Buster's Pug Blog

Celebrations

2009-12-31T06:57:00.000-08:00

As 2009 draws to a close, I'm replete from holiday celebrations. A jolly season, this. September has Dad's b'day & the 'rents' wedding anniversary (22 this year!) Mom's b'day and Halloween in October, Thanksgiving feasting in November & then the big buildup & delights of Christmas followed by the countdown to the New Year! Wow!

This Pug had a fine time during the season and wants to wish all Pugs and Pug friends a very happy and healthy 2010.

Happy Birthday, Mom

2009-10-07T06:30:00.000-07:00

Today is my human Mom's birthday. Not surprisingly, the best greetings have come from my own online Twitter friends. We Twitter Pugs know how special our human parents are, especially those of us who have come from questionable backgrounds...the local impound facility in my case. A reminder that not ALL humans are suited to Pug ownership.

My Twitter followers/friends include several Pug rescue groups. I'm not really aware of what goes on out there, but Mom always gives us extra kisses and cuddles when she has been checking updates. Sometimes she's reduced to tears & that distresses me, but I'm a Pug and I recover quickly.

Since birthdays seem to have significance for humans, I'm going to try to give my Mom the gift of "living in the now" like I do.

Woof

What Price Celebrity?

2009-09-02T08:55:00.000-07:00

My PugPack friend, JennyThePug announced today that she and her puglets had a spot on the local news. I thought that was great and sent a congrats tweet to her. But then my Mom stepped in and filled my Pug ears with facts I did NOT want to know.

Popularity has ruined more dog breeds than it has helped. Sad, but true. Once a breed becomes popular, backyard breeders and puppy mills want to cash in on that popularity and start producing puppies like they are widgets in a hot widget market!

The general public grabs a fad and runs with it without researching the consequences. For dogs, that means they don't consider the drawbacks or responsibilities inherent in the possession of that animal. Pugs in shelters rose to new highs after the movie, "Men In Black" popularized Frank the Pug.

So what we gonna do? NOT gonna hide our lights under a bushel...we're just too terrific for that! Don't wanna give the impression that everyone should have a Pug! We're too special for that! So how do we balance popularity with quality?

I don't know.
Woof!

A Puff of Smoke: when monitors die

2009-08-27T09:39:00.000-07:00

My Mom's a pretty smart gal as far as academics go but she's a bit dim in some areas. Take today, for example. We were happily tweeting along with my twittermates when the monitor exploded. Ok, it was a mild explosion...no flying glass, just a sudden "whooshing" noise and then some smoke pouring out the top and back of the monitor. Whatever, the monitor no longer worked. Smelled pretty bad, too.

BigTimeBummer. We talking a 32 inch LCD combo TV/monitor. We can't use computer, Mom can't watch TV...can't vote Pugs on Tweeterwall!! Horrors!

First Mom thought; Wal-Mart & new monitor...out and back in 3 hours. But just bought a new refrigerator & don't need more credit card debt. Smart Mom.

Second Mom thought; have another TV/monitor upstairs that isn't used a lot, so could be used at least temporarily & don't have to spend money. Smart Mom.

Next Mom thought; don't wanna wait 'til Dad gets home to help move that 42 inch HDTV beast downstairs, so will do it alone! Dumb Mom!

Mind you, LCD monitors aren't all that heavy. But Mom's closer to 70 (about 10 in dog years) than 60 and she's not the strongest warrior among the 300! Wrestling 80 pound fragile items down 13 stairs is not wise!

I don't need to tell you, do I? She did it. Lifted it off the stand, got a trolley from the garage to take it to the top of the stairway, took it off trolley and walked it downstairs, then used the trolley to roll it to her room.

It's all set up and working well. Impressive, Mom...but not very smart!

Woof!

Way Too Much Drama!

2009-08-10T13:21:00.000-07:00

The new tweeterwall "Animal Sanctuary" got off to a roaring start. Most of the Pugs from the former 6+ pages of entrants where schlepped onto the first couple of pages of the new competition, the species were separate & it looked like a real fun for all was brewing. I put on my Pug cheerleader hat, grabbed a pair of pom poms & started trying to pump up the enthusiasm in the PugPack.

All was well for a couple of days except for an occasional grouse about so many Pugs. Really, there were no more than had been there before, they were just bunched up together. Then the inevitable cheats who use vote bots started slipping in. They're not too hard to recognize if you've been around for a while & Mom's been on the Internet since '95.

