We were lucky enough to have our camera nearby to capture Cooper’s first real laughs. He’s smiled and cooed for us, but this was the first time he just laughed and laughed. And of course Teddy became interested at the new baby noises and joined the party.
This was by far the most entertaining thing we’ve watched in a while. Perhaps it’s time for us to get out more. Or perhaps this is home movie gold.
(if you listen closely you can hear someone enjoying watching his puppy in the snow)
(not his best photo — more to come later once we bust out his maggie simpson style snow outfit)
*update: Sandy deleted this pic because she says it’s awful and he looks weird. She’ll post some good snow pics soon!
I swear I’m going to update you on everything [and there's a LOT of everything] going on in our lives. Seems like when I work in an office, I fall off of the face of the earth. Well, I plan to remedy that this week – both by blogging – and also by finishing my stint at 360jmg, the firm I’ve been working at this election cycle.
Here’s what I have to remember to cover in this massive posting I plan on writing this week:
Ok – so that’s a lot to post about this week. But I’ll try.
Is anybody even reading anymore, now that I’ve left you without any titillating info for months? If so, let me know I’m not just typing to the wall;)
So this morning I had what I would categorize as my first truly unreasonable emotional outburst – over a YouTube video aired on The Today Show – and then I got mad at Teddy for not understanding. Yep. I’ve lost my mind.
But, before you get all judgy, watch the video – with the volume up. The music makes it and you’ll think I’m a crazyhorse for losing it if you watch with your sound off. I would like to point out, though, that the cheesy ending ["get back in touch with someone..."] was not on the original video I saw on the news and may have actually caused a spontaneous vomiting effect that would have counteracted all the crying.
I mean come on. If you didn’t tear up at that, you’re just the most heartless of the heartless. Plus, did you happen to notice the striking resemblance that the lion bears to our Teddy? Well, I see it – and this is where the story turns unreasonable.
So I’m crying – probably more than I ordinarily would. But I don’t feel that unjustified because the news crew on The Today Show is also crying over the piece. And then, I take a turn for the worse. I make the connection between the lion and Ted – which leads me to notice that the lion jumps up and stands on his hind legs just like Teddy. They move in a very similar way.
Then I realize that my Ted can’t really do that right now because his legs hurt him – which turns into – “He’s just a BABY! What if he is unhappy for the rest of his life – or even dies, for that matter?!” Which turns into an uncontrollable need to hug him and pet him. So I get down in the floor to hug him, and he looks at me out of the corner of his eye like I’m a disgusting freak. I extend my hand – and he LEANS AWAY FROM ME like I have the plague. Are you kidding me?! I feed him medicine out of my hand covered in peanut butter. I pick up his poop and brush him and lay in his bed with him when he feels bad. I sneak him treats. I don’t kill him when I wake up in the morning to find he spent the night on the sofa – the evidence being a hairy spot of the sofa and a huge dark drool stain to match. Just this morning I brushed him and scratched him and opened the door for him so he could lay down and still see outside. And I can’t even get a little lovin’ when I’m visibly upset…over him?!
So here I am, sobbing, and now I think my dog has deliberately hurt my feelings. Totally irrational. And I know it’s totally irrational. But that knowledge does nothing for me. So I call Adam to tell him about it. He is adorable and sweet and understanding, only mocking me for a second until he realizes I’m serious. And then, hearing myself say these things aloud, I realize that I have absolutely become a cliche. Ugh.
Three updates in order of people’s likely interest:
1) Hint on the last post: one type of M&Ms has nuts; the other does not.
2) Teddy continues to struggle with his back legs, but he is going on steroids on Monday and the doctor is cautiously optimistic that he’ll turn things around in less than a week. He’ll have to stay on the steroids for a couple months, but there is guarded optimism. That being said, the diagnosis (which I can’t remember, but is basically early onset arthritis) is only the second time our doctor has ever actually seen it in a dog, so she isn’t even completely certain. It’s been an (expensive) ordeal, but we’ll keep our fingers crossed that he’ll be turning the corner. If this doesn’t work we have no idea where this will lead.
