Tuff Luv On Curley Street

It's the most wonderful time of the year!!

2011-11-15T16:06:00.001-08:00

... no, not those two holidays coming up... This guy knows what really makes the season special... It is Snuggie weather!!!

Don't knock it until you try it!!!!!!!

Full disclosure here... I too dismissed the snuggie when it first came out... those horrible ads didn't help the cause... but Mama followed Aunt Tiff's lead and got one for daddy for Christmas last year! One chilly night of cuddling later and I was hooked!!!! It is cozy and wonderful and, most important, I can flash my fierce Giants spirit without having to wear a shirt!!! Translation: DOGGIE GOLD!!!!

The key to comfort:
A doggie-size cave and then a sleeping sister...

Who are you saying is spoiled????

Keep trying Lily... Scientific evidence confirms -
I am more photogenic... Nice try kid.

I love my dad... really... but not all of his daddy games...

2011-10-19T16:40:00.000-07:00

I love playing puppy games with my Daddy... he thinks I'm funny and I love to make him smile and laugh... but every once in a while it takes all the puppy patience I can muster to play daddy games... Like the other night... I found myself stuck in the sofa... not ideal - but, then again, this isn't the first time this has happened...

HOWEVER... last time a few clicks of the camera to capture the moment and Mama and Daddy rescued me... not this time... Daddy started blowing in my face to make Mama giggle... so I had to put him in his place... then again... and again... finally - I had to let out a mournful whine/yawn to bring the madness to an end... Don't be put off by my ferocious choppers... I am just trying to get my point across... I am the boss and I own you Daddy...

Most people don't realize this - but sneezing and yawning are very important when it comes to puppy intimidation tactics... Obviously - the stiff arm/paw swipe is most effective....

Beans... It's what's for dinner...

2011-10-11T17:35:00.000-07:00

... and breakfast... and lunch... and then dinner again...

so remember that post about how I "used to worry about my appearance" [yeah that post from what seems like just yesterday - dogs can't tell time!!!!]? I was a secure [stocky], confident [well, not feeling too bad about myself] little guy [maybe not so little anymore].

So there I am, not sweating a few extra ozs [ok, so maybe a whole lb] - a real dog, not some runway dog and Mama starts pushing some theory about strain on my joints [blah, blah, blah...] and next thing I know...

... if you want to sprinkle my kibs with something - how about some cheese!!!! I'm not some vegetarian hippie dog in Berkeley - I am a meat and potatos kind of dog!!!!!! [Don't tell Mama, but they aren't that bad... I don't want her getting too excited and start giving me sprouts or kale or something!!!!!!!!!] But still - I needed to get her attention, so I had to create a little diversion in the hopes of scoring some sympathy cheese... I should have put more thought into it because I clearly forgot just how high up the bed is... One serious Yorkie 'face plant' later and I got a little red meat and a whole lot of Mama love... [worth a little bump on the noggin]...

I am about to fake a limp, gotta go... And remember... Never... EVER... underestimate the ability of this guy when it comes to pulling the heart strings...

Happy Birthday PeePaw!

2011-10-02T10:37:00.000-07:00

October 3rd is a very special day... my PeePaw has a very big birthday! I can't be there to wish him a happy birthday in person, so I did the next best thing... I channelled my inner PeePaw - which apparently manifests itself in a little white handle bar mustache!!! So Happy Birthday PeePaw! I love you a whole bunch!!!

How does PeePaw eat with this thing????

I would prefer that this birthday post be only from me - but Mama says that PeePaw is Lily's PeePaw too [why do I have to share EVERYTHING with my little sister????] so I have to let her post too... So please remember the following post was written by Lily, not me... apologies in advance for the baby talk...

Say kibble!!!!!!

Happy Birthday PeePaw! I wish that we could eat ice cream together and watch Animal Planet! I love you very, very much! I asked Mommy to take this pretty picture for you! I am wearing a red ribbon because the Giants are playing on the road today and wearing their away jerseys... OK I need to go steal Tuffy's toy, I love you!

So there you have it... big day tomorrow... not to mention - I am going to have another cousin any day now! The rumor is that it is a girl, which makes Lily all excited because she likes pink, but my cousin Sami is pretty cool - so I'm not (too) worried...

Working on her fitness...

2011-09-26T16:41:00.000-07:00

Lily is just a slip of a puppy... She is dainty and delicate like a girl should be... I used to worry about my appearance too - back when I was an only dog and the sun would rise and set for my mama in every thing I did... That all changed when she blew up my scene so, admittedly, I have lost some of my motivation to hit the gym... These days - I eat what I want and blame the appearance of extra lbs on my furry Pom lineage...

