Miss Rudy and Chip

While looking at my blog today, remembering Chip, I recalled how Chip came into our lives about a month before Miss Rudy our guinea pig went to the Rainbow Bridge.  She was nearly seven years old, they usually live to be about five.  I remember thinking that Chip was a gift from God, to help us through losing Rudy.

Imagine my surprise when I read my blog post about her passing.  I realized that Chip passed away two years to the day that Rudy did.  WOW.  Chip is buried right next to Rudy in the same peaceful spot.  I am sure that they are together again, on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge, along with all of our other fur babies, who have made the crossing through the years.  Look out for each other girls!

My Sweet Chip

I had a great weekend getaway with friends this weekend.  When I came home, called to Chip, like I normally do, however, this time she did not come to greet me by climbing as high as she could and shaking the cage to try to get my attention.  I thought maybe she was asleep, so I tried waking her up.  Nothing.  Then I thought that maybe she had somehow gotten out.  Nope, checked the cage for any sign of escape and nothing.

I called Mr. Bruises to see when the last time he saw her.  He mentioned that she wasn't up this morning running on her wheel like normal and thought maybe she was taking a nap.  The last time I saw her was early Saturday morning before I left to meet with my friends.

I found her, all curled up under her hollow log.  It looks as though she went to sleep and never woke up.  She looked comfy and peaceful.  I am heartbroken.  I expected to enjoy her company for many more years.

I will be honest, I've never researched how long they live.  I also, don't know if she had any issues that wouldn't allow her to live longer either.  The way I look at it, she was supposed to die September 10, 2008.  That was the day that I found her as a baby, soaking wet in the middle of the road.  I scooped her up, took her home and somehow nursed her back to health.  She lost half of her tail somehow, but she seemed to be thriving through these last two years.

I have a new respect and love for these creatures after sharing my home with on for over two years.  She wasn't like a hamster, up all night.  She was like us.  She got up at 7:00 in the morning and she went to bed at 7:00 at night.  In those 12 hours that she was out and about, she ran on her wheel constantly.

When we first got her, she was in a smaller cage and she had a hamster wheel.  She used to get that thing going so fast that she would shoot out of it.  Here's a video that I shot that always cracks me up when I watch it.

For her first Christmas, she got a new, bigger wheel.  She escaped for the first time that day as we were trying to put the wheel in her cage.  We had her in the living room in a huge bird cage with lots of branches and logs for her to climb on.  Each time I would clean her cage, I would not only remove all of her stash of nuts and things that she was storing, but I would move her branches all around.  I felt that it kept life interesting for her.

She was a part of the family.  Travis loved to look at her.  Mr. Bruises shared his breakfast bananas with her.  I would call her name all of the time just to see her react to my voice.

Wow, this just really sucks.  I had no clue our time was going to be so short and I miss her already.

God speed, sweet Chip.

Chippie Tales

People ask all of the time how Chip is.  I thought I was long overdue with an update on her.  YES, I said HER.  Chip is a SHE.  For those of you who don't know her story, you can read about it here.  When you are finished with that, you can read all the rest here. 

Chip is thriving.  She has a beautiful coat.  She runs MILES on her wheel daily.  She still gets up at 7:00 am and she still goes to bed at 7:00 pm.  She loves walnuts, pumpkin seeds, dried papaya, bananas, catelope, honeydew and sunflower seeds.  She also loves Fruit Loops, Ritz crackers and icing, however, she only gets those as a treat every now an then.

I don't try to handle her, she has become increasingly aggressive as she has gotten older.  I don't think she would ever try to harm me.  She just totally charges the cage when you come near it.  It has made cleaning her cage a challenge.  She has escaped a number of times.  She is totally content and happy to be back in her cage later, I think she just charges the cage and falls out, then runs around like an idiot.  I am certain if I just left the door open, she would return to her cage eventually, but i don't want the other animals to hurt her by accident and I cenrtainly don't want her using my home as her bathroom. 

I still hold on to the hope that I can release her some day, but I know that isn't an option.  I can still dream about it though.  I really believe that if I did, she would try to get back into the house.

It's been wonderful getting to know a chipmunk, up close and personal.  I've always loved those creatures, I know have a deeper and stronger appreciation and love for them now.

The Mocking Bird

Yes, I know this isn't a mocking bird, that it's a cardinal, however, let me tell you, this bird "mocks" me daily. It has been going on for about two weeks now.

It's a male, you can tell by how bright he is. Isn't it funny how most male animals are flashier than females?

