Rosie the Dog in So We Have A Cat Now?

Last week we had visitors to our home here at the Fortress of Ineptitude. 

Rosie the dog, our beloved granddaughter.

Her dog sister London.

And her cat sister Olive.

What?

So we have a cat now?

Rosie's emotional support humans, son Dean and friend Jan, found an abandoned kitten. 

Much as they did with London the puppy, Dean and Jan could not leave another animal cold, alone and abandoned.

Especially a 4 week old kitten. 

They named the kitten Olive because the poor critter was covered in some kind of oily substance, not unlike olive oil.

The first two photos are of Olive shortly after she was found.

Here's she's cleaned up, snuggled up safe and warm in towel with a stuffed critter.

And here is Olive cozied up next to a sleeping Rosie. 

Poor Rosie did not sign up for this. But...

It appears you have a cat now.

What about the puppy?

London was spayed and still recovering from surgery. She arrived at the fortress with a cone around her head.

In a post on London's first visit to the Fortress, I described London as being "so friggin' adorable"  but also "overloaded with energy, whizzing and whirling about".  

London was cute AND also a handful. 

Being spayed is supposed to calm her down.

Not yet it ain't.  She's still a ball of excitable energy.

Still, when she sits on her hind legs and looks up with those eyes... damn it! 

Anyway....

Dean and Jan were in town to go with Andrea to see a Dan & Phil Show.

Dan & Phil are a couple of dudes who do... I don't know... stuff? Click on this link to their Wikipedia page for more info on that.  

I agreed to babysit.

It wasn't a problem for me when they went to see Dan & Phil in 2024.

Of course then, it was just me and Rosie.

This year I had to watch out for three grandchildren.

Well, how hard could it be?  I waved cheerfully as Dean, Jan and Andrea left the Fortress of Ineptitude for the drive to Durham.

I turned to face the menagerie of my grandkids.

OH MY GOD! What did I agree to????

There were three sets up feeding instructions for the three critters.  

London had a cone! Olive was so little! Rosie was so...

Rosie was so done with this mess.  She sat next to me on the couch for scritches and belly rubs while I kept a sharp eye on the puppy and the kitten.  

London did eventually calm down thanks to some post operative medication. Olive bounced around the living room, exploring every nook and cranny with endless energy and enthusiasm. 

Eventually even Olive dozed off. She was so small, so still.

Too still! Oh crap! Did I do something to kill the kitty? I poked her slightly and she pawed my finger away in her sleep. Oh good! I managed to keep her alive.

Mealtime was a bit hectic managing 3 different meal plans. 

And potty time for London was a struggle.  She might be a puppy but she's got Hulk strength and nearly tore off my hand with her leash.

As the evening wore on closer to midnight, all the grandkids went back to sleep again but I did not let my guard down. 

It was my sacred duty to insure these beloved animals were breathing. 

I hadn't felt this stressed since my wife gave birth and we brought our baby home for the first time.  

To be fair, the critters were all well behaved and watching Olive hop around the living room was a source of entertainment. My stress was pretty much self inflicted.

When Dean, Jan and Andrea returned home, I was exhausted.

But it's all good.

So we have a cat now.

Canine Expansion Pack

Last week, Andrea and I received a visit here at the Fortress of Ineptitude from our granddaughter, Rosie the Dog.

If Rosie looks a bit pensive here, well, she's under a little bit of stress.

She brought her emotional support humans, son Dean and friend Jan.

She also brought her new sister.  

Meet our newest granddaughter, London the Dog.

On one hand, London will sit on her hind legs and quietly look up at you with wide open eyes and a quizzicle expression as if to say:

I DARE YOU NOT TO LOVE ME!!!!

She is so friggin' adorable when she does that! What a CUTE li'l puppy she is!  

On the other hand...

She is overloaded with energy, whizzing and whirling about, testing everything and everyone as potential sources of food.

London can be a lot.

London is a puppy with puppy energy and a whole range of puppy behaviors she still needs to learn to control.  

And Rosie is not quite ready to deal with that.

When we first welcomed Rosie to our family, we got a slightly older, more docile creature.  

Like a true member of the House of El family, Rosie is a quiet creature of habit who has gotten used to years of being the only child.

Rosie: "I am NOT dealing with this!"
London: "Will you be my friend?"
Rosie: "I'm not listening!"
London: "Will you be my friend?"
Rosie: "I did NOT agree to any of this!"
London: "Will you be my friend?"
Rosie: "Can I go back to the shelter?"
London: "Will you be my friend?"

Dean and Janna were not planning on being emotional support humans to another dog. But when they found London abandoned by the side of the road, what else could they do? 

Welcome to the family, London! 

And Rosie, you're still top dog in the familial hierarchy.  

Rosie the Dog In....Is That a Sponge?

 Hi there! 

