The frog debacle

For those of you worried about how the Finners is doing here, this will not be reassuring. That's all the disclaimer you're getting.

Apparently frogs can create a certain chemical so that, if a predator picks them up in its jaws, there will be an incredibly bitter taste that will encourage the predator to drop the frog forthwith. The bitter taste can also spark certain reactions, such as foaming at the mouth, seizures, vomiting, etc.

I think you know where I'm going with this.

Our apartment complex has a pretty large courtyard, which isn't so much open green space as a cool little nature-trail sort of thing, with one or two paths and a handful of man-made ponds [which I'm sure will be an excellent breeding location for mosquitoes when it gets warmer] and some decks with tables and chairs. It's nice because it feels like we're taking Fin for a walk when we take him to the bathroom, even though we're not leaving the complex. With all the water, however, there are more lifeforms than the two-legged and canine variety walking around--or, in the case of frogs, hopping.

I've never actually seen a frog outside, but then Sam's always the one who takes Fin out when it's dark, so that's probably why. Fin, for all the intelligence he inherited from his poodle mother, is pretty oblivious a lot of the time, so even though Sam's seen a lot of frogs, two Sundays ago was the first time Fin discovered one.

I was upstairs in the bathroom, brushing my teeth, when I heard Sam rush into the apartment and then start begging Fin to drink some water. I finished what I was doing and went to the downstairs bathroom, where Sam had the detachable shower hose down and trickling invitingly to Fin [for some reason, Fin loves drinking from faucets, even though he really shouldn't here, since the water isn't particularly safe]. And there was my husband, almost in tears, and my puppy, foaming at the mouth.

This photo is from August; he's much, much fluffier now.

This was, naturally, a bit alarming. I asked what was going on, and Sam said Fin had seen a frog and he hadn't seen anything wrong with letting him go investigate. Then Fin licked the frog--a nice, warm little hello--and apparently then foam began pouring from his mouth. Like so:

What was really alarming was that Sam was trying to pry Fin's jaws apart to force his mouth open, so we could wash it out, and he couldn't. I think we were both thinking lockjaw for a minute and that our remaining time with our puppy would be short, but then Sam held Fin still and I worked on his jaws, and we got them open. Then, thoroughly soaking the dog, himself, and the bathroom, Sam spent the next length of time washing out Fin's mouth. And while Sam was rinsing Fin's mouth, I hopped on the computer and tried to find out if our dog was dying.

Turns out, no, it's pretty normal, insofar as frogs are concerned. And luckily Fin only foamed at the mouth and vomited up all his dinner. I really don't know what I would have done if he'd started seizuring. I didn't know what I was going to do if he was dying, anyway, since I don't think we'd be able to find a taxi willing to accommodate our foaming-at-the-mouth dog, or if we did that we'd understand a word the vet said.

So rather than go to bed, as had been the plan, I continued to reassure myself that our dog was most likely going to survive and Sam, since he and Fin were both wet through anyway, gave Fin a bath. We started to feel better about the whole thing once Fin got out of the bath and tried doing his rabbit run [tried because all the flooring downstairs is tile, making it almost impossible for him to gain purchase when he's not wet and makes for a pretty funny show when he is] and then instigated several sessions of steal-the-slipper-so-you-chase-me and I-have-my-rope-and-I-know-you-really-want-it. We figured if he was that eager to play, he was going to be ok. Then again, he could be on the edge of death and still be dying to play, so who knows.

Hopefully that's the end of his adventures with frogs. But, as my mom reminded me, it took my dog growing up getting sprayed twice by a skunk before she learned to avoid them, so we might not be so lucky to get away with one experience. At least next time we won't have to panic so much.

A whole new world

So the reason it took me so long to update the blog is I really hate these kinds of posts--they're so boring both to read and write. So I took pictures and compiled lists so that I don't have to go all travelogue-y on you. You're welcome.

Things I miss about Utah:

•  Zupas

•  Cafe Rio [Though you might notice there is one now in MD. It's a bit of a drive, but we found it to be worth it. And yes, we have already been there. Along with probably all of the Mormons in the DC area and anyone else who's been out to Utah in the DC area.]

