Guess Who Came Home?

You got it!  Bashful came home from his adventure visiting Sam from Tails Around the Ranch.  He has talked non-top about his fun times.  Cause you know some things that happened on his trip stay on the trip if you know what I mean.  Snorts with piggy laughter.  We had a rock party over the weekend to welcome him back home with his new ‘friend’.  That’s right my friends.  Bashful has brought yet another girl home.  Sighs – he is such a stud rock. ❤

Without further ado, please let me introduce you to Roxann.  Now Roxann is special.  Roaxnn is a naturalized rock via all the way from the beach in Cozumel.  Here’s the kicker.  Roxann is around 5,000 years old – stunner huh?  Who said with age comes disgrace.  Roxann is kicking it with her beautiful blonde hair, blue eyes and red lipstick.  Can you say hubba-hubba?  Her birthday is March 4th.

And here’s the kicker.  Sam found Roxann and Bashful in a corner snickering one day.  When they were asked what they were doing, they both blushed to the high heavens.  And when the box came to my crib, they were both snickering too.  But this time, they were in separate compartments in their packaging.  That might be good because who wants to see gravel appearing in 9 months?  Snorts with piggy laughter – I’m too young to be a grandpa again.

So my dear sweet friend Sam – thank you so much for hosting my little guy.

Where will Bashful go next time in his travels?  Stay tuned my friends!

 

Mommy Lost Her Mind

We had great plans here at the Hotel Thompson this past weekend.  They required lots of rest and relaxation and most of all being couch potatoes while watching endless mind wandering television shows.  You know shows that are not to mind provoking or where you have to figure out who did it.  Television shows that you just watch and laugh carefree without having to use that mind… endless mind shows is what we call them.  Things went well Saturday.  

Then Sunday the humans get up and turn on the television in the living room.  They hear a big BANG.  Mom looked over and the small cable box had popped and was smoking.  She immediately went over and pulled all of the cables out of the wall and television.  Okay, so maybe they watched too much television the day before?  Snorts with piggy laughter.

Mom gets on the phone to inquire about our cable store to see where and when they are opened today.  Guess what?  They were closed on Sunday.  What the cream cheese?  Really.   So Sunday was long, no television.  Do you know how old school that was.  I’m not sure who it killed more – mom/dad or us anipals.  I mean hey I can admit it.  I love my television.  So Sunday we did what we ‘use’ to do before television.  We talked.  We cooked.  We played games.  We rested together.  It was kind of awesome.

Then Monday, mom took the cable box to the store and explained what happened to it.  They said it had happened to others and they were doing away with that type of box.  What?  Are you serious?  Something like this has happened before and you didn’t recall these types of boxes?  What if mom/dad had not been home?  What if was just us anipals and this happened?  Amazing customer service to boot huh?

So mom gets a new box (see picture) and was told all you have to do is plug everything in and there you go it works.  Mom of course rolled her eyes and said sure.  That’s when the great customer service told her, “Well we can come out to do it but it will be $75.00 for the service call”.  Really?!  That’s highway robbery.  Mom took the box mumbling some choice pirate words on the way out of the store under her breath.

Mom gets home and opens the box.  How cute.  The box says, ‘”Let’s get started”.  Of course mom did what no man has ever done.  She read the 3 page instructions first.  Then, mom had to move the giant television out and pull bookshelf/table out from the wall.  This in itself about blew mom’s inner strength.  Huffing and puffing, she gets everything pulled out so she can get behind the television.  Now, I’m on the couch minding my own business and watching the circus start.  Hemi then jumps behind the television to check things out.  Houdini tries to get in on the action.  All the time, mom is brushing them out from behind her war zone.

Mom follows the 3 easy steps.  Plug in cable box in from cable line – √.  Plug in cable from cable box to television – √.  Plug in cord from cable box to wall outlet – √.  Simple right?  Then the final step.  Turn on the television and you should have cable.  Easy peasy.  Mom felt great.  She turned on the television.  Nothing.  Mom dropped the F word – fudgescicles.  Oh boy.  This is not good.  Mom doesn’t use that word.

That’s when dad made his first mistake.  “Is it plugged in?”  Insert more use of the F word.  Then dad made his second mistake.  “Is it plugged into the right holes?”  Insert more use of the F word.

