Adventures of Pip and Emma: Day 3

Today started off really great!  I came down to Pip barking his head off at 'something' and was worried that I had way overslept my alarm, and that Mitta's son was coming in to get his mail.  Nope, Pippy was just barking.  I'm guess he thought it was fun.

I stumble downstairs to make the cats and dogs their breakfast and clean up.  I think Pip was hungry today because he actually wanted his food.  After not eating for two days, I'd be hungry too!  It's chicken, for crying out loud!  It's good!  Emma as no problem eating.  Clearly.  :)

We go out for walks.  This, they are getting better at.  :)  Pip will let me put his leash on before Emma now, and is very enthusiastic about walking.  Gets really excited and has this little wiggle in his butt.  Emma still cowers and acts like I'm about to kill her, all with her tail wagging.  Emma, you're weird.

The day goes fine, nothing too exciting.  I bought them a 'treat' ball yesterday and Pippy loves it.  He won't play whilst I'm looking, but when he thinks I'm not paying attention, he tears after it.  It's hysterical to watch.  Emma looks on with earnest interest, but doesn't join in.

It rained again, hard, about dinner time.  It started to let up around 6:15, so I took the little buggers out.  Even though it was raining Pippy peed, but darling Emma didn't even want to walk.  She was totally giving me the stink eye the entire time.  And we literally only went to the end of the block and back.  RIGHT as we got back inside, she gets off leash, we have some petting time, I brush them and dry them off, give them a treat and she goes and PEES IN THE CORNER.  I wanted to strangle her.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

However, after dinner I did a few chores and ate some dinner myself.  And here's when the news comes in.  EMMA came to get me for the 10pm walk.  EMMA!  She's never left that room to do anything but play with Pip, that I know of!  I was so happy.  But, during the walk she started to limp, and so after she PEED!!!!! I picked her up and carried her the rest of the way.  Coming into the house she was just fine, miraculously though.  That dog.  After the walk, she came to say thank you I think too.  Either that, or she was just checking on me, saying "SUCKA!!".  :)

So, all in all, it was a good day.  I think. :)

Adventures of Pip and Emma: Day 1

I'm in Dallas now, house/plant/dog/cat sitting.  :)  I'm doing it for 3 weeks, for a friend who plays with the symphony.  Her house is lovely, and everything has the potential to present smooth sailing for the upcoming weeks.  However, when animals are involved, rarely, is anything smooth.

My friend left today, around noon, for her trip.  She is first playing with the orchestra in their residency in Colorado, and then going to visit family in Michigan.  She has a very cute house, 1920's tudor (I think), 2 dogs, 5 cats (indoor/outdoor) and a forest of plants.

Let's start with the plants.  This will present a myriad of problems in the next few weeks.  The first problem is the simple fact I kill plants.  I don't try, because I appreciate the clean air and beauty they provide, but they just commit suicide in my mere presence.  I hung on every word and instruction today in earnest hope I don't kill something.  There are trees outside that need watering every other day, pots that need it every day.  I have to attach the soaker hose every three or four days to five different spots.  I go to the neighbors' lawn and pots and water them too.  The houseplants are every five days.  I have written instructions.  I will not kill anything.  I will not kill anything.

As my friend is showing me everything to water, and all the hoses, I get bitten 16 times by mosquitoes.  16.  She doesn't get ONE bite.  *Sigh*  We weren't even out an hour.

Moving on to the cats.  I love animals.  ALL animals.  But, some animals don't love me.  This would include cats.  To clarify, cats LOVE me, because I'm allergic.  They love me way too much.  I love them too...but shouldn't.  I love to pet and cuddle them!  Her cats are indoor/outdoor so they aren't around all the time, and as affectionate as they are, I think some of them sense I'm allergic and I appreciate the fact they don't try and maul my face.  :) 

Next are the pups.  Pip and Emma.  They are the cutest names, and the cutest little faces!  I can hardly stand it!   They are rescues, which I love and applaud, but completely....bless their little hearts....neurotic.  They were both in cages the majority of their lives at a breeder, so I can sympathize with their problems. Somewhat.  :)

Pip is by far the more energetic and curious of the two.  He's a brown and black King Charles Cavalier and as cute as he can be.  Pip is 2.  He's very skinny and gangly.  Emma, however, is the complete opposite of Pip, mostly white.  She's, well, let's just say she has more to love on.  Emma's very afraid of everything, and pretty much stays in a corner of the house the whole day if not outside in the yard, with Pip.

