Hello from Afghanistan!
In case you were wondering, I have really been wandering this past week! After I left my heart in San Francisco, I began a series of flights. Over the next several days, I stopped in New York, Virginia, Germany, Kyrgyzstan, and now finally Afghanistan. I got to walk through the rain & snow in Virginia, the snow in Germany, and sort and palletize my luggage in the rain & snow in Kyrgyzstan. Fortunately, everything important stayed dry, and my luggage has already dried out!
Afghanistan will be my new abode for the next six months, and the only wandering I'll be doing is to the gym, the dfac, the hospital, and occasionally the BX. However, since I am only responsible for myself, I'll probably have plenty of time to wonder, so check back often for more musings from the mind of the Penguin.
Work is going to be awesome as there are a bunch of people here I already know from stateside, including some I haven't seen since my last deployment! And I'll have plenty of free time, as I will only be working 8-12 hours a day. Living space here is very limited, so I am going to get to know my 7 (yes, count them, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7!) roommates really well, I would imagine.
Well, that's all the news that is the news from the other side of the world, at least for the moment. Seems like Mrs. Penguin and the littles are adjusting to life without me. Not necessarily well or easily, but adjusting. Surprisingly, the one that seems to be having the hardest time without me at home is Buck! He has been so bad since I left that he is now confined to linoleum only spaces or outside 24/7. Mrs. Penguin said if/when I deploy again, I have to take him with me, because he has been atrocious!
Showing posts with label Buck. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Buck. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Running for my life
Since I have a tendency to fat (read, "I like to stuff food in my face,") and am in the military, and hence have to pass PT tests, I have to run. This is a problem, because . . . running is painful. Emotionally, psychologically and physically painful. Psyche destroying, knee bashing, make me want to curl up in a little ball and cry like a girl painful, at least for me.
However, I have recently discovered that running with a partner lessens the psychological and emotional pain. I don't know that it decreases the physical pain, but I have found that I am running farther with no more pain than I had at the shorter distances. I have tried running with a partner before, but either they were too fast, or ran too far for my wimpy legs - Wolfie and Chip, Yes I am talking about you. Or else they were not quite up to my speed and endurance and I felt like I had to show off (Sorry, Red). This time it is different.
My new running partner and I have been running together for about 3 or 4 weeks now. I find that we both seem to look forward to it. I do have to admit that he takes a lot of potty breaks, but other than that seems to make a really good running parter. Well, except when he decides to try and chase the ducks and geese at the duck pond.
If you haven't figured it out by now, our dog Buck is my new running partner. I wasn't really motivated to run on my own, but the dog seems to need some sort of regular exercise to wear him out, so I thought I would try and see if he would run. He does. He keeps pretty much to my pace. His (and my) endurance have been slowly increasing. The first couple times we went, when he was ready to stop, he simply laid down, and wouldn't move until he was convinced I wasn't going to make him run anymore that day. Now, he keeps moving until I stop (except for the potty breaks), and then acts like he wants to keep going. We have increased our runs from less than a mile and a half to about 2 miles 3 times a week. I think Buck would go farther, but is willing to stop and walk when I'm done.
I'm actually starting to look forward to our runs together, and it almost seems like he does too. When I head to the drawer to get his leash, he gets all excited and starts bouncing around. It's nice to have a running partner that doesn't challenge me too much, but is willing to run with me, and who I don't feel like I have to try to impress. If he keeps this up, I might actually keep running regularly. Now if I could just teach him to spot me on the bench press!
However, I have recently discovered that running with a partner lessens the psychological and emotional pain. I don't know that it decreases the physical pain, but I have found that I am running farther with no more pain than I had at the shorter distances. I have tried running with a partner before, but either they were too fast, or ran too far for my wimpy legs - Wolfie and Chip, Yes I am talking about you. Or else they were not quite up to my speed and endurance and I felt like I had to show off (Sorry, Red). This time it is different.
My new running partner and I have been running together for about 3 or 4 weeks now. I find that we both seem to look forward to it. I do have to admit that he takes a lot of potty breaks, but other than that seems to make a really good running parter. Well, except when he decides to try and chase the ducks and geese at the duck pond.
