Resolutions

Hi friends!

Today is the last day of the year. Many humans are making lists of "resolutions." A resolution is a fancy word that means things you want to change about yourself. I don't have many resolutions because I'm pretty much the best puppy dog I know. I have come up with a list to share:

1) Nap more. I simply didn't do enough this year.

2) Eat more treats. Although, that one rests solely on my people GIVING me treats. Maybe that should be their resolution.

3) Be more excited to go on walks.

The best part of my resolutions are I know I can keep them unlike all the humans trying to lose weight or exercise. That is how resolutions should be.

Also, there's some exciting news in the family. I have a new aunt! My grandma and grandpaw (the ones in TN) adopted her just yesterday. Her name is Emma. I don't know if I like her yet or not since we haven't met, but as long as she's not The Thing, I think we'll get along. I'm just not too happy about having to share another grandma. Mom says I'm still their favorite granddog though, so that will get me lots of treats. Check off resolution #2!

Christmas Cards

Hi friends!

This year, my mom signed me up for a Christmas card exchange.  She knew several of my Blogville friends would participate and it sounded like fun. Whoo doggies did I get a lot of cards!

Here's one from one of my faves, Benny and Lily

And from my favorite walking buddy, Molly

And from my pal, Oskar (Oskar's mom person also blogs here)

The final card count for me was 41 (not including the many e-cards I received). I even got one all the way from the Philippines! I've never been there, but Mom says it's far away. And we would have to cross an ocean, which would be a problem since I don't swim or like water.

The best part of Christmas cards is that my people only got 23! BOL! We had a lot more around the house, but Mom and Dad both got lots of cards from people at their work places, so those didn't count either.

I'm really glad to have so many pals around the country and around the world take the time to send me cards. Of course, I (hopefully) sent everyone on the list a card, too. I had to send e-cards to most of my pals overseas because Mom said postage was breaking us. Um, Mom, I'm still one whole Mister, so I don't think we're broken. People are weird.

On one of the trips to the mailbox, I had a very special package from my Twitter pal, Tiny. His family lives in Louisiana, so the snow card made my mom giggle a little. Maybe I should send him some of our snow. Anyway, I'm also very thankful for my frame and treats and can't wait for Mom to print a picture for the frame!

Mom has started taking down all of the Christmas decorations, which makes me sad...Mostly because that means she's not sitting on the couch where she belongs and I have to get up and supervise. But that also means it's almost a new year. I'm working on my list of resolutions and will share those hopefully tomorrow.

Christmas Recap

Hi friends!


Sorry it's been so long. Mom got very busy with work and Christmas, plus I didn't have much going on. But now it's the day after Christmas and let's just say best. Weekend. EVER!!!!!  We celebrate 2 Christmases, one with Mom's family and one with Dad's. This year, we celebrated first with Mom's side and spent "calendar Christmas" with Dad's family. We left after Dad got home from that work place to go to Tennessee. We got in late, but Grandma was very happy to see me.  She even baked me treats like she brought for Thanksgiving. I'm kind of talking her into getting a dog. I'm not sure how I'll feel about another dog stealing my grandma though. I have enough of that with The Thing.  But her kitty cats like me and I don't pay much attention to them, so she's thinking about it. Grandpaw was happy to see me too. I even let him take me on a W-A-L-K one evening, just us. Usually I look and look for Mom, but not this time!

Waiting for Santa Paws

Anyway, Santa Paws dropped a couple of presents early. I got an antler, chewies, and a puzzle game (it has places for treats and the people cover them up and you have to figure out how to move the covers to get the treats. I'm awesome at it). Mom opened the antler when we got home and I love it! She's read up on them and thinks they'll be a safer option than the bones I usually get. I also had a big time burying and finding my chewies. I took one and hid it several times. Then I ate it all up and forgot, so I kept looking in the hiding spots. At least, I think I ate it up. Hey Grandma's kitty cats, if you find my chewy, it's mine!

The tree (and Mommy) at Grandma and Grandpa's

Barbara and Charlie (two of Grandma's kitty cats) inspecting Christmas

Christmas is so tiring!

