My Day Today

This morning, after we went for a short--and I mean short--walk--not even sure I should bark it as a walk--Mommy said she had a sinus headache. Now, I know this is supposed to be a bad thing from a human perspective. But from a pup's perspective? You get to snuggle a few hours longer. Not too shabby!

When we finally got up, I got another very short--I mean short--walk-sort-of-thing. Then Mom turned on the 'puter and wouldn't even let me check Dogster. She said she had to finish something called taxes. I saw those papers that had numbers on them around again, and a bunch of other papers she told me I COULDN'T eat, no matter how tempting. She even blocked me from one section of the room. How rude! Anyway, then she sat there at the computer all day and ignored me! Finally, it was time for me to have dinner. I barked at her, in case she had forgotten; after all, she forgot to play with me all day! She started that machine with the lights on it--you know, the one under the 'puter where the lights go across and the papers come out? I like to watch it work, but I was pretty hungry. Dog food...paper food...dog food...paper food. The dog food won out, and I went to go watch what was being put in my bowl.

When I was finished eating, that paper-spitting machine was STILL GOING!!! It NEVER works for that long (it likes to take breaks, you see, like when you play with an itty bitty dog. Or when you blitz and blitz and have to catch your breath before you can blitz again). Anyway, the paper-spitting machine was finally done and Mommy started putting all those papers together. She put most of them in a folder in a drawer with a bunch of other papers. But she put some in an envelope and wrote on it. Now I finally get some attention. She said we are going to take a real walk and go to the post office and the pet store. FINALLY it's my turn!

Season's first sky fall

I went out for my evening walkies and noticed that the sky is falling...in little bitty wet drops. Mommy says this is a good thing, because we need the rain. I'm not quite so sure. I mean, I sniffed at all the usual spots, and they smelled funny. I almost couldn't find the perfect spot to go in, but FINALLY, I did. Mom said I was making her get wet. Excuse me? Who was wearing shoes and who wasn't? Who had on clothes and who was nekkid? I have a raincoat and boots, but Mommy thought it wasn't THAT wet and weren't going very far. When I came in the house, she made me sit on the little bed in front of the door until she dried me off with the towel. That part is OK, but touching my paws is a different story. I allow it, but I'll never hafta like it! So pups, the question is: rain, good or bad?

Can I really write?

Mommy showed my newpaper barkticle to her school kids today. Some questioned if I really wrote it. Mom told them that I barked it to her, and she typed it for me, 'cause I have trouble typing. Those with dogs thought it was entirely possible; sefural students said that they can understand their dogs, so of course it made sense. Some thought it was silly. Mom told them about Dogster and all the dogs who bark all the time online. Some of them believed her; some did not. Hmmmm.....those who don't believe might be surprised to see all of us barkers!!!

I'm a Pawblished Barker!

Here is the essay I wrote in August 2008, which was pawblished in the Vacaville Reporter on September 22, 2008:

What I Did for My Summer Vacation
By Benjamin Bichon

This summer, my Mommy and I went on BART to the big airport called SFO. I slept in my little pet carrier all night long. The next morning, we landed in a place called Chicago. Then, we got on another airplane and landed in a place called Traverse City, Michigan. There, I met a bunch of other white fluffy dogs that looked just like me. We all had a lot of fun at our doggie luau. The humans talked and we pups sniffed and ran everywhere. After that, Mom and I drove to another place called Mackinac Island, where I got to go to the beach. They love us pups there. They gave me treats there, too. Then, we drove to another place called Detroit, where I met my cousins. They are Airedale Terriers, much bigger than me. We all had a lot of fun playing together, especially my cousin, Iris Petunia. Finally, it was time to come home. I got back in my pet carrier and rode on two more planes and a train, then in the car. Finally, we were back in my own yard. I was so tired I slept the whole next day. Everything was so much fun!

The Kayleigh Dance

Last night, Mom asked me if I wanted to go see Kayleigh dance--at least, that's what I thought she said. Of course, I wanted to go visit with my pup pals--especially a beautiful fluff like Kayleigh! I pictured group blitzes, Bichon Wave Conga lines, and water bowls and treats a-plenty. Paw-ty!

Well, it turned out to be a "Ceilidh" dance--an English Barn Dance for humans. I did have one water bowl and some treats, but they were the ones that Mom had brought--nothing too exotic but yummy, just the same. I got lots of pets and pats, and I even had some new humans who let me sit in their lap. I never did see Kayleigh. Or Maggie May. Or Pearl. I am still a little confused about that part. A Lab ran in the hall at one point, so I had a partner for a couple of dances. I sparked a new idea with the dancers though: They said they might think about a dance where pups invite their humans, and all have a good time. Now THAT would be a Ceilidh dance for the WHOLE family to enjoy!

