Archive for the ‘Luna’ Category
Weekend Recap
Posted on: December 5, 2011
- In: Crazy dog lady | Hamsaps HOUSE | Luna
- 1 Comment
This weekend I experienced a surge of productivity. Don’t ask me how I did it… I’m still marveling at all I accomplished over the weekend. Is it egotistical to say I’m in awe of myself? Ew. I just reread that sentence. Clearly the answer is yes, yes it is.
After a disappointing week I decided to kick my own butt into gear. On Friday night David and I attended my company’s Christmas party. The food and drink was plentiful and we had a great time hanging out with my coworkers. We then proceeded to go home and go straight to bed. This would probably be acceptable in most scenarios, but the party started at 5 p.m. and we were in bed by 8:30. Wild things.
Saturday morning we were able to get a great start on the day because we went to bed so early. By 11 a.m. I had made homemade waffles, figured out meals for the week, got out all our Christmas decorations and put up the tree.
Later that afternoon we ran a handful of errands, mostly using coupons and gift cards we acquired on Black Friday. Then we headed back home. This is the part of the weekend that’s a bit blurry to me. After unloading the groceries I started to make homemade chicken noodle soup. My recipe isn’t hard by any means, but it requires lots of trips in and out of the kitchen. During one of these trips I grew quite exhausted, so I plugged in the Christmas tree, turned on ABC Family and proceeded to lay on the couch and watch Harry Potter for hours on end.
At some point I shook off my stupor to finish the soup and start wrapping gifts. David and I wrapped every. single. Christmas present. in one sitting. I really despise wrapping, mostly because I’m not good at it. My packages always turn out sloppy and puffy. David’s a wrapping whiz. We decided his crisp corners earned him the right to be the official Santa wrapper for all future Hamsaps offspring. Friends and family: your stuck with my crappy version of wrapping. As much as I hate wrapping it felt great to check off another major “to do” off our list, and the gifts look so nice under the tree.
Tada!
After consuming and containing lots and lots of soup I was done for the day. David took a nap then left for work, and I continued to watch Harry Potter until the marathon ended at midnight. A few things to note: we own all the Harry Potter movies, yet we always get sucked into watching them on TV. Also, why is HP an ABC Family “25 Days of Christmas” regular? I understand the first movie, with all the “Happy Christmas, Harry!” “Happy Christmas, Ron” but the others just don’t seem very Christmas-y to me. Thoughts? Finally, do you think Universal/CBS is super pissed that ABC Family/Disney has the rights to the television adaptations of the films? Sure, Universal can have the rides and the butterbeer, but it’s Disney the media conglomerate that gives me my true HP fix each year.
Ahem. Got a little off track there, didn’t I?
Sunday morning David and I decided to pop in the Half-Blood Prince because we didn’t feel like waiting for the marathon to repeat itself. And because (see above) we own the darn movies! After lying around for a few hours we went on a walk with Luna. We put in 2 miles around the apartment, then it was time for David to go to bed.
I decided to capitalize on my spurt of productivity and tackle the room of spare. The room of spare is just that: a spare room that seems to house all the random odds and ends of our life. When David and I first moved into our apartment we had more room than we knew what to do with. A kitchen! An eating area! A living room! A laundry room! 2 bedrooms! 2 bathrooms! You get the idea. Because of this we didn’t really do anything with the extra bedroom. It sat empty for months, housing the kitchen chair (not really a kitchen chair– an IKEA chair that didn’t fit anywhere in our old apartment except the kitchen), my old desk, a bookcase and a coffee table.
When we adopted Luna the room of spare became strictly off-limits. There was just too much space in our apartment to leave the doors open. We didn’t want to lose 4-pound baby Luna! Out of site, out of mind, because the room of spare began to take on a life of its own. Part storage/part garbage bin, the room of spare grew to house piles of paid bills, mountains of wedding planning material and the occasional household appliance. Over the last few weeks it’s also become home to our patio cushions and more recently the boxes and containers of our Christmas decorations.