If you haven't figured it out by now, our dog Buck is my new running partner. I wasn't really motivated to run on my own, but the dog seems to need some sort of regular exercise to wear him out, so I thought I would try and see if he would run. He does. He keeps pretty much to my pace. His (and my) endurance have been slowly increasing. The first couple times we went, when he was ready to stop, he simply laid down, and wouldn't move until he was convinced I wasn't going to make him run anymore that day. Now, he keeps moving until I stop (except for the potty breaks), and then acts like he wants to keep going. We have increased our runs from less than a mile and a half to about 2 miles 3 times a week. I think Buck would go farther, but is willing to stop and walk when I'm done.
I'm actually starting to look forward to our runs together, and it almost seems like he does too. When I head to the drawer to get his leash, he gets all excited and starts bouncing around. It's nice to have a running partner that doesn't challenge me too much, but is willing to run with me, and who I don't feel like I have to try to impress. If he keeps this up, I might actually keep running regularly. Now if I could just teach him to spot me on the bench press!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Riffs on a Buck
In case you missed the last post, we have a new member of our household, Buck!
The funny thing about that name is how many variations we have come up with in the last 2 days. Here they are: (Bonus points if you can name all the pop culture references)
Buckminster Fullerene - And he's been neutered, so Bucky Balls is out.
Buckskin
Buckshot
Buck Naked (or Nekked, depending on where you are from and what you are up to!)
Bucket of Bolts
Buckingham Palace
Bucket of Chicken
Buckaroo
Buck Ninety-Eight
Buck Buck Buck Eighty-Nine
Buck Buck Goose
Buckle My Shoe
And then there is this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDnRFjOi3rA
Unfortunately, I can't embed this particular clip, but please follow the link. After we had decided on the name Buck, Boy Wonder quoted this for us. It was awesome. We were laughing so hard Mrs. Penguin was having trouble breathing, and I was having trouble steering.
Here he is!
The funny thing about that name is how many variations we have come up with in the last 2 days. Here they are: (Bonus points if you can name all the pop culture references)
Buckminster Fullerene - And he's been neutered, so Bucky Balls is out.
Buckskin
Buckshot
Buck Naked (or Nekked, depending on where you are from and what you are up to!)
Bucket of Bolts
Buckingham Palace
Bucket of Chicken
Buckaroo
Buck Ninety-Eight
Buck Buck Buck Eighty-Nine
Buck Buck Goose
Buckle My Shoe
And then there is this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDnRFjOi3rA
Unfortunately, I can't embed this particular clip, but please follow the link. After we had decided on the name Buck, Boy Wonder quoted this for us. It was awesome. We were laughing so hard Mrs. Penguin was having trouble breathing, and I was having trouble steering.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Today is National Puppy Day!
In honor of the titular fact, (actually coincidentally) we adopted a dog!
For those of you who don't know, we had to put our previous dog, Mini, down last May. We have been doggieless since. We had the privilege of watching Tucker a couple weekends back, and it really reinforced to all of the Penguins in our house that we are a dog-type family.
Over the last couple months we had established contact with the Miniature Schnauzer Club of Northern California, looking for a rescue dog to adopt. Yesterday, the 22nd of March we drove to a small town outside Sacramento to meet, and as it turns out, adopt, a wonderful new companion for our family. He is a larger miniature schnauzer, about 22 pounds and 16 inches at the shoulder. It was hard to resist his little bandit face, and the fact that he wanted to jump in the truck right away. We spent a little over an hour getting to know him and the foster home, and took him for a walk to a local park. When we left, the foster mom was very gracious and provided a collar, leash, toys, treats and enough food for a few days. I think she gave us nearly the adoption fee in extras. Thank you Nancy!
Somewhere there is a family with a couple of children who are heartbroken. This is a wonderful dog. He was found dirty, matted and loose, with a collar but no tag or microchip. He is a quick learner, even if a little confused at the moment. He had been called "Jack" for the last few days while at his foster home, but "Jack" didn't seem to fit him. We debated his name all the way home, and all the way through the PetSmart store while we picked up some greenies (teeth cleaning bones), reward treats, food and water bowls, a comb and a brush. We got him a tag, but still couldn't come up with a name. Boy Wonder kept coming up with bizarre names like "Battery" to which this very smart dog would give him a look that seemed to say, "Absolutely not! I will not be called that!" We were only a couple minutes from the house when we came up with "Buck." Buck is close enough to Jack that hopefully he can adapt quickly.
