Sweet Dreams Forever More [11.4.09]

For Adelade, Camper of Chaos. 6/9/09 - 11/4/09

All my mem'ries, gather 'round her,
Our sweet lady, stranger to blue water.
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky,
Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye.

Country Roads, take me home,
To the place I belong:
Heavenbound, our sweet lady,
Take me home, country roads.

I hear her voice, in the mornin' hours she calls me,
The radio reminds me of my home far away.
And drivin' down the road,
I get a feelin' that I should have been home yesterday,
Yesterday.

Country Roads, take me home,
To the place I belong:
Heavenbound, our sweet lady,
Take me home, country roads.

Elvis Is In the Doghouse [10.27.09]

Ladies & Gentlemen, Elvis has entered the doghouse! Da-da-dah, da-da-dahhhh...

I've wanted to do that every since Big Mama told us my babies name is Elvis. And now I have been able to write it, meaning he is in the doghouse. He's in the doghouse with me, that is. He does cramp my writing style since he keeps chewing on my pencil. Having snatched a few writing utencils from indoors, I have extra, so it's no big deal.

Elvis came running outside quickly with Big Daddy on his heels. Seems like he pooped on the rug in the living room. Silly boy, he knows better than that. I guess that's why he was running full speed to get outside & away from Big Daddy's lecture. I was lying here, dreaming good ol' dog dreams in my cool rockin' doghouse. Then in came Elvis, jostling my dreams & knocking me in the head.

Poor little fellow, he just needed his mommy to be the good cop while Big Daddy is the bad cop. We can't have our baby not being loved, but also can't have our baby not housetrained, especially when there's a doggie door at Camp Chaos. Now that I have my little snuggle bug with me, I'm going to cuddle up with him & get back to that nap.

Now I lay me down to nap.
I'm sorry, Big Daddy, that Elvis crapped.
If I should die before I wake,
Please watch over Elvis, for Heaven's sake.

Be Mine, Lady Luck [10.19.09]

Go away, Mr. Infection! I need no more of you!

That's what I've been saying in the direction of my bootie every day. Big Mama told me to get better because I have a job to do here at Camp Chaos. I'm officially a Furever Camper of Chaos! Yippeee!!!

Being a Furever Camper means I don't ever have to leave, except for vet visits. Vet visits aren't so bad. I thought I was having my last vet visit last week, but low & behold, the nasty thing growing in me got small again. Now all I have to do is go back for check-ups. That's a relief. I know Big Mama worried about me until she almost made herself sick. She loves me a bunch. I got really lucky when I stumbled to her fence on that hot Summer morning in June. With all the dogs barking on the other side, I knew there would be someone there who would know how to help me, but I didn't know I was hitting jack pot.

Now if we can just help Big Daddy pick the winning lottery numbers so they can hit jack pot, we'll be good to go. "Come on, Lady Luck! You've helped me so much, can you please help my Bigs?"

I Want A Pocketbook [10.9.09]

I hate starting my day writing about a bad start to the day. Today is another one of those days with a start I hate. I guess it all happens after midnight, which is officially today & not last night.

Big Mama kissed me goodnight when she went to bed. I was enjoying the rocking recliner during TV time & thought I'd just sleep there. All is well in the world.

The problem arises when I awake in the whee hours of the morning. Lately it's been Patti Cake's problem instead of mine. It seems Big Mama thinks she's the one who's been bringing lots of stuff outside & destroying it. This morning I got busted.

Big Mama came outside with Tiny Elvis--who isn't all that tiny anymore--to find me in the doghouse with her pocketbook & contents at my paws. Oops.

It's always more fun to bring a bag outside when I go. Big Mama's bags are great to go through, having things like a wallet, a change purse, her watch, even some lemon-grass deoderant. There are lots of toys & Nylabones outside, but the surprise is what I love. Granted, I have to destroy some zippers every now & then to get my surprise, but it's worth it. After this morning, I may spend my nights in the mansion with Patti Cake, but if not, then watch out, Big Mama! I'm coming for your pocketbook until I get my own!

