Love these shots of Linus playing fetch on Tank Hill!

Earl and I headed over there a few weekends ago on a gorgeous, sunny fall day. Tank Hill is a stone’s throw from our apartment; it’s a shame we’d never explored it. I plan to mosey over with a corgi, a coffee and a newspaper again soon.

Tank Hill would have been a stupendous place to have watched tonight’s meteor shower, however we are both totally EXHAUSTED and can barely muster the energy to look out the window for meteors, let alone schlep a blanket and some wine up a big hill.

I start new job on Friday!! WHOOO. Been busy these past couple days getting my uniform(s) fitted, uniform voucher, MORE blood work done (ugh) and filling out W-4s. Everything is coming together.

There is something so enticing about snuggling with a cuddly woofer early on a gray Monday morning. This is the first day that E has beat me out of bed in a long while, mainly because he is starting his new job (!!) today.

Linus is extra psyched because we finally sold our freaking bed so now he can hop right up onto the mattress/boxspring, which currently sit right on the floor. Very corgi-height friendly situation

Thank you for everyone asking about Linus’ health! He’s doing *much* better, although we have strict instructions from the vet to “take it easy” for a little while longer. Final diagnosis was a pulled hip. So we are going to sloooOOwly reintroduce some little jogs over the next couple weeks… just don’t want to push it and want him to stay happy and healthy. He certainly is back to eating with gusto, chasing the squeak ball enthusiastically and digging with glee, so we know mentally he’s feeling better! We went to the beach yesterday and buddy was overjoyed to have a short spastic romp.

I have about a bazillion pics to upload and update with, hopefully will get to it tonight after work. Happy Monday!

Who is a little cupcake?

A little Scaredy cat?

This is who:

Last night, we had some thunderstorms, and BOY oh BOY did You-Know-Who just flip out.  Enough that he had to sleep in the bed.  Right in between the two of us.  And whimpered and tried to run away every single time it thundered or there was lightning, for two hours straight.

Earl drove me into school this morning, because I was so tired and running a tad too late to take the bus.  From 4am-7am I didn’t really sleep due to poor panicking poochster.  The funny part of this is that on the way home from dropping me off, it thundered again, and Linus actually COWERED AND JUMPED RIGHT INTO EARL’S LAP in the car.  While Earl was driving.  Thankfully they were at a stop light.

Buddy must have had a rough time out there when he was homeless in some thunderstorms or something.  Good thing it rarely rains here in SF.  Shesh.

Exhausted from a long day at class, then the gym, and not much sleep!  Signing out with a yawn, Ceej.

A kind man at the dog park today looked down at Linus and commented, “Well, hello there. You’re a bright eyed little fella, aren’t ya?”

He sure is!

These gorgeous photos were taken by my talented friend Tim at a BBQ we went a few weeks ago in the Castro. Thank you, Tim, for letting me share them here.

I have so much to update, and am so behind on *everything*! Ack. I owe a mega-post, however am feeling rather out of it/woozy from the dentist today, so I shall just spew forth a disorganized mishmash, and not feel guilty.

Here’s what I’ve been up to: School orientation is this Thursday, I just started a new workout regime, joined an actual gym (can you believe it?!), went to the beach with Earl, Linus and friends on Sunday, had major dental work today (again!! in a bit of agony… ) and we are still apartment hunting. We’ve narrowed it down to exactly what we want, but haven’t found the perfect place yet. Hmm, what else am I leaving out? Oh! I’m all signed up for a trail half-marathon on Halloween morning in Napa and also a regular marathon in Sacramento on December 6th. Excited to be getting my run on.

Also, Earl and I saw Food, Inc on Friday and it was really great. Highly recommend if it’s playing at a theater near you.

Finally, I should be FINISHING all the design/layout changes to this website this week. If you are a reader and have a blog, and would like to be added to my blogroll, hit me up via email or comments and I’ll add ya. Cheers

Here I am, minding my own business, watching Law and Order: Criminal Intent online (chung chung!), flopped out on the floor all tired-like because I just finished my pushup workout for the day. Have I told you about the pushup workouts I’ve been doing? My friend Rune and I started them last week, we’re both doing the program from 100pushups.com, today was the first day of week 2.

Anyways, I was happily sprawled doing out my best vegetable impression when allasudden -ZIP!- kitten on my tummy. Next thing I know, – SCHOOMP- corgi tucked right into my side.

T’was super cute. Luckily my phone was within stretching distance, although it was incredibly hard to get a good shot!  Rather difficult to extend one’s arm for  photo while being mindful to not disturb perched feline and snuggled up dog. Channeling Go-Go Gadget arm, I managed to snag these:

Most mornings I take Linus on a quick three mile jog around our lovely little neighborhood.  We hit up two dog parks where he runs around off leash with other dogs, climb a couple of very steep hills, run some stairs and come home.  He’s a good little guy to jog with, normally.  If I’m doing a longer jog in the city- anything above 4 miles, I won’t him along, mostly because in that case I’m probably going somewhere to run to explore a new hill, park, or staircase, which means I’ll be taking an unknown route and don’t know if it’s safe for him.

