Quickie Update

Hi there - I've been enjoying reading all of your blogs, but I've been less than regular in blogging myself.  I have been snapping lots of pics the pups doing silly stuff, so I'm going to do a quick update here of random stuff.

1.  We are moving!  We stumbled across a house literally around the corner from us as it went up for sale.  1 acre yard, decent house, though a little bit neglected the last few years.  Can't wait to introduce the dogs to the big back yard and watch them run.  Makes my heart happy just to think about it.

2.  Thumper caught another mole.  The guys found it Sunday when they were mowing the yard.  He killed it and hid it this time, so I wouldn't throw away his treasure like before.  I have seen no evidence of a bitten nose this time, and I have not found any ringworm either.  (To recap a previous post - he killed a mole a couple of years ago and ended up with a giant ugly sore on his nose.  I blamed the mole.  I'd like to link to the previous post about his mole-hunting expeditions, but I can't figure out how to do that.)

3.  Since Lightining's surgery a couple months ago, he wants to play alot more, and he is a bit bolder in playing with Thumper.  Typically, if Thumper has a toy, Lightning ducks and hides.  T is top dog, way more alpha than Lightning.  So I was very surprised to Lightning take Thumper's ball, and play keepaway with it.  Or dog parade as I like to call it....Lightning marches purposefully around and around the furniture with Thumper following him step for step.  It eventually turns into chase-me-up-the-stairs, and then Lightning dives under a bed with the ball (Thumper is a bit too big to crawl under there).  Lol.  He's not such an old guy after all.  ;)

Go ahead and stare.  You shiny eyes don't scare me.   I've got the ball now.  HA!

NOTE:  When Thumper got the ball back, he tore it up.  Gutted it and left what was left scattered all about.  I guess if he can't have it, no dog can.  

4.  Thumper has mastered the "down" command.  So far, he knows "sit", "down", and "off".  Working on "stay" and trying to break him of pulling on the leash.  Thanks to some advice from Human Rescues Dog, I am feeling inspired.

5.  Lightning is giving me really dirty looks right now.  I think he is trying to make me feel guilty for blogging instead of petting him.  He keeps scratching his ears and looking pitiful, glancing glaring at me while he does it.   Now he's licking his toes....

On that note, I will wrap this up and go scratch his ears.  It's nice to be needed.

Good night and stay cool...it's miserably hot here.  Thank goodness for A/C.

Monday Mischief - On the Sofa

So this is what I have had to resort to keep the dogs off the furniture.  Lightning, especially, thinks his spot is on the big couch, but Thumper will sneak up there too.  Mischief - it's their middle names!

Lightning is less than thrilled about this arrangement......



Fine, then.  I shall lay outside but not on the ground of course and get hot and stinky. 
I will give her "the eye" and act like a martyr.  Yes I give up my comfy couch spot to a basket of laundry
and case of water.  But it's got my blankie.  Can I have my Blankie back? 







 

Greetings from Panama City Beach

Otherwise known as the rainiest-place-on-the-gulf-coast-full-of-boredboys-whose-games-were-cancelled-for-two-days. we are here this week for the end of season baseball tournament. Heavy rain crashed the party two days into it. Monday and Tuesday went as planned. From here on, we are at the mercy of the rain. Since I get a sunburn every time I go to a day time game, this could end up being ok. I hate sunburn.

I'm missing my pups. They are home with a house sitter. I've heard they are doing well. They are eating well. Lightning got some guts and took Thumper's bone, and when Thumper got it back, he would not let it out of his site. They both got a very thorough brushing too. House sitter said all the loose fur was making her itch. I thought it was just a figure of speech until she sent a picture of the eye drops and allergy medicine she bought for the itching. That kinda made me feel bad. I know my house contains more dog hair than dust (not saying there isn't plenty of that too) but I took it personally. I try to keep it clean, and I even hired a cleaning lady, though the thoroughness of the cleaning has been questionable lately. Anyway, house sitter said she got 2 dogs of fur off Lightning, 1 off Thumper, 2 off the floor, and 1 more out of the dryer (really?). Ha. Ha. How can they not be bald? Enquiring minds want to know.

Happy 4th of July to you all. Remember to keep the pups secured if there will be fireworks around. Our family has a deep connection to the military, and I am often reminded of the sacrifices made for the sake of freedom. Even if I disagree with the politics driving the decisions, I see the men and women and their families and the sacrifices that impact their lives long after the tour is over. I will be thinking of that as we celebrate the 4th. A sign in the hotel says fireworks are not allowed in Florida, which is ironic because there are places selling them everywhere we go. I don't know if we will see fireworks, but I believe our day will include a trip to the Ripleys Believe it or not Museum. Finally - something that got the Baseball Player excited (hunting sea shells with mom sure didn't). If he gets to choose dinner, I expect either cheeseburgers or pizza. Isn't the palate of a teenager adventurous?

Enough rambling - its 3 AM and someone's snoring has kept me awake. I've got a good case of insomnia now so I'll see if I can get caught up on my blog reading, provided the Internet connection cooperates. Oh the joys of being away from home. Hug your doggies for me....

Til next time,
S