Misc. Idle Chit Chat - Part II (The Sequel)

[nezza]

Aww, Jayme, she is quite cute!! But, what a handful she must be!! Boxer's are so energetic on top of it all! How long do you have her for? I'll bet she's quite confused as to what is going on...this is not her normal life....and, it can be super stressful on our pets.

As for my exercising...i just switched to a new routine that i'm really excited about...i'm off work the next three days, and i'm planning on doing it all three days It's the Jillian Michaels 30 day shred. I've done it once so far, that was last tuesday (as i've been at work since then) and it's pretty intense...i love a challenge. There are 3 phases of this work out. For 30 days, you do Phase 1 and then 2 and then 3. I'm only 10 pounds over my normal weight, but i'm anxious to get back down to where i feel comfortable

[JaymeK]

She's just here for the night. I'm not exactly sure when my neighbour is coming back. First he just asked if I could let her out in the morning and he would just leave her in her crate, but I said we would just bring her over here so she wasn't alone in her crate.

He uses a choke collar on her which is silly because when she's alone she walks quite well! She's still a puppy and chases leaves and stuff but almost never pulls. I took them out separately this morning again and now they're playing again. I swear, they haven't stopped playing since she got here.

Also, does anyone have or know someone who has a Roomba? I'm finding it impossible to keep up with Benson's shedding, as we have dark hardwood floors downstairs. I had vacuumed on Friday, and on saturday my roommate was sitting in the living room and said "the amount of hair on this floor is disgusting". That was the second comment like that she made that day so I got fed up and said "Well maybe if any of you picked up the vacuum for once in your life it wouldn't be."

I understand that the animals are mine, so I do try to vacuum every other day, but there's only so much one girl can do!

Anywho, I decided to ask for a roomba for an early christmas present (on sale at canadian tire, but still $450!). We have a small main floor so I think it would get around alright if we make sure everything is picked up off the floor. Has anyone used one? My mom got one and didn't like it so she took it back, but my parent's house has a really large main floor with lots of corners, so it could never get everywhere.

[kian]

Reese is adorable! I would say some Boxer in there. I would discourage the choke collar, can do some trachea damage in the wrong hands. Back in the day...along time ago, before we knew any different, I used a choke collar. To this day I believe the cough my dog had could have been related to those choke collars.

I have all Hardwood floors and Slate Tile, I use a Micofiber cloth (those are cheap) or a worn out cotton T-shirt. I push it around the floor either with a broom or a swiffer and pick up the fur that way. It works very, very well! My two are heavy shedders, Ice being the worst. I then shake out the cloth and then do it again in the evening. Try that and see how it works for you. The Roomba would be a good one to have.

I work out at the Gym 4-5 times a week. I do the morning classes and love it! We switch it up from Turbo, Ripped and a occasional Zumba. I love the friends I have made there and since I'm paying for it, that keeps me going! Plus, I have dropped 6 sizes since joining the gym several years ago. I feel great, I do not want to ever go backward!!

Jayme that is smart advice to watch the knees, I have to that as well.

Nezza I have heard good things about the 30 Shred, one does have to exercise. I'm sure you will do great, you already look so good!

[nezza]

Kian, i wish i was motivated enough to exercise in the morning! It really sounds great to me...to get it over and out of the way early...but i'm more of an afternoon exerciser, when i'm more awake and ready to go! PLUS, like you said, if i were paying for it...it would motivate me more to go everyday. Alas, there aren't any gyms around me...the nearest is 30 minutes away and that is NOT HAPPENING. So, i work out at home. And, THANK YOU, for your very sweet compliment As i've told you, the OH is such an excellent cook and i love to eat...at this point, i exercise just to NOT gain weight and keep enjoying his food

I don't like choke collars either...they are too harsh. They do cause a lot of tracheal problems. The constant pulling and choking. Even regular collars on a dog that pulls too much can cause irreversible damage. I am a HUGE fan of a harness or "gentle lead". They work wonders.

[JaymeK]

When I lived in my parent's house we were in the country and the nearest gym was 20 minutes. I drove there in the morning 3 times a week, don't ask me how I did it!

I don't believe in choke collars. So many people just let their dogs drag themselves along. The first thing I did when she got here was take it off!