Now - don't get me wrong - I have no interest in having another little sib, but I would be lying if I didn't sometimes wish Lily knew what it felt like to be replaced with a newer, younger model... But I am starting to think that she might have a little inkling into what that might feel like thanks to a Pom named Boo... [Welcome to my world!!! How does it feel Lily??] Mama is obsessed with this little guy... [frankly - I am sick of hearing how "cute" he is too!!!!] but - I would be lying if I said I didn't relish seeing her feel a bit insecure and manic [so thanks Boo - if you come to Baltimore on your book tour - I will buy you a chewie]... Example: yesterday... Daddy went out to watch football - Mama stayed home with us because she said she felt "subhuman"... [Whatever that means: I like it! She just layed on the couch ALL DAY!!!!] But I digress...

Rather than just crash in the sun and enjoy a nice scratch - I look over and the kid is doing calisthenics in her sleep!!!! I could almost read her mad little mind [Screw you Boo! I am the cutest dog in the world!!!! I will not be outdone!!!! I am Lily Luv!!!!!!]

You be the judge... I smell blood in the water... The kid is growing up... fast...

Sweet dreams Lily... feeling a little restless ??? a little anxious??? What are you running from??? Could it be... BOO!!!!! [He is coming for you Lily... and he just might be the cutest dog in the world!!!!! ~~My handsome, furry self excluded~~]... I smell COMPETITION!!!!!

Beep, Beep. RUFF!!! Yip!

2011-09-13T09:47:00.000-07:00

It's been a while [I know]... And my public really needs to hear from me [I'm sorry]... But frankly - 2011 has been a blur... I retired [work was killing me] and it has been difficult to find a routine. Lily never got past an internship with me so I have her to deal with full-time... No rest!

But anyway - on to the point... Last night the power went out. Now we have weathered an earthquake, hurricane and tropical storm, but 65 and clear skies was a disruption to the grid... [Thanks BGE]. Mom cracked open the windows, dad set the alarm on his cell phone and everyone drifted off to sleep...

until 2:00 a.m. That's when the alarm must have realized the power went out. [Beep Beep] Now mind you, I immediately started telling mom [barking] that the house would have been cleaned out by now if this were a robbery and not just a power outage [bark, bark, bark]. I could be in the reckless hands of some common criminal [BARK, BARK, BARK]... Mom jumped up, punched some buttons and the Beep, Beep went away...

[15 minutes later]
Alarm: Beep, Beep.
Me: RUFF!!!
Lily: Yip! [doesn't even bark like a real dog... such a baby]

[60 seconds later]
Alarm: Beep, Beep
Me: RUFF!!
Lily: Yip

[60 seconds later]
Alarm: Beep, Beep
Me: RUFF!!! I mean it!!! RUFF
Dad: Tuffy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quit it!

And continue until 5:00 a.m. this morning when the power came back on...

What a disastrous night ... I don't think I have ever been happier to see mom and dad [finally] drag their butts out of bed and leave me to get some sleep... They took their time too, a bit inconsiderate if you ask me... I was up all night for heaven's sake... But now, all is right with the world...

If 5 o'clock p.m. never comes, it will be too soon... I am sure mom and dad are sleeping at that place they go to during the day...

Cute Fur Kid, Needs Home with Good Humans

2011-02-18T09:10:00.000-08:00

Wednesday was interesting... I wake up with just one annoying little sister, and before I knew it, there was another four-legged headache in the house!

Fortunately my Mama called my Aunt Tiffaney, and soon enough, things were back to normal...

I started to feel bad though b/c Mama said the little doggie didn't have a Mommy and Daddy, and that just doesn't seem fair, does it? And if that wasn't bad enough, they found her Mommy and Daddy and they didn't want her back!!! Poor kid... So now my Mama and Aunt Tiff are trying to find her some new humans... [Not to mention I am on my best behavior these days... who knew that your Mommy and Daddy could get tired of you?!?!??!?!] So if you know anybody who deserves a good doggie, you should meet Callie... My mama made up this little flyer all about her...

New Year's Resolution...

2011-01-02T10:18:00.000-08:00

Blog more... not less... It has been just a pair of months shy of a year since you last heard from me... Lily is still my little sister [sigh....] and I am still trying to convince my mom and dad that a party of three on Curley Street would make much more sense... But after 4 years, the little fur ball is growing on me [grown....] Anyway - my Special Grandma and Grandpa gave my mommy a video camera for Christmas! And PeePaw and Grandma gave her a great digital photo frame so [finally!!!!!!] my mommy is ready to get back in gear in 2011 and re-dedicate herself to our blog... So - here you go!

I feel like I am always explaining this to humans..kibble may "look" all innocent, but puppies know the read deal... you have to kill it BEFORE you consume it... and "killing" kibble is an art form I have mastered in my 7.5 years of existence... Don't believe that I am the best kibble slayer out there??? Judge for yourself!!!

