Tuesday, March 11, 2008

lighthouse


lighthouse
Originally uploaded by Virtual Village
Test from class

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Not sure t his will work at all



I decided to try linking to this here.

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Widgets on a Mac desktop


Widgets on a Mac desktop
Originally uploaded by Virtual Village
For widgets post

widgets_copy


widgets_copy
Originally uploaded by Virtual Village

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Thing 25: Widgets

Widget, widget, whose got the widget?

You will, at YourMinis!

Okay, back up. What’s a widget? Well, the Google definition is here.

Clear as mud, right?


Widgets on a Mac
Originally uploaded by Virtual Village


Basically, a widget is a small, interactive program that allows quick access to often-used tools or information. Most – though far from all – widgets are connected to the internet.

Windows Vista and the latest Mac operating systems have widget software built in; widgets show up right on the desktop. (Windows calls them Gadgets.)

So, umm, what's a widget again? The best way to find out is to play with some.

If you aren’t lucky enough to have the latest OS, you can install the Yahoo! Widget Engine on almost any PC or Mac, or any U3 Smart Drive (a USB drive that can run programs). There are other downloadable programs that allow you to run widgets; Yahoo! Widgets in the most popular. But because you might not want to (or be able to) install widget software on your computer, try using YourMinis to investigate widgets.

Exercise:


  1. Go to YourMinis and click Open Startpage.

  2. Click one of the "templates" at the bottom of the right-hand pane to add a page full of widgets to your pages.

  3. Create a new tab by clicking Add Tab at the top of the page, and use the gray bar on the left to add some minis to your page. (If you don't see the bar, click Add Content in the upper left corner.) It's easy to drag them around on the page; mouse over each widget and click the buttons that appear in its top right corner to set options and change widget color, etc. You can also use the small drop-down arrows beside each tab's name to change the tab background color or name, delete the tab or perform other "maintenance" tasks.

  4. Describe your experience with YourMinis in your blog. What widgets would be most useful to you? Is there a widget, or could a widget be created, that would help computer users at home or in the library access library resources?

Saturday, May 12, 2007

My New Scrapblog


The new version of Scrapblog is even more fun than I thought! The stickers and backgrounds, for example, are much easier to use but they are also a lot more fun to look at. The themes are pretty great too. And coming soon - the ability to put a Scrapblog on DVD as a gift, and to get a nicely printed and bound version.

This Scrapblog is one I'm creating for my grandfather's 90th birthday party this June. I had planned to use PowerPoint to make it, but I actually think Scrapblog is easier and more fun. (Especially if I can get the presentation on a DVD. There won't be any Internet access at the party.) Although I must admit this one Scrapblog has taken the better part of a day. (But then I'm at work on the service desk, so I've done it in the minutes I've been able to snatch between users needing help.)

Monday, February 05, 2007

Spike and tess's old Typepad posts

AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: Helwo. This is Tessarooroo the
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DATE: 04/21/2003 04:11:49 PM
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Helwo. This is Tessarooroo the Wonder Bichon! Mama saids I could right my own weblog if I weally wanted to. I don't for sure know what a weblog is for sure, but I know I likes to wight to all the peoples out their to tell 'em alls about my wonderful 'ventures. Sometimes the 'ventures are weal, and sometimes they is in my imagn ... imagenac ... imigi ... made up. But I wills neber tells which is whichy, becuz it's more fun if you has to guess.

I'm sorrey I don't type too goods. It's pretrty hard to hit the keyses with paws, an if you don't beliebe me u can trys it sometimes yourself by wareing mittens!

Dis is enuff for now cause typieng is too hards and I need a nap now.

Love, Tessarooroo the Wonder Bichon
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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: Mommy saiys that thiis mowning
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DATE: 04/24/2003 09:11:18 AM
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Mommy saiys that thiis mowning I am going to hab an adventuwre. I down't no what her means but I hopes an adventuwer is a good thing or her will be introubles.
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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: Look I got my own
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DATE: 04/24/2003 09:36:07 AM
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Look I got my own powsting name know.
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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: Okay, that "venture" Mommy sented
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DATE: 04/25/2003 12:44:17 PM
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Okay, that "venture" Mommy sented me on yessterday was not a vewry fun ting. I wus all 'cited cause of we were dwiving awound the town and they was lots of other cars and stuff so I had lots a stuff to looook at and woooof at. And den we stop-ed at dis place I had newer beens before so I jumped otu of the car (oncet Mama undid my seatbelt of cowurse, siwly) and it smelwed like doggies ... and den we went thru the door and I wusn't 'cited anymore.

Well, alls I know is that Mommy saided sumfin about a "spa day" and I didn't knokw what that was but now I no that it is a day wheer you gets washed too many times and den they cut off all your hairs cept the ones on your head, and cut off your nwails and pulls the hairs outta yer ears (which is not fun) and then dey finallys stick an ol' piece a fabrics on your neck and takes you to yor Mommy. And I didn't wike it, and I hope I don't eber go der agains.