It's been a while since we had a check in from our granddaughter, Rosie the Dog.

Here is a photo our son Dean shared with us.

Look out, Rosie! 

Behind you, it's a Sponge....

Standing there....

MENACINGLY!!!!

Rosie the Dog Moves Out

Well, we knew the day was coming and alas it came to pass that Rosie is no longer calling the Fortress of Ineptitude home. 

As I wrote earlier this summer,  Rosie was caught between moving out of one apartment and being ready to move into the next one so she along with her emotional support human (son Dean) and her emergency back up emotional support human (friend Jan) took up residence here at the Fortress of Ineptitude.

Andrea and I took every opportunity to give Rosie lots of head pets, butt skritches, snoot boops and belly rubs. 

But it was not enough to convince her to stay and she has moved out and moved on.

3 hours to the east of us, Rosie is settling into her new apartment. 

 Here is Rosie piled up in a plethoria of plushies.  

We hope you enjoy your new apartment.  

We miss you.

And your emotional support humans.   

Rosie the Dog in I Guess I Live Here Now?

It’s been a minute since we last checked in with Rosie the Dog.

 

Today is Rosie's birthday which I think makes her 6 years old.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ROSIE!

Meanwhile...

Rosie is in a bit of a situation regarding housing.

 

There’s a bit of gap between her old apartment and the next one she is going to move to.

 

So Rosie the Dog has been living with us this summer at the Fortress of Ineptitude.

 

But Rosie did not come here by herself.

 

She brought her emotional support human, our son Dean.

 

And her emergency back up emotional support human, Dean’s roommate Jan.

 

Rosie has made herself comfortable here at the Fortress.

 

“I guess I live here now?”

 

Rosie is a good dog and yes, you do live here now.

Yes, you do! Yes, you do! Who's a good dog? You're a good dog and you can live here now! Yes, you do!

Well...

 

Until it’s time to move in to your new apartment with your emotional support humans.  

 

It’s been an interesting time here at the Fortress with 5 carbon based life forms instead of 2. 

Rosie really likes Play Station Spider-Man but she lacks opposable thumbs so Jan has to help.

 

I don’t mean to be all judgmental but comic book Spider-Man is more efficient at knocking out bad guys. 

 

Rosie, could you have a chat with your humans about that?

 

The status quo is a bit different here at the ol’ Fortress of Ineptitude but we’re doing fine.

 

Rosie is just GREAT!

 

And her humans… eh, they’re all right too, I suppose. 

 

 

Rosie the Dog for Labor Day

 Today is Labor Day where we celebrate all those who labor, everyone who does the hard work of keeping this great nation running.  

But instead of LAY-bor, what if we rephrased that as LAB-or. 

As in LABrador.   

As in everyone's favorite black LAB mix.

It's time for a visit from...

ROSIE the DOG! 

It's Rosie! 

She's a dog! 

This is a photo of her from a recent gay pride event.  

And that's my post for LABor Day! 

Until next time, remember to be good to one another.

And that Rosie is a good dog! 

Rosie the Dog and Why Socks?

Let's kick off August with a post about...

• politics!
• comic books! 
• movies!
• television!

NO!  

Nobody wants that! 

We need a post from Rosie the Dog! 

Rosie's emotional support human got her socks.

And a very confused Rosie sent us a photo in a desperate plea for help.

Look at those eyes, pleading for an answer to a great mystery of life:  Why socks? 

Oh dear sweet Rosie.  How your grandmother and I wish we could take you by the (unsocked) paw and assure you everything will be OK.  

But you live so far away now and you will have to turn those eyes to your emotional support human and ask him:

"Please, Papa! Tell me...  why socks?"  

Rosie the Dog , College Graduate

Well, it’s been a minute since I posted an update on Rosie the Dog.

 

As we’ve mentioned before, Rosie went away to college with her emotional support human Dean to get a degree in religious studies. Rosie’s thesis was on the origins, development and impact on religious DOGma. 

 

<rim shot>

 

I swear that joke is funny and it will never get old.  

 

Since Rosie graduated from college, what has she been up to? 

 

Based on this photo…

Getting high?  

Rosie the Dog: Is It... Grandparents?

This weekend, our granddaughter Rosie the dog came home to the Fortress of Ineptitude for a visit.  

Rosie is away at school getting a degree in religious studies with a focus on studying the history and development of religious dogma.

Dogma? Get it?

Yes, that's a long way to go for a joke. 

And yes, the joke is a bad joke.

But Rosie is a good dog. 

Rosie likes to visit her grandparents because she knows she'll get lots of pets, butt scritches and belly rubs.   

Anyway Rosie came home for a visit and she brought along her emotional support human, our daughter Randie and Randie's partner Aspen. 

Friday night we stayed up too late talking about stuff 'n' junk. 

Rosie got lots of pets, butt scritches and belly rubs and so was quite content. 

