Inspiration

Some folks find inspiration during the observation of the accomplishments of others, some in the enthusiastic way in which those accomplishments are maintained and for some, in the general contagion of enthusiasm itself. Much credit for the existence of this blog is due Roxies World. It inspired me to enter the blog world via admiration and subsequent mimicry. In summation, it engendered creation of this blog and inspired me to write a few things down. Thank you Roxie. Thank you(s) also go to Roxie's typist, Moose, and Moose's partner Goose for imparting their enthusiasm and knowledge such that I have incorporated pieces of the same here too. (Specifically, The posts about Puppy Superbowl / Michael Vick, and the link to SNL's Tina Fey) Big thank yous :) I'd send them a royalty check, but I don't even know how to price such things. As it is, I have no pockets in my fur so I'd have to ask my Mom to take care of it for me. I'd offer up a play date if they're ever in N.J. if that's acceptable to them.

Credit too must also be given to Sharkbutt for his blog. His humor and cat perspective always gives me pause.


Grateful to be a dog and just plain ol' grateful ...
sds

Boston Dudes and 'Tudes

So I hear tell that Tom Scholtz of Boston (the band) is a bit upset with Mike Huckabee for his appropriation of Boston's song "More Than a Feeling"(visually performed by someone else here) for his campaign rallies. This is some of the gossip from this week's The Week Magazine

" The founder of the 1970s band Boston has asked Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee to stop using his song “More Than a Feeling” at campaign rallies. 'By using my song, and my band’s name, Boston, you have taken something of mine and used it to promote ideas to which I am opposed,'said Tom Scholz, who said he was supporting Democrat Barack Obama. 'In other words, I think I’ve been ripped off, dude!' Huckabee’s campaign said the candidate only played the song when he was joined onstage by former band member Barry Goudreau, who is a supporter."

I suppose that I'd be upset too if I heard someone bark like me. As it is, when the doorbell rings on the TV, I run to the front door and bark. Per his comments from The Week Magazine, he doesn't want to be associated with a candidate unless it's the candidate of his choice. Makes sense to me. Then again if someone puts a song on the radio, and you find yourself humming it later in the day, is that the same thing? (BTW, no one has ever caught me humming) If someone does something wonderful, and you copy it for yourself, they're due some sort of royalty or acknowledgment - this is true. This impacted my TV viewing just recently with the "writer's strike" and the royalties not being paid for internet downloads and DVDs of their work. Here's a YouTube video of Tim Kazurinsky telling us about that. Whew! Thanks to the creator that that's over! Now my Mom can go back to watching one of her favorite shows, Saving Grace. The pertinent question though is ... to what degree the acknowledgment? There's permission, footnotes, links, and for the Hollywood writers, royalties to be paid, etc.... But which method is acceptable to whom? We all want to be acknowledged in ways that we can accept. Me? I like to have my belly rubbed and my under-legs scratched. There. I've told you. Now the whole internet world knows.

sds

Laughter *is* THE BEST medicine

Thank you Al Gore (for passing legislation that helped the development of the internet), accomplished intelligentsia, SNL writers and Tina Fey for making my Mom laugh out loud!

Republicans in Cat's Clothing

Not that I have anything against "cats" per se (some I even like - like Stash, my cat) but this guy Ralph Nader usually seems to hurt rather than help the Democrats (see Mike Huckebee's comments in the Guardian) . He's now thrown himself into the Presidential race as an Independent. I think that he ought to throw his energy into something else for right now if he's looking for things to do. Might I suggest blowing up Peeps in the microwave?

This is also my Mom's opinion; just thought I'd share it.


sds

Peeps

(Photo credit: GOOGLE search of the internet)

What else is there to do on a Sunday morning for two growing and curious boys besides watching cartoons and playing Ninento DS? Why microwaving Peeps of course. There was much excitement in our house this morning as the anticipated day had arrived. My Mom had purchased some pre-Easter (Valentine's Day) Peeps and had advised the generic kids (who are 111 and 5 respectively) that something happens to Peeps when you put them in the microwave for 30 seconds. They, of course, couldn't fathom anything more exciting than a new DS game, but were curious nonetheless. So the rule today was that breakfast had to be finished first and then we would start our experiments. After seeing the Spiderwick Chronicles last night, they were primed for some good experiments (there is even a book on this), so my Mom took out a plate and we (she) put one Peep on it. It was then placed in the microwave for 30 seconds and WALLA! The Peep grew, and grew larger still and then popped. Everyone seemed to enjoy eating the Peeps and so I decided that I wanted one too. They look sort of like eggs. Normally, I really *do* like marshmallows, but these were deceptive. I thought that they would taste like an egg, but they didn't so I think I'll skip the Peeps next year at this time. Here is a YouTube video of what they did (made by someone else). I ate my breakfast though ... almost all of it. I almost felt like a real boy today too ...with my very own Peep and everything. I pushed it around on the floor some, but then Mom had to throw it out. Have a delicious and fun day...