I Got A New Doghouse! [10.3.09]

I got a doghouse! Big Mama has worked extra hard since June when I checked into Camp to get me to stay in the house instead of outside. When Big Mama is home, she has to coax me inside. When it rains, she tells me it breaks her heart when she finds me outside in the rain. I try to stay inside because I love her & don't want to break her heart.

They've never had a reason to get a doghouse since Big Daddy says they pay a mortgage on a 'doghouse' that they too get to live in, so he's not putting one in the backyard to junk it up. Fair enough.

Big Mama came home very excited today, saying I get a new house! Auntie Sandi won me a doghouse! She went to the Cause for the Paws benefit for Metro Animal Care & Control of Nashville. She bought tickets to win neat prizes & got a doghouse that she gave to me! I've never had anyone give me such a good present! I've never really gotten presents to be honest, so I was really tickled to get something so special. Auntie Sandi was really excited, too, & called Big Mama to say if they can pick it up from Printer's Alley, it's mine all mine.

And just like that, I have a beautiful doghouse. It has a shingled roof to keep me extra dry. It is painted a pretty yellow color & has paws painted all over it. How cool is that? Way cool, I tell you. The only thing cooler is that Big Mama put a big soft comforter in it for me & now smiles when she sees me sitting outside. She still puts her head out the doggie door and calls, "Adelade, come inside for lovin'!" And I run right up the steps & hop through the door. I'll always come a' runnin' for some lovin' from Big Mama!

Good Day, Sunshine!

It's been really nice weather at Camp Chaos this week. God has given us cooler days & nights with blue skies & no rain.

Finally no rain! I was getting really tired of jumping my geriatric bones over the garden fence only to be stuck there with it raining. Sometimes Big Daddy doesn't get home until later in the afternoon &, there I was, stuck in the garden with the sky pouring buckets on me. I ran around in circles, throwing mud from here to yon, killing any remaining plants. Most of them weren't bearing fruit anyway (just like me!) so I didn't get into huge trouble, but I didn't get any love from Big Daddy & I was wet. Thus, I had to go roll around on the chair to dry off my silky, soft coat. It's amazing what a good diet & fish oil will do for an old dog's coat like my own. I don't shed as much & it's not pokie & brittle like it used to be. The shed factor is a good thing, especially when I use the furniture to dry myself.

Big Mama wanted to sell that chair, but now it smells like wet-Adelade in addition to having the handle chewed up. Looks like my favorite chair will stick around for my lounging & drying pleasure. If Big Mama were home, she would dry me off with a big fluffy towel. She would kiss me on the nose as she was doing it too. I guess that's why she's the doormat & Big Daddy is our Alpha. God bless them both.

My New Baby Is So Sweet!

Tiny Elvis came back home from Dr. Mike's & is such a wonderful addition to our happy family. He stays in the bathroom when we're home alone, but I get to stay in the room next to him, and we talk through the doggie gate. He's quite the talker, too! I don't remember any of my babies being this talkative. I guess that means Elvis is super-duper smart in addition to being super-duper cute.

Big Mama, Tiny Elvis, & I had some sofa time last night. I took advantage of my baby being still & did a little grooming for him. He did his best to groom me a little but all I got was a wet nose, better known as a puppy kiss. I love puppy kisses. Big Mama said he's been stingy with puppy kisses, but I'm getting my fill from him!

Big Mama told me last night I can go have a sleepover with a friend named Otis. She said he's really pretty & energetic and I might enjoy it. I'm kind of worried, though. I like it here at Camp, so maybe I'll just have a playdate here & there with Otis. If I could speak to them like Elvis can, I'd tell them I'd rather stay here until my own furever family finds me, which might never happen. So far nobody has been interested in adopting me, not even with Big Mama begging good people she knows to give me a chance. Big Mama said not to let that bother me, they just don't realize what a perfect old girl I am. She & Big Daddy both said I can stay here as long as I need to stay, which makes me happy. I know I am safe & loved here at Camp Chaos, and that's all this old girl needs.