Saturday night we stayed up too late watching a marathon of Family Feud on the Game Show Network.  

Rosie got lots of pets, butt scritches and belly rubs and so was quite content. 

Earlier that day, we went to see the new Indiana Jones movie. (More on that in this weekend's Cinema Sunday post.)  

Sunday we went to the pool again. Rosie couldn't go to the pool and stayed home doing homework on her dogma study. 

There was a Gilligan's Island marathon on TV and that got away from me. 

Rosie got lots of pets, butt scritches and belly rubs and so was quite content.   

Rosie needed to go see Aspen's parents so the trio left on Monday.  

We hope Rosie continues to get lots of pets, butt scritches and belly rubs and will remain content. 

Rosie the Dog In Is It College Again?

Today is a bittersweet day here at the Fortress of Ineptitude as we bid farewell as Rosie the Dog returns to college for the fall.

Rosie is attending college for her degree in history with an emphasis on theological impacts on the development of civilization as it relates to religious dogma. 

We will miss Rosie around her at the ol' Fortress but we know the college experience is valuable for her, not just for her education but also for social development, particularly Rosie's close knit circle of gay friends she has made at college. 

Rosie is also taking our daughter Randie with her as her emotional support human. 

We will miss her too as well.  

Rosie the Dog In Is It Christmas...Again?

Last week, Randie and Rosie were back at the Fortress of Ineptitude for a Thanksgiving visit.  

And if Thanksgiving has come 'round once more, then we know what's coming up next.

Dreading it won't stop it.

Whining about won't stop it.

It is inevitable.

You will know it by the trail of it's dead.

It's...

It's....

 

Yes, Rosie, it's Christmas. 

AGAIN!!!

Didn't we do this last year? 

Even as she has grown older, our daughter Randie still retains her joy over this holiday season.

Me, I dread it more every year.

I've considered converting to Judaism just avoid the trappings of Christmas.

One menorah and I'm done. 

Because of Randie, we have a tree up in the living room. 

And thanks to her, we've got decorations on the outside. 

Randie thinks it's fun, putting lights on everything. 

Randie doesn't pay the friggin' power bill.   

Randie even decorated the dog.

Rosie took to this in a kind and loving spirit, joyfully embracing the warmth and colors of the holiday season and...

Rosie's at the laptop, ready to write a letter of complaint to the SCPCA. 

"For a society dedicated to preventing cruelty to animals, how could you let me come to live here with these weird humans in this...  Fortress of Ineptitude!" 

From Randie, Rosie and my wife Andrea, Happy Holidays!

From me, I say "Bah! Humbug!" and I'm so glad my suffering amuses you.   

Rosie the Dog In Is It Justified

Hi there! Today's post features that delightful doggie doyenne, that capering canine countess, our dog Rosie.

It is also about one my favorite TV shows, Justified starring Timothy Olyphant as US Deputy Marshal Raylan Givens.

I care more about Timothy Olyphant than I do about some actual blood relatives.

I care more about Raylan Givens than I do many, many other real people.

Here is a picture of US Deputy Marshal Givens wearing his trademark cowboy hat. 

And here is Rosie the Dog cosplaying as Timothy Olyphant as US Deputy Marshal Raylan Givens.

Happy Halloween, y'all! 

Rosie the College Dog

 

Well, yes, Rosie, it is college.

When our daughter Randie said she was going get Rosie designated as an emotional support animal and take her to college with her, Andrea and I were a bit sad about that.

Rosie was so much a part of our lives here at the Fortress of Ineptitude, it was hard to imagine her not being here and my wife and I do miss our canine grand daughter a lot.

But Rosie has adapted well to her collegiate lifestyle and has made new friends.  Randie's fellow dorm mates have taken to Rosie and Rosie has made a new dog friend named Ivy. 

There is a grassy commons area where Rosie loves to romp and run.  

As much as we miss her here at the ol' Fortress, Rosie is doing a good job looking after Randie and it appears that college has been good for Rosie.

Rosie Returns

Over the past Labor Day weekend, Rosie the dog came home from college to visit.

She also brought our daughter Randie with her.

We were wondering what Rosie would do on her first visit home after spending two weeks of being a college dog. 

Rosie came through the front door and immediately...

Rosie staked out HER spot on HER chair. 

Rosie was back home. 

By Randie's acounts, Rosie has slowly but most assuredly began to acclimate to her college environment. 

Rosie has even made a new dog friend, a fellow black lab mix named Ivy. 

Andrea and I spent as much time as we could petting Rosie and reminding her she's a good dog. 

By the time this posts, Rosie will be back at college.

Along with our daughter Randie.  

Life With Rosie: Bath Time

Rosie is a good dog.

Rosie is a kind and gentle dog.

Rosie is a sweet and loving dog.

But then there are days...

