Happy Birthday!!!

"Little" BigBoy is 22 years old today. Promptly arrived on his due date. He was always wonderful to take for photos, always could make him laugh. Only trouble was that he would get so tickled (southern for amused) he would break his pose. He comes home tomorrow for the long weekend. Sadly, he has the crud (southern for stuffy nose, runny nose, cough and sore throat).

This is from last year's birthday. He has requested lemon bars this year....but I'm also making him banana bread. Considering making a strawberry cake too. We'll see. VolleyGirl has the crud a bit also but played great in the volleyball game tonight. She has a tournament Saturday a bit over an hour away, starts early. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, at least all my baby chicks will be in the nest!!!!

Dogs On Thursday

Above is the poster my best buddy designed for dad for Father's Day....the white reflections, etc, are not part of his design....that's the crafty photography work of my secretary, ahem, so on top of things with sharing! Naturally, this hangs in dad's study, where he may look up above his desk and admire me.....or, he could just look behind him if I'm sleeping under the little desk......OR, just to his right in my leather throne. Either way, it's all about me, why would anyone want it any other way.

Last night I was waiting at the door and decided that probably I could just take myself out. The royal lead hangs on a doorknob to the right. Let's see, should hold one end by the paw......
That was terribly exhausting. Thus I must retire atop my royal pillow......Dear friends of fur, don't wait for the pokey two-legged buddies, take matters into your own paws! Til next week my buds Snuffles, Annie, Emma, Luna, Snickers, Buddy, Dizzy, Penney, Tonka, Hope, Trixie, Bella, Zoe, Chief and Sophie!!!

"FEED THE BEAST! FEED THE BEAST!"

My heart goes out to those north of me that are experiencing horrendous flooding, I have family and friends there, southwest, not far away, had deadly tornadoes, then further south, at our vacation playground, where they will be affected by the oil spill. We dodge and duck the weather, but so far, so good, we are very fortunate. Some of you were wondering, thank you for your concern. Count your blessings. Today, my attention goes to one of those awesome blessings...

My son arrives home this Thursday from college, for the summer. I so enjoy having him home as does Mr. U, VG and most of all, Apollo. While this is a joyous occasion, it does not come without consequence....OR without preparation. BigBoy is called so for a reason. He's a 6'3", 275-280 strapping 21 year old that may not be finished growing. He's also an avid weight lifter and those of you who have raised a boy can confirm, they eat large amounts of food.

One of these 5 ft. cubic chest freezers will make its home in my garage this week. Trips to the warehouse stores, Sam's and Costco, will hopefully provide some bargains to fill this baby with nutritional sustenance.

Hmmmm, perhaps one of these "park at your home" storage units would be in order to keep a full stock ready and handy.

Strategy is in the works to stay ahead of the game. I may be working more this summer, having knee surgery and do not want to go by the grocers every other day.

Why, you may ask, does the one that eats like an infant - every two hours, why doesn't he prepare for himself? He has and does occasionally, he's quite the cook, more so than VolleyGirl. However, I like to do all I can and here's why. He is a hardworking, never been in trouble and considerate son. He will take on all the Royal Canine Duties upon his arrival, helps in any way he can around the house, working full time (at home) on his computer doing graphics, will be a great help when I have surgery and is always considerate of his mom and dad. He's a protective, though often bossy, brother to VG. I keep his clothes clean and his belly full.....plus, he's still my boy and my time with him, living at home, is nearing the end. I enjoy it and want to help him. Hope he will have great memories of his mom being good to him all his years. Besides......what goes around, comes around. Circumstances may be that he provides some care for me one day - so I'm going to treat him very well! So, you see.....I'm no dummy! ;)

Dogs On Thursday: Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ...........

Dogs On Thursday: Life is Good!

Wow, the day almost got away from me! Look, I have found something new that I enjoy but apparently the 'lowlings' around here do not share my same excitement.....

Even mom had to laugh at my determination to get behind the blinds to look out back.

It has been pure joy having my best buddy home! He feeds me, cleans me, plays with me, takes me out, took me for a ride in his truck............sigh....I just love that boy! What can I say, my life is pretty set right now.....hope yours is too. Big woof out to Snuffles, Annie, Luna, Emma, Tonka and all you other classy canines!

Change Is Coming!!! Ten More Thrilling (ahem) Facts

I get all excited...well, not all the time, but sometimes. It's hard for mom to catch it on camera since I'm fast as the wind! It's been pretty ho-hum around here and I have managed to pick up a bit more quality resting time but I feel the change coming on...........no, not Spring......Big Boy is heading home this Friday! I will be in hog-dog heaven for over a week!!!!! Mom not only likes to take pictures of me, she has been wracking her bring to think of ten more things that help put you to sleep! They are:


31) Went snow skiing once, at Lake Tahoe

32) Attended an Elvis concert

33) Walked 12 miles for March of Dimes

34) Sang with Contemporary Christian women's quartet for years

35) I was a Homecoming Queen

36) Wish I had been a nurse

37) I have fibromyalgia

38) Toured Louisiana swamp and fed alligators

39) Have worked for two Fortune 500 companies

40) I hate hearing the F-word

I'm going back to sleep until at least 11:00 a.m., then it's mealtime!!! See you all again next Thursday.
Sincerely, Apollo

Yesterday's Gone........Thankfully!

Tuesday started off fine, at least it was at 6:15 in the morning when the four-legged boss was taken out first thing. Shortly after though, the blur that I was seeing from my right eye meant I could expect a headache. I very, very rarely have a migraine and only once or twice has it ever been bad. Drove VolleyGirl to school then came home and laid on the couch with the Canine Messiah. It worsened, nausea, throw up, lovely picture, huh? Finally dozed off, woke up, some better, then VolleyGirl calls from school wanting me to pick her up cause she's not feeling well. Thankfully, I was better, but it leaves what I call a headache hangover where you still feel a bit bad and drained. She had experienced dizziness and nausea....I think it is sinus trouble. She's ok. Went to grocery store, had to, had put it off yesterday. Took it easy for the most part. Later, BigBoy calls, and I answered the phone with "did you win?" He told me over the weekend he was playing a rec basketball game at 4:00. My reply was did he think that was a good idea....I knew he would go full speed, jump big, go all out. He's a really big boy now, not built like a basketball player, more like a big lineacker and whether I like it or not, he lifts alot of weight and eats a lot of food and is pushing 6'4" (he's grown in college). I feared him messing up an ankle or knee. First words from his mouth was "you jinxed me." Great. I could tell he was upset. Sure enough, turned his right ankle and he suspected it was broken. I told him I did not jinx him, just never felt good about it and had spent some time telling myself that I shouldn't worry about a 20 year old playing basketball. How would he get to class, to eat, to the doctor. Long story shortened (a bit), it is not broken and it is very black and blue this morning, but swelling is better and he can put weight on it and is able to drive. Whew! My parents must have felt terrible when I hurt my knee away at college and was put in a huge cast, couldn't drive my Volkswagen beetle. My mother wanted me to come home but I wanted to stick it out.......know how it feels now. We dodged a bullet this time!

Here is a pencil drawing from years ago, today is another day!