chouchoot: (velo)
a day of bike riding, roller skating, and thrill riding, assumedly 16 miles or of biking to and from oaks park. on the way home, a beautiful lost german shepherd roared toward us, we three on our bikes. goofy and delirious, but also, terrifyingly fast. she jutted back and forth, greeted us eagerly, ran away, came back. as we crossed our Very Major Road near the house, she took off after us, obviously a dog who had never been off-leash, possibly never really been near cars before. terrifying.

sloppy sloppy face kisses, which both my sister and james did not receive, but i welcomed. i have always been so unafraid of dogs, so ready to connect with them, to be intimate and silly with them. it did not occur to me that german shepherds are dogs, like pit bulls, that many people fear and/or greet with reserve. allergies aside, they are all my favorites.

i was lucky enough to get her to calm down long enough for a belly rub, coaxing her with one hand on the tummy, the other reaching for her collar and tags. leela. i read the number out to james, and as fast as that, she was back on her feet, darting across the road, very much alive and lucky to be so. it felt like an eternity, watching her (not even nervously, just completely unaware) relocate, settle, get up again, take off. i ran back in the house to find a dog leash (ridiculously inappropriately for a 15 pound dog). she let me leash her, and we stood there, together, in the door frame of blend, waiting for her mama to arrive.

sun spot.

Sep. 21st, 2009 10:56 pm
chouchoot: (photographie)
chouchoot: (blue)
send over good thoughts to [livejournal.com profile] coffeefortwo and [livejournal.com profile] firthofforth, won't ya, animal lovers? my pack and i are fully responsible for all the little guy's issues, most notably his penchant for licking faces and bad attitude at the vet.
chouchoot: (tragedy)
khai isn't well. something has happened since last night, and though his behavior seems non-emergency, it's really sad. i just called around to all the local vets, and they are booked solid. there's an emergency vet downtown, but that's a last resort: i want to see if he comes around.

in this moment, there are no such thing as favorites.

it also occurs to me how much not having a car sucks. no vet is walkable, and biking with a sick dog seems cruel. pull through, little chilo-man.
chouchoot: (i heart oregon)
i can think of better ways to say "party" and "new years" other than: vomiting, dizzy spells, adverse reaction to drugs, napping filled with intense dreams, post-op pain...

however, getting me through it/all good things:
-fake mustache set
-bouquet of flowers sent from work
-baklava flavored ice cream
-being taken care of/babied by james and sara
-chihuahuas that understand
-comfy (and new!) pajamas
-getting to the end of project 365, tonite
chouchoot: (i heart oregon)
i gave the chis a little treat--this embark dehydrated raw pet food. they loved it. i don't know that i can make the switch 100% over (mostly financially), but i really like that it's all real ingredients, that there's a vegetarian-only option, and that they told me it was yummy.
chouchoot: (stars upon thars)
01 jan

fez lounge & ballroom, T.V.O.D new year's eve.
(that is the super-sized TV false proscenium i painted!)

the first week of 2008 in pictures behind the cut... )
chouchoot: (damage on)
a couple weeks worth of activities.

-brian, the love of my brain's heart, came to town for a farewell. in typical brian-style, he's off for a month in costa rica, then off for north dakota to get his phD in literature. met him at matador, then went to his friends' house ([livejournal.com profile] robertaroberts, they would've been your NEIGHBORS if you still lived downtown!). stayed out until 5am immersed in good conversation and crazy antics. saw a naked man that night (his friend, wrestling with another guy), just like it was nothin'.

-attended [livejournal.com profile] starscha's birthday dinner thingie, which was wonderful wonderfulness. it was very low-key and it was really nice to just be around. i met a girl from trinidad who i'd known of after years of stories (in town from UK). i gave sasha birdseed for her new feeder (she was feeding them raisin bread before i intervened) and a potted floral plant. being around the dogs again made one thing clear: luna has gotten really fat. i'm embarrassed that she's surpassed lola in gurth and rolls.