Plus, that ladwy when Mommy paided calwed me a poodle!

But Mommy had Frenchie Fries in the cawr for the wide home and dat was nice.

But I stills hab no hairs except on my head and I'm cold, cold, cold. And pink, too, and I don't know which is worser. And my hairs is still in my eyes!
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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: Hello. I'ms going to tels
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DATE: 04/29/2003 08:16:46 PM
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Hello. I'ms going to tels you sumfing but you must keep itf very vewy quiet. I'm not really a Bichon. I'mss really a super secret agaent snet by the intergawatic colonizartion cownsle to finded out iff tis plannet is worth coloinizing. So fawr it looks jsut fine as long as we all lookes like doggies and finds us nice Mommys (watever dat meanses) so if you sees any uder agaents fwom ICC down hewre tell theme that I said "Tfhe grewen kangarooroo wurks in de lawundery room until Junees." Youwill no the otheragaents cause dey wills be wearing fur coatses all year and have wetwet nosese.
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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: Weeells I gived youse a
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DATE: 05/05/2003 04:00:27 PM
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Weeells I gived youse a lwong lwong time to figrre out that dat lastes postes was one ob my jokes. But rewember, nexted times I won't tewls you ifit is j ust a joke er not.
All my bewoved folowers, you will be so 'cited to leawrn th atne x t time I wills tells u all abouts goings to the vet-man (yuckypoo) and how I'da gotta chipwed.
C-ya!
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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: Abouts dat chip - I
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DATE: 05/16/2003 07:27:12 PM
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Abouts dat chip - I still don' t k nnow if it's potatoe or torteeya, but I'll gets back to ya on dat one mebbe tomorrows.
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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: Oooo, its maeks me s
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DATE: 05/16/2003 07:30:12 PM
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Oooo, its maeks me s o madthat I cannot remembers mine own login name and stuffs andso I has to use Mommy's. Oooo.
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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: Allwighty then, let s ta
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DATE: 05/22/2003 07:55:19 PM
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Allwighty then, let s ta lks about the chippy in my showlder. Maommy says hat it is a microchip — I think that's kinda like a microwave — and t hat iff I eber get lost it will help me gets home. Now I do not know about that, becuase I do not know how I will know what it is stellling me. Is it like a roadmap or something? Mama just saids not to wurry about it and some nice peoples will call hre to come and pick me up if they find me. But I saids to her that I am not planning to get losted anytime soon becuase I loves her to much for that. Although I do wish she wus home more often but i understand that her has to wruk to pay the vet-man bills but I wish she wuld work the same hours every day becus a I am only a doggie and I don't understands and i just want to know when she is going ot feed me because I am fulye prepawed to rip intoooooo that bag of food myself if I have to but I jsut wants to knows!

Anyways although I donot plan t o become lost, i am happy to have this chiippy if it means Mommmy can fined me ifI do. If you are a doggye reading this and you don't have a chip thingy, you should talk to wyour Moammy aboutg etting onne beckuz they are reallly importatn and good, and they don't hurt or anyting. I wonder if i could have a chip bput in my organe bone that I keep loooosing?
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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: P.S. This kidn of chip
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DATE: 05/22/2003 07:57:12 PM
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P.S. This kidn of chip isn't quite as yummy-good as a torteeya or potatoe one, but it is better than those yuckkkky veggietable chips.
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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: Liver treaties is good. Momie
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DATE: 06/09/2003 08:55:46 PM
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Liver treaties is good.
Momie coking stinky liver is not.

Splawshing in puddlews is good.
Bawths is not.

Why?
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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: I am sooo glad taht
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DATE: 06/25/2003 06:50:14 PM
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I am sooo glad taht it fainally has stopted raining but Mama sayes that I can't not complain about how its too hot so I won't b ut it is too hot hot hot as of today, June de 25th, 2003. I'm suffercating!

But really noffin is new. Mommie, her was sick for a while but her is betternow. I don't know if its good to be betternow. Or not. SHe was here wif me when she was still Sick, but now that she is betternow she havs to go to workie-work. I t was fun-fun-fun to havs her at home lastly week but her wus coffin and keeping me awake and den her losted her voice and that was fun-fiun cause Ise didn't havfs to do anfing sher tolded me to because of I could acted likes I couldn't not heer her.

I almostly forgetted the biggest new news yet! As of lastly week, I, Twessarooroo the Wonder Bichon, hab decideded that I am not goings to seleep in my crate-bed anymores. I have slepted there since I wus a little bitty babay, but now I donot like it no more! And I wont even go in der if Mommie tries to pushed me in a wittle bit. Tho I did go in der to wescue one ob my stuffed aminals but dat is all. all. all. Now I willbe sleeping under Mammoy's bed which is where i belongs and were I sleeps during the day anyways. Moma wants sme to sleeps in de kennel sos I can't make her get up to takes me out to pp or elese go on the cawrpet, but I don't likes that anymore sos I don't sleep thjere.