At first, Pip and Emma were very scared of me.  I don't blame them.  I'm pretty scary!  I'm a stranger, and about 4,000 times as large as they are.  I'm downright terrifying.  Their Mom was home at breakfast, but not at afternoon walk time.  We think Pip goes to the bathroom in the backyard (through the doggy door) if need be.  Emma...not so much.  We took them out after breakfast, and w/in an hour, Emma had crapped on the floor.  EMMA!

In the afternoon, I spent about 15 minutes trying to coerce them to let me put their leashes on.  If you corner Emma, she'll let you, because she can't run away.  Neither of them bite.  Then, once Emma had hers on, Pip gathered courage and came to let me leash him up.  I'll be damned if I sit on the floor begging dogs to let me take them out to go to the bathroom when there is a chance she is going to poop on the floor anyways.  But, because I love dogs, I did.....making all those stupid noises and high pitched affirmations of praise.

Pip decided not to eat tonight.  Pip did not want chicken, rice and veggies.  Fine Pip, starve yourself.  I even tried to feed him by hand, and he wasn't having any of it.  Dogs won't starve themselves, so maybe he'll eat breakfast tomorrow.  I'm sure they are both stressed out to have me, and not their Mom, here.  

They both went on their walk very nicely tonight.  We walk very well together finally, but Emma still won't go to the bathroom on the walk.  *Sigh*   Pip did, and was very proud of himself.  He's such a funny little thing.

Off to bed folks, tomorrow is a new day!

Happy Birthday early to me!

I went over to a friend's house tonight for a few hours.  Just us, her husband and daughter.  I always have a fantastic time when I'm over there.  We usually have a great time chatting, and lots of laughs.  Her daughter is the sweetest child.  Tonight, we had amazing pasta and bread and I learned how to play Dominos!  THEN, after, they dim all the lights and get a Key Lime Pie out and sing Happy Birthday!  Now, it's not my birthday until Saturday, but I couldn't believe they did this!  I was floored!  Then, I got a super cute purse (along with a great card)!  It was way too much, but I appreciate it all!!  I was so surprised and stunned! :)  I am so blessed to have such great friends.

Hockey

We started hockey lessons today!  I was a bit nervous, not knowing what to expect, but all fears were assuaged with the start of the lesson.  David and I taped the sticks in my car before the lessons started.  Figured out that we needed scissors to cut the tape pretty quickly, but David somehow knew what he was doing and our sticks looks GREAT!

I got my hockey skates and gloves on Friday afternoon, after rehearsal at Nill Brothers.  If you need any hockey gear you can't wait for online, that place is GREAT!!  I have normal sized women's feet, which makes for Junior skates for hockey skates...which means, about 20% less than the senior skates....AND mine were 50% off of that.

my gloves

my skates

Our instructors were very nice, and quite patient.  I admit, we aren't great, but I think we improved from the start of the class to the end.  It's pretty much one of the best workouts I've had in a long time!  At the end of the lesson, only 1/2 hour!!, I had only a t-shirt on and was still sweating!  I definitely need a helmet though.  We didn't think that we'd need helmets for a class, but we scrimmage at the end of class and at several moments of the "game", I definitely wanted a helmet and pads.  No one is trying to get you, and actually everyone (all 8 of us) are very careful not to run into each other, but with as little control over my stick as I have, I have no faith that some stick could come flying into my face.  :)  I like my teeth IN my mouth.  :)

Overall, we got a fantastic workout and had so much fun!  We have so many things to practice this week!!  I can't wait to go back next Saturday!!!!

New Shoes!