When I first heard his mocking, I thought it was Chip's new paramour, the male chippie that lives under the carport. The little squeeking noise the cardinal was making, sounds just like a chipmunk chirp. I grabbed my camera to see if I could get a photo of the chippie in love.

I quickly realized that it was a cardinal. Every day, that's all I hear, squeek, sqeek, squeek. I swear this bird just sits outside my window mocking me. He squeeks in the front of the house, he squeeks in the back of the house. The only reason why he is not squeeking right now is that it's so windy out, I think he had to take cover.

Come to think of it, I haven't put any birdseed out in awhile. Maybe he isn't mocking me, he is just bitching at me because the buffet is open but there is no food out!

Christmas Photos!

I thought you guys may enjoy seeing some Christmas photos. I know I really enjoy looking at others photos. This was Travis' first true Christmas. Last year, he spent it alone in a cold barn. This is also Chip's first Christmas as well!

Travis is enjoying his Christmas bone. Both Riley and Travis got one on Christmas Eve.


Since Travis is the low dog on the totum pole, he got to be the one humiliated with the bells this year. Riley is totally thrilled that he isn't the youngest any longer!










Kitty gazes at the Christmas tree and wonders when the heck we are going to open presents.


The boys check out all the presents under the tree with Daddy. They are trying to figure out which ones are theirs!


Daddy helps Riley with a present.


While Travis rips into one of his.


Riley gets in on the ripping action.


OMG, it's Giraffe!!! Giraffe, where have you been?!? (Riley forgets that he disemboweled Giraffe last year and this is a new one)


No Kitty! That's MY Giraffe!


Travis gets a really tough toy, one that he supposedly can't destroy.


Kitty checking out her new bed, waiting for Daddy to insert the catnip.


Last, but not least, Chip is enjoying his new wheel. This photo was taken today. Christmas day, as I was putting it into his cage, he got all freaked out and was running around like crazy. Well, he ran real fast up the front of the cage and flipped out of the door. He was running loose in the house for about 15 minutes. Nick and I finally got him in a towel and safely returned him to his cage. We were real sweaty! Chip loves his new wheel!

Happy New Year everyone!!

Merry Christmas Cam!

I purchased a webcam a few days ago. My goal is to broadcast, live, Mr. Bruises attempting to cook Christmas dinner. In the meantime, I have had it on Chip. People are loving it! They are all waiting for Chip to open his present, which is a LARGE new wheel. He loves his little wheel, but he goes so fast, he flies out of it.

Mr. Bruises is still in bed. Too many Coronas last night. As soon as he gets his ass out of bed, Chip can have his wheel. I will then put the camera in the kitchen around noon for the cooking fiasco. I hope I can get it in there and set up without him knowing. He has done NOTHING to prepare so far, so this should be good. I have a frozen pizza as a back up plan.

Merry Christmas and enjoy the holiday chaos from the Bruises house!

Edited to remove the live cam embed, Chip is sleeping and dinner has been served!

A day at The Strip!

Saturday, Jill, Becky, Brian and I went shopping in The Strip District. It was quite an adventure. They drug me in a ton of stores and I bought all kinds of food I will never have the opportunity to eat.

One of the stops was Wholey's Fish Market. Jill was all excited because the accordion player was there. He was playing Christmas carols that day. I got a nice smile from him as I walked past while taking his photo.









Out Front, they have these scary looking fishermen dummies. Of course, Jill had to violate one of them.

Once inside, we see all the fish! The sign says "clean yourself". Becky, I don't think they mean with your tongue!

Jill decided that she wanted to kiss one of them. At this point, an older, female Wholey's employee is eyeing us suspiciously and offers us a shopping basket.

There were mirrors above the fish counter that just screamed for a photo op. I love the looks on the random stranger's faces, behind us in the photo.

In the strip, we encountered all kinds of ethnic food. Some were confusing. I can see a number of adolescents attempting to smoke asparagus now. Grass? really? Who calls asparagus grass?

Our favorite find was this special "flavor" of soup. I can see all kinds of Lorena Bobbit inspired women making this scrumptious soup for the upcoming holidays! I have a fondness for Lorena, afterall, she "is" the most famous manicurist of them all!

The day was complete, when I returned home and saw how happy Chip was that I bought him a pound of fresh chestnuts!

Chip runs on his wheel!

Here is a funny video I took of Chip running on his wheel. He runs so fast that hey flies out of it. He loves this wheel and gives it a daily workout. Enjoy!

Chip's New Home

I get asked all of the time for an update on Chip. Chip is doing well and is nearly full grown. He is showing a little aggression as he is getting older and I am told that is normal.

