My turn to be sick

So.... now that Lola' pity party is winding down it's my turn for the spotlight. Yesterday Mom's sister noticed that one of my big teefers was split right in half, and part of it was just hanging from my gumline! Since it was Sunday Mom just watched me for any signs of pain but I took it like a tough man- I ate all my food, I flea bit my blankets and chewed on plush toys as if nothing were wrong.

Today when the vet saw it we were all at a loss as to how it happened. I'm not particularly one to chew on anything hard, unless you count bully sticks and dehydrated sweet potatoes. Lola is the one who loves the nylabones and stuff. Anyway, 7 hours at the vet got me not just one but 2 pulled teeth (I had broken a 2nd one a few months ago right at the gumline) as well as a good cleaning. Dr. Van Trease said that when I woke up I acted like nothing had ever happened and he felt sorry for me so he dosed me with some good pain meds and sent me on home. He also said that I had METAL shards in my teeth and the fracture went waaaaaay up into my gums. We're all starting to think that it happened a couple of weeks ago when Lola and I were boarded. They separated us and I tore up my face pretty good trying to get through a fence to her. Now Mom's wondering if I didn't also try to chew through the fence as well, but that would mean my tooth was dangling like that for a long time! I guess we'll never know because it never really bothered me... but now I have 2 less teeth and a clean mouth to show for it, so it's all good.

Moving back to Austin

Well, the time has finally come. After just about a year here in Florida mom and dad are packing us up again for another cross country drive. We took our last trip to the beach yesterday and I am still exhausted. It's amazing how tired you can get in such a short time playing in the waves! Our house is now like a maze of boxes, and come tomorrow everything will be loaded up in the big yellow truck again. Lola and I will have our own personal escort service complete with bedding, water bowls, air conditioning, and our new little privacy screen (though I think mom's intention is to keep us away from her- hehe). Last year's drive wasn't bad at all- I spent the whole time sleeping anyway. Mom and dad sure are hyping up this trip. They keep asking me if I want to go to Austin and go swimming- I think they are more excited about it than I am. Of course Lola is going ever more insane- she really looks like a shadow now since she's been glued to one of them all the time. I'm really excited to see our new place- mom says it had lots of trees and sunshine for me to lay out on, and a huge balcony to chill on. We even get our own "dog room" and closet again.

I'll miss the beach, and I'll miss chasing the lizards around the yard. I'll miss lying out in the grass and in our screened porch all day, and taking the occasional vacation to Very Important Paws in West Palm Beach, but it's all good. I finally get to go home to Red Bud Isle, Bull Creek park, Freddie's Place, Auditorium Shores, Turkey Creek, and Lake Travis. And we can take our little vacations at Dog Boys Dog Ranch like we used to. I even heard mom saying that she's going to rent a boat and take us out on the lake this summer- I can't wait for that!

Goodbye Florida- Hellooooooo Austin!

Vacation and other goings-on

As you may have read in my sister Lola's diary, we just returned back from a pretty good vacation in Texas. If not- well- we just returned from a 2 week visit back to my homeland. I tell you I was thrilled to be back; there was water (where I was actually allowed to go to), retrieving, rocks to jump off of, 4 wheelers to chase, and a whole pack of other dogs to play with. I really have missed all my buddies and places to see around town. Mom had better take notice of this and move us back ASAP- this Florida stuff is making me more homesick all the time.

Since Florida is so far away from home, mom and dad thought it would be brilliant to put us on an airplane and fly us to Texas so we wouldn't have to travel in a car so long. Well, I'm not sure that I agree with that completely. The preparation and trip to the airport weren't so bad, but my goodness those airplanes are monsters. I was so freaked out on both trips that I thought it best to try and dig out of my crate. Mom was less than thrilled at the snowstorm I deposited inside and the memory foam bed that was sacrificed. I tried to make her smile by reminding her there is no real snow in Texas (or Florida), and I was just trying to envoke the Christmas spirit. Didn't work.

Anyway, the trip was cool (except for the flying), and I'm now starting a whole new year fresh with new happenings. What, you might ask? Well, as some of you may know this Florida place has really got my skin out of sorts. Mom pitied me and had my blood tested for allergies; turns out I have a lot of 'em, so in addition to more frequent baths (yay!) and new yummy food from Timberwolf Organics, they've decided to give me allergy shots just like people in hopes that I won't be so itchy soon. Boy I felt so special travelling with all those medications I've been taking. Did you know Lola and I had an ENTIRE suitcase of our own? Yup, it's true. We had as much crap as mom and dad did. Anyway, back to the shots. By now I've finished the first round and am about to step it up a notch to the stronger stuff. I can't tell a difference yet, but my vet (even though I hate him) says that every dog he's seen on this stuff has had some degree of improvement. I can't wait till mine kicks in. I'd love to be able to take some cutie pie belly shots again without worrying about my blisters and sores.

