Dogsitting

Preparing for travel used to be simple. Literally put everything into a pile, pack it up, and go. If I forgot something, I'd buy it on the road.

But life has changed significantly since the time when I traveled often for work.

Namely, Rosie the Dog.

She can't exactly let herself out. Or feed herself. And she does require snuggly attention.

Rosie has lived here for about 18 months now, and I have only taken four air trips in that span (Super Bowl in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Iceland/London, and Los Angeles), the fifth being Hawaii later this week. In my "old" life, that could have been a good month of travel for me.

Luckily, I have Ryan for overnight dogsitting and Renee for daytime walks. I hate imposing on Ryan so much, though, since I pay him in pizza, beer, and Cheez-Its, plus the privilege of hanging with Rosie. But he doesn't seem to mind, for now.

So with my forthcoming vacation, I decided to introduce Rosie to a new friend yesterday - Goose. She loves these American Kennel Club dolls, treating them like her friends or children. She never tears them up, prances around proudly with them in her mouth, and often lays on the ground resting her head atop them. Goose now joins Squirrel, Beaver, and Duck in Rosie's animal farm.

Rosie's Boyfriend

I always wonder if Rosie knows the dogs that we encounter during our walks. I'm sure there have been times when, during our walks, she bumps into a playgroup friend - unbeknownst to me - and wonders why they can't run free like they way that they normally would be interacting.

Well, it appears that Rosie has a boyfriend.

I feel a bit shafted, but then again it's probably best that as a dog, she date within her genus and species.

His name is Bodie, and I am told he is a retriever of sort.

I will admit that it's a bit odd for one's dog to have this alternate life, but I suppose that's what happens during doggie play group when I'm at work.

Working from home on Tuesday, I saw Renee when she came by to pick up Rosie for playgroup. I asked about this boyfriend (who I learned about from her daily recap notes), and she confirmed that, yes, it was Bodie.

I can tell that they're in a serious relationship.

Why? Because Rosie looks bigger.

Heavier.

She's gaining weight and nesting. Seems to care less about her image now that she has a significant other.

She hasn't told me much about Bodie. Maybe she's afraid I'll make her sleep in her doggie bed. I'll have to do some investigation.

Who Else Loves Working From Home?

That would be Rosie the Dog.

She gets to spend lots of time on the deck, taking schnoozers.

Prudential Center from Dorchester Heights

Prudential Center from Dorchester Heights, originally uploaded by southiejason.

After work, I brought my camera and Rosie up to Dorchester Heights for an efficient bathroom break (for her), doggie play hour (for her), and some pics of the city at sunset (for me).

Easier said than done.

Technically, dogs are not allowed off leash at Dorchester Heights. The area is a National Park, and rangers often patrol the grounds passing out warnings and fines.

That does not seem to dissuade the locals all the time.

Yesterday, for example, there must have been 15 dogs running around. It's an area offset from the street, and if the dogs remain in one clump, nobody seems to wander off.

That is, except for Rosie yesterday.

Usually, she's great there. Other dogs keep her focused, and she's always checking for where I am, staying by my side more often that running into the doggie fray.

I took her off leash and attempted to take some pics of the city at sunset. The views from Dorchester Heights are terrific. With one eye on Rosie and the other through my view finder, I took this picture of the Prudential Center, looking toward the northwest.

Then I watched Rosie wander off. She jogged down toward the north-facing railing, ignoring my stern calls of her name, and then proceeded eastward, around the bend, and down the stairs to the street.

Lovely.

Luckily another dog owner was walking up at the time, and Rosie naturally stopped to sniff the dog. He grabbed her collar and I leashed her.

Every other time at Dorchester Heights has not been an issue. I'm still a bit peeved that she blatantly ignored me, yelling her name, treat in hand, not even turning to find me.

We walked home quickly on a very short leash and she was punished by having to sit on her rug without moving. It's the same rug that she peed on a few times after she moved in. The final time she peed on it was in December, two hours after a walk. I forced to lie next to her pee for an hour. That was the final pee accident in the house.

When she followed me into the kitchen twice, she heard yelling that she's not used to, and has heard just two other times, one being the aforementioned rug peeing.

I went to the gym, and upon my return - enough time had passed that we were once again friends.

The Real Head of Household

Nursing some soreness from football and grogginess from a late night of boozing, I attempted to take a schnoozer during the Jets game today.

Rosie decided that I was in her space.

She hopped up on the couch, selected her seat, plopped down right between my legs and proceeded to fall asleep on my ankle.

