Snatch!

Sometimes a guy has to do what a guy has to do. 

Especially if Mom and Dad aren't ready to play. 

Was that a quick snatch, or what?!

Not your typical Friday night

I had a big day! It wasn't my typical Friday. Mom started the day off by taking me for a longer than normal walk. I got to take my ball along so we played ball while we walked. Then Dad did the mowing so I had a nice afternoon nap on the bed.

As soon as Mom got home, we turned around and went back to town - and Sonic! I have really good puppy parents. They got me a plain hamburger - no ketchup or other things that might upset my system. It was really good! For the record, I'll eat a hamburger whenever I can get one. What's not to like about meat?

Dad took the long way home and I got bored so I lay down instead of watching out the window. Back home, after we all got out of the pickup, Mom and Dad took me for another walk. I really like it when we go as a family. We don't do that often enough. Mom says it's her fault because she's bushed when she gets home from work. She always plays ball or Frisbee with me, though. Between both Mom and Dad, I get a lot of play time which keeps me svelte. 

But I think Mom tossed a little shade my way. She put an old sheet down over the bedspread because I drop fur on the bed. Hmmmm. I thought Mom loved my shiny black fur. What gives, Mom?

I'm Deuce. I'm a Lab and shedding is what we do. 

It wasn't toooo bad

Mom took me to the vet this morning. For the record, I do not like going to the vet. 

The ride to town was okay, I guess, but as soon as Mom opened the truck door, I knew where I was. I peed right then and there. Right on the parking lot. That's my commentary on the whole thing. I'm a Lab. If we can't chase it, play with it, or eat it, we PEE ON IT. 

Mom called me ornery like it was a funny thing and then convinced me I had to go inside and get it over with. So I went inside. 

And three women mobbed me! Seriously, I know I'm handsome. I'm Deuce! But three of them?  

Then they wanted me to sit on the scales. Um.... no. I didn't like that idea because the scale moved when I put my paw on it. So these three Amazons who said I was soooo handsome and soooo good just picked me up and put me on the scale. Am I some threat to society or something that they had to dog-handle me? They didn't even give Mom a chance to explain it to me so I could do it myself!  I would have figured it out because Mom never makes me do anything that would hurt me. Maybe next time will be better. Anyway, I weigh eighty pounds now. I'm not a pup anymore. I'm full grown! 

Mom took me into an examination room with a bench so you know I jumped up and lay across Mom's lap to protect her. The vet came in and tried to make nice with me by giving me some sort of organic dog biscuit. Yeah. Right. Like I was going to eat THAT. Mom had Grillers in the pickup so I decided to hold out for those. 

I got three shots to prevent distemper, kennel cough, and rabies. I guess it wasn't as bad as I remembered. I was still a little guy when I had the other shots. That makes a difference. 

I was glad to get home. Dad and I played a little Frisbee and then Mom took some pictures of me. It was all good, but I'm sorta sleepy now. Mom says I'm "lethargic" and I need a nap. Sounds like a good idea to me. 

My special screen door

We had a big day again today. Mom and Dad worked in the yard and I was with them every step of the way. 

We played Frisbee, pulled weeds, and burned a brush pile. Last year I was younger and they didn't allow me anywhere near a fire. I had to stay in my crate. This year I got to play in the woods nearby AND carry sticks to Mom. 

Mom always thinks about things I need. Now that we're in our new office, we have an outside door. If I need to go outside for 'you know', Mom can let me out right away. Well, apparently I was being a bit pesky by running in and out. I love sitting on the porch but then I'm not beside Mom. It's difficult to make up my mind sometimes.

That all changed today. Dad bought a fancy screen and Mom put it up today. It's pretty cool. It's two panels and the way they stay together is with magnets. All I have to do is push a little bit and it opens! Mom doesn't have to open the door for me now. I can do it myself. How cool is that? But I can only go in and out through the screen when Mom is in the office. 

After Mom and Dad got everything done they wanted for the day, it was nap time. Well, I took a nap. They watched a couple of episodes of Heartland. After supper, Dad drove us to this place that has ice cream. I had a puppy cup of vanilla and it was so good! I hope we get to go again. 

On the way back, Dad stopped so I could get in the creek and splash around for a couple of minutes. The water was really cold and I didn't play very long. 

It was a really busy day. We'll all sleep really well tonight.

Mom's writing today

Mom's on vacation this week which means she's home with me and Dad. I really like that. She said today was her "don't bother me I'm writing" day. 

I was a little worried about that idea. Sometimes I'm a bother even when I don't want to be. But Mom said it was okay for me to keep her company if I planned to be quiet and nap. So I did.