-i switched gyms. the process was, briefly, as stressful as getting a new car (it's always specials, deals, today only). i've yet to attend the new gym's classes (yoga was why i joined the other gym to begin with), but i've been doing 15 minutes on various machines and kind of loving it. i'm also focusing on my arms, which gives me a fantastical feeling of being really strong. the goal? ani arms. except i'll shave my armpits.

-barhopped on monday with james, which (we think) is the first time we've gone out together in orlando for a year or so. not counting shows. had some drinks at i-bar, checked out the space where knock-knock used to be (now one of 2,000 other posh downtown martini bars that are too expensive, cater to an annoying crowd, and play pretentious music), then to the lodge, where a homeless man was enamored with me and my "louisiana-ness" (or maybe was crazy and drunk and just feeding off me saying i'm from la).

-nothing noteworthy about the 4th of july, except a paid day off and a lot of laziness. mina hides behind furniture at storms and (appropriately) fireworks, so i spent the evening trying to calm her whilst dyeing my hair (red oh red) and reading.
chouchoot: (damage on)
another rough night of crazy dreams, eyes-wide-open, clock-checking insomnia. hooray.

i brought luna to the vet last night for a check-up on her status. she was finally feeling better last night, and she let me look at her belly, unprotected-ly rolling over. i noticed a hard, almost AA-battery sized area right behind the scar that worried me. luna didn't seem to be in any pain, though, but i wanted to take her anyway. a vet tech boy assured me that her scar was healing normally. didn't help my confidence, though that 1) he was under 23 and 2) he checked the stitches while she was sitting up against me, not laying down (how i saw it). man this whole thing has been traumatizing. at least they're going for their stitches to be removed this weekend: the vet can reassure me, then, if in fact everything is normal.
chouchoot: (tori)
this was the most un-festive, un-celebratory xmas/winter holiday i think i've ever had. it's not an official complaint, just noteworthy. didn't help that i didn't have a lick of décor up--no tree, no stockings, no lights. i'm hoping next year will feel right to be in the spirit: this makes year 2 of lack of holiday cheer on my part.

in clip:
friday 12/23 i was warm and fuzzy at work thanks to several very spiked (jack daniels!? oh my) cups of egg nog, courtesy my newest work-friend. most of us were drinking it, some more than others, but thank goodness our clients were all out on holiday. that morning i had my fair share of trauma: dropped off both the little girls at the vet to be spayed. it's been years of procrastination keeping me from doing this...now i know why. as i signed the paperwork, i glanced over to the first crate: luna was staring at me, eyes wide and a perceived jaw-dropped-look that pierced right through me. i walked out of the vet balling, and drove to work in tears. they were ready to be picked up that evening after work: i was anxious the entire way. when i arrived, i was told, "oh, you'll probably have to go in there and get them yourself." i asked if they were bad and she said, "just the one." i cringed. when i went in the back to get them, they were nuzzled together in a crate--on the outside was a handwritten sign, "grey one is aggressive." i went to pick them up but there was lots of yelping (i was advised this was normal); i took them home and kissed them lots, but spent most of the night crying and cuddling with them (they yelped out most of the night--mina's a whimper, luna's a loud and long cry).

saturday 12/24 i spent the day doing house-stuff, packing and cleaning. you never realize how dirty things are until after you've cleaned and cleaned, and then still find stuff that needs cleaning--cabinet doors, corners of the floor, A/C vents, appliances: such has been my attention to detail, boringly and depressingly, as i try to get the house up to par. the pups were still sluggish, and occasionally yelping if they stretched the wrong way or got up too fast. i mowed the lawn, got more boxes from the store, etc. on a fun note: sara and i exchanged prezzies that evening.

