This morning we took Quib to the vet to be euthanized after it became clear that his health was taking a turn for the worse. He was with us through four apartments, two states, our wedding, and too many jobs to remember right now. He went to a movie theater in Iowa, stayed in a hotel in Wyoming, ate in a restaurant in Utah, went to work with me in Los Angeles, and made us happy every single day. We were lucky to know him.

We'll miss you, Quib. I wish I could have explained how much we'll miss you.

I haven't taken a picture of Quib in months. This is an old one.

He's an old man now, mostly blind and deaf.

I decided he'd earned a peaceful retirement.

A while ago Quib developed a tumor on his cheek.

I took him to a vet, then another vet for a second opinion.

Guinea pigs don't fare well with surgeries, and he's going on 6.

We're going to let nature take its course.

The tumor changes all the time, getting bigger and uglier,

but Quib hasn't changed at all.

He's bright eyed and greedy and grumpy and snuggly.

He still reminds us that sleeping in on the weekends is only allowed

so long as it does not disrupt his regular snacking schedule.

He still cuddles in the crook of my arm

and burps in my face

and scrambles to the back of the couch

so that we're the same height while we watch TV.

In other words, Quib is still the best.

Sorry we've been hiding out for so long.

Quib had a snuggly winter. He tried cilantro and loved it.

He went to the vet for the first time; they called him "hefty."

Every morning before work, he sings with me while I get ready.

He belts his heart out during Taylor Swift anthems.

Daily Quib is moving over to dailyquib.tumblr.com

so please follow us over there for more

very true stories of Quib.*

*Edited to add:

The tumblr format never took off because I started it

as Quib's modeling career was winding down.

When there are updates, they will be here.

"Make a face like the pumpkin, Quib."

Quib likes shade and digestion.

*This is the 100th post here at Daily Quib.

Quib's shampoo smells like raspberries.

Quib does not like raspberries.

Quib had breakfast al fresco this morning.

On Saturday Quib ate a corn husk.

Sometimes Quib has poop breath.

If someone sneezes on your chin and Quib is avoiding eye contact ...

it was definitely him.

Did you think you could come home with cat hair on your shirt

and Quib would just be okay with it?!

If you fall asleep on the couch with Quib,

he'll walk onto your face to make sure you're

breathing.

Quib spent his summer vacation getting used to the

new apartment. He appreciates the grass in the courtyard

but is not a fan of the hardwood floors.

Quib is wary of blueberries if you suggest them

with too much enthusiasm.

Quib discovers that the exercise room is full of useless things.

This is the face Quib makes

when you put him in the bowl of oranges.

There hasn't been much motivation for pictures lately.

But we are moving to a new apartment,

where there will be new inspiration for all of us.

Last night I watched Quib eat an apple.

Not the whole apple; he was really just interested

in the skin. He also ate the stem.

Sometimes juice would spray at his nose

and he would make a terrible face and sneeze.

I wanted to take a picture,

but the moment was too cozy to disrupt.

So I'll post this fuzzy glamour shot of him instead.

Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems.

- Rainer Maria Rilke

Quib gets insecure at the gym.