Me from the front
Me from the side
Me running
Me drinking out of the birdbathMonday, November 1, 2010
Headlights!
Mommy worries about me when I walk with her at night. I had a red collar that I wore, but I have large ruff and it was often obscured. Besides that, we lost it about a month ago. Now that even my evening walks are after dark Mommy decided I needed some lights. She couldn't find a good lighted collar for me so she made me some headlights (or wing lights) out of a couple of drawer lights and Velcro. Here I am wearing them!
Me from the front
Me from the side
Me running
Me drinking out of the birdbath
Me from the frontMe from the sideMe runningMe drinking out of the birdbath
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
My Monthly Diary for September
I was pretty active this month. Mommy and I did a few hikes and I took her on a couple of crazy long morning walks (see my previous entry about one of them). Mommy started taking something called Tai Chi again and I don't like it. I don't like anything that changes my routine. She plugged the nasty beepy thing back in the wall again too, which I didn't like so I got all nervous and whiny for a whole night. It didn't even beep, but just knowing that it was plugged into the wall and COULD beep is worrying enough.
I almost caught some squirrels this month too, which impressed Mommy and some strangers who saw one of my near misses. It's a good thing they weren't there for the day I tried to catch a squirrel at the squirrel park. I was walking with Mommy and I spotted a squirrel. I went after him and he ran up a tree right in front of me. I tried to brake, but I was standing on a whole bunch of acorns and they all were rolling under my feet! My feet slid around like a cartoon character running on ball bearings and I finally fell over and slid into a drainage ditch. I was very sore that night, but I didn't need any meds and I felt fine the next day. Those squirrels are evil.
Weird Kitty who Mommy says is an opossum has come back to visit us at night. He likes to see what Mommy has put in the compost heap and I like to go out and chase him up the trees. Mommy says he isn't the original Weird Kitty because he is smaller and whiter than Original Weird Kitty, but he is just as fun to chase and bark at.
I met the new neighbor dog. She is a HE!! His name is Cocoa and we thought he was a girl because he pees like a girl! He is a grown up boy dog, but he doesn't know how to lift his leg. Very sad that. He came to the fence to talk to me and I got all excited and barked at him and he decided he wanted to go back in the house. A couple days later he came back to the fence to talk to me again and this time I didn't bark at him right away so we got to talk a little bit, but then I got excited again and barked and he went in. Mommy says that my barking is scaring him and I need to stay a little calmer so he can get brave enough to play run along the fence with me.
I also went to the vet this month. I needed my rabies shot. Mommy told the vet how I was slowing down and not wanting to walk long distances anymore and she was worried that my back or joints might be hurting me more than they used to. The vet checked me out and said that I didn't seem to have anything major going on, but that I had lost some muscle in my hind legs. She told Mommy no more babying me. She said that Mommy should take me for 8 mile hikes even if I was getting grumpy at 4 miles. She said I should just stop and take breaks every mile or so if I want to. So Mommy has started doing that with me. On our last walk I got grumpy around mile 4 1/2 but we did 8 miles anyway. I was tired for the rest of that day, but not the day after, so Mommy says it is working.
I made some new friends this month. Mommy and I were walking home from the lake and we passed a house where some people were standing in the driveway talking. One of them said, "Oh look! It's the dog that I told you I saw the other day." I know when people say "dog" they mean me so I went up to him to say hello. He thought that was funny and he pet me and I smiled and he really liked that. The others pet me too so they could see me smile and we had a good long petting session. Finally Mommy said I had to go and we left. The next week when we were walking back from the lake we passed the same house and I slowed down so they could see I was there. One of them did and she came out to pet me. Her friends who had pet me the other day saw she was out petting me and came over to pet me too! Then some kids came by and pet me as well. Now when we walk by that house I make sure to slow down and look for people who want to pet me.
It is good I have some new petters because the girls who come out to pet me at night live on a block that is too dark for Mommy and me to safely walk down at night so we don't get to see them much anymore. This weekend Mommy and I took our evening walk earlier than normal so I made sure that we walked down the road where the girls live. When we got to their house they were not out. I stopped in their driveway and refused to move. Mommy said they were busy and weren't going to come out to pet me. She tried to get me to move, but I refused. She pulled on my leash so I sat down. She told me to stop being silly, the girls were not out and they weren't coming out and I needed to start walking. I lay down in the driveway and refused to move. Mommy pulled on my leash, but I still refused to get up and walk. We argued for about 10 minutes and then the girls' father came out of the backyard where he was raking leaves and started laughing at me. He went to the house and called inside, "Your friend is here. You need to come out and say hi." The girls said, "What friend?" and the dad said, "Merlin" and so the girls and their mom came out to pet me. After a good petting session Mommy said we needed to go and I agreed to leave. As we were walking away I made sure to give Mommy a very smug look. For some reason she thinks I am spoiled.
Oh! I almost forgot! Mommy FINALLY figured out that I say, "Yes". She had noticed a couple years ago that if she asked me if I wanted to go see the guys at the feed store I would lick the right side of my mouth. She thought that was funny because I was anticipating getting a treat and licking. Then one day she asked me if I wanted a treat and I licked the side of my mouth. Again she thought it was anticipating a treat. But this month she said, "Do you want to go for a car ride?" and I licked the side of my mouth. Mommy said, "Wait a minute! Do you want to go for a car ride?" and I licked. Mommy said, "Do you want to take a hike?" and I licked. She said, "Do you want to take a bath?" and I didn't lick. She said, "Do you want to take a car ride?" Lick. "Do you want a bath?" no lick. Mommy said, "Does licking mean yes?" and I licked and Mommy nearly fainted. She now asks me yes and no questions and I will answer yes with a lick. The feed store guys today said, "Do you want a treat?" and I licked and Mommy said, "He just said yes." She may be a little slow, but she finally caught on!
