Saturday, July 12, 2008

Oh No! Mom Has Her Suitcases Out Again

I've been around here long enough to know that something is going on when Mom gets her suitcases out and starts packing them. Yes, Mom is leaving me AGAIN for another big trip. I really don't like it when Mom leaves and I always protest. But last night, Mom let me help her pack. And that's when she told me where she was going (and why).

Mom taking a vacation from work to go to a place called Kosovo (part of the Former Yugoslavia in Europe). She is going with 36 children and adults from our area as part of an exchange program between the Muscatine Children's and Youth Choirs and the Shropshire Music Foundation.

If you know my Mom....this doesn't sound like the ideal vacation place. But Mom assures me this is a great vacation for her. Well I wasn't convinced and I thumped at her. So she told me the whole story. Now I am happy she is going.

Mom says this all started after she and her boss did a radio program in 2002 about a woman named Liz Shropshire. Liz spent her life savings to start a music therapy program for children affected by the 1999 war in Kosovo. Mom's radio story won several national journalism awards and the directors of the Muscatine Children's and Youth Choirs decided to start and exchange program. The people in Muscatine raised enough money to bring 12 Kosovar youth to Muscatine in 2004 for two weeks. In 2005, Mom and 31 other youth and adults from our town spent two weeks in Kosovo (in the town where Liz has her program). They held eye and medical clinics, conducted art and craft classes and much more for youth affected by the war. The youth choirs also sang together all over Kosovo. In 2006, 12 more Kosovar youth came to Iowa for two weeks. Now it is Muscatine 's turn to go to Kosovo.

Once Mom explained this to me, I understood why this is an important trip. So I helped her pack one suitcase full of toys, pencils, and art supplies for the children she is going to see.



I am really going to miss Mom but I know she is going to be fine. She is bringing my friend Flat Michael with her and she is going to help maintain the trip blog. This way I will know what she is up to.

If you want to keep up with Mom during her trip, check out Flat Michael's blog (http://www.flatmichael.blogspot.com/) or the trip blog (http://www.muscatinekosovoproject2008.blogspot.com/).

Mom leaves early tomorrow morning and won't be back until the end of the month. I guess we had better get packing!! Mom...I think you missed a spot.


Bye for now....

Friday, July 11, 2008

The Great Outdoors

As you know, I am a house rabbit. That means I live inside a wood box with widows, siding, and a roof that humans call a house.

So I was a bit leery this evening when Mom suggested we go "outside" to play in the yard. Outside? I normally only go outside when Mom takes me to the vet or to grandma's house...and then I am always in my green travel carrier.

Mom must have seen my disapproving look because she reminded me that the Easter Bunny gave me a harness this year so I could go outside. Well if the Easter Bunny thought it was a good idea, I decided I could at least try it.

I have NO idea how the Easter Bunny and Peter Rabbit can stand wearing a coat with buttons. The harness fits me like a jacket and I personally think it looks stupid. I certainly don't like it when Mom is putting it on me. But I reminded myself that Big Bunny thought it was a good idea. Hmm....sometimes I have to wonder about the sanity of the Easter Bunny.

Anyway....as soon as my harness was on, my Mom and Dad took me outside to the front yard.

WOW! It is SO different outside. I could hear birds, feel the wind and see the blue sky. The yard is green and soft, but it feels kinda funny under my feet. Mom says that's grass. It reminds me of hay, except it was a bit damp and I can't pick up the grass with teeth. Oh...and it sure doesn't taste like hay. There was also this hard, gray stuff Mom calls concrete. It is hard like the tile by my cage. It also doesn't taste good (yes, I tried to eat it).


Here are some photos Dad took of me and Mom in the yard.



I got to run around the yard....but I could only go as far as the leash on my harness would let me go. I suppose this makes sense. There were cars driving by on the street. I'm sure Mom was worried I might accidentally run in front of one.

I was having so much fun that Dad decided to take this short movie of me running around.

I guess I was outside for about 10 minutes or so. It was an interesting time, but I decided that I prefer being in the house. So I ran towards the front door and Mom brought me back inside. Whew! I survived the big outdoors!

Have a happy Friday!

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Another trip to the V-E-T...UGH!

I hope all is well with you. I've had another interesting day. Guess what? I had to go to the vet AGAIN.

This morning started out in the usual way. Mom came downstairs and gave me my medicine by sneaking it into a yogurt drop. Man...she is GOOD! Then she gave me my breakfast (carrot and kibbles). Usually Mom closes up my cage so she can go to work. I am fine with this because I nap during the day.

I should have known right away that something was up, because Mom left my cage door open. And if it is open, I normally nap next to my cage.

So there I was this morning, guarding my cage in my usual spot...minding my own business. All of a sudden, Mom came into my "room" with my travel cage and announced we were going to the vet's office. She said she was still worried about my snotty nose.


My nose is just fine. I keep trying to tell her that but she won't listen! So I immediately protested and tried to hide behind my boxes.


But as I said earlier, mom is GOOD. Before I knew it she had scooped me up and put me in my travel cage. What did I do to deserve this?

Soon Mom strapped me into the back of her SUV.


She always makes sure she can turn around and see me...so this is what I look like when I am strapped in the car.


I really don't like the car much. I would rather be just about anywhere but inside the green cage in the big box on wheels my Mom calls "Queenie."

Thank goodness it only takes about 5 minutes to get to the Muscatine Veterinary Hospital.


By now I have learned the routine. Mom puts my cage on the floor and opens the door. She "helps" me come out and puts me on this big black thing called a scale. Today it said I weigh 4.9 pounds. I guess that's pretty good because Mom smiled.


