Introducing Boggs

So did I mention that I think blogging might be giving me bad karma? Well, really just because I had to post about the Zeb-Deals, and then I get side swiped by a few of them within the span of a few weeks. Screw this blog.

Anyway, one adorable little Zeb-Deal that recently came my way is this little guy, Boggs. (yeah, named after New York Yankee and Boston Red Sox great, Wade Boggs) He's a 7 week old Chesapeake Bay Retriever. And he's going to be huge. He is a natural at taking walks, but has struggled hard in the crate training arena. Basically he cries like a howler monkey everytime we try to put him in his crate. If he doesn't figure this out by the time fall camp starts next Sunday, I am going to flip my shit.

Zeb having a "teaching moment" with the little one.

Ollie & Boggs getting aquainted in the back yard.

(Singing theme song to Rob & Big) "People let me tell ya 'bout my beeest friend"

Yeah, they love each other. Notice Ollie's leg tangled up around Boggs. I die. More stories to come soon.

Zeb-Deals Mode

I'm sure I've shared with many of you the phenomenon that often occurs in my household - now known as "Zeb-Deals Mode." This occurs when a few factors align - 1) Zeb is in the market for a specific new toy. Often some piece of electronics, but not necessarily limited to electronics. 2) The perfect, and unbelievable deal becomes available - typically after intense research, and almost always there is some type of time limit on this deal that makes it necessary to make the purchase immediatly. Below I have made an attempt to outline the typical process that "Zeb-Deals Mode" goes through, with various (usually unsuccessful) interventions that I have tried to use to side track "Zeb-Deals Mode"

1. IDENTIFICATION: Zeb identifies a specific need in his existence. (typically this "need" is going to be more along the lines of a "want," if you will, or a distant fantasy. Very unlikely to be something that is a necessity) At this point I will do my best to point out the reasons why said "need" is actually un-needed. A key at this stage is to use extreme dis-interest in the topic, because if I become too intertwined in discussion about said "need" Zeb may actually mistake this for a signal that specified purchase is a possibility. "So you're saying I have a chance."
   
2. REPETITION: Zeb begins to bring the topic up more and more frequently. Say he mentions that he wants to buy a Kayak once - I'm in the clear. But if he starts to bring this up multiple times, it could be a problem. One strategy that has seemed to work at this stage is to act like I can't hear his comments. I'll either just be silent when he starts talking about the purchase, or sometimes even say "what?" and when he repeats it say "what?" again. I'll repeat this as many times as necessary until he stops trying to tell me about said purchase.
3. RESEARCH: Zeb begins looking up facts about the purchase, finding out what brands are good brands. He will usually start to see what typical prices are. At this point he may even act disappointed to find out how expensive something is, and he may even act as if he does not think he can afford said item. "Awww, it's really too bad that kayaks cost $5,000. I guess that's way too much, we really can't afford that now." This is in no way an indicator that I am in the clear. Again, at this phase avoidance is the best strategy. I try to avoid engaging Zeb in any sort of discussion about this purchase.
4. INTENSE RESEARCH: Zeb starts researching non-stop. At this point he will begin finding deals. It would be typical for Zeb to come up with a few "decoy" deals to pump-fake me, before he goes in for the kill with the final "Zeb-Deal." Once Zeb has reached the intense research phase the purchase will likely go down within the next 24-72 hours. It is unlikely that I have any chance of reversing the process once it has reached the intense research phase.
5. ZEB-DEAL: The final Zeb-Deal will always be at a huge discount to any other sale price that has been listed anywhere else. It will always be a once in a lifetime deal, and there will always be some sort of time constraint, such as an open box opportunity at a store, or a craig's list sale that "isn't going to last for long." I know it's over when I start hearing phrases like "but it was originally $5,000 and now they're selling it for only $750" or "fine, I'll just wait and buy it at the regular price." By the time that the Zeb-Deal comes, I am typically so tired of fighting off this purchase that I no longer have the will to tell him we can't afford it, or that we don't really need it. This is when Zeb swoops in and seals the Zeb-Deal.

I hope you have found this informational, and now you can hopefully recognize when someone in your life goes into "Zeb-Deals Mode," and you may even be able to temporarily sidetrack or delay the progression of the Zeb Deal.