How I spent my summer vacation...

and the rest of fall... and my winter vacation...

When mama got a video camera for Christmas from Special Grandma, I was sure my blog would have a resurgence... didn't happen... Then Daddy got her an iPad!!!! Again, my creative outlet was squashed... Here's hoping one of these lights a fire under her...

She is trying to figure out Instagram today... which means my plans for barking at everything that walks by our wide open windows [it is actually not 110 degrees and humid today in Baltimore] are being interrupted by tongue clicks, and fingers snaps and orders ["Tuffy! Tuffy Bear look at Mama!! Tuffskinssssssss"]...

But I am willing to suck it up if it means I get my voice back... Here's hoping... Another post about Lily [the drama queen] forthcoming...

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

... 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...

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...

... 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!

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...

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!

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

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...

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!

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...

'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...

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...

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...

... 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!!

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...

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...