Since I’m working the morning show this week while Sunny prepares to have her baby and Tara is on vacation, my schedule is a little different. I go into work at 3:45 a.m. so I try to go to sleep by 8:30 p.m.

I eat supper around 5:30 p.m. and then take a shower. Tonight I was in the shower when I heard a crunching noise. For a moment I just thought Cubbie was chewing on the cap of one of the bottles I gave him, but then the crunching got louder.

I peeked my head outside the curtain, and I saw Cubbie in the hallway with my bag of curler clips for my hot rollers! When he saw me looking at him, he grabbed one of the clips and ran. Even though he was doing something he shouldn’t be, I didn’t feel like rushing. I deserve a few minutes of relaxation!

A few minutes later I found Cubbie on the bed with the clip. He looked at me like, “Hi Mom. I’m not doing anything.”

The full bag of clips was on the floor in the hallway. I admit, it was partially my fault he got into the bag. I had a friend visiting from Arizona the weekend after Christmas so I put the curlers and clips on the floor in the corner of my bathroom to make more space in my bathroom. I forgot I left the curlers on the floor, until Cubbie grabbed them.

I only had to throw away two clips he crunched apart.

Posted under Cubbie stories

I saw one of the weirdest things when I was back home in Oelwein for Christmas.

I’ve always known my dad’s cats aren’t like any other cats I’ve ever known. These cats (K.K. and Minnie) literally talk to my dad. It’s really interesting when they start meowing and my dad knows exactly what they want. They also ride around on his shoulders and sleep with him at night.

When I was back home for the holiday, I noticed the cats wanting to go into the basement. Why would a cat want to go into the musty basement? So I asked my mom what was going on. She said that’s where Dad brushes their hair. I guess Minnie will meow at the basement door until someone opens it. My mom will open it, and she will go sit on this little piece of carpet literally waiting for my dad to come brush her! If he doesn’t come, she just comes back upstairs after a while.

When my mom told me the cats actually WANT to be brushed, I thought she was making it up. What cat enjoys being brushed?

Well, on Christmas Day I witnessed the cat brushing for myself. The basement door was open, and I wondered what was going on. My dad and the two cats were downstairs. I didn’t believe he was actually brushing their hair (without them fighting him), so I went down to get a firsthand look.

I was in complete shock. There was Minnie just sitting on the little piece of carpet and K.K. was on her back while my dad used the firmenator on her. Then he alternated to Minnie and she closed her eyes and put her ears back as my dad brushed her. It went back and forth with the cats like this, each waiting her turn patiently! My mom wasn’t kidding. The cats love getting their hair brushed.

My dad puts all the hair he gets in the brush in a bucket (he jokes he’s going to use it to make Mom a new coat). But I’m told he has to be careful not to brush them too much because apparently once he gave Minnie a small bald spot.

It was one of the weirdest things I’ve ever seen!

Posted under Uncategorized

Where should I begin? As usual, the Wagner family Christmas was very eventful thanks to Cubbie.

Our family tradition is to celebrate on Christmas Eve. We go to church, eat supper, open presents and watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

Most of the presents were already under the tree before Cubbie and I made it back to Oelwein. So, of course when we got there he had to inspect everything.

During the day on Christmas Eve Cubbie decided to open one of his presents early! He grabbed it and ran. Before my mom or I could catch him, he had his new toy unwrapped.

It was a stuffed animal from my brother Devin. At that time, Devin happened to be walking through the door. He tried chasing Cubbie to get it back, but Cubbie just thought Uncle Devin was playing with him. When Cubbie eventually let his guard down, Devin took the toy back and re-wrapped it. He said Cubbie had to wait until we all opened presents.

Well, we got to presents several hours later after church and eating supper. Cubbie got to open his re-wrapped stuffed animal. He also got an assortment of treats and a box of milk bones. But his “playtime” with Devin earlier must have worn him out because he only helped us open a few gifts before collapsing on the couch with his new toy. He slept while we all opened gifts.

Cubbie continued to sleep while we watched our movie. I took him up to bed with me around Midnight.

Cubs woke up around 7:15 a.m. Christmas Day. I took him outside, and then he charged back upstairs and jumped on my parents’ bed. He scared the cats, and proceeded to cuddle with Grammy. I let him stay there.

I went back to my room and fell back asleep. At one point, though, I woke up and heard what sounded like a bowl scraping across the kitchen floor. I remember thinking, “What are Mom and Cubbie doing?” But I went back to sleep.

A while later I was just waking up, and I heard my door open. Cubbie came running and jumped on me. My mom was right behind. She said Dad said Cubbie didn’t deserve his new bed, which reminded her she forgot to give it to him on Christmas Eve! If you know my mom, this happens every year. She always forgets at least one gift. Last year she forgot she hid some DVDs for Dad in the glove compartment of her car, the year before that she forgot a suitcase for me.

Anyway, she brought the bed in, and Cubbie tried to chew on it. I put a stop to that. Mom told me the story of the bowl I heard on the floor, and why Dad said Cubbie didn’t deserve the new bed. Apparently, Dad put his wet cat food on the kitchen table (for his two cats) then he went outside. (We don’t really know why he went outside). When he came back inside, the bowl was on the floor and Cubbie was eating the food. We have to assume Cubbie used one of the kitchen chairs to get on the table to get the bowl.

So of course after he does something he knows he probably shouldn’t, Cubbie comes running to me in the bedroom. All I could do was laugh! Poor Dad.

I got up, and then gave Cubbie his new bed to try out. He went right in and laid down. He brought his new stuffed animal with him.