Grandma and Grandpaw left their house to go visit my Aunt Melanie in Florida. We hung out for a little bit and then packed up and headed back to Kentucky, except we didn't go home. We only rode a little bit and stopped in a town called Bowling Green. We got to stay in Mr. Holiday's hotel! I love hotels because there are so many smells. Our room even had a full length window, so I could look out at all the trees to water. The only thing I hated was the Lelevator. And I had to ride the terrible thing a lot. Boo. Dad took video, so I'll try to get it on here later and show you just how terrible the thing is.

The Mister window

I love hotels!

You can't tell just how flat I am on the ground in the Lelevator, but I got flatter each time I had to ride that thing.

Anyway, we went to Bowling Green because Daddy had to work there on Christmas Eve. Mom and I hung out, then ran an errand and met him at the office, which was across the street from Mr. Holiday's hotel.  I worked very hard and there's talk of giving me a raise! Then a little girl came in to pick up her mommy and I didn't like her. She was very nice, but I didn't like her petting me. Mom said Santa Paws wouldn't come visit, so I apologized, but Mom said the little girl should pet me since I was being so grumpy.

I'm working very hard

After Dad was done working, we went to Mawmaw's house! It's the only place better than Grandma's house. Mawmaw and Grandma both sneak me treats and food. The only bad part was I had to put up with The Thing. By the end though, we were almost getting along. I still didn't like how he was always trying to play with me, but I growled and we played chase. The best part was I'd get bored running in circles, so I'd go off somewhere, but The Thing would keep running and had no idea I wasn't playing anymore. And he wonders why I think he's a dummy.

Uncle Ryan and The Thing and Mawmaw

Helping cook breakfast

Anyway, Santa Paws found me at Mawmaw's house, too. I got lots of treats. Mom made me share one with The Thing. And I did, since it was Christmas. Earning points for next year. After lunch and naps, we packed up again and came home.

Christmas is tiring here, too

The Thing playing with Flat Dog Mom made me I gave him

Me and The Thing

Save me Dad!

Now Mom's off all the rest of the week, so we're going to do all kinds of cuddling and snacking. I'm so excited!

I'm Famous!

Look who's on my pal Bunk's blog! It's technically an old picture, but only because Mom's too lazy busy to decorate me again. Not that I'm complaining!

Buster

Hi Friends,
Just a quick request to keep my mom's friend Ms. Dr. Amy in your prayers. She was one of Mom's professors in college and her very best puppy dog friend, Buster, went over the Rainbow Bridge this week. Ms. Dr. Amy is very sad, so be sending her good thoughts, especially since she's almost on her Winter Break and will be home more.

For those who haven't heard about Rainbow Bridge:

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....  Author unknown... (from http://rainbowsbridge.com/Poem.htm)

Christmas Planning

Hi friends! If your house is like mine, the humans are very busy getting ready for the next holiday, called "Christmas." Christmas celebrates the day Santa Paws rode his sleigh and hit a grandma (!) on his way to deliver a baby Jesus in a donkey's breakfast. Good puppy dogs get presents, but bad puppy dogs get a grinch. I think that's the story, anyway. Christmas is an OK holiday. There's lots of food like Thanksgiving and presents which is great, but a lot of the food isn't always safe for puppy dogs and a fat guy named Santa Paws has to break into your house to leave presents. I'm not so sure about that part. Seems shady.  Plus, there's a giant tree in my house I'm not allowed to pee on!

Anyway, last year I posted these rules for Christmas. Still don't know where they came from, but I just wanted to remind everyone of them.

1. Be especially patient with your humans during this time. They may appear to be more stressed-out than usual and they will appreciate long comforting dog leans.

2. They may come home with large bags of things they call gifts. Do not assume that all the gifts are yours.

3. Be tolerant if your humans put decorations on you. They seem to get some special kind of pleasure out of seeing how you look with fake antlers.

