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Me Myself & Riggins

Tag Archives: Shadow

Shadow Sleeping Positions

09 Monday Dec 2013

Posted by wendynewell in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

bed, doberman, dogs, Riggins, Shadow, sleep, sleeping, wippet

photo (16)I’m exhausted.  I have no right to be and I have to admit the 2 hour hike in Griffith Park with Riggins and Asscher this morning didn’t help.  Still, considering what I’ve done, my sleepiness is way out of proportion.  I’ve decided I have Shadow to thank for that.

Shadow was dropped off Wednesday night by her dad for her one night stay with us.  Riggins and I instantly fell in love with the sweet girl.  1/2 Whippet, 1/2 Doberman, and 100% sweetie.  Her dad said Shadow sleeps in her own bed at home but she would love to sleep on my bed if I allowed it.  As we got ready for bed that night Shadow sadly curled up in her teeny tiny dog bed that I had placed on the ground near the foot of my human bed.  She looked up at me with such sad eyes I had no choice.  It was only for one night.  I invited her up to sleep with me.  Whippets, Italian Greyhounds, or any skinny dog with a needle nose, like to sleep under the covers so that’s what I let Shadow do.  I lifted up the covers and she buried her way down and plopped herself down next to (or on) my legs.  She was happy as a clam.  Eventually during the night Riggins decided he needed to be in bed too so he jumped up and settled in.  By morning the three of us were as snug as a bug in a rug.  I could hear everyone snoring.  Everyone but me!  Sleeping with a dog at your legs isn’t exactly restful.

Shadow’s stay got extended and the one night became four.  Each time I crawled into bed Shadow was right behind me.  I couldn’t say no now!  Shadow went home yesterday so last night you would think I would have had a great night.  Not so much.  I missed having my little leg warmer curled up next to me.  Sigh … I can never be happy.

I thought I’d share Shadow’s sleeping positions with you so you can understand better what I lived through:

1.  THE SHADOW CHAIR – This consisted of me curling up in an almost fetal position so that Shadow could snuggle up against the crock of my knee (aka under my butt).

photo 1 (19)

2.  THE LOTION LICK – Once in a while I’d try to lie down flat and if I did that Shadow would just lay herself flat against my leg putting her in the perfect position to lick off all the lotion I had just put on my legs.

photo 2 (18)

3.  THE SCISSORS – This was the teams favorite sleeping position.  I slept at an angle giving Riggins room on his human pillow and Shadow just enough room to nuzzle between my legs.

photo 3 (12)

4.  THE BIRTH – Self explanatory.

photo 4 (8)

Sweet dreams to all the human and dogs out there!

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Above the Barre and Leash

05 Thursday Dec 2013

Posted by wendynewell in Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Asscher, bar method, dog walking, dogs, Riggins, Shadow

photo (17)I just finished walking the dogs around the neighborhood and it was tough!  When walking multiple dogs one or more are going to get you tangled up in their leash.  When this happens I lift one leg up and over the offending leash (and sometimes dog) and then the other.  I credit Bar Method for my ability to do this with little trouble.  I feel like earlier in my life this little bit of stretching would have been a disaster and left me flat on my face tied up in leashes and fur.  Normally after a few minutes, the dogs get it.  “Oooooh,” they say to each other, “we all have to stay on one side of her.  Got it.”  Well not today’s gang.  They never quite figured it out.  Obviously not mensa members.  The extra leg lifts did remind me of a post I have been wanting to write.  The things I don’t like about Bar Method.

Gasp.

I know.  Don’t get me wrong.  I loooooooovvvvveeeee Bar Method.  It’s the bestest in the westest and you should definitely go to a studio and try it out right this second.  That being said no one is perfect so here are the things I don’t like about the exercise:

* Not getting corrections.  I’m always super annoyed when the teacher doesn’t give me corrections.  A lot of times I can tell I’m doing something wrong and fix it myself but a number of times I have no idea.  In arabesque (Butt exercise where you stand an arms distance away from the barre while your feet are turned out.  Lift one leg up to hip height while bending down over the bar.  Then push your chest back up in a cobra-esk pose. Finally do lots of little movements with that leg that is up in the air.  It’s my least favorite exercise because I’m pretty sure I look like a dancing hippo when I do it.) the instructor will tell you that the hip of your working leg (the one in the air) can be 2-3 inches higher than your other hip.  HOW AM I SUPPOSE TO KNOW IF MY HIP IS 2-3 INCHES HIGHER?  I can’t look back and see it.  Although I’ve certainly tried and in the process just look even sillier.   If the teacher doesn’t come and correct me I can guarantee I’m doing it wrong.

It annoys me just as much when I see other people doing it incorrectly and not getting “corrected” by the instructor.  I feel like if they are getting away with it so am I.  The difference between the exercises working and not working is being in the correct form and I need a lot of help to get there!

* Missed counting.  I’m pretty sure this is a pet peeve of anyone in any group exercise class.  The teacher tells you 20 more and starts counting then goes to correct someone or tell a detailed story about the muscles you are working.  In your head you have been counting this entire time and are almost done.  Then the instructor jumps in with “5 … 6”.  Whoa there lady.  We are on 18 … get it straight!