Attack Squirrel

Attack Squirrel, originally uploaded by southiejason.

It's been a while since I have posted a Rosie photo on here.

A few weeks ago, Ryan was nice enough to bring a new toy for Rosie the Dog.

That toy is Squirrel.

I swear I didn't think that Squirrel would last a week, as she has torn into other plush toys and forced me to toss them, fearing that she would begin swallowing the stuffing.

Squirrel has survived almost a month of constant attention. It's without question her new favorite toy. It squeaks in two places - the tail and the body.

Rosie prances around the house with Squirrel in mouth. When it's time to go for a walk, she always has to grab Squirrel, bring him to the door, and then drop him. Who knows why, she just does it.

I have even seen her attempt to pick up other items with Squirrel still in her mouth. Once a tennis ball, another time a treat.

When she wants my attention if I am standing up in the kitchen, she often nudges me with Squirrel in mouth for maximum nudge.

This photo is indeed staged. Squirrel did not attack Rosie. But, since Rosie is quite a ham when it comes to having her picture taken, she did not mind posing.

Wet Dog and Sweet Coffee

Today, I drove to NY for a number of family obligations (I'm taking a personal day tomorrow as well).

This morning, I woke up to torrential rain during the time I needed to walk Rosie and load her into the car. Normally, I would have waited until the storm passed, but I had to hit the road by 9:30am. So, out we go, short leash and umbrella in hand, wearing my rain repellent coat.

Regardless of how much I attempted to keep the umbrella above Rosie, she still got soaked. Stupid me then loaded her right into the car after the walk rather than bringing her inside to towel off.

When dogs move from wet to no longer wet, what do they do? They shake out.

Inside of car is now soaked.

My jeans were also uncomfortably wet, so I locked her in the car, ran inside to change, and came back out to a car interior that was both humid and slightly pungent as the distinct smell of wet dog overpowered my air freshener.

Thankfully, Rosie seems to have overcome her aversion to my car, as she now freely hops up into it, and no longer drools uncontrollably.

Off we went.

I drove to the Dunkin Donuts drive thru, and ordered a #5 and coffee with just cream.

That's simply two things to remember. Arguably three.

#5

Coffee (which may or may not be understood)

Just Cream

I received my #5 and cup of coffee, eating the #5 first, and finally taking a sip of hot coffee around one of the Masspike toll plazas.

It had cream and sugar.

WHY does Dunkin Donuts assume everyone wants sugar in their coffee?

I don't. That's why I say "JUST CREAM"

And...upon hearing those words...how hard is it to deliver a coffee that doesn't have sugar?

I got over my sweet coffee, and focused on the drive.

The rains ceased around I-84 (but continued intermittently), Rosie was well-behaved, and we made it without stopping in around 3 hours and 15 minutes. Great time. The sun even emerged.

Finding Her Voice

Rosie has been barking a lot more recently. Her barks, however, have not been indiscriminate. On occasion, we're out for a walk, and she will see another dog that causes her to say something. Not all dogs, but simply a select few. Perhaps they are planning book club.

More often, Rosie has woken me at some inappropriate hour (1:30am, 3am, 4am, etc) to let out a few barks / freak outs. I have been sleeping with the bedroom window open a crack, and have kept the shades raised by about the same height. Rosie has taken to staring out the window from her bed (check that, MY bed...but who am I fooling now), simply surveying the land.

Usually when she spots something worthy of her ferocious chatter, she jumps up in bed and lets out a few well-timed barks. I don't believe she's targeting burglars, drug deals, or other mean dogs. She doesn't seem to do this during the daylight hours, so her night vision could play into this equation as well.

But I wonder if the entire time I'm in bed sleeping, she's now awake staring. Perhaps my raising the window shade has created such a paranoid infatuation of Rosie that she sleeps all day and monitors all night.

I'm assuming that a simple solution will be sleeping with the shades down.

Working Out with Rosie

I think Miss Rosie the Dog needs a bit more exercise. Apparently, doggie play groups don't allow her as much exercise that I thought, and I clearly haven't been working out with her outdoors much lately with the extended cold Boston winters.

So we went for a walk / run today outside along the beach. At first, she was running very fast, but soon realized that she was out of breath. During the punctuated runs on the way back, her gentle trot and confused glance up at me told me that she was d-o-n-e.

As my dog walker says, a tired dog is a happy dog. And, she's now quite tired!

Amputating Rosie's Doll

Rosie has taken to a particular stuffed doll as her favorite chew toy. It seems to be a random choice. It doesn't bounce. It no longer squeaks. It's easy to be stolen from her mouth when I grab it.