Yay me!
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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: Well, fwiends and neigboars, I
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DATE: 07/01/2003 10:15:40 AM
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Well, fwiends and neigboars, I may has to change the name of m'blog becuz I am not any l onger Tessarooroo the Wonder Bi ch on. In fact, I am notted sure I a m a Bichon a nymroe.
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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: The day after Spike came home
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DATE: 07/14/2003 04:44:00 PM
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I got the new doggie yesterday. Jon went up there with me, which was helpful because he could control Tess while I worked with the new guy but yet she got to go and he wasn't some big surprise coming into her house. She's been very good and gentle with him, although she's already a bit jealous of her rawhide bones! I have these little tiny ones for her, and I gave them each one yesterday. He didn't touch his, of course, and a little later I noticed that she had both of them JAMMED in her mouth to the point that she could barely breath.

I think his name is going to be Spike! He has breath as bad as ... was, which doesn't bode well for his little teethies. I have to get his neutering and dental done before Monday so it can be included in the charges **** has to pay, but I had hoped that it would already be done. I also would like to talk to his vet and find out what kind of dog the vet thinks he is, but although I know who the vet is he won't know which dog I'm talking about until I can get the rescue people to cough up his official number.

He's so sweet, though. All he wants to do is sit on my lap and so far he'll only eat out of my hands. I had expected that he would be too afraid to eat from my hands, but he likes it better that way. I thought he'd be able to eat the same food that Tess does, but he wouldn't even really try the dry food this morning. I don't know if that's because of the condition of his teeth or if he just wasn't hungry or didn't like it or what. I ground some up in the food processor and left that in his crate with him today, so maybe he's eaten some by now. I also got him to lick some of Tess's toothpaste last night, another big positive. I need to get him a pen ... so that I can contain him without having to leave him in his crate all day. He's so pitiful — he just stays wherever I put him, in the same position even. He has an under bite as well, so his tongue always sticks out a little bit and he has a goofy grin all the time.

He got a bath as soon as I got him home, and he really IS mostly white — I can't tell, he might be all white, but if he is then his feet are stained red from the mud, which is perfectly possible. I also combed him really carefully last night and found some fleas, not a whole lot, and no ticks, so I think he must have had some kind of drops or something. He was good about letting me brush him but refused to lay on his back so I could get his belly. Since I haven't had a male dog before, he's got stuff on his belly I just don't know what to do with! He's whimpered a few times, and that's the only noise I've heard him make at all. And I can't figure out what the whimpers mean!

Tess was really upset when I left this morning and left him in his kennel. She barked and barked until I came back inside and then she just looked at me, then at Spike, then at me, etc. I found myself explaining OUT LOUD to her why he had to stay in his "bed" while she, being somewhat trustworthy, could be out of hers. Thing is, I'm not sure if this crate training is going to work - I forgot just how small he was when I bought the crate, and it's huge! In fact, it's bigger than Tess's crate, and he's no more than 1/4 her size, if that.

I'm so eager to go home and get him now that I can't stand it. But I'm trying to resist for Tess's sake as much as anything else because I think she really needs the routine to stay the same.

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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: Well friendsies , my hairshave
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DATE: 07/20/2003 05:35:07 PM
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Well friendsies , my hairshave growed back in mostly cept on my ears and face and now Mommy says il ooks oohK again so I'm ahppy happy ahppy.

Butr the bestested part is dat somedoggie gots a bawth and it wusn't m e ! Yeses der is as nwe doggie-woggie ats our house. His name is Spike and him is wittler den me (whic h moamay syas isnot hard to dooo since I eat so muucch) but not byyy much. He'sss as tall as me but heiis nota slong and heis white but notas white as me becuz his hairs are redredred from the redredred dirt. Mama says he camed from a puppy meal which I tink must be a good ting but her seys it is notnotnot a good ting and I knows that Spike is grrumpwy and acts funny and runs away from the Mama sometimmes so mebbe he ated too much at the puppy meal and his tummy hurts and tha t's why he acts funny and I guess dat is a bad ting.

MOre laTER about that doggie Spike becuz now I has to teach ahim howto eat a bone. Nobudy tell him dis but I tink his ellievatour doesnot go alltheway to the topfloor. Hed idn't know how to eat from a bowl or walk on a leesh or eeven what a tweatie was. And him had badbadbad breaf until the Mama and me showded him to how brush his teethies and now it is still bad but not badbadbad. I don't like shar ing food withi hi m though but that's okay mostof thetime.

