Our Hairy Seamster

Moose (not pictured) is so resourceful that he was able to update our boring, straight-edged bedspread with a delightful scalloped finish. He has such an eye for textiles!

Doug & Moose Monday: For the Love of Dog

We watched our niece and nephew this weekend, and Moose did a lot of this:

As in, he followed our niece EVERYWHERE. He slept in the bed with her... all night long. Moose never sleeps anywhere all night long. He dupes us into letting him out a gazillion times every night, but on this night he refused to leave her side. And when she woke up in the morning, he was the happiest boy ever. He even sat underneath her while she ate cereal. He was her regular ol' shadow. By the way, who knew that the solution to our Moose insomnia was an eight-year old girl?

His behavior over the weekend reminded me of a conversation I had with Nick a couple of weeks ago.

Moose was smiling at me and shaking his groove thang because he was so happy to see me even though I'd been home for hours. I said to Nick, "I don't think anyone will ever love me more than Moose loves me."

And, being a good husband, Nick, of course said, "I love you more than Moose loves you."

"No!" I said, "Moose really loves me. Like, really."

And I know my mom will comment and tell me that she loves me more than Moose loves me, too. But does a mother really love their child more than a dog loves its owner? Or more than a dog can love an eight-year old child? I know people always say that the love a parent has for their child is like no other love, but is it a stronger, more unconditional love than a dog has for its owner or for its owner's niece?

I mean, ponder that, if you will...

I vote no, but that's just me.

Doug & Moose Monday: New Vet

Over the summer we switched vets. Moose's chronic ear infections were getting to be more than my tender heart could handle. We figured there had to be something that our vet was missing. Over the course of time we also became very leery of our vet's business practices and figured it was just time to move on. I hopped on the good ol' Internet and found a vet that came very highly recommended. Not only did he have stellar reviews, but the comments people made touched on issues that were very important to us: honesty, compassion, knowledge, and cost.

Our first experience at the new vet was with Moose to address his ear issues. I'm going to save that story for another day, but suffice it to say, things turned out well.

Doug's first experience with the new vet was on Friday. I took him in because Doug has been peeing downstairs during the night on and off for a while. There is no need for Doug to do this since we wake up several times each night to let Doug and Moose out to go to the bathroom. Typically, we wake up to Moose's cries, but Doug always hops out of his bed to join his brother outside at 11PM, 1AM, and 3AM. You read that right. Our dogs own us.

Doug first started doing this when we had our old vet. At the time, I read that a bladder infection might be the culprit. I took him to the vet for a urinalysis and the results were negative. Our vet stated that Doug was simply asserting his dominance and his peeing in the house was clearly a behavioral issue. I felt this was somewhat bizarre since, in the first four years of his life, Doug never marked his territory in the house. But I trusted the vet's expertise. He suggested that we neuter Doug.

We have no qualms with neutering our dogs. Initially we thought about breeding them, but it never really panned out. So when the vet mentioned this, Nick and I felt that it was our only option. Sure, Doug's balls are really cute and sweet, but our furniture is really cute and sweet too. We made an appointment for Doug's castration, but I was having reservations about the vet and ended up canceling the appointment. I was a little scared at the thought of having someone I perceived to be dishonest cut my dog's balls off.

Fast forward to last week when I felt that I had had it up to my neck in dog urine. I was at my wit's end and made an appointment for Doug. When I explained Doug's issues, our new vet immediately said, "hmm... it sounds like it might be his prostate, so on second thought, I think I'd like to put my finger up his butt." (We were previously discussing Doug's anal glands!) The vet checked Doug's prostate by way of Doug's anus. When the vet pressed on Doug's prostate, Doug squealed. He pressed on it a second time to make sure, and Doug squealed again. "Yep, his prostate is inflamed," our vet declared.

He said that our old vet was right in that neutering would help to remedy Doug's peeing sprees. It wasn't a behavioral issue, though, it was a medical issue. The vet said that with Doug's symptoms (peeing in many different places and peeing four to five times per week rather than every day) it wasn't a bladder infection and he wasn't peeing to act out or show he was the boss. So we made an appointment for Doug's balls to be cut off TOMORROW since I cannot bear the thought of his little prostate all swollen.

I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Fastiggi. If you're in the Sacramento area and are looking for a good vet, he's your man. He's our third vet, and I am astonished by his knowledge, his genuine love for animals, and his honesty. I'm just so happy that we have someone we trust with our dogs. I'm not a picky or difficult person by any means, but I'm glad that we had higher expectations for the person caring for our dogs.