*  New instructors and instructors in training.  This is a totally unfair dislike of mine.  Teachers who are now my favorite where once new and, to be honest, I didn’t like them when they were new either!  Isnt’ that horrible?  New teachers are guilty of the missed counting worse than anyone else.  They also tend to make the exercises too hard.  That sounds ridiculous I know but there is a fine line between almost dead and dead.  While doing arm lifts if 99% of your class can’t maintain form because you are on set number 1,000 it’s time to move on to the next exercise.  I also don’t by it when they give me corrections.  Totally unfair of me especially since some of my best corrections have come from new instructors and more than likely they are paying super close attention to all their students since there is someone in the back of the room taking notes on them.  Still … I don’t buy it when they come by and change my position.  I think “fine I’ll do it this way for you but tomorrow I’m going back to the ‘right’ way.”

*  When I forget to bring water or when there are no clean towels.  The amount I sweat is almost comical.  Without water to dehydrate I may crumple up and die like a dead leaf.  Without a clean towel I’m going to make everyone and everything around me sopping wet.  It’s gross.  I admit it.

*  When an instructor doesn’t push me.  I NEED the instructor to make me push harder.  If it’s left up to me I would come out of that room looking and feeling like I didn’t do a thing.  I need that instructor to tell me to get back up on my toes for push ups, dare me to take an arm option during sit ups (usually this means to release your hands from the grip you have on your legs to keep you in position and force that work all into your abs), and tell me my leg can get higher (after all I have dogs to walk).

photo (16)*  Finally I strongly dislike when the instructor does both chair (Stand toward the barre with your feet hip distance apart.  Pull your body back so your arms are straight.  Sit down like you are sitting in a chair.  Except there is no chair.  There is just air and your burning thighs are what is keeping you in that position.  Then do a zillion little up and down movements.) and water ski (stand beside the barre with your heels together toes apart.  Lift your heels up as high as you can.  Walk you feet together so your heels are touching but your toes are still turned out.  Bend your knees as far as you can making a diamond shape with your legs.  Grab the barre and lean back while pushing your hips up.  Then do a zillion little up and down movements. It’s horrific.)  I know it sounds ridiculous as I just said I want to be pushed by the instructor but give me an f-ing break.  One of these exercises has me in tears.  Both of them together can easily be considered cruel and unusual punishment.

All that being said.  You should go try it out!

(Since there is a chance one or more of my instructors will read this blog I may be asking for it.  If they are reading then I can tell them the thing I love!  Anytime they say “at the barre.”  Pretzel at the barre.  Ab work at the barre.  Love.)

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Crinkle, Crackle, Crunch

04 Wednesday Dec 2013

Posted by wendynewell in Uncategorized

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Tags

chew toy, craft, Dog, dog toy, puppy, sew, Shadow

1483311_10201392039777845_1076653169_nBefore we all headed up to my sister’s house for Thanksgiving we were warned that the new puppy, Captain Shadow, was a chewer.  There are a ton of chew toys out there and many that are specifically for teething puppies.  Most of them look a lot like the products you would purchase for teething human babies.  I swear if you can make a product that can be marketed to both new baby parents and new dog parents you have made it.  Those are the two best consumer groups ready and willing to drop cash on anything.  When Riggins was little the best “chew” toy he had was a Hartz ball chew thing that I got at the supermarket.  Not at all fancy.  It was made of some sort of hard plastic was white and bumpy with super bumpy purple areas poking out of it.  I don’t think they make them anymore, but it was the best.  He would chew on that thing for hours.  The key was to find what Shadow liked.

I had purchased a little toy on clearance at Petco for Shadow but when I heard how much he was chewing I tossed that one to Riggins and decided to make him some toys.  Dogs like to chew and be destructive so my goal was to make him something that would be fun and easy to chew but at the same time gave him the feeling that he was really doing something.  If you google how to make dog toys a number of folks suggest using socks or towels.  Personally I think this sends a mixed message to the dog.  How is a puppy supposed to know the difference between his chew sock and the sock you plan to wear that day?

I designed the Captain Shadow Chew Toy.  To make this you will need an empty water bottle and an old baby blanket.  Any plastic bottle will do but the sturdier the better.  I made three of these and Shadow made quick work of the flimsy water bottle while the thicker sparkling water bottles had some staying power.  I cut out a piece of the baby blanket so that it would easily fit around the water bottle.  Next I sewed it into a pocket and stuck the water bottle inside.  Finally I sewed it closed.  To add some extra fun I sewed a tie strap to the top, wrapped it around and knotted it.  Two of the toys were as simple as that.  The third had extra “arms” hanging off of it and each was stuffed with something fun at the end.  Extra material, freezer paper, etc.  Anything that would make a crinkle, crackle, crunch sound or just be fun to chew.  The extra arms also allowed for tug of war games which are always a puppy favorite!

The water bottle inside each chew toy allows Shadow to make crinkle, crackle, crunching sounds which makes him very happy.  Personally I find them far less distracting than the constant “squeak” that most favorited toys have.

Shadow’s toys were pretty basic.  I didn’t do anything to decorate them or make them pretty although you certainly could.  Add some eyes and that “armed” bottle becomes an octopus.  Even without extra decorations Shadow loved his toys and was happy to munch on them.  That is when he wasn’t munching on a human!

You are going to be spending a lot of cash on your new four-legged family member.  If you can save some dough by making your own toys I say go for it!

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