Thebone is waiting so morelaterer.
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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: Mommie ahs spent lots lots
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DATE: 07/29/2003 06:00:28 PM
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Mommie ahs spent lots lots lots of mon eyon S pike and now shewe is broke but her looksjust fine to me. Spikey doez not loike to take his m edicine but Mommie says he has to and I owuld like to tatste it bu t she won;t let me.

Spike can chew on boneses now but Iwish I hadnot taut hi m becauz now I cannot have all of thebones and I have to share and I don'twant' to. Spike cando al most any thing gexcept that he cannot go pottie outsides and he is not knowing how to play no matter how much I do my playbow and wag my tail he does not play and lastn ight he acteded like he wanted to plays with mommie but then when she tried he was afreid of h er.
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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: My inspiration: Abbie The Cat
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DATE: 08/01/2003 12:18:37 PM
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My inspiration: Abbie The Cat Has A Posse
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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: At the vet's
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DATE: 08/05/2003 12:43:32 PM
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The vet just called to let me know that Spike's neutering is over and they are in the midst of his dental cleaning. He's doing well so far, but I think he's going to have to stay there overnight anyway because I was sooo late to work I'd feel guilty if I left early too.

On the other hand, he was being so sweet and playful this morning that he would probably do well at home. I'm so torn!

At some point I'll do a "catch-up" post about Spike and how he came to be part of my life. In the meantime, enjoy his photo album. Okay, the one picture in it, but still ...
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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: The vet's again
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CATEGORY: Written by an actual human

DATE: 08/05/2003 05:33:08 PM
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Talked to the vet's office again. The vet tech said they pulled 8 teeth. I asked her how many he had left, and her answer was "Not too many." So he probably can't eat the same food that Tess does anymore. I saw an ad in Dog Fancy or some doggie magazine last night for a dog food just for Yorkies. Wonder if there's one just for Maltese without teeth?

Anyway, the vet tech said Spike had come around from the anasthesia (I know, I know I spelled that wrong. Deal.). They had already given him a pain shot, which he probably needs more for his mouth than for the neutering, and she was going to try to get him to eat something before she left.

I'm going to go get him tomorrow morning, early enough (hopefully) to get him settled in before I have to leave for work. It's not going to be much fun keeping Tess from eating his special recovery-diet food, so he may have to spend some time in the exercise pen, but I'll figure out something. Then in a week or so I'm taking some time off work and we'll really buckle down and work on house-breaking. (Now that scent-marking won't be quite as much of a "thing" for him.)

Spike was pretty playful this morning, so maybe he's finally figured out how to play with Tess. That would make her very, very happy!
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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: Home
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DATE: 08/06/2003 12:04:09 PM
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I picked up Spike this morning. Even though his actual operation(s) were charged to the Humane Society and eventually to DP, I paid almost $100 for his pain-killing shots and pain-killers to bring home, his food and his pre-op bloodwork. So that's a total of about $600 I've spent on his so far, and I haven't had him a full month yet. In fact, I guess it was a month ago today that I saw him for the first time, because it was the Monday after July 4.

I really liked the vet who did the surgery, Mercy Animal Hospital . Too bad it's such a long drive to the office or I'd probably just let them always be his vet. Although I really like my regular vet too.

So far he's doing okay at home. I didn't remember Tess needing so much attention right after she was spayed as he now needs, but then again she stayed at the vet's until the end of the second day because I picked her up after work. This is more like after she had her bladder stones removed.

Spike may have to wear the Elizabethan collar I had for Tess after she was attacked last year. He's very interested in licking his stitches — although I doubt he's got enough teeth to chew on them like Tess does! But at least I'm prepared with the collar. It's a good one for small dogs that just happened to be at my vet's office when I brought Tess in after she was attacked. The vet thought it had come from one of the emergency vets on a cat ... It's soft blue vinyl, completely flexible, and if a dog were coordinated enough he or she could find a way to make it fold over and get to whatever he or she wanted to anyway. But Tess never figured it out, and she wore the thing for several weeks. Spike will probably just need it for a day or two.

Next step, house breaking. The hard part is going to be making myself crate him, since I figure he's already spent so much time in a crate in his life and I'm sure that's why he hates being crated so much. But everything I read says that crate training is just the way to go, so unless I can come up with a better alternative, that's what I'll do. While I'm at it, maybe I can crate train Tess too. A refresher course sure wouldn't hurt her!

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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: Spike had a little trip to the vet, and now he doesn't chase the other puppies anymore
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CATEGORY: Written by Tess

DATE: 08/06/2003 01:07:18 PM
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Spikkey wasnot here lastly night and I tink that's got sumfing to do with whys him is actings so funny todays, and I tinks he is missing some bo dy parts that hehad b efor e he left. But I'mso happy ahppy he is home now and Ican relaz. I slepted in the bigbed with Mommiey last nightg.

