Watching tv with Mom

Dad took a picture of me on the loveseat with Mom. We were watching the Artful Detective. Mom doesn't allow me up on the sofa very often. We were talking to each other and she invited me up. 

Well, she talks. I make funny dog sounds. But we understand each other. It's all good fun. 

Dad took the picture, but there wasn't enough light so it's grainy. He tried a couple shots with the flash but I look like a devil dog with glowing eyes. 

It was nice to spend a few minutes being close to Mom, but there's not much room on the loveseat. Don't tell her, but sometimes when she's a work I take my afternoon nap on it. 

I'm Deuce. I know when to be sneaky, and that's when Mom's not watching. 

But...but... but... it smelled good!

I blew it again this morning. Mom and I like to go for a short walk before she leaves for work so I can do all my outside activities. 

So I did them. You know. The two "Ps."

Then I got a whiff of something very interesting. I found it. I rolled on it. Mom doused me with the garden hose (it was cold!) and lots of soap. 

Then I had to go in the crate. 

Now Mom is threatening to take me to the Pet Wash station. I must remember that even though it smells good to me, Mom might not like it. And if Mom doesn't like it, it's not a good thing for lil' ole me. 

It's good to feel good!

I feel so much better today - like my old self. I slept really well last night and then had a big
breakfast this morning. Mom played ball and Frisbee with me. It was fun. It seemed like forever since I've felt like playing. 

Even though I feel fine, I decided to take my nap on the bed. Mom tried to take my picture but I was in the middle of the bed with all four paws in the air. Mom said a picture like that would be puppy porn, and I had to move. 

I tried, but we got to playing and Mom finally scratched my chin and said she'd find a good picture that was almost like the way I look today. 

Mom's really glad I feel better, and so am I. I really did not want to go to the vet.

Oh, my stomach...

What did I eat? My belly hurts...

I've been feeling bad for a few days. I don't remember what I ate, but it bit me back. I had to go outside - and then I had to go again. And again. I got a good cleaning out but it was not a pleasant experience. Every time I'd get a drink, I'd have to go outside. So I stopped drinking and Mom went crazy. 

She started to talk about taking me to the vet. I do not like the vet. He sticks me with sharp needles. Mom gave me ice cubes and that was okay. So when Dad offered me a little Gatorade, I slurped it down. For future reference, it wasn't bad. It made me want to drink more. Can a dog get addicted to Gatorade?

I'm being very careful this morning. I drank a little bit and ate a Meaty Bone biscuit, but I'm not quite ready for a big meal. Maybe Dad will make me toast again. I liked that. I want to play ball, too, and Mom said no. She said I have to eat a meal first. Mom's tough, but she loves me. 

She got some of her homemade chicken broth out of the freezer and mixed it with water. I drank the whole bowl! She says if that "sits" well, in about an hour she'll put some over a little bit of my puppy chow and see what happens. 

Whatever I ate, and Mom says we'll never know because it was more than likely something outside on the ground, I hope this never happens again. 

I don't like to feel sick. 

I yielded to temptation - and got away with it

It seems I was "mischievous" last night. Mom and Dad laughed at me and I heard them say it was really Mom's fault. She accepted the responsibility and I didn't get fussed at all. 

Mom took a picture a little while ago so I could explain. And fuss her for a change. 

See my boney on the dining room table? See it lying so close to the edge I can see it? I've got long legs and a long reach. That's my boney and when I saw it on the table, I simply reached over and got it. 

Okay, so I know better than to stick my nose on the table. But Mom and Dad weren't eating. And it was my boney. I'm a smart dog. And slick, too. I didn't make a sound. 

Mom told me I got away with one, and so I did. I bet she'll never leave my boney on the edge of the table again. 

I'm Deuce. I'm a good dog. I'll get Mom trained one of these days. 

Happy 1st Birthday to me!

Yesterday was my first birthday, and Mom and Dad spoiled me all day long. It was kinda difficult to do, too, because the weather was nasty. It was cold and icy, with sleet coming down. We didn't get to go to town. 

Since it was too wet to go outside and play, I took my spot on Mom's bed. From my spot, I can watch out the window. There wasn't much to see because of the sleet, but I was nice and comfy and my paws stayed dry. 

Mom and Dad said we needed a birthday cake. I'm not sure what that is, but I know what pancakes are. I love, love, love pancakes! And since it was my birthday, I got more than a single bite. I got a whole pancake! With butter! And I got to lick the plates for a change. So that was my birthday cake. I liked it.

Mom and I did get to go outside later in the afternoon and play ball. That was fun. Mom got cold but I didn't mind it much. 

Then I got chicken for dinner. That was really good. Dad didn't like it much. I heard Mom tell him a little bit of spinach wouldn't hurt him, but he whined worse than me. 