I almost caught some squirrels this month too, which impressed Mommy and some strangers who saw one of my near misses. It's a good thing they weren't there for the day I tried to catch a squirrel at the squirrel park. I was walking with Mommy and I spotted a squirrel. I went after him and he ran up a tree right in front of me. I tried to brake, but I was standing on a whole bunch of acorns and they all were rolling under my feet! My feet slid around like a cartoon character running on ball bearings and I finally fell over and slid into a drainage ditch. I was very sore that night, but I didn't need any meds and I felt fine the next day. Those squirrels are evil.
Weird Kitty who Mommy says is an opossum has come back to visit us at night. He likes to see what Mommy has put in the compost heap and I like to go out and chase him up the trees. Mommy says he isn't the original Weird Kitty because he is smaller and whiter than Original Weird Kitty, but he is just as fun to chase and bark at.
I met the new neighbor dog. She is a HE!! His name is Cocoa and we thought he was a girl because he pees like a girl! He is a grown up boy dog, but he doesn't know how to lift his leg. Very sad that. He came to the fence to talk to me and I got all excited and barked at him and he decided he wanted to go back in the house. A couple days later he came back to the fence to talk to me again and this time I didn't bark at him right away so we got to talk a little bit, but then I got excited again and barked and he went in. Mommy says that my barking is scaring him and I need to stay a little calmer so he can get brave enough to play run along the fence with me.
I also went to the vet this month. I needed my rabies shot. Mommy told the vet how I was slowing down and not wanting to walk long distances anymore and she was worried that my back or joints might be hurting me more than they used to. The vet checked me out and said that I didn't seem to have anything major going on, but that I had lost some muscle in my hind legs. She told Mommy no more babying me. She said that Mommy should take me for 8 mile hikes even if I was getting grumpy at 4 miles. She said I should just stop and take breaks every mile or so if I want to. So Mommy has started doing that with me. On our last walk I got grumpy around mile 4 1/2 but we did 8 miles anyway. I was tired for the rest of that day, but not the day after, so Mommy says it is working.
I made some new friends this month. Mommy and I were walking home from the lake and we passed a house where some people were standing in the driveway talking. One of them said, "Oh look! It's the dog that I told you I saw the other day." I know when people say "dog" they mean me so I went up to him to say hello. He thought that was funny and he pet me and I smiled and he really liked that. The others pet me too so they could see me smile and we had a good long petting session. Finally Mommy said I had to go and we left. The next week when we were walking back from the lake we passed the same house and I slowed down so they could see I was there. One of them did and she came out to pet me. Her friends who had pet me the other day saw she was out petting me and came over to pet me too! Then some kids came by and pet me as well. Now when we walk by that house I make sure to slow down and look for people who want to pet me.
It is good I have some new petters because the girls who come out to pet me at night live on a block that is too dark for Mommy and me to safely walk down at night so we don't get to see them much anymore. This weekend Mommy and I took our evening walk earlier than normal so I made sure that we walked down the road where the girls live. When we got to their house they were not out. I stopped in their driveway and refused to move. Mommy said they were busy and weren't going to come out to pet me. She tried to get me to move, but I refused. She pulled on my leash so I sat down. She told me to stop being silly, the girls were not out and they weren't coming out and I needed to start walking. I lay down in the driveway and refused to move. Mommy pulled on my leash, but I still refused to get up and walk. We argued for about 10 minutes and then the girls' father came out of the backyard where he was raking leaves and started laughing at me. He went to the house and called inside, "Your friend is here. You need to come out and say hi." The girls said, "What friend?" and the dad said, "Merlin" and so the girls and their mom came out to pet me. After a good petting session Mommy said we needed to go and I agreed to leave. As we were walking away I made sure to give Mommy a very smug look. For some reason she thinks I am spoiled.
Oh! I almost forgot! Mommy FINALLY figured out that I say, "Yes". She had noticed a couple years ago that if she asked me if I wanted to go see the guys at the feed store I would lick the right side of my mouth. She thought that was funny because I was anticipating getting a treat and licking. Then one day she asked me if I wanted a treat and I licked the side of my mouth. Again she thought it was anticipating a treat. But this month she said, "Do you want to go for a car ride?" and I licked the side of my mouth. Mommy said, "Wait a minute! Do you want to go for a car ride?" and I licked. Mommy said, "Do you want to take a hike?" and I licked. She said, "Do you want to take a bath?" and I didn't lick. She said, "Do you want to take a car ride?" Lick. "Do you want a bath?" no lick. Mommy said, "Does licking mean yes?" and I licked and Mommy nearly fainted. She now asks me yes and no questions and I will answer yes with a lick. The feed store guys today said, "Do you want a treat?" and I licked and Mommy said, "He just said yes." She may be a little slow, but she finally caught on!