Snow My!

2010-02-10T16:28:00.000-08:00

We have had 4 feet of snow in 5 days....

Mama hasn't been to work since last Thursday... Daddy has only been to work one day since then... Most importantly, Lily and I are trying to stay warm!!!!!

Daddy, Uncle Heath and some other men from the block had to shovel out the entire street! It has been crazy!

Today the wind has been so loud Lily has been wandering around with her tail down sniffing and staring... At one point - she slipped into the coat closet and curled up in a basket filled with mama's handbags!! Mama and Daddy finally coaxed her out and got her to fall asleep... After a full day of pacing she needed it... Personally, after a full day of Lily getting all the attention, and having to fight for my own attention, I needed a snooze too!!!

I'm Half the Man I Used to Be...

2010-01-28T16:03:00.000-08:00

'Haircut Thursday' and boy, oh boy did I need it!!! I had an appointment with my 'stylist' Linda at Dogma and she really did an outstanding job! I've never felt so alive! I am like a sporty new race car! And we are talking Limited Edition! Fast! Aerodynamic! If I knew how to type the sound of a "cat call whistle" that would sum it up beautifully!!!

Oh... and Lily got a haircut too...

But the VERY best part... the post-cut Chicken Strip!!! Mmmmmmmm... Delicious!!!!!

Lazy Weekends...

2010-01-24T10:16:00.000-08:00

Lily and I are FINALLY getting haircuts on Thursday... I feel like a furry puppy wearing a furry coat!!! Anyway - I can update you on November, December and January in one post... we have done a lot of snoozing... some trips north for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but mostly just snoozing and trying to stay warm...

I just don't have a thing to play with...

2009-10-11T04:10:00.000-07:00

Spent a great Saturday night with my Mama watching T.V. and snoozing... I spent more time trying to find something to play with than actually playing... I stand in front of my toy box and there just isn't a damn thing to play with... Mama said she sometimes feels that way when she tries to get ready for work in the morning... I don't know what that means...

Selecting just the right lovie to play with is actually a very complicated process... I choose some lovies when I am in the mood to shred and spread fuzz all over the carpet... I like to do this right after Mama vacuums... Some lovies are good for chewing and cleaning my teeth... And then others are good for just holding... I like to do that a lot... So of all the lovies in my toy box I picked this little pink bone...

As exhausting as the selection process is, even MORE difficult is keeping that precious lovie!! See, Lily doesn't like to pick a lovie... she likes to wait until I pick one then wait patiently until I let my guard down and she steals it...

This was a new move... the over the shoulder/eyes in the back of my head toy stalking...

Hey!!!!!!!!!!!!! How did she do that?!?! Sheesh, take two seconds to lick your nose and it's bye-bye lovie... She gets me every time!!!!! Damn you Lily Luv!!!!!

D-E-R-E-L-I-C-T...

2009-09-08T17:24:00.000-07:00

... that is what I've been... Derelict with a capital D!!!! It is September... Labor Day has come and gone and not a single post since June... What an embarassment! All I can say is - "I have been busy people!!!!" Busy going on vacation, taking my Mama and Daddy for walks, busy taking road trips to Special Grandma and Grandpa's, busy playing with Ruby at Grandma and PeePaw's house... Too much for a pair of tiny paws to type... so rather than try to catch up... Just some major highlights here...

Just to confirm I was aptly name - I got into a real throw down with my uncle Tucker... Mama may call me tenderheart - but I know when "the you know what" is about to hit the fan and how to take care of me!!!

But most importantly - Mama and Special Grandma know how to take care of me... Just a note - Daddy had to have an ice pack on his eye a couple days ago and he couldn't handle it for more than a few minutes!!!!! I gutted it out for 45 minutes straight!!! Pretty Tuff, huh??

My Rx for recovery - lots and lots of snoozes and intense sunbeam therapy!!!! Lily and Mama subscribe to Dr. Tuffy's advice as well...

Last but not least - we spent Saturday with a new kid on the block... Olive just picked Aunt Julie to be her Mama... She is pretty cool and both Lily and I were happy to host a party in her honor... Sure - Mama did a lot of the work - but when you get down to brass tacks - the guests of honor were standing on all fours!!!

Olive and I chilling before the guests arrive...

Lily in her party dress...

It's tuff to be the only boy at a puppy party... takes a pretty secure dude...

The Takedown!!

2009-06-08T17:17:00.000-07:00

When I was just under 2 pounds [roughly a quarter of my current fighting weight] Grandma bought me a froggy who was twice my size... Froggy and I have had many adventures in our nearly six year friendship... He lost an eye in the Summer of 2007... His ribbit isn't quite as robust, but he is still a worthy opponent when it comes to puppy games!!