A vote bot can be set to automatically vote for any candidate in any kind of contest. Couple of weeks ago there was big brouhaha about vote bots used in Big Brother TV show voting. The candidate who is receiving the votes does NOT have to be the person who uses the bot. Most entrants with a bot will use it rather quietly and just gently slide themselves up in the ranks. However, like I said, the pattern is rather easy to detect. We saw at least three in use and of course we talked about it in the PugPack.

One Pug mom decided to report the cheating. She turned in names to TPTB. Now, on Twitter, if you use the ampersand ( @ ) in front of a screen name, the person can see what you've tweeted because it shows up on his replies page. In less than 24 hours, the woman who reported the cheating had a vote bot (or bots) turned on her. Set to run at an exceptionally high rate, sometimes generating over 400 votes per hour, it was obvious what had happened.

Naturally, those who didn't know her thought she was doing it herself in order to win. They had no idea that she was totally unaware of what was going on. When she found out she immediately applied to TPTB to have herself removed from the competition. No doubt just what her attacker intended...her withdrawal or her eventual removal by tweeterwall. I tried to spread the word, but there were still contestants who thought she was cheating.

All this upset just took all the fun out of the game. Another PugPacker decided he'd had enough and he withdrew also. I couldn't help but agree with him, but didn't want to give the cheaters another victory, so it took me a while to make up my mind. In the end, I, too decided to withdraw. As I told a friend, when it ceases to be fun and starts generating anger, it's time to go.

Rumors are still going 'round & the story gets mixed up, so I'm making this blog entry in hopes of setting the record straight. The Pug with more than 21,000 votes was NOT the cheater. She was the victim. She tried to do the right thing by reporting the names of suspected cheaters to tweeterwall. Other Pugs who withdrew did so in support of her and because it was no longer fun.

It's all a bit sad, but fortunately I'm a dog & I live in the now, so I lift my leg on the cheaters and waddle off to sniff another interesting landmark! Life is good!

Woof!

We'll be right back after this short break!

2009-08-04T04:47:00.000-07:00

Finally finished out the August round of Tweeterwall competition. Not a moment too soon for these tired little paws. Now we'll wait for the results to be posted so we can toast our victories and curse our defeats.

Personally, I'm delighted to have been in the top 20 this go-around. Actually, I think I'll finish up in the number 8 slot. I'll know more later. I still don't have any idea who nominated me, but it's not really important, I suppose. Best part of the whole contest was the camaraderie with Pug friends, the enthusiasm shared by a few really dedicated participants and the fun of watching Pugs come together for a "cause." For those reasons, the August competition was much more enjoyable than was the one for July.

I'll have updates shortly.

Pugs Rule!

Woof!

Dog Days? I Don't Think So!

2009-07-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

Now, I'm not sure where that phrase, "dog days of summer" came from, and I'm not sure what it is supposed to mean. But I can tell you this, from a dog's point of view, that there haven't been many days this summer that were good or enjoyable for dogs. Actually, since summer was official on June 21, there have been NO "dog" days here. Just too darn hot, too darn dry.

Can't lounge in the sun out on the deck. I'd fry! Pug Fritters NOT appealing! Can't amble through the grass snurffling all the interesting scents. There is no grass. Somehow, ambling through stickly prickly pine needles just doesn't do it for me.

Pug Sigh.

Mom to the rescue. She's got me tuned in to Twitter and gets me all excited talking about the Tweeterwall contests, Puppia harnesses, bully sticks and all manner of conversational delights with the PugPack. Mostly I just listen, but by golly, sometimes a bit of her enthusiasm inspires me to do a Pugtona around the living room.

So maybe I Will survive the "anti-dog" days of this summer...with a little help from Mom, the internet and my PugPack friends!

Woof!

And The Heat Goes On

2009-07-15T09:55:00.000-07:00

It's almost too much. Most days we see the reports on local news of record breaking high temperatures. My necessary visits outside are much shorter. Except for early morning strolls I seldom wander around to check out my territorial boundary markings. Life has become so constricted. Sigh.

Mom has to empty and refill all the outdoor watering stations at least twice a day 'cause it's so dry that Chloe's cavorting raises clouds of dust and the water gets dirty. Only Chloe and Buddy get to stay outside for very long and even they come inside during the heat of the day. Mom says it's time to switch from Pugs to Salukis. I know she's kidding...I know it.

Woof!

Into the Maw of Summer

2009-06-30T10:09:00.000-07:00

The all-devouring heat of south central Texas has arrived. Outdoor activity for Pugs is limited and rides to town almost completely eliminated unless destinations are those establishments that allow entry to dogs.

The canine population here is spending most of the day inside with air conditioning. Even Buddy. It's just too hot out there! 106 on our shaded deck yesterday! Blimey!