Got a new pair of shoes yesterday!  Retail therapy never fails me when I need a pick-me-up.  They made my day (along with some great company from friends) and are super comfy.  The lighter tan parts on the side are leather, and the fringe and strap is suede (along with the perimeter of the platform).  God bless you, Michael Kors.  You know how to make a ladies' day!

Birthday Surprise and Parent's Visit

My parents came to visit on Wednesday of last week.  We had the BEST time when they were here, like always!  

On Wednesday, I picked them up at the airport, and we went to their hotel (Hilton) and then to tapas at La Bodega.  We then went to change and I took them to the Contributor's Concert.   They loved it.

On Thursday, I had rehearsal in the morning, and in the afternoon, we went to Cafe Trio and had lunch. Great food and atmosphere!  After that, we went went up to the top of City Hall and looked out over the city off the 30th floor.  I WISH I had brought my camera to take some pictures.  It was so clear and gorgeous.  We could see for miles!  We went to the Drum Room for dinner.  

The next day, was a double rehearsal day for me.  We got out early, so my parents came to get me around 3pm, went to Christopher Elbow chocolates, got drinks at the M I Greatroom at the Marriott, and  hung out until our reservations the Webster House for dinner and drinks.  Of COURSE I got the scallops, and was absolutely thrilled at the outcome.  I love that dish there, and usually get it when we go to Happy Hour as well.

On Saturday, we got up early and went to Shatto Dairy for a tour in the morning.  They had JUST had a baby cow the day before, and we got to pet it.  The tour is lovely, learning about the history of the dairy, the production, learning how to milk a cow...both manually and how the dairy does it, concluding with a taste of ALL their milks...Chocolate, Strawberry, Banana, Orange Dream (like a creamsicle), and Root Beer.  Yummy!  We then went back to Independence, MO, to the Vaile Mansion.  Beautiful, old Victorian home.  We took the tour, and learned a few things about the history of the town, as well as the Vaile family and house history.  That night, before my rehearsal, we went to Bristol Seafood Restaurant. Great restaurant!  MIGHT even beat the Webster House!

On Sunday, we went to brunch at Cafe Europa, and then to the Toy and Miniature Museum.  That's also a HUGE recommendation for a museum for the whole family.  It was stunning to see how small and detailed people can make furniture, plates, musical instruments, and even cutlery!  We then went back to the hotel to chill out for a bit, and went over to the Memorial Day symphony concert around 6pm.  We met Pam and Richard (Awalt) there, and ate hot dogs, hamburgers, picnic fare and had a few drinks before I had to go change for the concert.  I think they all really enjoyed the concert, and I had a great time playing it!  We all went out for drinks afterwards at Re-verse.

The next day, I had a surprise in store for me from my parents, in terms of a mini-vacation.  It turns out we went to Hermann, MO.  It's a small German town nestled RIGHT on the banks of the Missouri River.  It's a gorgeous little place, and has several breweries and wineries, along with cute shops and very nice people.  We went to a few wineries, an antique store, and a brewery...not to mention a two GREAT German restaurants!!  We stayed in a bed and breakfast, Hermann Hill, and I got my OWN room.  My parents room had a hot tub, but I secretly think I got the better view.  This place was spectacular and charming, at the same time.  At 9:30pm, we were brought a small tray of chocolate cookies and ice cream drizzled with port wine reduction and a candle.  For breakfast, we had our choice of eating in the dining room, or having it in our room.  Any beverage we wanted, and a choice (that day) of pecan cinnamon french toast, quiche or a build-your-own omelette, and a german sausage, and potatoes, with a bowl of fruit.  Marvelous!  Below are pictures of my room, bathroom, balcony, breakfast and the view of the bed and breakfast from town.  They also had two cute lab doggies who lived on the property that would sit and be very cute for a biscuit!

We came back on Tuesday night, and ate at Jazz (a cajun cafe in KC) with Alex (a friend who had come in to town for the violin audition).  It was a fun evening!  I took them to the airport in between rehearsals on Wednesday, and was very sad to see them go.  

Room

Bathroom

Breakfast on tray

MY breakfast, close up

View off Balcony to one side

other side!

Waterfall on the property

View of bed and breakfast from a winery in town