Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Blogging Buddies: Mr Littlejeans & Susannah

Hi everyone! My name is Susannah, and I blog over at susannahbean.com about life, crafts, and of course, my little furry son, Mr. Littlejeans. I'm so excited to tell you all about him, he's certainly a unique and quirky cat and I think he's perfect!

I brought Mr. Littlejeans home in September of 2008. I was away at college, living with my boyfriend, Chris,  in a little two bedroom apartment off campus. I had finally convinced Chris that we needed a cat, and I went to the local Humane Society after class, just to look around. I had my heart set on finding a little orange kitten with a pink nose, but they didn't have any at the shelter that day. I saw Jeans, who's shelter name was O'Malley, in a little cage in the corner. I asked to take him out, and I was able to play with him in a room full of toys for a while. I knew that I needed this cat, THIS was my baby, when he snuggled up around my neck and started purring. I just had to bring Chris in to make sure they got along and that he was on board still, and he was ours!
Baby Jeans
We brought him home, and things went well for the first few days. We changed his name from O'Malley to Earl ('cause he's gray, like the tea), and then from Early to Mr. Earl Marshall Littlejeans (there's a very small part at the end of the movie Rushmore that features Mr. Littlejeans, and it just stuck). He had some behavioral issues that we chalked up to adjusting to a new home, but when they didn't go away after a few weeks we started to get concerned. He was a little terror, constantly biting and scratching us, and he just would not sleep. He was up all night, attacking us and knocking things down. It was pretty awful. After a few months of dealing with him like that, I was at my wits end. I honestly considered bringing him back to the shelter because I couldn't cope with his craziness. But then one day, and it sounds like I'm making this up, but one day a sweater saved our relationship.
Jeansy Anchor Sweater
I bought Jeans a sweater for a dollar, thinking I could snap a few cute photos before he chewed it to shreds. I put it on him, and he was instantly calm. He laid down and started purring, and was just the nicest kitten you could ever imagine. After a while, we started putting the sweater on him when he was behaving badly, and we would put it on him at night before bed. He started to learn what things he couldn't do, and over the course of the next year his behavior improved by leaps and bounds. Now, he never wears shirts during the day, and only sometimes has to wear his pajamas to bed. I think the tightness of the sweaters and shirts calm him down, much like children with behavioral issues are given weighted vests to calm them. Learning the magic t-shirt trick, moving into a bigger apartment where he has more room to roam, and plain and simple growing older really helped us have a better life together.
Jeans sleepy tongue
After we got over all the negative stuff about having Mr. Littlejeans join our family, we've figured out how truly awesome his personality is. He's not your typical cat. He likes to play, but it's more like how you play with a puppy. He likes to wrestle, and play fetch, and he loves to jump and race around the house after the laser pointer. He's best frenemies with the printer (we honestly can't decide if he loves it or hates it, we just know he tries to get in it when it's printing!). He likes popcorn, and the first sips out of a newly opened water bottle, and he looooovvvvvessss his blankies. He's taken over ownership of a few super soft throw blankets we have, and you can usually find him cuddled up on one on the couch. He sleeps in the weirdest positions, and usually his tongue sticks out a little. He's missing a front tooth from that time we were playing with a cardboard tube from inside a roll of gift wrap, and he spends the entire day begging for his dinner. Seriously. I can fill his bowl with his dinner, and five minutes later he's whining at me for more (even if his bowl's still full!). He's the best match for us we could've ever found!
Jeans in Window
If you're looking to get a kitten, especially if it's your first one, I think you should be prepared for any sort of unexpected behavior. Not all cats are going to sleep and purr all day! I think if I could give any advice it would be to just be patient, and know that cats go through growing stages much like humans do. You never know what trick you can find to help you deal with a certain situation. Maybe you'll find that a spray bottle works best at keeping Mittens off the bookshelf, or that Fluffy will only drink out of a running faucet. Or maybe you'll find that your cat needs to wear pajamas to bed! If you're patient and you try different was to fix the problem, you'll figure it out and make the best life for you and your pet.

* * * * *
Thank you Susannah, for sharing your story!!

We are currently seeking submissions for the Blogging Buddies series, and we would love to hear all about your pet or pets, please email us!
windshielddiaries at gmail dot com

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Irene left behind a mess



The Hudson River over ran it's banks and flooded our newly adopted home. I used to work down by that river front and park in that parking lot every day. Luckily, I no longer work there, and we were on high enough ground to escape any damage.