I was just brushing one of the cats and noticed that he had a bald spot on him! I brushed them two days ago, so this is a recent occurrence. He's the one Reese chased up onto the blinds, so I have a feeling it's because of stress. I'll have to keep an eye on it to make sure it's nothing else.

Benson is completely pooped from his puppy sitting adventure! He slept all morning (gave me the chance to run to the gym for an hour), but he's antsy now because it's almost dinner.

Kian, that's a good idea about the home made swiffer. I do have a normal swiffer but I just never seem to get it out! Maybe I'll try to do it twice a day as well, just to help out with some of the fur. It's such a pain in the butt though!

Hope everyone had a nice extra hour of sleep last night! It'll be dark in no time now.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Sorry I've been so absent! I had one heck of a week around here, and no time for chat.

I'm trying to play catch up now, and not getting as far as I would like.

I hope everyone is well. I miss you and will be back to post more regularly shortly.

[nezza]

Good Monday Morning, everyone!

I feel like i've been awake for ever...this time change always messes with me. I feel tired And, it gets dark at 5pm now! OH NO!!!! Last night, it felt so much later than it was...we were all screwy. Anyway....

Jayme, i call that sheer motivation, to get yourself to the gym 20 minutes away, so many times a week. I will be the first to say....no, i couldn't do that. Kudos to you. I did my new program yesterday and, as usual, felt really great after ward. I do take Osteo-BiFlex for joints everyday.....gotta watch those knees!!!!
In a nutshell, i'm pretty lazy when it comes to exercising, but i LOVE LOVE LOVE good food and i LOVE dessert. I've never needed to lose more than 10 pounds at a time...i know, boo-hoo. BUT, i'm only 5 foot 1 inch, so ten extra pounds on me is uncomfortable. I'm blessed with a decent metabolism, because, honestly, the way i eat....i should be about 200 pounds!!!

Jayme, your poor kitty. He was super stressed!!!! Now that the stress is gone, he should be fine. Cats feel stress like humans do and will sometimes over groom a certain spot because it calms them down (and is also a nervous condition, like a person biting their nails)...which results in hair loss.

[kian]

Good morning! With the time change I'm up at 6am, I'm sure I will train myself to stay in bed a little longer. I'm already putting a load of wash away, so getting a hour start on the day is all good for me. OH is still in bed, that man can and has slept through a major earthquake. I have the news on, another storm heading for the Northeast Coast, talk about no break. Mother Nature....give it a rest...please!

Jayme your good, I won't go the gym if I have to drive more than 10 minutes. The gym I go to now is only 3 minutes away...woohoo!

Nezza I hear you with the good food and the way your OH cooks, I would be doomed! I do the same as you now, exercise to be able to have a wonderful dessert or meal, it works good for me. You are lucky to have a great metabolism, mine slowed as I aged and a few health issues didn't help any. This morning I'm headed to a Turbokick workout, Mondays are always hard.

Jayme I hope kitty has calmed down to normal, that stress can cause fur loss, the reason Nezza mentioned.

[nezza]

Kian, i've been looking at it the same way as you...getting an hour start earlier on the day. I'm going to have to make myself sleep in that extra hour. Everyone is "off" right now. The OH, the chickens, Persie and Waffles. The chickens are going into their coop earlier and Waffles is looking for dinner earlier even though it's not time for his dinner yet. The Fall time change is always harder to get used to, in my opinion.

How was your Turbokick this morning? I did my workout this afternoon. By, the way, i've seen your pics and you are beautiful! I seriously wish we lived closer to each other!

I'm amazed that another storm is heading to the east coast. Please, they've had enough!!!! So much is already ruined and devastated....my thoughts are with everyone going through this....

Well, i believe i have FINALLY had a breakthrough with Persie today!!! So far, he couldn't stand to be in the house with the door to the outside world closed. The last couple days, he has been venturing further and further into the house. Sniffing, meowing, searching, here and there....familiarizing himself with all this new "strangeness". Today, he came on in, and started meowing every where...going places he doesn't normally go in the house...and i was able to shut all the doors with him inside the house!!!! It's such a long process with cats who don't know anything but the outside world. I learned some cat behavior from my wonderful doctors at the animal hospital...and it is coming in handy. I pretty much act like a piece of furniture while Persie is in the room with me. ANY movement sends him scurrying. The cat has to come to YOU. The cat has to feel comfortable and on HIS terms. SO very different then dogs. But, it works. And, i'm so happy for today!!!!