3) Last June I did a post about how DirecTV’s president actually replied to an email and they did something about our frustrations (DirecTV Cares About Their Customers.). One of the things they did last June was to waive our commitment fee (which is their euphemism for early termination penalty). We were so encouraged by that that three months later when the replacement receiver quit working we decided to stick with them. Problem is, DirecTV’s policy is that any time you get new equipment, you re-commit for two more years. So when I called today to cancel (because our nth replacement receiver also doesn’t work), I was met by a bunch of customer service reps and supervisors who refused to reply logic to the situation and simply repeated over and over that by replacing my receiver in September, I re-committed for 2 more years. The highlights of my calls:
a) being told by Rep 1 that only 2 weeks worth of customer history was available only to have Rep 2 spoke with be able to look at the account history from last year to confirm the commitment fee had been waived.
b) being disconnected by Rep 2 while I waited to speak to her supervisor.
c) being told by Rep 3 that the president of the company doesn’t actually read or respond to his own emails so of course I didn’t actually email with him.
d) being told by Rep 4 (a supervisor in the “retention department”) that she had too much work to do to let me explain everything to her and that the only way to resolve this was to again try to contact the president of the company. Rep 4 did not appreciate the following exchange:
me: what is your name and employee id#?
Rep 4: Jenny, ######
me: and what department are you a supervisor in?
Rep 4: Retention
me: that’s ironic
Rep 4 (angry): and why do you think that is ironic Mr. Zissman?
anyone have any experience with Dish Network? as soon as this is resolved, i think that is where we are headed.
[UPDATE: got a call from the "President's Office" on a Sunday morning confirming that we won't have any fees if wle e terminate. I guess there is a small office of competent people at DirecTV.]
Need proof that Adam and I have been together far longer than the five years [today] we’ve been married? Well, here it is: We went out to an anniversary brunch this morning at one of our favorite restaurants. We called ahead ’cause it’s a crazy busy place – we sat down, ordered – and were in and out in 20 minutes. Seriously – are we an old married couple or what? It’s not even like we just put face to plate and ignored each other in favor of our meals. We shared our DELICIOUS brioche french toast and scrambled eggs, drank sparkling cider [I know - lame, right?], and talked about all kinds of stuff – from work, to last night’s performance of The Lion King we saw at the Kennedy Center, to inappropriate themes for a baby’s room, to the fancy necklace Adam gave me to celebrate our fifth, and I’m sure much more. I guess with time comes efficiency.
Yesterday was such a busy day and night that we’ve decided to play it super lazy today. We’re currently laying on the blanket from Adam’s old room in Orlando, which we spread out in the floor. Adam was reading Freakonomics, but now he’s just watching tennis [in HD, I'm sure he'd like me to point out], I’m blogging [duh], and Teddy’s in between us, snoring – which is nice for him because he’s not allowed in our bed, so he’s in heaven. Sure – we’ve got plenty to do. But we’re ignoring that. It’s a good lazy Sunday.
In other news, Teddy’s legs are really bothering him. He’s having a tough time getting out of the sit position and is sort of sitting in a way that leaves his legs floppy. It’s weird because he’s so young. So far, he’s been tested for Lime Disease – and was negative – and we’re awaiting the results of some other blood tests, etc. The vets are a little worried he has some sort of auto-immune disease like Lupus. Oddly, Ted doesn’t seem to notice there’s anything wrong! And when his adrenaline gets going, he bounces around, runs stairs, and jumps up like his usual self. He’s on anti-inflammatories and antibiotics until we figure out what the real issue is. He’s still the most adorable pup ever.
Adam did get the hybrid Highlander! It’s sweet. Came with running boards, the spoiler that makes it look hot, some racing stripes, leather interior, navigation, rubber mats and inserts for Ted, a third row – you name it. Yep – it’s a bunch of stuff we don’t need. But it’s blue and it’s awesome.
And I’m starting to show a bit. I’m like 4.5 months along and feeling fine. Nothing really notable to tell – I just have to pee more often. The pic is me trying to stick my stomach out so I look like a pregger and not just a chick with a gut. I just look really…fluffy. Not sure why I’m making a face like I’m pissed – I’m pretty sure that was accidental.
Other than that, all I have to report is that the new job is going well [a little boring since I don't have much to do yet], Becky’s gone for three weekends in a row which SUCKS, and she and Chuck and the kids are moving a few blocks away over the next couple of weeks. If you have any cute ideas for a baby boy’s room [Thatch likes cars] and/or a baby girl’s room, write ‘em in the comments and Becky will be your best friend.