sunday 12/25 my parents came over for xmas brunch--i made pancakes & eggs, and they provided the ham (sorry piggies of the world, but you taste so good). opened prezzies, and called it a christmas. again, even my parents weren't in the holiday mood this year. they were supposed to move the following day, but their closing was delayed, so it was a "final local xmas" but not a "final farewell." xmas night james & i went out for vietnamese food--feeling adventuresome, i ordered the crab tempura, only to dig in on a fest of blue-grey goo that tasted like crawfish brains/shrimp poo. terrible--i almost threw up. our dishes were okay, though, but not "ranking"--we're in the need for redeeming asian food ASAP: this is like our 4th mediocre asian experience. we went out that night for soft rock sunday at the matador, which was fun. hexmas loot! )

monday 12/26 was the same ol' as saturday: house-stuff, packing and cleaning. i'm starting to grow tired of all this packing and cleaning. went out briefly to look for new pillows and obtain boxes. the girls were finally feeling okay/back to normal by yesterday, which was a relief--they still haven't slept on the bed since the surgery, and i'm considering keeping it this way (even though they cry, cry, cry all night) if the habit will stick. luna was finally affectionate and eating dry food: mina was back to her punk-ass self, trying to play/fight with luna and khai and flitting about. slept terribly, but it's probably on account of all the stress (work deadlines, house stuff, $, parents moving, puppies, etc.). this, too, shall pass.
chouchoot: (Default)
last night was the first night of dog vs. cat, a sitcom that will be my life in just a few months time. i took mina [[livejournal.com profile] starving_cynic, that's "little grey dog"] over to james' place for an hour, just to see what would happen. there, in a small downtown apartment, resides james' 4 cats.

now, i was only really concerned with one of them--leo, the punk that likes to bully the other cats when she's not mewing in your face. maurice [the gay long-haired fabulous boy], leroy [the slightly slow, vaguely egyptian-looking girl] and stella [the mama of all three, and the one who has stolen my heart] all seemed like non-threats.

once i arrived, we realized one detail we had seemed to have overlooked: the cats are significantly larger than the dogs. not just weight [cats = 10-13 lbs; dogs = 8-10 lbs], but also the appearance of size based on fluffiness. the cats were taller, broader...mina looked like a baby in their presence. that said, she is my spunkiest-punk-chihuahua, and i knew that if any of mine were to be an aggressive "problem," it would be mina.

mina sniffed around a lot, undoubtedly thinking, "oh, this is where that smell comes from when the boy is over." she climbed on all the furniture, met shawn [james' roommate], and snooped about. but the creatures that lived there...mina didn't have a clue what to think. they were fast, which instantly became a bark-fest of "holy crap! where did you come from?" then, upon their ascent to speakers-and-fridge-top, sounded more like "how the hell did you get up there!?!?"

maurice ran. leroy hid in the closet the entire time. leo was in love with the refrigerator-top, and she could not be bothered by the noisy-one. but leo...leo was stalking, watching, and very very aware.

i guess you could say it went okay: there was no scrapping, no pouncing or swipes to the face. but there was barking/hissing [expected] and poor mina, by the end of it, just curled up on the bed like a baby deer, exhausted. not too bad, i guess. we'll see what happens with the others.
chouchoot: (Default)
last night, when i took luna to the vet, her anal glands shot liquid all over the vet. it smelled terrible, and i felt really bad. the vet was a very eccentric guy, and he spent most of my visit talking to luna in unfinished sentences. when he gave her the shots, he was practically shouting, "LUNA I'M SORRY I'M SO SORRY I'M SORRY" and it made me really uncomfortable. after the traquilizer shot, luna was acting all drunk and i almost started balling: i can't stand seeing animals all doped up, it breaks my heart. the appointment took forever [i got home at almost 1am], but i was really glad i took care of her before going out of town. [but, i have a guilty conscience: i lied about the heartworm medicine. to the vet. he woudln't have understood, and i was getting tired/irritable. so, i will take care of this when i return. that, and get the girlies fixed, maybe all in one clean, money-sucking swoop.]

