Today was a good day, until...

...the rain and THUNDER started. I don't like loud noise, it makes me very nervous. And I'd just started to have a good chew on my new galileo bone...

Stupid thunder. Thank goodness mom is here to hide behind. Uh, I mean, so I can protect her!

Imagine the beautiful colors.....

Mom was feeling a little sad tonight--dare I say blue??--as was I, after Bou going to the Bridge and the news about Ernie George getting ready to go to the Bridge. But the thing about the Bridge is that it is the RAINBOW Bridge, which, as anyone who has ever seen a rainbow can tell you, must be quite a beautiful place. Me and mom have found that we can find some peace in reading lovely quotes and seeing beautiful pictures, so we went looking for some tonight. This is one that we found, that we'd not read before, and what it brings to mind did put a smile on our faces, even on this sad day. So we hope this will bring a smile to you also, no matter what you are facing.

"Maybe we should develop a Crayola bomb as our next secret weapon. A happiness weapon. A beauty bomb. And every time a crisis developed, we would launch one. It would explode high in the air - explode softly - and send thousands, millions, of little parachutes into the air. Floating down to earth - boxes of Crayolas. And we wouldn't go cheap, either - not little boxes of eight. Boxes of sixty-four, with the sharpener built right in. With silver and gold and copper, magenta and peach and lime, amber and umber and all the rest. And people would smile and get a little funny look on their faces and cover the world with imagination." ~Robert Fulghum

In loving honor and memory of Boudreaux, a dog

A Parable of Immortality

"I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength, and I stand and watch until at last she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come down to mingle with each other. Then someone at my side says, 'There she goes!'

"Gone where? Gone from my sight....that is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and just as able to bear her load of living freight to the place of destination. Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says, 'There she goes!' there are other eyes watching her coming and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, 'Here she comes!'"

Henry Van Dyke
(1852-1933)

Dog of the Day

Oh, my, I can't believe it!! I'm the Dog of the Day! Thanks to HQ for this fine honor. I've gotten rosettes from my pals and a couple of new pal requests--I think I like being a celebrity! I hope this means I get something special for dinner to celebrate. I think I should, don't you?? I just hope my mom understands the importance of recognizing this accomplishment!! Oh, I'm so excited, I'm gonna go bite Josie!!! heeheehee...........

Bring Bruce home!!!

Grrr, sometimes hoomans make me so growly! How can there be such loving, kind, and intelligent beings in the species, and then there are those that obviously have nothing useful between their ears?? *sigh*

In Northern Ireland, there is a sweet doggie named Bruce. He is an American Staffordshire Bully, most likely. Well, in Northern Ireland they have a stupid law that says that any dog that 'exhibits the qualities of a pit bull'--in other words, just LOOKS a certain way--are illegal, dangerous, and probably immoral. Ok, I made up that last bit. Makes about as much sense as the rest of it though. Anyway, all such dogs found in N. Ireland will be confiscated and killed. End of story. Bruce is very close to becoming a victim of this law. Although he is not an aggressive dog and has never so much as lifted a paw against anyone, almost two years ago he was taken from his loving family. His loving family has been waging a legal battle to save him since then. Ironically, there is a rescue in SOUTHERN Ireland that is ready and willing to take him, but there is no provision in the law in Northern Ireland to allow this. And it gets worse. Since Bruce has been in the 'care' of the authorities, he has lost weight, had his tail amputated due to an infection, and has developed open pressure sores on his body. So not only are they intending to kill him, they are failing to provide adequate care until that time comes.

This is where you come in. Bruce was scheduled to be PTS yesterday, but has been given a stay of execution. For how long, no one knows. So there is still time to add your voice to those that are calling for Bruce to be saved. You can sign a petition that is posted on The Petition Site, asking that Bruce be returned to his family. You can sign anonymously if you wish. And if you are interested in doing more, just paw-mail me, and I can give you more information on where to write. Here is the address for the petition, please copy and paste, and CROSSPOST this information!!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/BRING-BRUC E-HOME-X

Sweet Bruce, I hope you are ok tonight!

More Right Said Freds.........

Yes, I realize that it was JOSIE'S birthday, not mine.

Yes, I realize that I will have my OWN birthday next month.

Yes, I realize that the new galileo bone is HER birthday present.

No, I will NOT give it back.

Feeling Fred-ish

So, exactly what part of 'arooo--ooooo-baroooo--urrurrurrr--ooo' did you not understand? It sounded perfectly clear when I said it.

YEE-HAW!!!!!!

Meaty came through his surgery ok!!! They had to remove a bit more bone than expected, but they said that they got clean margins, and that is the bestest of news!!! He is gonna look mighty funny faced for a while, what with all the swelling and the bruising, but I'll bet his mama will think he looks absolutely beautiful! She isn't going to go visit him tonight, as much as she'd like to. The vet doesn't want Meaty to get excited or upset, so she is gonna wait until tomorrow. I tell you, I about chewed my nails off waiting to hear something today. I think I'll go take me a long nap!!

Thank you to all the wonderful pals, old and new, that have loved and cared for Meaty during this time. And personally I want to thank He Who Created All Things, for loving Meaty too, and for working through the hands of the surgeon to heal my pal. I'm pretty darn grateful, Sir.

Surgery today!

Meatball will be having surgery today, starting around 2:00 my time. About an hour and a half from now. The doc says the prognosis for the procedure is good, and Meaty is otherwise healthy. Still, I am nervous for him. I can't imagine howl his mama must be feeling. Please send up a little pawrayer, or good thought, or blessing for them. They need all the love and support that we can send them. Thank you to all the pals who are standing by Meaty during this most difficult time. You are all angels!!!!!

Please remember to visit Meatys fundraiser website at : meatballtheboxer.webs.com

and join his support group at :http://www.dogster.com/group/Meatball_potp_group-16454

Stoopid cancer

My pal Meaty has cancer. You can see his pic as my first picture here. He is such a wonderful guy, and has always been supportive of others and willing to help out. For a couple of years he and his momma organized the Go Orange For Animals contest, raising awareness of dogs in need and the organizations that could help. Well, now Meaty is in need, because although his cancer is treatable, it is also very expensive. There is a very easy way to help, and if you'd like to know what it is, just paw-mail me, and I'll give you the info.

I love my pal Meaty, he was one of my first pals when I joined Dogster low these many years ago!! Please help me to help him!!