sds

Thursday Afternoons

photo credit http://www.pegasys.com/about-pegasys/default.aspx

Thursdays are now jab days. What? What you ask, does this mean to you, dear reader? It means that Thursday afternoons are when my Mom does the jab thing with the Pegasys interferon injection and I have to stay, stay, STAY. Stay anywhere, but next to the kitchen table where the light is better and everything is laid out nicely for me to sniff. NO SNIFFING! Gosh, when will she ever learn to calm down. I was only checking out the goods. So this is Thursday afternoon and then tomorrow, Friday, well on Fridays she (that's my Mom) is just a bit slower than usual. Did I tell you how slow she is now? She and I used to play chase around any table in the house. She doesn't play chase now, but maybe when this is all done she'll accept my challenge. She promised me that. I believe her. What I really want to do is to go outside and play basketball with the boys across the street. They're much taller than me, and I don't do anything for very long on two legs. (Did I tell you that I can dance?) I guess basketball would get tiring after while. Chase though ... I could play chase ALL day :)

Nyeh nyeh ...
sds

My BFF or Brother from Another Mother

(photo credit: Moms of Macy (KZ/JC)

Hi Kids :)

It's been almost one whole day since I've written (doesn't that sound like some sort of confession?), but to be honest, today is my Mom's revised 1st birthday (the anniversary of when she got her new aortic valve) so I'm a little distracted.

Being that this is my Mom's new 1st birthday, I started reminiscing about my stay with my Mom's friends (Karen and Joanna) and their new puppy, a Welsh Corgi. I stayed with them while she-who-must-be-obeyed was in the hospital and while she was recovering. At first, my Mom's sister put me in a kennel. Nice place, but 3 weeks is, well, waaaaaaay too long. Anyway, back to the good life.... Macy and I became fast friends and he followed me everywhere (and *I* mean EVERYWHERE) doing what I did, trying to be just like me. This didn't bode well for the poor little fella when he tried to jump on the couch. His legs are just too short. He tried though. Gotta tell you folks ... he is my bestest friend in the whole world and even comes to visit me sometimes now that I'm back home. I really liked staying with my aunts (Karen and Joanna) too. They're loving, warm and they took care of me the same way that my Mom does. Sometimes though it wasn't all fun and games. I had a reminder of that this past weekend when I threw up all over the kitchen floor (included were the remains of some of the bathroom garbage.) I did this at Karen and Joanna's too, until they learned to shut the bathroom door. My Mom thought she could get away with keeping it open and tested the waters with this type of garbage can. Didn't work. Now we know. I can't tell you what the draw is, but I know that it's like Heroin or Oxycodone for guys like me. They don't have rehab programs for dogs on bathroom garbage though ... or do they?

Speaking of friends ... My Mom has some really good ones too. One of them accompanied her today to a doctor's office to pick up records for something legal that needs to be done. These records were requested well over 70 days ago, but weren't forthcoming. That old the-check-is-in- the-mail-dog (ahem)-ate my-homework set of excuses grew old pretty fast. So my Mom asked her friend (who has a way of intimidating manly men just by her presence) to accompany her. Boy. They coughed up the records in a hurry this morning. I guess that the intimidation factor helped ;)

Anyway ... back to my bff Macy. He's the coolest Corgi on the block. He goes boating and for long drives and even has his own lifejacket. I'm glad that he's my friend.

sds

Two in One Day

I just had to share this with everyone. My Mom's gal pal Joan sent it to her. How timely given that Caroline Kennedy is now the poster child for AARP :)

You humans! You slay me!



sds

A New Beginning

Where shall I begin today? How about … today is the beginning of the 4^th week of treatment for my Mom’s Hepatitis C (which the doctors found while playing out their own version of House). Did you know that you could get it from the blood supply pre-1984, or from a tattoo, or from another IV drug user? Well, a couple of pints and two tattoos (go on, say it 3 times fast), later, here we are – pills twice a day and injections once a week. Worst thing yet though is… (

) no drinking for the full 48 weeks of treatment. The cool thing is that with treatment, my Mom stands a good chance of being cured. This comes with some kind of umbrella drink I believe (or so she keeps saying). What’s an umbrella drink?

