Sushi Is GOOD!

I celebrated my 6th rebirthday this month and, like last year, celebrated my nicking some yum-yums from Dad. Last year it was a Entemann's raspberry twist, which I still highly endorse. This year though was even better. Dad, in a rush to work left a package of sushi on the dining room table. He hadn't turned the corner of our street when I had it off the table and in my belly. It was salmony delicious! I left most of the wasabi and pickled ginger, but the rest was so tasty.

Dad came home right as soon as he remembered it, but it was too late. Outlaw Rosie Wales strikes again. Not long after coming back in the house I let out a satisfying belch. Dad said, "Rosie, you burp like a man. No, I burp like a dog who just gobbled up sushi!

It's My Rebirthday...Twist! Twist!

It's my 5th rebirthday today! Five years I've lived in the lap of luxury so I decided to celebrate in style, and early. Dad had a couple chores to do outside before work. He was bringing an Entenmann's raspberry twist danish to work to share and left it on the counter thinking it was just going to be a couple minutes and I wouldn't go after it. Boy was he ever wrong. As soon as he was at the door it was danish time. I pulled the bag down, got to the box, ripped through the plastic and went to town. By the time I got busted I had gotten through most of it.

Dad of course was not pleased. After scolding me, which I didn't care about as I was too busy worrying about what was going to happen to the rest of the danish, he scanned the ingredients list for bad stuff, then called the vet just to double check.

Let me tell you something, if you have the chance to score an Entenmann's raspberry twist danish, do not hesitate. It just might be better than cat poop...seriously.

And tonight I am getting a pup cake that I get to share with Shelly. And it's challah night. This is bittersweet for Dad who always remembers Isabel on Fridays since she loved challah so much.

Well, this rebirthday I am grateful for my Dad who loves me, even when I eat his danish, for Shelly who came to live with me after Isabel went to the rainbow bridge, and for all my belly rubbins, and of course the food food food...especially Entenmann's raspberry twist. I cannot emphasize enough just how good that stuff is. Now if I could only have had a few slurps of Dad's coffee to wash it down. That would have been bliss...maybe tonight. Hee hee.

My Dearest Rosie

You are 5 years old now by best guest, and we just celebrated your fourth rebirthday; four years since you became a part of our pack, and little sister to our now cosmic Isabel. It was a bittersweet celebration. I would have preferred it have been in the physical presence of your dear Shellies whom you loved with all your heart, but your new sister Shelly has been a much needed distraction for you, and I can tell how much you are enjoying having someone to play with again. It will take time for the true sister bond to come out, but I can already see you mentoring Shelly, just as Isabel took you under her wing when you arrived. You taught Shelly how to sit pretty in less than a day, and how to lay down. You've been very patiently coaching her in the fine points of take away, a game you and Isabel instantly developed.

I know that Shelly may not be the other half the way Isabel was, but she loves you so, and looks to you for guidance. I was particularly touched by how you showed her the gentle way to approach The Moo, just like Isabel tried to do with you. Though you still insist on tackling him and licking his head from time to time, Isabel's lessons obviously took because you showed Shelly how to nuzzle and not get bopped in the face.

You have been very brave through all of this, and have been a great source of comfort to me during these days of heavy grieving. A piece of our hearts have been torn out and we are both bereft. But you soldier on with Shelly and give her the love she needs, and are teaching me how to learn to be open to that new love, while still honoring our cosmic girl. In the grand scheme of things I guess we would not have brought a new dog home so soon, but she chose us for a reason. She has brought back the love and exuberance that was our Isabel, something we were lacking and hurting without. And the more time goes on, the more I think Isabel visits us through Shelly, letting her spirit come in so she can say hello and kiss us.

I love you Rosie so much. You are my dear and precious Petals. Let's have a great year in spite of our loss, and bring Shelly in and love her the way Isabel loved us...full tilt all the time.

An End of Year Note from Dad

Dear Rosie,

I won't go through the whole year rehash with you. I know you don't need it. We've had a lot of changes, and you've handled it all quite well. You have showered love on Mama San, maybe a little more enthusiastically than she would like sometimes. And you couldn't be happier about your new playmate Banjo. It's hard to believe that a cat and a dog could be separated at birth, but somehow it happened, and you have been reunited. Your shared gluttony, clumsiness, and stubbornness astound us every day. Just as amazing is that Banjo lets you put his head in your mouth making him soaking wet. You guys are weird.