 

(I luckily didn't have antlers that year. Mom has some though)

4. They may bring a large tree into the house and set it up in a prominent place and cover it with lights and decorations. Bizarre as this may seem to you, it is an important ritual for your humans, so there are some things you need to know:

a. Don't pee on the tree

b. Don't drink water in the container that holds the tree

c. Mind your tail when you are near the tree

d. If there are packages under the tree, even ones that smell interesting or that have your name on them, don't rip them open

e. Don't chew on the cord that runs from the funny-looking hole in the wall to the tree

5. Your humans may occasionally invite lots of strangers to come visit during this season. These parties can be lots of fun, but they also call for some discretion on your part:

a. Not all strangers appreciate kisses and leans

b. Don't eat off the buffet table

c. Beg for goodies subtly

d. Be pleasant, even if unknowing strangers sit on your sofa

e. Don't drink out of glasses that are left within your reach

6. Likewise, your humans may take you visiting. Here your manners will also be important:

a. Observe all the rules in #4 for trees that may be in other people's houses. (4a is particularly important)

b. Respect the territory of other animals that may live in the house

c. Tolerate children

d. Turn on your charm big time

7. A big man with a white beard and a very loud laugh may emerge from your fireplace in the middle of the night. DON'T BITE HIM!!

Human Puppy--Blech

Hey friends,

So this was the WORST weekend ever! My mommy ran away for the WHOLE weekend. She drove to Grandma's house first. The nerve! Then she drove to my Auntie K's house because she just had a human puppy. Remember this picture from the giveaway post:

And how I said to ignore the wrappings in the background? Yeah, I didn't realize the presents had to be personally delivered! Anyway, she played with the puppy thing...at least play as much as you can with a puppy that's only 4 days old!  She also gave lots of attention to Auntie K's dogs, Howie and Moxie. I met Howie once and we became pretty good friends, so I was sad when I found out Mom played with him without me. Mom said I wouldn't have liked all the commotion at Auntie K's house, though. I'd have liked it more than being home with That Daddy Guy.

Yeah, I didn't have a good weekend alone with him. I'd go into details, but Santa Paws might be reading. Let's just say I got into trouble Saturday afternoon and was still in trouble Sunday when Mom got home.  I think I've charmed my way out of trouble though.

Here's a picture Auntie K took of Mom, Howie (the white one), Moxie (the black one), and Baby S (the striped, least furry one)

Giveaway Winner

Hey friends! If you follow me on Twitter (@mrappgate), then you know my mommy pulled a disappearing act this weekend. I'll have the full details later, but wanted to announce the winner of my first giveaway! I was so excited to see all of the people who entered. I wish I could give everyone a set of the toys! Even though Mom was gone, she did figure out a techie way to pick a winner. She plugged the number of comments into Random.org. As of 9:00 EST, there were 9 comments:

Comment #1 was Molly, but she lives in England. Boo. So Mom just tried again:

#3 was Ms. Amber! Yay! Please check your e-mail so Hartza can send you your prize!

Thanks again to everyone who entered. I hope we can do another one of these and everyone can win!

My First Giveaway!

Hi friends!

I am so excited to be doing my first give-away. Mr. Ben from Hartz toys contacted me and asked if I'd like to try out some toys from their new Angry Birds holiday line and he'd even send them to a friend! I'm not a very big toy-dog, but my mom loves to play Angry Birds on her iPad. They're plushy though, and I do love to de-stuff toys :)

A package? Addressed to ME? Hooray!

Checking out what's in the box

These toys look delicious! (Ignore Mom's wrapping stuff in the background. My Auntie K had a human puppy this week and Mom's getting ready to visit.)

Mom's not quite sure why I look sad in this picture because I really like my toys!

Thanks Mr. Ben and Hartz!

Now for the details: 

From Mr. Ben's e-mail: We will be running an interactive guessing game on Facebook during the launch of the holiday themed Hartz Angry Birds dog toys.

The details for the game are as follows:

        There are four unique holiday Angry Birds toys that will be shown in four different holiday locations that will be slowly revealed throughout the course of 4 weeks.

        Each week (Monday-Sunday) a photo of one of the toys in a distinct setting, will be featured on the Facebook application with only a small amount of the photo visible.

        As the week progresses, more and more of the photo will become visible and ultimately be fully revealed each Sunday.

        Fans will be able to submit their guesses as to the location where the toy is hiding out as many times as they like throughout the week.  

        The campaign will kick off on Monday, 11/26/2012

Here's how you enter my giveaway: Leave me a comment on this post. That's it! Leave a comment by Saturday at 10:00 PM EST and my mom will write the names on a piece of paper and randomly pick one. I'm sure there's a higher tech way, but after the whole video issue, Mom figured it's best to do it this way.  Win for yourself or win to give to your favorite puppy dog (or kitty cats. They's probably like them, too!).