Sometimes Froggy is the best shoulder to snooze on... Sometimes, he is my fierce competitor and sometimes, he is the perfect combination of the two! Like he was this weekend! We fought ferociously! I would pin him and then somehow he battled back and got the better of me... In the end though - I always get the takedown.

And there is nothing better than a post-takedown snuggle to remind him who ALWAYS wins!!!

Lily luvs Labels...

2009-05-25T06:46:00.000-07:00

Grandma and Grandpa came to visit this weekend and we had lots and lots of fun! Even though it was Grandma's birthday we were celebrating, she brought mama a present! I don't know why girls get so excited about purses, but even Lily was giddy with the new bag!

Mama can try to put her in that cheap doggie bag from Petsmart - but Lily wants nothing of it... Put her in a Kenneth Cole and the girl would have been content to sit in there all day! Sooooo Lily...

Unfortunately the weekend went too fast and Grandma and Grandpa were gone before I knew it... I am a sad puppy missing Grandma's pats and pets... sniff sniff... It's enough to make a sensitive boy like me cry...

Fortunately - Daddy was happy to comfort me with a snuggle and a snooze...

Summer Babes!

2009-04-27T15:39:00.001-07:00

Lily and I got some GREAT haircuts -- just in time for the first signs of summer! Our favorite groomer Linda at Dogma gave us great cuts and lots of love! I [of course] was waiting for the post-grooming-photo shoot and was ready for my close up...

Lily doesn't cooperate so much when mama is ready for some doggie glamour shots...
Particularly when she is trying to work in a prop... I mean - come on - drop the moo chew for two seconds!!!

Sigh... Some of us are born with it... some *try* to learn and some just never get it... Poor Lily Luv.... It may be her middle name but she doesn't know how to make love to the camera like moi...

Fun Days aren't just on Sundays!

2009-04-05T09:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was GREAT! Mama and Daddy spent almost the entire day at home with us! The windows were open and the sun was shining! After spending the morning reading and snuggling [they were reading, Lily and I were snuggling] we all went for a long walk down to the Harbor! The wind was really blowing and Lily's leash sometimes seemed more like a teather on a balloon than a lead!!!! We went down on one of the landings for a bit - but I wasn't so keen on the swaying - so we got back on the promenade and spent some time running!

Even puppies dread the Monday routine...

2009-03-30T11:12:00.000-07:00

Mama was home sick today - which does throw me a bit of curve ball... I usually have so much sleeping, yawning, stretching to catch up on after a busy weekend - having her here leaves me feeling pressured to get it all in... Anyway - Lily and I both tried to remain undistracted... It isn't easy - but hey, that is the life of a puppy...

Girls... I just don't get them...

2009-03-02T14:49:00.000-08:00

I love my mama - I mean I *REALLY* love my mama... She showers me with attention, she praises EVERYTHING I do and she makes me smile in my puppy heart... BUT she is a girl and that means she sometimes gets so worked up about stuff that daddy and I just don't understand... Lily is just like mama in that way... things that wouldn't even phase me are soooooo important to girls! For example, mama likes to keep Lily and I in puppy cuts... Even though she tells me I am her "big boy", I am still her little Tuffybear so I get a puppy cut... But Lily's puppy cut doesn't look the same as mine... and now mama keeps saying things like "growing out Lily's bangs" and "hairdo" and "baby girl barrettes"... All I know is - if being a boy means I don't have to wear ribbons in my hair - then thank heavens for little BOYS!!!!

Two cute things falling asleep

2009-02-21T06:54:00.000-08:00

It may look like just ONE cute thing falling asleep - but stick around for the surprise ending!

Live, from Curley Street... It's Kermit the Frog!!

2009-02-20T16:56:00.000-08:00

So Mama and Daddy were doing some organizing and early spring cleaning and came across a lovie that they got before Lily was... er... "delivered"... Seems Lily got so many presents at her 'Puppy Shower' that Mama and Daddy thought it made sense to put some of the loot away... Well - they apparently forgot about the little frog that Daddy picked out for Lily until pretty recently... I say "for Lily" but know that Daddy grabbed this little green fellow because he knows mama loves froggies... but I digress...

Lily and I both have a habit of picking a lovie and "loving it" until the stuffing is gone [and then some]... Well, Kermit has been heavy in the rotation of late for me... which means Lily has spent the better part of her 2-3 waking hours trying to snatch him! I have a pretty effective resistance... I like to call it the snug and cover...

The key is to never let Kermie out of sight...

But even my best defense is sometimes overmatched... Lily is not a quitter... and she is very crafty... Daddy calls Mama 'Sly Boots', I think Lily Luv must get this quality from Mama... She is so slick she sneaks into my bed and before I know it she is trying to steal my lovie!!!!

