They said it couldn't be done.

Many rabbit owners confine their rabbits to cages, because until recently rabbits have been classified as unintelligent, un-trainable pets. This makes it very difficult to find information about rabbits beyond their basic needs. In my rabbit studies I have found several articles about how to litter train your rabbit, but I have yet to find any information on how to train them to do any other things. My Bunny has been entirely potty trained since day one! What I want to know is how do you go about teaching them to do things like play games, do tricks, and come when called? Maybe he could even cook dinner, pick up after himself, and do the dishes every once in a while! Oh wait, now I'm talking about my husband. Is training a rabbit (or a husband) anything like training a dog? Without the answers to these questions, I have still been determined to teach the men in my house a thing or two.

My foremost favorite pet is my Bunny, and my second favorite is my mom's Pomeranian, Zoe. She is quite a talented little fluff ball. She can do a myriad of tricks, she comes when called (most the time), and when you tell her it's bed time she goes right upstairs to bed. Art's belief is that our Bunny is nothing more than an A.D.D. afflicted lunatic with a lousy memory span, but I personally don't have any reason to believe that my Bunny would be incapable of learning just as much as Zoe can. Maybe my Bunny can't "speak" like Zoe, but I am certain that with his amazing balance, agility, stamina, observation skills, escape artist abilities, and dashing good looks, he can outperform Zoe in some other way. So with Zoe as an example and my confidence in my Bunny ripened, I began my training feats.

TRAINING SESSION ONE: In an attempt to teach our Bunny to be more people-friendly I wanted to train him to hop up on the couch when you call him. It didn't take much coaxing at all and up he came! I tried it again the next day and he hopped right up without hesitation.

TRAINING SESSION TWO: Sometimes it can be quite a task to get the Bunny to go back in his play pen when it's his bed time so I thought, "Well, Zoe can do it so my bunny can too."

It is a well known fact that Bunny will do just about anything for a treat. The only time he willingly got on my lap with all fours was in an attempt to snatch a tasty banana chip from my grasp. So I got a banana chip ready and held it just inside his cage and called "Bed time, Bunny!" and he came running in his cage for the treat and I closed the door. At this point he was not fully trained, but he was beginning to understand the concept.

Last night I told Art about the things I was trying to teach the Bunny and he was quite skeptical that I would have any success; especially in teaching the Bunny "bed time". Just then, I turned to the Bunny and said, "Bed time, Bunny!" and he came running straight to his cage. Art could hardly believe it. Heck, even I had my doubts that he would actually go in his cage!

I know our training ventures have merely begun, but one thing is for certain: They said it couldn't be done, but my little guy did it!

Fortune Cookie Say: Change Your Mind

Yesterday my entire day was AGGRAVATING in every way. It was such an aggravating day, in fact, that it would take a very long time to explain every bit of it so I will just get to the point (which is long enough in and of itself).

When I got home from work yesterday, needless to say, I was very flustered. What better thing for a woman to do when they're upset than to clean? So I started cleaning out my purse and wallet, both of which had accumulated a lot of trash and spare change. Then, I decided that Panda Express would make all my problems go away. My jaw has been locked- nearly closed- for the past 4 days and I figured I could fit some Panda Express through the small gap I can open my mouth. Determined to find a Panda Express closer to my house than the River Park location, I got on Map Quest and pulled up a list. It said that there was one about a mile and a half from my house, but never in my passings through this area had I ever beheld such a Panda Express. So I figured I would drive by and see if it existed, and if not I would go to the one I had seen way out north on Willow. Sure enough, the Panda by my house was only a tall tale so I drove out to the other one which turned out being way farther than I remembered. It was on Willow and Nees. I grabbed my purse to go inside and noticed it felt rather light weight. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks; I had left my wallet on the kitchen table. I hadn't a dime to my name. Despair then filled my soul and I yelled, "ALL I WANT IS SOME PANDA!"

I drove all the way back home and reported my misfortune to Baby Cakes. He then suggested that we go to the Panda by Manchester since Map Quest said it was one of the top 3 closest locations. I got on 41 south from Ashlan, forgetting (as I often do) that Shields is the very next exit. I was in the middle lane, trapped between cars and missed my exit, the next one being McKinley. I was fed up by this point in time. All I wanted was some Panda Express to make my bad day go away and it was only creating more grief.

Shortly thereafter, we arrived at our destination and were finally able to partake of the goodness that is Panda. My enjoyment was suddenly cut short when I dropped a glob of mandarin sauce on my pants. Just when I thought my day could stoop no lower, it stooped. I finished my food and sat quietly in contemplation. What can I do to not let days like this get to me? Then, I reached for my fortune cookie, expecting nothing more than a tasty treat. I cracked it open and read my fortune, which was like a message from heaven as though God himself wrote it just for me: MODIFY YOUR THINKING TO HANDLE NEW SITUATIONS.

There it was; the answer that had been trying to manifest itself to me all day. I just happen to be so dense that God had to sneak it in my fortune cookie. Then a song came to mind, almost immediately, that expanded upon my fortune cookie's wisdom…

Sister Hazel- Change Your Mind

Hey, Hey
Did you ever think
There might be another way
To just feel better
Just feel better about today?

Oh no-
If you never want to have
To turn and go away
You might feel better
Might feel better if you stay

I bet you haven't heard
A word I've said
If you've had enough
Of all your tryin'
Just give up
The state of mind you're in

If you want to be somebody else,
If you're tired of fighting battles with yourself
If you want to be somebody else
CHANGE YOUR MIND

"Forget it! I'm not sick anymore!"

My Husband and I decided we wanted a pet,
but we didn't know what sort to get.

There is a clause in our lease, such that,
prevents us from owning a dog or a cat.

We went to Whities Pet Store and began to explore,
'til we found a bunny that we most surely adore.

There he sat cleaning his face,
a Netherland Dwarf- what an unusual race!

Wearing a ninja suit of black,
with the upright ears of a cat.

Big eyes like an owl and whiskers on his jowl,
how could you say no to that?

His first home was a cardboard box, his parents to blame.
He thought these accommodations were rather lame.

So one day he decided to flee,
and he hopped right out; a free bunny!

It was then we knew we must find him a home,
such a little guy should not be free to roam.

We purchased a cage that was pretty sweet,
a playpen for our Bunny of 12 square feet!

Well this little rabbit of ours,
slipped right through the 2 inch bars.

Why be appeased by 12 square feet
when there is an entire house to defeat?

Some reinforcements needed to be made,
meanwhile our Bunny was free to misbehave.

To jump and play and kick and to zoom-
his kingdom is now the living room.

The sofa is his throne, beneath the couch is his retreat,
the blinds are there for playtime, the baseboards- tasty treats.

Our Bunny circles our feet with love,
showing affection the best way he can think of.

Clockwise then counter, around and about,
our little one loves us without any doubt!

Our Bunny has grown with leaps and bounds
and now he weighs just over 2 pounds.

We knew the dreaded day had come
to break the news to our little one.

He would be pestered by the birds and the bees,
and hormones would increase destructive tendencies.

We had no other choice to make-
off to the vet, his manhood to take.

We expected no degree of complications;
instead the stress caused 'G.I. Stasis'.

24 hours without a bite,
he starved all day and then all night.

A banana chip he'd push away, no spinach, no carrots,
nor nibble of hay- back to the vet without delay!

Syringe feedings by the hour should settle the score-
it took 3 days and 2 nights plus the efforts of 4.

And though the Grim Reaper knocked at his door,
he told him, "Forget it! I'm not sick anymore!"