Ten years ago tonight

Remember New Years Eve 1999? I was still a lonely little foster dog in Atlanta. Momma and Syd were in Nashville, hoping the computers and phones and stuff didn't get all messed up by Y2K.

Momma has already been approved to adopt me, but wouldn't pick me up until the weekend. Momma was so scared that something would happen to keep her from getting me. Thank dogness it didn't, and Momma and I had nine and a half wonderful years together.

Momma's missing me tonight, her first New Years without both me and Bo. She's remembering sneeking away from the party she was at right after midnight, and going home to make sure the computer still worked and the internet was there. She can't believe that 10 years ago she just had one little Schnauzer, didn't know much of anything about rescue except what she'd been through with Syd.

Yes, Momma and I had quite a journey together. She learned the joy of a dainty but tough little girl dog, and about animal welfare issues and rescue and the joys and hassles of owning a house and more. Me? I learned to enjoy the good life and how to keep little brothers in line.

What a decade it was! I hope she knows I'm still right here with her, for the next one and all the ones that follow.

Wow, I'm a diary pick today

Out of all the pups on Dogster, and here I am at The Bridge with nothing much to bark about. Well, let's see...

If you're a Schnauzer like me, and live in the southeast, The Schnauzer Stroll in Marietta, GA is in two short weeks! See www.schnauzerloverescue.org for details. The proceeds go to help the Schnauzer recue that my Mom works with, and save homeless Schnauzers like I once was. They're going to have contests and games and demonstrations and all kinds of fun.

Now, what else should I say while everypup on Dogster is looking? I know: Since none of us are going to live furever, except in our pawrents hearts, please tell your moms and dads to not only take pictures, but get video of the cute things you do, record your voice and get your pawprint, so they'll have it when you're not around anymore. Even Mom's old computer has a program called "sound packager" and with a cheap microphone, she recorded my "humming" and my bark. Now she can listen to it whenever she wants. And our nothing-fancy digital camera takes decent videos. She didn't do the pawprint thing with me and Bo, and wishes she had. She only got a pawprint of Syd cause he stepped in some concrete she had poured, but now she treasures it.

What else? Oh, yeah: I was six years old when I got adopted, and just look at my page to see what a great life I had with Momma and my brothers. If your pawrents are consideringing a brother or sister for you, please bark at them to adopt instead of buy, and consider a dog who's not a puppy. I had 9 years with my family, and Momma says even though I'm gone and she's sad, she wouldn't take 30 years with a different dog for those 9 years with me.

Thank you, Dogster for giving me a change to express myself, and for brining our family together with all these other great pups and their families, and for giving me a chance to have my very own space to decorate in pink.

Love from The Bridge,

Annie

Thank you all

for all the lovely gifts and rosettes. Every one of them has made Momma smile between the tears
I watched as she put away all my things, and wished I could let her know I was ok. I can bound around after butterflies again, and see what's going on at our house, even hear as she sings to my brothers. The grass here is as soft as any Sniffany bed, and doesn't stain my fur.
I had a happy life with her and my brothers, and all of my grrl friends and my Poppa and my Aunties. Please don't be sad, Momma, I'm watching out for you, just like I always did.

Annie

I'm at Rainbow Bridge now

Last night I let Momma know it was time.
My pain meds just weren't helping, and upset my stomach. I couldn't see or hear much, and it just wasn't a dignified condition for a Princess. Momma saw the far away look in my eyes and knew.

Momma sang "Annie's Song" to me and cried my fur wet as I drifted off to sleep, and suddenly nothing hurt anymore.

Momma's heart is broken as she puts away all my stuff. Rocke keeps licking my body, and Raoudi is even quiet. I know they'll all be ok. I'm so glad I chose Rocke as a 'keeper' for Momma.

I'm here with Syd and Bo and Ralph, my friends Miracle and Sheba and Bailey and many more. I can see and hear and run again - we all can.

Momma says she doesn't know how she'll do fostering without me - I was always the one who taught the fosters manners and respect, but I've taught her well these last nine years we had together, and will be watching over all of them. I'm glad Momma and I found each other. I'm sure I'll send her another little girl somday when she's ready, but she's not, not yet.

"Spring" in my step

It's finally Springtime! My 15 year old bones didn't like the cold weather this year. This weekend I got my Spring haircut and got to go out in the sunshine, and I feel so much better.

Momma's feeding me whatever I want to make sure I eat, puting some powery stuff she calls supplements on it, and massaging my shoulders.

Sometimes it's hard to go up the stairs on the back porch, so Momma carries me, but I still rule these silly boys if they mess with my naps! Don't worry, Mom, I've still got it.