Nonetheless, it's her current favorite.

A few weeks ago, I noticed that she had chewed a hole in one of the arms, and had stuffing in her mouth.

When Rosie puts things into her mouth that do not belong, I don't hesitate to stick my hand into her mouth and grab the slobbery hazard. Outside, it's usually some type of bone fragment that she finds on the street or, in the case of this weekend, under a chair on the deck. Inside, it's usually doll stuffing.

Her favorite toy, and now I'm going to have to throw it away. Such a shame, I thought.

But before I tossed it, I realized that I could simply take scissors to the doll, and cut off its arm. Each of its limbs are stuffed separately, and sewn seams compartmentalize each from the torso.

So, I cut off its arm, and now Rosie had an armless favorite toy. Such a shame, I thought.

This weekend, however, Rosie was under my desk as I paid bills online. At one point, I looked down and found stuffing again.

She had broken into one of the legs now.

I amputated the doll once again.

Part of me feels like a kidnapper, sending body parts to rich family members, demanding ransom money in small, unmarked bills.

Two more limbs remain. More stuffing, and the doll gets it.

Cupcake Cake

Saturday was dinner at Brian & Kelly's. and for some reason, I had the idea to bring a cupcake-covered cake to complement their delicious French-inspired cuisine. Middle America meets Parisian gastronomy.

It was my idea, but Ryan did all of the work and decorating. I simply mixed the colors.

Naturally, when one was two boxes of cake mix prepared in the form of a double-layered cake and two dozen cupcakes frosted in pastel colors, one must break out the camera and throw down some close-ups.

Rosie knew what was going on....refined sugar on the counter within nose shot.

"Let me get a closer sniff at that. Yep, sugar." (This photo may or may not have been staged).

I still have cupcakes left. If I don't toss them, they are all going to end up in my belly, a place they don't need to be.

Rosie After the Beauty Parlor

Rosie After the Beauty Parlor, originally uploaded by southiejason.

This morning, Rosie had an appointment at Snippers Hair Club on Dot Ave. in Southie. Susan and her team did such a great job on Rosie - so much so that Rosie insisted she have a photo shoot when she came home!

I understand that she behaved quite well for everyone at Snippers, and didn't put up a fuss in the bathtub like I thought she might.

It's been about four months since Rosie moved in here, and she hadn't been groomed during that entire time (besides regular brushings), so it was time. Thankfully, her breed doesn't tend to get much of a "dog smell," even after a long time between baths. But today, she definitely looks fluffier and more radiant than usual (her coat is naturally quite soft and glowing).

All for $35 - certainly worth the trip!

Magic in Southie

Something magical happened this morning in Southie. It was borderline surreal.

There were tons of unmarked parking spots AND still some snow on the ground.

Last night during my 10pm-ish walk with Rosie, there were still many parking spot markers clinging to their small stamps of blacktop.

During this morning's walk, however, there were ample spaces from which to choose.

It's almost as if the Snow Parking Regulations Fairy sent a text message to everyone in Southie overnight, asking them to feel confident about leaving for the day without marking their spots.

Or, some bold early-risers this morning stuck their collective middle fingers up at the remaining parking savers, brazenly communicating that it's time for a Southie street reset.

I doubt the city drove around this morning and collected the space savers sometime between 6am and 7am. I believe, the few times they have done that in my time in Southie, it has been a midday activity.

But of course, there are still some hanging to the past and not relinquishing their public street spots. Not embracing change and progress....kind of the selfish right-wing conservatives of the Southie resident parking world.

But, it appears that the public has spoken, and mob mentality reigned once again.

Stand on the sidewalk and look up in the sky...passersby will do the same.

Slow down to watch a car crash on the highway's shoulder, others will do the same (by choice or otherwise).

Begin the trend of removing your trash bins and plastic chairs....and it seems others will do the same!

Neighbors in Southie - nice job!

A great birthday weekend!

I had a great birthday weekend - thanks to all of my friends who were able to join me during part of it.

Things started Thursday night after work when a few of my co-workers took me out to Cornwall's for a couple drinks after work.

Friday night, we went to Cottonwood, which while the meal was delicious going down, drove me to an emergency bathroom trip upon arriving back at Jamen and Chris' place for cake. I'm assuming something in the seafood paella wanted out of my body, and it got its way. Nonetheless, I still enjoy Cottonwood, and would most certainly go back.