For more of an idea of how Irene has devastated this area, you should read Kelsey's posts here and here. She lives about 40 miles south of me. Scary times in Upstate NY, some people have lost everything. If you would like to donate money to help these people, you can visit the Red Cross of Northeastern New York website here.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Goodnight Irene




This weekend Hurricane Irene hit the east coast. There has been massive flooding throughout upstate NY. My sister took this photo of the center of the town where I grew up. Some places are even worse.

We were lucky, our new house is on high ground, and our electricity remained on. Others have lost everything.

Please keep everyone up here effected by the flooding in your thoughts.

-- Post From My iPhone

Thursday, August 25, 2011

letters


Dear M,
We did it! We own our own home! Time to make it our own.

Dear Collar City,
We are so happy to be able to call you home!

Dear Self,
Clean, scrub, dust, wipe, scrape, paint, cut, lift...it will be worth all the hard work soon enough!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Blogging Buddies: Milo and Me





When I was living in Brooklyn I really, really, REALLY wanted to get my first dog. I spent hours researching breeds online to find the right match for me. One day I came across an online quiz that asked you what traits you wanted in a dog, and matched you with breeds that fit your descriptions. My number one match was Japanese Chin. I had NEVER heard of the breed before that quiz, but started looking into Rescue groups and learning more about them. Eventually, I found a rescue group who needed a home for a 6 month old Japanese Chin pup they were calling "Higgins." I took one look at his photo and knew he was the pup for me.

This photo was taken the day he came home. I had to drive from Brookyn to Pennsylvania to pick him up. He had been a pet store puppy that a woman purchased, intending to breed him to another pet store purchased female. She changed her mind and gave him to the rescue, and I'm so glad she did!

Milo is the best dog I've ever met. I would take him Upstate to my parents' house for visits, and he love running around their yard! When it came time for me to leave Brooklyn, I knew the only place Milo would be happy would be my parents' house. They took both of us in for a few months, and eventually I went back to school and got an apartment. He stayed behind, and has lived with them for the past 5 years. 

Japanese Chin are very cat-like dogs. They like to be clean, they like to lay on the back of the couch and look out the window. They are very mellow, in a cat-like way about 90% of the time. They are very smart and love their families very much, though with strangers they can be aloof. They are a long coated dog, but are often referred to as "wash and wear" because their coats rarely matt, and they require minimal grooming. If you're looking for a real "doggy" dog who chews, barks, likes to roughhouse, the Japanese Chin isn't for you. If you're looking for a quiet, calm, funny companion, you've found the breed for you!

* * * * *
We are currently seeking submissions for the Blogging Buddies series, and we would love to hear all about your pet or pets, please email us!
windshielddiaries at gmail dot com

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

a day's work




We are by no means done, but we've made a small dent in one day!

Monday, August 22, 2011

big news

 Last week, M and I closed on our house! We are officially homeowners! After signing our names on about 8000 legal documents, we were handed lots of keys.


 We went straight over to our new house to take some photos and change some locks.


 And ham it up for the camera a little bit ;)






It was built in 1890, and it's going to be a lot of work, but we are so excited!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

letters


Dear Stress, 
Are you about to end, or are you just getting started? Either way, bring it on! This is going to be so worth it!

Dear Self,
Please try to stop obsessing over getting a puppy. You have more pressing issues to deal with right now. The puppy will come when he is meant to.

Dear Job,
I love you. How did I get this lucky? No, seriously. How?

Dear 1993 Mustang Convertible,
You may not be the prettiest car on the road, but it sure if fun driving you around summer nights with the top down.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Blogging Buddies: Buddy Bob and Mary Ruth



Hello all! My name is Mary Ruth and I blog over at mommaruthsays – I’m so excited to be a part of the Blogging Buddies series here on Windshield Diaries!

The sweet puppy I want to talk about today is my darling Basset Hound, Buddy Bob. Buddy Bob came into my life when he was three months old, just a few weeks before the birth of my first daughter, Sidney. They were babies together and have grown up to be the best of friends. Both of my big babies are now four years old!



I traveled to the middle of nowhere Kentucky to get Buddy Bob as a companion for our female Basset Hound, Minnie Pearl. Both Bassets belong to my Mom and me, but Minnie is really her dog, while Buddy Bob is mine. I hand-picked him from his brothers and sisters; there was just something about his fat little body and giant ears! I had to have him for my own!



I was raised around Basset Hounds my entire life, and I’ve always had a soft spot for the breed. As a family pet, I prefer male Basset Hounds to females because they seem to be more attentive, loving and less likely to roam away from home (in my personal experience). Buddy Bob is no exception! He’s always happy to see me, wagging his tail which in turn wiggles his entire long body. It’s the sweetest sight! He loves to cuddle and has perfected the art of sleeping on the armrest of the couch. I don’t know what it is about big dogs, but most of them like to think they’re little bitty dogs! Buddy Bob will do everything in his power to climb in my lap and sit, which is no easy feat since he weighs close to 50 lbs now!



