The Doggie Store !!

The Nuthouse wardens decided Sunday to do a store browsing.
We went through Toys R' Us for the kids, and then took the Giranah into Pet Smart.

The dog's reaction to this was amusing enough. She didn't know what to do. When we went in the door , there was a man with a beautiful husky, and poor Lyla wanted to play, but also knew better than to pull on the leash with Husband attached.

After a few ailes, she figured it out. THIS IS DOG STUFF! Those are BONES and TOYS for ME on those bottom shelves.

Every time she would try to pull something off the shelf, the kids would claim the dog wanted it, how cute, and try to talk us into getting it.

And every time the dog tried to get something off the shelf, it was way too much like talking to the kids.

" NO! You can't have that! Put that down NOW!"

As this dog is already way too much like the kids, this was scary for me in so many ways.

Our spoiled pup came home with a new Giant bone, and a cloth squeaky cow we knew she'd shred in seconds.

And did. It looked like a stuffing factory had exploded in the living room. I had to wonder how they got so much stuffing into it.

Once the stuffing was out and the head nearly off- we found it amusing to put the bone inside the remains of the cow.
The dog ran happily around the house with her bone, and the cow dragging along.
(pic to add)

We also bought small bones. Our friend has 3 smaller dogs, and they love Giranah's bones. We get her HUGE bones, so its really fun to see these tiny dogs run off with a bone the same size as thier bodies.

The only issue with that is Giranah is totally submissive to these little dogs. Rather than chase them down for her bone, She whines at us about it.Her need for a bone is much like an infant's pacifier. She gets horribly anxious ,mostly when husband is at work, or we all have to leave her. Serious seperation anxiety. (caused by an abandonment as a pup)

Having something to chew on is essential.

The dogs are now all adjusting to the fact they have thier own bones ,Giranah sneaking off to steal a tiny bone, the small dogs running off with her huge bone.. All the people trying to keep them straight.

Who's in charge here ?

"I Wanna Be A Toys R' Us Kid" Too!

Children. Sometimes they can use the oddest, yet most innocent ways to remind you , that you may have goofed.

Daughter (10-1/2) came to me and said "Mom, we are the ONLY kids who haven't been to Disneyland!"

Dearest child, that is not so. I assure you there are children in Antarctica, who have not been to Disneyland.

This was not greeted well.

On another occasion I heard "Mo-om!! we're the ONLY kids who don't have a Wii !! "
To which she was told there are still places that don't have electricity, so there are most certainly other children out there without Wii games in the house. If there's even a house at all, of course.

The most recent was a bit more unexpected.
" Mom? Have we ever been to Toys R Us?"

I'm sure we have taken you to Toys R Us. As a matter of fact, we have. Your Grandparents insisted we went when you were about 4 weeks old.

"Well how am I supposed to remember that ?! And besides, that means Brother has never been there.That's not fair to him. "

The girl was almost in tears, to convince me she HAD to go to Toys R Us.
Are you serious ?

Father asked the children what they'd like to do Sunday. I'm sure you can figure out what they said, but also there was a bonus. "Don't tell Mom, it'll be a surprise!"
Very nice. Though they told me to make sure I had my camera.

So even on the 15 minute drive, the kids were wound up as if we were going to Disneyland. One slipped.
I said nothing.

The event was a riot. We strolled up and down EVERY aisle. I was instructed to take photos of this and that, you know, "For our Christmas lists" .

I was also quickly reminded that cost is why we don't go to Toys R Us.

Husband allowed them to pick out a game and a movie- "souvenirs" of their exciting trip to the store of wonders. It made their day worth living.

And while I went to bed and had dreams of cattle prods, I'm sure they were thinking of the giant remote control tarantula they mentioned buying to hide under my bed.

So, this entry is dedicated to the simple things we parents may overlook, that our children simply can NOT live without.

Zzzzt .... Zzzzzt....

Over the years, I have nurtured an odd obsession. Please, allow me to start, well, at the beginning.

When I was a "young teen" , the original "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" movie was released. I remember seeing it only once. I remember only one scene.(and I'm not entirely sure that was the movie.)

It is a scene in which a person is placed into a car trunk. The person is supposedly unconscious. The killer, every time he sees the person in the trunk twitch and begin to struggle, attacks him with a cattle prod. My memory of this is vague in detail, but I remember clearly laughing my head off , because all the viewer sees is arms and legs flailing from the trunk, and the sound of ZZT-ZZZT-ZZZT.

For a while, that sound was scarier than a chainsaw. You get something of a warning from a chainsaw, that you don't from a sudden electrical shock.

I laughed, joked it off, by saying " I want one of those!!" .
It became "my line" .
"Don't make me get my cattle prod ! "
"Now do you see why I need a cattle prod?"
"ZAPPO ! "

All in good fun.

With the wonders of internet searches, I discovered I CAN have a cattle prod. (Mind you, I was having a horrible day, to have actually searched for a cattle prod, hoping it was affordable and shipped overnight. Yes, to be honest it surprised me as well. ) For $19.99 plus shipping , though more for overnight, haha, I could have one.

Even in a bad mood, I have NO intention of actually using a cattle prod on the residents, animals or any other living thing. I just want to play with the "zzt zzzt" effect.

The residents do not agree with my reasoning. They have denied my requests.

In defiance of that denial, I found a ring tone for my phone that makes my lovely ZZZT sound. In combination with the vibration mode, (in my pocket,) I have been known to flinch when my phone rings.

I continued my search. Still online, I connected with my people. I put out a plea for some kind of gadget that will make this sound. something small, that has a button. so I can put it in my pocket and sound it off when I need a "Personal-Back-Away-From-The-Warden-Alert-System" .

Also known as " You are in danger. " Zzzzzt!

I received some fun replies from my people.

This, has been one of my favorites. It is a "Hot Potat-OH". Advertised for adults only, as a novelty item. To my delight, even cheaper then an actual cattle prod.

As the classic game of hot potato goes, you pass it around until someone drops it. The classic is played with, a hot potato.

This version gives random shocks through the metal sensors in the ball. It even lights up for extra effect !!

The only downfall I found , is the warning !! You cannot use this with children under 14. The ad doesn't say how much of a shock is delivered.

Both of my children are under 14.

As I said, the goal is really NOT to hurt anyone. Something about buying this thing and one day finding my 8 year old having a seizure because he thought he'd play ball with the dog- just not too appealing.

I love my residents. they do make me crazy, but I love them, and would never intentionally harm them.

So , I am in need of a zappy SOUND maker. If you come across one in your own internet searches, please let me know .