Sunday, October 10, 2010
My Crazy-Long Morning Walk
Mommy needed to return a DVD to the library this morning so she decided we would walk there. Since she figured we'd only do a 5 or 6 mile walk she didn't wear any shoes. We went to the library and then through the park and then I decided that I wanted to go see where a new bike trail I had noticed last week went. Since it was a nice morning Mommy said okay to following the bike trail for awhile. We took it north to a park I'd never been to before. It was rather boring being only a baseball field surrounded by houses, so I decided to backtrack to where a different new bike path broke off. We followed that path and found ourselves at some nice lakes full of geese surrounded by some big McMansions. Mommy kinda knew where we were even though the trail twisted around a lot so we kept going straight. Eventually we came out to the busy road that is by one of my favorite forest preserves. We found there was a new bike trail there too so we followed it towards the forest preserve. It was starting to get rather hot at that point and Mommy had no water for me. We had gone about 4 miles at that point and my tongue was hanging out, so when Mommy saw a Walgreens up ahead she said, "Let's see if they'll let us in." She stood in the door and asked if we could come in and get some water for me and a soda for her. The manager said okay so we walked in in our bare feet and got some water and a soda and Mommy bought me a mug to drink out of. Here is my new mug:
We went to a shady bench and I drank my water. A person who was in the store felt sorry for me and gave Mommy a couple more bottles of water, which was very nice, but unnecessary because Mommy knew that if the trail continued the way it was going we'd be at my forest preserve in about 1 mile and there was a drinking fountain there. The lady refused to take the water back so I drank another 1/2 bottle and then we followed the path which DID go to the forest preserve. I finished off the water there and Mommy refilled one of the bottles at the drinking fountain and talked to some older ladies who said I looked tired. We had done about 4 1/2 miles by then and Mommy said I was and we were not at all where she had planned to be. They asked if we knew how to get home and Mommy told them we did. We followed a bike trail we knew that headed towards home, but breaks off and goes through another development that Mommy didn't know so we just cut across the grass because I was getting really tired by then. When we came to a nice shady spot Mommy and I lay on the grass in the shade by the side of the road and rested for a little bit. Then we continued on our way. Eventually we got to a section of bike trails that I recognized so I started to lead the way home again. We took that trail to the creek path and then the creek path to the main road to the Dog n Suds!!! Mommy said I could have some cheese fries so we stopped and she ordered cheese fries and a bowl of water. We shared the cheese fries and I drank the water and finished off the water she had gotten from the drinking fountain at the park. I tired to get the car hop girl to give me more fries, but even though she thought I was very cute, she didn't come out of the building to bring me anything. Then we continued to town. I wanted to go get a Pup Cup at the Tastee Freeze but Mommy said she was out of money. So we walked through town and I tried to get her to stop at all the restaurants to see if they'd give me anything, but she said no to that too. We did walk to the lake and I took a short swim and then we walked the final 1/4 mile home. It added up to about 9 miles and 4 hours of morning walk and we found all sorts of nice new places! Mommy says we can do it again, but she needs to bring water and a bowl for me if we are going to do it.
We went to a shady bench and I drank my water. A person who was in the store felt sorry for me and gave Mommy a couple more bottles of water, which was very nice, but unnecessary because Mommy knew that if the trail continued the way it was going we'd be at my forest preserve in about 1 mile and there was a drinking fountain there. The lady refused to take the water back so I drank another 1/2 bottle and then we followed the path which DID go to the forest preserve. I finished off the water there and Mommy refilled one of the bottles at the drinking fountain and talked to some older ladies who said I looked tired. We had done about 4 1/2 miles by then and Mommy said I was and we were not at all where she had planned to be. They asked if we knew how to get home and Mommy told them we did. We followed a bike trail we knew that headed towards home, but breaks off and goes through another development that Mommy didn't know so we just cut across the grass because I was getting really tired by then. When we came to a nice shady spot Mommy and I lay on the grass in the shade by the side of the road and rested for a little bit. Then we continued on our way. Eventually we got to a section of bike trails that I recognized so I started to lead the way home again. We took that trail to the creek path and then the creek path to the main road to the Dog n Suds!!! Mommy said I could have some cheese fries so we stopped and she ordered cheese fries and a bowl of water. We shared the cheese fries and I drank the water and finished off the water she had gotten from the drinking fountain at the park. I tired to get the car hop girl to give me more fries, but even though she thought I was very cute, she didn't come out of the building to bring me anything. Then we continued to town. I wanted to go get a Pup Cup at the Tastee Freeze but Mommy said she was out of money. So we walked through town and I tried to get her to stop at all the restaurants to see if they'd give me anything, but she said no to that too. We did walk to the lake and I took a short swim and then we walked the final 1/4 mile home. It added up to about 9 miles and 4 hours of morning walk and we found all sorts of nice new places! Mommy says we can do it again, but she needs to bring water and a bowl for me if we are going to do it.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
My Monthly Diary for August
This month Mommy and I went up to Wisconsin for vacation. We were supposed to go the last week of August, but there was a misunderstanding with Grandma and Grandpa so Mommy had to change our vacation the the week before the last week of August. It ended up that we got the better week though because we had great weather and the next week it got cold and rained. I had a great time. I chased squirrels and chipmunks and fish and frogs. I took a couple of hikes and I swam for my ducky. I also got to go for peddleboat rides which is one of my favorite things to do. I did fall up the stairs one day and had to be on pain killers and muscle relaxers for a night and then a few days later I fell down a hill and went back on the meds for two nights and one day. The falling down the hill part was Mommy's fault. It was mid day and I was napping in the boathouse while Mommy was reading in the shade of the boat house. She went for a swim and she spotted a nice colorful big rock. Every summer she puts a new pretty rock on my predecessor Boo's grave so she got that rock and climbed up the hill to his grave. I woke up and realized I didn't know where Mommy was so I sniffed around and discovered she had gone up the hill. I climbed up the hill, but when I got to the top she wasn't there. I couldn't figure out where I was or where Mommy was (some trees had fallen down and Mommy had to walk in circles to find Boo's grave which made tracking hard). Mommy had gone down the less steep side of the hill instead of the very steep way she had gone up and when she got back down to the boathouse she was worried that I wasn't there. She whistled for me and I did my worry whine-bark so she whistled again and I was so excited to discover that she was down at the boathouse again that RAN down the steep side of the hill. I got about 1/2 way down when I caught my front foot on a root and I stumbled down the rest of the way. I was very sad and sore and had to do nothing for the whole next day. It was very windy and choppy that day so it wasn't so bad to not get to swim and ride in the boat. Mommy told me that if it wasn't windy the next day she would take me for a peddleboat ride first thing after our morning walk the next day. The next day it was WINDIER than the day before but after we took our walk I ran straight down to the boat and wagged and wagged. Mommy said, "I said if it WASN'T windy." but I refused to listen and Mommy gave in and took me for a 2 hour ride. It took us 1 1/2 hours for Mommy to peddle us across the lake and then 1/2 an hour for us to float back with just the waves and wind propelling us and Mommy not peddling at all! It was lots of fun and I slept for three days when we got home.