Very Best of: Cell Phone Photos

I have some random ass photos in my cell phone.

Here are my top 10 favorites. They're not in any particular order. I just like to number things.

1. I was cleaning the house one day and threw two dog beds together so that I could vacuum the floor. When I went back into the other room, I saw that Moose had made the most out of it.

2. Nick got this Anthropologie wallet for me for our third anniversary. Leather is the official third wedding anniversary gift, and Nick has been following this list since our first anniversary. 

3. The biggest bug bite in the history of bug bites. On me! Yay! 

4. Doug was a sad, sad boy at the vet. Can you tell that he wanted to be on the other side of that door?

 5. I was shopping for jeans for Nick and texted him this photo. 

Me: What color do you want, Nick? 

Nick: Just get both and we'll take one of them back.

6. I was looking at the classifieds section of the newspaper. Remember when the job ad section was, like, 10 pages long? Yeah, not anymore. Job ads are two columns long now and not even a full page. They are smushed right next to personal ads. These two ads from women were both from incarcerated women. They made me sad. One of them wrote that she was "very lonely." Look, she may very well be a murderer, I don't know, but reading or hearing that someone is lonely tugs at my heart strings. I'm weird like that. 

7. Need I say more?

8. I saw this mean spider in our garage. This guy was really big. We found some tarantula sized spider in our living room when we first moved in. I'm not going to tell you what I did to this spider just in case PETA is reading my blog. 

9. I'm an amateur spray tanner. So when I got home after getting a spray tan, I freaked out at the sight of my newly freckled leg. I don't think it's supposed to do this... 

10. Doug is VERY mischievous. He will find something he knows he's not supposed to have in his mouth and make you chase him around the house for it. We've lost many a roll of toilet paper to him.  

Doug Days of Summer

If anyone in our house forgets to push the desk chair in, Doug will take full advantage. He'll use it as a step up to his perch to look out the window. On this day, I found him laying on the desk looking directly outside. I think he was in heaven daydreaming of chasing cats and rummaging through the neighbor's garbage can. I'm probably a bad mom for not telling him to get down right away. That was my first instinct, but then he looked so cute I just couldn't help myself. There's nothing like positive reinforcement for bad behavior.     

Who Let the Dogs Out?

Doug and Moose are going to have a good weekend, and they hope you do too!

The Mother of All Funks

You guys, I'm not even going to lie, I've been in a funk lately. It's not like a 'lay in bed all day with the window shades drawn' kind of funk. It's more like a 'I went back to school for nothing, sit in a cube all day, and can't get pregnant to save my life, but still have to function like a normal human being' type of funk. A woe-is-me type of funk, I suppose.  In fact, I think I'm just now starting to recover from May, and May had its own completely separate issues. It was a pretty bad month for me. I can't even believe I'm saying this, but in many respects I feel like I wasted a whole month. That's completely against my New Year's resolution. Shame on me.

The main culprit, I think, was the cut on Moose's ear. It sounds completely dramatic, but one dime-sized cut on the inside tip of his ear caused a lot of stress and worry for me. Toward the end of April, Moose cut his ear. When it would start to heal and form a scab Moose would shake his head and break the scab open. This happened a gazillion times.  You might be surprised how much blood comes out of a dime-sized cut on a dogs ear. I'm talking murder scene quantities of blood splattered onto the walls in our house. I'm not kidding. It was ridiculous. I'll save the horror story for a Doug and Moose Monday, but seeing my Moose miserable (a normally happy-go-lucky lab) was difficult to say the least. And dealing with that much blood - painted on our walls at times - was a bit trying.

Doug & Moose Monday: Recuperating

Doug had a great birthday weekend. He spent Saturday playing at Grandma and Grandpa's house. When he came home Saturday night, he was pooped. Yesterday, he spent his special day resting and recuperating which is exactly what you're supposed to do on your birthday. You're also supposed to get totally pampered, but I digress. Doug does this whole relaxation thing pretty well.    

Beagle's 4th Birthday

This weekend marks a very special occasion. Doug turns four on Sunday. FOUR. Where does the time go? I remember when we brought him home. He was such a tiny little thing. They grow up so fast.

When Sunday rolls around, send Doug a little birthday wish. After all, he is a good boy. See?   

