Dear Max

Dear Max,

Today is your birthday, your 6th birthday to be exact. Four short years ago I thought I'd never see you again.....I thought you were already dead at the hands of a sick, sadistic madman that we had once called "family". I missed your 2nd birthday that year and that hurt worse than I can even explain. I sat and cried for hours knowing that where you were, they didn't know, or care it was your birthday, and even if you were alive you might've been better off dead. I know what happened to you, and I'm sorry.....I am SO, SO, SO VERY sorry. There will never be anything I can do to make it up to you except be the best mommy I can be. I hope I've done that job well so far because I plan on doing it for a lot longer, that is, if you'll have me.

I'm sitting here in Pop's office, watching you you on the futon eating your birthday treat pig's ear. You're oblivious to everything around you and you're blissfully happy at this moment. I wish I could keep things this way for you, forever; but I know that life and the world have to creep back in, so I sit here watching you, with total enjoyment and praying that this moment will never end. I know that with us, you'll never be hurt again, you'll never feel pain again, you'll never feel grief, or neglect, or loneliness. You'll never suffer and you'll never want for anything. You'll never be hungry or thirsty again, you'll never be beaten or suffer anymore. You are my baby.....my baby boy and I swear I'll protect and love with with my dying breath.

Enjoy this birthday my sweet angel, enjoy this day, this weekend, and this life you have now, and feel safe in knowing that nothing bad will happen to you ever again! I love you, I love you, I love you!!!!!!!!!

Maximus.....Protector!

I got to protect Ni last night while Pop, Uncle Seffie (Seth) and Mr. Harold and the Police were out!

You see, Pop, Ni, and Seffie had finished dinner, I got my treat, and then they went away for a few minutes. They got back and Ni came in, Pop and Seffie stayed outside to put something called a "car stero" into Seffie's new car. Well, Pop came in & told Ni that he'd shown Seffie what to do and was going to see how well he did. Seffie came in a few mintues later and very causally during conversation said "Oh, and by the way, there was some drunk homeless looking guy walking thru your yard and talking to me" like it was no big deal! It scare Ni and Pop. Seffie & Pop went out with lights and walked for a bit, Pop locked me, Al and Skoot in the house with Ni and told me to watch everything. OK POP! CAN DO!

In NO time there were 2 Police cars with BIG lights sihing and everything! It seems that Mr. Harold was coming in and that guy was in the middle of the street directing traffic! To clue you in if you've never been here, there is NO traffic here, there's only 4 houses! AND, we're REALLY well hidden, so how'd this lunatic get here anyhow?!?!??? Ok, yes, we're just off the main street near all the shops and places to eat, but you'd REALLY have to be drunk and lost to find us all the way down here!

Pop walked the neighborhood for a while with lights and everything, but never saw anyone. Ni got to calling everyone so they'd be on the lookout. So far we've not heard or seen antyhing else! I know she's still scared. The really scary thing is that if Seffie hadn't been outside last night, we never would've known anything was going on! Well, maybe not. I mean that guy could've come into the yard or knocked on the door if Seffie hadn't been here, or we could've just seen the Police cars and wondered what was going on!

Poor little Ni-Ni, she was SO scared, and I velcroed myself to her ALL night! I even slept ON her just to make her feel safer.....but she kept groaning and saying something about "not being able to breathe" and tried (and failed) to move me.....whatever! I won't leave your side Ni, trust me!

OOOhh....nap!

ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzz

WOW! Long time no see, huh?