Also this month Mommy and I took some hikes in the forest preserves by our house. She noticed that I hike at about half the speed I did two years ago, so we have to plan our hiking times much more carefully so we are sure to be home before dark. It is still fun though.
We got new renter neighbors this month. The trash that were living next to us for the past few years got kicked out in December and it took the owners SIX MONTHS to make the house habitable again. They had to buy all new appliances and carpets and stuff as well. The new people seem nice enough and the good thing is that they have a girl cocker spaniel! I haven't met her yet, but she has looked out at me through the window and I have seen her from my porch when she has been in her yard. The last time I saw her it was about 9 at night and I ran to Mommy and barked at her trying to get her to let me go say hi. She said no we would wait and meet her during the day. I decided that I needed to be really impressive for her so on my next walk I rolled in a big pile of fox poop. It was wonderful! I was covered in orange poop from above my right eye to the middle of my back and I smelled soooo good. I knew the cocker spaniel would be impressed, but when we got home Mommy tied me to the fence and gave me a dreaded BATH!! I ended up smelling like cherries! It was awful! How could she do such a thing to me. The new doggy would think I was some kind of wimp. Luckily for me we have not spotted her since then so I have had time to get a more normal dog smell on me again, but I sure wish I could have met her when I smelled like fox poop.
Finally this month I suddenly had trouble standing up a couple Sundays ago and I couldn't squat to poop and I didn't want to walk far. Mommy called the chiropractor and got me an appointment for the next Saturday. I was a sore boy for a week, but after the chiropractic adjustment I felt so much better that I was jumping on the bed and being silly by bedtime. The vet said I had somehow gotten my hips all crooked. I don't know how I did it, but it sure felt good when it was undone.
Also this month Mommy and I took some hikes in the forest preserves by our house. She noticed that I hike at about half the speed I did two years ago, so we have to plan our hiking times much more carefully so we are sure to be home before dark. It is still fun though.
We got new renter neighbors this month. The trash that were living next to us for the past few years got kicked out in December and it took the owners SIX MONTHS to make the house habitable again. They had to buy all new appliances and carpets and stuff as well. The new people seem nice enough and the good thing is that they have a girl cocker spaniel! I haven't met her yet, but she has looked out at me through the window and I have seen her from my porch when she has been in her yard. The last time I saw her it was about 9 at night and I ran to Mommy and barked at her trying to get her to let me go say hi. She said no we would wait and meet her during the day. I decided that I needed to be really impressive for her so on my next walk I rolled in a big pile of fox poop. It was wonderful! I was covered in orange poop from above my right eye to the middle of my back and I smelled soooo good. I knew the cocker spaniel would be impressed, but when we got home Mommy tied me to the fence and gave me a dreaded BATH!! I ended up smelling like cherries! It was awful! How could she do such a thing to me. The new doggy would think I was some kind of wimp. Luckily for me we have not spotted her since then so I have had time to get a more normal dog smell on me again, but I sure wish I could have met her when I smelled like fox poop.
Finally this month I suddenly had trouble standing up a couple Sundays ago and I couldn't squat to poop and I didn't want to walk far. Mommy called the chiropractor and got me an appointment for the next Saturday. I was a sore boy for a week, but after the chiropractic adjustment I felt so much better that I was jumping on the bed and being silly by bedtime. The vet said I had somehow gotten my hips all crooked. I don't know how I did it, but it sure felt good when it was undone.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
My Monthly Diary for July
I just noticed that I didn't update my blog for July. I must have been busy. I can't remember with what tho... hmmm...
Ooh. I remember some stuff. I CAUGHT A BIRD!!! I was in the backyard with Mommy and I spotted a bright yellow bird sitting on the ground eating grass seeds. I snuck up on him and he hopped up into the air and I caught him! I was very excited and so was Mommy, but she was mad excited. She said the birdie was something called a goldfinch and that I wasn't to catch them. Mommy! I have been trying to catch a birdie my entire life and when I finally catch one, IN THE AIR NO LESS, you get mad at me!? Where are your priorities? Anyway, Mommy made me drop the birdie and it sat on the ground looking shocked. Mommy made me go inside for 1/2 hour and when we came back out the birdie was gone. Shame on Mommy.
Shame on Mommy too for forgetting to buy me dog food and making me eat oatmeal for one dinner and breakfast. Does she not know that her most important job is making sure that I am well stocked with food and treats? It is almost as bad as forgetting to buy me shredded cheese to put on my food too, which she did as well. I got Parmesan instead, which was okay, but not as good as the Mexican Four Cheese Mix I like best.
Anyway, to make sure that Mommy learned her place when we slept on the porch the Parmesan cheese night because it was so hot I went out first and slept on the bedroll and refused to move so she ended up sleeping on my travel bed. She seemed awful grumpy the next morning.
Oh yeah! In July I also spotted a really neat hole in the ground on one of our walks. I wondered what had made the really neat hole in the ground and I figured that I should check it out. So I stuck my nose in the hole and took a big sniff and found out that it was made by yellow jackets!! They all flew out of the hole and attacked me!! They bit me on the nose and ears and butt and feet. When Mommy and I got home I had to take a Benadryl because I was swelling up at the bites. Benadryl makes me sleepy so I slept all day.
