Hello Monday

We currently don't have any Piri's Place/DogVacay bookings this week and so as of right now it looks like I will get this entire week off. 

Last week we had about three days when we didn't have guest dogs but those days were spent at the cardiologist for Piri, vet's office, errands and then cleaning the entire house (6 hours of cleaning!) and so it didn't really feel like break. Then we had guest dogs over the weekend and so this week it's really off time for all of us, including Piri. 

I started to knit, a hat. On double pointed needles. It didn't turn out well and I started over a couple of times and then gave up altogether. I realized that I don't have the right circular needles to knit the hat I want and so I've been kind of at a standstill {I can just buy the needles but we spent so much money in January that I've been waiting for a new month to start buying things again}. 

I bought some fleece fabric the other day. The lady who was cutting my fabric asked if I was making a blanket. I said "Oh no. Actually a doggy scarf." She thought that was pretty cute. In my head the doggy scarf looks perfect, but I am not too sure how it will turn out. We will just have to see. 

Our refrigerator is full with lots of vegetables that need to be washed, cut and prepared. Our meal planning looks good this week and we kind of look forward to having some spicy braised mackerel.

I've had so much junk food these past two weeks {I blame the blizzard and Aunt Flo} that I'm looking forward to getting back to eating well again. 

The snow has melted away significantly and I can't wait until garbage days this week because ours are about to explode {which sort of made me think about how much waste we produce}.

We are having awesomely warm weather. I hope it continues to help melt away the snow and clear the sidewalks so I can go running away real soon.

We did a little rearranging in the house and moved my seamless white paper that I use for taking pictures upstairs in Yangkyu's office. That room gets so much natural light that it only made sense to put it back in there {we had originally taken it out because the mount didn't fit above our closet doors which was right next to the window. The seamless paper isn't next to a window now and I'm sure I'll have fun trying to play with shadows but we'll manage.. somehow.. don't we always?}

But first, I need another cup of coffee. 

Have a good week friends! 

January Loot Pets: Invasion

So you know, for a long time I wanted to try out a subscription box for Piri but never did end up getting them because Piri is restricted in what he can eat in terms of treats and snacks {needs to be low in protein -- and forget about chews}, and most of the subscription boxes seem to come with a couple of snacks inside each box. 

Then I saw something called Loot Pets and I immediately wanted to try it out. Geeky subscription box for geeky pets! And the January theme was invasion and included The X-Files, my favorite {next to The West Wing. Who's with me?!}. 

Piri got his box a few days ago and it included: 

 // X-Files t-shirt 

 // Pet tag in the shape of a flying bone-shaped saucer

 // Battlestar Galactica Silicone Flying Disc

 // Space Invaders Pet Leash 

 // Invasion of the Sweet Potato Crisps

The box also includes a Loot Pets magazine. 

Obviously, I love that shirt and he'll be wearing it while we watch the rest of The X-Files reboot. I have too many things on Piri's collar for that pet tag, but still cute nonetheless. The flying disc toy will be great for some of our younger guest dogs who come to Piri's Place/DogVacay as fabric and fleece toys don't seem to have a chance {plus stuffing everywhere...}. Leash will definitely come in handy. And the sweet potato treat is low enough in protein for Piri to eat. He hasn't had it yet though {his appetite has been in and out lately} but he does smell the bag out of interest. We are saving it for the day when he his appetite is ready for them. We also look forward to sharing with our guest dogs {with permission from their owners first, of course!}

I had originally planned on getting just one box {seriously just because of The X-Files} but then the February theme was announced -- dead. And it will include something from The Walking Dead theme {one of Yangkyu's favorite}. So, we'll be sticking with this subscription for one more month. 

Have a wonderful weekend everybody! 

Heart Check + a little something about life with (senior) dogs

Piri had his appointment with the cardiologist yesterday. Frankly, it was an appointment I was dreading. And while I didn't think I was, I am pretty sure I was nervous the entire time there because as soon as the doctor told us the good news that Piri's heart isn't all that bad, I let out a huge sigh of relief and gently collapsed on to my chair and the examining table. That sounded pretty dramatic. It wasn't. I promise. 

So what does this mean? 

Well, we still have to monitor his breathing. We also have to bring him in to our primary vet so that he can get blood work done to re-check his kidney levels. 

This is our second hurdle. 