Hey guys! I can't believe it's been so long since I've checked in. I'm so sorry! I just can't tell you how wild things have been. Let's start with where I left off, the parades.
Ok, so a parade is where you get out and walk a LONG way without being able to stop and smell of everything, it's HOT and boring....BUT, you get LOADS of attention and I probably had my picture made a hundred times! I liked all of that. Everyone was giving me treats, lots of ice (I love the crunch!) and water, but my new girlfriend, Catie, would sneak me something called "LaffyTaffy" once in a while. It's GOOD stuff ya'll! It's really sweet, but you have to chew it like crazy. I don't think that Ni-Ni or Pop know about the candy, so sssshhhhh, don't tell them, OK?
Both parades were fun, but I'd had ALL I could take by the 4th of July, so less than a fourth of the way thru that parade I just got up on the float with Catie and Ni-Ni and laid down. Every laughed 'cause I'd left Pop behind and he was walking all alone. He looked funny. I didn't care, it was MISERABLE outside and I knew where the ice was! Catie was great this time too, but she didn't give me any candy.....whatt's the big idea? She said something about me getting sick from being hot and to much sugar. Whatever! But she did give me lots of water and ice. I love Catie! She and I have the same birthday, but she's a year older than I am. It was her Daddy, Vance that was running for Congress. Sadly, he lost, but we had a good time, and I'm hoping he'll decide to run for something again soon!

Ok, so that was July. August was just as hot and so was September. Alex got sick in October with something called "Lyme Disease". Ni-Ni and Pop got worried thinking that me and "brudgie" (that's my brother, Skooter) would get sick too, but we didn't! Thankfully Aunt Kate treated Al and she's alright now. She's actually gone backwards in her aging and she's started to play with us! Ni-Ni's not sure what to think.....and to be honest neither are we! It's kinda' weird. Oh, yes, she still hates me (I think) but she'll play now. I'm confused by her, when Ni-Ni and Pop are here she'll bark and fuss at me, but when they're gone she'll lay up next to me and is so sweet.....you think she has some double personality? I DO!

After Al got better Ni-Ni mentioned that I had something in my eye, and Aunt Kate said she wanted to look at it. Pop thought it was an infected tear duct.....he was wrong. Aunt Kate called it a tumor of the B____________. We can't remember what came after the "B", but we remember it was a LONG word that didn't sound like anything else or rhyme with anything. Well, Ni-Ni took me on Wednesday (yes, THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING) to have surgery. She was worried 'cause she knows that large breeds don't like being knocked out. Everything went fine, and now I have this HUGE (it's almost 3 foot across!!!) lamp shade looking thing on my head and I'm tearing up EVERYTHING! That'll show them for laughing at me! I can tell that Ni-Ni and Pop are worred 'cause Aunte Kate said something about a "pathology report" and that we'd get it within 2 weeks. Ni-Ni told Uncle Trampas that she can handle any diagnosis as long as I woke up from being KO'd. So, I'm here.....what's next? Everyone says that my eye looks great and Aunt Kate jokes that she wants to do a "tuck" on my other eye just so I'll look symeterical. We've laughed saying that I had plastic surgery.....and I kinda' did I guess!

I promise I'll do better with writing! Since it's nearing Christmas I know I have to be good so Santa will bring me all the goodies I've asked for.....maybe if I write more, then he'll see how good I've been. Hhhhuuuuummmmm, you think that will work? Well, I'm gonna' try it, hey, what's the worst that can happen?

Sniffs and Licks,
Max ;-)

(P.S. Ni-Ni said she'd post some pics of what I look like with my "cone" on my head. Trust me, you WILL laugh!)

What's a .....parade?

I'M GONNA' BE IN A PARADE!!!!!!!


See, my Uncle Vance is running for Congress (what's that?) and he wants up to come and march with him and support him.......so, what's a parade? How far to we have to run and what kind of "support" are we talking about here? Should I be scared? Pop has already told me that if I "show my butt", then I have to go home and I'll miss all the fun.......I WANT to be good and do the right thing, but dang it, sometimes it's so hard. There's SO many things to smell and see, and I'm still real unsure of those loud, small things that swing their arms and legs wildly and run at me.......I think Pop called them.......kids. I REALLY don't like the ones that are sitting down in a chair that is at my eye level, usually it's being pushed by a big person, and the "kids" are SCREAMING at the top of their lungs.......that lound noise scares me....plus that stuff coming from their noses and the wet stuff coming from their eyes........YUCK!!!!!! "Kids" are really nasty, aren't they?

