Carpet Pulling = a manly new doormat.

Manly Doormat., originally uploaded by jess sully.

Flynn has begun the annoying habit of pulling out the carpet in front of his cage. I've found little carpet threads strewn all over in front of it, and have caught him in the act several times. For lack of better ideas, I've temporarily solved the problem by covering the carpet with a nice pink towel. It looks sort of like a doormat!
I've been looking online at rescues for a new little girl-bun to bond with Flynn. Well, I found several that I like on the other side of the state:

Aren't they beautiful! They're all sisters, born on December 25th of 2007 (ON CHRISTMAS!). I have no idea why someone hasn't adopted them yet, but I'd be willing to make the drive for one! The best part is that they are already spayed, and the adoption fee is $90. Spaying rabbits here costs around $300 so that's a great deal if you ask me! I sent in an adoption form for them, hopefully I'll hear back soon.

This is not dignified!

This is not dignified!!, originally uploaded by jess sully.

Flynn is becoming slightly more tolerant of being held, but he definitely doesn't enjoy it! He always knows what's coming when it's time for some practice, and before you know it, all you can see is a flick of his back feet and he's gone! I have to corner him, but once he's up and restrained he's tolerable-- not happy, but not frightened, either.
I have not been able to trance him, but I think that's a good thing. After all, a rabbit trance is actually a fear response to a predator-- they freeze hoping the predator will think they're dead so that they can spring to life and escape when the bear, eagle, falcon, cat, etc least expects it. He stayed still on my lap for about 30 seconds at a time though, before flipping over-- and he didn't run away, just sat in my lap and expected an apology.
Strangely enough, we had our longest petting session of all today, about five minutes after I'd put him on his back in my lap (like the picture). Perhaps, even though he hates it, he is learning to trust my hands a little more?

Window-Licking Good :)

Window-Licking Good :), originally uploaded by jess sully.

Flynn had an unexpected start to his days of free-roaming my bedroom. Every morning when I wake up, I let Flynn run around while I shower and get ready to go to class. Well, I woke up late today and in my frenzy to make it to class on time, he decided to hide. I wasn't in the mood to chase him back to his cage, so I shut the bedroom door and left. Five hours later, I returned home to find one content little bunny relaxing against the heating vent. After a long inspection, I didn't find any incriminating evidence of chewed baseboards, cords, books, or carpet... so I think it was a success. You should've seen the look on his face when I burst into the room- he yawned and rolled over as if to say, "What's all the commotion about? Can't you see I'm trying to nap in MY room?"
As you can see in the above picture, he likes to be on my bed. And one of his favorite things to do WHILE he's on my bed is to look out and lick the window. Is this normal? He seems rather transfixed by it. Don't worry, the window hasn't been cleaned with chemicals or anything lately... what college student has time for that?

Hello there, Handsome!

There's another world out there...

A whole world out there..., originally uploaded by jess sully.

Flynn and I are still alive, I promise. We've just had a lot going on with midterms and fall break travelling.
I forced Flynn to explore my bed today, by picking him up; evil, I know.
Actually, I've been making sure to pick him up a few times a day now, so he gets used to the idea... especially since he's going to the vet soon.
I've called around to vets in the GR area about neutering... prices range from $131 to $289. I found one that has two rabbit-experienced vets that charges $176 but that includes a new/well pet exam. The place sounds lovely, I might go with them.
I've decided to get Flynn neutered within two weeks from now. His behavior and litter habits are still wonderful, but I just want to curb the behaviors before they start, if at all possible. He has, however, started circling me.

Flynn's been the perfect bunny lately, actually. Although he doesn't feel the need to be petted at all. He has no problem getting in your lap and up in your face, but he very rarely lets me pet him on his head. I can stroke his back, but he just ignores it. I wish he were more cuddly or affectionate. But oh well, what can you do?
Flynn usually gets to be out for hours on end as long as I'm home and in the room, but I think I'll start letting him out for short periods while I'm not home (while I'm at class) to see how that goes. I just feel so bad leaving him all alone all day in his crate.
He IS probably getting a friend in a little over a month, though :) Either a dutch or mini rex doe... hopefully bonding goes well :D

A salad connoisseur.

going, going... gone., originally uploaded by jess sully.

