What’s Going On?

Something fishy is going on around here.  Hallie has been running around the house telling everyone to bring their clothes to her room.  They bring their stuff to her and then she says – “what about your bathing suit, what about PJ’s?”  Then she put everyone’s clothes into these big boxes that zip up.  I hung out in her room all night and she did not ask me once to bring her one of my loofas or my leash.  She didn’t put anything of mine into the big boxes.

Earlier this week, a young guy with long hair came by and Hallie showed him all around our house, with a special emphasis on my leash and walking me.  She also showed him where my food is and where Peepers’ food is.  Then Jorge, our neighbor came by and she gave him a key.  He’s that nice guy, that walked me the 4 days that the family was away visiting the red hair lady and the bald guy.  He is very comforting.

“Hey wait a minute, – is the family going away again?”  Last night while everyone was a sleep I looked at the papers on the table.  There were passports (one for everyone and none for me) and airline tickets to Spain and information about a mediterranean cruise.  What?  They know I don’t like cruising.  I guess that is why Jorge and the long haired guy will be staying with me.  Bon Voyage!

Spring Is In the Air?

Was it really just two weeks ago that I wrote a post about warm weather and long walks?  Well, this morning I woke up to cold, sticking-to-the-ground snowy weather.  What’s up with that?    Here I am laying on a warm radiator, Hallie’s drinking her coffee and reading the New York Times, and B wants to go for a walk?  Did he even take one look out there?  I wanted to go for a walk like I wanted a cat to play with – NOT!  But alas, I am a dog – and dogs need their walks for more than exercise – if you know what I mean.  So B donned his winter coat and put on his boots.  I wore my usual fur coat and no boots and out we went.  Brrrrr it was cold.  Luckily I did my business pretty quickly so that we could cut through the alley and head back home.  No need to walk all the way around the block on a day like today.  So, after I write this, I’m spendiing the rest of the day, on the radiator, occasionally looking out the window, but mostly lounging and sleeping – Ahhh nirvana!

On My Mind

You may be wondering what I think about all day.  Here are the top 50 things that I think about during any given day:

1. Food

2. Food

3. Food

4. Are you going to eat that?

5. When are we going for a walk?

6.  Boy is it cold out here.

7. That smells good.

8.  Hmm, that smells good too.

9.  Why is My G yelling at Hallie?

10. Food

11. I’m tired.

12.  I wish that I could get that dog that is outside.

13. Food.

14.  I wonder what Peepers is doing?

15.  Oooh, is that a crumb?

16. Food.

17. Where’s Hallie – I need to write my blog.

18.  Food.

19.  What’s for dinner?

20.  Do you think it is OK to lick the dishes in the dishwasher?

21.  Oh goody, Talk of the Nation is on.

22.  Food.

23.  When is Bark Obama going to get that dog for his girls?

24.  Why does Lil Joe yell at Hallie?

25.  Hallie is sooo sweet.

26.  When is B going to feed me?

27.  Let’s go outside.

28. Let’s go inside.

29.  Is that fish I smell?

30. Where’s my loofa?

31.  Food.

32.  What’s for breakfast?

33.  I’m thirsty.

34.  I have to “go pee pee.”

35.  My nails need to be trimmed.

36.  Food.

37.  B should pick me up and give me some lov’in.

38.  When is Sam coming over – I need someone to bark at.

39.  Food.

40. ZZZZzzzzzz

41.  Slurp, slurp, slurp

42.  Food.

43.  Hmmm what’s in the garbage under the sink?

44.  Hmmm what’s in the pantry?

45.  Those rubber bands make it so hard to get into the pantry.

46.  Food.

47.  I want some turkey.

48.  Is that my loofa under the bed?

49.  Are you going to eat that?

50.  I love Hallie!!!!!

25 Random Things About Me

As you may know, Hallie is spending a lot of her time on Face Book.  Sometimes she leaves her page up and I have noticed that a lot of her friends write these lists of interesting tidbits about themselves.  I like that idea, so below is my list of 25 Things About Me.