Behold, Internet. The abomination known as the room of spare:
YIKES. In my defense, a lot of what you're looking at in this picture is empty Christmas decoration boxes and patio cushions. But still.
See why I needed to be properly motivated to tackle it?
5 hours, a few paper cuts and multiple trash bags later the room of spare was restored to its full glory:
Much, much better.
Luna didn’t know what to do with herself. It’s like I magically created additional living space in our home. Actually, I kind of did. I was exhausted when I was done. After a little more HP and a few ridiculous reality TV shows (Virgin Diaries, anyone?) it was time to call it a night. Luna and I cuddled up in bed together and drifted off to sleep.
Goodnight, moon
So how was your weekend? Do anything productive?
“Wait, you forgot MEEEE!”
Posted on: November 21, 2011
- In: Crazy dog lady | Luna | Ohana
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It’s fair to say that the Hamsaps Family has a flair for drama. That is, almost anything and everything is a BIG DEAL. The dinner I made last night? BEST. MEAL. EVER. The movie we watched over the weekend (that we’ve seen a dozen times…) OUTSTANDING CINEMATOGRAPHY. The Starbucks drink I treated myself to this morning? HAPPINESS in a red cup. Some may find it exhausting to fully experience every ounce of existence; I just call it living fiercely.
My liberal arts education leads me to the conclusion that Luna, a product of her environment and my constant smothering nurturing, is also a little dramatic. She proved that point over the weekend quite well.
David claims that Luna whines and bark sometimes when he leaves her at the apartment. Our neighbor has also commented on Luna’s squeals… he asked a few months ago how old she was, since she’s always barking like a puppy separated from the pack. After apologizing profusely I told the neighbor that Luna was over a year old, and that I’m not sure if it was her he was hearing. I had never heard her make so much as a peep when I leave.
It should be noted that Luna gets to travel more than most pets. She goes to my parents’ house (Gramsaps House) on a regular basis. She rides in the car when we run errands, and sometimes she even comes to work with me. Luna associates the car with all her favorite places: my parents’ house where she gets to lick Grandpa and play with Cassie. The dog park and/or Camp Bow Wow where she gets to run around and play with other dog friends. My office where she gets to explore new things and tease Dora, my boss’s dog. It makes sense that she loves to travel.
Over the weekend David and I had to go to the drug store and the grocery store. We knew we’d be a while at the grocery, so we decided to leave Luna at home. We were in the middle of cleaning our apartment and things weren’t as picked up as they usually are so we also decided to crate Luna (side note: Luna is very used to being crated and crates herself when we let her roam free. She loves structure.)
We headed out of our apartment and down to the parking lot of our complex. It wasn’t until we got downstairs that we remembered we parked on the other side of the lot. As we made our way around the building a high-pitched noise caught my attention. I listened a little closer and quickly realized the desperate barks were coming from the third floor of our building. “Is that LUNA?” I asked David, wide-eyed in disbelief.
“Yep. She always does that when I leave.”
Dramatic? Who, me?
I walked faster toward the car as the barks grew louder. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. My well-trained, structure lovin’ pup was flipping out because we put her in an oversized crate with a pillow and a big bone for a few hours.
“I can’t believe she’s doing that,” I told David. “WHY is she doing that?”
“Probably because we left her and she thinks we’re going somewhere fun. She doesn’t want to miss out.”
“Do you think she thinks we accidentally forgot her?” I asked as we pulled out of the apartment complex. “Like, WAIT! COME BACK! You forgot MEEEE!”
David and I laughed hysterically at the thought of Luna getting PO-ed because we forgot her. After laughing at her expense a little more and talking about how she’s not the boss of us we proceeded to run our errands. We rushed in and out of CVS then made a mad dash through the grocery store. We were home in under an hour, freeing the poor, tortured puppy from her doomed existence.
