The Holidays ...

Wow … it has been forever since I have written in my diary. So much has been happening with the holiday season. Let’s see where I had left off …Mommy and I went to see Uncle Peder, Uncle Charles, and my canine cousin, Aida, in November. We had a blast! Aida was so much fun to play with. Uncle Charles works at a college teaching veterinary technician classes; we went to go visit him at work. Everyone made fun of me trying to act tough by barking at several goats but then becoming very quiet when the whole herd of goats came over to see what all the commotion was about. Hey … I know when I am outnumbered! Especially by creatures that look a lot bigger than me … and some with horns! Mommy tried to keep me in some type of harness in the car while we were driving … it didn’t take me long to figure out how to get out of that one. Using the ‘puppy eye look’ along with some well-executed whining got me into her lap for the remainder of the trip. Now she is saying something about using a crate during our next road trip… any suggestions on how to get out of that one?!?

Thanksgiving was extra special since we had so much company in from out of town. Uncle Peder, Uncle Charles, and my canine cousin, Aida, came from Dallas; Aunt Jackie came from some far away place called Indianapolis. And we all went to my canine cousins, Sophie and Bobo, Uncle Bob, and Aunt Lisa’s home for Thanksgiving. There was so much food! Mom slipped me a very small piece of turkey for my Thanksgiving feast along with my usual prescription diet. Later Mommy and I fell asleep on the couch in each other’s arms. What bliss! We then went to visit my grandparents, Uncle Corey, Aunt Sherry, and their children. I had so much fun playing with their dog, but wasn’t quite use to being around such small children. Their sudden moves would startle me … I would start barking, in turn scaring the children which saddened me. Mommy wanted to take me along on a motorcycle ride with Granddad but since they didn’t have a helmet that fit me, I wasn’t able to go. I don’t know if I would have liked it very much anyway. The downside of the entire Thanksgiving holidays was when everyone had to return home. I missed sleeping with my Aunt Jackie.

For Christmas, Mommy signed us up for DOGSTER PLUS. I am so excited … now I can give out Rosettes and do other things on DOGSTER that I wasn’t able to do before. I am also honored to have been chosen as Secretary of Health and Canine Services by President-Elect Isabel (Roverandom) … as soon as the holidays are over, I will be getting to work on my new responsibilities for this high honor. I am very excited about getting the word out about doggie evacuation rights … the recent MODERNDOG magazine had an excellent article about how poorly our canine and feline brothers and sisters were treated during the recent Hurricane Katrina. I also want to do something about changing the way our canine brothers and sisters are treated who served proudly in the armed services.

Happy holidays to everyone … Mom is trying to get me to pose for a picture under the tree for the Holiday Picture Party but I’m not being very cooperative. Who can blame me … I’m just too excited waiting for Santa to come! - Nathan

Dallas ...

Mommy and I are going on a big road trip to Dallas to visit Uncle Peder and Uncle Charles!!! I am so excited! I have never been on a road trip before. Mom has my stuff packed in my little suitcase … raincoat, winter coat (has not been needed thus far this year), and sweater (also not needed so far this year). I’ll keep ya’ll posted on my first trip!

Geez … doesn’t Mom know I was born to protect her. Last night we went for a long long walk around the medical center … she got mad at me as I barked and growled at people passing by. Mom told some children that I needed to go home and get a spanking (didn’t happen) and take a manners class (don’t think that is going to happen either). She has been trying to get me to quit challenging every dog that we meet saying something about me potentially bringing on more trouble than I want. And then she was upset when I kicked some dirt and grass on her … well, hello, don’t stand behind me when I am finished going to the bathroom. It’s just common sense!

I was really exhausted last night after the long walk. You would have thought Mom would have let me sleep peacefully through the night but no such luck. She kept waking me up mumbling something about me snoring too loudly. How rude! I never wake her up when she is snoring … I would think that she would show me the same courtesy.

