kapachino

Tag: pets

  • tidbits

    Seriously, everyone should get a dog like Cleo. She usually sleeps on my bed at my feet, which I love. But last night in the middle of the night she came up to my head and worked her way under the covers with me and cuddled right up next to me. It was the sweetest thing in the world, and I only wish I had been more awake to appreciate it.

    In other news, I am trying to figure out how to make extra money. I decided not to get one of the $10,000 loans that I got last year since school ends in May. I think I can make it, but I will be cutting it close. Besides my part-time job, I am pet-sitting and looking for more clinical trials to participate in. My newest endeavor is signing up with an online company that refers me to other companies that pay me to take surveys, do interviews, and focus groups. I’m going to give it a good try and then report back to say whether or not it really works.

  • A Decent End To A Rough Week

    This has been a week of school stress (always that), being sick, my boyfriend being sick, not being able to see my boyfriend because of school stress and us being sick, not being able to run due to being sick, still having to deal with school stress and work despite being sick, all of which culminated in me having a breakdown in my parents’ kitchen last night over something I took way too personally, something small that really didn’t have to do with me but just came at the wrong time. So I left early, and I didn’t even have ice cream.

    But today I am pet-sitting for my boys, and I have a 103-pound yellow shadow named Riley who slept next to me in the bed until 10 o’clock when we got up, who climbed into the shower with me this morning just to be close to me, who somehow knows that I really need some love right now. I have nowhere to be today unless I decide to treat myself to a manicure and pedicure, which I just might do. And oh yeah, I brought a whole half gallon of ice cream home with me from my parents’ house. So there’s that.

  • This Is Life As A Girl

    I had a fairly busy and stressful week last week, and one of the main reasons was because I had my first test of the semester this morning in pediatric nursing, which is supposed to be one of the hardest classes we take. I spent a lot of time preparing for the test last week, along with various other commitments that I have going on in my life including, but not limited to: my boyfriend, work, book club, church, running, and Bible study.

    So last night, after another long day of meetings and studying, I settled into bed with Cleo lying beside me at my feet. Two nights ago my roommate told me that she left Cleo out of her crate overnight, and there was no damage done. I thought that meant that we were going to keep leaving her out. Last night Cleo slept with me because I decided that she is going to be allowed on my bed, even if she’s not allowed on any other furniture. Right before I closed my eyes I took a good look at Cleo resting beside me and I thought how happy I was to finally have such a sweet dog sleeping beside me. Then I went to sleep.

    Awhile later, I’m not sure how long, my roommate burst into my room and said loudly, “Hey Kathleen?” I jerked awake, and then she started talking. She listed to me all the reasons why she doesn’t want Cleo sleeping in my bed with me. I didn’t think any of her reasons were viable, but in my half-asleep state I wasn’t going to argue. Honestly, I don’t know if I would ever really argue with her. She has a very strong personality. The end result was that Cleo was taken away and put her in her crate. I wanted to cry.

    This morning I got up and went to school. As I was taking the test I thought that it was easier than I expected it to be. However, we were given an answer key afterwards and were able to see how many we missed. Although I passed, I was extremely disappointed in my grade because of the amount that I had studied for the test. Immediately all energy was sucked out of me. I felt low, low, low. I wanted to cry.

    After class I walked to my car, when I realized that I locked my keys inside. Even though I have a spare key underneath, I sure wasn’t making things any easier on myself. When I got home I decided to go to the gym, because exercise usually makes me feel better. I chose a treadmill in front of a TV screen that was showing some football game – Lafayette v. Penn. I like to watch sports when I run because it’s the only thing you don’t need sound to enjoy. Do I care or know anything about these two teams in particular? No. But Lafayette won on a last second field goal, and the whole team was so happy, that – guess what? I wanted to cry. I actually teared up.

    It just may be quite an emotional week.

  • We’re Getting The Hang Of This Dog Thing

    This is such a busy week for me, and I should be studying right now but I somehow have a hard time really focusing on my schoolwork unless I have other little things taken care of. And I just wanted to check in.

    At this moment Cleo is sitting on the floor at my feet IN MY ROOM. This is a huge deal. It is the first time since I’ve had her that she has come into my room on her own and hung out in here. She is kind of weird in that she is afraid of new rooms. For the longest time she wouldn’t go down any halls, into any rooms, or the kitchen. If I tried to walk her in there on a leash she would refuse. So my answer to this was to carry her into the room, make her sit there with me for awhile, and then let her go. Then I waited a few days and I caught her exploring, cautiously, on her own. And now she’s apparently feeling comfortable with it.

    Furthermore, I no longer have to push her up the second set of stairs leading to our apartment. She will walk up on her own, though slowly. And she’s eating completely dry dog food, from her bowl, in her room. Also a huge accomplishment.

    Over the weekend my roommates and I went out of town, so I left Cleo with Boyfriend David. He has two dogs at his house already, Eddie and Sydney, and boy were they excited to see Cleo. The only other time I’ve seen Cleo so scared is when I took her to the vet. But by the time I came to pick her up the next day, she had two new best friends and I don’t think she wanted to come home.

    Boyfriend David has a poster of The Kramer up on the wall in his living room. It is the ONLY wall decoration that he has up. Apparently, Cleo caught sight of it through the window from outside and began to bark at it. Then she crept up toward it slowly, growling all the way, before crouching in front of it and barking for about twenty minutes. Cleo hates Kramer!

    She also picked up the habit of jumping up onto couches during her sleepover weekend. My roommate Amanda doesn’t appreciate that because it’s her couch and we’ve caught her on it several times since last weekend. Yesterday Cleo was left alone for a short time while Amanda went to Starbucks, and when she came home Cleo had shredded some mail.

    When I saw it I thought it was the cutest thing. Her first tear-up! If this is as bad as it’s going to get, then I think we’ve got it pretty good. After having owned a dog for exactly 10 days (even though she’s Amanda’s dog too, I do pretty much everything for her besides feed her in the morning), I can say that it definitely puts limitations on my life but it is completely worth it.

  • The First Two Days Of Dog Ownership

    I do believe that I might have come across one of the sweetest dogs of all time. There are so many good things about Cleo. She hardly makes any noise; I’ve only heard her bark once. She loves everybody and gives cute little kisses that aren’t overwhelming. She’s extremely calm, which is perfect for apartment living. She knows how to sit and shake, and she’s pretty good at “come.” This morning, as I was rushing out the door she squirted past my legs and ran to the stairs (we live on the third floor). But when I said, “Cleo, no!” she stopped, and when I said, “Cleo, come!” she came back inside! I think that’s pretty amazing for our second day together.

    Cleo

    Here are the things we’re struggling with. I think that these will get better as time goes by, but if you have any advice I will receive it gladly!

    >She does not like going up the stairs. As I said, we’re on the third floor. The first day I pretty much had to carry her up. But I decided I’m not going to keep doing that. Now I say to her, “Cleo, up!” and I push her from behind until she is forced to take a step up. Then when she gets to the top of the flight I praise her, and if she gets all the way up to the apartment I give her a treat. I think she is getting a little better.

    >She isn’t eating her food or drinking much water. I’m not sure if it’s because she’s nervous or if it’s because she’s a snob about what she eats. Hm.

    Other than that she’s adjusting pretty well. She doesn’t move around the apartment much, but just kind of curls up in her little spot by the couch. I think she just needs more time to feel at home, and to know that she doesn’t have to go back to the shelter!

    Her car ride home:

    Best buds already:

    I love her!