i can't believe i'm waiting until tonight--the day before!--to pack. not like me, at all, to wait for the "last minute." [livejournal.com profile] wishingforrain is cute and over-sugared today, and i love it. i can't wait to see her, and dan [i think it's been year/s?], [livejournal.com profile] sparkle_m0ti0n and all of [livejournal.com profile] wishingforrain's friends and family! maybe i should ask captain willy t to dance with me at the wedding, maybe to "brandy, you're a fine girl."

so yeah, we leave tomorrow morning. [livejournal.com profile] mareeuh is taking us to the airport in the morning on her way to work, and i think i'm going to be a wreck until i board the plane. contrary to most people, it's the airports that terrify me. once i'm on the airplane, i'm completely at ease.

i hope james has packed. i hope he will help me catch a jackalope while we're there.

i emailed my family a list of where i'll be when--flight info, hotel, phone numbers in case of emergency. when i spoke with my mom, to make sure she got it, she asked if josh [AKA [livejournal.com profile] slamboni, who i'm visiting in austin after i leave dallas] was "my old friend from blockbuster." i said, "no. there wasn't anyone there named josh." she chortled, then said something to my grandmother [who is apparently there, listening-in, and they have apparently discussed this]. my mom said again, "you know, j o s h," with strange inflection. who does she think j o s h is!? so i said no, again, that it is my friend [livejournal.com profile] pwowsemaster's boyfriend, who i've told her many times about. she chortled again, and said, "oh, well, we thought he was someone else. nevermind." what? my family is crazy. i changed the topic, and somehow it kept circling back to all these austin statistics, and then my mom said, "oh, i just really hope you like it there." she apparently thinks i'm moving there. with them. very soon. she is mistaken.

work was stressful all day, because i have all this stuff to finish before i go. as of about an hour ago, i didn't think i could finish. but finally i'm caught up, and i feel like a million bucks. but my knee-socks are cutting off my circulation, right below the knee, and i feel weird. and the cake for secretary's day gave me a belly ache.

wow! tomorrow i will be in a different state! yee-haw!

i will try to update while i'm away, but if i don't...i'll be back in one week.

vet

Apr. 27th, 2005 08:56 am
chouchoot: (flower girl)
dear luna,

i am so sorry about last night. are you traumatized? you did so well, i was so proud of you. he is a nice man, and means well, even if he is a little intense. he won't cut your toe off like he kept saying. it's just the nail. the antibiotics will make it better, i promise.

thank you for being a sweet marshmallow.
love,
mom
chouchoot: (Default)
dear puppies,

you may not be able to understand this, but i wanted to write you a letter, while i was at work and you all are undoubtedly frolicking around the house, doing lovely things and wondering when your mom is going to be home.

so much has changed in the past month, and things continue to change. you are all still "teenagers", in a sense, so i know that soon you will be adults and will be happy to be settled. your sweet little faces are the reasons i can get through traffic, and rough days at work right now.

just because i look like a human--do not be distracted by appearances: i am a part of your pack, and i miss you when i am away.

i have caught myself crying, on the way home, just thinking about something terrible happening to one of you. maybe this is why i will never be a mother--i would die from the stress of worrying. still, i know that most likely you are all safe, and i am being ridiculous. sometimes, it's even sweeter to find you all safe after working myself up in this way.

luna: you know you are my marshmallow. i might wish that my socks weren't found, soggy, in the backyard, but you taking them out there has to be the cutest thing i've ever seen. your sweet face watches over me at my desk at work.

khai: i know that i don't give you the attention that you sometimes want, but in your own way you are sweet, loveable, and precious. you've become a wonderful snuggle-buddy, and i can trust you to look out for the girls, even though you're often the first one to hide.

mina: what can i say? you are my unexpected baby, my diva; you're everyone's favorite. i love your sassiness, though i resent it when i am cleaning up your accidents. i love when you put your face down on me to pet you. i love your smile. i love that you take care of luna, and watch over her.