Happy birthday, you precious Beagle. Mommy loves you. 

Doug & Moose Monday: Chef Boyar-Doug

Doug and Moose like to hang out in the kitchen when we're cooking. I think they hope big chunks of meat will fall right to the ground or directly into their drooling mouths. Sometimes Moose likes to park it in the most convenient places, too. Like right in the middle of the kitchen. If only they could just grow some thumbs and be our little sous chefs. Who am I kidding? Washing dishes would also be cool.  

Doug & Moose Monday: RIP Mollie B

Christmas this year brought some unexpected heartache to the Beach family. December 26, 2010 marked the passing of our beloved Mollie.


On Christmas Eve it was evident that something was incredibly wrong with Mollie. As it turned out, Mollie was experiencing organ failure. On Christmas day she sat on her bed and received pets, hugs, and love from all of us. She couldn't walk or even stand. She couldn't eat or sleep. Yet, on Christmas day, she seemed to have a smile on her face.

On the 26th, her health continued to decline, and it became increasingly obvious that she was suffering. Although it seemed that the 10 years my parents shared with her wasn't long enough, they made the difficult and painful decision to end Mollie's suffering. 

Mollie lived a good and happy life at the Beach house. She was well taken care of and enjoyed the company of my parents and her sister Winnie. Mollie was the protector of the house and did her best to scare away other living creatures including strangers, squirrels, and Moose. She was a good dog, and she will be missed.

Doug and Moose Monday: Tough Love

If you practice tough love with your dogs, they will just eat your favorite beanie cap in the middle of the night.

Doug & Moose Monday: Slobber Face

So you're telling me I have something on my face?

Doug & Moose Mondays: Naughty or Nice

Let's face it. I love my dogs. I love my dogs so much that I talk to them. They love me so much that they talk to me too. That's right. I'm a regular dog whisperer. I know when they are feeling blue or stressed, I know what kinds of music they like, and I know what lady dogs they are into. Just kidding. Kind of. I mean, I know that Doug prefers the vocal stylings of Fergie while Moose enjoys a little Miley Cyrus, but that's beside the point.

The point is that Doug and Moose have been mostly good boys (with the exception of destroying random things around the house) this year. And, because I know them so well, I know exactly what they are wishing for from Santa.

click on the image for more detail

1. Described as a "wicked good pet bed," Doug and Moose could hardly pass up this plush ultra lounge. Made of orthopedic foam, it will cradle their tired puppy dog appendages after a hard day of running up and down the stairs. Yeah, its got a wicked high price tag, but these dogs can dream can't they?

2. These dogs dream of a day when they can have more than Eukanuba and Blue Buffalo. I just know that bacon would be at the top of their list, so this Christmas it's all about the other white meat. (Photo Credits)

3. Doug and Moose are too tough for some foo-foo graphic tees. Rather, they like to express themselves more discretely. Enter Fetching Tags. Naturally, Doug's tag would read: The Sheriff and Moose's tag would show: Small dog, big body.

4. These dogs are best friends, but sometimes they need a break from each other. As Doug would say, "Moose: can't live with his goofy ass, can't live without him." That is why a doggie duplex is the perfect solution.

5. What better way to wash down some bacon than with some gourmet dog treats?

6. We all know that Doug loves to be covered up by blankets. So, what better way to keep this little guy warm 24/7 than with a dog Snuggie? Now he can play and be snuggley warm at the same time.

7. Look, every dog would love a cat. As a friend. Not as a snack. Underneath their rough and rugged exterior, Doug and Moose have tender hearts. They just want to meet this ball of loveliness that sits on their backyard fence. That's all. They swear. (Photo Credits)

8. This one is really for Moose. Moose is the Michael Phelps of dog swimmers and would like nothing more than to swim his heart out all year long. Seriously, this one isn't for Nick and I. We swear. (Photo Credits)

9. Because what dog doesn't like to play football? (Photo Credits)

Doug & Moose Mondays: Baby Beagle

After getting settled into our new house in June 2007, I knew it wouldn't be long before Nick wanted to get a dog. And boy was I right. Before I knew it, Nick mentioned that he would like to go look at some beagle puppies he found on the internet. After work on a Friday afternoon we headed out to Ione to take a look.