P.S> The titletoday is form Buffy which mymommie watches too too too muchie but her reallie likest his line and I tink she gave SPike his na me just so she could say "Spike had a little trip to the vet, and now he doesn't chase the other puppies anymore." Sumtimes her is cwazy. Or cwazier then oder days.
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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: 2 days post-op
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DATE: 08/07/2003 04:16:18 PM
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Spike's home, and I'm back at work today. So far he seems to be doing well, and he sure is a big fan of the post-op food the vet sent along. Made it very easy to give him his pain medication, in fact, which I was really worried about. The biggest problem is that Tess really wants this food too! And I can see why. It looks and smells like deviled ham.

Some of his front teeth had to be extracted, so he has this extremely cute grin now!

He's getting really good about letting me put his harness on without having to back him into a corner to do it, so that's a really positive sign. I "made" him snuggle with me for a little while yesterday afternoon on the sofa, mostly because it was the only way I could think of to keep him from licking his incision. But I think it was good for him too. He still sleeps with only his head on the puff bed instead of his whole body, but he is learning that it's possible to put his whole body there if he wants to, and that's something.

God, I just hope that I don't get home to find blood all over the place.
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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: What Spike has learned lately
STATUS: Publish
ALLOW COMMENTS: 1
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CATEGORY: Written by an actual human

DATE: 08/14/2003 08:36:18 PM
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Well, it's been a while since I wrote about all the things that Spike has been learning. So here, in no particular order, are the things he has learned since he came to live with me.


  • It's easy to forget you're wearing a collar.
  • It's easy to forget you're wearing a harness.
  • Leashes are not easy to forget and should be avoided for as long as possible.
  • However, "going outside" is lots of fun.
  • The Mommy-lady likes it when you got potty. Except when it's at 4:30 a.m. and the noise woke her up.
  • If one doggie gets loaded up in the car and the other one doesn't, the one in the car is usually not going anywhere fun. In fact, it will probably be downright yuckky.
  • Therefore, if you are the only doggie outside, do not get in the car!
  • Sometimes, you might go on a long car ride and when you get there you'll fall asleep. Try not to let this happen, because you might wake up missing some things.
  • Some of those things might have been on your belly. No matter how much you lick your belly, they will not come back.
  • Some of those things might have been in your mouth. But that's okay because now your head will not hurt so badly and your food will taste better.
  • Bowls are nice. They have yummy food in them.
  • Tessie makes a nice pillow, but do not try to eat out of her bowl.
  • But Tess will eat out of your bowl. Get used to it.
  • If you make enough noise, you can make Mommy get up waaaay before she wants to. Like 5:30 a.m. Especially if you potty on the floor first.
  • It is not fun when Mommy puts your hair up in a hairbow. Especially if you are a little boy already struggling with his masculinity. Even if the bow is blue.
  • The Mommy-lady is nice, and she will not hurt you. Unless she kicks you because you're always "underfoot."
  • Doggie toothpaste is wonderful — A treat you don't even have to chew!
  • Beds are for lying on, but you can also just prop your head on them and that's nice too.
  • Blankets - see beds
  • Medicine is yuck!
  • The fridge is fun.
  • Mommy food is worth begging for.
  • Tess is nice but she's gonna hurt me trying to play.
  • Brushing is nice.
  • Treaties are excellent.
  • It's no use barking at horses that are on TV.
  • Windows are good.
  • Baths stink.
  • Running away isn't good because she will catch you.
  • Sofas are soft.
  • Do whatever Tess does
  • Belly rubbing is nice.
  • It's okay to lick a stranger.
  • PetSmart is overwhelming.

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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: Spike's home dental guide
STATUS: Publish
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DATE: 08/19/2003 11:09:36 PM
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Apparently, Spike feels that in addition to his dental extractions, he should have had at least one cap put in. And since it wasn't, he took it upon himself to search for a suitable substitute.

Tonight, he found one. There, waiting for him on the wall, cleverly disguised as a doorstop, was the perfect cap. So Spike chewed off the plastic part (he didn't like the looks of that brass coil) and with adept tongue-work, positioned it directly over his lower left molar. It worked beautifully, until ...

Until Mommy came home and noticed the blood all over the place. But since Mommy couldn't see any active bleeding he got to eat his dinner like normal, and then Mommy made him let her look in his mouth. Silly Mommy thought maybe he did have a cap on his tooth, but she wondered why it was so smooth. But she still didn't recognize what it really was and it wasn't until she went to wet a cloth to wipe the dried blood off that she realized the cap of the doorstop was missing.

So we zoomed off to the emergency vet, who was going to charge us $65 just to see us. But just as Mommy settled in to read the Sports Illustrated article about poor Ted Williams, the nice receptionist came and got Spike and 5 minutes later brought Spike back. All it took was a pair of tweezers and Spike was cap free again.

So no $65, thank goodness.