Another cool thing about the new year is that mom got a new bike for Christmas and a Springer to go along with it, so it looks like Lola and I will get a LOT more running time with them. I am a running fiend, I tell you. I actually like to pull mom and dad for about a mile once they hook me up to the thing. If I had hair I could do those sled races up in Alaska. Hmmm.... anyway, I'm gonna scoot because it's WAY past my bedtime. You guys have a happy new year- I know I will.

Howloween

This is the first year my family has lived in an actual house- we're usually apartment people. For me, this means that I now had to be exposed to, among other things, a new tradition they call "trick or treating"... can't be that bad having the word treat in the title...

About a month ago me and Lola got some nifty costumes in the mail. She had this rediculous bikini top and grass skirt. It even came with a lei, but her big fat head was too large for the lei to fit without becoming a choker. My costume, a full body skeleton suit (complete with bony tail) was much cooler. I wore the thing proudly every time they put it on, and I even posed a few times for pictures. Of course that did nothing to prepare me for this "trick or treat" tradition.

A few days ago, we waited until dark then went out into the front yard (red flag #1) where mom and dad set up chairs and a table full of "treats". Then, they brought out our super long leashes and attached us to a tree (red flag #2). It started to sprinkle so then they put up a beach umbrella so we all wouldn't get too wet. Things were going well and we were all enjoying ourselves in the cool night, but I couldn't quite figure out why the bowl of treats was just sitting there. Then, I heard the sqawky screams and laughs of the dreaded small humans coming up the street. Naturally, Lola and I went into protector mode and sounded our best scary alarms. Mom did not like this; I don't understand why. Much to my suprise when these sounds reached our house these small humans were dressed in the most rediculous way- some wearing wings and tutus, masks and capes. And wouldn't you know, dad actually gave them "treats" for looking so goofy!

We had a frew more groups parade up to our house, looking equally as goofy, and I began to understand that THIS was the tradition mom and dad were talking about. Lola and I still barked at a couple more of the really rediculous looking ones, but after a few rounds of this "trick or treat"ing we realized that if we were quiet and just watched and showed off our own costumes then mom would give us treats of our own! It ended up being not too bad of a night, even if this tradition is completely whacky. Unfortunately the sprinkles later turned into a 4 hour downpour and we had to pack things up and go inside, but I think I'll be better prepared for "trick or treat"ing when we do it again next year.

Many thanks

This is the human momma scribing for my TK. We just picked he and Lola up from a 4 night stay at Very Important Paws here in FL, and like always they are both comatose for the remainder of the day (and night). As TK's awesome time as Dog of the Week came to a close, I noticed he forgot to thank everyone who stopped by and dropped nice bones and even rosettes along the way. TK has been very suave about the whole ordeal and has not let his mini-fame get to his head, but hey, even the "almost" perfect falter. Because there are so many of you, I hope that saying a great big huge THANK YOU SO MUCH will suffice. It was definitely a very fun week and we are glad to have been able to meet and chat with so many new dogs!

I'd better wrap things up now. My ticking on the keyboard has envoked a couple of evil eyes from the couch nearby. I think I have managed to annoy the king of cool while he is trying to get his beauty rest.

Ohmigosh ohmigosh ohmigosh!!!!!

We just came back from our evening walk... Lola, Mom, and me were all nice and tired. I actually already jumped in bed and Lola was nice and settled on the couch.... then it happened. Mom went and checked Dogster without me, and stirred us all with a "NO WAY!!!" Well, when somedog hears something like that I just HAVE to go see what the fuss is about. And whaddaya know, who do I see on Dogster's homepage but yours truly?!? I just about fell over (though that may have been because I was tired too). Goofy mom sent Dad a message over the phone, then sent emails to 17 of our closest friends (ok maybe not that many) to spread the news. Then, about 2 minutes after sending the email she CALLED a few of the people she had just emailed to tell them to open up Dogster and have a look! I think she is revelling in this much more than I am.... I think she needs to find a hobby.