Oh well, I'll just have to remember that if I want to see people and get FED, then I have to be a good and sweet boy. FOOD is the ULTIMATE goal here....I MUST remember that!!!!! Ni-Ni is worried about the heat. Know what? SO AM I!!!!! Remember my last diary entry? Well, Pop was right! It's only gotten HOTTER! Yes, I go sun myself often, but I can't sit out as long as I once did. HEY MOMMY....can I come stay up there with you where it's cooler? I mean just for a while 'cause Skooter needs me.....and *COOKIE* will be here to stay for 2 weeks at the end of July, and I HAVE to see my queen!!!!! DAWG, I LOVE her!!!!!! Oh, who's *COOKIE*? She belongs to my Uncle Mike ( I love him too!) and she's a TINY, TINY little white and caramel Dachsund that came from a REALLY, super-bad situation. She was rescued and now she's Uncle Mike's girl! YEA *COOKIE* and Uncle Mike!!!!! She knows that I WORSHIP at her feet, and she makes the most of it. I have to laugh, Skooter has shown intrest in her, but she snarls at him.....and he's closer to her size than I am! Alex? We ALL know what AL thinks....why, she is ABOVE everyone and above acting like a dog or like she likes anyone.......so she really dosen't pay any attention to *COOKIE*.....and *COOKIE* is getting to be the same way with Alex!

When the "parade" is over with I'll let you all know how it goes!

Oh, what's it for? Jonesborough Days and the 4th Of July........wait, isn't that, that day that Pop and Ni-Ni said would be LOUD, but filled with hamburgers and hot dogs? I'm torn now.......am I scared, happy, excited, nervous.......aw heck, I'm just confused!

(www.vancecheek.com) That's Uncle Vane's site telling what he's doing!

My Tail of Devotion for Maximus

This is a special Tail of Devotion

See All Tails of Devotion

It's HOT & R.I.P. Bun-Bun :-(

I lived here in TN when I was born, up until I was just over a year old, then I moved around some and setteled WAY up north for just over a year, then I got moved BACK to TN.....and you know what? I don't remember it being THIS hot! I mean Satan himself would step outside and cry!
Usually I go outside and will lay for a while, either on the porch or in the side yard in the sun, but in the last 3 or 4 days, I've been INSIDE because I didn't want to MELT!!!!! Honestly, it's already MISERABLE and Pop says it's only gonna' get worse.....I don't wanna' know what "WORSE" is! Oh, and what are these long red things that Ni-Ni is so afraid of? She keeps yellling "I don't want to get stung", but I can't figure out how something that small could hurt anyone! She's so silly!

Ni-ni will be in NYC in a couple of weeks, and Pop will be going somewhere with Grandpoppy....so that means AUNT STELLA is gonna' come stay with us!!!!! (eyes light up) I LOVE Aunt Stella 'cause she feeds me ALL the time and doesn't tell me "no", and doesn't make me do any silly tricks or anything!!!!! I love it! FOOD, FOOD, FOOD, FOOD!!!!!!

Oh, speaking of which, Pop gave me something different last night for dinner. I liked it, and after speaking to Al and Skoot, it seems they got something different too. Apparently I am what they call a "senior", and "too skinny", so we all got a new maroon bag of food that is for "seniors", because it seems that Al and Skoot is that too. What's a "senior"? OH, and to top mine off Pop put some really wet, YUMMY stuff on top of that too, he said it was to "put some weight on me", whatever that means!

I've heard Pop and Ni-Ni and all the grandparents and Aunt Stella talking about "the Fourth of July" and then they look at me and say "but can you see everyone at the house?" What's THAT supposed to mean? I also heard them talking about something that's supposed to happen that night that is supposed to be loud and possibly scare me. I don't know if I'm gonna' like this wole "Fourth of July" thing!

Pop's been working on the camper all weekend, and we think he has it figured out how to pu COLD AC in it! YEAH!!!!! I like the camper and all, but when we went to Shelby last year it saw sickening hot and I don't want to go back if it's gonna' be the same thing this year! They also keep talking about a place called "Bear Creek" and that it'll be hot there too. About Shelby, Ni-ni keeps saying that this coming year is the year for rain....which I hate even worse than heat. Apparently it's miserable hot for "X" number of years, then rain to choke a frog, then hot....so I'm guessing that rain will be the order of the day....... Hey, are you REALLY gonna' do that to us?