Flynn loves his salad. His favorites are tomato and romaine, and his least favorites (which he has merely nibbled the last three times I offered it) are cucumber and carrots. I've never met a bunny who disliked carrots so much. It's odd!
Should I be limiting his fresh foods? I've only been giving him about a handful of lettuce and a couple slices of tomato and whatnot a day. He's eighteen weeks old today so I'd say his digestive system is definitely ready for it all- he hasn't had any troubles over the last week or so.

Happy, Smiley Flynn.

Smiley bunny :), originally uploaded by jess sully.

Last night I decided to let Flynn try some more new foods. Among the selection were cucumber, celery, tomato, apples, and applesauce (a tiny bit of each of course). He wasn't too crazy about the cucumber or celery, but BOY did he love that applesauce!

I'll just take the whole spoon now, thanks.

Slurrrrppppp.

Let me get every last bit.

What's that? You say I have a kissable face?

Hmmm. This tomato is pretty good too.

Lazy Sundays.

Down for the count., originally uploaded by jess sully.

It's was an extraordinarily hot day today, considering that it's the middle of October! Around 3pm, our thermometer read 82 degrees.
I was ecstatic, because I get sick of winter, snow, and cold weather after about three weeks of it.
Flynn, on the other hand, was grumpy and lazy all day. Of course, the grumpiness probably had to do with the fact that I managed to clip his back nails a little bit today--
I ambushed him; I had no choice. I cornered him, pulled him onto my lap, wrapped him in a blanket, and flipped him on his back... all in about 3.5 seconds. He stayed "tranced" for about... one minute. I clipped an itsy-bitsy bit from those toenails, but it was hard to tell how much to take off because those nails were so much longer, thicker, and darker than the front ones!
He accepted my peace offering (more baby snacks) about two minutes after his traumatization. However, he's been more jumpy than usual today-- probably because he thinks I'm going to ambush him again!

One pooped bunny!

One pooped bunny!, originally uploaded by jess sully.

Flynn had a busy day today.
I vacuumed my room, which is always followed by one very frantic bunny running around chinning everything for an hour.
Then, my family came down to visit me and he met his first "little human"- my little brother Matthew. They got along fantastically. My brother was enamored with him yet very patient. And thanks to all the treats and attention he was getting, Flynn loved him right back.

What happens when Flynn wants attention.

Mine., originally uploaded by jess sully.

Flynn's first taste of greens.

What... is...that...?, originally uploaded by jess sully.

I decided to try Flynn on greens last night, because it suddenly occurred to me that he MUST be old enough now. I've just been too busy with school to take the time! He smelled the plate and even moved the lettuce around a little bit, but he wanted nothing to do with it.

But, of course, as soon as I pretended to eat it, he HAD to know what he was missing! He ate the whole piece you see here.

And happily :)

Thanks for the suggestions, I think I'll wait awhile before I get him neutered. Hopefully he will keep up his excellent litter habits and manners until then :)
One more question- in the above picture, you may notice how long his nails are on his back feet. I tried in vain to cut his nails yesterday but could only manage to do the front feet. First I tried just sitting him on my lap to do it, and that was definitely not going to work. So then I wrapped him in a bunny burrito with a blanket and managed to do the front paws. I could not manage to hold his back feet still long enough to do them though, because he REFUSES to be laid on his back for a trancing... trust me. So how am I supposed to get those back feet? They have to be pulled back in an awkward angle the way I tried yesterday, and he didn't like it- I don't blame him.
He gave me a good thump after safely back on the ground!

My pretty boy.

My pretty boy., originally uploaded by jess sully.

We're still here, I promise!
Sorry for not posting for so long. It was quite unnecessary!

Flynn and I have officially moved into Grand Rapids. The first few days I was actually quite worried- it was so HOT in the room that all he did was lay around and breathe really heavy. Slowly but surely, as my room cooled and he acclimated himself to his new domain (my bedroom), he settled in quite nicely.
He's been behaving very nicely! He still uses his litterbox 100% of the time, even despite the new domain. This means he gets quite a bit of free time out of his cage, and he is getting a new (bigger) dog crate very soon, too.
He turned 4 months old on Monday- I think this means he is ready to be neutered. He hasn't started spraying or humping, but every once in awhile I catch a glimpse of his testicles. I think I'll start calling around to local vets soon.
When do you all think I should get his surgery done? Soon or after his "teenager-ness" sets in?