On a somewhat somber note, everytime I look at that smiley picture it's kind of bittersweet. See, about a month ago mom and dad were playing with me and they noticed I had in fact lost one of my top canine teeth. Yup, the left top canine just decided to break free and run without leaving a note.... it took all my future smiley pictures with it, too. Selfish little booger... But, I'm still my crazy self, and I promise I have a lot of great snapshots ahead of me, even though they may no longer involve the big cheesy smile you all are now infected with.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to see what more there was to Mr. T besides that handsome smile. I suppose I will finally reach that 5,000 view marker that I've been waiting patiently for. Now, I'mma go trot back to mom's bed and catch a pre-bedtime nap while she continues to spread the word. She's, like, my agent I guess....

I'm gonna be famous! (well, maybe not...)

Great news, readers! A couple of weeks ago Mom entered me in this contest through Dogster. If you were picked in as a winner your picture would be displayed during the end credits of a movie! Well, guess what... today Mom got the email that my handsome self was one of the dogs chosen for this honor! I will be included in the end credits of the movie "Firehouse Dog" when it comes out next year! Is that cool or what?

Living my legacy

For the first time in my 3 years at forever home, I have finally lived up to my name. As you will see from my arrival story, I was named what I am as an abbreviation for "ticks". When I was a wee baby at the pound, I was pretty sick due to the large number of pests on my little body. Since being rescued at 8 weeks of age I have been happy and tick-free thanks to TLC (and Advantix or Frontline Plus!). Tick free, that is, until last night.

It was in the the early hours of the morning and I had already been in bed for a while, when mom and dad decided to join me. They dusted off the sheets as always, since the Dalmatian in me loves to leave lots of hair on paths travelled, and arranged the pillows according to their sleeping positions for the night. Well, I'm thinkin they probably should not have lifted the pillows up, because underneath my momma's pillow was this big, fat, happy tick. He had obviously already had his own party at the expense of one of us. Even though mom's a nurse and likes all that blood and guts stuff, she was horrified at this tiny little meatball and made my dad dispose of it. Then, she made the 2nd mistake of the night by inspecting both Lola and myself for bretheren of the now departed insect. Lola came up clean, but wouldn't you know I was harboring a tiny, hungry version of the bug that started this whole mess. Yup, right there on my pink belly, a little tiny tick just trying to get a meal. Of course, dad had to remove it again. For the rest of the night mom was acting all weird, digging in her hair and dad's armpits... they even changed the sheets completely. I tried to remind her that it's the first (and second) tick she's ever seen on me in 3 whole years, but I guess she though 2 was 2 too many.

Something thinks I'm edible!!

Oh my gosh! I'm scratching myself to death here! Mom gave me and Lola our Advantix on the 1st as always, but my goodness SOMETHING is not deterred by my chemicals! It's just been the last few days that it's gotten really bad, but all over my sides I have all these little red bumpies. I'm scratching so hard that my almost nonexistant fur is really now nonexistant, I have scabs on my sides from where my claws are digging in, and my armpits and inner thighs are turning brown from me biting myself! Mom gave me a good bath with the anti-itch shampoo, and today she bought me some lidocaine and hydrocortisone spray (which in turn is now all over the furniture- hehe), but I'm still not getting much relief. Tomorrow she's going to try a bath with oatmeal shampoo. I just have no idea what kind of bug it is, because no one ever sees any bugs on me! They're sneaky little things, I tell you. Out to do no good...

The Beach...

Never in my life have I seen such a HUGE piece of water! It was quite different than the calm, great tasting lakes and rivers of Austin, Texas. This water was beastly- hard currents, noisy waves and the worst salty taste- ewww. BUT, I'm so happy that mom and dad finally found somewhere where I can swim again! We just moved to Florida about 5 days ago, and unfortunately most Floridians don't share the same beliefs about dogs as many Texans. Almost every beach and other areas are off limits to us doggies, even when leashed! But- mom and dad found a place today called Walton Rocks Beach about 20 miles from home that lets any doggy come and swim, and even run free!

I played soooo hard in those waves retrieving my orange kong that I swallowed way too much of that yucky water. I gave mom and dad a surprise when we got to the car. I left a giant pile of regurgitated ocean/this morning's kibble under dad's seats, completely bypassing the waterproof sheet he lays down for us. Hehehe.... I showed them I wasn't quite ready for the ride home! It was funny watching him try to figure out how to get the water out of the car once we got home. By the way, I can't WAIT to go back.