Cricket Goes Home

Merci:  Well, it's about time!

Rusty:  It's about time for what?  We've already had breakfast.

Merci:  It's about time our guest left so I can have my private room back..

Rusty:  That's not your private room.  That was our guest room for the past few days.

Merci:  Well, it's mine now!  I'm going to take a long nap.

Rusty:  I hate to spoil your plans, but you had better make that a short nap.  Jan is planning to break this dog crate down today.

Merci:  Then get out of my bedroom so I can enjoy some privacy.

Rusty:  Privacy?  You really think a room with bars is private?

Some of you have asked about our guest since we mentioned one in yesterday's post.  Here she is.  She was picked up on a country road on October 29th by a young woman who reached out for help to vet her from the local humane society (not a shelter!) because the dog has an injured eye.  She could not keep the dog there too long, so last Friday this old lady came to stay with us while we searched for her owner. 

It has been an interesting few days.  As any regular reader of this blog is aware, Marcus is not a gentle soul.  He is hyper and a bull in the china shop.  We all know to keep out of his way when he's excited but this dog was old and small (6 lbs when she arrived and 8 lbs yesterday).  She would be easily injured. 

So Jan spent the time playing musical dog crates.  When Marcus would go in his crate to nap, Jan would let the guest out.  When she went back in her crate to nap, Jan would open his door.  And then there were all those trips to the dog pen at all hours for pee/poop detail.  Marcus and the guest did meet on a few occasions, with Marcus checking her out doggy style.  The times when Marcus would go hysterical because he was about to go for a walk, or eat, or go outside to play fetch, he would wake her up and she would eventually give one high-pitched yelp that to Jan sounded very much like "SHUT UP"!

Merci slept in her bed against the outside of the guest crate, but she really, really, really wanted to move in!  Jan had to keep shooing her out.

Yesterday Jan and Kay (both with Upson Humane) started a serious Found Dog campaign on Facebook and the pictures/info were shared, shared, shared.  Jan shut down about 10 pm.  At 1:30 am, the owner suddenly saw her dog "all over facebook".  Barbara, the owner, called Jan this morning. 

Jan immediately called Kay and as she was telling her the news, that quickly the daughter-in-law Michelle was at our door, with Barbara on her cell phone.  Our guest responded to her voice.  There was no doubt those two were family!  Kay "flew" here for the reunion, too. 

Cricket the dog is a Reindeer Chihuahua and is older than we thought, about 20 or 21.  She had just wandered off and her family, fearing she was dead, had been frantically looking for her. 

Now you know who was visiting with us and why.  Michelle and Kay (above) are ecstatic Cricket is safely home. We are, too, and so are a whole lot of people on Facebook.

Merci: Will you guys please type quieter!  I'm trying to nap before Jan kicks me out of my room again.

Marcus the Great Swampi 3

Cyndi: I see you're back, Swampi. What are you up to now?

Marcus:  I, the Great Swampi, will answer the comment questions from last Monday.  (The Great Swampi 2)

Cyndi:  Okay, I have to ask.  Are you just going to answer them, or are you going to answer them correctly?

Marcus:  There's a difference?

Cyndi:  Evidently not.  

Q: The Florida Furkids.    Can you tell us where Mom hid the treats?

Marcus:  Yes.

Cyndi:  Aren't you going to tell them where?

Marcus:  No, they only asked if I can tell them.  The answer is yes, but their mom wants it kept secret.
 
Q:  Yam Auntie.  Oh Master Swampi-ji... any clues on how to get home maintenance done without the usual agony and ecstasy and expense?

Marcus:  Yes, move to a home that doesn't need maintenance.

Cyndi:  Where would she find one?

Marcus:  I didn't say there is such a home.  I just suggested she move to one.

Q:  Angel, Kirby & Max.  Great Swampi, Mom says she has lost her mind. Do you know how, why, where it is and how we can get it back for her?

Marcus:  Yes.

Cyndi:  This is important.  Please answer them.