Waiting to Inhale...

2009-01-22T17:16:00.001-08:00

Mama and Daddy have this funny habit of making Lily and I go through our [trained] puppy motions of sitting and waiting [patiently] for our treats... We oblige [a term inherited from our our English ancestorers - they "oblige"] and do what Mama and Daddy say... but in our puppy hearts... we get FRUSTRATED!!! All that being said... here we are... waiting to INHALE!!!!!!!!!!!

She's ELECTRIC! Lily Lily Lily!!!!

2009-01-17T14:37:00.001-08:00

So I have already voiced my complaints about the new sofa based solely on the pillow arrangement - but Lily has her own beef with it... Seems that sofa is a real conduit for some mad static! Lily can't even sit on the sofa without snap, crackle and popping! Mama and Daddy can't stop giggling... I have a good laugh about it too, UNTIL that little sister of mine comes over and "grounds" herself by shocking ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It would appear that every day between now and let's say MARCH is going to be a bad hair day for Lily!!!

Happy Birthdays!!!!!!

2009-01-06T16:00:00.000-08:00

That's not a typo... I apologize for being remiss in my postings, but it has been busy!!! Mama had a birthday, Lily had a birthday, the big guy in the sky had a birthday, and now today Aunt Chrissy has a birthday!!! WHEW!!!!!!!!!!!

Who is Aunt Chrissy?? Just one of mama's best-est friends!!! Mama loves Aunt Chrissy the way I cherish my pink pig lovie... then again, mama hasn't scratched out her eyes, torn a hole in Aunt Chrissy's side or ripped out her squeaker, so maybe she loves her just a little less...

But anyway... Lily and I got to see Aunt Chrissy last week and she brought Haley and Heather to play with us! It was a lot of fun!!!! But personally, my favorite part was when Mama opened her birthday present from Aunt Chrissy... Two TINY doggie sweaters... I know what you are thinking, why is Tuffy excited to see a doggie sweater? He hates them!!! Well, because I have eagle eyes when it comes to size and those sweaters were made for little Lily!!!!!

I also know what ELSE you are thinking... no gift receipt?? Funny thing... it got "lost"... Hee Hee Hee... So Happy Birthday Aunt Chrissy! We love you bunches and miss you spending every weekend with Mama!!!!!

The other big "birthday" we celebrated was Christmas!!!! We went home to see the Grandmas, Pee Paw, Grandpa, Aunt Michelle, Aunt Josie, Uncle Cody, Thomas, Sami, Chloe, Bub... It was a blur, but lots of fun! Here are "Christmas" pics of us with the tree at our house.... Mama was so sad to take it down this weekend...

Long post, I know - but I have a lot to fill you in on! Last thing - I promise!!!!

Daddy got Mama the BEST Christmas present ever... I couldn't be more delighted if I got it for her myself! I am actually sleeping better at night knowing I am undeniably the top dog on Curley Street! I mean - who else has been imortalized on canvas in an oil painting!!!! Only Tuffy!!!!

Christmas Clean-up!!!

2008-12-22T16:38:00.000-08:00

Mama, Daddy, Lily and I are heading north on Christmas Eve [didn't we just see Tucker????] and Mama thought it was REALLY important that Lily and I be scrubbed behind the ears before we hit the road... To make it even worse, Mama also thought it would be [and I quote] "great" to get some pics for the blog... sigh... So here we are in our, dripping wet glory...

I had my "holiday scrub down" on Sunday... Lily was all washed up tonight...

The only thing "fun" about bath time is watching Lily go bananas until she is dry and smells like herself again... I just bark and bark and bark until she settles down...

When sofas attack!!!!

2008-12-15T15:09:00.000-08:00

Mama, Lily and I were snugging on the sofa this weekend and doing our best to stay close and keep cozy... A lot of times, Lily will get under the covers or try to curl up in Mama's sweatshirt or fleece, but I have a whole new approach... I had no idea how comfy it is BEHIND the cushions!!!

After a while I started to feel a little bit restricted though... But I am not ruling out a repeat!

Cousin Chloe - ROCK STAR!!!!!

2008-12-03T17:25:00.000-08:00

While visiting Aunt Josie, Mama and Daddy were "treated" to a performance by our cousin Chloe on her sweet drum set. They were going crazy and just loved it - but when you are pups with high performance hearing, it isn't as exciting... it is down right scary!!!! Anyway - I trust Mama and Daddy's taste, so I am going to post one of her performances here...

Her brother Bub [A.K.A. cousin Charlie] is honing his electric guitar skills... We are hoping to have something to post after Christmas!

Speaking of guitars, when are they going to come out with guitar hero for fans with paws??? Thomas and Sami wouldn't stand a chance!! We have all day every day to practice!!!!! Will need to revise those Santa Paws Lists... Hmmmm...