Chloe is settling down a bit and for that we are all pleased. Mom posted a couple of videos of Chloe in the wading pool. Have a looksee and a laugh Mom's YouTube

Mom's been updating the web site a bit, adding links to my Twitter friends' sites. I'm still voting on the Twitterwall Pugs. I hear the contest closes July 2. Not too soon for me!

Woof!

Dad and Mate Plus Eight!

2009-06-23T07:16:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday was Father's Day. Mom helped all the "furkids" select a suitable card and gift for our Dad. Mom had a special calendar made for him...it was with pictures of all us kids and it started in June so he will have a full year's use of it. We thought it was pretty nice.

But Dad always aims higher. He cruises Craig's list almost daily and last Friday he found a listing for a Great Dane puppy with "special needs" that needed an adoptive family. I don't need to go into the details, as the title tells it all! Yep, he brought her home.

There she is. Chloe. Four months old, all legs & very shy. She glommed on to Dad during the ride home and is very "clingy" when he's around. Mom introduced the rest of the family very slowly. I, of course, was calm and aloof as I am with all intruders as long as they show proper respect. BJ totally ignored her and MissyLu was instantly ticked off as her spot as Daddy's Little Princess and baby of the family was threatened. And wouldn't you know it, one of the first things Chloe did was usurp MissyLu's spot at the base of the stairs. MissyLu was NOT amused.

Meeting "the boys" was traumatic for poor Chloe, but then, their exuberance even gets to me at times. As Pippin and Hooter rushed to meet and greet her, she tucked her tail so far under her that it tickled her nose! Who would have thought a dog that large could curl up into a ball so small! Buddy, the only canine on the place larger than baby Chloe, was a gentleman and quite reserved with his curiosity.

Chloe's "special needs" were said to be demodectic mange. However, Mom suspects the mange is the least of this pup's problems. We will see. I'll have more to say about this, I'm sure.

Woof!

The Competitive Edge

2009-06-15T07:12:00.000-07:00

Cesar Millan would be proud of me. I am a calm submissive Pug. Happy to be with my humans, get along well with other animals...well, most of the time...sometimes Lucy the cat gets a bit pushy. Of course, it helps that I'm the "resident" Pug. I've been here the longest, so the others naturally give me respect. But that's beside the point. The point is that I'm really laid back and easy going.

Until...injustice...deceit...outright lies! Oh, I can get riled for a good reason! That happened last week. One of my Twitter pals was entered into a competition for "Top Animal Twitter." She asked for our Pug votes through Twitter & many of us responded. But guess what I discovered?? Several of those who were entered were NOT animals, but were humans using their pets as a cover! Why, one of the entrants didn't even OWN the animal they used as an avatar! And the clearly stated FIRST rule of the competition is that it is for animals, not for persons or groups.

I was livid with indignation! I growled for hours as I plumbed the depths of their corruption and found out they're all ganged up together! Naturally, I informed my own Tweeps about what was going on and in a general uprising we were able to promote my friend to the #3 spot & shut out the cheaters. Now, mind you, those cats in the #1 and #2 places are legit, so we have no quarrel there. Winning is nice, but it's not everything. What is really important is standing up for truth, justice and the Pug way!

Woof!

June

2009-06-01T09:24:00.000-07:00

Oh my! Summer has arrived. Can't say I'm all that pleased. Fewer car trips with Dad, less time meandering around outside. Too hot! Don't get me wrong, I like a snooze in the sun as well as any Pug, but I'm not really equipped to handle temps over 90 in the shade! Mom puts a "Pug play pool" out in the yard, but Hooter is the only one who really seems to enjoy it. All that water...I just don't know.

I have lots of new friends on Twitter. Mom bought a book written by one of my friends. It's called Summer Pugs. Check it out. And don't forget to check out my own book, FROM POUND TO PRICELESS over on Blurb.

It's time to start shopping for Dad's Day. Dad helped us furkids give Mom a plant and flower pot for Mom's Day. Don't know what we're going to do for Dad, but Mom's already found the perfect card...it has PUGS on it!

Woof!

Am I getting Geeky?

2009-05-20T09:11:00.000-07:00

I fear my Twittering has led me along a path to Geekdom. I've been having so much fun and have met so many friendly Pugs that Mom actually selected her new cell phone with the idea of tweeting from it for me. She checks out all the new Twitter apps with a zest formerly reserved for her photo processing. One of my TV faves, The Dog Whisperer, has a Twitter account and I'm a faithful follower. Seriously, I'm trying to get Mom to sign me up for a Facebook account so I can sign on as one of Daddy's fans!