Tiny Elvis Came & Left

Over the weekend, Big Mama brought a puppy home for me. It is so nice to have little ones around. It's even nicer that we're helping a puppy in need rather than anyone I know & like being pregnant. I've been pregnant quite a few times & I am SO glad it will never happen again. One of the perks to being abandoned is getting rescued!

And now we've rescued a mouse named Elvis. Well, he's a puppy, but he looks like a mouse. His head is too big for his body currently, which isn't the mousy part of his appearance. He's just so tiny. Bless his heart, his littermates & mama haven't been very nice to him. He told me while we were in the bathroom that he never had his own food bowl & they didn't share with him either. His water bowl is even festive with jack-0-lanterns on it, thanks to some friends of The Whole Kit & Kapoodle who donated it to Camp. Elvis likes it, too. His old backyard used a tall bucket for water & he was too little to ever get a drink from it.

Right now his water & food bowls are empty. Yesterday Big Mama took Elvis to see Dr. Mike. He had a rough morning with vomiting everytime he ate & constant diarrhea. I spent some time with him in the bathroom, encouraging him to eat, but he was so tired from being sick, he told me he just couldn't bear to eat. I feel for my new baby & hope he's doing well at Dr. Mike's hospital. The people there are so wonderful, I can't imagine Elvis isn't on the road to recovery already. I'll be excited when he comes home so we can have TV time with Big Mama together. I think I'll lie down a few minutes now while enjoying the morning shows.

Now I lay me down to rest.
I pray to God for my puppy's best.
Please send Your healing Elvis's way.
For he needs Your care & help today.
Amen.

Waddayamean Geriatric?

She may not know it, but while Big Mama is at the office, I check out her Facebook & play Mafia Wars as her. What's it matter that it's a secret? It's not like anyone else around here knows how to use a mouse, except for trying to eat the live kind, so I figure it's harmless.

Yesterday I read her CaptChaos37206 blog about my puppy Clyde going to Precious Friends. I don't know who these precious friends are, but I hope they take good care of him. Juno went to them, too, when she graduated, so I'm assuming they're the best at what they do.

In her blog she said we're back to being the Long Term Care Facility for Feral & Geriatric Campers, which is so unfair. I'm pretty sure I'm the geriatric dog after taking a look around at my brothers & sisters. Based on the gray fur factor alone, I'm the oldest by a long shot, but I feel younger & better than I have ever felt! 12 is the new 5 as far as this Camper is concerned.

And, on the feral note, Patti Cake is doing so much better, too! She seems to like going after boogers when she gives kisses, but since Big Mama typically doesn't have boogers, Patti Cake seems to be giving up that ghost & going for a simple kiss on the chin or cheek when Big Mama asks for a kiss. When we had cuddle time in bed yesterday afternoon, Patti Cake even invaded my space to get close to Big Mama to be petted. I really think she is turning a corner in socialization. All she needs now is to learn to jog. Not that I've ever jogged, but Big Mama talks about it so much, you'd think she's an expert.

Big Emma going to Italy?

Big Mama said last night that Big Emma is moving to Florence this weekend. Now that I'm a Minunno, I am considered Italian so I know that Florence is in Italy. Big Mama took the map of the world down off the wall in the bathroom when she moved here, she said, so I don't know exactly where Italy is, but I know it's pretty durn far.

I can't imagine how long it will take her new family to get here all the way from Florence, but it seems like "just a few hours" was the answer Big Daddy got.

Emma will have a little brother named Bobo, too. Her new Big Mama likes to walk with Bobo & plans on taking Big Emma with them when they go for their daily walks. That will be a great thing for Emma in terms of shedding a few pounds.

I'm hoping it's not too much to mail stuff from Florence to Nashville so she can send me the extra pounds when she's done with them. I've gained a few pounds lately, but Big Mama says there is still room for growth. I feel better, too, and like to gallop to the porch to greet Big Mama when she gets home. She makes sure she gives me extra love right then and there. I can't wait for her to get home. Is it 5 o'clock yet?