What will Spike get into next? Stay tuned for the latest adventures of Spike, the 6-year-old puppy!
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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: All clear from the Vet
STATUS: Publish
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DATE: 08/30/2003 01:21:52 PM
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Took Spike in for his final deworming treatment yesterday; also got a clean bill of health while we were there. Started heartworm pills and flea drops last night too.

He's made a lot of progress lately, especially the week I took vacation and stayed home with him and Tess. He's still going potty where and when he feels like it, but he's sleeping a bit later. Probably helps that I decided it was silly of me to let him drink water during the night, so I only put a little bit of water in the bowl after dinner.

Spike still hasn't quite learned how to play with me or Tess, but he's working on it. With me, he's more of a cuddler than a player anyway. He's starting to pounce at Tess a little bit, and she likes that.

I caught Tess peeing on my sofa cushion yesterday, BTW! I was not happy, that's for sure.

Anyway, Spike. He's getting better about letting me put his leash on, and I don't have to chase him around so much before I can get it on, which is really nice. He's abandoning his favorite outdoor snack of dog poo in favor of the earthworms that keep getting fried on the sidewalk. I'm not sure which is nastier; at least the worms are cooked, I suppose.

I've got more pictures to add to the photo album, I just haven't done it yet. They need a bit of work in Photoshop before I post them. I need to get a digital camera and stop trying to scan little Polaroids to post; they're just really no good for the Internet.
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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: Spikey & Me
STATUS: Publish
ALLOW COMMENTS: 2
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CATEGORY: Written by Tess

DATE: 08/30/2003 01:25:40 PM
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Spikey and me a re havin gso much fun that Idon't havetimetowrite much anymore for this webloggie thing. He hasnut reawly learned to play yet so much but he is good at cuddlesandat walkeis. But he needses to quit eatting teh werms on the sidwalkie or Mommie is going to be mad and groswed out.

Buts her andI loves him.
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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: Fun thing
STATUS: Publish
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CATEGORY: Games

DATE: 09/09/2003 05:12:11 PM
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Herei s m y newest fun thing to do to y ourMommies. Wheneber yuMommie askes if you want to go outieside, run to the door but ask to be pet-pet-petted instead. Then whenveber her r reaches for the leash run offoffoff. U can drinks water or pick upa babytoy or licks yourbowl, whateber. Repeats utnil yoMommie gwabs you and puts you r leas h on.

P.S> I adapted thse game from my littlelbud der Spkie. Him just runs but I t hi n k my way sis much betterer.
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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: Two months
STATUS: Publish
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CATEGORY: Written by an actual human

DATE: 09/09/2003 05:27:26 PM
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Well, I've had Spike about two months now. Sometimes I think that nothing has changed; other times I think it's "all better now." Spike still runs when I try to put his leash on for walkies, although he eventually stops and lets me put it on now. He still goes potty where and when he wants to, usually just after we've gone outside. He still pees in the middle of the night, although not as much since I finally wised up and stopped leaving a bowl of water out for him all night. (Duh!)

He appears to be totally clueless about the puppy pee pads, unless he thinks that they are there specifically not to be pottied on. But I can't catch him going and move him to the pad like I used to do with Tess, because he's so skittish he doesn't like to be picked up suddenly and tends to run away when I try to. Crate training won't work because he's so terrified (or maybe angry at) the crate that he's loud enough to wake the dead if I try to keep him in there. If I wasn't in an apartment I'd just put up with it, but I can't do that to the neighbors. I guess if I'd spent 6 years in a crate and then finally got to get out of it, I'd howl if someone put me back in one too.

Most worrisome to me is that he doesn't play with anything. He loves to chew, even without teeth, so rawhide is a great treat until Tess takes it away from him. I've seen him chew on a toy a total of one time, and he's not interested in that toy anymore. He seems to like things that I've dropped and he knows he's not supposed to have, and things on strings. Like the mesh sponge I use in the bath, or shoelaces. He was crazy about the measuring tape I had out the other night too. It's really cute; he'll be very quiet about sneaking up on something, grab it and then run. To "play," he lunges at something, bounces back, lunges again, and so on. Which is also how he greets me when I get home from work. I usually sit on the floor so Tess can give me hello kisses, and Spike will run up and quickly lick me, then bounce away, then lick, then bounce away, until Tess decides it's time to play fetch. I think Spike believes I am throwing things at him instead of playing with him, so when it's time for fetch he disappears. Or else he'll run along with Tess toward the ball, stop, and be like "Okay, now what were we running into this room for?"

He sure is a great cuddler in the mornings, though. I often bring him up in bed with me (if he wakes me up in time to get him before he pees on the carpet, that is), and he just settles down into a tiny white ball and starts to snooze.