Mom says this is not being a geek. She says geeks go more for technical knowledge and that I'm just getting into the social networking. OK, I can deal with that. I'm a dog. I'm a social creature. So I don't need to be a geek...but I need a geek to help me out with my social networking...so SHE is the geek, right?

I can live with that.

Woof!

The Lusty Month of May!

2009-05-04T10:18:00.000-07:00

Camelot strikes again!
Yes, and I've got my first hot spot! Right behind my right ear. Just a small one, Mom caught it early and it's on the mend.
Oh, I'm so busy Twittering! What fun! I've got lots of followers. I'd have lots more, but Mom checks them out and blocks those who are just trying to sell stuff and those who don't seem to be "right" for me.

I spent the weekend helping Dad build a pole barn for the horses. I mostly watched, but I'm sure my moral support was very beneficial. Saturday I got to ride to town in Dad's truck while he picked up lumber. We stopped for donuts! YAY!

April showers

2009-04-28T11:28:00.000-07:00

Mom is so happy...we've had just a bit over 3 inches of rain in April. That's really great for her flowers. She isn't happy about a predator getting to one of her young chickens, though. Sigh. Her own fault for not putting them into a pen at night. Lesson learned.

I'm having a great time with my twittering. Have met some really nice new Pug friends. Sometimes my tweetdeck has a technical problem but for the most part, Mom's happy with it.

I've started following a couple of Pug friends on their blogs, too. This social networking thing is almost as good as sniffing butts.

Woof!

How time flies!

2009-04-24T09:11:00.000-07:00

Wow! It's been a while since I've posted here. I really lost track of the time. Of course, being a dog, I really don't pay much attention to time, ya know?

I'm busy over on Twitter. You can check it out at twitter.com/busterbrown Mom downloaded that tweetdeck thingy so it's easy for me to keep active.

Mom's been really busy with the Springtime stuff...you know, planting stuff and planning gardens, etc. She's in a bit of a rush to get all set before the blasting heat of summer sets in.

Spring Projects

2009-02-20T15:10:00.000-08:00

The weather hints at an early spring. Hmmm...Mom's not so sure that it's a good thing to be so nice and warm this early. The peach tree is blooming and will really get a setback if we have another freeze, she says. 'Course I don't eat a lot of peaches, so I really don't care. Just so long as the dog food crop comes in regular. Arf!

Hey! I'm over at loldogs almost every day. It's my kinda place. You should come see! You'll laugh! I don't laugh, of course, but I snurffle with pleasure, doncha know?

Hehe. Dad's friend, a former electrician, came over and installed a plug for Mom's Spa-in-a-box. He put it in upside down. Mom had to take off the plastic cover and turn it upside down so she could plug in the pump to inflate the cover. Looks silly.

Woof!

Rolling right along

2009-02-10T05:25:00.000-08:00

Here we go, New Year. Still in drought & Mom is not happy. On the other hand, she's through with her Herceptin infusions, so she's happy.

Drought has inspired Mom to buy bark mulch for the outdoor dog pen. Trying to keep down the dust...you know how we Pugs hate dust!

Back before Christmas Mom bought a "spa-in-a-box." She needed to have a foundation to set it on so she asked Dad to build her an 8' X 8' platform. Well, Dad being Dad, he had to upgrade and built a larger, fully enclosed (with lattice) room. Mom's $100 platform became an $800 outdoor room. I won't get any use out of it, of course, but since it was the January "project" it is worth noting.

Mom moved MsPogie's digs to the deck right outside her (Mom's) bedroom door. Now that MsPogie is blind, Mom feels she needs to keep her close by. MsPogie has seldom set paw on dirt since she's been here, but she made a break for it the other day and sneaked out when Mom wasn't looking. Mom spotted her down at the garage & liked to have had a stroke. But Pogie was retrieved and seemed to suffer no ill effects, so all is well.

Did I tell you that both BJ and I are on arthritis supplements? BJ will be 13 years old on March 18 and she's pretty stiff in the joints at times. I'm not that old, but Mom feels the supplement won't hurt me and may even keep me more comfortable longer. Now, Pogie is older than any of us, but she's still spry even though blind! Must be that "hybrid vigor." [whisper] She's a mixed breed - poodle/chihuahua - you know.

I gotta go.

Woof!

Out with the old! The year, not the pets! YIKES!

2008-12-31T07:03:00.000-08:00

Oh, yes, we be glad that 2008 is behind us. Mom says it hasn't been one of her best years. I feel it, too.

Mom did the surgery, chemo and radiation thing for her cancer. Then had two cataract surgeries for her eyes. She be looking forward to seeing fewer doctors in the coming year.