I can't think of much else that happened in July, but I promise my august update will be more interesting because Mommy and I went on a trip in August.
Ooh. I remember some stuff. I CAUGHT A BIRD!!! I was in the backyard with Mommy and I spotted a bright yellow bird sitting on the ground eating grass seeds. I snuck up on him and he hopped up into the air and I caught him! I was very excited and so was Mommy, but she was mad excited. She said the birdie was something called a goldfinch and that I wasn't to catch them. Mommy! I have been trying to catch a birdie my entire life and when I finally catch one, IN THE AIR NO LESS, you get mad at me!? Where are your priorities? Anyway, Mommy made me drop the birdie and it sat on the ground looking shocked. Mommy made me go inside for 1/2 hour and when we came back out the birdie was gone. Shame on Mommy.
Shame on Mommy too for forgetting to buy me dog food and making me eat oatmeal for one dinner and breakfast. Does she not know that her most important job is making sure that I am well stocked with food and treats? It is almost as bad as forgetting to buy me shredded cheese to put on my food too, which she did as well. I got Parmesan instead, which was okay, but not as good as the Mexican Four Cheese Mix I like best.
Anyway, to make sure that Mommy learned her place when we slept on the porch the Parmesan cheese night because it was so hot I went out first and slept on the bedroll and refused to move so she ended up sleeping on my travel bed. She seemed awful grumpy the next morning.
Oh yeah! In July I also spotted a really neat hole in the ground on one of our walks. I wondered what had made the really neat hole in the ground and I figured that I should check it out. So I stuck my nose in the hole and took a big sniff and found out that it was made by yellow jackets!! They all flew out of the hole and attacked me!! They bit me on the nose and ears and butt and feet. When Mommy and I got home I had to take a Benadryl because I was swelling up at the bites. Benadryl makes me sleepy so I slept all day.
I can't think of much else that happened in July, but I promise my august update will be more interesting because Mommy and I went on a trip in August.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
My Monthly Diary for June
This month has been an odd one. First off, it has been really, really hot here. Mommy and I don't have air conditioning so it gets really, really hot in the house. Normally we would spend time out in the backyard under the trees, but the mosquitoes are so bad this year we can't be out for more than a couple seconds before we are swarmed. Mommy uses deep woods bug spray on herself, but it doesn't help her at all. These skeeters also come for your eyes and fly up your nose and in your ears. They are very very bad bugs. So we are spending time on our porch with the fan on. Mommy does go out and do yard work, but I stay on the porch unless I have to go potty or Mommy is taking me swimming. On one of our walks a stranger pulled up in a truck and asked Mommy if she wanted some boxes of cookies for me. Mommy said, "No thanks." and suggested he bring them to the local shelter. She then told me that you should never take cookies from strangers in trucks.
I gave Mommy a big scare this month. Mommy came home from work one night and I was very sore. My back hurt A LOT I whined and paced and drooled. Mommy gave me a pain pill but I still whined and paced until midnight. Then I slept for two hours and woke Mommy up to tell her I still hurt. She gave me another pain pill and I slept for two more hours and then I woke Mommy up. I didn't want her to touch me, but I wanted her to help me. When the vet's office opened Mommy called her and told her what I was doing. The vet said it sounded like my back and that I should go to the chiropractor, but she would give me some muscle relaxers if I couldn't get an appointment right away. I couldn't so Mommy went and got me the pills. They helped a bit, but not a whole lot. We got to the chiropractor and she said she couldn't find anything really wrong with my back so she got worried that I had a tumor on my spleen. I guess they can grow really quickly and if it starts bleeding it could cause me to act like I was acting. She told me to go back to my regular vet and get x-rayed ASAP. My regular vet saw me right away and took me into the back room for blood tests and an x-ray. I got really scared when they put me on the x-ray table, but my vet pet me and asked me to lie down, and when I realized that all they wanted me to do was lie still on my side I decided that wasn't so bad and I cooperated. Well, after all that the x-rays came back fine. No tumors. When the blood tests came back they were fine too. So we were back to it only being my back. I was on a no walking, no swimming, no climbing, no running routine for a week and high doses of pain killers and muscle relaxers, but after about a week I felt fine again. The vet thinks that because I broke my back last year, I now have a bad back and I threw it out. She said she knows how that is because she once threw her back out reaching for a cup of coffee.
Even though my back still hurt a bit we did get to go to see the fireworks. We went to our usual spot with the usual old timers, but then right before the fireworks started a whole bunch of new people showed up and crowded around us. It ends up that the neighboring communities weren't doing fireworks this year so they decided to come see ours, and when they saw us all set up in the feed store parking lot they figured it was a good spot.
Mommy acted weird this month too. It was another really hot day after my back was better and Mommy took me swimming. Then we came home and she took a shower, made a ponytail out of her wet, uncombed hair and put on her really hot day clothes (oversize wife beater and boxer shorts). You can imagine how she looks in this outfit. Luckily when she puts those clothes on I know we are not going out anymore. So I curled up on my kitchen bed while Mommy washed dishes. There was this CRACK! noise and Mommy started saying bad words. Then she grabbed some paper towels and went into the bathroom. After she fiddled around in there she went and got her go outside clothes and changed holding the paper towel, which now smelled really yummy. Then she opened up the garage and I thought we'd go for a car ride because, after all, she hadn't combed her hair out so where could she be going? So I ran out onto the porch, but she got mad and said I needed to come in NOW!! I did because she was using her "or else" voice. She didn't come back until after midnight and she had a yummy smelling hunk of cloth wrapped around her thumb. I wanted to take it off and chew it, but she told me no. She said she got 5 stitches in her thumb. I remember getting stitches when I got fixed. They itched and I had to wear a cone to keep from chewing on them. The people vet didn't give Mommy a cone, but I think they should have because on the second night Mommy took all her bandages off in the middle of the night while she was asleep and she made her stitches bleed. Back to the people vet she went, but they still didn't give her a cone. She has left the stitches alone since then and they should come out on Saturday if she continues to not chew on them.