Mom gets the house phone and calls the cable company for tech support.  She puts them on speaker so she can have hands free for doing whatever they tell her to do.  Now this is where America has went wrong.  She gets a customer service rep who is clearly outsourced somewhere other than the states.  She can barely understand him through his heavy accent but clearly him ask, “Is it plugged in?”  Really?  Now mom asks him in a very nice way could she talk to someone else who doesn’t have such a heavy accent.  Nothing wrong in that.  If you can’t understand someone, you are not going to get the help you need.  And, she wasn’t being mean.  Can you believe he was not so nice and
said a few words she couldn’t understand before transferring her.  What happened to customer service these days?

Phone gets transferred and picked up by another who immediately throws mom on hold.  Finally after 12 minutes, it is picked up again by another person with an accent .  But this time, mom can understand them more.  And of course the first thing they say, “Is it plugged in?”  Really?  Mom counted to 10 and said, “Yes.  I’m literate I can read instructions”.  Of course, the guy laughed so that eased mom down some.  Through the course of about 25 minutes, every thing was attempted.  Pings were sent to the box.  Programming was changed. New remote was set up.  Mom climbed behind the television.  She pulled lines.  She took everything out.  She put everything back the way it was.   She stood on one foot.  She touched her nose.  She prayed to the cable Gods.

After an hour of customer service (which I might add that this person was cool), we had cable.  Eureka!  Clearer and better sound quality cable.  Clearer and better sound quality than we ever had.  Of course mom lost her mommy mind but through an adult drink later in a sippy cup she found it.

Now, I know mom is not the only one that hates dealing with these things.  What about your mom?  If dad could, she would have so thrown it in his lap and said deal with it.  But we know she couldn’t.  And I guess this is better than waiting for the cable guy who never gets there on time and yes it saved us money because she did it… but, to what extent do you deal with things like this?  Do tell my friends to cheer mom up.

 

Spotlight Thursday – Meet Monika and Sam

Spotlight Thursday

Welcome my friends to SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY.  This is the time that I will introduce you to one of my fellow anipals so you can get to know them better.  Some of them, you may already know.  We hope that you enjoy this new series!

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Name: Monika & Sam

Age:  Sam is 10 and I’m old as dirt [snicker]

Location:   ​The Mile High City…Denver, CO

Web/Blog Page:  Tails Around the Ranch

What were your first thoughts when you met your new parents?  Yikes! You’re letting me go home with this woman? What’s wrong with you? Sam was clearly flummoxed by the thought of going home with a new family especially one who lived in a large metropolis area-he grew up on a farm and knew nothing about sidewalks, gutters, streets, passing traffic (buses in particular), strollers, sandwich boards in our neighborhood restaurant area, skateboards.

What was the defining moment when you knew you were in your forever home?  To his credit, Sam adapted quickly-he insinuated himself early on as a bed hog, taking up residence on one of the sheepdogs’ bed right away. She of course put him straight in no time just like she did with her ‘brother,’ Eliot, the male Old English Sheepdog. When both OES’s were alive, Puck ruled the roost but Sam completely adored her and still does double takes whenever he sees OES’s out and about. 🙂

What has been your biggest “Oh no, now I’ve done it” moment so far in your home?  Not much seems to bother Sam, and remorse is strictly a word/concept  in the dictionary (Standard Poodles are more than slightly self-assured) but he seems particularly terrified of the chirping smoke alarm with his begging eyes for me to stop that infernal racket. He does seem to have a penchant for chewing up expensive and/or sentimental leather goods. I’ve had to keep track of ‘quiet times’ and put up leather wallets, daytimers and small handbags so they are out of the reach of curious sniffers  ​

 Who do you have wrapped around your paws more – mom or dad – and why?  ​Even with the novelty of Dad who recently joined our household, he’s pretty much has both of us wrapped around his paw. He totally has everyone he meets wrapped around his paws with his sweet disposition and goofiness. You can’t help but adore this canine knucklehead; he has such an adorable personality. 

What’s the biggest misconception that humans think about you?  I always get accused of being dumb but I think there’s a fine line between being dumb and been stubborn. I think I jump back and forth across that line every day with adroit athleticism 🙂 

   

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Hope you enjoyed meeting my friends Sam and Monika – check back next week for another Spotlight edition!

