Trouble in a Chair, Revisited

Wordless Wednesday

The Dog Ate My Homework

Or Nathan's history text to be exact. I KNEW he was being too quiet!!! The boys had been shipped off to Kids Klub, Kevin had yet to come home from work and I was enjoying a rare moment of solitude. Completely engaged in a printing project, I'd kind of assumed the dog was outside... first mistake. I didn't go and check immediately when I became suspicious of his whereabouts... second mistake. I thought that the paper stuck to his mouth was something he'd foraged from the trash can... final mistake. When I finally (three seconds after seeing the tell tale paper on his face) decided to go check out what he was doing, the deed was done and he was innocently sauntering around the living room, his terrible action already forgotten.

Music Makers

Today was the first day of band for Sully and recorder for Nathan (and me). For Sully, this is old hat and he predictably did a good job. He's taking beginning band to brush up on theory but is also playing sheet music with the concert band. It seems to be a good combination for him. Nathan was very excited about class and did very well. His class is a very gentle introduction to recorder and music theory. I really like the instructor. Nathan can now tell you what a staff, quarter note and quarter rest are and he can play a B and C. We practiced this evening and he didn't want to stop. There are 5 lines of music on his practice page and after playing line 2 he emitted a belly laugh and said, "That was SO fun!"

Belgian Malinois?

My super-sleuth son Sully (I must be into alliteration lately) figured out after studying the dog breed poster at obedience school that Duke is not a German Shepherd mix but what we believe to be a Belgian Malinois (MAL-in-wah). He sure looks like one especially when compared photo to photo with a German Shepherd. And he seems to fit the temperament description- one website calls them Mali-nuts because of their sometimes obnoxious behavior... that's definitely our dog!

Speaking of obedience training...
My high expectations were almost dashed about 30 seconds after walking into the training center last week when "devil-dog" showed up- that's Duke's alternate personality. He gets a little excited with the prospect of playing with other dogs and when faced with around 15-20 dogs, he was beyond wild. In no time, I was standing there bleeding from the gashes in my arm caused by his behavior. Okay, they were really just scratches and I now know he needs his nails cut but we were very close to turning around and walking out with no training. Luckily he calmed down enough for me to pull him out of the corner and into the ring. After so much difficulty with him, I was thrilled to find out that a class requirement is to maintain the same trainer for the duration of the 8 week course. Actually it's probably good for me to be the one "in control" because he already seems to listen to Kevin better that to me. Once in the ring, however, he completely redeemed himself, which seems to be another pattern with him. He is a dog made for training! After what I'll call "the episode" he got down to business and was heeling like a pro! Next week I'll just wear long sleeves!

Here he is playing with the toys sent home for him today.

Small Tragedy

Nathan was sad to wake up this morning to find his hermit crab had died. "Crabby" was with us for several years and was preceded to hermit heaven by his comrade "Uncle". He was a good crab and only pinched once. We'll be holding a burial in our backyard this evening.

In other news, both boys are battling summer colds and have been lying low this afternoon but will be attending obedience training for Duke tonight. I don't think I mentioned the dog has graduated from Puppy-K and been promoted to official "Obedience Training". Tonight will be our first night and I expect he will do well. Expect good things! I took him for a walk last night and he was fabulous... I'm not sure if its due to Kevin working with him or the medieval looking collar I used.
Daddy, unfortunately, is working late tonight and will miss this class. The dog seems to listen to him much better than he does the rest of us.