Our trip to the North Country!!

2008-12-03T16:01:00.000-08:00

So last week was Thanksgiving... Lily and I decided we would take time off from posting to enjoy the holiday festivities! But just because we weren't blogging, doesn't mean we weren't getting some great material! After driving 4 hours north to where the Grandma's, Grandpa and PeePaw live, we met up again with our "Uncle" Tucker... That is kinda weird for me - I am older than Tucker but he is bigger than me!!! Lily is younger and smaller, so she doesn't think there is anything funny about calling him "Uncle Tuck"... Anyway - Tucker gets to do some cool "big boy" stuff... Like drink beer with Grandpa!!!!

I think he liked it!!!

We just love being at Grandma's house... We get to eat Tucker's food - Lily actually eats it right out of his dish - she is crazy!!!! We go outside A LOT and Grandma let's me curl up in her lap and sleep while she does her puzzles every morning... Grandma also let's Lily give her LOTS of kisses... That makes her happy in her puppy heart!!

PUPnos"tica`tor\, noun

2008-11-22T16:03:00.000-08:00

(noun) A doggie who makes predictions of the future (usually on the basis of special knowledge)...

Mama and Daddy have been picking four games against the spread on Sundays for years... And most Sundays they are lucky to go 2-2... I have just sat back and watched... Neither bothered to ask me how I was at picking games... Well, after five years of being ignored, Mama finally got "crazy" and asked me who I thought would cover... and so it began - I am now Mama's go to prognosticator... The first week I helped her she went 3-1. She should have gone 4-0, but she changed one of MY picks at the last minute... sigh. The second week we went 4-0 [she is a quick learner - listen to the pup]... Unfortunately, last week, it was so cold on Sunday morning, Mama had me all wrapped up in a fleece on her lap while we were picking... I was so cozy and comfy I lost my focus - only a 2-2... Paws crossed my picks are on point this week... I love being better at something than Lily...

Speaking of Lily - it is officially "sweater weather"... I refuse to show when I am cold - I would rather be cold that sport a sweater!!!!!!! But Lily is so little, she can't help but shiver when she gets a chill... Here are some shameless Lily sweather shots...

When it rains, we snore...

2008-11-16T05:02:00.000-08:00

We successfully snugged Daddy into staying in last night! It was raining and he was tired from playing football all day - so we capitalized on the opportunity and moved in for the "kill"...

One of my good pals always looks out for me when I am snoozing... You know - my eyes and ears for "sneak attacks" when I am vulnerable... Some people have a guardian angel... I have a guardian "devil baby"...

The Making of a Photo Shoot...

2008-11-14T14:11:00.000-08:00

So Mama's sister Aunt Michelle came in this weekend and brought Cody [we call him Uncle Cody]... The Giants had a big game against the Eagles [which they won!!!] and Uncle Cody had a birthday - so there was a lot of celebrating!!!! Anyway - you see these great pictures of Lily and I all the time...

but you have NO idea how hard it is to get Lily to sit still long enough for a picture... Here is a little window into "Life with Lily" A.K.A. "Sharing the Scene with a Scene Stealer"... Sigh...

Listen all you all this is Sabotage!!!!

2008-11-04T17:33:00.000-08:00

The signs were everywhere... After a long day of work and hitting the gym, Mama and Daddy went upstairs to change - but instead of coming downstairs in their pj pants and big sweatshirts, Mama was wearing jeans and shoes and earrings!!! It doesn't take a rocket scientist to solve this riddle... Mama and Daddy were going out for Monday night football!!!! The Giants weren't playing - it was so unexpected!!!! Anyway, Lily and I got together and "strategerized" and came up with a campaign for staying in... We decided we would stage a "Sit In" on Election Day Eve... Lucky for us - Mama laid out her vest and Daddy's fleece a few minutes before they were going to head out the door... Lily and I sprung to action and took our protest to a whole new level... They surely wouldn't disrupt sleeping puppies to satisfy their selfish love for football!!!!

Mama listened carefully to her constituents and came home at half-time

Darlin' don't you go and cut that hair...

2008-11-04T17:08:00.000-08:00

We visited our good friend Linda at Dogma last week and got great new hair cuts!!! Mama and Daddy always say I look like a Baby Deer when I come home and for a while they call me Rudolph... That is until they fluff up my face fur and make me look like a baby lion!!!

Lily's fur is always still long... It must be a girl thing... I can always tell when Daddy gets a haircut, but Mama always looks the same to me!!!! Anyway - here are some pics!

Up Close and Personal with Lily Luv...