However, on our little three mile morning excursion, he’s fun to run with and seems to have a great time.

The exception to this is when – god forbid- it’s RAINING.  When it’s raining, oh boy, does Little Pain in the Ass NOT want to go outside, nevertheless run.  It’s somewhat amusing.  If it’s pouring and he needs to go out, he will literally tentatively tip toe down the staircase outside our apartment, immediately do his business at the VERY FIRST TREE 5 ft away, and without missing a beat turn around and hustle back up the stairs.  He does NOT like being outside in the rain.  Niet, nein, non!

This morning, it is lightly spritzing here in San Francisco (very lightly), so upon my AM window assessment I determined it was fine for a little correr con perro.  But man, did freaking Dog have other ideas!  Most days when we run he’s very mindful to my “heel” command and we trot along at a reasonable pace.  He doesn’t become distracted by much and never really jerks my arm around behind me on the leash, staying right by my side.

TODAY, on the other case, he went slooooow.  He would not heel!  He dragged behind!  He lagged back!  He would not come!  He did not want to play at the dog park (which btw was empty guess other dogs don’t care for rain either).  It was like trying to run with my own personal 27 lb, floppy eared, boat anchor.  All because of a couple of leettle spritzy rain drops.

I did not lose heart.  I channeled Cesar Millan and attempted to calmly, assertively reel in the boat anchor and through my energy command the boat anchor to “heel.”  Boat Anchor was having none of it, so with me exasperated and vowing to go on a longer run later with NO Linus, we turned back towards home.

The amusing part here is, apparently Boat Anchor who Doesn’t Care for Rain knows our neighborhood and route very well, because the SECOND we turned around and headed down the hill we were on back towards our house, oh boy did he take the lead, run out front and attempt to pull me all the way home.  He even sprinted up the stairs to get into the house.

are for attacking green monsters

Oh, just your typical results of a mid-Saturday afternoon post-walk, study break grooming session, a collaborative effort of of Earl and Linus:

It can be noted that while Earl endearingly loves to groom Buddy, including brushing, teeth-brushing and nail dremeling, he REFUSES to actually clean the RESULTS of the grooming, thus leaving me to clean up piles of hair, nail clipping and doggie toothbrush & toothpaste.

so cute!

whattudog, whattudog

This had me dancing around in my socks with Linus

I try and keep tabs on Tri-State Corgi Rescue, where we got Linus. Debbie, our wonderful rescue-coordinator has been so nice and helpful and remains an excellent resource whenever we have dog-related questions. Every couple of weeks I go on Petfinder and peruse all of their available and recent adoptions.

I’ve show some very fat corgis on this website before. Well, those pudge-sters don’t come anywhere close to the heft of this lady.
Meet Princess, who was lucky to find her way into the caring home of corgi foster care:

Looking at Princess (a corgi! barely recognizable as one- she looks more like a harbor seal!) brings on an mix of anger, frustration, and of course sadness. How can people let their dogs get like this? Can’t they tell that the dog isn’t as active anymore, or can’t navigate stairs as well, or is having other related issues?

Having fought the battle of the bulge on my own, I don’t feel much anger towards overweight HUMANS. It’s the libertarian side of me. If they want to be huge, so what. If they want to lose weight, they can. It’s as simple as cutting cals and exercising. But a DOG can’t make those distinctions. A DOG doesn’t know it’s obese, and can’t make the choice to go on a diet. Stewardship left to its master to make those judgement calls on how much food to dole out. A dog needs to be let outside, brought for exercise and have access to toys and places to run around. Seeing these irresponsible owners and what results infuriates me. A 75lb female corgi!??! WTF is WRONG with these people?!?!

Amazingly, Princess doesn’t have many health issues other than the extra weight. She is being fostered until she sheds some pounds. TSCR is putting her on a weight loss regimen of water aerobics (Deb informed me that she loooves the water although isn’t crazy about running on the treadmill) and a diet of lots of veggies. She apparently loves people and wags her tail at everyone and carries her stuffed sheepie around everywhere (aww- feel those heartstrings being plucked?).

If you would like to donate to help Princess and those who volunteer their time and homes to help her, you can doso by sending a check to sent to Cheat Lake Animal Hospital, 286 Fairchance Rd, Morgantown, WV 26508, attn: Dr. Stephanie Shepherd, for the account WV Corgi Rescue, or on paypal here. Even just $30 will help pay for her to have one session at the vet on the treadmill. Princess vows to send out thank-you cards for each donation, and hopefully will be slimmed down and ready for a forever home very very soon!