He is a very good dog. He did get out of the house yesterday when one of the neighbors dropped by. He went across the street to say "Hi" to a couple of little girls, then came home with me as soon as he had said "Hi." He walks wonderfully on the leash, visits well with other dogs, and the only time he has barked is when Boy Wonder left the house yesterday. Buck could see him through the window and barked a couple times to try to get Boy Wonder to come back and get him.
Our biggest issue so far was helping Buck figure out where to sleep last night. He had been sleeping with his Foster People in their bed, and didn't show any interest in the beds at PetSmart, so we didn't buy him one. Last night we tried placing him on Boo's bed, but he didn't seem to want to stay there. He paced up and down the stairs a few times, going to the couches, then coming to our room. He finally jumped up on our bed. I moved him to Boy Wonder's bed, and he stayed there until 3:45 when Boy Wonder made a bathroom trip. I tried to get Buck to go out to the bathroom, but he was having none of that. Buck moved himself to Boo's bed, and stayed there until he was ready to get up this morning. We weren't as quick out of bed as he wanted, so he woke Boo up.
Buck and we at the Penguin household are quickly adapting to each other. Welcome home, Buck. Welcome Home! Be sure and click on the Title to see pictures of Buck (Jack) in action!
For those of you who don't know, we had to put our previous dog, Mini, down last May. We have been doggieless since. We had the privilege of watching Tucker a couple weekends back, and it really reinforced to all of the Penguins in our house that we are a dog-type family.
Over the last couple months we had established contact with the Miniature Schnauzer Club of Northern California, looking for a rescue dog to adopt. Yesterday, the 22nd of March we drove to a small town outside Sacramento to meet, and as it turns out, adopt, a wonderful new companion for our family. He is a larger miniature schnauzer, about 22 pounds and 16 inches at the shoulder. It was hard to resist his little bandit face, and the fact that he wanted to jump in the truck right away. We spent a little over an hour getting to know him and the foster home, and took him for a walk to a local park. When we left, the foster mom was very gracious and provided a collar, leash, toys, treats and enough food for a few days. I think she gave us nearly the adoption fee in extras. Thank you Nancy!
Somewhere there is a family with a couple of children who are heartbroken. This is a wonderful dog. He was found dirty, matted and loose, with a collar but no tag or microchip. He is a quick learner, even if a little confused at the moment. He had been called "Jack" for the last few days while at his foster home, but "Jack" didn't seem to fit him. We debated his name all the way home, and all the way through the PetSmart store while we picked up some greenies (teeth cleaning bones), reward treats, food and water bowls, a comb and a brush. We got him a tag, but still couldn't come up with a name. Boy Wonder kept coming up with bizarre names like "Battery" to which this very smart dog would give him a look that seemed to say, "Absolutely not! I will not be called that!" We were only a couple minutes from the house when we came up with "Buck." Buck is close enough to Jack that hopefully he can adapt quickly.
He is a very good dog. He did get out of the house yesterday when one of the neighbors dropped by. He went across the street to say "Hi" to a couple of little girls, then came home with me as soon as he had said "Hi." He walks wonderfully on the leash, visits well with other dogs, and the only time he has barked is when Boy Wonder left the house yesterday. Buck could see him through the window and barked a couple times to try to get Boy Wonder to come back and get him.
Our biggest issue so far was helping Buck figure out where to sleep last night. He had been sleeping with his Foster People in their bed, and didn't show any interest in the beds at PetSmart, so we didn't buy him one. Last night we tried placing him on Boo's bed, but he didn't seem to want to stay there. He paced up and down the stairs a few times, going to the couches, then coming to our room. He finally jumped up on our bed. I moved him to Boy Wonder's bed, and he stayed there until 3:45 when Boy Wonder made a bathroom trip. I tried to get Buck to go out to the bathroom, but he was having none of that. Buck moved himself to Boo's bed, and stayed there until he was ready to get up this morning. We weren't as quick out of bed as he wanted, so he woke Boo up.
Buck and we at the Penguin household are quickly adapting to each other. Welcome home, Buck. Welcome Home! Be sure and click on the Title to see pictures of Buck (Jack) in action!
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