I lost a cat friend. Tut, adopted about 10 years ago after being found in a dumpster with his 4 siblings, died December 29. Mom buried him close to another cat friend, Tom, who had died in 2004.

BJ, MsPogie and I are feeling our ages a bit. MsPogie is now blind. She's almost 14. BJ has arthritis. She will be 13 in March. I'm not really that old, but I'm feeling a bit intimidated by the stairs.

We all moving into the New Year hoping for the best. We got love.

Woof!

All about Buddy

2008-11-21T05:09:00.000-08:00

I am not really very good at the blogging business. I see I haven't talked much about my friends here at home. Guess I'm just self centered and selfish. Sigh.

Let me tell you about Buddy. Mom found him alongside a country road where he had apparently been dumped. That he had stayed there several days was evident by the little "nest" he had made in the long grass. Mom thought, "poor baby, waiting for his owner to come back..." Little chance of that, she thought. So she brought him home.

Buddy is of mixed origins. Reddish brown and black in color, of medium size, he's just about as nondescript as a dog can get. But he's sweet and smart. Mom doesn't know why she finds him so endearing, but she does and there it is. My adopted bro, Buddy.

Woof!

Time flies

2008-10-23T08:27:00.000-07:00

When you're having fun. And even when you're not having fun. Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and went through the surgery, chemo and radiation, so didn't have much time or energy to help me with my blog.

We're better now and trying to get back to some degree of normalcy. I've been sticking really close to Mom, trying to give support. I'll try to catch up a bit on my news when I have a bit more time. Today I just want to check in and make sure my blog was still active after all this time.

We had some sad news. Muttley, my erstwhile companion and pictured here earlier, became very ill and his human had no choice but to have him euthanized. Mom cried. I promised her we'd all meet at Rainbow Bridge.

Falling behind big time!

2007-11-09T06:38:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it has been so long since I put a paw to the keyboard!

Ok, Mom has been really busy, but that's no excuse, right?

Quick review:
Mom and Dad went on vacation and brother Fred stayed with us for over a week.
Mom and I collaborated on a book. We're going to give out copies of it for Christmas! Mom says when we get it to a certain level we will offer it for public consumption.
I've developed "spells." My head tilts over and I have a bit of trouble with my balance. First time this happened, Mom freaked out and rushed me to the vet. By the time she got there I was mostly recovered and the vet didn't have a clue...gave Mom some printed info on "seizures." Didn't really describe my problem at all. I've had two incidents since then, each less severe...I think it's because none of us are afraid of them now. They last for about 2 hours, then go away like they were never here.
MissyLu had blood in her urine. Same vet kept her overnight to try for a urine sample. When there was one, nothing showed up. Mom caught a sample with blood and took it in for testing. After three days, she called and was snipped at by tech: "we haven't got results yet, we'll call when we do." That was a couple of months ago.

Mom says we need to find a new vet.

Woof!

Muttley Returns Home!

2007-06-05T11:33:00.000-07:00

Muttley didn't stay with us very long. His human dad really missed him, so when a turn of time took the kids away, Muttley went back home. That's good for everyone, but Mom was a bit sad. She gets attached.

What? Another Pug?

2007-05-15T10:51:00.000-07:00

I really can't believe it! And now we are 6. Six Pugs, that is. Oh, it's a sad tale.

Meet Muttley!

Muttley has been here before. Several months ago we babysat for him while his parents took a little trip.

Now it seems his mom's daughter moved in with a couple of her kids and the kids are mean to Muttley. Poor Muttley, what's a Pug to do? His tail just drooped all the time!

So now he lives with us. He's OK. I've had to let him know who's the boss a couple of times, but he learns quickly. I think I'll let him stay.

WOOF!

Pippin in my place!

2007-04-16T07:58:00.000-07:00

Well, they did the Dog Walk without me! Pippin went in my place. It was his first walk and I hear he was a bit nervous at first, but really did very well. He walked the whole three miles! WAY TO GO, PIPPIN!

MissyLu went along. She did most of the trek in her stroller. She's really spoiled!

One of our local TV news channels was there, KXAN and according to their newscast the next day, we didn't make the Guiness Book of World Records, but we did raise about 80 thousand dollars for the Texas Hearing and Service Dogs.

I Can't Believe My Ears!

2007-04-13T09:07:00.000-07:00

I overheard something this morning that really disturbs me. Mom reminded Dad that the Mighty Texas Dog Walk was tomorrow. Dad said something about a big day for MissyLu and PIPPIN?

Wait just a cotton pickin' minute! I've been doing the Dog Walk since 2003! Why am I not included tomorrow?

Grrrrrrr!!!