Oh! I'm still kinda' mad at Al! Why? (sniff-sniff) She killed Bun-Bun! *MY* Bun-Bun!!!!! Ni-Ni got me this GREAT bunny that I've carried and carried, and I love her so! Her name is Bun-Bun.....and the first thing I did was rip her eyes out, 'cause if I'm gonna' torture her then I don't want her to see it! Well, everyone elft Bun-Bun alone and I took her absolutely EVERYWHERE with me! When we'd go outside, she was there......when we'd go in the car, she was there.......she's been there with me thru so much......then Al has all she could take, so when I let Bun-bun out of my site for just a few seconds one day...........(crying and sniffing) AND SHE EATS BUN-BUN!!!!!!!! WWWHHHHAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!
Aunt Stella and Ni-Ni tried to get her put back together again and away from me before I knew what happened.......but that's my Bun-Bun, I know her every smell, her every fur........her every mood..........so I knew something had happened to her. I fnially found ehr and TOOK her back.....but there was something different. Her ehad was still the same, but her body wasn't as........full as it had been. She was much floppier, much more limber than before. I can't quite put my finger on what Al did to her, but I'm starting to think that Bun's "innards" became "outtards". Oh well, no matter, I'd love her even if she was only a head........and I was well on my way to woking on that.

Ni-Ni and Pop are going to go meet some friends to go eat so I ahve to get off the computer!

We're on the move!

Now that spring is here and it's getting warmer, and it's daylight longer Pop and Ni-Ni keep us ALL on the go! Well, take Tuesday, May 2nd for instance. Ni-Ni kept saying something about Uncle Mark running for office. Now, I've seen my Uncle Mark....and I love him, but I don't think he could've run for much. He's like Ni-Ni and Pop, a bit on the....oh.....plump side. Pop came home after work that day (Ni-Ni hadn't been home ALL day-gggrrrr!) and got me and we went to where Ni-Ni was. She was hot, and REALLY red all over, and there were people and cars and signs everywhere. I couldn't read them that well, but it had something to do with......what was that word that everyone kept using.........OH! Yes! An "election", whatever that is! Pop told me to tell my friends that I got to go vote..........uuummmm.......Pop, what's a "vote"? He left me outside with Ni-Ni, and put a shrit on me that said soemthing about "voting" for Uncle Mark.......so if that's what "voting" is, then I GOT TO VOTE!!!!!

They've tried to take me in the lake a few times, but the weather has become VERY funny, and for about 2 weeks it's been REALLY cold, so I didn't go in the lake either Saturday they tried! Pop keeps talking about "the canoe" and "the island".....I don't know what he means, but I know it has something to do with camping. He tells me that I won't have my pack, but I'll have something called a "life-jackedt. That word scares me a little because it sounds......well, scary. "Life-jacket".......think about that one for a minute, won't you? Life jacket.................does it keep me alive? Is there something WRONG with me? Aunt Katie (the vet) said that I was fine.....has something changed and they're not telling me? I'm very scared of that word, so if someone knows what that is, or what it does.....could you PLEASE tell me? SHOUDL I be afraid? Oh, and WHAT'S A CANOE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Oh, and what's this "Mother's Day" thing that Pop tells me I have to love Ni-Ni and send Mommy a card for? I'm really confused!

These people are trying to kill me!

You just WON'T believe what's been going on around here! I swear these people can NOT be my realtives! They're NUTS!!!!! They tried to kill me.....THREE TIMES!!!!!
What am I talking about? Well, several weeks ago the took me to see "Aunt Kaite", whom I now know is NOT "just" my "aunt".....she's a *gasp* VET! They took me in there and put me in a room with just THEM and HER....and she began to poke and prod (and give me LOTS of treats) then the unthinkable happened.......SHE BROUGHT OUT A NEEDLE!!!! She said it was "for my own good", BAH, HUMBUG! It didn't hurt, really....but it was just the thought of them tricking me like that! I'm insulted!