So I guess this means we’ll be playing more. I’m always up for that. Always!

Sniffin’ your ears …

sds

What to Eat or ... How to Stay Hot

(Photo Credit: Picking peppers for perfect health?
(Alicia Wagner Calzada/Associated Press) 2/14/08).

So this is what Hillary eats, eh? Personally? I like licking (there's THAT word again) the empty cat food cans after Mom feeds Stash (our cat) in the morning. I figure, why not have fun and help Mom out around the house? Do you have other suggestions? I've always been a finicky eater - almost on the level of "cat", but truth be told, my Mom persevered and kept trying different things. Gotta give the woman credit, she went through nearly every kind of food imaginable short of people food (which I love), and even dealt with the after effects of "Mighty Dog" (that includes cleaning my kennel by taking it outside and hosing it down). (I really liked that food too, until my tummy got all sick) My heart goes out to all the Moms out there who find themselves pitted against charges who, for whatever reason, don't want to eat the food that they're presented with. I'm glad that MY Mom stuck it out though. I know she loves me.
As for Hillary ... it makes me wonder why, after all these years, the food she loves to eat consists of hot peppers. Do you think that her Mom fed her bland food? Is that what they eat in the Midwest ? You decide.

Sniffin' whatever's available,
sds

I see you and raise you

You DO know that in male dog terms what that means, right? It involves legs and lifting them.

Sheesh! What is it with you humans? Everywhere I look it seems as though you guys don't know what it is that you're supposed to be doing. WHAT is it that you do anyway? We dogs play. We eat. We sleep. We don't blame other dogs when we're bad. When we're bad, like me, I hide that cute little tail of mine between my legs and sulk. Do I go and blame the German Sheppard who lives down the street? Nooooooooooooooo. Not me. I generally sniff the air, nose the poop, and then I *know* who it belongs to. It's not in my nature to always go after the same dog. I can tell who did it. You humans just don't have that facility for sniffing in the right places. Though sometimes you get so close I could swear you look just like me and my kind.

Take Hezbollah for instance, they're pissed because their "important" guy got knocked off. That's what happens when you're the "important" guy. It's a thing you humans do. Knock off the "important" guy. So they're blaming Israel as usual, like they reported in the New York Times. Hey! Be glad that you're not important like Roger Clemens. Look what HE has to go through to stay important! I'd rather be a dog.

Sniffin' your ears ... and nothing else today,
sds

Barking

We dogs, especially me, think that barking, especially group barking, is a really fun thing to do. It's like when someone has a good idea - not like pet rocks, or choke collars - but more like big backyards, puppy pre-school, running off leash at the beach, voting for Hillary (oops, that's what my Mom says) that we tell everyone else. That's what group barking is all about. If you want to hear what group barking sounds like, just click on the link to the right (group barking) and you'll see. Music to my ears, warms my rarefied sensibilities, it really does.

Sniffin' your ears...
sds

Puppy Superbowl Day

Yesterday was Puppy Superbowl Day on Animal Planet. Fun and frolicking (did I tell you how much I like that word?) for about 46 different kinds of puppies on the big screen while we (make that just D.) sipped some wine, folded laundry and watched my mom sleep. Yes, believe it or not, my mom has been given to napping lately, in the middle of the afternoon. Speaking of times and numbers close to 50 ...

Of the pit bulls seized from the home of currently incarcerated former NFL star Michael Vick, about 50 of them (see The Week's "It Wasn't All Bad") have been rescued from the {*&^*&} conditions in which they were kept and "dispersed to eight rescue organizations for adoption, rehabilitation or lifetime care" according to The New York Times. Anyone with a working heart, even battery operated, will be moved, as I'm sure you will be too, as you read this incredible story. (Make sure you look at the audio slide show, too.) At the Best Friends Animal Society sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, one dog, Georgia, "her tongue jut[ting] from the left side of her mouth because her jaw, once broken, healed at an awkward angle," is recovering from experiences too awful to even imagine. Georgia's horrifying experience (as can be deduced) as well as others are laid out in this very moving story.

I'm so glad that my mom loves me. I think that D. has grown to like me a lot too. Her boys seem to (though I think that they like my cat Stash more). Maybe I scare them? Maybe it's my 25lbs of 'tude. (That's what you get when you spend the weekend at camp) Anyway ... it's good to be loved.