A good weekend

2007-04-03T08:27:00.000-07:00

I went to the donut shop twice.
Hey! It's the highlight of my week!
The Pug puppy we were babysitting went home Sunday afternoon.

Signing up on Technorati

2007-03-31T07:28:00.000-07:00

Mom's gathering us all together. It's all too technical for me!

Technorati Profile

Woof?

We've got company!

2007-03-30T08:56:00.000-07:00

Dad's always volunteering. Sometimes he volunteers Mom. His latest volunteer is for a weekend of babysitting with little Miss Harlee, a Pug puppy belonging to a fellow worker.

Isn't she cute? Of course, I've had to remind her a few times that I'm the boss, but she settled in quickly and joined the pack.

Woof!

Looky, Looky!

2007-03-29T07:31:00.000-07:00

Here's Sonny! He's a two year old gelding, about 36 - 38 inches tall.
Isn't he grand? Mom says he looks like a small unicorn.

***************************************************

And here is Smokey!

She's a one year old filly.
About 34 - 36 " tall.

********************************

They're so cute!

Woof!

Oh! The Excitement!

2007-03-26T07:16:00.000-07:00

I have two new friends! Mom and Dad rescued two mini horses! Haven't met them yet 'cause Mom says they need some time to settle down after their move.

Would you believe...one of them ( white, two-year old gelding) was named "Buster!!" That, of course will have to change, but should be no big deal for him because he was mostly ignored and probably has no idea what he was called. Mom hasn't a clue yet as to his name...she says he will give it to her when he's ready. His companion, a cute little one year old mare, practically shouted out "Smokey!" when Mom thought about a name for her. It fits her coloring right now and friend Valerie says she might turn gray as she matures.

Double Woof!

Hard Times Blogging!

2007-03-22T10:06:00.000-07:00

Arf! I don't know what's going on. I was cruising along, keeping it simple. Then BONGO! I've got all sorts of changes to deal with. I've typed in a totally different language, lost my password, grown new legs..(OK, that's an exaggeration) and in general been totally confused.

Hey! I'm a dog...I live in the here and now. I don't care if you change servers, ownership, tags, etc...just keep thing stable for me, OK? Sheesh! You tax my patience!

The Day the Rains Came

2007-03-14T06:22:00.000-07:00

In the wee small hours of Monday, March 12, we had a flood. Mom and Dad pulled their first "all nighter" in years, but it wasn't for a party. A drought-breaking flood, over 5 inches of rain in just a few hours, flooded the downstairs area of the house.

Mom and Dad stayed up all night bailing, sopping and mopping water. Mom thinks the flooring in the great room area may need to be replaced.

Tuesday we had more thunderstorms. Dad was in town and Mom was minding the rain buckets that catch the roof runoff. No more water got in the house. Yay!

I'll have to keep out of the downstairs until it is all dried out. Bummer!

Woof!

Merry Merry, Happy Happy

2006-12-26T07:14:00.000-08:00

I'm supposed to wish good tidings for everyone at this time of year. OK, I wish good tidings to all. I'm a dog. It was cool to get extra treats & to have an extra lap to sit on while watching "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" after the Christmas dinner, but to be really honest, the best part of the day was at my own afternoon dinner when instead of just dry dog food I got yummy bits of gravy & turkey mixed in. Everyone else in the canine quarter was enthused, too.

Woof!

FAME!

2006-11-28T06:32:00.000-08:00

Oh, it's too cool! A picture of MOI featured in the Editor's Collecton of Christmas pets over on Webshots. It's my famous "Santa on a lap" pic.

See more of my pictures here:

Webshots

(Opens in new window)

Of course fame will not alter my sweet, unspoiled nature. I'll still be content with my weekend trips to the donut shop, being carried through the annual Dog Walk, cheese on my breakfast food and sleeping in the middle of Dad's bed.

Woof!

Projects, Projects!

2006-09-12T08:37:00.000-07:00

Wow! Things move along quickly sometimes! Labor Day weekend Mom and Dad erected a gazebo thingy in the back yard. It's neat-o! They put down a stone floor & it has mosquito netting so you can keep the bugs out. Then just this past weekend Dad and his friend Ricky got the outside siding and trim almost all finished on the downstairs addition! I'm impressed & Mom is really pleased.

Oh, yeah, Wednesday the 6th was Mom and Dad's 19th anniversary so they took a day trip to Moody Gardens in Galveston. Boy, were they gone a long time. But I was a good boy and there were no clean-ups for Mom when they got home. Yeah, MissyLu and BJ were good, too, but they have puppy pads if they really get uncomfortable. I won't use 'em myself.