If someone was considering getting a Basset Hound, I would definitely give them the following advice: make sure your heart (and home) is ready to take on the life of a Basset Hound. Depending on the bloodline and temperament of your Basset, he can be really lazy or really active. Although they’re depicted as being the epitome of a lazy dog, Bassets actually love to run and chase and hop and play. Still yet, a Basset needs plenty of places to nap. They love sunny spots on the floor (as long as they have a bed to lie on) or long couches to sprawl out on. And your heart has to be wide open to the unconditional love a Basset will give you. If you give your heart to them, they’ll give theirs back to you ten times over. They love fiercely and are very protective of their owners! You will never regret bringing a Basset Hound into your home and heart, I promise you!


* * * * *

Thank you, Mary Ruth for such a sweet post about Buddy Bob!
If you would like to read more about Mary Ruth and Buddy Bob, please visit her blog

We are currently seeking submissions for the Blogging Buddies series, and we would love to hear all about your pet or pets, please email us!
windshielddiaries at gmail dot com

Monday, August 15, 2011

packing, packing, and more packing

90% of our belongings are in boxes. This is going to be a busy week for us. Hopefully Next week we will be able to share pictures of our new location!

Saturday, August 13, 2011

This week...

...packing, stressing, packing stressing
...took M's van off the road and put a 93 Mustang convertible on the road
...stressed and worried
...took the convertible on it's maiden voyage to Kurver for some pistachio yogurt cones
...post work employee craft night
...working in an office with a couple of cute dogs running around is amazing.
...got to see some great friends who are back in town to visit for a week.


Thursday, August 11, 2011

letters


Dear Saratoga,
I can't wait to finally spend the day trackside! It will finally officially feel like summer!

Dear Central Air,
I will miss you more than you know, but even though I must leave you behind, it is for the best.

Dear Kurver,
Thank you, thank you, thank you for having pistachio yogurt soft serve this week!

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Blogging Buddies: Misty and Amanda



Hey everybody! I’m Amanda from anthropomorphity and I’d like to introduce you to Misty.



Misty and I have grown up together. She became part of the family when I was just four years old. Now thirteen years have gone by and I could not ask for a better best friend. Misty was a fluffy white golden retriever puppy with pink painted toe-nails the first time we saw her. She ran up to us and stayed with us- and we knew she was the one. 




She is the absolute sweetest dog on the planet. Never once has she bit, been rough or anywhere near aggressive toward anyone. She is extremely loyal and a beautiful dog, inside and out.



I can't think of one specific adorable or funny thing that she has done these past thirteen years, because every single thing she does brings a smile to my face. When I was little and scraped my arm she would come running to kiss it and make me laugh. Now, as I approach my senior year of high school and the stress overwhelms me, the most vocal dog I know jokes with me and makes me smile. Everyday I am thankful to have her in my life.



If you are considering welcoming a Golden Retriever into your life- I'm telling you without a doubt do it. You won't be disappointed; they are the most family-friendly, just generally friendly, intelligent, sweet dogs. Just a few warnings though; Goldens have TONS of hair and shed in every season, every day. Also, as they approach more "advanced" years it is very common for them to develop arthritis in the hips and joints, as well as fatty tumors, like most larger dogs. None of those things stop Misty though, at 13 she still thinks she's my lap- dog-sized puppy.

* * * * *

Thank you, Amanda for such a sweet post about your pup!
If you would like to read more about Amanda and Misty, please visit her blog
anthropomorphity

If you would like to write a featured guest post about your pet for Blogging Buddies, please email us!
windshielddiaries at gmail dot com

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

little boxes...

 Most of our belongings look like this right now. We are waiting to be able to transport them to a new location. A great location. And hopefully, we will be able to share more about this location with you soon!


I IZ SNUPERVISORINGS. 
PACKING: UR DOING IT RIGHT!

Monday, August 8, 2011

a quick trip to nyc

 Last Thursday and Friday, I and six of my fellow co-workers were sent on a trip from our serene Upstate New York office to go work a few days in the pirate ship Brooklyn office.


 The Brooklyn office is in DUMBO, so we took a walk to the Ferry Terminal on our lunch break to take in some sights.


 The Brooklyn Bridge will probably always be my favorite bridge.


 We spent one night in a cute little hotel in the Lower East Side, this was the view out my hotel room window. Nothing more NYC than a water tower and street art.


 Looking directly out my hotel room window, I saw this beautiful building across the street.


And I had my official staff photo taken in the company photo booth. Can you guess where I've been working for the past month? :)