I was supposed to attend a conference at MIT on Saturday, but the birthday drinks and paella misfortune grounded me for the morning. Instead, I went to a park off of Morrissey Blvd. with Rosie, and she enjoyed her off-leash play date with Same and some other dogs who were there. I was amazed how fast she was. Rosie definitely outran all of the other dogs there, and she was also quite obedient.

It was around the drive home that I started to suspect that Rosie does not like driving in cars (I'm assuming it's all cars and not just mine...or not just a result of my driving). She gets extremely nervous - dripping drool (she never usually drools), resistance to enter the car, farting in the car, refusal to eat treats, muscle shaking, and occasionally puking. We're going to have to work on this, as it adds a huge crimp in my ability to transport her. She's not going to be able to meet the family in New York for Thanksgiving, which is a bit of a bummer!

The puking, actually, didn't happen until the rise to Brian & Kelly's later that night. They made an incredible dinner that night for six - the three of us, Ryan, Jesse, and Hilary. Roasted chicken, delicious stuffing, roasted root vegetables, and a strawberry cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory (thanks Ryan!)

Sunday, I met Jeff and Ryan at Zaftig's in Brookline, and after an almost 2 hour wait (?!) during which we wandered around the area since the weather was so nice outside, we had a delicious lunch. I have been there before, and have had sandwiches from there at work, but have never gone there for the Sunday rush. Zaftig's rocks, but just not on Sunday mornings.

Now, it's time to wind down on the couch. I have given in to Rosie's puppy eyes, and now she is allowed to lie on the couch (atop her blanket), a position in which she has spent the majority of the afternoon and evening!

Final Rosie posting this week

Ok, just one more Rosie-related posting this week. It's been all dogs here at Platinum Elite for a few days. Understandably so. There's a new critter that wakes me up every morning with her wet nose.

I am still adjusting to the time commitment involved with having her. That's the biggest challenge. Grabbing slobbery tennis balls. Picking up her deposits back to the earth. Playing fetch down my hallway. Sweeping doggie treat crumbs - no big deals at all.

The time involved with walks and attention is the biggest change for me. It cuts into my sleep (bad), gym (bad), and poker (good) time.

Plus I have decided that I need to figure out a dog walker situation. Boston has plenty of them, but I'm always open for recommendations if anyone who is reading this happens to know of a good one who works in Southie. I'm thinking of splitting midday duty with a dog walker - 3 weekdays walker, 2 weekdays me (it's pretty easy to drive home during my lunch hour).

I thought Rosie could hold it during the day, but discovered a little wee wee accident today upon returning home from work. I wanted to see her limits...and I think I found them. I admit it, part of me was a little too cheap to pony up the dog walker cash. But, honestly a dog walker is not a huge amount, and well worth it if it keeps her active (and therefore tired) and my area rugs dry.

I will just need to play a little more poker...

Dealing With Dog Poop

If I pretend that what I'm picking up is warm clay, and I don't inhale while picking up said clay, I'm good to go.

I have decided against the dog poop catcher pictured here, which just looks plain odd.

No, this is not Rosie. I found the picture online.

A New Addition

It's been almost thirteen years, but I'm once again a dog owner. This weekend, I adopted Rosie (full name Rosie Petal - no, I didn't pick it) from PAWS, a group in New England that works with a shelter in Tennessee, placing animals from down there up here. She's about 2 or 3 years old.

Growing up, I had a Golden Retriever for almost eleven years, so I'm definitely a larger dog person. Rosie is a great size - about 50 pounds and already fully-grown (we think...that is unless I get her fat).

During the ride back from North Andover, Rosie started in the hatchback of my Jeep, and eventually found her way toward the front, ending up with her head and much of her front on my lap, under the steering wheel. We're going to have to practice riding.

Her demeanor is perfect - very affectionate, loves attention and staring out the window, and punctuates periods of dedicated chewie and ball playing with longer periods of laying around or stretching.

I'm going to see how she does by herself for a few hours today while I'm at work. I skipped the crate and baby gate because she seems to be OK to have the run of the place. Nonetheless, I'm coming home for lunch to give her a walk and check things out.

When I went to Petco, I bought a variety of toys. Who would have known that her rawhide bone isn't just her favorite, but it's like her cocaine! After a while of chewing on Saturday, I went to take the bone away a couple times, a motion that Rosie responded to with a menacing look and by shifting position, maintaining full grasp of the bone. When I went for it with more authority, she growled and barked, the only time I have heard her do that. I figured out that she can chew on it for a while, and I'm able to take it away and hide it by distracting her with a treat.

And while she loves her dog bed in the living room, her favorite spot to spend the night is on my bedroom floor.