Finally this month, Mommy and I went to Auntie Naomi and Uncle Fred's house in Wisconsin for a three day trip. We had a good time even though it rained on day two, and Mommy couldn't get her hand wet and I got an ear infection. Auntie Naomi and Uncle Fred drove Mommy and me around to see some sights when it was raining and they took me to a special beach which was all sand and nicely sloped. Everyone thought I'd have a good time swimming and Mommy was prepared to let me do so with her keeping her hand dry, but because of my ear infection I was grumpy and didn't want to swim. Everyone seemed rather disappointed with me, but when you have an ear infection, swimming doesn't look fun. The next day, after Mommy cleaned out my ear, I felt much better so Mommy took me to the rocky beach for me to swim before we left to go home. Auntie Naomi and Uncle Fred came with and they watched from the road while Mommy and I slogged through 30 feet of thick mud and cattails to get to the water. I ran around on the rocks and looked for fish and had a great time. The humans seemed bemused.
I gave Mommy a big scare this month. Mommy came home from work one night and I was very sore. My back hurt A LOT I whined and paced and drooled. Mommy gave me a pain pill but I still whined and paced until midnight. Then I slept for two hours and woke Mommy up to tell her I still hurt. She gave me another pain pill and I slept for two more hours and then I woke Mommy up. I didn't want her to touch me, but I wanted her to help me. When the vet's office opened Mommy called her and told her what I was doing. The vet said it sounded like my back and that I should go to the chiropractor, but she would give me some muscle relaxers if I couldn't get an appointment right away. I couldn't so Mommy went and got me the pills. They helped a bit, but not a whole lot. We got to the chiropractor and she said she couldn't find anything really wrong with my back so she got worried that I had a tumor on my spleen. I guess they can grow really quickly and if it starts bleeding it could cause me to act like I was acting. She told me to go back to my regular vet and get x-rayed ASAP. My regular vet saw me right away and took me into the back room for blood tests and an x-ray. I got really scared when they put me on the x-ray table, but my vet pet me and asked me to lie down, and when I realized that all they wanted me to do was lie still on my side I decided that wasn't so bad and I cooperated. Well, after all that the x-rays came back fine. No tumors. When the blood tests came back they were fine too. So we were back to it only being my back. I was on a no walking, no swimming, no climbing, no running routine for a week and high doses of pain killers and muscle relaxers, but after about a week I felt fine again. The vet thinks that because I broke my back last year, I now have a bad back and I threw it out. She said she knows how that is because she once threw her back out reaching for a cup of coffee.
Even though my back still hurt a bit we did get to go to see the fireworks. We went to our usual spot with the usual old timers, but then right before the fireworks started a whole bunch of new people showed up and crowded around us. It ends up that the neighboring communities weren't doing fireworks this year so they decided to come see ours, and when they saw us all set up in the feed store parking lot they figured it was a good spot.
Mommy acted weird this month too. It was another really hot day after my back was better and Mommy took me swimming. Then we came home and she took a shower, made a ponytail out of her wet, uncombed hair and put on her really hot day clothes (oversize wife beater and boxer shorts). You can imagine how she looks in this outfit. Luckily when she puts those clothes on I know we are not going out anymore. So I curled up on my kitchen bed while Mommy washed dishes. There was this CRACK! noise and Mommy started saying bad words. Then she grabbed some paper towels and went into the bathroom. After she fiddled around in there she went and got her go outside clothes and changed holding the paper towel, which now smelled really yummy. Then she opened up the garage and I thought we'd go for a car ride because, after all, she hadn't combed her hair out so where could she be going? So I ran out onto the porch, but she got mad and said I needed to come in NOW!! I did because she was using her "or else" voice. She didn't come back until after midnight and she had a yummy smelling hunk of cloth wrapped around her thumb. I wanted to take it off and chew it, but she told me no. She said she got 5 stitches in her thumb. I remember getting stitches when I got fixed. They itched and I had to wear a cone to keep from chewing on them. The people vet didn't give Mommy a cone, but I think they should have because on the second night Mommy took all her bandages off in the middle of the night while she was asleep and she made her stitches bleed. Back to the people vet she went, but they still didn't give her a cone. She has left the stitches alone since then and they should come out on Saturday if she continues to not chew on them.
Finally this month, Mommy and I went to Auntie Naomi and Uncle Fred's house in Wisconsin for a three day trip. We had a good time even though it rained on day two, and Mommy couldn't get her hand wet and I got an ear infection. Auntie Naomi and Uncle Fred drove Mommy and me around to see some sights when it was raining and they took me to a special beach which was all sand and nicely sloped. Everyone thought I'd have a good time swimming and Mommy was prepared to let me do so with her keeping her hand dry, but because of my ear infection I was grumpy and didn't want to swim. Everyone seemed rather disappointed with me, but when you have an ear infection, swimming doesn't look fun. The next day, after Mommy cleaned out my ear, I felt much better so Mommy took me to the rocky beach for me to swim before we left to go home. Auntie Naomi and Uncle Fred came with and they watched from the road while Mommy and I slogged through 30 feet of thick mud and cattails to get to the water. I ran around on the rocks and looked for fish and had a great time. The humans seemed bemused.