2008-10-26T07:54:00.000-07:00

This video captures Lily's "Luving" personality!!! She is the most affectionate puppy I have ever seen... She kisses everyone and everything that stands still long enough! No matter how bad I might feel - this little ball of fur and love makes everything better!!!! Note: Lily loves the area rug in the library... as soon as we open the door she races in there and throws herself on the floor and rolls around endlessly - that action coupled with her upcoming grooming explains the "crazy hair"!!!!

Mama's homework has gone to the dogs...

2008-10-13T13:49:00.001-07:00

Two Saturdays in a row we have been delighted to have Mama home with us all day, but we are beginning to suspect this isn't just because she loves us sooooooooo much... Two sunny, beautiful Saturdays and mama is reading books, taking notes and doing A LOT of typing... Something about homework and grad school... Anyway - being the great puppies that we are, Lily and I decided to pitch in and help to free her up to play with us some more!!!!

Even though mama said this wasn't a group project - Lily and I got together to compare notes...

Graduate school is tough work... I don't know how these humans do it... I like my "job" much better...

The Name Game...

2008-10-06T18:42:00.000-07:00

Blogs surely aren't meant to be so formal! Time to let our hair down and share some of our favorite nicknames for the pups... Tuff has seniority - so we will start there first!!!

Tuffah

Tuffskins

Tuffy Boy

Beleagured Boy

Wookie

Chaka

Woof Woof

Mistah

And then there is Lily Luv... While that is her AKC registered name, I must admit that we probably call her by the first name on this list far more often! Many more nicknames to come in time! Tuff has almost 3 years on this little lady!!!!

Baby Girl [A.K.A. Baby G]

Silly Lily

Peanut

Kissy Fur

Lovie

Marion the Barbarian [this is Daddy's favorite... Lily's fur flies like our own personal, puppy running back like Marion Barber]

Saturday Night on Curley Street

2008-10-04T19:03:00.000-07:00

It is officially Fall... Mama and Daddy don't have to turn on the air conditioner or the heat... If we feel a little chilled - we just snuggle! So rather than go out like Mama usually does with Daddy on Saturday night - she decided to spend her Saturday night "puppy-style" and snooze on the sofa with Tuffy and I... If only we were this effective Monday through Friday... As soon as the alarm goes off we give 110% to snuggle them right back to sleep!!!

Don't be fooled... She looks like she is sleeping - but just moments later she took this self-portrait of us... Can you tell where I end and Tuffy begins???

A Shout Out to PeePaw!!!

2008-10-03T14:11:00.000-07:00

Today is a special day!! PeePaw [a.k.a. Mama's Daddy] has a birthday today! PeePaw is a puppy man... He has a beagle named Ruby who is pretty funny - but I know we hold a special place in PeePaw's heart... I don't understand what it means - but Mama says that PeePaw giggles when he sees us and that makes Mama smile... And since we love to see our mama happy - we don't care what it means to giggle as long as PeePaw does it!!!

We wish we were there to make you giggle tonight PeePaw!! Wuv you... Woof Woof!!!! Hope you got that sunbeam we sent you!!! We couldn't resist and got one for ourselves!!!

Barks & Blogs (to steal a great line from Oyster)...

2008-10-01T18:20:00.000-07:00

I thought it would make sense to get some shots of us in "action" creating our blog! Maybe it is a sign of my maturity - maybe it is a boy thing - but I approach this blog more seriously than Lily.... I do some brainstorming, then do a storyboard, set up a photo shoot...

BAM - new blog entry!!!

Lily on the other hand is a little more avant garde... a tempermental and unpredictable "artist"... Sometimes she wants to be consulted on every pic and post... Sometimes she is completely disinterested and can't be bothered...

Think I am being dramatic?? You be the judge!!!!

Martha loves "Tuff Luv"???

2008-09-18T19:10:00.000-07:00

Martha Stewart is having a contest to find the best blogs... We have got to be a contender - right???

http://www.themarthablog.com/2008/09/how-to-create-your-own-blog-let-us-show-you.html

Completely gratuitous...

2008-09-16T15:36:00.001-07:00

Just some doggie "glamour shots" for your viewing pleasure...

Interior Decorating...

2008-09-16T15:19:00.000-07:00

Mom and Dad got a new sofa a few weeks ago... Lily rolls with change like a pro - but I am more suspect and need some time to review the situation before I adjust... Anyway - I really liked the old sofa... particularly the pillow placement... this has nothing to do with style and everything to do with distance... THIS is how we used to snooze on the old sofa... [Be sure to note Lily's "pillow face"...]

Unfortunately, the new sofa and pillow arrangement offers absolutely no buffer zone! I can't believe that mom and dad didn't consult me before making this purchase!!! I just don't understand humans...

Are you ready for some football!!!