THEN, to add insult to injury Ni-Ni took me back yestarday for something called a "rabies shot".....I didnt' like THAT either! Aunt Kaite had been in a wreck so she wasn't feeling well and didn't give me any treats this time. One of the ladeis that worked with Aunt Kaite has 3 Danes so she and Ni-ni stood and talked about us for a while. I got bored so I slapped at the door and they laughed at me......again, I did not like that. I'd been pretty good....if I do say so myself.....then it happened. I was about to make it out of there scott free and on my way to Pets Mart for a special treat when "HE" walked in.....and I couldn't help myself.....something came over me and I couldn't stop it. See, for some strange reason I don't like those guys in brown that bring stuff to your house.....well, one of them walked into Aunt Katie's clinic and......I let out this HUGE bark. Ni-Ni was SO embarrased of me. I had my "Halti" on, and she took me to the floor then got in my face and growled "NO!" at me. I was so ashamed. Aunt Katie and the other "Dane lady" (I never got her name) were very impressed with Ni-Ni. I know that Aunt Kaite has her doubts about wither or not Ni-Ni......and Pop for that mattter, can handle someone my size. I think they're doing well, I mean I know my place and I know what's acceptable and what's not....even if I don't always do what's right, and they tell me in a fair way what whent wrong. I understand......but there are times that a boy just can't help himself.........

BUT NOOOOOOO, it only gets worse!

A few weeks before that Pop, Ni-Ni and Aunt Stella and I went for a BIG hike. We were supposed to take 3 other friends, but something happened. Two were sick and since the 3rd is the son of one of them, well, he didn't go either. It was nice it just being the 4 of us. We stopped at Miss Janet's in Erwin/Unicoi so we could leave our car there and she could drive us to the top of the mountain. I like going to see Miss Janet! There's LOTS of people and other dogs there. Everyone was REAL nice and wanted to pet me and talk about me.....and feed me.....I felt like what Ni-Ni's always joking about, what Tinkerbell says "IT'S ALL ABOUT ME!" That day, it was!

Well, we finally got to the top of the mountain and we started off. It was a STEEP trail going up, then there was LOTS of different water-things for us to cross. I liked the water, and Ni-Ni was SO proud to see me go across the little bridges. I don't get the big deal of it, but hey, anything to earn me praise and "brownie points"! It took us a REALLY long time to get to where we were going. It was a nice site and eventhough this should be the time for the "bubble" of "thru hikers" doing the AT, there was only 1 other guy at the shelter....and he was REALLY anti-social! Pop walked over to the shelter to sign some book and he tried to say "hi" to that dude.......dude just glared and kinda' growled at Pop. We were putting our tents REALLY far from the shelter, so that was OK with us that he didn't want to speak!

I was SO sleepy and SOOOO hungry that I ate my food AND a spare that Pop brought.....AND a spare food of his too! Ni-Ni got in the tent and ready for bed....and I crawled in right next to her. It was nice. Pop and Aunt Stella stayed up and talked for a bit, then when he came to bed he had the nerve to tell me to move off of HIS sleeping pad! CAN YOU IMAGINE?!?!?!?! The indignity! Pop and I fought and wrestled all night, but Ni-Ni never got bothered. I knew she was hurting and needed her rest.....well, Pop and I did too......but I wasnted to sleep next to Ni-Ni, not at everyone's feet......which, by the way, was THE worst scent I've EVER been around!

The next morning we got up and we all felt better. We cleaned up camp, ate breakfast......I pooped RIGHT ON the trail so Pop had to go clean it up....tee-hee-heee! Ni-Ni and I wrestled a bit, and I got too aggressive and she put me down....again. I was impressed, so now I know I can't play like that with her. Aunt Stella looked a bit worried and surprised at the both of us. All was well, and we were off, ready to head back down the mountain and H-O-M-E!

