The Trouble With Rain And A Basenji

So the trouble with rain for a basenji is that the pawrents constantly interrupt your sleep every time they think the rain has stopped. Yesterday we were bunkered in for the day because of the rain -- or so I thought. Every time the rain sort of stopped I was pulled out of my blankets and dressed up with harness and rain gear and dropped in my stroller and taken for a ride for a force out poop and pee.

First stop - the grass is wet and my paws are cold and I won't poop on demand and so we move on. Big Daddy plops me in my stroller and wraps me in my blanket until the next stop.

Talker forges ahead and clears the way. We growl at the bad humans who don't pick up their pup's poop and dodge the land mines.

Next stop Big Daddy places me on the wet grass and we have a stand off. I ain't moving and he ain't pulling. Mom calls out sweet names to me and pretends she and Tee are leaving me behind but I know the game. Heck I invented the game. It's a 'senji stand off and I've got the big hazel puppy eye liner eye and all I have to do is catch Big Daddy's attention and he calls out to mom, "She doesn't have to poop! Let's go back!"

A few hours later mom breaks my 'senji spell on dad. She tells him, "We need to go out again before it starts to rain!". Grrrrrrrr mom and her seductive ways. She's able to get dad up and out and me back into my rain gear and Tee into his four sizes too small rain gear. Grrrrrrrr!

This time mom takes the reins...or my leash. She believes she has the magic touch she says she can make me poop. We walk. We ride. We walk. We ride. We are running out of grass and the sky is turning dark and cloudy.

Finally I pull myself away from the wet grass and I poop on the sidewalk. Mom says its a winner and good enough for her because it's starting to rain. Fanfare! Applause!! Relief!

We head back home. The towel over my stoller is meant to protect me from the rain. My towel doesn't match my stroller. Dad didnt want to pay the extra price for the plastic rain protector that was built for my stroller; therefore I have a towel as a protector. It's ghetto but that's what I've got --- cheap cheap. It's Dad's doing and not my Mom.

Anyways we make it home and it's all good and I'm back in my snuggle spot in bed.

So the next afternoon we all head out for a poop and pee ride. I have to admit that I peed inside the house earlier that morning. Just as mom opened the semi French doors for some reason I didn't want to go outside with mom and Talker so I peed at the door inside the house Oh well. Let's not dwell on that incident. The point is while as we were coming home from our walk we noticed something up head.

Mom says, "Is that our towel? Is that Pumpkin's towel?". And sure enough there's my ghetto rain protector towel all soaking wet on the corner curb of Hastings Ranch and Alegria! Oh the shame and embarrassment of it all!!!! Big Daddy picked it up and quickly placed it on my stroller and hoped no one saw us! Ugh. But please...how could you not see?????

The trouble wiff Rain and a basenji is 100 times worst than any other pup because we have pride and dignity and yet we are forced to subject ourselves to the utmost humiliatlity by our pawrents.

As a basenji my poop is my business and not their business.

Little do they know that I knew exactly when that stupid towel fell off my stroller. I thought, "Yes! Now I'll get the real deal plastic protector on my stroller--mint condition!".

Ugh!!!!!! Foil again! Curse you Big Daddy!!!!!!

Update on My Health

I've received so many power of the paws best wishes about my health that I thought I would update you all here in my dairy.

Last Wednesday I was rushed to the vet because my dad found me outside on the patio when he got home. No one knows how long I was out there. I was a "mess" when he found me. I've been having trouble keeping my balance and when I would topple over, it was often times very hard for me to get up. So...I fell over and Talker wouldn't pick me up!!!

Anyways, I was rushed to the vet which was upsetting b/c mom and I missed Survivor!! We never miss an episode! Plus I don't like going to the vet. Sorry Dr. Sullivan but it's true!

I was checked over by the neurologist team and was sent home wiff steroids, pain and muscle relaxer pills. I have spinal issues and because my Dr. Sullivan (who performed my previous surgery two years ago) was not in (she was probably home watching Survivor) I was given the medication and had to return on Monday.