Chip outgrew his cage. On Monday, Mr. Bruises and I went in search of a new one for him. I originally planned on getting him a large ferret cage, but the wires were set too far apart. We opted on a very large bird cage.

I filled the cage with branches for him to crawl on and chew. Riley and Travis were all excited when I came into the house with them. They know the "No sticks in the house" rule and were excited to think that the rules had changed!

I also got a hammock. I had no idea how much Chip was going to love that hammock. He is sound asleep in it as I type.

Travis is totally amazed that he can look Chip in the eye. He just loves to sit and watch him. Riley doesn't seem to care one way or the other. Kallie, of course, is being her normal, bitchy-cat self!

All in all, I would say that Chip gives his home two paws up!

Travis found him!

He's alive! Travis kept sniffing around the turtle tank. I finally got up enough guts to get a flashlight and look for him and imagine my surprise when he looked back at me. I was able to lure him out with some Fruit Loops.

He is back in his cage, he is very skittish, which is understandable. I can't see any wounds, however, I can't really assess him since he is hiding a bit. He is climbing his tubes, which is a good sign.

I have tied the doors closed so that the cat can't do it again and will be getting the locks that they sell for that reason.

Thank you Travis for leading me to him! And to think I thought you ate him!

The unthinkable

I arrived home tonight to the unthinkable. After letting the dogs out, I started calling for Chip, like I always do. No response. I looked up, figuring he was in one of his enclosures up high that he loves. I then noticed the middle door. Hanging. Wide. Open. I knew then and there that the cat had gotten the door open.

I immediately locked the cat in a bedroom, the dogs in another, thinking I could lure Chip out with some of his favorite yummies. It was then that I saw the blood.

There was a little trail on the table, then smears on the kitchen floor. I have yet to find him. All hope was lost when I saw that blood. I fear that the cat injured him or killed him, then the dogs ate him.

How I wish Mr. Bruises was home. I can't bring myself to look for his little body. I just hope that it was quick for him. I guess I gave him four extra weeks of life, but it still sucks that he was massacred by his housemates. This is gonna be a long night.

Update on Chip

I've been asked for an update on Chip. He is still thriving and really seems happy! He moved into his triple decker condo a week ago and loves exploring all the nooks and crannies. He loves his wheel and this really cool little wooden house I put for him to nest in the bottom of his cage. Each time he hears my voice, he pokes his head out.

He is actually litter trained. He uses a litter box in the corner of his cage. He loves to nibble on my hand, he never bites. He is quite fast and doesn't like to leave the safety of his cage.

He's been dining on a variety of nuts and grains and I found him a nice, fresh chestnut in the yard. He also has taken a liking to Fruit Loops. I am sure his little, wooden house is filled with them.
So, Chip is doing well. I am totally comfortable with my decision to keep him out of harms way.

I'm a failure

I'm a failure, a rescue failure. No, the chippie I rescued, one week ago today did not die. In fact, it is doing wonderful! A little too wonderful! Thanks to my great love and care, it is now, not afraid of people and worse yet, has no fear of cats.

This little guy doesn't stand a chance in the real world now. He would be a Scooby Snack for one of the neighborhood cats in a matter of minutes now. So, I've purchased the Taj Mahal of critter cages, which will be here on Friday and he is going to join our family.

I feel horrible that he's a wild animal and will now be domesticated. I would feel worse, though if I found his little headless carcass once a cat was through with him.

A Successful Rescue!

I have rescued so many chipmunks through the years. There was the on that fell into the garbage can and was in there for who knows how long. Then there was the one being terrorized by the neighbors cat and was trapped between two windows. Then there were the other three that I wrestled from the same cat. Once bit by a cat, there's nothing you can do, their saliva is poison. Needless to say, none of the chipmunks I have rescued have ever survived. I always felt some comfort, in knowing, though, that they died comfortably in a warm place, on a soft fluffy towel instead of in a cat's mouth or a hawk's beak.

Yesterday, as I was heading to the store, I saw a baby chipmunk on the road. I stopped to let it scurry, but it didn't. It was soaking wet and all curled in a ball. It let me pick it up and didn't struggle. "Here we go again", I thought. So, I turned the car around and found a nice box, a fluffy towel, some of Rudy's food, a small milk cap of water and I took Jeffrey's basking lamp from his aquarium. I got the little critter all comfy and headed back on my way to the store.

Imagine my surprise when I got home and found the chipmunk up and around and eating! It was so lethargic when I left. I am pretty much sure that I have had my first successful chipmunk rescue. I will give him a few days, to make sure he is alright, then I will release him back where I found him.