The Mean One
Posted on: October 27, 2011
- In: Crazy dog lady | Hamsaps Style | Luna | Ohana
- 2 Comments
It has long been established at Hamsaps House that I am “The Mean One.” I am the strict one when it comes to Luna and I’m sure I’ll continue being The Mean One when we have children. As The Mean One it is my responsibility to uphold the Hamsaps code of honor and administer a justified and consistent disciplinary system. I did not choose to be The Mean One– it chose me. By nature I’m much more authoritative than David. While I’m stomping around the apartment barking orders David is usually coddling Luna somewhere, telling her how beautiful she is and how much he loves her.
Luna and The Nice One, aka the two best friends that anyone could have.
The other night Luna ran into the living room with a stolen tissue in her mouth. In the past David and I would tag-team her, chasing her around the room as she darted under the coffee table to conceal her thievery.
“Stay there,” I ordered David, slowly approaching Luna while maintaining eye contact.
“Luna,” I said in my sternest voice. “Stop right there.” Her front paws quivered as she tried to make a move in the direction of the coffee table.
“Ah ah ah,” I scolded. “Stay.” She knew I meant business. As I knelt down Luna bowed her head in submission. “Give me the kleenex,” I ordered as I pulled the growdy tissue from her mouth. “Don’t do that again,” I warned her, breaking my gaze. Of course Luna ran right to David for her nightly coddle.
“Wow,” David said, looking at me impressively. “I can’t believe she listens to you like that.”
“Well, you just have to be authoritative and consistent. She knows I’m the boss and she listens. You should try it sometime,” I joked.
A few days later David, Luna and I went on a walk after dinner.
“So, I used my serious voice on Luna today,” David informed me.
“Oh ya? How’d that go?” I asked.
“Well, she got another tissue out of the trash, and instead of chasing her I told her to stop and drop it,” David explained. “I went right over to her and said ‘No, Luna’ real seriously. She didn’t run and I didn’t have to chase her. She looked really sad after I yelled at her though. I felt bad so I kissed her and told her I was sorry.”
“So you apologized to the dog for disciplining her when she was being naughty?” I confirmed.
Needless to say, my role as the mean one will remain in tact for years to come.
One of THOSE Days
Posted on: June 9, 2011
I go through life happy as a clam 99% of the time. I wake up a little grumpy now and then, sure, but all I have to do is look at my puppy or hear my husband’s voice and I’m ready to take on the world.
Today, unfortunately, is a 1 % day.
I talk and blog ad nasiem about how David and I have mastered our schedule. We have a routine that we’ve spent years finessing. The only time we ever run into trouble is when our schedule gets messed up. I would love to say it’s been one of those days, but it’s actually been one of those WEEKS.
The week started for me with a very busy work schedule. We had a lot going on and I stayed late a few nights. Then I went to a play Tuesday night and just missed David before he left for work that evening. Not seeing each other in the evening is always a problem because it means we don’t see each other for approximately 48 hours. Not seeing the man I share my life with makes for a very crabby Abby.
Wednesday David had to work over. Overtime for David translates into me rushing around like a mad woman, taking Luna to day care and being late for work. It also means I have to pick Luna up, let David sleep as late as physically possible and make a delicious dinner to nourish his tired body and do the dishes because he works so hard. (All these things I have to do are dictated by me, btw. David never complains about working overtime or doing his share of the housework– I just feel the need to overcompensate when I know he’s working so hard or if he’s particularly tired).
I bitched and moaned to David last night about how it was hard to take Luna to camp on such short notice, so we decided if he worked over again this week I would take Luna with me to work. He thought he might have to work over Friday. Then the phone rang at 7:20 a.m. this morning.
As I got out of the car this morning, balancing a large box of chips with a little dog in tow, the skies opened up and it started to pour. I fumbled with the door, the chip box broke and Luna went crazy with excitement. I got to work and the AC was blowing hot air. Luna was mad when I left the office for a minute and proceeded to gag herself upon my return. (That’ll teach me.) I pulled three different objects from Luna’s mouth in 4 hours, including bright green plastic that not even a plastic connoisseur could identify. My fave UPS man showed up around noon and Luna proceeded to attack him with the ferosity of a hyenia. Rodney was not amused. Finally David showed up to take Luna home and put me out of my misery.