It looks like he is going to be on Hill's Prescription Diet for good. I was planning to switch him over to Hill's Science Diet for senior dogs — the vet thinks it's the best protein match for what the Prescription Diet he's on now — but the very day I was going to buy the new food he was sick on his stomach. Although it was probably because of the stupid worms he eats, I just couldn't bring myself to switch food on him. It's like it was a sign. Right now, he's eating Tess's food because I haven't made it to the vet's to get some of Spike's, but I'll do that tomorrow morning since I don't come in to work until noon.
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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: Finally, an update
STATUS: Publish
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CATEGORY: Written by an actual human

DATE: 11/06/2003 06:17:04 PM
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It's been a while since I've managed to write ... one definite interruption was the broken foot/torn ligament/sprained ankle I suffered on my birthday! And suffer is definitely the right word, friends!

Actually, that broken foot is very relevant to Spike and his story. I was on crutches for a few days — only a few — and Spike was terrified of them. And he was probably right to be afraid, since I was not very coordinated on them and if he or Tess was in the way of where I was attempting to go, they just had to move.

I'm sorry, I'll update more later. A coworkers dog is have problems with a slipped disk and it's got me all worked up.
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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: Okay, emergency over
STATUS: Publish
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DATE: 11/06/2003 07:30:04 PM
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Well, not really over. But the dog has been sent to a 24-hour emergency vet that I know and love (I think they saved Tess's life once, I really do) and will most likely have surgery tonight. Apparently he got stepped on this morning, and he's just a little toy poodle. But give them about $3,000 and he'll be fine and dandy. Hopefully.

So, back to Spike.

Before I got hurt, we had made some good progress on the house-breaking front. I'm not sure if he was learning to go potty on the papers of if I was learning where to put the papers where he was going to potty, but while I was "laid up," all the papers had to be picked up so I didn't slip on them. He got terribly confused to say the least, and a month later we're working hard to get back to where we were. I don't think I'll ever be able to train him to "hold it" until we get outside, but I do think he can learn to potty on the papers. Or hopefully in a doggy litter box, actually.

I think Tess is using the papers, so that's good and it's better for her bladder I'm sure. The other good thing to come of my broken foot is that Spike decided he very much likes to hop up in bed with me in the mornings and cuddle. So we're bonding over that at least, but I think it made Tess unhappy so there were a few nights when all three of us slept on the bed. One thing about Spike being in my bed that I really don't like is that he jumps off of it, and I fell it's far too high for him to be doing that.

Also while I was hurt, in the first few days after it happened, Spike managed to poop all over himself. He smelled soooo bad that I actually had to call a friend and have her come and bathe him, because at that point I couldn't stand unaided, much less walk. Actually, it took four hands to control him anyway, but she got him nice and clean. Rebekah's got two little Yorkie puppies, and under all that hair a Maltese and a Yorkie are pretty close to being the same dog, so she was very skilled in what she was doing.

Both of the dogs got pretty tired of being cooped up while I was unable to walk them, although Spike had it a little easier since he will potty inside without a second thought. It all started to get next to Tess, though, and she snapped at Spike more than a few times. Her problem was really that she refused to go on a walk with anyone else but me, but I couldn't walk around to take her. Actually, Rebekah got her to go far enough to go potty, which was a relief.

Anyway, so right now he's still missing the papers at least every other time he goes potty, maybe two out of three times, and he still runs when I try to touch him (except in the mornings when he wants to snuggle). Just to get him to put on his harness and leash so we can go outside (which he adores) I have to shut all the doors, block off one end of the kitchen and then chase him in there. I need to measure him for a bag Rebekah is making for me, but I can't even catch him to do that. Poor little guy is soooo scared it's pitiful. Also, he's been eating poop again, his own or Tess's. Disgusting! I don't know if he actually likes it or if he seems me cleaning his poop up and figures he'll help out since I so obviously don't like to see it?

I know there's something I can put on his food to stop the poo-eating, but since Tess would need to eat it too I first want to make sure it won't adversely effect her bladder stone problems, so I haven't started giving it to them yet.

Other problems that Spike has are coming to light, like the fact that he has some sort of tremors or fits. They don't seem to last long, and I've only observed them at night, and always when he seems to be trying to walk, so I wonder if they are related to the clicking one of his back legs makes when he runs. He doesn't loose control of his bowels or bladder or anything, so I don't think they're epileptic fits. He does shake for quite a while and drool, but because both times I have witnessed this I have swooped down and picked him up I don't know how much of that is from his little fit and how much is from the terror of my fast actions to pick him up. Next time I won't do that and will be able to see what happens.

He has finally found a toy or two that he likes, although he doesn't precisely play with them. He loves to gnaw on the Kong, even when there's no food in it, and he also enjoys chewing on a small ball I bought him, made by the Kong company. I'm not sure how he does it, but somehow he makes this really loud squeaky noise with the Kong when he chews. I bought another Kong at Target, so I could make treat-stuffed Kongs for both dogs at the same time, but it had obviously been stored with moth balls and has been outside for over a week now, but still stinks so badly I can't even think about giving it to him yet. Pretty bad of Target, I think, and I'm Target's biggest fan.