so, babies: here it is. you are my children, and i love you.
r
chouchoot: (tongue)
last night, i was trying to read in my room, and the dogs kept barking. usually, there is something they are aware of that i'm not, which makes me feel strangely safe [even though chihuahuas are far from menacing]. i can usually calm them down and reassure them, or drown out whatever they're hearing with my music.

but last night they wouldn't stop. i was getting annoyed, because i couldn't concentrate.
finally i opened my door to double-check that there was nothing there.

only something was there.

mina was on the floor, rolled on her back, smiling, wrapped up in a series of plastic publix bags--her body through one hole, her foot twisted in another. the bags had contained my lunch tupperware [from work], and a ton of other grocery bags that i'd been storing at my cubicle. i have no idea how she got so twisted up, but it seriously it was the funniest thing i've ever seen.

don't tell luna: every once in a while, mina becomes my favorite.
chouchoot: (Default)
R.I.P cher, my cherilyn marilyn.
my grandparent's toy poodle died yesterday. she was 13.

for some reason, even though i have a family full of animal-lovers, i never had a dog growing up. cher was the first creature to enter our family during my lifetime, not counting fish or hamsters; the first pet i would watch grow-up from a palm-sized puppy to a fuzzy, sweet, loving dog. cher used to insist on having something in her mouth when she saw me--i'd lay on my back on the floor [she's very short] so that she could crawl around my face, lay on my neck, and wimper. she greeted me like this each and every time i saw her--sock or toy in her mouth, tail wagging, making adorable little noises.
chouchoot: (Default)
the new car is beautiful. i'm still deciding on her name. "pandora" was my first pick--the one i had almost completely settled on--but a weird feeling of prophecy or ominious foreshadowing kept making me second guess myself. i'm still favoring it; i'm still undecided.

also, i still haven't gotten paid for any of the freelancing work. i just created a "week 7" folder on my desktop, which means i've/we've been writing for 7 weeks without seeing a cent of it. approximately 10-16 pages a week, depending. my bank account is hurting right now, so i could use the money asap.

we spent this evening with dan, andrea, radley, and maxie. love them all.

all else is alright. [livejournal.com profile] mareeuh wants me to go to nyc. i'm irritated with the red-tipped hair. uninterested in writing about jefferson davis and stephen arnold douglas, which puts me behind yet another day. not sleeping nearly enough. should we summon another hurricane-scare, just to get the time off?
chouchoot: (purple up)
the good:
first day of work went smashingly. it felt like school, returning after summer: the same ol' thing, with a different smell and different faces. i was nervous for no good reason, but totally at ease by afternoon.

the bad:
*khai spent last night and this morning throwing up and shitting blood. sasha took him to the emergency vet, where he had to stay during the day for some testing. i picked him up after work, where i was advised to keep a close eye on him all night. [nothing gets my maternal instincts going like the risk of something bad happening to my babies.]

*sasha works tonight, which means i need to stay home with khai. this means i have to skip the legendary pink dots and rasputina show tonight. i was looking forward to it, too.

the sad:
*last night after the margaret cho screening, sasha and i drove past our old house.



the yard was overgrown and all roped off with black plastic, and when we looked closer we noticed that the front door was missing. [this, late at night and in woodsy winter park, was a spooky combination of elements.] our old bedroom window had two signs up, but i couldn't make them out. we drove home kind of sad--most likely, whoever bought the house from our old landlord is probably tearing it down to build a half-million-dollar slab like they did next door. it just makes me sad, though. so many memories in that little house...
chouchoot: (hand)
i pinned a picture of luna to my cubicle wall today.

i have found this to be true: it is much easier to let new coworkers believe that i only have one tiny dog, instead of the five tiny dogs we actually have. the questions and answers are far more manageable and socially acceptable.
chouchoot: (flower girl)
we're giving rufus to a good home today.

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