It was nice to have Mom home with me and Dad for my first birthday. I got lots of treats, I napped in Mom's office with her while she worked on a story instead of helping me blog. I guess being one means understanding she sometimes has work to do. 

I got lots of food and treats - more than usual. But all-in-all, a birthday is kinda like any other day. Now I have to figure out how to behave like a dog and not a puppy. That might be tough, but I'm Deuce! I can do it!  

Slip-sliding is bad

It's time to face the music. I'm not as young as I used to be. I used to bounce when I landed on my butt. Not any longer...

That's me hiding under Mom's desk. Well, I'm half under it. Mom gave me a baby aspirin a little bit ago and now I feel soooo much better. 

We went outside to play ball - I love balls! - and I must have slipped on the snow. My right hind leg hurts. Mom and Dad felt it all over from my spine to my toes. It feels good when Mom massages my toes. She ran her hands over all my joints, even my tail. Nothing hurt until she got to the really meaty muscle in my haunch that gives me all the thrust for speed. Then I started to shake and I put my mouth on Mom's hand. That's how Mom knew she'd hit the spot that hurts.

I didn't bite.  I know better than to ever bite Mom and Mom knows not to jerk away and scrape her fingers on my teeth.

I don't remember what I did to maybe pull a muscle. I was running and playing on the snowy ground so it must have happened when I jumped and came down kinda hard. Mom and I came inside and when I tried to sit, it hurt. So Mom said I could lie on the loveseat with her for a little while and maybe I'd feel better. That's when Mom gave me the baby aspirin. 

It worked and I decided to go back to the office with Mom. I sure hope I can get off the floor on my own when it's time for bed. I'm almost one year old. It'll be embarrassing if Mom has to help me get up like I'm a little guy.  I'll never live it down.

Snow is cool!

I've mentioned a few times how Mom is a little crazy. She still has one of my baby fangs, you know. Last night I knew something was up with her. She kept looking out the windows - all of them. It got so bad I jumped up on the loveseat and took a snooze on her spot and she didn't say a word about it. 

About seven o'clock, she yelled for me. She called me "Deucie-baby" so I jumped off the sofa and ran to her. I love it when she calls me that. I thought we were going to bed early - I love sleeping on the bed - but she opened the back door instead. 

"It's snowing, Deucie," she said, all excited. I went out on the patio with her and sure enough, these little white flakes were falling from the sky. It was weird!

"Wait until tomorrow morning. You'll like snowballs," she said. 

Well, yeah. If it's a ball, I'm gonna like it! Except for the one on New Year's Eve. Can't play with that one. What a dud.

First thing this morning nine deer went through the front yard. I could really see them against the snow. I started to think snow is a good thing. 

As soon as we (I see better than Mom in the dark) could see outside, we went to check out the snow. Mom said we got off easy with the snow - only about two inches. She grabbed a handful of snow off her car and made a snowball. She threw it and it disappeared! How'd she do that? Then she made a snowball and tossed it for me to catch. Snow is really cold. 

We played Frisbee for a couple of throws and then Mom said her feet were cold. Her feet? What about my paws? They were really cold, too! 

Snow seems like a good thing to me. If two inches is fun, I bet a foot is even better. I'm going to listen to Mom and Dad real close the next time they mention snow. Maybe next time I can figure out how snowballs disappear when they hit the ground.

What's the fuss about New Year's Eve?

New Year's Eve sure is noisy around here! It's really difficult for a growing boy - me - to get in his beauty sleep. All day, Mom and Dad were talking about the neighbors and their guns and now I know why. 

First off, I'm not sure what the fuss is about New Year's. A day is a day is a day. Except when Mom is home all day. Then it's sorta special. I like my people to be with me. 

So I can watch them. Like a hawk. Their every twitch. I count how many times they walk by the Grillers treats jar and don't give me one. Anyway...

Mom stayed up late to "watch the ball drop." Hey! I love, love, love balls! I KNOW balls. This one was a big dud. Boring. Anyway...

Mom and Dad got smoochy and then the racket began. A bunch of the neighbors started firing their guns. It was really loud! The noise echoed off the mountains and I finally got tired of it. I barked! Mom told me I was a good boy and we ran for the door to go outside so I could bark even louder.

I barked and only a few of my barking buddies answered me. There's a really deep voice up the hill and he wasn't talking. Then there's the female on the lower road (I can tell she's a girl) and she didn't answer me, either. If they don't answer, our network collapses. I only heard from the yappy voice a little north of me and I can never tell if that little dog is answering me or what he's doing. I think he just likes to be mouthy. Anyway...

After I barked a few times, all the shooting stopped. Mom says I'm The Boss. I was really glad it got quiet again because it was way past my bedtime. 

Mom says we'll do it again next New Year's Eve. Seriously? Why? I need my sleep!