Then I played Nintendo with my brother until Cubbie and I left in the afternoon so I could finish up some stuff for the weekend morning shows. On the drive back to Waterloo, Cubbie climbed in the backseat and slept in his new dog bed.

It was a great, wonderful, happy Christmas! And it wouldn’t be Christmas without Cubbie keeping us on our toes.

Posted under Cubbie stories

One of my co-workers/friends and I exchange Christmas gifts every year. This year Nick got me a Snuggie!!

Most people should know, but in case you don’t, it’s the blanket with sleeves.

I washed it last night and was hoping to try it out, but I didn’t get the chance. That’s because Cubbie really loves the Snuggie. As soon as I brought it upstairs he was chasing after it, and when I set it down on the chair he jumped right up there with it.

My youngest brother Devin called me last week to ask if he should get Cubbie a dog Snuggie. I said I didn’t think he’d wear it, but maybe I was wrong!

I still haven’t gotten to use my own Snuggie because Cubbie is hogging it!

Posted under Cubbie stories

Tammy forwarded me this article for anyone else who missed it in the WCF Courier.

It’s about a beagle named Hope. She was found in the Charles City area shot in the face and the leg! Hope’s leg was so badly damaged it actually had to be amputated. A vet specialist in Des Moines says she was also likely thrown from a moving vehicle based on her injuries. How sad!

Hope’s medical bills will be several thousand dollars. She’s staying at the Humane Society of North Iowa in Mason City.

Those who wish to help can send contributions to: Humane Society of North Iowa, Attn: “Hope,” 2700 S. Birch Drive, Mason City, IA 50401.

Anyone who has information on who may be responsible for Hope’s injuries is asked to contact the Floyd County Sheriff’s Department at 641-228-1821.

To read the full article in the Courier, click here.

Posted under In the News

Cubbie always gets gifts for Christmas. Usually toys or some special treats. This year, he asked Grandma for a new doggy bed. I have it on good authority he will be pleasantly surprised!

If you still need to get your pooch something for Christmas… I found a list of ten pet indulgences.

10. Clothing

9. Training

8. Group Playtime

7. Pet Toys

6. Gourmet Pet Food

5. Luxury Beds

4. Dog Carriers

3. Luxury Kennels

2. Pet Spa

1. Tender Loving Care

So true! What our pets really want is our love!

To read the full article click here.

Posted under Uncategorized

The Hawkeye Chapter of the American Red Cross in Waterloo is offering a Pet First Aid class for cats and dogs.

The class is Wednesday, December 23rd from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It’s at the Hawkeye Chapter office on University Avenue in Waterloo. The cost is $30, which includes the class and a guide.

Anyone ten and older may sign up for the class. To register, call 319-234-6831. Please do not bring pets to class.

Posted under Pet Events

Cubbie is not a fan of snow or cold weather. When some dogs go running through the snow ready to play, Cubbie begs me not to make him go outside.

I fully admit, Cubbie is a spoiled baby because of me. What can I say? He’s an only dog.

He already has a path shoveled for him (which he has yet to leave that path, even to chase rabbits). I normally go outside with him, but since I don’t like the cold weather either I now stand at the door and watch him through the window. (I guess like mother, like dog).

After a couple minutes, he starts lifting each of his paws as if he simply cannot bear to touch the snow anymore. He walks really slowly and looks really sad as if he is slowing freezing to death. I open the door to try to get him to hurry, but sometimes he doesn’t. He just looks at me like, “Why don’t you get rid of all this snow for me?”

The other day, Cubbie was taking his sweet time as usual, lifting each paw from the snow (supposedly in pain). I wanted him to hurry up, so I said, “Treat!” What do you know, miraculously he could use his paws again! He ran right to the door. I told him his paws must not be that cold if he could run that easily on them!

I’m sure his paws get cold, but I’m also sure he can be overdramatic. That character trait he gets from his Grampy. Not me.

Posted under Cubbie stories

As I’ve mentioned before, I drink this bottled green tea and Cubbie loves to steal my bottles. Typically, I set the bottle in the corner of the couch while I’m drinking it. (Obviously with the lid on). Sometimes Cubbie sneaks up, and when I’m not looking, he grabs it and runs.

The other day I knew exactly what he was going to do. I was reading my book when I saw him trying to sneak up on me. Well, just before he got the bottle I grabbed it! I told Cubbie I wasn’t done drinking it yet, and I hid it under the blanket.

I interpreted me hiding the bottle as “you can’t have this right now.” Cubbie interpreted it as “Mommy wants to play. She just invented a new game for me!”

Cubbie immediately pouunced on the blanket where I hid the bottle. Then he started scratching at it! I in turn moved the bottle around under the blanket, and he kept pouncing and following it. I wasn’t going to let him have the bottle until I was finished! But Cubbie wasn’t going to give up either. He basically attacked the blanket trying to get at the bottle.

I took the blanket and threw it over Cubbie. He was wandering around trying to shake it off, and at one point I thought he was going to knock the Christmas tree over! Thankfully, he didn’t and he also gave up on the bottle… at least for awhile.

Posted under Cubbie stories

Jennifer Hildreth sent me some new pictures of Cooper, and I thought I would share them.

Jennifer adopted Cooper back in May from the Cedar Bend Humane Society.

Her mom describes Cooper as a “toddler” because she’s constantly telling him, “No!”

Cooper likes to get on the counter and even eat shoelaces! Enjoy these new photos.

Posted under Uncategorized