Marcus:  Follow Jan.  When she finds her mind, your mom's will be in the same storage locker.  Or refrigerator.  Those two places look alike to me.

Q:  Quinn. Okay, what did Mommy buy for her birthday that's for me? Bet you can't see that!

Marcus:  Of course I can see that.  She wrote on your blog she is buying you two presents for her birthday.  By the way, Happy Birthday to your mom!

Q:  Loulou.  Oh, Great Swampi, please let me know where mama keeps all the chocolate biscuits and while you're at it, there's one in there for you if you succeed.

Marcus:  She keeps them under the rock in the house.  Or is that over the rock?

Cyndi:  I hardly think anyone would keep biscuits under a rock.  They wouldn't be biscuits then, they'd be crumbs.

Marcus:  In that case, I believe she keeps them in the cupboard.  Third door to the right.

Cyndi:  And that ends today's answers by Marcus the Great Swamp.

Marcus:  Swampi.  The Great Swampi!

Marcus the Great Swampi 2

Marcus:  I am the Great Swampi!

Buddy:  We've already been through this.  (Marcus the Great Swampi).

Percy:  And it's "swami", not "swampi".

Marcus:  No, I am the Great Swampi.  My fans prefer that title and so do I.

Percy:  I will say "swampi" suits you.

Buddy:  So what does a swampi do?

Marcus:  I see all and know all.

Buddy:  So do you know what happened to the biscuit I hid in my bedding?

Marcus:  Yes.

Buddy:  Do you want to share the information?

Marcus:  No.

Percy:  That's because Marcus ate the biscuit you hid.

Buddy:  We'll get back to this when Jan gives out the treats tonight.  Meanwhile, Jan has misplaced her keys.  Do you know where she lost them?

Marcus:  Yes.

Percy:  Would you like to tell us where they are?

Marcus:  Washer

Buddy:  They're in the washing machine?

Marcus:  No.

Percy:  I know!  Jan had the keys in her hand when she started to fix our breakfast.  They're in the little basket on top of the washer.

Buddy:  I thought Marcus is supposed to be the one who knows all?

Percy:  Go check, Buddy.  The top of the washing machine.

Buddy:  That's where they are, all right.  How did you know that Percy?

Percy:  I saw her put them there and then forgot about it.

Marcus:  I told you I see all and know all.  My expertise is now open to all my friends and fans.  Do you need advice?  Have you lost your red neckerchief? Did your human hide your favorite toy?  The Great Swampi will help you find it.

Marcus the Great Swampi

Marcus:  I am Marcus, the Great Swampi.

Cyndi:  I think you mean the Great Swami.

Marcus:  Okay, I am the Great Swami.  I see all.  I know everything.

Cyndi:  Good, then you can tell me what happened to the treat stash I was saving for a cold night.

Marcus:  It was eaten by ... I'm sorry, I can't tell who it was.

Cyndi:  You can't tell because you can't see, or you can't tell because you're the guilty party?

Marcus:  I have a question for you.  If you can answer, I will try again to see who ate your stash.

Cyndi:  Okay.

Marcus:  Why did Jan put roller skates on her rocking chair?

Cyndi:  Because the ice skates were too wobbly?

Marcus:  What ice skates?  I asked about roller skates?  So why?

Cyndi:  I don't believe Jan put roller skates on anything.  She likes her feet on the ground!

Marcus:  Sorry, bad example.  Why did the teenager next door put roller skates on her rocking chair?

Cyndi:  She can't.  They don't have a rocking chair.

Marcus: Okay, why did the teenager next door put roller skates on OUR rocking chair? 

Cyndi:  Oh, that's easy.  Because she wanted to rock and roll.  So who ate my stash?

Taylor:  Hi, Marcus, I see you're dressed like a giraffe again.  Hey, don't go.  I was joking.

Marcus:  You broke my concentration.  I need to go lie down.

Cyndi:  Now I'll never know who ate my treat stash.

Taylor:  Oh, that's easy.  Marcus ate it last night.