1.  I really like Hallie.

2.  I am a rescue dog.

3.  I like food.

4.  I am a Jewish dog.

5.  I always check the pantry to see if here is something good to eat.

6. I also check the garbage.

7.  Wooden blinds taste yummy.

8.  I like to lay on my back and have my tummy rubbed.

9.  Being so cute compensates for a multitude of sins.

10.  I think that My G is part dog because he sleeps so much.

11.  I love loofa dogs.

12.  I wish Peepers would come upstairs sometimes – NOT.

13.  I go to sleep in my spot, but can’t wait until I can sneak into Hallie and B’s bed.

14.  I’m grateful that I don’t have to go into a crate.

15.  Looking out a window is one of my favorite pastimes.

16.  I am a people’s dog – not a dog’s dog.

17.  I like Fiber One pop tarts and cocoa puffs ain’t bad either.

18.  I like to bark at dogs.

19.  I like to bark at Lil Joe’s friends, Sam and Jordan.

20.  I like to listen to NPR.

21.  Bark Obama gives me hope.

22.  I piss My G off the most.

23.  I wish I knew what humans were saying to me – don’t they know that dogs do not speak or uderstand english.

24.  I miss the red hair lady and the bald man.

25.  I AM ONE LUCKY DOG!!!

There They Go Again

I was so happy to have the family all around me for the Christmas vacation.  My happiness was short-lived.  On Wednesday through Saturday, the family left me and Peepers all alone.  Sure they arranged to have these really nice dog walkers come in and feed us and take me for a walk, but that certainly was no replacement for the daily unconditional love of my family.

When the family leaves like that they try to act like nothing is happening.  Do they think I am an idiot?  I mean, come on, I can see the suitcases, I can see the little lights they set up, I can see the notes for the dog walker – I am one observant dog!  They leave and it is very quiet around here.

Luckily, I am a dog that can really amuse myself.  There is actually so much to do around here when the family is gone.  For instance… first I check out the garbage and then I peek into the pantry.  If they leave yummy foods on the lower shelves I am in heaven.  Of course, then I sleep on Hallie and B’s bed.  I play with my loofa dog and my red chicken (a fun new toy that I have).  I listen to NPR.  I look for Peepers.  I snoop around My G and Lil Joe’s bedrooms.  I would have surfed the net, but they turned off all of the computers.

Even though I kept busy, I would much rather have everyone around me.  I was in heaven when they came home.  Of course, they were a little frantic because of all of the water in the basement.  Maybe they should just stay home next time.

Christmas Break

Even though I am a Jewish dog, I know that Lil Joe and My G just started their winter vacation from school.  This break always occurs right around Christmas, so I think that we should call it what it is – a Christmas vacation. I guess I am a little old fashioned.  I’m excited to have this break because I know that the family will be around a lot!  My G will stay up late into the night and sleep half the day away.  Lil Joe will hang out and watch TV and read and hang out with his friends.  Hallie and B will go to work, but they will have lots of days off and no meetings at night.  This will all just make my life – happy, happy, happy!

It is definitely going to be a white Christmas.  It snowed twice this past week.  Snow is all over the place which means that my walks are a little bit shorter.  I actually don’t mind because it is a little “nippy” out there, especially for my paws.

Do people say I hope that we will have a white Hanukkah?  I doubt it.  But for those folks who do wish for snow on this minor Jewish holiday, they will definitely get their wish.  Personally, I hope that I get some new yummy chew toys as well as a new loofa dog.  Ever since Hallie got me that latex loofa (which is impossible to destroy), I just don’t get that toy as much as I use to.

I hope everyone enjoys their Christmas vacation.

Baby It’s Cold Outside

Some of you may know that B is in Iran for the next week.  He certainly picks interesting places to travel to.  The rest of the family is here though they just took a brief holiday to visit Hallie’s brother and his family in Indiana.  Peepers and I were left at home once again.  Frankly, I understand why the family would leave Peepers at home, but why leave me too?  I fear that perhaps they were visiting another dog or two.  I happened to look at Hallie’s Facebook and noticed that she is now friends with a dog named Barclay Obama.  Who is that?

A dogwalker came by and walked and fed me three times a day.  The dogwalkers were very friendly.  Of course I was happiest when Hallie came home and walked me.  But alas it was freezing outside!  Bbrrr.  There was a cold rain and Hallie went into the garage to get a shovel.  Can that mean it is going to snow?  Oh, I hate cold weather.  Maybe I need a pair of doggie Uggs?

Say Cheese

Saturday started off as any other weekend day at our house.  B went to the synagogue to lead services.  Hallie and Lil Joe followed shortly there after and My G slept and slept and slept.  It’s obvious that he is a teenager and needs his sleep, but he sleeps as much as some dogs I know!