It still seems like yesterday that we saw your sad little face on the APS website lookin' so sad. Right now you are sleeping beside me, warming up Mama San's side of the bed. You are my vigilant snuggler, keeping us warm, and protecting us against angry squirrels, errant birds, dastardly mail carries, and delivery men. Though there was one time this past year when those watch dog skills you've been honing came in handy. When that stranger was at the door the only thing protecting him from becoming one with his maker was a glass window not much thicker than my thumbnail. Thank you for your bravery and quick instincts girl.

You are a great friend, and I love you in spite of all your bad habits, attempts at coffee drinking, and barking fits in the barkatorium. And as crazy as I thought you were for fishing a used condom out of the trash can and pooping it out on the lawn, I have to respect you for doing it twice.

You're nuts, but I love you my Spreadles. May the new year be one of continued good health, good food, and warm snuggles.

Love,
Dad

Back to the vet...and then the Barkatorium

I had to go to the vet today to get my leptospirosis booster. Dad says they only last 6-8 months so he didn't want to wait until February to get mine done, especially with all the possum, racoons, and stray dogs roamin' our neighborhood.

Some people are afraid of getting their dogs the shots. We've done some research and found that the vaccine is a lot safer now than it used to be. There's a company that makes the vaccine that uses the antigens only instead of the bacteria itself. This makes it a lot less likely that you will get sick from the shot. It also means you're less likely to have a bad reaction to it.

Anyway, the first thing they did was weigh me. I'm a svelt 39lbs. Then they tried to put a thermometer in my butt. I guess they didn't figure out from last time that there's no way I'm letting anybody put anything in my poop chute. That kinda set me off and made me a bit nervous when it came time for my shot. Dad had to pick me up and cradle me while one of the techs tempted me with treats. Then they stuck me with the needle and it was all over. Then I got more treats.

When we got home I got to have some lamb lung squares and water. Then I hung out with Dad for a little bit before he went to work. He wanted to make sure I wasn't having a reaction to the vaccine. Then I went and laid down with Mama San.

Later on Mama San had to ban me from the Barkatorium. The Barkatorium is my new observational command center from where I can keep tabs on the neighbors, squirrels, the lactating dog, and that beagle from up the street who always comes to our neighbor's yard and bellows at us. Anyway, when there is an encroacher nearby I go into full alert bark mode which makes Mama San a bit cranky, especially when she's trying to sleep. So I got banned from the Barkatorium today. Wasn't the first time, and won't be the last!

Bye Bye Toadie

Well that toad was back. It won't hibernate because it's too warm. Dad took it down the street a couple times, but it always comes back. And I always try to eat it. But Dad says that could make me really sick, or even dead, so when the toad came back tonight he made it go away...permanently.

No he didn't bash it's head in with a rock. He picked it up in a bag, put it in his car and drove it away. Yes, my toad has been relocated to a nice area near some gardens with a pond. Dad says Toadie will be very happy there. He said that if it comes back from there, having crossed major roads and other obstacles to get back to our house, then he'll bash its head in with a rock.

Stuff + Rosie= Awesome!

I'm on stuffonmymutt with my Hedgie! Dad sent in a series of pictures like on my Dogster page and they put one on. Unfortunately they not only misnamed me Norman, they also identified Hedgie as a porcupine. That's what happens when you drink and post I guess. Anyway, it was fun to have my 15 seconds of fame.

You can see me and post a comment at http://www.stuffonmymutt.com/index.php?startpos=10

Hooray!

My Shellies is fine! The vet said the lump was an autoimmune response to the rabies vaccine sh got last week. The lump should go away completely in a couple of months. What a relief! Thank you to everyone who said a prayer, offered words of encouragement, and rosettes. We really appreciate it!

My Shellies Has a Lump

Dad found a lump under the skin on Isabel's back this afternoon. Now he's all freaked out. I am too. I love my Shellies and I don't want anything to happen to her. Hopefully it's just a fatty tumor or something. But I'm scared to death. She has a vet appointment in the morning. In the meantime, I'm staying close to her. Please say a prayer that my sister will be okay. I'd be lost without her.

Toad

There's a toad that lives in our yard. I like him very much. I call him Toadie.

Toadie is hippity hoppity.
Toadie is bumpy and brown.
Toadie is irresistable.
Toadie somehow ends up in my mouth.
Toadie makes me drool.
Toadie falls out of my mouth.
Then Toadie goes away.
Where are you Toadie?
Then I feel funny.