[kian]

YAY for Persie and your right, the cat has to come to you. Standing still was the best confidence boost for Persie!! One day we will get to Nashville, I promise! We were looking online the other night, just waiting for the right time.

I got to the gym and we actually did RIPPED today, I love it! It's a interval core/cardio/weight workout. It's a lot of fun and I feel great. Thanks for the compliment.. Glad you got to workout this afternoon. I came home and showered and was on my way outside to clean the goat pen and OH was just finishing it up, what a surprise. We worked together on expanding the coop, I trimmed the girls hooves and tackled the evil laundry pile. My what a great day, lots got done, I love days like that. I was having fun with OH, teasing him about "not messing with Farmgirl"!

It's now 5:15 and getting dark, I do not like it. I feel a hot bath coming on!

I got some Lavender Oil to sprinkle on the bedding each night. I use to do that until I ran out of oil, finally I remembered to get some. OH was telling a friend he is sleeping better....won't admit the Lavender! The dogs aren't up as much during the night, it really does work. I love Essential Oils.

[nezza]

oh Kian, i wish we could go to your gym together!!! How much fun would THAT be??!!! Sounds like you had an intense workout!!! So nice that your OH cleaned the goat pen!! What a nice surprise!!! I tackled MY evil laundry pile today, too! Out of all the house chores, i don't like laundry THE MOST!!! I did that today, plus the bathrooms, the kitchen, the floors, the dusting....and i got in my exercising!! WOO HOO!!!

I have heard SO much wonderful things about Lavender. I'm going to have to try that.

I really hope you make it out this way one day!!! We will have a BLAST!!!

[JaymeK]

Yay everyone worked out today! haha. I only did back and biceps today, no cardio. Although you'd think my two hours of walking with Benson every day would do it...(I swear, I would be at least 10lbs heavier if I didn't have a dog!)

I'm currently watching a documentary on purebred dogs, called "Pedigree Dogs Exposed". It's really interesting. Of course I have to take it with a grain of salt because all documentaries are extremely biased toward one point, so they purposely manipulate information. But we do know about lots of problems pedigree dogs have.

If anyone is interested in watching it you can find it on youtube. I will warn you the first few minutes are very difficult to watch as it shows the problems in cavaliers and boxers. It's very heartbreaking what inbreeding has done in these situations. An interesting watch though!

Nezza, sounds like you had a productive day! I love those days when I get stuff done. It's hard to believe I only have class three days a week (okay, I do have it on the other two days but I don't go...it's just one class). I always feel like there isn't enough time in the day! I'm always running errands, taking Benson on hikes, going to the gym etc. There needs to be more hours in the day!

[nezza]

Good Morning, Everyone!!!

Jayme, it sounds like you get quite a bit of exercise with Benson We all got in some exercising yesterday! I'll be doing it again today. I love the way it makes me feel, when i'm all finished, and i feel like i've done something good for my body.

That program you were watching about Pedigree Dogs, sounds very interesting. You're right that ALL documentaries are biased to a point. And you're right, we know about the problems that pedigree dogs have. Having been in the field for a number of years...almost all problems that owners have, are with a "purebred" dog. Much more than half the surgeries (besides neuters/spays) were performed on "purebreds". Those little "mutts" are healthy as can be. And, inbreeding has done horrible things....so very sad.

You have very full days, Jayme! A few more hours in the day would probably be great for you

[kian]

Just a quick good morning, then I'm off to the gym! I actually slept till 7 am, it was so nice. No clients today, I have much to do outside as we are still winterizing.

I haven't seen that show about Pedigree Dogs. That is why I can't say enough, do research and choose a good breeder with good bloodlines. The only purpose of breeding is to pass on the good genes, the good temperment, not any medical problems...so forth. Ice has a clean bill of health, good genes and of course a wonderful temperment! If the world was as happy as this dog, what a great world we would have!!

[nezza]

Kian, you're right. A great dog, with great genes comes from a great bloodline and a great breeder. There are so many "home" breeders these days, it creates such a mess!