When they came home, Hallie was like a crazy woman.  “Put on nice clothes, fix your hair, dry your hair, we have to match.”  What was she talking about?  Next thing I know, we are all on our way to Sutton Studios to have a family picture taken.  The main photographer, David Sutton, is known all over this area as “the photographer” to go to if you want to have a family picture taken with your animal, especially your dog.  Not only does he do fabulous black and white portraits of humans, he has a real knack for photographing animals.

The front of his studio was really cool – all pink and green and lots of these funky painted chairs.  When David walked in, he seemed like a cool guy.  Everyone in the family knew him – especially Lil Joe.  Then we went into the back of the studio and that’s when things started to make me nervous.  There wasn’t too much furniture, just a lot of wall hangings and lots of bright lights.  Despite the fact that David gave me these yummy liver treats, I was starting to get nervous.

Well the family all stood in front of one of the wall hangings and looked at David, who was behind a camera and then POOF – a shot of light and a loud clicking noise!  What was the heck was going on?  It kept happening in rapid succession.  By now, I was shaking like a leaf and trying to get out of everyone’s way.  Behind those wall hangings looked good to me.  – “Hello everybody – I’m not having fun!”

They kept trying to get me to look at David and his camera.  True, he made some cool noises and he did have those treats, but I was just too scared by the lights and the noises to sit still.  Everyone had their picture taken – all different combinations – Hallie and B, Hallie and the boys, the boys, B and the boys, B and Hallie etc.  I wish I could have been in more pictures – I tried, but I was just too freaked out.  Maybe they should have taken Peepers instead of me.

Happy Arrival Day To Me!

It’s hard for me to believe that a year ago yesterday (the Sunday of Labor Day weekend), this crazy family of humans drove all of the way to Huntley, IL and brought me home to live with them.  Oh, what a year it has been.  I was just reviewing my bog from the past year.  Do you remember that Hallie originally was the one that started this blog?  She thought that she would keep track of the family’s life with me in it.  As it turned out, I’m keeping track of my life with this family in it.  Ten thousand people have read my words of wisdom and I am sure that number will grow.

So, it has been a good year for me.  At least I think it has been, since I didn’t really do much self reflection when I lived in that animal shelter.  This is a good loving family who has been extremely patient with my little idiosyncrasies.  Think of all of the things that I have chewed since living here – the couch, the blinds, the furniture, shoes, etc?  Think of all of those sleeples nights in the crate.  Think of all those accidents on the beige carpet.  Think of all of that barking that I do at Peepers.  This family truly accepts me for the dog that I am and they continue to buy me loofa dogs on a regular basis.

I know that I have brought a lot of joy to this family, especially to Hallie.  Do you remember in the early days that Hallie was actually afraid of dogs?  That’s a hard one to believe when I see her bossing me around or when she hugs me and rubs me all over.  I would follow her just about anywhere and I do.  Even though My G is always trying to act so cool, he is good for a snuggle or two.  I have to mention Lil Joe, because he is the kid that wanted a dog so much in the first place — of course, he could walk me every now and then.  Finally, there is B, a great and loving guy who is always ready and willing to let me sit on his lap.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again and again and again… I’m one lucky dog!

A shout out to all of the animals and humans in New Orleans and on the Gulf Coast – be safe and stay out of harm’s way.

Dog Days of Summer

My, my, my where did the summer go? I’m not sure what I have been so busy with that I didn’t even have the time to blog once during the month of August. I’ve been busy with the usual stuff — walking, sleeping eating, walking sleeping, eating, etc. Oh and don’t forget… hanging out with the family and barking at Peepers. My days are so full. The family has been doing well. Hallie as been around here just about the whole summer. Everyone else has been in and out. My G was gone the longest. He was away at camp in the Poconos and then came home for two days and went to camp for marching band. Lil Joe spent a week visiting the grandparents in Las Vegas. He didn’t gamble much given his age. Hallie and B went away with the red hair lady and the bald guy. Instead of putting me in a kennel, they arranged for some dog walkers to come by and take care of me. It was a little lonely at first, but the dog walkers came in daily and played with me and took me for nice walks. More importantly, I didn’t get sick like the last time.

The best part of the summer has been all of the walking I have done. Everyone is taking me out for long walks where they let me smell whatever I want. It is glorious. They even let me bark at all of the other dogs in the neighborhood. I can be such an annoying dog at times! Well, it’s another day of summer – I have to get back to my life. I couldn’t be happier – I am one lucky dog!