Pugs

[ehowton]

Dark Delicacies in Burbank, CA is offering the signed copy of Battlestar Galactica, Season 3, (in conjunction, it seems with La La Land Records), and its available for pre-order RIGHT NOW! Dude even called me to confirm my online order when he couldn't run one of my cards - how cool is that? *shivering with anticipation*

---

Daisy was ill. Again. Yes, its been a month of vet bills. Whilst at the vet, my wife saw a noticed advertising a pug which had given birth to a litter of mixed-breed pups, and they were giving them away for free.

My wife used to have dogs. Until she met me. We have cats. I love cats. I dislike dogs. Either way, over the years, she's tried unsuccessfully to bring dogs into our environment. For one reason or another (and always after we've dumped a ton of cash into the animal), we've not kept any of them. This is a proven, repeatable track record.

That's why these pug pups make me nervous.

I agreed to see them with her. She warned me ahead of time that they don't look exactly like pugs since only the mother was a pug. "What was the father?" I asked.
"They think he was a German Sheppard."
"WTF???"

We visit with the little guys. I'm done two minutes after we arrive. I've seen all I need t see. Nearly an hour later, we leave. I wait for her to bring it up. "They don't look anything like pugs do they?" She asks.
"No. They don't."

We ended up with the mother, and one mutt offspring.

She wants to secure an area outside for them, but our wood fence is a good 4-inches off the ground, allowing easy access to the other side. She buys a couple of 5-foot rolls of chicken-wire and some posts. By the time I get out to install it, I realize this is going to be a much bigger job. 120-feet of fence is exposed and requires work.

Options: We look at other ways to secure the chicken wire, cutting it in half and securing it, white lattice 2x8 I could cut the panels into 1-foot pieces but we don't have a truck and it would stick up too much and be unsightly...plus everything I could think of was going to coast around $200 to implement. Then...it struck me. I needed an air compressor to work this one, but it would be the easiest, and the least expensive (outside of the cost of the air compressor, which I would get to keep regardless the outcome of these new dogs). I bought 100-feet of black, plastic landscape edging, ran it around the circumference of the fence, and attached it with my brad nailer! The entire project took under an hour. BAM!

Unfortunately, lifting the air compressor, while bent over and twisting to fire the gun, caused an audible "SNAP" in my back. The doctor told me that mean that I had actually ripped those muscles. Yeah, its painful. I suppose that explains the burning sensation in my lower back as well. I spent my first two days in bed, hopped on Vicodin. My boss suggested that I work from home if I couldn't make it in. She rox0rs. Unfortunately, this has been my most painful day (my wife blames it on too much time in bed). Still, I'm trying to get enough accomplished today that it shows.

And since I'm not really what you'd call a "Manual Labor" type of guy, my wife blames herself.

So yeah, this pretty much sucks.

Comments

[codekitten.livejournal.com]

wow! congrats on getting the job done but man does back pain suck...and for so long.

good luck with the dogs. i gave in and let j* get a dog (1/2 german shepard, 1/2 lab) and she has become the bane of my existence (and my 3 cats).

i guess i'm full of good cheer for you, aren't i?

what do the cats think so far?

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

My Maine Coon is as large as a Bobcat. They won't mess with her. And my Bengal is a thug with razor blades and a fur coat. They'll learn soon enough. We're letting them get settled before unleashing the cats on them.

And thank you for your honesty.

I feel the same way.

[codekitten.livejournal.com]

"my Bengal is a thug with razor blades and a fur coat"

GREAT description!!! i love bengals.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

I thought you were in the Air Force. Did they not teach you how to do manual labor? Did they not teach you how to stretch?

Tell you're wife to stop blaming herself. It's not her fault. It's your fault because:

• You took the dogs home
• You were ill-equipped for this task
• You haven't exercised in years.

GOYA!

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

I thought you were in the Air Force. Did they not teach you how to do manual labor? Did they not teach you how to stretch?

I thought you were in college? Did they not teach you how to graduate?

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

No, they taught us how to give the institution more money.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Of course. I forgot your generation doesn't expect to pay for anything, even your degrees apparently.

[irulan-amy.livejournal.com]

Dude, last time they had a signing with Bear McCreary. Tim got me signed copies of the first two season soundtracks.

