Today we put together doggy stairs so Stevie can get up on and off of the bed. Although, truthfully, she's almost tall enough and confident enough to jump up on it from the floor now. Still, Megan wants her to learn the stairs because her apartment is on the 2nd floor. Putting them together was a challenge since Stevie decided to "help" (see NEW PHOTOS in Gallery). She is getting real good at going up, but going down is more difficult. However, I have no doubt she will master both in a short amount of time, aided by some S-N-A-C-Ks, of which she is dearly fond.

We went to Petsmart again today, too. Evidently, Stevie doesn't have any toys (uh huh), and Megan wanted a gate for the entry way between the bedroom/hallway/bathroom and the living areas of the apartment. While there, we talked to one of their trainers about enrolling Stevie in puppy obedience, whether they had worked with any blind dogs, etc. Megan went ahead and made a behavioral evaluation appointment for Monday afternoon, when the store isn't so busy and there aren't so many dogs there. It will be interesting to see what they say and what Megan decides to do to further Stevie's education.

:)
G

Stevie has been trying to shake the crap out of her pooh bear blanket and her little bed... while she's sitting in it. I laugh just thinking about it. I haven't witnessed it yet, but the description makes a funny picture in my head.

Today Megan and Stevie were playing their version of fetch, and now Stevie has added another new twist... Megan asks "are you ready?" and tells her "go long!" and Stevie runs after the toy... and comes back with whatever's closest. I guess any toy will do when you're having fun.

We're discussing another weekend visit, so, naturally, I'll have more photos if that comes to pass. Rainy weather sure doesn't make me want to drive, but the thought of all those puppy kisses and seeing how much she's grown usually wins out. :)

Stay dry out there!

G

Austin Community College was closed again today -- winter weather made Austin seem more like Alaska in spring. Megan said she's sure Stevie is convinced she doesn't have a job. They watched a couple more movies today and Megan (she's a photographer as well as teacher and academic advisor) did some work in Photoshop.

Megan said Stevie has become transfixed with a new Greenies chew bone (not the edible kind, but the kind that are sorta like nylabones). She walks around the apartment with it hanging out of her mouth like a big cigar. At one point, Megan kicked the blue ball with the bell in it and said, "Go long!" Stevie ran after it, bone hanging out of her mouth. She found the ball, tried for a couple of minutes to figure out how to get the ball without giving up the bone, then decided the bone was more important. She left the ball where it landed and trotted off, bone in mouth, to ponder more important things, like staying warm, and how to keep anybody from taking her new bone.

G

We actually had real, live SNOW here in Austin and Central Texas today, with temperatures never getting above 28 - 30. Unusual for us, even in the dead of winter.

I was talking to Megan this evening and she said Stevie was more wound up than usual, and at that moment, was doing her best to pull the blankets entirely off the bed and onto the floor. I told her she probably had cabin fever like most folks here by now.

Megan said she still couldn't believe sometimes that she had a dog (and couldn't help throwing in that it's all my fault, of course). She said when we went to get her from foster mom Cathy, whom we met in Waco, she couldn't believe how small she was and she was so afraid she would hurt her. Stevie does have that Min Pin penchant for getting under foot without one realizing it, but even though she is bigger now, she's still pretty small. Still, they both manage quite well, thank you. It was a lucky -- and wonderful -- day for both of them when Megan decided to make the leap from "cat person" to "dog person". Sometimes it's *good* to have things be your fault. :)
G

Stevie and Megan spent the day much as many of us here in Central Texas did -- trying to stay warm and indoors! The community college has already declared that all its campuses will be closed tomorrow, so the two of them get another day "off", another day to turn up the heat and read a book or watch movies. Megan insisted that Stevie was acting "weird" today. I told her it was no doubt because of the cold. They were watching a movie in the bedroom, and I think Stevie wanted Megan to hang up and pull up the blankets! Growing little Min Pins don't have much hair or body fat... gotta rely on soft-hearted humans to help 'em out in mean old winter weather.

Stay warm and dry - keep the shiny side up!

G