P.S. Mom already checked and they can only ship within the US. Sorry UK and Canada friends :(

Best Thanksgiving Ever

Hi friends! Wowee, has this been a crazy fun weekend.

Everyone waiting for dinner

I think I've said this before, but Thanksgiving is my absolute FAVORITEST holiday. It's an entire holiday that revolves around eating food and, unlike Halloween, it's all food I'm allowed to have bites of!

I helped in the kitchen

Our fun all started when my people both got to come home a little early from their work places Wednesday. We went on a W-A-L-K and as we turned the final corner, guess what I saw? MY GRANDMA, GRANDPA, and GREAT-GRANDMA!!!!! They had just pulled into the driveway and were unloading all of their Thanksgiving goodies. Grandma had baked me my very own treats. She's the best.

Thursday was the main event. Mom spent a lot of time in the kitchen and my other grandparents and great-grandparents came. Other Grandma brought me treats, too! Everyone had a great time talking and feeding me. Uncle Ryan came and brought The Thing, but he actually wasn't too bad. He ran in circles and barely stopped long enough to get treats. Since I was so calm and sat so nicely, Grandma gave me extra. Everyone ate and just enjoyed each other. The Thing kept running and stole some of my toys (I don't really play with them, so it was OK), but I got him back and stole his bone. I even took it to my crate and buried it in my super secret spot. Smarty-pants Mom found it though and gave it back. She's so sneaky!
                                                

My (no longer) super secret hiding spot

The Thing's mommy came by and I let her give me a couple of side scratches. Finally, people started heading home and I was so stuffed, I didn't need dinner.

The Thing and his mommy

The Thing and me

Grandma giving me and The Thing treats. I'll do anything for a treat, even stand near The Thing.

Mom, me, Dad, Uncle Ryan, and The Thing playing in the yard

Friday morning, I was still stuffed and didn't want breakfast. Dad had to work (just a few hours, not Black Friday craziness) and Mom and the grandparents went shopping. They didn't go to the mall or any big store, but to a couple of local places. They even met a horse-dog at one. Mom said she could have ridden her, but that I'd probably be the boss. Cool. Naps and leftovers finished out the day.

My whole family: Julie (The Thing's Mom/Uncle Ryan's girlfriend), Uncle Ryan, The Thing, Grandpa, Mawmaw, Grandma, Pawpaw, Mom, me, Grandma, Great-Grandma, Dad, and Grandpa!

The grandparents left Saturday, but Grandma left the treats. She promised more when I come to visit them for Christmas, though! We've spent the rest of the weekend decorating for Christmas and napping. I really enjoyed having them home and don't want them to back to work places Monday!

Anyway, exciting things are in store this week. First, I'll be reminding everyone of the Dos and Don'ts for Christmas. Plus, I'll be hosting my very first give-away! I'm so excited. Be sure to come back and check it out!

22 Days of Thankful: Day 22

Whew! I made it! Even if my typist tried to sabotage me and forgot a couple of times. She tastes yummy though, so I'll keep her around.

22. To have a houseful of suckers family to love me

Maybe my favorite part of Thanksgiving (besides an entire holiday revolving around food) is the number of people that come together to sneak me some. Since I came around, Mom and Dad's families have done joint Thanksgiving. Yes, I take the credit for it. Two years ago, both sides came here. Last year, we all went to my great-grandma's and great-grandpaw's house. This year, everyone's back at my house. I've perfected the sad brown eyes look and no humans can resist it! Too bad my aunt Melanie couldn't come this year. She's my biggest sucker food sneaker.

My aunt Melanie. She helped keep me out of trouble last time Thanksgiving was here.

Helping cook two years ago. I'm chief taste tester and dropsies cleaner-upper.

I hope you've enjoyed my 22 Days of Thankful. Just remember, being thankful is year-round, not just in November. That means every day should include a full turkey dinner and scraps snuck to me.


To all my US readers, we hope you all have a happy Thanksgiving. Don't get trampled on Black Friday (Mom's going shopping, but to a local small business and certainly not before daylight). To all my UK and elsewhere readers, we hope you have a wonderful Thursday and remember to take a minute and be thankful...again!