One of these days I'm going to find a toy he actually enjoys playing with, though.
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AUTHOR: isa
EMAIL: grefen@stud.vetmed.uni-muenchen.de
IP: 145.254.111.47
URL:
DATE: 12/19/2003 07:24:11 PM
Hi!

Hope you'll read this... since I'm rather a complete idiot as far as computers and the internet are concerned i have doubts... i don't really want to comment on your dog (though i love animals), but on "Fire and Hemlock", a book i absolutely and completely adore - as i do with most of diana wynne jones's books.

If you like children's books, and fantasy, and England, you should try getting hold of Patrick Little's "The Hawthorn Tree". It's as British as it gets, and on top of that, it's another version of "Thomas the Rhymer". (And have you read "The time of the Ghost" and "Power of three" by D. W. Jones, yet? Highly recommendable!!!)

I have only just found your page and haven't had a look at it properly yet. Must say i find it a bit confusing, but that might have something to do with my above mentioned mental abilities concerning the www.

What exactly did you make of the ending in "Fire and hemlock"?

:) isa
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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: You'll nevernever guess
STATUS: Publish
ALLOW COMMENTS: 2
CONVERT BREAKS: __default__
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CATEGORY: Current Affairs

DATE: 11/06/2003 07:34:18 PM
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Whut happeneded to Mommie an dme a whileback. Butr try anyways and I wills tells you all abouts it tomoorwo or maybe Satsatsaturday. It's why U haveot heard from mem uch latetly.
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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: Happy (belated) anniversary to me!
STATUS: Publish
ALLOW COMMENTS: 1
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CATEGORY: Written by Spike

DATE: 07/26/2004 03:20:14 PM
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spikeHullo. Spike here. Looks like she's finally gonna let me speak for myself here. 'Bout time. It's been a year. Today she left this here puter on the loveseat right where I can reach it, so I reckon that's my cue.
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Well, like I said I've been here a little bit over a year now. Can I just say, "Wow!" I never had any idea I could ever feel this good, or look this good, or have a belly this full! And I sure never knew how nice kisses and cuddles were, or how soft a people-bed is. Or how to chew on a bone. Or wear a leash. Or not lay around in poop and pee all day. Or air conditioning in the summer. Or heat in the winter.

Matter of fact, that reminds me. It's all been pretty nice 'n all, but there were a few days back when it was cold outside when something verrrry strange happened. Some stuff that was white and really very cold got on the ground; when Mama first took me out for a walk init, it was half way up my little bitty legs and I hated it right away. Tess-dog loved it, but she's weird like that. I am a summer dog, through and through. Anyways, it was about a week before I got to go outside again, cause that white junk got more and more of it. Sometimes Mama and Tess would drag in some of it on their feet and it was kinda nice to eat, so it wasn't all bad.

But summertime is soooo much better. One other thing is we moved away from all the cars and pavement and now we has lots of green green grass and tress and stuff. It's so much fun, and I found out how to make Mama run, run, run sos I can run too. Sometimes I run real fast and Tess-dog just stops, and that makes Mama look real funny.

Oh, and I took a class down at the PetsMart - Mama said she just about lived there anyway. Miss Adrianne was my teacher and she was very good, or at least her treats were very good. I didn't learn a whole lot about sitting and downing and staying and coming (although I will do 'em if I have a leash on), but I did learn how to be around other dogs and people without being so scared of 'em and how to walk down the aisles at PetsMart and not be so afraid. That was good at first but now I like to go up to people and try to bite 'em, so Mama says maybe it worked a little too well. There's a picture of me in my graduation stuff around here somewhere ...

I gotta go cause it looks like it might just storm and I am a little wee bit afraid of thunderbooms. So I'm going to hide under the Mama bed. I'll write more later if Mama leaves her puter where I can get to it again.
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AUTHOR: Jamie Christenbury
TITLE: She did it again
STATUS: Publish
ALLOW COMMENTS: 0
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CATEGORY: Written by Spike

DATE: 02/11/2005 05:43:16 PM
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Once again, I let myself be put in the car without the other doggie. And once again I've come home missing some things.



See last week when I went to the vet lady's I just know I had more teethies than I do now. I am sure that 3 or 4 of them have gone missing, but I was very sleepy while I was there and I do not know what happened to them. The mama lady doesn't seem too concerned, although she keeps putting these white things in my food and I think they are to make me forget. She thinks I don't notice them, but since they are white I just hide them in my beard somewhere and nobody knows but me.



She said something today about being finished with the Ann Biotics on Sunday. I'm not sure whow Ann Biotics is, but I think it's a good thing to be finished with her. But it is not a good thing to wake up with toothies missing, especially if you were not finished with them!


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