We are just hoping that his kidneys will be able to withstand and filter out all the anesthesia so that he can get work done in his mouth to remove the lump and also his infected tooth. 

I can't imagine what more I could want or expect from Piri after this is over. He has proven time and time again to be resilient against his kidney disease, has come around and proved that his heart isn't all that bad (we found out that his hacking cough isn't because of his heart but his lungs, but it isn't a bad sign at this point) and is hanging in there despite what is happening inside his mouth. All at the age of 16. Who needs all this crap happening when you're old. Poor guy. 

Yangkyu and I were talking about our retirement on our way back home from Piri's appointment - our current savings, although small and humble, will be used when we are old and grey. Piri was in that narrative. Yes, Piri the Zombie Dog. 

Around this time of year, for the past couple of years, we have been afforded the chance to get away to a resort - two years ago it was to Jamaica, and last year to Punta Cana. This year it was to Cancun but I passed on the opportunity to go as I have decided to not go on international travel or travel domestically (unless it is to a dog friendly place) for the time being. I just can't leave Piri and leave. So instead Yangkyu went with his friend. He brought back a colorful blanket and yummy treats. I wasn't sure how people would take my giving up travel for Piri but when I shared on Instagram, so many folks resonated and agreed and have done the same. Sometimes I get scared of the judgement people may pass at the things I do for Piri (like Jane goes way too overboard.. you need to live your life too.. he's just a dog...). But I find myself wanting to spend more and more time with me rather than away. Not that I am asking for permission, but I hope it's something that people will understand. 

Our weekend with Jonas

I can't remember the last time I experienced this much snow. We weren't yet in the DC area when the 2010 storm hit, so maybe around 9 years ago in Rego Park? Piri went crazy in the snow and I have a faint memory of finding our car parked out in the street, buried. We made snow angels and built a snowman. 

I went to college in Syracuse, NY, and winters and snow storms were brutal. It's like... you'll be walking to class and by the time you make it to your building you look like a snowman. And they never canceled classes. Ever. 

Even with these memories of snow storm experiences, I feel like Jonas, as they call this blizzard, was the worst I've experienced. 

It's like you shovel but realize a couple of hours later the snow has accumulated at an alarmingly rapid rate and makes you feel like all the work you've done was for nothing, your car just looks like a big lump of snow and you kind of wonder if you didn't take this blizzard so seriously and worry if you didn't buy enough food {mainly junk food} to last you through the worst of it. 

Thankfully though, by yesterday the snow stopped, people were out and about shoveling {even our wonderful neighbors who cleared away the fire hydrant - you are awesome!} and the sun was out. 

The sun is out today. We got our driveway all cleared up and Yangkyu was able to take the car for a super short drive just within our street. This is very hopeful because we did indeed sort of run out of {junk} food.

For the past three days, Piri and Nala were able to enjoy the snow. Piri used to love playing in the snow but not so much now, just a little. Although after a few minutes he asked to go back inside. But Nala, she went completely bonkers - trying to eat the snow that was coming down, jumping on top of piles of snow, snow surfing, running and sliding. It's like she is part Westie and part snow bunny.

We may go out again today or tomorrow and make ourselves a snowman. There isn't much room now as our backyard just has a short path and a small clearing {Yangkyu said that's the dogs' bathroom} and the rest is just piles and piles of snow. 

Yangkyu is working from home today and I'm trying to get back on schedule with things - kind of hard when everyone else is on snow day schedule. 

Anyway, if you like snow and dogs, then this is definitely a post for you. Hope you enjoy some snippets from our weekend with Jonas.

  // LOL - don't mind Yangkyu's pants. It's actually mine and my sister-in-law gifted it to me for Christmas. We found that it didn't get as wet, or feel as wet, and so Yangkyu put it on while shoveling. // 

Digging ourselves out

Hello! 

We are in knee-deep, no thigh-deep in snow. I think our area logged around 30 inches. It's been crazy these past two days but this morning we woke up and the snow stopped coming down and the sun was out. We shoveled and the dogs played in the snow and we've been eating a bit too much junk food than normally but, hey, that's what blizzards are for right? Junk food! 

I took a bunch of photos of the snow, well no.. dogs playing in the snow, which I'll probably spam share tomorrow on the blog, but in the meantime here is a picture of Nala and Piri channeling their inner snow bunny.

We're getting ready for some warm dinner and then we're breaking out normal bed time to watch the X-Files premiere. Oh my gee! I can't wait!