Last week Hugo and I sent off our creation to Mr. Chinchilla. As you can see from his blog we received rave reviews!
Naturally I did most of the hard work. Hugo pretty much just posed - but he posed very well!
E-mail me or go to our Etsy site for custom ordered chinchillas.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Lesson's From a Chinchilla - 1
When my husband first brought Hugo home, I figured he would be nothing more then a pet we loved. However, recently I realized there are little life lessons we can take from our experiences with our chinchilla.
Lesson 1: Whether your children are human or furry animals, they must be watched and cared for at all times.
Currently we don't have any children, but we've gotten a little bit of a peek into what life will be like when we do have a child.
Generally we try to let Hugo out a couple times a day. It is not like having a cat or a dog where you can let him just roam. He doesn't come when you call him. If anything, he actually does exactly the opposite of whatever you want him to do.
Like a child he needs to be watched constantly when he is out or he will sneak into somewhere he is not supposed to be or eat something he is not supposed to eat.
If we ignore him, he will do something to attract attention. Depending on what stunt he chooses to pull, he doesn't always deserve positive attention.
He pouts when he doesn't get something he wants, whether it is a treat, or longer running time. He'll either lay on his side or lean against the care and look pathetic until one of us gets up to take care of him.
In the middle of the night when he is lonely or scared, he will bark for us and will be really loving and sweet for whoever drags themselves out of bed to tend to him.
While I realize taking care of a chinchilla is 100 times easier then a child, we're definitely being conditioned for the larger responsibility!
Lesson 1: Whether your children are human or furry animals, they must be watched and cared for at all times.
Currently we don't have any children, but we've gotten a little bit of a peek into what life will be like when we do have a child.
Generally we try to let Hugo out a couple times a day. It is not like having a cat or a dog where you can let him just roam. He doesn't come when you call him. If anything, he actually does exactly the opposite of whatever you want him to do.
Like a child he needs to be watched constantly when he is out or he will sneak into somewhere he is not supposed to be or eat something he is not supposed to eat.
If we ignore him, he will do something to attract attention. Depending on what stunt he chooses to pull, he doesn't always deserve positive attention.
He pouts when he doesn't get something he wants, whether it is a treat, or longer running time. He'll either lay on his side or lean against the care and look pathetic until one of us gets up to take care of him.
In the middle of the night when he is lonely or scared, he will bark for us and will be really loving and sweet for whoever drags themselves out of bed to tend to him.
While I realize taking care of a chinchilla is 100 times easier then a child, we're definitely being conditioned for the larger responsibility!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Have Loaner - Will Drive
I have now been driving a loaner car for a week.
The car pooped out on me last week. Nothing too major and easily fixable by just messing with the battery each time I wanted to start the car. Although it was horrible timing since I had to tour a client through a space that day, so when we all walked to the parking garage to leave the building I had to make a point of "occupying" myself for a few minutes so they would not ask me if I needed help with my car.
Everything is still supposed to be covered by the warranty so I figured I would have my car by the next afternoon. What I didn't count on is the name change the one for the warranty was never done. With fifty other items needing a name change request when we got married, it's not too surprising things fell through the cracks, but that topic is for another blog day.
By the time the service technician got a hold of me to tell me the problem the warranty office was closed, then there was the weekend and then my service tech had a few days off here and there.
It is not the worst thing in the world driving around a loaner car. For one thing, it makes me happy to be putting miles on someone else's car instead of my own. When I get home I don't worry about finding a parking spot that is not under bird shit tree. Should I hear an odd rattle or an unattractive whine to the engine, I don't think much of it since I won't have the car much longer.
Honestly, the only real downer is the loaner car doesn't have the requisite company sticker on the window so I have to hike half-way across the parking structure instead of parking in a close reserved spot.
When all is said and done though, if I get my car back completely fixed and with no bill, in the grand scheme of things, the little bit of extra walking is no big deal.
****
****
The car pooped out on me last week. Nothing too major and easily fixable by just messing with the battery each time I wanted to start the car. Although it was horrible timing since I had to tour a client through a space that day, so when we all walked to the parking garage to leave the building I had to make a point of "occupying" myself for a few minutes so they would not ask me if I needed help with my car.
Everything is still supposed to be covered by the warranty so I figured I would have my car by the next afternoon. What I didn't count on is the name change the one for the warranty was never done. With fifty other items needing a name change request when we got married, it's not too surprising things fell through the cracks, but that topic is for another blog day.
By the time the service technician got a hold of me to tell me the problem the warranty office was closed, then there was the weekend and then my service tech had a few days off here and there.
