samich” so quick and held on, refusing to let go!!! Andrew had to pry her mouth open to rescue his lunch! He handed it back to my mom until I was done so I could hold the sandwich thief so he could eat in peace! I wish I could’ve gotten a picture or a video of that because it was priceless!
Gwen and Dayzee sat in the house while my parents helped us for a few hours set up our new house and clean. At one point I tied Gwen’s leash to Dayzee to keep her from wandering out the door when we were going in and out. That worked for awhile until Dayzee (she weighs around 90 lbs.) got up and walked away…Gwen had been sitting down and she ended up being slid dragged across the floor on her rear. Dayzee didn’t care at all of course but poor Gwen looked so confused! (Not to worry, we rescued her.)
My parents took Gwen home with them for a few more days of spoiling before she was returned to us. When we did get her back she stunk to high heaven so I took her to PetCo to get a bath. Now she smells better. The downside to having legs that are only 6 inches long is that you pick up all those nasty smells on the beach and outside.
On the ferry ride back to the Island, Gwen was zonked out in the front seat with my mom holding her…
Gwen checking to see if my mom’s coffee cup was empty or not.
Yes, I do realize that the challenge ended yesterday but I didn’t get a chance to do my post. All of our household goods (furniture, dishes, etc.) were being delivered to us and afterwards we had to go shopping for some cleaning supplies and food — never did get that food shopping done. We explored the area a little, found both of the stores that I could potentially work at (was allowed to see them both before I started the transfer process). Hardly any of our boxes got unpacked last night except for the bathroom stuff and some clothes. We were on a mad search for the iron (so Andrew could iron his uniform) and sheets last night since we didn’t get to unpacking until about 8pm after everything else. Guess what today entails? Unpacking!
Anyways, enough about that for now. Here is the Letter Z:
We are considering a couple options for Gwen backyard containment. There is of course the more preferable option of fencing in the whole yard (it is only partially fenced) or going the Invisible Fence route. Both my parents and my cousins use this method with their dogs and don’t have any problems (minus when the line got cut) with it. We still want to put in a little dog run so she can stay out if we aren’t home — the electric fence would be for when we are home but not outside with her.
The other reason Z is for Zap is because I am thiiiiis close to investing in a bark collar for little miss barks a lot… Gwen’s barking and overall behavior has fluctuated a lot in the past couple of weeks with all this moving around and change. Honestly, I don’t blame her. She’s not allowed to bark inside but has taken it upon herself to modify this rule. “Allowed” is a relative with a corgi…they kind of think they can do whatever they want even when they know better. When your dog has as loud of a bark as Gwen — it carries and is forceful, excellent for herding cows — you don’t want it to bark indoors if you want to hear the tv, carry on a conversation, or in general keep your hearing.
My mom commented on Gwen’s barking the other day, “you need to do something about this barking thing.” To which I responded I know.
If we do go the bark collar route for indoors (she can bark outside if she wants) I am debating the citronella one versus the shock collar one. Citronella sprays them in the face and the other is self explanatory. We know from prior experiences that Gwen does not like to be sprayed in the face, it just pisses her off so that may or may not make matters worse, don’t know.
We do know Gwen will bark when she is trying to communicate something (apart from “a leaf fell! A leaf fell!”) like having to go outside or when there is no water left in the bowl, so I’m not sure I want to completely kill the bark…plus I like having a dog that barks at people in the yard or at the door, makes me feel safer knowing she’s on the look out! We will try the spray bottle corrections again before we go the expensive collar route.
De barking is not even a considerable option — it’s inhumane and cruel. I’ve herd of it being done to corgis and Shelties but I won’t even consider it. There are so many bad things that can happen with that too, but more on that some other time. Time to go buy some donuts for breakfast!
Today we will start backwards and do the Letter Y first!
Y is for Yappy.
No, Corgis are not to be considered ”yappy dogs” but Gwen sure has been yappy lately! Just as I type this, someone dropped something on the other side of the house and Gwen tore off in that direction barking an alarm. Gwen has decided that since she is currently homeless she is going to bark whenever and wherever she feels like it…whether it be in a hotel room, inside, outside, in the car, or in whatever house we are currently standing inside…ugh! It seems to be getting a little better now except for the fact that she keeps seeing things (mainly people and birds) out the window and feels the need to bark at them. She never had that opportunity when we were in Charleston since we didn’t have windows low enough for her.
My grandparents and my parents both have sliding doors which provide prime guard-dog views. She loves sitting there and watching outside! She follows everyone around and has been a very good girl (minus the barking) at all the places we have been. Today will be our (the humans) first night in our new house while Gwen stays with my parents for a couple of days.
X is for X-cellent Day
The day for the letter X just so happened to fall on Gwen’s birthday! Which also happened to be my hometown’s heritage day parade. My hometown has some big Dutch roots so the last weekend of April is Holland Happening, where they have a big parade, carnival, and street fair. We all went to the parade (without the dogs). We had a fun time, got some lunch and saw friends and family.
After all the festivities, we had dinner at home with my mom and dad and my “sister,” Dayzee. Gwen got to meet her Aunty Dayzee and they got along just fine. Last night they even played! Well, as much as a young Corgi and an older Lab with a bum leg can. Dayzee would bark at Gwen when Gwen would run by her, it was the most we’d heard Dayzee bark in such a long time! It was really kind of cute.