And a treck to hell it was! There was switchback ,after switchback, after switchback and it was steep, and Ni-Ni's feet were in REALLY bad shape ( so is herbody).....and we'd done 6 miles the day before, which is 5 miles more than she and I were used to! Since I'd eaten all my food the only thing that was in my pack was my blankie and a (full) waterbottle and Pop's water pump. It wasn't really heavy, but by the time we got to the end it felt like I had an elephant on my back! I can't imagine what Pop, aunt Stella and Ni-Ni's packs were like! Ni-Ni was pretty sick by the time we got down, so Pop wnet and got the car and elft her sitting on the side of the road. I went with Pop, but I didn't like leaving Ni-Ni there alone. We got everything back into the car and stopped for our treats. Everyone ahd something that was their "driving force" to get them to move when things go tough. Pop wanted a Kit-Kat and a Pepsi, Aunt Stella wanted a Mt. Dew and ANYTHING chocolate, and Ni-Ni wanted one of her GOOD pain pills she got from the hospital when she had her surgery. Since her medicine was at the house she'd have to wait, but Pop got her something chocolate and a Mt. Dew, I think she was happier. I got to meet one of Pop's friends from work, he seemed very nice, but I was soo tired to really care, I got my ice and my water and I was HAPPY!

On the ride home they started taking bets as to what day I would finally get off the couch. Pop said Tuesday, Aunt Stella said Wednesday and Ni-Ni said Thursday. I'll admit, I was TIRED, and a little sore from all the rocks and tree things we had to walk on....but Aunt Stella won, I finally started feeling better and really moved on Wednesday. Ni-Ni felt sorry for me on Monday, it took everything I had just to get off the couch and down the 4 tiny little stairs from the front porch to the yard. I made it down them, then looked at her with the most pitiful look. She rubbed my head and kissed me and told it that it was OK......so I stood right there and peed on her walkway. She laughed and I barely made it back up the stairs and to the chouch again. Heck, I saw a SQUIRREL and didn't even so much as huff at it! I WAS TIRED YA'LL!!!!!

Like I said, it took me days to feel normal again! Heck, Ni-Ni has some of those big rubber shoes that everyone is wearing, well, her feet were so bad that they didn't even FIT into those shoes, and usually she can put BOTH feet into ONE of them! I KNOW she was hurting! Things started getting really frantic around here after the hike and I kept hearing about "comapny" that we were going to have. Pop tore down an old building in the back yard, and he and Ni-Ni made the house shine. I was a little more than nervous to see who our "company" would be......but finally, last Friday I got to meet my "Grandpoppy"! This would be Pop's daddy. He's a very cool guy, and I think he thinks I'm cool to. I like going outside and laying in the sun (leashed up VERY well, of course!), and GP would come out and stand with me, and hold my head and pet me, and say such nice things to me. I like him! I found out that I have a "Grandmommy" too, but she had to stay at home. It seems that GP and GM have *gag* cats! This will never do! I'll have to convince them that they need a dog.......heck, I'll even volunteer to go stay with them a while and show them how much fun it would be! I know that they'll feed me 'cause GP said how he couldn't resist my "pitpful" stare....and I got LOTS of pizza crust Friday night!

It was so much fun, even Ni-Ni's parents came over to see GP....and me! I don't think I'd ever met Grandpa, that'd be Ni-NI's daddy. He wa a bit leery of me at first, but when he sat down, I got right in his face and tried my best to give him a big kiss to show him what a baby I really am! I hear that there's gonna' be MORE family over at Ni-Ni's parents house next weekend and they all want to meet me. Ni-Ni's trying to get me over there without upsetting Grandma and Grandpa's dog, Abby. She's REALLY old (15) and in poor health and they've babied her until there's nothing you can do with her. I think they need to meet Caesar! He could set them straight! Anyhow, I can't wait to meet MORE family! WOW! I didn't know I had SO MANY relatives!

It's just a flurry of activity around here with LOTS of changes. I'm adjusting pretty well, but I'd like to have one of my "old days" back where I could just sleep all day and Ni-Ni and Pop would come home at night and we'd all curl up together and............oh wait, that happend Monday!

Well, I'm off for another nap....................ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz's ya'll!

Tee-heee-hee

Ni-Ni says that she's gotten fat and lazy and that I'm a good influence on her....whatever that means. Anyhow, I took her for a drag on Tuesday. She's SUCH a whimp, she's STILL whining and crying. What's a "pain killer" anyhow? These crazy people! I think that Ni-Ni is going to let me take her on another drag in the morning....but I'm not sure. If it's raining........I'll make her wear a hat! I WANNA' GO FOR A WALK!!!!!