Monday, June 14, 2010
My Monthly Diary for May
This was an exciting month so it is going to be a long update. First of all Mommy and I went up to Wisconsin to Grandma and Grandpa's house. I was worried at first because Mommy didn't follow the normal trip rules and packed days in advance, then she went out for the evening and I thought she had left and forgotten me. My ulcer got a bit upset by that and I had to be on Carafate for a bit. Then Missy's oldest human sister came to our house and she rode up to Wisconsin with us, which was strange, so I wasn't so sure where we were going. When we stopped for gas Mommy went in to use the bathroom and she expected me to take a piddle walk with Missy's sister, but I was having none of that! I watched for Mommy to come back instead.
I got a new Merlin Cam and I got to take it to Wisconsin. Here are some of my photos
Here is Mommy going into the kitchen:
Mommy's oldest brother washing windows. I got in trouble and got sent to my room. I don't remember what I did that got me in trouble, but it was boring watching window washing.
ALIENS!! Actually it is my human cousin and his friend, my human not-really cousin:
This is my cousin Missy. She is a Portuguese water dog:
Here's Grandpa and Missy in Grandpa's boat I can't wait until they get to the dock so I can jump in and get a ride. I'm not sure how Missy got to go for a ride when I didn't. I like Grandpa's boat because I'm allowed in it. I don't like Mommy's oldest brother's boat because only Missy is allowed in it. No fair!
Missy and I played run around one day and I was running so fast that when I tried to turn on the hill by the lake my hind legs spun out and went over the edge. Down the hill I went backwards, which was not fun. I came back up and decided that the run around game was over. When we got home I slept for two days and then I told Mommy I needed to see the chiropractor. She took me the next day. We had to wait a long time because there was a dog with a bad owie in the next room. The walls of the rooms don't go all the way up to the ceiling so you can hear everything that is going on next door. His daddy sang to him the whole time we were waiting, but the other dog ended up being fine (he had allergies and had chewed a hole in his leg and tail). I usually get mad if I hear the chiropractor talking in the next room, but this time I was good, maybe it was the singing. Anyway when it was my turn the doctor said my back was really messed up. She said everything was going in a different direction. My appointment took twice as long as it usually does because she had to fix so much. I felt much better after she put everything back and I wanted to play ball the next day, but Mommy said no because I needed to rest up after such a big treatment.
We noticed after we got back home that the dogs next door seem to have adopted an additional human. I think they must have thought that getting another male for the problem male human that lives there would give him something to do and make him behave better, but that hasn't been the case. Now the two of them are always making noise in the garage (which is by our bedroom) at all hours and I sometimes have to bark at them to be quiet. At least they got an older human who is about the age of the humans that are already there and didn't go and buy a human puppy.
Anyway, back to me. Mommy and I went to Mommy's coworker's annual picnic which I love because so many people come tell me what a wonderful dog I am and I get to go on a hike afterward, but this year it was better than ever because Auntie Naomi and Uncle Fred were there! I was very excited to see them and get pet. Auntie Naomi didn't bring me a present though because she wasn't happy about my small critter catching that I did last month. Sigh. Someone else brought a big puppy to the picnic and we scared each other without even talking to each other. When we looked at each other we would both just shake and shake. Mommy took me for my hike when she noticed that I was wagging my tail in a friendly way, but had on my angry ears. She didn't want the puppy to think that my tail meant I was friendly. We had a good hike, but when we got back to the picnic Auntie Naomi and Uncle Fred had left. I was sad.
Last week Mommy took me to the Tastee Freeze for a pup cup and then we went to the library to return some stuff and to see something called "a pipe and drum corps" that was playing outside the library. I'm not sure what a pipe and drum corps is supposed to be, but it sure was exciting. I liked the drums. They sounded like fireworks and the guys playing them had sticks in their hands and one guy's sticks looked like they had small white tennis balls on the ends of them. When the drums started playing I perked up and watched them intently. I was hoping that maybe they'd throw those sticks or the tennis ball parts at least, but they didn't. Then the pipes started to play. The pipers had sticks in their mouths and were holding a bag under their arms and more sticks were attached to the bag and when they squished the bags it sounded like they had CATS in those bags and the cats weren't happy about being squished. I got very excited and jumped up and down and barked and Mommy held my mouth closed and said, "You are not the music critic." but it was so exciting and I really wanted to get those yowling cats. Mommy made us move farther away from the pipers, but I still barked when they played so Mommy moved us so I couldn't see the pipers, but I listened for 1/2 a song and then started barking again so Mommy got mad and said we had to go home and when we got home I didn't get a bone. Mommy said I was darn lucky we went to Tastee Freeze first or I certainly would NOT have gotten a Pup Cup because I was so bad at the concert.
Last night Mommy took me back to the library and said if I was good for the concert that night I'd get french fries, but it ended up that silly Mommy had the wrong day and there was no concert so we went home and I didn't get any french fries, but I did get a big milk bone instead of a small one for my after walk treat. After Mommy did some boring stuff around the house we settled down to read in the bedroom. The male neighbors were making noises in their garage again and then lightning started and thunder too and I wasn't happy. I told Mommy to make it stop, but she didn't. Then the neighbors started making whooping noises and all the sirens that we usually hear on our Tuesday morning walk started to go off. Mommy got up and said we were going to read on the basement couch. I grabbed Pyramid and followed her downstairs. We could see the lightning through the basement windows and could hear the thunder and the wind and the neighbors whooping. I paced around and refused to settle and then Grandma called to see if Mommy knew that something called a tornado was coming our way. Mommy said yes and told her the sirens had gone off and we were in the basement. While Mommy was talking to Grandma I went into the storage closet under the stairs to hide, but there was too much stuff in it and I couldn't get comfy. I then tried to go back upstairs, but Mommy wouldn't let me until the sirens all went off again. There was still some lightning, but no more rain or thunder when we left the basement so I Mommy and I went to bed. We checked our yard this morning and everything was fine so Mommy said the tornado didn't actually hit us or too nearby. They say it might be big storms again tonight, but I sure hope there are no more tornadoes.
