ikea trip

My Saturday off was threatened by stormy weather and sober september, so when Joe asked if I wanted to go to Ikea I jumped at the chance.  Not that I really have disposable income right now but I always enjoy a trip to Ikea.

Of course I ended up getting a few things but I managed to get out of there without spending more than $100.  The most important was new pillows for my couch as I ruined my old pillow by trying to put it through the wash.  Speaking of Ikea durability, when I tried to rip the tag off of one of my new pillows I definitely almost ripped it completely in half.  Thankfully the pillowcase holds it together enough that you'd never know.

Of course, once I commit to swiping my card I go ahead and get a few extra random things that I totally don't need.  Like a new rug for the detective:

What was I thinking getting a rug that he blends in with so effortlessly?  I've already tripped over him several times, especially because he ALWAYS HAS TO BE LAYING ON IT.

My final impulse purchase, literally right before we got to the register, was these clip together teak tiles:

They don't fit perfectly in my shower but they still look pretty cool if I do say so myself.  I'm curious to see if they get super disgusting or not.  The teak should be fine but the base of them is plastic which I'm scared it just asking to get soap scum build up.  Either way it was $30 for a pack of them so I think it was worth it.  It definitely makes my shower seem more fancy than it is.

And my apt looks a little bit more homey, just in time for me to figure out where I'm moving next.

sorry, we're real busy over here

I can't believe how badly I've failed at my rabbit rabbit rabbit post this month.  Not only has it been a whirlwind of activity the past couple of days but my stupid phone is also so full of candy crush that I can't even take a picture of my calendar page!

How did I take that photo of the detective you ask?  Every time it gives me the message that my storage is full I delete something off my phone to make room.  I've had to make some really big cuts, but each time it bought me a few more pictures so it was worth it.  Unfortunately, in the interim I would fill up that free space with more candy crush, until now I'm backed in to a corner.  I literally went through my old text messages and manually deleted conversations but it still wasn't enough.

My upgrade isn't until January!!  What do I do?!?!

he's relaxing

Ever since his trip to the groomers the detective has been focusing on doing his part by getting as much beauty sleep as possible.

Obviously it's very important that this happens on top of my selvedge denim jacket.

or in the midst of all of my folded laundry...

But he's just so adorable, I can't be upset.

He's like, "why must you harass me when you know I'm just trying to get some much needed rest?"

look at this nice doggy

I was sitting outside at dinner the other night and I looked down the sidewalk to see this guy sitting at the restaurant next door just looking around and smiling.  A couple people tried to engage him but he just brushed them off and continued staring at something nobody else could see.

When they left the owner was walking casually while that nice doggy just made a beeline for the car, blowing past all the people sitting outside like, "see ya wouldn't wanna be ya".

he's still in shock

He's entered phase two of his post haircut recovery, where he spends all day and night sleeping in my sock basket.

The craziest thing is that his fur is already starting to grow in.  Mario recommended I bring him back in two weeks for a shampoo, which I think I will do.  Just think how luxurious his fur could be!

Yesterday I caught him sitting in the bathroom sink in the dark staring at himself in the mirror.  I think he sees the potential too.

the detective gets a haircut

The night before I told the detective that he was going to be very very angry with me in the morning, so I was not surprised when I woke up and he was nowhere to be found.  I checked in all the obvious places  first and when I didn't find him I figured he must be under my bed.  I needed to change my sheets anyways so I pulled my bed out from the wall, expecting him to come running out.  When he didn't I started to get concerned about where he could possibly be.

That picture above is what I saw under my bed when I looked.  Yes, that is the bottom lining of my box spring.

Apparently he tore the lining of the box spring, crawled inside, and made a home for himself.  When I discovered him he didn't even acknowledge me, sending off a general vibe of annoyance that I figured out where he was.

Of course, all that was soon eclipsed by the all consuming rage brought on by me snatching him out of his hiding place and taking him for a car ride.

This was the first time he'd even been in my truck and he actually reacted better than he ever did in the roadster.  I'm still sad he never got to ride in the mercedes.

He certainly never perched on the door and looked out the window like that in the roadster.  I guess he's more of a rough and tumble country cat.

The groomer's that I found came recommended because they don't use any sedatives or tranquilizers.  As much as I don't want the detective to be sedated if it's not completely necessary, I also know that he definitely does not like to be touched, much less groomed.  I mentioned this to the girl on the phone when I made the appointment but I wanted to make sure to take the time to reiterate the point in person.  Mario said I could let him out of his carrier in the waiting room so he could get a feel for what he was working with.  In the time that we talked, and I earnestly told him he was taking his life in his own hands by trying to do this alone, the detective creeped around the entire waiting room before finally laying down under the receptionists desk.

"Oh he's so cute, he feels right at home" she said.  Oh yes, that's just what he wants you to think.

I dropped him off in the morning and they said they would spend some time with him and see what all they could get done without him freaking out.  They said they would call me at noon and update me on his progress.

So I went and ran some errands, ended up meeting up with Daniel for lunch, and watched 12:00 pass on the clock.  Then 12:15, 12:30.  I began to picture going back to the groomers and finding the staff face down on the floor in a pool of their own blood with the detective laying lazily on the groomers table just staring blankly off in to space.