When we arrived at the breeders house, we were introduced to the beagle parents: Deuce and Coco-Nut. They were surrounded by a gang of happy, smiling baby beagles. It was hard to choose just one, but after Nick dropped one of the puppies on his head we knew it was meant to be. Nick's victim, who the family had affectionately named Dupree (as in the movie You, Me and Dupree due to his people-loving personality), became the first addition to our family on June 29, 2007. We affectionately re-named him Doug.

DOB: April 17, 2007

Astrological Sign: Aries

Pastimes: following scents, digging holes, chewing on shoes, riding in the car

Nicknames: Douglas, Douggie, Doug E. Fresh, Douggie-bub

Special Talents: singing, standing on hind legs, snatching things off of counters/out of trash cans

Doug & Moose Mondays: Doggy Style

Er, I meant sleeping style.

We all have our favorite sleeping positions and Doug and Moose are no exception. Nick and I have noticed that Doug and Moose have unique sleeping preferences and they are both very different from one another.

Doug prefers to snuggle up wherever he can. He likes to be COMFORTABLE. Pillows and blankets are ideal for Doug and he will get in where he can fit in. Moose, on the other hand, likes to spread out. He will lay wherever he can easily sleep on his back... with his tummy in the air... and his legs spread wide open. Good thing he is not a lady because it is not very lady like.

Doug under the Christmas tree -December 2007

BM (Before Moose) Doug was totally spoiled and got to sleep in our bed.

He loves a good cuddle blanket.

Moose's favorite corner of the couch.

Moose's favorite corner AND on his back.

True Moose style. This is the lesser of the x-rated Moose sleeping pictures.

Sometimes, they even like to cuddle.

Yes, Nick and I are raising our boys to be in touch with their feelings.

Evidence of COLS (Crotchety Old Lady Syndrome)

Yes, that is right. All signs point towards Crotchety Old Lady Syndrome. I have finally succumbed to this mysterious condition. I have two anecdotes to serve as evidence.

I first began to see the Crotchety Syndrome emerge several weeks ago. If memory serves, I was sitting on the couch when Nick came in from the backyard. He states, "the little kids from the neighborhood are stealing rocks from our backyard." "Huh?," I say. "The little girls," he says, " are reaching under our fence and taking our rocks right now." I wondered to myself if this was a big deal and it didn't take long before I decided that yes, in fact, it was a big deal. My reasoning was as follows: (1) The parents in this neighborhood do a piss poor job of watching their children; (2) The kids literally have to trample over the plants in our front yard to get to the fence that they are reaching under; (3) We paid for those rocks; and (4) We paid for those rocks to serve as a barrier between the yard and the fence so that Doug cannot dig his way out of the backyard. Doug likes to dig and would love to escape into the land of Small Children that Play in the Street Unsupervised. Please accept Exhibit A and Exhibit B to support my claim.

Exhibit A (yes, that is mud on his nose)

Exhibit B

I walked into my backyard and over to the side of the fence in question. I started straightening the rocks that were still in the backyard while one of the little girls stared at me through the fence. I nicely (I think) asked, "do you have any rocks?" She said yes and proceeded to hand back all of the stolen rocks through the bottom of the fence. (I must note that Nick was just worried that they might take the rocks and throw them. I had more selfish, superficial reasons which leads me to believe that, in conjunction with my actions, I am a Crotchety Old Lady).

My second example involves a car parked in front of our house. I like to refer to it as an abandoned car. Someone parked it in front of our house 2 weeks ago and it has not budged since. I told myself after the first week that I would give it two full weeks. The two week mark hit today and I had to call the HOA. They're sending someone to put a tow tag on it and if it is not picked up the car will be towed. Is that mean? I can't decide. On one hand what does it really matter to me? On the other hand, the street in front of our house should not serve as a storage facility. If you aren't going to use it, park it in your garage, in front of your own house, or in your driveway. Right? Or am I really just a Crotchety Old Lady?

Doug & Moose Mondays: Beagle Bagels

When Doug was a young lad, Nick and I discovered Beagle Bagels. Beagle Bagels are creatively named dog treats that look like bagels. Being suckers for unique goodies for our dog (this was BM: Before Moose), we snatched these up and tested them out on Doug.

Doug loved the Beagle Bagels... or at least we think he did. Every time we gave him one he would hide it somewhere in the house until he was ready to eat them. Sometimes he would hide them well...

and sometimes he would not.

Nick and I got lots of laughs out of Doug during his Beagle Bagel hiding phase. While the more obvious places (like in the corner... literally) were a riot, the well thought out bagels still gave us a chuckle.