Left: Photo of a landscape architecture installation in our collegetown area.I stayed home from class today. I really had no desire to wander the l@w school while I sobbed in public. Plus, did you know all that ugly crying seems to make you twice as ugly the next day? So as much as I would like to be surrounded by people living in the world of the sane, I am spending my time blogging at home. Historically, I have stayed home from work or school because of emotional trauma, and subsequently, I end up feeling so isolated and alone in the world that it makes everything worse. So now when I stay home, blogging allows me to be by myself while still remaining connected to people, really really good people.
I have a dozen stories in my head that I would like to write about at this time, but one in particular has been at the front of my head. Mainly because it happened recently, and for the 3rd time. It involves some very minor crafting, and the dogs. I take a white tube sock and fill it with uncooked rice. Then, I tie off a knot at the end of the sock to close it up. At that point, it becomes The Sock. When my neck/back muscles are sore, I heat up The Sock for around 2-3 minutes in the microwave. It serves as a fabulous heating pad for sore muscles, and can easily be wrapped around the back of the neck. The truly crafty can add lavender to the rice to give off a lovely scent.
The problem at my house is the dogs. I have made 3 of these socks in the last couple of years. All 3 of The Socks, have been summarily ripped open by our two dogs, a male German Shepherd and a female Jack Russell Terrier, when we have mistakenly left The Sock out and not in use. Once they get The Sock open, the two of them consume as much of the rice as possible. The rice that escapes into the carpet is like a snack that they can go to when feeling the munchies come on later. During the last sock destruction and consumption party the dogs had, they did manage to leave some of the rice in the sock. I threw that sock and its rice in the garbage. About a week later they found the garbage that contained the remnants of the sock, and succeeded in pulling it out of the garbage and eating the remaining rice now well seasoned with other garbage. Nice.
The digestive fallout from these rice episodes isn't pretty. And now that I am not pregnant, I am part of the clean up crew again. Good times.
30 comments:
Hopefully you can make one that they will leave alone! And my mom has one. Not one that she made but bought and she uses it religiously. Good luck! And, as always, lots of hugs!
Nicole, just wanted to let you know I'm thinking of you. Too bad you can't make a sock that you can put on your sad and hurting heart. Now THAT would be a craft project! Hang in there, chickie.
Loved the story about the dogs. Pets are one thing that can make you feel better, no matter how bad things get. Hugs
I had one of the lavender sented types, but it seemed to lose its effectiveness after awhile, as though it couldn't hold the heat as long.
Come to think of it, I think I left it at the old house. Dur.
Dog stories are always entertaining. Hugs!
what if you put a little cayenne in with rice in the sock? you likely wouldn't notice it at all but the dogs might. . . just a thought! glad to hear you stayed home to take care of yourself a bit today!
I love "the Sock" My mom made mine for me, we keep it in the freezer, to make it cold when we need a cold compress. Our dogs never have any interest though when we use it... lol
(((hugs)))
Thanks for the laugh. I needed that. I can just imagine my cats doing something similar.
I'm glad blogging helped you to take some time for yourself without being completely isolated.
I'm thinking of you and sending all the cyber hugs I can muster.
Dogs are charming and ever so lovey, but they do have some nasty habits. Coprophagy, anyone? I guess this rice business is worse in some ways because of the mess that you and Hubby must clean.
I wanted to suggest using something non edible, like ceramic pie weights, but then I thought better. Is there anything a dog considers inedible? We don't want the doggies eating those.
Aaah, dontcha love dogs? I can just imagine the digestive fallout and its not pretty. Good luck with it. And you're still in my thoughts every day x
Dogs are very entertaining.
The internet, you can be by yourself with people. that's a great thing.
I hope you feel better soon.
that's pretty cool! my daughter would destroy one if i made one though.
been thinking about you...
I'm sorry that your doggies keep eating your heated socks. I recommend those to moms all the time.
I wonder if spraying the sock with Bitter Apple spray would keep the dogs off of it?
Oh.my.God
I would lose it if that happened. I seriously admire you. Blech...I think I am just too much of a princess! My idea of a dog involves something fluffy that fits in a purse and looks cute.
Maybe a sock doggy?
Good for you staying home today to rest and take some "me" time. Law school will still be there when you go back.
Glad you're still with us, Nics.
The sock idea sounds very cool, I would like to try it if I remember.
Sometimes silly antics like your dogs munching the Sock are the things that keep us going when we struggle to find joy in anything else.
I wouldn't think that uncooked rice would be that appealing. But then again, I am not a dog, so how would I know!
ohhh I can so see my dogs do that. One of the reasons I do not use the socks but a lovely massage chair
I have been a cat owner for most of my adult life but within the last year also became a dog (puppy) owner as well. I cannot get over the amount and type of random food my dog will consume - garbage, acorns, cat poop. It is really disgusting and it makes me crazy - especially when he steals our dinner off the counters. Not to mention the fallout from these crazy snacks. I tell him that he needs to go to a support group for food obsession but he only understands the word "food" and thinks he is getting another meal. *sigh*
As my family is fond of saying:
Dogs are Gross.
Love 'em, but man, they're gross...
Martha Stewart eat your heart out - that's friggin' brilliant girl..and I love the lavendar touch. My dogs would get a real kick out of that as well. Keep a chin up lady, we're all here for ya.
xo Anns
I love the sock idea! How crafty! I am sorry that your dogs keep eating them though. I can see mine doing something like that. I think that the cayenne idea is a good one. They may never want to tear open another sock ever again.
I am sorry that you are hurting so much. Please know that you are in my thoughts. Sending you a hug.
I've been reading your blog for some time. Not only am I going through IF while on antidepressants, but my sil lives with severe bipolar/manic depression. I always tell her how amazed I am with her, but she doesn't understand that I actually mean it. I guess it all boils down to the fact that I am the one who doesn't understand. She is more real to me than anyone else I know. BTW, I have a gsd who, as of 5 minutes ago, was shredding yet another $50 bed we bought. He does it on the days that I haven't spent the required time feeding into his "must catch ball without letting it ever hit the ground" obsession. I've heard of the goldstar rescue from a gsd site as well. Sorry for the long message. I've just recently started my own blog. I guess I should get back to it . . .
Oh, I'm sorry but I'm laughing about the socks. Did dealing with the dogs make you stop crying for a bit? Or make you cry, but for a different reason? I hope each day gets a bit easier.
I feed my dogs home made doggie cookies for snacks...but hey if you want to feed them sockie rice treats that's up to you :) just tryin to give ya a smile
Dogs are great for comfort, I see that you are like me and need lots of comfort (2 dogs)
take care sweetie
hi there, just checking in from santa fe on my vacation. i'm surprised the dogs get sick as elvis has a special diet that involves chicken and rice. rice is supposed to reduce diarrhea. maybe it's other things you put in the sock. been thinking of you a lot while driving through beautiful areas of new mexico. i'll check your earlier posts that i missed soon. hang in there!
just seeing how you are
What an awesome idea? I going to have to try that.
I have a German Sheperd/Husky mix and I trained her well to keep your diry little paws off of things :)
Hope you are feeling good...Thinking about you.
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Eeee. I love my The Sock. I would be very sad if my dog ever ate it.
Oh, dear. It's amazing what dogs will eat! Soap, raw potatoes, chair legs, plastic bags, empty tin cans... maybe Labs are especially dumb, but my mom's has no sense at all.
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