I am excited about trying to get the word out about doggie evacuation rights (see LEGISLATION WOULD INCLUDE PETS IN EVACUATION PLANS under the HURRICANE KATRINA forum or THE PETS EVACUATION AND TRANSPORTATION STANDARDS ACT under DOG LAWS AND LEGISLATION forum) but will write more on that subject after the road trip. Barks to everyone - Nathan

Flying and having my teeth brushed ...

Is there some conspiracy between my mom and the mean animal doctor to make my life as miserable as possible?!? First of all … the prescription diet to prevent recurring bladder stones. Then having to be taken to have my teeth cleaned under anesthesia. Now, Mom attempting to brush my teeth several times a day saying something about me being only on a canned food diet. No respect whatsoever. And she is suffering from some type of delusional disorder thinking that I like it since the toothpaste is beef flavored. Let’s get one thing straight … I DO NOT LIKE HAVING MY TEETH BRUSHED, NOT ONE BIT! The struggling should have been a hint about my feelings on this subject.

The latest in Mom’s life is that she has decided to pursue her lifelong dream of obtaining her pilot’s license. That’s okay with me … until she started talking about making me a bomber jacket complete with scarf/hat/goggles to wear when I am with her. I like my four legs firmly planted on the ground, thank you very much. She says I will like it as long as I am properly harnessed in … maybe, if I can stick my head out the window! More later - Nathan

DIARY OF THE DAY ...

MOM!!!!! I hope she feels very guilty about what she did … leaving me for the past week to go ‘on vacation’ to Las Vegas with her friends, Lisa and Bob (who, by the way, also left their two babies, Sophie and Bobo, at the vet’s while they were gone; my thoughts were with the two of them during this past week knowing exactly what they were going through). How shocking, how appalling, how uncaring!! What had I done to deserve this?!? And to make things worse about what mom did …. while she was ‘vacationing’ (and I was at the veterinarian’s wondering where she was), I was DIARY OF THE DAY on October 12th. Of course, we didn’t realize this until she returned today. I hope the shame she must feel of her dreadful deed prevents her from ever leaving me behind again!

I am honored to have been chosen for DIARY OF THE DAY from the folks at DOGSTER. I want to thank everyone for all the bones and well wishes. I have never gotten so many bones before in my life! They are the only bones I am allowed since I am on 'that prescription diet' from that mean ole’ veterinarian, therefore, I am enjoying each and every one of them. I’m going to be writing to all my prior pup pals and new pup pals in the next week. Well, I am tired from this past week’s nightmarish events … will write more later. - Nathan

Memory Walk ...

Today we went to the Alzheimer’s Memory Walk at Ratama Park (a racetrack for horses). I was hoping I would get to run with the horses but no such luck. I don’t know how long the walk was but Mom said something about it feeling like it was at least a hundred miles or so! I went with my grandma, my Aunt Andi, my older sister Lexi, my canine cousins (McGregor, Shotzie, and Heidi) and my canine friend, Camillo. Afterwards we all went out to eat; Grandma bought us some hamburgers … I love Grandma … I love Grandma … I love Grandma!!! Mom allowed me a small piece even though it is against the mean veterinarian’s strict diet instructions … I love Mom … I love Mom … I love Mom!!! Then we all went home and napped the rest of the afternoon. What bliss until Mom decided that I needed a bath ... I don't want to smell like Country Raspberries … I want to smell like dog! What humiliation … but I do love the feeling after a bath. What joy to know that you are done with the horrid bath, to run around wet and free running your snout against anything you can! Afterwards, Mom and I curled up in bed and watched television. Oh no, she is starting to watch THE DOG WHISPERER … help!!

Sundays ...

Sundays are my favorite day of the week … no one going to work or school, everyone just lounging around. But Mom had to ruin what should have been a lazy Sunday afternoon yesterday by trying her hand at photography again. I spent the afternoon being awakened by clicking sounds and flashes of light; when I finally could see, Mom had this large black thing in front of her face called a camera. I just don’t see the point in this activity but for some reason it brings Mom happiness, so I just learn to deal with it. Later Mom took me for a walk … I almost got a bird this time, but for some reason Mom held tight to my leash not allowing me to actually get to the bird in time. Doesn’t she realize that our breed was originally bred to hunt mice and vermin in Germany!