Anastasia

Wow! Thanks!

I can't believe how many nice gifts I got from so many handsome guys, and my dear grrrlfriends, too. Thank you all!

I'm playing the diva thing to the hilt, only eating what I want and changing that frequently - right now it's burgers and carob brownies.
Mom told Aunt Barb that at my age, as long as I eat, she's happy.
She cried Friday, until she saw how excited I was to get to go for a ride, then was happy to take me to Sonic for a burger.
It's very, very cold, so I get to wear my nice coat and sweaters a lot, and get covered up. I even got a heater for my bed for Christmas - did I tell you? (Shush, Rocke, I am NOT senile).

Momma was laughing about the days when I'd eat anything: I once got on the table and ate an entire dinner plate -sized loaf of sourdough bread. I hadn't been with Momma long, and my hair was just growing in, and Mom says my belly was so distended my skirt stuck straight out. Another time I got great grandpa's Christmas present: a tin of white chocolte popcorn with peanuts. Momma didn't think I could open the tin - fooled her! It gave me the squirts, and Mom couldn't stand behind me when I pooped, because 'blew peanuts' about 3 feet. Momma says it's hard to remember the days when she worried me being overweight.

Anastasia

Being treated like a Diva

The vet told Mom a couple of weeks ago that I have a heart murmur, and that she thinks my head movement is neurological, and that I probably don't have much longer.
She sent us home with pain pills for my arthritis, and Mom's been a wreck ever since.
I got a nice heater for my bed for Christmas, and she's taken to feeding me most anything I'll eat just to get me to eat. I now have her trained to feed me venison (from Aunt Barb) or chunks of boiled chicken.
I don't have the energy I once did, but I still enjoy being loved on and eating what I like.
Tomorrow I will be 15. Mom cried last night thinking about the day she brought me home, and held me close all night. I wonder if I might actually talk her into that Sniffany bed for my birthday at long last?

All dressed up and no place to shop!

A few weeks ago, Momma took me to my little brothers' agility trial. They had a booth there that had some nice things, including a lovely Houndstooth leash that would've matched my new coat. But did we get it? Noooo
We saw a holistic vet there instead, and to her credit, she did tell Momma some things to help my neck, but Momma said she couldn't do the vet visit and buy the leash both.
She promised we'd look at their website later, or see if The Pet Clawset had one.
Well yesterday she got out her own houndstooth jacket, and put my coat on, too. I killed a cave cricket for her before mentioning how perfect the leash would go with out mother-daughter outfits.
Well, the leash isn't on their website, and she went to look at The Pet Clawset, and the place is gone! Momma said must have been the economy. I'm not sure what an economy is, but it seems to be an evil entity that keeps my brothers from going to their agility trails and me from getting t shop - I'd love to take a bit out of it.

She did find the leash at Petedge.com, but it costs more to ship it than the leash costs.
She said not to worry, that she'd find somone else who was putting in an order and piggyback on it, and get the leash for a little of nothing. Sheesh, Mom, we've gotta get it in time for Christmas pictures, if this economy thing doesn't steal those, too.

Tagged

I was tagged by fellow White Schnauzer Princess Jasmine. I am to list 7 things about myself and then tag 5 friends, so here goes:

1. I love to sleep in in the mornings, while my brothers go out.
2. I can still box my brother' ears - and do if they get out of line.
3. I get compliments on my long, thick eyelashes
4. I'm all white, except my tail is grey.
5. I love to catch cave crickets in the bathroom
6. I can talk Mom into almost anything, if I hum at her
7. I'm still wishing for that Sniffany & Co bed. Please Mom? Hummmm

I tag

Bunny

Anabella Ilsa

Lexie

Bella

Sniffers

Old age is not for sissies

My neck is still bothering me. I saw the hlistic vet a couple of weeks ago, and she feels that I have compressed discs, even though nothings out of line. Momma's helping me with accupressure and stretches, and chamomille tea to help me relax.
I don't like to go out on the cold mornings we've been having, staying snuggled under the covers until Momma carries me outside.
Today she took my little brothers to something called Barkaroo - it's near the lace they have the Bonaroo music festival, and Rocke says there were contests and demonstations by the Purina Incredible Dog Team, and lots of booths with goodies and services.
They brought us enormous cookies back - shaped like a pretzel and carob covered. Mine was a beautiful pink-covered one with sprinkles. It was delicious, but hard, and having few teeth, it was a real challenge. The crumbs were brown and hard to see on the wood floor.
SIGH - I hate aging, but I'm still The Princess, and I still rule this place.