I got a new Merlin Cam and I got to take it to Wisconsin. Here are some of my photos
Here is Mommy going into the kitchen:
Mommy's oldest brother washing windows. I got in trouble and got sent to my room. I don't remember what I did that got me in trouble, but it was boring watching window washing.
ALIENS!! Actually it is my human cousin and his friend, my human not-really cousin:
This is my cousin Missy. She is a Portuguese water dog:
Here's Grandpa and Missy in Grandpa's boat I can't wait until they get to the dock so I can jump in and get a ride. I'm not sure how Missy got to go for a ride when I didn't. I like Grandpa's boat because I'm allowed in it. I don't like Mommy's oldest brother's boat because only Missy is allowed in it. No fair!
Missy and I played run around one day and I was running so fast that when I tried to turn on the hill by the lake my hind legs spun out and went over the edge. Down the hill I went backwards, which was not fun. I came back up and decided that the run around game was over. When we got home I slept for two days and then I told Mommy I needed to see the chiropractor. She took me the next day. We had to wait a long time because there was a dog with a bad owie in the next room. The walls of the rooms don't go all the way up to the ceiling so you can hear everything that is going on next door. His daddy sang to him the whole time we were waiting, but the other dog ended up being fine (he had allergies and had chewed a hole in his leg and tail). I usually get mad if I hear the chiropractor talking in the next room, but this time I was good, maybe it was the singing. Anyway when it was my turn the doctor said my back was really messed up. She said everything was going in a different direction. My appointment took twice as long as it usually does because she had to fix so much. I felt much better after she put everything back and I wanted to play ball the next day, but Mommy said no because I needed to rest up after such a big treatment.
We noticed after we got back home that the dogs next door seem to have adopted an additional human. I think they must have thought that getting another male for the problem male human that lives there would give him something to do and make him behave better, but that hasn't been the case. Now the two of them are always making noise in the garage (which is by our bedroom) at all hours and I sometimes have to bark at them to be quiet. At least they got an older human who is about the age of the humans that are already there and didn't go and buy a human puppy.
Anyway, back to me. Mommy and I went to Mommy's coworker's annual picnic which I love because so many people come tell me what a wonderful dog I am and I get to go on a hike afterward, but this year it was better than ever because Auntie Naomi and Uncle Fred were there! I was very excited to see them and get pet. Auntie Naomi didn't bring me a present though because she wasn't happy about my small critter catching that I did last month. Sigh. Someone else brought a big puppy to the picnic and we scared each other without even talking to each other. When we looked at each other we would both just shake and shake. Mommy took me for my hike when she noticed that I was wagging my tail in a friendly way, but had on my angry ears. She didn't want the puppy to think that my tail meant I was friendly. We had a good hike, but when we got back to the picnic Auntie Naomi and Uncle Fred had left. I was sad.
Last week Mommy took me to the Tastee Freeze for a pup cup and then we went to the library to return some stuff and to see something called "a pipe and drum corps" that was playing outside the library. I'm not sure what a pipe and drum corps is supposed to be, but it sure was exciting. I liked the drums. They sounded like fireworks and the guys playing them had sticks in their hands and one guy's sticks looked like they had small white tennis balls on the ends of them. When the drums started playing I perked up and watched them intently. I was hoping that maybe they'd throw those sticks or the tennis ball parts at least, but they didn't. Then the pipes started to play. The pipers had sticks in their mouths and were holding a bag under their arms and more sticks were attached to the bag and when they squished the bags it sounded like they had CATS in those bags and the cats weren't happy about being squished. I got very excited and jumped up and down and barked and Mommy held my mouth closed and said, "You are not the music critic." but it was so exciting and I really wanted to get those yowling cats. Mommy made us move farther away from the pipers, but I still barked when they played so Mommy moved us so I couldn't see the pipers, but I listened for 1/2 a song and then started barking again so Mommy got mad and said we had to go home and when we got home I didn't get a bone. Mommy said I was darn lucky we went to Tastee Freeze first or I certainly would NOT have gotten a Pup Cup because I was so bad at the concert.
Last night Mommy took me back to the library and said if I was good for the concert that night I'd get french fries, but it ended up that silly Mommy had the wrong day and there was no concert so we went home and I didn't get any french fries, but I did get a big milk bone instead of a small one for my after walk treat. After Mommy did some boring stuff around the house we settled down to read in the bedroom. The male neighbors were making noises in their garage again and then lightning started and thunder too and I wasn't happy. I told Mommy to make it stop, but she didn't. Then the neighbors started making whooping noises and all the sirens that we usually hear on our Tuesday morning walk started to go off. Mommy got up and said we were going to read on the basement couch. I grabbed Pyramid and followed her downstairs. We could see the lightning through the basement windows and could hear the thunder and the wind and the neighbors whooping. I paced around and refused to settle and then Grandma called to see if Mommy knew that something called a tornado was coming our way. Mommy said yes and told her the sirens had gone off and we were in the basement. While Mommy was talking to Grandma I went into the storage closet under the stairs to hide, but there was too much stuff in it and I couldn't get comfy. I then tried to go back upstairs, but Mommy wouldn't let me until the sirens all went off again. There was still some lightning, but no more rain or thunder when we left the basement so I Mommy and I went to bed. We checked our yard this morning and everything was fine so Mommy said the tornado didn't actually hit us or too nearby. They say it might be big storms again tonight, but I sure hope there are no more tornadoes.
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