Temporary Digs

There's water in the basement.  Well, the was water in the basement.

The furnace started leaking water every time the air conditioner went on, and with the crazy hot summer we've been having, it was on a lot.  The water trickled over to the wall where it seeped under the floor and on over to the next room, which is our room.  Then it came up through the laminate floors, the underpadding and the carpet.  Mom realized the problem when she walked into our room and her feet left wet footprints - yuck! 

She called a plumber, who cleaned out a hose and said that the problem was solved.  One week later, more water.  She called him back and he then insisted the water was coming in from outside when it rained.  Mommy looked at him funny and insisted that wasn't the issue.  He insisted it was.  Mommy hates it when service people come over and think that just because she is a lady that she doesn't know anything.  But she knows more than a thing or two.

She tried calling other plumbers but all were very busy and the wait would be very long.  Then one plumber, upon listening to the problem, said he knew exactly what it was and told her how to fix it herself.  So she did, with the help of a co-worker who can fix anything with a pipe wrench and a can of WD40.  Turns out that plumber guy cleaned out the wrong hose.  The basement has been dry ever since.  Where was Dad in all this?  Well, let's just say it's better if Daddy stays away from the tools, for everyone's sake. 

Needless to say, with all of this going on, Binks and I were moved upstairs to the main floor.  We like it up there - all new places to explore!  Here is a picture of me guarding the DVDs. 

Binky likes hiding under the couch.  She has to flatten herself out like a pancake to slide under there but she can do it.  Despite having no carpet, we both do pretty well and Binks is able to get up to a good trott when that box of raisins is given a good shake.  She also likes ripping up the flyers in the magazine rack.  Here is a shot of her proudly running around with a piece of paper in her mouth...silly girl.

So Mom and Dad ripped up the carpet and underpadding and the garbage men took it away yesterday. A brand new carpet has been ordered and should arrive any day. Then we will get all set up back in our brand new room!  Personally I can't wait to get started nibbling on the new carpet edges - hee hee!

Before I sign off, I would like to acknowledge the fact that my little bunny blog has reached over 10,000 hits!  Mommy is really proud of me and I am feeling pretty proud myself!  Who knew three years ago when I first started posting, that this fun little world that I share with you would gain so much interest?  Thanks goes out to all my peeps for reading the redonculousness that I write - and of course, thanks to Mom who takes my dictation and types it all out.  It's hard to type when you don't have opposing thumbs to hit that spacebar......

Fluffy

Getting Away From It All And Trying To Heal

Every summer Mom and Dad take us all up to the cottage for a weekend of relaxation.  We really like it up there because the air smells clean and fresh and different.  We live in our expens and it's like camping for us, but indoors.

Here is a goofy shot of Mom snorgling Binks and I on the deck and trying to take a picture at the same time.  We got to see all kinds of animals too.  There were two families of ducks - mommies with babies - that were swimming around our beach (you can see them in the background of the above pic of me lounging on the deck).  And one day, a whole army of Canada Geese, adults and babies, hung out nearby.  Chippy and Redmond (the chipmunk and squirrel) were nowhere to be found - probably because there has been some construction lately and the blasting of rocks.  And of course, lots of seagulls just waiting for bread.

During his out-of-cage time, Scooter came over to sniff us.  He really wanted to hang out and he danced around our expen and did head shakes and binkies!  This made Mom and Dad laugh - they were happy to see him so happy, but also still sad that he is obviously lonely and missing Ella.  Miss Binks was not impressed though.  She and Scooter have a shady past and she did NOT appreciate him hanging around our pen.  In fact, at one point she had him pinned between the pen and the couch and gave him a good box until Mommy came to break it up.  Then she sniffed the chunk of Scooter fur that landed in the pen and did a victory flop, obviously very pleased with herself.

So Scooter learned to stay away from her and only came up to where he could see me at the pen.  "Hi Fluffy."

"Hi Scooter.  How are you?"

"I'm doing okay.  I'm pretty lonely though.  It's nice to see other bunnies, even if Binky hates me."

"Awww, don't worry about her.  She's just a tough gal.  I am sorry you are lonely."

"I miss Ella so much.  She was my sweet little girl.  Everything I do just isn't as fun as it was when she was by my side.  You are lucky to have Binky."  Scooter smooshed his nose through the bars of the expen.  "Yes, I am."  I said.  "I'll bet you miss Ella lots - she was a special little bunny.  But she wouldn't want you to be sad.  You will see her again one day, but until then, you gotta keep your chin up..."

"I try.  I just miss having her cuddle up next to me.  I miss her smell, her soft fur, her tiny little face....and her licks.  I miss her licks most of all.  I would give anything to have her give me just one more lick..."  Scooter's big, brown eyes blinked slowly with the memory.  I hopped up to his face and said "Well, I can give you a few licks.  They might not be as good as Ella's, but they are licks just the same."  And I proceeded to lick his nose through the bars.  Scooter closed his eyes and rested his head to the floor.  "That's nice.  That's very nice indeed.  Thank you Fluffy, I do feel better.  You are a nice friend to comfort me like that."

"No problem buddy.  But you'd better get out of here before Binky catches a whiff of you and returns with a vengence!"

And with that, he hopped away to his expen and flopped out in the cool breeze of the open window, eyes softly shut, with memories of his sweet little Ella dancing in his head....

Fluffy

When A Heart Is Broken

When a heart is broken, there is a pain that cannot be described.  When a loved one leaves you, the grief can silence the world around you, yet scream inside your soul.  Our family is very sad right now.  We have lost our dear little friend Ella.