 

Anipal Appreciation Day

Welcome my friends to blogville’s first annual Anipal Appreciation Day.  Me and my Cousin Sammy have collaborated together to initiate this day every year on February 15th.  What better time to get together and share the love than the month of February.

Rules for Anipal Appreciation Day:

1. Post your Anipal Appreciation Day blog on FEBRUARY 15, 2016.
2. Title your blog Anipal Appreciation Day.
3. Put the badge below on your blog post for the day.
4. Give shout outs not only in the posting of your blog but throughout the day with the comments you may get.  There is no set number of shout out’s you are required to do – let your heart lead you.  We are *not* leaving anyone out.  If you don’t make the post on a blog, be sure to check messages and comments throughout the day that people and anipals might leave.
5. If you can, link back your shout outs in your blogs for them to find.
6. HAVE FUN!  This is the most important rule – have FUN and share the LOVE!

Cousin Sammy – I’ve known him for years now.  He is a great guy – a bestest friend and always willing to lend a helping paw.  He goes out of his way to make you feel loved and welcomed even though at times I know he doesn’t feel well.  And you know what?  He gets that from his humans.  And technically, he and I *may* be related somewhere down the road with his parents and my parents being second, third or fourth cousins or something.

Brother Easy – Dude!  He is funny, he is kind, he is a hoot and he has the hardest job keeping his staff in line with their own antics.  And you know what?  Any time you need something, he is always there for you with a helping paw.

Felix – Now we all know the regular guys from Fozzie’s world – Dinnermintz, Doc, Forrest, Marbles, Cleo, Jacque, Pickles and Oscar (Did I miss anyone?)  Do you know Felix?  I mean all of this clan hold a special place in our hearts here at the Hotel Thompson but Felix especially.  Why? Because Felix gave up some wool and Fozzie gave it to another person that is special in our hearts – Auntie Sharon.  Auntie Sharon then spun that beautiful wool and made Fozzie, herself and my mom a scarf to keep their necks warm in the cooler weather.  In fact, my mom calls her scarf Felix.  Cool huh?  You gotta love this bunch from down under ❤

Shoko and Kali – WOWZER!  These are the coolest cats I’ve met in Canada.  You know what is even more cool – if that’s possible?  My mom/dad have met their mom/dad in real life.  Yep nods head.  They have and they had a BLAST together. Talk about laughing until your tummy hurts.  They are all a cool bunch!

Reilly and Denny – They are an awesome duo that live in a wonderful place full of beaches, sand and the sun.  They are beyond creative in finding their adventures from trails, their backyard (minus the snakes please) to roaming the beaches looking for trinkets to keep.  I would love to hang out with these and have fun running and exploring.

Cupcake – I’ll let everyone in on a secret with something about Cupcake.  The little pooch here – Houdini – has a *thang* for Cupcake.  He loves her.  He pulls her blog up and watches her picture for hours dreaming about running, playing and watching the movie Lady and the Tramp together.  Shakes piggy head.  He has it bad.

Dante – You talk about big things coming in little sizes – this is that.  Dante is what maybe 6 pounds (kind of like Houdini) and has the biggest heart.  He is always inspiring us to be nicer – to do more – to smile and give love.  And in this day and time, we need all of the love we can share.  Right?

Little Binky – Smiling and shaking my head.  I love Little Binky and his granny.  I watch him in his backyard looking around and playing around his new house.

Sam – Did you know that Sam is part of a therapy team with his mom?  He brings smiles to patients in a hospital and hospice care.  I’m telling you my friends, Sam brings a smile to my face just reading his blog and his adventures.  He’s a friend that is always giving and giving.

Of course, the list can go on and on and on for days.  These are just ‘some’ of the people that have touched our lives here at the Hotel Thompson.  It is in no way – ALL.  In fact, throughout the day, I’m sure I will be adding more and more here and there and in the comments.  We love you ALL here in blogville.  And believe it or not, YOU have touched our lives here.  You bring smiles to our faces, you touch us when we are down, you make us laugh/snort.  We talk about you to our friends – which is hilarious to here.  Yes, YOU are a HUGE part of our lives.  Each and everyone – from being listed to those that maybe we don’t even talk to but every couple of days.  YOU inspire us.  YOU hold a special place in our heart.  We grieve with you.  We laugh with you.  We joke with you.  YOU ARE FAMILY MY FRIENDS.