It is not the worst thing in the world driving around a loaner car. For one thing, it makes me happy to be putting miles on someone else's car instead of my own. When I get home I don't worry about finding a parking spot that is not under bird shit tree. Should I hear an odd rattle or an unattractive whine to the engine, I don't think much of it since I won't have the car much longer.
Honestly, the only real downer is the loaner car doesn't have the requisite company sticker on the window so I have to hike half-way across the parking structure instead of parking in a close reserved spot.
When all is said and done though, if I get my car back completely fixed and with no bill, in the grand scheme of things, the little bit of extra walking is no big deal.
****
****
April 15
Could there be any other day dreaded more then April 15? Even when I was younger I hated filling out the tax forms. There was always that little bit of fear that somehow, something got screwed up and I would owe large sums of money to the government that I couldn't possibly scrape together in time. Rarely, did I ever actually owe the government any money, but the feeling was always still there.
Now, with the combination of going through numbers for the business along with now filing jointly and including itemized deductions, taxes have gotten more complex.
Both my husband and I start out upbeat and with a determination to just hit the books and get everything done, but generally, one of us loses their patience at some point in the process (honestly, more often then not, it is me) and the more questions our accountant throws at us the more overwhelmed I begin to feel.
So, needless to say, while I love April because it starts with my birthday, I always feel the dark cloud of the looming tax day just around the corner.
There is a bright light at the end of the tunnel though. Come tomorrow I will have 12 full months until tax day comes around again!
Now, with the combination of going through numbers for the business along with now filing jointly and including itemized deductions, taxes have gotten more complex.
Both my husband and I start out upbeat and with a determination to just hit the books and get everything done, but generally, one of us loses their patience at some point in the process (honestly, more often then not, it is me) and the more questions our accountant throws at us the more overwhelmed I begin to feel.
So, needless to say, while I love April because it starts with my birthday, I always feel the dark cloud of the looming tax day just around the corner.
There is a bright light at the end of the tunnel though. Come tomorrow I will have 12 full months until tax day comes around again!
Friday, April 4, 2008
Birthdays!!!
When I was little, birthdays were the highlight of the month. You knew your birthday was coming up and that meant your mom would bring cupcakes to school, you would get a birthday party where you were queen (or king) of the day, and the gifts!!! Need I say more??
In later years, there were fun milestones...13 - finally a teenager , 16 - you could drive, 18 - your parents couldn't (technically) tell you what to do, 21 - you could drink.
After your 21st, birthdays became a reason to just celebrate (when I say celebrate I mean...a reason to go out drinking and just have fun).
My birthday this year, so far, has been a lot of fun. I am lucky that I have so many great friends who want to celebrate a birthday weekend with me, however, at the same time - and I never thought this would happen - I feel a little bit like the clock is ticking.
My husband and I have discussed having a child and getting older, but with everything we get to do, it seems so much easier to keep putting it off just six months more. I know when we get pregnant our lifestyle will change, at least for a little while, and that is a slightly daunting predicament.
However, time marches on. For now, I will enjoy my birthday weekend, knowing, in the back of my mind, perhaps, next year at this time we will be celebrating something more exciting than just another birthday.
In later years, there were fun milestones...13 - finally a teenager , 16 - you could drive, 18 - your parents couldn't (technically) tell you what to do, 21 - you could drink.
After your 21st, birthdays became a reason to just celebrate (when I say celebrate I mean...a reason to go out drinking and just have fun).
My birthday this year, so far, has been a lot of fun. I am lucky that I have so many great friends who want to celebrate a birthday weekend with me, however, at the same time - and I never thought this would happen - I feel a little bit like the clock is ticking.
My husband and I have discussed having a child and getting older, but with everything we get to do, it seems so much easier to keep putting it off just six months more. I know when we get pregnant our lifestyle will change, at least for a little while, and that is a slightly daunting predicament.
However, time marches on. For now, I will enjoy my birthday weekend, knowing, in the back of my mind, perhaps, next year at this time we will be celebrating something more exciting than just another birthday.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
At the Mercy of a Furry Prima Donna
It didn't happen overnight. The first few days everyone was just acclimating. We were getting used to having another little creature to take care of and keep comfortable, he was getting used to his surroundings and smells.
Even after the first week it was mostly the occassional "look how cute and soft he is. Isn't that funny when he does such and such."
Slowly, without even realizing it he started taking over.