Sometimes Rosie has had enough of your shit.

This is Rosie sitting in her towel draped special chair.

There's a towel draped over Rosie's special chair because she's a bit damp from her bath. 

Rosie has just had a bath.

Which is why Rosie has had enough of your shit.

Rosie is not a fan of baths. 

She will loyally and devotedly follow her mom, our daughter Randie, anywhere in the house. 

Except into the bathroom. 

Randie has to pick up Rosie and carry her into the bathroom for her bath. 

Rosie sticks out all four legs as rigidly as possible to block Randie carrying her through the doorway. 

Like she's being led to her doom and not just to a bath.

"No! I've been a good dog! A good dog! A GOOD DOG! NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!" 

Rosie always has nice soft fur but after a bath, her coat feels so much better. And I can't help think that Rosie has to feel a little bit better after she's had a bath. 

How about it, Rosie? Do you feel better after your bath? 

Rosie is not taking any questions right now.  

Whazzup With Rosie the Dog

It's been a bit since I wrote a post about our beloved canine member of the family here at the Fortress of Ineptitude.

What indeed is up with Rosie the dog? 

Rosie continues to put up with us. 

Here she is cuddling up with a stuff fawn that her mother Randie brought home.  

When Andrea and I are home with Rosie and Randie is not, Rosie likes to lie on the couch between us while we watch Wheel Of Fortune. She's mostly OK with us as we watch other shows but she prefers Wheel. 

But with the slightest noise from outside, Rosie will go into high alert. No longer content to rest on the couch between Andrea and I, Rosie will jump down and position herself somewhere in the living room to stand and stare at the door with an intensity that defies description. 

It's the kind of stare that could set the door on fire. 

Then Randie comes in and Rosie is very happy to see her mom. 

Even when her mom does this to her. 

Randie likes to carry Rose aloft like this and calls Rosie "my little puppy".  

Rosie is a bit bigger than a puppy and I refer to her as a "wolf elk".  

Rosie is a black lab mix and the mix is a casserole dish of genetic mayhem including various forms of cat, deer, rabbit, kangaroo, platypus and quite possibly goldfish. 

As in sometimes Rosie has the memory of a goldfish. 

Rosie considers the possibility that my left arm is food.

She clamps her jaw around my left arm and wonders, "Is it food?" 

I will disavow her of the notion that my left arm is food.

One minute later....

Rosie considers the possibility that my left arm is food.

I think after almost a year, Rosie likes living here. 

Although recently she was seen borrowing my laptop. 

Perhaps to write a sternly worded letter to the SCPA over their lax screening process for families who adopt pets? 

We are currently monitoring an ongoing health situation. A recent visit to the vet revealed that Rosie had somehow someway gotten heart worms. 

We had her on a regimen of medication for a few weeks and we've been working to keep Rosie settled as much as possible to not create any added exertion to her heart. Which means discouraging Rosie's favorite exercise, "zoomies".  Zoomie is when Rosie gets it her head to rush around the living room from one chair to another.  

You know how cats will just go crazy and rush around a room? Yeah, Rosie likes to do that. 

Tomorrow is her follow up visit to the vet to confirm what progress has been made in her getting rid of her heart worms.  

We're hoping for some good news. 

To sum it all up, Rosie is a good dog. 

And that is whazzup with Rosie. 

What's Up With Rosie the Dog?

It's been a minute since we last checked in on the most interesting life form to occupy the Fortress of Ineptitude.

What pray tell is up with Rose the Dog? 

Now that's the look of a dog that don't want no damn part of no damn blog post. 

God bless her, Rosie has a perpetual look of "What fresh hell is this?" 

Who can rightfully blame her when her mom does this to her. 

This is my daughter Randie holding Rosie by our Christmas tree. Rosie is sporting the sweater she got for Christmas. 

Since May 2020, Rosie has gotten use to the way life works around here. There's her mom (Randie), her grandparents (myself and my wife Andrea) and Rosie is the dog. 

The only dog. 

Well, that changed last weekend when Randie agreed to dog sit a young loaf of caramel floof bread named Tucker. 

At 10 weeks old, Tucker was a ball of puppy energy that Rosie was not prepared to cope with.

Rosie's efforts to escape Tucker were stymied by Tucker's boundless enthusiasm and curiosity.  I think however by the end of Tucker's stay with us, Rosie has gotten sort of accustomed to the little furball.  

One thing that remains a source of consternation for Rosie is Randie's insistence on picking her up and carrying her around the house. Rosie has the size and build of a small, lithe deer. 

Recently, Randie has taken to carrying Rosie on her back. 

Leaving Rosie once more to wonder "What fresh hell is this?" 

Rosie is a real sweetheart of a dog, even when Randie is carrying her around like a veritable backpack. 

We all love Rosie a lot and are so glad she is part of our family.