Soon Dr. Tasha came out and took me to a room with a funny metal table so she could begin my "exam."


I don't like the metal table. It is very slippery. Thankfully Mom remembered to bring a towel so I didn't have to slip and slide on the table.

I will spare you the ugly details about what happened next. Don't get me wrong, I like Dr. Tasha. She is very nice. But she still had to use funny looking things to look in my eyes, up my nose, and in my mouth. She also put something in my you-know-what to make sure I didn't have a fever. Let me just say that is the longest 9 seconds EVER! (and I didn't have a fever).

Just when I thought the worst was over, Dr. Longtin came in to look at my teeth. If there is one thing I DO NOT like, it is someone looking at my teeth. I had tolerated all of the poking and prodding but I decided enough was enough! I kicked and squirmed a little just to make sure Dr. Tasha, Dr. Longtin, and Mom knew who is really the boss. Thankfully Dr. Longtin says my teeth look good. Whew!

After my exam was over, Dr. Tasha spent a few moments telling me what an awesome bun I am. I know I am awesome...but I wasn't going to tell her to stop petting me. :)


Dr. Tasha says I need to take the icky medicine for another week. UGH! But she does think my nose is better (I told you Mom!). But if my nose is still running next week, she wants to run more tests. Great. I sure hope my nose stops running!

When I got home, I gave Mom my best disapproving look....


...and then immediately ran into my cage to hide.


Mom knew I was mad so she gave me a yogurt drop as a peace offering. I immediately accepted but then went back into my cage with my best disapproving look on my face. Mom then told me she had to go to work, so she told me she would leave me alone for awhile. I was happy about that. Plus, I was super happy when I realized I left her covered in a ton of my fur. She had to change her clothes before she could go to work! Hehe.

Mom got home from work very late tonight and I immediately gave her a lick on the face to tell her that I forgive her.

That's all the excitement I can handle for one day. I'm off to play. Bye for now.

Monday, July 7, 2008

Special Shout Out to My BunSpace Friends

If you know me and my Mom, you know we LOVE BunSpace, the online network for house rabbits and their owners.

BunSpace is cool because it allows me to make online friends all over the world. And I've made lots of really awesome friends in the past few months. So I wanted to send a special shout out to some of my best friends:

Cotufa, Bubbles, Peanut, Bunnito, and Muffin in Florida

Milo Bubbles and Nilla in Virginia

Peyton Eli and Piper Elite in Tennessee

Rascal Bunny and Flower in Arizona

Bunnito in Ohio

Pucci in Michigan

Booperloo and Meepsers in New Jersey

(....there are SO many I am sure I've forgotten someone...please forgive me if you aren't on the list)

My friends are super nice and I do my the best to be nice to them. Last week, my friends Piper Elite and Peyton Eli had to go offline for awhile. They were worried the other buns would forget about them while they were away. I was really upset, so I asked the other buns to give extra carrots to my friends so they would know we all missed them (BunSpace allows you to "give" carrots to other rabbits...I have more than 2000 now). The other buns gave LOTS of carrots to Peyton and Piper. I was SO happy. And my friend Rascal Bunny was so impressed he nominated me to be one of the "Top Buns of the Week" in BunSpace's Cawwot Tops newsletter. Here's what Rascal Bunny said about me (BIG THANKS RASCAL!)

Jackson Harering (nominated by Rascal Bunny)
"Ooooh I gots to nominate a gweat bun who iz vewy cawing about da uddeh bunz. He always sez such nice tings about sum of da bunz on Bunspace. He iz vewy suppawtive of bunz who may need a kind word too. Since Sir Peyton an Piper Elite iz off da net fur awhile, he aks evwybun to giv dem ekstwa cawwots while dere offline. Oh, by da way, dis gweat bunz name iz -- Jackson Harering!!!"


I also need to send a special thanks to my friend Benjimen in Canberra, Australia for including me in this really cool photo of some BunSpace members (Benjimen is in the top row, far left).



Isn't that a great photo?

I have said it before and I will say it over and over again. I LOVE BunSpace!

Noise = Progress at My House

Hi everyone! I hope you had a good holiday weekend.

Mine was quiet...thankfully! That's because for two days last week AND all day today, workmen have been making tons of noise at my house. You might remember that Mom and Dad decided to build on to the house. Mom thought the project would be done by now, but all of the rain this year has slowed things down. That didn't bother me much....less workmen means less noise to bother me during my daily nap. They don't make ear plugs big enough for my ears so I have just learned to live with the noise. But I will really be glad when the work is finally done!

Tonight Mom and Dad let me check out the progress on the construction project. The noise last week and today was from the workmen putting down the new floor. Mom really likes the floor. She says it brings out my best "colors." Whatever that means.


Here are some more photos Dad took of me and the new room. Check out the back door!






And here are some photos Dad took of me with Mom.



Now that I've seen the space, I can't wait for the new room to be done!

Thursday, July 3, 2008

I Can Walk!

Hi everyone. I hope you are well.

I still have my "snotty" nose. You know what that means. I am still taking that icky stuff they call medicine. I HATE taking my medicine and I do my best to make it very difficult for Mom and Dad to give it to me.

Last night when Mom was trying to give me my medicine, she discovered one of my hidden talents. I can walk on two feet! Yes, you are reading correctly. I can walk on two feet. Well, OK...I can actually hop on two feet. Anyway, Mom captured me tonight on video while Dad was feeding me my medicine. Here's the cool movie Mom made.


I get so excited when Dad feeds me this way, that I totally forget he's also slipped that icky medicine in my treat. Darn it anyway! Oh well....at least Mom and Dad now know I am super talented.

Bye for now!