•  the dollar theater

•  friends

•  my books [most of which are currently in storage--what was I thinking?! I guess I need a Kindle . . .]

•  being physically present at my writing group

•  all our blankets [we only brought two, and I wish we'd brought them all]

•  the majority of our kitchen stuff, since we brought about five things and the stuff already here is scanty

•  my shoes [I was a little too selective.]

•  the Provo temple and working there

•  my friends' kids

•  our ward(s)

   

Things I'm sad I've missed in Utah:

•  my BFF's new baby's blessing

•  Shannon Hale and Jessica Day George doing a book signing/panel discussion

•  Ally Carter on book tour in both Provo and SLC [though this is a future sadness, as she won't be there until June. Bah.]

•   Going to see Thor with my other BFF

Things I would miss if the equivalent here weren't just as good (or better):

•  Provo library

Things I'm not that thrilled about in DC:

•  humidity [but at the same time, it's comforting--like home.]

•  how it's not possible to even go to Costco without paying for parking. Really? Really?

•  how I am getting taxed by the city for owning a car. Like car payments aren't enough.

 

Things I'm crazy about in DC:

•  the libraries

•  trees [I feel like I've come home--it feels so much like New England here. I love it.]

•  houses/architecture [again--New England flashbacks]

•  Panera [I haven't had the luxury of a Panera close by--though back in the day close was relative--since high school.]

•  no snow and thick rainstorms and shuddering thunderstorms

•  no billboards along the highway

•  having my view of the sky limited by all the trees [swoon]

•  our windows and dishwasher

•  our pool [yeah--it's totally open]

•  dog parks [Fin's personal happiest place on earth]

•  our beautiful new car

•  stores within walking distance

•  my SmartCard--I feel so cool whenever I used it

•  how Cafe Rio followed me out here

•  my new friends

•  our king-sized bed

•  the sights, though we haven't seen many yet

•  our new ward

I think there are more in each category, but I can't think of them at the moment. But I guess you could say I'm wildly happy here. Sam's a little homesick, but he's enjoying it out here, too.

Now for the pictures.

I am obviously very excited about being at the Capitol.

Yes, this is all the sightseeing we've done so far. Don't judge.

Fin also is very happy to be here. As far as he's concerned, there has been no change. We have a very chill dog. Unlike these dogs. And he's in love with the dog park by us.

We pass by this little sign every so often while on walks. She actually has a few along where the sidewalk boarders her lawn. And every time I see it I have to squelch the desire to give Fin the "pit stop!" command. I guess that makes me a bad person?

I've loved the spring colors! There are so many beautiful, remarkable colors--hot pink, magenta, brilliant red, pure white . . . they've been breathtaking. I'm sad they're all disappearing.

Here's an example. My phone really doesn't do them justice. They're so, so stunning.

This glove was in the gravel driveway of a house we pass by fairly frequently on our walks. It was there for over a month--and every time we passed by Fin lunged for it, since it was within reach--so finally I got fed up and tossed it in here. Now, every time I see it, I feel like Boo Radley. Only as far as I know no children have found it interesting. [Yet!]

Fin is the best-behaved dog in the world if he has a stick to carry around with him on walks. It gets him lots of smiles from anyone who sees us, since I guess most dogs don't walk around with huge sticks/branches in their mouths. Speaking of Fin, everyone here is so interested in him. In Utah, most people didn't really care. Here, though, we're always being stopped or having people tell us what a beautiful dog he is. I think it's because here people generally have dogs long before they have children (if they ever do), so it's customary to ask about one's dog the way one would ask about one's children in Utah. That's my best guess.

Sometimes his selections are a bit much for him, though.

And we'll end with the random little garden/grass gnome collection I saw the other day while walking Fin. I'm not sure what they're encircling--probably some blood sacrifice that was interrupted by dawn's light--but I'm intrigued nonetheless. Plus, one of the figurines is a T-Rex (or some form of dinosaur), which sold me.