Now, three years later we flip open our phones to show people photos and videos of Hugo when they ask what a chinchilla is. I report to my husband every morning, much to his dismay, the latest cute stretch or trick Hugo did. (even if it is identical to something he did just the week before)
If he barks in the middle of the night, usually because he is lonely, one of us goes running out there like the house is on fire to make sure everything is okay. We could be watching TV, all comfortable on the couch, but if one of us looks up and he is pouting or laying on his side one of us will go check on him.
We worry about him when we are not home. We worry if the house is too warm or cold. When we are away on vacation, if we don't hear from our chin-sitters after a few days there are numerous text or voice messages until we get a report back that everything is a-okay.
When we were away for our wedding and honeymoon we had a camera set up so we could look in on him from time to time.
I am sure some people think we are ridiculous. They would say he is only an animal, but he is an animal that we volunteered to love and care for.
Besides, with a face like this, how could anyone resist?
Even after the first week it was mostly the occassional "look how cute and soft he is. Isn't that funny when he does such and such."
Slowly, without even realizing it he started taking over.
Now, three years later we flip open our phones to show people photos and videos of Hugo when they ask what a chinchilla is. I report to my husband every morning, much to his dismay, the latest cute stretch or trick Hugo did. (even if it is identical to something he did just the week before)
If he barks in the middle of the night, usually because he is lonely, one of us goes running out there like the house is on fire to make sure everything is okay. We could be watching TV, all comfortable on the couch, but if one of us looks up and he is pouting or laying on his side one of us will go check on him.
We worry about him when we are not home. We worry if the house is too warm or cold. When we are away on vacation, if we don't hear from our chin-sitters after a few days there are numerous text or voice messages until we get a report back that everything is a-okay.
When we were away for our wedding and honeymoon we had a camera set up so we could look in on him from time to time.
I am sure some people think we are ridiculous. They would say he is only an animal, but he is an animal that we volunteered to love and care for.
Besides, with a face like this, how could anyone resist?
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
April Fools
April 1 - the day you can't take anyone too seriously, especially if the story seems even remotely out there.
I used to dread April 1 in school. You never knew if you were going to be target of some joke. Luckily, even though I was born a little earlier when I was due, I at least waited til April 1 had passed before I arrived.
I am not that big on practical jokes no matter what time of year it is. Mostly because, like most people I really dislike being the brunt of a joke, so in all fairness I usually don't feel right putting someone else in that position. I'm not saying I have never done it...I just tend to limit the joke pulling.
Surprises on the other hand are different. I love surprising people with things. We are talking good surprises, not the kind where the person walks out of their house and surprise! the car is gone.
My husband is always fun to surprise. Although I have learned that you can't give him even the smallest hints because he will try to wear you down to get to what the surprise is. And sometimes when it gets revealed, I am more excited about the surprise then he is, but I keep trying!
My dad and step-mom are good to surprise too because even the smallest little thing they get excited about.
There is just something rewarding about seeing someone's eyes light up when they get something they didn't know they were getting. It's probably why, once you grow up a little, it is sometimes more fun to give Christmas gifts then to get them.
[But to all of you who give gifts to me - I don't want to deprive you of the joy you get giving me gifts, so I will be happy to continue accepting them. I'm just thinking of you - really!]
Hopefully none of you get fooled too badly today. However if you really get had, you can always get them back on any of the 364 other days they won't be expecting it.
Top 100 April Fool's Day Hoaxes of All Time
I used to dread April 1 in school. You never knew if you were going to be target of some joke. Luckily, even though I was born a little earlier when I was due, I at least waited til April 1 had passed before I arrived.
I am not that big on practical jokes no matter what time of year it is. Mostly because, like most people I really dislike being the brunt of a joke, so in all fairness I usually don't feel right putting someone else in that position. I'm not saying I have never done it...I just tend to limit the joke pulling.
Surprises on the other hand are different. I love surprising people with things. We are talking good surprises, not the kind where the person walks out of their house and surprise! the car is gone.
My husband is always fun to surprise. Although I have learned that you can't give him even the smallest hints because he will try to wear you down to get to what the surprise is. And sometimes when it gets revealed, I am more excited about the surprise then he is, but I keep trying!
My dad and step-mom are good to surprise too because even the smallest little thing they get excited about.
There is just something rewarding about seeing someone's eyes light up when they get something they didn't know they were getting. It's probably why, once you grow up a little, it is sometimes more fun to give Christmas gifts then to get them.
[But to all of you who give gifts to me - I don't want to deprive you of the joy you get giving me gifts, so I will be happy to continue accepting them. I'm just thinking of you - really!]
Hopefully none of you get fooled too badly today. However if you really get had, you can always get them back on any of the 364 other days they won't be expecting it.
Top 100 April Fool's Day Hoaxes of All Time
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