So Judith posted a pic of Lyle after his bath at the local doggywash – and some of her friends used the comments section to explain how they didn’t quite get why one would pay to wash their pup rather than washing said pup in their own tub for free. To them, I present Exhibit A:
So, first of all, Passover pics are up. Not sure why, but I was really excited to sing Ehad, Mi Yodea – I am totally into my number [4 - "arba imahot!"]. Let’s just say that it started a lot better than it ended, but was, well…lackluster when compared to how it went in my head:
Secondly, how cute are all of my boys watching the Magic’s 3rd playoff game last night? Yes, they did suffer a devastating loss, but still…
By the time the game ended, we were sleepy…obviously. But we hung in there until the end.
Last weekend we went down to the National Mall for the Kite Festival – part of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. It’s always really amazing to see so many kites in the air in such a famous place. When you think about it, it’s really the only day of the year when all of the different kinds of families that live here in the DC area come out to play. Sure, there are tourists crawling all over the Tidal Basin, but you know the Kite Festival people are locals for two reasons: 1) all of the handmade kites – I mean, who travels with crazy paper/crayon/straw structures? and 2) all of the dogs.
And speaking of dogs, Ted was King of the Mall. As is always the case when we go out in public with Ted, we were constantly asked what kind of dog he is and if he’s friendly enough to pet. I think every child in the DC Metro Area was licked by the Tedman at one point or another on that day! Hilariously, about a zillion people – most of whom did not speak English – asked to take photos of or with him – isn’t that weird? Why would you want a picture of yourself with – or even of – a dog you don’t know?
You can click on the picture of Adam and Ted to see all of our pics from the Kite Festival.
We’ve got a lot to post – Thanksgiving stuff, Adam’s work stuff, etc. But, right at this moment, it’s all about Ted.
Apparently, in 24 to 36 hours, he developed the ickiest, nastiest, BIGGEST hot spots ever. And now he has to wear a giant cone collar thingie like the dog in Summer School who hung out with the girl whose face “got stuck like that.” Poor guy. I’ll spare you the pics of the nastiness – his face had to be shaved on both sides of his head from just under his ears to his jaw line. To be honest, it was hard not to laugh at him at first as he tried to climb into the car and walk around in our cramped little house with that giant thing around his head – but it’s SO sad! Here he is looking pretty drugged and equally Elizabethan.
The audacity of squirrels. This one has been driving both Jack and Ted pretty crazy. He’s just been hanging out on the window sill as Jack claws at the glass and Teddy licks it. He’s one brave sucker.
Ad and Ted and I went to West Virginia last Saturday – yes, on purpose. We hiked part of the Appalachian Trail and teddy loved it. He pulled us for miles. And, as usual, he climbed like a wild man…except at one point when he got stubborn and would jump off of a little wall. He just wouldn’t do it – and when we tried to lift him up and onto he ground, he just sat back into a big bunch of bushes. He even went so far as to stick his face in a really prickly bush that left stickers all in his fur. After that, every kid at Harper’s Ferry spent at least a good 3 minutes trying to pick them out. I’ll post some pictures from our adventures this week.
He’s been an angel for so many months now…we should have anticipated it. Sometime between when Adam left the house this morning and I woke up, Teddy must have had a breakdown – and a very quiet one, at that. When I opened the bedroom door, he was pretending to be asleep in the hallway. He does this when he doesn’t want to move, but knows you’re going to ask him to do just that. This alarmed me, so I got down and stroked his furry face and let him know that everything was ok. I love waking up to him.
As I made my way downstairs, I heard the very hurried click-click-click of his little nails carrying him into the guest bedroom – and another alarm sounded in my head. When I got to the bottom step, this is what I saw:
No, meanies, this is not the usual state of our living room. Teddy got into the trash can and lovingly dragged its contents all over the main floor of the house – an early morning olfactory treat for me. Looks like he left no surface untouched, either. My assumption was that we, in our infinite laziness, must have left a bag of garbage tied up next to the can – which is not the case, as indicated by Exhibit C, to the right.
At the site of all of this, I yelled “TEDDDDDDDY!” and heard an immediate thump upstairs…Teddy trying to hide by squeezing himself under the guest bed. Once I dragged him downstairs to his room, obviously ashamed, Ted took up residence under the desk, where he licked my toes in repentance. Damn dog.
Confronted with all of the above, Jack Bauer was no more interested than he was surprised.