Thursday was Dad's birthday. Mom figured he'd spend the day resting & watching his M*A*S*H dvd's, but instead he made a walkway from the driveway to the gazebo. What a guy!

Woof!

Dog Days of August!

2006-08-23T09:11:00.000-07:00

Wow! Mom's really depressed on account of the continued heat and lack of rain. She gets out and waters every day, but still her plants droop and die. Only 4 days this month have officially topped out at less than 100 degrees. Most of the grass is long gone and there is little hope for the hedges along the driveway. Even the weeds are dying!

That new cat doesn't do much to cheer her up, either. It has clawed up her bedskirt, a tablecloth, and the fabric covering on the hope chest. All this in spite of several expensive playthings and a perfectly good Oak log brought in just for clawing.

MissyLu and the kitten have become great friends. They play together a lot & the kitten seems to think MissyLu makes a good substitute mom & tries to nurse on her. BJ mostly ignores Lucy (kitten) now, but occasionally I take it on myself to administer a bit of discipline. That cat just gets up my nose sometimes!

Woof!

A New Addition

2006-07-09T08:16:00.000-07:00

There's a new nuisance in our Pug lives...a kitten. Dad brought it home, but Mom and the Pugs have to deal with it. So OK, she's a cutie...but she's totally wild! MissyLu is trying to make friends, BJ is really working to restrain her natural instinct to chase and I'm mostly neutral...mostly.

That downstairs project is really moving along. Mom leaves the door open most of the day now & we can go up and down the stairs whenever we want....mostly.

Mom's happy because we've had some rain lately. She's been able to skip the daily watering routine for almost a week now. However, the rain did fill up one of her planters and she had to rescue a couple of Pentas from drowning. Her esperanza was too deeply entrenched to repot & may be a lost cause, but still the rain was a good thing...mostly.

Woof!

Work, Work, Work!

2006-02-23T06:35:00.000-08:00

Whoa! I've been out of touch for such a long time. Not my fault!!! Mom's been working on the remod. She's been painting, staining, cleaning, sorting, etc. Getting so behind on all the important stuff! But she tells me we're really going to love the extra space. Even now we get really excited when we get to go downstairs...so many new scents!! Mom says there is a "doggie door" but that we can't learn about it until she's got the fencing up. I heard her telling Dad that the cats were using it already. I love to graze in the cat food container...

Yikes...there she goes again...yard work!!!

Keep cool!

Buster Brown

Frustrating Friday

2005-12-09T09:53:00.000-08:00

It's cold! Didn't get enough above freezing yesterday to thaw the water in the dog bowls on the deck. Mom kept "The Boys" and Ms Pogie in all day and all night with only 10 minute pottie breaks outside. Surprisingly, they all were pretty well-behaved and Mom only had a few messes to clean up. We (BJ, MissyLu and I) refer to the boys and MsPogie as the "outside" kids because they spend more time outside than we do. They even sleep outside on the deck when the weather's nice. I used to be an outside kid, but after Ms PoppyLu died Mom needed a lot of comforting so I stepped up to help.

One of the reasons Mom is so itchy about getting the downstairs remodelling job finished is because she's having a "doggie door" installed so everyone can come and go as they please. And there isn't going to be any carpeting downstairs so cleaning up accidents won't be a big deal. Mom has every cleaning device known to Woman, but she says the aroma we leave behind when we leave our calling cards resists all cleaning and is unpleasant to humans. Fancy that. Mind you, I NEVER make mistakes inside and neither does BJ, but MissyLu and the boys are still very young and haven't quite learned all the rules.

You're wondering where the "Frustrating" comes in on this Friday. Well, that's for Mom. Her computer connection is suffering a severe slow down. She has a cable connection, but it has been slow to the point of being unresponsive. Would you believe...her "backup" dialup service is working better than her cable broadband. She couldn't even help me with my Blog here until she got me on the dialup!! She tried everything...even disconnected her router...but nothing seems to help. I had to put my paws over my ears for the language!!

Woof!

Tough Tuesday!

2005-12-06T17:04:00.000-08:00

Wow! One of those "nervous" days around here. Mom and Dad took BJ off to her Dr's appointment this morning and it was more than my curly tail is worth to push for a treat today! Since I'm very perceptive, I knew they were really worried. That "teeth cleaning" turned into three extractions and some sutures. OUCH! Also, BJ is less than 4 months from her 10th birthday and she's a bit high-strung for a Pug, so anesthesia and major dental surgery are a bit tension making.

But BJ came through just fine. She came back home around 5:30 with her Christmas Holly bandana and a festive pink bandage around the leg where her IV drip was. I got to ride with Dad to pick her up and I gave her a thorough check up when we got back to the house. She's my pal, I gotta make sure she's OK.

