This weekend was circled on the calendar in red: it's grooming time. I guess I can understand why this would count as the terror from beyond space to those of us in the household under ten pounds: the brushing, oh the horrible brushing. Rabbits also need their nails trimmed, and words can't even begin to describe the expressions on bunny faces when this has to occur. English doesn't have a word for "and when you put me down I will kill you". I believe we need to rely on some aggregation-heavy Teutonic language for that. Something with a lot of spitting.

In case music soothes the savage beast , I made a list of song suggestions for Grooming Day:

• Drama - Erasure
• And the Word is (No) - Sesame Street
• Do I Have To? - Pet Shop Boys
• My Hair - Skankin Pickle
• Self Control - Laura Branigan
• Fight Song - The Aquabats
• Why Can't You Be Nicer to Me? - The White Stripes
• If You Only Knew - Jurassic 5
• Is This Love? - Cake
• You Don't Own Me - Rasputina
• Never Surrender - Corey Hart
• Smack My Bun Up - Prodigy (Tung-Tung remix)

Unfortunately, the grooming also involves a quick mouth-check for Tung-Tung, and this time, we found two more teeth had grown back in. Which means another trip to the vet's to pull them out, another trip under anesthesia. If you're just joining us, we're not rabbit-abusing pain freaks. Rabbits' teeth grow throughout their lives, which is why they chew everything in sight. Tung-Tung had his teeth out before we got him, because they were misaligned, and it was that or watch them grow through his jaw.

So. Very. Unamused.

We had two remaining toothlets pulled for him when we got here in the fall, and had hoped that would be the last of them. To say I'm unhappy about this is an understatement. The last time I handed over a bunny for routine surgery, I returned home with a small box. I understand that rabbits are small, delicate creatures that tend to be blown over in a stiff wind, and that it's only because I live a life of 21st century veterinary privilege that my rabbits can go under and come back, but still. Poo.

Next Tuesday, Tungle will definitely earn at least a month's reprieve from brushing. Or I'm sure we'll hear about it.