I know I shouldn’t complain… my very worst day could be someone else’s dream come true. I just can’t help but feel defeated sometimes. I think I’m going to go take a very late nap or a very early slumber. Toodles.
- In: Crazy dog lady | I Do | Luna
- 2 Comments
I need to preface this post by saying that wedding planning can in fact make a person mad. Insane. Certifiably crazy.
I wake up thinking about my wedding. I think about my wedding all day. I fall asleep thinking about my wedding, then I usually dream (or have nightmares–yay!) about my wedding. I feel like a self-centered bitch, but it’s our day and we’ve come this far and I’ll be damned if anyone or anything ruins my impeccible planning. I sent a 6-page itinerary to my bridal party and close family members a month ago. I have an excel spreadsheet of every minor task that needs to be accomplished between right now and the moment I board the plane for my honeymoon including but not limited to applying teeth whitening strips, creating and sending out a wedding hashtag and packing Luna’s individual meals for camp.
Imagine my frustration when I came down with stomach pains and other “shitty” symptoms a few weeks ago. Getting sick was not part of the plan– it wasn’t on my spreadsheet! I tried to suck it up, but it was the type of sickness where you can’t even leave your house for fear of public embarrassment.
So I lost about 3 pounds (YES!) and picked right up where I left off. But then I got sick again.
I woke up earlier this week with horrible stomach pains and I just knew what was coming. I was literally in tears as I dialed my boss to call off AGAIN this month, two weeks before I was going on vacation. Employee of the year is looking bleak. Aside from my crappy work ethic (let’s see just how many diarrhea references we can cram into this post, shall we?) I was also frustrated that I was down for the count again. I knew it wasn’t a food-bourne illness beause both times I got sick I had eaten with family members who were perfectly healthy the day before. I also ruled out anything bacterial because David did not get sick either time. What in the WORLD was making me sick?
–before you continue reading this post I want to remind you that wedding planning makes a person crazy. CRAZY.–
Yesterday I had the thought that maybe Luna was getting me sick. You see, Luna loves to lick me all over and sometimes she slips me the tongue on accident. What if Luna had a bug or a virus that was making me sick? I Googled the possibilities, and learned that it would make a lot of sense if Luna had a parasite that it would manifest as stomach troubles in me. It was obviously the answer to all my problems! When I thought about it Luna HAD been pooping more lately (3x a day instead of 2) and she had been eating a lot of goose poop. She’d spent time at doggie day camp over the last month and had been exposed to other dogs.
All day yesterday I was convinced my dog gave me diarrhea.
Cuckoo? Cuckoo?
I called the vet and asked if I could bring in a stool sample. When Luna was little she had worms that just wouldn’t die, so we were used to taking in some poop for review. The receptionist asked why I wanted her stool looked at– was she acting funny? No, I said. I’d been sick lately and I thought she was making me sick.
“Oh….” she paused. “Have YOU been to the doctor for the issue?”
No, I told her, by the time I could physically get to the doctor my symptoms were usually gone. I told her I wanted to have Luna tested first to cancel it out, so she scheduled Luna for a physical.
David took Luna to her physical this morning. They looked at her poop and it was clean. They gave her a general physical and she’s fit as a fiddle. They swabbed her mouth and her butt to send to the lab for review. When David explained to the vet why he was there she told him that it probably would have been cheaper for me to just go to the human doctor.
We paid $130 at our very reasonably-priced vet to learn that Luna is super healthy and I’m super crazy. (They added the latter diagnosis complimentary.) Remember, wedding planning makes you CRAZY!
Later I asked David why they swabbed her butt and mouth. He said they wanted to run some tests to check for every possible disease. I asked what could she have if it wasn’t detectible in her stool sample?
“Well, they said they were gonna test for chlymidia and stuff,” David informed me. So today I paid $130 precious honeymoon-allocated dollars to have my dog’s butt swabbed so they can test for STDs all because I had diarrhea twice this month.
Cuckoo! Cuckoo!
The real kicker? Since we ruled out Luna germs the only other feasible culprit of my stomach issues is stress.
CUCKOO! CUCKOO!