Mom says when she's worried she needs to keep busy. Well, she certainly was busy today. She was up and down the ladder to the attic getting Christmas decorations and then she was downstairs helping Dad put in the bathroom floor for the remod. She's been keeping so busy yesterday and today that she even turned off the computer! Now that BJ's all better maybe we can get back to normal and start getting our treats again.

(Poor BJ can't have crunchy treats for 14 days!! Can you imagine?? 14 DAYS!)

Woof!
My Home

Donut Sunday!

2005-12-04T09:17:00.000-08:00

YES!!! Dad isn't going to the office today so I got to go to Home Depot and the donut shop!! YEA!
Saw some of my buds that work at Home Depot, but it was a bit early for kids to be out, so there weren't any of them to come up to pet me. We were gone for a long time.

Dad shared my donut holes with the rest of the kids when we got back home. Really ticked me off, but I didn't show it. I sat calmly while Dad called out the names of the others. Hooter was a real pain in the backside...he actually jumped up and got a piece of donut hole Dad said was for MissyLu! Mom had to step out on the porch and tell Hooter, "You better SIT!" before he started to behave.

When Dad moved the van to the garage he invited BJ to go along for the ride. I didn't mind. BJ had such a rough ride coming home from the vet's last week that none of us knew if she would even survive. She got really upset and sick, and Mom got scared when BJ didn't even calm down for over 24 hours after we got home. Mom doesn't know if it was riding in the van, being at the vet, or some reaction to vaccines or wormers that upset BJ so much. Mom suspects being at the vet's might be a problem because last time we were all boarded when Mom and Dad went on vacation, BJ got sick. When Mom and Dad got home, BJ had no symptoms at all. And now BJ has an appointment with Dr. Neil for a teeth cleaning next Tuesday and Mom's really worried. I hope all goes well.

Woof!
My Home

No Donuts today!

2005-12-03T10:42:00.000-08:00

Bummer! Dad had to work this morning so I don't get my Saturday morning trip to town and that stop at the donut shop. I was bouncing around at his heels as he was heading for the door, but Mom picked me up and said I couldn't go today. Talk about a mood-squasher!

Then Mom went off to town to do her monthly shopping gig with her friend Valerie. They talk on the phone a lot, so I know Valerie has a lot of dogs of the Italian Greyhound breed. Mom used to have those. In fact, it was after her 13 year old IG, Lacey (Ch. Pixie Lace of Willowmere) died in 1989 that Mom got her first Pug. I'm sure glad Mom picked out a Pug...although the way she tells the story, it was that Pug, Ms PoppyLu, that picked her. Interesting story, that...I'll tell it sometime.

Mom bought doggie stuff, as usual, but today she got mostly chewies. She's taking Dr Neil's comments about our weight much too seriously, in my opinion.

Dad's doing his annual Santa impersonation on weekends all this month, so he's not going to be getting a lot done on the house remodeling. Mom was hoping he and his helpful friends could get the "doggie door" installed so all us kids would have free access, but Dad hasn't got a round tuit, so it's not done yet. Dad really has a problem with those round tuits...he has so much to do but everything needs him to get a round tuit and that's not happening.

Oooh...Dad just called Mom and he's on his way home...I missed the trip to the donut shop, but maybe I'll get to go to Home Depot!!! Gotta go help Mom check the building supplies list!!!

Woof!

It begins

2005-12-02T08:29:00.000-08:00

Who woulda ever thunk it...here I am, a dog pound dog with my own personal web blog. Wow! ....OK, Mom reminds me that I'm probably not the first....but that doesn't lessen my wonder and delight! There are very few absolute "firsts" in this world, but when it happens to YOU it's an occasion, right?

Mom wants to know what I'm going to do with my blog. Hey...I'm a dog...I'm going to talk about what's important to me. That's food, shelter, food, companionship, food, play, food, etc. Hmmm...well, Mom says I've overemphasized the food a bit, but I'm just a bit focused on it at present because we've all been on reduced treat rations since our last vet visit. Sigh.

It's really difficult to try to see the world from a human perspective. Don't get me wrong...I love humans. But they are so self-important sometimes. They don't seem to grasp the fact that in the "BIG PICTURE" of continuing life on this planet they are of less importance than bees. Not that I'm fond of bees, mind you, and I fully realize that I owe the existence of my entire species (canis domesticus or something like that) to humans, but you know, really, humans are not very smart as a species.

But there I'm getting above myself. I'm a dog. I've had my breakfast, I've been outside, I need a nap.

Woof