Since it was Gwen’s Barkday Pawty (Birthday Party) we got some hats to put on the dogs and a “Happy 1st Birthday” banner that we hung up in the kitchen. Dayzee was a good sport about wearing the hat and the beads that we got at the parade. Gwen…well let’s just say that one hat just was not enough…
Aunty Dayzee Mae
Gwyndolyn Rose — 1st Birthday
One hat would slide over to one ear so we put two on her. I mean, she already had 2 party hats (ears)! She had one stuck on her rear at one point too, actually looked like she had a tail for once!
The humans got pie for dessert, Dayzee licked all the bowls clean and Gwen got a tiny piece of pie crust (she’s not allowed to have human food) as her “spercial treat.”
Frappy 1st Barkday, Gwen! Hope you liked your Barkday Pawty!
Wow! Tomorrow is the LAST DAY of the A-to-Z Challenge! I can’t believe it!
Today’s post will be quite short. W is for Welcome to Washington! Washington State is where both of us humans are from originally so it is nice to be back home. We got our keys to our new house, checked out the barn where my horse will be moving to, and then took the ferry over to the Island where my parents live. We are staying with family for a couple days before we get all of our household goods (furniture, etc.) which come on Tuesday. Here are a some pictures of Gwen enjoying the grass at our new house…we will be getting a lawn mower for that beast of a yard real quick!
She found something smelly to roll in!
Gotta rub that smell in good!
This is my favorite! I was trying to take a picture of her in the tall grass standing there and then she started to do an all-body shake! Sometimes the funny looking pictures are the best.
Andrew & Gwen next to one of the Moose statues in the park at Coeur d’Alene.
V is for Vacation, because after this move I need a vacation! To relate this to Corgis/dogs, we will consider this road trip a vacation with the dog! I’m not sure that Gwen really likes vacations…
Today was a shorter day of driving and once again, Gwen was still in the midst of her “fun hangover” from playing with doggie cousin Rorie for three days. In other words Gwen once again slept all day. Since we didn’t have too far to drive today we stopped to do some fun stuff. One of which included going to the 50,000 Silver Dollar Bar which is not only a bar but also a huge gift shop, restaurant, motel, gas station, and casino. (I probably missed something.) It’s world famous! This place is located on I-90 on the western border of Montana. I’d never stopped there before but Andrew had. We proved to be very good tourists since we purchased some things at the biggest gift shop I have ever seen, gawked at the silver dollars, and got some ice cream. Gwen sat in the car. We did let her out to go potty but all she wanted to do was stick her head into ground hog (?) holes.
Also, if you are a horse person and need a place to stop to water your horse or to spend the night, they have an area (corral and parking/exercise areas) on the west side of the motel at the 50,000 Silver $ place. They’ve got water, parking, and areas for exercise. Short stay or over night. Maybe keep that in mind for the next time you are hauling your horses on I-90 between Idaho and Montana. Just look for the 50,000 Silver $ sign — you can’t miss it! (There was a sign right next to the door, had to check it out for myself and pass along my findings!)
We stopped at Coeur d’Alene, ID to get out of the car and walk around the park there by the lake. Just getting out of the car the dog almost gave me a heart attack! As Andrew went to go pay for parking I was left to deal with the dog. I was reaching for something in the car while Gwen was standing outside of the car on her leash. She was at the end of it so I tried to pull her forward but she was having none of it. When she pulled against me she slipped her collar! We were in a parking lot right off of a busy road of course. To make matters worse she refused to come to me! Normally she has great recall but of course when it really matters she acted as if I didn’t exist! I stopped and called her name, all happy like, but she kept on trotting away from me (towards the road).
The closer Gwen got to the road the more worried I got — how could I not! We were so lucky that there were people walking on the sidewalk next to the road. I was jogging towards the side walk carrying Gwen’s leash and collar while calling her name, obviously I was after the little devil. There was a couple walking on the sidewalk and the girl paused to try to pet Gwen and luckily Gwen went up to her but didn’t let the girl actually touch her. That and Gwen’s short attention span were what kept her from running into the road! There was some interesting smell on the sidewalk that Gwen felt she just had to sniff because when she stopped I grabbed her!
Her collar got tightened after that and I also pulled out her dog park (dirty) collar so that wouldn’t happen again since that one won’t loosen like the pretty one. After that we did end up walking around the park and sitting by the water for awhile before we headed on down the road to find our hotel. At that park, dogs are not allowed INSIDE the actual park but ARE allowed to walk ON THE PATH around the outside. City ordinance.
Tomorrow we will have the keys to our new house! Can you tell we are excited?! We won’t spend the first few nights there until we get our furniture, until then we will be visiting my family since we have moved back home (for me) and my family is only a couple hours away. Gwen will finally get to meet her Aunty Dayzee (my parents’ lab), cousins Bella (lab) & Tucker (Cocker Spaniel), and Uncle(?) Nemo (Poodle).
I feel that today may or may not have followed quite with the A to Z theme/topic that I chose…let’s wrap this whole thing up by saying that taking Gwen on vacation is interesting to say the least; it has been a new experience for us all. Have you ever taken your dog (or other pet) on vacation with you?? Was it difficult? We found that THE BEST hotel to stay in is La Quinta since they are pet friendly — pets stay FREE — and usually very clean and nice to stay at. We also stayed in Days Inn which is a good one but they do have a small pet fee.
Oh yeah! Gwen’s first birthday is on Saturday!!!!!!!!! Only 2 days left!
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