2008-09-14T08:52:00.001-07:00

Not the season opener - but it is the first football Sunday!!! I think it is has been made pretty clear - Tuff is NOT a fan of clothes - Lily could take them or leave them - but on game day - you do what you have to do to show your Big Blue spirit!!!

And the spirit doesn't end there... there is a lot of Giants "luv" on Curley Street!!!

Big Blue Sky in support of the Big Blue Wrecking Crew!!!! E-L-I ELI!!!!!!!!! Go Giants!!!

I am ready for my close up Mama!!

2008-09-06T14:15:00.000-07:00

Hurrican Hanna made today a rainy, quiet Saturday... So I decided to take some pics of the pups while M worked on the computer... [UPDATE: we are back in business!! Technical problems solved - so I can post with abandon again!!!] But back to the pics... I actually got some GREAT shots!!! Here is my sweet Tuff enjoying the first sunbeam after the rain ended...

Not to be out done - here is Lily Luv in her furry, fabulous glory!!! I have to use the shutter setting usually reserved for action shots... The icon on the camera is literally a stick figure of a sprinter!!!! Lily moves so quick I have countless pics of the side of her head if I don't use this setting... I have to sacrifice some light in the pics - but it is worth it!!!!

Technical Difficulties

2008-09-04T13:35:00.001-07:00

We are having some issues with our laptop - which has prevented me from posting... I have some great new pics of the pups that I am really looking forward to getting up on the blog!

Ace and Sleve [A.K.A. Mom and Dad] are coming in for the weekend and may bring Tucker!!!
This isn't the best pic of Sir Tuck- but my resources are limited right now!!! Tuck is a silly, sweet "puppy" and makes the best monkey sounds when he wants some attention... He will be 3 years old on New Years Eve... The best thing about a Tucker visit is that Lily turns into a shy little girl... Our always confident, always one-step-ahead-of-her-big-brother-little-girl lets Tuck rule the roost... Unlike running over or through Tuffy, Tucker gets a VERY wide bearth!!! I will try to get some video!!!

A little history...

2008-08-29T16:13:00.000-07:00

TuffyBoy was born on April Fool's Day in 2003... He was 3 months old and just 1 1/2 lbs when we brought him home... [Shorter than a Moosehead bottle!!!!]

He isn't fearless like his sister - but you wouldn't know that if you saw the way he barks at men, women, children, dogs, cats, daddy practicing his golf swing, you get the idea...

Lily Luv was born on Christmas Eve in 2006. Her doggie mama, Arwen, and doggie daddy, Sparky, are sweet, and loveable - but NO ONE can compare to Lily's very first mama and daddy, Lynda and Denny [the breeders]! They are the kindest most wonderful people! We brought Lily home in February 2007 when she was about 12 weeks old and only 1 lb 1 oz! Such a peanut!!! Her personality has always been much bigger than the pup - even from day one!!!

Running errands...

2008-08-29T08:24:00.000-07:00

So much to do today - hardly feels like a day off... I have a laundry list of toys that I have been neglecting and about a dozen squeakers to extract... There are a pair of chewies that need some attention too... It is so tough to chew one when you are hoarding Lily's at the same time... I need to work on my technique. So happy it is a long weekend.

Spent some time looking at some old pics and videos for this new blog...I am convinced mom is hoping we become some kind of internet sensation so she can quit her job - a dog's work is never done. Anyway - here is a classic example of the shenanigans that I have to put up with now that I have a little sister...

B. L. [Before Lily]

2008-08-28T12:02:00.000-07:00

Those were the days... Just me, my mama, my daddy and all the toys a boy could dream of... Every kib and treat was just for me and I was the first thing mom thought about in the morning, and the last at night... Sigh... Then came Lily... At first things weren't so bad... she couldn't get up on the sofa - so I still had a lot of alone time with Mama...

I should have known when she was housebroken in a week she would be the annoying, over-achiever type... The way she struts around in sweaters with ribbons in her hair... [Clothes are my cryptonite... If I am sporting a sweatshirt, then chances are something just went down and mom is teaching me a lesson... ] Anyway - I have a pretty good story about a run in with a German Shepherd that really gets people going - so I bring that up whenever she starts stealing the show...

Lily Luv has a secret boyfriend!!!

2008-08-28T11:43:00.000-07:00

I was surfing the net while mom and dad were at work and found the boy of my dreams... He mountain bikes, he runs trails, he even has his own boat! Can you get any cooler?? His name is Oyster, and even though we haven't met yet - I call him my boyfriend. I think he is dreamy...

I was going to start my own Oyster fan club - but he seems so sophisticated and mature - starting my own blog seemed like the way to catch his eye... I know he is a working man so maybe he doesn't have time for a relationship??? My paws are crossed that he isn't off the market and likes his girls petite like me!!! Check out his blog and tell me what you think? http://oysterblogsandbarks.blogspot.com/