22 Days of Thankful: Days 20 and 21

My typist is going to get herself fired if she's not careful! Anyway,

20. My real life ani-pals

Just like I'm thankful for all my friends of the internets, I'm thankful for the friends I have in real life. I love walking in the park with Molly:

and playing with Luna (but she lives in Ohio now):

And I had a great time playing with Howie when he came to visit from Memphis (I don't have a picture from that trip). He even has a puppy sister, Moxie, and is getting a human brother soon.

21. That my grandparents are here!!!!!!!


Grandma's already stuffed me silly with homemade treats. I had to get a bath for her to be allowed though. Boo. But my love of Grandma and treats is greater than my hatred of water!

22 Days of Thankful: Days 18 and 19

Oops. I forgot about yesterday. I blame the typist as she has been working on a paper for school and hogged the computer all weekend.

18.  The internet

I am very thankful for the internet. Without it, I couldn't communicate my deep puppy dog thoughts and I wouldn't have made so many friends!  Mom and I enjoy catching up with everyone in the mornings before she has to get ready for that work place. We're not very good at leaving comments, but rest assured we're reading!

19. My yard

Just before I came home, my people finished off the fencing around our yard so I had a safe place to sniff around.  My most important job is securing the perimeter. Sometimes we have bunny rabbit visitors (Word of advice, don't bring a baby back to the door to show your people. It doesn't end well) and I like to say hey to the dogs that live on either side of us. In the winter, my yard goes less from "yard" and more to "skating rink" which makes my people giggle, but it's kind of fun, so I'll allow it.  But the best part is in the spring and fall when I go outside and lay in sun puddles. Ahhhh!

Hi, Pixie!

Sun bathing

Standing guard

22 Days of Thankful: Day 17

17. Treats

Gosh! It took me a long time to get around to this one, but I am very thankful for treats. I'll do pretty much anything if I think it'll get me a treat. I will run into jail, I'll shake, I'll roll over (those last two are usually without asking BOL!). Just gimme a treat. Sometimes I'll even take a pretzel right out Dad's mouth.

22 Days of Thankful: Day 16

16. That my people come home

I don't like when my people leave me all alone, especially my mommy. And even though it feel like forever, they always come home. Sometimes I drive my dad crazy while we wait for Mom, but once I hear her open the door, my tail gets all waggy and I just can't wait to cover her face in kisses! Because she's home and I never thought that would happen (even though it does every time she leaves :)).

22 Days of Thankful: Day 15

15. Belly rubs

Whew! I almost missed today! Blame my typist. Anyway, today, I'm thankful for belly rubs. My morning doesn't start right if my daddy doesn't rub my belly before getting my breakfast. I have a certain way of flopping over and lifting a paw. Mom calls it my "come hither" look. I'm not sure what that means, but it always gets my belly rubbed!

                                         

Here's my belly. Rub it, Human.

22 Days of Thankful: Day 14

14. Smells

Today, I'm thankful for smells. The oh so delicious things that catch my nose as we walk past a tree, mailbox post, tall weed, clump of grass, etc. Every time we go on a walk, I make it my mission to smell all the smells, especially if it's cold and rainy. Then I have to take extra time so the smells don't feel left out.

Mom posed an interesting question last night: If a smell has no one to smell it, does it still smell? One of the great questions of our time, Mom.

                                              

Checking out smells on this tree.

22 Days of Thankful: Day 13

13. The big bed

Today, I'm thankful my people let me sleep in the big bed with them last night! Usually on the weekends when they're not quiiiiiiiite ready to get up, they let me out of jail and lift me into theirs (it's too tall for me to jump onto myself). I don't stay long in the mornings, but they like the snuggles. Sometimes when it's thunder boomie or really cold (like at Grandma's house since Dad's "room" is really just an enclosed porch), they let me sleep with them. Last night was kind cold, but really Dad's just a sucker really great guy.

This isn't from last night, but you get the idea. I'm squished in the middle since my people mak e a big deal out of "sharing" and not pushing them off the sides.

22 Days of Thankful: Day 12

12. Kisses

I'm thankful for kisses, both to give and receive, though I prefer to give them. To my mom. Up her nose. She likes it. Even if she wipes them away and says, "enough!" Don't let her fool you!

Sometimes, I give Grandma kisses!

I had another picture to show everyone, but for some reason Blogger is being super-slow uploading it. Boo!