Just when my worry was starting to escalate I received this amazing text message from the groomers:

with a message saying that they were a little delayed getting started but things were going great.  I honestly don't know what kind of animal whisperer this guy is but I was and continue to be truly amazed.

If I ever, EVER, tried to put a jazzy bandana on him, I wouldn't live to tell the tale.

I'm pretty sure he's still in shell shock from the whole experience.  I'm sure he will get his revenge somehow in the next couple days.  But in the meantime I'm really enjoying the hilarity of how he looks.

The woman at the groomers was like, "So cute!  He looks like he's wearing little boots"

nice doggies

As part of my incredible FIVE DAYS OFF IN A ROW I wanted to make sure I made time to see all the nice doggies.  I tried to take as many pictures as I could and got a few nice ones.  

I liked that guy.  He came and stood next to me and made that wary expression the whole time.  When my hands weren't busy petting anybody he would gently but firmly place his paw on my arm and pull my hand over so I could pet him.  All the while staying constantly vigilant.  So nice.

I got some quality Yeti time in, which means letting her sniff deep deep within my ears, as well as petting her while she walks in circles around me.

Haha, so fluffy.

And Zeus!  He's much more like a normal dog after a few weeks of training.  He still wasn't particularly friendly with me but he at least let me pet him which was more than the last time.

Haha, I got a picture mid-yawn.  His jowls are crazy!

Such a goof.

Usually once I'm outside I just hang out as Daniel takes each group of dogs back inside to their area, and lets a new round out to play.  I tried to capture the moment all the little dogs were coming running out but they were TOO CRAZY!!  At least I could handle it better than the greyhounds who were SO excited to see me they felt the need to charge at me full speed.  If need help imagining why that's faintly terrifying I'll just remind you their average speed is 35 mph.

The little dogs on the other hand are just adorable.

Haha, he's like, "All eyes on me in the center of the ring just like a circus"

Of course after a day of seeing the nice doggies I always have to come home and spend some time appreciating that cat.  He gets very jealous otherwise.

its just SO bright

The problem is he spends the whole night running around like a crazy maniac and howling for no reason, so come morning he is just EXHAUSTED.  But the daylight is obviously just too much for him.  I am very cruel for not covering my windows in heavy velvet drapes all day.

And yes, I'm aware that his fur keeps changing colors.  I don't know what's going on with that.

how is this comfortable?

When I sit at the kitchen counter to use my computer that cat feels the need to come and sit in my lap.  The problem is the combination of his restlessness with his large body, causing him to be unable to just sit calmly in my lap.  Instead it's either sit by passively and feel his body start to slip off to the side, followed by his claws slowly digging in to my thigh to steady himself, or I have to add my arm to the side of my leg to provide more surface area for him.  As soon as he gets comfortable he rests his chin on the edge of the counter like that.

WHY?!

His head is stretched so far up so he can do that!

And everything about this scenario is his choice.  I only facilitate him by providing a lap area that he can actually relax on.  Why is he so so weird?

spending the day with my friends

Daniel invited me to meet his new service dog Zeus, and his friend Garry for lunch.  Of course I jumped at the opportunity, as it meant I also got to visit all my other friends at the doggy park.  Some of the little dogs I knew, but this was my first time getting to meet this special guy:

We became best best friends.

I also came to really enjoy this one:

She spent most of our time together barking at me and giving me a suspicious side eye.  At some point I realized I didn't hear her incessant barking any more and I looked around to find her like this, half laying down, half standing.  She's nice.

I also really liked this special character:

Sitting in the fancy princesse bed just howling and howling for no reason.  It sounded like a cars engine revving up, so funny!

Haha : (

After I spent my time with the little dogs I got to go back and spend time with the big dogs, including the new special man Zeus:

Haha, Daniel in there for scale.  Zeus is a Cane Corso which is apparently a very big manly breed of dog.  All I know is that he's very very handsome and he's very very nice.

Look at that head!  He's a beast!  

After Zeus I got to see Yeti for a little bit:

before I got to spend time with the greyhounds, my favorite part of the day.

Haha.  Champion likes to grab things and hoard them in his area that he's claimed as his own.  He kept going for my cell phone so it was hard for me to take a selfie with him.  I got one ok one though:

It showcases his silly underbite.  I love him.

My old friend Humvee got the best picture in my opinion:

But I can't help but be partial to Ben:

I mean, it's a handsome name for a handsome dog.

I hate visiting the dogs because now when I drive to work and pass the intersection where I could go straight and get to work or turn right and visit with them I will seriously have to consider which to do.  I mean, I could scoop poop for nickels and just hang out with the nice doggies all day long.  That doesn't sound so bad...

this still happens

He's like, "I don't know if you noticed me or not but I'm here for cuddles".

The cold weather has made him particularly affectionate lately.  It's been a challenge to drag myself out of bed for work each morning.

the detective

Nothing too important to say, just took some nice pictures of him.

I sent that picture to Gala and she asked if I had just given him a bath.  I can see where she got that idea but no, no, he just inexplicably looks bristly furred and enraged.

That one was Jon's favorite.  It looks like his senior photo.

Oh and you can see in that picture the weird white hair on his back paws.  Some time in the past couple of months I noticed that he had long white hair growing from between his toes.  It really seems like it happened overnight for it to look how it looks without me having noticed sooner:

So weird!