I can't believe Koa's been gone over a month. Sometimes I still look for her around the corner or find some black fur stuck to a sock buried in the laundry pile. We are still adjusting. I did a quick Google Hangout video talking about some of the lessons I've taken from my own dogs as well as my experience in the clinic. I hope it has some information people find useful, especially to those who have never been through the process before. ... Read more »
Koa
Muscle Memory
Scientists have long been fascinated with the concept of "muscle memory", that subconscious part of our brain that controls movement without us having to think about it. It's what allows us to do complicated tasks such as riding a bike or typing "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" without having to stop and say, OK, I need to contract my left hamstring while extending my right quadricep and all those tricky things that go into motion. It's what allows me to tie a knot during surgery ... Read more »
Next Step Baby Monitors: Exonerating pets since 2012
It's been a long time since I've needed a baby monitor. Not that long, mind you, but long enough that technology has apparently been soaring by me in leaps and bounds since the year I slept with static-y radio by my side. When I was asked by Next Step Baby monitors if I wanted to review their cameras to see what my dogs were up to while I was gone, I agreed, because oddly enough- and this never ever happens- my husband had JUST SAID "We really need a baby monitor or something to figure out ... Read more »
Not featured in the Martha Stewart Home Fragrance Collection: eau de Koa butt
As you may or may not recall, we've had our house on the market for a while. It has been a horrible experience, if I'm being honest, and it's turning me into an unpleasant person. The last five months of constant chasing around after two kids and two dogs, keeping an immaculate house for strangers to paw through at whim before dismissively walking away, has taken its toll. We've decided that this is the last week, and after that we're taking a break and pulling the place off the market until ... Read more »
SQUIRREL! Or, close enough
When you're a dog, there are certain things you learn to do early in life. Like ask to go outside. This is something every dog does differently. Some jump insistently at the door jamb, scratching at the glass. Others have learned to ring a bell. Some, like Koa, wait until they are positively bursting at the seams, sit silently for 30 seconds and, if no one comes in that time frame, go and pee on the floor. Dogs like Brody are stoic, waiting patiently but insistently at the door and nudging ... Read more »
Game on
I don't watch a whole lot of football, normally. Living in San Diego, it's kind of depressing. We have the Padres and the Chargers. Now, I know my husband will disagree vehemently, but they aren't very good. He will defend the Chargers to the death, but they never win much, and it's sad to get your hopes up over and over and over only to be robbed of glory each and every time. No fun. I can say this because I grew up in Boston. Back then, the Celtics and the Lakers were in the midst of their ... Read more »
Dogs are predictable
The thing about living with a dog is, they tend to behave in a very predictable manner. So when bad things happen, you can usually trace it back to an error on your part, and/or follow the trajectory of all the future things that will arise from it. Case in point: Koa has now realized that when she is left alone for more than two minutes, the best way to assuage her anxiety is to lock herself in the pantry and eat away her stress. This has happened three times in as many weeks. It's ... Read more »
So a dog walks in to a sushi bar…
First, a note: I fully support the efforts to bring awareness about the dangers of SOPA. And if you happen to have no idea what I'm talking about, or why Wikipedia and reddit don't work, well, the info is all out there. SOPA/PIPA stinks, and as a small potates blogger, the implications horrify me. That being said, I decided not to black out the site for two reasons: I doubt this site going dark is going to be the tipping point for anyone to say, "well, I thought SOPA was a good idea, but ... Read more »