This is a picture of Ella and I together.  You see, when Mom and Dad first got her, they tried to bond her to Binky and I, but Miss Binks would not have it.  And little Ella would not have it either.  So for a while, I shared my time with each of them - separately of course - until Mom and Dad adopted Scooter exclusively for Ella.

And so the two of them bonded strong and lived happily, until last Saturday.  Little Ella was not eating with her usual gusto, so Mom and Dad took her to the vet.  An xray revealed a severe kidney infection and they were told that little Ella had weeks, maybe even only days, left to live.  There was no way Mom and Dad could ever have been prepared to hear that news.  Ella was taken to the back room to begin aggressive treatment and Mom and Dad went home, fully intending to return later in the afternoon with Scooter so they could be together.  An hour later, they received a phone call.  As they tried to hook Ella up to the I.V.'s, she went into cardiac arrest.  They tried CPR but could not bring her back.  She was gone.

I can't recall a sadness like this ever being in our house.  Mom and Dad are grieving hard - not having a chance to say goodbye to Ella devastated them.  Mommy is full of "what-if's" and keeps reliving the memory of that morning while Dad does his best to take care of her and deal with his own grief. 

And then there is Scooter.  Mom and Dad made sure he had time with Ella after she passed so that he could try to understand for himself what had happened.  But he is clearly lonely, missing her, looking for her.  At night, he has taken to sitting in the hallway infront of Mom and Dad's bedroom, looking for company perhaps, or maybe just making sure they don't disappear too.  He is getting smothered with extra love and attention from Mom and Dad though and they hope that he is able to understand what has happened to his precious Ella.

 Ella was a firecracker.  A three-legged bunny with attitude to spare.  Ella from the House of Monster was one of her many nicknames.  Mommy called her her Little Star and she and Ella had a very special bond.  Ella filled our lives with love, friendship, humour and top-notch amusement.  She had a devoted following and was loved beyond measure.  We imagine that she is at the Rainbow Bridge, running through the fields of clover - on four legs, not three! - towards the strawberry patch that is always in season.  She is making many new friends and watches over us all while grooming her little angel wings.

I'm a sad bunny.  Not just because Ella is gone, but because one day, I might be left alone too.  I can't imagine not having my Binks with me.  So I send a big hug to my buddy Scooter and to all of the other bunnies out there who are missing somebunny special.

Give all your bunnies extra snorgles today.  Because you just don't know if there will be a chance to tomorrow....

Fluffy

THUMPS for Southwest Airlines!

THUMP!  Well aparently, Southwest Airlines not only doesn't want bunnies as passengers in their airplanes, they don't know SQUAT about bunnies either!

It all started off innocently enough when a Bunspace peep of mine decided to write a letter to Southwest Airlines asking them if they would consider allowing pet rabbits to ride in the cabins of their airplanes, just like they allow dogs and cats.  She created a petition and worked very hard to gather over 500 signatures of people who also wanted to have the option of taking their pet bunnies up into the air with them when they travel.  Here is the letter that was sent....

December 8, 2009

Dear Southwest Airlines, Customer Relations,



I was pleased to see on your website that you are now accepting dogs and cats in-cabin on your airlines. I am writing to request that you consider adding domestic rabbits to the pets that you accept. Domestic rabbits are the third largest pet in the U.S. Bunny owners have had difficulty finding air transportation when travelling with their pets. Continental Airlines and Alaska Airlines saw the need, and they have responded by including rabbits along with dogs and cats as allowable pets in-cabin with their owners.



Domestic rabbits are very well behaved travelling pets. They make little noise, unlike a dog or cat. They are generally litter-trained, and they are comfortable travelling in small confined areas, such as a carry-on pet carrier. They are typically smaller than dogs and cats, and people tend to have fewer allergies to them.



We are a substantially large part of the travelling population, and we have been forced to travel on a select one or two airlines, or travel by car with our pets. I, for one, much prefer Southwest Airlines to most airlines I have travelled on, and would very much appreciate the opportunity to increase my travels with your company.



To educate yourselves on domestic rabbits as pets, I invite you to visit these websites:



www.rabbit.org and www.bunspace.com. You will see that adding rabbits to your acceptable pets would be a rewarding endeavor for you to consider.



Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.

Sounds nice and respectful to me, right?  Well, the response she got was, let's say, not so much....

I don't know about you, but it seems to me this Adrienne lady has her facts all wrong!  Plus, Mom thinks her sarcasm is tactless, not to mention weak at best.  "Hare Jordans"?  "Carrotblanca"?  And where are we supposed to be chewing these wires on an airplane?!  Are they stuffed in the carriers with us?  And Bugs Bunny isn't even real - boy, she's in for some disappointment.

Don't get us wrong - each airline has a right to refuse bunnies if they want, but to take a request that someone worked very hard to compile and turn it in to such a JOKE.......it's just not cool.

The House Rabbit Society has also weighed in.....read here.

Mommy and Daddy will most certainly NOT be flying Southwest Airlines anytime soon.  We hope that all you rabbit-lovers out there who share our same disappointment and disgust will agree.  Please feel free to share your thoughts and send a polite letter or phone call to:

Jim Ruppel
Vice President Customer Relations and Rapid Rewards
P.O. Box 36647
Dallas, TX 75235-1647
Phone: 214-792-4223 during business hours

E-mail: feedback form

You can also go to Southwest's Facebook profile and leave a message for them on their wall.
 
I think bunnies around the world deserve an apology.

As well as First Class accomodations and all-you-can-eat carrots.

Fluffy