I Could Be a Star

I was hanging out with my people today, and suddenly we all saw something unbelieveable on the TV. Two new movies are coming out soon and both star dogs that look exactly like ME! First Marley, and now this! Here are the two movies: The Dog Who Saved Christmas and The Dog Named Christmas. The picture on the right is from The Dog Named Christmas.

I really need to start looking for an agent. If those dogs can make it big, surely I can, too! I've got the looks. I've got the attitude. I've got two people at my beck and call to take care of the details.

Watch out world, here I come! Here's a little inspiration for any screenplay writers out there looking for a a new star. If this picture doesn't say Christmas, I don't know what does.

Swim of a Clete

This weekend we did one of my favorite activities - we went swimming! I love the water. It's like I was born to swim! We went to the Independence Grove People Exercise Area and it really works to wear my people out so they are more relaxed for the rest of the day. Well, I could tell you more but I hear that a picture is worth 1000 words...so I figure a video would tell you the whole story!

Play With Mii!

You won't believe this. Just now, I was taking a well-deserved nap (these people need a lot of attention on the weekends) and when I woke up I saw something very disturbing. Something that I can hardly describe.

I opened my eyes to find my people playing a game on the big TV, which isn't unusual. What was unusual was the fact that the game they were playing was Frisbee Fetch! With a fake dog!

The betrayal.

I would blog more, but I'm off to find a game where I can pretend I have different owners. Hmph.

Snacks, Drugs, and Rock & Roll

I had the best weekend, ever! We made the most of the longest day of the year. I finally got my visit to Bentley's Corner Barkery and the nice people there even gave me some delicious frozen yogurt. I love summer!!

There has been a new development in my life, however. Over the last few weeks, something strange has been happening to me. I'm living my usual happy-go-lucky life, when all of the sudden I get the shakes and then I black out! After I wake up, my people look worried (although they try to hide it) and it takes awhile before I'm feeling up for my next round of fetch. 15-20 minutes at least, I'd say. An eternity!

I figured it was bad doggie dreams or something until the morning Stacy and Ryann forgot to feed me. I couldn't believe it! I begged. I pleaded. Nothing. I've never seen them this strict!

I thought things were looking up when they asked me if I wanted to go for a car ride. You can imagine my disappointment when we got out of the car at the White Coat Hotel. Last time I checked in here, I got new knees. This did not look good.

We went inside and soon we had a room to ourselves while we waited for the White Coats. When they arrived, they gave me lots of attention and ran me through a bunch of tests. It's hard to tell if I passed or not, but at least I didn't have to spend the night at the White Coat Hotel. That is not my type of vacation, if you know what I mean.

So, I get a little extra something at dinnertime now. I have no idea what it is, but it tastes like chicken. On my meager diet, I'll take what I can get.

This new food hasn't slowed me down any. Just last night I decided to strut my musical talent while Stacy was practicing his drums. We're not too bad, although a few more lessons wouldn't hurt Stacy any. We're quite the musical family! (I still think I should get to be in parade, too. Hmph. Maybe next year.)

Timing Is Everything

Even though it may seem like I lead a pretty busy life, in reality my schedule stays pretty open. The sun comes up, I go for a walk, eat breakfast, and then take a nap. Later in the afternoon, I go for a walk, eat dinner, and then sleep some more. Needless to say, I could use some excitement and right now my humans are holding me back.

First, they thought I wouldn't notice that I was invited, via email, to be in a local 4th of July parade with Critter Nannies! So rude for them to not tell me since the Critter Nannies people are my friends. They never come visit Stacy and Ryann - they come visit me! We walk, we talk. It's nice.

But, did they bother to even tell me about my own invitation be in a parade? Noooo. So, what choice did I have but to read through the rest of their email and it seems like they are already in another parade! Urgh. That would explain the reappearance of the shiny instruments. Terrific. 5 more of my 15 minutes of fame down the drain.

Then, was it too much to ask for some fun on a beautiful Sunday afternoon? All day long they kept saying we would do something fun after we got our work done. I don't know about them, but my work was done before noon. I slobbered my people with love, I chewed up some toys, the usual stuff.

So, hours and hours later, we finally got in the car to go to one of my favorite places: Bentley's Corner Barkery! I spent the entire car ride deciding which treat I would choose from the display case and then, when we finally arrived, disaster struck.

They were closed.



Thanks a lot, people! You just couldn't wait to clean the kitchen until tonight, could you? Come, on!

I seriously need to learn how to tell time.

The Graduate

During the last few weeks, I have been studying hard to pass my first class at the Family Dog Center. School there is loads of fun. I see lots of other dogs and people and everyone seems to like me, even if Stacy and Ryann think I am a bit too talkative in class.

Nevertheless, I graduated! Here's Stacy and I right after I received my diploma. I'm thrilled with my scholarly accomplishments, but I am not sure why Stacy looks so surprised. I always get a lot of attention in class. Probably because I'm never shy about sharing my wisdom with the young pups in my class. Don't hide your light under a bushel, I say.

But what next? In this economy, finding employment as a new grad will be tough. I may have to do a lot of searching to find just the right job for me.


Still - I think I have options. I could be a....

Synchronized Swimmer


Landscape Architect
(I am really good at lawn mowing and fertilizing.)

Home Furnishings Quality Control Officer
(I have a natural aptitude for this.)

And those are just a few of my choices! Good thing I have some time before I need to make a decision. I heard that Grandpa Murphy used to say, "Stay in school as long as you can because you'll have the rest of your life to work." Sounds like a good plan. Besides - I'm happy with my current role in our household:

Man's Best Friend

Park It, Doggie

Stacy and Ryann are stressed out. I've been noticing the signs for sometime now. I have had more time on my paws than usual and when they are home they are seldom very far from their computers.

Enough already! They needed to do some serious de-stressing so I convinced them that we needed to take an outing to somewhere new. Sure, we go shopping. We go to the coffee shop. We've even been to the forest preserve, but there I need to stick close to them so they don't get lost.

So, I finally convinced them to go to a park just for stressed out canine caretakers! Let me just say, I think it did them some good. Here's why:

1. They can walk wherever they want, even without me minding them.

2. They can save money because I love to find abandoned tennis balls all throughout the park!


3. They don't need to worry about me getting too hot, because I can take a dip while they relax along the water.

All in all, we had a wonderful time this weekend visiting two different local dog parks! We all are more relaxed now, even me.