Well Monday came and I was looking and feeling better. So Dr. Sullivan said that we're going to do the round of steroids and pain meds and then I have to go back when I'm off of them to see if there is any change. If things go back to how they were then I will have the MRI and then..... well we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

Mom got a call from the vet about my blood work. I have hypothyroidism. This is the one that makes you gain weight; however, I now weigh 18.7 lbs. I lost about 4 lbs because last year mom has cut back on our food. I've lost weight, but Tee hasn't. My enzymes are also elevated, but it could be b/c of inflammation or because of the steroids (although I haven't been on them very long) or it could be because of my thyroid.

So we'll have to check that too when I return to the vet at the end of the month and the steroids have cleared my system. It's confusing b/c I needed to lose weight and mom cut our food back, plus, b/c I haven't been walking much, mom thinks I've lost muscle mass. So it's hard to figure out the why my thyroid is off.

So until the end of the month, I will continue wiff my meds and hope for the best.

That's my update. Thank you all PUPPERS for thinking of me and showering me wiff love and rosettes!!!

No Talk

we lost our voices. we don't know how but big daddy and us have larInGitis. never heard of it. didn't see it coming don't know how long we'll have it. it hurts when we try to speak. mom says it's quiet around the house wiff us not talking

BanCam Movie Review - Thin Ice!

Yesterday my peeps went to the movies. I hooked up the bancam to my dad and we all saw, Thin Ice starring Greg Kinnear, Billy Crudup, Alan Arkin AND in a key role, Petey the Cattle Dog!!! Wow it was great to see another pup in a feature movie.

I heard they offered the role to my basenji pal Patan, but since the movie takes place in rural Wisconsin in the winter he passed on it. Good thing because everyone in the movie looked really cold.

This movie had the feel of another movie called Fargo. There were lots of twists and turns in the movie as this insurance man attempts to swindle Gorvy Hauer played by Alan Arkin. But Petey was the one who really made the movie. Boy that pup has talent! Not only did he play his role well, but he also played the violin!!! Yes! He played the violin and the violin was a major part of the movie.

I really really enjoyed this movie and so did my peeps. There was some tense moments in the movie and I almost started to cry when... oh I won't tell you that part because it might spoil the movie.

Go see Petey in this movie. It gets 9 kibbles from me. I would have given it 10 but everyone looked so cold in the movie; except for Petey!

Casey the Cat Leaves One Last Scratch Mark

So I got my new pink stroller yesterday and this morning Dad started to put my stroller together. He had to stop because he couldn't find one little washer. So mom went to the hardware store to find one little washer but she couldn't find the exact size so she left because she had to pick up Casey's ashes at the vet.

Mom came home upset because the nice little box that had Casey's ashes in it had a scratch on it. *sigh* mom started to cry when she brought the box inside the house. She showed us the nice name plate and then she pointed out the scratch on the box. I told mom not to cry because Casey always scratched mom when she was a little kitten....and then after that when she was a cat...and then after that and after that some more.

So maybe that was just Casey's way of leaving mom a remembrance of her -- one more little scratch mark for mom. That made mom feel better.

Casey our Cat Goes on her Journey

Casey the cat was my friend and today she said it was time for her to go away. Mom and Casey had a private conversation very early this morning and mom said I couldn't be a part of it. Casey told mom that she had a long life but she was tired now and her body could not stay strong. She told mom that she loved their life together and even though mom brought talker and me into the picture she still loved her.

Casey told me that she was going to get her wings and that she will be back. I will wait for her.

Mom says that it hurts so much to let a beloved pet go and its because we give so much of our heart to our pawrents that when we leave their side, the pain is just too much. But mom says it's the love that lives forever and will heal the heart. I hope so cuz right now I have a big hurt on my heart.

The Importance of Being Ernest about Being Banners!

So this afternoon we were walking back to the house and Big Daddy was painting the front of the house. Mom unleashed me so I could say hi to Big Daddy while she went to the side of the house. Then I followed her but decided to walk into the garage that was opened cuz I just smelled something. So mom was calling me out so we could go in thru the front door, but I didn't want to leave. So mom came in to get me and then she smelled what I was smelling. We were smelling something burning!! Of course Talker was oblivious to it all cuz he was very concern about Big Daddy's brush strokes against the house.