Happy Gotcha Day to me!

It's official: I arrived here 2 years ago, on July 26, 2006! I'm so exictied to be celebrating my second Gotcha Day with all my Dogster friends. The pup pals over at Bichon Lover's Clubhouse sure are fun, with all the presents they give! I celebrated my Gotcha Day in the fur by going to Farmer's Market, then to the dog park to play. It was getting hot that day, so I played for just a bit before my afternoon nap. My Aunt Jennifer called to invite Mom to a concert that evening. That meant a car ride with the windows part way down and the wind blowing through my coat. Fabulous! I had to spend some time in my crate while the humans were at the concert. I also got to play with my cousin, Melody, in her big back yard. She gave me some pawlicious water!

On Sunday, I went to lunch with my Aunt Jennifer, and shared some corn chips with her. Then, another car ride to my favorite beach in Richmond, CA. There, I got half a Frosty Paws as a Gotcha Day treat. I shared the rest with my friend, Summer, when I got home. What a great Gotcha Day weekend!

Mom's Blitzing

Mom is getting back to her running routine again. The hu-dogtor told her she shouldn't run on hard gray ground or hard black ground, though, so we walk to a park. So far, we've gone to two different parks where it's safe for me to be off-leash. I get to run around, sit, whatever while she blitzes around the park. Two of my favorite tricks? 1) Waiting until she gets all the way to the other side of the park and running full speed to her side. That always gets a laugh out of whomever is around. 2) Laying in the grass, watching these boys bounce an orange ball on the hard black part of the park then throw it into this circle thing. It sure is a big ball, but fascinating to watch!

Tagged!

I've been tagged by Sugarbear and Shana, so here's my info:

TAG!!
facts
Here are the rules:

Each player starts with seven random facts about themselves. Dogs who are tagged, need to post in their Diary the rules & their 7 pawsome facts. Then choose 7 dogs to tag and list their names. Don’t forget to bark them a pmail that they have been tagged and to read your Diary!!!

My Facts:

1. The Bichon Lover's Clubhouse is so cool. You get to play with doggie friends.

2. I have learned to play in the grassy area without my leash and stay there (with Mom's supervision, of course). It's cool, 'cause now I can join in the fun with other neighborhood pups.

3. I make friends with everyone I see. Even people who don't like dogs eventually come around. It's because I'm so adorable.

4. I love to eat paper. Kleenex and newsprint are my specialties.

5. Area rugs make great beds. Even if there is wall to wall carpeting, it's best to seek out a nice bed.

6. I need to eat from my green bowl. I can use other bowls, but I always sniff them funny. I like my green bowl. That's where my food should be.

7. Blitzing is the best!

I am tagging the following pups: Spinner, Misha, Ryu, Chester, Diablo Blanco, Cotton, and Sir Dustin Dominick.

Woof woof, efferpup!

Happy Easter!

This week, I got to visit my next-bestest friend, Sam, and his family. They have two new Scottie dogs, Andrew and Goldy. Andrew is Black/Brindled, and Goldy is Wheaton. I've never seen a Wheaton before, and neither has Mommy. But she sure is cute! Andrew and I love to run in circles all over the house. I taught him how to blitz, and we got the job done! Goldy watched, but she didn't want to blitz with us. I went out to the backyard and found an even better route! After all that excitement, we were sooooo tired that we all fell asleep . See? My new friends are really fun, and I liked visiting them.

Changing hearts and minds everywhere!

Mommy had a friend who is really kinda scared of dogs, even little ones like me. She doesn't really want to be afraid, but she just is. Her little boy is scared, too. Her husband likes me, but just doesn't know much about four-leggeds. But they volunteered to dogsit me for a day, anyway. They have a nice backyard, and a doggie next door to play with. That doggie is named Scruffy, and he's really little. I grr-grred and he barked, and we had a tail-wagging blast! Quickly though, the whole family warmed up to me; they couldn't resist. And the Mommy who's kinda scared of me? When we all went for a walk to the park, she and I discovered that we like to run at about the same speed. Since I'm happiest when I'm running, there was no way they couldn't love me after they saw me happily running along! I even go t to sit in each person's lap and get petted! Well, I hope to visit there again, soon; that was a fun place to be!