Madness and Puppy School

I feel like I'm living out of the trunk of my car. Everything is put up or inaccessible. To make things even MORE interesting, we just found out one of our water heaters has sprung a leak. It not only overflowed its basin, but through the ceiling and into our bedroom. Replacing the water heater isn't an issue. It's the idea of hauling that monster up to the attic. The joys of home ownership!

Meanwhile, we are in a state of suspended animation until the floor refurbishing is done. The work crew should be here any minute.

***


Greg & Nana after school
We took Nana to her first day at puppy school yesterday. She was timid, which was to be expected considering the enormous stimuli of crowds, noises, and strange dogs, but she got into the swing of things as the hour progressed. 

It's not just a proud mama saying this, but Nana was the best puppy in the group. Not only did she learn our first day's commands immediately, but she sat quietly the whole time. 

Meanwhile, one dog never stopped barking and another was looking for a fight. Even Iko didn't misbehave like this when I took him to puppy school. I raise my kids better than that.

I'll be in and out the rest of the week. I'm working off an antiquated laptop and the most it allows me to do is surf the web--if my internet is working. Right now, I'm too frazzled to think. We've been working nonstop to get the house emptied. 

The dogs have been good as gold throughout the calamity. Tank is the only one who seems upset by the turmoil. I'm afraid he thinks we're moving again. Poor old guy. We keep reassuring him that all is well, but he's not too sure. We just have to get through this week.




Comments

Jennifer Shirk said…
Oh wow. The wood floors...that's a project.

What a good Nana!! Give her a treat for me. :)
Maria Zannini said…
Jennifer: ...a very stressful project.

Re: Nana
That little girl did so well, eventually I had to stop giving her treats. LOL. I was afraid she'd ruin her appetite for proper food.
B.E. Sanderson said…
Good luck with the floor refurbishing. I know what it's like feeling like you're living out of your car. I hope they get everything done soon for you. Sorry about the water heater. I've never heard of one in the attic. That's got to be a bear.

Yay for your puptart. And yay for you being a good parent who raises them right. =o)
Maria Zannini said…
BE: The dogs aren't happy with strangers in their house, but since they're sitting with us on the back porch, they don't feel so threatened. It's going to be a long week.

Re: puptart
I love that word!
Stacy McKitrick said…
It always seems to happen - you work on one project on the house and something else screams for attention! Or you think you're only going to do this one little job and it turns into a huge undertaking.

But I'm with B.E. I never heard of a water heater in the attic. Ours is in the basement. Of course, lugging things in and out of the basement isn't any fun, either.
Maria Zannini said…
Stacy: Stairs are stairs whether they go up or down, though I'd rather navigate a water heater on concrete than in between ceiling joists. Most homes in this part of Texas don't have basements.

And you're right. It's always something. I just didn't need to add to the drama right now.

The workers seem to be doing a good job, but it is slow-going.
LD Masterson said…
Wait, the water came THOUGH the ceiling? Do you have to repair/ replace the ceiling, too. As if you don't have enough turmoil.

And don't try to tell me that's little Nana in that picture. I know Nana and she's nowhere near that big.
Maria Zannini said…
Linda: It seeped through the plaster so it may dry out on its own. :crossing fingers:

Re: Nana
She's getting big, isn't she? 33 pounds.
Sarah Ahiers said…
Look at that baby! She's so cute! Give her a big kiss from me.
And a water heater in an attic is weird to me. All of ours have always been in the basement
Jackie said…
Maria hang in there, good things wil come from the craziness!

Good going on puppy training, we never had a dog who went to obedience training and we could tell as all our dogs were out of control but still good family members regardless.
Angela Brown said…
Nana has been with a great family with some other wonderful dogs as examples :-)

The madness will soon settle, though I can understand if you harrumph at that since it won't be soon enough.

Hugs to Tank and all the furry kiddos :-)
Hope the week passes quickly for you and Tank. Old dogs really don't like new things.
Maria Zannini said…
Sarah: She's a good baby too. So willing to learn new things.
Maria Zannini said…
Jackie: I felt I could train Nana at home, but I really needed her to be socialized since she'd had so little contact with outsiders.
Anonymous said…
I hope the week passes smoothly for all of you! And the floors come out as beautifully as promised.

With you for a mama, how could Nana NOT be perfect in class? Seriously, was there any doubt?! Love the picture of her with Greg :)
Maria Zannini said…
Angela: I am so tired! It's been a very stressful day. But so far, so good. The floors are looking good. The workers think they'll be done tomorrow. They did the hard part today--and stayed really late to finish it.
Maria Zannini said…
Susan: That's true. Plus Tank has abandonment issues since it seems he came from a not-so-nice family.

Anyone who can abuse a good boy like that should be horse-whipped. It's unforgivable.
Maria Zannini said…
Raelyn: LOL. I was doing a little training with her before we started school, but mostly I wanted her to feel comfortable with strangers.

I was pleased she was much better behaved than the others.
Shelley Munro said…
Go, Nana! Puppy school is such a good idea. I think every puppy should attend.

Keep telling yourself the floors will look beautiful once they're done. It will be worth the upheaval.
James Garcia Jr said…
Ugh! Hang in there, my dear friend. That's too much!

-Jimmy
Mike Keyton said…
Buy Nana a steak and you two (I mean you and Greg) go out for a damn good meal when all this is done. I'm prone to sounding like the Pope with these ex cathedra statements, but sometimes even Popes speak truth : ) do you have a favourite restuarant?
Maria Zannini said…
Shelley: I'm an old pro at this, but I still like to take them to puppy school just so they know the world is a crowded place.
Maria Zannini said…
Jimmy: Thanks, Jimmy. I am very tired.
Maria Zannini said…
Mike: Forget the food.I think this requires massive amounts of alcohol--but after we get done. :)

...but no liquor for Nana. She's still too young for that kind of vice.
I think it's cute that you took Nana out to lunch after school. >_< Sounds like something we would do. Hang in there, Tank!
Cate Masters said…
Renovations are no fun. I love that my hubby is always improving our house but honestly sometimes I wish he'd just take a break, lol.
Nana is such a cutie! She doesn't need charm school, I'm sure. :)
Unknown said…
Maria. I feel for you. nothing like having your work schedule disturbed. And I can't believe how big Nana has gotten! Good luck with school.

Melissa McClone said…
Hugs on all the house stuff, but...

YAY Nana!

Once we get Cato back, we'll have to do classes with him. Also having a behaviorist do a house visit.
Maria Zannini said…
Barbara: Back when we had FIVE dogs, every Saturday we would all go to DQ and have ice cream cones. The drive-thru people thought it was wild to see all those dogs in the back, patiently waiting for their baby cones.
Maria Zannini said…
Cate: I think Nana could teach charm school. We've been trying to catch her on film doing her Elvis impersonation. When we scold her, she sometimes gives us this little sneer. She looks like Elvis. We laugh so hard, we can't stay mad at her.
Maria Zannini said…
Jim: It was a far bigger job than I anticipated. But moving the furniture was the worst. We still haven't moved everything yet, but at least we have some place to sit down.

On the upside, the floors are beautiful.

I know I owe you an email. I'll get in touch soon.
Maria Zannini said…
Melissa: We considered a behaviorist for Iko, but he settled down before it got too bad.

We call him our 'special' dog. :)
Pat Hatt said…
That flooring can sure be no fun under ones sun, good luck with it and great pup indeed.
Maria Zannini said…
Pat: It was stressful, but the house is mine again. Dogs are happy.