We're getting ready to go on another hike with Aunt Stella and Uncle Mike and we're gonna' have 2 new friends go along! I can't wait to meet them!!! Pop and Ni-Ni are always talking about their friend Mark and his son, Chance. I'm a bit afraid of kids, but Ni- Ni assures me that Chance is a good kid and he's Syd's age and size so I shouldn't be scared of him. I don't know.....we'll have to wait and see. I mean the first time he gets loud or wild then I'm gonn'a HAVE to let out a "WOOF", 'cause I'm so small he might be running or something and not see me then he could run me over and that would hurt! I also don't like it too loud 'cause my tiny ears are sensitive to such noises. I'm excited though 'cause Uncle Mike is my buddy and I like it when he comes over.........he's a pushover like Aunt Stella so when I want something to eat all I have to do is go to one of them and look REALLY sad.......they give me whatever I want AND they don't make me do a stupid trick either! I LOVE IT!!!!! I guess it's 'cause I'm so little and cute and they think that nobody ever feeds me.

Ni-Ni is ready for bed....if I play my cards just right then maybe I can sneak in there when she's not looking. We got to cuddle for a long time this morning, it was nice. I was warm and she was sleepy so it was a perfect match!

More about the hike and our new friends later!

RATS!!! They're on to me!

Well, Ni-Ni had to open her BIG mouth to Mom about me and my.....well, there's no way to say this delecately......."poop fetish". I LOVE poop! I love rolling and sliding in it, I love to be around it..... I love to eat it, but only if it belongs to something else like the 3 deer that are in my yard! Ni-Ni was sick of having to wash my face or bathe me every day or every other day because she said that I smelled (in her words) "really bad". I hate to disagree, but I believe that I was quite nicely scented! And hey, it took me a LONG time to get it just where I wanted it and just HOW I wanted it, thankyouverymuch! Then Ni-Ni goes and ruins it by....gag....bathing me!

Mom told Ni-Ni that when I lived on the farm I'd get to run with the horses and cows during the day and I'd come in at night and be totally GREEN on one side....or sometimes BOTH, because I'd done a total body dive into a big "cow pile". Mom said it was (again, her words, not mine) "DISGUSTING!" UGH! Women! How they do go on about smells! Well, Ni-Ni has almost totally stopped me from rolling now because she keeps me on that dang leash ALL the time.......but when Pop takes me out.....I'M LEASH FREE!!!!! I get to RUN as fast and hard as I can to the back of the yard, and I look around and do whatever it is that needs done, then I RUN past Pop and into the side yard and up the hill where I stomp whatever vegitation needs stomping. Pop and Ni-Ni call it "tap dancing", and it tickles them to watch me. Hey, I'll give them a laugh, but what they don't realize is what a valuable service I'm providing here! HELLO! If I didn't stomp the weeds, then who know what kind of killer creatures could be living in those HUGE.....one inch high weeds that seperate us from the neighbors that love me. No, really, they do! I'm not making that up. They laugh at me "tap dancing" too.......hey.....wait a minute here.........

Anyhow, Pop lets me run and then we come in and we all get treats 'cause AL and Skoot have usually come with me, but they don't venture far from Pop....whimps! I hardly ever roll when I'm with Pop. If I do then he cleans me up the best he can, or wakes Ni-Ni to tell her. If I'm clean, and since it's usually VERY early I go and get in bed with Ni-Ni. I like it 'cause it's REALLY warm and she's always really happy to see me. We snuggle until she HAS to get up. Sometimes I stay, sometimes I go to the couch early, then sometimes she has to pry me out of bed 'cause she knows that if I stand up with the covers on me then not only will I knock Skooter out of or off of the bed, but I'll probably break something too. Hey, I can't help that, K?

But what this boils down to is I have to be sneakier....is that a word? Anyhow, I need to roll and dive when nobody is looking....and I need to convince Ni-Ni that I MUST be off-leash sometimes.....but how.....HOW does one go about this task? Anyone have any ideas? PLEASE, TELL ME!!! I'm getting desperate here, I NEED TO ROLL!!!!!