Anyways, we couldn't find where the smell was coming from so we told Big Daddy and we all began searching the garage and the sides of the house. Well then ding dong Big Daddy realized that it was coming from a converted box in the garage. You see earlier he disconnected the doorbell and didn't cap the wires. Those wires were sending electricity to the converted box and it was getting hot and HE COULD HAVE BURNED DOWN THE WHOLE HOUSE!!

So I saved the day! Talker cited Dad for improper disconnection of wires and for not capping the wires!

I'm a HERO....AGAIN!!!

Today is my Gotcha Day!!!!!

Yes, I have one too pups!

from Mom and Big Daddy and Talker

Mom remembers this day very well. Two weeks before my official arrival date, mom and unkle Quinn went to Joshua tree to see me. My mom and dad met my brother at a play date they were having at their house. His name is Taj. Dad didn't want mom to get another basenji because Talker was so bad growing up. (thanks Talker for almost ruining it for me)

So after seeing Taj dad said go ahead and get our girl. (Thank you Taj for making a strong impression on my dad and making my life so happy) So mom and Quinn made the 2 hour trip to Joshua Tree to get me. We met and they fell in loved wiff me instantly. I was a happy puppy and I wiggled my little butt for them and they loved my little cinnabun tail.

Two weeks later they came back to get me and uncle Quinn put me on his lap and him and I fell asleep all the way home.

Then when I got to my new home and I met talker and he fell in love wiff me instantly. Then we all settled in but then this big monster came thru the front door wearing big monster work boots and scared the crap out of me.... Literally!

Turns out it was Big Daddy and he was upset and hurt cuz I was scared of him but he fell in love wiff me instantly too cuz I just have that affect on pups and peeps.

I'm happy to say that I've have a very wonderful life and I'm spoiled rotten as every pup in the world should be. Love is all I have known since my Gotcha Day!

BanCam Movie Review - Transformers

I forgot to do my bancam review of the movie Transformers which we saw last Saturday. Now let me add this disclaimer... this was not our choice of movies...big daddy picked this movie because usually it's mom's choice for movies, but big daddy needed a little ego boost so we let him pick the movie and BOY WAS THAT A MISTAKE!!!

Nothing but a bunch of talking machines transforming into cars. I don't get it.

This is the second transformer movie we've seen. We have banned Big Daddy from picking another transformer movie ... EVER!

HOWEVER...much to my surprise!!!!! TWO, not one, but TWO Saluki's were in this movie! They were beautiful and I heard mom gasp when she saw them appear on the big screen because she's always liked those long hairy ear dogs. I nearly choked on my pupcorn when I saw them. Unfortunately, or fortunately, they didn't have a speaking role. They were all about their looks and they walked across the screen very elegantly, I must say.

It's obvious to me, and fellow basenjis back me up on this one...they were not equipped for a speaking role. I hear they are all looks, and speed and nothing between those long hairy ears.

So...I'll give this movie....four pupcorns. It was a noisy movie and the fight scenes went on forever. Mom almost fell asleep and I couldn't fall asleep because of the noise.

Thank you!

Basenji Bratz is 4 Years Old!!!

April 6th is the Basenji Bratz 4th Year Annifursary! Our bratz have been together for all those years. It's so hard to believe. We've had Bratz come and go and come back again and go but the core bratz have still hung in for all the fun times.

We've had so many adventures throughout the years -- from riding on Santa's sleigh and visiting all the bratz across the country to breaking into the Texas Merricks Dog Food plant in Texas. We've celebrated birthdays and we've remembered those who have crossed to the Rainbow Bridge. We've Powered to the Paw for those that were ill and have given endless hugs to all in need of some loving.

We've celebrated our joys whether they were joys of our furfriends or whether they were joys of our two-legged friends. We've laughed and cry day after day and have found pleasure in even the smallest of things. We've created so many great memories and none of it would have happened had it been for the dedication of our hoomans who make it a point to stop in and check up on our families.

Thank you dear Bratz. You've given my family so much pleasure and so many smiles. May we continue to do all of the above for many many years ahead.

ONCE A BASENJI BRAT; ALWAYS A BASENJI BRAT!