It's Dad's birthday!

Today is Dad's birthday and we're having Salisbury steak for dinner! I'm not sure what kind of steak that is, but it's STEAK! This is a good thing! 

I'm not sure what we're going to do special for Dad's birthday. He had one of those weird video chats with his litter ma.......er........siblings last Sunday. Mom's home today and I heard them say something about going to pick up Walther. All I can say is birthday or not, Walther had better not be another cat. 

Dad and I have spent a lot of time together over the years. Mom's been off working, but that's changing. She's going to be home more now and we like that. It'll keep me busier, having two parents to watch every day, but I can do it.

Keeping an eye on Dad is harder than you'd think. He goes outside and has me stay inside. I do not like this. He worries I'll get into some mischief or even get hurt while he's puttering around in the shed or using the John Deere 1023. Do you think now that he's had another birthday that will change? Me neither. 

Dad takes me down to the creek almost every day when the weather is fit for him to be outside. He gets the mail and I splash around for a bit. Then I look for the frog and he laughs at me, but that's ok. 

A lot of days we guys just hang out and that's pretty cool. We can't do that when Mom's here. Dad's not constant movement the way Mom is. 

So, happy birthday, Dad! I'm really glad you're my Dad and we get to take care of each other, sort of like it was meant to be. You're a great Dad! 

Now, who is Walther? 

What the hell was that?????

Let's be clear about one thing - I'm a good dog. There are some things that a good dog should be entitled to, and going out to peepee undisturbed is one of them. I'm sorry when I wake up Mom at 4:00 AM because I can't wait any longer, but even then I should be able to step into the yard without getting dive-bombed by bugs. 

And not just any bug. These are big fu... oops. I'm not supposed to say that word because I'm only five. Anyway, these are big bugs. Like bigger than me! And ugly! And loud! Don't they sleep?

Well, okay. Not really bigger than me - but BIG! 

So here's what happened. I had to go so I nudged at Mom until she woke up. There's a light on the patio that comes on when I trip the sensor. I like this because, hey, in the country. Dark. How would YOU like to walk into the grass in the dark with bare paws? You wouldn't. Anyway, the light came on and BAM!! About six of these big bugs hit me! 

I did not like this.

Mom says it's because they got confused and thought they could mate with me. Um... what? 

Nooo. I'm not that kind of guy! 

I finished up and hot-footed it back through the screen to the safety of my patio. We watched them swarm all over the light until it went out. Then Mom warned me the same thing will happen every time I go out to peepee after dark until all those weird bugs have mated, laid their eggs, and died. The whole thing takes about six weeks. 

Moving to Montana sounds like a really good idea.

Should I be worried?

I don't know if I should be worried or not. About Mom, that is. I'm fine. It's Mom who's having a meltdown over my chin. The hairs on my chin to be more precise. Some of them are white. I don't know what that means but Mom is freaking out. 

I should freak out over her taking a picture of my chin. It's not my good side, you know. 

Huh. There really are a few white hairs there. What's up with that? 

I sure hope I don't have to start coloring the hair on my chin the way Mom colors the hair on her head. I would not like that at all! 

I know I'm only five, so are white hairs a bad thing? I'm a descendant of the St. John's Dog, a Labrador Retriever. I should be all black all over with no white so maybe this isn't good. A few white hairs due to age are ok. 

Due to age? I'm only FIVE? Maybe Mom is right to freak out! I think I'll join her!

Sleeping in the sun

Today is Sunday and sometimes Sundays are all about having a day of rest. Mom does all this stuff for me and Dad and every so often, she gets cranky. When that happens, it's time to not pester her for anything. Today was kinda one of those days. We did a few things but then Mom put her foot down. She'd had enough and she was going to do what SHE wanted and you'd better not argue with her. 

Mom says a day of rest is important for everyone, and we have to remember that "rest" means different things to different people, as does "work." Mom and me going for a walk isn't work. It makes us feel good so isn't that resting from our labors? And if Mom fixes something around the house that's been bugging her, and it makes her feel good, is that work? I'm a smart dog but I don't know the answer to that one. 

All I know is when Mom and Dad settled in to watch the NASCAR race, there was a sunny patch on the floor just my size. It felt really good on my back and I snoozed for a long time. 

Watching Mom and Dad isn't work as far as I'm concerned. No one makes me do it. It wouldn't feel right to me if I didn't. It's what a good dog does for the humans in his pack. 

But I'm really glad Mom decided to take a time of rest today. Otherwise, I might have missed that perfect patch of sunshine. 


13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 14 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do. -Deuteronomy 5:13-14

Rain, rain go away

I think the fun Saturday I hoped Mom and I would have is a bust. It's been drizzling all morning. Mom says it's dreary. That may be so, but it's also very boring. It's Saturday. Mom is supposed to do fun stuff with me on Saturday. 

I asked her as nicely as I know how to take me for a walk but she said she needed to check the radar. I wasn't sure what "radar" was code for, but now I know. 

I do not like radar. Checking the radar means I don't get to go for a walk. Radar means more rain is coming. 

This is going to be a long day. How many naps can one energetic pup have in a day? I guess I'm about to find out.