It's right down the road, I'd be glad to get it signed and shipped for you. :D

And two doggies? Awww! I'd also be glad to send you some treats. :D

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

That so rocks! I already have a signed Season 2, and my order is already in for a signed Season 3. I would LOVE a signed Season 1 (especially since I cracked my Season 1 disc!) California rox0rs!

[irulan-amy.livejournal.com]

I'd be happy to oblige. :) When the date comes closer, I'll get your shipping address and everything. :D

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

That's awesome. Many thanks. You could put it up on your Etsy store for me to pay for it that way. I just hope I'm not outbid!

Thanks again!

[galinda822.livejournal.com]

Good luck with dogs. In my experience, cat people very seldom become dog people too! However, you are known for proving me wrong. :)

Sorry to hear about your back. Hope the drugs are helping the pain and that you're feeling better soon. Don't overdo it to soon. Give yourself the chance to heal properly.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

If I had my little X1 I'd be rockin' in bed with the wi-fi! Alas, I have been taking it very easy. Too easy were you to ask my wife. Oh well, two-weeks they say. We'll see. Thanks!

[galinda822.livejournal.com]

I'd say holler if you need anything but I forget you're no longer right around the corner. :)

Take it easy!

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Around the corner I have a friend,
In this great city that has no end;
Yet days go by, and weeks rush on,
And before I know it a year is gone,

And I never see my old friend's face,
For life is a swift and terrible race.
He knows I like him just as well
As in the days when I rang his bell
And he rang mine. We were younger then,
And now we are busy, tired men:
Tired with playing a foolish game,
Tired with trying to make a name.

"Tomorrow," I say, "I will call on Jim,
Just to show I am thinking of him."
But tomorrow comes - and tomorrow goes,
And the distance between us grows and grows.

Around the corner! - yet miles away . .
"Here's the telegram, Sir. . .
'Jim died today'."
And that's what we get, and deserve in the end:
Around the corner, a vanished friend.

[(Anonymous)]

OUCH!! Poor baby.

[photogoot.livejournal.com]

Hi mom. :-)

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Hi mom!

[photogoot.livejournal.com]

I LOVE PUGS! My dad always had between 2 and 6 pugs. Thats just good clean fun... well maybe its not always clean. The thing to understand about pugs is they are like crack whores once they get a taste of people food. They will never go back once they know what your food tastes like. Our family policy was to treat them like gremlins. never ever feed them people food and they will be cute and cuddly, feed them people food even once and its all over... your running the pug equivalent of a methadone clinic to ween then back to dog food.

never ever feed them people food.... I mean this.
I want a Pug. I have a good pug friend named Diego who lives just down the street. Hes cool. your cool too, you have pugs.


I am really surprised that you went along with this... I am laughing inside. too funny really, I just cant imagine you with dogs.... This will make for some really good stories in the future.


When do we get some photos? I want to see the Pug Shepard mix.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

My back is much better today, thank you.

[photogoot.livejournal.com]

I gat all excited about the pugs. I literally became giddy and could not contain my joy.

You know you need to take better care of your self. You are no spring chicken. And trying to keep up with Draxor is a prescription for disaster. You need to slowe it down and get a good video game hobby or focus more on your music and writing. You should not risk your health on even light manual labor. You can not tell me there is not a single guy riding a lawn mower to the liquor store in that town who would not have done that fence job for 20 bucks.

Bottom line work smarter not harder.

I hope you back keeps getting better.

YOU HAVE PUGS YOU LUCKY BASTARD!

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

I have a pug (singular) and a fawn-colored monstrosity which was birthed from a pug. We'll see.

Back injury

[snapper521.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear about this latest development with your back. :-(

Sounds like this was a classic case of "marital give and take". Hope that although she is blaming herself... that you aren't.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery. :-)

Dogs are good. Cats are good. :-) So you have both. ;-) Just hope you don't end up having more then your share of marital problems because of them. :-P

Anyway --

I'll catch you later. Need to sleep.

Re: Back injury

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Rest well, fair princess of the North!

Re: Back injury

[snapper521.livejournal.com]

Princess... oo-la-la! ;-)