Then Dad came to fix the door because it was sticking in one corner. Too much damp weather caused it is what he said. After he fixed the door, he took a picture of me under Mom's desk. Mom really liked it because she never gets to see me under her desk from the front. 

Mom says I'm a good dog and she likes that I want to be with her. I like she wants me to be close to her. 

I'm Deuce. Helping Mom write is what I do.

I'm so tired of rainy weather

It's been raining for days and days and days. I'm so bored I don't know what to do with myself. And what's even worse, Mom's on vacation. If it wasn't raining, Mom would take me for long walks in the woods. She said I'm old enough now that she would take me back to the old pond. We can't go if it doesn't stop raining! 

The grass is wet when I go pee. It's so wet I slide when I catch the Frisbee or the ball. I've landed on my butt a few times because my paws slide out from under me. I do not like that. 

I went out on the porch and it's all wet. I looked up and the sky is not blue. I'm so tired of rainy days. 

I'm Deuce. I need the sunshine to be at my best.

No! No! This can't be right.

I heard Mom tell Dad I had an appointment with the vet next Friday morning for "booster shots." This is NOT a good thing. I hate needles. Mom had better have something good planned to make up for this. 

If I close my eyes, will this go away? If I can't see it, it can't hurt me, right?

It's all in a dog's day

It's been a busy week. Mom went to her day job office every day. I wish she could stay home with me, but she says she has to work in order to keep me in Frisbees and kibble. I like it when she can work from home. She doesn't get to do that nearly enough.

While Mom is away, Dad and I stick to our routine. I like to go back to bed with him for a little while so we can talk. Well, he talks and I listen and then we get up. Dad lets me out again if Mom reported I didn't do all my outside activities. After coffee, Dad gets dressed and we go out together to play Frisbee. Dad sits in his fancy chair and we walk out and back in the lane so I can check on everything.

Before lunch, we do Frisbee again. After lunch we Frisbee and walk. This is my third walk because Mom and I walk before she goes to her pesky day job. Then it's nap time. (Oh no! I wasn't supposed to tell Mom about our nap time!) After that, Mom comes home and it's always a surprise as to what the evening brings. We might play ball, or go for another walk, or even go check out how cold the water is in the creek. We did that last night.

I like my routine. It's good to know what the day will bring and it makes going for rides with Dad more special since they don't happen all the time. Mom says her spring vacation is coming soon and we'll do fun things like go down to the aqueduct to swim. It'll be great to have Mom home even if it will bust my routine to smithereens. That's a new word Mom used. 

Dad says this summer I'll be able to help him outside more. Last summer I was just a little guy and had to stay in my crate while he mowed and stuff. Dad says as long as I don't wander off on my own, I can hang out in the yard with him. I'm good with that.

I'm Deuce. Keeping an eye on Dad is what I do. 

My new spot

Mom moved her office to the sunroom and it's working out pretty well. This past week she got a three-piece rug set for me. Well, it was to decorate the office, or so she says, but it works out really well for me. She said my toenails would be hard on the pine floors. I didn't understand why, but if Mom says so, that's good enough for me. 

The big rug is under the desk and chair and that makes it perfect for little 'ole me. I now have a nice cushy spot to nap while Mom writes. She even tickles me with her toes sometimes, if I'm lying the right way. 

Anyway, Mom took a picture of what she saw when she looked down to check on me this morning while I was napping. I'm glad she did because now I know to be more careful with my tail! 

PS. Mom says this is our 100th blog together. I wonder how she knows that? 

We have a new office

Mom decided to move her office to the sunroom and I think it was a great idea. The sunroom has windows for me to look out and keep an eye on those skanky deer. The windows in Mom's old office were too high. I had to put my paws on the window sill to look out and Mom did not like me to do that. 

Anyway, Mom leaves the blinds up so I can stretch out in front of the door and have a good view. 

It wasn't much fun when Mom was moving furniture. She was a real bear. It must have been hard work maneuvering all that heavy awkward stuff in and out of doors. I wasn't much help at first. I got in the way and ended up in my crate for an hour. Then I understood - stay out of Mom's way when she's carrying stuff, sliding stuff, flipping stuff, and rearranging stuff. 

Another thing I really, really like is I can rest on Mom's bed and keep an eye on her. The sunroom was built on to her bedroom for her to have a private room. Last night I tried to get her to turn off the computer and come to bed, but she ignored me. So I took a nap on her pillow.

Mom says she needs to get a rug set, whatever that is, and then she'll be all settled in. Dad has to fix a piece of moulding that got broke - I did not do it.

I hope Mom likes her new office. I think we'll have a lot of fun watching all the critters and sitting on the porch. And of course writing, but I'll leave that to Mom.